FIFA president Gianni Infantino used his address to its annual law conference that closed Friday in Tokyo to refloat an idea that has circulated for several years about reforms in the global transfer market that is now worth more than $10 billion annually. “Now more than ever it is fundamental for us to talk about these and other topics,” Infantino told soccer lawyers. “For example, to discuss about the possibility to use an algorithm to estimate the fair value of transfer fees in order to increase transparency in the transfer system and help the football stakeholders,” the FIFA leader said.
Troubled by its erratic form, Barcelona will face a Real Madrid that is playing like a champion-in-the-making in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Osasuna in the semifinals on Thursday was the first time it had won by more than a one-goal margin since September, a run of 20 straight games without a comfortable victory for Xavi Hernández’s side. “This is the ideal scenario for a player, to play against Madrid with a title at stake,” Xavi, who played 42 times against Madrid as a Barcelona midfielder, said Saturday.
With Real Madrid enjoying good momentum and Atletico Madrid on a bit of a slump, the city rivals meet in the semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in the first of three matches between the clubs in less than a month. After the Super Cup, Madrid and Atletico will clash again on Jan. 18 in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, and then on Feb. 4 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in their second Spanish league match of the season.
As the New Year begins, so does the countdown on Kylian Mbappé's future. It promises to be a nervous start to 2024 for Paris Saint-Germain and its fans with speculation set to intensify about their prolific striker, one of only two players in soccer history to score a hat trick in a World Cup final. Mbappé began this season in a transfer standoff with his club after not taking up the option of a 12-month extension into 2025.
The latest international break is proving costly for several European clubs, including Spanish powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid. Both teams will be depleted by the injury absences of important players affected by the “FIFA virus” while on duty with their national teams. Not long after Madrid confirmed injuries to Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior and France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, Barcelona saw midfielder Gavi arrive from his stint with Spain in European Championship qualifying on crutches because of a serious injury that will likely see him miss the rest of the season.