The Barcelona team intends not to conclude any new deals during the winter transfer period next January, in light of the conviction of the sports and technical staff that the current team does not need reinforcements, despite the continued financial restrictions that limit the club’s ability to move in the transfer market.
Despite the improvement of the club's financial situation and its return to the limits of the financial registration rule known as "1:1", its current resources do not allow it to conclude new deals. But the sports administration feels completely calm, because it does not see a need to strengthen the team, especially since Hansi Flick, the technical director, and Deco, the sporting director, are completely satisfied with the current squad.
Barring a serious injury, the departure of a player, or the occurrence of an unforeseen circumstance, there is no intention to participate in the upcoming transfer market. “We have already done the work” is the message issued by the club offices in the Joan Gamper Sports City and the Camp Nou Stadium (Spotify Camp Nou), regarding the possibility of concluding new deals in January, following statements made yesterday by the club’s Vice President of Economic Affairs, Ferran Ulivi.
Ulivi warned that concluding any new contracts would first require the departure of players, because Barcelona's positive balance in the rules of financial fair play does not exceed four million euros. This amount is not enough to conclude a major deal without giving up some players. The club simply cannot conclude any new signings at the present time.
Barcelona's management is well aware of the club's delicate financial situation, but it is not concerned, because it does not plan to make any moves during the winter transfer period. Some voices had spoken about the possibility of the club making a new attempt to sign Argentine Julian Alvarez, after efforts to include him failed in the summer, but club officials and directors have ruled out this option, and any similar process at the present time. Therefore, the Argentine striker will not join the Barcelona project this season.
Barcelona prefers not to enter the winter transfer market unless it is absolutely necessary, but it also believes that the need for that does not exist this season, in light of the team winning all its matches convincingly, and having players in every position. In fact, Flick realizes that managing the substitution process and keeping some players out of the squad has become a difficult task, given the distinguished levels presented by all his players.
Therefore, the German coach does not see the need for any new reinforcements. The players that the Catalan club signed during the summer transfer period, namely Gordon, Adeyemi, Rodri, Cancelo, Gabriel Jesus, and Livakovic - along with Abdel Samad Al-Zalzouli and Bsiou - presented exceptional levels, and everyone agrees that they were very successful deals. Club officials confirm: “We have completed the work in the summer,” and barring a serious injury or the departure of an influential player, there will be no new deals. The sports and financial departments feel very satisfied after completing the required work during the summer.
Harry Kane, captain of the England national football team and the most prominent candidate to win the Ballon d'Or, wants to stay at the top for as long as possible, but he confirmed that he will begin to think more seriously about the possibility of becoming a kicker in the American Football League.
Kane, 33, is considered a prominent candidate to win the prestigious award next month, after scoring 73 goals for his club and country during an exceptional season that ended with him winning a bronze medal in the World Cup.
British news agency PA Media reported that Kane's desire to achieve more success remains strong as the focus shifts to the European Nations League and England's ambition to win the 2028 European Championship, but the Bayern Munich striker still maintains his interest in moving to another sport.
Kane admitted that his dream of becoming a golfer recedes with each visit to the course, but his hopes of becoming an NFL kicker remain.
“This is something I will try to look at a little more seriously,” Keane said. “It depends entirely on what happens in my career in the next five or six years, on motivation and what I want to do.”
He added: "Let's say the NFL is much more realistic than golf."
Ken can draw inspiration from the experience of Brandon Oubre, the Dallas Cowboys player, who is considered by some to be the best kicker in the American Football League, after he previously played football and was selected by Toronto FC in the American Football League.
Cliff Allen also had experience in this sport with the London Monarchs team in the American Football League in Europe, and Kane believes that his prowess in taking penalty kicks can help him succeed in scoring kicks inside the goal posts.
He said: “I take penalty kicks, and there is a great similarity in pressure and technique. “If I did that, training-wise I would be closer to this than any other sport.”
He added: “But I know, as is the case with all professional sports, that when you watch it on TV you see the players making it look easy, so you think it is possible to do it, but that is not always the case.”
He continued: “If I decide to go through this experience, I will take it seriously. "I may need six months or a year of training and practice before that."
Kane explained that he had not received any offer from an NFL club to move to it, nor was he thinking about such a move in the near future.
He said: “Perhaps if I play in the American Football League in the future or in a similar place, it may be possible to connect the two matters, perhaps through different tournament seasons.”
He added: “But it is still in the back of my mind, because at the moment I feel that I want to play here for as long as possible.”
He continued: “I think it is easy sometimes when you reach my age, 33, to start thinking about retirement or the future, but I am trying to benefit from everything I can offer during the next two, five or ten years, and I will continue playing.”
Winger Anthony Gordon believes England should abandon their attempts to imitate Spain's possession-based play, and instead rely on their usual method of relying more on their physicality.
Following England's loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals last July, England coach Thomas Tuchel was subjected to severe criticism, after saying that possession of the ball was "not part of their (England players') genes, like Spain's." A style that relies heavily on passing is taught at all levels.
Gordon, who moved from Newcastle United to Barcelona last May, agreed with Tuchel and said on Wednesday that he was not sure it was possible to train English players in the same way.
The 25-year-old English player told reporters before the match between England and Spain in the European Nations League in London next Saturday: “Culturally, that tournament (the World Cup) or that match (against Argentina) was not the only time that we were not able to control the match. As a nation, we don't have that power that the Spanish do, and we don't dominate games like they do. This is not in our nature. I'm not sure it's something that can be taught. “As I play in Spain now I can speak with an informed opinion about the way they keep the ball.”
Gordon added: “It is very different from what I experienced in this country; So I'm not sure that we will ever be able to reach this level. We can definitely improve, or perhaps we can take another path and play according to our strengths, such as relying on physical performance, direct football and counterattacks.”
After hosting Spain at Wembley, England will visit the Czech Republic and Croatia, before facing the Czechs again on home soil.
The remaining two matches will be held in the European Nations League next November.
