Life is a Beach - Summer 2023 Transfer

[Zososoxfan]

Apologies if some of this has already been posted, but I wanted to check to see who's still available on the free market (and entering the last year of their deal) and that also threw me down the rabbit hole of transfers I didn't remember seeing.

Skriniar is leaving Inter and joining PSG on a free. Terrific pickup for Paris and Inter continues to get pilfered for talent.

Soyuncu is joining Atleti on a free. When I first saw him play, I thought he was solid. Then he fell apart along with the rest of LCFC (the Rodgers effect! I kid). I bet Simeone gets a song out of him.

Nathan Collins was acquired by Brentford from Wolves. I only mention this because it seems like the kind of below the radar transfer biz that Brentford and Brighton do that leads to sustained success. (E)27M for a 22 y.o. CB. The bees also snagged Kevin Schade from Freiburg for (E)25M. He's 21.

Ben Bereton Diaz is leaving Blackburn on a free to join Villarreal. Another example of something we've been talking about--Villa finished 5th in La Liga, and they're picking up players from the Championship. The English pyramid is on fiya right now!

Marcus Thuram joins Inter on a free from Gladbach. Terrific biz for a promising young attacker entering his prime.

Loftus Cheek is joining Milan from Chelsea for (E)16M. Not a lot of money for a talented player in his prime. No doubt Chelsea jerking him around while being a tire fire hurt his value last season. I'm a bit surprised Poch didn't fancy him as an attacking FB, but Chelsea have one of the most bloated squads and loanee corps I can remember.

Gio Simeone moves to Napoli from Verona for (E)12M. Kinda funny that Italian teams are still doing medium-sized business with each other, and get very talented EPL castoffs for similar prices (see Loftus Cheek above) and in the process the EPL clubs take big losses.

There's still some real talent floating out there on the free transfer market.

Daichi Kamada from Frankfurt is a 26 y.o. tall CMF/CAM with good finishing product. He banged in 9 goals and 7 assists in the Bundesliga last season at a good g+a/90 and put in 3 goals and an assist in the UCL for good measure. I'm not sure why he hasn't been picked up yet.

Zaha is a known EPL quantity and is reaching the end of his prime at 30, but he netted 7 goals and 2 assists last EPL season for Palace. That's going to be a good pickup for a midtable club (perhaps even running it back in South London) or as a depth piece for a club competing for a European spot.

Jonathan Bamba is a 27 y.o. LW from Lille that put in 6 goals and 7 assists in Ligue 1 last season, at a decent /90 clip. No idea where he ends up.

Daniel Amartey of LCFC is free and played 1600 minutes last season. Not sure if he's good enough for the EPL. Same goes for Yerry Mina most recently of Everton.

Traore is still floating around after an underwhelming season at Wolves. I'd love to see him in Spain, but I suspect there's a British club willing to pay him better wages, even if it's in the Championship.

Finally, who knows where DDG ends up if United land Onana. Maybe he just stays to back him up, or maybe he goes home to Spain.

 

[SocrManiac]

It feels like Traore has been one step away from being a force for a year too many. He can’t pass, he can’t cross, and he can’t shoot. There doesn’t seem to be any progression or improvement. I’d have love to see him develop into a complete player but he seems to be headed down the what-if path.

 

[Jettisoned]

So defensively better, but offensively worse? Eriksen isn't getting younger so it makes long term sense, but if Eriksen is healthy again it feels like a lateral move at best for the 11, albeit one that improves overall depth.

they really needed a midfielder who can pass, dribble and play with energy. Eriksen had to be subbed off after 60 minutes for most of the season because he got tired, and neither Fred nor McTominay are good enough on the ball to replace him.

I suspect Eriksen will be the first sub for all 3 midfield positions this season, depending on the opponent.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

they really needed a midfielder who can pass, dribble and play with energy. Eriksen had to be subbed off after 60 minutes for most of the season because he got tired, and neither Fred nor McTominay are good enough on the ball to replace him.

I suspect Eriksen will be the first sub for all 3 midfield positions this season, depending on the opponent.

I think Mount works in that setup as long as the rest of the team is built right but that's where I have questions.

The big question for United is whether they can keep and progress the ball reliably against teams that really pressure them. Casemiro is great but more of a traditional DM than a deep lying playmaker or controlling midfielder. Martinez is great on the ball but teams can just orient their press to make him give it up to others. Varane and Lindelof are pretty average in terms of ball skills and Shaw and Dalot are good enough technically but neither really fits the bill as a player that will move into midfield and help establish control a la Zinchenko, Cancelo, Stones, etc. Replacing DDG will help a lot when playing out from the back but even a great ball playing keeper like Onana can only do so much as its on the rest of the team to then do something useful with the ball.

 

[rguilmar]

Puli to Milan is inching closer. Milan have upped their bid.

View: https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1676957789040824320?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ

 

[Dummy Hoy]

A player who everyone seemed to be in on is Arda Güler, an 18 year old Turkish international, especially because of his relatively cheap release clause. Seems like once again Madrid get their man.

I love the way this kid hits the ball- he looks like he could be a stud. I hope this is the right step for him though, it would suck if he just became a pretty piece Madrid hang on their wall. Jumping to a club of that size at 18 is a dicey proposition.

 

[bosox4283]

I love the way this kid hits the ball- he looks like he could be a stud. I hope this is the right step for him though, it would suck if he just became a pretty piece Madrid hang on their wall. Jumping to a club of that size at 18 is a dicey proposition.

I wonder which lessons, if any, Real Madrid will learn from the Odegaard experience.

 

[67YAZ]

I wonder which lessons, if any, Real Madrid will learn from the Odegaard experience.

That they bought him for €2.8m, booked 2 €2m loan fees, and then sold for €35m. That’s a helluva return.

This deal looks different. Reportedly, Guler had a €20m release clause that Madrid wouldn’t/couldn’t stump up for in a single payment. (Probably planning for Mbabppe.). So it became a structured payment of €20m plus a 20% of profit from the next sale plus (possibly?) a year loan back? If feels more like they have a plan for the kid due to the sell on clause, maybe next year he slides into one of the Modric/Kroos slots?

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Madrid is stockpiling young talent. It will be interesting to see how the pieces end up being put together, first by Carlo and then by whoever follows him in the job.

Bellingham, Camavinga, Tchouamenti, Valverde, Guler is an amazing quintet of young midfielders. Depth is crucial for any team but all of these guys are going to want to play.

Then they may end up with Mbappe, Vini, and Rodrygo - three super talented young right footed forwards, none of whom are all that suited to playing as a 9 (Mbappe could but reportedly doesn't want to do it).

 

[rguilmar]

I wonder which lessons, if any, Real Madrid will learn from the Odegaard experience.

They made a boatload on the Odergaard sale, so I’m not sure what they need to learn, and as an “Anybody But Real Madrid” fan, I hope they learned nothing. This is a player Barca desperately wanted, along with about 20 other Champions League teams according to Fabrizio Romano, so part of me is thinking this is running their rival’s nose in it a bit because Barca couldn’t do this deal right now. All of that being said, Real Madrid have been remarkably good recently at identifying young talent and allowing it to grow at Madrid, not an easy feat- Rodrigo, Valverde, Vini Jr, Camavinga, etc. With Ascensio off to PSG, and Modric and Kroos on their last legs, there is room here for a player of his quality. This is especially true if Camavinga continues as a LB.

I feel a little gross about how impressed I am with Real Madrid tbh.

 

[rguilmar]

Madrid is stockpiling young talent. It will be interesting to see how the pieces end up being put together, first by Carlo and then by whoever follows him in the job.

Bellingham, Camavinga, Tchouamenti, Valverde, Guler is an amazing quintet of young midfielders. Depth is crucial for any team but all of these guys are going to want to play.

Then they may end up with Mbappe, Vini, and Rodrygo - three super talented young right footed forwards, none of whom are all that suited to playing as a 9 (Mbappe could but reportedly doesn't want to do it).

And Hendrick on the way…

 

[Jettisoned]

I think Mount works in that setup as long as the rest of the team is built right but that's where I have questions.

The big question for United is whether they can keep and progress the ball reliably against teams that really pressure them. Casemiro is great but more of a traditional DM than a deep lying playmaker or controlling midfielder. Martinez is great on the ball but teams can just orient their press to make him give it up to others. Varane and Lindelof are pretty average in terms of ball skills and Shaw and Dalot are good enough technically but neither really fits the bill as a player that will move into midfield and help establish control a la Zinchenko, Cancelo, Stones, etc. Replacing DDG will help a lot when playing out from the back but even a great ball playing keeper like Onana can only do so much as its on the rest of the team to then do something useful with the ball.

I agree to an extent, but I think Casemiro is better on the ball than he is given credit for. Ten Hag had a lot of success with a pure DM in Edson Alvarez at Ajax and Casemiro is better on the ball. Mount will play a connecting midfielder role, there to receive passes from the keeper and defenders and either pass or dribble the ball to move it to the forwards while Casemiro holds his position in midfield. The biggest problem this year was that when Eriksen wasn't on the pitch, there was no midfielder to receive the ball on the half turn (under pressure especially) and move it up the pitch, and Mount can do this.

I also think Onana will be a transformative signing Lindelof, Varane and Maguire will no longer have to worry about their keeper lobbing them hand grenades. Martinez is so good that he can deal with just about anything, but the others will benefit from not being put into situations like that pass De Gea made to Maguire in the Europa League match at Sevilla. Onana was fantastic against City's press in the Champions league final, and ten Hag will make very good use of those skills.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I agree to an extent, but I think Casemiro is better on the ball than he is given credit for. Ten Hag had a lot of success with a pure DM in Edson Alvarez at Ajax and Casemiro is better on the ball. Mount will play a connecting midfielder role, there to receive passes from the keeper and defenders and either pass or dribble the ball to move it to the forwards while Casemiro holds his position in midfield. The biggest problem this year was that when Eriksen wasn't on the pitch, there was no midfielder to receive the ball on the half turn (under pressure especially) and move it up the pitch, and Mount can do this.

I also think Onana will be a transformative signing Lindelof, Varane and Maguire will no longer have to worry about their keeper lobbing them hand grenades. Martinez is so good that he can deal with just about anything, but the others will benefit from not being put into situations like that pass De Gea made to Maguire in the Europa League match at Sevilla. Onana was fantastic against City's press in the Champions league final, and ten Hag will make very good use of those skills.

That's all well argued, especially about Onana having a ripple effect on some of the defenders. It will be interesting to see how Ten Hag uses Mount and how he evolves his team in general. My suspicion is that this will be sort of an evolution year for United, with Ten Hag moving toward a more progressive, possession-based, and higher line style and that while Mount (and certainly Onana) will help with that transition, he won't yet have the rest of the squad in place to really make it work without some significant hiccups.

 

[OCST]

How serious are the Pickford to Utd rumors in your camp? Has died down on Everton social media.

If you’re identifying quality of distribution as yge keyfor how TH wants to play, then JPs your guy. Still prone to the occasional brain fart but those are much less frequent. A couple times a game he will be too ambitious with a downfield pass. He does not leave hospital passes and grenades for clumsy CBs.

 

[nayrbrey]

Pulisic to AC Milan done.
View: https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1677353902830759936

 

[Jettisoned]

That's all well argued, especially about Onana having a ripple effect on some of the defenders. It will be interesting to see how Ten Hag uses Mount and how he evolves his team in general. My suspicion is that this will be sort of an evolution year for United, with Ten Hag moving toward a more progressive, possession-based, and higher line style and that while Mount (and certainly Onana) will help with that transition, he won't yet have the rest of the squad in place to really make it work without some significant hiccups.

Oh, this will definitely happen. This is what ten Hag wanted last season but it became clear during the first 2 matches that De Gea, Fred and McTominay just weren't able to do much of what was needed of them. De Gea can't distribute the ball, Fred can't play on the half turn or beat a press and McTominay hides behind opponents when his teammates have the ball, all of which made it too difficult to play out from the back. De Gea won't come off his line to sweep, so you can't play with a high defensive line. The entire season was ten Hag being pragmatic but instilling some of his principles where and when it was possible.

This season they will have a spine of Onana, Martinez, Mount and Rasmus Hojlund (if they can get him from Atalanta) all very well suited to ten Hag ball. Those transfers would plug all the biggest holes in the starting 11 and should make the team capable of the tactical principles you listed there.

Mind you, if Mount, Martinez or Onana suffer long term injuries they will struggle, but that's true of most teams besides Man City.

How serious are the Pickford to Utd rumors in your camp? Has died down on Everton social media.

If you’re identifying quality of distribution as the key for how TH wants to play, then JPs your guy. Still prone to the occasional brain fart but those are much less frequent. A couple times a game he will be too ambitious with a downfield pass. He does not leave hospital passes and grenades for clumsy CBs.

From transfer articles it seems like Onana is the first choice target and they're close with Inter on the price. Onana played for ten Hag at Ajax, which is very attractive as he'll just jump right in and know exactly what's expected. They're also looking at a Japanese kid named Zion Suzuki, but I suspect they would want him as a prospect/backup/cup keeper or something.

If the Onana deal isn't reached they might go for Pickford but I don't think they're going to be denied the transfer. Inter needs cash and United really want Onana.

 

[67YAZ]

Jedi extends with Fulham.

 

[Titans Bastard]

View: https://twitter.com/PSV/status/1677274944269344768

 

[Vinho Tinto]

De Gea out at ManU. Easy to forget Real went after him hard before making a move on Courtois.

View: https://twitter.com/D_DeGea/status/1677671990910484480

 

[InstaFace]

De Gea out at ManU. Easy to forget Real went after him hard before making a move on Courtois.

Easy to forget that to keep him from Madrid, United made him the #1 highest paid player in the Premier League, I think around GBP 19M / year. Pretty extraordinary for a goalkeeper.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

Easy to forget that to keep him from Madrid, United made him the #1 highest paid player in the Premier League, I think around GBP 19M / year. Pretty extraordinary for a goalkeeper.

Question becomes does he get a 2nd wind by changing clubs (and probably leagues)? Even with a big paycut, he will still be expensive for 99% of the clubs in Europe. He is also too young to start his retirement tour. Assuming he will land at a top 8 club in La Liga.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Question becomes does he get a 2nd wind by changing clubs (and probably leagues)? Even with a big paycut, he will still be expensive for 99% of the clubs in Europe. He is also too young to start his retirement tour. Assuming he will land at a top 8 club in La Liga.

He was the best keeper in the PL … until he wasn’t. And it wasn’t really his own fault. It took the evolution of the keeper position to expose his weaknesses. He was fine as long as he could just hoof it down the field. He had no peers in actual shot stopping , at least in the PL.

 

[Jettisoned]

His shot stopping has been average for 4 or 5 years now, save for a brief period in fall 2021. He's been pretty Jeter-esque in my opinion, making a lot of saves look harder than they are. I might just be petty, though.

I think he'd probably do well in a team that likes to play a low block. I don't know if Simeone still plays that defensive 4-4-2 tactic but De Gea might look pretty good in that and United bought him from Atletico originally. No idea if they need a new keeper, though.

I'm guessing Spain or Italy, assuming some Saudi team doesn't offer him crazy wages.

 

[SocrManiac]

De Gea’s shot stopping ability is still top tier. He has insane range and reflexes, and is willing to use his feet for saves in a way that has changed how other keepers are playing the position. Calling him average for four or five years is patently and categorically wrong.

The problem is, managers are willing to concede some of his shot stopping ability for the security of making the normal saves consistently. He’s making mistakes that are unacceptable at this level. That’s mental and can be corrected.

What has derailed his career at the top level is that he’s disastrous with the ball at his feet. He makes mistakes when he isn’t even under pressure. Nobody wants a keeper that can’t be secure with the ball, regardless of what they can do to stop shots.

 

[Zomp]

It was weird with De Gea. At the beginning of his United career he was good with his feet and those skills got worse as the seasons went on. He’s a club legend though. Also could lay claim to a top 3 keeper in the world in his prime. Was in the team of the season 5 times out of his 12 seasons.

 

[InstaFace]

It was weird with De Gea. At the beginning of his United career he was good with his feet and those skills got worse as the seasons went on. He’s a club legend though. Also could lay claim to a top 3 keeper in the world in his prime. Was in the team of the season 5 times out of his 12 seasons.

We all know what the last straw was, though.

View: https://twitter.com/_captainpulisic/status/1677676928508088320

 

[rguilmar]

Aaronson’s loan to Union Berlin has been finalized.

View: https://twitter.com/fcunion/status/1678042886632267776?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ

 

[candylandriots]

Aaronson’s loan to Union Berlin has been finalized.

View: https://twitter.com/fcunion/status/1678042886632267776?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ

Beat me to it!

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

Beat me to it!

As a close Union watcher, where do you see him fitting in? My assumption would be the most attacking MF in their 3 or possibly sometimes a situational defense for offense move to Becker's spot, but I don't know their style and roster depth all that deeply.

 

[InstaFace]

I am going to enjoy the hell out of watching Union next season. They already play a fun style, and bringing in Aaronson, who plays like he's on a PCP bender, is just going to double my pleasure.

 

[candylandriots]

As a close Union watcher, where do you see him fitting in? My assumption would be the most attacking MF in their 3 or possibly sometimes a situational defense for offense move to Becker's spot, but I don't know their style and roster depth all that deeply.

I wrote this a couple weeks ago when we first started discussing Aaronson at FCU - which mostly answers your question.

https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/life-is-a-beach-summer-2023-transfer.39478/page-4#post-5635416

Specifically, I think in their system, which I think is probably best described as a 3-3-2-2 he plays one of those attacking MF 2 when he’s starting. They do tend to play pretty narrow, and Becker likes to go wide too, sometimes more like a 3-3-3-1, where I’d expect him to play more of a traditional 10 - that role probably more when he’s coming on as a sub.

He’s probably the most attacking MF they have, and he’s going to get a lot of time. I’d think most as one of two attacking midfielders playing wide-ish, then maybe next most as a CAM, and then probably some up front with Jordan or Behrens (or with Becker too).

Fischer is a heavy user of all five subs. I think he will play a lot of games for either 60 or 90 where he’s asked to just go all-out for that number of minutes. He’s been given an amazing opportunity to play in a system that really suits him, and hopefully bring his game to the next level.

We’ll be looking for him to unlock the opposing defenses, but to also to get back and defend. He’s gonna have to run. A lot.

 

[InstaFace]

We’ll be looking for him to unlock the opposing defenses, but to also to get back and defend. He’s gonna have to run. A lot.

I have some good news for you: the man likes to run. A lot. Which is what made Bielsa lust for him originally.

Skillcorner’s analysis shows that in a typical 90-minute game, Aaronson will cover an average of 10.7km, ranking him in the top five midfielders in Austria’s Bundesliga to have played 10 or more games this season. That is in line with some of the best 90-minute distances registered by players in the Premier League — potential Elland Road colleague Adam Forshaw, for instance, was hitting 10.9km after his return from injury — and the numbers impressed Leeds, who consistently rack up more kilometres than any other team in England’s top division.

Aaronson is a committed and active presser and 27.2 pressures per 90 minutes, as calculated by Statsbomb via FBref, is on a par with the very best of Europe’s attacking midfielders — in the top two per cent across the big five European leagues.

View: https://twitter.com/HenryBushnell/status/1561346787717292032


He also registered the assists on both of Salzburg's goals vs Bayern Munich in the UCL R16, even if one was a cheapie. He's very fun to watch.

 

[candylandriots]

I know that my soccer IQ is below that of the median Gazza contributor (though I did know BA runs a lot), but this match seems like such a perfect fit for all parties - even for Leeds.

Can the season start already please?

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

interesting article from The Athletic on PSG. It sounds like they are making decent attempts at real team building.

https://theathletic.com/4672990/2023/07/09/psg-new-head-coach-new-training-ground-same-old-mbappe-problem/?source=user_shared_article

Except Mbappe … faced with the very real possibility he leaves on a free next summer the ownership is playing the moral card - claiming he owes it to the club to sign an extension - just so PSG can make some obscene profit when he’s sold to Real Madrid.

Whats PSG going to do if he snubs the offer? (he’s told them to take a hike). Not play him? Make him train with the u-21s?

This must be especially galling for a team owned by an autocratic regime that takes a dim view of dissent of any kind.

 

[67YAZ]

interesting article from The Athletic on PSG. It sounds like they are making decent attempts at real team building.

https://theathletic.com/4672990/2023/07/09/psg-new-head-coach-new-training-ground-same-old-mbappe-problem/?source=user_shared_article

Except Mbappe … faced with the very real possibility he leaves on a free next summer the ownership is playing the moral card - claiming he owes it to the club to sign an extension - just so PSG can make some obscene profit when he’s sold to Real Madrid.

Whats PSG going to do if he snubs the offer? (he’s told them to take a hike). Not play him? Make him train with the u-21s?

This must be especially galling for a team owned by an autocratic regime that takes a dim view of dissent of any kind.

This “story” that 6 players reached out to Al Khalaifi to complain about Mbappe’s recent comments - comments that were all directed at the club and not any specific teammates, so far as I can tell - just reeks of BS.

Why are teammates reaching out to the club president to discuss a teammate’s public comments? Because it’s a made up story from PSG’s pr team to put pressure on Mbappe. I’m not sure why reputable outlets like The Athletic are trafficking in this crap.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

I have nothing to add about “the six players” … it’s only a passing mention. This quote sums up PSG’s arrogance:

“For PSG, that outcome would be a disaster. They do not want to see their star man, France’s captain, go for nothing a year from now, and that is what Al-Khelaifi stated on Wednesday. “We cannot let the best player in the world right now leave for free,” he said. “That is impossible.”

It might be a disaster for PSG but what can they do ? They can’t sell him this summer against his will and they can’t force him to sign a new contract.

 

[candylandriots]

All the FCU insta shots were basically taken right outside my door. My dog poops in the grass behind him in the 3rd picture, and I can see here the final three were taken basically from my balcony.

 

[candylandriots]

Now rumors of a Fofana loan to Union Berlin

https://sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/amp/union-berlin-eiserne-wollen-chelsea-stuermer-david-fofana/12918208/34132

 

[candylandriots]

Talk that Union Berlin are going to sign David Fofana on loan from Chelsea next, though that then begs the question whether Becker will be sold…I’m hoping it’s depth.

https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/news/medien-leihe-von-fofana-zu-union-berlin-steht-bevor-li.367767

 

[nayrbrey]

I know that my soccer IQ is below that of the median Gazza contributor (though I did know BA runs a lot), but this match seems like such a perfect fit for all parties - even for Leeds.

Can the season start already please?

Here’s the morning Footy crew talking about BA and how he can fit into Unions 3-5-2.
View: https://youtu.be/gq0BMLRtBSk

 

[candylandriots]

Thanks for sharing that @nayrbrey .

One thing to add, is I could also see him playing behind Becker in a more wide area - and that could be a lot of fun for both of them. Becker is really good at sliding in behind defenses and if BA can pick out the right pass, that could end up a really nice partnership.

 

[candylandriots]

David Fofana loan from Chelsea to Union Berlin is official. Let’s hope that this isn’t the move that precedes a sale of Becker.

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/CujLeeQMwFH/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

[SocrManiac]

Romano is reporting Ashley Young to Everton. Is shithousing the number one skill they look for at Goodison?

 

[rguilmar]

Kik Pierie from Ajax to Excelsior Rotterdam. I believe he’s US eligible though always hurt.

View: https://twitter.com/danielsmith1022/status/1678805593417547776?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ

 

[ifmanis5]

View: https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1679163732314734593

From @TheAthleticFC: Barcelona has agreed to sign 18-year-old Vitor Roque for $66.9 million. It's an eye-watering fee but with him being dubbed Brazil's best striker since Ronaldo, the investment starts to make sense. https://nyti.ms/44DSfof

 

[Kliq]

Isn't Endrick the best Brazilian striker since Ronaldo?

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

How quickly people forget Adriano.

 

[67YAZ]

Isn't Endrick the best Brazilian striker since Ronaldo?

Don’t worry, with Endrick at Madrid and Roque at Barca, we’ll have at least a decade of pontificating on this point shoves down our throats.

 

[Kliq]

How quickly people forget Adriano.

I was thinking about the "best striker since Ronaldo" comparison, and since there hasn't been a better Brazilian player, let alone a striker, period since Ronaldo, I guess it can be open to interpretation. But I imagine the people saying that are probably not considering Neymar a striker, nor Adriano a striker, at least in the way Ronaldo was. Ronaldo scored 47 goals in 49 games during his Age 19 season at Barcelona, so no pressure on this kid!

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I was thinking about the "best striker since Ronaldo" comparison, and since there hasn't been a better Brazilian player, let alone a striker, period since Ronaldo, I guess it can be open to interpretation. But I imagine the people saying that are probably not considering Neymar a striker, nor Adriano a striker, at least in the way Ronaldo was. Ronaldo scored 47 goals in 49 games during his Age 19 season at Barcelona, so no pressure on this kid!

I wasn't calling you out at all, just the NYT story.

Adriano was definitely a central striker and a ridiculously talented one. He overlapped with Ronaldo's later years and was very widely viewed as Ronaldo's heir (he eventually did take the 9 shirt), but then his career took a sharp nose dive and he never really fulfilled his potential despite a couple world class seasons in Italy.

Interestingly, Vitor Roque's agent is apparently claiming that both United and Spurs tried to hijack this deal with huge bids. If anywhere near true, those are massive numbers (even if including a lot of bonuses) for an 18-year-old so he must be very very highly rated by people within the game.

View: https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1679215402268651522