August 25, 2022
The brief from today:
Besiktas welcome Dele Alli
Turkish Super Lig side, Besiktas, displayed the type of passion their fans possess when they welcomed new loan signing Dele Alli. The Istanbul based side agreed a deal with Everton to bring in Dele for the season with a purchase option attached at the end of the campaign. Dele was one of the brightest prospects in England as recently as 2018, but a dip in form that following Tottenham’s lost Champions League final in 2019 has showed little sign of abating. He left north London to join Everton in the January transfer window earlier this year, and many thought that would jumpstart his career, but following only one start in 11 matches during the second half of last season, things didn’t start off on the right foot. This season he only managed to make two substitute appearances, and rather than continue on that path, both he and the club decided to find a new solution. The deal with Besiktas will see Alli receive €2 million plus €10,000 per match played. The 26-year-old will be hoping another change of scenery can revive a career that saw him earn 37 caps for England, and two PFA Young Player of the Year awards. The Besiktas fans have certainly done their part early on to make Dele feel welcome and valued, as the reception he was given upon arrival was quite impressive. Hopefully a new league, and the support of the public, can revitalize a stuttering career for the English midfielder.
Argentina in demand
Argentina matches for the World Cup are currently the most in demand according to the data behind ticket sales. The CEO of the Qatar organizing committee, Nasser Al-Khater, said that Argentina’s matches versus Mexico, as well as Saudi Arabia, have been the “most requested” thus far. The match against Mexico, scheduled for November 26, quickly sold out in the first phase of ticket sales at the beginning of the year, while the match against Saudi Arabia involves Qatar’s next door neighbors so demand for that is unsurprising. With Lionel Messi almost guaranteed to be in the final World Cup squad, it’s hardly a shock that the South American side’s popularity is driving such sales. Of the 2.45 million tickets purchased thus far, the list of countries topping the list of sales include: Germany, Mexico, England, Qatar, Argentina, the US, France, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Brazil. The two Argentina matches mentioned above will be played at the Lusail Stadium, an 80,000 capacity venue, that will also be the site of the tournament’s final.
Messi (center) and co. are in demand for World Cup ticket buyers