Mourinho 'Snatches' Liverpool's Jewel in French
Yan Diomande's record-breaking move to Real Madrid is just the prelude to an August saga. Rodri, Vinícius, Barcola, and other stars are in the shop window, and negotiations will shatter more records.
Yan Diomande's record-breaking move to Real Madrid is just the prelude to an August saga. Rodri, Vinícius, Barcola, and other stars are in the shop window, and negotiations will shatter more records.
The summer transfer window has entered a phase where records fall and new dramas unfold. Exactly 12 days after Fabrizio Romano's viral "Here We Go," winger Yan Diomande boarded a private jet to Madrid. Real Madrid will soon unveil the Ivorian teenager, and the Diomande saga is merely the opening act of what's to come. The transfer also marked a virtual clash between Romano and German insider Florian Plettenberg, who opened a front over the young player's fate.
Although Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain had long been considered the main favorites to sign the young attacker, it was Jose Mourinho's personal involvement that proved decisive. The Real Madrid coach called Diomande and laid out his vision and project in fluent French, which was key to the turnaround. Liverpool, according to The Athletic as reported by Goal.com, lost the race because Diomande felt Anfield was entering a transitional season under new coach Andoni Iraola. Real, on the other hand, managed to snatch the deal from PSG, who were already in advanced talks with Leipzig.
"The final piece of the puzzle was Jose Mourinho," said Nathan Campbell, head of global football recruitment at Roc Nation and Diomande's agent, to The Athletic, as reported by Goal.com. Campbell revealed details of the crucial conversation: "We didn't know Mourinho spoke fluent French, because he hasn't managed a French club. But the time he took to talk to Yan and the fact that he spoke to him fluently in French about his ideas, the project, and how he would fit into the team showed how much he valued that conversation. It was a huge thing. That was the key to convincing him."
As for the fee, Sportske novosti report around €135 million, while Goal.com cites a total transfer value of up to €140 million (£120 million), structured as an initial €125 million (£107 million) plus €15 million in add-ons. Leipzig insisted all summer on a figure exceeding €130 million.
Ballon d'Or winner from the World Cup, Rodri (30), has entered the final year of his contract with Manchester City. His situation has automatically attracted the giants. Real Madrid see the Spanish "six" as the brain of their rebuild, but Barcelona have also joined the race. If City don't want to lose him for free this summer, this is the ideal time to cash in. Fully recovered from his knee injury and with a Ballon d'Or to his name, his new club is guaranteed a player at the peak of his powers for three to five years.
The Brazilian stirred the pot by deleting all posts from his Instagram profile. While social media isn't a reliable indicator, Vinícius is also in the final year of his contract with Real Madrid. He has a lucrative renewal offer on the table but hasn't signed it yet. Arsenal are lurking and want to bring him to the Emirates, but there's a chance the Gunners' interest is merely to drive up the price in negotiations with the Madrid club.
Liverpool, who lost Mohamed Salah (moved to Trabzonspor), are targeting Bradley Barcola from PSG as his replacement. The Parisians are asking around €150 million for the 24-year-old Frenchman, who scored three goals and provided an assist at the World Cup, which would be a record Premier League transfer. Barcola could be joined in England by 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi, who shone at the World Cup and is emerging as an ideal replacement for Rodri at Manchester City.
On the tenth anniversary of Messi's signing for PSG, Barcelona are trying to bring in a new Argentine. Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid) is a target for the Catalans, who have offered around €100 million, which was flatly rejected in Madrid. His compatriot Cristian Romero is also on his way out of Tottenham, with Inter and Atlético Madrid battling for him. Enzo Fernández, who joined Chelsea from Benfica for €121 million, is eager for new challenges, but so far there are no concrete offers.
New Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca wants to bring Pedro Neto to the Etihad, having coached him at Chelsea. The Portuguese recorded 10 goals and 10 assists for the Blues last season. On the other hand, Tottenham are interested in Liverpool's Cody Gakpo (9 goals and 6 assists last season) and City's Savinho, who would get more minutes in North London.
