The hot new rumor about Gareth Bale is that Real is negotiating with Juangju Sunning in China, and they are ready to pay Bale €15 million a year for 3 years, which is close to matching the current €17 million over 3 years deal Bale is currently on. He’s said previously China is off the table, but clearly no one in Europe is willing to pay his wages, and Real appears to have no interest in subsidizing any part of this move.
Soccer museum in Florence. In the basement of a Carrefour Express near the Duemo.... I'm still trying to figure it out--but it was fun....
Real Madrid trying to kill two birds with one stone: hijack the Neymar transfer to Barça while also getting rid of Bale. Rumor is Real has offered Bale + €90 million to PSG for Neymar.
Sorry I'm late. If anyone needs me I'll be spending the next several days gazing at this photograph alternating between feelings of tremendous loss and tremendous lust. What a man. What a ********in hero. What a ********in legend. DAJE DANILE DAJEEEEEEEE!!!!!
He’s always had an affinity for Boca. He’s talked forever about how great it would be to play at the Bombanera in front of their fans. He was never gonna play for another team in Italy. And as much as I love MLS he would never be satisfied here. His level of passion and dedication is just at a different level. In short he’s playing for Boca because sometimes the world is so beautiful it makes you want to cry. He’s playing for Boca to renew earth’s faith in the romantic.
Wow... Bale is going to China. Sad that all he cares about is money. You’d think he has enough, but I guess not. I hope he’s happy counting his money in China. Basically it says a deal between Bale and China is incredibly close to being done. €22 million a season for 3 years. Looks pretty legit. Up to possibly €20 million more in bonuses as well. All numbers are net, not gross. Previously read Real was so desperate to get rid of him they were just ready to amortize his original fee from Spurs just to get him out of Madrid and his salary off the books.
Meh... taking into account injuries, his numbers were alright. He scored goals in big games. I think 3 things killed him with teammates and fans: 1) 6 damn years and he still can’t speak Spanish. Ridiculous. 2) Injuries. 3) €100 million transfer fee doomed him. Cost more than Ronaldo, but was never gonna eclipse him. 4 Champions League titles in 6 years, 1 La Liga, and 1 Copa del Rey. Not bad. Oddly though, wasn’t enough, though I don’t think anything would have been good enough with the big 3 flaws being present that I mentioned above.
And now the Bale saga takes another twist. According to who you read / believe: English media: Madrid canceled the move because they want a transfer fee. Contradicting that, Spanish media previously reported Madrid would accept a no fee deal just to get Bale's salary off the books. They were prepared to eat that bullet after amortizing his transfer fee over multiple years. No fee wasn't ideal, but it wouldn't necessarily lose them money. So not sure what's going on here. Spanish media: Marca is reporting that Bale's family has zero interest in moving to China from Madrid (shocker) and would prefer a move within Europe. Both agree that Florentino Perez still likes Bale and that the lose of Asensio is troublesome for Madrid. Also reports still suggest Zidane is hellbent on getting Pogba, so moving on Bale's salary is required. Regardless, Bale and Madrid need to figure something out. The Chinese transfer window closes on Wednesday the 31st. It appears there is no legitimate interest in Bale from England. There is no interest from PSG (they want cash only). There is no interest from Italy. There is no interest from Bayern Munich. Obviously he's not moving within Spain. I really can't see where Bale would move besides China. English media is reporting a salary of 52 million euros per year deal in China (I'd assume that is gross), in Spain the number is 22 million euros per year (net), and some reports suggest yearly incentives of potentially 20 million euros per year (net).
Everyone knows the big story this year is whether Hull City gets promoted or not. Bale, Neymar, Barca, Liverpool....just some scrubs when compared to Hull City.
Serie A finally announced their fixtures today, barely 3 weeks before the season starts. Never change, Italy. Naturally, as I look at the 38 rounds in full it's hard to envision a single Roma loss among them. A historic unbeaten scudetto winning season awaits us Romanisti, this is a given. So instead I look for the big weeks of the season. The scheduling gods did not mess around with rounds 2 and 21. Atalanta vs Torino, Juventus vs Napoli, and the biggest game on the calcio and world football calendar...The Derby Della Capitale. I can't wait. CALCIO! CALCIO!! CALCIO!!!
Chelsea at Monchengladbach is on ESPN right now. The German Supercup is on channel 28 at 2:30. Not a bad Saturday.....
Benfica added yet another trophy to their collection after beating Sporting 5-0 (FIVE NOTHING!!!!) in the Supertaca yesterday. LIga Nos kicks off this weekend. WOOOOOOOOO!
Leeds looked good yesterday and they are getting a docu-series on Prime this month. I can hope for good games this season and re-live last season's heartbreak.
Due to popular demand, I present to you, without further adieu hangthadj’s 2019-2020 EPL Predictions. As a reminder these predictions are made without bias and informed only by my vast knowledge of the world’s 5thbest soccer league! 1. Wolverhampton Wanderers of Portugal 2. Super Frankie Lampard 3. Ozil’s Ressurection and Redemption 4. Hacienda City . . 8. !Pellegrino! 9. Chat Shit Get Banged 10. sHoUldA kept lUKaKu! . . 15. Moises Kean’s One Man Highlight Extravaganza . . 19. ASHLEY OUT 20. Liverpool
Looks like we're not the only team with weather delays--the Gladbach-Sandhausen cup game is currently in a weather delay...