Village Idiot

To be frank, the Spanish press reported the terms of this supposed "deal" and they didn't make any sense (like they would pay him in installments, but he would have to pay the fee upfront), so I'm personally inclined that it is bull.

Didn't Milan pay an absurd amount of money for Rui Costa at the time? EDIT: €40m. Until this season this still would've been a headline transfer fee.

We were a team in decline, which he held together by the sheer force of his skill (see the Valencia hat trick for example). Once he was gone, the bottom truly fell off. It would take another Brazilian magician to drag us back into place.

f***ing brilliant player for both club and Country, can't believe we almost signed him. I think the reason he doesn't get mentioned much nowadays is because of how shitty we were in the CL during those years. Otherwise he would be in the "best footballers of the modern era" conversation, imho.

That was on their transfer live blog. Most of stuff in there is regurgitated crap grabbed from anywhere. If it was their own info, yeah sure. They are very close to Madrid's board.

Marca has now picked up the Vázquez reports. The dude that made that podcast must be proud.

Yeah, I absolutely don't get people cheering on millionaires getting even richer Fair enough you don't care about owners pocketing the money, but I give two fucks whether footballers can buy two private jets instead of just one.

Yeah, Zidane would never have made my list going off his La Liga's performances only, but he was always great in Europe, and carried them there in many occasions. He was the epitome of a big game player. But that inconsistency is also the reason why I'm split between him and Iniesta. Good point about Redondo.

He was in the running, but at the end of the day I think there's been better players in his best positions (CB/DM) so I left him out. Would make my bench for sure, though. He was amazing in deadball situations, had great passing range, and as a presence in the pitch, his leadership unrivaled. Him and Pujol are probably the best captains Real Madrid and Barça have had in the modern era. It might be that I always preferred Sanchís to him. Sanchís was such a silky defender, Hierro was rougher. I almost had Sanchís in place of Ramos, but can't really argue with Ramos' clutch goals in big games.

He was an absolute star during that loan spell at Espanyol right before his Liverpool transfer.

It was a mess of a game. Whatever. Always nice to beat them even in meaningless friendlies, though. Two more clásicos in a couple weeks! Get your spoonfuls!

Nah, Rivaldo was insane. But the others in my list are better imho. I'd have him over Ronaldinho though.

Yeah, it was totally a one-season wonder and it was there for all to see. How he got a move to Arsenal I'll never understand.

God, I hope not.

Now that I think of it, IIRC it was Benítez who asked Vázquez to be bought back from Espanyol when he took over at Real. So he obviously rates the lad.

No. His game is based around mobility and workrate. Technically he's merely ok. Think Callejón, but more of a classic winger than a forward.

Nor could do those around him!

I thought I had to put a DM in there to make it somewhat balanced. Screwing that, yeah, I'd go with that trio.

Just seen the Kondogbia OG I know it's a friendly so who gives a fuck, but that's no way to pass it back to your keeper.

Gonna try a La Liga best XI for the same period (1992-2017). Boringly, it's all Real Madrid / Barça players. Casillas Dani Alves Pujol Ramos Roberto Carlos Busquets Xavi Zidane/Iniesta (utterly split on this one) Ronaldo Proper Ronaldo Messi

Yeah, the whole "it's better for Brazil" argument falls a bit flat given he'll spend one year running at Ligue 1 fullbacks. Whatever.

Yeah, that's just the excuse cooked up to make him look less money-driven. Again, I don't fault anyone for chasing the money in their professional lives. I'd do the same if somebody offered to double my wages. But don't sugar-coat it, please.

If we get Coutinho + Dybala out of it, I'll call it a success. None can replace Neymar individually, but it should lift the overall quality of the squad.

The whole affair, at the end of the day, is about money. If PSG follows through with the stupid amounts of money they reportedly want to throw at him, his father + the fee, nothing can keep him at Barça (we just won't match what PSG is offering him). Which is totally fine, I'm on record here saying that I don't fault footballers for attempting to make the most of very short professional careers, and I'm not going to change my tune because it happens to us.

I've seen €36m reported in our media. Ney's dad PSG sign-on bonus, that is.