“Gattuso provided the club’s management with a list of three major transfer targets. Two of the players are, like Gattuso, represented by Jorge Mendes. But all three also currently play for clubs that rely on Mendes.”
Mendes even told Fiorentina that he wanted to take Gattuso to the Premier League (had even earmarked him for Wolves) and demanded a buyout €2m buyout clause. Fiorentina managed to bump that up to €10m, arguing they couldn’t hire someone who could leave so cheaply, so suddenly
Good news for Scotland is that no other players have to self isolate, according to the SFA. (Note: A fake Twitter account resembling the Scottish team's one is causing mayhem by spreading misinformation about this)
Keen to understand how the authorities work out what constitutes "close contact". For example, if a passenger on a flight you are on tests positive you must self isolate. Different rules for footy players?
Amid all the genuine excitement about sight of full stadium in Budapest for Euros, thousands marching against the knee in a country that has long been hostile to immigrants also needs to be noted. Hungary, after Portugal, fast becoming UEFA’s go to country when it needs a venue.
The relationship between UEFA and Hungary might come to bite it if this type of movement grows and becomes more visible.
Football organisations have long preferred dealing with authoritarian regimes. While UEFA likes Hungary, FIFA has forged links with the likes of Saudi and Rwanda
Football clubs relentlessly pursuing new revenue streams around the world to meet rising costs and losses. Those costs are related to their wage and transfer spending. Why don't they try and rationalise that part of the business first? Why always focus on more income?
This is governance question again. If two or three clubs are driving up costs that make the entire industry unsustainable, shouldn't those that run the game be coming up with solutions? Lots of talk, little action.
Talk in UEFA circles of a luxury tax. But I don't see how that equalises anything. How many clubs will that luxury tax (amount imposed on club that wants to spend more than a ceiling) be paid to?
Brazil, which has the second highest number of Covid deaths in the world, takes over from Argentina which is in the middle of its worst spike since the pandemic began.
And this comes a day or so after thousands took to the streets in Brazil to protest the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the most remarkable aspects: None of the plutocrats that own the Big 6 was willing to be the face of this project. Liverpool's John Henry, seen as the most palatable, said no way would he be the frontman. So we got silence... until the apologies
In any normal week Ed Woodward’s resignation would be huge news. Yet on Tuesday as the body count of fallen super league clubs mounted he barely merited a footnote. At least his friends remembered him today 🙄