B

Manifesto For The Beautiful Game, Barça.

[B @bbenditlike]

The “9 must be a complete footballer” and “SS” discourse is blown out of proportion.

9s should be judged primarily as STRIKERs—and if Haaland putting up 50 goals across seasons at 25 gets undermined because his game isn’t aesthetic, we’ve lost the plot.

Here’s what actually makes a great 9:

> Arriving exactly where his wingers and midfielders need him to finish. That’s the job.

> Having the IQ in & around the box to blindside defenders and open up space for himself or teammates. That’s a good striker.

> Doing both of the above, while possessing the combo of physicality to withstand heavy contact and technicality to score a variety of goals — most in under 3 touches. That’s a top striker.

Basically, if your striker scores 3 goals in 3 chances, that is a darn good striker, ya fool.

[OneFootball @OneFootball]

Erling Haaland for Man City in all competitions this season 🔝😎🩵

[B @bbenditlike]

Timely that the Lukeba news dropped — bc HE IS indeed Mutant-coded. But defensively he has too many question marks at this level.

If we were going for defenders of that age, we should have taken Loic Badé or Mosquera when the chance was there.

Better players than Lukeba. Taller. Can cover 2 positions as well.

Lastly, happy to be wrong but I am not a fan of Vuskovic.

[Reshad Rahman @ReshadRahman]

🚨 JUST IN:, Barcelona have held initial talks for defender Castello Lukeba, they’re the club showing the most interest. @DTalkingArsenal #Transfers 🔵🔴🔎

[B @bbenditlike]

The profile of CB I believe Barcelona are looking for is one of the new age.

I would call such defenders “Mutants Backs” or simply, Mutants.

CBs who are:
—Equally elite as a CB & FB

—Technically capable of progressing play through carries/passes despite pressure

—Physically capable of defending in a back 3 or 4 and holding their own in 1v1s against your best forwards

—Built to survive transition — high line, quick recoveries, reading danger before it hits

Defenders who have mutated past their position. Quick feet, top athleticism, moving in ways you wouldn’t expect from a CB.

Gvardiol. Acheampong. Methalie. The apex of this profile—that ALL top clubs should be hunting for.

If not? The only acceptable alternatives Barca should consider is a Saliba or Pacho.

The 2 best pure CBs in the world who have taken the torch from Virgil faultlessly.

[Reshad Rahman @ReshadRahman]

🚨 There are clubs interested in Vuskovic, but Barcelona at the moment isn’t serious in his pursuit. They want a CB of a different profile, and right now their priority is other positions, those part of his agency tell me. #Transfers 🇭🇷☎️

[Mohammad @MohammadAliBK]

My article is finally out. Please share if you liked it!

https://t.co/NA5o1neTrK

[XDcomps @XDcomps]

We deserve to get humiliated ngl

[B @bbenditlike]

@EBL2017 💯

[B @bbenditlike]

Re-iterating this point ->

Gordon is Flick's Kvara. The proper backup starter he wanted for Lamine Yamal and Raphinha (that can play across the front line) that Rashford is not.

Raphinha will be able to play and cover in at RW again and I’d argue that there should be a plan still for another LW and a 9.

[Captn 🇵🇸 @CaptnGuardiola]

The athleticism era in football

[Paris Saint-Germain @PSG_espanol]

93600 segundos. 1560 minutos. 17 partidos.

Willian Pacho, el único que jugó completos todos los duelos de la Champions League 2025/26.

Orgullo ecuatoriano 🇪🇨👏

[SIR AHMED @midopido21]

Willian Pacho vs Arsenal

[Reggie James @HipCityReg]

It’s cool to care

[The Touchline | 𝐓 @TouchlineX]

🚨🗣️ Anthony Gordon: "I would compare myself a lot to Raphinha, especially due to my intensity."

"We are both fast, technical, play in behind and we try to score goals always... I'm like him."

[B @bbenditlike]

@FabrizioRomano But you signed Gyokeres?

[B @bbenditlike]

Re-iterating this point ->

Gordon is Flick's Kvara. The proper backup starter he wanted for Lamine Yamal and Raphinha (that can play across the front line) that Rashford is not.

Raphinha will be able to play and cover in at RW again and I’d argue that there should be a plan still for another LW and a 9.

[B @bbenditlike]

Anthony Gordon. Barcelona. Breakdown.

If you want to understand the signing — not just the fee, but the profile, the logic, & my own vision on it—READ THIS!

Apart from Leão, Gordon is the only other experienced winger that can genuinely play as a LW, RW and particularly the CF role singularly.

Think CR7 vs Mbappe — one winger could platform as a genuine 9, one couldn't. Not even Barcola, Díaz & definitely not Rashford can do the same. But Gordon is that profile — a 6ft OOP demon who can rotate across the front line. His finishing and technicality will also only get sharped fast at Barça.

In short, Gordon is Flick's Kvara. The proper backup starter he wanted for Lamine Yamal and Raphinha that Rashford was not.

Which also brings me — Rashford should now be forgone. Go ask AC Milan to loan us Leão instead. We would be truly unbeatable even by injuries if we had those 4 as our wingers.

My only 2 issues? €80m-90m is too steep. And I'd rather have signed a player that can generate football like Yamal in Leão — yes, that Leão that half of you still doubt, which Gordon simply is not — first, to guarantee that Yamal can rest in the season. Don’t forget that Raphinha's injury history isn't a myth either.

Lastly, I would say that I approve of Gordon & that the current squad building approach is in many ways, good.

My ideology is just different: I would have Haaland and Leão partnered with Yamal.

Players who you don’t need to doubt their quality to win you everything and will fill every seat regardless.

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨🇦🇷 OFFICIAL: Leo Messi has been called up for his 6th World Cup. 🏆🌎

[S. @SebC__]

I have a large audience. 22k

Many people read my work to get better at talent ID.

So hear me out : you have to watch that Tanzania team playing forward thinking liquid football. Platforming players some will pretend can only be held by Caucasian players in European academies

[Jibber Jabber @EthanFromOnline]

Part of me is a bit sad Barca didn't sign another genius footballer, but Gordon can be a really great Pedro to Lamine's Messi - that's the bottom line I think.

[Jah @Jaah221]

Je pense qu’on est sur la meilleure célébration de saison et l’une des meilleures de la décennie

[Saif @Saif_tfp]

I'll be upfront. Anthony Gordon wasn't my preferred profile. I wanted a high-volume dribbler and scorer, someone who could take some of the creative load off Lamine and Pedri, not add to it.

But the deal is done. So let's look at what Barcelona actually signed.

[B @bbenditlike]

Anthony Gordon. Barcelona. Breakdown.

If you want to understand the signing — not just the fee, but the profile, the logic, & my own vision on it—READ THIS!

Apart from Leão, Gordon is the only other experienced winger that can genuinely play as a LW, RW and particularly the CF role singularly.

Think CR7 vs Mbappe — one winger could platform as a genuine 9, one couldn't. Not even Barcola, Díaz & definitely not Rashford can do the same. But Gordon is that profile — a 6ft OOP demon who can rotate across the front line. His finishing and technicality will also only get sharped fast at Barça.

In short, Gordon is Flick's Kvara. The proper backup starter he wanted for Lamine Yamal and Raphinha that Rashford was not.

Which also brings me — Rashford should now be forgone. Go ask AC Milan to loan us Leão instead. We would be truly unbeatable even by injuries if we had those 4 as our wingers.

My only 2 issues? €80m-90m is too steep. And I'd rather have signed a player that can generate football like Yamal in Leão — yes, that Leão that half of you still doubt, which Gordon simply is not — first, to guarantee that Yamal can rest in the season. Don’t forget that Raphinha's injury history isn't a myth either.

Lastly, I would say that I approve of Gordon & that the current squad building approach is in many ways, good.

My ideology is just different: I would have Haaland and Leão partnered with Yamal.

Players who you don’t need to doubt their quality to win you everything and will fill every seat regardless.

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨💣 BREAKING: Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, here we go! Official bid accepted now by Newcastle board and Saudi owners.

€70m fixed fee plus add-ons to bring final package over €80m for #NUFC.

Gordon set to travel this week for medical and contract signing at FCB. 🔵🔴✈️

[B @bbenditlike]

Whichever club signs Josh Acheampong can expect this — but MORE.

Watch Upamecano here on full display as to what the complete modern CB is.

First notice how every action is a different phase of the game — and he dominates all of them through:

His technical side:

— Nimble at the half turn, can carry or pass it with both feet before pressure arrives
— Escapes tight angles under pressure that most CBs can’t
— Dual threat in progressing it forward AND sprinting back to win the tackles
— Angles don’t exist with these guys

His physical side:

— Covers and rotates across the back line with ease
— Wins his duels
— Long strides eating space at an intensity that looks almost casual

Now give that player a 6'4" frame. Longer strides. And every single quality amplified.

That's 20 year old Josh Acheampong. The kind of defender that will cause strikers to have self doubt.

[SIR AHMED @midopido21]

Dayot Upamecano vs Stuttgart

Best in the world.

[FC Barcelona Femení @FCBfemeni]

HISTÒRIA BLAUGRANA.