🚨 IFAB agrees on BLUE cards, Poch's ANGER at fans, Southgate's future, Lingard signs for Seoul, Man Utd's ICONIC collaboration and more

Today's round-up, featuring Barcelona, Chelsea, Man Utd, Tottenham and more!

Feb 09, 2024

Good morning everyone! Welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing, delivered ad-free and straight to your inbox as always. Enjoy! :-)

Today’s top stories:

La Liga president Javier Tebas on the chances of Mbappé joining Real Madrid
Man United’s new contract for Kobbie Mainoo
Aleksander Čeferin won’t run for the UEFA presidency in 2027
Plus more from Barcelona, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain

Barcelona

Deco on Rafa Marquez: "He’s improving as a coach. The experience in the academy is great, but he’s young, and we are not working to bring him as first team coach right now.”
Deco on rumours about Mourinho: "He's my friend, but I've not spoken to José for a long time. Thiago Motta? I didn't see many Bologna games as we are busy travelling, I follow other teams. He's doing great but there's nothing with him.”
Deco on interest in signing Aleix Garcia from Girona: "Aleix Garcia is a good player, yes. Based on how we finish the season, we will make our decisions also about him.”

Deco on Guardiola's return: "We are not speaking to any manager, really. Zero talks. Pep Guardiola is under contract with another club, I’d never speak about him - it’d be disrespectful for Man City."
Deco: "We’d like not to sell any top player in the summer. It’d be a mistake to sell Araujo and Frenkie de Jong. I’d like to improve the squad... not to sell players.”
Deco: "It’s almost impossible to replace Busquets. Rodri is the closest but City would never sell him to any club. Kimmich is another top player... but it’s also not easy to sign him. Look at how much Chelsea paid for Caicedo, it’s not easy at all."
Deco on being the agent for Raphinha when he joined Barça: "Arsenal and Chelsea wanted to sign Raphinha. They were both offering way more than Barça. It was Jordi Cruyff who asked me about Raphinha for the first time… I never offered Raphinha to Barça."
The reason why Barcelona are open to selling Jules Kounde this summer [Mundo Deportivo]

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers’ appeal to get the Duncan McGuire deal cleared has been rejected. Deal definitely off now. The saga is over. The player is set to fly back to the USA laster today, and the next steps for his future with Orlando City will be determined upon arrival.

Blue Cards

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) have signed off on a major new rule change. Blue cards will be introduced and be shown for acts of dissent and cynical fouls. The showing of the blue card will also mean that the player receiving it will spend 10 minutes in a ‘sin bin.’

Bournemouth

Bournemouth have activated the clause to make the Luis Sinisterra deal permanent from Leeds United. Documents being prepared, it will be signed and announced this week. Bournemouth will pay £20m.

Chelsea

Pochettino: "The fans (at Villa Park) were fantastic. We need to stop thinking we are the Chelsea from the last 20 years because we are not this Chelsea. We need to move on. Enzo showed why he is here. We didn't have doubts about him, Caicedo or any other young players."
Former Chelsea boss emerges as shock contender for manager role at Barcelona [Sport]
Enzo Fernandez's agent Uriel Perez: "I really don't understand why reports came out of nowhere about Enzo planning to leave Chelsea. We know the plan of the club, plan of the owners. He's happy and wants to stay.”
Si Phillips has the latest on sources revealing Ivan Toney’s summer price tag and whether Chelsea will remain in the running on that basis.

Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson discusses Crystal Palace’s poor form and his own future at the club [pictures from Sky Sports]:

Manager in pole position to replace Hodgson as decision is made [The Guardian]

England

Gareth Southgate when asked about staying on as England coach after the Euros: “I won’t be in a position to make that decision before the tournament. My only focus is to try and win the tournament for England.”

FC Seoul

Official, confirmed. Jesse Lingard joins FC Seoul in South Korea on a two-year contract, deal completed. Lingard signed the contract on Wednesday and it’s a free transfer for the former Manchester United player.
FC Seoul officially welcome Jesse Lingard to the club [pictures from FC Seoul].

Gremio

Gremio have completed a deal to sign former Chelsea and Atlético Madrid striker Diego Costa as a free agent. After the Wolves and Botafogo chapters, now it’s time for Gremio.

Inter

Even after the Asian Cup exit, Mehdi Taremi has confirmed to Inter his plan to join them as a free agent in July. Verbal agreement reached weeks ago as reported, contract ready — time to get it signed and sealed soon. There’s a verbal pact also with Zielinski to join Inter.
Ravanelli is ‘curious to see how Inter will play against Atletico Madrid’ [Radio Sportiva]

La Liga

La Liga president Javier Tebas on Kylian Mbappé: “I said it was around 50% some weeks ago, now is even more. 55/60% chances? Yes, I think so. Every day that passes and Mbappé does not sign the new contract with PSG, the percentage increases.”
Arsenal scouting La Liga talent with eye-catching release clause [The Mirror]
Tebas on more signings for Real Madrid in case they bring in Mbappé: “Alphonso Davies and more? I don’t know the costs of Mbappé deal but in any case, Real have an excellent financial situation. They never did crazy things in the recent years.”

Manchester United

Erik ten Hag on Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans being out of contract in June: “We haven’t made the decision yet.”
United have already prepared a new contract proposal for Kobbie Mainoo. Initial discussions already took place with his camp to advance talks for a new deal. United want Kobbie to be a crucial part of the project with a salary rise also included.
Barcelona’s main priority is to tie €80m Man United target down to a new contract [Sport]
Man United have released an iconic ‘Roses are Red’ collaboration with The Stone Roses, that includes lemons instead of footballs on the club badge, the unmistakable artwork of guitarist John Squire and red, white and blue detailing [pictures from Man United].

Nations League

Who’s going to win the Nations League? Group stages start in September 2024, Final Four scheduled for June 2025.

Orlando City

Luis Muriel to Orlando City, here we go! Deal completed as documents have been signed for the Colombian striker to join the MLS side. It’s a permanent transfer with immediate effect, and Atalanta will receive around €2m. The player will have his medical later on today.

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi on Kylian Mbappé. “When we have both decided, we will let you know what’s going to happen with Mbappé.”

Torino

Gennaro Gattuso is one of the most appreciated managers on Torino’s list for next season. It will depend on Ivan Jurić’s decision on future steps — and of course on what Gattuso and Marseille decide as the next steps, but Torino appreciate Gattuso, for sure.
Mourinho ‘wanted to coach Messi, De Rossi and Totti’ [Ohm]

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham director Johan Lange on Lucas Bergvall: “We want to be the ideal club for top talents. He’s 18 but very mature, he has great potential. He will join in the summer and be part of the first-team squad, it's just for him to adapt to this new environment.”

Johan Lange on why they invested in Radu Dragusin: “We've seen Radu being very strong for Genoa over a long period. He has the speed and he's very strong in the one on one’s. He’s just turned 22, a very young player with a lot of growth for the future.”
Tottenham ace will certainly leave the club if Postecoglou stays as manager [Il Bianconero]