Atlanta United is doing everything right. From hiring a new coach who has made astute signings to building a beautiful new stadium and filling said stadium up with raucous fans, the Five Stripes have hit the ground running as a model for future expansion franchises to follow. That continued on Friday with the reported record signing of 18-year-old Argentine Ezequiel Barco.
According to the latest reports, Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune and FC Barcelona have finally agreed to terms on the transfer of 33-year-old Argentinian defender Javier Mascherano, bringing a close to seven-and-a-half illustrious seasons at the Camp Nou.
Everyone knows there is only one way to accurately predict where a footballer will transfer during the silly season: Instagram. Specifically, footballers will give their intentions away via likes and follows.
Let's look at an example. Soon-to-be out-of-contract Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka is a hot commodity right now, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Arsenal competing for his signature. Earlier this month, it was reported that he would sign for Bayern Munich. However, Instagram tells a different story.
After scoring 226 goals in a sensational eighty-year stint with Arsenal from 1999 to 2007, Thierry Henry’s sale to Barcelona was seemingly the end of the Frenchman’s legendary time with the Gunners. Five years later, after a period with Barcelona and currently on the books with Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls, Henry romantically returned to his beloved club on a two-month loan deal.
Philippe Coutinho is finally a Barcelona player after months of speculation, two dubious injuries during transfer windows and several rejected bids from Barcelona. No secret was made of the Brazilian international's desire to move from Liverpool to Barcelona, but few could have foreseen Coutinho's desire being so desirous that he reportedly paid out of his own pocket to help finance the deal, one of the most lucrative in history.
Philippe Coutinho’s official presentation as a Barcelona player took place at the Camp Nou today with the world’s second-most expensive footballer of all-time going through the usual rigamarole, only with the price tag of $192.7 million attached to him.
Liverpool has finally sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona. Initial numbers suggest Coutinho will net the Reds in the neighborhood of $192.7 million, a decent chunk of change for Jurgen Klopp to spend on a replacement or six. So let’s go ahead and start the totally unfounded Christian Pulisic to Liverpool speculation.
After months of speculation, Philippe Coutinho is moving to Barcelona. According to reports, the midfield maestro and pocket cannon will leave Liverpool for a reported $192.7 million. The Coutinho transfer fee ranks second all-time on the list of most expensive transfers in world football.
Nigel de Jong, a former Dutch international whose most famous moment on a football pitch was when he kicked Xabi Alonso in the chest in the 2010 World Cup final and somehow didn't get sent off, has officially moved from Galatasaray in Turkey to Mainz in Germany.