Expensive gesture sees Brazil going the extra mile to please Arteta and Klopp
Brazil have taken the unusual step of chartering a private plane to get Premier League players back after their World Cup qualifiers.
But Liverpool and Manchester City will still only get their players back less than 72 hours before their title clash kicks off at the Etihad at 12.30pm on Saturday.
That just underlines why Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was so outspoken and right to be annoyed about the demands put on players and the scheduling of games, which has become nothing short of a scandal. Plus the spiralling cost and carbon footprint of travel.
Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker, City No.1 Ederson, Tottenham's Emerson Royal, Arsenal trio Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, Brighton forward Joao Pedro, Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz were all called up by Brazil. They laid on a B767 out of Stansted airport last Sunday for all European based players with plenty of room to stretch out, as there are 96 business class seats available but probably less than 20 passengers. Brazil are footing the bill with the return flight booked to return on Wednesday.
Brazil play Colombia this week and their second game with Argentina in Rio kicks off in the early hours of Wednesday (UK time) so Premier League players will be flown straight back. Several clubs in the North and Midlands have joined forces to hire another jet to fly the Argentinian players back so they will return by early evening Wednesday. Liverpool also have Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz involved in South American qualifiers.
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National associations are expected to foot the bill for players on scheduled flights to international games, and in the past players like Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg flew home on Ryanair while Kasper Schmeichel and Pablo Fornals used EasyJet. Long haul flights are a completely different challenge and top Premier League clubs are regularly left with players returning late on a Thursday after a midweek international, which is shocking if they have to play on a Saturday.
That is why clubs end up having to charter private planes, and in the past Brazil have contributed around £5,000-per-player towards the huge cost. Brazil are the most generous country as most will not contribute a penny.
But this time Brazil put on their own plane because of the potential for club versus country rows. However, that will do little to appease the likes of Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta if players return injured, fatigued or in bad shape.
Ratcliffe's United plan
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is buying a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United (AFP via Getty Images)What do you make of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United takeover? Let us know in the comments below!
Manchester United have been using recruitment consultants and headhunters to reach out to potential new appointments as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brave new world begins to take shape. One of the criticisms of the Glazers’ reign has been making safe, internal appointments as Ed Woodward, Richard Arnold and John Murtough were all promoted from within.
But not only have consultants been talking to potential new sporting directors, they have been sounding out respected figures within the game on issues. United’s fanbase have been split over Ratcliffe because he is only buying a percentage of the club. But it is clear that the British billionaire is determined to make a difference and stop making the same old mistakes which may yet win over the supporters.
AFCON ready
Alex Song and Kolo Toure are on standby to be pundits for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in January. The last tournament was shown on Sky and the BBC, but nothing has been signed off yet with media giants IMG handling negotiations.
Another joint deal could be in the offing with the Confederation of African Football having only just resolved a bitter dispute with beIN Sports for exclusive rights.
New Fulham book
Ex-Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed passed away in August (Garry Bowden/REX/Shutterstock)Fulham fans are in for a treat with the superb book The Great Adventure with brilliant tales from Mohamed Al Fayed’s time in charge. There are some superb anecdotes and behind the scenes stories in author Tony Banks’ book, particularly from their amazing run to the Europa League final under Roy Hodgson.
One of the best contributors was former Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer who left on a sour note amid a change of ownership and revolving door of managers. Schwarzer is one of the best media pundits around but surely Fulham, such a good club, should sort out a proper farewell.
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Schwarzer has great "affection" for the club but there has been no real goodbye. He revealed: “I got invited back to Fulham once, to come on at half time, do a talk and go in goal and save some penalties. I laughed. No disrespect to a pub team, but that’s a pub team mentality.”
In other news...
The Saudi wealth has blown apart the transfer market and players can earn huge multi-million pound contracts. But back in the 1970s. Former Middlesbrough physio Jimmy Headridge was seen as something of a trailblazer when he went to the Middle East. His move at the time was described as having all the “fabulous Middle East perks” which included a £20,000-per-year tax free contract. How things have changed.
Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf and former Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani are among the 12 UEFA Foundation for Children Board of Trustees. Dominique Blanc, the president of the Swiss Football Association, has been newly elected with each member taking up a four year term. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is the chair while Wladimir Klitschko is also on the Board with the idea of helping underprivileged children.
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