Man City a solid bet for FIFA Club World Cup Final
Brad Thomas breaks down the FIFA Club World Cup, discussing why he likes Manchester City to make the final as a "chalky bet."
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Yahoo
23 minutes ago
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Fabrizio Romano Confirms Florian Wirtz to Liverpool is ‘100% Done'
Liverpool Beat Rivals to Sign Florian Wirtz in Stunning Transfer Coup Liverpool have pulled off a sensational coup in the transfer market, with the signing of Florian Wirtz now '100% done,' according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Bayer Leverkusen star, widely regarded as one of the brightest attacking midfielders in Europe, has chosen Anfield as his next destination, turning down strong interest from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City. Advertisement Romano confirmed on Tuesday that 'Liverpool verbally agree deal in principle with Bayer Leverkusen for package reaching €150m add-ons included,' adding that the 'player side already agreed two weeks ago with move now imminent' and that 'Wirtz set for medical and contract signing.' The 22-year-old German international, currently on holiday, is expected to complete his move following a medical once the transfer window reopens on 16 June. This delay is due to FIFA Club World Cup regulations. Behind the Deal: Slot's Role and Player Decision This wasn't a transfer engineered overnight. Initial speculation linked Wirtz with Manchester City, especially after he was spotted in England with his parents, who also serve as his representatives. However, those assumptions were quickly flipped on their head. German reports suggested that the Wirtz entourage travelled not to Manchester, but to Merseyside. Advertisement Arne Slot, fresh off a Premier League-winning debut campaign, is believed to have played a pivotal role in securing the player's decision. During his UK visit, Wirtz reportedly held a direct conversation with the Liverpool manager. That meeting appears to have been decisive. The report explains that 'a conversation with the Liverpool boss convinced him to choose a move to Anfield over going to Bayern Munich.' Slot's project, vision and playing style are said to have swayed the attacking midfielder, who has long been touted as the spiritual successor to Mesut Özil in the German national team setup. Photo: IMAGO Mixed Reports but Deal Remains on Track Despite Romano's strong declarations, some sources remain slightly more cautious. A contradictory update came from another senior journalist, who stated there was 'no agreement yet' between the clubs. However, even that statement confirmed that Liverpool and Leverkusen were in the 'final stages' of negotiations. Advertisement Romano doubled down on his position, clarifying that 'I told you two days ago (Tuesday) that the agreement is done. I can confirm that the agreement is done. You can consider Wirtz as a Liverpool player.' The delay in any official confirmation is, according to Romano, entirely due to Wirtz being on holiday. Once he returns, the medical and contract signing are set to follow swiftly. Photo: IMAGO Strategic Timing Ahead of Window Opening With the summer transfer window closed until 16 June, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen have time to finalise the structure of the deal, which is said to be complex due to the size of the package involved. Advertisement This breathing room could prove beneficial, as clubs look to iron out technicalities and payment schedules before the move is rubber-stamped. The final valuation, reportedly reaching €150 million including add-ons, represents a record-breaking commitment from Liverpool. But if Wirtz can translate his Bundesliga brilliance to the Premier League, it may well be a bargain in the long run. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis This is seismic. The sort of signing Liverpool fans used to dream about but rarely saw happen unless a star was being sold. To beat Bayern, Real Madrid and Man City to Florian Wirtz speaks volumes not just about Liverpool's pulling power, but also about the Slot effect. Arne Slot hasn't just won the league, he's clearly winning hearts and minds off the pitch too. Advertisement Wirtz is a generational talent. His ability to glide past players, his intelligence between the lines and his fearless creativity are exactly what this team needs to evolve again. While fans are rightly still emotional after the Klopp era, Slot seems to be building something both sustainable and exciting. There's a buzz growing. The thought of Wirtz linking up with Salah, Szoboszlai and Diaz in a fluid front four will have fans counting down the days until pre-season. The fee might be huge, but so was the statement. This is not a rebuild, it's a reload. Credit to Fabrizio Romano for staying consistent on this story. His updates have been the most confident throughout and, once again, he appears to have been proven right.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
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Real Madrid reassure ex-academy talent that they will do ‘everything' to sign him after Club World Cup
Real Madrid reassure ex-academy talent that they will do 'everything' to sign him after Club World Cup Xabi Alonso has arrived at Real Madrid with a clear plan and mental blueprint in place of how to take the team forward. Taking over after a season where the club failed to win any of the three major competitions, the pressure is on the manager to turn things around fast and he has thus wasted no time in communicating his requirements. Advertisement Two of his requested signings have been completed while the Franco Mastantuono deal is also all but complete. As relayed earlier today, however, the manager still has a list of three signings that he demands after the FIFA Club World Cup, and Alvaro Carreras is one of them. In constant contact Alonso sees Carreras to be an important cog in his plans for the season ahead and all signs point to the club accelerating his signing after the upcoming tournament. The initial idea was always to sign him before the Club World Cup, but Benfica's high asking price and tough negotiations complicated matters for Real Madrid. As relayed by MARCA, however, the club remain calm. Carreras' operation on hold for now. (Photo by) Advertisement The Merengues' representatives have even called Carreras to tell him that the club will do everything possible to sign him after the Club World Cup and to thus remain calm about his future. It has, after all, not been an easy set of weeks for the player who has been waiting for the call from Madrid confirming his move and immediate incorporation into the team. Instead, he is now playing the same event but for his current employers. From Manchester United's buyback clause to the clause in his contract that deemed the English club recipients of a bonus in case of a transfer, there have been numerous hurdles in Real Madrid's pursuit of Carreras. The hope, however, is that the steam will cool down after the Club World Cup and that a solution can be worked out. Real Madrid do not have plans for any alternatives and are fully focused on landing Carreras. But everything will have to wait until next month.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Victor Cruz offers bold prediction for 2025 New York Giants
Victor Cruz offers bold prediction for 2025 New York Giants Once a Giant, always a Giant. Former New York Giants Pro Bowl wide receiver Victor Cruz' playing career ended some time ago but he's never too far from the team he once energized and led to a Super Bowl championship. Cruz is always down for some Giants talk and did so with reporters in Jersey City on Thursday at an event to promote the FIFA Club World Cup events, which will take place at MetLife Stadium over the next month. Cruz is optimistic about the Giants' chances this season and likes the makeup of the roster heading into training camp. "I think we have a good team. I think for the first time, [head coach Brian Daboll] has a team in a draft that you could feel he wrapped his arms around," Cruz said, per the New York Post. "These are his guys, and we'll see how he develops them and get them ready to play." Cruz believes the Giants will be above .500 this year and likes the idea of first-round pick Jaxson Dart learning behind two established pros in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Cruz mentioned that Wilson was a "pro's pro" and that Winston's reputation as a "gunslinger" would aid in the development of Dart. 'I think Jaxson could learn some from both of those things,' Cruz said Cruz was one of the many Giants legends who visited the team's facility this spring to impart his wisdom and experience to the current team.
