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Fabrizio Romano: Neymar The Latest Star To Make Saudi Arabia Switch

Neymar Junior completed one more historical move in his career by joining Saudi side Al Hilal.

The agreement was completed on Monday morning after negotiations entered into crucial stages on Saturday late night, when Al Hilal sent an improved proposal to Neymar's camp and it changed the entire situation around the deal.

But why did Neymar decide to join Al Hilal? What happened behind the scenes?

First of all, it's important to clarify that both Neymar Jr and PSG wanted the same outcome this summer: part ways at all costs, because Ney was keen on new opportunity and PSG wanted to change as Nasser Al Khelaifi's project is changing in favour of new young players instead of big stars.

That's why Neymar's camp started to work on solutions between June and July, not easy when the player is under contract for more than €40m per season until June 2027.

The biggest dream of Neymar was to return to Barcelona, that's the reality. Also, Laporta really wanted to bring him back as well as all the people in the board with Mateu Alemany, Deco and vice president Rafa Yuste on the same page.

But so... what was the problem? The Brazilian made very clear to Barça that it was not going to happen as long as Xavi was the coach.

This is the feeling of people close to Neymar's circle of friends; the manager situation has blocked the transfer to Barça, and of course the financial situation didn't help because Paris Saint-Germain were not open to letting him leave for free.

That's when Al Hilal understood that it was time to proceed, improve the proposal and bring Neymar Junior to Saudi league. Sources feel that the financial package offered and accepted by Ney is $300m in two years, $150m per season on a two year contract valid until June 2025 and with no option to extend.

That's how Al Hilal tempted Neymar, getting the final green light on Monday morning with the player set to travel to Saudi for the official presentation later this week.

He's gonna be the new number 10 and already had two videocalls with his new manager, the Portuguese Jorge Jesus who's taking care of the revolution at Al Hilal and will now have a dream signing with Neymar Junior.

Barcelona keep excellent relationship with Neymar's camp but the deal was not possible for this summer, while Manchester City were never interested in Neymar and talks never took place despite reports of negotiations.

Chelsea were offered the chance to sign Neymar back in June as PSG were already secretly looking for solutions, but they decided against that to "protect" investments made on young players they have in the squad like Mudryk who plays in the same position of the Brazilian star.

Also in MLS there was interest in Neymar; a club from Los Angeles called to be informed on conditions of the deal, but when Al Hilal came in with their final proposal it was simply impossible to reject or change this story.

Neymar is a new Al Hilal player, his medical was completed in Paris and it is time to sign documents this week.

August 15, 2023

Fabrizio

By Fabrizio Romano

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano">

https://it.linkedin.com/in/fabrizio-romano-05708262">

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Fabrizio Romano is an Italian sports journalist. He was born in 1993, he lives in Milan and has over 30 million followers in total on the major social networks.

He collaborates with 888sport, CBS Sports, Sky Sport, The Guardian and has been a transfer market expert since 2011. He will take care of a column dedicated to some "Behind the Scenes" of transfers.

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Fabrizio Romano: Liverpool Bid Fails As Caicedo Chooses Chelsea

The most incredible saga of the 2023 summer transfer market (at least so far...) is over.

Moises Caicedo will play for Chelsea after a crazy story of deals, phone calls, rejected and accepted offers, sleepless nights and finally the green light late on Sunday evening to complete a deal that changes the history of British football.

A £115m package plus sell-on clause in the contract - this is the fee for Brighton & Hove Albion who will collect a £100m surplus for a player who cost just £4.5m only two years ago.

The story starts from January: Moises Caicedo had found an agreement with Arsenal on personal terms, he tried in every way to free himself but Brighton refused two official offers. "No chance, Caicedo is not for sale in January; see you in the summer", Brighton position looks strong and clear.

The player was disappointed because he wanted a top club move but agreed to sign a new contract at Brighton to improve his salary; the promise of the club and Roberto de Zerbi is clear, you will be sold in the summer.

But when Chelsea reached an agreement with Caicedo and his camp on personal terms in May, also because Arsenal were now 100% focused on Declan Rice, a more than difficult negotiation began. It's never easy to argue with Brighton, the club board and in particular the owner Tony Bloom are very tough in every negotiation.

But between June and the end of July, Chelsea got three negative responses to three offers: £65m, £70m and £80m. That's not enough, Brighton want Chelsea to bid at least £100m after seeing Declan Rice leave for Arsenal for £106m.

Negotiations slow down, Chelsea take time because they know Moises just wants to sign for the Blues. Question of strategy. But last Thursday there was a surprise that can always be expected when it's about top players and top clubs.

Liverpool appear in the race with an official offer made ahead of midnight deadline decided by Brighton: Chelsea offer £100m, Liverpool instead £115m and reach an agreement in principle with Brighton.

During the night, Liverpool began to prepare documents and contracts with medical tests booked for Caicedo. "We have an agreement with Brighton. Player side? We will see...", Jurgen Klopp said in a press conference.

Yet there is a big surprise. Despite optimism on Thursday night, Liverpool were informed by Moises Caicedo in a clear way: thanks for the proposal but I want Chelsea, it's my choice and I intend to respect it.

Liverpool are trying to understand if there is room to change the situation, they are waiting for Moises for the medical tests but there is no room for surprise. Caicedo chose Chelsea and from that moment he began another far from easy negotiation with Brighton.

Chelsea insist, push and after two days of long negotiations they obtain a historic agreement for British football: £115m package with add-ons included, very easy to reach... and a sell-on clause for future sale.

Brighton accept just after Chelsea-Liverpool, there is the green light for the medical tests and a saga that ends. For Caicedo the contract is very long: eight year with an option for further season, potentially until June 2029.

There is a new era at Chelsea, with Caicedo and Enzo the new masters of the midfield under Mauricio Pochettino.

August 14, 2023

Fabrizio

By Fabrizio Romano

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano">

https://it.linkedin.com/in/fabrizio-romano-05708262">

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Fabrizio Romano is an Italian sports journalist. He was born in 1993, he lives in Milan and has over 30 million followers in total on the major social networks.

He collaborates with 888sport, CBS Sports, Sky Sport, The Guardian and has been a transfer market expert since 2011. He will take care of a column dedicated to some "Behind the Scenes" of transfers.

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Fabrizio Romano: Harry Kane Can Be A Star At Bayern Munich

The incredible Harry Kane saga is finally over after crazy developments during the whole summer.

A story full of surprises, twists and turns but with a clear ending: Kane wanted Bayern Munich and got the move he wanted after a lifetime as a Tottenham legend.

The most underrated man in this story is Thomas Tuchel, Bayern manager since last March with a clear mission: since day one of his chapter as Bayern coach, Tuchel has insisted on having Kane as new striker for the following season.

Only Kane, no other options. Kane, Kane and Kane again.

In every internal meeting, Tuchel has always repeated that he would try to sign Harry as a star who could have changed the history of Bayern forever: Thomas is convinced that with Kane the club can win all the titles, approach Lewandowski's records in the Bundesliga and dream in Champions League.

This message was sent by the manager to Bayern internally with insistence and confidence, but also… to Kane himself.

Yes, because in contacts with Kane's camp, Tuchel has always been very involved and very clear: Bayern is waiting for you, it's time to make history together, these are the signals from the manager to Harry who gave his green light as early as June.

Green light to Bayern... but not a break with Tottenham, for which Kane obviously had and will always have total respect.

Harry was clear with the Bayern board; the deal was possible and appreciated but the best solution had to be found with Tottenham, otherwise Harry would have been ready to stay in London also because he was very happy with Ange Postecoglou's excellent work in his first steps as new Spurs coach.

For this Bayern needed a lot of time to discuss with Daniel Levy, always masterful in negotiations until he managed to get €120m package with add-ons included for an extraordinary player ... but out of contract in June 2024 .

Bayern had to deal with ups and downs in the negotiation with Levy, the moments in which the Tottenham chairman really tried in every way to convince Harry to stay, even his long silences regarding Bayern's deadlines that made the German club nervous.

An old-fashioned negotiation, long and tense, made up of different offers and patience. Bayern started from €70m plus add-ons, rejected. Then €80m plus add-ons, rejected again.

Until the board's mission to London for a lunch with Levy that made all the difference; at that moment Bayern understood that finally there was a price, the definitive way out to be able to sign Kane.

The last few hours have been hectic: when Daniel Levy finally accepted Bayern's proposal, Kane didn't change his mind but his camp demanded some clarifications on the personal terms that had to be settled.

There was tension for about 12 hours but Bayern never lost confidence. Silence and caution, until the moment of the green light and the documents prepared for a contract until June 30, 2027.

A historic deal for Bayern who have never feared Manchester United or PSG in the race, precisely because Tuchel made the difference in convincing Kane as early as June.

An eternal legend for Spurs, a new star for Bayern.

August 12, 2023

Fabrizio

By Fabrizio Romano

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano">

https://it.linkedin.com/in/fabrizio-romano-05708262">

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Fabrizio Romano is an Italian sports journalist. He was born in 1993, he lives in Milan and has over 30 million followers in total on the major social networks.

He collaborates with 888sport, CBS Sports, Sky Sport, The Guardian and has been a transfer market expert since 2011. He will take care of a column dedicated to some "Behind the Scenes" of transfers.

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Are Aston Villa On The Cusp Of An Unforgettable Era?

Should we dig down into Aston Villa’s remarkable transformation these past ten months, and study the tactical changes that have been implemented, and the spiked improvements seen in individuals, no matter where we look, or how diligently we analyse their quantum leap, every avenue leads us back to one man and one simple truth.

That man is Unai Emery and the truth is that the 51-year-old Spaniard is an exceptional coach. He was at Arsenal, but circumstances went against him there, charged with the onerous task of succeeding a club legend in Arsene Wenger.

In his first year in North London, five recent captains of the Gunners left and replacing such influential figures required time that Emery wasn’t given.

He was at PSG, but so great are the heightened demands in the French capital that a failure to guide them past the last 16 in the Champions League saw him gone.

His track record meanwhile at Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal speaks for itself, as season after season he took these teams to the pinnacle of their capabilities.

At Valencia, Emery made Champions League qualification the norm, despite severe financial restrictions. At Sevilla and Villarreal he made winning the Europa League the norm, lifting the trophy on four separate occasions.

His astounding success in that competition incidentally brings us back to the top, explaining in some manner how he revolutionised the Villans so quickly and dramatically but before we get to that, some context is needed as to precisely what has been achieved in the Midlands this past year.

On taking the reins at Villa Park, Emery inherited a side devoid of confidence and heading nowhere fast under Steve Gerrard, a side that was among the favourites in the football betting odds to endure relegation.

From the start of 2022/23 to late October, a dispirited, ill-organised group – a couple of whom had taken to privately briefing journalists concerning their misgivings about the Liverpool icon – picked up a pitiful 0.8 points per game, averaging 0.6 goals per game in the process.

The situation was dire.

From November onwards however, with Emery at the helm, Villa picked up 1.9 ppg, ultimately finishing seventh, their highest league place for 13 years. Defensively sound from thereon in, Ollie Watkins and co only failed to score in two of Emery’s 27 games.

It is a staggering upgrade made all-the-more impressive if we focus only on 2023’s results, after Emery was afforded a month on the training pitches with the majority of his squad as the World Cup ran its course in Qatar.

This calendar year, Villa bow only to football prediction giants Manchester City for results and points accrued. Does this suggest therefore that even better things can be anticipated going forward?

Absolutely it does, even by using basic logic, and certainly it’s possible considering their encouraging transfer activity this summer.

Pau Torres is a Spanish international centre-back Emery inherently trusts, having got the best out of him in la Liga. Youri Tielemans is a shrewd addition, the Belgian offering even greater nous in the centre of the park. Winger Moussa Diaby, secured for a hefty £52m, has all the attributes to take the Premier League by storm.

If Villa continue where they left off, and are further improved by three clever signings, there is only their reputation as a solid mid-table club stopping us from believing they can push on and challenge for a Champions League spot.

Having done likewise with a similarly sized club in Valencia it would be folly to think Emery doesn’t have the pedigree to do this. Moreover, the evidence is right there, before our very eyes.

So how was it done, this remarkable transformation?

Finding the formulas to get consistent excellence from Tyrone Mings, John McGinn and Ollie Watkins has played a part of course, but when looking at Villa from a tactical standpoint what intrigues is that there hasn’t been a seismic shift to a different set-up, not substantially so at least.

For much of the latter half of the last campaign Villa were deployed in a 4-4-2 formation, with a compact midfield emphasising Emery’s conservative approach.

But here we go back to his numerous Europa League final triumphs, a high number that has seen Emery referred to as the ‘king of knockout football’.

By applying the adaptability needed to navigate a knockout competition to the Premier League we have witnessed Villa – using roughly the same formation – take on different opponents using very different means.

Against sides that press high, they typically go direct to good effect. In Emery’s opening game against Manchester United, they sought to kill the tempo at every opportunity, just waiting for a chance to exploit the Reds’ susceptibility to pace down the middle.

Few managers turn an opponents’ weaknesses against them better than Unai Emery and this we saw week in, week out.

What’s the betting he has many more tricks up his sleeve this term as Aston Villa look to establish themselves in the top six. From there, who knows what is possible?

August 9, 2023

Premier League

By Stephen Tudor

https://twitter.com/SteTudor123">

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Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.

A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.

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Fabrizio Romano: Ousmane Dembele Shocks Football World With PSG Switch

A surprise out of nowhere. Ousmane Dembele will play for Paris Saint-Germain after a long negotiation is now in the final stages… but very unexpected if you think only a few weeks ago, when nobody believed that there were any chances for Ousmane to leave Barcelona.

A real shock, especially for manager Xavi Hernandez who has been crucial in recent years to help Dembele return to the fantastic level player we have all known.

It was February 2022 when Ousmane, whose contract expired in June 2022, remained at Barcelona despite a last minute negotiation with Paris Saint-Germain for a swap deal that did not materialize.

It seemed like a final break between Dembele and Barca... but the player wanted to get back into the club's project and Xavi Hernandez helped him incredibly by believing in him despite his contract only expiring after a few months.

Thanks to Xavi and Ousmane's hard work, peace has come with Barca and... the new contract arrived, valid until 30 June 2024 but with a €50m release clause in July and €100m in August. Two very dangerous clauses.

And yet, his agent Moussa Sissoko had met some members of the Barcelona board (not Deco, busy on a mission in Istanbul for Arda Guler in those days) in early July to discuss and advance negotiations on a new contract for Dembele.

It was like a fairytale between Dembele and Barca: all parties happy, both on the club side and on the player side; one intention, go forward together with a new contract to avoid future problems and alarms. And then... what happened?

On the Dembele side, sources believe Ousmane has been offered to other clubs (including PSG) in other potential swap deals by Barcelona. The club, on the other hand, denies these rumors and guarantees that it has never thought of selling Ousmane in the summer.

The result is a clear, sudden, unexpected break: Dembele's agent, Moussa Sissoko, studied a strategy that leads Paris Saint-Germain to reach an agreement with Ousmane for a five-year contract valid until 30 June 2028.

But it was the end of July and there was little, very little time to activate the official release clause of La Liga.

In fact, by regulation, the official clause of La Liga can only be activated by the player himself and not by the club; Ousmane was in the USA with Barcelona and the deal was impossible to complete.

But before the €100m release clause in August was activated, PSG with a formal communication to Barcelona activated a private clause present in Dembele's contract and top secret until then.

A €50m clause... with the possibility of negotiating the best exit strategy on both clubs sides, thus "forcing" Barcelona and PSG to negotiate while recognizing an important percentage of the €50m to the player and his camp.

After a week of tension, meetings and negotiations, Barcelona will receive more than €25m for Dembele and has given the green light on Tuesday night for Ousmane to fly to Paris and complete his move to PSG.

It was not possible to change his mind; Xavi Hernandez tried it for the last time a week earlier, on Monday July 31st. A face-to-face discussion with Ousmane in the US did not help change the situation.

Moussa Sissoko's secret strategy had already convinced Dembele to accept PSG; Barcelona could only raise their hands and negotiate Ousmane's exit on the best terms for the club.

The end of a story of ups and downs between Dembele and Barca, certainly an end that no one would have foreseen until 15 days ago.

August 9, 2023

Fabrizio

By Fabrizio Romano

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano">

https://it.linkedin.com/in/fabrizio-romano-05708262">

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Fabrizio Romano is an Italian sports journalist. He was born in 1993, he lives in Milan and has over 30 million followers in total on the major social networks.

He collaborates with 888sport, CBS Sports, Sky Sport, The Guardian and has been a transfer market expert since 2011. He will take care of a column dedicated to some "Behind the Scenes" of transfers.

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Emmanuel Petit EXCLUSIVE Interview: Arsenal Are Still Short Of Two Signings

Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit believes the Gunners are still shy of two new signings if they are to successfully challenge Manchester City this season, despite spending well over £200m already this summer.

"They have analysed really well what was missing in the team. Arteta and his staff know exactly what they want on the pitch, both individually and collectively, and they have chosen the right profile for every position.

"So far they have done well in the market, but I think they need at least two more players to reduce the gap with Manchester City."

Having won a famous double with the North London giants in the late-Nineties, Petit knows precisely what it takes to last the distance and though he was hugely impressed by Mikel Arteta’s side last term, he was perturbed to see fatigue set in towards the end, as a slender squad ran out of steam.

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So which positions most need strengthening to allow Arteta to rotate and keep his roster fresh across an incredibly demanding ten months?

"I would love to see someone who can compete with Martinelli. Saka on the right has competition with Trossard and I bet a lot on Smith-Rowe. Last season he struggled and he will be like having a new player in the squad.

"But I still believe they need greater competition because some of the players who played more than 50 games looked tired. They looked heavy. And now they have the Champions League too.

"Martinelli is the only one on the left and I’d also like one more midfield player. For me that’s the minimum.

"I know they’re being linked to some midfield players. My dream would be Caicedo and I’ve been saying that now for two years. He can play different positions. He will bring anger onto the pitch."

It has been reported that Brighton’s brilliant young powerhouse would cost north of £100m, an eye-watering figure Arsenal have already invested this summer in West Ham’s Declan Rice.

Unsurprisingly, it was for a club record fee.

On securing the England star, Arteta described the 24-year-old as Arsenal’s ‘lighthouse’, a metaphor Petit approved of.

"He’s a lighthouse because of his position as a holding midfielder. He has to help the defence and win the ball back as quickly as possible. To keep control and provide balance in the midfield.

"And as well as that, he is a leader on the pitch with a very good reputation and mentality. He will be the light in the dark and we’ve seen that at West Ham and for his country."

There is no doubting Rice’s ability, nor his capacity to influence games at the highest level. Yet still, that enormous price-tag cannot be ignored. Might it weigh heavy on the player next season?

"He has been under pressure for four or five years now. And the way he has established himself with England, against all that competition. For me, that proves he has real quality as a human being and a player as well.

"I think he is strong enough, and intelligent enough, to step back sometimes and not look at the price-tag. And though it’s weird for me to say this but £100m is nothing these days."

Post-retirement, Petit became a respected pundit on French television but he remains an ardent Gooner after spending his prime playing years at Highbury under Arsene Wenger.

It goes without saying therefore that the World Cup winner immensely enjoyed most of last season, watching his former side race into a healthy lead at the top and stay there almost for the duration until a late collapse.

What will it take for Arsenal to reach the next level, and go toe-to-toe with Manchester City right through to May?

"They did really well last season. I was not harsh on them when they lost the plot in the last few weeks. I heard that (Gabriel) Jesus said in a newspaper the other day that they suffered from the pressure. Maybe.

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"But the quality and quantity of the squad cannot be compared to Manchester City and what Arsenal did last season was amazing. Especially considering where they’ve come from in the last few years.

"To be honest with you, I don’t know if they can close the gap. I think it’s too early. I do think the Champions League games will be very interesting to watch.

"If they can increase their level internationally, against the best players in different leagues, that experience will help them compete against City. Then maybe the season after, who knows?"

After leaving Arsenal for Barcelona in 2000, the midfielder was soon back in the Premier League with Chelsea, a club that has recently veered from chaos to crisis, and back again.

What has Petit made of a crazy twelve months at Stamford Bridge?

"I would be a genius if I could tell you right now who will be in the starting eleven for Chelsea on the opening day of the season.

"Thirteen players have left already and they still want to show the door to some more. It’s funny to say this after they have spent such a huge amount of money – more than £600m in a year - but they’re still missing midfield players.

"They have four or five but some are very young with no experience. So Pochettino will just want to have a group he’s happy with before the start of the Premier League."

Mention of the Blues’ latest gaffer Maurico Pochettino leads to an inevitable question about whether the Argentine will be given sufficient time to alter Chelsea’s fortunes, which in turn takes us to the root of their problems, and how it can be resolved.

"Stability. That’s the first word that comes to my mind. Stability on and off the pitch. So many managers on the bench.

"So many players coming in and out. So many people coming into the office, then leaving the club. Chelsea needs stability.

"That means sticking with your manager. Even if they get bad results, you don’t move him on after six months. The same goes for the players. I have the feeling that whenever there is trouble at Chelsea heads always roll."

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August 7, 2023

Premier League

By Stephen Tudor

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Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.

A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.

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Was Football In The Nineties Better?

Football was infinitely better in the Nineties compared to the present day and that assessment is only partly grounded in nostalgia.

There was no VAR, that values millimetres over emotion. Odd kick-off times were a novelty, not the norm. Kits were better and beautiful, with collars commonplace and designs that dared to be bold and different.

The newly formed Champions League brought continental fare regularly into our living rooms while Channel 4 forever altered our brain-chemistry by introducing Parma and Fiorentina and Gabriel Batistuta in that iconic Nintendo kit into our lives.

From snazzy shirts to seismic changes made to tournament structures, this was a decade when the game exploded into technicolour and looked to the future with limitless optimism.

But of course nostalgia plays a part, there’s no denying that.

The football of our childhood will naturally take precedence over whatever came next which is why those of us who watched spellbound in our pyjamas as the Brazilian Ronaldo tore Spanish defences apart for Barcelona will always rate him higher than his subsequent namesake.

Then a ridiculous phenom, prior to injuries making him mortal, R9 defined an era, one that wholly celebrated brilliance without the need to point out on social media a surprisingly poor xG in relation to an inferior peer.

Just imagine the nonsense that would be tweeted about him today. The brain-rotting nonsense with heat maps attached.

There is also a newness to consider when reminiscing dewy-eyed pre-millennium, as football sought to reinvent itself post-World Cup ’90.

Hooliganism fell into thankful decline as football became glamorous and more family-friendly, a development hugely helped by the First Division modernising and transforming and if you view the Premier League as the root of all of football’s wrongs, fair enough, but that absolutely wasn’t the case in the early days.

Back then, money flowed in, affording clubs to improve their stadia and lure exciting foreign players to our shores, yet ticket prices remained low, staying at a tenner-mark for much of the decade, rising to £16 in 1999.

It was a time when hard men shared pitches with artists and geniuses, and Sky Sports experimented with enterprising ideas, some of which worked such as the Americanised ‘Super Sundays’, some of which didn’t, such as parachuting in the match ball.

And for all this excitement and silliness and technical majesty, it was possible to not only take along your kid but invite his mate along too.

In the early years, the Premier League was what it could always have been, before an undercurrent of greed gave way to ravenous greed.

Furthermore, while that rampant avarice eventually resulted in the richest clubs becoming dominant, turning the sports betting for potential title winners into a short-list of the same names each year, the Nineties was a veritable meritocracy, seeing the likes of Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Crystal Palace, Blackburn, Leeds and Norwich all inhabit the top three for extended periods.

It was possible to construct a decent side and see that side thrive, with not a glass ceiling to be found.

But really, it was all about the players. Cantona, that regal rascal blessed with rare ingenuity. Del Piero and Gazza, the former impossibly cool, the latter a hero to millions across two major tournaments, making us proud, then proudly cry at Italia 90 and Euro 96.

It was a decade that showcased Zinedine Zidane in his pomp, volleying winners in Champions League finals and sending the world’s elite to the shops with a silky drop of the shoulder. There was Boban, Baggio and Bergkamp. Hagi and Henry.

These sublime gifts to the world elevated magnificent teams, and plucky teams that upset the football odds, and magnificent but flawed teams, all in amazing kits and all of them playing on what felt like a level field. We haven’t even mentioned Diego Armando Maradona. The god among the noble.

And perhaps too, what places Nineties football over and above every other era was what it didn’t have.

There was no internet tribalism or trolling. No deathly boring debates about Messi and Ronaldo. No plethora of phones taking grainy footage of a goal happening right in front of actual eyes. There was no sportswashing, half and half scarves, nor a proliferation of data draining all of the enjoyment out of proceedings.

Players even used to celebrate after scoring against former employers, much to the delight of football predictions followers around the world.

It is undoubtedly far too easy to be wistful about the past, and cherry-pick the good bits, and forget about the bad. But in a post-Turin, post-Hillsborough landscape football briefly became something special and inspiring, relatable and fun.

We may never again find our way back there but that’s what hope is for.

August 7, 2023

Football

By Stephen Tudor

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Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.

A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.

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What Now For Romelu Lukaku?

Two summers ago Romelu Lukaku was a self-anointed king of Milan, the formidable striker having fired 20-plus league goals for a second consecutive season in the Italian capital.

If his first goal-haul was impressive, reminding one and all of his capabilities, his second propelled Inter to a first Serie A title in a decade and furthermore, the Belgian’s prolificacy in 2020/21 saw him claim the Serie A Footballer of the Year merit, along with a Ballon d’Or nomination.

That summer, Lukaku sworn his allegiance to the Nerazzurri while also taking the time to cheekily retort to his former Manchester United team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the aging AC Milan striker claiming some months earlier that he was a god of the city.

“Bow down,” the rejuvenated star tweeted, taking aim at a player he had twice clashed with in derbies that term. “The real God has crowned the king.”

It is pertinent to highlight this particular moment in time as it represents the zenith of Lukaku’s career-arc, and likely too sadly that will remain the case.

A matter of weeks later the 28-year-old enjoyed a personally successful Euros and should we freeze-frame at this juncture we find a forward at the top of his game and on top of the world, with revisions in place regarding his previous struggles at United.

Because granted, he stunk the place out at Old Trafford, misfiring on a regular basis, but what itinerant poacher doesn’t have at least one blot on his C.V?

At West Brom and Everton he had proven himself to be one of the best Premier League strikers around and now here he was on the continent reproving his elite stature all over again.

For Belgium incidentally there has never been a doubt about this, Lukaku scoring 75 in 108 appearances for his country.

Only then, as he straddled the mountain-top, feared once more by defenders and with his reputation comprehensively replenished, the player decided to burn his bridges at Inter, returning to the club where it all began for him in England.

In August 2021, he signed for Chelsea for the preposterous sum of £97.5m.

At Stamford Bridge everything unravelled and spectacularly so. Despite being serviced by some of the best Premier League midfielders of all time the 29-year-old’s forward-play was a hopeless mismatch with Thomas Tuchel’s mandate, to such an extent that even the simple aspects were beyond him.

His touch was appalling. His passes went astray. Shorn of all confidence, he may as well have been wearing a United jersey.

So Lukaku demonstrated that he hadn’t learned the age-old ethos about never going back and rejoined Inter, this time on loan, where his struggles continued, as injuries took a toll.

A productive latter half to his campaign may have resulted in the Nerazzurri making the deal permanent, but they discovered he had privately been agitating for a move elsewhere. Aggrieved at this, they are now out of the equation.

Which essentially leaves Lukaku homeless, unwanted at Chelsea and with only a far-fetched swap deal with Juventus an option, involving Turin flop Dusan Vlahovic going the other way. With Juve demanding extra money on top it feels like a complicated deal but watch this space.

Presently though, what we have is a striker whose presence and potential for goals makes him an expensive proposition but whose propensity to disappoint leaves him somewhat undesirable.

In between those two distinct stools, it feels like an awfully long way from his heady summer of 2021.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

August 3, 2023

Football

By Stephen Tudor

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Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.

A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.

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Who Are The Premier League Referees In 2023/24?

There are 20 referees who could be in charge of Premier League matches in 2023/24
Officials for the top flight of English football are selected by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited
Read below for information on all of the Premier League referees in 2023/24 season

The list of Premier League referees for 2023-24 is led by names most fans will recognise.

Andre Marriner’s retirement at the end of the last season saw a couple of new referees added to the group, however, and others will be hoping to receive more Premier League assignments in 2023-24 than they have in prior campaigns.

The track record of referees is something to bear in mind when making Premier League predictions.

While we don’t want officiating to swing Premier League outright odds, there’s no denying that referees can have a huge impact on the outcome of matches.

List Of Premier League Refs 2023/24:

Tim Robinson
Darren Bond
Anthony Taylor
Paul Tierney
Simon Hooper
Stuart Attwell
Michael Oliver
Andy Madley
Robert Jones
Peter Bankes
Craig Pawson
Jarred Gillett
Darren England
Michael Salisbury
John Brooks
Tony Harrington
David Coote
Graham Scott
Tom Bramall
Chris Kavanagh

A lot of fans will have referees they prefer, including some they have particular gripes with after poor decisions against their teams.

The best referees are rarely in the headlines, though, and these officials will all be hoping for a controversy-free season in 2023-24…

Tim Robinson

After taking charge of his first Premier League match back in 2018-19, Tim Robinson was named as one of two replacements for Andre Marriner in the build-up to the 2022-23 campaign.

Robinson refereed only two Premier League fixtures last season, showing nine yellow cards in the process.

Darren Bond

Darren Bond was named to the EFL Referee List in 2012. Alongside Robinson, Bond was the second of two referees added to the Premier League group after Marinner’s retirement.

Bond refereed four matches in 2022-23, showing 16 yellows and a lone red.

Anthony Taylor

One of the highest-paid Premier League referees, Anthony Taylor has long been regarded among the Premier League’s best officials.

In 2020, Taylor became the first referee in over a century to referee multiple FA Cup finals.

FIFA listed since 2013, the Wythenshawe native has frequently represented the Premier League on the international stage through the Champions League, Super Cup and other major tournaments.

Paul Tierney

Paul Tierney was first seen in the Premier League in 2014, and has become one of the most trusted officials.

He has multiple Wembley appearances to his name, including the 2023 FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United.

Simon Hooper

Keith Hackett isn’t too impressed with Simon Hooper, but Hooper is still set to officiate in the topflight in 2023-24.

Only Paul Tierney, Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver appeared in more Premier League matches than Hooper in 2022-23.

Stuart Attwell

Stuart Attwell made history when he broke onto the Premier League scene, becoming the youngest referee in the competition’s history.

A return to the EFL followed, but Attwell was back in the topflight a few years later. He has refereed 27 or more matches in each of the last seven Premier League campaigns.

Michael Oliver

Already cemented among the best Premier League referees of all-time, Michael Oliver’s calm, confident manner helps to command authority from players and managers.

Oliver has been a FIFA referee for over a decade, and became part of the UEFA Elite group in 2018.

Alongside 30 Premier League appearances last season, he also took charge of the 2022 UEFA Super Cup.

Andy Madley

Quickly ascending to the Premier League, Andy Madley first oversaw a topflight match in 2018.

He became a member of the primary group for 2019-20 and has been FIFA listed since 2019. Andy’s brother Robert is a former Premier League referee.

Robert Jones

Robert Jones was a Premier League regular in 2022-23, and is expected to continue with a similar workload in 2023-24.

Of referees to take charge of more than two matches last season, only three showed more yellows per game than Jones.

Peter Bankes

Since moving into Select Group 1 ahead of 2019-20, Peter Bankes has primarily been a Premier League referee.

He was in charge of six Championship matches last season, however, along with 21 Premier League fixtures.

It has been suggested that Bankes performs better in the second tier than he does in the Premier League.

Craig Pawson

Involved in several cup finals as a fourth official, Craig Pawson has been a FIFA Listed referee since 2015.

Perhaps Pawson’s biggest moment in the spotlight was the controversial playoff semi-final between Leeds and Derby in 2019.

Jarred Gillett

In 17 Premier League matches last season, Jarred Gillett awarded the fewest fouls per fixture.

Gillett is the first Australian to referee in the Premier League – he was named A-League Referee of the Year five times during the 2010s.

He moved to England for the 2019-20 season and became a full-time Premier League referee in 2021-22.

Darren England

Having been a Premier League assistant between 2012 and 2015, Darren England became part of Select Group 2 in 2017. In 2021, he was added to the list of FIFA International Match Officials.

In 2022-23, England gave 0.67 fouls per tackle, which was the fifth-most among referees to take charge of more than eight matches.

Michael Salisbury

Michael Salisbury is a relatively new face for Premier League fans, having been added to the group ahead of the 2021-22 season. Salisbury oversaw the 2020 League Two Playoff final.

After taking charge of 15 league games in 2022-23, Salisbury will be hoping for more Premier League referee appointments in 2023-24.

John Brooks

Named to the Premier League group for 2021-22, John Brooks refereed his first Premier League match in December 2021.

Brooks made a pair of controversial calls in 2022-23, mistakenly ruling out a goal for offside due to a VAR mistake and booking Tyrone Mings for a kick on Jordan Henderson.

Tony Harrington

Promoted to Select Group 1 before the 2021-22 season, Tony Harrington refereed just six Premier League matches in 2022-23 and it is hard to base any football prediction on his record.

David Coote

Beginning his refereeing career as a teenager, David Coote impressed during his time in the Football League, and oversaw the 2014 League One Playoff final.

Coote has generally been a solid referee since his first Premier League assignment in 2018. He was awarded the 2023 EFL Cup final.

Graham Scott

It has been an up and down career for Graham Scott. After being added to the Premier League roster, there were efforts to demote him, but Scott has clung on.

His number of Premier League assignments has fluctuated, with just six matches in 2022-23.

Tom Bramall

A former Maths teacher, Tom Bramall was assigned eight Premier League matches in 2022-23.

His 24.38 fouls per match is the most of any referee to take charge of more than two matches.

Chris Kavanagh

FIFA Listed since 2019 and part of the Select Group since 2017, Chris Kavanagh was assigned 13 Premier League matches last season.

Kavanagh refereed the 2021 Championship Playoff final. Along with his Premier League duties, he also took charge of Europa League and Nations League fixtures in 2022-23.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to AP Photo*

August 3, 2023

Premier League

By Sam Cox

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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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Rugby Union Referee Salary: How Much Do Officials Earn?

Rugby union referees can make a good living, especially those who are selected to officiate in the biggest international competitions
Many rugby union referees have full-time jobs away from the sport, giving officials a chance to increase their wealth and earnings
According to figures obtained online, the top referees can earn around £160,000 per year

The role of a rugby referee is tricky in some ways but simple in others. Ultimately, the main job for an official is to keep control of a game – discipline, particularly in rugby, is key.

We hear the likes of Wayne Barnes, Nigel Owens and Jerome Garces week in, week out but how much do rugby referees make in a year? That is a question rugby fans want to know.

While a referee decision can impact rugby league betting and the outcome of games, this is a high pressure role and respect for the official in both codes of rugby is essential.

Here, we are going to focus specifically on rugby union rather than rugby league. This is for several reasons, but mainly as the finances in union are huge in comparison.

The rugby union vs rugby league debate is for another day. Instead, let’s tackle the question on how much rugby referees make – whether that’s per year, match fee or per tournament.

How Much Do Rugby Union Refs Get Paid?

The amount of money earned by rugby union referees varies depending on experience, level of competition and the governing body itself.

There is an elite group of referees when it comes to international rugby union and they are among the highest earning officials in the sport, with the likes of Wayne Barnes and Nigel Owens coming out on top.

However, Premiership Rugby referee salaries and Pro14 referee earnings are unable to rival the figures awarded at international level.

In New Zealand, governing body Sanzaar treats referees in a similar manner to players – and many of the top referees live comfortably.

Reports claim that Super Rugby referees can earn six-figure salaries and are allocated a car for business purposes. Add Test match payments into the mix and you’re talking a rugby ref salary of over £100,000.

For what it’s worth, Super Rugby referees were paid a fixed match fee of £51 when the league went professional in 1996.

Finding clear, trusted sources for rugby referee salary information is difficult but we get a general idea for the average earnings an official can make per year.

Whether you’re into rugby online betting or not, the financial side of the game is enough to attract interest from the wider sports community – especially when it comes to referees.

How Much Do Rugby Refs Earn Compared To Football Referees?

The difference in the amount of money in rugby union compared to football is staggering. If this was an in play betting race, football would be winning by a country mile.

While rugby is an elite sport, football is on another scale altogether – clubs are often more profitable than major businesses.

According to a French report on finances in rugby, Pro14 referees earn around £3,500 per month for officiating in the competition.

Meanwhile, Premier League referee salary figures are much higher, with some officials topping the £200,000 mark per year.

Ultimately, the money in rugby cannot compete with the money in football. But even as a percentage, it looks like rugby referees are being short-changed.

The referees selected to officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia were paid a fixed salary of £48,500 plus an additional £2,000 for each match refereed.

Comparatively, the estimated match fee for a rugby union referee at the 2019 World Cup in Japan was £1,500 per game. The fixed salary for attending the tournament is unknown.

Do Rugby Referees Need A Second Job?

Most rugby union referees have another form of employment – whether that is related to the sport or something completely different.

Take Wayne Barnes for example. One of the best referees in the world since arriving on the Premiership Rugby stage, he also practices as a barrister.

Barnes has spoken about his desire to continue practicing law when he decides to call it a day on his rugby union referee career.

Meanwhile, popular Welshman and Rugby World Cup final referee Nigel Owens invested in a farm along with partner Barrie and farming plays a huge part in his life.

Ben O’Keeffe is one of six full-time referees employed in New Zealand but he is also a fully qualified eye doctor, specialising in ophthalmology.

It is important to remember that rugby referees are not necessarily in the sport purely for the money but also for the love and respect that comes with the game.

Rugby World Cup Referee Wage

One of the main questions rugby fans want to know is – how much is a referee paid for the Rugby World Cup final?

It’s an interesting question but one that we don’t really have an answer for. We know that referees are paid a retainer for the tournament and each official is also paid ‘per match’ throughout the competition.

However, financial figures relating to rugby’s biggest competition are almost impossible to find. Considering the impact this has on the World Rugby rankings, you’d have thought such figures would be published.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark Baker / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 31st August 2021

August 18, 2023

888Business

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.

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