Vesper

Potter out I am not backing off

fucking Potter with that sub killed our countering and now we give up a corner goal, ffs

I am deffo warming up to Fofana we actually seems to be getting his burst of pace back and he is great on the ball

fucking PGMOL

BULLSHIT YELLOW ON KK!!! outrageous

finally

Pulisic is pants

cost in transfer fees for our bench is around a quarter of a billion quid (some academy players lower it) only 35 or so ENTIRE teams on the planet have a total VALUATION (valuation is usually much higher than transfer fees paid) of that

good start to the afternoon with a massive Spuds choke SOTON were down 1 - 3 with 13 minutes to go

apparently the balls only grew so much

Pulisic better come good this game!! ffs so troubling seeing his mug in the starting XI

2022-23 English Premier League Chelsea Everton https://www.topsporter.net/sports/2023/premier-league-Chelsea-vs-everton-s1/# https://www.vipleague.st/Chelsea-vs-everton-1-live-streaming

Moussa Diaby in the €40-45m (£35-39m) range would be a STEAL and we would (after we sell off the turgid Ziyech and Pulisic) set at RW for ages, with Diaby and then Noni as backup/alt

Fabrizio Romano's Daily Briefing Jonathan Johnson's Mercato Magazine - What next for Kylian Mbappe after PSG's latest UCL failure? Plus Man Utd links with Randal Kolo Muani, thoughts on Rayan Cherki's future, and more Our French football expert with the low down on this week's big stories. How will PSG respond to latest Champions League failure? Paris Saint-Germain are out of the Champions League, under-achieving again in this competition, but what that means for the club’s long-term future and strategy is not that clear. It’s important to remember the reality that Christophe Galtier and Luis Campos come as a package deal, so I don’t see a future with PSG with one but without the other. If we see one of them go, in all likelihood the other one will go too. Another reality is that they do have to free up some space on their wage bill this summer - they’ve already committed to Milan Skriniar coming in on a free transfer from Inter Milan, they’ve got the contract extension of Marquinhos, which is nearly done, and the Marco Verratti one, which is already signed. Then you’ve also got serious injuries for Neymar and Presnel Kimpembe, who are not necessarily guaranteed to be fit again in time for next season, which affects their status in this summer’s transfer window. There’s also Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos, who are coming towards the ends of their contracts, and there’s the situation with Hugo Ekitike, whose loan becomes permanent if PSG qualify for the Champions League, which is highly likely, so there’s not much wiggle room financially, and not many players in this squad they can cash in on. The obvious exception there is Mbappe, but while he’s under contract there’ll be no desire from PSG to move him on, because without him the whole project falls on its face - he’s the most consistent performer in the squad and he’s the player they want to build around. In terms of this summer, it looks like PSG will have to find value without spending massive amounts of money. There’ll probably be a certain amount of squad trimming with players coming back from loan and so on, but not with sweeping changes made. I can’t see anyone stumping up a big transfer fee for Neymar, especially while he’s injured, and Kimpembe was interesting to Chelsea last summer but he might not play again this calendar year, so cashing in on him will be more or less impossible. It’ll be a tricky window for them, but I don’t think it’s impossible that PSG look more competitive next season without the break for the World Cup in the middle of the season. There is also the possibility that the club would consider Zinedine Zidane, who remains available now that the French national team job is surely not going to be available for at least the next two years. Of course if he took over at PSG he’d have a squad at his disposal that doesn’t necessarily have what it takes to be as successful as his Real Madrid sides of the past, and PSG won’t have the financial abilities to make the kind of changes you’d imagine Zidane would need and want. I think the most logical move for PSG is to persevere with Galtier and Campos for one more season. They’ll have to make some tough decisions, and get smart with some of their transfer dealings. There’s potentially some great value with free agents this summer and we’ve already seen PSG snap up Milan Skriniar on a free, so I wouldn’t rule out that being the approach that they ultimately take. Don’t expect Kylian Mbappe movement this summer My opinion on Mbappe and PSG hasn’t changed for the last couple of years. I think the most logical out point for him from PSG and France in general is the Olympics in 2024, if he wins a gold medal with his country in Paris that would be a way to go out on a real high. That would also take him to the final year of his contract with PSG, though there is an option to extend it by one more year if he wants to. You’d expect by then that he’ll intimate his plans for the future, but I think we’ll see him there for at least one more season, which gives PSG another crack at the Champions League. I don’t think Mbappe will have enjoyed going out as early as PSG did this season. It’s been a weird time for him at the club, because there have been some low points in the Champions League, but also some high points, reaching their first final in 2020, and the semi-finals the year after that, so there has been some progression. Equally, I think there has to be some level of self-awareness from Mbappe as well - why have PSG become so limited financially in the transfer market? It’s probably down to his contract extension last year in large part, because it was a massive financial effort from PSG to renew him. It’s true that Mbappe stayed for the project, not for the finances, but it’s still the reality that it’s a big financial commitment from PSG, and with Financial Fair Play being revamped, that kind of statement has consequences and one of those consequences is a transfer window last summer that, by all accounts, has not gone down particularly well or been a great success. Neymar criticised it and called it a Second Division Portuguese transfer campaign from Campos, and while he maybe crossed a line a bit, there’s maybe some truth to it, a lot of the signings have not performed at anywhere near the levels expected. So maybe Mbappe has a case for being disappointed at the business PSG have done, so there will probably be pressure on Campos from Mbappe and the PSG hierarchy that this summer is much, much better and more in line with what he’s done at his previous clubs like Monaco and Lille. If PSG were to change manager, Zidane is the obvious candidate and that would please Mbappe, I’m sure, he’s a French footballing legend. Still, I wouldn’t expect Mbappe to be close to a move this summer, because that’s just not something PSG will countenance. No surprise that Arsenal and Newcastle like Moussa Diaby I think Moussa Diaby’s name is coming up a lot ahead of the summer because he’s grown a lot since he left PSG to move to Germany with Bayer Leverkusen. We’re seeing links with the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle, and PSG themselves have also been linked with an interest in re-signing him. I’m personally not the biggest fan of the idea of PSG bringing back players that they let go for a low amount, as that can’t be considered smart business. Still, there’s no doubt about it - he’s a much better player than he was when he left PSG, much more developed, and it doesn’t surprise me to see clubs like Arsenal and Newcastle linked with him. He’s more than just a very speedy player, he’s got a lot of versatility on that left-hand side, and I personally think he’s most well suited to playing in a more attacking role, but he’s also done well as a wing-back. He’s arriving at a point in his career now where he needs to make the next step, and perhaps a Newcastle-like project would be a good fit for him in terms of where he’s at right now. But I do think there’ll be a number of clubs across Europe looking at him in the next few months, and a return to Ligue 1 has certainly been raised in the last few months. Still, with PSG’s financial constraints I’m not sure they’ll be able to stump up the kind of money Leverkusen would want for him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had an asking price of €50m or just over that, something in the €40-50m range. There might be a scope to structure the deal so that the initial fee is a bit lower, but the overall structure of the deal is still likely to come up to around the €50m mark. I can’t see Leverkusen letting him go for anything less than a starting fee of around €30m. Clubs need to be careful before signing Benjamin Pavard Benjamin Pavard is facing an uncertain few months. I don’t think he’s extended his contract with Bayern and so he’s potentially a free agent in 2024. He’s had problems off the pitch as well with a recent drink driving, which won’t have pleased his superiors at Bayern. I think Pavard is potentially of interest to some top clubs this summer, if he decides he doesn’t want to renew with Bayern. He’s a talented player on his day, and a versatile option as well as he can play right-back or centre-back, but I think there are some doubts about his level as an elite defender. We saw him sent off in the game against PSG recently, and he was cast out of France’s World Cup squad after a disappointing opening performance, and there have started to be more and more question marks about his mentality and character of late. There’s a lot for big clubs to consider with Pavard, but Barcelona are looking at players who can potentially be acquired without splashing out massive transfer fees, so it’s not too surprising that they’ve been linked with him, as that remaining time on his contract will make him appealing. Some top clubs will surely look at him and think he’s a reasonable option. There were some doubts raised about him during the World Cup, and there are perhaps questions to be asked about his mentality since he won the tournament in 2018. I think he’s maybe ridden the wave of success after that World Cup and has got a little too complacency, feeling that he’d be an established starter for France regardless of form, and that didn’t prove to be the case in Qatar. It might now be time for Didier Deschamps to offer an explanation about whether or not Pavard features in his plans moving forward, and why. But it’s not just limited to the national team, there have been a number of run-ins with the Bayern hierarchy in recent months as well. I think clearly he’s someone who has to be handled carefully, so any interested clubs will have to do a lot of intel work on him before trying to sign him. Kolo Muani won’t come cheap for Manchester United or Bayern Munich Randal Kolo Muani has been strongly linked with Manchester United and he’s a very interesting player. It might feel to some like he’s been a bit of an overnight success, but we saw his quality during his time in Ligue 1 with Nantes. That move to Eintracht Frankfurt and his exposure to European football has boosted his profile massively, and there have been whispers that Bayern Munich have been looking at him as well. Frankfurt are one of those clubs, a bit like Borussia Monchengladbach, who are a very good springboard for French players looking to move abroad. It can put them in the shop window for bigger clubs while getting the necessary minutes to be able to develop and compete at that level. So it’s possible that United and Bayern will be in for him this summer, but it’s going to require a massive fee. Obviously it will make Nantes sick hearing about fees in the region of €120m when he left them for nothing, but I think it’s now one of the more recognised pathways for French talents, going to the Bundesliga for that next step, similar to Moussa Diaby and Christopher Nkunku, who’s going to be joining Chelsea this summer. I think we’ll see other players follow in Kolo Muani’s footsteps in the future. We’ll see what happens with United and Bayern, but after the way he’s performed this season it’s not surprising to see these kinds of clubs looking at him, but I think it is worth reiterating that it’s going to be a very big fee needed to get this deal done. Rayan Cherki looks a perfect fit for PSG Rayan Cherki is another young French talent to keep an eye on, he’s a very interesting player, very talented. He’s the latest prospect to be produced on the famed Lyon talent production line. I can’t see Lyon keeping him or other star players for much longer without European football, so at most you could probably argue for him staying for one more season at Lyon to ensure he’s a starter, but he could also potentially get that somewhere like PSG, who have been linked with him in the past. I think he’ll realise soon enough that Lyon, particularly if they don’t win the Coupe de France, is just not a high up enough level for him. Players like Cherki need to be playing European football and if they keep missing out it’s hard to see the logic in him staying. He’s more than good enough to play in Europe and that’s what he needs for his development. There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly strong in terms of links with Premier League clubs for the moment, but if he were to join, he’s a very attack-minded player who can fill in out wide or even play as an out-and-out striker, but I think he’s best as a bit of a creative hub. I can see him fitting in at a team who play with a sort of fluid front three. He’s actually just the kind of player PSG have been lacking, and while I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s Neymar-esque, he does look like someone who could give them a lot in a sort of central attacking role.

Fabrizio Romano's Daily Briefing 🚨 Christian Falk's Fact Files - Klopp's Bellingham intervention, Man Utd preparing €120m Bundesliga raid, Tottenham's next manager & more Today's exclusive transfer round-up from Bundesliga insider Christian Falk, featuring Tottenham, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and more. Today’s top stories: Jurgen Klopp has made fresh Jude Bellingham decision… Real Madrid interest in RB Leipzig sensation ‘very concrete’! Arsenal and Tottenham could fight for Borussia Dortmund star… Harry Kane Tottenham are, of course, not very keen on selling their star striker but, also for Bayern, it could end up working out pretty well for them if they wait a year, Kane doesn’t sign a contract in the meantime and then they can snap him up for free in 2024. Bayern aren’t quite sure if they can pay for Kane this summer and they have the new contract for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for one year, they have Mathys Tel… so they are keeping a close eye on what’s happening with Tottenham. Bayern can wait and it could be the perfect time to strike in 2024. Bayern Munich Bayern are trying to extend Benjamin Pavard’s contract. I talked to Benjamin this week and asked him if he sees a future in Bavaria. He said many words in French but after the translation there was no clear answer in terms of wanting to stay; he said “let us fight for the championship and win some titles and after then we can see”, so you see he’s playing for time. I know Barcelona are still at the forefront of his mind, the links there are very concrete. Inter are still following him, of course, but they’re not the No.1 choice. Chelsea could be an option. So these are the potential options for Pavard and, at the moment, I’m not so sure he’ll sign a new contract. Should clubs be careful before looking to sign Pavard? Jonathan Johnson explores the player’s situation in his CaughtOffside column! JONATHAN JOHNSON'S FULL COLUMN I talked with Julian Nagelsmann about João Cancelo and he said that the defender is doing well but he isn’t a player for his system, which involves three defenders behind two wing-backs. So that’s the problem. If Pavard is fit, it’s getting difficult for Cancelo and time is slowly running out. It’s not a perfect situation for both sides and it’s worth considering that the clause of €70m is too high for Bayern Munich. I heard they’ve already informed the player and his management that they can’t pay this amount. If there’s no truth in the interest of Real Madrid and no one is prepared to pay this clause, Bayern would surely sit at the table with Manchester City and discuss his contract but €70m just isn’t an option for them. Plus, at the moment, he’s not a regular in the first-XI. [💬Where does João Cancelo’s future lie? Should another club try and sign him this summer? Let us know who in the comments! - (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)] Borussia Dortmund No talks yet between Dortmund and Jude Bellingham, so I’m not sure if it’s the right time now ahead of the international break. I heard that because of Liverpool’s experience in the Champions League this term, Jurgen Klopp made his thoughts very clear: Bellingham is now the top, top target. He said that every other transfer should be pushed down the pecking order; names like Randal Kolo Muani aren’t as important at the moment - there’s just one name and this is Bellingham. Klopp needs him in the midfield, though they can see the difficulty in completing such a deal because Real Madrid are moving as well. But there is some good news for Liverpool, as Madrid are also interested in Joško Gvardiol and it’s not realistic for them to pay for both as Gvardiol would be an over €100m deal, as would Bellingham. It’s a pity that Julian Brandt is injured at the moment because he’s been playing very well for Borussia Dortmund and now the national games have arrived. Of course, Dortmund heard about interest from the Premier League - especially Arsenal and Tottenham, we heard - and that’s why they’ve been putting pressure on the player; they want to have talks with him and his father to work out a new contract. So you see, Dortmund are getting nervous because they know, in his head, the possibility of a Premier League move is being considered. Now, they’re pushing to get him signed up on a new contract. But Arsenal and Tottenham would be interesting for Julian. Gregor Kobel is very important for Dortmund - they will do everything to stop an exit from the club. It’s true that his agents attended the Champions League game in London. We know that they had talks with several clubs in the Premier League, not only Chelsea. So you see, there is special interest coming from the Premier League. But at the end, there must be some crazy figures being proposed to encourage Dortmund to sell him. He’s being regularly linked in rumours to Bayern Munich but it’s too early for him - no club will be able to easily sign him. Gladbach Manu Koné’s club, Gladbach, know that they will lose him this summer, unless something crazy happens. There are talks now between the sporting director, Roland Virkus, and Koné’s management, discussing how much would be on the table for selling him (crazy amounts like €40-50m). [Kouadio ‘Manu’ Koné (right) in action for Gladbach - (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)] PSG are interested. The player is French. We heard that Chelsea knocked on the door and have an interest in him. I don’t think he’s focused purely on one league, the most important thing for the player is focusing on the next step. Inter Milan There are always rumours around Marcus Thuram but he’s not doing so well in Germany, that’s why Bayern Munich said no. Chelsea aren’t so interested either. The next step is Italy and you see it’s not the absolute top club in the country with the rumours around Inter Milan. I think the agents are ringing the doorbells of other clubs as he’s struggling at Gladbach. I think we’ll see him at a very good club next season because he’s a free agent. Kylian Mbappe Jonathan Johnson’s COS Column: If PSG were to change manager, Zidane is the obvious candidate and that would please Mbappe, I’m sure, he’s a French footballing legend. Still, I wouldn’t expect Mbappe to be close to a move this summer, because that’s just not something PSG will countenance. JONATHAN JOHNSON'S FULL COLUMN Manchester United We heard that Manchester United is going to prepare a big offer for Randal Kolo Muani - specifically, €120m. That’s a price Frankfurt wouldn’t say no to. Last week, there was a meeting with the new agents, Moussa Sissoko and the sporting director, Markus Krösche. They are getting offers and if there is a big offer they have to consider it. At the moment, nothing has happened as the offer isn’t on the table yet. The agents are pushing because new agents can only make money if they make a new deal. Good news for Bayern Munich if Muani does end up going to United, as it then means United are out of the Harry Kane transfer poker. 📰 Manchester United have shown an interest in signing Kim Min-Jae this summer [Fichajes via CaughtOffside] Micky van de Ven The player is talented and very fast for a centre-back - 35.9km per hour; that’s really quick for such a player. He has a contract until 2027 and no release clause but Wolfsburg would be prepared to talk if they received an offer of €30m. The player himself has said he has no problem with staying another year but has also mentioned he’s open for a switch to Spain and the Premier League. So he’s already thinking about his future. [💬Should a Premier League club swoop in early for the centre-half? Let us know your thoughts below! - (Photo by Oliver Hardt/Getty Images)] Many clubs are scouting him at the moment, it’s a really long list; Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, AC Milan… so you see, he’s a very attractive option. It’s not the case that he feels he has to leave this summer but I think if he keeps up the quality of his performances this season, next summer one of these clubs will be prepared to pay what Wolfsburg are looking for. Real Madrid We heard that Real Madrid are keen on Joško Gvardiol - it’s very concrete. There were already talks before the World Cup and now they are applying pressure with the potential deal. I heard Gvardiol regrets not putting more pressure on his club when Chelsea knocked on the door last summer for €90m. Now, he sees that clubs are interested again; Real Madrid look like they could be the No.1 choice but Manchester City are also an interesting option for him. Chelsea lost important time in this deal and find themselves on the second row behind these two clubs. His release clause is €112m in 2024. Chelsea made a bid of €90m last summer, so you see the minimum would be €100m and this is the line the clubs have to jump over. Tottenham Before, we’ve heard about concrete interest from Tottenham in Borna Sosa. This winter, Leverkusen tried to get him. Sosa also wanted to leave in the past. He’s got new management and they’re in talks with Tottenham; Spurs are keen. He wouldn’t be too expensive for an English club, so I think this deal could happen this summer. Chelsea have knocked on Oliver Glasner’s door in the past but he was committed to the project at Frankfurt. Now, I heard Frankfurt have tried to arrange a new contract and discuss his future. Glasner told them that he needs time to make that decision, so you see, perhaps, he’s thinking of moving to another club - this could be Tottenham. I don’t think he’s made a decision yet, so let’s see. Hansi Flick was also close to joining Tottenham before he took the Germany job. Tottenham clearly have their eye on Bundesliga coaches, so perhaps Glasner could be their man. 📰 Tottenham now linked with a move for Barcelona’s Ferran Torres [Calciomercatoweb via CaughtOffside]

Mount is the only one of late that (if he goes to a powerhouse EPL team and blows up again) has the true potential to do that. I do NOT think he will ever be as good as Salah or De Bruyne have been, no way, but he could possibly be a true thorn in our side, especially if that team is Pool, or less likely (that he ends up there) Manure or even Citeh, with a wild card of NUFC)

lol, the only two teams they left out were us and AC Milan would LOVE to see that final! to win that way would mean we possibly (If Bayern beat Citeh) would have beaten the top 3 all time EC/CL winning teams (27 titles and 40 finals between them!) IF Real win it again they will have won 6 of the last 10 years (and 5 of the last 8). Insane into today's age (so much harder now than it was when they had that monster 5 in a row run in the last 5 years of the 1950s: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)

I do not think an Enzo-less Benfica can handle Napoli

yes to win it, the only top 4 on the planet team we do not have to face is likely either Citeh or Bayern (the loser of their tie) for sure we face 2 of the top 3 just to get to the final

N’Golo Kante is a ‘huge player’ for Chelsea at his highest level – Graham Potter https://theathletic.com/4320051/2023/03/17/graham-potter-ngolo-kante-Chelsea/ Graham Potter is confident he has enough time to get N’Golo Kante back to his best in time for Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. Kante is in contention to be in the squad against Everton tomorrow. It is the first time the midfielder will feature for the club since suffering a serious hamstring strain against Tottenham in August. The France international is going to take a while to get to full match fitness after being ruled out for so long. But the two legs are being played on April 12 and 18, which gives Potter the opportunity to get him ready. When asked if he has an opportunity to get him up to speed in time to face Real Madrid, he replied: “Yes. When you have a player injured for that length of time, you have to take those steps regardless of what our situation is, to take the steps to get him up to speed, get him back to the player he is in a responsible way, doing it as safely as we can which enables him to take the right steps to go forward. Once he is at his highest level he is a huge player for us.” Potter feels Kante’s absence from the senior side has not been appreciated enough by those outside of Stamford Bridge and sees his return as providing a significant boost for the Champions League. He added: “Managers before me have spoken very highly about N’Golo because he is a top, top player. He has been a huge miss to us, that’s not to say other players haven’t given absolutely everything, they have. But N’Golo Kante is a top player. “It’s great for us that he’s back, we need to be mindful of the fact that he’s had a long injury, we need to make the next steps to get him up to speed in the Premier League, which is what we will do. But it’s great to have him with us.” Chelsea were beaten by Real Madrid at the quarter-finals last season and the La Liga club looked impressive in their 6-2 aggregate victory over Liverpool in the last 16 this time around. But Potter is not dismayed at the prospect of facing the holders and said: “The feeling is excitement but I’d rather speak about Everton because that’s the game tomorrow. The other stuff is a long way away.” Midfielder Mason Mount will also not play for England this month. The-24-year-old was selected in Gareth Southgate’s squad yesterday for their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine. Raheem Sterling, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva are also all ruled out for Chelsea through injury. GO DEEPER Kante the Orchestrator: The Athletic's new analysis explains his changing Chelsea role

Joao Felix: Should Chelsea sign him permanently? https://theathletic.com/4315824/2023/03/17/joao-felix-Chelsea-atletico-madrid-sign-permanently/ It is just one of a number of tough decisions Chelsea have to make over the next few months: should they sign Joao Felix permanently? The 23-year-old joined from Atletico Madrid in January on loan for the rest of the season. There was no option or obligation to buy included in the deal so Chelsea will have to negotiate a fee with the La Liga club. He will not come cheap, but few quality international players do. So what should Chelsea do? The Athletic’s Chelsea correspondents Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson rarely agree on anything. And it will not come as a surprise that the same applies here as they debate whether the club should buy Joao Felix. No, he’s too expensive and other areas are a priority — Liam Twomey Joao Felix is clearly an elite talent and has done enough in his few appearances for Chelsea to establish himself as the most entertainingly skilful attacker to call Stamford Bridge home since Eden Hazard departed in 2019. That said, the ability of the player is only one factor to consider when weighing up a decision as big as this one. Make no mistake, buying Joao Felix permanently would be a big — and by big, I mean expensive — decision. That he signed a contract extension with Atletico Madrid before finalising his Chelsea loan move in January flew a little under the radar, but it means he will have four years remaining on his deal this summer. There is no defined option in the loan agreement that would facilitate Chelsea signing him, nor is there a clear price at which Atletico have indicated they would consider selling. Joao Felix’s buyout clause, a mandatory requirement in every La Liga player’s contract, is reportedly set at €350million (£307.2m; $371.4m) — a deterrent rather than an invitation. Chelsea clearly would not need to offer anything close to that figure but, given that Atletico paid €126million to acquire him from Benfica in 2019 and retain strong contractual leverage over a player who is still only 23, it is reasonable to assume they would expect to recoup a large chunk of that transfer fee in any sale — particularly in light of the spending that Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have sanctioned over the past two transfer windows. Any large transfer fee for Joao Felix (which, it is important to note, UEFA will insist is amortised over no more than five years from this summer) would further complicate Chelsea’s attempts to remain compliant with financial fair play if they fail to secure Champions League qualification this season. Significant sales are required to offset some of the recent spending and it is inevitable that any more marquee deals will increase the sense of urgency. This is without factoring in Joao Felix’s salary — well in excess of £200,000 a week — which would put him in the upper reaches of a Chelsea wage structure that Boehly and Clearlake are trying to bring down to a more sustainable level. Perhaps he would accept a pay cut to make sure he gets out of Atletico, but that is not the way most top footballers or their agents operate. Working in Chelsea’s favour is the fact Joao Felix’s relationship with Diego Simeone is widely considered to be at a Thomas Tuchel-Romelu Lukaku level of broken. If the Argentine remains Atletico coach beyond this season, it is difficult to see how reconciliation could be achieved and that internal tension may help to reduce the asking price. But even if a deal can be done to sign Joao Felix, is he really what Chelsea need most? Boehly and Clearlake plan to scale back their transfer investment in future windows. If resources are now finite, surely other areas of the pitch assume greater priority: a genuine No 9 or a long-term midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez, or a new goalkeeper. The vast expense likely required to sign Joao Felix permanently may still be dwarfed by the opportunity cost; money spent on him cannot be spent elsewhere. Finally, is there even a functional, balanced formation that can maximise all of Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku and Kai Havertz in one team? Or is this array of attackers-who-aren’t-quite-strikers a recipe for a lavishly expensive final third unit which proves less than a coherent sum of its parts? The risk of the latter scenario is reason enough to be cautious. Yes, he has provided a spark and has the talent of Zola and Hazard — Simon Johnson Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here? Yes, I have gone there, starting my counterargument by quoting a line from a movie. It is a first for me and not something I intend to do regularly. Joao Felix bears little resemblance to Russell Crowe’s character in Gladiator, Maximus Decimus Meridius, but both men have the knack of winning over a demanding crowd and being used as memes on social media. The 23-year-old arrived at a difficult time for the team and the club. Confidence was at a low ebb and head coach Graham Potter’s position was under threat. Fans were making their feelings known in the stands and via email. It is hard for a flair player to, well, play with any flair in such circumstances, yet Felix has done that. Imagine what he will do in a team full of confidence. Unlike the vast majority of Chelsea’s new signings, Felix has not needed time to adapt to life at Stamford Bridge and the Premier League. The Portugal international has impressed since his debut despite being sent off at Fulham. The away fans at Craven Cottage that night saw enough to give him the honour of a specific chant. Chelsea have a rich history of players who can do something special, a trick, a shuffle of the hips to bewitch an opposing defender, an individual who justifies the cost of a ticket. People like Charlie Cooke, Pat Nevin, Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard. Joao Felix has a lot to do to be compared with those legends, but the talent is there. He provided supporters with a reason to keep going to games while their losing habit continued and has been a factor in Chelsea’s three-game winning streak, although he does need to sharpen up when it comes to defending the final third. His return of one goal and no assists does not do his performances justice. Luck has not been on his side, having hit the woodwork three times as well as having a strike ruled out by VAR for offside. Most importantly, Joao Felix is building up a promising understanding with like-minded technical players Havertz and Fernandez. Why break up such a trio? With at least two more months of the season to benefit from, things will surely only get better between them and crucially they will be ready to gel from day one of the next campaign. The grass is not always greener and it is quite a risk to think there is someone else better out there. Joao Felix has made it clear how happy he is at Chelsea and in London, hinting that he wants to turn it into a permanent move. Fernandez significantly recently said: “When you get on with someone, it helps on the field. He’s a great player. Let’s hope Chelsea can do all they can to keep hold of him.” Yes, it is going to be expensive, although the indications are that Atletico will be prepared to accept a figure in the region of £80million rather than anything close to the ridiculous release clause. Chelsea have other positions they want to strengthen, too, yet are planning a mass clear-out which should raise a significant amount of revenue and make the dressing room less congested. The club’s co-owners, who are willing to spend more in the transfer market, always had it in their minds to buy Joao Felix if he impresses and they are exploring the possibility. Who can blame them? I wouldn’t say no to a sequel.

Champions League quarter-finals: Predictions, players to watch and tactical talking points https://theathletic.com/4319877/2023/03/17/champions-league-quarter-final-predictions-players-watch/ The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals has thrown up intriguing ties: a clash between faded European aristocrats; a Guardiola-Bayern reunion; a trip back to Chelsea for Carlo Ancelotti; and a local squabble between two Serie A giants. We asked our experts Oliver Kay, James Horncastle, Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, Nick Miller and Liam Tharme to analyse the major talking points and offer their predictions. Real Madrid v Chelsea Why is this tie worth watching? Horncastle: It’s a repeat of last season’s quarter-final, which set the tone for Madrid’s ‘most Madrid Champions League triumph’ in years. Chelsea under Todd Boehly remind me of early Perez Madrid: big spenders without giving due consideration to how the signings fit as a team. Stafford-Bloor: Chelsea are yet to develop the chemistry necessary to be cohesive on a full-time basis and Real are, and have been for a while now, capable of playing possum across a two-legged game, before taking advantage of whatever opportunity they’re given. It’s not a tie that promises incessant waves of quality, but it’s a virtual guarantee of great moments. Kay: I was in Madrid for the second leg of last season’s quarter-final and I found it extraordinary. Chelsea produced arguably the best performance of Thomas Tuchel’s tenure (including when they won it the previous season) and Madrid were atrocious as they went from 3-1 up on aggregate to 4-3 down before finally getting their act together. Hard to imagine similar drama this time, but here’s hoping. Miller: Carlo Ancelotti v Graham Potter is a real ‘nice guys of football management’ clash: you wonder if the younger man will be able to absorb his Chelsea predecessor’s ability to maintain that affability, while also being a serial winner. Tharme: Madrid have proved over the last few seasons that any Champions League tie involving them is worth watching. Even when they have looked down and out in previous knockout ties — notably in the second leg at home to Manchester City last season — their capacity to turn it on in the biggest moments is incredible. Which player on each side are you eager to watch? Horncastle: Fabio Capello was talking the other day about the best players of the post-Ronaldo-Messi generation. He put Kylian Mbappe head and shoulders above the rest and then name-checked Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior. It’s remarkable what Vinicius Jr has achieved at his age. He has hit new heights under Ancelotti. If Reece James is fit, I look forward to the battle on that flank. Kay: Luka Modric. There is a tendency for television commentators to overstate his influence on certain matches — I felt he only really started to dictate proceedings at Liverpool last month once Real were 4-2 up — but I’m nitpicking. He’s a phenomenon. To play the way he does at the age of 37, to be so calm and yet so decisive and creative while covering so much ground is extraordinary. For Chelsea, coming up against Modric is the perfect opportunity to find out more about Enzo Fernandez. As strange as it is to say this about someone who excelled in Argentina’s World Cup triumph, he’s still something of an unknown quantity at this level. Miller: We must drink in every last drop of Modric, but Eduardo Camavinga looked so assured against Liverpool. For Chelsea, it’s a big one for Fernandez. Stafford-Bloor: Mykhailo Mudryk for Chelsea, because we’ve really been starved of the opportunity to watch him since he moved to England for that big fee. But the fragments of his game are still thrilling in a way that promises to come together to produce something electric. For Madrid, well if you’re tired of Karim Benzema, you’re tired of football. Tharme: Vinicius Jr is on fire in Europe. He has already scored more goals (six) in the Champions League this season than in any previous campaign and he has 14 goals and 15 assists in 42 appearances overall in the competition — including the winner in the final last season. His playing relationship with Benzema is a sight to behold. For Chelsea, the enigmatic Joao Felix is facing his parent club’s (Atletico Madrid) local rivals and will be up against an aged midfield that has technical excellence but perhaps not mobility. Where will the game be decided? Horncastle: In midfield. Madrid have been written off for years because of the age of Modric and Toni Kroos. But fitness coach Antonio Pintus has extended their careers and they’re still able to run games. How Fernandez and Co measure up should be fun. Stafford-Bloor: Reece James v Vinicius Jr is probably the area to focus on. Vinicius Jr makes his own case; he’s become so destructive. But James’ delivery and movement is so important to Chelsea’s ability to mask their lack of a true goalscorer, which is to say nothing of the way he’ll have to patrol that right side and guard against pace and threat. Kay: I’ll agree with Seb. It’s James v Vinicius Jr. Trent Alexander-Arnold found Vinicius Jr too hot to handle in the previous round, which is probably a large part of why he was left out of the England squad in favour of James. We now get to find out whether James, whose season has been stop-start due to injury, can do any better. Miller: In the heads of the Chelsea players. Can they get over the psychological hold Real seem to have over the Champions League? They did in 2021, after all… Tharme: If Potter continues to play the Tuchel-esque 3-4-2-1 that he used against Borussia Dortmund then Chelsea will overload Madrid’s midfield three. Though a high-possession approach from Chelsea would play into Madrid’s likely game plan of mid-block-and-counter, so Potter will need to have his counter-press well drilled. Our predictions Kay: I didn’t think Real Madrid were a great team when they won it last year — and they certainly have not looked great in La Liga this season — but they were very impressive against Liverpool. In this competition, you have to fancy them. Stafford-Bloor: Real advance. Drama. Horncastle: Madrid’s history in this competition, not to mention that of Carlo Ancelotti, should automatically make them favourites at the start of every Champions League season. Miller: Real Madrid. Tharme: It feels incredibly naive and difficult to overlook Real, despite Chelsea’s recent improvements. Inter Milan v Benfica Why is this tie worth watching? Horncastle: This is a throwback to an age when Benfica and Inter ruled European football in the 1960s. It feels slightly odd to characterise Benfica as a revelation this season when they reached the same stage a year ago, but the team has come on leaps and bounds under Roger Schmidt despite selling Darwin Nunez and Enzo Fernandez. Kay: Inter haven’t reached this stage in the Champions League since 2011. Benfica haven’t reached the semi-finals since 1990. This is an incredible opportunity for two clubs who have adapted very differently to the challenges of the past decade: Benfica largely building around youth; Inter preferring experience. Stafford-Bloor: Benfica are the story. Honestly, they’re good enough to win the whole thing — and if they don’t, their football will mean they go down swinging. Miller: Novelty and nostalgia: these two haven’t faced each other in this competition since the 1965 final, which is fairly extraordinary; two historical giants of the European game going at it again. Tharme: At their best, Inter’s 3-5-2 and advancing wing-backs are really, really fun to watch. Their overall approach might look defence-first — they kept clean sheets, just, in both legs against Porto in the last round — but they are particularly threatening down both sides, especially when attacking a back four that they can overload. As for Benfica: goals. They scored seven in the round of 16 against Club Bruges — and only Napoli, Bayern and Liverpool scored more group-stage goals than them (16). Which player on each side are you eager to watch? Kay: I have a peculiar fascination with Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. I remember a scout telling me he was one to watch 10 years ago when he was a teenager in Stuttgart’s B team and then again when he went to Panathinaikos. He probably hasn’t quite reached the heights expected, but my fascination persists. Inter? That’s a harder question. They’re not really a team you particularly look forward to watching, are they? They have some very accomplished players, but, with respect to Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez, I wouldn’t say they’re a team that has me on the edge of my seat. Miller: Goncalo Ramos did it at the World Cup, he’s doing it in the league, he did it against Club Bruges, but it’s big-boy time now. The man he’ll be trying to beat: Andre Onana. Stafford-Bloor: Goncalo Ramos’s form has been a joy but, while this may sound silly in a few years’ time, I still don’t quite trust it. Instead — and this is sentimental — I’ll pick the resurgent Joao Mario and his opportunity to put his old side to the sword. That he’s still just 30 describes how young he was when he was prematurely anointed as one of the stars of his generation. It’s been a disappointing decade and he suffered through that difficult time at Inter, with curious loan spells in Russia and West Ham (as well as at Sporting CP) Now, though, he’s playing the best football of his career. Who doesn’t enjoy a redemption story? Horncastle: Andre Onana has replaced Inter captain Samir Handanovic in goal on merit. His quick-thinking distribution was magnificent away in Barcelona and he came up with huge saves in the Porto tie. As for Benfica, Antonio Silva has emerged as the next great centre-back to come through at the club. Expect him to fetch Ruben Dias-style money one day. Tharme: For those who like attacking full-backs, Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo is exciting. An ever-present for Schmidt’s side in Europe this season, he ranks joint top in the squad for chances created (14) in the Champions League this season and suits the 4-2-3-1 shape where he can overlap the left winger. Inter’s front two, Edin Dzeko (6ft 4in) and Martinez (5ft 9in) look like a typical ‘big man-little man’ strike partnership but both are capable of playing either role. Where will the game be decided? Miller: Martinez has been banging them in at home, but only has one in the Champions League this season — can he find his Euro shooting boots? Kay: Benfica coach Schmidt will know his team have to succeed where their great rivals Porto failed. Porto had so much possession in the second leg and so many half-chances, but Inter defended resolutely and kept them at bay across the whole tie. Benfica will have to hope Ramos, in particular, can prove more incisive. Stafford-Bloor: Probably Inter’s defence. Injuries have been an issue, but manager Simone Inzaghi’s back line hasn’t been stable enough this season, either in its personnel or performance. The Onana-Handanovic goalkeeping handover has been easier than anticipated but the whole department will need to improve. Horncastle: Benfica are super provocative in the final third and keep winning penalties, which is one of the reasons former Inter midfielder Mario is up to 21 goals in all competitions. Inter’s centre-backs will need to be on their best behaviour. Tharme: A 3-5-2 against a 4-2-3-1 always makes for a fascinating clash. How Benfica defend Inter’s wing-backs when they push on — and can overload their back four — will be critical. But Inter’s defence, with five clean sheets in eight Champions League games, will be a big test for Benfica’s firing attack. Our predictions Kay: This one feels like a coin toss. Benfica. No, Inter. No, Benfica. I’ll stick with my first answer. Benfica, with a flourish. Horncastle: Keep an eye on Inter. Let’s go early and make them a finalist. They’ll be reasonably satisfied with this draw and Inzaghi is a cup specialist. Inter were the first team to beat Napoli in the league this season and hammered Milan in the Super Cup and, most recently, Derby della Madonnina. Miller: Benfica. Stafford-Bloor: Benfica, with a flourish. Tharme: Really, really hard to call. Winner of the first leg takes it. Manchester City v Bayern Munich Why is this tie worth watching? Kay: It’s always fascinating to see how Manchester City cope with the intense pressure of the knockout stage. They were incredibly unfortunate to lose to Real Madrid in last season’s semi-final, but the agonising, spectacular nature of that stoppage-time collapse can only have added to the pressure they face this time. Stafford-Bloor: Pick your narrative: Guardiola vs Nagelsmann. Past vs Future. Haaland returning to Germany. Super League vs The Resistance. It’s the headline quarter-final and the one with the highest chance of producing this year’s winner. And if past knockout games have burrowed their way inside Guardiola’s mind, imagine how busy his synapses will be before this one? Horncastle: Well, Julia Roberts, if you’re reading this Pep remains the gold standard at Bayern. OK, he didn’t win the Champions League in Munich. Jupp Heynckes pulled off an unprecedented treble the season before he arrived, which kind of stole Pep’s thunder. But in terms of standards set, Pep is unmatched at the Allianz. Nagelsmann was supposed to get Bayern close to that level again, but they were eliminated by Villarreal last season (in the quarter-finals) and may relinquish their Bundesliga title this time around. Miller: To see whether Guardiola’s ongoing Champions League existential crisis with his current club can be worsened by ghosts of the Champions League existential crisis at his former club. Tharme: If you need convincing to watch this game, then football is probably not for you. Which player on each side are you eager to watch? Kay: Kevin De Bruyne. He has been up and down this season, but at his best — in the Manchester derby last October; against RB Leipzig the other night — he is a joy to watch, a wonderful combination of dynamism, creativity and skill. For Bayern, it’s Jamal Musiala. I love watching him dribble. He has had an outstanding season and looks better — physically stronger and more mature in his decision-making — every time I watch him. Stafford-Bloor: Musiala is magical. Not just effective in productivity terms, but an actual delight with the ball at his feet. He is the ethereal element — the drifting player who can hurt opponents in all sorts of ways from all sorts of positions. He’s a star already. In blue, it’s Haaland, but not for the obvious reasons. When he was at Dortmund, this kind of fixture sometimes made Haaland frustrated, given the team’s fragility. Now he has a backing cast to support him it really will be interesting to see how — or if — he delivers. Miller: Musiala is the predictable answer, but sometimes things are predictable because they are true. See also Haaland, who scored five times in seven games against Bayern in Germany. Horncastle: Musiala keeps going from strength to strength. I’ve already mentioned Vinicius Jr and we’re spoiled for imaginative players in the final third at the moment. Musiala has a total of 20 goals and assists in the Bundesliga alone this season. Wait until Boehly finds out he was once on Chelsea’s books. Joao Cancelo’s name is going to come up over the course of this tie, but I fancy watching the guy who took his place, Rico Lewis, purely because Pep is using him like he used Philipp Lahm and Joshua Kimmich. Tharme: In the (all-deserved) awe of Musiala, I think Kingsley Coman gets underrated. He scored the winner in the 2020 Champions League final and, playing as a left wing-back, netted the only goal in the round of 16 first leg away to PSG this season. For City, it’s De Bruyne’s time to shine. Where will the game be decided? Kay: In the mind. City are a brilliant team who seem to have developed a mental block in the Champions League knockout stage. When you think they’ve got over it, like last season against Real Madrid, it resurfaces. Stafford-Bloor: Let’s rattle through a list: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s ability to take chances at the same rate as Haaland; the partnership between Matthijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano; the quality of the goalkeeping; and the fitness of players who neither team can afford to do without: Leon Goretzka, Musiala, De Bruyne, Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan. Miller: Inside the heads of the managers. Horncastle: Upamecano and De Ligt contained Messi and Mbappe. Let’s see how they cope with Haaland, who seems more involved in City’s play than before. Pep gave this glowing review to Sky Italia after his ‘manita’ against Leipzig: “It’s important he had 30 touches. Before he scored five goals and touched the ball seven times. I don’t like a striker that stays up there. I want them to be involved in the process of playing and play and play and play.” Tharme: The gut instinct is that Guardiola is bound to do something tactically or with personnel that is a little strange. Our predictions Kay: You can never underestimate Bayern, but I’m inclined to go with City here. All season long I’ve had them down as favourites to win it and, despite a very tough draw, I’ll stick with that. Stafford-Bloor: It’s City’s tie to lose, but they will. Horncastle: Choupo-Moting to have another one of those incongruously big Champions League moments. Miller: Bayern Munich. AC Milan v Napoli Why is this tie worth watching? Kay: For me, it brings out a certain nostalgia for the late 1980s — Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten v Diego Maradona and Careca — and an old bootlegged VHS tape I bought at a market in Cyprus. But these days it’s about Kvaradona, not Maradona. I cannot get enough of watching Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. It’s such an evocative clash anyway, but all the more so when Kvaratskhelia and Napoli are the most compelling team and most compelling story of this season. Stafford-Bloor: Perceived entitlement v an inferiority complex. It’s a tinder box of a fixture. Miller: For those of a certain vintage, the sight of Italian sides riding high in the Champions League brings a fuzzy nostalgic glow. Horncastle: It’s the current Italian champions against the next Italian champions, so this is the best Serie A has to offer. The game at San Siro earlier this season was fantastic and even though Milan lost, it ranks as one of their finest performances. Milan have changed system since then and it’ll be interesting to see what Napoli learn from the league encounter at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at the beginning of April (before the two Champions League games). Tharme: You’d be silly not to watch any game involving Napoli right now. Their 4-3-3 is fluid and dynamic and without any major weakness. They scored the most group-stage goals (20) of any team but had so much variety in them too. Which player on each side are you eager to watch? Kay: For Napoli, it has to be Kvaratskhelia. He’s such a pure talent, always trying those little twists, turns and the type of individualism and spontaneity that is so rare in the highly-prescribed football we see these days. The fact he has come so far from relative obscurity in such a short space of time adds to his appeal. For Milan, I’m looking forward to seeing more of Malick Thiaw. Stafford-Bloor: For Napoli, it’s still Victor Osimhen. He’s at that thrilling stage where nobody quite knows how good he can be. Tellingly, this season has seen him score goals at important times and that’s always a betrayal of emerging greatness, but the range of those goals… goodness me. It comes down to this: turn up to watch Osimhen at the moment and you might see something you haven’t seen before. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan might be Milan’s most important player — or certainly among them. Their win over Tottenham got consumed by the Antonio Conte fallout and just how wretched Spurs were, but without Maignan’s plunging save at the end to deny Harry Kane, Milan might not have gotten through at all. Horncastle: Luciano Spalletti teaches the regista role better than anyone in Europe. It’s enough to think of the work he did with David Pizarro at Roma and Marcelo Brozovic at Inter. He’s turned the diminutive Stanislav Lobotka into a Slovakian simulacrum of Andres Iniesta. Staying with the position, Milan’s Ismael Bennacer remains strangely under the radar even though Lobtoka himself recently revealed the Algerian to be one of the players he most enjoys watching. Game recognises game. Miller: English eyes will look at how Fikayo Tomori shackles that Napoli forward line in this context. You fear Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen may be picked off soon, so let’s enjoy them while they’re still together. Tharme: Napoli’s forward line gets all the praise but Kim Min-jae is the perfect blend of modern and old-fashioned centre-back. He tops the Napoli charts for clearances (31) and tackles plus interceptions (also 31) but ranks third for progressive passes (27). As for Milan, the Theo Hernandez–Rafael Leao combination continues to excite. Leao likes to roam inside and this makes space for Hernandez to overlap; he is the key cog in Milan’s slightly-limited attacking wheel. Where will the game be decided? Miller: In that Napoli left channel. Good luck Pierre Kalulu, or whoever has to keep tabs on the loping Georgian. Kay: No team in Europe is playing more thrilling, devastating football than Napoli under Spalletti. They just need to keep doing what they are doing and play to the strengths of that brilliant forward line. If they do that, it will be very hard for Milan’s young back line to deal with them. Stafford-Bloor: In the dressing room. Sometimes in European football — and this is especially true when teams from the same country face each other — the form team plays the history rather than the opposition. If the uninhibited Napoli of the season so far show up, then Milan are a huge outsider. If Spalletti and his players pay too much attention to those red and black stripes and the weight of what they’re on the cusp of, then it will be much more even. Horncastle: One of the reasons Napoli are so damn hard to play against is their press and the number of opposition defenders Spalletti’s attackers attract. A quick regain sets Kvaratskhelia up for one-v-ones against disorganised defenders. The way he dribbles and takes players on (eight Atalanta players tried and failed to stop his goal last weekend) often means markers have to abandon Osimhen. The Nigerian essentially does the same job for Kvara, drawing across a rabble of desperate defenders. Milan will have to keep their discipline and shape. Tharme: Milan need to shut down Napoli’s attack across all parts of the pitch. As practically every opponent of Napoli’s this season will tell you: that is easier said than done. Our predictions Kay: Unless they end up overwhelmed by the emotional wave they have been riding all season, I firmly expect Napoli to win this one — and to reach the final. Miller: Napoli. Stafford-Bloor: Milan with the upset. Somehow. Horncastle: This is uncharted territory for Napoli as a club. It isn’t for seven-time winners AC Milan (even if this young group of players is still relatively new to the competition). Ultimately, Milan’s season comes down to this and finishing in the top four. If they can leverage their football heritage in the way Madrid did to devastating effect last year, then who knows? Milan need Leao to finally deliver a statement performance in the Champions League. Tharme: Napoli to win both legs and reach the final. Maybe I am seduced by their style, but they look unstoppable. Our predictions for the final Kay: Manchester City v Napoli. Horncastle: Real Madrid v Inter. Tharme: Real Madrid v Napoli Stafford-Bloor: Bayern v Benfica. Miller: Bayern v Napoli.

Barcelona’s €200m problem: Gavi’s contract, La Liga conflict and a damaged brand https://theathletic.com/4308500/2023/03/15/barcelona-la-liga-conflict-gavi/ When they set out their financial budget for this season, Barcelona counted on reaching the Champions League quarter-finals at least. After they were knocked out of the group stage in the autumn, it left the club looking at a €20.2m (£17.8m; $21.7m) shortfall in expected revenue, so a new target was set: reaching the Europa League final would bring in roughly the same figure. Again, things did not go to plan. Elimination by Manchester United in the knockout round play-offs meant Barca earned just €500,000 from the competition. And unfortunately for them, that’s not where their financial worries end. In February, once the transfer window closed, La Liga published its latest round of salary limits that each member club must meet. These are calculated according to a club’s revenue and operating costs. Despite the January sale of Memphis Depay to Atletico Madrid and Gerard Pique’s November decision to retire, the amount Barcelona are allowed to spend on salaries actually went down to €648m, from €656m last summer. La Liga’s next calculations will come at the end of the season, and Barca are already braced for an even bigger drop. Club sources, who preferred to speak to The Athletic anonymously to protect their positions, estimate they will be allowed to spend between €450m and €500m on wages. This is why La Liga president Javier Tebas has been repeating his message that Barcelona need to lower their expenditure on wages by about €200m. And of course, now the club are having to respond to this amid the fallout following the news that Spanish public prosecutors have filed charges accusing the club of corruption over payments made to a former referee’s committee vice president. So there’s a lot to get through. Here’s the latest picture. No more levers? At the end of last season, Barca found themselves in a similar situation. They were €144m over La Liga’s salary limit and had to either lower the amount of money they spent on wages or quickly increase their revenue. They chose the latter, conducting a dramatic series of asset sales that came to be known as ‘pulling levers’. This included Barca selling a 25 per cent share of their TV rights for the next 25 years and a 49 per cent share of Barca Studios, its multimedia content arm. The sales were divided into four operations, with separate buyers. GO DEEPER Barcelona charged with corruption over payments to former referees chief The €737.5m raised solved the problem and even financed a €140m spend on new players. Raphinha arrived from Leeds United, Robert Lewandowski signed from Bayern Munich and centre-back Jules Kounde joined from Sevilla. Barca also picked up Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie from Chelsea and AC Milan on free transfers. But since then, La Liga has changed the rules. Pulling further financial levers is no longer as attractive an option. Regulations introduced in December mean the impact of any such asset sale on salary limits is now restricted. Regardless of true value, when it comes to calculating salary limits, anything over five per cent of a club’s total income will not count. In practical terms, it kills any prospect of a club raising a transformative amount of money, like Barcelona did last summer. However, the rule does not apply to any club departments that do not report profits or any new business branches that still don’t produce money for a club. This is an interesting detail to note in the context of Barcelona’s official TV channel, Barca TV, which runs at a deficit. Last January, local radio station SER Catalunya reported the club could be considering its sale as it could provide a “lever effect” in the numbers. However, senior club sources, who also wished to remain anonymous, were adamant this was not an option being considered. These same sources describe instead how Barca are planning to “increase income from marketing and sponsorship deals, matchday revenue and the club’s museum”, while also “trying to reduce expenditure as much as we can”. Speaking in February, they said that they are already expecting the club’s commercial department to report higher revenues than were forecast last summer, with more than €210m expected to come through sponsorship deals. They had budgeted €189m. But now that picture is more complicated. There has to be a question mark over the potential attractiveness of Barca’s brand given the latest scandal to break at the club, with Spanish public prosecutors filing corruption charges over payments made to former referees’ official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. President Joan Laporta hinted at another option in an interview last year: the possibility of playing a series of sponsored friendly games abroad over the summer. “It might happen that we play one or two friendlies before June 30,” Laporta said. “We are getting a lot of proposals because Barcelona has recovered its pedigree, from an institutional and sporting point of view. It means there are a lot of investors considering this.” What about player sales? Last summer, Barca raised a lot of money through financial levers but there was also a big clear-out of unwanted players, both through sales and loan deals. This year, there will not be so many sales. In February, The Athletic went through the Barca squad to provide detailed updates on each player’s situation. Barca might consider selling Ansu Fati and Franck Kessie but are a long way from anything being decided yet. GO DEEPER Barcelona squad state of play: Who will stay and who will go this summer? In terms of expected arrivals, Barca are again keeping an eye on transfer targets whose contracts are expiring. That’s all they can really afford to do, especially as some of last year’s signings, including 34-year-old Lewandowski, agreed deals that would provide them with a salary increase before the start of 2023-24. Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan could be an option, although nothing has been agreed. Inigo Martinez will also be available on a free transfer this summer and Barca have been looking at the Athletic Bilbao defender. Laporta knows they will not be able to afford many big names this summer, and the emergence of Alejandro Balde and Gavi has shown what the academy can offer. Faith in La Masia, Barca’s famous youth system, is what club sources are stressing. And there is conflict to come There is another X-factor at play here: the tense relationship between Barca and La Liga, which is perhaps most strikingly illustrated by the recent drama over the status of star 18-year-old Gavi. The midfielder’s situation is a complex one. When Gavi signed a contract extension in September until 2026, he was still registered as an academy player. The new deal included a clause that would allow him to leave as a free agent if Barca had not registered him as a first-team player by June 30, 2023. GO DEEPER Barca risked losing Gavi for nothing. So they acted fast — and in secret Barca could only change his status to that of a first-team player during a transfer window. By late January, they had not managed to do so, with La Liga stating it could not be done as Barca were in breach of their salary limit rules. Just before the end of the window, Barca decided to seek a legal ruling, acting without La Liga’s knowledge, to try and force the competition body to register him as a first-team player. According to court documents, when presenting their case, Barca claimed La Liga’s decision to reject Gavi’s registration was part of “a harassment campaign” against the club. Barca were successful in their legal bid. On the very last day of the window, January 31, a Barcelona court ordered a temporary injunction that forced La Liga to register Gavi as a first-team player, while also giving the club 20 working days to file a separate case, through which a permanent resolution over the player’s status would be reached. Barcelona filed this on March 2. La Liga then challenged their submission, claiming they had missed the deadline by a day. On Monday, in a document addressed to both parties and seen by The Athletic, the court confirmed in La Liga’s favour, stating Barcelona did indeed file their documents after the deadline. But the court has given Barca five days to respond before making a final decision on whether Gavi’s registration should revert to its previous status — that of an academy player. If this were to happen, that clause agreed in September, allowing him to leave for nothing this summer, would come back into effect. Laporta and La Liga president Javier Tebas have also clashed over the recent corruption charges brought against Barca. Before those charges were made official, Tebas said: “If he [Laporta] does not justify properly or in a more reasonable way what has occurred, I believe he should resign.” Laporta used an institutional event at the club to hit back a few days later. “We had been advised that Tebas was promoting a campaign against Barcelona and myself as a president,” he said. “Now he’s shown his true colours. He is obsessed with Barca and has some sort of phobia with our club. “He can’t forgive us for rejecting his CVC deal. He can’t deal either with the fact we are backing the Super League. His aim is to control Barcelona from a distance, but he can’t do that with me in charge.” So everybody should be braced for more conflict. When it comes to the salary limit, Barca feel they are being treated unfairly, while La Liga question whether the club understands the financial rules.

hard pass

that was a great strike, wow