Urgent meeting in Lisbon: how the most expensive pass in history for an Argentine footballer is cooked

One of the news of the day in England is the departure of Jorginho, an Italian-Brazilian midfielder, towards Arsenal, the Blues’ classic rival. This move would open up even more space in the squad for the arrival of Enzo Fernández from Benfica. Fabrizio Romano, an expert in the transfer market, reports that the agreement between the clubs is closed and that the footballer, who had six months left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, will move to the Emirates Stadium in exchange for a fixed 12 million euros plus another three in variables.

Just four months after signing for Sevilla, Spanish midfielder Isco left the Andalusian club after a disagreement with the club’s sporting director Monchi, and without a place in Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli’s starting lineup. In Germany they take it for granted that the footballer will sign for two and a half seasons (plus another optional one) with Union Berlin, the revelation team of the Bundesliga (he is second, one point behind Bayern, the leader). The player is in the German capital for his medical examination and the signing is expected to become official this Tuesday.

The departure of Héctor Bellerín to Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) opens the door for Barcelona to hire another footballer before the market closes. According to reports in Spain and England, the Catalan club made a loan offer with a purchase option for the Moroccan: 4 million euros for the assignment and another 36 for the final pass. Fiorentina, the club of the midfielder who stood out in Qatar 2022, rejected the proposal. “I like it, but I can’t talk about non-team names. He seems like a good footballer to me, ”confirmed Xavi Hernández, coach of the culé team, at the press conference prior to tomorrow’s game with Betis, by LaLiga.

The Spanish defender Diego Llorente leaves Leeds, of the Premier League and goes to Roma on loan and with an option to buy. The footballer, who in England was managed by Marcelo Bielsa, will arrive in the Italian capital to meet up with José Mourinho, who was his coach at Real Madrid ten years ago and made him debut in the white team’s first team. The Italians loaned the Uruguayan Matías Viña to Bournemouth, from England, on Monday and are awaiting what happens with Nicoló Zaniolo, who was removed from the squad for refusing to be transferred to that same English team. The midfielder is not part of Mourinho’s plans.

Enzo Fernández’s move to Chelsea depends on the English shortening the deadlines to make the termination clause effective. The departure of the former River player from Benfica costs 120 million euros and, due to a matter related to Financial Fair Play, the Londoners intend to pay it in several installments, in order to be able to divide the expense into several accounting years. Rui Costa, president of the Portuguese club and former footballer for Milan, among other teams, wants the money as soon as possible: the transfer market ends today in Portugal. Meanwhile, the coach of the Eagles, the German Roger Schmidt, focuses on tonight’s game (18.15 in Argentina) against Arouca and for the Portuguese Primeira Liga. According to the press in that country, it is most likely that Fernández will not participate in the meeting.

Since yesterday, the negotiations between the English club and Benfica accelerated in Lisbon. But the president of the Portuguese institution, Rui Costa, does not move from his initial claim: that Chelsea pay the full amount of the termination clause (120 million euros) right now. He does not accept the installment payment plan that Chelsea offers. This Tuesday they meet again, with the limit imposed by the closure of the pass market, set for 9:00 p.m. in Argentina. The Argentine midfielder, chosen Best Young Player of the World Cup, came to Benfica from River in June 2021 for 18 million euros. Just seven months later, River could collect another 30 million, since it owns 25 percent of the pass.

PSG, leader of Ligue 1, is about to close the incorporation of Hakim Ziyech, on loan until the end of the season with a purchase option, from Chelsea. If the transfer is completed, Messi will have as a partner one of the holders of the selected World Cup revelation, Morocco, which ended in the fourth place and completed the best campaign in history for a representative of the African continent. Ziyech (29 years old) had little place in Chelsea, that it must also reduce the squad and release the salary mass after its aggressive incursion into the current winter transfer market, with an investment of close to 400 million euros in eight players, if the arrival of Enzo Fernández in the next few hours is confirmed about 120 million euros. At a press conference, Christophe Galtier, DT of PSG, confirmed today the negotiations: “We are talking with Chelsea about the pass.”

Matt Dohertya 31-year-old Irish international who plays for Tottenhamis the one chosen by the Simeone’s Atletico Madrid to strengthen the right side. His transfer, in fact, depends on the departure of Felipe heading to Nottingham Forest, from the Premier League.

Sevilla and Tottenham reached an agreement yesterday for the transfer of the Spanish Bryan Gil until end of season. The player, who emerged in Valencia, already trained this morning under the orders of Sampaoli with his new team. Without much participation in the English club, Tottenham’s intention is for him to add minutes in Spain.

Bayern Munich signed the Portuguese Joao Cancelo, who arrives on loan from Manchester City. The 28-year-old winger joins the German team until the end of the season. “We are very happy that João Cancelo will play for FC Bayern with immediate effect. Now we have him on loan and in the summer we will have the opportunity to sign him permanently,” said Hasan Salihamidi, Bayern’s sports director. Thus, Guardiola lets go of one of the footballers he used regularly on the left wing.

As in every transfer market closing, the last day of the transfer window is intense. Between last-minute negotiations, surprises and rumors, a Tuesday full of activity in the clubs of Europe advances. The day starts with a mystery that could shake Argentine football: the transfer of Enzo Fernández from Benfica to Chelsea is being negotiated. If the aforementioned figure materializes (120 million euros, as stipulated in its termination clause), River would be one of the big winners of the day, since it owns 25 percent of the economic rights of the pass. Translated: if the day ends with Fernández in London, the club that formed him could pocket around 30 million euros. The pass would also become the most expensive in history for an Argentine soccer player. That record is held by Gonzalo Higuaín, who in 2016 went from Napoli to Juventus for 90 million euros.

THE NATION