Manchester City, the dominant force in English football for over a decade, finds itself once again under the Premier League's microscope. This time, however, the allegations are not about intricate financial dealings or sponsorship controversies, but something seemingly more mundane: breaches of kick-off timing regulations. Recent reports confirm that City has been hit with a substantial fine of £1.08 million for delaying kick-offs and re-starts on nine separate occasions during the 2024/25 season. While a million-pound fine might seem like a drop in the ocean for a club of City's financial might, these sanctions underscore a deeper tension within the Premier League – a battle between sporting integrity, commercial interests, and the relentless demands of a global broadcasting behemoth. This isn't merely a trivial matter of punctuality. It speaks to the meticulous choreography of modern football, where every second is accounted for, and every deviation from the schedule has...
Marca claims that Bucero is actively trying to get rid of Thomas Lemar, a French midfielder. The former Monaco player has been healthy for almost a month, but aside from a cameo against Real Betis, he has not yet seen action in La Liga or the Champions League. However, with a contract that is still in effect until 2027, Lemar's high salary and inaction are significant barriers to finding a new home.
Bucero, on the other hand, will hunt for a natural 'number 5' in the window's last week. Bucero is eager to provide Diego Simeone with someone who can direct proceedings from the base of the midfield, following unsuccessful attempts to sign Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Marco Verratti, and Sofyan Amrabat in recent years. Wonderkid Arthur Vermeeren arrived in January but did not appeal to Simeone and was later traded to RB Leipzig.
Conor Gallagher also joined in the summer, but Simeone prefers him higher up the field and does not regard him as a holding midfielder. According to earlier reports, Simeone's top choice for the role is Alan Varela, a midfielder with Porto. Samu Costa, Luis Milla, and Morten Hjulman were also linked to Los Colchoneros, although Berta was more interested in those players than Bucero. Pablo Barrios currently fills this duty frequently, while captain Koke Resurrection receives cameos and sporadic starts.
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