Tag: Kylian Mbappé

Takeaways: The problem with Kylian Mbappe, Man City more dangerous, the Thiago Motta touch
20Aug By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Champions League, Features

Takeaways: The problem with Kylian Mbappe, Man City more dangerous, the Thiago Motta touch

Should Real Madrid be worried about Kylian Mbappe? Are Manchester City even better in 2024/25? And what has Thiago Motta already brought to the table for disappointments Juventus? Here are three takeaways from around the Champions League after the first Matchday of the 2024/25 LaLiga, Premier League, and Serie A seasons. The Thiago Motta touch Juventus finished third in Serie A last season, but that was honestly far from an accomplishment because the Bianconeri were 20 points behind bitter rivals Inter Milan in a title race that they were never truly in. Thus, Juve found an excuse to can Max Allegri and were able to replace him with the "It" coach in Italian football, Thiago Motta, who was agonizingly close to leading Bologna to a historic Champions League qualification. Motta p...
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Euro 2024 Takeaways: You already knew about Ollie Watkins, Kylian Mbappe’s hunger, farewell to Cody Gakpo
10Jul By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Features

Euro 2024 Takeaways: You already knew about Ollie Watkins, Kylian Mbappe’s hunger, farewell to Cody Gakpo

Here are the biggest takeaways after the Euro 2024 semifinals in which Spain defeated France 2-1 and England took down the Netherlands 2-1. Ollie Watkins was always this good With a bit of individual brilliance and a perfectly-tucked finish into the far corner, Ollie Watkins wrote his name in the history books by firing England back into a European Championship Final with a 90th-minute winner against the Netherlands. After Jude Bellingham unforgettably played the role of the hero with his late bicycle kick against Slovakia, it was now a more underrated player's turn to prove the Three Lions' proverbial "clutch gene" in the semis. Watkins didn't have the over-the-top Adidas commercial and wasn't hyped up as some sort of a savior or a Ballon d'Or candidate before the Euro 2024 tourna...
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Ranking the 5 best France national team players at Euro 2024
16Jun By Cody AcevedaNo Comments
Features

Ranking the 5 best France national team players at Euro 2024

England may be the favorites according to the Euro 2024 betting odds, but we all know France are the real main contenders. Les Bleus are two deep at almost every position.  That kind of depth plus genuine world class talent up front and a winning pedigree make France a team no one wants to play.  Here are the five best France national team players you should be watching at Euro 2024. 5. William Saliba Arsenal’s William Saliba was probably the best defender in Europe this season. The 23-year-old played every single minute for the Gunners in the Premier League this season.  He finished fifth in the league for touches and in the top ten for dribbler tackle percentage and pass completion percentage. Only three center backs in the Premier League completed more passes into the opposit...
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Ranking the 10 best dribblers in world football right now in 2024
23Apr By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Champions League, Features

Ranking the 10 best dribblers in world football right now in 2024

Few player profiles captivating the world football audience's attention more than fleet-footed dribblers. Whether they are explosive progressors who eat up space before putting defenders on skates or playmakers who subtly weave their magic to carve up an entire defense, those superstars who can create something out of nothing but their own genius and athletic ability are more coveted an anyone. That holds true for managers, too. Pep Guardiola has become infatuated with elite dribblers, and a couple of these recent additions will show up on this list of the best dribblers in world football today. Other managers feel the same, as Carlo Ancelotti, for example, has always had a soft spot for flair dribblers like current superstars Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior. (Spoiler: They will sho...
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2024 Ballon d’Or Rankings after Jude Bellingham saves El Clasico again
21Apr By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Champions League, Features

2024 Ballon d’Or Rankings after Jude Bellingham saves El Clasico again

With the heated Premier League title race coming to its concluding stretch and the Champions League semifinals set to get underway, the 2023/24 season is about to reach its peak conclusion, with plenty of intrigue remaining despite most of Europe's other top five leagues settling results. The 2024 Ballon d'Or rankings are now increasingly on the minds of fans, with supporters from all over the globe debating the merits of their superstar players and how they all stack up against each other. For example, how do the young stars of Xabi Alonso's historic Bayer Leverkusen side stack up against the elite superstars of the Premier League? Will a Real Madrid or Barcelona player take home the Ballon d'Or again? Here are the latest rankings after Jude Bellingham, the man of the hour, fired...
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Where Does Vinícius Júnior Rank Among The Best Footballers In The World Right Now?
17Mar By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

Where Does Vinícius Júnior Rank Among The Best Footballers In The World Right Now?

Vinícius Júnior is putting together another sensational season for LaLiga leaders Real Madrid, overcoming injury issues to start the campaign. The 2021/22 Champions League hero is one of the most effective and electrifying wingers in the world, and he is still banging home the goals in a more central role since Karim Benzema's departure to Saudi Arabia. But just how good is Vini Jr.? And where does the Brazilian superstar rank among the world's best footballers today? Here is where he stands in the top 10. 10. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, LW, Napoli What makes Khvicha Kvaratskhelia so good Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inspired Napoli to their first Serie A title since the heyday of Diego Armando Maradona, and he did it in his first season in a top-flight league, running away with MVP honors in...
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Real Madrid Transfers: PSG are already waving goodbye to Kylian Mbappé
10Mar By Parshva ShahNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

Real Madrid Transfers: PSG are already waving goodbye to Kylian Mbappé

We are set for a big transfer window in the upcoming summer as there are already huge developments as we head toward the conclusion of the ongoing campaign. Kylian Mbappé is set to call an end to his seven-year chapter at Paris Saint-Germain, the player deciding to leave the French capital as a free agent this summer. It has become somewhat of a foregone conclusion as to where Mbappé will play come the 2024-25 season, and all (not most) signs point towards Real Madrid. In February 2024, Mbappé communicated his decision to not trigger an extension in his contract to PSG chief Nasser al-Khelaifi and everyone else that matters at the club, according to a report from The Athletic's David Ornstein. The Parisian outfit have already started to prepare for life without their biggest pl...
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5 possible transfer targets for Real Madrid at striker
25Nov By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

5 possible transfer targets for Real Madrid at striker

Although Real Madrid lost Karim Benzema in the summer 2023 transfer window - one year earlier than they expected - the Merengue club elected against opening up their pocketbooks to sign an elite striker option to replace the Frenchman. Instead, Los Blancos acquired LaLiga veteran Joselu on loan from Espanyol following their relegation, deciding to use new midfield signing Jude Bellingham in an attacking role behind a two-forward setup of Rodrygo Goes and Vinícius Júnior. So far, it's actually been defensive issues holding back Madrid rather than attacking woes, even if the presence of a true anchor point at the 9 is missing. It would make sense for Real Madrid to show interest in a 9 this coming summer if the right opportunity did pop up, as incoming signing Endrick is still only ...
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Latest Real Madrid Transfer Rumors and News for 2024 windows
10Nov By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

Latest Real Madrid Transfer Rumors and News for 2024 windows

Bookmark this page and check back for the latest Real Madrid transfer rumors and news for the 2024 windows. We only reference reliable sources covering the club, and each news item has a section with additional analysis to help contextualize the importance or relevance of the rumor. Real Madrid pretending not to want Mbappé? Details Cadena SER's Jesús Gallego recently reported that Real Madrid are no longer interested in Kylian Mbappé, stating three reasons. Firstly, that his wages would be too expensive in conjunction with a bonus fee for a free transfer. Secondly, that at almost 26 years old on arrival, he would no longer be a signing for the future like Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga were. And thirdly, many Madridistas turned on Mbappé after the events i...
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Ranking the 10 best forwards in men’s football right now in 2023
29Jun By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Features

Ranking the 10 best forwards in men’s football right now in 2023

No players are more coveted in world football than the forwards who score the goals, take the defense on, and create the chances that win matches. Every elite club needs an elite forward - and really two - in order to compete at the highest level and truly be an elite team at the Champions League level. So let's take a look at the 10 best forwards in the game, focusing on strikers and wingers whose primary job is to score the goals and create the assists that win their teams' matches. Many of these players are strikers and inverted wingers, because those are the positions that make the biggest difference on the score line in the modern game. 10. Christopher Nkunku Christopher Nkunku will head to Chelsea for the 2023/24 season after being the best Bundesliga player over the last three ...
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