Four Four Two

MARADOnA TH MESSI YOaMUnRACsqwKLueAEer+ULsetEdDioLEnEs THE P6 TRUTH WILLIAN Why Man City have been on his mind for a decade – and why “Arteta will be among some at Barça want him gone world’s best managers” BERBATOV VS THE MAFIA! YEBOAH 23 bonkers transfer bust-ups On Leeds, thunderbolts and Yorkshire puddings AnCELOTTI • SPURS • AKInFEnWA • LIVERPOOL • ADU • JOHnnY MARR



Future PLC Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA WELCOME WAnT Phone 01225 442244 Email [email protected] MORE? To contact an individual, email fi[email protected] Lionel Messi stunned football when he told Barcelona that he wanted to leave in August. His move was more FInD US Editorial than a transfer request: it was a major political act that HERE... exacerbated the many issues plaguing life in Catalonia. Editor James Andrew Deputy Editor Joe Brewin FOURFOURTWO.COM Art Director Anthony Moore Senior Staff Writer Chris Flanagan In this issue, we get to the heart of what really happened @FOURFOURTWO Chief Sub Editor Gregg Davies in a stormy summer, speaking to those behind the scenes @FOURFOURTWOUK Online Editor Conor Pope about the root of his unhappiness. What does the fallout FACEBOOK.COM/ Staff Writer Mark White Staff Writer Ed McCambridge mean right now? And then that big question: will Messi be FOURFOURTWO Editor at Large Andy Mitten a Premier League player in 2021? FOURFOURTWO Thanks to He’s not the only Argentine in focus this month, however. Huw Davies Love him or hate him, you can’t ignore Diego Maradona or Contributors his colourful existence on and off the pitch. As he turns 60, Marcus Alves, Patrick Barclay, Paul Brown, Caio Carrieri, we celebrate one of the game’s greatest ever entertainers Sean Cole, Richard Edwards, Chris Evans, Emanuele Giulianelli, in the form of untold stories from a crazy career. Andy Greeves, Martin Harasimowicz, Si Hawkins, Steve Hill, Louis Massarella, Martin Mazur, Nick Moore, Leo Moynihan, Elsewhere, we chat to a cheery Willian after Andrew Murray, Gary Parkinson, Sam Pilger, Felipe Rocha, his switch from Chelsea to Arsenal, while the Paul Simpson, Jon Spurling, Tim Stillman, Ivan Tomic man who had a midfield role named after Photography him, Claude Makelele, tackles your questions PA, Getty, Offside, iStock, Reuters. on his time with Real Madrid, Chelsea and All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected beyond. Leeds hero Tony Yeboah settles the Advertising debate about his Wimbledon and Liverpool Media packs are available on request crackers, and Douglas Ross – leader of the Account Director Richard Hemmings Scottish Conservative Party – discusses his [email protected] alter ego as an elite assistant referee. International Licensing FourFourTwo is available for licensing. 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78 24 28 ASK A SILLY QUESTION 60 YOU ASK... FEATURES 6 Claude Makelele on Galacticos, 32 Lionel Messi: what’s next? Blues glory and laundry baskets The world’s best player wanted to leave boyhood club Barça this UPFRONT summer – but will Man City get their way? FFT finds out what’s 12 Pele’s shock tryst with Batman gone wrong from key insiders 18 Jamie Redknapp’s finest games 19 Freddy Adu is back – in Sweden... 42 The finest transfer bust-ups 22 Johnny Marr talks Man City Heard the one about the club 23 The world’s weirdest local derby whose owners keep getting 24 Louis Saha: baffled by Babybel assassinated? Roll up, roll up... 26 The greatest EFL bosses ranked 28 Q&A: Gonzalo Higuain on Miami 48 Willian pulls up a pew Arsenal’s ace on leaving Chelsea, smashing records and Shakhtar 90 92 54

3242 FEATURES FEATURES 70 54 Carlo Ancelotti’s redemption 78 Maradona: the untold tales 66 After six tough years, can he FFT delves into seven forgotten now guide Everton to success? stories about the Argentina legend, from a bonkers career 60 Qatar: the road to 2022 that thrilled, wowed and baffled Political strife and scepticism is not holding the Maroons back 98 Darren Bent picks a Perfect XI 66 Douglas Ross’ double life THE PLAYERS LOUNGE The Scottish Tory leader is also an elite UEFA official by night 90 Adebayo Akinfenwa talks Iraq 92 Park Ji-sung’s Fergie memories 70 Tony Yeboah interview 93 Jose Enrique goes in goal The ex-Leeds striker chats FFT 94 Jeff Winter: chased out of Toon through his iconic thunderbolts – and why Yorkshire puds ruled 6 48 CLAUDE MAKELELE

YOU ASK Interview Arthur Renard THE QUESTIONS “In my first month at Real Madrid, other work. It was that moment when the whole stadium booed when I moved with my family from Kinshasa I touched the ball. It was difficult. to the suburbs of Paris – I was about But then we started winning...” five years old. CLAUDE MAKELELE Although he had played himself, my father didn’t really want me to become a footballer when I was growing up. He knew exactly what kind of sacrifices you have to make, and didn’t want me to go through that. But I pushed him, as I was desperate to play, and in the end there was no choice but to let me go for it. When I started getting close to becoming a professional, he offered me crucial insight into what it actually means to be a footballer. I left the family home when I was 16 to play in the Brest academy. I’d often train with the first team players there, so I was able to develop among older people. I’d frequently be on the phone to my father, though, as I only went back home during the holidays. I spent roughly a year and a half there in all; unfortunately the club went bankrupt and I was free to go. H e landed top-flight titles tells FourFourTwo over a coffee in leafy my friends in the French streets, I saw Having spent your formative years at Nantes, Real Madrid Cobham, near Chelsea’s training base. Pele. He was probably a reference for in northern France, how did you end and Chelsea, hoisted the everyone at that time. My father was up at Nantes? Champions League trophy It’s all a very long way from Kinshasa, a player, too: he played for the national Loïc Lafaille, Carquefou and played in four major tournaments where he once hoped to follow in his team of Zaire [now the Democratic Several professional teams wanted to with France – but Claude Makelele’s footballing father’s footsteps. A job well Republic of the Congo] and a number sign me after I left Brest. Clubs such as greatest accolade is more lasting than done, you might say… of Belgian sides, but I never got to see Monaco, Montpellier and Auxerre were all of those achievements. him play live. He fled the Mobutu [Sese interested, but my dad advised me to More than 17 years after he swapped Which players did you admire most Seko] regime in Zaire and ended up as join Nantes because they had one of the Bernabeu for Stamford Bridge and when you were growing up? Did you a refugee in Belgium, where he played the best academies in Europe. He went perfected the art of unselfish midfield take anything from them? in the second division for a few years. to have a look at the facilities, and felt destroying, Makelele still has a position Donal J O’Driscoll, via Facebook He then stopped playing and travelled they would offer the best possibility to named after him: football’s universal It wasn’t like I was in awe of particular to France, where he stayed to do some develop. Nantes had a good reputation benchmark for grafters at the coalface. players, but when I started playing with when it came to the technical side of However, it wasn’t the Frenchman, the game, like their playing philosophy understated as ever, who trumpeted of one and two-touch football inspired his value to the world. Peers regularly by former manager Jose Arribas in the pointed in his direction when asked to 1960s and ’70s. reveal their indispensable team-mates. Famously, Zinedine Zidane responded There were a lot of people connected to Real Madrid’s recruitment of David to other teams who were pushing my Beckham in 2003 – tied to Makelele’s father, and even offering him plenty of exit that summer – with the words, money in order to secure my signature. “Why put another layer of gold paint But he always focused on the gradual on the Bentley when you’re losing the path where my development would be entire engine?” important, and where I would enjoy These days, a 47-year-old Makelele my football the most. I wasn’t focused is still helping others but in his position on earning loads of money or any kind as a technical mentor for Chelsea’s of celebrity status. I was just dreaming academy players. He’s taken up several about becoming a professional player. coaching roles around Europe since My adaptation was pretty quick, and it hanging up his boots back in 2011. “All felt like I’d been with Nantes for years my life I’ve been in football, so I want [left]. It surprised people, as suddenly to give back my experience,” Makelele I was lining up alongside players like Jorge Burruchaga, Christian Karembeu and Japhet N’Doram. 6 December 2020 FourFourTwo

YOU ASK CLUBS (PLAYER) 1991–97 Nantes 1997–98 Marseille 1998–2000 Celta Vigo 2000–03 Real Madrid 2003–08 Chelsea 2008–11 PSG COUNTRY 1995–2008 France CLUBS (MANAGER) 2014 Bastia 2017-19 Eupen

YOU ASK Just how good was that Nantes side? Clockwise from right You won the league title in 1994-95, Marseille brought plenty then reached the Champions League to grimace about; Real semi-finals the following season... Madrid was a different Michel Blanc, Tours story; Ronaldo: decent; We had a very good team and played “Got the ball, ref”; Celta good, proper football. We deserved to Vigo were a force during win the league. Manager Jean-Claude Makelele’s time there Suaudeau was the key to our success that season. He took many players out of the academy – there was no money to buy others. That was also a problem for Nantes, because they couldn’t keep all of their best players and had to sell some. They needed the money. But my development went well and I evolved as a player there. I played further forward when I was young, and around my 17th birthday I began playing in behind the striker – a bit like my dad, who was a playmaker. I played as a winger when I first broke into Nantes’ side, although sometimes I’d drop into central midfield as well. How did you end up at Marseille in I was playing like a central midfielder I usually did more of the attacking as didn’t want to sell. After the second 1997 – and for only one year before then, as we already had really good I was much younger! [Laughs] I had to season, it was the same. I eventually moving to Spain? attacking players, and I started to like run up and down the pitch all the time. agreed to sign for Valencia and was Alfred Sardou, Marseille my new position. I realised that I’d be determined to go there, but Araujo still Nantes had started to sell their better involved in the game even more, and How did your transfer to Real Madrid didn’t want to sell me. I had to push players, like Karembeu, Patrice Loko, from that position you can manage come about in 2000? Your agent later for it again. Finally, my father arrived Nicolas Ouedec and Reynald Pedros. the team – you’re always around the revealed he faked a police report to to negotiate, and he indicated there I felt I wasn’t progressing any more, ball. I was playing with Mazinho, who make it happen, claiming Celta fans were several teams interested in me but the manager didn’t want to let me had won the World Cup with Brazil [in had attacked your car – is that true?! who could pay Celta a lot of money. go. Around that time, Real Zaragoza’s 1994]. I learned a lot, and would often Rob Carey, Dorset The conversation took an unexpected manager Victor Fernandez – who had stay after training to practise with him. That was said to make his book more twist, though, when Araujo said that won the European Cup Winners’ Cup He taught me exactly how to position interesting – you always need spice in he wanted me to join Real Madrid. My final against Arsenal [in 1995] – came myself as a midfielder, and made me a book. [Laughs] The way it happened father was like, “Why didn’t you tell us in for me. But I didn’t want to go there improve every day. During matches we was different. After my first season at before? Madrid are the best team in then; my dream was to move to Italy, would switch between defensive and Celta, many clubs came in for me, but the world!” I needed to wait, however, Europe’s best competition at the time. offensive duties in midfield, although the president [Horacio Gomez Araujo] as Real were holding their presidential That didn’t happen, so when Marseille came calling, I was allowed to leave. I signed for four years, but it didn’t go well as the coach [Rolland Courbis] made me play at right-back, among other positions. I wasn’t happy about that, as it wasn’t my football. I didn’t enjoy it, and I didn’t make the French squad for the 1998 World Cup. At the end of the season, I said I wanted to leave. I had to push for it, but I got my transfer – to Celta Vigo in Spain, where Fernandez had become the manager. What was it like to play in that Celta Vigo team, which pulled off several terrific results against bigger clubs? James Dixon, London I enjoyed it a lot at Celta actually – we had a very strong team. We played the best football in Spain, I’m telling you. We beat Real Madrid so many times – 5-1 in one game. We had some great nights in the UEFA Cup, too, beating sides like Liverpool, Aston Villa, Benfica and Juventus. I scored in two of those games, including a first-minute goal against Juve when we beat them 4-0. 8 December 2020 FourFourTwo

“REAL INITIALLY TOLD like wildfire everywhere we travelled: it What was it like to be the glue which they acted where other players need ME I’D RECEIVE A WAGE was like being at Disneyland. [Laughs] kept that side together? How much more time. You feel freedom, playing INCREASE, THEN THEY In Madrid, I learned that I couldn’t go did you actually feel valued, when alongside talent like that. We linked up BOUGHT BECKHAM AND to certain places or do shopping – that team-mates were paid much more? well, as I’d already played as a forward WITHDREW THE OFFER” was practically impossible. Whenever @spursdab, via Twitter and a winger – if there was no passing you went outside your house at night, I honestly felt a lot of recognition and option, I could dribble with the ball, too. election between Florentino Perez and there was always a chance of coming appreciation from my team-mates and I wasn’t just doing the defensive work. Lorenzo Sanz at the time. I explained across paparazzi. It’s a different life. my coach [Del Bosque]. A good coach to Valencia’s president that Celta were sees your exact value to the team; he We had outstanding players, but also selling me to Real, and he understood. The team was called the Galacticos, knew my position and that I was key an excellent manager in Del Bosque. In the meantime, I spoke to Sanz and but it was just a name. Playing for Real for balance. At Madrid I began to focus He made the difference. There were 11 we reached an agreement. Sanz then Madrid was the greatest reference you on the defensive midfielder’s role, as players on the pitch, but also 11 on the lost the election, but manager Vicente could have in football, though. When I rarely needed to venture over halfway bench – all of them big internationals. del Bosque told Perez that he wanted your performance was good, the fans when we had some of the world’s best Del Bosque managed everyone well, as me as well. So, at long last, I completed put you in the sky. But it could be the attacking players on the pitch. I knew players knew exactly why they were or my move to Madrid. other way, too. that we could score loads of goals with weren’t featuring. He didn’t talk much, players like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, but when he did we listened. How did you find life at the Bernabeu Did you feel much pressure on the Raul and Luis Figo, so why would I ever as a Galactico? pitch, at a club with so many stars? need to go upfield? [Laughs] My duty What happened in the summer of Paavan Mohindru, via Instagram Davinder Malhi, Sheffield was just to try to make it easy for them. 2003, when you left Real Madrid? The moment you join, you know that I initially faced a lot of pressure. I was In the beginning, I even played at the Frank Hayman, via Instagram you’re at a different kind of club. They playing in Fernando Redondo’s position back occasionally alongside Fernando After my third year there, the board of give you big books about their history. and he was like a god to the Real fans Hierro, with whom I established a very directors told me they were very happy When you look at them, straight away – he’d left the club against his will that good connection. However, after that with my performances, and mentioned you realise it’s about winning trophies. summer. In my first month there, the my game was centred on the second that they would reward me by raising That’s something printed in your mind. whole stadium booed when I touched line in front of the defence. my wages a bit at the start of the new When you’re not playing well you have the ball. It was very difficult. My father season. I was happy about that. I was a difficult time, because you’re under emphasised that it was imperative to There have been stories of the wage at the best team in the world, so why constant scrutiny from the press. They continue playing my game, regardless differences between me and some of would I want to go anywhere? Then we do all kinds of comparisons and come of what was happening around me. He the other guys, but I never compared bought David Beckham, and when we up with conclusions like, ‘This player is said, “The more you play, the more the myself to anyone. I wasn’t preoccupied returned from our overseas tour, I was not for Madrid’. Every day it’s like that. fans will adapt to you. Once the team with it. I never insisted in negotiations, told the rise wasn’t possible any more; is winning, they will forget.” And that’s ‘I want this because he’s getting that’. I could only sign a contract extension You don’t really live in freedom; you what happened. Later, they started to I concentrated on myself all the time. on the same terms. When I reminded become the property of Real Madrid love me, as I was doing my job and we them of their previous offer, I was told and its fans. On pre-season tours, such had some success. In my first season Ronaldo was pretty good, wasn’t he? I should be happy to play for Real, and as in Thailand, the excitement spread we won the league, which they hadn’t Zak Burton, Hemel Hempstead that I – so to speak – should be happy done for a few years, and in my second He could see things on the pitch before to play for nothing. I felt like I was done we won the Champions League. anyone else did. Zidane was the same: and wanted to leave. FourFourTwo December 2020 9

YOU ASK There were no offers for me at first, as no club believed I could leave Real. But when I started to push a little bit and the situation came to light, a lot of teams quickly came in. I told Madrid’s directors about the interest, but they claimed they hadn’t received anything. They probably thought I would accept the situation and not talk to any other clubs. When they realised the problem was very serious, though, they wanted to react – but it was too late. They even came back to me and offered the same salary that some of the star players in the squad were earning. But my mind was made up to get away. What convinced you to join what was Left to right Bixente HIGHS & LOWS then a transitional Chelsea side that Lizarazu pitches for hadn’t yet won the Premier League? The Frenchest Man In HIGH: 1995 Lewis Eadie, via Instagram History; success came Part of a Nantes side that wins I went to Chelsea because they came in different forms at the Division 1 title by 10 points in first. After that, several other teams Real Madrid and PSG; approached me, including Manchester winning leagues and LOW: 1998 United and Inter, who had tried to sign defining roles during Not in France’s World Cup squad me before I moved to Real. Due to the five years at Chelsea after a tough year at Marseille way things were happening at Madrid, I told Chelsea, “If I go, I’ll come to you.” I gave them a promise. They went to great lengths to sign me, as I was 30 by then but they still paid a significant transfer fee [£16.8 million]. How did you find the first few years of a few years. Normally it takes time HIGH: 2002 when I was playing at Chelsea during under Roman Abramovich’s rule at for a team to establish a spirit like we Wins Champions League final with the latter years of my career. Of course, Chelsea? What changed at the club? did. I remember us playing cards while it’s a big honour, because every player Dominic Howard, Tunbridge Wells we were together preparing for games, Real Madrid against Leverkusen would like to leave something behind What changed was that Abramovich just to relax and have a laugh. It made in the game. I appreciated it – it made attracted some world-class players to for a good ambience within the squad. LOW: 2008 me believe that I did something good. the club. That’s what the boss did very No club in the world wanted to play us Loses Champions League final with well because, before then, those kind in that period. Chelsea against Manchester United On two occasions in your career, you of players would move to Manchester decided to come out of international United or Arsenal. I first played under What went through your mind when HIGH: 2010 retirement to play for France again. Claudio Ranieri, before Jose Mourinho Jose Mourinho suddenly sprung out Aged 37, skippers PSG to Coupe de What happened exactly? replaced him a year later. I had a good of a laundry basket before the game France final victory against Monaco Christophe Berger, London relationship with both – I always had against Bayern Munich in 2005? Did The French team had some problems a good relationship with my managers you know he was in there?! to the boss [Abramovich]. He gave us and were in danger of not qualifying throughout my career. Dean Jex, Lowestoft a lot, so you wanted to give something for the 2006 World Cup. I was called When I came into the dressing room, back to him. It was a shame to lose on up again [by Raymond Domenech], Do you think the Chelsea of 2004-08 he was already there – I didn’t witness penalties. I wasn’t too high on the list along with Zidane and Lilian Thuram, should be considered the best team the laundry basket arriving in the room. to take one. I was better at playing on as we were still playing at a high club never to win the Champions League? [Laughs] When I saw him I was quite the pitch – penalties weren’t my thing! level. But it wasn’t really a call; more Is that among the biggest regrets of surprised, like, ‘Uhhh?!’ The way he did [FFT: Why did you leave Chelsea after an obligation – because I didn’t want your career? it, no one from outside noticed. He was losing that final?] I wanted to go back to go back. I had an agreement with Ese Agboaye, via Facebook only there before the match to give us to France, to be close to my family. I’d Chelsea that I would focus solely on It’s not my biggest regret, because I’d some advice and little things like that. lived away from home throughout my them, but when the French squad was already won the Champions League When we came back in at half-time, he career. When the possibility arose to announced, I had to return. When we with Real Madrid. I don’t know whether wasn’t there any more. join Paris Saint-Germain, Abramovich came back there were a few matches that Chelsea side was the best team helped me leave in a good way and let left, including an important game in never to win it, but we did brilliantly in Despite not being an ever-present in me go for nothing, because I was still Ireland. We managed to win that one that competition. In my five seasons the 2007-08 league campaign, you on a running deal at Chelsea. at Chelsea, we reached the semi-finals played in every Champions League four times, including one final in 2008. tie. How did it feel, going all the way How does it feel to hear about ‘the Not many clubs manage that, and a lot to Moscow and then losing? Makelele role’? Who coined it? Does of them spend billions trying to win it. Oliver Grant, Basingstoke that recognition mean a lot to you? Chelsea created that team very quickly Obviously it was a big disappointment. Ben Marsden, via Instagram and, as well as coming extremely close When you get so close, the appetite is I think reporters and TV commentators in the Champions League, we won all huge, especially as I wanted to win the initially started saying it. It happened of the domestic honours in the space Champions League to give that trophy 10 December 2020 FourFourTwo

YOU ASK you don’t get results, though, the club can’t wait – that’s the business you’re in. It doesn’t matter if you’re Zidane; it’s like this, and I accept that’s the job. I remember speaking to Ancelotti, and he told me that when he was starting out as a manager, it was difficult for him as well – he had to learn his way. It’s important that you don’t give up. After leaving Bastia, I took on a role for UEFA as a technical observer around Euro 2016. In that same period I also acted as a sporting director at Monaco, where one of the things I did was help persuade Kylian Mbappe to stay. What do you like about coaching and which managers have inspired you? Jamal Taylor, Huddersfield I like being a coach because so many players never believe in the potential they have. I find it really important to get that out. That’s what I love about it: developing and improving talented players. I feel a good connection with them because I’m direct – I tell them the truth and explain what they do or don’t do well. That’s something that I liked about Mourinho. He’s a winner and he tells you the truth – you can speak to him, and he’ll tell you what’s right and what’s wrong. That’s crucial. It depends on the players you have, of course, as some will be stronger than others. Occasionally, you’ve got to be careful in the way that you say things. You have to feel the moment and try to level with them. 1-0 thanks to a Thierry Henry goal, and “MAnCHESTER UnITED PSG and worked alongside director of What tempted you back to Chelsea topped our qualifying group in the end. AnD InTER CAME In football Leonardo. But I’m not a guy in 2019, and what is your role with FOR ME, BUT CHELSEA for the office, and after a few months the club these days? After the World Cup, where we got to PHOnED FIRST AnD Leonardo proposed that I support new Archie Atkinson, Reading the final, I decided to retire again, but I’D PROMISED THEM” manager Carlo Ancelotti on the pitch – It was nice to return to Stamford Bridge then I was asked to help France qualify I knew the league, the players and the with some other former team-mates for Euro 2008. I agreed to stay and we the young players in the team, such as language. For me, it was also a good like Frank Lampard and Petr Cech. I’m did qualify for that Euros, although we Mamadou Sakho, develop, giving them idea because I could gain some useful working as a technical mentor for the were knocked out in the group stage belief that they could be great players coaching experience. I assisted Carlo academy and loan players, which I find after losing to Holland and Italy. Then who had a chance of joining big clubs and Laurent Blanc for several seasons very interesting as I deal with a lot of I stopped for good. in the future. before eventually deciding to become different departments. You speak with a head coach myself. the players about their performances How do you look back on your spell After I ended my on the pitch, and about their personal with Paris Saint-Germain? You joined playing career in How has your experience of coaching development off the pitch. the club pre-takeover, when they had 2011, I wanted been so far? You had a baptism of fire almost been relegated the season to stay in football. This position has given me some new before. How soon did things change? It’s difficult to leave at Bastia [left] in 2014 – what experiences, which add nicely to the Charly Kay, via Instagram it behind you, and I wanted went wrong there? last few years where I’ve touched on I have very fond memories of my time to give back my experience Ruth Green, Toronto a lot of different disciplines, like being in Paris. We managed to challenge the – all the positive things I’ve When I arrived, we had a very in director roles. That gave me a better top sides, and started qualifying for the achieved in my career. When small squad and no money to understanding of all the politics within Europa League instead of battling to I finished playing, I stayed at football, which you don’t understand avoid the drop. The club enjoyed more invest in players. So, we had when you’re a player. Once you finish stability. I played there for three years, to track down some free your career, football turns out to be so and in that spell PSG made a number ones, and I was able to different. Those experiences make me of standout signings, like Ludovic Giuly convince quite a few to much more of an all-round coach, too. from Roma and Gregory Coupet from join the club. I started I’m still focused on that side of things, Atletico Madrid. I tried to help some of to build the team, but because I love that job, but I need the that takes time. When time to wait for a good project. Right now, I’m developing well in my role at Chelsea, which is fulfilling. FourFourTwo December 2020 11

MEAnWHILE In… ...San Sebastian, Real Sociedad’s rise to the top of La Liga was all down to a sinister masked man with an axe “WHAT’S YOUR BEEF, PAL?” he’s come up with a scheme that helped fire the San If you thought such weird traditions were a thing of Sebastian high-fliers to Spain’s summit early on. the past, you’d be wrong – Iruki are awarding a steak 1 to the first goalscorer at every home game this term. With an axe-wielding maniac setting up Txuleton steak is a delicacy in the Basque country – stall on the edge of the penalty area, it’s little wonder Real Sociedad used to award the prized meat to their That was enough of an incentive for homegrown that Real Sociedad have been so tough to beat in the man of the match and John Aldridge became known hero Mikel Oyarzabal, who bagged two steaks running opening stages of the new La Liga season. as ‘The King of the Txuleton’, tucking in after each after netting in a 3-0 triumph over Getafe, then a 4-1 Well OK, he’s not actually a maniac – his name is of his 40 strikes from 1989-91 following a £1 million win over Huesca. He may weigh 20 stone by the end Jon Gorostiaga, president of the Iruki beef firm, and move from Liverpool. of the season, but at least he’ll have a winner’s medal. 12 December 2020 FourFourTwo

UPFROnT MAKE PUMPKINS “HELP, I’M TRAPPED IN SKULL-DUGGERY MANE ATTRACTION 2 GREAT AGAIN 3 A CAPPUCCINO!” 4 5 Halloween is far too tame for If we’d told you at the start Before England was sent back into If you’ve always wanted a cappuccino the folks of Mexico: there, they gleefully of 2020 that lions would be driving lockdown, there were Halloween with Lionel Messi’s face in it, head to celebrate the Day of the Dead – and buses around London by autumn, celebrations aplenty in Cheshire – the Bulgarian city of Varna. several Liga MX clubs unveiled one-off you’d probably have been surprised. and even Jurgen Klopp joined in. kits to mark the occasion. Now, though, it seems about right. Barista Vladimir Stoev has become Naturally, Santos Laguna’s kit launch Thankfully it wasn’t a real lion – that Some plans ran smoother than famous in Bulgaria for his coffee art, featured a bloke holding a skull. “The could have got very ugly, particularly others: a drive-in movie at Chester’s previously drawing faces for Cristiano green and white should be defended if you’d tried to board the bus without Deva Stadium was almost cancelled Ronaldo and Vladimir Putin. Now he’s like a warrior, even after death,” the the right fare. Instead, Millwall mascot because half of the stadium is in cleverly depicted Messi, too – we’ll just club declared. Can they really afford Zampa got behind the wheel ahead of England and half of the stadium in ignore the fact that the Argentine has to give ghosts such lengthy contracts? a game against Barnsley: dressed up Wales – already under lockdown. got a gigantic head and tiny legs (no If you’re going to launch a novelty with no fans to entertain, it probably wonder Barcelona lost 8-2 to Bayern). kit, though, it’s not ideal to do it after just got bored and fancied a joyride. Just a few miles further north, you’ve just lost the local derby and With Zampa doing donuts outside a Liverpool supporter superbly turned Some stars have visited Stoev’s cafe missed out on the play-offs – as Atlas The Den in his double decker, Millwall a pumpkin into Klopp, complete with to drink their own faces – including did, prompting rival supporters to drew 1-1. We await his next exploit, glasses and a tactics board. It bore boxer Kubrat Pulev, who’s scheduled question whether a Day of the Dead when he picks up Gunnersaurus on a likeness to another public figure, to fight Anthony Joshua in December. jersey should be sported by a team the North Circular and they go around too – with a bizarre orange face and Presumably Pulev’s preparations have whose season is actually dead. Harsh. the country fighting crime. a silly red hat, Donald Trump is yet primarily involved punching a series of to make any comment. frothy coffees with Joshua’s likeness. MOOED BY THEIR “HOLY GOALSCORING OH, TEDDY, TEDDY “RIGHT, ER... WE’LL BE LEGEND, BATMAN!” 6 OWN SUPPORTERS 8 9 GOING NOW THEN” Pele knew how to celebrate his 80th Heerenveen’s recent tussle Seven stadiums in England’s second birthday – by giving Batman a kiss. against Emmen was watched on by When Tunisian club CS Chebba were tier hold more than 30,000 fans, but an impressive crowd of 15,000 – after kicked out of the country’s top division life is slightly different in Romania, In October the Brazil great became the cuddly hosts filled their stadium last month, 2,000 fans made a drastic where even the local farm animals an octogenarian, and street artist Luis with teddy bears. decision – to move to Italy, en masse. get an unobstructed view. Bueno marked it with a new poster All fixtures in the Netherlands have in his honour. For 10 years, Bueno has gone behind closed doors once more Chebba finished eighth in their debut Comuna Recea are in Romania’s been creating ace designs around Sao because of the recent resurgence of top-flight season, only for the team’s second division for the first time this Paulo, depicting Pele kissing famous coronavirus, so De Superfriezen linked president to fall out with the Tunisian season, after promotion last term, figures – originally inspired by a photo up with a children’s cancer charity to FA, who banned them for a year after and their home ground isn’t exactly of the forward embracing Muhammad pack the Abe Lenstra Stadium with their late membership application. a fortress. Holding just 600 people, Ali at his New York Cosmos farewell. stuffed toys instead. one end of the Stadionul Central All 15,000 teddies were decked out Angry fans set tyres on fire during basically consists of some railings The posters previously featured Bob in tiny Heerenveen shirts and then protests, vowing to leave the coastal and a tiny fence: nearby cows were Marley, David Bowie, the Mona Lisa sold to fans, who helped to raise more city immediately – only for their exit the most notable spectators when and even Chewbacca, before Marilyn than £200,000 for the charity. To cap on a fleet of boats to be delayed due Recea lost at home to Petrolul on TV. Monroe and superhero Batman each it all off, the home side recorded a fine to ‘bad weather’ as the government got a smooch in two of Bueno’s latest 4-0 victory – and not one of the bears tried to mediate. Miffed supporters It’s just as well those cows didn’t artworks. It’s reported that Pele has got themselves arrested for setting off hung around the port and posed for enjoy their life in the Basque Country now kissed more than 1,000 people, a flare or invading the pitch. photos (on a sunny day) to make it – Mikel Oyarzabal would be getting although that does include friendlies. clear they were definitely leaving, just stuck into them right about now. as soon as the weather improved. FourFourTwo December 2020 13

UPFROnT QUOTE OF THE MONTH “He looked over the rim for two minutes, then said, ‘OK, seen it, let’s go’” – Ian Woan on Sean Dyche’s reaction to the Grand Canyon BEST&WORST LEICESTER CITY Author David Bevan remembers Jamie Vardy’s wonder volley, the Ceefax striker and Ian Ormondroyd XI W: Troy Deeney’s play-off semi-final nICKnAME disciple. He put everything we needed winner for Watford in 2013 – seconds in place and the club is still reaping the BEST: Kasper Schmeichel, Ricardo after Anthony Knockaert’s penalty B: ‘The Ice Kings’ continued to win in benefits today. Pereira, Wes Morgan, Matt Elliott, miss – felt like a punch to the stomach. 1963 despite that winter’s big freeze. W: Ian Holloway talked. A lot. We were Christian Fuchs, Riyad Mahrez, W: The people who label us ‘Fester’ relegated to League One in 2007-08. Wilfred Ndidi, N’Golo Kanté, Muzzy KIT and other East Midlands clubs ‘Florist’ Izzet, Emile Heskey, Jamie Vardy. and ‘Direby’ are usually grown men. CULT HERO WORST: Rab Douglas, John Curtis, B: The pinstripe 1983 effort sponsored B: Either Esteban Cambiasso or Jacob Laursen, Ryan McGivern, by Ind Coope is a favourite, particularly SIGnInG Ian Ormondroyd, which sums Tony Spearing, Momo Sylla, Junior the green-and-yellow away number. up my 30 years following this Lewis, Dennis Wise, Joe Hamill, W: For our 120th anniversary (which B: Obviously Vardy, Mahrez and Kanté, crazy football club. Marko Futacs, Harry Kane. isn’t a thing) in 2004-05, we launched but I find it incredible that we signed W: ‘Tricky’ Trevor Benjamin, the a kit called ‘Fosse Gold’, which was the Pereira and Ndidi. Both are sensational. 76-club striker who wore glasses and PLAYER colour of pollution. W: Replacing Heskey with Ade Akinbiyi struggled to find the net without them. in 2000 wasn’t so much a step down B: It can only be Vardy [right]. I can’t as a whole staircase. AWAY TRIP really imagine Leicester without him. W: On the pitch, Wise was terrible. MAnAGER B: A 3-0 win in beautiful Bruges on our Off it, he was a hundred times worse. Champions League debut was a real B: He splits opinion with some of our pinch-yourself experience. MOMEnT fans, but I’m a staunch Nigel Pearson W: Losing our ninth match in a row at the end of 2000-01 to a deflected Carl B: It’s difficult to describe how Cort goal against Newcastle. it felt when Morgan lifted the Premier League trophy in 2016 OPPOnEnT [right]. I only started believing about a week before. B: We love playing Derby. Shame they W: The tragic accident that don’t appear able to get promoted, so resulted in five people losing we can guarantee six points. their lives, including Vichai W: Until this season, we hadn’t won at Srivaddhanaprabha. He was Arsenal since 1973 – the year current more than a chairman – he manager Brendan Rodgers was born. had a real bond with the city. FACIAL HAIR GAME B: Marcin Wasilewski did a photo shoot B: A raucous night knocking Sevilla holding a UFC belt and looked the part. out of the Champions League in 2017. W: James Maddison’s giving it a go, but W: When Wycombe signed striker Roy it’s not getting anywhere. Essandoh from Ceefax and he denied us an FA Cup semi-final spot in 2001. HARD MAn GOAL B: The man, the legend, Steve Walsh – you wouldn’t mess with him. B: Vardy’s ludicrous over-the-shoulder W: The pantomime dame of hard men, volley to equalise against West Brom in Robbie Savage. 2018 was spectacular. 14 December 2020 FourFourTwo



UPFROnT viSiT THE HOME OF THE FOOTBALL QUIZ fourfourtwo.com/quiz Forgotten loan spells, book snubs and shiny new stadia all feature in our latest batch of football brainteasers 0 1 New Manchester United forward 1 1 In which season were Fulham first Edinson Cavani was a PSG player promoted to the Premier League, for seven years – from which club under French coach Jean Tigana? did Les Parisiens sign him? 1 2 When FIFA published its most 0 2 Which two clubs played out the recent standings on October 22, Premier League’s first goalless which country topped its official draw of the 2020-21 campaign? world rankings? 0 3 Which striker became the WSL’s 1 3 The players below were all the all-time top scorer with a recent subject of British transfer record hat-trick against Spurs? moves. Can you fill in the gaps? 0 4 Who was the last team outside 2006 Andriy Shevchenko £30.8m of Germany, England and Spain to win the Champions League? 2002 £29.1m 0 5 How many Premier League titles 2001 Juan Sebastian Veron £28.1m did ex-Manchester City full-back Pablo Zabaleta secure? 1999 £22.5m 0 6 “You’re not going to do a chapter 1996 Alan Shearer £15m about 12 or 14 games and never winning one” – who doesn’t get 1995 £8.5m mentioned in Arsene Wenger’s book? 1995 Dennis Bergkamp £7.5m 0 7 What is the name of Brentford’s new ground, inaugurated in the 1995 £7m League Cup against Wycombe? 1992 Paul Gascoigne £5.5m 0 8 Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored six goals in five matches 10 1 4 Sheffield Wednesday midfielder on loan for for which non-league Massimo Luongo plays for which side in 2014-15? These four men are all paid-up members of international team? England’s one-cap club. Can you name them? 0 9 Which former Brighton defender 1 5 Former Leicester gaffer Claudio netted both goals when Rangers Ranieri has been in charge of triumphed at Celtic in October? which Serie A side since 2019? 1 6 Inter Miami and USA midfielder Brek Shea played three Premier League games for which outfit? 1 7 In which season did a team other than Bayern Munich last lay their hands on the Bundesliga trophy? 1 8 Which club’s Holker Street ground is hosting Football League games for the first time since 1972? 1. Napoli 2. West Brom and Burnley. 3. Vivianne Miedema 4. Inter (2009-10) 5. 2 6. Jose Mourinho 7. Brentford Community Stadium 8. Stalybridge Celtic 9. Connor Goldson 10. Anthony Gardner, Michael Ball, Steve Guppy, Alan Thompson 11. 2000-01 12. Belgium 13. Rio Ferdinand, Nicolas Anelka, Stan Collymore, Andy Cole 14. Australia 15. Sampdoria 16. Stoke 17. 2011-12 18. Barrow



UPFROnT SWEDE DREAMS The Swedish pizzeria of Man United’s 1999 Treble winner, Jesper Blomqvist, has been named among the top 50 in Europe GAMES THAT CHAnG MY LIF JAMIE 18 December 2020 FourFourTwo

UPFROnT Hull 1 Bournemouth 4 THE RETURn OF FREDDY ADU January 13, 1990 Second Division After two years without a club, Sweden’s third tier beckoned “I made my debut in this match, aged 16 years and When Alphonso Davies made his MLS debut Sesay tells FFT. “As it happens, though, my seven months. I started on the bench on a freezing in 2016, he was second only to Freddy Adu representative in England is Cherno Samba!” night at Boothferry Park, with the wind coming in off as the league’s youngest ever player. But the North Sea. My dad was Bournemouth’s manager while Davies has motored on to Champions Adu’s name cropped up when Sesay was – as I went on, I remember him telling me to look out League success with Bayern Munich, Adu’s discussing players with his American friends. for Hull striker Billy Whitehurst, who was a renowned path has been a little more unexpected. After chatting to the forward on social media, hard man. After a few minutes, I gave the ball to our Adu agreed to sign. Pre-season doesn’t start left-back and he got flattened by Whitehurst. Before “Freddy is the first American player we’ve until January, so Osterlen’s flashy new recruit I knew it, there was pushing and shoving and it had ever seen with potential as a pro in European has until then to prove his fitness and desire. all kicked off. My first ever pass in senior football and soccer,” Inter’s Piero Ausilio marvelled when I’d started a riot!” the Italians scouted Adu in 2002 – then aged “There are still a lot of talented players in 12, two years ahead of his DC United debut. the third division, so it’s going to be tough for Southampton 1 Liverpool 1 Freddy,” says Sesay. “On the pitch, however, Nearly two decades later, Adu is back in he has brilliant technique. I’ve no doubts that December 7, 1991 First Division Europe for another go, after his first attempt if he wants this, he’s going to show the world.” didn’t quite take off as everyone had hoped. “This was the first time I made the Liverpool bench Now 31, he’s headed for Sweden’s third tier Osterlen will be a different challenge to his for a league game. For most of the match I sat there to resurrect his career with Osterlen. younger days, when Adu wanted to progress waiting, but with 27 minutes to go Graeme Souness even faster than he already was doing – as nodded at me, and I came on as a substitute for Jan The coastal club are Adu’s ninth European early as DC United, for example, he groaned Molby. I didn’t have to wait too long to score my first outfit in seven different nations; after his US about his lack of game time to the media. goal. I can remember David Burrows putting the ball debut at the age of 16 – the first of 17 caps – The former prodigy’s new club – who recently across the six-yard box and I smashed it home from he joined Benfica in 2007. The move produced enjoyed promotion from the fourth tier – have about three inches. I fell into the net in front of all the only 14 first-team appearances, though, and sorted an apartment for Adu in Malmo. Now, Liverpool fans, and was screaming with joy. It was Adu was loaned to Monaco, Belenenses, Aris all he has to focus on is helping the minnows a beautiful moment. I floated through the rest of the in Greece and finally Turkey’s Caykur Rizespor, climb Sweden’s football pyramid even further. game and was smiling for several days afterwards.” before returning to MLS. Then came a brief stint in Brazil, a move to Serbian side Jagodina “I remember the hype,” Sesay says of his big England 2 Scotland 0 and time with KuPS and KuFu-98 in Finland. signing. “As a 15-year-old, he was incredible. His most recent playing spell was in 2018 at From the discussions I had with Freddy, it was June 15, 1996 European Championship Las Vegas Lights, after which he worked as obvious that he went to a superclub in Benfica, a youth coach in Maryland. wasn’t too patient and couldn’t really get the “This was such a huge game at a packed Wembley – career he was supposed to have. If he has the both teams were desperate to win it. Terry Venables So why Sweden? Do Osterlen still scout mentality to fight hard in training, I’m going brought me on at half-time with the score 0-0, and players from Championship Manager 2004? to have a very good player for this division.” we went on to win. It was amazing to be on the pitch “I never played it,” sporting director Malik Mark White with my childhood hero Paul Gascoigne, and help to make an impact. He’d said that if he scored he was going to do the dentist’s chair celebration, but we all thought he’d forget it in the heat of a game. He was true to his word, though – when he scored that volley he rushed behind the goal to do it, only this time with water and not tequila! It was a brilliant moment, but unfortunately I broke my ankle five minutes later and my tournament was over.” Sheffield Wednesday 1 Liverpool 2 August 7, 1999 Premier League “I captained Liverpool for the first time in this game, and I loved every minute of it. To walk out in front of the team wearing the armband was an unbelievable moment, thinking of all the legendary players who’d done it before me like Souness, Alan Hansen and Phil Thompson. I was bursting with pride. I got the shirt and armband from that match framed and hung it in my garage, next to a framed shirt worn by one of my heroes, Zinedine Zidane. Years later, I got burgled and the thieves nabbed my shirt but left the Zidane one. Who would do that? They must have been on drugs!” Sam Pilger Jamie Redknapp’s book, ‘Me, Family and the Making of a Footballer’, is published by Headline and out now FourFourTwo December 2020 19



BACK IN BUSINESS Nile Ranger netted on debut UPFROnT for Northern Premier League side Spalding United – he’d been without a club for two years by then REQUIRED READInG ‘A very moving book... a love story, and a tale of strength and recovery’ Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer, The Times M AT T P I P E R WITH JOE BREWIN OUT RKNESS OF My Story in Football THE DA From Top to rock b ot to m RAnDOM CLUB PROFILE OUT OF THE DARKNESS VVV-VENLO Matt Piper Hammered 13-0 by Ajax, the VVV stands for very, very, very… bad at defending (Pitch, £19.99) OOOOO Releasing the combative Lee Cattermole and recruiting VVV made their biggest signing in 2011, though: handing a toddler may not sound like the best way to shore up a 10-year contract to 18-month-old toddler Baerke van der Even before Matt Piper recalls your defence, and so it proved for VVV-Venlo. Meij, who’d impressed with a viral video of his football skills how his life unravelled after while chipping a ball into a box at home. He also happened premature retirement at 24, The Dutch club play their home matches at the De Koel to be the grandson of a former Venlo player. his razor sharp recollections stadium, located in an old pit – but sadly for them, it was of life at Leicester City make their performance that was the pits when they hosted Ajax Sadly, Van der Meij is still only 11, and that deal is due to for a compelling read. this season. After falling 4-0 behind inside 50 minutes, they expire without him playing a first-team game. If only they’d shipped nine more when they went down to 10 men and given him a run-out against Ajax – he might have improved With bold Foxes team-mates lost 13-0, an Eredivisie record in its 64-year history. the defence and kept the score down to 12. including Dennis Wise, Robbie Savage and Stan Collymore, he The result was all the more puzzling given that VVV had If all else fails, at least they’ll always be able to call upon describes a litany of pranking: lost only two of their first five league matches, and secured their dogged mascot. He’ll probably outdo Cattermole. Garry Parker floods Savage’s a creditable 2-2 draw at AZ Alkmaar in their previous fixture. Chris Flanagan £200,000 sports car with water, Even after losing 13-0, they still sat outside the drop zone. while internal feuds between Savage, Wise, Collymore and That’s where they finished last season, too – two points Trevor Benjamin turn ‘handy’. above the bottom three when the season was curtailed, having recruited Cattermole after his exit from Sunderland. Piper – the last goalscorer at Cattermole featured 11 times, but was dropped and then Filbert Street – was flogged by allowed to depart this summer, retiring at the age of 32. toiling Leicester after their drop to the Championship in 2002, Situated just a mile from the German border, VVV actually and forced to join Sunderland. stands for Venlose Voetbal Vereniging (Venlose Football Association), confusingly making their full name Venlose Sadly, things would worsen: Voetbal Vereniging Venlo, or perhaps VVVV. After all, why after a series of knee ops ended have only three Vs when you can have four? his career in 2006, he became reliant on whisky and Valium as Historically a yoyo club, they became known for bringing his life spiralled rapidly. talented Japanese players to Europe – firstly Keisuke Honda from Nagoya Grampus Eight, before selling him to CSKA After a brush with death, Piper Moscow after he’d helped them to promotion. Maya Yoshida attended the Sporting Chance followed, as did the less-than-Japanese-sounding Robert clinic and has happily rebuilt Cullen, a Japan Under-20 international who was born and his life: he now co-owns the FSD bred in the Far East. Both later ended up in England: Yoshida Academy, which blends football with Southampton and Cullen with, er, Leatherhead. with education in Leicester. Piper’s story is cautionary but – mercifully – redemptive, and reveals how vulnerable players really are when the music stops. Jon Spurling FourFourTwo December 2020 21

UPFROnT SHARP SHOOTERS Albion and Stranraer bagged 28 straight penalties in a Scottish League Cup shootout – then Stranraer missed and the visitors won 15-14 JOHnnY How has watching football changed MARR for you since you were a kid? JOHMANNCNHESYTERMCITAY RR Oh man… you’ve got to bear in mind The Smiths founder that I started going back in the ’70s. The game has changed and guitar icon on why almost in every way. With all the money generated, Fernandinho would be a great best mate and it’s more commerce-driven. You wonder if one day the the time Martin O’Neill turned up at an Oasis gig television interest would affect What was the first match that you As a musician, I believe that you was always so focused on music that the actual technicalities of the ever saw live? are what you play – how you write I knew I was never going to make it as game, like new rules coming in I went to Manchester United-Chelsea, and how you sing is essentially an a real footballer. to encourage high-scoring. Then some time in 1972. Amazingly, I didn’t illustration of your character. That’s there’s the better pitches, sports enjoy it, so I regard my first match as probably the same in football, too. What do you miss most about going technology, the stadiums, social Manchester City-Wolves shortly after Dennis Tueart was the way he played to a match? media and podcasts. The transfer that. I much preferred Maine Road to – a wide-awake, very engaged and I miss the anticipation that everyone market is completely insane right Old Trafford. The latter had this kind of enthusiastic guy. He’s still that way. has. Generally speaking, when you go now, and we have to look at it given gothic gloom to me, which I might be to watch a football match, everyone’s that lower-league clubs are going out overstating a bit because I’m a City fan. What was your finest moment as in a good mood before kick-off. There’s of business. In the ’70s and ’80s, rock When I went to see City, the whole day a player? that frisson of excitement. Seeing the stars drove the flashiest cars and had was really exciting. Blue skies, blue kit, It’s got to be my first match for City’s pitch always ties me to that first time the most radical haircuts. These days, blue scarves and blue hats. I just loved youth team when I was 14 – we beat if you’re a 12-year-old boy or girl and everything about it. Bolton. Just putting on the kit and the I ever saw Maine Road. It’s almost want to copy someone’s radical haircut tracksuit top was brilliant. My interest the same – you walk up the steps, and lifestyle, you look at a footballer. Who was your childhood hero and did you ever meet them? see the pitch, and it reminds you Who from your club’s past would you By miles, it was Dennis Tueart [right]. of the first time that happened. bring back for the current side? I was already a City fan for a couple of It’s like being on a road trip and There’s a few. Mike Summerbee would years when he came from Sunderland. do a job for us. I’d have Paul Lake and He was so dynamic and a very unusual eventually seeing the ocean. Georgi Kinkladze, too. All City fans miss player. He was tenacious, a showman Pablo Zabaleta running around with an in the right way, and a real winner open wound. A bit unhygienic, but you who played the whole 90 minutes can’t question his commitment. as if his life depended on it. Me and Dennis are really close now – What’s your favourite goal you’ve he’s a good friend of mine and we ever seen? often go to City matches together. It has to be Sergio Aguero against QPR in 2011-12 when we won the league [left]. You could fill this entire magazine with the narrative of that game and that goal. I was there. It was f**king transcendent. Where’s the best place that you’ve ever watched a game? The old Wembley Stadium for the England-Germany Euro 96 semi-final. That night was as dramatic and other-worldly as you might think. I was there with Noel Gallagher and several others. It was one of those moments in football where, during the penalty shootout, you’re more or less as one with 100,000 people in the ground. When it was finally over and we’d lost, everyone experienced the same drain – a massive wipeout. Which player would you choose as your room-mate? That’s easy: Fernandinho in a heartbeat. I met him fleetingly when I played two numbers at an event for City. I had my guitar on, and he came over to me and asked to check out the guitar. He’s just got this presence about him of a really cool best mate. 22 December 2020 FourFourTwo

UPFROnT Where’s the strangest place you’ve SARATOV YUZHNO-SAKHALIN ever met a manager or player? The dressing room at Barrowlands in FOOTBALL’S LEAST LOCAL DERBY Glasgow. I played a few numbers with Oasis, then we went off stage and the In Russia’s third division, Sakhalin’s nearest game is 4,000 miles away whole atmosphere was weirdly quiet. The dressing room at Barrowlands has When Russia’s lower leagues underwent a hefty the Europa League in 2010, before being dissolved swinging doors, so they swung open restructure this summer, FC Sakhalin definitely as a club entirely in 2019. and in strolled Celtic manager Martin got the rough end of the stick. O’Neill and Neil Lennon [above]. They Strangely, fellow Siberian outfits Chita and Zenit came into a near silent dressing room, Founded in 2004, the team are based in the small Irkutsk are now in the western regional league of then Martin looked around and said, city of Yuzhno-Sakhalin on Sakhalin island, which is Russia’s third tier, travelling as far as St Petersburg. “Well… that was s**t.” It was a really around 500 miles further east than even Vladivostok, good joke and broke all the tension. He and only 25 miles from Japan. But even they don’t have to journey like poor old was funny and snapped everyone out Sakhalin, the solitary far eastern club competing in of the strange post-gig vibe. I chatted For several years, the isolated club pottered about a regional league largely comprised of teams from to him for a quite while that night and in a special regional league for teams in Russia’s far Moscow, 4,140 miles away. Their closest game is at found him to be great company. A very east – that was, until they made the daft mistake of Sokol Saratov, a mere 4,054 miles away. charming man. securing promotion to the second tier for 2014-15, which involved playing matches against teams from For comparison, that’s further than PSV travelled to What’s the most important piece of all over the world’s largest country. reach Novosibirsk (3,050 miles), and also further than memorabilia that you have or wish the longest trip in UEFA club competition history, set you still had? They at least had two relatively local away trips in 2015 for Astana vs Benfica (3,836 miles). I once ended up swapping a scarf with that season – against fellow far eastern castaways in a Middlesbrough fan instead of the two Luch-Energiya Vladivostok and the relative giants of It’s also worse than the lengthiest jaunts in global of us beating the s**t out of each other. SKA-Energiya Khabarovsk – but were relegated back top-flight football: the coast-to-coast clash between A very convenient truce. That was up at to the regional third tier immediately, and opted not Pacific FC and HFX Wanderers in the new Canadian Ayresome Park – there was a huge riot to apply for promotion when they topped the far east Premier League (2,781 miles), and Perth Glory vs after the game and I ended up running league again in 2018. Wellington Phoenix in the A-League (3,268 miles). for my life around the streets. I darted around a corner and there was a Boro Then this summer, things got weird. The authorities To avoid the ludicrous prospect of a nine-hour flight supporter about the same age as me. slimmed down the third tier, reducing its five regional to Moscow every other week, Sakhalin have at least We just put our hands up in the air and leagues to four and scrapping the six-team far east been allowed to play blocks of away matches back to then swapped silk scarves. league. But if you thought those clubs would simply back, before returning east – eight time zones away move into the ‘still east but not ridiculously far east’ – for a run of home fixtures. Who’s your current favourite player? league, you’d be very wrong. It has to be Kevin De Bruyne, hasn’t it? Having been one of the better teams in the far east I think every football fan in the world True, a few sides did – including Novosibirsk, whose regional league, results didn’t start well for Sakhalin would want him in their team, and he’d predecessor club Sibir Novosibirsk still hold the record this term: they sat bottom after 10 games, probably probably be your favourite player. He’s for the most eastern match in UEFA history. Situated weary from it all already. Even worse, they lost their got everything. as far east as Nepal, they hosted Dutch giants PSV in ‘local derby’ 4-0 at Sokol. It was a long journey home. Chris Flanagan If you could drop yourself into your all-time five-a-side team, who would you be playing alongside? I’ve modified this question... in goal is Keith Moon from The Who. Bob Marley can play where he wants, and I’d also have Mani from the Stone Roses and The Clash’s Paul Simonon, who looks like he’d be pretty good if he could be bothered. I’ve also got a wildcard sub in Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd. He’d be a little bit erratic – you just never know how it’s going to go. Niall Doherty FourFourTwo December 2020 23

UPFROnT ASK A SILLY QUESTIOn LOUIS ‘SWEETY’ SAHA The former Fulham frontman discusses French delicacies and reveals why he can’t wait for Christmas Interview Nick Moore Illustration Bill McConkey Hi Louis. This is, historically, the first Have you ever eaten a Mini Babybel, Ask A Silly Question done via Zoom. the least masculine of all cheeses? Have you been embracing technology Ring the bell? during this year’s funtime pandemic? Let’s move on. Marcel Desailly told Hi. I’m actually really into the world of us that the only animal in the world technology. I’ve been creating a digital he wouldn’t eat would be an ostrich. platform [the app, AxisStars]. I’ve even Where do you draw the line? done a bit of coding and quite enjoy it. I’m more fussy than Marcel. I don’t eat It’s not something I was into as a kid, many different meats. I won’t eat pork. but I’m an entrepreneur now so have I don’t like raw meats. I’m quite boring, been learning all about it. I’m trying to to be honest – chicken is my favourite. understand the field and work out how Frank is an actor now. Which of your people do these things. former team-mates would make the What’s harder: coding or being very best thespian? good at football? Sylvain Distin – he’s a big lad and could Ah, coding is much harder. Believe me, be just like The Rock. Patrice Evra could it’s not easy at all. My God, it’s tough to be a comic actor. He’s so funny. get used to. Surely Marcel is the true Rock? Did you learn anything new while you Well, yes, he’s ‘The Rock’, too. I think he were in lockdown or, like FFT, did you would be good at playing a president – just eat lots of crisps? he has that character about him. I was I did learn a lot – from my family, from lucky to have the chance to play with everyone I love. Lockdown helped me him, because he’s an incredible guy. realise all the things that are important You were born on August 8, which is to me. I also saw how footballers have International Cat Day. Are you a fan? been put in certain boxes and not used I don’t mind a cat, but I’m a dog lover. correctly within society, because often I have a Chocolate Labrador. I’ll stroke people don’t respect what we have to a cat, but I’m more in the West Indies say. We must change that, and it’s nice mentality about domestic animals. An to see what Marcus Rashford has done animal is an animal, and shouldn’t be [over free school meals]. He’s used his sleeping on your bed. platform to do amazing things. Christmas is coming. Do you over-eat Your name is an anagram of OASIS wildly – full roast, trimmings, a dozen HAUL. Have you ever bought a record mince pies – now that you don’t have by the Gallagher brothers? to play on Boxing Day? I don’t mind Oasis at all, you know. I’d Yeah. My mum comes over and cooks listen to them, it’s a good style. I like all a very special meal. I really enjoy it. No kinds of music. travelling, no pressure, no trying to get When we interviewed Frank Leboeuf, results. I get to see my kids, have fun he said cheese is “children’s food”. and eat all the bonbons! Does this make him a French traitor? You wear some terrific glasses on TV. No! I don’t really eat cheese. It’s a good Are they real or a fashion accessory French export, but I prefer les bonbons. like Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s? Sweeties. The best French exports are No, they’re real. I have astigmatism, so the croissant and the fraise – the little need them. I like the different frames. strawberry ball sweet. They’re delicious. I’ll leave Dominic to it, although I can’t give anyone fashion advice – I had that “SYLVAIn DISTIn WOULD MAKE yellow hair! My fashion was the worst. A GOOD ACTOR. HE’S A BIG LAD Cheers for chatting. AnD COULD BE LIKE THE ROCK\" Thanks. With the BT Sport Monthly Pass, you can get instant access to all four channels for just £25 – with no contract required 24 December 2020 FourFourTwo



UPFROnT RAnKED 25 BEST MAnAGERS In THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE In THE 21ST CEnTURY FFT rates the finest bosses, based on their results in games outside the top flight – featuring El Loco, and a European Championship hero with France 25 GARETH AInSWORTH 13 STEVE COPPELL 1 24 ROBERTO MARTInEZ 12 MARCELO BIELSA 23 PAUL COOK 11 nUnO ESPIRITO SAnTO nEIL WARnOCK 22 PAUL JEWELL 10 JEAn TIGAnA 21 SIMOn GRAYSOn 9 SEAn DYCHE If you’re a Football League outfit awards – 10 at the start of this term 20 nIGEL ADKInS 8 SLAVISA JOKAnOVIC desperate for a boost in fortunes, – and he’s not all about promotions. 19 IAn HOLLOWAY 7 nIGEL PEARSOn the solution has long been obvious 18 SAM ALLARDYCE 6 MICK MCCARTHY – send for Neil Warnock. He steered Crystal Palace back to 17 HARRY REDKnAPP 5 CHRIS HUGHTOn the right end of the table in 2007-08, 16 RAFA BEnITEZ 4 STEVE BRUCE The 71-year-old may not be known and saved Rotherham from dropping 15 KEVIn KEEGAn 3 CHRIS WILDER for frilly football, but he’s developed into the third tier in 2015-16. He also 14 DEAn SMITH 2 EDDIE HOWE a career as a Championship specialist steadied the ship at Middlesbrough – earning promotion to the Premier last season, after agreeing to come 26 December 2020 FourFourTwo League with a trio of different teams. out of retirement for what seemed like the 318th time – despite living in After taking boyhood side Sheffield Devon. That’s a hell of a commute. United into the top flight in 2006, he then repeated the feat in his first full Since the turn of the century, his campaign with QPR in 2011, and did only gig without success has been at the same with Cardiff in 2018. On all Leeds – probably doing his popularity three occasions, he had walked into with Blades fans no harm. Less than the club when they were languishing affectionately called ‘Colin’ by those in the Championship’s bottom five. he’s upset over the years (and there have been a few), Warnock overcame True, his longevity is partly due to coronavirus to return to the dugout his less-than-stellar record once he for his 1,500th match as a manager. reaches the top flight – in each of his five seasons at that level, he’s either How did he celebrate? With victory suffered relegation or got the sack. over Barnsley – a classic Warnock result for a classic Warnock fixture. But no gaffer can match his tally of Chris Flanagan Championship Manager of the Month



UPFROnT INTERVIEW GOnZALO HIGUAIn The 32-year-old striker has linked up with David Beckham at MLS new boys Inter Miami, after spells with Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea How did your move to Inter Miami in together, which is a great memory. We amazing results overnight. But I don’t France international Blaise Matuidi September come about? got along very well and that clearly like to lose and rarely do. I came here is also in the squad. How do you rate They contacted me towards the end of helped me not only to come here, but to help the team grow and win things. the quality of it so far? last season – it didn’t take very long to also to earn his trust. I know what kind Having two players that have played reach an agreement. When I heard of guy he is, and the huge ambition he A few weeks after your arrival, your at the highest level for a long time, like about Inter Miami’s interest I analysed has for Inter Miami. older brother Federico joined from Blaise Matuidi and I, is really positive. everything, and pretty much decided DC United. Did he encourage you to A championship, however, is not won straight away. This is a new project and Do you aim to win titles together in move to America? by only two players – it’s the team that I see a lot of good things – in how we Miami as well? I’d been following MLS for a while, as wins it. The good thing is that I can see work, the structure, the coach’s style, Of course I want to win titles. Thanks my brother was here. It was a league plenty of potential within the team to the players we have and how we train. to God, I’ve been able to win titles with that always attracted me and got my continue growing. When you arrive after playing so many almost all of the teams I’ve played for. attention. After seeing some top-notch years at the top level and start seeing It’s a new club and we’ve just started forwards come over here and enjoy the You’ve scored more than 300 goals similar things, it makes you feel really to compete in MLS this year, so we’ve experience while scoring a lot of goals, in your career. What was the key for confident that everyone wants to do got to be a bit patient and not expect it made me curious. I also wanted to you to reach that level? things right, so I’m happy to be here. try a new league and new experience Practising, perfecting my craft, having The club offered me the terms I was in a beautiful city. I’m very happy to be the desire to improve on anything I did looking for and we got the deal done. able to play alongside my brother – we wrong, never giving up and never losing were together at River Plate for a short the motivation or passion to continue Your former Real Madrid team-mate period, so to play with him again and learning each day. As good a player as David Beckham is one of the club’s also have that connection in our daily you might be, or as much as you have owners. Was he a factor in the move? lives outside of football is a great joy. played at the elite level for top clubs, I spoke with David and that was also We’re finally able to do all those things you’ve always got to have motivation a big plus for me to come here, as I’d we couldn’t do for many years! to carry on improving. been his team-mate in the past. It was only for six months but we won La Liga 28 December 2020 FourFourTwo

UPFROnT THE VIEW FROM THE STAnDS Is there an issue you feel strongly about? Contact us: [email protected] How do you look back on your time FourFourTwoUK at Juventus? What was the standout FourFourTwo moment in Turin? What I highlight from Juventus is the MAKH THE STRIFE 4 STAR winning DNA of the organisation; their LETTER focus on never finishing second. I took After reading about ex-rich Anzhi BURY YOUR MISERY the best things from every team that Makhachkala in the latest issue I played for, and I feel Juve completed [FFT 319], I was curious to see what As a Pompey fan, I read your recent feature about me as a player. life is like for them in the third tier of Bury AFC [FFT 318] with huge interest. It resonated Russian football now. To my surprise, even more, though, when I then stumbled across What was it like playing alongside I discovered that they were playing a matchday programme of the old club’s against Cristiano Ronaldo at both Juventus in the new Makhachkala derby on Morecambe from October 2013. Sifting through, it and Real Madrid? the same day that I was researching felt like reading the end of a book first. Every page Cristiano and I were team-mates at them – against a newly formed club, echoed optimism and love for a team that no one two stages that were quite different. FK Makhachkala. FK were founded knew was only seven years away from oblivion. So, At Madrid, we were both by ourselves in 2019 and have Gadzhi Gadzhiyev I’d say to fellow fans: appreciate what you have, and much younger. At Juventus, it was as their president, himself having regardless of results. Enjoy it, embrace it – because a different stage for us – we both had coached Anzhi a number of times. none of us know what’s just around the corner. children and were a lot more mature. Let’s see what the future holds for Adam Lea, via email Truthfully, I enjoyed our second spell football in Dagestan, in the hands of as team-mates more. old Anzhi or the new Makhachkala. SUPER BAD IDEA other every year anyway? In reality, Varoujan Kei, via email I think it’s a ploy to pressure UEFA Did you enjoy your time at Chelsea? So the bigger clubs really want this into making changes around the Did you consider staying for longer? 50+1 = SECURITY? European Super League? I don’t need Champions League. Either way, too My time playing for Chelsea was brief, to go into all of the reasons why it’s much power in the hands of these but it’s a nice league and a nice city. It As a Manchester United fan, I was a shocking idea, but I hope there odious bullies surely won’t end well. would have been great to play in the glad that the club was featured in are also enough to mean it won’t Premier League for a bit longer, but it FFT 318, but I was also drawn to your happen. English clubs know Peter Simons, Hull wasn’t up to me. That’s the reality of story about Bury AFC. It shows us that their position in the football sometimes. They opted not to two things: one, that the threshold Premier League is already buy me and I had to return to Juve. for ownership in English football is far stronger than that of, completely broken. This is not only say, PSG – and really: do If your former Argentina team-mate seen at EFL clubs (Charlton, Wigan) fans want to see the Lionel Messi ever leaves Barcelona, but also in the Premier League (Man same teams play each should he consider MLS before he United), where owners pile on debts retires? Have you asked him to join and neglect club traditions. Second, Inter Miami yet?! it shows that fans shouldn’t be left No, I haven’t asked Leo that. He’s very out in the decision-making process intelligent and is old enough to make of a club they spend hard-earned the decision he feels is the right one. money on: ultimately, they are the When he knows it’s the right time to ones left to pick up all the pieces. come, he will come, and if he doesn’t For this to change, maybe the 50+1 want to, he won’t come. Leo is a very rule used in the Bundesliga could smart person in that regard. be applied to English clubs as well? It would at least be a start, and Do you hope your presence in Miami might discourage owners like the will encourage more star names to Glazers from buying football clubs. join in the future? Folarin Alabi, via email Hopefully my arrival will attract more world-class players to MLS. The idea is WIN! Ice Pred T-shirt for Star Letter and an A4 print of for this league to grow, and I believe it choice for Spine Line, courtesy of Art of Football has the capacity to do so. Hopefully, this league gets even stronger in the 319 SPINE LINE: “‘England 1-3 Brazil, 1995’ refers to your article on Juninho, who scored in the years to come. Selecao’s Umbro Cup victory before his move to Boro,” says Chloe Kinton. Spot on! #FFTSpineLine Martin Harasimowicz

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LIOnEL MESSI

LIOnEL MESSI A BROKEn HOME Public feuds, boardroom brawling and one almighty transfer saga have made for a bitter civil war at Barcelona, and the world’s greatest ever footballer could be its biggest casualty. FFT discovers what’s gone wrong for Lionel Messi in Catalonia... and why he might become a Premier League player in 2021 Words Andy Mitten

LIOnEL MESSI T he World Cup may have eluded him, “WE WERE UPSET THAT MESSI his superiors. In September, after losing his but Lionel Messi can console himself DECIDED TO STAY – WE KnEW battle to leave Barça, he labelled Bartomeu’s with four Champions League crowns, THERE’D BE MORE WAGE CUTS leadership “a disaster” – and that wasn’t the 10 La Liga titles, six Copas del Rey, SIMPLY TO COVER HIS SALARY” first time he’d called him out in public. The three UEFA Super Cups, three FIFA former president’s exit will have satisfied him, Club World Cups and eight Spanish emboldened and annoyed, and dropped his Above No man can no doubt – but enough to change his mind? Super Cups. No one has matched the guard on several occasions with outspoken match Messi’s haul That’s still very much on the table. Argentine forward’s six Ballons d’Or among comments which let the public know exactly of six Ballons d’Or a list of major individual prizes that stretches how he was feeling. Right Flogging best As part of this feature, FourFourTwo spoke into three figures. bud Suarez did little to a string of figures at the heart of the issue, Messi’s deep disquiet stems from the way to help Leo’s mood on and off the record. As we got closer to the The firsts keep on coming by the month, Barça were run under their former president club, everything went off the record – people’s too: the first player to net in 16 consecutive Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned – along livelihoods are at stake. seasons in the Champions League; the first with the club’s entire board – to widespread player to contribute 1,000 goals and assists mockery in late October. Earlier that month, But what some of them were prepared to in his senior career. In June, he scored the more than 20,000 Barcelona members had say surprised us. 700th goal of his professional career with signed up to force an imminent referendum a Panenka penalty against Atletico Madrid. on his future – one he would surely have lost, WHEN THE MONEY GOES and had unsuccessfully tried to delay. But despite the trophies and the accolades, “We were upset when Messi decided to stay,” Barcelona’s greatest ever player – still the The night before his departure, a defiant one professional – not a player – who works best in La Liga, aged 33 – is so unhappy with Bartomeu had declared that walking away in the Camp Nou offices told us. “Everyone his club of 20 years that he genuinely asked from the Camp Nou had “never crossed my was. We knew there would be more cuts and to leave in the summer. And he’s still fed up. mind”, only to perform a U-turn and leave. there were, simply to pay Leo’s wages. I love him and what he has done for our club and It’s a sore, complex subject. Asked for his Messi, no longer a callow youngster – the for football, but I love my family and having opinions on the current situation at Barça, captain of Argentina and Barcelona – is well a job more.” long-time midfielder Sergio Busquets said, aware of his status and unafraid to take on “If I stopped to give my opinion thoroughly, More than once, Messi has felt like he has we could be here for five or six hours.” been framed as the bad guy in a bad year for Barcelona. He has twice agreed to take a pay Messi, usually the quiet one – in public, at cut, but to little effect. any rate – has been guarded about what he says out loud. ‘Lionel cries, but not publicly,’ Father Jorge’s influence on every decision has been the oft-repeated line. In 2020, he in his life has eased since Messi Snr returned has seemingly become more self-confident, to live in Argentina, following problems with the Spanish government amid a 2013 tax AnGER, AnGST & OPTIMISM investigation. It was still Jorge, though, who flew into a media scrum and hopped in a taxi Everyone’s got an opinion on Messi’s situation – but only he can decide his fate at Barcelona airport to help finalise his son’s future, when it seemed like he was set to join Manchester City in August. Jorge had over-protected his boy, who has grown up noticeably in his father’s absence. Messi has always been comfortable around older people – indeed, some of his best pals at the Camp Nou have been elder statesmen: Deco, Ronaldinho, Jose Manuel Pinto. Closest friend Pepe Costa was a Barcelona backroom staff member in his fifties. In contrast, when it comes to his football, Messi has long felt self-assured enough to take responsibility by approaching managers and leading discussions. He remains stellar on the pitch, even without Xavi, Neymar and Andres Iniesta around. Even when he did have that trio alongside him, the club legend was still head and shoulders above them. But those elite players of old are dwindling. When good friend and neighbour Luis Suarez joined Atletico Madrid in September, Messi used his now-preferred communication tool, Instagram, to end a tribute to his departing RONALD KOEMAN GERARD PIQUE LUIS SUAREZ “From day one, Leo has trained and played well, and “I ask myself, ‘How can it be that the best player to “Out of respect for my relationship with Leo, I’m not given the maximum for the club, for his team and for have played the game, who we’ve been lucky enough going to reveal what we talked about, but he lived his team-mates. I have had no complaints about him to enjoy, wakes up one morning and sends a burofax through a difficult and complicated situation [in the on any day. There’s no debate: for me, he has always because he feels like he’s not being listened to?’ He summer]. He wanted to leave Barça and the club did been the best player in the world. I thought it before deserves everything, and the new ground should be not want him to. I think they wanted to get me away from the outside, and I think it even more now I’m named after him. We must preserve our figureheads, from Messi’s side – maybe it bothered them that I’ve working with him.” not underappreciate them. It really gets to me.” got a good relationship with Leo.” 34 December 2020 FourFourTwo

LIOnEL MESSI mate with the words, “You didn’t deserve for them to throw you out like they did. But the truth is that at this stage, nothing surprises me any more.” Losing Suarez, the Catalans’ third-highest scorer who can still net great goals but has been in decline for two years, didn’t surprise supporters: ultimately, he was incapable of doing the necessary running for Barcelona’s pressing game. Losing him to Atletico, a title rival, did – as did the tiny transfer fee of just €6 million. His wages were so high that the club simply wanted him off their books. Not only were Leo and Luis born and raised on the opposite banks of the Parana river in neighbouring Argentina and Uruguay, they were close on and off the pitch: neighbours between the Mediterranean and hills of the national park in Castelldefels, 20 miles south of Barcelona. It was with Suarez’s blessing that Messi suggested he should play in the central striker role, which he did to brilliant effect. The pair’s wives were also very pally, running a shoe shop together in an upscale part of Barcelona. Suarez’s departure and the manner of it – the former Liverpool man was informed by new coach Ronald Koeman in a one-minute phone call, rather than a face-to-face chat, that he didn’t figure in his plans – hurt Leo, too. Suarez moved on and Messi stayed, but while most Blaugrana fans backed their idol, others considered his emotional reaction on social media divisive. “I said what I felt in what was a difficult moment,” the Argentine said in his defence. “I understand that people may have thought I should have shut up or let it go, as I did on other occasions, but a lot of things have hurt me in the last few weeks and it was my way of expressing that. “Whoever knows me knows that I’m not capable of playing any way other than always to win, and giving everything on the pitch. It was like that throughout my career and that won’t change. Today, my commitment to this shirt and this badge is total. It is still intact.” In August, though, that commitment was anything but intact – instead, Messi asked to leave Barcelona. By September, he was back at training. “At first, with a heavy heart,” one training ground source told us, “but after the first few sessions he started to train very well. He’s motivated.” “Ultimately, it’s his animal instinct – he’s so competitive,” explains Jordi Quixano, who covers Barça for newspaper El Pais. “He just wants to win and win and win. If he is to stay, he has to win titles.” PABLO ZABALETA JAVIER TEBAS GUILLEM BALAGUE “From the outset, I was surprised that he wanted to “We’ve been so lucky to enjoy him for so many years, “He will have time to decide about his future after leave Barça. It was hard to understand that he tried but Messi should think very carefully about what he the presidential elections, but I’m convinced that if to leave the club of his life, although I didn’t know his does next. If Messi left Barcelona, that reputation he they go the way Messi wants, he will stay. Koeman reasons; how he was feeling. If Messi wants to leave, has now and that has worked so well for him would went over to Messi’s house after he was appointed he deserves a different farewell. Not like this time, be really damaged. It’s true he could get a better offer and they spoke for a while. Messi was impressed by after losing 8-2 to Bayern. Messi is a one-club man – financially, but the reputation he has built after more what his new manager had to say, but he has got but if one day he goes, it had better be to Man City!” than 20 years, I think he has to hold onto that.” to shake his feelings off now and focus on Barça.” FourFourTwo December 2020 35

LIOnEL MESSI Much of Messi’s frustration comes from his sign his compatriot Sergio Aguero, since he Below “We’re forward wasn’t unhappy to see him go after craving to be in a competitive side. The player knew the striker was going to leave Atletico pleased Messi’s one trophyless campaign – although Martino himself admitted last season that he didn’t Madrid. Sporting director and iconic former staying, but La subsequently being named Argentina coach think Barça had one capable of winning La goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta ignored him. Liga is bigger brought more frustration. Liga or the Champions League, but he stayed than one man,” put – against his wishes – for this campaign. While the Catalans may have got that one stated league Messi has a history of falling out with his wrong, perhaps they were right to overlook president Tebas managers. The best of those, Pep Guardiola Was La Liga, locked in a global super league another Messi suggestion: his cousin, fellow eventually walked away, exhausted, in 2012. race with the Premier League for eyeballs and Rosario native and former Newell’s Old Boys “I’m leaving or we’ll get hurt,” admitted the the ensuing broadcast rights which underpin youth graduate, Emanuel Biancucchi. The Catalan. Every player turned up to see him the whole operation, afraid that Messi would midfielder did move to Europe in 2008, but off, with one notable exception. Part of Pep’s leave following the departure of Real Madrid was hardly a huge success at 1860 Munich. exhaustion came from his relationship with rival Cristiano Ronaldo a year earlier? his leading man, the absentee Messi, abetted Messi has been unhappy at how some of by centre-back Gerard Pique. “We were worried, but not seriously,” Javier his other friends were treated, too – and not Tebas, the league’s president, admitted to FFT just Suarez. Goalkeeper Pinto had arrived in Pep and Leo have, however, patched things diplomatically. “We want Messi to be with us 2008 and become a good pal. He was No.2 up, and Guardiola absolutely wanted him at – he’s the best player in the history of football to Victor Valdes and played 26 games in his Manchester City this summer. The club were and we want him to end his career in La Liga. final season of 2013-14 but, aged 38, didn’t keen to land him, too – badly. City have long We’re pleased that he’s staying with us and have his contract renewed. So, Messi helped intrigued Messi: as long ago as 2010, he was not going to another country, but La Liga is his mate in other ways. Pinto had a sideline in eager to ask FFT at the end of an interview also bigger than one man.” It is, but Messi’s music and was involved in Messi 10, a Cirque about the club’s new wealth and what they appeal remains colossal. In reality, Tebas was du Soleil production presented by Rakuten – were paying players. relieved that he stayed. For how much longer, the Japanese e-commerce website that, like though, remains a mystery. Amazon, has branched out into production Guardiola may have grown exhausted by and is Barça’s chief sponsor. ‘the Flea’, but Luis Enrique almost came to “Ronald Koeman was asked to completely blows with him. The Argentine – benched for change the team and he’s doing that,” adds Messi’s influence was alleged to have gone the 1-0 defeat at David Moyes’ Real Sociedad Fernando Sanz, formerly of Real Madrid and further than the squad. That 2013-14 season in January 2015 after his Christmas break in now a La Liga ambassador. “He’s got Messi was the year when another Rosario resident, Argentina – needed to be separated from the happy again and in sync with the team. That Tata Martino, took the helm having replaced current Spain manager by Xavi in a training is key for everyone: for the team, the club and an unwell Tito Vilanova. The assumption was ground altercation. The pair agreed to bury for Messi especially.” that Leo had influenced the decision, but it the hatchet; to work together to the best of was actually another Messi – father Jorge – their considerable abilities. The heated clash So if Barcelona’s third coach of 2020 brings who had held sway. Martino was his hero as appeared to clear the air too, as Barça won them success, Messi’s angst will disappear? a player (and later manager) at Newell’s Old the Treble with their celebrated trio of Messi, If only things were that simple. Boys, but Messi Jr wasn’t as sold on the idea Neymar and Suarez thrilling the continent. and relations weren’t great between Barça’s FRIEND WITH BENEFITS coach and their premier player. The club had Neymar’s 2017 exit to Paris Saint-Germain set up an increasingly sophisticated sports hurt Messi more. None of Barcelona’s players Messi’s grievances with Barcelona are many science department to aid performance, but wanted him to leave, and all of them wanted and go back a long way. Martino was already set in his ideas – formed him back when rumours of a possible return when he was a player in the 1980s – which surfaced. He didn’t, and Antoine Griezmann It’s clear that he expects to have at least Messi considered outdated. As a result, the was lined up to replace the Brazilian attacker. some input into signings, for starters. In 2011, Griezmann wasn’t a popular choice within Barça’s talisman suggested the club should

LIOnEL MESSI “BARÇA HAVEn’T PREPARED FOR Ernesto Valverde. Training was not detailed MESSI & GUARDIOLA: MESSI GETTInG OLD – THEY LET nor overly technical, but the former Athletic An UnEASY AFFAIR THE FUTURE GO In nEYMAR AnD Bilbao boss liked a positive ambience in his HAVEn’T InVESTED In LA MASIA” squad and the team won La Liga in his first The Barcelona icons could be reunited two seasons. Global fans attracted to Barça at Manchester City, but it’s not always Barça’s ranks, following the televised decision by the glory years under Guardiola may have been plain sailing between the pair... he made in 2017… where he said he wouldn’t thought this was the norm, but the Catalans be joining Barcelona. He doubled his salary only won Spain’s title once from 1974-91 – 2 0 0 8 Barcelona didn’t want Messi at Atletico, but Barça paid his buyout clause under English gaffer Terry Venables in 1985. playing for Argentina at the in 2019 despite the players’ – and Neymar’s 2008 Olympics in China, but – understanding that Neymar would return. Valverde oversaw a winning team and was Pep – who’d won gold with Spain in 1992 President Bartomeu had previously declared respected for his tactical acumen. Barça had – secured himself early brownie points. that the club weren’t interested in acquiring their ups and devastating downs under him “Pep was phenomenal with me,” recalled the France forward, when in truth a deal had – Champions League collapses in Rome and Messi. “After a game he grabbed me and already been agreed. Liverpool the standout horror shows – but said, ‘You want to go, don’t you?’ I said, the players considered him a man of integrity. ‘Yes’. When I’m frustrated, I can’t hide it.” Griezmann has been one of several pricey None of the outfield players – Messi among players signed with the €222m world record them – criticised Valverde, because they liked 2 0 0 9 A glorious Treble in Pep’s first fee that Barça received for Neymar, and who and respected him. season featured a Leo goal haven’t lived up to expectations. The former in a Champions League final Atletico ace is an odd fit in the dressing room, But then he was sacked. – one he’d later tell FFT was his all-time seen as too showy. Messi is still undoubtedly favourite. Weeks earlier, Pep had watched the man. Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho and POTATOES AND SMEAR CAMPAIGNS the 21-year-old devastate Real Madrid in Ousmane Dembele were all bought for north a 6-2 thrashing, having told Messi about of €100m, as the Catalans’ wage bill surged A Spanish Super Cup loss to Atletico in Saudi his famous ‘false nine’ role the previous to become the grandest in football. Takings Arabia was the push that Barcelona’s board night. “I’d never been a centre-forward, also grew, but rival executives were privately needed. When sporting director Eric Abidal but I knew the position,” shrugged Messi. sceptical about Barça’s boasts that they had later declared that the players hadn’t been become the first side to record a billion dollar giving their all for Valverde, they were furious 2 0 1 0 Zlatan Ibrahimovic once revenue. They were less surprised when the – captain Messi in particular. claimed that, “Messi wanted club denied that it needed a Goldman Sachs to play centre-forward and loan to pay their staff in the autumn of 2020. Ex-Barça and France defender Abidal, who got his way.” But according to journalists had been aligned to the re-election campaign Alex Juillard and Sebastian Fest in their While Messi may have had beef with almost of former president Joan Laporta, was now book The Messi Mystery, the Argentine every one of his managers at the Camp Nou, in situ as the Blaugrana’s sporting director. He felt threatened. He is said to have texted the one he had the fewest issues with was had previously moved to Dubai and had no a baffled Guardiola with concern about inclination of leaving there, but was tempted his importance, amid the striking power back. Other prime candidates like Jordi Cruyff struggle. Ibra lasted just one campaign. had rejected the role as they didn’t consider it a stable one. Bartomeu wanted his friends 2 0 1 2 Four years, three La Liga titles close and his enemies even closer. Abidal and two European triumphs was respected as an astute old team-mate, later, a frazzled Guardiola quit but then he explained Valverde’s dismissal. Barcelona – but Messi was the only senior no-show at his farewell press conference. “Many players weren’t satisfied or working Explaining the absence on Facebook, the a lot – there was an internal communication frontman said, “Because of the emotions, problem,” said the double Champions League I preferred not to be present and to stay winner. “The relationship between the coach away from the media, as I know they look and dressing room was good, but there are for the pain on the players’ faces.” Hmm. things, as an ex-player, that I could smell.” 2 0 2 0 Messi claimed in 2015 that, Messi struck back immediately. “When you “I haven’t had a relationship talk about players you should give names, with Pep since he left” – but because if not, you’re tarnishing all of us and their mutual respect remains. Pre-transfer feeding things that are said that aren’t true,” request, Guardiola insisted, “The best is he posted on Instagram. Messi,” when asked if Sergio Aguero was his finest striker. “Messi is [the best] No.9, There was now a three-way clash between No.10, No.11, No.7, No.6, No.5, No.4...” – three of the four most important people at only Ederson can probably breathe easy. Barcelona, and Abidal’s days were numbered: in August 2020, six months on, he was gone. Barça’s four captains, Messi, Busquets, Pique and Sergi Roberto, met with the directors to discuss their issues about the team and club. Simply, there was a complete breakdown of trust between the players and board. Ivan Rakitic, rightly suspecting that Barça wanted his salary off their vast wage bill, huffed, “I’m not a sack of potatoes.” He wanted to see out his contract but felt treated like a commodity. Bartomeu kept a distance. His only player contract negotiations were with Messi, which had become a bi-annual affair. He even joked to a rival club owner that his entire job was bringing enough cash into Barça so that they could afford Messi’s wages. Those familiar with the situation claim there was very little negotiation in these deals: the Messis asked

LIOnEL MESSI for a number and usually got it, threatening Bartomeu explained his version of events Above Unpopular of Barça puritans, gave game time to young to depart if they didn’t. He was so important to Messi, Pique and new head coach Quique president Bartomeu talents but ran into a wall of player power to Barcelona that he and his team didn’t even Setien, but the players were unconvinced by resigned in October and struggled to play the football he wanted. request three of the contract extensions, but their club’s actions and tweeted “Puppet” in after mass protests Setien lasted until the end of the 2019-20 agreed to improved deals after being offered reply to a journalist’s pro-board tweet. Pique, season, when his team were obliterated 8-2 them. With swelling revenues from television, Messi and Cesc Fabregas, who all emerged by Bayern Munich in the Champions League commercial (the Catalans aped Manchester through Barça’s famous class of ’87, are very quarter-finals. Messi was more comfortable United’s model of global and region-specific close and share a WhatsApp group. with Valverde than his replacement. sponsors) and matchday streams, Messi’s wages rose proportionally with club revenue. Victor Font, the favourite to be Barça’s next Financially, Barcelona were already in peril Both the goose and its golden egg were doing president who plans to hire Xavi as his coach, before coronavirus changed life as we know very well as football boomed. denounced the club’s mismanagement and it. The remodelling of the Camp Nou has been added, “The result is the danger of economic delayed. After a decade of charging one-off Yet, in a style that has become worryingly bankruptcy and moral decay in which the visitors top prices to watch matches at their frequent, the club have persistently managed club has settled. Game over.” 98,000-capacity stadium, and ushering 1.5 to embarrass themselves. Barcelona may be million visitors into their museum every year seen as a fan-owned example of how a club Setien, a confirmed Cruyffista and a man – 50 per cent more than Catalonia’s Picasso should be operated, but they are also a highly whose football philosophy seemed to fit that equivalent – Barça’s coffers are empty. political construct – and with politics comes disharmony. In February, a report from radio In April, their players agreed to vast wage station SER Catalunya alleged that Barça paid cuts of up to 70 per cent. They understood almost €1m for PR company I3 Ventures to monitor social media trends and create sock accounts upholding Bartomeu’s reputation. In 2020, the club rescinded its contract when accounts linked to the company were shown to back the president, and smear both iconic players – Messi and Pique included – and possible future candidates for the presidency. Barça denied that they were behind the slurs against their own stars, and an independent report found that they did not conduct “any defamatory campaigns” against individuals, but the extraordinary affair raised even more awkward questions. On his part, Bartomeu suspected his fellow directors were leaking too much information to the media, and changes were soon made. Vice-president Emili Rousaud, the man lined up to replace him, resigned after claiming “someone [not on the board] put their hand in the till” over the social media deal which should have come in at €120,000-150,000, according to the independent report. Barça denied the allegations, threatening “criminal action to be taken in defence of the honour of the club and its employees”. According to sources, no action seems to have been taken. In an August follow-up interview, Rousaud later described Bartomeu as “very secretive” and said he had been “tricking us”. MESSI BY nUMBERS: SEASOn BY SEASOn 80 70 67 GOALS 50 58 58 53 51 60 ASSISTS 43 41 44 50 40 38 37 30 23 25 27 30 23 25 20 17 16 14 17 15 14 18 18 15 10 8 10 10 3 3 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 17-18 18-19 19-20 38 December 2020 FourFourTwo

LIOnEL MESSI that staff would be laid off if they didn’t, had “I’VE nO DOUBT THAT HE SPOKE club and player,” states Jimmy Burn, author no issue with the reductions and were willing TO GUARDIOLA, THE BEST COACH of acclaimed book Barça. “It wasn’t a great to make further contributions to support staff THAT HE’S EVER PLAYED UnDER, spectacle at a time when people couldn’t go living in a state of crisis. Messi could afford it: BUT A COnTRACT’S A COnTRACT” to the stadium.” he is football’s biggest earner, having topped Forbes’ rich list as the world’s highest-paid Below “President that Lisbon annihilation, his shoulders were Critics claimed that Messi was being badly athlete in 2019. He pocketed $127m (£98m) Pique has a nice slumped, his head down, his hands on his advised, while those close to the situation from wages and commercial endorsements, ring to it, right?” hips – just like they were in similar Champions felt he was forcing the issue through actions with his annual salary currently standing at League hammerings by Liverpool and Roma. which included not turning up for training, more than $80m (£61m). The man who always turned up in the most after the club declined to let him go for free. important games couldn’t do it alone. Once again, though, the club botched their “The whole thing was a dog’s dinner,” adds communications, so it looked like the players He’d had enough. Barça’s famous forward Burns. “No club was going to get involved in had to be pressured into taking a cut. Once line had stopped producing: they averaged a serious transfer [for Messi] when there was again, Messi took to Instagram and stated a paltry 11.2 shots per game in last season’s an unresolved court case, since both sides Barça’s players were “surprised” that people Champions League, the 24th-highest figure were in disagreement. If it had gone to the inside the club had insinuated such a thing. of the 32 teams that competed. Spanish courts, it would have been a messy and protracted process. Political too, since “We want to clarify that our desire has Messi’s next move was educating the world Barça and the Catalan situation is a political always been for a reduction to be applied to about what a ‘burofax’ was (in short: Spain’s hot potato. When you look at the candidates our salaries, as we understand that this is an going for Barça’s presidency, you can define exceptional situation and we are the first that posh recorded postal service). His message them by who is pro independence and who have ALWAYS helped the club with what they contained a legally binding letter, informing isn’t. It’s got nothing to do with football.” have asked of us,” he posted. the club of his decision to depart – citing Barcelona were correct, though: a contract Bartomeu attempted to undo the damage. a clause in his contract added in 2017 is a contract. Nonetheless, the club were also “From the first moment, Messi said this must that he could go for nothing. It arrived criticised for previously agreeing to a clause be done,” he insisted to Catalan newspaper too late. Barcelona refused, insisting allowing the world’s best player to leave for Sport. “It’s a gesture that demonstrates that the deadline to activate it was free, on the understanding that he’d never their [the players’] commitment to the June 10 and reminding him that his want to leave. He loved life in a city where his club. I wanted it to be something buyout clause still stood at €700m. family was settled and schooled in English agreed and not imposed.” Legal action was mooted. (Messi does the school run, and is even happy that rugby is played there). It wasn’t enough. “It was a story about politics, money and egos – and it wasn’t a noble story in the Senior Barça players could understand the WHAT’S A BUROFAX? time of COVID-19, of animosity between Argentine’s frustration and reasons, but that didn’t mean they weren’t surprised about his Matters got far worse between the pair stance – and not in a positive way. Eyebrows this summer. After that soul-destroying were raised about his adamance to go, and 8-2 loss to Bayern in the Champions his failure to turn up at training for COVID-19 League, Messi had made up his mind – tests. Even Suarez, who was treated shabbily, he wanted to leave Barcelona. During showed his face. FourFourTwo December 2020 39

LIOnEL MESSI Messi continued to admit that he was hurt, views public when before he held back. I’ve Below Messi be Messi’s loudest supporters? He is still the that he would do his best, and that he didn’t no doubt that he spoke to Guardiola, the best will do his best man who shifts 80 per cent of shirts, after all. want to go to court “against the club of my manager he’s ever played under – but he has for Barça but is life”. But he was deeply discontented. a contract, and a contract is a contract.” discontented “I was worried my four-year-old son would never see Messi play live for Barcelona,” Jordi Meanwhile, main suitors Manchester City Messi is still looked after by his father and Camp, who was enrolled as a socio on the were left on the sidelines. “If Messi decides brother, Rodrigo. He trusts them implicitly day he was born in 1975, tells FFT. But even to leave Barcelona, the impossible becomes and has never used a high-profile agent, but he believes Messi could have behaved better. possible,” said City’s director of football, and has he always had the smartest people in his former Barça forward, Txiki Begiristain. “We corner? Few familiar with the situation think “Messi is the greatest player I’ve ever seen, will leave all options open.” yes, although Pau Negre – who once worked but while he’s expressed himself so well on at Barça and deals very closely with Messi on the pitch, he’s not comfortable talking off it,” “There are so many strands to all of this,” sponsorships – disagrees. He says the player says Camp. “The burofax he sent saying he reveals Manolo Marquez, a Catalan UEFA pro is a smart operator. wanted to leave Barça was cold. He lives in coach who managed top-flight Las Palmas a bubble. His Argentine accent is exactly the in 2017. “Messi didn’t feel comfortable with But what did staunch match-goers make of same after 20 years because he’s surrounded the board at Barcelona, and he made these the situation; the ones you would imagine to by Argentines. He doesn’t speak Catalan, but no one’s perfect. I still consider him Catalan.” “Messi got his tactics wrong,” one leading football agent tells FFT. “He held the cards, but when he refused to go to training despite being contracted to the club, he got it wrong. He played straight into the club’s hands, and his critics. Barça don’t deal with their legends very well, though.” KOEMAN THE CONQUEROR In October, after the club announced losses of €97m for 2019-20 – pushing their debt to €488m – further cuts were required among all club employees, including the first-team staff. It was leaked by Madrid-based paper Marca that most of the players failed to sign the contract this time, however, while also taking a stand against contract extensions under the current regime. Despite the apparent display of solidarity, Pique, Frenkie de Jong, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Clement Lenglet all penned new deals. Again, Barça’s players were portrayed as the bad guys, with Madrid’s press naturally citing a dressing room rift. In reality, there isn’t – just different opinions and two groups: the stalwarts like Jordi Alba, Busquets and Messi, plus the younger lads whose hunger to win impresses their iconic attacker. Ronald Koeman, a Blaugrana hero and the man who scored the goal which sealed their first ever European Cup in 1992 at Wembley, was brought in to be a strong arm. The board wanted him in charge to help make difficult choices about an ageing team which needed its salary base – football’s biggest – drastically reducing. Barcelona had a fire sale and four world-class players were allowed to leave for free or relative peanuts. Rakitic went back to Sevilla for €1.5m, while Rafinha joined PSG on a free, Arturo Vidal headed for Inter and “IT’S HIS AnIMAL InSTInCT – HE’S SO COMPETITIVE. IF HE IS TO STAY HERE, HE HAS TO WIn TITLES”

LIOnEL MESSI Suarez to Atletico. Those four players slashed Above Leo was On the pitch, Barcelona didn’t start 2020-21 saw a president up against a rope with 20,000 €77m off Barça’s annual wage bill and, with unable to stop well either. Messi failed to score from open members declaring they have no confidence three of their five oldest players shipped out, arch-rivals Real play in five matches, and that home Clasico in him – a substantial number. The problem the average age of the team started coming ruling the Camp defeat to Real Madrid meant Barça had won for anyone taking control of Barcelona is that down for the first time in years. Nou in October only one of their last six home meetings with there’s a huge black hole in the finances. The Below Koeman their arch rivals. Before that game, and after problems are deep and it will be a poisoned “The club felt that we needed to rejuvenate, has been hired a miserable defeat at Getafe, Koeman even chalice for anyone taking on a club with these and you can see that now in the team,” said to help make claimed that Messi’s performances “could be finances – especially in the time of COVID-19. Koeman in October. “[Ansu] Fati is 18. We hard decisions better”. If ever there was a sign that things have Pedri who is also 17. [Ronald] Araujo is weren’t quite right... “Then there’s Messi, aged 33 and no longer 21. [Francisco] Trincao comes on a lot and is performing at the same high level. One of the 20. And [Sergino] Dest is only 19. These are That anger can ebb and flow, however, like club’s biggest problems is that Barça haven’t players for the future.” Barça fans’ ever-changing mood. With that prepared for Messi getting old. They let the also alters the likelihood of Messi staying or future go in Neymar, and stopped investing Messi likes the youngsters who are playing going – as soon as January 2021, potentially. and producing talent in La Masia which had around him and doing all his running: Fati (La From then, he can at least talk to other clubs, underpinned the success of Cruyff and Pep. Liga’s September player of the month), Dest and Manchester City’s charm offensive will No one understood how Griezmann would fit (Barça’s best player in October’s 3-1 Clasico have already begun – realistically, they are in with Messi. What would have been better loss), Pedri and De Jong. His relationship with one of the few teams who have the financial for everyone is Barça and Messi getting a deal Griezmann and Dembele is still complicated, power to even compete for his signature. In out of court where they could have sold him however. Both are supremely talented, but October, City’s chief operating officer Omar and still got the money in that they needed.” have been inconsistent and underwhelming Berrada admitted to the Manchester Evening at the Camp Nou; between them, they mark News, “I think any club in the world would like It could still happen. Barcelona and Messi an erratic recruitment policy caused by too to explore the possibility of him joining their remain in a marriage where the love left long many changes to managers and directors. team. He’s probably an exception to potential ago – and one team in particular won’t wait investments that we’d do... but our planning for a blue moon to sweep him off his feet. As well as neglecting La Masia, Barça have has been done with this current squad, and let some of their finest homegrown talents it’s being considered with the opportunities MORE On FOURFOURTWO.COM leave. Eric Garcia joined Manchester City, for example, as part of a trend which concerns that we have.” • Barça’s Generation ’87: When Messi, Cesc elite Spanish outfits: the amount others are As one leading agent tells FFT, and Pique killed the competition at La Masia prepared to pay for their top young talents. “The president knew that he Wolves winger Adama Traore left Barcelona was going – if his last act was • How Cruyff reinvented modern football at in 2015 because he wasn’t getting enough to sell Messi, he could say that Barcelona (by Andrew Murray) chances from Luis Enrique – the man who’s he got the best years out of now giving him games for Spain. him and then brought serious • FourFourTwo guest editor Lionel Messi: the money in to aid the finances.” 14 best moments of my career Koeman has shades of Valverde about him, “What you see in public [at but the Dutchman has got his own demands. • Quiz: Can you name Lionel Messi’s 30 most “He’s quite relaxed during training and gives Barça], and what you see off the frequent team-mates? players lots of confidence,” explains Morgan record and behind the scenes is very Schneiderlin, who worked with him at both different,” adds Burns. “In public, you Southampton and Everton. “He’d tell you to try things to experiment – he’s a really good coach.” But now Koeman wants them to train like they play – a first for Messi. Koeman does have a chance at Barcelona, though, because football fans are as loyal as they are fickle. At the start of the 2017-18 season, after Neymar’s exit, there were calls for presidential changes and vocal supporters backing it. They were all but silenced after nine straight wins. Bartomeu was fortunate in one respect with the coronavirus pandemic – that there were no fans inside the stadium to abuse him. “They would have been going mad at him,” confirms Camp. “I blame him and his board 100 per cent for the affair with Messi. They spoiled everything built by [former president] Laporta, by Guardiola, by Johan Cruyff. He destroyed La Masia, and had four technical directors in five years. They wasted an insane amount of money on players. I can understand why Messi wanted to walk away from the mess.” Carlos Tusquets has been parachuted in as acting president until the new year, when Bartomeu’s successor will be voted for. Victor Font is the favourite, but Laporta is also in the mix with Jordi Farre, Toni Freixa and Lluis Fernandez. Whoever takes the reins will have a daunting, overfilled in-tray. FourFourTwo December 2020 41

went to war this least their aggro he threat of gun ing talk of cats... agan HE ST ER “Not the worst snake, but in the top one”

TRAnSFER BUST-UPS DAVE BASSETT’S LEAGUE OF CATS When Pierre van Hooijdonk left a club, he generally didn’t go quietly. A spell at Celtic ended acrimoniously after a wage dispute – the Dutchman was quoted as saying that £7,000 a week “may be good enough for the homeless, but not for an international striker”. He later claimed he was misquoted, but things were no calmer when he joined Nottingham Forest. After the East Midlands side reneged on a promise to let him leave after promotion, the angry frontman went on strike amid dissatisfaction at boss Dave Bassett. “We were doing f**k all in training,” he later told FFT. “People say we became champions, but so what? It’s about players as well. If you were to change all of the managers in the league for cats, there will still be one champion and three clubs will get relegated. Does that mean the cat who is champion is fantastic and the three who got relegated are s**t?” Er, quite… MISS WORLD’S FUR COAT George Best’s final 18 months at Manchester United were somewhat turbulent. First, the Northern Irishman announced his retirement in 1972, aged 26, then changed his mind – only to be suspended and transfer-listed by Reds boss Frank O’Farrell soon afterwards, for persistent partying. Best retired for a second time, then changed his mind for a second time, before things imploded spectacularly midway through United’s relegation season. He refused to feature for the club ever again after being dropped by Tommy Docherty in January 1974, after missing training to go on a three-day bender. Weeks later, Best was arrested for stealing a fur coat from Miss World, although he was quickly cleared. This time, though, his decision to quit United was permanent, and he signed for South African side Jewish Guild.

TRAnSFER BUST-UPS THE ORIGINAL JEAN-MARC BOSMAN WORKIN’ AT THE CAR WASH THE IMMOVABLE OBJECT In 1959, player power wasn’t really a thing – Would you carry out menial cleaning tasks Winston Bogarde had been at Chelsea for as George Eastham found out. Complaining using garments from a World Cup winner? only a matter of weeks when the Stamford that the house Newcastle had put him up in Well, ex-Spurs owner Alan Sugar certainly Bridge outfit decided he needed to go. There was barely habitable, Eastham refused to ink wouldn’t. Jurgen Klinsmann was a success was just one problem: he didn’t want to. The a new contract and requested a transfer. at Tottenham after arriving from Monaco in Dutchman had arrived in west London from It didn’t go well: the Magpies immediately 1994, but just a year later he was off again – Barcelona in August 2000, amid conflicting stopped paying him, and employment law activating a timely get-out clause after Spurs reports about whether boss Gianluca Vialli meant they kept his registration beyond the finished seventh and lost 4-1 to Everton in actually had any say in his signing. Vialli was end of his deal, too. Eastham earned some the FA Cup semi-finals. The Beetle-loving soon sacked, and new gaffer Claudio Ranieri cash by becoming a cork salesman, before German striker said he’d give Sugar a signed immediately made the defender surplus to Newcastle relented months later and sold shirt by way of compensation – but when it requirements – but Bogarde refused to leave him to Arsenal. He then took the Magpies to was presented to Spurs’ owner during a TV until his deal expired four years later. “Why court and won, prompting a change in the interview, the future Apprentice overlord should I throw €15 million away when it’s regulations. Bad news for Mike Ashley – just lobbed it straight back at his rather bashful already mine?” he asked, with sound logic. think of all the money he could have saved. interviewer. “I wouldn’t wash my car with it,” “At the moment I signed, it was my money.” Sugar infamously declared. Two years on, Bogarde made just one appearance in his “DO I WANNA GO HULL CITY? NO!” though, he swallowed his pride and signed final three-and-a-half seasons at the club, Klinsmann for a second stint. with a 21-minute cameo against Gillingham. It seems hard to believe now, but just a few years ago, England international strikers got annoyed if they couldn’t join Sunderland. Darren Bent’s final months at Spurs weren’t entirely happy. First, he squandered a sitter against Portsmouth, prompting boss Harry Redknapp to claim that ‘even his missus’ would have buried it. Daniel Levy promptly dragged his heels over a summer move to Wearside, amid interest from other clubs – Bent’s cue to flip his lid in a glorious Twitter diatribe. “Seriously getting pissed off now,” seethed the forward. “Do I wanna go Hull City NO. Do I wanna go Stoke NO. Do I wanna go Sunderland YES, so stop f**king around, Levy.” Sandra wouldn’t have typed that...

TRAnSFER BUST-UPS LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE BERBA KIDNAPPED guy in Bulgaria. It was frightening.” Luckily, they eventually let Berbatov leave and the You just don’t aggravate Cerro Porteno fans – When ambitious Bulgarian team Velbazhd forward stayed put at CSKA Sofia. Iliev soon Paraguayan Carlos Gamarra found that out Kyustendil attempted to sign a young Dimitar merged Kyustendil with Lokomotiv Plovdiv the hard way. Having begun his career with Berbatov from CSKA Sofia, they didn’t go for but was killed by a sniper in 2005, following Cerro and later played abroad with Benfica, the conventional method. Instead, several in the footsteps of previous Plovdiv owners Atletico and Inter, things went badly indeed unsavoury associates of club owner Georgi Georgi Kalapatirov (shot through the heart), for him when he returned to Paraguay at the Iliev kidnapped the goal-getter and tried to Georgi Prodanov (killed in a car crash after age of 35. After teasing an emotional return persuade him to join. “It was late at night, his brakes were slashed), Peter Pesho-Petrov to Cerro in 2007, Gamarra ended up joining they took me to some place and there was (gunned down at his front door) and Nikolai their arch-enemies Olimpia instead – leading a guy talking s**t to me,” Berbatov later told Popov (bludgeoned to death). The man who to apoplectic Cerro fans attempting to set his FFT. “I was thinking, ‘What the f**k? Where succeeded Iliev, Aleksandar Tasev, was also house on fire. Possibly a slight overreaction. am I?’ This was probably the biggest mafia assassinated. Nothing like job security. SCHALKE FAnS UnFURLED A BAnnER THAT CALLED nEUER NEUER TAKES UP PUPPETRY A ‘CHARACTERLESS PUPPET’ WHEn HE RETURnED In 2011 Manuel Neuer is admired around the world – but in Gelsenkirchen... well, not so much. The revered goalkeeper rose to fame in five years with hometown club Schalke, assuming the captaincy at 24 and leading Die Knappen to the Champions League semi-finals in 2011. That, however, made it all the more painful when Neuer refused to sign a new deal and joined Bayern Munich with 12 months left on his contract. Schalke’s miffed supporters have branded him ‘Judas’ ever since, and unveiled a banner outlining their displeasure when he returned to the Veltins-Arena with Die Roten that year. “We mourn the loss of M Neuer – 2005 to 2011 – risen again as a characterless puppet,” it guffawed. GEOGRAPHY WITH SAVAGE Robbie Savage spent two-and-a-half happy years with Birmingham, but then Blackburn came calling – managed by his hero Mark Hughes. Sav promptly submitted a written transfer request, explaining that he wanted to be nearer his family in Wrexham – only for David Sullivan to publicly point out that Birmingham was in fact a few miles closer to Wrexham than Blackburn. The midfielder had one desperate, last-ditch option left at his disposal. “To go onto a football pitch and not try – it was a preconceived thing and I’m ashamed of it really,” he revealed about his final Birmingham game against Newcastle. He joined Rovers a fortnight later. THE UNFRIENDLY FRIENDLY Jorge Cadete’s time with Portuguese giants Sporting came to an unhappy conclusion in 1996: out of favour after Carlos Queiroz replaced Bobby Robson as boss, he was sold to Celtic. Cadete became a hero at Parkhead, only for things to go wrong again when he joined Van Hooijdonk and Paolo Di Canio by forcing his way out of the club over a wage dispute. The Portugal frontman refused to return for pre-season and was then sold to Celta Vigo – making it all the more awkward months later when Celtic finally travelled to play Sporting in a friendly, agreed as part of the original deal to sign Cadete. Amid chatter that some of the gate receipts might go to the player, and both sets of fans no longer on good terms with the marksman, only 600 people turned up to watch the match at the 60,000-capacity stadium. FourFourTwo December 2020 45

TRAnSFER BUST-UPS CLOUGH BRAnDED TAYLOR, HIS LOnG-TIME ASSISTAnT, offering the defender a two-day trial. Mears A “SnAKE In THE GRASS” – THEY nEVER SPOKE AGAIn was so keen to leave Derby that he climbed through a window at their training ground CLOUGHIE LASHES OUT and crawled past Jewell’s office to collect his boots, before heading south and sneaking Brian Clough and Peter Taylor were one of across the Channel unnoticed. His club was the best managerial double acts in history, understandably incensed, but a loan switch but things turned very sour over the transfer was eventually completed. of John Robertson in June 1983. The Scot had helped Nottingham Forest win back-to-back GUNNING FOR TROUBLE European Cups, but was soon lured to rivals Derby when Taylor took over as manager at Things were inevitably going to be difficult for the Baseball Ground. Clough branded Taylor Sol Campbell when he quit Tottenham to join “a snake in the grass” as the transfer went Arsenal in 2001 – but even he probably didn’t to a tribunal, and the pair never spoke again expect what happened next. Sol’s decision to – even though Robertson returned to Forest join the Gunners on a Bosman resulted in his for a second spell just two years later. mobile phone number being spread around internet message boards, sparking a flurry of “DEAR GAFFER, I’M OFF” abusive calls. There was worse to come, too, when one irate fan strung up an effigy of the There’s a time and place to lodge a transfer England man on a noose outside White Hart request – and in the dressing room straight Lane. In the 19 years since, Arsenal have not after the last game of a season probably isn’t signed a single former Spurs player. it. Still, that’s what Pascal Chimbonda chose to do after an impressive debut campaign in BABY PAINS the Premier League with Wigan – the Latics had just lost 4-2 at Arsenal in the last ever Do you remember when Rafael van der Vaart game at Highbury in 2006, when the full-back represented Valencia? Nope, us neither. The produced a written transfer request that he Dutch playmaker was set to join the Spanish had reportedly hidden inside his sock. “I was side from Hamburg in 2007, though, and even speechless,” said boss Paul Jewell, who had posed with a Los Che shirt. But then he pulled awarded Chimbonda a fresh four-year deal out of a UEFA Cup match, explaining that he only months earlier. The Frenchman moved had hurt himself while lifting his one-year-old to Spurs that summer. son. Hamburg smelled a rat, believing he just wanted to avoid being cup tied, and refused MO CHOCOLATE, MO PROBLEMS to let him move to Mestalla – the saga was dubbed ‘Van der Farce’ in the German media. It takes a special kind of transfer to upset But perhaps most surprising of all: there really both sets of supporters involved in the move was a time when people refused to believe – but Mo Johnston achieved exactly that. The that Van der Vaart was injured. forward scored more than 50 goals for Celtic before joining Nantes in 1987, only to come home two years later and join… Rangers. The Gers broke their own unwritten rule to seal the deal – they hadn’t recruited high-profile Catholics since the start of the 20th century. Celtic fans were livid and a section of Rangers fans weren’t best pleased, burning scarves in protest. Even the club’s kitman got involved, withholding chocolate bars from the Scotland international. There can surely be no greater symbolic protest. “You’ll get one when you’ve done something to earn it,” said the kitman, largely in jest. Things changed when Johnston scored in an Old Firm game against Celtic – suddenly, he had all the treats he could eat. WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY We’re not sure what it was about poor Paul Jewell, but he didn’t seem to have much luck with wantaway players. After Chimbonda at Wigan, he then watched Tyrone Mears take a bizarre escape route from Derby. Or rather, he didn’t. Mears had just been part of the Rams squad that picked up a record low 11 Premier League points in 2007-08, but that didn’t stop French behemoths Marseille from 46 December 2020 FourFourTwo

TRAnSFER BUST-UPS A DIVINE RIOT THE DECAPITATION OF DEFOUR When the iconic Roberto Baggio was sold to Standard Liege and Anderlecht aren’t exactly Juventus weeks after he’d starred for Italy at pals, so Steven Defour’s decision to cross the the 1990 World Cup, it’s fair to say Fiorentina divide was never going to sit well. No matter fans were a bit upset. OK, extremely upset: that the Belgian spent three years with Porto what actually happened was a full-scale riot after becoming a firm fans’ favourite in Liege in the city of Florence, with 50 people injured. – when he returned home with Anderlecht, Fiorentina received a world record £8m fee Reds supporters were incensed. Five months for the sale – they likely needed most of it to later, Defour lined up against Standard in repair the damage done to the city’s streets. Liege, where supporters unfurled a gigantic tifo spanning two tiers of the stadium – on it, “GUN? WHAT GUN?” a masked man wielding a machete and the midfielder’s head, alongside the words ‘Red Suffice to say, it was a surprise when reports or Dead’. Defour took the ultimatum literally, suggested mild-mannered N’Golo Kante had booting a ball at fans and earning a red card, become embroiled in a gun dispute after his prompting visiting Anderlecht supporters to £32m transfer to Chelsea from Leicester in rip up seats and chuck them onto the pitch. 2016. French website Mediapart claimed that A nice, calm afternoon then. a row ensued between his different advisors regarding the £4m commission, with Houari A PIG AND THE BLOND ARROW Saadna on tape saying he’d kill Abdelkarim Douis if the midfielder didn’t fire him. Kante THE CRUYFF U-TURN Long before Luis Figo swapped Barça for Real admitted that a “discussion” had taken place, Madrid and ended up being bombarded with but everyone involved denied wrongdoing. His bamboozling move became a legendary pig’s heads, the rivals warred over Alfredo Di “I’m a football professional – I do not live in World Cup moment, but Johan Cruyff may Stefano. The Argentine departed River Plate a world of thugs,” insisted a bemused Kante. not even have played in 1974 after a transfer in 1949 to join Millonarios in Colombia’s rebel rumpus. Infuriated by losing out on the Ajax league, which was banned by FIFA. Madrid OWN GOALS AND GAFFES captaincy in 1973, Cruyff’s instruction to his then agreed a transfer with Millonarios, while agent was very simple: “Get me out of here.” Barcelona arranged their own with River – the There was aggro aplenty when Ashley Cole He attracted Real Madrid and Barcelona, but last FIFA-affiliated team to hold Di Stefano’s and William Gallas swapped teams in 2006. rejected Los Blancos by declaring they were rights. To resolve the argument, FIFA came First, Cole nearly crashed his car in shock after “a fascist club”. The Dutch FA threatened to up with a bonkers plan for the marksman to learning that Arsenal were ready to offer him alternate between both clubs each season. only £55,000 per week, then he was caught block his move to Barça, though, following Regrettably, the idea didn’t come to fruition: meeting Chelsea without permission. Gallas’ encouragement from Ajax. Cruyff vowed Di Stefano began so poorly at Real that Barça move was no less controversial – particularly to boycott the World Cup, before the KNVB quickly sold their half of the rights, and had after Chelsea released a cutting statement relented. Things went well after that – until to watch on as the Blond Arrow bagged five that slated the defender after his departure. he boycotted the 1978 World Cup, at least. consecutive European Cups. Oops. “Before the opening game of the season, he refused to play,” they revealed. “He went on MORE On FOURFOURTWO.COM to threaten that if he was forced to play, or if he was disciplined and financially punished, • 55 shocking transfers that shook the world that he could score an own goal, get himself sent off or make deliberate mistakes.” It was • 16 of the weirdest moves in British football a statement that sent Gallas mad, and he history (by Huw Davies) still hadn’t calmed down when he spoke to FFT years later. “I never said I’d score • Is there any point of handing in a transfer an own goal,” he insisted. “It’s the most request? (by Sam Rowe) ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” FourFourTwo December 2020 47

Interview Felipe Rocha He’s only been a Gunner since August, but Willian is already a big fan of his new surroundings after swapping Chelsea for Arsenal – and the feelings are mutual. The Brazilian reveals how magic Mikel can keep his trophy-winning legacy burning bright



WILLIAn oga with Adriene. Borgen on given the doomed contractual wrangling that How did your move from Stamford Bridge Netflix. A varied list of plausible was – or more specifically, wasn’t – going on to the Emirates Stadium come about this excuses why we can’t attend behind the scenes. summer? Was it hard to leave Chelsea? Zoom quizzes. FourFourTwo has Well, I was always clear to Chelsea in saying stretched the limits of what can Yet he isn’t one for rueing what might have that I was happy at the club, but my contract be achieved in an hour over the been. The affable forward looks back on his was coming to an end and I asked them for last year – but not everyone has time at Chelsea with blue-tinted glasses, but a three-year extension. However, they were been quite so ineffective. now it’s the city’s north where his loyalties lie also clear in saying they could only offer two – and the early signs are encouraging. After years. But there wasn’t even a negotiation In September, Willian didn’t being tempted by boss Mikel Arteta, general between us, you know? That was it, actually: manager Edu and long-time pal David Luiz Chelsea made it public they could only offer Y even need a full hour to endear to join Arsenal, the Brazilian hasn’t regretted a two-year contract, but they never came to himself to millions of new fans. his hop across the capital since. negotiate. It was like saying, ‘Take it or leave Within 57 minutes of Arsenal’s opening-day it’. They didn’t say that, but it felt like it. We battering of Fulham at Craven Cottage, the Realistically, a move of such proximity was didn’t sit down to talk about projects, or why fuzzy-haired forward had helped to create all always going to be relatively straightforward they wanted just two years and I wanted three of the Gunners’ goals in a 3-0 win, and for a player who thrived after leaving Brazil three. They didn’t say, for instance, ‘Let’s sign come within a post’s width of adding another aged 19 for the alien climes of Ukraine. He a two-year deal with a clause for a potential himself from a free-kick. starred at Shakhtar Donetsk – securing six third depending on how many matches you league titles and the 2009 UEFA Cup – before play’. They simply didn’t speak to me. In the It shouldn’t have come as a huge surprise: an odd six-month stint at Anzhi Makhachkala meantime, Arsenal came in and offered me despite departing Chelsea on a free transfer preceded his switch to long-time admirers last summer, the 32-year-old did so on the Chelsea in 2013, which began a successful “I WAS HAPPY AT CHELSEA, BUT back of Premier League-best numbers at affiliation with English football. Soon he will THEIR COnTRACT OFFER FELT LIKE Stamford Bridge in 2019-20 – nine goals and reach another milestone, when he overtakes ‘TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT’. ARSEnAL seven assists making him the Blues’ primary Liverpool legend Lucas Leiva as the Brazilian SHOWED HUGE InTEREST In ME” creative presence. He was also an unlikely with the most appearances in Premier League record-setter: in a pandemic-affected season, history (247). the Brazilian became the first player to score a Premier League goal in every month of the Over a cheery hour with FFT (our best since calendar year. “I don’t see anyone taking that giving up on downward dog poses, we would record from me,” he chuckles now, reflecting probably admit), Willian discusses it all while on the curiosity. offering hopeful Gunners cause for optimism in the months ahead. Note to selves, though: As Willian explains to FFT a few months on, don’t bother inviting yourself for dinner at his however, extending his seven-year stint in place any time soon… west London was always a remote possibility