195 Comments
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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

That’s a wrap on today. If you missed it live, there’s a lot of fun stuff to scroll through and read back at your leisure. More Messi content is on the way, too. Thanks for all the great Qs. For at least a day, you can all now technically consider the possibility of your favorite team signing Lionel Messi. Well, unless you’re a Barcelona fan.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

OK! I tried to answer as many as I could, and if I didn't get to yours, it's only because someone else already basically asked the same question. I've got a couple more minutes, so if you've got something you want answered, toss it in here and I'll get to it.

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Patrick S's avatar

Going to be weird seeing him in Naples, forlornly crushing blow at a team Christmas party with the Camorra. But whatever it takes to finally prove his quality to Argentina fans I guess...

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

His career will be a failure until he ... [checks notes] ... wins the Europa League with Napoli.

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Patrick S's avatar

After failing in the Copa America Centenario, it is the only path to redemption

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Miguel's avatar

I feel like Bayern at the very least should make troll bid.

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Avi Tyagi's avatar

my childhood just cried a couple tears

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George McIntire's avatar

Shit's getting political now. The president of Catalonia is bidding Messi adieu

https://twitter.com/QuimTorraiPla/status/1298327109459378179

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George McIntire's avatar

Lets get #Messi2Leeds trending. We need to make that Newell's Old Boys reunion happen.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Can they re-neg on the Rodrigo deal?

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Miguel's avatar

If he does go to Inter this may be the first time that a Player buys property in X location story is actually true. And don't forget the more amenable tax laws in Italy.

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Ian's avatar

From Goal: "Sources have confirmed to Goal that the 33-year-old has sent a fax to Barcelona..."

Alright, everyone realign your thinking to what club a 70 year old man would choose.

"I'm faxing my talents to Lancashire."

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Jared Krouss's avatar

How delighted is Txiki Bergiristain right now?

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jake's avatar

Is there a funnier outcome than PSG? Bartomeu could finally say he fulfilled his promise to reunite Messi and Neymar!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I can't think of many things funnier than Messi playing for Jose Mourinho.

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Rick B.'s avatar

Nor can I! Hilarious!

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Jon Swagman's avatar

Messi gonna look great in sky blue.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Agreed. Him and Payet should work great together in Marseille.

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Filip's avatar

Always said he admired the passion of the fans up on that coast...

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Mike's avatar

Hear me out: Messi to Atalanta

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

It would be too much running for Leo, but yes, please.

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Jack Dawson's avatar

Chelsea could really use another winger

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Stylistically, he probably actually fits best with Chelsea AND GOD NO WE CANT LET ANOTHER THREAD DEVOLVE INTO A CHELSEA CONVERSATION

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Josh F's avatar

Are Inter Miami now favorites to win MLS with Cavani, Bale, and Messi? Wait whats that? They didn't actually get any of those people?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Let's just say that I'm about to record a podcast with a boisterous someone who is both an Inter Milan and an Inter Miami fan.

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Klayton A's avatar

Might have to skip class so I can get these tweets/takes about Bartomeu off

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I can write you a note.

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Doug Keith's avatar

This is going to sound very dumb, but is there any way Messi would make City worse?

(I'll take my public shaming off the air.)

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Touched on this below -- and will do so in more detail on Friday. But: I'm not sure it's possible for any attacking player, even the greatest one to ever do it, to make City's attack that much better than it already is. That being said: no Doug, you're canceled.

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Randall's avatar

Se queda.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

If you whisper it to yourself enough times, then maybe it might come true.

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Spencer R's avatar

We need a lebron style “decision” with Ray Hudson commentating

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Will Ray follow Messi, a la Windhorst and LeBron?

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Richie's avatar

What is the best landing spot for Messi if him leaving the club is motivation to cement his legacy as the G.O.A.T (even if it is frustration with the incompetency of management)?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Go to Napoli, and do exactly what Maradona did.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

In all seriousness, to convince people who don't already believe it, he probably needs to go to like Ajax or Benfica and win the Champions League with one of those clubs.

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Richie's avatar

So, speaking of the Maradona route, we'll see him at Atalanta next season?

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Thomas's avatar

Leo "Marginal Gain" Messi on the right (Salah as 9 and Firmino as 10) in a 4-2-3-1 featuring a Thiago-Fabinho double-pivot. The efficiency gains of buying young players entering their primes are a thing of the past.

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Ian's avatar

AKA the "we're going to win the Deloitte money rankings" play

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Thomas's avatar

He has to track back though, not sure if that's a dealbreaker.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

lol at messi tracking back

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Yeil Park's avatar

It pains me to say this, but he would have been so much fun on a Wenger team

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Much more fun watching him destroy Wenger teams, imo.

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Nate's avatar

United is the one team he'd actually fit in and fix, right? Solid defense that doesn't need him to press, desperately needs ball progression, creativity and shots (unless Happy Pogba comes back). Anywhere else is gilding the lily or redesigning a system - which is still worth doing, I suppose...

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

People were worried about Pogba and Bruno co-existing, but it's pointless to have Bruno on your team if you have Messi. The thing about the other teams, though, is that all they really care about is winning the Champions League. Messi obviously doesn't guarantee that, but he also pretty much guarantees that you'll have the best player on the field in every CL game you play. Among the BIG clubs, though, I think he'd have the biggest positive season-long impact on ManU, Atletico, and Inter Milan.

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Ian's avatar

The same United without a mobile DM? It would be interesting to see how a United team going 10 v 11 would fair with Maguire and Nematic...

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bg hill's avatar

forget the fact that he'd make more than everyone else on the team combined and we tried to take out a loan bc of Covid so theoretically theres no money in the bank --- but would Tottenham even be the favorite to win the Prem if they got Messi?? he'd definitely fill the stadium

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Barcelona wouldn't have been PL favorites this season; they would've finished third in the league. Barcelona are also a significantly better team than Tottenham.

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bg hill's avatar

'significantly' is harsh, but now you're just playing into Jose's nobody-believes-in-us

mantra that he hasn't been able to actually pull off since Porto?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Tottenham had the 55th best expected-goal differential in Europe last year. They're not good!

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bg hill's avatar

in their defense... they played through a lot of injuries, never played their best midfield (please less of winks and more of ndombele), and have a mentality of grinding out a 1-0 win against way worse competition because 3 points is 3 points

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bg hill's avatar

after typing that sentence -- I miss Poch so much </3

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Josh Eichenbaum's avatar

Realistically there are only a handful of clubs in the world that can afford his salary, right? One is Real (no), one is United (doubtful), one is Bayern (don’t think they would want him), final three are Juve, City, and PSG. Out of those three which is most likely to sign him?

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Trayton Miller's avatar

If United have to make a choice between Messi or Sancho, which deal makes more sense?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

For a team at United's level of wealth and BRANDING, it's Messi. There's the Adidas connect, Messi makes them CL contenders immediately -- the attack, not the defense, needs upgrading -- and they're one of the few clubs who can make a massive investment in a player without any real chance to sell him on for a decent fee. In other words, if they sign Messi, they can sign whoever the next Sancho is whenever Messi's time is up.

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James's avatar

And considering Sancho is still only 20, pretty good chance the "next" Sancho will still be Sancho!

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Josh Eichenbaum's avatar

For me, the question is more "would Messi even consider United?" Don't think they'd be high on his list considering they're clearly a cut below City/PSG/etc

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James's avatar

But would they be if they got Messi? I don't think so. And they have a right wing spot they need filled more than City or PSG...

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Jeremy's avatar

I'd go for Sancho TBH, even though he's obviously behind Messi --- he's younger, British, and if Messi flames out at UTD it would fit the "UTD buys overpriced slightly past their prime player and are suckers" narrative.

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Mauricio Silva's avatar

Assuming he leaves and nothing else major happens, where does Barça finish next La Liga season? What about in the Champions League (or the Europa...)?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I'll say third -- too much talent, too much money -- in La Liga and a nice Ro16 exit in the CL.

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El Pibe's avatar

suarez, messi, and ronaldo to ajax

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

LET. US. GO.

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Ben's avatar

Has there ever been a better player come available on a free?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

He had a 20/20 season last year! There's no one else who's even close.

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Cousin_Drew's avatar

So the question is Lewa age 26 vs. Messi age 33 right?

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Ben's avatar

Probably, or any other historical examples that idk about

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Jesse Ziter's avatar

Surprised by so many saying Bayern. Is there anything to that link other than the fact Bayern are (relatively) rich and good?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

They've never made a move like this, either. I don't see it.

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miasanmiausa's avatar

the adidas thing i guess

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Joreen B's avatar

Seriously. I don't see how he fits into the squad.

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Bradley Davis's avatar

What are the three most likely landing spots for him?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Some early betting odds have it as top four: https://twitter.com/OddsShark/status/1298315843185639424

City, PSG, Juventus, and Inter -- that sounds right to me.

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Josh Eichenbaum's avatar

Inter Miami, right?

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Bradley Davis's avatar

Milan is +300, Miami is +2500

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Dan's avatar

Where could he reasonably go?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

If you're making a list of teams that could afford him at his current salary, then it's the top four in the PL, PSG, Real Madrid (NEVER SAY NEVER RIGHT????), Bayern, Juventus (I guess? They need to shed some salary, I'd think), and Inter Milan. But here's the thing, if he really wants to go somewhere in particular, he could just, you know, take a paycut. Or, if, say there's an Adidas-sponsored team with a limited payroll, I'm sure something could be worked out ...

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Jonathan's avatar

Leeds is an Adidas team 👀

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Dan's avatar

I do wonder what the likelihood of taking a pay cut is. It seems like it would happen more often, particularly for athletes that have huge sponsorship deals.

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Klayton A's avatar

Someone please just kill me.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Keeping you in our collective, nightly, premium-subscriber-only prayers.

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Jeremy's avatar

Any chance FSG opens up the purse strings?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Good one!

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Dan's avatar

That's what the Billy Beane buy in is for. Right Ryan? Right??

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Miguel's avatar

Madrid preseident Florentino Pérez just watched Raul lead his Madrid cubs to the Champions League Youth Tournament title. He's having a hell of day!

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Miguel's avatar

I think we can all agree that when the dust settles What is a burofax? won Google Analytics today.

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Miguel's avatar

I can't believe Messi would want to come to England. I have been to Barcelona. The cities do differ somewhat. Ronaldo said that the only issue with Manchester was that it was too far north!!

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Cousin_Drew's avatar

If there is a burofax, does that imply the existence of a burofox?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Bravo to USA Today. This is how you do the Internet: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/08/what-is-a-burofax-messi

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Miguel's avatar

Poor Conte's already said that he wants to leave. And hasn't he lost 30 million or something to dodgy deals? Messi and Conte could have commiserated.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

They confirmed that he's staying today! Coincidence????????????

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Filip's avatar

I feel like we're entering new age for greatness with Messi and Ronaldo. Jordan was the best at age 36 in a sport that's very tough physically. Soccer is even tougher. Those two could shift around the field to maximize their skills and superior body conditioning and play till they're 45, probably. Thoughts?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I don't know. The game is also more physically demanding than it's ever been before. I think the cliff comes real fast, so if I had to bet on them being able to play at high level through age 45 vs them not being capable of it, I'm taking the latter.

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James Milner's Peloton's avatar

Realistically, how many peak years does Messi have left?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

He peaked a while ago -- not scoring 45 goals per year in La Liga anymore. He's so good at so many different things that I think he can basically keep playing at an elite level until his body can't keep up anymore. Totti played for Roma basically until he was 40, and Messi is ... a lot better than Totti.

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Yseeds's avatar

If Messi goes, is there any reason to keep any of Suarez, Pique, Rakatic, Busquets, Alba, Umtiti, Vidal, and prob many others? Might as well dump all of them now, even if it means bottoming out this coming season, and start building for the future.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

According to reports, Koeman has already told all of those players that they either a) are not part of his plans, or b) are expected to take a paycut. Seems like that was in motion before the burofax.

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Jack's avatar

trying to imagine this were the nba and messi is forcing a trade under contract...what's the most logical (or wildest) swap deal you can think of? Messi + Coutinho to liverpool for Mane, Keita, and cash?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

He has one year left on his deal, and Manchester City seem like the team that would be most willing to trade for him. Given all that, Sterling for Messi just feels right to me.

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James's avatar

How was your breakfast?

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Sam's avatar

after today's performance, when is the emergency, "patson daka to liverpool" chat?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I save the best stuff for premium subscribers. You know this.

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Mark Adkins's avatar

Where does this concept of which teams can"afford" Messi come from? He's on a free transfer. He's on 19m a year at Barca. Surely with a free transfer, multiple teams could afford his salary on a 3 year contract?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Agree that more teams can afford him, but also think his salary costs way more than that.

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Max Willis's avatar

Isn't his salary like 50 million euros a year? And we know he doesn't pay any taxes....

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Hans's avatar

Ripples question:

City = it cements Foden as a super sub, which he may be fed up with, and Mahrez as a rotation guy?

Juventus = it should work with Ronaldo/Dybala/Messi up front

Inter = Messi/Lukaku/Eriksen (if Conte ever plays him)

PSG = what happens to Di Maria, I suppose, but the depth behind that is what, Verrati, Icardi, IDK?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

City = Foden plays more in the midfield

Juve = sure, though Messi and Dybala hasn't been a great combo for Argentina

Inter = Messi/Lukaku/Lautaro

PSG = He could play in the midfield or you could just play all four of them in a rotating, fluid attacking machine. Might mean Icardi's days at the club are numbered, though ...

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Sam Martin's avatar

Does Di Maria play RB next season?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Imagine him cutting onto his left foot at the top of ... his own box.

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Sam Martin's avatar

I mean they're both old and could use rotation, but Di Maria and Icardi would be riding the pine in all likelihood, right? Wouldn't Messi, Mbappe, and Neymar be the best attacking 3 ever, on paper?

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Sam Martin's avatar

"both" was supposed to refer to Di Maria and Messi

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