The transfer window for all of Europe’s big five leagues is closed, but that doesn’t stop Transfer Talk from rummaging around about who will be moving where come January.
Malcom already an outsider at Barca
In a cautionary tale regarding rash last-minute decisions, it seems that Malcom is already out of favour — or perhaps never was in favour to begin with — at the Camp Nou. RAC1 suggests Barca boss Ernesto Valverde never wanted to buy the Brazilian in the first place and “does not know where to play and when to play him.”
It’s a bizarre turn of events for Malcom, who famously snubbed Roma for a last-minute move to Barcelona in the summer, after scoring 12 Ligue 1 goals for Bordeaux last season only to find himself struggling to find game time in his new home.
The 21-year-old, who had a short run-out in Barca’s 2-1 loss to Leganes in midweek, isn’t even named in the squad to face Athletic Bilbao on Saturday and has many wondering just why the club forked out €41 million to steal him away from Roma in the first place.
A spot in Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma side might be looking pretty sweet right about now.
Juve drop out of Godin chase
Calciomercato.com is reporting that Juventus’ lingering summer interest in Atletico Madrid’s Diego Godin seems to have finally cooled to a simmer.
Both Manchester United and Juventus were summer suitors until Godin signed a one-year extension to stay at the Wanda Metropolitano to help a revitalised Atleti battle Real Madrid and Barcelona for a La Liga crown and to “finally win a Champions League at the third time of trying.”
However, an unlikely turn of events at Atleti could further cloud Godin’s future and see him leave the club as 22-year-old Lucas Hernandez is pushing the Uruguay international for his centre-back spot alongside countryman Jose Maria Gimenez.
Boca Juniors eye Peru goalkeeper Gallese
Boca Juniors are weighing a move for Veracruz goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, according to Argentina radio show “Jogo Bonito.”
Gallese said his agent told him that the Argentina club are interested in bringing him aboard for Copa Libertadores action.
The Peru international, who was a reserve for La Blanquirroja at the World Cup, has started eight Liga MX matches for Veracruz, who sit at the bottom of the Mexican top-flight table.
Tap Ins
– Juventus is on alert for Adrien Rabiot as the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is set to reject Barcelona, according to Calciomercato, citing a Mundo Deportivo report. Rabiot’s contract with PSG ends in 2019, and he had been reportedly linked to a move to the La Liga giants.
- Flamengo sacked coach Mauricio Barbieri two days after their exit against Corinthians in the Copa do Brazil semifinals. Barbieri, who was elevated to the job after Paulo Cesar Carpegiani was axed mid-year, was replaced for the final 12 games of the league season by former Santos coach Dorival Junior, who becomes the club’s 40th new appointment since 2001.
– Benjamin Mendy is facing an uncertain future at Manchester City after angering Pep Guardiola with his attitude on and off the pitch this season — the latest incident seeing the player report for treatment last Sunday three hours late.
– Chelsea won the summer race for Jorginho’s signature over Manchester City because of Maurizio Sarri’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, the midfielder told ESPN Brasil.