How on earth do you spend £147 million?

So... Barcelona finally got their man. £147 million is what it took for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp to finally let go of their number 10. The 'little magician' Philipe Coutinho. Now the Merseyside club find themselves with a huge transfer kitty but without their best player.


However, the month is still young. With 24 days left until the transfer window slams shut, Liverpool have to act fast. But simply, how do you spend £147 million in just over three weeks?


Step one - Thomas Lemar.


Despite a deceivingly average first half of the season, the French midfielder has bags of ability. And he contains plenty of the same traits as the man he would be replacing. Excellent on the ball, with a technical prowess unmatched by his team mates at Monaco, it's easy to see why Klopp has been so keen to get him in. A brilliant eye for a pass, as well as a keen ability to shot from range, Lemar is Coutinho if the Brazilian was French. One more plus point is the Frenchman's ability from dead ball situations, a trait of Coutinho's that will perhaps be missed the most. So the addition of Monaco's number 27 could go a long way to filling the hole at Anfield.

Reports are coming out now saying that the club WON'T try to sign Lemar in January. This appears to be down to Monaco's insistence that they will not sell. However, that doesn't rule out a pre contract agreement. £70 million and a sell on clause could persuade Monaco to let him sign for Liverpool on July 1st.


 Persistence is key in this market to get the man you want. Much like Barcelona's constant attempts to sign Coutinho, Liverpool should employ similar tactics to bring in Lemar.


 £147 million - £70 million = £77 million remaining.


 Step two - A NEW number one.


 Simon Miglonet and Loris Karius. Both keeper had shown signs of greatness before signing for LFC. And both keepers appear to have lost it almost instantly. It's time for change between the sticks and  anyone involved with the club can clearly see, if there is one position Liverpool can't compete with the other top 6 teams in. It's in goal.


 So where, and more accurately, who is the money invested in next?

 Roma's Alisson and Atleti's Oblack both are rumoured to be targets. Now if LFC stuck the whole £77 million left from the sale of Coutinho on Oblack, it MIGHT be enough for Atleti to sell. I haven't seen enough of Alisson to compare him to Oblack, but he looks far and away better then what Klopp currently has at his disposal. And much like Ederson to city, could be a wise investment. Around 30 million seems like a sensible price as that is the current record signing fee for a goal keeper (Ederson from Benfica to Man City in the sumer of 2017.)


 Also reports that Mignolet could be used as part of a swap? The addition of the Belgian keeper to the deal would see the asking price fall and get a big wage bill off of the books. Let's say then the club pay £25 million + Mignolet for Alisson.


 £77 million - £25 million (And Mignolet) = £52 million remaining.


 Step three - Van Dijk's centre back partner.


 With £52 million left after the signings of Lemar and Alisson, you could argue the remaining money could be invested in two or three players to help boost the squad. And to this point I say. Liverpool need another centre back. VVD looked completely comfortable and at ease during his debut against Everton in the FA Cup. But, frighteningly better then his partner, Joel Matip. Now the likes of Matip, Klavan or Lovren would make for suitable rotation players, but no more then that. If Klopp is to take his team to the places he sees, Van Dijk needs a partner up to his standards.

Now this is tricky, as over the last six months the only defender talked about joining Liverpool was VVD, with other names and rumours being turned aside almost instantly. Klopp set on getting his man and refusing a plan b. However one name sticks on the head. Koulibaly.


 Napoli (in the summer) were reportedly looking to offload the defender, for a fee of around £57 million. Now while they challenge for the title in Italy, I imagine they would not be looking to sell Mane's international team mate. And i'm sure, with January very much being a sellers market, Napoli would be in no rush to change their minds again. However though. Much like Mignolet being part of the deal to bring Alisson to the club, maybe Klopp could persuade Napoli with a name. Dejan Lovren. Dejan. With the signing of a new centre back, in the eyes of most at least, would fall to AT LEAST fifth choice centre back. Behind the likes of VVD, Matip, Klavan and of course the new addition, in this case, Koulibaly. And this is without taking into consideration the rapid improvement of youngster Joe Gomez, which, by the summer, could see Lovren as Klopp's sixth choice.


 An offer of £45 - £50 million for Koulibaly, with Lovren added for good measure, could be enough to tempt Napoli into selling.


 £52 million - £50 million (And Lovren) = £2 million remaining.


 That does actually leaves £2 million, which we'll just say FSG can keep. So for the £147 million the club will make for Coutinho, Klopp gets: his first choice replacement in Lamar; a potentially world class keeper in Alisson; and solid partner for VVD in Koulibaly.


As well as two big wages bills off of the books in Mignolet and Dejan and FSG still turn a profit. Then January ends, February begins and the club push on. Right now, Liverpool are in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League next season, a competition they are still in this time around, facing FC Porto in the round of 16. Klopp's side are also still within a shot of winning the FA Cup, Liverpool being one of the favourites at this stage.


 And then, just like that, the season ends. The world cup happens over the summer, and then it all starts over again. But in this scenario, Klopp has HIS team, a side he has built, and a side he will mould to go on and do great things.


 (Or they'll just blow the whole £147 million on Southampton players like Liverpool did with the Suarez money!)

Rosseneri Recapture: How can AC Milan reclaim their throne?

Seven European cups, 18 Scuddetos, five Coppa Italias, AC Milan are one of the biggest club sides in the world, a dominating powerhouse of football – with some of the biggest names in the game having pulled on the famous red and black stripes.

During this current decade, however, it has been a very different Milan side taking to the pitch at the San Siro. No league title since 2011, and no Champions League qualification since 2013. The state of AC Milan was at its lowest since the match-fixing scandal of 2006, but things appeared to take a turn for the better.

Chinese investors purchased 99.93% of AC Milan – €520million – as well as the refurbishment of financial debt, totalling €220million. And from here, Milan kicked on, and over the course of the 2017 summer transfer window they spent £175 million on new players; spending more money then any other Italian side and the total was only topped across Europe by Paris Saint-Germain.

Italian centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, highly sort after full-back Ricardo Rodriguez and a forward with the world at his feet in Andre Silva; Milan had strengthened massively. Manager Vincento Montella had a huge selection of new players to improve his side throughout and potentially push for the title. After two wins from their first two games, however, Milan fell 4-1 to Lazio and since then it’s been nothing short of underwhelming from big spending AC Milan. Just 12 points from their first seven games places Milan in seventh position – nine points from the top.

After the huge investment, Milan have failed to capture the imagination of their fans. How has it gone so wrong? And what can be done to bring the famous red half of Milan back to providence?

Milan’s £175 million went on 11 new players this summer, with the majority expecting first-team football. This immediately presented a problem for Montella as he now faced the task of fitting the new additions into his system in a very short space of time.

This may be one of the nicer problems for a manager to have, but that doesn’t change the fact that it can take time for players to adapt to a new team, and a new league entirely for a number of the signings. Spurs proved that in 2013 when they spent the world-record fee they received for Gareth Bale on seven new players, only two of which are still at the club after the other five failed to settle in at White Hart Lane.

The Italian way of defending is long gone for AC Milan, who have registered just two clean sheets from their first seven league games – conceding ten goals in this time. This comes after assembling an almost entirely new defence in the summer.

So far in this campaign Milan have deployed a three centre-back system, with Fabio Borini and Ricardo Rodriguez acting as wing backs. Neither Borini or Rodriguez are natural wing-backs, with lung-busting pace who can get up and down the flanks. A very solid full-back Rodriguez proved to be during his time in Germany; but rarely an attacking one. Borini on the other hand – a striker by trade, often used as a wide midfielder, being played as a wing-back is just asking for trouble – an example of where the man in charge has got his tactics completely wrong.

Transitioning from defence into attack, and once again Milan’s huge investments failing to pay off. Hakan Çalhanoğlu signed for £20million, seen by many as a bargain for a midfielder with bags of potential. Playing mainly as one of three central midfielders, the Turk is not having the impact on the game you would expect to see.

Ahead of Çalhanoğlu is Portuguese forward Andre Silva; after picking up a knock at the start of the season, manager Montella has been hesitant to play the young striker, causing the Milan fans to question the decision-making. When Silva has played, however – despite being prolific in Europe and on the international stage – in his first two league outings, he has struggled to get into the game. Managing only three shots across the two games and failing to score.

Wide man Suso has been Milan’s shining light so far – with two goals and two assists. The Spaniard, however, found himself out of the team for Milan’s 2-0 home defeat to Roma, in place of another of the new signings. A very questionable decision by the manager, and one that has cost his side. Much like the decision to deploy two non-wing-backs as wing-backs, Vincenzo Montella has a lot to answer for.

Despite spending huge amounts of money in the summer, Milan look no better now then they did 12 months ago. This time last year Milan sat third in the table – just two points behind leaders Juventus.

Milan had conceded 11 league goals at the close of October, last season, but coming into October this time, they’ve already let in 10 goals; the defence may have improved on paper, but not in practice. They have the players, they have the financial backing but there is still something missing. The answer could be, not the personnel coming in, but one man in particular going out.

Vincenzo Montella has his tactics all wrong this season, right from the very first game. Particularity defensively, the insistence on playing the new signings appears to have cost Milan. Before a relationship was built between defenders – Bonucci, Rodriguez, Musacchio and Borini were all thrown in; and have been almost ever present since – a rotating fifth defender comes in and Milan look a mess at the back against the bigger sides, with Roma, Lazio and Sampdoria all finding it far too easy to infiltrate Milan’s back line.

So Montella’s tactics have cost his side, a change has to be made if Milan are to take advantage of the situation they find themselves in. All the money in the world and a squad full of talent, who can be trusted to handle it? A Milan legend.

Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian is the only manager in history to win three UEFA Champions Leagues – two of which were during his previous stint at the San Siro. Recently fired by Bayern Munich, the rumours are already flying. Ancelotti to Milan, one of the most successful managers in Milan’s history, coming in to lead the side to glory.

The Italian giants have already reportedly made contact with Ancelotti, and both the man himself and Vincent Montella have commented on the potential return. Montella joked in a press conference that the three-time European champion could be his No.2 at Milan; while Carlo mentioned a job share.

No official comment has been made from either party, with the board appearing to have Montella’s full backing. But as the pressure continues to grow on the man in charge, it could be a case of no smoke without fire.

A lot needs to be done to save Milan’s season already, but there are very few managers in world football with a track record like Ancelotti’s. A new manager is often what a side needs to find their form. History tells us major shift in surroundings often allows players to find an extra gear. With a man like Carlo Ancelotti at the helm for any club, success is almost a given. Taking back over at the club where he achieved his greatest successes as a manager, it is almost too good to be true.

The Future of Football - Paulo Dybala vs Marco Asensio.

For the last 10 years the top table of world football has been dominated by two men. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Never before have we seen the title of world player of the year been so predictable as to who will be competing come January. But what will happen when these two icons of the world game take a step back? What will happen when the Argentine forward Messi steps back into a deeper laying number 10 role, allowing for someone else to steal all the headlines? What will happen when the goals dry up for Cristiano? When the lung busting runs and climbing headers become a rarity and not just another Sunday for the Portuguese national captain. Well here are two names you will have heard before, Paulo Dybala and Marco Asensio. Dybala being compared to his fellow Argentine international Lionel Messi, and Asension to his fellow galactico Cristiano Ronaldo. The next big rivalry in world football is ready and waiting, lets take a closer look.

So first of all, with Paulo Dybala. The Juventus number 10 has openly stated on several occasions that be has no interest in becoming the 'Next Lionel Messi' that he would rather be the 'First Paulo Dybala' and that is a highly commendable attitude from the 23 year old. Many young players have taken the praise heaped upon then and ran themselves into a wall with it, the names Mario Balotelli and Ricardo Quaresma instantly come to mind, however Dybala seems to be handling it perfectly, getting his head down and playing football. Despite Paulo's insistence NOT to be compared to Messi, it is clear to see where to comparisons have been drawn from. Dybala is one of the most naturally talented players in world football today, his ability on the ball and technique very closely resembles that of a young Lionel Messi. The speed at which Dybala can dribble with the ball is a defenders worst nightmare, and to cap it all off his average of a goal every other game in his Juve career so far demonstrates the eye for goal the forward possess. The attributes have earned Dybala the nickname 'La Joya' translated from Spanish meaning ' the jewel'. During his first professional season at the age of 17, Dybala went on to break four long standing Argentine football records. Firstly, scoring his first goal for boyhood club Instituto, making him the youngest goal scorer in the leagues history, he followed this up scoring in 6 consecutive league games, beating the previous record by 2. And to cap off the season, he became the first player to score two hat-tricks in the league, as well as the first to compete in 38 consecutive league matches in the country. So a young Argentine footballer breaking records left right and centre. Do you see where I'm going with this?

Only one year later Dybala was on his way to Europe, to Italian side Palmero where he continued to grow and shine. In his third season in Italy we saw the first examples of the player Dybala has grown into today, scoring 13 league goals and providing 10 assists, making his one of the most influential players in the league that season. Much like his time with Instituo, this breakthrough season saw the youngster moving on to bigger things, namely a £32 million move to Juventus, where he was given the famous 21 jersey. Playing as Juve's main attacking threat Dybala ended his first season as the clubs top scorer, registering 23 goals. Only Italian great Roberto Bagio held a greater goals/games ratio in his debut season, as the Argentinian fired his new club to the Scudetto. The success just kept coming for Dybala, in his second season with Juventus he knocked in another 19 goals, even more impressive when you consider he was now playing the position of a second striker behind new signing Higuain. As well as winning his second Italian league title, Dybala helped the Old Lady to the Champions League final against Real Madrid, where they came up short. That brings us to the current campaign, and what else do I need to say other then 10 league goals in 6 games, and two hat- tricks already. The pressure was heavily on the Italian champions this time around after their failure in the Champions League final and Dybala has taken that pressure and dealt with it with match winning performances. ON the day of writing this the news is filled with a rumoured £155 million offer being weighed up by Manchester United for the Argentinian star. Whether these rumours are factual or not is yet to be seen, but how little surprise this news has earned from the footballing world shows just how big a deal the man is. I don't think I'm being over dramatic when I say I can see Dybala being named the worlds best player sooner rather then later, his talent is just undeniable and if he continues this season the way he has began it I think it could be even sooner then we could ever have imagined. I am however going to end this with another cheap comparison to Lionel Messi. Paulo was sent off in his FIRST EVER start for Argentina. As I'm sure you're aware Messi saw red in his first ever game for his country, another cheap comparison as I said but it takes great strength to come back from such a knock down and to go on and flourish. Lio has undoubtedly gone way above all expectations, and after the start to his career has been so fruitful, I think it's safe to say we can expect the same from Juventus' new number 10.

Now onto a newer sensation, the Spanish midfielder who is being treated as the answer to the question, what will Real Madrid do without Cristiano Ronaldo? Marco Asensio. Now unlike Dybala, we don't have a handful of seasons at the highest level to go off of, with Asensio we simply have ability. In Asensio's first 37 league games in the top flight of Spanish football the midfielder only managed 4 league goals, which is by no means an impressive feat. But by just looking at the stats you're missing the point with this player. While still at youth level, both Barcelona and Real Madrid wanted to get their hands on Asensio, but the Spaniard spent his first professional season with Mallorca. As the season drew to a close Asensio truly found his form, scoring all 4 of  the league goals he managed in his first season within the same month, ending the campaign as the hottest property in Spanish football. And in November of 2014 Real Madrid got their man, before loaning him back to his boyhood club for the remainder of the season. During this same time frame Madrid's newest signing was representing Spain at under 18's level, scoring 8 goals in 12 games, showing just how big of a talent he could be! Before the end of the 2014-2015 season Asensio was called up to the under 21 squad, continuing to shine, and currently Marco has 8 goals in 17 games at that level. In the following summer Asensio was loaned to Espanyol, Catalan rivals of Barcelona, where he continued to improve, ending the campaign with 12 assists as the Real Madrid man looked to bet set for a number 10 role. At this point however the Spanish midfielder was growing frustrated by his career with Real Madrid, almost two years after signing he was yet to make his professional debut and rumours of a move away from the Spanish capital saw the managers hand forced and Asensio was in the side, which could turn out to be the best decision Zidane has made in his time in charge of Los Blancos.

The brightest star in Spanish football couldn't have started his Real Madrid career any better, scoring on his competitive debut for the club. A quite brilliant 25 yard strike against Sevilla in the Spanish super cup, a game that went all the way to penalties. And just 12 days later Asensio made his first league start for the club, and again found himself on the score sheet. After his fast starts however Asensio's appearances were limited to substitute appearances, which again drew frustration from the midfielder, reports came from the Madrid camp that Marco's representatives had informed management that if they did not intend to play Asensio then he would be forced to play his football elsewhere. The Champions League however is where the teenager was able to really show his class, scoring four goals during Real Madrid's campaign, including the fourth in the final, securing Madrid's 12th European Cup. As the 2017/2018 season got under way the indication was that whenever Cristiano Ronaldo did not play, Asensio would slot into his position out wide, with Ronaldo growing older and his game time appearing to be on the decline, this new role was seen as a great opportunity for the midfidler, a new role for the Spaniard but one he settled into almost instantly. During the Spanish super cup first leg against Barcelona, Asensio fired in a bullet of a strike from the wide left position, and just four days later he did it again. In the second leg, in the first game of the season in the Bernabeau, a quite remarkable strike cutting in from the right this time left Barcelona's Ter Stagen stranded as Asensio filled in for the suspended Ronaldo. Also in the summer just gone, whilst representing the Spanish under 21's Asensio scoring a hat-trick on match day one, leading his side to the final where they were eventually beaten by Germany, but another showing on the world stage for the youngster who's stock has been growing and growing. It's really been since the 2017 Champions League final where the world has stood back and realised just how much potential this man has. Good on both feet, technically brilliant, able to produce that one bit of magic to change the game. With an eye for goal and a role playing as the Madrista's number 7's understudy, Asensio really is learning from the best.

Right here what we have is, I feel, the next generation of Balon D'or winners. Much Like Ronaldo was making headlines before Messi, I feel like it could only be a matter of time before Dybala is seen as an elite level, top five in the world footballer. But as soon as that happens, expect Asensio to show that he belongs at that top table, and just like that a battle is on to be the worlds best. Now of course these aren't the two only names who could replace Messi and Ronaldo at the top, the likes of Neymar, Garath Bale, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe and many many others all have a claim to the throne. But right here, like I said, I feel is the next generation. Much like we've seen two men dominate the top table of football for the last decade, I expect these two to do it for the next. Paulo Dybala and Marco Asensio. Watch this space.

Standout team of the year - Who will make the 2017/2018 season, their season?

Season after season we see a new group of players stepping up and taking the games their involved in by the scruff of the neck, season after season we see a new group of players announcing themselves to the world as truly stand out talents, season after season we have breakout stars. We don't just have players coming from no where and showing what they can do to the world, we have the already established names stepping up a level and becoming world class. It's those kind of players I'm going to focus on now, the players who are already known to the fans, but the players who I can see changing up a gear and running their respective divisions over the next 12 months.

Goal Keeper - Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

The Italian shot stopped right now might not even be the best Gianluigi in the Italy national team (Then again there is no shame being second to the greatest of all time) but Donnarumma is destined for great things. In 2016, at the age of 17 years and 189 days, he became the youngest player to represent the Azzurri in history, just under a year prior, at the age of 16 years and 242 days, he became the second youngest player to even play in the Seria 'A'. At this moment in time he is the number one for his boyhood club AC Milan, and has just signed a new 5 year contract, despite controversy over whether or not he wanted to leave. It's easy to forget that he is just 18 years old and has potentially over 20 years of a professional career ahead of him, he truly could grow to become the greatest keeper of all time. But why is next season such a big deal? Well because of Milan's transfer activity so far in the window. They have spent over £100 million so far, which includes £35 million on Donnarumma's Italy team mate Leonardo Bonucci, arguably the best centre back on the planet! As well as Ricardo Rodriguez from Wolfsburg for £17 million and Mateo Musacchio from Villarreal for £15 million. Milan have built almost an entirely new defence, and supporting the back line will be Gianluigi. With the new foundation to their side we could see the 7 time European champions beck in the big time very soon, so for the Italian keeper to start making his way up the ladder, the time is now.

Defender - Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

£50 million. That's how much Manchester City spent on the English full back, making him the most expensive defender of all time and the most expensive Englishman of all time. During his time in the limelight so far Kyle has came under fire for his attacking mindset, saying he spends far too much time high up the field and not enough time actually being a defender. But that is where people are going wrong, Walker's primary focus isn't defending, it's attacking. He's a wing back, and this is why the huge price tag makes perfect sense. Pep Guardiola has a reputation for loving attacking wing backs, and during his time at Manchester City so far he has tried to force a 5 at the back system without the players to make it work, the English full back slots perfectly into that system. And when you look at the £50 million that was spent on Walker, and you look at the context of the deal, it isn't as shocking as it appears. This summer has seen £75 million spent on Lukaku, £30 million spent on Jordan Pickford, £53 million spent on Alexandre Lacazette, right now you have to pay to get the players you want, and if the signing will help your team going forward in a big way, the cost of the player is almost irrelevant. You could say the best right back over the last decade is former Barcelona star Dani Alves, a player mentored and moulded by Pep, if the Spaniard can have a similar effect on Walker, this season could really see the Englishman moving into up in the world. 

Defender - Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea) 

Rudiger has flown relatively under the radar over the past couple of seasons. Anchoring the second best side in Italy, the German has came on leaps and bounds to earn his big money move to English champions Chelsea. Antonio has spent this summer so far winning the Confederations Cup with Germany, staring in the final against Chile and marking Alexis Sanchez out of the game on the way to a clean sheet and the winners medal. When the signing of Rudiger was completed, Bonucci was still available, the Italian centre back was a favourite of Conte's for the national side and the former Juventus centre back has been heavily linked with Chelsea since Conte arrived last summer. So going for Rudiger over Bonucci shows the faith the Italian manager has in his new centre back, and by joining the best defence in the country Antonio is only going to improve. Last season we saw David Luiz go from a heavily criticised, some would say 'laughing stock', of a defender have an outstanding season under the coaching of Antonio Conte and if we see that same improvement undergone by Rudiger, a player who is already forcing himself into the most heavily stacked defence in the world, the German national team, the sky is the limit! 

Defender - Danielle Rugani (Juventus)

At 22 years of age, the young Italian centre back now has the opportunity of his life to reach his incredible potential. Playing in the Juventus back line is the perfect place for any defender to grow and develop their game, the Italian champions have perhaps the best defence in the world, but that defence is in a period of change right now. Dani Alves and Leonardo Bonucci have both already left, with Alex Sandro reported to be close to sealing a move to Chelsea, now is the biggest chance Rugani has ever had to break into the side. The Italian only featured in 15 league games last season, as he struggled to push his way into the defence, strong armed by Bonucci, Chiellini and Barzagli. However with Bonucci's departure that leaves a stop open, and with Juve's history of complete Italian hearts of defence, Rugani has to be the favourite to take his place. Also, with Chiellini and Barzagli both north of thirty years of age, Rugani could be the youthful injection into the defence that it needs to keep going. Also there aren't many better pairings in the world to learn from, then Barzagli and Chiellini. Both men are closing in on 100 caps for the national team and have a winning mentality ingrained into them by now. Rugani has been tipped for greatness since breaking into the first team, but his first team opportunities have been limited, now is his chance, and there isn't a better place for him to show the world how good he is then Juventus. Now is his chance, if he takes it, he can be world class!

Midfielder - Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)

When you're a primary target of Barcelona you know you must be doing something right! Verratti is the latest in a long line of talented Italian midfielders, with his style being viewed very similar to that of Andre Pirlo. With an eyes for a pass and the ability to unlock the defence it is no surprise PSG are trying their hardest to hold onto the 24 year old. His creative footballing brain would be a perfect fit in Catalonia, and the opportunity to learn from the great Andres Iniesta is one which could see Veratti take the next step. One was he differs from the comparisons is his incredible work ethic. Marco covers huge amounts of ground during a game and he knows when to put in a tackle, he is a very well rounded and almost perfect midfielder. The only downside to his game is his tendency to let his aggression take control. Despite his short stature the Italian isn't one to back down from anyone, a quality many see as desirable, not one which has seen him pick up 9 yellow cards this season as well as one red card. Now picking up cards is all part of playing in the midfield, and don't let that distract you from just how good a player Veratti can be! Unlike most of the players in this side, I don't expect Veratti to reach his potential in the next 12 months, all he needs to do is continue to improve. Once again, the comparisons to Andrea Pirlo comes into play, the dynamic style the PSG star plays is great, but his stand out attributes are, and always will be his technical abilities. On the ball there are few better in world football, and once he drops into a more Italian style of midfielder I can see him reaching, and perhaps surpassing the levels Pirlo reached. To hit this heights however I feel he shouldn't spend too much more time at PSG, and the move to Barcelona should be one he jumps at! I say again the chance to learn from Iniesta could see Veratti fine turn his game in the style he needs to become a decade defining midfielder, a level I, and the world know he is capable of reaching. 

Midfielder - Phillipe Coutinho (Liverpool) 

Last season Coutinho continued to do what he has been doing for a few seasons, showing the world how big of a bargain Liverpool got when the brought him in from Inter Milan for just £8 million. Coutinho scored 13 league goals and provided 7 assists during the 2016/17 season, which becomes even more impressive when you consider he was playing out of position for the majority of his games last season. The Brazilian has always been a tricky, creative number 10, playing just behind the striker and finding those key passes to create goals, as well as chipping in with a fair few himself. However with the lack of a left sided midfielder, and Klopp's insistence to play a three up top system, Coutinho moved into a left side role, a role which he took to incredibly easily. The Brazilian continued to win games for Liverpool, providing a moment of magic whenever it was needed, however it still didn't feel right. That was until the final two games of the season, where due to an injury for Sadio Mane, Klopp adjusted his line up and moved Coutinho back into the number 10 role, where he scored three goals and provided an assist in two games, securing Liverpool Champions League football. Recently PSG enquired into how much is would cost to buy Phillipe, and Liverpool responded with an £88 million price tag, showing just how much the club value their number 10 at. With the signing of Mo Salah it looks certain that we will see Coutinho permanently moving back into the attacking midfield role, just behind Roberto Firmino, with Sadio Mane and Salah out wide. The fire power up top for the five time European Champions truly is a sight to behold, and with the Brazilian pulling the strings it is a frightening possibility for any opposing defence. And you can always bank on the Brazilian to pick the ball up, 25 to 30 yards from goal, on his right foot, and find the top corner with extreme accuracy! Now Coutinho is on the verge of being one of the world best, injuries and a paper thin Liverpool squad have hampered him so far, but if he manages to make it through the entirety of the upcoming season, the potential next legendary Brazilian number 10 could could end the campaign and go into the 2018 World Cup in Russia as just that.

Midfielder - James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich - On loan from Real Madrid) 

What else is there to say about the Colombian that hasn't been said already? he's been tipped form greatness and truly announced himself at the 2014 World Cup, before earning a huge move to Real Madrid. However since then it hasn't all gone James' way. He was been forced out of Zidane's team, watching from the sidelines and he's wasn't getting the game time he needs to develop. Now however, Rodriguez is with the German champions, Bayern Munich, and the fan fare around his signing was huge! Now it is a loan deal, for two years, with an option to buy for £35 million, with is a steal for a player the quality of Rodriguez. Bayern may be walking to the Bundesliga title season after season, but their side isn't getting any younger, and the 26 year old has plenty of years ahead of him as he reaches his prime. He can strike a ball, moving or dead, as clean and as crisp as anyone in world football, and his ability to pull the strings could be exactly what help Bayern Munich hack to the top of European football. James Rodriguez, my word this boy is a star. I keep going back to that line because it perfectly captured the ability of one of football's greatest prospects. There has been a bump in the road, but I see this move to Bayern Munich becoming the biggest master stroke of the decade. It is now that James shows just how good he is, it is now that he will become world class, truly on another level. 

Midfielder - Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur)

Victor Wanyama last season had a very similar campaign to that of N'golo Kante in the season prior. He was the clubs signing of the summer, held the midfield and played an integral part of a season which went above and beyond expectations, and despite this he was over shadowed by two star attackers. For Kante at Leicester it was Mahrez and Vardy, for Wanyama at Spurs it was Ali and Kane. Victor Wanyama's role in the Spurs midfielder can not be over estimated, the Kenyan holding midfielder played 36 league games last season, only Dele Ali played more, and game after game he ran the midfield, picking up loose balls, throwing in solid tackles and giving the likes of Dele Ali and Christen Eriksen freedom to roam. He is the heart of the midfield and was instrumental in Spurs' incredible final season at White Hart Lane. Despite this he went drastically under the radar, but like Kante last season, I can see Wanyama truly being recognised as the class act he is in the coming campaign. For Spurs to reach the heights they want to, they need to compete on all fronts, and having a player the likes of Wanyama to fall back on, game after game, knowing exactly what they're going to get, will go a long way in Spurs ending their run on no silverware. With the sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City, an extra £50 million has just been made available to spend, and if Pochettino can strengthen his side in the areas he needs to, I can see Tottenham carrying on from where they left off last season, challenging for the title. And if they can reach those heights again, I'm certain that Wanyama will be at the fore front, and will get the recognition he deserves. 

Attacker - Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid) 

At the time of writing this, 16th July 2017, Chelsea have just made an approach for the Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco. Reportedly Carrasco has been offered a 5 year deal and upwards to double his current wages if he is to join Chelsea. No official response has been put forward by Atletico so far but if the deal is pulled off, Chelsea will have once again, gotten a hold of one of the brightest young stars in European football. Since arriving from Monaco for a reported 20 million euros, Yannick Carrasco has turned heads, and earned many plaudits for his performances. He fired in 10 league goals last season, 14 in all competitions, only being topped by Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gemeiro. As well as racking up four assists in the previous campaign, he also scored the equaliser in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in the 2015/16 season. He has also broken into the national team, scoring four goals in his first 19 caps for the red devils of international football, it is no surprise that Chelsea want him at Stanford Bridge. Carrasco is said to be intrigued by the possibility of playing in England, and it is now down to Simeone to convince him to stay. Carrasco is an incredibly skillful winger, with an eye for goal and a brilliant final ball. He is incredibly unpredictable, with the defenders never knowing what he will do, and that is what sets him apart from the rest. He makes it all look so simple, and if he does make the move to Chelsea, I'm certain he will fit right in. But even if he stays at Atletico, he really has the chance to make the world stand back and watch. He will be entering his third season in the Spanish capital, and now he has planted himself firmly in the first team for both club and country, it's time to push on. Despite staying around for now, the possibility of Griezmann leaving Atletico in the near future is still very large, and I can see Carrasco being his lined up replacement headliner. In the history of Atletico Madrid, they never let a top star go without someone ready to step into their boots. With Torres is was Aguero, with Aguero is was Forlan, with Forlan it was Falcao, with Falcao is was Costa, with Costa it was Griezmann, and with Griezmann I think it will be Yannick Carrasco. If the Belgian can continue to improve, and handle the responsibility of being made the star of the show, international team mate Eden Hazard may have some competition as the most talented member of their squad. 

Attacker - Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) 

Klose, retired. Gomez, inconsistent. Muller, adopting a midfield role. Timo Werner? The RB Leipzig striker is coming off of a breakout season in Germany, scoring 21 league goals and impressing the world with his pace, his eye for goal, and such incredible composure at such a young age. At just 21 years old Werner just helped lead German to the Confederations Cup, winning it for the first time in their history, he started in the final and created the only goal of the game. This is before being awarded the golden boot with three goals in the competition as well as two assists. Despite this, as of right now, no big clubs are coming in for the young German which is great for Germany, and it's great for Werner. With Leipzig qualifying for the Champions League next season, Werner will have his first glimpse of top level European club football, and he will have all the opportunities to develop. Should he continue to improve at the rate he is, next on his radar will be the 2018 World Cup, with Werner heavily fancied to be the latest German number 9. At such a young age Timo has the chance to become world class, and he has shown signs of it already in his very young career. With all of the supply in the world, Werner could make staring for the national team a regular thing, he has averaged a goal every other game for the first team, a very impressive strike rate at International level. And last season in his first for Leipzig he scored 21 league goals in 31 league games, again a very impressive strike rate. He has proven he has the talent, he has the ability to make it, the next test is if he has the endurance to go for a full season. Coming off of the Confederations Cup he will have the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League all to compete in, with Leipzig looking to challenge and replying on Werner to be their star man. And then of course to cap it off we will have the World Cup, with Werner, if he continues to bang in the goals, potentially leading the line for the world champions. That is a massive responsibility, and if he can live up to it, he could be a future world beater. 

Attacker - Douglas Costa (Juventus - On loan from Bayern Munich) 

Being one of a host of talented Brazilians at Shakhtar Donetsk, the world has been watching Douglas Costa for several years year. And after a 30 million euro move to Bayern Munich in 2015, everyone got to see what he could do up close and personal. The speed he runs with the ball at is frightening, full backs never know what he's going to do next, and with the ability to beat anyone who challenges him, Costa truly is the perfect modern day winger. The only thing missing from his game is goals, he only managed 8 league goals across his two seasons with Bayern Munich, before he penned a loan deal to Juventus, for two years, with the option of a permanent move valued at 40 million euro at the end. Costa has already played 21 times for Brazil, and will be hoping this season he can earn his spot on the plane to Russia. Now with the raw pace and skill Costa possess, he can make it work in any team, in any league, what he needs to do is add more goals to his game! This is why the move to Juventus could be massive for the winger's career. The old lady are currently champions of Italy, and have won six Scudettos in a row, a record for the Seria 'A', this means Costa is all but guaranteed the chance to improve his game in front of goal. Juventus tend to dominate possession in their games, and have Dybala and Higuain leading the line and finding the net, what they don't have, is a player like Costa, a player who can beat a man and get into the box with relitive ease. Juventus played an almost flawless season last year, with Real Madrid in the Champions League final their one slip up. They got found out in that game, but that is where Douglas comes in. Much like Mane at Liverpool, like Reus at Dortmund, like Mbappe at Monaco, Costa has a unique ability unlike anyone else in his team, no matter how the game is going, if he has the chance to run at an opponent, you know he will create a chance. His raw ability is right up there with the very best, there are just a few points of his game that need fine tuning to truly reach his potential. But when he reaches it, he could be seen on par with Neymar. 

There we go, there are some of my predictions for the stand out players of the upcoming season! And i'm sure some of these players won't quite meet expectations because on football, you can't predict anything, you can just sit back and watch. But if any of what I have just said turns out to be true, there could be a hand full of future world stars in this article, and even potential future Balon D'or winners. We'll just have to wait and see. 

Summer 2017 - Highlights so far of the craziest transfer window in history.

This years summer transfer window has seen an incredible amount of money spent so far. In the Premier League alone over half a billion pounds has been spent by the time of writing this, with last summers total finishing at £1.165 billion on 31st August 2016, it is looking incredibly likely we will have a new record for a transfer window in terms of spending. Now with the likes of Jordan Pickford signing for Everton for £30 million and Kyle Walker signing for Manchester City for upwards of £50 million it is easy to see how the figure has grown to such a large amount. But what are the highlights? We've seen some questionable spending so far, as well as some head turning deals including Dani Alves snubbing Manchester City in favour of a move to PSG. I'm now going to look into the main talking points from the summer transfer window 2017 so far.

James Rodriguez to Bayern Munich. (2 year loan with an option to buy.)

Perhaps a bit controversially I'm starting this piece on the summer transfer window with a loan move. However it isn't your typical loan, this isn't the young English striker going to the Championship to get some game time, this is the young man who won the 2014 World Cup golden boot despite being knocked out in the Quarter finals. The winner of the FIFA Puskas award from the same year. The man who Real Madrid paid approximately 80 million Euros to bring in. James Rodriguez. Now, the Columbia captain has been in and out of the Real Madrid side for the past couple of seasons, and has slipped behind Isco in the pecking order of the European champions. James only started 13 league games last season, coming off of the bench on 9 occasions. Despite this he managed to be involve in 14 league goals, scoring 8 goals and providing 6 assists, an example of the impact he can have when given the time. What makes this deal so ludicrous is the fact, that after paying a 5 million euro loan fee, Bayern have the option to sign Rodriguez for just £35 million. Less then half what was paid for him by Madrid just three years ago. And despite falling from the first team in the Spanish capital the Colombian attacking midfielder still has bags of potential. At just 26, he is coming into his prime, and under the coaching of Carlo Ancelotti I can see James proving to be the player we all know he can be. He was tipped as a future Balon D'or winner three years ago, the man is world class and a steal for Bayern Munich! Bayern already walk to the German title every year but where they want and need to be is competing for the title of champions of Europe. Since winning the Champions League in 2013, they have been unsuccessful at the Semi-Final stage every year since. Rodriguez has now been a part of two Champions League winning campaigns with parent club Real Madrid and that winning pedigree in Europe could be what Bayern need to prove that they are the best club side on the planet. Bayern's new number eleven is a truly world class player and I say with 100% certainty that he is going to set the world alight in Germany, Go back and watch his volley from the 2014 World Cup against Uruguay and remember the commentary. My word this boy's a star.

Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United. (£75 million + add ons)

From a deal which has cost virtually nothing to one which is the fifth largest in football history. The Belgian striker's move from Everton was pretty much a certainty when the Premier League season ended, but not many people would have predicted Lukaku returning to former manager Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese man was in charge of Chelsea during Lukaku's spell at the club, and it was Jose himself that saw him as surplus to requirements. However after impressing for the blue half of Merseyside during his time there, the big Belgian is Manchester United's newest number 9. With reported add ons and Wayne Rooney moving in the other direction also being part of the deal, the total transfer cost reaches an incredible £100million, and as it looks unlikely any club will spend more on one player this summer, for the second year in a row Jose will have out spent the rest of his challengers. However £75million on any player would always come under scrutiny, and with a lot of people claiming that the Belgian forward is not the finished article yet, maybe you have to question the decision making. When put one on one with any keeper, Lukaku is always the clear favourite and with his incredible strength and speed he is a constant threat. However his big criticism for years has been his first touch, and his ability to hold up the play. In a recent piece with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, the Englishman said that if he was to defend against Lukaku, he'd just give him a yard of space, banking on a loose touch from the attacker and then clear. This rings remarkably true with Romelu who was guilty on plenty of occasions last season of giving the ball away cheaply. His ability, or lack of, to hold up the play rarely effected situations at Everton last season. In the league he scored 20 more goals then his side's second top scorer, he was the constant and only real outlet. But United have the likes of Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, all of which who will be expecting Lukaku to use his size to hold up the ball and to bring them into the game, in a similar vain to how Zlatan did last season. Is it right to spend so much money on a player who may limit your style of play? Only time will tell how this deal will work out, Lukaku has been tipped for greatness from a very young age, everyone knows just how good he can be, and very importantly so does he. The Belgian knows he belongs in a top side, and being in Europe with Manchester United is a real opportunity to show the world what he can really do.

Leonardo Bonucci to AC Milan. (£35 million)

Now this one caught me, you and the entire footballing world off guard. The Italian defender is arguably the best in world football. Playing in arguably the best defence in world football at Italian champions Juventus and is being heavily tipped for a move to English champions Chelsea and former Italian National team coach Antonio Conte. So where on earth did this come from? Bonucci has officially signed for AC Milan, a side which isn't even featuring in Europe's top competition for the upcoming season. Now it is known that Bonucci and Juventus manager Allegri had a major falling out last season, which saw the Italian being dropped for a league game against Palmero, so it is understandable as to why he would leave. But to AC Milan? The 7 time European champions have been on an incredible decline for much of this decade and I'm sure would not even be considered by many of the worlds top players at this point in time. However, with the signing of Bonucci, Milan have taken their summer spending over the £100million mark, with the likes of Ricardo Rodriguez and Hakan Calhanoglu both coming in from Germany. The contract will keep Leonardo at the Milan club for 5 years, and alongside the other new recruits coming to the San Siro, maybe we could see the resurrection of AC Milan in the coming years. Not much more is known about the deal as it all came out of no where, but one thing is for sure, what a move by AC Milan. He is set to have his medical over the coming weekend but it all seems like a formality now. Coming from a Liverpool fan, a club with a big history involving AC Milan it would be a welcomed return to the top table of world football for the club, who last won the Champions League in 2007 and are still the second most successful side in the history of top level European competition.

Mohamed Salah to Liverpool. (£36 million)

The Egyptian Mo Salah is getting his second opportunity to show the Premier League what he can do after a poor showing during his all too brief time at Chelsea. However since becoming Liverpool's record signing, the potential of things to come is getting the fans excited. His stats from last season speak for themselves, the winger scored 15 and created 11 in 31 league games while playing in Italy's Calcio 'A' for Roma, beating massively hyped Argentine and Juventus youngster Paulo Dybala on both counts while he played for champions Juventus. His lighting pace and play style is very similar to that of Sadio Mane, the Senegalese winger proved to be an incredible signing for the red's last season and I'm sure they're hoping for more of the same from their newest addition. However, bringing Salah into the team is only half the story, the other being how it will effect the rest of the side. Salah has been given the number 11 shirt, with it's former owner Roberto Firmino made Liverpool's newest number 9, making it more clear that he will be the number one striker for the club in the coming season. Firmino impressed massively last season but only managed 11 league goals, a fact which was made more telling whenever either Mane or Philippe Coutinho didn't play, both of whom out scored the Brazilian, with 13 league goals each. The pressure was on Firmino to be an out and out striker which he simply isn't, he is no slouch in front of goal but will never be a 20 goal a season centre forward. This is where Salah comes into play. What Firmino does better then any other striker in the league in my opinion is the 'dirty work', closing down defenders, forcing mistakes and creating opportunities for his team mates. Liverpool looked unplayable with Mane, Coutinho and Firmino all playing, and with Salah in there as another outlet it takes more pressure off of Firmino to be the star striker, and he can focus on the main plus points of his game. Roberto will still score goals, but his running, chances created and assists will be where his quality is shown next season. Also with the addition of Salah into the side, Jurgen Klopp no longer has to restrict Coutinho to a wide position and he can instead play the Brazilian midfielder in his preferred number 10 role, one he plays as good as anyone in the world. In the last two games of the previous season the little magician returned to the position and put in a man of the match performances in both, scoring three goals. Inside he is given more space to roam, and more of the pitch to work with. Also with the additional movement coming from Salah, he can fully utilise his incredible range of passing. And finally just imagine the look of fear on a defenders face when they're closing down a loose ball against either Sadio Mane or Mo Salah. The pace of both men is frightening and Liverpool will have it coming from both flanks, the options going forward for the club is endless. If they play the rest of this window smart, improve at the back and add much needed squad depth, we could see potential title challengers.

Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal (£52 million + add ons)

Much like Bonucci this is a signing I didn't see coming, not because I didn't think the Frenchman would leave Lyon, but because of his choice of clubs. Lacazette fired in 28 league goals in 28 league games last season, and he almost single handedly got Lyon to the Europa League Semi-Finals. Before Atletico Madrid were handed a transfer ban at the start of the summer it looked as if the striker was on his way to Spain, however that deal obviously never came to be, but why Arsenal? The London club aren't even in the Champions League next season, and you'd think as Alexandre is one of Europe's top strikers he'd want to play amongst Europe's best sides and I'm sure very few teams would have turned him down. Lacazette has however said on record how long he's relished the idea of playing in England for, and living in London may have played a big part in his decision making as it does with many other players. What is also very big about this deal is it shows intent from Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. With star Alexis Sanchez reportedly on his way out as he is unhappy with the direction of the club, maybe this move might persuade him, and team mate Mesut Ozil, to stay for a while longer. On the flip side however, where does this move leave Alexis? Over the last twelve months the Chilean attacker has been moving in and out of the centre forward position, a position he claims to prefer. Lacazette will have been brought in to add goals to Arsenal and to fire them back into the Champions League, meaning Sanchez is likely to be back playing out wide, will he be happy about that? Especially after 'carrying' the side through a lot of last season. It is however no doubt a brilliant bit of business by Arsenal, bringing in a world class striker, something the fans have been crying out for, for years! It shows intent to not only the fans and the players, but also to the other Premier League sides, Lacazette is a big threat, and much like Liverpool, if the rest of the window goes in their favour, Arsenal could be in a very strong position for next season.

Antonio Rudiger to Chelsea (£34 million)

Shocking announcement video aside (Look it up, it really is that bad! So bad I'm asking you to go and watch it before reading on!) Rudiger signing could be the best 'under the radar' deal we will see in the Premier League this summer. Antonio Conte's Chelsea won the title last season based on a solid defence, and the adjective solid is perfect to describe his new German centre back. The now former Roma defender featured in 4 of Germany's 5 Confederation cup games, including the 1-0 win in the final, a game in which he kept Alexis Sanchez very quiet. After Chelsea had been linked with Bonucci for such a long time, the deal to bring in Rudiger came sort of out of no where, but one that makes perfect sense. The German played in 41 games in all competitions last season for Roma and Germany, demonstrating his incredible resilience, and throughout those games he stared as he played a key part in 14 league clean sheets. With Chelsea back in the Champions League next season the games are going to be coming thick and fast, and having a player like Rudiger who you can rely on to play each and every game you need him to play without signing signs of fatigue is invaluable. Possibly the least exciting of the signings I have mentioned so far today but also possibly the most effective. Just when you thought Chelsea's incredible defence couldn't get any stronger, they go an sign one of the best young defenders in Europe. At just 24 years old he has so much more room to grow, and under the guidance of his name sake Antonio Conte I feel the German centre back will prove his transfer fee to be pennies!

With over a month and a half of the transfer window yet to take place, there are a lot more potentially big deals to happen, including the rumoured signing of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig to Liverpool for an incredible £70 million. Juventus potentially losing another incredible defender in the form of Alex Sandro to Chelsea, and with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang's future still very much up in the air, there is still a lot of news to be made and a lot of money to be spent. It's getting to the point where money in football is meaningless, with every transfer a bit more crazy then the last, it should make for a pretty incredible upcoming season and I for one can't wait!

Champions League Final 2017 - Juventus vs Real Madrid.

This years UEFA Champions League final is one guaranteed to make history. Juventus, one of Europe's biggest sides, are chasing their first European title since 1996. And Real Madrid, the 11 time winners, are looking to become the first side in the Champions League era to retain the title of champions of Europe. Both sides have had very successful domestic campaigns so far. At the time of writing this Madrid need four more points to guarantee the Spanish title, and Juventus need to win just one of their remaining two games to win their sixth consecutive Scudetto.

Two true giants of European football will go head to head in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on June 3rd. This will be the 19th time the two sides have met in Europe, and with 8 wins a piece, so far there is no separating the Italian and the Spanish sides. The last time they met was in the semi-finals of the 2014-2015 Champions League, with then former Madrid striker Alvaro Morata staring and scoring in both the home 2-1 win and in the following 1-1 draw in Madrid, booking Juventus's place in that years final where they eventually lost to Barcelona. In fact, in recent history, Italy's most successful club have had the beating of Real. Winning 3 out of the 4 knock out ties since the year 2000, Juventus have proved difficult for Madrid to overcome. However when head to head record in the same time frame is looked at, Juventus have only a slight lead with 5 wins to Madrid's 4, and as a one of game is how the final in Cardiff will be decided, we could be in for a very close affair

The Champions League final is, without a doubt, the biggest and most prestigious club game of the season, and requires players who know how to shine when the pressure is at it's highest. Real Madrid have dominated this competition as of late, winning two of the last three Champions League's and with this being their third final in four years. In fact Real have played in five finals since Juventus were last crowned champions, and the Spanish giants have a 100% record in those matches, which includes a 1-0 victory against their upcoming opponents in 1998. Now Juventus have reached a very impressive four finals since 1996, however they have the exact opposite record to Madrid with a 0% success rate in those finals. In the big games Real step while Juve seem to struggle, the Old Lady have also only scored two goals across those games. Including the original iteration of the European cup Juventus have reached 7 finals, only winning two, where as Real have won 11 out of their 13 finals in European cup history, the most final appearances of any side.

History might put the ball firmly in Real's court, however despite history showing Juventus struggle on the biggest stage, this Juventus side might be the closest to the great side of 1996. Alessandro Del Piero, Fabrizio Ravanelli and current Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane just to name a few, the side that won Juventus's last European cup was littered with quality. However, while brought force and incredible attacking prowess won that competition, this years Juventus side have played with a style based on a rock solid defence. Leading into the final Juve have conceded just three goals throughout their campaign, with only one of those goals being scored from open play. With the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Mehdi Benatia, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro, Dani Alves and Daniele Rugani amongst others, Massimoiliano Allegri has had the opportunity to rotate his defence at his leisure without risking a drop in quality. The has been however the three Italians at the back, Bonucci, Chiellini and Barzagli that have played the majority of the games and proven to truly be an almost immovable object. This incredible defence will however, like any, be beaten. But in this position Juventus are as assured as any side that they will be able to keep the ball out with veteran Italian Buffon between the sticks. Italy's record appearance maker Buffon has been an ever present in the side for over a decade and has this season, proved that like a fine wine he has only gotten better with age. At the age of 39 the Italian is yet to decide when he will hang up the gloves, much to the joy of the Juventus fans, and fans of world football. Gianluigi is a true great and by adding a Champions League winners medal to his extensive collection, he could be considered the greatest goalkeeper of all time, that's if you really need any more clarification.

Cristiano Ronaldo. Need I say any more? Any side with the three Ballon D'or winner amongst their ranks will always cause problems going forward. Today, 14th May 2017, Real Madrid brushed aside Seville 4-1 in the league, and surpassed two goal scoring milestones in the process. As well as Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 400th goal for the club in just his 391st game, Zidane's side scored for the 62 consecutive match, a European record, surpassing Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich side from 2014. In all competitions five Real Madrid first team players have reached double figures for goals this season, and they have had an incredible 19 different goal scorers. When you look at their opponents in June, Juve have only two goalscorers on double figures. The likes of, of course, Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez, Isco (who is in a very rich vain of form at present), Former Juventus striker Morata and Garath Bale, Real have, much like Juventus have in defence, an incredible roster of attackers to call upon. And then you have Sergio Ramos. The man who would lift the famous trophy should Madrid be successful has a history of scoring big goals, including a stoppage time equaliser in the 2014 Champions League final. The Spanish centre back has 10 goals this season, a very impressive return for any non striker, let alone from a defender. If there is anyone who was going to trouble Allegri's defence in the air, it's this man. Then the case of personal pride slips in. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi. The biggest question in football and one which divides opinion like no other. Ronaldo is currently one goal behind Messi in the race for the golden boot in this years competition. Despite Messi's Barcelona being knocked out by Juventus in the Quarter finals, Ronaldo is yet to reach the Argentine's tally of 11 with Ronaldo still on 10 and you know that will be in the back of his mind on the night, for better or for worse.

Both teams involved in the final have two league games remaining, and both sides have the league title firmly within their grasps. Juventus need, as I previously mentioned, just one win to secure the Scudetto, where as Madrid need at least one win and one draw to pip Barcelona to the honour of Spanish champions. Juventus also have the matter of the Coppa Italia to deal with, on the 17th they will face off against Lazio for the first of what could be an historic treble for Juventus. Not only do they have one game more then Madrid in the build up to the final, Juventus's season runs for another week after Madrid's end, giving Real a week's advantage in terms of rest and recovery ahead of the game in Cardiff. Maybe however, this favours Juve as it will allow them to hold onto any momentum they create ahead of the showdown with Madrid. Should Juve win the domestic double ahead of the final, they have just 6 days to wait before playing to complete the treble, compared to Real who don't have a competitive game for over two weeks leading into the game in the Millennium Stadium. Neither side can risk resting their top players during the remainder of their respective run ins, and I'm sure both sets of players will have an eye firmly set on Europe's biggest fixture until the day itself.

Attack vs defence. Real Madrid vs Juventus. Spain vs Italy. We could see the Spanish champions vs Italian champions. The two best sides in their respective countries facing off against each other, this is exactly what the UEFA Champions League is for. It really is too close to call and we could be in for a classic, brute force vs tactical class.

The Not So Special One - What Caused The Fall Of Portugal's Favourite Son?

"Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one." During his first interview with the English media, Jose Mourinho went from a newly established young Portuguese man looking to cement his legacy, to a must see commodity of the English game. When Jose, who still to this day is dubbed as the special one, won the Champions League with FC Porto, he caught the eye of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, which led to Mourinho being appointed by the Russian as the new manager of London club Chelsea in 2004. What followed was Chelsea’s first league title in fifty years, capped off with records for the least goal conceded in history for the English top flight and the most points ever recorded in a thirty eight game season. When you pair these records with a Carling Cup victory and an impressive run in the UEFA Champions League, the football fans of England and around the world, where instantly in awe of the special one. His tenure at Chelsea lasted until 2007 when he departed the club, under mutual consent with the owner. 

However this did not harm his stance as perhaps the best manager in the world and before long was the new boss of Italian giants Inter Milan. Here he continued his eye catching personality, in Italian! Speaking the language fluently in his first interview, claiming to have learnt it in less than three weeks. It was acts like this which kept the world media attracted, and it didn’t take long for the Italians to fall for Jose just as the English media had in the years prior. By the end of 2010 Jose had won all there was to with the Italians, securing a historic treble in his final game! His players had truly came to love their boss, with long standing Inter defender Marco Materazzi sobbing on camera when told of Mourinho’s departure to perhaps the biggest club side in the world. Real Madrid.

Real Madrid, Los Blancos, the galacticos, the team from the Spanish capital are perhaps the biggest in the world, but over the years there is one position where they have struggled to fill with a name deserving of the title, the manager of Real Madrid. During his first season at the Santiago Bernebeau (Real Madrid’s home stadium) Jose led his new side to a points record for the club, however despite this he could only manage his side to second place, with Catalan giants Barcelona winning the Spanish Premier Division title. For the first time in his career, the media did not instantly swoon to the special one upon his arrival in Spain, and instead they questioned his methods. However those methods next season led to Los Blancos secured the league title, finishing 9 points clear of last season’s winners Barcelona. This results led to the Madrid players actually bowing to Jose in the celebrations, showing just how strong Jose’s bond is with his players! Just as much as a group of his players adored him, the media in Spain came to hate the Portuguese manager. In the following season, the relationship between Jose and his captain Iker Casillas soured, which caused major backlash in the media.  "I am loved by some clubs, especially one. In Spain it is different; some people hate me, many of you in this (press) room." This quote was not long before Mourinho said how this season, which turned out to be his last with the club, was the worst of his career!

In the summer of 2013, Mourinho returned to Chelsea, the move the world of football had been expecting since his departure 6 years prior.  He returned to where he was adored by both the fans and the media, and all of the controversial language he had used in his first tenor came with him upon his return to the Premier League.  In his first season back in London, he moulded the current team into one which appeared to be as will to play for him as any before, and by the end of his second year back, his Chelsea team had effectively walked to the title, losing only three games all season and winning manager of the year in the process. Mourinho was as indestructible as ever, which is why what happened next makes no sense.

Just seven months after Chelsea secured the title in impressive fashion, they were placed 16^th and in the midst of a potential relegation battle! This incredible decline lead to Jose Mourinho being released from his contract, the question is what caused this?

Many miniature incidents during the beginning of their season could be the fault of Chelsea’s downfall, the poor form of star men Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas? The spine of José’s title winning team looked a shadow of their former selves. The Portuguese manager has always been controversial but the many derogatory comments made about FA representatives during his final season point to a man under pressure, and lacking support. This backlash from the English media can be pointed to something other than Chelsea’s form. The handling of Eva Carnerio, the former Chelsea physio who has since been fired.  Carnerio rushed onto the pitch during the first game of Jose’s final season at Chelsea to attend to an injury for Eden Hazard after twice being summoned by the referee. Mourinho slammed her actions as unprofessional and banned her from the dugout for the remainder of his tenor as manager.

The actions of the manager appeared to be the actions of a man trying to make an example, and this opinion of his actions where broadcast in the media, meaning for the first time since his first interview in England, Jose did not have the backing of the media.  The backlash was extraordinary and even the players, who has spent the last 24 months falling in love with their boss, had appeared to turn their back on his.  This lead to a side of Mourinho we haven’t seen before in England, a nervous, under pressure man trying to shift the attention from himself. This side of Mourinho drove his players further away from him and before long they players did not appear to want to play for the man. A combination of a barrage from the media and his own players turning a cold shoulder led to Mourinho losing his job in December of 2015.

 If you ask me, it wasn’t Chelsea’s form which led to the changing attitude of the special one. It was the changing attitude of Mourinho, the insistence on shifting the blame, the determination to make himself seem indestructible which eventually led to his destruction and to Chelsea’s incredible fall from grace.