Do you think this is part of the "Spainification" of Madrid (having more players in the squad than Barca for the first time since 2016)? Or maybe it's the Madridification of Spain? It's noticeable that they're spending more money and energy on either bringing in players through their academy, or signing young Spanish talent. I guess this would make sense as a continuation of that.
Do you think this is part of the "Spainification" of Madrid (having more players in the squad than Barca for the first time since 2016)? Or maybe it's the Madridification of Spain? It's noticeable that they're spending more money and energy on either bringing in players through their academy, or signing young Spanish talent. I guess this would make sense as a continuation of that.
I think bringing together the Madrid and Barcelona camps is the biggest challenge for any Spain manager and one that the last couple of bosses have done well. He has made a good impression but I'm surprised he will not be with the national team longer, and the timing just before the World Cup is odd.
One thing that will happen with Lopetegui's appointment for sure is that it will add to Barcelona's victim complex as they will no doubt see it as the national football governing body favouring Madrid.
Ronaldo won't like Lopetegui. This is apparently what he said about Messi recently.
"Messi is the best player I've ever met. It is very difficult to see another like him again. Nobody has marked the differences so continuously in such different scenarios. It's a pleasure to see him play. For me, the best in history."
Rare example of a goalkeeper turned manager as well. Can't think of many who have done that successfully - Dino Zoff, Mike Walker...?
Tim Flowers was briefly a manager/caretaker a couple times (don't ask me how I know that, I genuinely have no idea). Dino Zoff was the only other one I could think of.
Nuno Espiritu Santo, the Wolves manager, is another one. Sorry for derailing the Zidane quits Madrid thread, although it's turned into a good trivia one!
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Reckon he'll be lucky to see out the season.
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Spain
One thing that will happen with Lopetegui's appointment for sure is that it will add to Barcelona's victim complex as they will no doubt see it as the national football governing body favouring Madrid.
Got to be looking at 75m+ and around 350k a week.
On another note i wonder if Lopategui will spend the next month trying to convince De Gea to move to Madrid.
"Messi is the best player I've ever met. It is very difficult to see another like him again. Nobody has marked the differences so continuously in such different scenarios. It's a pleasure to see him play. For me, the best in history."
Remember him having a punch up with Paul Walsh!
Peter Taylor
EDIT - just Googled, never realised he was a keeper too!