Fake sick notes, lying wives, tantrums, intimidation and massive paydays: Exposed - the murky world of footballers trying to force a move, why clubs are powerless and how to spot a 'transfer terrorist'
Optimism fills the air - with one exception. Within the ranks of suntanned and toned players is what, within football, is known as a 'transfer terrorist'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Welcome to Chelsea, finally! Brazilian wonderkid Estevao arrives ONE YEAR on from signing for the west London side - and after scoring against the Blues at the Club World Cup
Chelsea announced the long-awaited transfer of Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian - one year on from signing the former Palmeiras starlet. The Blues have enjoyed another prolific summer in the transfer market, with attacking signings Joao Pedro and Liam Delap showing immediate promise as part of the squad's triumphant Club World Cup run. Enzo Maresca 's side have since added players including Borussia Dortmund 's Jamie Gittens and talented Ajax defender Jorrel Hato to their ranks ahead of the start of the Premier League season. But as the west London side continue to manage incomings and outgoings in the window, Estevao's arrival at Cobham stands out, with Chelsea having snapped up the winger for £28million in June 2024. Estevao's deal such that he continued the 2024-25 season with his Brazilian side, even meeting his new club in last month's Club World Cup - and scoring against them in the 2-1 defeat in the quarter finals - waiting to join Chelsea until he turned 18. But Blues fans finally had the chance to see their new player in club colours on Tuesday afternoon, with the team finally announcing their latest signing in a post which posed the teenager as a life-size figurine. As fans flocked to social media to share their delight in the news, Estevao himself was brimming with excitement in a brief interview shared with the club's website. 'I am very happy, it feels very rewarding to represent Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world,' Estevao said. 'I am very happy and I hope to help the team in the best way possible. 'I had almost a year and a half to wait until I arrived here. But it has been a year and a half that I have worked hard and have done my best to get here in the best shape possible. 'I am very, very excited. It is a new experience in my life, a new stage. I am looking forward to it and hope that it will go as well as possible.' Estevao previously spoke to some of his Chelsea team-mates in the wake of Palmeiras' defeat, through his compatriot-turned-translator, fellow new signing Dario Essugo. Essugo helped decipher Cole Palmer's request that Estevao spend some time with team-mates to-be after their victory, but the 18-year-old explained later that he had politely declined. 'I had to ask Essugo what Cole had said to me,' said Estevao. 'He laughed a bit before translating, telling me "Cole said he's excited for you and want you to come with us after the game".' 'I wanted to stay some more time with my team pals,' he added. 'I came here with them. And I should go back to Brazil with them. My heart is broken because only we know how hard we worked. 'But I leave with pride. And I am happy to have a giant club as Chelsea opening its doors to me. 'I just wanted to show my new fans in England who I am. That it is all. I hope to learn. I am sure I come to London to evolve, and to make history there too.' Palmer made a point of embracing Estevao and swapping shirts with him after the final whistle, despite the language barrier. 'I told Estevao we are excited for you to join but he didn't understand a single word I said,' Palmer said. Maresca was certainly impressed by his new recruit's performance, noting after the final whistle that his 'huge talent' was undeniable. 'The only thing now is when you come from South America or another part of the world to Europe, you need to adapt,' Maresca added. 'We are going to help him to adapt, and first of all to enjoy football.' Chelsea supporters that Estevao lives up to his seismic hype, with the club having fought off advances from Barcelona, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain in the race to land his signature. Nicknamed 'Messinho' early on in his career, Estevao has most frequently earned comparisons to Neymar Jnr, who has described him as a 'genius'. Last year, Estevao became the youngest player in history to be named ESPN Brazil's Player of the Year, and he has since joined up with the national team, making five appearances for the Selecao.
The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Martin's changes pay off as Gassama double eases Rangers past Viktoria Plzen
Russell Martin's bold team selection paid off as Rangers battered Viktoria Plzen 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie at Ibrox. Martin hit out at some of his squad following their deflating 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Saturday, questioning mentality, egos and application, and the captain James Tavernier and the midfielder Nicolas Raskin were the biggest names among the expected changes. Martin got the required reaction as the winger Djeidi Gassama scored after 15 minutes before the returning striker Cyriel Dessers added a second from the spot just before the interval. Gassama, signed this summer from Sheffield Wednesday, scored a third in the 51st minute to put the Govan side into a commanding lead and eventually a comfortable win. Rangers will be heavy favourites to progress to a playoff tie against Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium. After pointing the finger at his under performers at the weekend, all eyes were on Martin's team selection and he made significant changes. Along with Tavernier and Raskin – arguably their best player last season – Danilo and Kieran Dowell were left out. New signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, made his debut with left-back Jefté, midfielder Lyall Cameron and Dessers returning while John Souttar was named captain. The Ibrox crowd was more subdued than usual on a big European night, initially. In the seventh minute Plzen's lofty striker Rafiu Durosinmi headed a cross from Amar Memic past the post but it was Gassama who struck first, playing a one-two with Dessers at the edge of the visitors' box before confidently curling the ball past the goalkeeper Florian Wiegele. After the Rangers defender Nasser Djiga brilliantly blocked a goal-bound shot from the visiting captain Matej Vydra, Antman's drive from a Gassama cut-back at the other end was cleared off the line by Vaclav Jemelka. Bizarrely Raskin, warming up on the sidelines, was booked by the French referee Clément Turpin for apparently trying to interfere at a Plzen throw-in as the Czech side began to exert some pressure. However, when a driving run into the box by Antman ended with him being barged over by Vydra, Turpin pointed to the spot for a soft penalty and Dessers sent Wiegele the wrong way. Rangers started the second half strongly and within three minutes the midfielder Mohamed Diomande struck the bar with an effort from the edge of the box. However, the third soon arrived as Gassama grabbed his second when he bulleted in a header from a pinpoint Antman cross from the right to score his fourth goal in the last three European matches. Raskin, Danilo, and Tavernier all came off the bench when the job was done before the home keeper Jack Butland made a good save from a powerful drive from Memic.
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Cameron blocks out the noise to show his worth as Rangers' new boys inch club closer to the promised land
Lyall Cameron would have been well advised to stay off social media over the past couple of days given some of the pelters that have been coming his way courtesy of the keyboard warriors. It's safe to say the young midfielder hasn't endeared himself to fans of his former employers with his comments on how he's finding life having made the move up from a 'smaller club' like Dundee. Sure, he could have perhaps been a touch more careful in his choice of words, but that wasn't enough to let him off the hook in the eyes of some. Best stay out of the City of Discovery for a while, Lyall. The good news for the 22-year-old is that he looks right at home in Glasgow. He was one of a handful to get any sort of praise from manager Russell Martin following Saturday's dismal collective display against Motherwell. Considering he is the only one of nine new summer arrivals not to have been brought in by the new boss, he's certainly made an impression. Thrown in for his first start for the club on a huge European night in front of an expectant Ibrox crowd, he didn't look the least bit out of place. At the weekend, it was his attitude which caught Martin's eye. His determination to run himself into the ground for his team-mates. All of that was on full show once again here, but he offered far more than hard yards. More often that not, he was the one linking the play. Any possible early nerves were soon set aside with a thumping tackle to win back possession. Time and time again, he found pockets of space between the lines. The visitors had no idea how to pick him up. On this evidence, the once undroppable Nico Raskin might have a problem getting back into the team. One delicious pass in behind midway through an excellent first half set Djeidi Gassama free. Oliver Antman was unfortunate to see his first-time effort blocked on the line. The Finnish new boy — signed on Monday from Dutch outfit Go Ahead Eagles — provided a much-needed spark on Rangers' right-hand side. It was he who won the penalty which doubled his side's advantage, nicking the ball back on the edge of his own area before playing a one-two with Gassama and ending up being hauled down just as he was about to pull the trigger. His delivery for Gassama to head home the third was inch-perfect. Early days, of course, but he couldn't have asked for a much better start to his Rangers career. The Ibrox side — with Antman and Gassama on the flanks — look, at long last, to have some pace about them. Goodness knows they've needed it. Having Cyriel Dessers alongside them helped. The much-maligned front man — the only player to have attracted any interest this summer, according to his manager — is a big improvement on Danilo. The Brazilian has contributed next to nothing in three starts so far this term. Dessers got a goal and an assist within the first half alone. Of course, he'll never be good enough for many Rangers supporters, despite his outstanding goals return. But the club would be mad to let him go. Like it or not, he is far and away their best option up top. For the time being, at least. The overall performance from Rangers was night and day compared to what they offered up at Fir Park at the weekend. Martin's reading of the riot act worked a treat. Just as well, too. He put himself in a tricky position ahead of Tuesday's tie after hanging so many of his squad out to dry. Captain James Tavernier was one of four dropped. Max Aarons was dreadful at left-back throughout both legs against Panathinaikos. In his more natural position on the opposite side of defence, he looked far more assured. Rangers, as we've now come to expect under Martin in these early days, remain a tough watch when playing out from the back. You could genuinely hear the collective intake of breath every time Nasser Djiga or John Souttar had possession in their own third. Thankfully, both carried out their defensive duties to a tee. The former's outstanding block kept the scores level within the first 10 minutes. Who knows whether or not it would have been a different story had Matej Vydra's effort gone in. And quite honestly, who cares? Rangers are one step closer to the promised land.
