Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Free Weekly Episode - Scamacca To Atalanta, Inter Target Arsenal’s Balogun, De Ketelaere’s Milan Hell Over, Juventus-Donnarumma, Buffon The GOAT Retires & Much More (Ep. 348)
2.4k Plays2 years ago
From Atalanta snap up Gianluca Scamacca from West Ham whilst closing in on Charles De Ketelaere from AC Milan, Inter finally have a goalkeeper in Yann Sommer while targeting USMNT and Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, Gianluigi Buffon retires from football but already has a new job with Roberto Mancini's Azzurri, winners and losers from a potential Romelu Lukaku - Dusan Vlahovic swap deal between Chelsea and Juventus who could keep Weston McKennie and are eyeing PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma as well as Napoli sign Natan who was linked to Roma who are close to cashing in on Roger Ibañez and much, much more as Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from a jam-packed week in in Italian football.
Every Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast is free for all.
To get ALL and never miss an episode of The Italian Football Podcast (as well as support the show), go to Patreon.com/TIFP to become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).
Follow us: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Use my special link zen.ai/italianfootball and use italianfootbal to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Host Welcome
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to the Italian football podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese here as always with Nima Tavalli. Another week, another crazy seven days on the Mercato.
Transfers and Strategic Moves
00:00:17
Speaker
The biggest news is that Gianluca Scamaca has decided to join Atalanta, a big blow for Inter who must now sign an alternative attacker. Could it be following Balagun of Arsenal?
00:00:30
Speaker
Atalanta have also sealed the loan signing of Charles de Kettler. Can he resurrect himself at Atalanta? And why was he such a disaster at Milan? Inter have finally closed the deal for Jan Sommer. They now have a goalkeeper and these will be key days in the negotiations for the Dusan-Vlawovic-Romelli-Lukaku swap.
00:00:52
Speaker
with Chelsea and Juventus. Juventus also may have the chance to sign Gigi Domino Ruma, and they could keep Weston Mckenny. Lots to talk about with Juve again. Napoli have finally signed the replacement for Kim Min-jae. Roma are in talks to sell Roger Ibanez. Well, Gaetano Castravili's move to Bournemouth has collapsed due to his knee. Marco Verratti could move to Saudi Arabia. And we also have some more shocking crimes of prem facery. So stick to the end for that.
Gigi Buffon's Career Celebration
00:01:22
Speaker
And finally, the greatest goalkeeper of all time, the GOAT of goalkeepers has retired, so we will commemorate the great career of Gigi Buffon. For all our first-time listeners, this is our free weekly episode, which we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend Serie A action and all the biggest talking points in Italian football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all our content that we do throughout the week, including our weekly Q&A episode every Tuesday where we answer
00:01:51
Speaker
all the questions sent in from our Patreons, plus the weekly Thursday, midweek review show, plus interviews, post-match reaction, and much, much more, then go to patreon.com, slash T-I-F-P, and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month, plus VAT. And for all of you listening on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Podcasts, we'd really appreciate it, giving us a five-star rating. Follow, subscribe to us, it really helps us to grow. Also, you can give us a follow on YouTube as well.
00:02:20
Speaker
So let's get into today's show, but first a word from our sponsor.
00:02:25
Speaker
Making your own podcast is fun, but the production of podcasts can also be challenging if you don't have the right software. With Zencaster, the whole process is quick and straightforward. Here at the Italian Football Podcast, we aim to have the highest of standards, and Zencaster provides crystal clear sound and fantastic HD video quality. Furthermore, it's really easy to use. Even boomers like Carlo can manage. There's nothing to download, just one click, and we start recording each episode.
00:02:54
Speaker
Zencaster ensures that your podcasting experience is easy and enjoyable. You don't even have to leave your browser as it possesses all the tools required to get the episode done, from local recording to automatic post-productions. Go to zencaster.com slash pricing and use our code ItalianFootball, one word,
00:03:13
Speaker
you'll get 30% off your first three months of Zincaster Professional. We want you to have the same easy experiences that we do for all our podcasting and content needs. It's time to share your story.
00:03:25
Speaker
Okay, so let's start off with Gigi Buffon who has now announced his retirement at the grand old age of 45 after an incredible 28 year professional career. So Nima, how do you possibly sum up the career of Gigi Buffon?
00:03:47
Speaker
It's very difficult to sum it up because, I mean, my very, very first memory of him is watching that his debut against Milan at the Ennio Tardini for Parma when he was 17 years old against Milan with Veya Baggio. And he was the man of the match, a goalless draw, during the era when the Serie A was the greatest, the best league in the world, probably, you know, during an era where every world class player played in Italy.
00:04:18
Speaker
the era that I don't think it's possible to ever be replicated again. But it was that game, I remember, of like, who is this 17-year-old? Because it wasn't just that he kept a clean sheet. It was fantastic saves. The way he
00:04:37
Speaker
communicated with the defense, and that defense was pretty damn good itself. Just go and look at who started there. It was just, it was truly, truly, you know, everyone was like, wow, what did we do? We just witnessed something historic here. And we did. That was the beginning because after that, of course, we
00:04:56
Speaker
He became Gigi Buffon a few years later. And of course, when Panama's financial woes hit them, he went to Uvan and became a club legend there. And he really does have some incredible records to his name, doesn't he? Yeah, I mean, his records, the list of records, there's too many to sum up on this part, but most Serie A appearances,
00:05:20
Speaker
Most career club appearances by an Italian. Most Scudetti won the record for minutes without conceding. Going almost a thousand minutes of football in Serie A. Ten consecutive clean sheets. The most clean sheets in the history of Serie A. The oldest player to win the Scudetto. The oldest player to play for Juventus. The second oldest player to ever play in Serie A. The oldest goalkeeper to save a penalty.
00:05:49
Speaker
the most Serie A appearances and the most Champions League appearances for Juventus. The joint most World Cups played in five and it would have been six if it hadn't been for the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. You would have gone to a record six. No one's ever done that and maybe never will. So it's unbelievable and I think
00:06:15
Speaker
the longevity of Befond's career is and for how long he played at a world-class level is what makes him what stands him apart from all the other legendary goalkeepers that they've been in the past and it's what makes him the goat of goalkeepers. I mean this is someone like you said debuted at the age of 17 in 1995. He played for 28 years but for most of that time for a good
00:06:43
Speaker
quarter of a century, he was playing at the highest level and at a world-class level for most of that time. And he was already world-class and playing for Italy as a teenager. And over 20 years later, at the age of 39, he was named the best goalkeeper in the world at the Ballon d'Or ceremony. So no goalkeeper in history comes close to that longevity. And that longevity at the very, very top, he was like,
00:07:10
Speaker
I think the Paolo Maldini of goalkeepers when you put it, when you look at it that way. So, you know, it is the reason why I think he's the greatest of all time is because there are goalkeepers who have won more than him. I mean, what's his name? His name eludes me Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas. He's he's won the Euros twice, you know, before never won the Euros. He's won more Champions Leagues, you know, before never won the Champions League.
00:07:41
Speaker
But the longevity is what does it for me. The fact that he was named the best goalkeeper in the world at the age of 39. He was unbelievable for such a long, long period of time. Let's remember Casillas was fantastic at a young age, but he quickly fell off in his 30s.
00:08:03
Speaker
I mean, he was finished by 32, 33. He was finished at the top level. Completely finished. Buffon kept it going, like you said, for 28 years. And for 25 of those, 24 of those, he was the best goalkeeper in the world. And that's truly, truly remarkable.
00:08:21
Speaker
And that is why I think for me that he is the greatest, the longevity level. And when you look at his qualities as well, when you look at his qualities, I mean, he was the complete goalkeeper. He had everything. He was an incredible shot stopper. He was perfect in the air, you know, from crosses. I don't think there's ever been anyone that's more, was as safe as him as on crosses, the way that he commanded the box. No one's commanded the box, organised the box, organised his defence.
00:08:49
Speaker
positioning, perfect position, perfect position, he went to come out how to position himself on angles so that when you know he's going at the near post, you know, getting in the right position, so you don't leave too much of your near post open, you don't leave too much of your far post open, narrowing the angle when you come up for a one on one exactly where to be positioning perfect, great communicator from a young age, great leader, great
00:09:14
Speaker
example for the others, but also someone that had incredible confidence. We saw that especially when he was young. He was a very, very confident person, confident as a teenager. He changed slightly, became more
00:09:25
Speaker
you know, a different type of leader, an example to follow when you got older, brave, you know, the only weakness I would I would say for a while would were probably penalties. He wasn't his best wasn't the best that even got greater than later on in his career as well. And if you look at actually look at the number of the record of penalties saved, he's actually right up there at the top as well. And so I mean, he was the complete goalkeeper. And there's just so many
00:09:51
Speaker
so many special memories. I mean, that debut in 95, I remember watching it as well. The saves from Badjo and Weyer and Bob-Ann and the way he threw himself. But then I also remember the debut for Italy.
00:10:06
Speaker
against Russia in 1997. It was a World Cup playoff against Russia, two-legged playoff. They were playing in Moscow in the first leg, in the snow with an orange ball. The snow was three inches deep. It was thick. There was no, couldn't see any green on the field. Awful freezing sub-zero temperatures. Paluka gets injured early on in the game, like 10 minutes into the game. On comes Buffon, 19 years old. And honestly, you know,
00:10:35
Speaker
everybody's thinking the same thing. Everyone's thinking Italy is going out. Italy is not qualifying for the World Cup. You know, you go into Russia in the winter, the deep winter, in those temperatures, with those conditions, with a rookie goalkeeper, Buffon comes in and he's absolutely magnificent in that game. And in Italy, they draw 1-1 and they end up winning the return leg and they go to the World Cup.
00:11:00
Speaker
I mean, I remember that, I mean, so many amazing, the safe room in Zaghi in the 2003 Champions League final, I think. For me, that's his most memorable one. It obviously didn't result in a victory, but I remember in Zaghi's expression when he
00:11:15
Speaker
when he took the header, I think it was a header, wasn't it? The cross come in, he couldn't put it towards the near post. And, you know, he thinks he scored and then his reaction, exactly his reaction, like, kind of like everybody else, like, how did he save that? Like, what, like, you couldn't believe that beforehand had made that save. And then, of course, the 2006 World Cup, you know,
00:11:36
Speaker
where he was faultless, because he did two goals all tournament, and that was an own goal. Zakardov with the most weird old goal I think I've ever seen. And of course that penalty that was barely over the line.
00:11:49
Speaker
Yeah, from Zidane in the finals. I mean, he basically didn't concede a goal. I mean, he wasn't really beaten in the whole tournament. No, I mean, the World Cup final, the Zidane header to me is just insane what he does there. And in the semi-finals as well, I think it's Schneider, who's a fantastic shot.
00:12:10
Speaker
Yeah, and Podolsky in the next time as well. He is. Now, for me, the longevity, and above all, for me, a good goalkeeper traditionally, because I think their role is changing now. It's going through a metamorphosis of what the new goalkeepers are going to be, and I think Mike Mignon is the perfect embodiment of that.
00:12:32
Speaker
But regardless, for me, it's this man's ability to the rebounds, the rebound that he never gave any rebounds and the ones that he did were.
00:12:43
Speaker
were always to the side. It was never straight out. He didn't suffer from Handanovic syndrome, as I call it. Great save, straight out. Always. Always, always. That's why I think what will stop Vicario from becoming a really good goalkeeper, too. The rebounds are always straight out. That's part of his understanding of the game, isn't it?
00:13:03
Speaker
he learnt and knew that, you know, that was part of being a goalkeeper is, you know, limiting the chances to the opposition. I mean, it's so important. And I think that's why I think Vicario will never be a world class, top class goalkeeper. I think he'll be a great, great goalkeeper. Yeah. But I know he'll be world class because the rebounds are too straight out. And before, you never had that.
00:13:23
Speaker
And also Bafon, you know, all goalkeepers make mistakes, but Bafon certainly made less mistakes than anyone else. I mean, again, you know, you look at Don Aruma, who obviously is phenomenal in what he does good. But, you know, Don Aruma is not as complete goalkeeper as Bafon, not even close. You know, he's not as good anywhere close as good on crosses. He makes more mistakes than him.
00:13:49
Speaker
And, you know, so, I mean, there's been legendary goalkeepers in the past. Yashin, Banks, Sepp Meyer, Dino Zoff, of course, Schmeichel, Manuel Neuer, Pacia, so you mentioned before, you know, these are all great goalkeepers. But when you add everything together, including the longevity, you know. I think Zoff is the only one that comes close because he won everything. And Zoff is the only one, I think, that comes close.
00:14:15
Speaker
to be honest. But it was a different kind of football then. It was difficult to compare errors. But I think for me, Zof and Buffon are head and shoulders above everyone else. The only regrets, of course, is that he never won that. I mean, the Euros as well, not winning the Euros, he went close. He went close.
00:14:32
Speaker
But he was unlucky with Italy as well, wasn't he? I mean, the injuries that prevented him from being the starting goalkeepers in France, 98 and Euro 2000. Well, he wouldn't have been the starter in France, he wasn't injured in France, but he was injured for 2010. He was injured and then obviously 2018, he didn't qualify. But also in 2002, you know, they got cheated in 2002, World Cup by UEFA and the referee. FIFA, not UEFA.
00:15:01
Speaker
Sorry, same thing. Same face, different mask. Meet the boss, same as the old boss. And then 2014, it didn't have a good team. But I think the big regret is obviously the Champions League. That is a big regret. Three finals,
00:15:23
Speaker
And that was the one that he really wanted. And I think that's the one that most kind of neutrals wanted for Buffon himself. He didn't manage that, but that doesn't stop him becoming the guy. So yeah, all the best to Buffon. He's now going to be the new head of delegation of Italy's national teams. He's going to take the job of
00:15:45
Speaker
the late Gianluca Biali. Let's make sure we qualify first. Let's see if you can get a winner euros as part of the delegation instead. Let's move to the Medcato now and let's talk about the biggest talking point of the week and that is
00:16:06
Speaker
Jan-Luca Skamaka, who seemed destined to enter. It looked like the deal was at what it was in a pretty advanced stage. Then Atalanta come in.
00:16:16
Speaker
They come in with a better offer for the club and a better offer for the player. And Skamaka has now, well, he's going to join Atalanta, 25 million euros up front, 5 million in add-ons. He will earn around 3.2 million euros a season, the 10% sell on clause. So first of all, let's look at this from Skamaka's point of view. Has he made the right decision joining Atalanta rather than waiting it out
Atalanta's Investments and Dynamics
00:16:42
Speaker
or
00:16:42
Speaker
Well, that's exactly the key here. I think it's important to get the facts straight. This notion that Atalanta outbid Inter is laughable, because if you think that Inter's offer was never accepted, first of all, for Skamaker to choose Inter, West Ham have to accept Inter's offer. They didn't. They accepted Atalanta's offer. And second of all,
00:17:02
Speaker
If you think that Inter can't afford 30 million overall value for Skamaka, but somehow they can manage to pay 35 for Balogun, well, then you maybe need to go back to school and learn how arithmetic works. So it's quite clear that Inter didn't feel that Skamaka was worth that money and they weren't as keen on him. And we know, I mean, this is not a secret. Skamaka was the compromise candidate for Inter.
00:17:28
Speaker
Inter's directors, ownerships, Zhang, Marotta, Ozilio, Balagun, Nizagi wanted Morata, and they compromised on Skamaka, and they made an offer which they thought was fair to both player and to the club and the player. Westam accepted Atalanta's offer. Inter decided not to relaunch because they don't want to participate in, as Marotta always says, Inter doesn't participate in auctioning bids.
00:17:56
Speaker
in auctions, and they didn't do that. They didn't want that. I understand that it's a very sexy thing to go with all interbefa, you know, overtaking matalantha. It's a sexy media thing. It creates lots of
00:18:15
Speaker
you know, clicks and lots of interactions on social media. And people obviously make money off of that nowadays on Twitter and elsewhere. So I get that. But if we're sticking to the facts entirely, the facts are Atalanta made an offer. West Ham accepted it. Inter made an offer. They didn't accept it.
00:18:32
Speaker
And the player decided that he knew he was going to be first choice at Atlanta. He wasn't going to be first choice at Inter because he got Marcos Taram, he got Lautaro. So I think for him, he wanted to play, he wanted to get back into it. And it just made sense for Skamaka to do that. I think it's risky because Inter fans, myself included, we wanted Skamaka. I wanted that profile. I personally don't. I'm very skeptical of the Balagun thing. I think he's
00:19:02
Speaker
one good season in France. You know what kind of striker he is. He's a fox-in-the-box kind of striker. I can't remember who it was if it was Rio Ferdinand who likened him to, or was it Martin Keon, sorry, who likened Ballagun to Ian Wright, which I think is a fair comparison. And I wanted a different profile.
00:19:24
Speaker
But Inter's directors did not. And that's just how it is. So I personally think Inter are risking it a little bit here. If they don't get Balagun, they're screwed because with all due respect to Beto, he's nowhere near the class that a player that Inter needs to be at.
00:19:42
Speaker
of a player that's good enough to play for Inter. I'm sorry, he's just not. It's another Correa situation again. As much as I love Beto, he was on the podcast, lovely guy, lovely, fantastic, lovely person, but he's just not good enough to play at Inter.
00:19:59
Speaker
So I think they're risking it a little bit, but it seems that Balogun has got his head completely made up for Intel. Well, let's talk about Schimaka first. Let's talk about Schimaka now. So is this a good move for him to relaunch his career? I think so. Because he becomes the marquee signing at Atalanta. He becomes the focal point at Atalanta. He becomes the guy who
00:20:22
Speaker
Gasparin is going to build around. Everything will go through him, and I think that's what he wants. He's the kind of character that if you're going to get the most out of him, you need to make him the focal point of the attack. He's physically
00:20:39
Speaker
a monster, he's big as hell, he's strong, but he's also technical, he knows how to play with his back against the goal, he's a good player, link up, he can create something out of nothing, and he'll play for a team that will attack a lot, so he will see a lot of the ball.
00:20:59
Speaker
I think it's a great signing for him. I think it's a great move for Atalanta. Again, at Inter he would have been the third striker behind Torame Lautaro or competing with them for a starting spot. Here he is the indisputable number one. I'm torn. I'm a little bit torn because I'm feeling like Schimaka, what is he, 25? He's going to be 25 soon. He's not a young kid now and I feel like if I look at where Schimaka was when he was
00:21:28
Speaker
when he was coming through two, three years ago.
00:21:31
Speaker
I would have been expecting him to play for a bigger club with all due respect than Atalanta now. And yes, of course, he had a bad year at West Ham. We'll come to that in a second. But I feel like playing for Atalanta, I mean, should he have pushed more for the inter-move and seen if he could have made that move happen? Because I don't know. I mean, I'm sure he will do well at Atalanta. I'm sure he will do well. But I'm looking at this through the lens of the Italy national team.
00:22:00
Speaker
you know I want to see Italy's best players playing for the biggest clubs and playing in the Champions League and whether Atalanta are going to allow him to increase his level. I mean of course he's still young enough he could stay at Atalanta for a year, two years and then maybe then make the move to a
00:22:17
Speaker
to one of the giants of Italian football. But I guess, you know, maybe I'm a little bit disappointed in looking at the trajectory of Skamaka, that here we are where he's had the opportunity potentially to join one of the bigger clubs, even after a bad season at West Ham, and he's settled with and accepted to join
00:22:38
Speaker
Atalanta. I think this is a statement signing by Atalanta. For Atalanta's point of view, it's fantastic. You could even say, as we've discussed so many times on the show, with Napoli winning the Scudetto last season and four different winners.
00:22:53
Speaker
Good afternoon to even potentially be a Dark Horse. I think I'm going to honor Dark Horse. They bought Schimacher, they bought El Bilaltore, who was their record signing, but Schimacher now might overtake that if you include the add-ons. They've spent that money with the Heuland money. The Kettler will come to in a bit as well.
00:23:13
Speaker
Scamaca and Torre could play together in attack in a three, four, one, two, and they play other systems. They've got lots of options now. There's lots of goals in the team. For Atalanta, it's fantastic. I think it's a brilliant signing by Atalanta, and I think it's good for the Serie A that you have. You don't have a... Like we've spoken, the Serie A is this tight and this exciting because no team has the financial muscles to hoard all the talent up, to hoover them all up, and they're all spread around.
00:23:39
Speaker
And Atalanta, as we discussed for the last two weeks and for two years now, they are pound for pound the best run club in the world. It's a small provincial site from Bergamo that continues to find talent, develop and know how to sell. And they've competed in Europe. They've been in the Champions League. And I think they're rebuilding now. And with, you know, with Gasperini,
00:24:04
Speaker
the talent that they've got in turn fire power up front, they absolutely can be a side that challenge that the wolf back in that can finish in the top four. And maybe if all goes well, if the stars align, they could even, you know, they could be a dark horse for the city, our title for sure. Definitely challenged the top four. I mean, I think the race for top four is so tight guaranteed to be so tight again next season, you know, after after this. And I mean, why it didn't work out a West Ham? I mean, I think that's very easy question to answer.
00:24:31
Speaker
So just go listen to our podcast last year when we discussed why it wouldn't work out at West Ham. Yeah. And to be honest with you, I absolutely agree with him, sucking his agent for making that move happen because that is terrible career management from his agent. Who was his agent, by the way?
00:24:52
Speaker
Yeah, whoever his agent was always agency terrible career management I mean yes, he can accept it But you know some footballers are not the smartest this guy comes from a background where he's not hasn't had a very privileged upbringing Horrible
00:25:07
Speaker
He said a very difficult upbringing. This is where you need people that work in your best interest and whoever was working was not working his best interest. They were looking at the money. They looked at the wages, the Premier League move. He was absolutely right to accept them because it was a terrible move and anybody with any understanding of football could see that it was not going to work out at West Ham.
00:25:27
Speaker
with defensive football, counter-attacking football, a manager, who the Scottish Allegri, as I call him, who doesn't get the best out of young attackers at all, he cannot develop attackers or develop attacking players, or just rely on, I mean, Michael Antonio, his former teammate, said it himself, Schumacher is a great player, but
00:25:47
Speaker
West Ham doesn't suit him because, and I quote, he is feeding off scraps. No, as a striker, he says, as a striker, you feed off of scraps when you play for for for for for more. It's that that's that's what he said on that podcast. And that's his teammate. And that's that's why I didn't want him to go to West Ham. I didn't think that football would suit him. I think he would have used him. And, you know, he's not he's a big guy, but he's not that
00:26:14
Speaker
He's not that striker like... It's not good for any young attacker when you play for a manager like Moyes or a manager that... No, I think someone like Petanya would have been perfect for Moyes because he's big. He's an oaf. He doesn't know how to... He's not very good with his feet. You know, he's just like a young caller. Like that's the kind of striker that he likes. And Petanya is that kind of guy. He's not very technical. He doesn't know how to move properly. He's slow. You know, that's the kind of strikers that, you know,
00:26:40
Speaker
David Moyes like, but Skamaka is big, but he's not that striker. We just hope that he can resurrect himself, though, because at that age, it's you know, you lose a year and your developmental key age like that is, you know, let's remember also that he did play with an entire with an injured meniscus all of last year and he had that finally had that surgery. And I think the reason why he went to Atlantis also because.
00:27:03
Speaker
I don't see another Premier League club or a Real Madrid or a PSG or anyone else coming in for Skamaka in one or two years time. I think if the difference is that he gone to Inter, then that's it. He stays at Inter. But his chances of fulfilling his dream of going to Roma are much bigger if he goes to Atalanta than if he goes to Inter, for sure. And I think that's his goal. He wants to play for Roma at some point in his career. And I think the next club that he goes to will be that.
00:27:32
Speaker
unless he has one of these crazy breakout seasons and really becomes the new Italian, Ibrahimovic, and you have the biggest top creme de la creme clubs in the world, finding out for him. Well, the pitch will decide, as they say. So in to go for Balagun now, is that what you see? Balagun's been the number one target all along for the management, directors. And it's personally, I don't think tactically,
00:28:02
Speaker
it's not my choice. He's more of a ciro immobile than he is of a Romelu Lukaku and I think that I would have rather have gone for a similar profile to Lukaku given how well it looked when things clicked last season but they want the
00:28:18
Speaker
If you look at it from their perspective, he's a young, young player. But above all, it's not just that he's, you know, people say it's because he's American and you help market, you know, the internet will think about stuff like that. They don't understand marketing. Just go look at their social media content and you'll understand that they're not. The marketing aspect of things is not what decides things at that club. What does decide things is the fact that it's finances. And Balogun is a solid investment because he's young,
00:28:48
Speaker
He is American, yes, but he's also English homegrown.
Inter's Transfer Strategies
00:28:51
Speaker
Remember that he played for England. He grew up, you know, he counts as a homegrown player for the Premier League, which means, and we all know that that means money in. But at some point over the next two, three years, Inter can cash in big on this guy.
00:29:07
Speaker
If he does, if he has a good career, they'll get, at the very least, they'll get the return on their investment unless they'll get their investment back, unless he injures himself seriously, like Tami Abraham has done, unfortunately, at Roma. But
00:29:27
Speaker
They're looking for options, different options. I mean, you've got Lautaro, who's a nine and a half. You have Turam, who's more like Jekyll. If you bring this guy in, you have a striker that gets in around the back and is more of a finisher in the box. I think Martin Keom's
00:29:44
Speaker
in comparison to Ian Wright, is pretty spot on. And then you have Joaquin Correa, and if he leaves, they're looking at Alexei Sanchez on a free. So you can see the different profiles that they're looking for. They want to have different options for different games.
00:30:00
Speaker
To me, that suggests they want to compete on all fronts when you do that. The midfield definitely suggests that. The wingback suggests that. So that's what I feel when I watch this, when I think of Balogon. But I mean, like you said, the pitch will decide. But then again, it's also risky because if you miss out on Balogon, you're screwed. You're screwed. And I don't like it when Inter put all their eggs in one basket.
00:30:27
Speaker
Yeah, well, we'll see how that develops. One thing is for sure that Inter finally have a goalkeeper now, Jan Sommer, medical on Monday, I believe, as I've seen many Inter fans say, it's gone on for so long that Sommer almost became winter.
00:30:44
Speaker
But they do finally have Jad Summer in the summer. So, six million. Are you happy with this deal? And also, can you just answer what is going to happen with the backup? Because I see Trubin is probably going to Benfic. Aren't they going to sign another goalkeeper? I mean, they still need a backup goalkeeper. They do need a backup goalkeeper. And I think there could be a solution between Audeiro and Stankovic. But we've got to be honest here. Stankovic is impressed in pre-season.
00:31:12
Speaker
and it wouldn't harm like Inter are not are seriously considering keeping him as a second goalkeeper. I don't want that to happen for his sake because he's a young goalkeeper. He spent two seasons on loan in the Dutch first and second division in Wollendam and he did really well there and I want him to continue playing and sitting on the bench at Inter does not exactly help him grow. A goalkeeper needs minutes
00:31:35
Speaker
more than any position to be honest and I think so but I so I really hope that they send him out on loan so he can play and because he needs to grow I really believe in him I mean nothing would be better for Inter than than Stankovic to become you know another Stankovic at Inter a goalkeeper young goalkeeper at that
00:31:57
Speaker
It would really be the stuff of dreams, you know, he grew up at the club. So that would be absolutely fantastic for Inter if that happens. But in order for that to happen, he needs to play. And I don't think he, you know, so I hope that they do this loan swap deal with Sampdoria that was being talked about just for a season to allow Stankovic to continue growing in the Serie B.
00:32:21
Speaker
But no, Trubin I think is, it seems, yeah, I mean, when Benfica walks in and gives you, I mean, essentially it's a co-ownership, if we're honest, they're giving 40, 45% of the future salon fee to Shakhtar. I mean, that's as close as you can get to a co-ownership deal almost. So, you know, the backup situation doesn't matter. What matters is that Jan Sommer is in Milan, Inter finally got the player,
00:32:47
Speaker
And the fact that he's also, he played with Marcus Taram, it makes sense. You know, they played together at Gladbach. They linked up really well at Gladbach. And I think that's a link up that Interfans should look out for, everyone should be looking at. Because I think that's something, given how Sommer plays with his feet in the balls that he hits high up the pitch directly to Taram, that's a link up that Zinsagi will use a lot. Yeah, for sure. Okay. And just before we finish off on Atalanta,
00:33:16
Speaker
Charles de Quetera is set for Atalanta. They've agreed to sign in on a loan deal, one-year loan deal, probably about $3 million, with a buy option attached of around $21-22 million, with add-ons about $4-5 million in add-ons on top of that.
00:33:35
Speaker
and then a 10% future resale clause as well. It looks like this is gonna happen, which is recorded on Monday. This will happen either Monday or Tuesday, it looks like. So the big question is, can he resurrect his career at Atlanta?
00:33:54
Speaker
I think he can. I think this is the perfect move for him. I think the step up from Club Bruges to Milan was too big. Obviously, Milan underwent changes. Pioli doesn't seem to really believe in him. This is the ideal solution.
00:34:10
Speaker
I think Atalanta, and the way the deal is structured as well, it's a 22 million option, not an obligation. It's an option, isn't it? And that suggests that they're covering, you know, they're hedging their bets. If he were to be a dud, then they just send him back to Milan. But if he's a star, they'll buy him for 22 and then they can flog him on for 40, 50, 60, 70, as they seem to be able to do.
00:34:36
Speaker
quite easily. And he's from Belgium. He's young. No, it's a great deal for Atalanta. And I hope for him as well. I think he will do well there. I really think it's a smaller place. It's not as much pressure as around Milan. He'll be in a more familial environment as Bergamo. I think for me, it ticks every box. And I think that the fact that he's got Skamaka in front of him
00:35:03
Speaker
They can, I think that attack is going to be really interesting. Yeah, I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I think it's a risk, for Atalanta's point of view, I think it's a risk that's worth taking. The risk versus reward is in Atalanta's favor because if it is a flop, then, well, they've lost three million and it's not the end of the world, especially having made so much money on the residence hoarding deal.
00:35:27
Speaker
If it's a success, then that's fantastic. He has a good season with them. They sign him, they can keep him for another season, or they can sell him on at a big profit. So I think the risk first of all, I think it's a risk worth taking for Atalanta. Nothing that I've seen from De Kettler in the last year, either for Milan or I watched him in the under 21 euros as well for Belgium.
00:35:50
Speaker
Nothing suggests to me that he's going to be a success even for Atalanta. I've seen nothing at all. I have to be honest with you. He's obviously got a great left foot and obviously he was wanted by so many. I didn't watch him much before he joined Milan, so I can't go on that.
00:36:10
Speaker
Um, but I think one thing I do think, I do think that the formation should suit him at Atalanta because they, they play a kind of a three, four, one, two slash three, four, two, one. And I think that is his, that's where he needs to play. He needs to play in that hole behind the striker or strikers. And I think, I think this, this system will suit him perfectly. He's not an outside winger. That's for sure. He doesn't have the pace for it.
00:36:34
Speaker
He likes to just roam around kind of picking up the ball on the edge of the box. He's good in those kind of little areas. So I think that the formation will suit him and he'll also be in a clear system. And we know we've seen it so many times at Atalanta that the Gasparini system, if you can get suit, if you can
00:36:55
Speaker
get adjusted to it and adapt to it. You can maximize everyone. And obviously, you can see there's clear talent. You can see he's got a lovely left foot. He's graceful. He's got elegance. Why not? Why can't Gasparini make him the new Illichich, for example? They're not too dissimilar. So yeah, let's see what happens. I think it's a risk worth taking.
00:37:35
Speaker
That's probably Maldini's biggest ex on the record. Probably what done Maldini in, to be honest with you. It's what ended him, really, because I think it was this deal that really finished him off. Obviously, there were other issues, but they went for him over
00:37:40
Speaker
From the Milan point of view, there's no doubt he's one of the biggest bidani we've ever seen in Serie A.
00:37:54
Speaker
who was, they chose it's Pala Di Bala, wasn't it? Pala Di Bala. It was Pala Di Bala that they had the deal done for Pala Di Bala. And we were told that by Vito Angela when he came on to do the Milan deep dive podcast earlier in the summer. And he said, and I asked him why was Maldini sacked? And he said that
00:38:16
Speaker
Milan had done a deal, the Milan management had done a deal for Di Bala, but Maldini insisted for Perdicetela instead at a cost of 40 million. Yeah, absolutely. He was a total disaster. I think it was at one assist, zero goals in 40 appearances, and just somebody that looked very low in confidence, no personality, no intensity.
00:38:40
Speaker
just weak on the ball, pushed off the ball. Let's see if he can
00:38:47
Speaker
resurrect his career at Atalanta? I think so. I think he'll do well there. And I think Atalanta's firepower is going to be very interesting. I think they're going to have to see a place to leave because they're going to have to sell plays. I mean, Zapata, Muriel, Lukman, I mean, they've all been, I'm sure Atalanta will try and get rid of the first two, but even Lukman's been linked with an exit.
00:39:11
Speaker
you know, Boca's already gone. So there's a lot of change. There's a lot of change. Yeah, no, they're, you know, they, they, they're changing. It's the summer of change in the city, isn't it?
Serie A Summer Transfer Highlights
00:39:21
Speaker
It really is the summer of change in all clubs. Yeah, for sure. Talking about change, changing clubs, the Dusan Vlawic, Romelu Lukaku swap negotiations will really get into it this, this, this week. I think this will be the key week in deciding if Vlawic and Lukaku
00:39:39
Speaker
swap Juventus and Chelsea. Juventus want 50 million plus Lukaku for Vlovich, but will settle for 40. Chelsea's starting point is very low, maybe even as low as 20 plus Lukaku for Vlovich. So there is a big bridge there that needs to be, they need to come to some kind of compromise. The next, I think 48, 72 hours, I think we'll get a clear picture whether this is a deal that
00:40:10
Speaker
is going to go through. But what I want us to discuss today is I want us to look at the winners and losers of this deal if it does go through. So I want to go through each party. First of all, Romelu Lukaku, if he goes to Juventus, is he a winner or is he a loser? I don't know what to even begin to talk about what Lukaku
00:40:31
Speaker
The man, his decision making in the career moves, the only good career move he made was going to Inter on the Conte. That was the only one that made sense and he was fantastic, he was the peak of his career. But since then going to Chelsea, arguing, doing that interview when he was at Chelsea, three months in,
00:40:53
Speaker
destroying his, burning his bridges completely with Chelsea after three months of being a record signing, then going to Inter on loan, failing, flopping. And then doing this, if he goes to Juve, he will become the biggest traitor for Interfans in modern, in Inter's modern history. There is no, he will be the biggest Judas to Interfans, no doubt about it. He will be hated to the point where
00:41:21
Speaker
I can't even begin to describe how much hatred he will bring up because he was a player who professed his love to Inter. He was a player who professed that he always wanted to play for Inter. Adriana was my childhood idol, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then he goes and does all this stuff.
00:41:40
Speaker
I don't know. Do I think he will work in an allegory system? Yes, I actually think so. I don't think he'll ever be the striker he was under Antonio Conte.
00:41:51
Speaker
But do I think he will score 15, 20 goals in the Serie A and maybe even win the Serie A with Juve and playing for Allegri? Absolutely. Absolutely. And maybe that's how he looks at it, short term, getting back into it, being the main guy. And we know that Lukaku needs to be the main guy everywhere he goes. And in that he's no longer the main guy. The main guy is Lautaro Martinez. Yeah, I find it. We've spoken about this at length before. From Lukaku's point of view,
00:42:21
Speaker
I do find it a bit strange also because Juventus are not in the Champions League either but maybe
00:42:26
Speaker
maybe he's been promised that Antonio Conte is going to be there in a year. Maybe there's that dynamic to it as well. Maybe in his own mind, he sees this as revenge against Inter because he's unhappy about how last season went for whatever reason and not playing with the champion starting the Champions League final, all that kind of stuff. Maybe in his own mind, that's what he thinks. But time will tell. From Dusan Vlaovic's point of view, I think it's a risk from Vlaovic's point of view in terms of
00:42:56
Speaker
For starters, he leaves Juventus, then that concedes that his time at Juventus was a failure. This will be looked at as a failure in his career. His move to Juventus was a failure. So that's bad on his resume there. The risk is also risky because Chelsea are a mess. I mean, the club is a total mess. The transfer market over last year has been laughable. I don't think it's been much better this window. They've sold a lot of plays and made good money. But
00:43:22
Speaker
again, the players they brought in, it just looks half hazard and chaotic. And you can't really see much of a method in terms of what they're trying to build there. So he's coming into a very disjointed team who, at this, even with Vlaovic and the team, I don't see Chelsea qualifying for the top four. We have to see who else comes in this window and they're bringing in Kiseido and they're bringing in some other players and yeah, maybe they can, but I think it's going to be difficult for them to even get in the top four. They're definitely not going to challenge for
00:43:49
Speaker
for the title, they're not going to be in the Champions League. So, you know, he's going to a club that's almost in as much of a mess as events as well, obviously, with infinitely more resources. On a positive, though, point of view, I think he's working for a manager who's very good at developing young players, Pochettino, who we saw what he did to Harry Kane, who was a similar age when Pochettino started working with him as Kane, as Blauwitsch is now. So that could be good for
00:44:15
Speaker
for Wlowicz's career, that he's got a manager that can develop young attackers, which obviously a legary can't do. So I think that's good. If we move on to Juventus, though, is this a good move? Are Juventus a winner or a loser bringing in Lukaku? For Juve, I think it makes perfect sense, because they get a player who will probably cost them less in wages, because I think they can use the Kreta Kreshita for another year.
00:44:46
Speaker
They get 30, 40 million euros in cash, and they move a Vlawic who's not working. For them, it makes perfect sense financially. And they have to make money. You have to offload players, and they have to start bringing in cash. It's as simple as that. So I don't think you have much of a choice here. So for them, it's good.
00:45:11
Speaker
From that aspect, also, I think this is a guy who works for them tactically in terms of Allegri and if Conte comes in, Conte as well. So, you know, again, Lukaku, you even need to get back into the Champions League, first of all. That's the goal. And will Lukaku help them achieve that goal? Absolutely, I think so, without a doubt. There's no doubt in my mind that you will finish top four next season. And I think Lukaku almost guarantees that.
00:45:37
Speaker
because the way that he plays, he is a striker who will get those 15-20 goals against your leches, against your empolis, against your monsas, the unsexy goals, but they all mean three points, and you have only the Copa Italia and the Serie A to play in.
00:45:55
Speaker
So for Juve makes perfect sense and Aligri will make him the main guy. And I also think that, you know, given that we know that Lukaku can play with his back against the goal, his Linka play is good. I think that'll also be good for Kieza as well. I think that'll really get Kieza firing as well.
00:46:10
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think that if we're looking at it in the short term, the short term gain for Juventus could be good because they're bringing in a player that doesn't need to be developed, he's ready. And we know, again, we've talked to death about Allegri. Allegri needs ready-made, especially in attack, he's ready-made players as he can't develop players. So that's a positive. But from a mid to long term move from Juventus, it makes no sense, as we've discussed. I mean, Allegri could leave next year for starters.
00:46:41
Speaker
Financially, you're bringing in a player. For a lot of money, you're relinquishing a player that's 23, that has a big sell-on value for someone that's got no sell-on value and you won't be able to sell him. And you're bringing a player who's 30 years old and it's going to decline in one, two years.
00:47:00
Speaker
versus a player who, if he was developed correctly, could be playing for Juventus for five, eight, ten years. Again, it smacks of short-termism and the whole thing that I've been complaining about with Juventus for a good four to five years and that there's been no project in terms of building
00:47:21
Speaker
core of a team around a group of players who can be together for a period of time and this is another short-term signing. The positive for me is that yes, of course, they do need to make money, we know that, but the biggest positive is that if Wlowicz leaves, Kiese definitely stays.
00:47:41
Speaker
if you ask me, who do I want to stay at the event of Vlawic and Kiesa, it's probably Kiesa. So, you know, they have to make a sacrifice. I think from just from a Vlawic point of view, I think this is good for him. I think Pochettino is the perfect, if Pochettino can't get Vlawic to become a striker that knows how to play with his back against the goal, I don't think anyone can.
00:48:03
Speaker
then that's it for him at a big club. Because at big clubs, you have to be able to play with your back against the goal. And Vlawic is yet to do that. But we've seen how good he is at developing young players. You saw what Dele Alli said of Pochettino about how his relationship with him, he was almost like a second father to him.
00:48:25
Speaker
And I think, you know, Pochettino is, I think that really speaks good for volumes for Blauwitsch that he can really develop under Pochettino if he puts his mind to it. And, you know, fresh start, it's the Premier League, it's the biggest stage in the world. Chelsea are a big club. Pochettino is great at developing young players. He's also someone who understands the human and the person behind the player, which I think is very important too. So I think for Blauwitsch, I get it, I really do.
00:48:54
Speaker
Yeah. And for Chelsea, first of all, I think it's a risk for Chelsea as well. Financially, it's good in that they get Lukaku off their books and they're investing in a young player with a sell-on value. But it's a risk in that we've seen from Vlovich in the last 18 months what we've seen. So of course, you're always taking a risk when you're bringing in a player who's been playing badly for a long period of time. And
00:49:20
Speaker
also given that Chelsea really do need a number nine. They really do. I mean, they've got Nicholas Jackson, he's been doing well in preseason, but you know, they need a guarantee. Blauwitsch, you know, it's probably not a guarantee. So, you know, it's a risk. It's a risk. And there's always a risk. I think from a Serie A point of view, again, it's probably not a good look for Serie A PR wise in that, again, we're losing another young
00:49:48
Speaker
star for, let's be honest, for an EPL, for a Premier League cast off. So I don't think it's good. Yeah, he's a Chelsea reject. There's no doubt about that. There's a Premier League reject. Absolutely. So, yeah. So I don't think it's a good look, you know, the whole image that Serie A has about, you know. But don't worry, DJ Khaled on Instagram will fix that. Don't worry. Don't worry. A few more, if you get the Kardashians on Instagram and TikTok and you're sorted.
00:50:13
Speaker
That seems to be the level that the CVI is doing. Yeah, conquer in North America according to the markets and geniuses and so on. Right, okay. Just very, very quickly staying on the event so we're going over as usual. Dona Rumma. So this is a story that Sportitalia and Alfredo Pedoula have said that there's been an exploratory inquiry
00:50:38
Speaker
for Donna River from Juventus. We know that the situation at PSG is not good at the moment. It's a horrific robbery.
00:50:49
Speaker
that took place where he was him and his girlfriend were held at gunpoint in their home. So that's obviously not helped matters. There was some fake news going around that Luis Enrique wanted to sell Donaruma. Now, that is probably his fake news, but I have no doubt whatsoever I can see an issue coming here with Luis Enrique, because we know Luis Enrique wants players to be able to, wants goalkeepers who are
00:51:14
Speaker
good with their feet. It's crucial to his way of playing. We know Don Aromo, he's not good with his feet and he's never going to be suitable to Luis Enriquez. So I can see, it might not be now, but six months down the line, I can see this being a potential problem. So I don't see it happening this summer, Don Aromo, to Juventus, but
00:51:34
Speaker
end of next year, end of next season, if Luis Enrique is going to stay, that's no guarantee either. I think it knocked out the Champions League, Al-Khalifa might have rid of Luis Enrique as well. I do think this is one to keep an eye on. Chesney's contract expires in 2025.
00:51:51
Speaker
What do you think? I think I've always thought that at some point, Tonaruma will go to Yuba. And I think Sandro Tonali will join him in a couple of years time as well. I think that's at some point, I expect Tonali and Donaruma to go to Yuba. And I think within a year or two, I think Donaruma will go. And maybe a couple of years later, one or two years after that, Tonali will join. I think they
00:52:19
Speaker
That's the strategy. I mean, Juve are building around. They're all going Italian, aren't they? The Milan, the Inter and Juve are really going with their Italian core. And Donaruma and Tonali are going to be mainstays in the Italian national team. And I expect Donaruma to... He's not going to be... The next step from PSG, if he wants to take a step upwards, would be if he went to Man City or Real Madrid or something like that. And that's just not going to happen.
00:52:48
Speaker
because he's not that character. And I think Juva would be a safe place. It would secure him playing at a top level. It would be good for the Italian national team. Juva, we know how good they are at protecting players and their families and making everyone happy. And he'll fold in line, I'm sure, as well. So, no, for me, it's just a matter of time before Donnarum and Tonali end up at Juva, to be honest.
00:53:12
Speaker
Yeah, I'm a little bit concerned for Donnarumma under Luis Enrique. But you know what, I don't really like the work that, I mean, I'm a big fan of Luis Enrique as a coach. I think he's fantastic and it's a great point with my PhD, but I don't like
00:53:24
Speaker
the transfer work of PSG this summer, I mean, Messi's gone. And if Mbappe, I mean, the situation's a total fast there, even if he stays, like it's a total shambles there. So you lose Messi, you lose Mbappe, potentially lose Verratti as well. And, you know, I don't, the signings that come in, I mean, they don't, certainly from the midfield going forward, I mean, Dembele, okay, I mean, I like him, but
00:53:52
Speaker
Yeah, I'm not sure, I'm not sure. It's a lot of uncertainty and it doesn't seem like a very stable environment at the moment, PSG. No, it doesn't.
00:54:03
Speaker
talking about stability. No, no, no, no. I'm not letting you off the hook. You're reacting to Western McKinney staying at UVA. No, no, no, no, no. Don't you try to smooth talk your way out of this. I want to hear you react to Western McKinney staying at UVA. Please proceed. What do you want me to say? What do you want me to say? What do you want me to say? Want me to shoot myself live on the podcast?
00:54:32
Speaker
No, I think we should acknowledge that he was good in the friendly against Real Madrid. Oh, fantastic. He was good in a couple of friendlies in a pre-season tournament in the United States. I mean, wow, whoopee. I think we should acknowledge that Juva played really well in that game. I don't care about the result, but I think the way that Juva played against Real Madrid, they looked really good.
00:54:57
Speaker
And it looks like things based on what we've seen on the pitch so far. Okay, you know what? I take back everything I've said about McKinney. Everything that we've seen from McKinney the last three or four years. These two games in pre-season.
00:55:11
Speaker
These two games in pre-season show that I was wrong and that Western McKinney is a world-class midfielder and he's going to have a fantastic season for Juventus next season. There we go. Are you happy? Oh my God. No, but I know the people listening. I will be very happy. No, but seriously, do you think he'll stay at you a bit?
00:55:31
Speaker
Well, what I understand is that he was obviously for sale at the start of the summer, but he's played really well in these two games and that now Juventus are reflecting on his future. Don't you think that he has a role to play at Juve as a rotation player? No, you're winding me up now. No, he's not.
00:55:53
Speaker
He's not. No. He's not Juventus quality. He's way off Juventus quality. Miles off. It doesn't matter if you play well in the preseason. Friendly's a friendly. Yeah, I know. I know. And, you know, he's a fit player. He's very fit when he gets selfish.
00:56:08
Speaker
in shape, you might like a burger, but he's somebody that runs with ranch sauce on it. He can get up and down. I'll tell you a Bedford story. When I was playing for a preseason, I was playing for a team before I made my final final retirement. I was playing for a team about 15 years ago. It wasn't the best team in the world. He didn't have the best players, best coach. He wasn't a great team.
00:56:36
Speaker
But in pre-season, we won every single game. We hammered everyone because we got so super fit. We were so far ahead in terms of fitness. We started training in June. I remember the World Cup was on. It was during 2010, World Cup. We started training in June. We were so super fit that we just were beating everyone. We had some really crap players. They were scoring, they were playing well because they were just fitter and sharp than everyone else.
00:57:04
Speaker
And in preseason, sometimes you can get some players like that, that can look really good in preseason because they're just so much sharper than everyone else. And I'm not saying, I don't know if that's the case with McKinney, but I mean, just watch him, watch him for leads in our season. Ask the Leeds fans. Honestly, Leeds, you think I get out for McKinney? No, no, no, no. Leeds fans, I saw online, they were, oh my days. Don't, honestly,
00:57:26
Speaker
Western McKinney is the most unwelcome person in Leeds. I think so as well. I saw that. I saw what happened on social media. At Leeds fans, I don't think I've ever seen that much hatred towards them. They absolutely hate to test it, honestly. They make me look like I'm a super fan. Yeah, they do. They were not very... There was one space on Twitter that they had. I think it was with McKinney's friends.
00:57:55
Speaker
And one Leeds fan went after Mckenny, it was very, very, very funny. Well, they were chanting him. Do you remember the last game of the season when Leeds got relegated and then some of the Leeds players kind of went to collapse towards the fans and Mckenny kind of half went over and they just laid into it. They were calling him a fat bastard and they would kiss off back to America. Yeah, it was horrible. It was really, really, the abuse was crazy.
00:58:19
Speaker
Yeah. Anyway, right. Okay. Enough of McKinney. I want to get your take on Castravilli because I was a little bit concerned about this because first of all, the news came out that Gaetano Castravilli was joining Bournemouth and the deal had been done, 12 million plus add-ons. And I thought to myself, at first I was kind of depressed about this because I thought 12 million and he's going to Bournemouth
00:58:48
Speaker
I'm a big fan of Castro Villy as a player. I love watching him play. I think he's a super talent. Obviously very unlucky with the ACL that he had that he'd just come back from towards the end of last season. And I was really depressed. I was thinking this kind of just sums up the state of modern football. Really talented Italian player for one of the better Serie A clubs and he's going to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
00:59:14
Speaker
And then the news came out that the deal had collapsed, it failed his medical, and then I was even more depressed because I learned that it was because there's concerns over his knee, the ACL, MCL, and the Naniska surgery that he had last year, Bournemouth were concerned about the state of his knee.
00:59:32
Speaker
And then I thought to myself, well, we're Fiorentina are actually just selling him because they know something that they're not sure about, about his fitness going forward. Well, when we had some fitness, when we had Michaela Missoulon, he said that, you know, Fiorentina, he's not going to extend his contract. They've mismanaged that situation. He doesn't want to extend his contract with Fiorentina or he's asking for wages that Fiorentina can't really afford.
00:59:56
Speaker
and he wants to see out that contract, and so the $12 million plus add-on fee from Bournemouth was a blessing from above for them. Now I think Fiorenti is not going to lose him on a free transfer, and I think he
01:00:12
Speaker
We'll see who will go after him, of course. But we know that Inter have been interested in this player for many, many years. It's like Inter fans joke online about Auzilio and Marotta's list. It's like an exclusive club. Once you make the list, you're always in there.
01:00:30
Speaker
The list rarely gets updated. It's very difficult to get thrown out of the list. It's like you have to do something like Lukaku to get thrown out of the club. Castro really made the list a few years ago and he's been there since. His contract expires next year and I think with Amrabad gone and
01:00:51
Speaker
you know, I think he will have his minutes. And I think he will, I hope that he does well, because he's a player I really, really like when I first saw him. And I rate him just like you do. I hope he is doing the contract thing and it isn't. I mean, obviously, he's failed a medical. So if you fail a medical, you fail a medical, that's always a concern. Yeah. So, you know, because there's always one reason when you come back from, I mean, ACL, MCL and it's not, I mean, I think the fail the medical thing is a little bit harsh. It's more like,
01:01:15
Speaker
The doctor makes his assessment based on the medical if the risk of injury and so on. And I think Bournemouth's doctor, or whoever they used, made the assessment that
01:01:27
Speaker
there is a risk of a recurring injury for his knee and so on. At this point, different doctors can have different opinions on that. It's not good for the quarantine of this either, because there's no way they're going to sell it. No, he's not going to be sold to the Premier League, that's for sure. I mean, no one else is going to come in and pay money for it now, knowing that he's paying the medical, and there's concerns over his knee. It's just not going to happen. No, no, no. For him, it's more an issue of
01:01:55
Speaker
they you know if he stays and i actually think it's bad in a way i mean i guess it's good to be open and honest but you know but i think it's bad they kind of made this public about not that they made it come but it was leaked obviously that that he failed the medical um rather than just oh you know till collapse and and and that's it
01:02:16
Speaker
And because I think it is bad for Fiorentina now, that's the damage. I mean, they've really, that's really, I mean, he's going to have to stay. Fiorentina going to have to try again. And when does this contract run out? Is it the end of next season? Yeah, I think June, 2024. Yeah.
01:02:30
Speaker
Okay, well, they're going to lose him for nothing. No, they got that. I mean, that's when he called on me. So he said when we did the Fiorentina deep dive that there is a concern of Fiorentina about Castor really that they might have botched that a little bit. But at the same time, we'll see what happens. I mean, if he has a good, you know, I do Fiorentina play him, I think they might have to because a fit Castor really, I think walks into the Fiorentina midfield. Absolutely. Without under about there, especially. So it's going to be interesting to see what happens. I hope he can stay fit because I mean, again, it's a player that was, you know,
01:03:00
Speaker
Was Luke looked good for the future of the Italian national? No, the past is a bit of a Billy Elliot, wasn't he? Ballet dancer as a youngster. And that's where he gets his twinkle toes and his his his great low center of gravity when he moves with the ball. So, yeah, he's very fantastic. Quick feet. OK, right. Napoli finally have a replacement for Kim Minjie. They bought a completely unknown quantity for most most Europeans. Natan, I think I pronounced that right.
01:03:29
Speaker
from Red Bull but at Gantino, that's the Red Bull Club in Brazil, 22 years old, tall, six foot two, left-sided, left center back, can also play at left back, good with the ball, good ball carrier, physical, aggressive, Rome, I tried to sign him last year, time will tell. If Napoli have done another brilliant, you know, discovery once again.
01:03:54
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. We can't really add much on this. We haven't seen too much. But it's going to be interesting to see. I mean, there's been talk of Rudy Garcia played Raspadori in some sort of a double pivot the other day.
01:04:10
Speaker
It's going to be very interesting to see what happens there. Oh, God, he started. Yeah, no, but I mean, you know, I personally think that's insane. Well, Napoli need midfielders. They need sense of fielders desperately because they're already short on central midfielders. They've obviously lost in Donbélé and now Garcia has admitted that Zielinski is in negotiations to go to Saudi Arabia. They need to sign at least one, probably two central midfielders in Napoli.
01:04:37
Speaker
So there's work to do there. Talking of Brazilians,
01:04:43
Speaker
Roger Ibanez, Roma are in negotiations to sell him to Saudi Arabia for Ali, 25 million plus 10 million as bonuses. I think this will be a really good deal for him because they already have a replacement in the car for who was a free transfer. So that's a fantastic profit that they get a player who's going to be a, should be an upgrade. Good for Ibanez financially. So I get 10 million a year. It's just insane the money they're paying there.
01:05:11
Speaker
So, yeah, they now have the money to actually invest in the market. They've basically not been able to sign anyone. Kind of just a shame, I guess, because they need a striker that they didn't get this money for... Scamaka, yeah. It's a bit of a, yeah, if he'd only waited, hadn't he? I mean, that's the thing with Scamaka, if he'd only waited a little bit longer. But, you know, maybe they decide... I mean, maybe they go for Morata because Alvaro Morata is who...
01:05:38
Speaker
who Mourinho really wants, but it doesn't seem like that's the kind of player they're going to go after, to be honest. But they definitely need a striker, that's for damn sure. And they'll probably need to buy, you know, maybe another midfielder as well. But we'll see. All right, just before we do Badger and Primface for the week, finishing off also on Saudi Arabia, so Marco Virati could join Al-Hilal.
01:06:01
Speaker
He's already agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal for a contract until 2026, almost 50 million euros a year, insane. And the Saudi club Al-Hilal are now looking to offer around 50 million to PSG. PSG are asking for closer to 80 to sell. So obviously there's a bit of a gap there.
01:06:26
Speaker
has agreed to join, but he's also not going to kick up a fuss. So this is one that could go either way. But I mean, this is an interesting one. Now that we're seeing all the players that are going to Saudi Arabia, from an Italy national team point of view, is this the end of Verratti's international career if he goes to Saudi Arabia? Or do you think Mancini will and should still be looking to call him, looking ahead to the Euros?
01:06:55
Speaker
I think he'll continue to call him. I think it's at least for the... Should he though? Yes. I mean, should Saudi Arabia be seen as a league that is a high enough quality that you could stay in the national team? Well, I think it depends on the player in question and the situation. I mean, I've been on the, you know, my opinion. I think Verati is kind of on the decline and has been for one or two years. So I'm actually looking at this as a kind of a blessing in disguise for Italy. I think Italy need to move away from Verati.
01:07:25
Speaker
I think we need to start looking to the future.
01:07:28
Speaker
I think Verratti and Giorgini were fantastic players, one of, you know, generational players who won the Euro, won Italy the Euros, and we all saw what they can do. But I think it's time to move on. And I think that Verratti and Giorgini are, you know, time waits for no man. And I think maybe this could be a good thing. I do think in the long term that it makes it easier. Let's put it like this. It makes it much easier for Mancini to get rid of Verratti this way.
01:07:57
Speaker
had he continued to play in Europe and PSG. But I still think that, you know, I still think he'll call him and I think if Italy make the Euros he'll still be part of the squad, as things stand right now.
01:08:12
Speaker
Yeah, I think a lot will depend on who else goes to Saudi Arabia between now and the end of the transfer window. The transfer window in Saudi Arabia closes a little bit after the European one. The European one, obviously the end of the month or September the 1st, 2nd, I can't remember the exact date. And I think the Saudi one is a couple of weeks later. So there's still a long time left. If lots more kind of big players go, then the league gets to a certain quality that maybe you can make the argument that
01:08:37
Speaker
we're actually playing in there, doesn't necessarily rule you out or shouldn't rule you out of playing. So I guess we will, yeah, we'll have to wait and see, but it certainly does here. Like you said, it puts his top level career, his Italy career at more risk. I'm not ready to write him off though, based on kind of six months, but Georgina, I'm with you. I'm with you on Georgina. No, I'm just saying that it's time to start looking at the future regardless. Like you have to... Oh, for sure. But I mean, I'm looking, I guess I'm looking at the Euros.
01:09:06
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think that he's going to be there at the Euros for sure. There's no doubt about unless he's injured, of course. But I think that it doesn't matter where he, you know, where he went, like if he goes to Saudi, I don't think that'll impact very much in his plans because he's planning for the Euros. And I think that will be a key part of that. But I do think that if he goes to Saudi, it'll make it easier to move on after the Euros and start to look at bringing in more players because Italy has an abundance of talent in midfield. And sometimes you have to update how you play. And I think with
01:09:36
Speaker
with Tonali, Fratizzi, Barilla, that is Italy's midfield. I think that's the starting midfield going into the future for me. Yeah, okay. Yeah, not long now until the World Cup, sorry, the Euro qualifiers resume next month. So, yeah, not long to go. Right, let's finish off with Baggio and Prem Face of the Week. Okay, start off with Baggio. I mean, I guess there's only one. Yeah, who have you got?
01:10:06
Speaker
Gigi Buffon, of course. Yeah, of course. You have to pay tribute to him for the career that we've already discussed. I really like this appointment of him coming into the Italy national team. I can't think of a better person more suitable for that role at this point in time. Someone who commands the respect of everyone, many of whom he's been teammates with.
01:10:32
Speaker
And they're kind of used to him being the leader in the dressing room as well. I think that it will be very, very important. Yeah, not bad goalkeeping coach or even a goal keeper. If we need one. I mean, if things get really bad, they can, you know, Gigi. We get an injury on the brink of the tournament. Well, don't bother calling someone up. Just call Gigi. Just ask him, say, you know, how are you feeling physically? Do you reckon you can do it? Yeah.
01:10:59
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Right. Prem face of the week. Oh, there's this. There's so much. There's so many. There's so many. So let's start off with the usual prem face territory. So talk sport. And that is Gabrielle Agbon-Laure, who couple first of all, we said that the estimate of defender concert is better than Rafael Varan.
01:11:25
Speaker
What is this obsession they have with Rafael Varán? I don't get it. They seem to be triggered by him a lot. I don't understand what it is.
01:11:37
Speaker
Yeah, so that's the first one, but the best one for me was the obligatory and it's always obligatory at the end. Rasmus Heuland is unproven as he hasn't played in the Premier League. It literally feels like they have a list of things they need to cross off the list as soon as the player comes. It doesn't matter if it's who it is. They're like robots. You can just put anyone in there and they'll say the same things. It's like,
01:12:01
Speaker
It's just on repeat. It's just another day, just another person saying the same thing. It's very, very funny.
01:12:09
Speaker
Absolutely. Right. Now, number two, so this is the Serie A official Twitter site, who we know for many years has been just a complete joke. It's run by people that can't even speak English, let alone write English and tweet stuff like,
01:12:33
Speaker
apex height and average apex height. The average apex height, thank you very much. Which is supposed to show what? Which is supposed to show what? It's a really important stat and it always comes at half time, this like ridiculous stat that don't mean anything and they just push it out on social and on the broadcast and no one knows what it means.
01:12:55
Speaker
I have no idea. So they tweeted last week, I'll read it out, Roma fans, at the height of their abilities, which of Mohamed Salah or Daniel Idarasi would you bring back to the club compliment the current squad? I mean,
01:13:10
Speaker
I mean, it's just unbelievable, isn't it? I mean, you're asking a Roma fan who they would have, De Rossi or Salah. I mean, you just completely, I mean, it's just, I don't even need to explain it. I mean, it's just ridiculous. So this is the problem that we have with we're trying to market our league. We have people tweeting stuff out like this.
01:13:33
Speaker
It doesn't make any sense. You just have to look at the replies. They're just getting absolutely slaughtered in the replies. Like, who is running this account? Shameful to be a Serie A account and seriously ask this. The replies are always funny. The replies are always, always, always funny.
01:13:56
Speaker
Sariya marketing doing a great job, right? And the final one, I'm not sure whether this is, this is, I don't even know who those guys are.
Messi's MLS Debut and Media Reactions
01:14:06
Speaker
Yeah. So it's some American podcasters they're talking about. So Messi, he scored this incredible last minute free kick, and then put into Miami and there's these, these Americans that are discussing it. And
01:14:22
Speaker
So let me read it out. So the first guy goes, so Messi, it's his first game in the MLS. The game is tied up. So when it's tied up, it goes to penalty kicks, right? And Messi, he comes in and he scores the winning penalty kick. I mean, it wasn't a penalty kick. It was a free kick to start off. And they're showing it, but they think it's a penalty kick. And then the other guy goes, so he steps up and he scores the winning penalty kick. He scored the winning penalty kick in his first game.
01:14:51
Speaker
And then the other guy goes, that can't just be a coincidence. I mean, he's a legend. So my question is, how do they pick the person that's going to take the picture? Is it the person that gets penalized or that gets the penalty? They do it by team captain. And then from there, they do it in order of like, OK, so it was the team captain. So it was messy.
01:15:11
Speaker
And then the guy goes, we've got breaking news. Messi is going to be the new captain of the MLS. We just got breaking news. The new captain of the MLS, the soccer league here in America is Messi. And another guy goes, yeah, I think we could have all seen that coming. I'm not trying to do an American accent, by the way. I wouldn't even try. But that is so cringy.
01:15:32
Speaker
I think it's I think that's got to be staged. I don't believe so as well. I don't believe there's anyone that knows. I mean, no, it makes no sense. Like, it just feels like it's. I don't know. I mean, talk sport where do prim face three. I believe that's genuine. I don't believe that it's that it's like you said, I think it's all of I think some of there is a part of maybe occasionally. I think they know what they're doing and they know that they can
01:16:00
Speaker
like when you say stupid and outrageous things like that, they know they're going to get interactions and that will break through the, like it's a race to the bottom in the media echo chamber where the dumber and more stupid takes that will piss people off more will always, this is what they're doing, they're not interested in educating, they're not interested in analyzing, contextualizing, they're just after to break through, say the most outrageous thing
01:16:25
Speaker
that you can, because it guarantees reactions. And then whatever tabloid that also owns TalkSport will do an article on it, and they'll get more clicks, and this is just how it goes round and round and round. So I think there is an element of that to it.
Controversial Stories and Episode Sign-off
01:16:42
Speaker
To be honest, I think, yes, I do think Gabi Agbon Lahore believes whatever he says, but to a certain extent, but I think there is an element of... Good old Gabi Agbon Lahore. Most famous for allegedly getting three women pregnant at the same time. The only hat trick he ever scored in his whole career. Oh my God. Which was this... Never mind.
01:17:08
Speaker
Right. Yeah, don't go there. Don't go there. Right, okay. On that note, let's leave it at that. We will be back on Tuesday for the Q&A episode and then later in the week for another transfer, another transfer show which we're working on as well. So look out for those. Thanks everybody for listening. Have a great week. Until next time, ciao ciao.