In short
Football Americas previews La Liga and the transfer-window implications for Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Real Sociedad, Real Betis, and Villarreal, with focus on how “Americans” and other international players fit.
Guests
Mauricio Pedrosa (host). Xhaka Heslop (football analyst). Rodri Faez (football analyst). Shaq (football analyst; appears as Shaq in dialogue). Kev Marcotti (introduces show; also appears in ads/intro).
Key claims and notable examples
- Barcelona: Rodri joins Barcelona from Manchester City for €77m. Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford leave. With no traditional number nine, Rafinha is argued as the best “false nine” option over Anthony Gordon (needs Spain adaptation) and Lamine Yamal (too soon to move roles). Flick may task Rafinha with central scoring while keeping Yamal on the right. Julian Alvarez is viewed as “99.9% impossible” because Atlético Madrid refuses to sell to Barcelona, framed as respect, not just money.
- Real Madrid: €125m+ Diomande is expected to start; discussion suggests Rodrigo may be the odd man out, with Mourinho needing quick adaptation. Valverde is seen as essential; midfield balance and peace between Valverde and Choumeny are emphasized. Mbappé–Vinícius partnership is questioned; Mourinho must get both defending and provide balance.
- Atlético: Julian Alvarez likely stays; Cardoso’s return is doubted for regular starts due to new midfield signings. Obed Vargas may seek a loan (Betis/Valencia/Getafe) for minutes.
- Real Sociedad: Matarazzo’s impact is credited for improving results and winning Copa del Rey; target is European contention (top six/top four discussed as ambitious).
- Real Betis: Álvaro Fidalgo is highlighted as a key Latin-American piece; Pellegrini’s trust in South American talent is stressed.
- Villarreal: Teju Buchanan expected to get more minutes than Alex Freeman due to versatility.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOBarcelona's Key Transfers
1:46 to 2:18
Analysis of Barcelona's recent player departures and additions.
“La Liga is underway already, but we're still waiting to see Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid will go deep into how the players from the Americas will do this season.”
Rafinha's Role at Barcelona
2:18 to 3:44
Discussion on Rafinha's potential as Barcelona's number nine.
“Also Joao Concedo has landed in Barcelona, will return to the club after fixing his deal in the Saudi Liga.”
Challenges in the Transfer Market
3:44 to 6:04
Exploration of Barcelona's challenges in signing a traditional number nine.
“because he's quick, he can play in between lines, he has experience, and indeed, he has the best goal of those three up in attack.”
Atletico Madrid's Stance
6:04 to 7:20
Analysis of Atletico Madrid's firm position regarding player transfers.
“First of all, because I think this is going to be really, really, really expensive.”
Rafinha's Leadership Qualities
7:20 to 10:34
Discussion on Rafinha's impact and leadership within Barcelona.
“They felt disrespected and will not back down from that.”
Comparing Styles and Strategies
10:34 to 12:20
Comparison of Barcelona's strategies with other clubs like PSG.
“even though Julian Alvarez is a fantastic player.”
Real Madrid's Transfer Strategy
12:20 to 14:01
Examination of Real Madrid's approach to recent transfer dealings.
“But first of all, you don't have Luis Enrique.”
Real Madrid's Star Player Dynamics
14:01 to 28:00
Explore the challenges and expectations surrounding Real Madrid's player lineup, including Rodrigo and Diomande.
“Real Madrid's foundations are built on bringing in star players and getting them to fit, making it work.”
LaLiga Match Previews
28:00 to 29:21
Get insights on the upcoming LaLiga matches for Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“Real Madrid will play at Espanol, and Barcelona on Sunday will play at Elche.”
Julián Álvarez Transfer Saga
30:31 to 41:24
Explore the intricacies of Julián Álvarez's potential move to Barcelona.
“Application times may vary, rates may vary.”
Show all 19 chapters
Atletico de Madrid's Squad Updates
41:24 to 42:00
Discuss the performance and future prospects of Johnny Cardoso and Ovet Vargas.
“Indeed, Betis playing in Champions League football.”
La Liga Kickoff and Expectations
42:00 to 42:39
Preview of the upcoming La Liga matches, focusing on Atletico Madrid's first game.
“Yeah, let's see what happens between now and the end of August when the transfer window closes.”
Pellegrino Matarazzo's Impact at Real Sociedad
42:56 to 45:56
Discussion on Pellegrino Matarazzo's coaching impact and expectations for Real Sociedad this season.
“Pellegrino Matarazzo made a name for himself at Real Sociedad last season.”
Real Betis and Latin American Players
45:56 to 49:16
Exploring the role of Latin American players in Real Betis' strategy under Manuel Pellegrini.
“And it feels like his impact was immediate.”
Real Betis' Competitiveness in La Liga and Champions League
49:16 to 53:57
Analyzing Real Betis' focus on La Liga while managing Champions League expectations.
“How crucial are they for Betis' success under Manuel Pellegrini?”
Villarreal's Young Talents: Buchanan and Freeman
54:07 to 56:00
Discussion on the potential and roles of Teju Buchanan and Alex Freeman in Villarreal's lineup.
“We also have, that means that we have, we want to talk about Teju Buchanan and Alex Freeman.”
Analyzing La Liga Players
56:00 to 57:20
Discussion on the strengths and roles of various players in La Liga.
“I like him as that right-sided center back, in all honesty, in the back three.”
Predicting La Liga MVPs
57:48 to 1:02:00
Debate on who will be the MVP of the Americas in La Liga for the season.
“All right, so far we have explored the possibilities.”
Challenges for Julián Álvarez
1:02:00 to 1:03:36
Discussion on Julián Álvarez's season prospects and challenges ahead.
“their best foot forward to keep Julián Álvarez, that's a big commitment.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Kev Marcotti here for Gusto. Anyone who follows football knows that final product is only part of the story. You see the match, the result, the big moments. But behind that, there's the planning and administrative work that still has to be handled properly. Small businesses are no different. Payroll, tax filings, onboarding, benefits, it all matters. And it can take time away from the work you actually want to be doing. That's why there's Gusto. Gusto is online payroll and benefit software built for small businesses It's all-in-one, remote-friendly, and incredibly easy to use So you can pay, hire, onboard, and support your team from anywhere Automatic payroll tax filing, simple direct deposits, health benefits, commuter benefits, workers' comp, 401k, you name it Gusto makes it simple and has options for nearly every budget And it's all built to save you time with built-in automated tools for offer letters, onboarding docs, direct deposit, and more.
1:03Plus, you get unlimited payroll runs for one monthly price. No hidden fees, no surprises. Try Gusto today at gusto.com slash football and get three months free when you run your first payroll. That's three months of free payroll at gusto.com slash football. One more time, gusto.com slash football.
1:36Welcome to the latest edition of Football Americas, alongside Xhaka Heslop, Rodri Faez. I am Mauricio Pedrosa. Welcome to the show. Coming up, a big-time La Liga preview. La Liga is underway already, but we're still waiting to see Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid will go deep into how the players from the Americas will do this season. But we have to get things started in Barcelona. La Liga champions will miss on 54 goals. Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, Marcus Rashford have left the club. Rodri is now a Barcelona player after Barca completed a transfer fee with Manchester City for 77 million euros.
2:29Also Joao Concedo has landed in Barcelona, will return to the club after fixing his deal in the Saudi Liga. But Rodri, the question, the big question is so far no traditional number nine. And Rafinha seems to be the one who has played several roles, different roles with Barcelona on their handsy flick. Is he the one, if there's no other traditional number nine coming before the transfer window closes, will he be Barca's number nine? We have to wait and see what Flick has in mind. But indeed, you got that option. And I think that if you have to choose in between Anthony Gordon, Lamin, Jamal and Rafinha, indeed, I would go for Rafinha.
3:15First of all, because Anthony Gordon can play on the left, as he proved in Newcastle. And I think that he still has to prove a lot of things in Spain. Like, he has to adapt as soon as possible. But it could be his natural position. Lamin Jamal, he's in shape. And he's getting back in shape again after the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico and winning the trophy. And I think he still has to be there for at least one or maybe two seasons. And for me, that's why Rafinha should be the ideal false nine. because he's quick, he can play in between lines, he has experience, and indeed, he has the best goal of those three up in attack.
3:53Let's not forget, Shaq, two seasons ago, he was fully fit, played a full season, and scored over 30 goals in all camps. Does that make him the most reliable source of goal scoring for Barca so far? Without question. There was talk earlier in the summer that Anthony Gordon could play, could fill in that number nine rule. Anthony Gordon is quick. He's not the finisher that Rafinha is. So, again, I'm going to echo Rodri here. If you have a choice between Anthony Gordon and Rafinha to play as at number nine, and we freely assume that Laminia Mauer will continue to operate on the right-hand side, as he always does, as his best position, Rafinha is easily the better of the two choices.
4:36Maybe if you want, I'm tempted to say traditional, I played my football in England, but a bigger target man to play through the middle as that number nine. Anthony Gordon can fill in on occasion, but more times than not, against better opponents, I think Rafinha will be the preferred choice. Now, transfer window's still open. Barcelona, they now have made serious business for Anthony Gordon, for Adeyemi, and now obviously Rodri. Is there still space available? Is there still some budget available for Barcelona? to find a proper number nine? Because it seems like the Julian Alvarez option is no longer on the table for Barca.
5:18When you talk to Barca, they say, no, we are still going to try, to try. Won't least try with Julian Alvarez. And I looked to them like this, like, are you serious? Everybody's doing that face. Everybody, everybody. Like, for real? How? How are you going to do it? Yeah, I mean, the thing is that they told you that they got budget enough. But it's, I mean, for me, this is like a game. It looks like they have a limited budget to sign whoever. But the thing is that they have to face Atletico Madrid, and Atletico Madrid doesn't really want to sell Julián Álvarez and not even to Barcelona because they would be reinforcing a direct rival for any Spanish trophies.
5:55So I think it's going to be almost impossible. I'm not going to say this is impossible, but 99.9 % impossible for Barcelona. First of all, because I think this is going to be really, really, really expensive. if there is any last chance, because we remember that Atletico Madrid refused, rejected a Real Madrid offer around 150 million euros. And I find this really hard to equal for Barcelona. So for me, it's almost done this. And the thing is that, you know, this morning I again call Atletico Madrid and they again and again and again are saying the same message. No, he's not in sale and we're not going to sell into Barcelona.
6:35It even feels like it's not a matter of money. It's a matter of respect. Yeah, and which I fully agree with. Atletico Madrid, well, yes, for all intents and purposes, they're the third largest club in Spanish football. They want to be seen differently. Whether they see themselves differently or not, they want to be seen differently. And at the very least, they want to be respected as that and do not want to be seen to be bullied over players for whatever reason it may be. So, again, I'm agreeing with Roger here. This is not about money. We could question Barcelona's ability to pull even more levers this summer.
7:15But Atletico Madrid have dug their heels in, and I think this is not about money. This is not about Julian Alvarez's supposed want to leave. This is about them being respected. They felt disrespected and will not back down from that. Now, Shaq, let me stay with you here. Hansi Flick has been extremely, extremely smart the way he has managed his squad. But it seems like Rafinha, it's clearly a leader on the field, off the field. But also his performance has been fantastic, especially when he starts on that left wing, as opposed to Laminya Mal. if you take him out of that spot just because you have to fill the number nine position, are you removing Rafinha from the place that he's the most dangerous at?
8:06Yes, you are. Short answer to that question, Mo. Yes, you are. Rafinha, for me, is at his best on that left-hand side for Barcelona to provide balance to Laminia Malot on your right-hand side. You have a finisher like you've had in Lewandowski last couple of seasons. That's when I think you've seen the best of Barcelona. Now, given any number of circumstances, they have to make do. I think they'll have to make do with what they have in the squad this season. Rafinha has shown that he can play on that left, he can play on the right, he can play through the middle, he can sit in behind and play in that hole as a 10-roll and be just about as effective in any one of those positions.
8:52Now, you look at the squad, you look at what options there may be. We've got a Dani Almo, we've got a Fermin Lopez, we've got Rooney to come in. You look at those, you look at those, Almo can play in the 10. The others you want to feel are more squad players and need a different rotation in what may be a front three or front four. That means, as we discussed before, I think Rafinha would be tasked with playing as at number nine, the goal scorer for or the goal getter for Barca. Can I ask you both a question? Of course. Because there was a part of the transfer market where FC Barcelona people, according to my sources, they were debating inside the club one option.
9:32It was, OK, can we sell Rafinha and get Julian Alvarez? And that was an interesting debate inside Barcelona because they were thinking about this, that Xhaka was just saying, which I find it really interesting. But at the same time, they were saying, like, yeah, who's going to be better for us now to win the Champions League trophy, which is now the main target for Barcelona? Julian Alvarez or Rafinha? Production on the field could be equal. But I go back to what Rafinha means to that dressing room. His leadership skills. And it's not only the way I see it. is the way Hansi Flick has expressed it.
10:11Do you guys remember a game last season? Barcelona ended up winning, but Hansi Flick's body language was, he was devastated. The one player that approached him to comfort him, it was Rafinha. And Hansi Flick then explained how well they work together and the relationship that they have and the way it works. I think Rafinha is crucial to this Barcelona success, even though Julian Alvarez is a fantastic player. Now, the other option, because a lot of people see a parallel between Lionel Messi's career trajectory and Lamin Yamal's. Messi also started on the right wing and then transitioned to a false nine spot where he became world-class, historic.
10:59Is it too soon to ask Lamin Yamal to go and change positions and start playing on a different role? Because from what we hear from our insiders is that he really wants to do that. He really wants to become that false nine for Barcelona. I'd say yes. In that, leave Laminia Ma where he is. Out on that right hand side where he continues to be effective. I think as he grows in the game, as he starts, his understanding gets better. His kind of maturity and impact in the team gets better. He would start to drift inside naturally, as Lionel Messi did. And then you realize, okay, now we have to figure out how we kind of plug those gaps that Laminia Mal leaves when he drifts from that side.
11:46I'm not moving Laminia Mal right now. He'll move himself. We'll figure out as a team how we adapt to suit. The one final thing I said about this, Rodri, let's see if you agree, is the best club in the world right now, PSG. They don't play with a set number nine. No. It's very fluid. Spain, the world champions. Ollarsabal is the number nine. But is he a pure number nine? He's not. So why couldn't Barcelona try to follow that and play with a traditional, proper number nine? I understand. But first of all, you don't have Luis Enrique. And secondly, you don't have Cabrat Skelia. You don't have Dembélé.
12:27I mean, the powerful that they are at the PSG in that attacking line is just incredible. So that's why I think PSG are far, far away above Barcelona in that term. I also think that the two, well, international football and, well, Ligue 1 for PSG, are shorter tournament formats. In that, international football, what, eight games and you're going to work up. PSG are going to win the league. they barely play their starters in the league, in all honesty. They are judged on the Champions League, again, shorter format to what we're used to in a league format where you're playing anywhere between 36 and 40 games.
13:08I just feel the ask is different in those circumstances. And yes, there have been successes. Barcelona has had very successful seasons with a false nine. Those are the anomalies. Yeah, that's the exception to the rule, it seems. All right, let's go to the other side. Let's take a look at Real Madrid's transfer window so far. It's been seven years since the club spent that much money on a single transfer window. Jan Diomandes' fee is the highest Los Blancos have ever paid for a player. So let's stay with the way Real Madrid, they have handled the transfer window. Xhaka, that's a lot of star player.
13:50That's a loaded, loaded dressing room. Can you have too many star players in a team like it seems like Real Madrid they do now? For most teams, I'd say yes. For Real Madrid, I'd say no. Real Madrid's foundations are built on bringing in star players and getting them to fit, making it work. And while it hasn't for the last couple of seasons, I think the spending is reflected of that. that they're determined to regain their title at least at the top of Spanish football and in European football. I think it takes another season or two to fully gel, to fully come together for them. But if there's one club that can handle this kind of spending, handle this kind of star power within the same dressing room, it's Real Madrid.
14:36As a matter of fact, I think that was kind of the primary driver behind bringing Jose Mourinho back. You've seen a disconnect with some of those players within that dressing room. Mourinho knows that dressing room. He's been there, done it. He's been asked to come back and do it all over again. Now, Rodri, with Diomande, the expectation is that he will start. I mean, when you pay 125 million euros for a player, he will definitely start on that right-hand side wing. It's not coincidence that the one player in our graphic wearing a different color on his jersey is Rodrigo. With Diomande in, is Rodrigo the odd man out?
15:21Rodrigo goes out. Nicely done. That's why I'm here. Awesome. It's a pity because you can't say that in Spanish. I know it. You were sitting on that for a long time. It's a pity because Rodrigo goes, he was so important for Real Madrid locker room in the recent seasons that no one really expected that from the outside, but he's, believe me, really important in that locker room. But the thing is that Real Madrid never waits for anyone. And now he's injured. We don't really know how he's going to recover. We don't really know how long will he take to be in shape again. And when you got someone like Diomande, we don't really know how Diomande will adapt to Real Madrid.
16:05We don't really know how he's going to fit in this new Jose Mourinho's style. So that is why both options for Mourinho, indeed, Diomande is going to start because when you pay 125 plus 10 more in add-ons, he's going to play and you are forced to start with Diomande. But the thing is that we remember what happened last season with Mastantuono. He was going to be the one to watch and suddenly, one year after, he's a loan to Fiorentina. So you have to wait. And what people inside Madrid tell you is that they have to wait. Don't press him a lot. That is why he's going to share the attacking line with Benítez and Mbappe, well-experienced players, and they need to wait.
16:49But indeed, the one who's going out is Rodrigo. I was about to say, but does it really bother Rodrigo? Let's be honest. It seems like for the majority of his time at Real Madrid, he's always been seen as the odd man out. as whenever Real Madrid are linked with an attacking player, Rodrigo is going to be the one that misses out. And yet still, season after season, he continues to prove his worth to this team. Whether it's coming off the bench to start with or when he's given his opportunity to start, he just continues to prove his value. Injured right now, we'll see what he's like when he comes back, but this is not new territory for Rodrigo.
17:30And I don't think it phases him that much. I wonder how patient Jose Mourinho is going to be with Diomande. Here's why. Number one, the fee. Highest fee ever paid by Real Madrid for a player. But the expectation with Jose Mourinho is that he will start to deliver results as soon as possible. Will that be Rodrigo's best chance? That Diomande doesn't really adapt quick to La Liga, doesn't really adapt quick to playing for Real Madrid? I mean, it's not the same to play for a high school in Florida and then play for Leganes and then go play for Herbe Leipzig than to play for the biggest club in the world.
18:14So Rodrigo has been there, and when his number has been called in specific occasions, he has delivered. So will he have to be patient, as you said? He has to. He's been suffering. He has to endure a lot. But now he has to be patient and maybe find that window shack where Diomande would not be the player that Real Madrid expect him to be. Absolutely. And again, Rodrigo has been patient for so much of his career, certainly at Barcelona. I don't think that phases him. And yes, there, of course, will be question marks over Diomande, simply because we've not seen him in a Real Madrid shirt. not in meaningful competition.
18:52We know who Kylian Mbappe is. We know who he's going to score goals in La Liga. You can almost guarantee that again this season. You know who Vinicius is. You understand his importance to this team. You can guarantee that again this season. Di Mande, of course, is coming in as an unknown quantity, at least in a Real Madrid shirt. That's a very heavy shirt to carry, especially with that price tag. And again, for me, Rodrigo has been there, seen it, waited for his opportunities, and made them count. And I don't see this as being different. I don't see this. If he comes back to full fitness, exactly the player he was 12 months ago, I don't see this waiting game that he will be asked to play as being an issue for Rodrigo.
19:37But it does feel like this is the last season that Rodrigo would have to see either can he become a regular for Real Madrid or maybe he makes a move. Now, Vinicius is obviously not new signing, but there was speculation surrounding his exit from Real Madrid. He extended his contract. And we see that the way he the club has been trying to link Vinny with Kylian Mbappé. With Mbappé, that's his heat map. Without Kylian Mbappé, it's a different thing. Now, Rodri, if this is going to work, if Vini and Mbappé are going to work together, it's been two years now and it hasn't really clicked so far, will it depend on a fresh, newly signed, re-signed Vini or will it depend on Jose Mourinho's tactics?
20:30I got a third option. It will depend on Kylian Mbappé. Is he going to play for Mbappe FC or he's going to play for Real Madrid FC? That is my big question mark. And I think that that should be Mourinho's question mark at the same time. If I were Mourinho, I got it clear. I would sit down in the locker room with the both of them and I would tell them, I need you both to defend. And if you don't defend at the same time, please try to turn into yourselves. And the first one, OK, you Mbappe, the next one, Vinicius, but they need some balance. That is the most important thing in Real Madrid. Well, Enrique tried that too and it didn't work.
21:06Yeah, but Enrique tried it with Carver Scalia and it worked with Ousmane Dembélé and it worked. Not with Mbappé, but Mbappé, if he wants to win the Champions League because he hasn't won any Champions League title, he needs to do something different. And he has to work harder because if not, he's going to be lost. Who's at fault that it hasn't worked together between Vini and Mbappé? Oh, I'm not sure who you put the blame on there, because you kind of saw this coming. You know where Kylian Mbappe liked to play, whether for PSG or France. You understood how much it overlapped on Vinicius and his preferred kind of channels to run into.
21:51And the big question mark from the time Kylian Mbappe signed for Real Madrid, to be asked of Carlo Ancelotti was, how do you make these two work? Given the fact that even if you play Kylian Mbappe through the middle, as that heat map demonstrated, he has this natural penchant to drift out on the left-hand side. Whereas Vinicius plays on that left-hand side and wants room to run at defenders, to go one-on-one with defenders. Carlo Ancelotti couldn't get it right. Xavi Alonso couldn't get it right. Jose Mourinho is a very big ask at this point in getting that right. Now, to Roger's point here, in asking both of these to defend, when you said you can get them to defend, and they've shown they can defend, not track the winger back to the edge of their own 18-yard box or anything of the sort, but if at least you provide some direction.
22:43I thought you saw that version of Kylian Mbappe in a front shirt this summer, not tracking the center back to the top of his own box, but at least putting his body there, you want to show the team down the left-hand side, for argument's sake, how he immediately impacts that from the front. Now, you get him to play those roles, at least defending in the top half of the park, I think you get the best version of Mbappe. On this debate, I think there's something that we should keep clear. on Real Madrid, Benicius has already won two Champions League titles. Yeah. And he was important in both of them.
23:25How many Champions League titles or how many titles has Kylian Mbappe won with Real Madrid so far? Not so far. Nothing. And that is... Walter Es Herrera. Oh, yeah. Sorry for that. Diario Marca, amigos. But that is something to keep in mind because if Mbappe wants to keep winning in trophies like he used to do in PSG, he has to change his mind. Yeah, to that point, though, I would say Quilene Mape scored 40-plus goals in his first season, right? And the reason why he's there is to score goals. Is he the one to blame for Real Madrid not winning titles the last two seasons? I don't know. But I am the one who believes that Jose Mourinho has what it takes to make this work.
24:10If Jose Mourinho cannot make this work, then it feels like nobody would make this work. You know what also has to do with Jose Mourinho? He has to bring peace between Federico Valverde and Chomeny. Remember how these two last season, you know, they had like a fist fight in the dressing room. Now they've been playing together in the midfield of Real Madrid. Valverde, this is his ninth season at Real Madrid. He's one of the captains. he will play most of the games as captain for Real Madrid. And he still is one of the best players on the team. How crucial will it be for Real Madrid's success to find the right place, the right spot for Federico Valverde to succeed?
24:55Absolutely vital. And I see that as a big fan of Federico Valverde. I'd have him in every single team, every single time. as a midfielder. You could make arguments for him to play at right back as he did for long special for Real Madrid last season. I think he is that important. Not just for his work rate, the ground that he covers, but I'm not sure that there's anybody else in that team who has the threat from distance that Federico Valverde has. That's an option to have. You have to play to that. Playing for Federico Valverde, understanding his threat from distance allows more space through the middle, through the front, for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
25:37I think Federico Valverde is, certainly in terms of midfielders, the first name on the team sheet should be for Jose Mourinho. And then the bigger question is, who fills those gaps around him? Is it now the mind, the thought of Jose Mourinho, that his couple, his pair in the midfield is Chomeny and Valverde? That's what it looks so far, right? Yes, I mean today that is the only question. I mean the only option that Jose Mourinho has if by the end of these transfer market Some midfielder some other midfielder arrives. I will doubt it I'm sure that Valverde is gonna start and I'm sure that Chaminade is going to start the or I mean the all The other spots of the midfield are the one in doubt if someone comes in but if someone I mean I mean, Mourinho, this is 100 % sure, because he wants another midfielder.
26:29Because he thinks and he understands that the team is lacking a proper midfielder in order to get the balance back in the recent years since Tony Kroos left. But the thing is that, I mean, he doesn't really have any option left now. So, Balgari is going to start and Schramini is going to start. The only doubt is, are they going to talk to each other? I was going to ask you real quick. Do your sources, have you talked to your sources about it? Is everything okay now between Valverde and Choumeney? Yes, it is. Water under the bridge. I mean, they're not best friends. As long as they don't fight again inside that dressing room.
27:03Yeah, we're going to be happy. Let me ask this question, Roger. You say Choumeney and Valverde starts. I'm freely assuming that Bellingham also starts. So we have a front three. We have a midfielder. I'm assuming they're going to play a back four. Or if they're looking for another midfielder, is there a change of formation? Is that what you seem to expect? At the end of the day, I think it's going to be just like you said. I mean, Xomini and Valverde, and then, you know, the up front, and the link in between the attacking line and the midfielder, I think Belling is going to play there. There's no more options for Mourinho.
27:34Yeah. Camavinga's still there, but they're trying to find a way out. Bernardo Silva? I think Bernardo Silva is going to be the rotation player, the number 12. And Camavinga, to be honest, Mourinho's not a big fan of Camavinga, but this is a good chance for Camavinga to change Mourinho's thought. So let's see what happens. All right, both Real Madrid and Barcelona will make their season debut this weekend. And you can catch the action on ABC and ESPN. Real Madrid will play at Espanol, and Barcelona on Sunday will play at Elche. Coverage of both matches at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Ken Marcotti here for Gusto.
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30:42Moving on, Spider-Man is one of the blockbusters of the summer. Another Spider-Man is starring his very own drama. Julián Álvarez, still a Atlético de Madrid player after making extremely public his wish of making a move to Barcelona. Alvarez and Simeone already had a tough talk where Simeone told his player that the board have made their decision very clear. He's not for sale, especially not for Barcelona. So at this point, Rodri, with what we know and still one pending conversation between Gilmarin and Julian Alvarez, Is there a way in which Julián Álvarez could still land in Barcelona? To be honest, according to my Atlético-Major resources, they say no, no, and no.
31:38They don't want to sell Julián Álvarez. First of all, because they invested a lot of money on Julián Álvarez. And secondly, because they don't really see any proper replacement on the transfer market. And thirdly, because they understand that Barcelona didn't do the best job on the signing. So they consider that there was a lack of respect from Barcelona to Atletico Madrid. They want to show the world that Atletico Madrid has changed. And now with the new investment fund that just came in from the United States, Apollo, and they want to show the new investors that they are a big team in Europe.
32:12So that's why they're not going to sell Julián Álvarez. This is what Atletico Madrid sources are telling me even this morning. But when you talk to Julian Alvarez and Torrij, they say to you, yes, this is the actual situation. But they do believe that there are going to be a final light at the end of the tunnel, at the end of the transfer market. That could be a little option for Julian Alvarez to leave Atletico Madrid. They find it really difficult and almost impossible. But they think this is going to be a last chance for Julian Alvarez to join Barcelona. It's been said when we have sagas like this, as a club, you don't want to have a player that could not see his dream fulfilled.
32:54Julian Alvarez said his dream was to play for Barcelona. Some might say you don't want a player like that in your roster to start the season or even to play a full season. But as we've said from Brody sources, other ESPN insider sources, Julian Alvarez had a conversation with his teammates. Is this a fixable situation between Julian Alvarez? If you were his teammate and you would be inside that dressing room, how do you think teammates would handle something like this? How hard is it? I don't think players are at all bothered by this. The business is, on the one hand, very cutthroat. You understand that.
33:34And all you care about is results. Julian Alvarez scores a couple of goals. even the fans kind of rewarm to him. That's a difficult ask, I know. But from a player's perspective, you understand that there's always a lot going on behind the scenes, whether it's transfer speculation, whether you want out and you aren't able to get out, as we're having with Julian Alvarez. All that is just a part of the business, and I don't think anybody is bothered by it at all. What's your best guess? What's going to happen? because Atletico de Madrid have been very clear, as you said, we're not going to sell Julián Álvarez to Barcelona, but they are very specific not to Barcelona.
34:17Is there a chance that he would be on the move to a different club, or do you see the best chance right now is that he stays at Atletico de Madrid? I think he's going to stay, first of all, because he wants to fulfill in some future time, Julián Álvarez, he wants to fulfill his dream to play for Barcelona. So that is why he's going to stay because if he signs for imagine Arsenal or PSG is gonna have that closed door and And I think that if he stays one more season and let to go Madrid Doesn't really matter if he plays well if he succeeds or if he fails at the end of next season He's gonna have the chance again to join Barcelona So if he goes to Premier League or PSG or whoever team I think it's going to be much more difficult, and those doors are going to be closed for sure.
35:07Yeah, this is not easy because he still has four years left on his current deal with Atlético de Madrid. Johnny Cardoso, he is back after recovering from ankle surgery. He missed the World Cup because of that injury. He missed game time three times last season due to injuries. He played 30 games in all comps. Shaq, can he make his way back into becoming a regular starter at Atlético de Madrid? I'm not so sure. I'll be honest. Well, 12 starts last season, something of the short. They've spent money this summer, Marta and Lee Cunningham, both coming in for sizable sums for Atlético de Madrid. I just feel that that knocks Johnny Cardoso down the pecking order even more.
35:54Second season in, maybe one of those two players between Morton and Lee Kang in don't settle as well as he would hope. But right now, all things being equal, I just do not see Cardoso even matching that 12 starts of last season. When he was fit, he was playing. He saw really important game time. What was the feeling inside Atlético de Madrid regarding Johnny Cardoso? Was Cholo Simeone happy with him? Were they satisfied with what they saw from Johnny Cardoso on the field? He was delighted by Johnny Cardoso. Siemen is in love with Johnny Cardoso, and I'm sure that this season is going to make that a step ahead in order to be a proper Atletico Madrid starter.
36:37I'm sure. Because last season, he was very irregular. I mean, the performances, because of those injuries that he's been through. But this season, I think he's fully, fully convinced that even if he has to sacrifice something else, he's going to bet on Eléctico Madrid. He's going to prioritize Eléctico Madrid even above United States soccer team. I'm sure. I'm sure about that. And this is something that Simeone really likes, and this is something that Simeone really values because he was injured and he missed World Cup because he forced with Eléctico Madrid. And that is something that for Simeone, he wants fighters, and he fought for him.
37:17And that is something that is in Simeone's mind. Yeah, there's two things that are very important for Diego Pablo Simeone as a manager. One, as Rodri said, if you're a fighter and if you're loyal. And the effort that Johnny Cardoso put to try to stay on the field when Atlético de Madrid was still competing to stay alive in the Champions League, trying to make a late run in La Liga. They made the Copa del Rey final as well. Does that help Johnny Cardoso in terms of perception when there's a small, even a small window that he would see some important game time? Absolutely. It does help in terms of perception.
37:53No question, especially given this manager and this team. My concern is I thought that even when he put together a decent run of games, performances were a little bit inconsistent. And maybe you could look at the injuries as being the reasons for that. But performances started slowly. Performances, even when he settled in, performances were still inconsistent. And then while we aren't talking 145 or whatever it is, Real Madrid play for Diomandi, Atletico Madrid brings in two midfielders at a substantial cost for them. You just wonder how that plays out in terms of a hierarchy or a pecking order maybe is a better term for it.
38:35Speaking of Atlético de Madrid's midfield, there's another name that we'll have to fight to see some game time, and that's Ovet Vargas. It is a loaded Atlético de Madrid midfield, as Shaq said. Ovet started four of the last five league games for Atlético last season, played in three World Cup games for Mexico. Rodri, how do you see his chances? And is his best shot staying at Atlético de Madrid or maybe trying to find a loan deal that gives him some more flexibility in terms of playing time, even if it's still in La Liga? I think it's going to be up to Atlético de Madrid's sporting direction, because when we reported last week that he has three good options on the table to exit on loan for this season, we remember Betis, Valencia and Getafe.
39:28this is not sure that Atletico Madrid lets him out because first of all, as Xhaka mentioned they got an overbooking position that midfield with six people of the same more or less profile so one of them has to be out and that one should be in between Rodrigo Mendoza, he came from Elche and we're seeing then Poque, Barrios, Cardoso Obed Vargas, Rodrigo Mendoza and the thing is in between Rodrigo Mendoza and Obed Vargas. Rodrigo Mendoza's profile, I think, is more attacking because he's more like the kind of link in between the midfield and the attacking line. And I think Obed Vargas proved last season that he can play quality minutes with Atletico Madrid.
40:10This is a player that really likes, Simeone really likes Obed Vargas. Indeed, the importance is not going to be the same for Johnny Cardoso than for Obed Vargas. An exit could be happening in the next week, but it's not 100 % sure. But if I were Obed Vargas, indeed, if I were Obed Vargas, I would leave Atletico Madrid trying to find more minutes. Because in Betis, they're going to play Champions League. Valencia, he's going to be a starter 100%. Getafe, he's going to start. But indeed, if you stay in Atletico Madrid, you're going to improve, but you're not going to play those minutes. And it seems like a win-win situation for Obed because he's still a very young player.
40:50it will be really, really hard to make a regular roster spot with Atlético de Madrid. But also for Atlético de Madrid, you invested in this young player. You don't want him. Your success does not depend on Obed Vargas right now. Why not give him the chance to perform with a different club to see more minutes and then become a better player, even if it's playing at Betis, Valencia, or Getafe? I think that's best for Obert Vargas, that's best for Atletico Madrid, and that's best for whichever club he joins. And I like the list that Roger gives there because those will be three teams that will be competing, not for first or second, or indeed third at top of La Liga, but will have their eyes set on European football, qualifying for European football.
41:38Indeed, Betis playing in Champions League football. At his age, at 21 years old, having significant minutes in meaningful competition is the best thing for Vargas at this point. So as I say, you take the next week or two, whatever's left in the transfer window, and you work on getting him that meaningful move. Yeah, let's see what happens between now and the end of August when the transfer window closes. Atletico de Madrid plays on Wednesday. First game, they will host Malaga. Malaga's back in First Division La Liga. Coverage begins at 2.30 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN+. Catch the game in Spanish also on ESPN Deportes.
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43:04Pellegrino Matarazzo made a name for himself at Real Sociedad last season. He took over a team that was fighting to stay away from relegation spots and ended up beating Atlético de Madrid to win La Copa del Rey and qualifying for European competition. Now, it's a new season, not really any signings. What's the real expectation for Real Sociedad and Pellegrino Matarazzo in this upcoming season, Xhaka? Well, to improve on the 10th finish, and I think threatening those European spots. They'll be playing European football because of the Copa del Rey win, and you want to continue to build on that. You look at their finish, you look at those teams around, around them on their own summer signings, nobody really had a summer to suggest that they automatically leapfrog Rio.
44:04I think building on that finish, threatening the European places, is or should be their focus this season. It was a hot start for Pellegrino, ahead of Real Sociedad. And then between playing Copa del Rey, quarters, semifinals, and then the final run in La Liga was not the best, as Shaq said. They ended up 10th in the table. Still, fantastic job by Pellegrino Matarazzo. What's the expectation and what kind of performance he delivered that really created a really good press around him in Spain? I was talking to Carlos Soler some weeks ago, and he replied to me, we want to compete and we want to enjoy.
44:50just like the second half of last season. And that is something important because they're going to play four competitions this year. And since they don't have big signings, this is going to be really hard for Real Sociedad because they're going to play Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona, Real Madrid. They're going to play Copa del Rey. They're going to beat Europe. And they're going to fight with the same squad, 99 % than last year in La Liga, for those European spots that I think they're ready for fighting for that European spots by the end of next season. But the thing is that you have to be calmed down and indeed you got to enjoy.
45:27But at the end of the day, what Real Sociedad is doing is like, OK, we don't have big signings as some previous seasons, but we bet everything. First of all, on Mataracho, because he's shown us that he's a really, really good, good coach. And secondly, on the Players Academy, on that growth of the Players Academy, like Gorrochategui or Torrientes or some people like that, because they are meant to be grown after Materaccio's arrival. What did he do right? Because the team was really struggling. And it feels like his impact was immediate. The team didn't lose in the first 10 games that they played, number one.
46:06number two, made a run and won Copa del Rey, beating Atlético de Madrid. How do you have an impact so quick, so good? I know quite a few managers who want to know exactly that, to be honest. Listen, I think Matarazzo comes in, gives his team personality. He's a big personality. I think he's also kind of humble behind that. So I love this team to be their best selves. He didn't make himself the star. He, as much as he was the leader, I thought everything he did, he got it absolutely right in allowing this team to be the best version of themselves. Challenge now, though, you've set that bar that high as you did last season.
46:52How do you now replicate that? How do you keep building on those successes of last season? Top four seems like a big ask, like a stretch. What about top six? They could be there. They could be fighting for their. I mean, if you compare Real Sociedad to some other big, big Spanish clubs, I mean, you can't compare Real Sociedad to Villarreal. You can't compare them to Atletico Madrid. Even Betis are investing a lot of money. And, you know, I got Real Sociedad squad here, and you are watching how only Alex Ramiro is 30 or older, because he's 31 years old. And the other one is… And he's the goalkeeper.
47:30Yeah, he's the goalkeeper. No disrespect to goalkeepers. It's not an attack. Never is. And the oldest guy alongside Ramiro is Odriozola. He's 30 years old and he's injured. The rest are under 30 years old. And that proves that they are a really, really young, young team. And they have to grow. But you can't compare. Or even better, you can't tell them you got to win. You got to get there 100 % when you are competing with people like Betis. Remember how a lot of money they invested Betis on Anthony, for example. They couldn't be up there in that league. but they can fight for that. Speaking of Real Betis, Rodri, this is one special for you.
48:11You're going to like it. After making the move from Club America, Álvaro Fidal, he played 13 games with the Verdi Blancos, made the World Cup roster for Mexico, now set to start his first full season in La Liga. Remember, he didn't play for Real Madrid in first division when he made the move to Club America. Fidalgo joins a deep Latin American crew at Betis. We'll take a look at the names of those players. Fidalgo had ups and downs, but take a look at this list. Fidalgo, Cucho Hernandez, Giovanni Lo Celso, who's been a long time there, Valentin Gomez, Facundo Bernal, Anthony, Nelson De Osa, Junior Firpo, Natan, and Gonzalo Petit.
48:55You know Manuel Pellegrini also from Chile. You know the manager, Rodri, really well. And Manuel Pellegrini is one of those managers that when he puts his trust in you, you will play a lot. But if you cross him just once, you may never play again for him. And he really has a big belief in these Latin American players. How crucial are they for Betis' success under Manuel Pellegrini? I mean, for me, they are crucial, 100%, because Pellegrini, as you mentioned, is a very old school coach. But at the same time, he's a very talented coach. I remember Sergio Canales saying that it doesn't really matter what you think about Pellegrini.
49:38The Betis will never find a better coach than the Chilean. So, you know, he trusts a lot in South American talent. He knows perfectly how the market with alongside Manu Fajardo, the sporting director. They know perfectly how these markets work and how these players should be handled. And in the case, for example, in Facundo Bernal or Álvaro Fidalgo, they've been following them for a lot of time. So that's why when they do a movement like those, they do it because they are fully convinced that they can keep and fit in in Betis' tacticals as soon as possible. We saw that with Álvaro Fidalgo last year when he landed in Sevilla.
50:18The first two games were just delighted for him. Then we got to be honest and he disappeared. But at the same time, they need a lot of players in order to compete for Champions League because they're going to play a lot of big, big trophies next season. They finished fifth last season. Exactly. That means they will play Champions League football this upcoming year. But the priority seems to be again in La Liga. Similar thing happened to Villarreal last season, where they qualified for Champions League, really struggled at the European level, but were able to sustain that level, finish third, and we know what financially it means for these teams to make Champions League competition.
51:01Do you see Real Betis, with this roster, making again a run to finish in the top five, top four of La Liga? In La Liga, yes. La Liga, yes. In La Liga, yes. maybe they don't do as Valencia did in the Champions League maybe they compete a little bit more but the focus will always be and should always be in the league I'm just not sure that teams, squads like Betis can compete at the highest level in both those competitions at the same time I will always advocate for the league that's your bread and butter what you get from it in terms of Champions League or any European competition that's to be added on top but the league will always be the focus And I think Betis, that will again be their approach this season.
51:45That can distract the squad because if you ask inside the club, what competition would you prefer? Would you priorize? Manuel Pellegrini and the sporting direction would say La Liga. Yeah. We're going to make sure that we're going to end fourth, fifth position. But at the same time, you ask the players, they're going to say, OK, yeah, La Liga is beautiful. Champions League. This is my dream. And this is going to be the first time that the 90 % of the squad are going to play, are going to compete in the Champions League. So that's why I think it's going to be very important for the team to say to the squad, OK, we have to compete.
52:19We have to invest in more players in order to have more options because we can't distract. Remember what happened to Girona when they were there for the first time ever. And the following year, they got relegated. Yeah, it's really tough. But the way Manuel Pellegrini and Betis have built this roster, it is made for La Liga. If they can compete, if they can deliver a good performance in the Champions League, feels like a cherry on top of the cake that it would be a good year for Betis. Betis will play on Friday against Real Sociedad, 3 p.m. Eastern. you can catch every single game of La Liga on ESPN+.
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54:07We talk about Villarreal. We also have, that means that we have, we want to talk about Teju Buchanan and Alex Freeman. Both seen some minutes already in Villarreal's draw against Racing. That was already La Liga competition. Match week number one with the Canadian Buchanan. and Alex Freeman, the American. Who do you see getting more minutes this season, Shaq? Buchanan, I just think his versatility, certainly in that front three as attacking mid, gives him better options. For Freeman, I think those opportunities are far more limited. Mourinho, fourth on that right-hand side, you could make the argument that he's third in the pecking order, as it is, and as a result, I just don't see Freeman seeing the kind of minutes that Buchanan will get because of his versatility and his ability to play almost anywhere in that attack.
55:07Do you agree, Rodri? Yeah, it should be Buchanan because it's so important for Villarreal's attack that, you know, he was really important for Marcelino. I only have the doubt that he's going to rotate a little bit more because Inigo Pérez wants great physicality players up there. This is my only doubt, but I think that Bucana should play much more than Freeman because we understand that Freeman is a really young guy still because he's only 22 years old. Bucana is 27, but he's more adapted. He's really important. And the importance to see that he has for Villarreal is much, much higher than the U.S.
55:44player. We saw Freeman during the World Cup. When his team plays in the back three, he can play a certain way. when the team plays in a back four the way Villarreal does, then the team, he can play in a different role. What is the best fit for him? I like him as that right-sided center back, in all honesty, in the back three. It's a completely different ask. It's not as simple as, well, it's a three or a four, one extra player. As one of these center backs, particularly on either flank, there's a lot more room for you to cover. There's a lot more understanding that has to go on between you and the other two.
56:24But Freeman is quick over the ground, reads the game well. And I like him as that right-sided center back in a back three. In the back four, I find he's a little more limited, and it doesn't suit his skill set as well. Yeah, as you said, Foyt is a set starter. Now, Foyt missed some time last season due to injury. Again, if there's an opportunity for a young player who's just, he got there late last season, those minutes are going to be crucial for Alex Freeman to leave a good impression at Villarreal and maybe see more minutes. But clearly, Tateon Buchanan has more of a name with Villarreal and we'll see the most minutes.
57:06We will see them on Sunday. Atlético de Madrid hosting Villarreal. Coverage begins at 10.30 a.m. Eastern on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
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57:55We've done some breaking down of the players representing the Americas in La Liga this season. So now it's time to crown the one. Who will be the MVP of the Americas in La Liga 2026-2027? Several options. I think we've discussed every single one of these players. So we'll start with you, Shaq. Who will be the MVP of the Americas in La Liga this year? Quick math, 10 options. I think there's only one winner in this. Rafinha, I expect Barcelona to go three in a row to dominate Real Madrid during the course of the season while they figure things out under Jose Mourinho. Captain's armband, a lot of responsibility, whether he plays as a 9, as a 10, almost doesn't matter.
58:49I think Rafinha dominates the league, certainly in terms of players from the Americas. As we said, he can play on both wings. He can play as a false 9. There's a big chance he will actually play that role in the beginning of the season. Do goals matter in your consideration for crowning him as the MVP of the Americas? No, I still think Kylian Mbappe will lead the league in terms of goals scored. it's about impact here. And I think Barcelona are favorites, again, to go three in a row. I think Rafinha, kind of given everything that's been happening with Julian Alvarez, will he arrive, won't he? Almost regardless, I think Rafinha will be key to Barcelona's successes.
59:31Whether he plays as that nine, whether he plays out in the wing, whether he sits just behind of Julian Alvarez, theoretically. I think Rafinha proves himself to be the man for Barcelona this season. All right, so Rafinha is the pick for Xhaka. Rodri, who you got? Oh, big players here. I'm going to go for midfield because he has international experience. He just landed in La Liga. I'm going to go for Alvaro Fid... Oh! I can't go for him because he's one of my best friends, but no. And you're a big Club America fan. Indeed. Let's not forget. Indeed, that is my second team after Real Sporting Mexico.
1:00:08Yes, but I'm sorry for this, Alvaro. But I'm going for Vinicius Junior. Wow. I think he's gonna be a brand new player. It's different indeed Because he just renewed his contract. He's gonna be more calm down in Madrid. He's gonna have Mourinho, so he's gonna be begged by a Coach from the very beginning not like last year with Xavi Alonso I think he's going to score more goals than last season because we remember how he performed last season and the second half of the season was really good for him but the first half wasn't that good so I think the Vinicius Jr. is gonna be my king of la luna. So Shaq associated his pick to Barcelona winning the league.
1:00:52Are you doing the same? Do you think Vinicius' impact will translate into Real Madrid taking the league away from Barcelona? It's about time for Real Madrid because after two years without winning any major trophy. They need to be out there. They've invested to be out there. They got not only Benicio's renewal, but they got Diomande. They got, again, Mbappe. They signed so good people at the back. So I do believe that Mourinho is going to make it. And Bellingham, who had a great World Cup, has to be also the Bellingham Premier's first season at Real Madrid. Okay, so far we have one Barcelona player, one Real Madrid player.
1:01:34We are missing one Atlético de Madrid player, and that's going to be my pick. With everything that has surrounded Julián Álvarez, this has to be his season. Whether he makes the move and plays for Barcelona, all that Barcelona had to go through to sign him. Even if he stays at Atlético de Madrid, the way Atlético de Madrid put their foot forward, their best foot forward to keep Julián Álvarez, that's a big commitment. And there's only one way to repay the way Atlético de Madrid has fought for him, and that's scoring big time. Last season, it was not the best for Julián Álvarez at La Liga level.
1:02:20He scored some important goals during the Champions League campaign. But I feel that everything that has happened around him, you said it before, He has apologized to his teammates for the way he's behaved. There's still time. There's still 12, 13 days for the transfer window to close. Whether he stays put at Atlético de Madrid or makes the move to Barcelona, this has to be the season for Julián Álvarez. So he didn't play well last season. Unsettling summer. While he may have apologized to his teammates, The fans are a different ask altogether. You don't think that's disruptive to Julio Alvarez?
1:03:03I think he's going to show his personality. I think he's going to show big character. And big character players, you know what they do? They deliver on the field. And the only way, because I agree with you in terms of how the Atlético de Madrid fans will react the first time he steps on that field. We all know what to expect from the fans. there's only one way to make them change their mind, and it's scoring goals. It is a good challenge for him. Yeah, big challenge. Big-time players are made for big-time challenges. All right, we'll wrap up this edition of Football Americas. Next Thursday, we'll have an exclusive conversation with Chris Richards.
1:03:46You will not want to miss it. For Jack, Rodri, I'm Mal. Thank you so much for watching. This has been Football Americas, and we will see you on Thursday.
1:04:23structured reports. Get started at chatgpt.com by selecting work mode available on plus and pro plans.
From the publisher
The Futbol Americas crew are back with a full LALIGA preview breakdown and some predictions. Will Barcelona retain the title without a striker or will Real Madrid topple them with their attacking power and Mourinho's return to the touchline. Plus, a look at the North/South Americans playing in LALIGA this season, who is the MVP?
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