The Real Football Thread

[Nirvana]

Juventus just announced the signing of Vlahovic for 70M of base fee + 11,6M of other fees + 10M of bonuses + the solidarity contribution requested by FIFA (should be 5% of the base fee so 3,5M) for a grand total of 95,1M. That's the second highest fee for a winter transfer after Coutinho to Barça and also the second biggest for Serie A after Ronaldo. Commisso is really great in milking Agnelli considering that Vlahovic had less than an year and an half left in his contract and last year he even managed to get 70M (10M for the loan + 50M obligation to buy + 10M of bonuses) for Chiesa that had only 9 month left in his contract.

Anyway huge signing, he's the second best young CF after Haaland but unlike the Norwegian isn't injury prone and has way lower paycheck requests ("only" 7M net salary), not to mention that you don't need to bribe Raiola and his father. Raiola that probabaly is pretty happy as well because now that there isn't a B plan on the market everyone in need of a big signing as CF in the summer will go to him for Haaland making a bribing auction since the fee with Dortmund is fixed at 75M.

 

[Mayomaniac]

A great, physically imposing CF is what Juventus needed. Someone like Scamacca would have also been a good signing. Now I expect them to sell Dybala instead of Morata, because Juventus seems to make no sense since Morata left.
The one Serie A striker to look out for is probably Simeone jr.

 

[Nirvana]

Scamacca will go to Inter if they sell Martinez, otherwise they'll sign Dybala for free. Morata was supposed to go to Barça but Atlético want 35M and they can't pay, but he'll leave anyway in the summer because they have already to pay the obligation of 38M for Kean.

 

[Nirvana]

PSG out of Coupe de France already on the round of 16 with Messi again the worst

 

[Nirvana]

 

[BullsFan22]

ouch!

 

[BullsFan22]

Mason Greenwood is in big trouble.

 

[Mayomaniac]

ouch!

I mean, it kinda shows that him underperforing with Argentina isn't just a one off. He needs a team that is built around him and a certain playstyle, like Barca.

 

[BullsFan22]

I mean, it kinda shows that him underperforing with Argentina isn't just a one off. He needs a team that is built around him and a certain playstyle, like Barca.

I think it’s also psychological now.

 

[Nirvana]

Another field day for L'Équipe yesterday when giving grades to PSG's players.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

WC Qualifying shocker as Italy loses to North Macedonia in the WC qualifying playoff semifinals. They will play Portugal, with Sweden and Wales the other two winners in UEFA competition.

In North America, the game of the night, USA vs Mexico, ended in a draw with the only win of the 4 matches being Costa Rica over Canada, moving Costa Rica to the fourth spot temporarily.

Nothing of note happened in the other qualifying groups, as the expected favorites won.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Italia is staying home...

 

[BullsFan22]

Italy must have gone into the qualifying period with too much confidence, too relaxed. Macedonia has the best team they’ve likely had since breaking away from Yugoslavia, and they’ve generally been underperforming. They made it to their first major championship last year at the Euro’s, and they didn’t play to their potential. The Italians were obviously the favorites and they were the better team, despite not having so many clear chances. The Macedonians will likely play with the same tactics against Portugal. Portugal, like the Italians, will be the big favorite, but I don’t think the Portuguese are as good as they were a few years ago. Macedonia has the confidence, and I think they have a shot.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

On this blessed day, we are all Eintracht Frankfurt.

 

[tobydawq]

What an incredible journey to the final by Real Madrid.

 

[BullsFan22]

Liverpool will crush them. This is a better, more experienced squad than the one that made it to the final in 2018, plus Becker is a better goalkeeper than Karius. City played better in both games yet they lost. Another late CL exit for them. Pep is running out of time to win a CL trophy with them.

 

[tobydawq]

Liverpool will crush them. This is a better, more experienced squad than the one that made it to the final in 2018, plus Becker is a better goalkeeper than Karius. City played better in both games yet they lost. Another late CL exit for them. Pep is running out of time to win a CL trophy with them.

Sure thing. They have beaten PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City in home-and-away matches but will necessarily be crushed by Liverpool in a one-game fixture...

 

[Red Rick]

I'd give it 55/45 for Liverpool or something. There's no "surely getting crushed" in European finals.

 

[ice&fire]

With the departure of Sergio Ramos, RM lost the man able to kick Salah out of the game.

 

[BullsFan22]

By beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final today, Liverpool is halfway to winning the quadruple.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Looks like the French security got overrun like the Maginot Line...

 

[ice&fire]

They would start tomorrow if the clubs had got all the tickets Mr Klopp said they should.

 

[Red Rick]

I love how they spend 15 minutes to decide they don't even understand the offside rule

 

[sir fly]

Tear gas...

 

[ice&fire]

I love how they spend 15 minutes to decide they don't even understand the offside rule

They get away with a medal anyways