🚨 Latest on crucial new Arsenal deal, why Barcelona beat Chelsea to forward signing, Newcastle star on potential AC Milan return & more

Sep 21, 2023

Good morning everyone and welcome to today’s Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading and hope you enjoy!

Today’s top stories:

Sandro Tonali: “Return to AC Milan one day? I don’t know… I’d pay to know my future. Maybe yes, maybe not. Football is strange. I’m not closing the door to AC Milan. I can’t and won’t hide my love, passion for Milan.”
Does Fikayo Tomori have a buy-back clause and what is his value now?

What’s the latest on Martin Odegaard’s contract and can Arsenal win the Champions League?
Mikel Arteta: “I was really emotional tonight when I saw the reception for Emile Smith-Rowe. It was well deserved.”

Official, confirmed: Alejandro Balde has signed new deal valid until June 2028 as Barcelona player. His new deal has a €1bn release clause.
Frenkie de Jong: “My contract renewal? My agent is taking care of that, but I’m happy here”. De Jong always wanted to stay at Barcelona as he loves the club and the city.
Joao Felix: “It’s true, I gave up important amount of money to join Barca. I needed to change, I wanted to join this club.”
Could Chelsea have kept Felix? Full details here.
How well have Barca done to get their wage bill down? More here.
Joao Cancelo: “Manchester City is the best team in the world, yes… but when Barcelona calls you, you have to go. I really wanted this club.”

Does Harry Kane really have a buy-back clause with Tottenham? Full info here.
How good would it be to see Kane back in the Premier League? [Pictures courtesy of Spurs TV/YouTube]

Jurgen Klopp on the German national team job: “I am committed to loyalty to Liverpool. My heart is here in Liverpool. You can’t just cut out the last eight years. I signed a contract here and, as far as I can remember, I wasn’t drugged or tied up when I signed it… my clear decision.”

Manchester City are poised to sign talented England U17 midfielder Divine Mukasa from West Ham - here we go, confirmed. A long term deal has been agreed and will be formally sealed in the next 48 hours. City keep going for best talents as their academy remains crucial part of the club’s project.
Joao Cancelo: “Manchester City is the best team in the world, yes… but when Barcelona calls you, you have to go. I really wanted this club.”

Andre Onana requested to speak after the game… “It’s my responsibility, because of me we didn’t win — and I have to learn from it. I have a lot to prove, because to be honest my start in Man United is not so good. It was me who let the team down.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: “We wanted Jude Bellingham at Manchester United badly — he was one of my top targets at the club. Jude chose Dortmund and I respect that.”
Solskjaer has named some HUGE signings he requested at Man Utd - full details here.
Solskjaer has also made a big admission about the decision to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo - more here.

Marcelino has left his position as Olympique Marseille manager - he parts ways with the club with immediate effect. It’s over after three wins, three draws and one defeat - UCL playoff lost. Pancho Abardonado will take over as interim coach.

Sandro Tonali: “Return to AC Milan one day? I don’t know… I’d pay to know my future. Maybe yes, maybe not. Football is strange. I’m not closing the door to AC Milan. I can’t and won’t hide my love, passion for Milan.”

French media reported that Lionel Messi told Vitinha last January: “Not only you are weak, but you’re hurting me. I don’t usually comment on anything about the press, but this time I have to say it. It is completely false that this happened.”
Luis Enrique: “If I were a fan of any team, I’d pay for ticket to see Dembele play. He has different qualities. He can miss three times but he’s magic. He’s a wonderful player. He will score soon.”

Jude Bellingham this season: 6 games as Real Madrid player, 6 goals and 1 assist. An unbelievable football player and surely the signing of the summer.
Watch his latest goal here!

First UCL goal and Man of the Match award for Roko Simic with RB Salzburg. One to keep an eye on as tonight there were top clubs scouts following talent born in 2003.

Jose Mourinho: “I will keep saying that until my final day as a manager — we did not lose the Europa League final against Sevilla. We did NOT lose that final in Budapest and I won’t change my mind.”

Despite what Daniel Levy has said, Harry Kane’s buy-back clause is not entirely what it sounds like - full details here.
Ivan Perisic has torn his ACL and will miss the next 5-6 months, as Tottenham confirm. Perisic is a fantastic professional who will now work hard to be back and help Spurs in March/April… then Euro2024 with Croatia, feeling he can do it.

Vincenzo Montella has become the new Turkish national team head coach on a three year contract. An agreement was reached on Tuesday and is set to be completed.