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Matias Soule & Artem Dovbyk To Roma, Juventus Sell Dean Huijsen, David de Gea To Genoa, AC Milan Beat Man City & More (Ep. 442)
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From Roma €100 million spending spree on Artem Dovbyk, Matias Soulé and others, Juventus fire sale offloading Soulé and Dean Huijsen among others to raise funds for Teun Koopmeiners from Atalanta, young Italian players impress for AC Milan in friendly win over Manchester City, to breakdown of all Serie A clubs pre-season friendly fixture calendar, icons David De Gea and Raphael Varane signing for Genoa and Como respectively, Inter Milan Valentin Carboni talks with Marseille dissected, and Scotland conquering Serie A, as well as Baggio, Premface and Serie Ass of the week and much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from the last week in the crazy world of Italian football.
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Transcript
Roma's Financial Transformation
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to the Italian Football Podcast, the official podcast of Football Italia. I'm Carlo Garganese, joined as always by Nima Tovale. Lots of transfer talk on the show today. Roma, the biggest talking point. They are going on a spending spree, spending around 100 million euros as they are ah set to sign Mattias Sule. They are closing in on Artem Dovbic from Girona.
Juventus' Financial Strategies
00:00:33
Speaker
Juventus, though, the other way, are going on ah on a selling spree. Soulay, of course, as we said, to Roma. Dean Huyssen is leaving as well, and they're working on a a number of other sales so they can raise their money to sign tune coup minors and Jean-Claire
00:00:50
Speaker
tdy bow but Are they making a mistake with some of those sales? Inter are in talks to to valentine to to sell Valentin Carboni to Marseille. Are they making a mistake and and also as part of the bigger talking point on Italian clubs selling there their young talent? and and they're homegrown talent.
Milan's Pre-season Success
00:01:11
Speaker
ah Milan, and they beat Manchester City 3-2 in a prestigious pre-season friendly. A couple of legends move into Serie A, while one certainly Rafael Varan has completed his transfer to Como, that's official. David De Gea is in talks with Genoa. ah The Scots are taken over Italy as Napoli are are in talks with Billy Gilmour.
00:01:34
Speaker
and We'll also run through the friendlies to watch this summer for all of the the big clubs in Celia.
Italy's Under-19 Team's Performance
00:01:42
Speaker
Italy's under 19s though lose in the in the European Championship semi-final so they failed to retain their trophy but which players are there to watch out for looking ahead. and we also have our usual Bad Joe, Prim Face and Serie A of the Week. For all our first-time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend Serie action or the biggest talking points
Supporting the Podcast
00:02:04
Speaker
in Italian football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week, including a weekly Q and&A episode every Tuesday where we answer all of the questions from our patrons, plus the weekly Thursday midweek review show, plus interviews, post-match reaction and much, much more, then go to patreon dot.com
00:02:20
Speaker
such tifp and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT. You can also now sign up to be a paid subscriber on Spotify. It's the same price and same terms. We'll provide the link in the description. And for all of you that do listen on Spotify, Apple, and iTunes Podcast, we'd really appreciate if you give us a five-star rating, give us a follow and a like. and We're on YouTube as well. and Give us a subscribe there. It really helps us to grow and do more quality content for you guys. And also soon we will be offering subscriptions on YouTube as well. We're working out the last details on that because we've really grown a lot on YouTube these last few months over the summer um and lots of people have found the podcast from there. So welcome to all of those people and thank you to everyone who shares all our stuff across all social media platforms, Instagram, Twitter and so on and so forth.
00:03:12
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Thank you everyone for subscribing on YouTube. We're up to 3000 subscribers now and having only really started on YouTube about a year ago. So big thanks to everyone there.
Roma's Financial Progress
00:03:24
Speaker
Let's get into today's show and let's start with Roma. So Roma are the talk of Serie A right now. um After many years, really being able to spend very little and being punished the most by UEFA, and with the with the financial fair play rules and being singled out in many ways where whereas teams and other leagues and Were able to do whatever they want and well Roma have finally
00:03:52
Speaker
ah broken off their shackles and and they've started to spend and they've gone on a hundred million spending spree. Mateus Sulay is all done now. um It could be official actually by the time you guys are listening to this podcast, a medical on Monday and then official confirmation, 30 million euros from Juventus. Artin Dovbik, the Ukraine striker is on the verge from Girona. Roma have made a 32 million plus 5 million in add-ons bid to Girona. They're very close to his 40 million release clause. So that is having agreed personal times. That is a transfer that should possibly be done soon as well. Enzo Lefebvre has already signed for 23 million. So has Samuel Dahl from Zugardens for 5 million. Angelino, 5 million permanent. You add that all up and you're getting close to 100 million euros. So Nimmo, it's good to see Roma able to spend money again.
00:04:47
Speaker
Yeah, it is. And we're going to do a Mercado deep dive with Roma, um ah hopefully next week, working out on the final details and that where I'm going to be asking a lot about the financial situation about that. um But yeah, no, it's it is good. um This week, of course, we're doing on Atlanta. So what's the space? Anyway, ah I think it was, yeah, I'm really happy to whom I can spend again. um They have been in quite a difficult situation. I just got to say, um i I sat here smiling when you said, when you said, you're Gordon, the way you said it. I just, it's so funny to me to listen to people say Swedish names. but know How do you space to say it? You're Gordon. Okay.
00:05:27
Speaker
That's how you say it. You always put the voice on as well. That's how you're supposed to pronounce it. I just think it's hilarious. And I love how you spelt it in our little dock here as well. You've forgotten the R. You don't have the R. The A with a dot above it on your keyboard. Oh, no. I don't do none of that. I don't do none of that.
Roma's Player Sales and Financial Management
00:05:54
Speaker
bre rixit brexit the Look, I'm happy for Roma. I'm really happy for Roma because I think they have really, really, really struggled to to, you know, in the sense that they've been so shackled and they still delivered good results. I mean, think about it. They've won one European trophy. They've reached semifin reached the final of one where they were robbed in the final.
00:06:35
Speaker
um They they should have won that, if we're honest. Yeah. um They were in the semifinals last season and they've done all of this whilst just trying to survive. And now they have brought this ship into harbor and now they can actually start building for the future. And they're doing so with one of the most exciting young Italian coaches available, who just luckily happens to be a Roma god. I mean, it's just it's it's really, really looking good for Roma. You know, if if everything has been negative, ah during pre-season at Lazio, things have been very positive at Roma um this summer. And I have to be honest, I think every single player they've sold and every single player they've signed has been absolutely spot on. They, you know, Bellotti, I mean, I liked Awar in France, but he was he he wasn't making anyone happy in Rome. um And, you know, between them, they were brought in something like 16 million between Bellotti and Awar.
00:07:34
Speaker
And they're going to get more from Calafiori as well because he's a Roma youth team player. So I think they've done well with their sales. I agree there. I think they've done well with their sales. Those players you mentioned um and they saved a lot on salaries, which is always important. People forget about that. That is just as important. Saving on salaries as it is. making transfer fees on players because the way that the accounts are done is is always the transfer fees are always ah divided over the course of the contract and and whereas the wages are it's your your your annual salary goes on the books each year so so it's very very important and they
00:08:12
Speaker
They've got, you know, they've got quite a few, you know, reasonably big earners. I mean, Lukaku obviously went back. He was on seven million. um Patricia Spinazzolo were on three million a year. Renate Sanchez, 3.6 million. He's been sent back. Llorente, 2.7 million. Kristensen, two million. OA, two million. Belotti, I'm not sure what he was on. But, you know, so they're they're saving a lot. And then they're they're trying to sell Tammy Abraham and Zalevski. um as well so they've they've they've they've done well and and there was
The Friedkins' Investment in Roma
00:08:45
Speaker
an article. You should also remember someone like Zalewski, he came up through the youth ranks and so that's a huge plus valenza. Yeah no absolutely I think they've done very well with the sales and they've also if you actually look at their accounts there was an article on in Football Italia on this last week
00:09:01
Speaker
that they' they've managed to, in their most recent financial ah accounts from from the last year, they' they've managed to halve their losses. and but They're down to $115.5 million compared to $229.1 million the year before. and That's according to figures from Calcio Mercato. so you know that is that's That's great progress, that is. And not just that, the Friedkins are buying up all the stocks. I think they all bob bought all of the stocks to take the club off the stock market um as well to to to make them, you know, to make it easier to run the club um rather than have this like fluctuating value. And they've done that. They've invested a hell of a lot. I mean, the the work that the Friedkins have done
00:09:46
Speaker
cannot be um overstated in terms financial financially. yeah I mean, they they have re they inherited an absolute mess. But that is that's what that's what American owners are good at though. They are good with the financial side of things, aren't they? It's the sports inside where there's more question marks, isn't it? Yeah, general but I actually think the sporting side has been good too. I mean, I have to say, I think the Friedkins have done a really good job with Roma so far. I mean, if Palota was a disaster, Let's remember, he he was he's an American too, but he was a disaster. He left this club in in in an absolute state. um I mean, if we leave all the nonsense of arguing with everyone under the sun and all the other things he did, he left the club in a financial dire straits. The Friedkins have come in, spent a hell of a lot of money, cleaned that up, whilst also, to be honest, well, they finished fifth, they've won trophies, they've been in European finals,
00:10:44
Speaker
I can't.
Roma's Tactical Innovations
00:10:45
Speaker
I mean, ah listen, time will tell with the silence that the list I've gone through, Soleil, Dobrik, Le Fay, Dal, Angelina, um you know, time will tell how they do it. I mean, I. looking at the signings and I think considering they've spent 100 million, do I think that the money they've spent is going to get them and so forth? I feel like if you spend, if you go on 100 million spending spree, you should really be expected. But it's not in net spent 100 million. No, no, it's not net spent. No, but but so if you spend 100 million on new players, I feel like in it in nowadays, in Serie A nowadays, and I feel like you should be
00:11:19
Speaker
almost guarantee the top four. And I don't either don't even have them and still don't have them in the top four right now, even with these signings. I mean, the big three obviously are above them. And then I think, you know, you've got Atalanta as well right now. So, you know, time will tell on these signs. I think what is interesting is from a tactical point of view, because we discussed this last week and, you know, we were questioning whether DiBala would be used as a false nine. I think that's obviously not going to be the case now. They've bought Dobbic, they've bought a guaranteed number nine. He did brilliantly in at Girono last season. He scored a lot of goals for them. He was linked with lots of big clubs, so that's actually, ah I think that's a smart signing. Possibly. I really think that's a smart signing. He didn't do very well in the Euros, though. He was now bad in the Euros. The Euros are whatever. I mean, it's I don't really like... We'll see, we'll see. Ukrainians generally don't travel very well, except ofvenko but then he did very well at Girona.
00:12:08
Speaker
And so, so I mean, listen, I think it's going to be again, I'm wondering how the Ross is going to make it work with the Bala Sula and our dog. But I've seen talk of the baller going on to the left wing, which I don't really like. Will it be to behind one? You know, I don't know he has options that I see and I think that's what he wants He can play a 4 3 3 he can play a 4 3 2 1 he can play a 4 2 3 1 I think from what I've seen from him this like tactically it It doesn't it's going to be very fluid in the final third in terms of movement um Because that's the kind of football he plays a rather difficult level of brand of attacking football. He likes positional changes It's not rigid at all um
00:12:52
Speaker
other than we know that he likes to play with a back four and a minimum of three in central midfield. I i think i think it's going to be i think Roma are going to have a good season. More than anything, I think it's this. It's finally the start of an actual new project out with the old, this is year zero for Friedkins and Romart this summer. That's what this is. The Derossi project starts now. This is year zero for them. And the way that they've done it, they've gotten rid of lots of big wages, lots of players that shouldn't have been there, that they were desperate to sign just to make, you know just to survive.
The Friedkins' New Project at Roma
00:13:26
Speaker
Now they have a serious project. They they they they believe in it.
00:13:30
Speaker
You know, the fans are in love with the club in such a way that honestly, since the days of the Sensi family, I haven't seen Roma fans in love with the club as much as they are now. I mean, if you look at their average attendances, if you look at have the way the hype around Roma The Friedkin, you know, the Friedkins have created, you know, have managed to to navigate the politics of that. You know, getting rid of Mourinho bringing in De Rossi is such a genius move in terms of politics because, and also the timing, because as I said at the time, no one is going to criticize in Roma if you bring in De Rossi. They were angry that Mourinho left because they love Mourinho, but the replacing him with De Rossi was a genius move because no one's going to criticize De Rossi at Roma. It's just not going to happen.
00:14:18
Speaker
And if de Rossi had failed, then they could have easily just, you know, got rid of him because he failed. But if he succeeded, then you bought so much political capital in terms of goodwill that everyone's going to love you, that you gave a Romanista, a real Romanista, the chance and he flourished and so on. So no I think more than anything, aside from the financial stuff, they have navigated the politics of a very difficult piazza like Roma, absolutely brilliantly. Of course they made mistakes, everyone makes mistakes, but overall, I think they've handled Roma really, really well.
00:14:51
Speaker
Yeah, no, I certainly agree. I certainly agree on the financial and side of things. And you you can't argue with the with results in the in the in Europe, but um but not not so not so good in Sédiana. I think they're going to finish fifth. That's what they want to yeah that's what they need to try. Or we can hope that they that they win, that they go far in Europe again. you know, they can win win another, you know, Europa League or something. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, that's the hope. um Let's move on, though, to Juventus. Well, sorry, before we go, we have to mention this, this new stadium project that they've
Roma's New Stadium Plans
00:15:27
Speaker
launched as well. Oh, go on, there I'll let you do that. No, no, no, no, no, this is there's actual hope here this time around that um that Roma can actually get this done. um And they released ah
00:15:43
Speaker
ah It's going to cost 1 billion euros. And it's going to begin in 2025. And it's going to be in the Pietralata district. ah And the mayor of Rome, Roberto Galtieri, Ryan Friedkin, and the CEO of the club, Lina Soluko, Omet. um And they're continuing to you know inspect the Pietralata district. um It's estimated to be co to cost 1 billion euros. and to be unveiled by 2027 when Roma turned 100 years old. um And it's, you know, they they're also going to do, they're going to have a, somewhere of a capacity between 55,000 and 62,000 seats. 10,000 of these are going to belong to the Kurva sword. So it's going to, and that's going to be, you know, that's going to be their, their, you know, that's going to be their their stand.
00:16:43
Speaker
And it's being designed by Populus, who built Wembley and designed Wembley in Tottenham Stadium. um so And they're going to have a museum, fan shop, all of that, and and a 17,000 square meter commercial area, ah giving you know investing in a part of the city that's been kind of long abandoned. um And it's actually looking like it could happen because you know they need you know obviously all of Rome is essentially an excavation site because of the historical you know nature of the place, but this could actually happen. So let's hope that no endangered snails or
00:17:20
Speaker
I don't know, Roman baths are discovered in that area because that's that's the thing that could set this thing, you know, set this thing aside. But other than that, this could actually go through and they've already secured the finances of it. No, no, I'm i'm i'm really, you know, if this if if this is American ownership, you know, then the Americans really will save us because this this is really good. look The Friedkins are doing all have have done all the right things as taking over the club. Honestly, they have. And overall, if you put everything into you know into a scale. And I'm really, really happy to see that this is going, because and at the end of the, you know ro Roma, Napoli, Lazio, Intermilla, Juve, these are big piazza. these these are These are fans. They have fans all over the world via heritage, right?
00:18:08
Speaker
um and And we need them to be strong. We need them to be modern. And I think what the Freakians are doing are just showing that it's actually possible to do it. And they're doing it in a very difficult place. Like, again, Rome is crazy. Roman Naples are crazy places. It's difficult to succeed and balance everything. And so far, you know, God bless them. They've they've done really well. Yeah. Well, I just hope one thing. I just hope that this prompts someone to buy Lazio from Lotito. That's what I want. I want, I think Lotito, you know my thoughts on Lotito at Lazio. I think he's been very unfairly criticized. If you look at what he took over and what he's done, as we say in Swedish, he's been cooking soup on the head of a nail financially. You know, he's got, he's he's he's had very little to work with and he's made it really work well at Lazio. But it's time for him to leave. I would like to see someone come in, buy Lazio and, you know, have a,
00:19:07
Speaker
you know, push Roma, so you have like that kind of a, you know, rivalry in the city, which already exists, but if they can, you know, breathe some life into the Lazio project and they get their own stadium. Well, that would be great if some of our returning teams can start
Skepticism Towards Stadium Projects in Italy
00:19:23
Speaker
getting stadiums. All I'll say is I'm not holding my breath because I've heard this so many times before and I've watched Sabula. Everybody, if you know, you know, if you watched it, so I've watched the Buddha, I don't know how everybody gets involved whenever it comes to building something or real estate or building a stadium or building any kind of project involving land, everybody gets involved. You get the mafia, you get the politicians, you get all the different gangs, you get the Vatican, you get everybody's involved. So just once you've been watching, what's the Buddha is based on a true story. If you watch the Buddha, you know what, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Ever since I've watched that, I've never had any, I've never had any hope in any, any new stadiums. That's like ancient Rome in three A.D. No, no. So Buddha, it's a, it's a, it's a film and a TV series. It's based in Rome.
00:20:21
Speaker
You have to watch it. Yeah, I know. It's an area of Rome that was built in like an ancient Rome, Subura.
00:20:29
Speaker
So well i need to watch I need to know what you've been watching. This is this is a classic. It's one of that is was is better than Gamora, which you probably have seen. yeah is is back I've read the book. I haven't seen the films of Gamora. I've read the book. yeah yeah it's it It's brilliant. It's absolutely brilliant. is the one from two You mean the one from 2015, right? There's two. There's a film, and then there's ah there's a series. They made it into a series after, and they're both brilliant. Yeah, cool. I think I know this one. I think I've heard of it. was if I think it's from 2015. 20 uh yeah it's in the last 10 years the last 10 years of' so yeah yeah it's fantastic this is brilliant i love when Carter i love this it's brilliant oh dear let's move let's move on to Juventus so well Roma are spending from one criminal organization to the other boom i that i
Juventus' Player Sales for Financial Gain
00:21:39
Speaker
$26 million plus $4 million in add-ons plus a 10% sell-on fee, seems to be what it is. ah Dean Heusen is also leaving ah to Bournemouth, $18 million plus a 10% sell-on fee. There's a couple of things I want to say from this. First of all, Soulet, you've entered underselling big time, which is unlike Gently. Usually, he's very, very good.
00:22:01
Speaker
at getting the value, the real value. And he was trying to get 40 million initially, which already, I think, was on the low side. um But Juventus have been pushed into a corner here where they literally cannot get these coupe miners, coupe miners deal done or, or Todbo. They can't get the police two players in that they need desperately, unless they they bring money in. And Sulay and Hoisin are the only players that can the they can guarantee bringing in that money very, very quickly. and So as a result, Junzli has done something which he very, very rarely does, and that is he's accepted.
00:22:41
Speaker
Under market value but for soule and 26 plus 2 million in in Guaranteed by dons and in another 2 million in harder to achieve add-on. So really you're talking at You know 28 million potentially obviously there's a sell-on fee and as well So I think Rome have done an amazing deal here. You've entered some under sold hoisin again, they wanted to get more for that and Hoisin is somebody with who I'm not so sure how good he's gonna be poison a lot of other people talk very highly my know marina thinks he's gonna be a future world-class star, but umm i'm I'm not I haven't seen the fuss with poison so far as as Some other people have the souleia. I think is is ah is a wonderful talent for sure um So that's number one. That's the point number one. I think you've enters have undersold But point number two is and this is a wider point really
00:23:34
Speaker
among when we're talking about all Italian clubs here, including Milan, Inter, everyone really, the the way that Juventus and other clubs sell their future just for financial gain. And it's always the homegrown stars that they're doing it mainly for because they get a big yeah know plus full answer on there because it's pure profit than being homegrown players. And these players, you know, don't ever get that they're developing them to sell rather than developing them to be part of the team. And that we've seen that time and time again, um all the time in the last certainly in the last five to 10 years with it Italian clubs in the month. Look, I don't know.
00:24:25
Speaker
I'm not sure. I i think Jun Tolle or as Juve Twitter hilariously have dubbed him Hun Tolle and turned him Mexican with a mariachi band. I don't know if you've seen the memes. It is the funniest thing that I've seen in a long time on Calcho Twitter or social media. they they it's It's pure comedy. Have you seen it? No, I haven't seen it. It is absolutely hilarious. And every time someone criticizes him, they do a song to essentially like a Mexican mariachi band song where he tells his detractors to do one. It is pure comedy.
00:25:02
Speaker
um But Giuntoli is basically building something here from scratch. He's cleaning up from Paratici on the previous mess and he's doing it. You know, when you make omelets, you've got to break eggs. um I can understand that you want more for Sula, but I think 26 million plus four, 30 million plus 10 percent salon. That's that's about what you can get for him. um Well, no, it's not. They got a massive, bigger offer from the Premier League, but Sulei didn't want to move to the Premier League. And what are you going to do? What is he going to do? Yeah, but he's undervalued though. That's the point, he's undervalued. I don't think it's that undervalued. I think 30-35 million is where he is. I don't think he's worth more than 30-35 after one season with frozen on it.
00:25:43
Speaker
I mean, he's a fantastically talented player, but at the end of the day, Juva have to sell, and he's finally doing something that you have not been able to do for a decade, and that is to sell players and move players. um And and hes he's doing it really well. um The Hoisin, I liked Hoisin, but if you get in somewhere like 18, 20 million for him, you sell. I mean, it's there's not much to do, and that you know again, Juva's financial situation dictates that they have to sell players. and I think they're doing a really, really good job so far um of of reef rebuilding from scratch. um New coach, new manager, new project, you know, he needs his players. um As for the young, look, as for the youth, look, I think it's a bit sad that they couldn't keep Sula, but the problem was that Kiesa, they can't offload Kiesa. I think if they could have offload Kiesa, Sula would have stayed.
00:26:40
Speaker
but but but you know that's that's unfortunate, um but that's where they are. um So I understand that you you might be, or you with fans might be a little bit disappointed about you know young players being sold and whatnot, but at the same time, the revenue streams are such that they need to make ends meet somehow. And the safest way of doing that is to do exactly that, like they've done with their next gen. You know, find young players, grow them, develop them. And if they're good enough to stay at you where they stay, like someone like, what's his name? um Not Ravella, what's his name? Fajoli, sorry, Fajoli, someone like that. Fajoli or whatever. um Or Miretti or whatever.
00:27:25
Speaker
But other than that, they sell it could be sold as well. but yeah Yeah. Well, yeah. This is exactly. I mean, whatever. But like, that's what I'm saying. This is this is the route Italian clubs have to do, especially when they're in the settlement agreement with UEFA. They just have to make that they just have to make it work. um And so I think, you know, it's it's a necessary evil.
Italian Clubs' Trend in Selling Talent
00:27:47
Speaker
But once they're out of it and they have something to stand on and some stability and also finally back in the Champions League, which guarantees them more revenue. I don't know. And is you've also going to the Club World Cup? Because that's going to guarantee them. They are. Yes. Yeah. So that's also you know, that's that's also good for them financially. So it's it's a necessary. I think I think that with Sule, it depends who they replace him with. They're they're going to need to sign another winger. Kiezer stood on the market um and then Tiago Motto
00:28:19
Speaker
coldly, very coldly, brutally confirmed that in his press conference the weekend. Brutus Giese would not have liked to see the way that he the way that he spoke about him um made it pretty clear that he's still on the market as well. They're gonna have to sign another winger um depends who they sell it who they replace it with because I don't think there's too many. wingers out there and you that you that are guaranteed guaranteed to be better than what sulei is or rather what sulei could become without spending a lot of money or spending more than the 30 million that you got for sulei. And that 30 million I still think can become 50 in a year or in a couple of years or 60 maybe, you know which is part of my where i where I'm not sure whether whether this was the right decision. from But you know if we're talking in generally about all Italian clubs, I just don't
00:29:07
Speaker
I just don't like the idea that that all the or our youngsters and youth players are all basically seen as financial ah resources rather than sporting assets now.
Atalanta's Youth Development Success
00:29:18
Speaker
I think Atalanta are the only club in Italy who actually develop their youngsters in order for them to be part of the first team, generally. Okay, they sell some as well, but they develop, they they they haven't they it seem to develop more than the than the other teams, but they buy their players, they develop their players in order to in order to play them, in order for them to be part of the first team. I think that could happen at UVA later on when they have something stability, like they have something to build off of. Once they've gotten rid of Makeni, Rugani, Kiesa, Mili, Kostić, Arturmelo, Nicolusi, like all these players that they want to get rid of and they brought in Koop miners and they can bring in their own players, then they have a system, then they have something in place.
00:29:58
Speaker
And I know you hate me saying it, but this is really year zero for Tiago Mothra in Yuba, isn't it? I mean, he... Oh yes, he because it's his first because yeah it's his first season. and he So we need to see you know we need to see it play out on the pitch. Is Mothra good enough? Are the players good enough? but Who develops? Who flops? and then And then you have some more data to go off of, right? so Then you can be looking into your youth team and go, OK, well, that player, does he fit my system? just You see what I'm saying? Like, that that's what you have to do. I mean, especially now where it's a reboot, basically. um And and so I don't think we can judge them too much because, again, Juntoli has had to clean up an absolute mess.
00:30:40
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see. The Juventus are now trying to sell Mckenny, Rugani, Kiese, as I said, Millet, Kostich, Arthur, Nickolousi as well. So that there there is a long line of players that they are trying to sell. and But they are now, now that they're selling Sulay and Huyson, they will now be able to. ah Make ah make ah an official bid for coop miners. I think they are gonna bid around 45 Atlanta are asking for 60s There's still a big gap there and we have to see what happens there and then Toddy bow as well They're in negotiations with nice for Toddy bow possibly a alone with an obligation around 35 Well, I think that one I'm pretty confident that one maybe even as early as this week will be done and But Juventus said have a lot of work to do and they got thrashed 3-0 in their first game with the ah German in Germany and by Nürnberg and which wasn't pretty although they had a lot of the the The next-gen players playing for them. So can't read too much into that other than Dusan Blau which should not be the penalty taker at Juventus. He is so bad at penalties.
00:31:50
Speaker
thats that worse than lataro Yeah was going to say what is it with these number nines and their inability to take penalties that used to be the other way around that the number 10s the Fantasista who were magical players they could never take penalties or they had a higher miss rate and the number nines the Bombers used to always score now it's been like now it's done into a situation where the top goal scorers and the Bombers can't but can't cause penalty to save their lives I know it's so bad I think he's got less than a 50% Yeah, right. so is I mean, look at, oh think about it. Osseman, Lautaro, Wlawicz, like they're awful at penalties. And Wlawicz has really bad balance when he when he takes a penalty. His balance is not very good, probably because he's quite tall and and and he's a little bit, yeah, it can be a little bit awkward when he when he steps up to shoot that penalty. And then he kind of, yeah, you saw that with ah with the one that he missed at the weekend.
00:32:43
Speaker
um Talking of friendlies though, um Milan um the la got a fantastic 3-2 win over over Man City in the United States. and We spoke to Vito Angela of Milan reports. He did a Mercado deep dive on on Milan. So if you haven't checked that out, we published it on Thursday all about all the players that they're buying, selling, and the coaching situation, why they went for Fonseca, really, really in-depth, basically covers everything between now and the and the end of the market.
Milan's Transfer Market Moves
00:33:17
Speaker
If Vito joked about it in the interview, he's like, you've asked me about every single player connected with... we That's what we do here, we go comprehensive.
00:33:29
Speaker
what's his name Vincenzo said it as well he's like there's no there's Nima there's no more Napoli players that you've discussed like there's nothing like everything has been covered no that's right um but actually one of the players we didn't we didn't ask him about actually scored so that was I did ask him about that actually who mar I asked him about Colombo and he said that Milan didn't... Oh yeah, I was talking about Marco Nasti, he scored the third goal for Milan, but yeah Vito Angelou was actually there at the game, but it was a good win for for Milan 3-2 and they played they played pretty well, they had quite a few youngsters playing.
00:34:06
Speaker
um quite I find it quite ironic that considering Milan are probably going to have zero Italians in their team and this coming season, that all three goals were scored by Italians. But this is the thing that was weird to me. I don't understand what the what is it about Colombo that they don't like? I mean, I don't get it. I'm not saying he's some sort of phenomenon, but I don't get why they they just don't believe in him at all. They don't want to give him time either, at all which is, again, an Italian big Italian problem that we said like Milan aren't going to wait.
00:34:40
Speaker
for Colombo to come in. Having said that though, they sent him out on loan last season and he was terrible. so what what I can't blame Milan. If you send a player out, you send him out on loan to a small Serie A team and he performs as badly as he did and scores on how many goals did he score last season? He didn't score a lot. So what can you do? but he's he fin i mean that will be That's his final appearance for Milan because he's being loaned out. He scored twice on that game. But he's going to MPO now, isn't he? so yeah That's going to be an interesting and I think Impoli is the right place for for Colombo to grow and they've got, if I'm not mistaken, they've got Sebastiano Esposito there too, from Inter, as a striker there too. So, you know, if, if but he's, you know, if, if if you know, Impoli can make
00:35:23
Speaker
can make it work there for them. But Marta Nasty scored as well and I thought it was a good performance from Milan, considering they are behind City in their preparations, and Jaques he was really good, so he got two assists. and Ruben Loftus cheek was really good. He was playing in a much more kind of pushing much further forward, almost into the center forward position. And Cellomatres, again, he's been really, really good. and priest Probably Milan's best player, most consistent player in preseason so far. So I don't know, maybe Milan maybe may reconsider selling him. I was going to say, I think they will. I think they'll keep him to January. I can understand why system coaches, and there's so many of them now in Serie A,
00:36:08
Speaker
like Fonseca, like Motta, like, I mean, even Conte, to an extent, in terms of what he wants from his play, can see why they were like this, like Cellarmakers, because you know what you're gonna get from him, don't you? Fulfills the requests of the coach. No, but he does what they want the player to do. I mean, again, there's like players like Victor Moses, Ashley Young, that Conte famously, you know, or, you know, he, it's not, it's their characteristics and my system. And if they fit, great. Do you know what I mean? Like, it's not, but like, Salamakers, I actually think that he can, I'm starting to think that, you know, I think you'll stay, Mila. And I think he will, I mean, if he's gonna play like this, then he's, you know, he's gonna be an asset for them. And let's be honest, that loan move to Bologna, it did him a world of good.
00:37:06
Speaker
Like last season, he was good. He actually had a good season last season at Bologna. No, he did. nice And, you know, so for Milan, this is a win-win situation. Either they sell him and cash in on him or they have a player who's good enough to work in the system. So, yeah, the negative for Milan was Tamori. He got done on both goals. He needs to get back on it, Tamori. Yeah. Because for the first time ever, I'm starting to side with Gareth Southgate for not calling him. Oh, God. What have you done, Ficayo? I know. What have you done? I'm starting to think that... You have blood on your hands. I'm starting to think that Southgate was right all along. Oh, my days. Ficayo, you need to improve. You've turned Carlo into a prem face.
00:37:52
Speaker
Anyway, talking of friendlies, what I want to do now is I want to go through because this is something that that everybody always wants to know and during the summer is ah what the friendly schedule is and for the and which games to to look out for in preparation for the the new season. So what we'll do is we'll go through some of the bigger clubs in Serie A and some of the games to watch and and we'll see how the teams are doing in pre-season so far. So we're kind of halfway through the summer now. And so I'll start off, I'll run down some of the fixtures and we can, we can talk about some of them, some of the ones that we've seen. So Atalanta to start with, um, five friendlies, they've played three, so they, they played the primavera team, one three nil. They then played the, uh, Atalanta A versus Atalanta B, uh, Atalanta B one one nil. And they drew two, two with AZ and they still have Palmer, uh, and St. Pauli in, uh, in Germany. Those are the two games to come.
00:38:51
Speaker
for Atalanta. If we move down now to, um let's move down to Inter. So Inter have 100% record in pre-season so far. They've won all three fixtures against Lugano, 3-2. PEGGOLETEZ 2-1 and LAS PALMAS 3-0 and they still have to play PISA away AL ITZYHAD and then the big one CHELSEA AWAY at Stanford bridge on the 11th of august ah how have Inter looked in preseason so far? Look I think it's looked pretty umm I'm glad they didn't go anywhere this summer I think I think it was a good thing that you know the ah one of the one of the
00:39:37
Speaker
unintended positive side effects of the ownership change was the inter, the anxiety said, that's it, we're staying home um and we're working at Appiano. And that's allowed them to kind of just, you know, work more harmoniously and more calmly and and and kind of just let everyone, the new players ease into the system. Inter looking good, I think one thing we've seen, and I think I've said it on this part a couple of times, now I think when Inzagi wants to move to a 3-4-2-1 more, or a 3-5-1-1, some sort of hybrid of those two systems, um I think the movement of the players suggests that that's what's going to happen this summer, sorry, this season rather. um And it's it's looked really well. I mean, they they look um they look good. I don't care that much.
00:40:28
Speaker
about the preseason, because I think that's more, you know, that's their time. That's the team, and the coach's time to prepare for the season. I don't really, I don't, I watch. It's been good so far. Tatumi's come prepared. he He was, he turned up to preseason already having begun his preseason, if you know what
Inter's Pre-season Preparations
00:40:47
Speaker
I mean. He's been very, very fresh and he's impressed people a lot with his professionalism and with, with a level of but how ready he was when he turned up. um And he's he's really slotting slotting well nicely. like e yeah He's doing everything. like it's It's as if he understands what Inzaghi wants him to do from day one. And that's important. Very important. um And he's linking up. He's doing like a combined lautaro turam role at Inter. And that's what i that's why I say that Sergio Conseçao turned him into the complete striker.
00:41:23
Speaker
you know for two, three years. he he He made him, he can do all of those things. He's a very complete attacker. um And that's why I wanted him already one year ago, when Inter were hell-bent on bringing Lukaku back. um i was I was more able to spend that money on Taremi because you could have you know you know you could have had that instead. But now he's here a year later, um and and it's he's he's slotting and he's he's got, he's he's gone he's like melted in really well, it seems. He's gelled well. It looks good. He's, you know, they they the movement, the attack the attacking phase looks good.
00:42:01
Speaker
But I mean, I don't, like I said, I don't make too much of it. Um, for, for me, pre-seasons, I just, I watch with one eye. Yeah, for sure. He slot in a way, those penalties into getting lots of penalties. Yeah. That's me getting back to you. No, no, no, but listen, don't have any penalty takers other than Hakan Chalanogli. Would it be the penalty taker this season or would it be Chalanogli? I think it's going to be Chalanogli, but Tarim is going to be the second one, like the secondary one. Cause he's, he's a penalty taker and God knows they need penalty takers. um because as we saw against Atletico Madrid, there is an abyss of quality. yeah well're Talking about Let's Go Madrid, the events has played at Let's Go Madrid in their final friendly of the pre-season. They played their first one against Nuremberg, as I said. Bundesliga 2 team and got thrashed three nails. They need to improve on that. um They played Brest.
00:42:55
Speaker
and this coming week and then they play the traditional game against the the next gen and which is open to the public of course and then they play they finish off against that let's go Madrid in the in Gothenburg actually ah NIMA We have to send you to that. what What's the date again? The 11th of August. okay Does it say where in Gothenburg? I haven't seen anything.
00:43:26
Speaker
okay but That's good. Well, they did a good job of promoting it as as as usual. so That's actually more on the local than them. I don't understand what the hell they're doing. um Okay. I'll have to look that into that. Yeah. So do you have to let it go into 11th of August at three? Yeah. Because every year, basically it's the Gothenburg council, they try to, you know, as form of making Gothenburg or promoting Gothenburg as a tourist city. They always get big friendly games there. Yeah, they do. They had Manchester United, Barcelona. theyre only through the one When Ibrah and Messi and them were there, when Ibrah was at United and Messi was at Barcelona, like they always do that. they they They're very good at that. And Ulevi is a huge is a big traditional stadium. I mean, it's a huge. So, yeah. Yeah. Lazio. Lazio have played four games so far. They beat Oronzo 23-0. Drapani 3-1. They drew one one with Trieste and then they beat Hansa Rostock as 3-0. They've still got to play Flossinone in Southampton and and Leipzig in in Germany at the Red Bull Arena. And so Lazio doing so far, doing okay so far.
00:44:36
Speaker
Milan ah played too friendly so far. but They drew 1-1 with Rapid Vienna and then they won 3-2 against Man City, goals from two goals from Colombo and a goal from Nasty. and theyre I believe they're the only Italian team that have gone to the United
Milan's US Tour
00:44:52
Speaker
States. this Yeah, I think so this summer, yeah. I think they're the only ones. and they So they have some big, big games, prestigious games. and They're the team to watch, certainly, in this summer in terms of the big fixtures. They've got Real Madrid, on the 1st of August in Chicago and then Barcelona in Baltimore on the 6th August and they still don't have a time for that game. And then they play Monza. It's Baltimore, not Baltimore. What did I say? He said Baltimore. Bouncy. Are hungry, Carlos? I know it's lunchtime in an hour or so. And Monza on the 13th of August in the Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi, happy birthday by the way to
00:45:39
Speaker
to Adriano Galliani. He's 80. I was going to say. It it was 40, 40 years ago. 80 years old, Galliani. That's mad, isn't it? Absolutely bad. um So yeah, that's Milan. Napoli have played two friendly so far, one both of them. 4-0 and 3-0. Don't actually know who that first team is, they played. Oh, Nane Validinon, no idea who they are. Mantoba, 3-0. And then they're playing...
00:46:12
Speaker
okay ah actually they played didn't they this hasn't been updated they played last night against the kf egg egg nachia and no again i've no idea who they are um they won i know they won in karate scale it was on form and they played breast and they played girona as their last two games and so so napoli 100 record so far um which is good. ah Roma have played three fixtures so far. They've beat Latina 6-1. They drew 1-1 with Cosice and they lost 1-0 to Toulouse and they still have to play Oluzhiakos. And then they come to England. and They play Coventry and then they play Everton.
00:46:52
Speaker
away in Liverpool in Goodison Park. So so a Roma got some interesting matches coming up. um That's yeah, that's that. um So those are the those are the fixtures to to watch out for among the the big teams and this this this preseason. Serie A begins on the 17th of August. The first games of the season are Genoa Inter and Palma Fiorentina. Talking of Genoa though, um David De Gea is in talks for a shock free transfer to I'm not sure whether this will come off.
Serie A's New Star Signings
00:47:31
Speaker
and We'll see, but he's been offered a contract to 2026. He would be a replacement of course to Martinez who joined Inter. We'll see. We'll see that if this this this ah this happens. and One year out of the game, but with Rafael Varan,
00:47:48
Speaker
officially joining Como this this on Sunday, you know this would be two legends, two Man United, former Man United stars joining, moving to Serie A. What would you make of all of this, Nima? Look, I think the David De Gea coming in to replace Martinez is is um is is good for Genoa in the sense that, you know, he brings some experience and they, you know, they need, he's he's a similar profile kind of goalkeeper. But he's been out of the game for a year. um So it's not, you know, it's it's again, what we talk about. I mean, Rafael Varán, I think, I think the world of him, you know that. But I think it kind of depresses me that
00:48:39
Speaker
if young Italian players can't even get a shot at Genoa and Cormor, you know what I mean? that that that's the That's what that's why I find so sad. But if young Italian players can't even get a shot at Cormor and Genoa, that's a problem. That's more, that's for me, that's a bigger problem than demanding that you have a Inter Milan who have to compete on four or five fronts every season start playing young Italian players. I think that's that's a little bit unreasonable. Um, but this is where the, these are the so clubs they should be playing for. These are the clubs they should get a starting, but they should be able to compete in, compete for a starting spot in. Now that's one aspect of it. The other aspect of it, uh, Varan De Gea coming in is, is great. You know, it's, these are two big players, big name players. And it's, you know.
00:49:29
Speaker
They come to the Serie A to enjoy one last hurrah before they retire or something is is is is nice for the league. It brings more eyeballs to the league. Varane is a fantastic player when he was at his best. I mean, he was just... How many years ago was he as a Real Madrid? Like three years ago, four years ago or something? He's one of the most decorated central defenders in terms of trophies won and important trophies won ever. um so You know, it's it's great for Cormor. I think it's nice of them to be able to pull this off. um I think he will provide some you know so of stability for them. um If he is good enough, then I think, you know, I would have, I wanted Varan to come into Inter. I mean, you know, if if his if he's body can take playing football at this level, I think he should have been brought into Inter, to be honest. Because if Cormor can afford him, Inter can afford him.
00:50:26
Speaker
But then again, how how good is he? Where is he? Where's his level at? We'll see. But it's I think it's good for the Serie A in terms of... If he can stay fit, it's great. That's the problem though.
Inter's Potential Player Sale
00:50:36
Speaker
he's broke His knee has been a bit broken for quite a few years now. So that's the problem. um Talking of Inter though, they're in talks to sell Valentin Carboni to Marseille. Marseille reportedly ready to make ah an offer worth 40 million. ah euros. I mean, that is 40 million for carbonium and Sulay is worth.
00:50:56
Speaker
is worth 30. I mean, that would be... there's We have to, like, we should remember that there's a little bit, that this is a special deal. This is a very, very specific style deal. So basically, the deal is going to work like this. Marseille are going to pay, according to most reports that I've gathered and people have spoken to, Marseille are going to loan Carboni for about one, three, four million euros, somewhere like that. That's the loan fee. They have an option or 2-3 million euros rather, sorry. And they have an option to buy him for a further, I think, 40 million, somewhere 37 to 40 million. That's the option. But if Inter want to cancel that option, they have to pay 4-5 million euros, if that makes sense.
00:51:43
Speaker
And as part of all this, they're goingg also going to extend Valentin Carboni's contract to June 2029. So from Marotta, what Marotta has done here is basically he's hedging his bets. He's covered in the sense that he they believe in Carboni, they consider him to be a patrimonial, blah, blah, blah, but they also understand that he needs to play and that there is no room for him at this inter today. So what they're doing is giving them a five-year contract so they they have the they they they they own him. They send him to Marseille. If he explodes under Deserbe in Marseille, then if Marseille want to buy him for 40 million, they can. Or if Inter want to buy him back to integrate him or sell him on for more than 40 million, they can do that too.
00:52:32
Speaker
does um like so So for me, this this is a very specific style deal that they've done. um And I think it's one that benefits, it benefits Carboni because he will he goes to Marseille, he'll be coached by one of the more exciting coaches in all of Europe that is very good at developing young attacking talent. um he He will get first in football, he'll play in a league where you know If you explode in the French league as a youngster, then you know you know the big big dragons of Europe will be watching. um And it's good for Inter because Inter get to... get to you know they They control the asset, they cover themselves.
00:53:16
Speaker
Um, and, and for Marseille, they get a very exciting player who just won the Copa America with Argentina. And it's very, very highly regarded as being, you know, the next big thing from Argentina. So it's, it's a win-win deal for everybody here, to be honest. Yeah, no, I agree. I think from Insta's point of view, this has really done a great job, Marotta. I do believe, I think we both agree on this, we've said it before, I do believe that it shouldn't be permitted to have, I know this isn't strictly a buyback clause, but some kind of transfer deal being done where you're able to bring the player back.
00:53:55
Speaker
It just that shouldn't be allowed because it's too much in favor of the big teams In being able to retain and that's really one of the reasons why they got rid of the the the co-ownership and their arrangement and I think the buyback clause is is just another way of doing it. I mean, if you ask me from Insta's point of view, it's fantastic, because you can see that he's a great player. and He's going to develop now, and then it gives him the power so to bring him back, ah probably when exactly he's no longer there, and and they can use a formation that will suit him like a four, two, three, one.
00:54:28
Speaker
which for me is probably the only system that maybe he can work in. and that um But yeah, i just I do think that that's something that it's um that they need to look at with the rules, this buy-back clause, and because I don't think it's it's not really fair on the on on the on the smaller clubs, certainly the clubs that buy these players. um and And in fact, we've actually seen it being used against some of the big Italian clubs, certainly from teams like Real Madrid, you know where they've they've got put these buyback clauses in players like Brahim Diaz or Alvaro Murata before that. And I'm sure those players would have been kept and otherwise. So I think it favors the bigger clubs too much, I think. Let's move on to... Let's move on to to
Napoli's Interest in Billy Gilmour
00:55:23
Speaker
Napoli. They're in negotiations to sign Billy Gilmour.
00:55:26
Speaker
and the Scottish midfielder from Brighton. um This is a deal that is expected to probably be done and because Napoli had a first bit of 9.5 million euros rejected. Brighton won 12. So there's not much of a gap. Napoli are about to make a new bid. And so this is ah this is a deal I think will be done. um Gilmore wants to make the move. He thinks Kante will develop him. And and yeah, i'm I'm kind of surprised at this, to be honest, because I look at him and a bit like Lebokka, he doesn't jump out at me as ah as a Kante player. I like him. I really like him. And the way he keeps the ball
00:56:07
Speaker
um he's He's very good, controlling, ah very good in a short passing game, very good in tight spaces. I'm not sure how much of a content player he is, though. but so But yeah, it's interesting. But what I wanted to say is that the Scots are conquering Serie A right now. I mean, the number of Scots come into Serie A in recent years. And we've had Shay Adams set at ah sir moving to Torino on a free transfer, named after Kei Guevara, by the way.
00:56:37
Speaker
Really? Kay Adams, named after Kay Adams. then i should I guess I should call him. because yeah Louis Ferguson doing great at Bologna. and Josh Dweig at Sassuola, Liam Henderson at Empoli, was at Palermo last season. Of course, Aaron Hickey started at Bologna before moving back to to Premier League with Brentford. This really is, the Scots really are ahra or a conquering, so to set me up right now, aren't they? No, but it's it I mean, I understand from from like from from the Serie A perspective and also from from the Scottish perspective, because if you think about it,
00:57:18
Speaker
you know that the you know Scottish players, they don't, you know, they they will work in the Premier League, right? It's not going to be a problem for them to work in the Premier League. But this way, if they go to one of Europe's top five leagues, they get the valuable experience in terms of playing in a competitive league. Some might even experience European football. They improve tactically, show off themselves. And then the Premier League's take notice and then they can go back there. And we you see what I'm saying. So it's kind of good for everybody. to be honest. Yeah. I understand it. And Liam Henderson particularly was a player I was really impressed by. Josh Doig as well. I think he was really good at Hellas. Lewis Ferguson last season before the injury was brilliant.
00:58:01
Speaker
um Aaron Hickey too at Bologna, really good and before being sold back to Brentford. So, or sorry, back to the Premier League. So, no, I think this is this is good for everybody involved. um and and And it's, you know, one thing that we know about Scottish players, if we are to generalise somewhat, it's that they are hard workers. um They never stopped running, very much team first before, you know, put the team's needs before themselves. They don't like the English. That's number one. That's that's a bonus. um But no, but seriously, like you, you know, you know, you know the the they they they don't have any problems, you know, working well, working out well in in in bolog in Syria. And and so I think it's, you know, it's it's ah it's also a kind of a financial
00:58:53
Speaker
financially it's good for for the Italian clubs as well because they know that if they buy a Scottish player and he does well, Premier League clubs will definitely buy them and then they can get paid a lot for them.
Scottish Players in Serie A
00:59:05
Speaker
Now for sure and following the footsteps of some greats, former Scottish greats, Dennis Law Shay Adams is actually only the second Scottish player ever to play for Torino and the first being the the legendary Dennis Law over 60 years ago. And of course we had Joe Jordan who played for for Milan.
00:59:25
Speaker
and Verona, brilliant, brilliant header of the ball, Jordan. And of course, the great Graham Sunnis, who was part of that wonderful Sampdoria team with Mancini and Viali and Viecco in the mid 80s. What player Sunnis was one of the greatest, one of the greatest center midfielders and greatest hard men of the game. there's ever been. So ah yeah, I don't think these Scots are on that those levels, and but certainly it's yeah it's interesting to see how many Scots are moving to Serie A. Again, um just before we finish with Badio, Primfais and Serie A of the week, um some bad news and with Italy's under-19s. We were hopeful that they could have gone the won the European Championships, retained the title that they won last year, but they lost
01:00:16
Speaker
1-0 in the semi-finals on Thursday after extra time to Spain. He went on to to win the tournament. ah Very, very frustrating. I watched the game. Italy were were definitely the stronger team in this game. we We were a better team. I believe we are a better team than Spain. But it was one of those games where We were struggling to create chances. ah Big chances were were really at a premium. And the 90 minutes, there really wasn't any big chances. Although, Italy were in complete control of the game. in Spain that rarely bet virtually didn't even get into our heart, but we just couldn't really create anything. Spain were comfortable. And then it went to extra time. And in extra time, Italy missed two big chances, one at 0-0 to go ahead, and then one
01:01:05
Speaker
after Spain scored with really their only chance of the game and we lost 1-0. It was very, very disappointing really because I think we definitely had the team to win this tournament and that was shown in the final. Spain went on and they beat France 2-0 in the final. But I still think that if we look at individuals, there were still positives and there are lots of talented youngsters I think in this team. Fabio, Kyarodia was the standout player for me, left centre back for Italy, left centre back for Munchingladbach, really, really, really good player on the ball, uses the ball, great in possession, great distribution, I really, really liked him. Pafundi was brilliant against Spain, he was man of the match, he was running at them, taking them on, fantastic. Kamada did well in the groups, he scored two goals against Northern Ireland which made him the
01:02:04
Speaker
the youngest ever scoring under 19 finals history. He was really poor though in the semis. So that should just be a little bit of a warning. and He was poor in that game. Zoroli had a really, really good tournament as well, although he was poor against Spain as well. He missed one of the big chances. Di Maggio in midfield, very busy, good goal threat. Bartizagi, the Milan left back, very, very good at left back, very powerful, striding forward, ah very tall. And Manini also impressed me at right back, only 17. years old. um so So I think that we have some really interesting players and exciting players in this team and now it's just a big question is can we get these players some game time and with
01:02:47
Speaker
with Serie A clubs and that's obviously the problem that we've discussed to death in recent weeks.
Italy's Youth Football Scene
01:02:52
Speaker
and so that yeah And especially all of these things that you mentioned, including those young players that you mentioned, we discussed, I discussed with Andrea Luiacorno, who's the under 17 match analyst, Italy under 17 match analyst. So make sure to check that interview out. A lot of people have checked it out and it's been one of the more popular videos. Yeah, that's from last week, last Tuesday. Yeah. Yeah. So make sure to check that out too. Andrea won the ah was part of the background staff of the Italy who Italy set up that won the under 17s early in the summer euros. and We had a really interesting discussion and he discussed manini as well there in the interview. So yeah, make sure to check that out.
01:03:29
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. um He also called Mattia Liberale. He was one of the stars of the 17 teams of Football Genius. And actually Liberale played against Man City and and he was good he had seen some nice yes some nice little touches, really good in tight spaces, Liberale. Okay, let's finish off with Badjo Pramfe, Cecilia Ass of the Week. I mean, to be honest with you, I don't really have a bad jay. To be honest, I don't have a bad jay. I guess we can say Colombo and Nasty for Scoring Hits Man City maybe. ah I don't have one.
01:04:06
Speaker
Yeah, I don't. I mean, it's kind of difficult right now. There's not much football going on. But yeah, I think we can give it to the Milan kids, absolutely. And yeah, why not? Let me give it to the swimmer, the Italian swimmer who won the Olympic gold. I've forgotten his name now. The breaststroke, won the 100 metre breaststroke on Sunday evening. He's an Interista as well. Let's not give him a hand check. He was great. Fantastic. Out of nowhere. Come from Lane 7 and won the gold. That was great. It's his first gold of the Olympics. We're going to combine Prem Face and Sediass of the week because they are pretty much
01:04:54
Speaker
the same, really. and Very embarrassing. um So first of all, we'll start off with directly an Italian related one. Oudeneza putting a a racist meme on their shirt sleeve. Pepe the Frog. Pepe the Frog, yeah. Which, to be honest with you, I really wasn't aware of this, and to be honest. I didn't know until... But the thing is, it's not a meme, it's not a racist... like it's it's it's This is a little bit difficult. different like It's a company that uses that frog, which was a meme on the fringe right about 10 years ago, but that that now that meme is now used by everyone, that frog.
01:05:36
Speaker
so like people use it on football, Twitter, in all like people use it all over the place. It's no longer just used. It's just part of internet meme culture now. hu um And it's that that's if I'm not mistaken, that's the company's like, that's their coin, isn't it? Appu.com. Yeah, Appu.com. Yeah, that's. So doug did it deserve did it deserve the criticism that that the that it got? I don't know, I don't think so because again, it's it's a product that this company uses. And again, that that meme is no longer, like things change and most people don't even know about that where it came from, to be honest. I mean, again, people, everyone uses it in all sorts, not just politics. um So I think this has this has been blown a little bit out of proportion. But regardless, the fact that you've got some poorly drawn frog
01:06:31
Speaker
on your shirt sleeve. That to me is just, it's so ugly too. It looks like, remember these like MS paint from like windlike windows, you know, from the nineties. Windows 95. Yeah. Like we used to draw with your mouse. Like that's how it looks. It's it's so ugly. It literally looks like a child did it. It's not a pretty image at all. Um, and they've got it on, on the shirt now, of course. I mean, it's, it's the sponsor and I don't think they had any idea. And again, not a lot of people don't know what it is. Cause that, that, that meme is now part, just part of internet culture, to be honest. Okay. Well, the other city ass and prim face of the week is. Well, I guess it's just the Olympics full stop, but certainly the Sergeant Cedar versus Morocco game. I mean, is that a mental that is absolutely mental. What happened?
Olympics Controversies
01:07:28
Speaker
like So what happened then? Argentina were losing 2-1. They thought they'd scored an equaliser 16 minutes into injury time. um That resulted in a pitch invasion. The game got suspended and then it it resumed like over an hour later and the girl got disallowed by VAR like an hour later and they've had to play the last three minutes of the game and then Morocco won 2-1.
01:07:56
Speaker
It's like, it's just such a, it's such a joke. Like I understand pitch invasion, you have to empty the pitch, you have to suspend the game and then you have to empty the state. Like, but at least communicate that. That's the problem. It's the lack of communication here. And then, you know, the VAR did, you know, dis, disallowing the goal because it's offsite. I mean, if it's offsite, it's offsite. It doesn't, you know, then that's just unfortunate and that happened. For me, it's more an issue of the, of, of ah lack of communication. that they're so bad at. It's serial level of poor communication, this. they couldn't have you know The game has been suspended due to pitch invasion. this three minute like there' there's There's still time left on the clock. We're going to empty the stadium due to security concerns. Did you see what I'm saying? yeah Instead, nobody knew what was going on. and And they should have something in place to do that. They should be able to communicate that.
01:08:48
Speaker
If that makes sense. Yeah. I mean, these, these Olympics have been a shambles from that, that a disgrace that opening ceremony to, to, well, the everything, political, political stuff that we won't go into. But the worst of all is well, joint first worst of all is the fact that there's an actual child rapist allowed to compete. Convicted child, convicted child rap not not not allegations and actual convicted child rapist representing the Netherlands beach volleyball team. um is is is is isn done yeah
01:09:21
Speaker
is is i mean it's just i mean and so call a rudd even van de fder paul a radcle lets Stephen van Velde was convicted of raping a 12-year-old British girl, was sentenced for this in the Netherlands, was ah given was released from prison And now he's in the Olympics. Yeah, it's insanity. It's insanity. And I saw Paula Redcliffe, the legendary, well, I don't know if I can call her that anymore, legendary former marathon runner, and basically defended him saying that, you know, it's in the past, it's served his time, it's in the past. Wow. I mean, she's from Bedford as well. I want to be honest with you, I can't think of anyone
01:10:08
Speaker
any single person better a better representative or a poster boy to represent these these genocide games than Stephen van de Velde. I think he embodies the very essence of this disgraceful circus that's that's been masquerading as the Olympic Games. That's that's so I actually think they've actually done they're staying on brand with with Stephen Bunda, Bunda Velda allowing him to participate. So ma isn't yeah, it's disgusting is what it is. But you know, it's it is what it is. I think it speaks their actions speak for themselves. And I think the IOC and all these other organizations is have have exposed themselves for who they are. Simple as that.
01:10:50
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. much more Right.
Upcoming Podcast Episodes
01:10:52
Speaker
after that On that note, let's leave things. and We'll be back for the Q and&A and also we will have a Mercado deep dive, which is planned to be at Atlanta this week. So yes, those are still to come. this week okay thank you yes they are and i'm really really excited about that it's one of the best atalanta journalists out there he's written books on atalanta he's from bergamo uh fabio genari i'm really really thrilled i'm really excited to do that we'll be out either on tuesday or wednesday and then of course the q and a the day after or the day before we're just working out the details here but that's what's coming this week yeah and next week of course monday pardon them the q and a and
01:11:29
Speaker
and the Roma deep dive. So yeah, yeah yeah thank you. lots Lots to look out for. Thank you everybody for listening and we'll see you next time. Ciao ciao.