Football Transfer News: Messi, Messinho & More

2023-12-29 07:47:00

After Messi, Barça on Messinho?

While it is Real Madrid which, for years, has been feasting on young Brazilian nuggets (Vinicius, Rodrygo, before Endrick who will arrive this summer), Barça could in turn unearth a nugget from Palmeiras, a certain… “Messinho ”! Estevao Williams, 16, would be of great interest to the Catalan club, according to Mundo Deportivo, which reports a mutual interest.

Courted by PSG, the two clubs of Manchester, Arsenal or Chelsea, the young 16-year-old player, already targeted by Barça for many months, will not be able to sign before 2025, under the legal provisions on the transfer of minor players . According to the Spanish media, André Curry, the player’s representative, should take advantage of Vitor Roquer’s presentation on January 3 to discuss the matter with Joan Laporta.

Our opinion: With such a heavy nickname to bear, you will need to have strong shoulders to succeed with the Blaugrana.

Mikautadze towards a return to Metz

Since his arrival in Eridivisie this summer, Georges Mikautadze has been going through a little hell in a club in crisis, Ajax Amsterdam. Author of the worst season in its recent history for the moment, the Dutch club is preparing to make a major clean-up this winter. Having only appeared 6 times in the league, still scoring no goals in his new colors, the player trained at OL could return to Metz, on loan, according to AS. The Grenats, 14th in Ligue 1, would like to recover the man who scored 24 goals, in all competitions, last season before leaving.

Our opinion: For the main interested party as well as for the Lorraine club, this deal is a good move.

Georges Mikautadze, who failed to win with Ajax, could return to Metz this winter

Credit: Getty Images

Aleix Garcia is interested in Barça

Co-leader of La Liga with Real Madrid after 18 matches, Girona is one of the sensations of this first part of the season in Europe. To the point of being cut up this winter? According to the Spanish media Sport, FC Barcelona and Xavi would in any case be particularly interested in the idea of recovering midfielder Aleix Garcia, author of 3 goals and 4 assists since the start of the season. The player has a clause of 20 million euros, but the Catalans could decide to include one or more players in the transaction. The names of Pablo Torre or Oriol Romeu are mentioned.

Our opinion: Lagging behind in the championship, the Catalans are logically moving towards one of the strong men at the start of the season in Spain.

A great European hope for Strasbourg?

L’Equipe affirms this Friday that Lille was overtaken by Strasbourg, in the case leading to Milos Lukovic. The ITM Belgrade striker, aged only 18, is seen as a potential big talent and Racing needed an attacking player, since Lebo Mothiba seriously injured his left knee.

Marc Keller’s club should pay 5 million euros to afford the services of the man who has scored 10 goals (plus an assist) in 19 league matches.

Our opinion: a risky bet for Strasbourg, but one that could bring in a lot of money for the club.

Bonucci in Rome, it’s bad luck

Leonardo Bonucci did not succeed at all in his challenge for Union Berlin. While the reigning European champion with Italy was considering a return to Serie A, on the side of AS Roma, the Italian media Il Messaggero claims that negotiations are now at a standstill. Three points would block the leaders of La Louve: the state of form of the 36-year-old player, his rather high salary, and above all, the fact that Roman fans would not want the former darling of Juve and AC Milan.

Our opinion: Too bad, because Bonucci could have brought experience and perhaps serenity to a defense which concedes a lot of goals.

Gelson Martins close to departure

This does not surprise many people, for a player that Adi Hutter, the Monaco coach, has not yet used since the start of the season. But, still according to L’Equipe, Gelson Martins should pack his bags to leave the Principality this winter, where he landed for 30 million euros in 2019 from Atlético de Madrid. Nottingham Forrest would be interested, and Monaco should not prove too difficult, as the former Sporting Portugal’s contract ends in June.