All posts by n8rngtd.top

Manchester United’s 2023/24 season did not quite go to plan. Despite winning silverware, their poor performances domestically and in the Champions League almost cost Erik ten Hag his job in charge of the Red Devils. However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has decided to keep him at the helm, and he seems set to get a new contract soon.

In the Premier League, United came eighth in the table, finishing eight points behind Aston Villa in fourth place, who claimed the final Champions League spot. United’s disappointing season was summed up by the fact that they ended on a goal difference of negative one.

However, the Red Devils did win the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in the final. They have goals from academy graduates Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo to thank for bringing the trophy back to the red side of Manchester.

In the Champions League, United finished rock bottom of the group, and the 15 goals they conceded in the group stage was the most by a Premier League side at that stage of the competition.

Now, with the new season drawing near and the transfer window open, United could turn to a former player to help them climb back up the Premier League table and improve their standings in Europe.

Man Utd target Serie A striker

The player in question here is Chelsea and Belgium international striker Romelu Lukaku, who had a spell at United between 2017 and 2019. He spent the last season on loan at Italian side Roma and is certain to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

According to a report from Italian news outlet Calcio Mercato, United are “on the trail” of Lukaku if a move for their primary centre-forward target Joshua Zirkzee falls through, or they are beaten to his signature by another club.

However, United would not be the only side who are in for Lukaku this summer. Ironically, the other potential destination for Zirkzee, AC Milan, are also eyeing up the Belgian, should they miss out on the Bologna striker. Napoli are the other side interested in Lukaku, with their new manager Antonio Conte hoping to add to his depth up front, regardless of Victor Osimhen’s future.

In terms of a price for their former striker, Chelsea are thought to be demanding a fee of around £34m for the Belgian. This is not a fee Roma are prepared to pay, which has opened the door for United, as well as Milan and Napoli, to make their move.

Why Lukaku would be a good signing

It is fair to say that Lukaku’s first spell at Old Trafford was a mixed bag. Whilst his goalscoring record was not the worst on paper, with 42 goals and 12 assists in 96 games, for the fee they paid, United fans will no doubt have expected a lot more. Lukaku cost the Red Devils £75m from Everton back in 2017.

Since leaving United, Lukaku has gone through phases of being clinical, whilst also having periods of struggling to find the back of the net. He was superb for Inter, the club United sold him to, before returning to Chelsea, where he struggled, with Inter taking him back on loan. He helped his side reach the Champions League final, before burning his bridges at the Stadio Guiseppe Miazza and joining Roma on loan during the 2023/24 season.

As an alternative signing to Zirkzee, Lukaku could be a shrewd piece of business for United. By signing the Dutchman, they would be adding a talented young striker to the squad, who is a very different profile to Rasmus Hojlund, but will demand lots of game time and be someone who the Dane might not be able to learn as much from.

However, from signing Lukaku, United would be adding an experienced veteran of the Premier League to their squad, who even scored a hat-trick in Sir Alex Ferguson's last-ever game as United manager, for West Brom.

He is a striker who would be able to help improve Hojlund’s game, with the young attacker able to learn from him, and Lukaku may not be quite as fussed if he is not in the starting lineup every week.

Lukaku is still a clinical striker, and his instinct in the penalty box is still very impressive. His time at Euro 2024 showed just how good his penalty box movement can be, with the striker getting into plenty of good positions, despite a frustrating tournament where he failed to find the net.

Zirkzee would still be an excellent signing for the Red Devils; he scored 11 goals and registered five assists in 34 Serie A matches. He is a fantastic link-up striker, who is comfortable at dropping deeper and facilitating the wingers, before making forward runs. The Bologna man could add a unique dynamic to the Old Trafford side which has been lost since Anthony Martial left the club.

With that being said, signing Lukaku for the same price, which might not stunt Hojlund’s development as much, whilst also bringing in a striker who still knows where the back of the net is, might well be better business.

He is clearly highly thought of. Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel called the Belgian “world-class” during his second spell at Stamford Bridge. During his time at United, Marcus Rashford hailed the fact he "always wants to better himself", which as a result "pushes others to be better".

Lukaku’s first spell at United had its bumps in the road and ended trophyless, but perhaps it is time to return to Old Trafford and look to right those wrongs under Ten Hag.

Man Utd want to sign 'scary' England star to rival Marcus Rashford

He is wanted by three Premier League clubs this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 3, 2024

Arne Slot confirmed that Diogo Jota remains unavailable for Liverpool's match against Arsenal, but offered a positive update on Federico Chiesa.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Jota is nursing an injury
• Chiesa likely to resume training
• Conor Bradley may be involved

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jota, a key player for the Reds this season with four goals and two assists in 10 appearances, suffered an injury in last weekend’s match against Chelsea, forcing him to leave the pitch early. The injury kept him sidelined for their midweek Champions League encounter with RB Leipzig and now the Portuguese will also miss the trip to north London.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  WHAT SLOT SAID

  In addition to Jota’s unavailability, Slot also revealed that Federico Chiesa also remains unavailable but might resume training on Friday.

  "I think they feel good but not when it comes to playing for us during the weekend," he told reporters. "Federico might train with us today or tomorrow – but Diogo definitely not. And Conor Bradley, let's see if he can be with us tomorrow."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, remains sidelined with a hamstring injury he sustained against Crystal Palace. As a result, backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has stepped in to fill Alisson’s role, and Slot confirmed that Kelleher will continue to be Liverpool’s starting goalkeeper against the Gunners.

  On Alisson’s condition, Slot remarked: "Progressing well like we expect, not a short-term recovery, so difficult to judge. We judge him at the end phase of his rehab but not yet. Don't expect him to be at Brighton in the cup."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  Slot has made a strong impact since taking the managerial role at Liverpool, guiding the team to an impressive start to the Premier League season. Despite the injuries affecting key players, Liverpool have maintained a high level of performance, and Sunday’s matchup against Arsenal presents a chance for the Reds to extend their winning form and hold on to the top spot of the league standings.

Glasgow Rangers head of recruitment Nils Koppen has been hard at work to improve the playing squad after the disappointing end to the 2023/24 campaign.

In May, the Light Blues missed out on the Scottish Premiership title, finishing second, and were then beaten by their closest rivals in the SFA Cup final.

That meant that Philippe Clement ended his first year at Ibrox with one trophy, the League Cup, under his belt and the Belgian boss could be hoping for more pieces of silverware next season.

Oscar Cortes, Jefte, Connor Barron, and Clinton Nsiala have already been signed to bolster the ranks, whilst the club are also reportedly trying to sign Yusuf Kabadayi from Bayern Munich and are closing in on forward Hamza Igamane for £1.5m.

All of those players are aged 21 or under and this illustrates the transfer strategy that Koppen and Clement have put in place this summer, as they look for young players with the potential to improve.

With this in mind, it makes sense that the Scottish giants have now been linked with an interest in an exciting young marksman from England.

Rangers have held talks to sign 18-year-old starlet

According to Secret Scout on X, the Light Blues are among a clutch of clubs keen on a deal to sign Middlesbrough centre-forward Ajay Matthews this summer.

The report claims that a number of teams are interested in snapping him up from the English Championship side, including the Scottish giants.

It states that the 18-year-old starlet looks set to leave Michael Carrick's squad this summer and that has opened the door for Rangers, or another club, to swoop in for him.

Celtic, Newcastle United, Brentford, Southampton, and Brighton & Hove Albion are the other sides in the running to secure a deal for the academy marksman.

Rangers, alongside the other clubs mentioned, have held talks to sign the teenage sensation, with Koppen seemingly keen to bring him over to Ibrox this summer.

The Secret Scout also stated that the teams in the running, including the Gers, are hopeful that they can convince him to make a move away from Teeside, with Glasgow a possible destination for him.

Koppen has already held talks over a potential deal for the attacker and the Belgian chief must now work hard to beat off competition from the likes of Celtic, Newcastle, and Southampton, as the Boro youngster could be Zak Lovelace 2.0 for the Light Blues.

Rangers played a blinder with Zak Lovelace

In the summer of 2022, Rangers swooped in to sign 16-year-old striker Lovelace from English Championship side Millwall after he had rejected a new contract with the Lions.

Despite his young age, the versatile attacker had already played five times in the second tier for their first-team, which spoke to how highly he was rated by them.

The teenage talent was brought in to initially play for the B team and immediately proved himself to be a fantastic talent with the potential to emerge as a first-team option.

As you can see in the table above, Lovelace hit the ground running at academy level for the Scottish giants with his ability to score and create goals.

The former Millwall star operated through the middle as a centre-forward and on either flank as a winger yet still managed to remain consistent in his end product, with 18 goals and ten assists in 35 matches.

Michael Beale rewarded him with a first-team debut in a 3-0 win against Celtic in May of last year and the teenage whiz made a further two appearances in the Premiership during the first half of last season.

Unfortunately, a hamstring injury kept him out from October 2023 to February 2024 and then March 2024 to present, which derailed his progress at Ibrox.

Clement will now be hoping that the young talent will return from injury sooner rather than later to continue his impressive progress and eventually emerge as a regular first-team option for him, with his fantastic ability in front of goal.

Rangers could now land another version of Lovelace by dipping into the English academy market once again to sign Matthews from Middlesbrough.

Why Rangers should sign Ajay Matthews

The great thing about signings like this is that they do not cost multi-millions and there is a lower risk attached than bringing players straight into the first-team.

Rangers can afford to gamble on talented prospects in the hope that one or two out of a batch of recruits for the academy end up making it in the senior squad, which would then save Koppen and his team millions on an immediate first-team signing in that position.

Finding a consistent goalscorer at senior level is a tough ask and that is why snapping Matthews up from Middlesbrough as a young talent is a gamble worth taking for the Gers, when you consider his record at youth level.

Per Fabrizio Romano, the 18-year-old starlet racked up a staggering 16 goals in 17 starts for Boro at academy level throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

Carrick claimed that the teenage dynamo proved himself as a "goalscorer" during the season and handed the talent two first-team appearances in the Championship, against Leeds United and Cardiff City.

As you can see in the table above, nine of his aforementioned 16 goals came at league level for the academy and he showcased his ability to provide creativity as well as a goal threat.

The Rangers target produced an eye-catching 14 direct goal contributions in 19 outings, which shows that he has the potential to make a big impact in the final third on a consistent basis.

However, like Lovelace, he is yet to consistently prove himself at first-team level and that is why Matthews would initially come in to lead the line for the B team, with a view to breaking into Clement's side in the future.

Rangers could land their own Grealish with exciting transfer move

The Light Blues have been linked with an interest in the attacking midfielder this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 24, 2024

Therefore, the Gers could land their next version of the English forward by signing the Boro youngster ahead of Celtic ahead of next season.

West Bromwich Albion have had somewhat of an unsettled summer break so far after crashing out of the Championship play-offs, with many futures up in the air at the Hawthorns.

Even Carlos Corberan has been linked with leaving his job post in the West Midlands, after succeeding last campaign with the Baggies, whilst the likes of Cedric Kipre could end up heading for the exit door for nothing, having failed to agree a new contract yet with the second-tier outfit.

Kipre isn't the only member of last season's successful squad that could depart for zilch, as West Brom near to letting this midfield star leave for free too.

West Brom's contract situation

Having already said goodbye to the likes of Matt Phillips, Adam Reach and Nathaniel Chalobah among seven senior players, with their contracts not renewed on the retained list, the released numbers could soon rise to an alarming ten if the Baggies cannot tie down these members of their squad to extended deals.

Kyle Bartley, the aforementioned Kipre and Alex Mowatt have been offered new deals in an attempt to keep them rooted in the West Midlands, but recent transfer talk seems to suggest that the ex-Wigan centre-back will be leaving, according to reports.

As per Turkish outlet Sabah Spor, the towering 6 foot 4 centre-back could soon be off to Trabzonspor for free, as West Brom get worryingly closer and closer to his current deal expiring.

As much as Kipre leaving would be a huge blow for the Championship club, arguably losing ex-Leeds United midfielder Mowatt would be even worse, potentially denting them in their aspirations to try and win promotion next campaign in the process.

Why Mowatt is more important than Kipre

Mowatt has been a consistent top performer for the Baggies when utilised effectively, with his efforts this campaign giving West Brom a constant creative spark.

The former Whites midfielder, who Corberan's men managed to pick up on a free transfer themselves funnily enough, registered his best output in a West Brom strip this campaign just finished, with five of his seven career assists at the Hawthorns coming from his most recent 48 appearances.

Turning around his fortunes, after being chucked out on loan during the 2022/23 campaign to Middlesbrough, Mowatt is finally living up to the previous praise that came his way when being catapulted to stardom at Leeds, after working his way up the club's youth system, when his former Whites manager Neil Redfearn labelled him as "outstanding."

Kipre has experienced a similar resurgence at the Hawthorns recently, having also been thrown to the scrapheap once upon a time when Cardiff City picked him up on loan, but could be argued as being more of an easier gap to fill in this summer, than his midfield teammate.

If Bartley ends up signing on the dotted line to stay put, there's also the likes of Semi Ajayi waiting in the wings to fill in for the former Bluebirds man at centre-back, as well as a returning Caleb Taylor coming back from a loan stint at Bolton Wanderers with a point to prove, aiming to be the club's next Tom Fellows.

It wouldn't be ideal for West Brom's preparations ahead of another fast-paced second-tier season if they did see the back of Kipre, but having managed to survive when Dara O'Shea left for Burnley in 2023 leaving a big hole to fill in defence, the Championship side will be able to recover again.

West Brom can repeat Mowatt steal by signing "magic" free agent

West Bromwich Albion could get in another excellent free agent like Alex Mowatt this summer.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 11, 2024

After his stunning hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Vinicius Jr is set to win the Ballon d'Or.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Vini tipped for Ballon d'Or success
• Labelled 'extraordinary' by Ancelotti
• Los Blancos battle back to beat BVB

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Vinicius Jr was the star of the show on Tuesday night as Real Madrid fought back from 2-0 down to defeat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League. The Brazilian winger scored a second-half hat-trick, which was rather perfectly timed as he bids to win the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 24-year-old has enjoyed a fine year, inspiring Los Blancos to a La Liga and Champions League double last term. Few can argue that he doesn't deserve to win the Ballon d'Or at next week's ceremony and it would put the cherry on top of a year in which he has faced plenty of adversity, most notably regular racist chants in Spain.

• WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

  "It's rare to see a player perform like Vinicius did in the second half, not just with the goals, but with an extraordinary energy, intensity, and character," Ancelotti said. "I think he’s going to win the Ballon d'Or for what he did last year, helping us win the Champions League, not for today’s three goals, which will count towards next year’s Ballon d'Or."

  The racist abuse reportedly left the Brazil international nearing breaking point, but Ancelotti believes progress has been made on the issue.

  "I think he is respected as he should be. People boo him because he can make a difference," he added. "The racism issue is being addressed. He’s booed, and that's normal, but he is respected in this country."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  Next up for Vini and Co is a meeting with Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season. Victory at the Bernabeu will draw Ancelotti's side draw level on points with their rivals at the top of La Liga.

Lionel Messi has admitted he's close to the end of his Argentina career after scoring a hat-trick and grabbing two assists against Bolivia.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Messi dazzles in Argentina win
• Involved in five goals
• Speaks about his future after the game

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Argentina's captain was back in the starting XI for the national team against Bolivia and put in a vintage display in a 6-0 win in World Cup qualifying. The Inter Miami superstar had a hand in five goals and finished the night with the match ball after securing his 10th international hat-trick.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi turned 37 in June and is heading towards the end of his dazzling career. The World Cup winner has already admitted he believes that Inter Miami will be his last club and now says he's into his final matches on the international scene.

• WHAT MESSI SAID

  Messi told reporters: "It is very nice to play here feeling the affection of the Argentina fans. It makes me emotional to listen how they shout my name. We all enjoy this connection with the fans and we love playing at home."

  The 37-year-old then spoke about his future with the national team, adding: "I didn't set any date or deadline about my future. I'm just enjoying all this. I am more emotional than ever and taking all the love from the people because I know these can be my last games.

  "It's a joy to be present and appreciate this moment. Being surrounded by younger teammates, given my age, makes me feel like a kid again. I find myself doing silly things because I feel so comfortable. As long as I maintain that feeling and can continue contributing to the team, I plan to be here enjoying [the national team]."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI

  Messi is now set to return to club side Inter Miami but will hope to be back in Argentina colours in November against Paraguay and Peru. It's still not known when Messi will decide to hang up his famous boots but he's clearly savouring every moment right now and remains a vital player for the reigning world champions.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 2023/24 campaign will have split the opinion of the fanbase, with some describing it as promising, and others frustrating.

It’s fair to say that both are fair reviews, having just missed out on Champions League football in Ange Postecoglou’s debut season.

However, it’s now clear that will be the goal for next season having been so close, and in order to do that, reinforcements are needed this summer.

Spurs’ search for a new attacker

According to German journalist Christian Falk, Spurs are interested in signing Chris Fuhrich.

It’s mentioned that Spurs are “fighting” for his signature this summer with Bayern Munich also interested.

In order to secure the winger, the Lilywhites would need to pay his release clause, which stands at just £20m.

This means that the German would serve as a much cheaper option than Eberechi Eze, who’s been heavily linked with Spurs.

Reports suggest that the Crystal Palace ace has a £60m release clause in his contract, which is clearly quite a bit more than Fuhrich’s.

Why Fuhrich would be a great alternative to Eze

Since joining Stuttgart in 2021, Fuhrich has been a steady performer for the Bundesliga side.

But last season, his performance levels went to a whole new level, operating as a left-winger for the majority of his 33 league starts.

Over these games, the 26-year-old scored eight goals and provided seven assists, becoming a key player for a Stuttgart side that finished second despite narrowly avoiding relegation the season prior.

The German forward has a very complete profile, which makes him a perfect alternative to Eze, yet stylistically, he’s actually similar to Jack Grealish, a player who won't be heading to Euro 2024 this summer.

As you can see, what makes Fuhrich such an interesting player is the fact that he can not only put the ball in the back of the net himself but also provide for those around him, which is certainly very similar to the Palace star. Last season he was tremendous, particularly under Oliver Glasner, producing 11 goals and six assists.

Furthermore, just like Eze, he is the type of player who’s always involved in the play, the catalyst for most attacks, while also helping out defensively, as shown by the number of tackles her makes per 90 minutes.

Yet, according to journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor, it is Fuhrich who has “a touch of the Jack Grealishes to his dribbling”. That's a notable similarity between all three of the players in focus.

This, combined with his creativity and clinical finishing, means the German would suit Spurs down to a tee, regardless of whether they’re up against a side that sits deep or a top side who dominates the ball.

According to FBref, he’s also classified as a similar player to Florian Wirtz, who won the Bundesliga Player of the Season. This just proves how much of a steal the "fantastic" Fuhrich could be – as he was described by journalist Manuel Veth.

Given his statistics, bargain price, and the fact that he ticks almost every box that Spurs would look for in an attacker. They simply have to attempt to sign Fuhrich this summer.

Spurs prepare bid for ideal Maddison upgrade in £40m "Poch-era Dele Alli"

The all-action star could make a real difference in N17.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 7, 2024

Arsenal star Beth Mead has called out her team-mate Leah Williamson over the England defender's mood swings.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Williamson & Mead put friendship to test
• Defender accused of having mood swings
• Mead's team-mates say she talks too much

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The pair put their friendship to the test by answering some personal questions. They were asked to pick out each other's worst habits and as regular team-mates for both Arsenal and the Lionesses, they must be well acquainted with the more annoying aspects of their respective personalities.

Advertisement

• WHAT MEAD & WILLIAMSON SAID

  Mead knew immediately which of Williamson's habits to name, saying in a BBC Sport video around honesty cards: "I would say your mood flipping on a switch."

  Williamson was caught by surprise, saying: "God, these really are honesty cards. I was gonna say I sleep too much… They all get angry at me because I sleep too much."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mead did not get away harm-free, however, as she was asked for her own worst habit and admitted that she talks too much. "I didn't want to say it… No, the thing is you say that but if you didn't do it, everyone would miss it," Williamson responded.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Williamson was called on to start in the heart of the Arsenal defence for their Women's Champions League clash against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, while Mead was named among the substitutes.

If last summer was all about Declan Rice for Arsenal then it would appear as though this summer will be about RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian striker is at the forefront of interest from multiple Premier League clubs, most notable of which are the Gunners and Manchester United.

The latest on that saga, according to reports, is that a £47m bid had even been lodged for his services with another claim a few days prior suggesting he has already said 'yes' to a move to north London.

So, what next? Well, there still feels like a long way to go before things are wrapped up by all parties involved in the deal.

Where will Arsenal's transfer plans take them next? Well, potentially to the Netherlands.

£20m star keen on moving to the Emirates

The Telegraph reported in midweek that Arsenal were targeting a move for Feyenoord left-back Quilindschy Hartman.

The latest on that pursuit comes courtesy of the Standard, who noted this weekend that the player was indeed keen on a move to the Premier League, and more specifically to Arsenal.

However, that is very much dependent on whether Edu and Co formally step up their interest in the forthcoming months.

There are two issues, though. Chelsea are also interested and the player is actually out of action with a knee injury until 2025. As such, a move is far more likely to occur in January, if at all.

The player is currently valued at £20m by Transfermarkt.

How Hartman could benefit Sesko

Before Sesko allegedly said 'yes' to joining Arsenal, it was likely he had two main considerations.

The first was whether he'd happily play second fiddle to Kai Havertz up top. The second was whether he'd entertain the idea of playing from the left wing.

The 21-year-old only played as a central striker last season for Leipzig, scoring 18 goals in 42 appearances but he can play on the flanks, potentially using his rangy and athletic profile to give Arsenal added impetus on the left where he can cut inside.

If that was to be Sesko's position, then Hartman could well find himself regularly linking up with him.

Sadly we won't get to see him in action at the European Championships with the Netherlands, but for those who have seen up close in the Eredivisie under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot, there are some interesting traits there.

Described as having had an "exceptional" few seasons by scout Antonio Mango, the 22-year-old is known for being a "flying left-back" who can provide high-intensity and tough tackling.

With that in mind, he already sounds like a dream for the potentially incoming Sesko. So, how do the stats paint him?

Well, compared to leagues similar to the Dutch top-flight (via FBref), Hartman ranks in the top 2% of positionally similar players for shot-creating actions per 90, the best 6% for carries, the top 1% for through balls and in the best 10% for key passes.

Any attackers in Mikel Arteta's forward line must be licking their lips at the thought of that.

Luckily, the full-back doesn't shy away from his defensive duties either, winning 1.30 aerials per 90 minutes and ranking among the best 10% of full-backs for tackles in the attacking third of the pitch. Evidently he stays high and wins the ball back high, immediately sparking goal-scoring opportunities.

An aggressive front-foot defender, he sounds exactly like the profile of player who could benefit Sesko and potentially even take the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli to the next level on the left flank.

Arsenal could land Martinelli upgrade in "unstoppable" £80m Sesko partner

The incredible attacker could be transformational in North London.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 1, 2024

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique gave a gruesome assessment of his former team Barcelona when they met in last season's Champions League.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• PSG boss criticised Barca ahead of UCL tie
• Coach featured in documentary series
• Accused Spanish side of playing like Eibar

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After Barcelona beat the French side 3-2 in the quarter-final first leg, the Parisian club pulled off an incredible comeback as they ran out 4-1 winners in the return fixture. Before the tie, the PSG coach gave his assessment of the Catalans.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 54-year-old has deep ties to the Blaugrana, having spent eight years there as a player and then taking over as head coach in 2014 until 2017. However, that did not stop him from going in hard on his old team, then coached by legendary midfielder Xavi.

• WHAT LUIS ENRIQUE SAID

  “Barca are not a dominant team and they are not a defensively good team," he said in a new documentary series titled . "They have no defensive quality. They play long balls. [Marc-Andre] Ter Stegen broke the record for long passes. They play like Eibar."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• (C)Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR PSG AND BARCELONA?

  Barcelona are off to a strong start this season under new boss Hansi Flick and will aim to preserve their lead at the top of La Liga when they face Osasuna on Saturday. PSG, meanwhile, take on Rennes on Friday in Ligue 1.