Opinion
With the football season only just over, you would think it would be a chance to relax and have a break from the sport.
The transfer market had other ideas. It has been a whirlwind week (or eight days), and there’s barely been time to reflect on it.
Well, that’s what I’m attempting to do today, looking at the signings over the past week, and any impacts they could have.
Tuesday saw the current Ballon D’Or holder, Karim Benzema, make a much-anticipated move to Al Ittihad. He signed a three-year deal, with his wages totalling a reported US$643 million. After it was revealed that Real Madrid would not be renewing the five-time UCL winner’s contract.
He follows ex-teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to the Gulf state, joining a club previously little-know to most of those outside the Middle East. No matter your opinion on the Saudi Pro League, their influence in the game cannot be understated.
West Ham tasted victory of their first ever major European trophy, the Europa Conference League, on Wednesday. However, the day was overshadowed by the news that Lionel Messi would join Inter Miami, after a deal to Barcelona fell through due to FFP regulations.
He will be paid £43 million per year for four days, but that eye-watering amount was a lot less than he was offered to go to Saudi Arabia. It will bring many eyeballs to the MLS, but people will surely question what impact it will have on his legacy, just like when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Hilal.
On Thursday, Alexis Mac Allister joined Liverpool for £35 million. The Reds desperately needed new talent in midfield, and Mac Allister seems a good signing. It will be interesting to see if they can compete for the title next year, after a poor season last season by their high standards.
In a big day for Australian football, Ange Postecoglou became the first Aussie to manage in the Premier League, joining Tottenham.
Postecoglou had a brilliant two years at Celtic, and completely deserved his appointment at Spurs. This seems like a perfect opportunity for the game to be pushed in Australia, with such high participation levels, the game needs to be taken more seriously higher up. The start of a new chapter perhaps?
Saturday was the day Manchester City became the second ever team to win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in one season, the coveted Treble. In what is surely the club’s greatest ever season, they defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul. It now starts discussions over if this is one of the greatest teams of all time, or one of the best so-called ‘dynasties’.
Sunday was a quiet day compared to the rest of the week, with just rumours, and no confirmed signings. Inter Milan rejected €40 million from Chelsea for ‘keeper Andre Onana, and Bayern Munich registered interest in West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.
No other signings were announced on Monday, with only rumours about Manchester United’s approach of Chelsea’s Mason Mount.
Tuesday brought reports that Kylian Mbappé is not signing a contract renewal for PSG. The saga of him going to Real Madrid is set to continue for another year, could this be the time the Frenchman finally leaves Paris?
On Wednesday, we got the news Jude Bellingham was leaving Borussia Dortmund for Real Madrid, for a fee of £88 million. The superstar youngster signed a six-year deal at the club, and completes an insane midfield lineup for next season, which will be shooting for the Champions League.
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Ange Postecoglou admitted he had cold sweats leading into the game against Manchester City fearing a blowout would question his integrity
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