Once again, there has been plenty of big stories to break in world football over the past five days. We have seen big transfers confirmed, lawsuits threatened and shortlists for the biggest individual rewards revealed. Here, we take a look at 10 of the biggest pieces of news to come to light during the past week…
On Friday evening, there was a big breakthrough in the saga that is Harry Maguire’s prospective move to Manchester United. BBC Sport reported that the Red Devils had agreed a fee of £80m, which would be a world record fee paid for a defender. The 26-year-old is expected to complete his medical over the weekend. Finally, it seems, we might be able to put this one to bed.
After a long and successful career in Europe during which he has become the most decorated player in football history, Dani Alves has returned to his homeland of Brazil. The 36-year-old right-back has signed a three-year deal with Sao Paulo. The latter’s president Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva said of the deal, “Daniel Alves is the embodiment of what this management envisions for Sao Paulo. He is also a socially engaged citizen and passionate about our country. Sao Paulo, therefore, wins on every possible front.”
Despite reportedly having a transfer budget of just £45m, Arsenal have still somehow managed to smash their transfer record by signing Nicolas Pepe from Lille. The Gunners have paid a fee of £72m for the Ivory Coast international, who has signed a five-year deal with the club. Pepe arrives at the Emirates Stadium on the back of a successful season in Ligue 1 during which he scored 22 goals in 38 games.
It is proving to be a difficult transfer window for Lille, with this week seeing not one, but two star players depart the club for pastures new. Along with Pepe, Rafael Leao also completed a move away from Les Dogues and signed for Serie A outfit AC Milan. The Rossoneri are believed to have paid £32m for the Brazilian, with the 20-year-old signing a five-year deal with his new team.
It is sometimes hard to keep track of Kevin-Prince Boateng. This week, he was once again on the move, this time swapping Sassuolo for Fiorentina. La Viola becomes the former Ghana international’s 11th club after Hertha Berlin, Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund, Portsmouth, AC Milan, Schalke 04, UD Las Palmas, Eintracht Frankfurt, Sassuolo and Barcelona…. and breathe!
Our next big story from the week comes from Germany. On Tuesday, Bayer Leverkusen confirmed the signing of Nadiem Amiri from Hoffenheim, with the 22-year-old signing a five-year contract with the club. The former Germany U21 international is just the latest player to leave Hoffenheim so far this summer, with nine others having departed on a permanent or short-term basis.
The nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Player have been revealed this week, with three Liverpool players included on the shortlist. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane have been joined by Barcelona pair Lionel Messi and Frenkie De Jong, Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard, PSG’s Kylian Mbappe and Juventus’s Matthijs de Ligt.
After just one year at the Camp Nou following his switch from Bordeaux, Malcom has completed his move to Zenit St Petersburg. The Russia outfit have paid an initial fee of €40m (£36.6m). “I want to do my best in St. Petersburg and show everyone what I can do,” said the 22-year-old upon signing for the club. Malcom scored four goals in 22 appearances for the Blaugrana.
In one of the more bizarre bits of news to emerge in the past few days, South Korea football fans are to seek compensation after Cristiano Ronaldo failed to take the pitch in a pre-season friendly. The Portugal international was contracted to play 45 minutes against the K-League All Stars for Juventus, organisers says, but the former Real Madrid man didn’t even make it onto the field.
We end this gallery with a bit of positive news for progressiveness and inclusion. It has today been revealed that Stephanie Frappart will become the first woman in history to take charge of a major European men’s football final when she referees the UEFA Super Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool in Istanbul. There will also be two female assistants: Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O’Neill,