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Hello! A potential big-money signing for Manchester City could be in very hot water.
Coming up:
- West Ham’s Paqueta charged with betting offences
- Manchester United contact Ipswich boss McKenna
- Haaland bidding for £1bn ($1.27bn) earning power
- Bergvall’s Barcelona car-swap
Paqueta probe
This promises to be a big close season for Lucas Paqueta, West Ham United’s Brazilian midfielder. It has the potential to be career-defining — but not in the way we anticipated.
The smart money was on Manchester City signing him. They tried last year without success but an £85m ($107m) release clause in Paqueta’s contract is active, giving City the upper hand.
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A move to the Etihad would be Paqueta’s pass to much bigger things. Yesterday, though, he was charged by England’s Football Association with betting offences: namely that on four occasions, he deliberately incurred yellow cards with the intention of affecting betting markets.
Paqueta denies wrongdoing and says he will “fight with every breath to clear my name”. But this could have severe implications for him. And it might crush City’s interest in him.
Trying to tackle gambling
Football’s authorities have been taking an increasingly hard line on players who breach gambling rules.
Last year, Brentford’s Ivan Toney was given an eight-month ban by the Football Association for 232 betting offences. He made his comeback in January.
In October, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali received a 10-month suspension for breaking rules in Italy. He’s still serving it.
These are the details surrounding Paqueta:
- The FA accuses him of purposely getting booked in four matches in 2022 and 2023, against Leicester City, Aston Villa (a sprinting slide-tackle on John McGinn in the centre circle, below), Leeds United and Bournemouth
- Suspicious betting patterns were traced to Paqueta Island near Rio de Janeiro, where he grew up. The bets were not placed by the player
- Paqueta, who had been under investigation since August, has until June 3 to respond
- West Ham say he will “continue to robustly defend his position”
What is spot-fixing?
Toney was not accused of gambling on matches in which he actually played. Tonali did, for AC Milan, but there was no suggestion he tried to unduly influence the outcome of those games.
Where Paqueta is concerned, he’s effectively being accused of spot-fixing — in short, of not trying to affect the final score but, instead, manipulating certain events for betting purposes.
Other sports have seen problems with spot-fixing, not least international cricket. Life bans have been issued to certain cricketers. A footballer at Lincoln City received a six-year suspension in 2018 for intentionally getting himself booked twice.
It’s a warning for Paqueta that the stakes are incredibly high. He could have the book thrown at him if he’s found guilty. And after Newcastle paid £55m ($70m) for Tonali, only to see a marquee recruit hit with a hefty betting ban soon after, you cannot see a club as strategic as City punting on Paqueta blindly.
A big summer for the 26-year-old, then. But not the masterplan as anyone saw it.
$1bn Haaland? Meet team behind Man City striker’s brand
Erling Haaland. Big on goals, big on stature. Very big on business.
Sam Lee decided to tap into the company structure around Manchester City’s Ivan Drago stunt double. It’s an intriguing feature, detailing an active plan for Brand Haaland to hit earning potential of £1bn ($1.27bn).
You know the drill: boot deals, corporate contracts, endorsements. It all adds up. But what caught my eye about Haaland was how much artificial intelligence, gaming and virtual reality could play a part in hiking up his earnings.
Look, I’m 43, so I’ve no real clue about the computer strategy game Clash of Clans. But Haaland is in it so he must have seen an opening. Let’s see if the trend spreads.
One to watch: Bergvall, Barca and a Bourne-esque escape
In 10 years’ time, what about Brand Bergvall?
We’re jumping the gun because Lucas Bergvall (on his way to Tottenham Hotspur shortly) hasn’t kicked a ball in the Premier League, but Jay Harris went to Sweden to find out about the 18-year-old, and those around him make all the right noises.
There’s a sub-plot to his transfer: about the pressure on parents to get it right when a lad such as Bergvall is suddenly so sought-after.
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Barcelona fought hard to sign him but when he went to Spain, he drew such a crowd that he had to swap cars in an underground garage, Jason Bourne-style, to escape them.
In the interests of developing calmly and quietly, I’d have chosen Spurs too…
Fight Clubs: Intercontinental Derby kicks off with Turkey title on the line
Any time anyone revisits the story of Graeme Souness planting a Galatasaray flag in the centre of Fenerbahce’s pitch (an iconic image from 1996, recreated by the fans, above), I wonder how he made it out alive.
Without overblowing the rivalry, these two Turkish teams despise each other. Nick Miller took a trip to Istanbul to watch their most recent ‘Intercontinental Derby’, a clash in which Galatasaray could have sealed the Super Lig title.
There were scuffles before kick-off and scuffles after full time, bringing out the riot police. Galatasaray lost 1-0 but can nail down first place this Sunday anyway.
This remark by a local journalist to Nick was on point: “I bet you don’t get this in England.” Not exactly.
Around The Athletic FC 🌎
- Manchester United have been in touch with Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna. The 38-year-old would be one of a range of candidates if the club decide to part company with Erik ten Hag after the FA Cup final on Saturday.
- I wanted to point you to a new podcast series produced by The Athletic on Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou. ‘Made in Melbourne’ is well worth a listen.
- Who stays at Arsenal, and who goes? James McNicholas has carried out a full squad audit. A couple of things to watch out for: an incoming left-back, and Eddie Nketiah’s exit.
- MLS is taking the fight to time-wasting. But Lionel Messi’s not convinced by new rule changes.
Catch A Match 📺
Two showdowns at Wembley this weekend: the FA Cup final and the Championship play-off final.
If you’re not familiar with the Championship’s showpiece, it’s the most lucrative single game in football — anywhere. Philip Buckingham has you covered.
Saturday: FA Cup final — Manchester United v Manchester City; 10am ET/3pm; ESPN+, BBC One
Sunday: Championship play-off final — Leeds United v Southampton; 10am ET/3pm UK; ESPN+, Sky Sports Main Event
Quiz Question❓
Get your brain working with our weekly teaser:
Which two players have provided the most assists in FA Cup finals from 2000 onwards?
You’ll find the answer here at 4pm (11am ET) or in Monday’s newsletter.
(Top photo: Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)