‘IT’S ALL OVER NOW, BABY BLUE’
Julián Álvarez has celebrated victories in the World Cup, Copa América (twice), the Copa Libertadores, Big Cup, two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. The only missing accolade from his collection seems to be a Big Sports Day gold medal after France eliminated Argentina in a heated encounter. At just 24, Álvarez’s accomplishments (yes, accomplishments!) undoubtedly signify he’s an elite player. Yet, he still falls short of being a staple in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City setup. Throughout the past season, the City fans had their frustrations directed towards the once-dominant Argentine, who didn’t quite meet the lofty expectations. He struggled to align with the complex strategies etched on Guardiola’s tactical board.
Given the amount of football he’s played, with no summer break since 2020, fatigue could be a factor, yet he hasn’t shined as a winger, a backup center-forward for Erling Haaland, or even in a more withdrawn midfield position. Atlético Madrid recognizes his potential, having made a substantial bid of £81.5m for him. Diego Simeone has a knack for revitalizing overlooked strikers, as seen with Antoine Griezmann, Diego Costa, Álvaro Morata, and Luis Suárez. Simeone prefers his forwards to display vigor and tenacity, allowing them to seize opportunities while the rest of the squad goes about their business – to borrow a phrase from Scotland and Lions rugby hero Jim Telfer.
This is where Conor Gallagher comes into play. Although his minutes at Euro 2024 were limited, he effectively showcased his readiness to tackle anything that moved. Simeone has a history of working with hard-nosed Premier League players who possess some finesse, utilizing talents like Kieran Trippier (who won a La Liga title) and Matt Doherty, with varying degrees of success. Gallagher leaves the Premier League with a heavier heart than Álvarez. He is yet another casualty of Chelsea’s strategy focused on “pure profit” sales, meaning they prioritize offloading youth products before getting the most out of them as a result of past reckless transfer practices. While previous, financially-strapped administrations had to part ways with Jimmy Greaves and Butch Wilkins, Chelsea in 2024 would have readily sold Peter Osgood and John Terry too.
A native of Surrey and an Epsom Eagle, Gallagher has grown up in the orbit of Chelsea but is being sold prematurely, serving as a statistical reminder of a system indifferent to individual careers. “It’s unfortunate because we often admire loyalty to a single club, but the rules have changed,” remarked Chelsea’s current manager, Enzo Maresca, acknowledging the unfortunate reality of players being traded like commodities in football’s bustling marketplace. The sport’s tendency to consume its young talent remains unyielding.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
I have a photo on my phone that I look at daily. It’s a picture of me wearing both winners’ medals along with another one featuring my entire family beside the Bundesliga trophy,” Nathan Tella shares with Ed Aarons about his journey from being a loanee at Burnley to securing the league and cup double with Bayer Leverkusen.
Referring to Peter Shearer’s roundabout route to Craven Cottage from Arsenal (as mentioned in Football Daily letters), I believe he would find taking the Piccadilly line to Earls Court, the District line to Putney Bridge, followed by a stroll along the Thames path to be a bit quicker and would help prevent any congestion on the 220 route down the Fulham Palace Road. A walk along the Thames would also be more picturesque, and the additional estimated seven minutes wouldn’t be a bother for someone capable of running that distance. However, good luck reaching Motspur Park for training,” states Neil Baynham.
I seriously doubt that Premier League clubs are focused on lessons learned during pre-season summer tours in distant nations (as previously discussed in yesterday’s Football Daily). They simply aim to maximize financial gains,” notes Peter Oh.
The Brighton official who referred to Pascal Gross as the club’s ‘best Premier League signing concerning his contribution on the field’ (as revisited in Football Daily letters) was probably a familiar face at the Witch Inn in Lindfield. He recognized that if Albion hadn’t secured Gerry Ryan back in the days when the second division was known as the Second Division in 1978, the local would not have welcomed a highly popular landlord once his playing career ended,” writes David Carr.
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