The European Club Soccer Off-Season Thread

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Locke

Thats crazy, 7M would be an unreal steal for a player like Gomez. Last season he was one of the top 5 strikers in the world.

Spurs would be insane not to get him for that, to hell with his wages.

I think 7M isn't happening but I think Levy has to pull the trigger if he can be had for anything under 20M.

[cam_wmh]

If word is out he's available for 7m, his price will quickly escalate into an auction.
I'd hazard at least a dozen clubs would be keen at the 15-20 range.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

If word is out he's available for 7m, his price will quickly escalate into an auction.
I'd hazard at least a dozen clubs would be keen at the 15-20 range.

Absolutely.

[Locke]

Apparently Pep is brushing up on his German.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Locke

Apparently Pep is brushing up on his German.

Was this post stuck in your outbox since Christmas?

[d_phaneuf]

Gomez is going to Italy I think, don't see Spurs as likely at all for him

Although the Bernard news is picking up steam, which would be great, supposedly thought of higher than Oscar in Brazil

[PIMking]

I really hope Gomez doesn't leave but that doesn't seem possible anymore

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Was this post stuck in your outbox since Christmas?

No.

Incoming Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has been working like "a madman" ahead of his first press conference at the club on June 24.

"It's absurd. You meet him for lunch and that guy is talking German with his teacher all the time," Pere said.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...rrival?cc=5901

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Gomez is going to Italy I think, don't see Spurs as likely at all for him

Although the Bernard news is picking up steam, which would be great, supposedly thought of higher than Oscar in Brazil

Yeah I saw that as well. I still think Levy takes a shot at Gomez. Supposedly the PL is his first choice, all things being equal.

[Locke]

Sneijder is for sale again. This guy has just lost his form. He used to be one of the best midfielders in the world, but its like hes just lost it.

It might be because hes distracted by the mountains and mountains of money that hes paid...

“If an offer in the region of €15 million (£12.75 million) comes in, we might decide to sell him though.”

Meanwhile, after losing the captaincy of the Netherlands to Manchester United’s Robin van Persie, Sneijder is intent on recapturing the form that saw him help Oranje to the 2010 World Cup final.

He told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “It was a pretty painful announcement. Not just because I never saw this coming, but also because I have always given my all in the role as captain.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...r-sale?cc=5901

[rubecube]

This should put the "Gomez for 7M" crap to rest. Bleacher Report continues to set the bar incredibly low for themselves.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...-price?cc=5901

According to media reports, Fiorentina have already offered €20 million for the Germany international, but will need to improve their offer to match Bayern’s €25 million asking price.

[Locke]

That sounds more likely. Bayern paid a ton for him in the first place and hes still a World Class striker.

If I didnt so wholeheartedly know that hes the exact opposite of a 'Brendan Rodgers' style player and that Liverpool have little to no money, I'd love it if he came to Liverpool. He would have fit in perfectly at Liverpool several years ago, but not anymore.

[Barnet Flame]

I went to Liverpool and all I got was this crappy shirt.

[d_phaneuf]

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...feedly&cc=5901

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says his club would not hesitate to spend £85 million on Tottenham star Gareth Bale.

"we don’t speak of Bale so much because he plays at a friendly club to us and they will be annoyed if we speak. I know their chairman well and he doesn’t like these things."

11 days ago

“He would be a good signing for the club,” he said. “Bale is one of the best players in the world and at Real Madrid we always have the best. I am convinced that if the club want him he would be a great signing. Bale was born to play in Madrid.”

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

I went to Liverpool and all I got was this crappy shirt.

You'll never walk ....... outside.

[Locke]

Leo Messi and his father are reportedly being sued by the Spanish tax authorities for millions of euros in unpaid taxes related to the Barcelona player's image rights.

The paper reports the amount owed as €13 million, though other media has the figure being sought by the authorities as €4 million.

The paper quotes its source as saying the alleged tax dodge "consisted of simulating the assignment of image rights to front companies based in tax havens [Belize, Uruguay] and, at the same time, formalising contracts of licensing, agency or benefit from services between these companies, and other such instruments domiciled in convenient jurisdictions [the UK, Switzerland]. This was done with the intended and successful aim that the incomes would move from countries where the companies or entities were based, to companies domiciled in tax havens, without being submitted to any taxation and, furthermore, with total opacity towards the Spanish Tax Authorities. The beneficiary of these incomes was no other than the person served - Lionel A. Messi."

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...plaint?cc=5901

[polak]

So one endorsement deal for him?

Maybe the Spanish authorities could go after the stupid ass ATMs in Barcelona that stole $600 from me.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by polak

So one endorsement deal for him?

Maybe the Spanish authorities could go after the stupid ass ATMs in Barcelona that stole $600 from me.

You were in Europe?

[Locke]

The ex-President of Barcelona says that Messi pays his taxes....sort of.

BARCELONA, Spain -- Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta defended Lionel Messi against allegations of tax fraud on Thursday, a case that experts say could carry a prison sentence for the Argentina star.

"I am convinced that neither Leo nor his father have committed any infraction," Laporta told Cope radio. "The situation could be that they don't have any responsibility in these events. There can be third parties who are responsible.

"I know them and they have always wanted to act within the law, and that's how they acted with the club, at least when I was president."

Laporta said that Messi and his family lacked the financial know-how necessary to have set up the network of shell companies and tax havens in countries including Belize and Uruguay described in the prosecutor's complaint.

"They were always careful, let's say even wary, when faced with these situations that were over their heads because they didn't have the knowledge of a lawyer or a tax expert, and so they went out and got advisers," he said.

"(The law) is the same for everyone," he said. "Even for the No. 1."

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...-taxes?cc=5901

Hes not going to go to jail, but hes probably going to have to pay the money. The King of Spain's son-in-law cant get away with this so I doubt Messi can.

That said, what struck me from Laporta's comments is how vague and non-committal they were:

- He is convinced
- The situation could be...
- There may be third parties...
- They have always acted within the law to Barcelona w/ caveat
- They were always wary

The big thing is that Spain needs the tax money, I think they have to pay it back to England via the EU! Haha!

[d_phaneuf]

3rd kit