11 minute read
HAALAND ON THE MOVE?
THE UGLY
Real Madrid’s march to the La Liga title has not been all plain sailing in 2022 for Carlo Ancelotti with Los Blancos grateful for the points they already have in the bank in domestic action from early in the season. An early Copa del Rey exit, at the hands of Athletic Club, was compounded by a 4-0 El Clasico humbling at home to Xavi’s revitalised Barcelona in March. However, as Ancelotti’s charges have found themselves forced to fi ght for points, rather than cruise on to wins, they have caused a negative tailspin over coverage. Their 2-1 win away at Celta Vigo was dominated by controversy on the night in Galicia as the visitors were awarded three penalties inside a crazy 90 minutes of action. Karim Benzema converted two spot kicks - either side of being denied by Matias Dituro -but the post-game atmosphere was toxic, as Celta captain Iago Aspas accused referee Pablo Gonzalez of fi xing the result in Real Madrid’s favour. Aspas was left incensed after the game claiming “all Gonzalez needed to do was award a fourth penalty and take it himself”. Rivals railing against Real Madrid is nothing new in Spanish football, as despite having supporters dotted all across the country, they remain symbolic of superiority and a rigged system. Ancelotti brushed o Aspas’ anger, with his trademark indi erence to controversy, but the incident left a sour taste on social media, with the other 18 sides o ering a collective shoulder shrug in support of Celta. Pro-Real Madrid bias will continue to be the accusation levelled at Ancelotti et al, and while it is ignored by the majority, it maintains a status quo of perceived inequality and protection around a club that’s been described as a ‘state institution’.
Advertisement
FAR LEFT: Despite their progress, Lopetegui’s Sevilla have fallen short again in 2022
ABOVE: Ancelotti’s experience makes him the perfect foil for criticism of Real Madrid
LEFT: Pedri’s stock has continued to rise under Xavi with the La Roja set to star for Spain at Qatar 2022
TOP & BOTTOM LEFT (OPPOSITE PAGE): Fernando Llorente and Eibar are ready to come back to La Liga
Barcelona coach Xavi says Real Madrid do not have the same pressure to play well in every game that his side have. Madrid progressed to the semi-fi nals of the Champions League despite an unconvincing performance in the second leg of their last-eight clash with Chelsea. Xavi feels his side have an obligation to win in style, whereas their rivals can scrape through matches. Sergio Aguero has revealed he is collaborating with Disney Plus and ESPN. The former Manchester City, Barcelona, and Argentina striker retired from playing football in December last year and has been out of action since then. But he has a new project in the works, as he prepares to enter a new phase by contributing to the Disney+ and Star+ streaming platforms.
GOING UP
Basque side Eibar look on course to bounce straight back to the top-fl ight this summer having shown real grit after being relegated in last place in 2021. The club have gained a growing o -beat fan base in recent years and their return will be a huge boost for the proud locals.
GOING DOWN
As one Basque team comes up, another looks certain to be heading down to the second tier with Alaves’ six-season spell virtually over. The club have gone through three managers in their attempts to avoid relegation but they look doomed after a campaign where they’ve consistently struggled to score goals.
Real Madrid have been lucky in the Champions League this season, says former Italy striker Antonio Cassano, who cannot remember a player who has developed under Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti. Real have beaten PSG and Chelsea in the knockout stages to set up a semi-fi nal clash with Manchester City. It means Ancelotti is now the only coach to have reached Champions League semi-fi nals in four di erent decades -but Cassano isn't convinced. The Argentine has been coaching in LaLiga for over a decade, here are fi ve things you might not know about El Cholo.
Since Diego Simeone took over Atlético de Madrid’s dugout in 2011, the Argentine has won eight trophies, more than any other manager in the history of Los Rojiblancos. He was, is and always will be a club legend, for what he did as a player and for what he is achieving as a coach. He is one of the most famous tacticians in the world, but there are a few things you might not know about him.
HE FORMED PART OF ATLÉTICO DE MADRID'S HISTORIC DOUBLE Before Simeone was a LaLiga Santander-winning coach of the current warrior-like Atlético de Madrid team, the Argentine was also a fearsome midfi elder who lifted many trophies, including a LaLiga Santander and Copa del Rey double with the Rojiblanco outfi t in 1995/96. He even scored on the fi nal day of that league season, when Atleti defeated Albacete 2-0 to clinch the title. A mobile, technical and aggressive box-to-box midfi elder capable of stopping, starting and fi nishing moves, Simeone starred for over a decade in LaLiga Santander, fi rst with Sevilla FC and then in two di erent spells as an Atlético player.
HIS CERTAINTY THAT HE’D PLAY FOR ARGENTINA When he was 17, Simeone was called up to the Argentina U20 team. However, he and another member of the squad, Antonio Mohamed, had the wrong time and arrived late. So, they went to catch a public bus and, since they had no money, Simeone turned to the driver and said: “One day I will be a professional footballer. I will play for Argentina. Remember my name and his too. Don't forget us. We just need a small favour.” The driver drove the two young men a few kilometres, before they ran the remaining distance.
NO DOUBTS WHEN ATLETI MADE THE CALL Simeone didn’t hesitate when the call came in from Atlético de Madrid in December of 2021. After hearing from the Spanish club and putting the phone down, his son Giuliano – now on the books at Atlético de Madrid B – said “So you’re going to be going up against Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?” and then “Doesn’t Radamel Falcao play there?” “Yes” and “yes,” came the replies. With his family as excited as he was, Simeone embarked on this new adventure.
HIS TITLES AND RECORDS On his way to winning eight trophies as a coach – the two LaLiga Santander championships, plus two Europa League titles, two UEFA Super Cups, one Copa del Rey and one Spanish Super Cup – the Argentine has broken various records. A 2-1 victory over Athletic Club in March 2021 was his 309th in charge of the team and that saw him overtake the legendary Luis Aragonés to become the Atleti coach with the most victories ever. Furthermore, he is already the man to have been head coach at one LaLiga Santander club for the second-most matchdays in a row. Miguel Muñoz’s 417 league games in a row is the target in this category and Simeone would clinch this record in 2022/23.
HIS ROLE IN ATLETI’S TRANSFORMATION Simeone has put Atleti in the top 10 of UEFA’s club coe cient rankings and kept them there since 2014, something that was unthinkable when he assumed the position. He openly talks about the club’s growth and the year-on-year progress being made o the pitch too, not least with the move from the old Vicente Calderón to the new state-of-the-art Wanda Metropolitano, a transition that was as seamless as it was thanks to Simeone and the way he kept achieving positive results and kept conducting the fans during matches as if they were his orchestra.
LA LIGA’
LEFT: Although injuries have kept him out for spells this season, Haaland remains hopeful of making a move to a bigger club this summer
next move Haaland's Haaland's
‘LEWANDOWSKI
MAY LOOK FOR A NEW CHALLENGE THIS SUMMER’
Every summer transfer window has its fair share of “will he or won’t he?” stories regarding players who might be on the move, and Erling Haaland is, once again, among those that has fans and pundits buzzing. Partially thanks to his vocal agent Mino Raiola stoking the flames as he is well known to do to drive up interest in his clients, but mainly due to his undisputed talent, it is no surprise that the 21-year-old is a target of numerous big clubs across Europe. That’s despite Haaland struggling with numerous injuries that have kept him out of the Borussia Dortmund side for periods of this season, although he’s still their top marksman in all competitions. Many reports indicate Haaland has a release clause of €75 million - below his current market value but still a hefty price tag that dramatically limits the number of clubs who could seriously make a bid to add him to their squad. For example, it immediately rules out the vast majority of teams in Serie A. Although Juventus did spend €100 million on Cristiano Ronaldo
Ein 2018, €90 million on Gonzalo Higuain in 2016, and most recently, about €70 million on young Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic, the Bianconeri won’t be among the teams bidding for Haaland’s services, considering they have already signed Vlahovic in 2022. Inter and AC Milan realistically won’t be throwing their hats in the ring, although the Rossoneri in particular could theoretically benefit from a younger striker considering their current options. However, Milan are still very much a work in progress - as evidenced by their meek showing in the Champions League - and Haaland’s agent will definitely be steering his client towards the Premier League or La Liga, both of which can promise higher salaries (and a larger commission for Raiola as well as his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, who is also one of his representatives). Some may ask, “What about Ligue 1, specifically Paris Saint-Germain”? Les Parisiens certainly have the cash, as evidenced by their high-profile signings of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in recent times. But buying stars and actually winning big continental prizes are two entirely di erent things. One can have a team full of superstars, and for instance, PSG’s attack,
ABOVE: Lewandowski may be transfering this summer, while looking for a new challenge.
BELOW: Andre Silva in action for RB Leipzig
BOTTOM RIGHT: Marcus Thuram may be on his way as well
LAST JULY’
ALSO ON Their Way?
Michelle Osei Bonsu takes a look at five other Bundesliga strikers who could be making a switch this summer
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI BAYERN MUNICH Although it’s hard for some to imagine Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich parting ways, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility. For starters, the Polish international will be 34 this summer, and time is running out if he wishes to challenge himself outside of Germany, where he’s won everything a player could win at club level. As such, he might opt to try to make a switch, with Barcelona having been bandied about in the press as a potential suitor.
ANTHONY MODESTE - FC KÖLN Modeste has played a significant role in keeping his side afloat, but some reports indicate that despite him having a contract until June 2023, the former French under-21 international could be on the move this summer. A big part of this is his salary; he currently makes approximately €3.5 million per annum, and given that he is now 34, the club could be looking to find a way to cut costs.
ANDRE SILVA - RB LEIPZIG The Portuguese international only just arrived at RB Leipzig last July on a fiveyear contract after a highly successful two seasons with Eintracht Frankfurt, so it’s highly unlikely he will be departing so quickly. That hasn’t stopped some from speculating about other clubs closely tracking him, such as Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and even Crystal Palace.
CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU - RB LEIPZIG Nkunku has been even more prolific in front of goal than his Leipzig teammate Silva this season, and has a contract that expires in 2024. Given that he was once on the books at Paris Saint-Germain, Les Parisiens apparently have been mooting the possibility of bringing him back to the Parc des Princes as they desperately try to hang on to Kylian Mbappe beyond this summer.
MARCUS THURAM - BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH Being the son of any football legend certainly is never easy, and Marcus Thuram has had to work harder than most to get himself out from the looming shadow of his father, Lilian. Injuries have seen his once-solid form take a downward turn as he’s struggled to maintain a position in the starting XI at Gladbach, so could his club opt to cut their losses this summer?
