GABI JESUS IS NOT A SWAP PIECE, OK?
Banging out a little FriYAY bulletin for you because I know you need a hit of what-the-hell-is-going-on right now.
Chelsea are about to sign Emi Martinez and improve their number 1 spot by about 500x. I’m a little worried this makes them more serious than I’d hoped. What I wonder is this: why hasn’t Emi been able to land an organic move for 18 months? His fee is £7.5m, not sure of his salary… but his quality is certainly what I would class as good. Whopper levels? I mean, you’ve seen the videos. But as a keeper? Not many better.
So where does that leave the Morgan Rogers £117m fee?
I mean… what is the point in transfer fees if this is what clubs are up to?
Not my team. We’ll move on. But my word… poor Unai.
The Julian Alvarez story has gained a little bit of sexy this evening; Atleti fan accounts are saying, unequivocally… Diego Simeone wants Gabi Jesus and this, as a matter of fact… HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ALVAREZ DEAL.
@MatteMoretto via ","username":"atletiuniverse","name":"Atletico Universe","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1543913352707338240/2IWLyR4F_normal.jpg","date":"2026-08-28T18:54:17.000Z","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/HQ1K_w7bwAAwVXb.jpg","link_url":"https://t.co/wkevr1v7tY"},{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/HQ1K_w6bUAAdtdq.jpg","link_url":"https://t.co/wkevr1v7tY"}],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":207,"retweet_count":631,"like_count":6653,"impression_count":880327,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"video_preview_media_key":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">Ok boys, sure, NOTHING to do with the deal. Just like my rapid weight loss has NOTHING to do with Ozempic. I just started running, ok? Honestly, so much cardio. I’m just at peace with my wellness. x
My theory on that sort of messaging is BIG players don’t want to be seen as part of swap deals because it makes them look small. Hence the Villa stuff above: it’s much better to be your own signing than be bundled as a bomb squad special.
Needless to say, I am intrigued by this deal, and whether Gyokeres will be part of the package.
Look, I hear your annoying point loud and clear…
‘It’s bad when it’s Villa and Chelsea doing it, but you seem to like the same thing with Atleti’
You’re damn straight; that’s where I’m at. You got a problem?
Honestly, look at us, just a bunch of emotional hypocrites with no moral or ethical compass. Pathetic.
There have been some other rumblings… on the left.
Endrick on loan…
Garbage story. Cannot imagine Arteta has any interest in taking a teenager who needs a lot of coaching to be of use. That was 5 years ago. We’re in our readymade era. If you’re not 28, then please, don’t clog my algo.
Then there’s the Rashford story. This is up Arteta’s street. 29-years-old in two months. But, he’s worse than Martinelli, he’s very expensive, and he doesn’t press or track. Another awful rumor that has an air of inevitability about it.
Arsenal have Aston Villa on Monday; it’s going to be very interesting to see how Arteta coped with a 10-day break. He could have had his players resting after a brutal World Cup. Will that be the case… or will there be injuries? There best not be. Fingers crossed. This is a big test of Mikel and the new look his bringing to this season.
Ok, that’s all I’ve got today, if you want to get a couple of podcasts, dive right into the membership deal I have going and get the two that are in the hopper at the bottom of the page… however…
As we don’t have a game this weekend, I am going to make the same offer as I did last season… if you can’t pick-up a membership to Le Grove right now for whatever reason, and this site makes you happy in any way, shape, or form… send me a note, tweet, teleconnetic text, or email with your email address and I will sub you a year. You do NOT have to tell me why you need it. We’re all best friends. Best friends that have never met do not ask questions. Ok? It’s just a f*cking blog with an outrageously good podcast attached. If you want it, mail me, we’ll get it done, and you’ll tell the streets Viktor has to go. Right? Ok, there are no strings attached; send me mail if you want some primo LG / AOP. x
