Felipe Anderson undoubtedly played his best football in a European league when he played for Italian club Lazio in the mid-2010s. The Brazilian midfielder spent five seasons with the Serie A team before English club West Ham United purchased him for £36 million in the summer of 2018. After three seasons away from the Italian…

“I don’t think he’s been consistent enough. He doesn’t stay with runners. He’s sloppy in possession… I can go on.” Those were the cutting words of Roy Keane in November 2019. His criticism was aimed at Declan Rice. But less than two years on, the Irishman has dramatically changed his tune: “He’s 22 and I…

When Vinícius Júnior was introduced to the Real Madrid faithful at the Bernabeu in 2018, he brought with him an unspoken change to Real’s typical “Galáctico” approach to success. At 18, he was not the typical Real transfer target, he didn’t come after sustained success abroad such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Zinedine Zidane who defined…

Argentine football has always exported great figures to the most important leagues in Europe, after having shown sufficient qualities to shine among the world elite. The last jewel to emigrate, after having made a huge difference, was Lautaro Martinez, to Inter Milan, in 2018.   In the same position, but with different characteristics, the great…

West Ham manager David Moyes has developed a habit of slowly introducing new signings into his starting line-up. The Scotsman, well-known for slow-balling recruitment processes at his clubs, tends to take a while to warm to unfamiliar personnel. Pablo Fornals – now a full international – was not an exception to the rule.   Although…

Italy vs Austria, 27th July 2021. The clock nears the 80th-minute mark without a goal to show. Increasing doubts fills the stadium, as it would seem the next goal wins the game. Italy’s nonchalant approach showed the calm and belief in their system. Nevertheless, Marko Arnautović’s offside goal was a false alarm that needed to…

Italy currently has a wealth of options in midfield, which allows Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini to be spoilt for choice. Even with his settled trio of Nicolò Barella, Jorginho, and Marco Verratti, there are still many quality options available to him on the bench or he unfortunately has to omit.   There are also a…

The summer transfer window has come and gone, and teams across Europe now won’t be able to add any new additions until January, but in Spain, 2021 has been a story of outgoings, rather than incomings.   Cast your mind back to the early-to-mid 2010s, and there was no doubt which league was held in…

A young, intelligent superstar-in-the-making at Bayer Leverkusen, linked to a top six Premier League club – and his name is not Florian Wirtz. The German has become the darling child of football scouting in 2021. Yet his teammate, Moussa Diaby, is also quietly having an explosive season.   Last campaign under Peter Bosz, the Frenchman…

On May 19, 2009, Red Bull GmbH purchased the playing rights of German fifth-division side SSV Markranstädt, and founded RasenBallsport Leipzig. It was Red Bull’s fifth footballing entity, after Red Bull Salzburg, the New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Brasil, and Red Bull Ghana.   RB Leipzig’s founders promised its fans that they would be…