Vesper

4 nil means Celtic won 4 nil which they did

Fact Check: Video does not show Man City boss snubbing Israeli representative https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/video-does-not-show-man-city-boss-snubbing-israeli-representative-2024-05-29/ A video of Manchester City Football Club’s manager Pep Guardiola walking by an English former soccer manager without shaking hands after a match is being falsely described online as Guardiola ignoring an Israeli representative. Edited footage of Guardiola bypassing a man, who is circled and tagged with an image of the Israeli flag, before receiving a runner-up medal following City’s Football Association (FA) Community Shield defeat to Arsenal has been shared widely, opens new tab on social media. One X post, now viewed 7.5 million times, captioned the video: “The famous Spanish coach Pep Guardiola refused to shake hands with the Israeli representative.” Reuters Image However, the person in the video whose hand Guardiola failed to shake after the August 2023 match was English former soccer manager Alan Smith, not an Israeli representative, Smith told Reuters. Smith said via direct message that he was not and has never been an Israeli representative and that he attended the game, which took place at London’s Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2023, as a guest of the FA. The ex-Crystal Palace boss added that Guardiola being distracted could have been a reason why they did not shake hands. Smith said that he maintains a positive relationship with Man City officials. The incident, on which Guardiola has never publicly commented, was reported by, opens new tab media outlets, opens new tab at the time. It also predates Israel’s retaliatory invasion of Gaza following Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7, 2023, attack by almost two months. Manchester City Football Club and its holding company City Football Group Limited did not immediately respond to requests for comment. VERDICT False. The video does not show Pep Guardiola refusing to shake hands with an Israeli representative. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

absolutely!!!

UEFA cannot decide how much players are worth Ziegler at it again https://siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/p/uefa-cannot-decide-how-much-players This Martin Zeigler lad absolutely hates Chelsea. I’m sure he was sat watching us win the Club World Cup in tears, then he probably tore around the house throwing plates around with anger. What an odd little man. Thankfully, he has me blocked on social media because I called him out on a few things over the years. It’s a win for me. This guy writes a new article every week desperate for Chelsea to get disciplined, sanctioned, fined, or whatever, for whatever new reason he invents and makes up in his head. His latest ‘article’ is on UEFA apparently taking a tough stance on PSR ‘swap deals’ that benefit both clubs. In particular, there is a focus on Aston Villa and Chelsea. Of course we have exploited ‘loopholes’ to get deals done with Villa in recent times, and many other clubs have done it as well. I mean the Omari Kellyman signing was just madness, but we all know why we did it. It’s an unofficial swap deal, and Chelsea aren’t about to stop because Zeigler is crying about it. Uncle Knobhead says UEFA has made it clear to Chelsea and Aston Villa that it will scrutinise any player “swap deals” to ensure the fees have not been inflated after taking issue with at least one previous transfer. I’m sorry but how can UEFA dictate what a player is worth? A player is worth the asking price that a club is asking for him, no? How can that be policed? If you want to Police that then maybe have a look at the transfer fees involved in some of Liverpool’s signings this summer, no? Are the players they are signing really worth that amount? Who decides? The clubs decide. UEFA simply cannot get involved in this because they cannot police the fees that clubs put on their players because if they start doing this, then where does it stop? If a club wants to say their player is not for sale unless for a fee they cannot refuse, do UEFA step in and stop them getting a deal that would literally keep their club going? No, they cannot. It cannot happen. So Zeigler, just like with all the other 100s of articles you have written in the last few years praying for Chelsea’s downfall and inventing crap - on your bike chap.

Jody Morris: Chelsea cannot go to the next level with Robert Sanchez as No.1 https://siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/p/jody-morris-Chelsea-cannot-go-to Time to send some more timely messages and this time, not from me…. Jody Morris is saying what the majority of the fan base are still saying. And in fact, it’s a HUGE majority! Last week we polled it out within this community. I asked, do Chelsea still need to upgrade on their current goalkeepers this summer? 87% said yes, without a doubt 12% said not sure 1% said no, they don’t That’s a very lonely 1% there. I back the 87%! And so does former Blues midfielder and coach Jody Morris. When discussing Sanchez’s performance in the Club World Cup final, Morris told talkSPORT: “It was an accomplished performance from him (Sanchez), which obviously isn’t something we’ve said a lot this season.” He was then asked if Chelsea still need to improve on the goalkeeper area, Morris responded: “Yeah, without a doubt. If you want to get to the next level where we are hoping to be at… The fact we’ve gone for a keeper before this tournament even started shows you we are trying to improve in that area.” He’s spot on, as he so often is. I rarely find myself disagreeing with Morris. According to WhoScored, No player has made more errors leading to a goal in the last five Premier League seasons than Robert Sanchez (8). Yikes. Time for the club to act on this now as we are expecting them to do, at this latter end of the summer transfer window that we are now getting closer to. Plenty of time…

Chelsea https://thedailybriefing.io/i/168758145/Chelsea Chelsea defender Renato Veiga is a target for Atletico Madrid now. (Sky Germany) Chelsea are prepared to sell Raheem Sterling for a fee of just £20 million. (Sun) Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino is expected to move to Strasbourg on loan. (Football London) Chelsea are considering a summer move for the Ajax defender Jorrel Hato. (Football London) Chelsea are interested in signing the RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons, who will cost £68 million. (Football London)

Barcelona have reached an agreement with Manchester United over a move for Marcus Rashford, who will join the club on loan with an option to buy at €35 million. (Sky Sports)

I never saw that. Links please.

Chelsea https://thedailybriefing.io/i/168635480/Chelsea Chelsea have made contact with Eberechi Eze’s camp as they signal they’re ready to hijack Arsenal’s deal for the Crystal Palace attacking midfielder, provided the conditions are right. (Mark Brus, CaughtOffside) Chelsea to be offered Xavi Simons? Reports in Germany claim the RB Leipzig attacking midfielder is now available for just €50m, with the player’s agent expected to contact the Blues. (Bild) Chelsea and Arsenal are also both attentive to Xavi Simons’ situation this summer. There haven’t been any bids or talks yet, but Simons is ready to leave Leipzig and there’s Premier League interest. (Fabrizio Romano) More on Xavi Simons: Leipzig paid €50m+€30m for him, but not all the add-ons have been triggered since he left PSG. €65m plus add-ons is now understood to be a realistic ballpark for the player this summer. (Ben Jacobs) Chelsea are alongside Tottenham in eyeing up a potential transfer move for Bayern Munich central defender Kim Min-jae, though there have been no contacts yet. (Christian Falk) Alfie Gilchrist looks set to leave Chelsea this summer, with the 21-year-old defender attracting interest from clubs in the Championship and in the Saudi Pro League. (Ben Jacobs) Thiago Silva’s son Isago has signed as a first-year scholar with Chelsea’s academy ahead of the 2025/26 season. (Fabrizio Romano) Noni Madueke’s parting message to Chelsea fans: “Thank you to every single Chelsea fan. Thank you for the love, the praise and also the criticism, I appreciate it all. I leave here with nothing but fond memories.” (Instagram)

this is fucking OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!

Inside Noni Madueke’s transfer to Arsenal: Arteta’s presentation, Chelsea’s data, Berta’s new dynamic https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6492803/2025/07/18/inside-noni-maduekes-transfer-to-arsenal-artetas-presentation-chelseas-data-bertas-new-dynamic/ Noni Madueke is an Arsenal player. While the progress of the deal has been relatively serene, the reception among supporters has been anything but. Arsenal’s pursuit of the 23-year-old has met with considerable resistance from some fans. It feels situational, rather than personal. Arsenal fans are wearied by a succession of signings from Chelsea. Madueke is the 10th player to make the move across London since the turn of the millennium. Many of those — Petr Cech, David Luiz, Willian and most recently Raheem Sterling — have underwhelmed. There is a feeling among supporters that when Chelsea want to cash in on a dispensable asset, Arsenal are sometimes too willing to oblige. That feeling — perhaps enhanced by the news of an agreement for Madueke breaking before Arsenal secure the No 9 fans are craving — prompted a somewhat hostile response to the mooted transfer. At the time of writing, a change.org petition against the signing has garnered more than 5,000 signatures. All for nought: the deal is now done. Arsenal will pay an initial fee of £48.5million ($65.5m), rising to £52m with add-ons. Madueke has signed a five-year contract until 2030. The figures involved suggest both he and Arsenal are committed to this new venture. The Athletic has spoken to people with an understanding of the talks, from both clubs and the player’s side, to tell the story of the deal. They spoke on condition of anonymity to protect relationships. What You Should Read Next The improvements in Noni Madueke’s game that have attracted Arsenal Madueke offers a two-footed attacking threat from the wing — but it may be his improvement out-of-possession that has caught Arteta's eye Despite the noise, Madueke is not fazed. Those close to him remark on his strong mentality. He sees any negativity around the signing as a challenge, and is energised by the opportunity to work hard to prove people wrong. Arsenal are adamant they’ve secured an exciting young player for a fee that falls in line with market values. He will not join up with Arsenal immediately. Madueke was eager to cut short his post-Club World Cup holiday to join in his new club’s pre-season plans immediately and be involved in the trip to Singapore and Hong Kong. Ultimately, Arsenal have urged him to get some rest. They want him recharged and mentally fresh before a long season, and have convinced him to take a two-week break, during which he will have access to one of the club’s strength and conditioning coaches. The deal came together relatively swiftly. Arsenal had been in the market for a winger who could provide an alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side — ideally a player who could offer speed, versatility and penetration. They targeted Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, but when the Cameroon international decided his preference was to join Manchester United in early June, Arsenal began to explore alternative options — among them, Madueke. Madueke has long had admirers among Arsenal’s coaching staff, including Mikel Arteta. In previous summers, former sporting director Edu and the recruitment department had reservations over any prospective deal, but with Andrea Berta now at the helm, there is a new dynamic. Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) This summer, Arsenal were attracted by Madueke’s productivity, his Premier League experience, his ability to play on both wings — he played four consecutive league games for Chelsea on the left across April and May — and his age. Quick and physically strong, he was a good fit for the profile of attacker they were looking for to augment their front-line. In a window in which Arsenal have signed 30-year-old Kepa Arrizabalaga (also from Chelsea), 31-year-old Christian Norgaard and are closing in on 27-year-old Viktor Gyokeres, signing a 23-year-old forward helps maintain the age balance of the squad. Despite his youth, he’s also a player who’s already amassed considerable experience, in both Europe and the Premier League. Furthermore, over the past two seasons, Madueke has largely had a good injury record — an attribute Arteta prizes. Since joining Chelsea in January 2023, he has made 92 appearances. Last season alone, he played more than 2,000 minutes. Chelsea have been open to offers for Madueke this summer — as they were 12 months earlier. He had occasional disciplinary issues at Stamford Bridge and towards the end of 2023-24, he was involved in an on-field dispute over a penalty with team-mate Nicolas Jackson. He was twice left out of Enzo Maresca’s matchday squad last season — once for training poorly, and once due to a “technical decision”. His biggest high at Chelsea was scoring a hat-trick against Wolves — shortly after creating uproar by declaring on social media, “this place is s***.” This incident did put Madueke under scrutiny, but he remained a first-team regular under Maresca. What You Should Read Next Chelsea’s Noni Madueke apologises for insulting Wolverhampton on Instagram: ‘I’m sure it is a nice town’ Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has apologised after a social media post in which he insulted Wolverhampton. Madueke’s Instagram post — which read, ‘Everything about this place is s***’, with a location tag of Wolverhampton — was swiftly deleted ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League game at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. The Englishman was then booed throughout the match at Molineux but went on to score a 14-minute hat-trick in the second half as Chelsea won 6-2. “I just want to apologise to everyone that I might have offended,” Madueke, 22, told Premier League Productions... “With Noni, I have a personal relationship, in terms of he can do much more,” Maresca said in December. “In the moment that he starts to score or assist and is happy, he starts to drop a little bit. He has to understand that he has to train every day good, he has to be ambitious. If he scores one tonight, he has to go for the second one, the third one. “He has to be ambitious, to give more assists… Noni has to understand he has to work more because he can be much, much, much better.” Madueke and Maresca had a positive relationship. As with previous Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino, there was an element of tough love — but Madueke believes it made him a better, more mature player. Madueke with Maresca in training in Miami earlier this month (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) For their part, Arsenal undertook background checks on Madueke. They also spoke to their England contingent about him, and received good references about his personality and impact on the dressing room. They see a player determined to improve: he has worked with an individual skills coach outside of club training to further his development. What You Should Read Next Chelsea’s Noni Madueke and the skills coach fine-tuning his technique Chelsea's Madueke has worked with Saul Isaksson-Hurst since 2021 with the coach concentrating on polishing the winger's game It’s also a question of numbers. On the flanks, Chelsea have Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian and new arrival Jamie Gittens. Cole Palmer and another summer signing, Joao Pedro, can also be used on the wing. Chelsea may yet go for another attacker later in the window — and have Geovany Quenda of Sporting CP arriving in 2026. In both the short and long term, Madueke’s opportunities looked to be diminishing. Part of Chelsea’s model involves selling players for profit. Having paid €35million to sign him from PSV in 2023, Chelsea recognised an opportunity to make good on their investment. As Arsenal stepped up their interest, there was an acceptance at Chelsea that Madueke would leave — but only for the right price. He still had five years remaining on the Chelsea contract he signed in 2023. Those long contracts were designed partly to ensure Chelsea protect the value of their assets. “Noni has been very important for us,” said Maresca after Madueke started on the bench for the Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras. “But my message to the players and to the club is that I just want players who are happy to be with us. “The ones that are not happy, they are free to go.” Despite Maresca’s assertion, Madueke never asked to leave Chelsea — even last year, when he was aware they were open to moving him on. He recognised he was part of a previous generation of Chelsea signings, and that the club was moving in a different direction. With the new recruiting staff and the rise of co-director of recruitment Joe Shields (formerly of Manchester City’s academy), came a trust and focus on former City academy talent: Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Liam Delap, and Jamie Gittens. Madueke sensed he and the club were drifting apart. Jamie Gittens is another attacking player signed by Chelsea this summer (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) As a potential destination, Arsenal held an immediate appeal for Madueke. At Chelsea, he was part of a group of predominantly young players. When things didn’t go well, it wasn’t always clear who to turn to for leadership and guidance. Madueke believes Arsenal will be different. He sees a dressing room full of big, experienced characters and strong personalities. He regards Arsenal as a team with multiple captains on the field at the same time, and is eager to work in that kind of structure and with the level of accountability that tends to follow. He already has good relationships with several of the Arsenal players through England duty, and believes he will fit easily into the squad dynamic. He recognises he is joining a settled team — and one in which the star player, Bukayo Saka, plays in his position — but believes he will be afforded an opportunity to make his case. The move presents Madueke with a chance to remain in London. Madueke grew up in the north London borough of Barnet, equidistant between the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal’s London Colney training ground. As a boy, he attended St Columba’s College, a St Albans school a stone’s throw from Arsenal’s Sobha Realty training centre, and spent four years on the books at rivals Tottenham Hotspur. What You Should Read Next Kudus has done it. Madueke could be the next player to transfer to a rival. Does it work? When star players move between fierce rivals, it adds an extra layer of spice to the deals — how do they tend to pan out? The deal was orchestrated by agent Ali Barat. The owner of agency Epic Sports, Barat has a good relationship with Chelsea as well as Arsenal’s sporting director Berta, making him ideally suited to being the middle man in negotiations. Once Arsenal had expressed their interest, Madueke and his father spoke with Arteta. Both sides considered it a successful meeting. Madueke likes Arteta’s intensity and believes he will help him flourish. He was also impressed by the level of detail in Arsenal’s approach — their engagement with his data, and their plans for him. Personal terms for a five-year contract were agreed relatively swiftly afterwards. Then, a deal needed to be struck between the clubs. Arteta spoke with Madueke and his father (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) At the outset of negotiations with Arsenal, Chelsea ran a comparison of Madueke’s statistics against Mohammed Kudus, Anthony Elanga and Mbeumo, which reflected well on Madueke. Over the past two seasons, Madueke has averaged a goal or assist contribution at a rate of 0.51 per 90. Of the four players listed, only Mbeumo (0.59) can better that. Madueke is also slightly younger than Mbeumo (25) and Kudus (24). Chelsea used this data to justify an asking price in the region of £60million. That was not enough to put Arsenal off. They were taken with the player’s one-on-one ability, physicality and technical level. Madueke’s price tag may also be reflective of his status as an England international. Madueke was first called up to the England senior squad in August 2024 and has gone on to win seven caps. Despite representing England, Madueke will still take up one of Arsenal’s 17 ‘foreign’ squad slots. Because he left the UK for the Netherlands at 16, Madueke does not count as homegrown in England for the purposes of Premier League and UEFA squad regulations. What You Should Read Next Premier League homegrown players: Which clubs use none and who uses the most? All the numbers behind the players developed in the academies of England's top-flight clubs With Barat serving as broker, Arsenal and Chelsea quickly came to an agreement. Madueke left Chelsea’s World Club Cup training camp ahead of the final in order to complete the formalities of his Arsenal move. The completion of the deal was delayed due to Madueke’s negotiations with Chelsea over severance terms. Arsenal believe that, taking into account Madueke’s age, potential, and the going rate for Premier League wingers, they have secured an excellent deal. Chelsea are content the final value of the deal could take them over the £50million mark — a considerable profit on their €35million investment. There is plenty of precedent for players overcoming Arsenal fans’ initial scepticism. Aaron Ramsdale was abused on social media after joining the club in 2021, but swiftly became a fan favourite. Even former Chelsea players have found redemption: aspersions were cast over the arrivals of Jorginho and Kai Havertz, but both became popular. The onus is on Madueke. If he delivers on the pitch, any noise will quickly fade away. (Additional contributors: Seb Stafford-Bloor, Simon Johnson) (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb; Francois Nel / Getty Images)

Yacht trips, equity, Apple TV income and sunbeds: How clubs convince players to sign for them https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6499780/2025/07/18/transfers-players-yachts-equity-how-clubs-convince/ It’s not just about a few quid and a nice car anymore. Inter Miami had to get creative two years ago when trying to sign Lionel Messi as his Paris Saint-Germain contract was running down, with them unable to compete on a straight financial basis with his suitors from Saudi Arabia. Miami’s courtship of the Argentinian lasted months, and part of their solution to overcome the financial disparity was to offer him equity in the MLS club, which will activate after he leaves them. In an unprecedented move, the deal also included extra income through some of the North American league’s commercial partners, specifically money from MLS Season Pass subscriptions on Apple TV, plus agreements for compensation from Adidas and Fanatics. This summer, we are shaping up to have the most lucrative English transfer window ever. More than £1billion has been spent on 218 new players already, according to Transfermarkt.com, and the deadline isn’t until September 1. Transfers are bigger business and more competitive than ever, but what methods do clubs employ to ensure that the player they want comes to them? And how have those processes changed over time? “The higher up the chain you go, the more outlandish the demands get,” an agent with Premier League players on his client roster, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, told The Athletic. “It can be something very specific — like helping to bring their pet into the country if they’re moving from overseas to England — or something fairly normal, like a corporate box for their family and friends in the stadium, which is a pretty common stipulation. “The vast majority of the time, it’s the player instigating these perks, and it’s always better to bring them up early in my experience, especially if it’s really important to them. You don’t want to be throwing extras at a club when negotiations are close to being finalised because that can risk annoying the buying club when a deal might be in the balance.” Building relationships with prospective signings over time can be crucial to getting a deal over the line. It’s not uncommon for sporting directors to check in with players they hope to sign, or have tried to get, sending ‘well done’ messages if they have performed well in a particular game, for example, and striking up rapport and familiarity. That effort in laying the foundations can provide an advantage over rival clubs who might drop in at the last minute during a transfer window with an opportunistic bid. An ownership stake, or profiting from a club’s success, is becoming more common among the football superrich. It hasn’t always been this way. The late 1980s were a simpler, less extravagant time, when a humble sunbed was a key aspect of transfer negotiations. At least that’s according to Paul Gascoigne, who said that Tottenham Hotspur buying one for his sister, and a house for his parents, led him to turn down Alex Ferguson and Manchester United to join the London club from Newcastle United. This was in 1988, when England’s version of Diego Maradona had just been voted young player of the year by his fellow professionals in the English league. He was two years away from becoming one of the best players in the world, via his performance at the 1990 World Cup (Gascoigne was also fourth in the Ballon d’Or voting in the latter year). United were still a few seasons away from starting their two-decades-plus dominance of English football, but Gascoigne had agreed to join them… until the intervention of Tottenham’s then chairman, Irving Scholar. Messi will receive equity in the club after his time as a Miami player is over (Jeff Dean/Getty Images) “When Spurs offered my family a house and they (United) wouldn’t match it, I wanted to look after my mum and dad,” Gascoigne later said. “They offered my sister a sunbed — a sunbed in the contract — which she got. “It was probably my sister’s sunbed they (United) couldn’t afford. She should have got a spray tan and I would have a few more medals.” It was one of English football’s Sliding Doors moments. Gascoigne would surely not only have won multiple medals at Old Trafford, but under Ferguson, or even just away from the bright lights of London, his career and personal health may not have waned so dramatically. Ferguson said Gascoigne was the one player in his long managerial career he wished he had been able to sign. “I think he was the best English player since Bobby Charlton,” Ferguson said in 2021. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get him. I think, looking back now, he made a big mistake. He recognised it himself years later, but we had (other) Geordies in the camp; Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, even Gary Pallister from Middlesbrough, we had people there who would have taken care of him. “He had agreed to sign, and then Tottenham changed his mind by buying his mother and father a house. Martin Edwards (United’s chairman at the time) was not that type.” Persuading a player to join your club almost always involves financial matters, but from time to time, the odd football connoisseur will be blown away by good old-fashioned research. Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer had multiple options when leaving Scotland’s Celtic in 2021, but he picked the west London side partly because they’d watched him play more than 100 times, partly because they told him he needed to improve his game. “They said that they had been to 123 games of Celtic’s and provided feedback on which ones (his performances) were green and approved, and which ones were red and unacceptable,” Ajer told TV 2 from his Norwegian homeland. “They analyse everything. “What I liked about this club compared to the others was that they said there were a lot of exciting things about me they were interested in, but also that I had to improve a lot.” There are some contract clauses that clubs would never dream of coming up with were they not instigated by the player. Arsenal, for example, agreed that Dennis Bergkamp wouldn’t have to fly to away European matches when he joined them from Italy’s Inter due to his fear of flying, even if it cost him plenty of money during negotiations, as the Dutch forward later revealed in his autobiography. “In talks with Arsenal, if I said ‘a million’, they automatically deducted a hundred grand ‘because you don’t fly’, and I accepted that,” Bergkamp said. If all else fails, roll out the super-yacht, which is exactly what Chelsea’s then-owner, Roman Abramovich, did when trying to lure Luka Modric across London from Spurs in 2011. Modric was open to the idea of leaving Tottenham and Abramovich pulled out all the stops, as the player recalled in his autobiography: “First, Vanja (Modric’s wife) and I took a private jet from Zadar (Modric’s hometown in Croatia) to Cannes (a resort in the south of France), where my management team were waiting. Then, a van with tinted-glass windows took us to Nice, some 30km (18 miles) away. There, we were picked up by Roman Abramovich’s security, who put us on a speedboat and took us to the Chelsea owner’s yacht. Abramovich invited Modric onto his yacht (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images) “It was quick and well organised; just as we made ourselves comfortable on one of the luxury decks, Abramovich showed up. “During our meeting, he left an impression of a relaxed, somewhat mysterious person. He wasn’t beating around the bush and said, ‘We know you are a quality player. I’d like you to sign for Chelsea’. I had come to his yacht to talk, so it was evident I wished the same. We finished our drinks and, after 20 minutes or so, Abramovich and his wife discreetly retreated to their quarters. As he said goodbye, he suggested we relax and have a swim, but we thanked him and left. Within 90 minutes, we were back on the coast of Nice.” Some decent target courting, but Abramovich hadn’t reckoned on a curveball — Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who staunchly rebuffed Chelsea’s subsequent attempts to buy Modric, who instead moved to Real Madrid a year later. Chelsea did get one deal over the line around five years before that didn’t involve a super-yacht, namely Mikel John Obi, after a tug-of-war with Manchester United and Norwegian selling club Lyn that involved lawsuits, forged signatures, allegations of kidnapping, FIFA and police enquiries, and, ultimately, a suspended prison sentence handed down by an Oslo court to a senior official at Lyn. Oh, and Roy Keane acting as a bodyguard in training. Revisited by The Athletic’s Dominic Fifield and Simon Johnson in 2021, it has to be read to be believed. The advent of Google Maps (or whatever your digital mapping service of choice is) may have helped prevent some far-fetched transfers from going through. In the 1990s, mercurial Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla was supposedly hoodwinked that Newcastle was near London when the Premier League side, managed by Kevin Keegan, were trying to sign him from Parma in Italy. (It’s actually over 250 miles/400km away — a five-hour drive.) Newcastle’s then chairman Freddy Shepherd said some years later: “We went over to Parma and Keegan got there before us, he was sat there persuading him to come. When we got there, myself, (and fellow directors) Freddie Fletcher and Douglas Hall were there and the deal was done. We shook hands. Then Asprilla’s agent said, ‘He just wants to know which part of London Newcastle is in?’. “We said, ‘What?’. We said, ‘Just tell him it isn’t far!’. Tino couldn’t speak good English at the time, but every transfer had a story behind it. There was always something.” Newcastle were asked how far they were from London by Asprilla’s agent (Bradley Ormesher/Mirrorpix/Getty Images) Like Asprilla, signing Netherlands international Bryan Roy from Italy’s Foggia was a real coup for Nottingham Forest in 1994. Again, some scratchy geography may have played a part in getting the deal done, as Forest’s manager at the time, Frank Clark, later recalled. “Bryan was playing in the 1994 World Cup (in the United States). I got there and was told I couldn’t see him as the manager wouldn’t let him out of the camp,” Clark told the Forest-themed Garibaldi Red podcast. “I was told I could watch him play and travel on the coach with all the officials because his agent’s father was chairman of the Dutch FA. “I got on this coach and was told to get to the back and sit with the players’ wives. I ended up sitting next to Bryan’s wife, which was handy. She was a budding actress, so she wanted to know how far London was from Nottingham. I thought this could be a key question, so I told her it wasn’t far — 40 minutes on a train (it’s actually more than twice that) or 30 minutes flying. “Bryan was hopeless on the night, but we went through with the deal.” The sport may have irrevocably changed in the years since, but that doesn’t mean a few old-fashioned tactics don’t remain key to encouraging a player to sign for your club. A simple but compelling phone call seems to do the trick for Ange Postecoglou, whose powers of persuasion have been cited by a number of players as an important reason why they joined the Australian manager’s teams. As The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare wrote last year: “At Celtic, new signings waxing lyrical about their conversations with Postecoglou became so commonplace that there was a running joke that the head coach could have an alternative career in recruitment if he ever had enough of football.” Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner both mentioned a chat with Postecoglou as being a reason behind joining Spurs after he moved to them from Celtic in 2023. Postecoglou said at the time: “With any player I’ve signed, it’s just a conversation about what I believe and my thoughts on them as players, where I see them fitting in. And trying to create a picture in their heads about what they’ll encounter when they get here.” Messi with his Apple money, that’s a world away from reality for the vast majority of football players. To many, it all comes down to the same basic principles that we all look for when changing our job. “Money and family are still the most important thing in any deal,” the same agent quoted earlier told The Athletic. “And that’s true for most walks of life. That — and feeling wanted. It’s pretty simple.”

nonzinoo10 Dear Chelsea Football Club, I want to thank you for the Last 3 or so years. To every staff member that helped me along this journey, thank you. To my teammates thank you for everything, I leave with only love and admiration for you guys. We achieved so much this season and I honestly wish you guys nothing but the best. To Enzo Maresca, it was a privilege to play under you, thank you for trying to better me as a player and as a person. Lastly thank you to every single Chelsea fan. Thank you for the love, the praise and also the criticism, I appreciate it all. I leave here with nothing but fond memories. Love NM11. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMQLJUtoI8n/

Arsenal's Next Signing Leaked: Cristhian Mosquera Set to Join as Fifth Summer Signing - Arsenal's next signing appears to have been leaked online, following the arrival of Noni Madueke at the Emirates. - The 23-year-old winger's move from Chelsea was confirmed on Friday, making him the fourth purchase by Mikel Arteta this summer. - More spending is expected on the red side of North London, with Viktor Gyokeres believed to be high on the list of priorities. - Images of Cristhian Mosquera, a Valencia defender, in an Arsenal training top have emerged online, suggesting he may be the fifth man to join the club this summer. - Mosquera, 21, has become a breakout star for Valencia over the last couple of seasons and is set to compete with the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel at the heart of Arteta's defense next season. - It was reported earlier in the week that Mosquera was flying to the UK to undergo a medical at the club, with a fee of around £17 million being agreed with Valencia. - Mosquera played once during Spain's 2024 Olympic triumph.

Man City confirm signing of teenager Sverre Nypan https://www.aol.com/man-city-confirm-signing-teenager-170021904.html Manchester City have completed the signing of Norwegian teenager Sverre Nypan for £12.5m. The midfielder, who has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium, said he was proud to follow in the footsteps of Erling Haaland by joining City. Nypan becomes City’s fifth summer signing after Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Marcus Bettinelli, with a combined cost of over £120m. City’s plan is to send the 18-year-old out on loan but, if no deal is agreed when their players return to training after the break they were given following the Club World Cup, he will work with Pep Guardiola and the senior squad. “I am incredibly happy and proud to have joined Manchester City,” said Nypan. “It’s a dream for any young footballer to become part of this club and to join such a group of world class talent. “I am still very young with a lot to learn but the chance to be coached by Pep Guardiola, the best manager in the world, will only help me to become a better player. “There is already a special connection between Norway and Manchester City through Erling Haaland and Oscar Bobb, and I am very proud to have become the latest Norwegian player to have joined the club.” Director of football Hugo Viana said Nypan, who became Rosenborg’s youngest ever player when he debuted at 15, had been scouted by City for a while. “Sverre is an exciting young player that the Club has been monitoring for quite some time now,” he added. “We feel that he already has numerous standout qualities but that at only 18 years of age, he is only going to continue to improve. “We believe he will be an important asset for Manchester City in the years to come and we will support him every step of the way in his development.”

Quenda also plays LWB/LB/RMF and RW

Fabrizio Romano: MAN UTD: MBEUMO + NEW STRIKER! XAVI SIMONS BLITZ, LUIS DIAZ ATTACK, GYOKERES…

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/transfer-news/arsenal-not-completed-52m-noni-32081572 snip So why has the deal not been confirmed? Up until last weekend, Madueke was with the Chelsea squad on duty at the Club World Cup in the United States of America. The 23-year-old came off the bench in the Blues' semi-final win over Fluminense on Tuesday, July 8. With talks progressing over the deal to take him to Arsenal, however, Madueke left Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign prior to the final in New Jersey that the Blues won by defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0. It is because of that Club World Cup journey, however, that is the reason why Madueke has not been confirmed. While the formalities of the deal may have been completed already, Madueke has not officially signed, having been allowed to go on holiday because of his participation in the Club World Cup. FIFA guidelines state that players should have at least three consecutive weeks of holiday after the end of a season and Madueke is currently enjoying that break. Arsenal allowed Madueke that extended time off, not expecting him to be on the plane for the start of the club's pre-season tour of Asia. Madueke has only had one week off so far and another two weeks would see him miss the tour entirely. It may be some time before the deal is officially announced.

Chelsea’s positional fluidity stifled PSG, providing Maresca with a blueprint for next season https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6492813/2025/07/18/how-Chelsea-stifled-psg-maresca-blueprint-next-season/ Not many teams keep a clean sheet against Paris Saint-Germain. In a long, quadruple-winning 2024-25 season, Luis Enrique’s side had failed to score on just five occasions before the Club World Cup final, but each of those shut-outs were qualitatively different from the blueprint that Enzo Maresca laid out for Chelsea on Sunday. “The message was quite clear. We won the game in the first 10 minutes,” Maresca told reporters after the 3-0 victory. “The message before the game was, ‘Let them understand we are here to win the game’. It set the tone of the game.” It was a statement that would not be out of place in a Sunday league dressing room, with players imploring their team-mates to “let them know you are there early” as an act of hostility. But Chelsea’s aggression out of possession was a crucial factor in their victory as they snapped into challenges and got tight to their Parisian opponents, particularly in the first half. What You Should Read Next How Chelsea won the Club World Cup: Big bonuses, training-ground deals and ‘scary’ Palmer The inside story of Chelsea's unlikely triumph in New Jersey that was 329 days in the making PSG’s fluid positional rotations have the capacity to twist anyone’s blood, as so many of Europe’s elite sides have found out in recent months. Luis Enrique’s side can pull your defensive shape apart to create space with their movement. However, space does not score goals. Chelsea’s adaptable defensive performance matched the fluidity that PSG looked to implement in possession. They were aggressive with it, but it was clear that every action they did off the ball, they performed with conviction. This was clear from the opening exchanges, when Trevoh Chalobah tracked midfielder Fabian Ruiz’s run across the pitch to receive the ball. By shutting the passing option off at source, Fabian was unable to gain possession as PSG continued to circulate the ball elsewhere. Chelsea were not entirely man-for-man across the pitch, but it was crucial that their centre-backs tracked their runners all the way when they were getting touch-tight to their markers — even if it meant being in unnatural positions at times. Below, you can see Ousmane Dembele dropping as far as left-back to find a pocket of space, but Chalobah follows him all the way to force him into a simple pass, while Chelsea briefly shuffle across to form a temporary back three. There were countless other examples, with Chalobah’s centre-back partner Levi Colwill doing exactly the same in stepping out from the defensive line to stop any danger before it grew — dovetailing excellently with midfielder Moises Caicedo, who would drop into Chelsea’s back line to plug any gaps opened by his team-mate. This was even more prominent with an example later in the first half, where you would be forgiven for thinking that it was Colwill who was playing as Chelsea’s defensive midfielder and Caicedo as left centre-back, based on this image. With the threat that PSG are known to pose in wide areas, similar communication was needed on the flanks. Wingers tracking their runners is a tale as old as time, but the extent to which Marc Cucurella and Pedro Neto shut down the space and stuck to their jobs will have pleased Maresca as much as any of the three goals his team scored. With barely four minutes on the clock, Cucurella pushes high to track Desire Doue’s run, dropping deep. As Marquinhos winds up to play the ball over the top, the Chelsea player deepest is Neto — who has followed Achraf Hakimi’s run back to his own penalty area, nodding down the long ball for Robert Sanchez to collect. Such was Neto’s desire to get back defensively, that Chelsea formed a back five at times to block the space. The image below shows the outcome of a strong first 20 minutes out of possession, with no PSG player properly inside Chelsea’s compact block as they look to circulate the ball once more. It was not exactly beautiful football at times — with Chelsea comfortable playing the percentage game by whacking it upfield and starting again in the first half — but it was no less effective. It required plenty of communication, lots of pointing and a fair share of shuttle runs, but Chelsea laid the foundation for their performance in the opening stages, just as Maresca declared. In fairness, their out-of-possession approach was equally as impressive in their semi-final clash with Fluminense, but that was based more on high pressing from the midfield and forward line. What You Should Read Next How Chelsea’s clever out-of-possession approach blunted Fluminense’s attack Enzo Maresca's side reached the Club World Cup final after their effective pressing in a 4-3-3 shape left their opponents with no answer With the fluidity of PSG’s movement, Chelsea were unable to use defensive triggers in the same way to start a coherent press across the whole team. Instead, they opted to embrace the chaos with their front-footed one-v-one battles. As much as anything, Maresca can use Chelsea’s Club World Cup final victory as a platform to show how much he can adapt tactically and curate a game plan to beat any side in European football. Such flexibility was the order of the day across the whole tournament, with Maresca using this summer to establish new ideas and strengthen the buy-in he has within the squad. Will they use an identical tactic next season in similar, high-profile games? That remains to be seen, but the defensive discipline that Chelsea showed is what they can carry into the new campaign. “For me, the biggest achievement this season is that exactly one year ago, no one was talking about Chelsea for football (reasons), but talking about the big squad, big money,” Maresca said on the Friday before the final. “Now, no one is talking about this, but they are talking about the way we play, and the way we win games. This is personally the biggest achievement of this season.” With two trophies won in less than two months, you can understand why there is now greater focus on the club’s on-pitch matters.

and on the short bus here