Andy Bara (Duran’s Croatian agent) did a good job here.
I think we’ll see more of these young players who will go there relatively soon and then come back to Europe. How smart is that is up for discussion and pretty individual also.
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Opta try and keep power rankings for teams and leagues. As imperfect as such a measurement could ever be it is at least an idea of comparability. They’ve got the Saudi league in 33rd in the world (absolutely miles below leagues like the Belgian Pro League, MLS or the Championship. The J League is 15th) and propped up by Al-Hilal being ranked #34 in the world. The majority of teams in the league however are roughly comparable to mid-table League One sides in their grading system - which is probably even then an inflation due to them playing in the same league as Al-Hilal.
There is no reason or benefit to a 21 year old Premier League player moving there except to get paid even more money than they already do.
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He’ll probably come back to PL in 2 years time with an extra £50m in his bank account
It was talked about fairly openly, almost as a bit of a joke, that he was getting arsey earlier in the season over the supersub label and the fact that his goal scoring run wasnt being rewarded with more starts (only 4 of 24 appearances in the league have come from the start). It was kind of joked about in commentary in several of their games I’ve seen as a thing for Emery to manage…keeping egos in check, but maybe it blew up into a bigger thing
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50m profit for someone they signed 24 months ago who’s effectively been nothing more than a super sub? Incredible business from Villa, and if Arsenal come back with an improved offer for their 29 year old, they should take that too and have a bit of fun scrapping around for the next few days.
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Might happen certainly but I’d imagine his conduct this season in pushing for a transfer and then chasing the money won’t reflect well when he tries to return to European football. Not to mention a very raw but talented player leaving to play an extremely low quality version of the game for a couple of seasons is unlikely to help his development.
I think its a shame that a player with his technical and physical qualities turns out to have such a mentality and I agree with whoever it was on the Football Ramble who said of this deal that he’s sick of people trying to justify these transfers.
It’s dumb, it’s greedy and it’s deserving of criticism. For those saying its life-changing money, sure but are we pretending that a guy moving for £60m anywhere was going to be poor? He could be a 21 year old starting PL forward on a weekly salary 4 or 5 times the average annual income but instead he’ll go to Saudi and be a no one making double that money again.
I wouldn’t do it but whatever, its your career Jhon waste it however you want.
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Problem is you play 2 years at a sub standard level and it’s hard to get back up.
Kind of understand a Fabinho heading over to fill up his bank account especially consider his body was waning. But Jota from Celtic went there played half a season then went Rennes and is back at Celtic. Evidently it’s done nothing for his career and I’m not sure Duran comes back half as lucky as finding a side like Villa. And he only went for a year. It’s evident to most who go over there it’s fucking dreadful.
Even Neymar is basically trying to get away. And he’s a massive bellend.
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Neymar did get away. Santos announced it earlier today.
Didn’t realise he only made five appearances over there, though.
Got injured for the majority of his time in Saudi
Still?
What does that matter? He was getting paid a kings wage to sit around. He might be injured in Brazil.
Evidently he fancies being back home as opposed to that shit hole.
Sure. But his club didn’t even register him for the season. I think the consensus being that his career is over.
I don’t disagree with you. It’s just that had it not been for his injury , he would have stuck it out for the contract duration.
Well he could have sat around anyhow unless he was threatened with a visit to the Palace.
Let’s be real he probably wasn’t injured. He’s a man who long ago lost any interest in actually playing the game. Started at PSG with his annually timed injuries and trips back to party in Brazil.
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The only reason he probably wants a move to Santos is to pick up some game time so that he inevitably gets the money move to Inter Miami.
One last season of MSN before Suarez’s knees are totally crocked perhaps.
Good start by Asensio at Villa.
Interesting also how they use him, it reminds me a little bit when Rafa used Kewell more central, between the lines.
Wand of a left foot, maybe not best suited to be a winger all the time at this stage of career and what he’s been through.
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Use the right gif geezer
Rogers looks like a really good player.
Creative, robust, plays different positions (feels like he can do a job in any of Villa’s 4 attacking roles), seems to have good mentality also.
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Is that the same lion as here? 
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Its remarkable how quickly he developed into this player after City decided he wasnt ready for this level. Half a season in the championship was all it took for Villa to grab him, and he almost immediately started playing at this level after that move.
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