Neuer, Mueller ruled out of Germany’s World Cup qualifier

Berlin (AFP) – Germany captain Manuel Neuer and forward Thomas Mueller are both injured and ruled out of Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against minnows Liechtenstein.

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno will deputise for Neuer, who sat out training all week with an ankle knock.

Coach Hansi Flick is hopeful he will be fit for for their next qualifier against Armenia in Stuttgart.

“We assume that ‘Manu’ will be back for Sunday,” Flick said on Wednesday.

Neuer’s Bayern Munich team-mate Mueller is suffering an adductor injury and misses all three Group J games against Liechtenstein, Armenia and Iceland next Wednesday.

“Thomas has gone home, the injury made it not possible for him to play in the games,” added Flick.

“The risk was too great, so it made sense to send him home.

“We have enough players to replace him.”

Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus or Chelsea forward Kai Havertz could deputise.

Without Neuer, 35, and Mueller, 31, Germany lose a decade of experience as the pair have over 200 international appearances between them.

Germany have ground to make up in their qualifying group as they sit third, two points behind leaders Armenia.

In Neuer’s absence, Flick has still to decide who wears the captain’s armband against Liechtenstein.

“I asked myself under the shower who will be captain,” said Flick.

“I’ll have a think about it, we have a few options and will clarify it internally.”

This will be his first international as Germany head coach.

After defeat to England in the last 16 of Euro 2020, Joachim Loew stepped down after 15 years in charge and has been replaced by his assistant coach when Germany won the 2014 World Cup.

“I’m looking forward to my first international game and the responsibility for the nation,” added Flick, who wants the same “intensity” from his team as he has seen in training.

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Premier League flexes financial muscle amid Super League fallout

London (AFP) – English Premier League clubs flexed their financial muscle over the rest of Europe by brushing off the after-effects of reduced revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic to spend over £1 billion ($1.4 billion) for the sixth consecutive summer transfer window.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United headlined a stellar cast of stars, including Romelu Lukaku, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, making their way to England with even clubs in Europe’s other ‘top five’ leagues, feeling the strain of a talent drain.

According to financial experts Deloitte, gross spending from Premier League clubs hit its lowest level since 2015 at £1.1 billion, driven by an increase in free transfers and clubs willing to take lower fees to shed some of the burden from their wage bill.

However, the net spend of £560 million was over 10 times that of La Liga (£55 million), Serie A (£50 million) and Ligue 1 (£15 million), while Bundesliga clubs made a net profit of an estimated £35 million.

“Whilst the volume of transfers has remained consistent, the number of free transfers has increased as have the number of the highest value deals,” said Dan Jones, partner in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.

“This reflects twin forces of clubs prioritising financial stability and seeking value in the market while also being willing to pay for the very best talent.

“This pattern has been reinforced by the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the relative financial strength of the Premier League clubs compared to some of their European peers.”

The backbone of the Premier League’s financial power has been television rights deals.

By securing another three-year domestic TV rights deal from the 2022/23 season worth £5.1 billion, the Premier League has achieved stability in an uncertain market.

French clubs are still reeling from the collapse of their contract with Spanish-Chinese company Mediapro last season. 

A new deal with Amazon and French broadcaster Canal+ has been sold at a fraction of the price before the arrival of Lionel Messi to Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain.

– Super League shadow –

The shadow of the failed European Super League (ESL) project also hung over the window.

Barcelona were forced to let Messi go for free as their spiralling losses saw La Liga’s financial fair play rules block an attempt to renew the Argentine’s contract.

The Catalans also let Antoine Griezmann return to Atletico Madrid on loan in the final hours of the window, just two years after signing the Frenchman for 120 million euros ($140 million).

Italian champions Inter Milan sold Lukaku for £97.5 million among a fire sale to rebalance their books amid a financial crisis for Chinese owners Suning.

The ESL fallout could also be seen in England with owners keen to quell fan anger by splashing out on new players.

United’s clash with Liverpool in May was postponed as supporters, still shut out from the stadium at the time, stormed the Old Trafford pitch in protest at the Glazer family.

There has barely been a peep of protest in the opening weekends of the season, though, with Ronaldo joining Varane and Sancho at United.

Despite sitting bottom of the Premier League table, Arsenal have been the biggest spenders of the window with billionaire American Stan Kroenke opening the purse strings to the tune of £150 million on six new players to silence complaints over a lack of investment.

However, the changing landscape of European football was arguably best evidenced by a deal that did not happen.

PSG turned down a reported offer of 180 million euros from Real Madrid for Kylian Mbappe despite the French international having less than a year to run on his contract and seemingly no intention of renewing.

Part of the motivation for the ESL was to allow traditional giants such as Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus to compete with the state-backed projects of Qatari-owned PSG and Abu-Dhabi backed Manchester City.

Without structural change, PSG, City and Chelsea, owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, are the new powerhouses.

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La Liga president hits out at ‘unsustainable’ PSG spending

Madrid (AFP) – La Liga president Javier Tebas on Wednesday hit out at Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain and what he called “club-states” after the French club signed Lionel Messi and a host of stars in the transfer window.

“The club-states are as dangerous for the ecosystem of football as the Super League,” Tebas said on Twitter.

“We were critical towards the Super League because it destroyed European football and we are equally critical of PSG.”

Tebas said PSG paying Messi a reported salary of 500,000 euros ($590,000) a week was “unsustainable” when TV revenues for France’s Ligue 1 are down 40 percent and the coronavirus pandemic has caused deep losses.

Messi’s tearful departure from cash-strapped Barcelona means the Spanish league has now lost its three biggest names in the space of five years.

Neymar moved to PSG from Barca for a world record 222 million euros in 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid to join Juventus in 2018 and PSG lured Messi away from the Catalans, who could no longer afford to keep the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.

During the transfer window that closed on Tuesday, PSG also signed Real Madrid’s veteran defender Sergio Ramos, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Morocco defender Ashraf Hakimi, Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and Portugal defender Nuno Mendes.

The French club, who will bid to win the Champions League for the first time this season, also turned down a number of bids from Real for forward Kylian Mbappe.

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Real have to wait for Mbappe as PSG decide they don’t need the money

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain got Lionel Messi but that has somehow turned out not to be the most remarkable moment of the transfer window for them.

There can hardly be a bigger statement from the Qatar-owned club than turning their noses up at an offer understood to be worth 180 million euros ($212m) from Real Madrid for Kylian Mbappe with the France striker in the final year of his contract.

Real are understood to have made two bids for Mbappe last week — and there were reports on Tuesday they were prepared to go to 200 million euros — but PSG decided they would rather not sell, and risk losing the France forward for free at the end of the season.

“He is one of the best, one of the most important players in the world today and for him to be with us is a gift,” said PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino at the weekend.

Rejecting the money is an extraordinary decision from a club who are hardly immune to the economic impact of the pandemic, with losses of 124.9 million euros in the curtailed 2019/20 campaign likely to be dwarfed when the accounts for last season are filed.

Mbappe will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with Real, or anyone else, in January, and PSG will not be entitled to any fee.

Yet the Qataris have already shown that money is no object with their past purchases of Mbappe and of Neymar, for a world-record 222 million euros, in 2017.

When Messi became available a month ago, they pounced without worrying about the impact his salary might have on their finances.

– ‘Dangerous’ –

Now they will keep Mbappe to complete a dream attacking line-up they hope will deliver a first Champions League for PSG and all the prestige that brings in the year Qatar hosts the World Cup.

The French giants also added Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Achraf Hakimi in a remarkable recruitment drive.

On Tuesday they added Portuguese international Nuno Mendes on loan from Sporting Lisbon.

Their rivals among Europe’s traditional elite cry foul but for now PSG cannot be stopped.

“State-owned clubs are as dangerous for football’s ecosystem as the Super League was,” tweeted La Liga president Javier Tebas.

“Covid losses of more than 300m, TV revenue in France down 40 percent, and yet more than 500m in salaries? Unsustainable.”

Financial Fair Play rules have been relaxed to help clubs absorb losses incurred during the pandemic. PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi wields enormous influence with his seat on the UEFA Executive Committee and his role as president of the European Club Association.

“We always follow the FFP regulations from day one that we started,” Khelaifi said when asked about his club’s financial position on the day Messi was unveiled.

Whether Mbappe extends his contract or leaves for free remains to be seen, but judging by his demeanour in scoring twice against Reims last weekend, he seems happy in Paris for now.

Real, meanwhile, made their intentions clear. Their focus now must be on securing his signature for next season, by which time Karim Benzema will be 34, and Luka Modric will be nearly 37.

– Barcelona in dire straits –

In the meantime the arrival of Mbappe’s compatriot Eduardo Camavinga is an exciting one for Madrid fans.

Camavinga, like Mbappe, was in the final year of his contract at Rennes but Real paid a reported 31 million euros, plus nine million more in bonuses, for the 18-year-old midfielder.

Having signed a six-year deal, he must be given time to fulfil his enormous potential.

Real at least look in far better shape than their great rivals Barcelona, who were forced to let go of Messi as they drown in debts of over one billion euros.

Their only signings this summer have been free agents in Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero.

On Tuesday they were holding a fire sale of young players –- Emerson Royal to Tottenham Hotspur, Ilaix Moriba to Barcelona — in a desperate attempt to raise funds.

And then it emerged they were prepared to allow Antoine Griezmann, who they needed to offload in order to keep Messi but couldn’t, to return to Atletico Madrid on loan.

In comparison, Real missing out on Mbappe, if just for a year, looks like no big deal.

But PSG have won this transfer window, and can now target the Champions League.

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New boss Flick to ‘win back hearts’ as Germany reboot

Berlin (AFP) – New head coach Hansi Flick has been tasked with winning back disgruntled Germany fans as he makes his mark on the squad for their World Cup qualifiers.

Flick inherits a team which has plummmeted down the rankings to 16th since crashing out early at the 2018 World Cup and struggled with inconsistent results over the last three years.

After defeat to England in the last 16 of Euro 2020, Joachim Loew stepped down after 15 years in charge and Flick, his assistant coach when Germany won the 2014 World Cup, is now in charge.

Flick’s first three games are World Cup qualifiers away to minnows Liechtenstein on Thursday, then hosting Group J leaders Armenia in Stuttgart on Sunday, before playing Iceland away three days later. 

He has been given clear instructions to win back supporters disgruntled by Loew’s failure to turn results around since the World Cup debacle, highlighted by a 6-0 trashing in Spain last November.

“We want to win hearts again, come across as likeable and play successful, dynamic, attractive football,” said Oliver Bierhoff, Germany’s team director.

“During the European Championship, criticism came up again that we seemed a bit passionless. We want to change that.”

Bierhoff said Flick is the right man for the job, because he “understands how to implement his goals, without scaring people away, but brings them along in a unifying way with a clear line”. 

In training this week in Stuttgart, Flick has started implementing changes during two daily sessions.

A shock home defeat to North Macedonia last March means Germany are third in their qualifying group, two points behind leaders Armenia.

“We’re a little under pressure,” admitted Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

“We want to win all three games, that has to be our yardstick.

“We look forward to going into the games with a new approach.”

Flick’s philosophy involves pressing high up the field and quick counter attacks, like he prefered in two seasons at Bayern Munich, who he steered to a treble of titles in 2019/20.

“Hansi has started teaching us his playing philosophy. It will take a while, but the philosophy suits us,” said Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus, back in the squad after sitting out Euro 2020.

Flick is also expected to change Germany’s defence, reverting to a back four defence after the they struggled to get to grip with three central defenders.

Manuel Neuer is expected to captain the side on Thursday despite missing training on Monday and Tuesday to rest an ankle knock.

Flick has said he can “well imagine” using Chelsea forward Kai Havertz as a central striker, while Gundogan, 30, used in the defensive midfield at Euro 2020, can expect a more attacking role, like he has at City.

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Antoine Griezmann rejoins Atletico Madrid from Barcelona

Madrid (AFP) – France forward Antoine Griezmann has made a shock deadline-day return to Atletico Madrid, just two years after leaving to join Barcelona, the clubs announced on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old, who scored 133 goals in his first spell with Atletico, has rejoined on a one-year loan deal with an option to extend by another year, Atletico said.

“Welcome back, Griezmann!” the club wrote on its website.

Barcelona have been struggling financially and had to allow six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi to leave for Paris Saint-Germain last month.

Griezmann was one of their highest earners since signing in 2019 for 120 million euros.

The Catalan club confirmed his departure, saying Atletico “will pay the player’s wages”, confirming that the deal includes a compulsory permanent transfer clause when his loan finishes. 

Neither club disclosed the obligation-to-buy fee but it was reportedly set at 40 million euros ($47.2 million).

“FC Barcelona would like to thank Antoine Griezmann for his commitment and dedication and wishes him all the best for the future,” it said in a statement.

Griezmann joins Luis Suarez, who left Barca for Atletico 12 months ago, at the reigning La Liga champions.

Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona are reportedly set to sign Sevilla striker Luuk de Jong as Griezmann’s replacement.

Spain’s La Liga confirmed on Twitter that both transfers were “submitted on time” with no extensions given.

De Jong has scored just 10 league goals in two seasons in Spain.

Griezmann’s only major trophy with Atletico was the 2018 Europa League, having signed for Diego Simeone’s men from Real Sociedad shortly after their surprise 2014 league title triumph.

He won the Copa del Rey with Barca last term, scoring the opening goal in the final against Athletic Bilbao.

But Griezmann’s stay at the Camp Nou was largely underwhelming, with the 2018 World Cup winner netting just 22 times in 74 league matches for the Catalan giants.

– Barcelona clear-out –

Griezmann’s exit was not expected, though, after he had started Barcelona’s first three games of the new season.

The move is just the latest big-name transfer of the summer, after Messi’s switch and Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United from Juventus.

But Kylian Mbappe’s widely expected dream move to Real Madrid from PSG failed to materialise on Tuesday.

Griezmann, who finalised his transfer while on international duty preparing for France’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, was part of a clear-out by Barca on deadline day.

They also allowed defender Emerson Royal to leave for Tottenham and teenage midfielder Ilaix Moriba joined RB Leipzig.

Earlier this month, Barca president Joan Laporta revealed that Barcelona’s debts stand at 1.35 billion euros ($1.58 billion) and that their wage bill is at least 25 percent higher than their competitors at 617 million euros.

The five-time European champions have not won the Champions League since 2015, when they were inspired by a front three of Messi, Neymar and Suarez, and failed to get past the quarter-finals in either of Griezmann’s two campaigns.

Barca were thumped 8-2 in the last eight by Bayern Munich in 2020 before a 4-1 first-leg loss at home to PSG earlier this year as they went out 5-2 on aggregate in the last 16.

They had to settle for second in La Liga, five points behind champions Real Madrid, in Griezmann’s first season before stumbling to a third-placed finish last term.

Griezmann has scored 38 goals in 95 appearances for France, including once at Euro 2020 as the world champions were dumped out in the last 16 by Switzerland.

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Chelsea secure loan deal for Atletico’s Saul

London (AFP) – Chelsea secured the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez on a season-long loan deal on Tuesday to further strengthen Thomas Tuchel’s wealth of options.

The Spanish international has been a key player of Diego Simeone’s reign at Atletico, but fell down the pecking order last season as Los Rojiblancos won La Liga.

“We have completed the signing of Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan deal with an option for a permanent transfer at the end of the season,” Chelsea said in a statement.

The 26-year-old had been linked with a move to Barcelona earlier in the window as a makeweight in a deal to bring Antoine Griezmann back to Atletico.

But with Griezmann reportedly heading to the Wanda Metropolitano on loan, Saul has been allowed to leave for London to free up space on Atletico’s wage bill.

“I am very excited to start this new challenge with Chelsea,” said Saul. “Blues fans, I am one of you now and I can’t wait to wear the shirt, start training and see all of you.”

Saul has scored 43 goals in 340 Atletico appearances, including the one that beat Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals in 2016 as Simeone’s men reached the final for a second time in two years.

His goalscoring prowess adds an extra dimension to Chelsea’s midfield with goals from open play few and far between from the establised trio of Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante.

“We welcome Saul to the Club and believe he completes our squad as we compete for honours in five different competitions this season,” said Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.

“He is a proven winner, a player with huge experience and we know he will be very well-suited to the challenges that face us on all fronts in the coming year.”

The Blues won the Champions League just five months into Tuchel’s reign as coach last season and are expected to challenge to retain that title and win the Premier League this season.

Saul is Chelsea’s second signing of the summer after spending a club record £97.5 million ($134 million) to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan.

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