La Liga allowed Barca to buy Braithwaite from Leganés outside the transfer window on an “emergency exception” beacuase of Dembele’s injury.
Leganés applied for an “emergency exception” to replace him but were denied. Leganés got relegated that season and havent been back up.
You HAVE to be willing to make win-now moves when the opportunity arises.
We are seeing it now with Enzo and Cucurella. We wanted to build slowly, the elite players arent willing to wait.
Now we are back to another rebuild after 4 years of the last one with nothing to show.
Teams (especially Chelsea) are thinking way too long term. You think you can build a team over a decade, the window for success is 2-5 years MAXIMUM.
You cant point to a team that genuinely kept the whole same core together for >5 years. Key players age out, drop off, move on.
Sure there might be 2 or 3 players that stay for 8-12 years and contribute to multiple cycles of success at the same team.
But those teams lost hugely important pieces along the way and had to replace them with elite players to continue their success.
People need to understand that asking for Guler is like another club asking for Estevao.
They rate him so highly internally there. Youre asking for a €100m transfer at least and that might not do it. And he’s not leaving for Chelsea unless Madrid push him out, which they wont.
Mauricio #Pochettino will leave #USA National Team after the World Cup. He has been offered to #ACMilan by an intermediary in the last hours. #transfers
I love this man. Such a great player, defender, and leader. So versatile and genuinely was the best 1v1 defender in the world at his peak.
This is the archetype that your favorite coaches now want in these fullback/center back 3/4 at the back hybrid roles.
Dear football,
Today, I want to share with you that this season will be my last as a professional footballer. After so many years living my dream, I feel it’s time to start a new chapter in my life.
Being honest, even though I have been preparing myself for this moment, I found it hard to write this letter. After 20 seasons , many people have played an important role in my career.
When I first kicked a ball as a child in Pamplona with my schoolmates, I never imagined the amazing journey ahead. I’m grateful for every moment: the wins, the tough losses, the challenges, and most of all, the people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made along the way.
To my teammates, coaches, and every staff member at all the clubs I’ve been lucky to be part of, thank you for helping me grow as a person and a player every day. Wearing the shirts of CA Osasuna, Olympique Marseille, Chelsea FC, Atlético de Madrid, Sevilla FC, and representing my country at the biggest stages has been a true privilege. Every moment has meant so much to me…
🚨🇮🇶 NEW: The US has reportedly denied visas for five Iraqi players ahead of the World Cup next month
Luton Town striker Ali al-Hamadi is among them
[@Ntv_Iraq]
“They know they cant miss” only to end up with Iraola or Silva. Wake me up in 2033 when they sell the club to someone competent.
Or at least go get me Cesc, Thiago Silva, or Steve Holland and let me feel a connection to the club again.
🚨 Chelsea continue their process to find a new manager. The feeling at the club is that they are still in early stages. Talking to candidates and representatives of candidates. Preparing the final shortlist.
They know they can't miss.
(@FabrizioRomano) #CFC
Again football isn't dead but there's only like 8 clubs left with any spending power and 4-5 of those are run by morons that's all there is to it really
🚨⚠️ Clearlake’s co-founder Behdad Eghbali has been spending what some investors described as a disproportionate amount of time on the firm’s investment in Chelsea Football Club in recent months.
(@business) #CFC
Im bored of the signings and coaching conversations.
Winstanley and Stewart need to go, probably Shields and a few more too. More importantly, the directions from the owners need a full 180 pivot. 1 window of signings and a coach isnt enough. We’ll be right back here in a year.
If Josh Acheampong played for anyone else we’d have already spent 40m+ on him. Do not understand how he cant get a game, this is an ELITE talent.
Legitimately has a higher ceiling than any defender Clearlake has signed and we are going to sell him to buy mid. Fuck this team.
If we lose Enzo this summer (I hope we dont) I would so much prefer we invest that money into our defense than on Anderson or Wharton or Camavinga.
Caicedo Santos is solid. We could have prime Modric Kroos Casemiro and it genuinely wouldnt matter because of our defense.