cristiano ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland all make headlines in 2022, while Argentina and Real Madrid won football’s biggest trophies by winning the World Cup and Champions League respectively, but there are already big storylines in production for 2023. Some of the game’s greatest players will move in new teams and likely there will be a change of ownership in the two most senior clubs.
And although 2023 will be a quiet year on the international front in men’s sport — with the Asian Cup, which will be held on Catathe only major tournament on the calendar — The FIFA Women’s World Cup will see the champion crowned on Australia and New Zealand in July and August.
There are some big issues that need to be addressed in the coming months, so how will they unfold?
Where is Cristiano Ronaldo now?
Ronaldo has been a free agent ever since Manchester United canceled his contract during the World Cup, so there’s nothing stopping the 37-year-old from looking for a new club. But even though Portugal Although he is training with his old team Real Madrid to stay in shape, Ronaldo has not yet announced his next destination.
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The most likely outcome for Ronaldo is move to Saudi Arabiawith Riyadh-based team Al Nassr have made an extremely lucrative offer to the player. Sources told ESPN that Al Nassr is willing to pay Ronaldo £175m a year to join the club.
Ronaldo has cited his desire to play in the Champions League as he tries to force a move away from United in the summer, but a move to Saudi Arabia would end his prospects of becoming a Champions League swan. As it stands, however, any hopes of a major European side making a move for him now appear unrealized.
Moving to the MLS is another possibility, but not even the glamorous teams in Los Angeles or Miami can compete with the money on offer in the Middle East.
Haaland on the way to Premier League history
Predictions are always a risky business in football, but if you want to bet safe on 2023, there’s probably nothing safer than tipping Haaland on to break the Premier League’s scoring record in a single season. League.
Andy Cole (Newcastle 1993-94) and Alan Shearer (Blackburn 1994-95) both hold the record for scoring 34 goals in a single Premier League season, but these two have scored as well as 22 teams in the First Division. and 42 games. a season, instead of the current 20-team/38-match Premier League season. While, City of Manchester striker Haaland took his Premier League tally to 20 in a 3-1 win over Leeds on Wednesday. He also became the fastest player ever to reach that number, in just 14 appearances.
It seems inevitable that Cole and Shearer will be removed from the record books in the coming weeks, with the only real question surrounding how many goals Haaland will score. The last player to break the 40-goal mark in EnglandThe top division of is Chelsea‘s Jimmy Greaves, who scored 41 goals in the 1960-61 season. The Norwegian player will almost certainly be next.
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Shaka Hislop and Julien Laurens discuss Erling Haaland’s performance against Leeds and whether he can hit 50 goals this season.
New owners at Manchester United and Liverpool
Manchester United and Liverpool are the two biggest and most historic clubs in the Premier League, and both are on the market.
With Chelsea being sold by former owner Roman Abramovich to an American consortium led by co-owner Los Angeles Dodgers, Todd Boehly topped out for £2.5 billion in May – along with £1.75 billion in investment commitments. in the future – it is expected that United and Liverpool will be sold for much more than Chelsea’s. Sources told ESPN that United’s owners, the Glazer family, believe they can raise more than £6 billion for the club, while Fenway Sports Group, owners of Liverpool, are expected to command a figure in excess of £4 billion for a six-time Champions League winner.
– Explainer: What’s next for the Glazers, Man United?
The rare value of two such historic and globally renowned clubs on the market is likely to drive up the selling price of both United and Liverpool, but sources say the Glazers’ asking price is outrageously high. optimistic. With champions Manchester City (United Arab Emirates) and an emerging Newcastle (Saudi Arabia) owned by oil-rich nations, United and Liverpool are in danger of falling behind in the race. won the title unless they can find a new owner capable of matching the incredible financial strength of both sides. of their Premier League rivals.
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Julien Laurens praises Kylian Mbappe for his mature response to France’s defeat in the World Cup final.
Kylian Mbappe will stay or leave?
Every transfer window offers a Kylian Mbappe story about whether or not he will stay. Paris Saint-Germain or move to Real Madrid.
Over the past two summer transfer windows, PSG have resisted strong interest from Real to keep Mbappe at Parc des Princes, and the Qatar-owned French champions have been able to convince the 24-year-old to sign. three-year deal when his current deal expires this summer. But Mbappe has had disappointing moments at PSG this season, with constantly reporting on his unhappiness at the club and is constantly looking forward to a move to Madrid.
– Laurens: Why does Mbappe want to leave PSG?
Mbappe’s PSG contract is said to be worth more than £540 million over three years, so the financial cost of carrying out a move to bring him from Paris will be huge for Real. But having missed out on Mbappe and Haaland last summer when they wanted both, Real will again push for Mbappe this time around. In short, expect another big transfer showdown this summer.
Three peat for the USWNT or England’s first?
The 2023 Women’s World Cup promises to be the most competitive ever, with the defending champions USA faced a real challenge from European champions England in Australia and New Zealand.
England’s 2-1 win over USWNT in a friendly at Wembley Stadium in October gave the Lions an early psychological advantage over their big rivals, but the Americans remained the team to beat. defeated in July and August. After all, Vlatko Andonovski’s team will be trying to win the World Cup for the fifth and third time in a row – which has never been achieved in a men’s or women’s World Cup – while England are heading to Under Under in pursuit of their first world title.
– Thompson: What to expect from the FIFA Women’s World Cup
even though Switzerland, Germany, France and Spain England and the US are outstanding teams in the tournament, and with these two on alternate paths to the final, they are poised to meet in the World Cup final in Sydney on August 20.
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Gab Marcotti believes Lionel Messi’s contract extension with PSG is justified, but feels there is no need to rush into a new deal.
What will Lionel Messi do next?
Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30, so the 35-year-old could begin negotiations in January with clubs over a free transfer at the end of the season.
Both Messi and PSG have the option of extending his contract in Paris for another 12 months, and sources say that is the most likely outcome, with PSG determined to keep the inspired player. for Argentina to the World Cup championship in Qatar. But Barcelona President Joan Laporta has in recent days spoken openly of his desire for Messi to return to the Camp Nou and witness his playing days at the club where he has enjoyed incredible success.
Sources told ESPN that Inter Miami has spoken to team Messi about a move to the MLS, in 2023 or 2024. Right now, a move to the MLS looks unlikely next year with Messi still having a job. unfinished at European club level matches, although that could change if he helps PSG win their first Champions League title of the season.
Ultimately, no one can compete with the financial might of PSG, which means a return to Barcelona or a move to the MLS seems to be at least 18 months away.
Who will win the race to sign Jude Bellingham?
Borussia Dortmund will be at the center of the biggest transfer chase of the summer for the second year in a row, with Jude Bellingham considered the 2023 version of Haaland.
Every major European club attempted to sign Haaland from Dortmund last year before Manchester City won the race for the striker by activating his £51m release clause. in the German football team. Similar clubs have been vying for places to sign Bellingham, who emerged from the 2022 World Cup as one of the stars of the tournament with England, despite being just 19 years old in Qatar 2022. .
Sources told ESPN that Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are leading the race to sign the midfielder, with Manchester United accepting that they cannot compete for the player they nearly signed. bronze at the age of 17 when he left Birmingham City to come. Dortmund in 2020.
Liverpool have spent more than 12 months trying to secure a pivotal position for Bellingham, and sources say they are still a strong candidate, but with the player not having the same release clause as Haaland, Dortmund will expect a higher transfer fee. in excess of £120m – an sum that could cost Liverpool dearly.
When it comes to which clubs can pay the highest fees, City and Real will again be the last two teams, as is the case with Haaland. But not excluding Liverpool. They did so much fundamental work on Bellingham that it could be decisive.
