Premier League to debate how to finish season on Friday

James Warwick via www.imago-images.de

Premier League clubs will debate how to finish the season on Friday, with reports that a June 30 deadline will be proposed amid the coronavirus crisis.

Bosses at the Premier League are under pressure to thrash out the best way to conclude the 2019-20 campaign after the pandemic caused chaos with the football schedule.

Premier League action has been suspended since March and the financial fall-out is causing clubs to worry about potentially huge losses, while highly-paid players are yet to agree wages cuts to help balance the books.

Reports suggest nine clubs are in favour of ending the campaign by June 30, with the complications of contract expiration dates -- many are set to run out at that time -- among the key issues.

Chelsea midfielder Willian and Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen are two of the stars whose contracts will expire, making it a risk for them to play on if the season extends into July.

Liverpool are due to change shirt manufacturers from New Balance to Nike, while Watford and Newcastle are also switching kit suppliers, raising the potential for contractual disputes if the season is not finished in time.

Setting a final date for 2019-20 would allow teams to turn their attention to starting next season on time.

However, planning the conclusion of the current campaign remains difficult given the uncertainty about how soon the virus will be contained.

The Premier League has already stated that play will not resume until "it is safe and appropriate to do so".

The Government has yet to clarify how long the current lockdown period will last.

One alternative to the deadline is ending the season with the standings as they are, but that would trigger complaints and potential legal challenges from relegated clubs and teams that miss out on European places.

Against that backdrop, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder does not expect a deadline to be set for the season's conclusion just yet.

"I'm sure that we will adjust accordingly," Wilder told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"I think for the integrity of the competition and competitions, especially the top end of English football and European football, they'll want to finish the season.

"I believe that there will be an ability next year to adjust, with international breaks, with moving a few games into midweek. We have that ability through organisation and planning to finish this season off.

"But only as everybody said, and I'll reiterate that, when it's safe to do so for everybody. And that obviously we have to take our lead off the Government and what they suggest and want us to do."

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom agreed that getting a definitive deadline from Friday's meeting might be tricky.

"We would like to finish the season," Bloom said.

"There does come a point when we can't keep waiting but I don't think June 30 is that point.

"There's talk about player contracts and sponsorship and it's difficult to play beyond that but this situation is so unique and unprecedented every option should be looked at."

Prolongar los contratos más allá del 30 de junio pasa por un acuerdo Liga-AFE

La crisis del coronavirus y la consiguiente suspensión temporal de las competiciones deportivas deja al fútbol español en la incertidumbre, más allá de cuándo comenzará la Liga, ante la situación contractual en la que quedan los jugadores que terminan sus contratos de trabajo el 30 de junio de 2020. Hay muchas dudas que ahora mismo quedan en el limbo jurídico en base a las indicaciones que dio la FIFA en caso de que las competiciones se alarguen más allá del 30 de junio.

"Hay que recodar que los contratos laborales de los deportistas profesionales son temporales por naturaleza y que la inmensa mayoría de los mismos establecen expresamente una finalización el 30 de junio, en consonancia con la fecha de término de la temporada y con el artículo 14.1 del Convenio Colectivo del Futbol Profesional", según Rodrigo García, de LAFFER abogados.

El problema añadido es que no todos los futbolistas están en las mismas situaciones: hay algunos que acaban contrato y tienen compromiso con otro club o hay futbolistas que terminan una cesión y deben volver a su club de propiedad. ¿Qué sucede en esos casos? ¿Qué ocurrirá con los jugadores que han visto extinguido su contrato? ¿Están obligados a jugar? ¿Y qué con aquellos que ya se han comprometido con otro club, español o extranjero, a partir del 1 de julio, o que están cedidos por un tercer club hasta el 30 de junio?

Son preguntas a día de hoy sin resolver. Rodrigo García entiende que surgen demasiadas dudas: "Desde un punto de vista estricto de derecho laboral, que es el que principal, si no único, que debe aplicarse a un contrato de trabajo, el contrato se extinguirá sin que exista obligación alguna del trabajador de permanecer en su puesto de trabajo, y manteniendo además su derecho a la indemnización de 12 días por año de servicio conforme al artículo 49 ET y la Jurisprudencia del Tribunal Supremo", comenta.

La FIFA trasladó la semana pasada su recomendación para que la terminación de dichos contratos se prolongue hasta la finalización de la temporada, pero la realidad es que un órgano federativo no puede modificar los contratos. "No olvidemos que dentro del ordenamiento jurídico interno de los países, la normativa federativa tiene el mismo valor jurídico que las normas de funcionamiento de una comunidad de propietarios, es decir, ocupan los escalones más bajos del ordenamiento jurídico", añade Rodrigo García.

Lo que parece claro es que modificar todos los contratos de todos los futbolista de forma individual sería muy costoso, sobre todo en el tiempo. La modificación de los contratos encajarían más en una negociación colectiva para que dichos contratos se modificaran al menos temporalmente "atendiendo al principio rebus sic stantibus, modificando el artículo 14 del Convenio Colectivo", según este despacho de abogados.

"Si bien parece una solución deseable, no es de fácil encaje jurídico y además suscita otra cuestiones a solventar como la libertad del jugador de elegir otro destino después del 30 de junio (en cuyo caso debería quedar libre y no sujeto a cláusula de rescisión), la necesidad de asegurar al jugador respecto de posibles lesiones en dicho periodo (por el perjuicio económico que tendría de cara a futuros contratos) y el salario que dichos jugadores percibirían durante la extensión del término del contrato", concluye Rodrigo García.

Lautaro tentato dal Barcellona. Zhang chiarisce: il Toro via dall'Inter solo in un caso

Lautaro Martinez sarebbe disposto a lasciare l’Inter solo per il Barcellona, che resta l'unica reale tentazione. Come scrive oggi La Gazzetta dello Sport, soltanto i catalani possono far vacillare l'argentino, che a Milano sta benissimo e che ha tantissima riconoscenza per il club nerazzurro. 

Confermati i contatti tra i blaugrana e gli agenti del Toro, ma resta il nodo economico tra i due club: pagare i 111 milioni  di euro previsti dalla clausola rescissoria in un'unica soluzione diventa complicato per chiunque, anche per Il Barça, specialmente in questo momento di crisi. Secondo la rosea ci sarà quindi da trattare con l'Inter, magari inserendo alcune contropartite tecniche.

Arturo Vidal resta un obiettivo, Griezmann ora non sembra in uscita così come Arthur: la rosea fa allora i nomi di Aleña, Semedo, Junior Firpo e Cucurella, ma la sostanza non cambia. L'Inter non ha necessità di cedere Lautaro e, qualora il sacrificio diventasse 'obbligato' per esplicita richiesta del giocatore, allora l'affare si farà alle condizioni di Zhang. Ovvero solo cash per poter poi permettere a Marotta di ritoccare a dovere la rosa.

Medien: Auch Chelsea in Kontakt zu Werner – Will er überhaupt zu Bayern?

WERNER HAT IM SOMMER WOHL DIE WAHL. FOTO: JÖRG SCHÜLER/BONGARTS/GETTY IMAGES

Ein potenzieller Wechsel von Timo Werner zum FC Bayern liefert seit mehr als einem Jahr beständig Schlagzeilen. Immer wieder diskutiert wird die Frage, welcher Entscheider bei den Münchnern den RB-Leipzig-Star haben will und welcher lieber andere Spitzenspieler bevorzugen würde. Längst haben sich dabei aber Alternativen für den Stürmer aufgetan.

Hinlänglich bekannt ist dabei das Interesse des FC Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp will den Angreifer laut Medienberichten mit einer Art Hausbesuch davon überzeugen, seine Unterschrift unter einen Vertrag des amtierenden Champions-League-Siegers und designierten englischen Meisters zu setzen. Werner kokettierte vor der Corona-Unterbrechung des Spielbetriebs wiederholt damit, sich durchaus in Liverpool sehen zu können. Nun berichtet der kicker, auch der FC Chelsea habe Kontakt zum Nationalspieler aufgenommen. Die Blues gelten schon länger als Interessent an seinen Diensten.

Ausstiegsklausel macht attraktiv

Das Team von Klubikone Frank Lampard ist inzwischen von einer Transfersperre seitens der FIFA befreit und soll gerüchteweise im Sommer die Spendierhosen anhaben, obschon die Coronakrise auch den englischen Fußball nicht unberührt lässt. Werner gilt dabei ohnehin als besonders attraktiv, weil er eine Ausstiegsklausel hat. Zwischen 50 und 60 Millionen Euro muss ein Klub hinblättern, um den Torjäger von RB Leipzig loszueisen. Auch beim FC Bayern, so das Fachmagazin, gelten die möglichen Konditionen eines Transfers als äußerst reizvoll.

Will Werner überhaupt zu Bayern?

Allerdings herrsche nach wie vor keine Einigkeit unter den Entscheidern, mit aller Macht eine Verpflichtung von Werner anzugehen. Auch nach der Vertragsverlängerung von Hansi Flick habe es keine solchen Signale an die Spielerseite gegeben. Dabei gilt der Chefcoach als größter Fürsprecher eines Transfers von Werner. Der Schwabe fühle sich in Beziehung zum Rekordmeister schon seit dem vergangenen Jahr als so etwas wie ein Notnagel, heißt es in dem Bericht. Deshalb stelle sich ganz konkret die Frage, ob für Werner ein Wechsel nach München überhaupt noch in Frage komme.

MLS Technical Director of Youth Development Fred Lipka joins Extratime to discuss future of US youth development

The youth development landscape in the US was thrown into a state of flux on Wednesday when U.S. Soccer announced it will be disbanding its Development Academy league, which had been operational since 2007. The USSDA's season had already been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Wednesday's announcement confirmed that it won't be continuing going forward.

Following the news, MLS announced the formation of a "new elite competition" intending to serve both the academy teams run by its members, "as well as select non-MLS academy teams that previously participated in the USSDA." Full details are still being determined but the platform will aim to provide year-round high-level matches as well as regional and national tournaments.

MLS Technical Director of Youth Development Fred Lipka (pictured above) joined MLSsoccer.com's Extratime on Thursday to discuss both announcements, and what he hopes to see going forward in order to keep youth development in the country on the right track.

"I know there is a lot of discussion in the country. What I can say to every single non-MLS club which played in the DA is you will have a place to play," Lipksa said. "We don't know exactly when it will be but MLS will help the community and support the community and first and foremost, the kids, in this country to play at a good level of soccer. ... We also have to be humble and honest. We have been doing a good job for maybe the last 4-5 years and I think people can see that now. We want to have the capacity to influence and to be aspirational for all kids and coaches and parents.

"We want, [not necessarily] a professional — but good — level of play and to be a good environment to fulfill every kid's dream. This is the objective. ...We want to increase the level of play for some players and for some teams but we also need to compete and to be inclusive and not exclusive. This is the message."

LES FOOTBALLEURS ONT-ILS RAISON DE REFUSER UNE BAISSE DE SALAIRE ?

Alors que l'épidémie de coronavirus perdure, avec son cortège de statistiques morbides et son confinement qui se prolonge, les différents clubs cherchent à trouver la meilleure parade économique possible pour compenser la perte d'activité. Option privilégiée : la baisse, ou la suspension, du salaire des joueurs, via différentes solutions. Certains joueurs refusent, d'autres s'en indignent, mais en France, le rôle de l'État et le droit du travail atténuent l'ampleur du phénomène. Reste une question : les footballeurs ont-ils raison de défendre leur droit de salarié ou ne sont-ils que des égoïstes surpayés ?


Il y a d'abord eu la solidarité : celle d'un « monde du football ligué contre le virus » pour reprendre les mots du président de la Fédération française de football, Noël Le Graët, tout un ensemble prêt à s'unir pour combattre un virus et sauver des vies. Ainsi, des stars ont versé leur obole à telle ou telle association, ont envoyé des messages de soutien aux différents acteurs de la vie quotidienne et ont arrosé les réseaux sociaux de leur bon cœur. Le Parc des Princes s'est même habillé aux couleurs « des combattants contre le COVID-19 » là où l'OM a mis le Véodrome et la Commanderie à la disposition des autorités. Puis, dans les bureaux, les dirigeants ont commencé à sortir les calculatrices, et certains ont commencé à trembler en découvrant la fragilité de leur modèle financier, notamment leur télé-dépendance, exacerbée par le conflit ouvert avec les diffuseurs. Le champagne débouché lors de l'accord avec Mediapro est déjà oublié.

La masse salariale seule fautive ?

Devant cette situation, la première réaction a alors été, évidemment, de se tourner vers la masse salariale des clubs, donc vers les joueurs, mais aussi les administratifs ou le jardinier, histoire de soulager la pression d'un inévitable déficit. En ça, le football professionnel possède un double « avantage » : les émoluments des joueurs représentent une somme considérable, et ces derniers - les joueurs - n'engendrent aucune empathie. Dans cette période, difficile pour eux qu'il en soit autrement quand, dans le même temps, le pays enterre ses victimes du virus, est confiné ou est maintenu grâce au travail énorme abattu par une cohorte de travailleurs précaires contraints de bosser malgré les risques de la situation actuelle. Tant de personnes - des supporters pour certains - qui ignorent d'ailleurs combien de temps encore leur salaire sera garantie au vu de la récession qui s'annonce. Il fallait donc de l'action concrète et, en France, un accord a été trouvé autour d'une baisse de salaire proportionnelle aux montants perçus par les joueurs de Ligue 1 et de Ligue 2 selon le barème suivant : si 70% du salaire brut mensuel du joueur est inférieur à 10 000 euros, sa rémunération restera intacte ; si ce pourcentage est compris entre 10 000 et 20 000 euros, baisse de salaire de 20% ; baisse de salaire de 30% pour ceux dont le pourcentage est compris entre 20 000 et 50 000 euros ; 40% entre 50 000 et 100 000 euros, et 50% au-delà de 100 000 euros.

Tous salariés ?

En Angleterre, au contraire, les joueurs pros ont clairement opposé leur refus à une diminution de salaire imposée. Il ne s'agit pas là d'une réaction égoïste. La preuve : les joueurs de Leeds ont renoncé à leurs revenus d'avril pour sauver le club et pour que les employés gardent leur travail. Le syndicat des joueurs britanniques craint plutôt que l'ensemble des patrons de clubs en profitent pour serrer la vis et utilisent le vent de panique actuel pour leurs propres intérêts. Résultat, les démarches ont été individualisées. Il est d'ailleurs amusant, en France, de voir les clubs pleurer pour recevoir leur part de droits télévisés pour des matchs qui ne vont pas se jouer tout en demandant un effort à leurs joueurs pour les mêmes raisons. Ces derniers pourraient, en outre, répondre que leur image et leur présence dans les médias ou les réseaux sociaux restent un atout pour leur employeur afin de faire valoriser leurs actifs (ici, le club).



Le bras de fer ne fait que commencer. La réduction, voire le contrôle, des salaires, avec toutes les incertitudes existantes sur une reprise des championnats, va ouvrir une période d'incertitude et de rapport de force avec, pour les dirigeants, l'argument de la menace d'une banqueroute et de la morale. Mais les joueurs doivent-ils pour autant servir de seule variable d'ajustement pour un système voulu et entretenu par les clubs, dont la période actuelle révèle les limites ? Les footballeurs ne sont-ils pas, après tout, les premières victimes d'un capitalisme qui ne veut pas renoncer à ses marges ? « Il faudra bien se poser tôt ou tard la question du temps de travail, des jours fériés et des congés payés pour accompagner la reprise économique » , expliquait récemment Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, le président du Medef. Ce discours vise à faire porter le poids du redressement économique sur les épaules des salariés et a un goût de culpabilisation collective – en gros, vous ne foutez rien en ce moment. Il a peut-être aussi comme symbole nos camarades à crampons.

Jorge Andrade recorda treinos no FC Porto: "Era canela até ao pescoço!"

Antigo central garante que a competição era saudável.

Jorge Andrade marcou presença no programa 'FC Porto em casa' desta quinta-feira. O antigo internacional português recordou os anos que viveu no Dragão e falou sobre Chaínho, o outro convidado do programa. 

Chaínho como colega: "O Chaínho é aquele colega que todos os jogadores querem ter na equipa. Para veres como aparece vestido e o que traz debaixo do braço. O Chaínho levava revistas para o estágio e depois ficavam sem elas. O Chaínho era quem introduzia as novas tecnologias. Foi o primeiro a andar de computador debaixo de braço e passado uns tempos andávamos todos. O Chaínho é sempre aquela alegria. Ele e o Deco eram os meus padrinhos. Se eu espirrasse eles tinham que me limpar. Tinham de ir buscar a casa para jantar... Fizeram com que a integração ficasse mais fácil. O Hilário também era uma pessoa fora de série. Os mais novos eram sempre mimados pelos mais velhos. Isto fora de campo, dentro de campo davam-nos porrada. Era canela até ao pescoço! (risos) Era uma competição saudável!" 

Incidente com Deco em 2004: "Desde que me levanto até a dormir, há sempre uma pessoa a falar sobre isso! As pessoas não se lembram dos golos, lembram-se dessa cena [foi expulso depois de fingir ter pontapeado Deco no jogo FC Porto-Deportivo] e há sempre um atrevido! (risos) Foi uma situação que nos treinos fazia-se isso e não havia qualquer problema, mas no jogo não podia fazer. Acho que ali deveria ter sido mais prudente e não entrar em clima de treino. Faltava pouco tempo para o jogo acabar. Como ex-colegas pensava que o árbitro, depois de o ter feito sem pensar, poderia ter sido um pouco mais leve e dar um amarelo, que dava para jogar a 2.ª mão." 

Saída do FC Porto: "Alguém tinha que sair. Tinham contratato o Pedro Emanuel, Ricardo Silva, Ricardo Carvalho, Ricardo Costa e o Jorge Costa tinha voltado. O Pinto da Costa também soprou para eu ir embora (risos). Não levo a mal, foi bom para mim. Em termos salariais foi bom e não fui para longe de casa. Mal cheguei, o Deportivo ganhou a Supertaça e isso motivou-me muito. Fui me embora e acho que o meu caminho estava bem traçado. O FC Porto ensinou-me a ser uma pessoa que sabe caminhar sozinho." 

Был народным – станешь государственным. У босса «Спартака», похоже, большие проблемы

Леонид Федун снова бьет тревогу, а его бизнес, поговаривают, могут национализировать. Что все это означает?

«БУДЕТ ОЧЕНЬ БОЛЬНО»

Владелец «Спартака» и вице-президент «Лукойла» в четверг снова отметился тревожными высказываниями, заявив, что ситуация с пандемией коронавируса серьезно повлияет на суммы трансферов и зарплаты футболистов.

«Насколько существенным будет снижение? Я думаю, близким к катастрофическому. Если это продлится до осени, а очень похоже, что так и выйдет, то будет очень больно. У государства есть другие потребности, кроме как поддерживать частные клубы. Поэтому особо ни на что не рассчитываем. Будем просто выживать», – цитирует Федуна ТАСС.

В отличие от руководителей других наших клубов, которые стараются донести свою глубокую озабоченность сложившейся ситуацией до российского правительства через РФС, на государственную помощь Леонид Арнольдович не рассчитывает вполне обоснованно. Не только потому, что государству сегодня и так не до футбола. За последнее время Федун выпустил в эту сторону так много критических слов, допустив при этом и совсем нелицеприятные выражения, что заикаться ему теперь о господдержке своей «народной» команды на самом верху, как видится, абсолютно бесперспективное занятие.

СТРАШНЫЙ СОН

Еще в середине марта, когда эпидемия только начала разрастаться в России, босс красно-белых первым из руководителей клубов РПЛ забил тревогу по поводу судьбы своего главного увлечения – «Спартака». Тогда он поделился со СМИ подробностями встречи в Кремле, на которой шла речь о взаимодействии с участниками мирового нефтяного рынка. В интервью РБК Леонид Арнольдович рассказал о проблемах клуба между делом, а говоря про свой основной бизнес заявил, что на совещании у Путина никакая идея о выходе из сделки ОПЕК+ не обсуждалась, хотя, по его данным, отдельные госкомпании эту сделку активно лоббировали. «И даже те, кто лоббировал, не могли себе в страшном сне представить, что будут продавать нефть по 25 долларов», – сказал в беседе с журналистами Федун.

И эти его слова были многими расценены как лишние: мол, не стоило выносить из избы подробности той встречи, особенно на фоне того, что за этим последовало.

А последовал срыв сделки, полный обвал цен на нефть, катастрофическое снижение спроса при полном отсутствии перспективы к быстрому восстановлению рынка. С учетом глобального кризиса и остановки многих предприятий из-за пандемии картина для экономики страны действительно рисуется апокалиптическая. Леонид Арнольдович просто честно об этом заявил во всеуслышание.

«БРЕСТСКИЙ МИР» – ЭТО ПЕРЕБОР

После этого он попытался несколько смягчить обстановку, хотя раз за разом его новое появление на страницах прессы лишь убеждало в серьезности надвигающейся катастрофы, которая затрагивает не только жизнедеятельность «Лукойла», самой крупной частной нефтяной компании России, но и бумерангом бьет по «Спартаку».Когда же соглашение с саудитами, главными игроками рынка нефти, было достигнуто, Федун снова не смолчал, назвав заключение новой сделки ОПЕК+ необходимым, но «унизительным и тяжелым» миром.

«Я бы привел пример Брестcкого мира, когда большевики в 1918 году были вынуждены по различным причинам пойти на сделку с Германией, которая была унизительной и тяжелой», — сказал Федун, отвечая на вопрос, адекватную ли цену заплатит Россия за согласие снизить добычу на 2,5 млн баррелей до 8,5 млн баррелей в сутки.

При этом вице-президент «Лукойла» поблагодарил Владимира Путина за достигнутое соглашение по ограничению добычи нефти, а также министра энергетики Александра Новака, подчеркнув, что в последние дни все увидели беспрецедентную вовлеченность президента в переговоры и в организацию этой сделки.

Благодарность в этих вопросах – дежурная вещь, а вот «Брестский мир», как утверждают различные инсайдеры из Кремля, был расценен, как перебор. Последовали комментарии других участников рынка от России, среди которых был и Александр Дюков, председатель правления «Газпром нефти» и президент РФС. Говоря о новой сделке в интервью «Коммерсанту», он подчеркнул, что «в ней нет ничего унизительного». И это ярко контрастировало с высказываниями Федуна.

А ВЕДЬ ФЕДУН, СКОРЕЕ ВСЕГО, ПРАВ

На этом фоне появление слухов о том, что в Кремле всерьез стали размышлять над возвращением «Лукойла» под государственный контроль, не выглядят чем-то нереальным. Тем более что неоднократная публичная критика нефтяной стратегии российского руководства со стороны одного из боссов компании не может не вызывать раздражение. Особенно сегодня, когда любой шаг властей обречен на негативные эмоции – разрастающаяся эпидемия делает свое дело, и все, кто в этот момент стоит на переднем краю борьбы, обречены быть с этим негативом завязаны.

Ошибся ли Леонид Арнольдович со своими выражениями? Не думаю. Руководители такого уровня привыкли просчитывать последствия своих слов. Просто случается, что наступают в жизни моменты, когда молчать нет больше ни сил, ни желания. Да и здравый смысл подсказывает, что найти спасительный выход из катастрофической ситуации помогает не замалчивание или приукрашивание реальности, а четкое осмысление всех рисков и надвигающихся проблем. Это и пытается донести сегодня до всех владелец красно-белой команды.

Что да самого «Спартака», то ничего хорошего его босс нам снова не рассказал. Судьба футбольного клуба напрямую зависит от успехов в основном бизнесе больших руководителей «Лукойла». А там сегодня все очень и очень печально. Что как действительно ждет нефтяную компанию национализация? Не затронет ли она и великий народный клуб?

Динамо не до конца рассчиталось за Соля с Виллем II

Клуб из Нидерландов не получил от Динамо последний транш за нападающего Франа Соля.

ФРАН СОЛЬ, ФОТО ФК ДИНАМО16 АПРЕЛЯ 2020, 14:20

Директор Виллем II Мартин ван Гил рассчитывает, что получение денег за трансферы футболистов помогут клубу перережить экономический кризис, связанный с пандемией коронавируса — сообщает bd.nl.

В должниках у Виллем II ходят Динамо, не выплатившее последний транш за Франа Соля, эквадорский Аукас, задолжавший платеж солидарности за Диего Паласиоса, ныне выступающего за ФК Лос-Анджелес, а также Барселона по той же причине, но в связи с приобретением у Аякса Френки де Йонга.

Ван Гил надеется, что должники своевременно погасят свои задолженности, в противном случае голландцы будут добиваться справедливости через ФИФА.

Gabriel Pereira 2019/20 – scout report

Gabriel Pereira is one of the most promising young players in Brazil’s youth academy. He’s a skilled winger currently playing in Corinthians youth team, at 18 years old and is one of the youngest today in Corinthians U-20.

This year, Gabriel was very important in Corinthians’ campaign in the Copa São Paulo (also known as “Copinha”), Brazil’s most important under-20s competition. It is a consensus that his absence in the semifinals due to a suspension was determinant to Corinthians’ elimination.

Player profile

This scout report will provide tactical analysis, with a focus on Gabriel’s strengths and weaknesses, analysing his role in Dyego Coelho’s tactics in Corinthians U-20. 

Gabriel is a left-footed attacking midfielder that plays mostly in the right flank. He has a mostly dribbling and agile characteristic and is known for having a lot of tricks in his bag. Gabriel started his career as a full-back in Guarani and became a midfielder in Corinthians. Because of this, even when playing as a winger, he helps a lot in defence, having the defensive one-versus-ones and interceptions as important weapons in his game.

Seeing his heatmap we can notice that he likes to cut to the centre and play near the box. Although the most covered area is still in the middle, this shows he works more in the play’s build-up than in the last pass or the finish.

In regards to Dyego Coelho’s style of play with the U-20s, he was recently in the Corinthians professional team as an acting coach after Fabio Carille was fired. In January, he went back to the U-20 team with a lot of expectation after the good performance with the professional team. With the youth team, he usually plays a 4-3-3 and has a very aggressive DNA. In Dyego’s tactics, Gabriel is the first option in the flank, playing as a right-winger or an attacking midfielder. He does have a defensive role in this team that is pressing the opponent’s build-up phase and sometimes coming back to his half to help to mark, but most times it isn’t necessary. This is due to the characteristic of the defensive line, that is used to advance to anticipate the opponent’s pass.

Bag of tricks

Gabriel is the type of player that knows how to improvise and make the best of each situation. Because of this, he has a strong one-versus-one duel record, that usually makes him become a threat in the flank and the centre as well. 

Though he has a lot of different dribbles in his arsenal when doing a one-versus-one, like nutmegs, lobs, and quick cuts to the left, they all have one aspect in common: the body feint. Gabriel has an amazing capacity to fool his opponent with just the body language, which makes his dribbles become much more efficient.

In both images above, Gabriel uses a body feint to the right and then cuts to the left quickly with his good foot. In the first, after dribbling, he comes in a good position, sees a big gap with a teammate attacking the area and then free to make a quick sharp pass to in the future point.

Likewise, in the second picture, he uses the same body feint, faking to the right and going to the left, but in this play, he was more pragmatic. Right after the dribble, he notices that is free and immediately shoots from long range, forcing the goalkeeper to work.

However, unlike the two examples above, most of his one-versus-one duels occur in the direction of or next to the goal line. In this part of the field, he would like to win a duel to open space to cross or make a key pass to the box, and not to shoot like in the previous example. He has many ways to achieve that. Sometimes he just knocks the ball forward and wins by his speed, sometimes he tries a nutmeg or even an elastic. All these many tricks are what make him a threat to the opponents because it’s difficult to predict what he’s going to do next.

In the sequence below, Gabriel manages to nutmeg his marker and get a free corridor to run inside the box, be free to make a key pass or even shoot.

In this other sequence of images down below, Gabriel does a peculiar move. He does the body feint again, but this time he fakes to the back, instead of the sides, achieving to pass the marker and be free to make a timed pass to a teammate in a free zone, getting a beautiful assist.

Defensive awareness

As said before in this analysis, without the ball, Dyego would like to put a press on the rival’s build-up phase. Because of this, Gabriel is essential to his plans, due to his defensive awareness and good reading of the game. This helps him a lot in getting interceptions and recover the ball in the opponents half, most of the times in a dangerous area, where he can pass to a teammate already in the box or shoot from long range. 

A lot of times, before the opponent receives the ball, we can see that Gabriel already anticipate the possible pass lanes, and due to this, he can make an interception, like in the image below.

In the image above, it’s clear that even before the opponent’s full-back receives the ball, Gabriel already saw a possible pass lane. After this, he sprints and anticipates the pass, becoming free to feed his teammate in the box.

Another good defensive characteristic in his arsenal is his good capacity to know when to leave his place to make a double and steal the ball. In his games, a lot of times we can see him going to the centre to help the other midfielders get an interception, like in the image below.

Using these two tools, he can add a lot to Corinthians’ defensive side in the games. In only one game, against Athletico PR, he got seven possession recoveries in the opponent’s half.

Possible issues

Looking at Gabriel’s game, we can notice that he doesn’t have a prime shooting characteristic, but since he is still a forward, he still needs to have a decent shooting statistic. We can notice that even getting chances to shoot after dribbling or receiving in good condition, he is still not effective in this regard.

His on-target distribution shows us that most of his shots go off and when it goes to the goal, the majority are going to the up and middle part, one of the easiest for the goalkeeper to catch. 

Another thing that is related to his shooting as well is some of the wrong decision-making instances he makes after he wins a one-versus-one. A lot of times, after passing his marker by he could find a free teammate but decides to shoot or can shoot but decides to pass. A good example is one play that already was discussed in this analysis before: the nutmeg one. In this case, after he passes the marker he could pass or cross to at least three players, but he decides to take a shot without even a good angle. Down below is the image of the following of that play, when he could pass but shoots into the goalkeeper’s hands.

Conclusion

What we can take from this analysis is that Gabriel is a very promising young player, that has many qualities that can make him stand out in Corinthians’ professional team in the upcoming seasons. 

Despite some issues of his game that are completely normal for an 18-year-old player, he has much to evolve in a competitive league like Brasileirão. I wouldn’t be surprised if he called the attention of European giants in the next few years, like other Corinthians’ players had done previously, such as Willian who went to Chelsea in the Premier League, or Marquinhos, PSG’s centre-back.

Atacante Pepê interessa ao Sevilla da Espanha, revela site

Clube sabe que custo para atirar atacante do Grêmio é de cerca de 15 milhões de euros

Com a bola parada em todo o mundo, com as incertezas geradas pela pandemia da Covid-19 e faltando meses para a abertura das janelas de transferências do verão europeu, a movimentação de negociações é baixa. Uma intenção de compra foi revelada pelo site espanhol Estadio Deportivo na terça-feira: o Sevilla tem interesse no atacante Pepê, do Grêmio.

Os espanhóis buscam um atacante de lado e o jovem jogador gremista é um dos alvos. A publicação revela que os dirigentes do Sevilla sabem que precisarão desembolsar cerca de 15 milhões de euros para contratar o atleta de 23 anos. A publicação eletrônica destaque que Pepê integra a seleção Sub-23, que é um extremo direito que costuma atuar pela esquerda e “se destaca pelo bom manuseio da bola, velocidade, arranque e mudanças de ritmo, com o que, geralmente, deixa facilmente os rivais para trás”.

Uma proposta oficial ainda depende das negociações que o Sevilla fará nos próximos meses. O site ainda revela que o Real Valladolid também tem interesse no jogador, mas não teria condições financeiras para bancar a contratação.

André

O Sport, de Recife, e o Dallas FC, do diretor de futebol André Zanotta e do zagueiro Bressan, estão interessados no centroavante André. Porém, o negócio é considerado complicado por ambas agremiações devido ao alto salário que o jogador recebe no Grêmio, cerca de R$ 400 mil por mês, segundo informação do repórter Rafael Pfeiffer, da Rádio Guaíba.

Para retirar o centroavante do Grêmio, os clubes querem uma parceria com o Tricolor para pagar o salário do atacante. André tem contrato com o clube até o final de 2021, mas não tem mais “clima” para atuar na equipe de Renato Portaluppi. Bastante contestado por parte da torcida, o jogador figurou no primeiro jogo da temporada no banco, mas não foi aproveitado.

Juninho Capixaba

O Grêmio precisa fazer cerca de R$ 88 milhões em venda de jogadores para fechar o orçamento planejado para 2020 e parte da receita pode vir do lateral Juninho Capixaba, emprestado ao Bahia e que tem contrato de empréstimo vencendo em maio. O Tricolor possui uma opção de compra estipulada em R$ 6 milhões e deverá exercer o direito para não precisar entrar em acordo com o Corinthians, detentor dos direitos do lateral. .

No final do ano, o Porto, de Portugal, revelou interesse no futebol do atleta, mas a negociação não avançou. Outros clubes europeus também querem o jogador, que será adquirido para ser repassado para um time do velho continente.

A Santos star is born - when a teenage Neymar scored five in an 8-1 thrashing

Ten years have passed since Neymar showed Guarani he had something very special about him by putting five goals past them for Santos.

Collar up. A series of tiny steps. A paradinha – a little stop. The goalkeeper drops to his right. Neymar passes the penalty into the opposite corner.

Just two minutes had passed and Santos were off the mark and en route to an 8-1 thrashing of Guarani in the first leg of a Copa do Brasil last-16 tie.

Neymar and his team-mates rushed to the corner and celebrated by donning caps and pretending to rap in an homage to Santos fan and musician Mano Brown.

Dorival Junior's team would go on to score another seven, and Neymar would finish with a personal best of five.

At that point, it was undeniable that a world-beating talent had emerged at Santos.

Party time

April 14, 2010 provided Santos with so many reasons to celebrate.

It marked the club's 98th birthday and legendary figures Pepe, Edu and Clodoaldo were in attendance at the Vila Belmiro to enjoy the occasion.

Left-back Leo wore the number 98 on his shirt, while on-loan Manchester City attacker Robinho sported 200 to reflect the number of times he had put on a Santos jersey for a competitive fixture.

Despite such landmarks there was only one subject of conversation at the final whistle: Neymar.

The birth of a goalscorer

The wiry youth operating from the left wing had only turned 18 two months prior, but 2010 was to be the year Neymar entered the global consciousness.

After scoring 13 goals in his first season with the senior team, he had already surpassed that total when Guarani arrived on the coast of the state of Sao Paulo. He ended the year with 42 in all competitions.

Breaking through alongside mercurial playmaker Ganso and poacher Andre, the trio of promising academy products were dubbed as the third generation of Meninos da Vila – a moniker that was bestowed upon Juary, Pita and Joao Paulo in 1978, then Robinho, Diego and Elano in 2002.

Although Neymar's mid-penalty dummy was soon outlawed, he used it to great effect to open the scoring after Cleber Goiano only managed to stop a trademark surge from deep by dynamic midfielder Arouca with a desperate lunge inside the box.

Racing clear

Neymar may have ended the game with five goals but he could so easily have had more.

His end product was not as fine-tuned as it would go on to become. He dribbled into dead ends and misplaced crosses from the left as Dorival became increasingly frustrated with his team's inability to increase their lead despite dominating possession.

Although their relationship would end in acrimony with an on-field falling out resulting in Neymar being dropped and Dorival getting the sack in response, the player heeded his coach's demands on this occasion. An attempted throughball rebounded back off a defender and Neymar fired it across goal and into the bottom-right corner in the 29th minute.

By dummying Ganso's incisive pass and leaving it for Robinho, Neymar helped Santos extend their lead further two minutes later. His hat-trick was completed when another magnificent Ganso pass was squared to him at the back post by Arouca.

The result was already beyond doubt but Neymar made Santos' task even easier when he dragged the ball back and flicked it behind his standing leg to Robinho, with Cleber's challenge claiming nothing but player for a second yellow card on the stroke of half-time.

No letting up

He may have failed to guide a header home from Wesley's cross within two minutes of the restart, but Neymar beat Fabinho Junior and drew a foul to win a penalty that Marcel slammed in after 56 minutes.

Juliano pushed a blistering effort from Neymar at the end of a sweeping move past the post, only to see Santos manoeuvre the resulting corner to Marquinhos in the middle. His chip into the box was looped beyond the stranded Guarani goalkeeper by the head of Robinho before the hour.

There was one moment of revelry for the Guarani players, though, when Moreno drilled a stunning 25-yard free-kick into the top-right corner in the 73rd minute.

Five star

However, there was to be no upstaging Neymar.

He controlled Robinho's low cross from the left expertly and delicately flicked beyond Juliano with a quick second touch.

Neymar then rounded off a formidable attack to cap an incredible individual and collective display. Madson sprinted down the left, sent the ball inside for Robinho, whose first touch rolled straight into the path of Neymar for a low effort inside the near post.

A dejected Juliano said after the match: "I'd never conceded eight before, but Santos have to be congratulated."

The aftermath

The secret was well and truly out.

In the book 'My Story - Conversations with my Father', Neymar's dad said: "It was one of Juninho's best matches. He scored five times! It felt like the good old days, when Pele played for Santos. Except that now it was the Santos of Neymar Jr and his friends."

His form showed no sign of abating and 14,000 people signed a petition for Neymar to be selected for Brazil's 2010 World Cup squad, while Pele, Romario and Ronaldo were among the footballing heavyweights to get behind the idea. Unsurprisingly, Selecao boss Dunga took no notice.

"The lobbying that is done for certain players to get in the national team never made me nervous or frustrated," Dunga said after leaving Neymar, Ganso, Ronaldinho and Adriano out.

Chelsea did not doubt that Neymar was ready for a move to Europe, but their advances in August 2010 were turned down by a player keen on securing legendary status at Santos.

He unquestionably achieved that. O Peixe won the Copa do Brasil and the Campeonato Paulista that year, with two more state championships following before Neymar departed for Barcelona. There was also success in the 2011 Copa Libertadores and the 2012 Recopa Sudamericana.

It was a memorable, decorated spell for Neymar and Santos, and his five-goal haul against Guarani was one of the first moments it all looked truly possible.