July 18, 2022
The brief from today:
Doucoure dealing with blackmail
Crystal Palace’s new signing, Cheick Doucoure, has been the target of a blackmailing scheme since he joined the London side. After having an impressive 2021/22 season for Ligue 1 side, Lens, the 22-year-old Mali international was brought in by Patrick Vieira to bolster the midfield at a cost of €27.5 million (including bonuses). Today, his lawyer, Alexis Rutman released a statement about what has been happening since the high profile transfer occurred. In the remarks it was disclosed that the player has been receiving blackmail messages via WhatsApp from an agent, photographer, and a journalist claiming that Doucoure has a double identity. They claim to possess documents proving the allegations against the midfielder, but Rutman has definitively ruled out the authenticity of the paperwork. In exchange for their silence, they are demanding hush money in the WhatsApp messages. Rutman has vowed to take the necessary action against the people involved “both on the criminal and civil level” in defense of Doucoure. Vieira, meanwhile, was made aware of the situation, and he responded by saying, “Of course, myself and the club, we are fully supporting the player. This is something that he as a player and us as a football club we cannot accept.”
Dybala makes his decision
Free agent Paulo Dybala has decided on his next club, and it will be AS Roma. The former Juventus player has been in limbo for the past few months after the Turin-based team refused to renew his contract. He seemed to be on his way to Inter, but the loan signing of Lukaku, coupled with the inability to offload other attackers like Alexis Sanchez, stalled that move. It was clear that the Argentine wanted to stay in Italy because he didn’t really entertain the interest he received from Spain (Sevilla) and England (Manchester United), but the issue he also faced was the inability of clubs to meet his salary demands. At one point, Juve almost agreed to his €10million per year request last season, but between his injury history and age—28—they opted against it, hence the expiration of his contract. Even the slightly modified €6-€7 million he began to look for became a stumbling block for teams this summer, but eventually one side found common ground. Late last night, Roma sporting director, Tiago Pinto, and Dybala’s agent, Jorge Antun, reached a consensus at the €6 million per year mark for a three-year deal. In addition to Pinto, Roma manager, Jose Mourinho, and club legend, Francesco Totti, also laid the charm offensive to get the deal over the line, and eventually Dybala agreed to make the move. There are rumors, however, that a €15-€20 million release clause was inserted into the contract, which would be valid beginning next summer, but this hasn’t been officially confirmed.
Dybala makes his choice
Chelsea’s latest administrative appointment
Chelsea’s new owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, have appointed their compatriot, Tom Glick, as president of business. Glick has a wealth of experience in sports ranging from the NBA, NFL, MLS, to even English football. He has held positions as Chief Commercial Officer for Manchester City parent group, City Football Group, as well as the Chief Executive role at Derby County from 2008-2012. Most recently he helped launch Charlotte FC as one of the newest teams to join MLS, and while he did that he was also the president of fellow Charlotte-based team: NFL’s Carolina Panthers—a job he left in February of this year. After the recent departures of Marina Granovskaia—who ran the Chelsea’s daily affairs— as well as CEO, Guy Laurence, Glick will now assume the role of managing the club’s day-to-day business.
Tom Glick joins the new Chelsea