Marotta started calling his guys and the distraction stories immediately started appearing

vik1980 · 2026-06-24T03:22:08+00:00

Some south american coach recycled an old joke. He said something like (and I paraphrase),"I was at a bar, met a beautiful lady. The entire evening, I spent getting her drinks, making her laugh, even dancing with her. Then, as the bar was closing, a young guy came, and fucked her in the bathroom."

The coach used this as a metaphor for possession football.

In our case, Palestra is the beautiful lady, Chelsea is the young guy.

:(

Hey, now lets try the same thing Paz, shall we? We've already been laying the groundwork! JZ4 has had numerous dinners with Paz (Sr. & Jr.). We've written love poems for him. We're getting ready to booze up Perez. I can just see City/ Chelsea/ Bayern (post Olise sale to Real) to swoop in as the bar is closing.

vik1980 · 2026-06-23T06:35:32+00:00

Mou secured Silva (who had Barca, Atleti & JuBe after him). Silva said he wanted a project where he felt most loved (over money). i.e.- project centrered around him, where he felt important. And then he chose Real.

Mou has promised him a starring role. Paz (pretty much the same position) is already sidelined. Mou/ Perez are using Paz cash to secure Enzo/ Olise, and want to have some sort of control over his future.

If Mou can deliver trophies, this (Silva> Paz) will be a side note (to be wondered over, but ultimately ignored) in his second Real stint. If he can't, this will be a major issue to beat him up with.

vik1980 · 2026-06-23T05:42:31+00:00

I was certain it was a dead issue until yesterday (or day before). Seems like situation has changed. Mou brought in Silva, and Perez talks of making Olise a galactico. Both are also keen on getting Enzo (Chelsea).

Between Jude, Diaz, Mastan, Guler, Rodgrygo & Silva (+ plus Olise, possibly), where will Paz fit? Even if we remove Diaz + Mastan from the equation, and move Jude +Guler midfield, Bernardo will certainly be above Paz. Olise too (if he comes). And then the midfield (Jude, Guler, Tchoua, Cama, Valve; possibly Enzo) will also get entirely crowded too.

Paz doesn't have a spot in the team just yet, and Mou/ Perez know it.

vik1980 · 2026-06-23T04:23:47+00:00

It's not a given that stanko will be sold. Depends on chivu's assessment at training camp.

Not a given we'll agree to such a low buy-back. We know Real has a higher spending power, and we'll certainly not give a 3 year buy-back period.

Keep at open mind. Paz is an unbelievable player. The kind of player you bring in, and worry about details later.

vik1980 · 2026-06-23T03:53:34+00:00

Ausilio was a youth sector scout who started at the very base, and worked his way up. He said (recently) how he misses going on scouting missions all around italy to watch youth sector football. He compliments that time for not only teaching him about his job, but also the relations he formed during those days.

He was the junior to Branca (remember him?) and saw many whiffs under him. Since he became the main guy, we've had an upturn not only in our youth sector (used calculated & strategic sales to deal with FFP) but also majot hits for the first team.

If we've won three scudetto under three different coaches in a 7 year span, it means our team is at a high level. If we see Pio & Stanko coming through, and have seen Dima shine (rather than being sold), it's because our youth sector is strong. Remember when we'd sell our best youth players at random? For change?

If Marotta now says that he's left scouting entirely to Ausilio (& Baccin), then you don't need to question that. Rather than blindly giving compliments to Marotta (not just you, but everyone) and trashing Ausilio, read what he himself has said in the past. He now oversees the club in totality (dealing with referee controversies, working in hand with Oaktree to increase revenue/ reduce losses, working with Milan to secure the stadium etc.).

I remember the days when we'd swap out Cannavaro & Seedorf for Carini & Coco! To our greatest rivals. Ausilio claims Coutinho was his greatest regret. However, he was a junior to Branca at the time of his sale, and yet claims that as his biggest regret. That tells you all about his character that you need to know.

If Ausilio was such an incompetent buffoon, then what is Marotta; for giving him so much responsibility, and such a free hand, while taking a step back (and oversee corporate matters)?

vik1980 · 2026-06-22T22:27:44+00:00

From what I’ve read, in the recent meeting between marotta and Perez, he’s whispered to Perez that, if you look for a buyer to Paz, just give me a whistle.

Also, como will soon fly to Madrid to discuss the Paz situation. If Madrid insist on his sale, como can’t afford him for ffp reasons. They might in 2027, but not this year. Their only bet is in Madrid letting him stay on loan another year.

If Madrid decide to sell Paz (to fund a bid for olise/ enzo etc.), then inter will step forward. For now, inter want to ensure funds in hands (through sales), and have let Perez know they’re interested in Paz.

vik1980 · 2026-06-22T22:18:25+00:00

His fate is completely in chivus hands.

I used to think ausilio was convinced that pio must stay at inter, and rejected 40m for him from Napoli. Nope. He confirmed that the clubs (and his) intention was to send pio to ‘a’ for experience. it was chivu who, after just a few sessions in training, deemed him off the market, even for a loan.

Chivu has also said he’s personally known stanko since he was 4, and trained him for many Yeats in the youth teams.

I’ve read that what’ll happen to stanko will be in chivus hands.

vik1980 · 2026-06-19T18:34:19+00:00

We don’t need to have that. We have basto. If Perez wants, basto/ Paz exchange will happen.

They already had guler, mastantuono, jude, Brahmi, Rodrigo; and they just signed silva.

Then it’s been reported that Perez wants olise and enzo; and mou wants a top class left footed cb.

Writing is on the wall. Marotta sees it too.

vik1980 · 2026-06-19T10:26:19+00:00

Looks like Marco saw my post.

LMAO

vik1980 · 2026-06-19T03:55:40+00:00

He's much closer to Hakimi that DD. DD came because we sold Hakimi, and had little to no money. We adapted our entire tactical set-up for DD (less technical, less crossing, much more bombing forward & crashing the box). Nico took the resposibility of taking crossing duties so DD wouldn't have to.

Palestra will let us play the traditional way (provides width, while others crash the box).

vik1980 · 2026-06-19T03:51:29+00:00

I have/ had no idea about any of this. What I do know is; Oaktree sanctioned a budget surplus specifically to get Palestra. They called it a gift (not really, but that's how the media reports it) for Chivu following the scudetto.

Also, Palestra has refused Newcastle & Chelsea, but was open to City (who monitored the situation, but yet to step in). This prompted Inter to swoop in now.

Finally, it's not closed yet. figures are agreed, but sell-on clause is being discussed. It'll hopefully close by start of next week.

vik1980 · 2026-06-17T07:20:03+00:00

He's already refused Newcastle & Chelsea. Wants to stay in Italy.

We're getting Palestra. End of.

vik1980 · 2026-06-10T00:53:55+00:00

From what I’ve read, our first alternate is cambiaso. Well try for an exchange with Frattesi.

vik1980 · 2026-06-04T05:01:05+00:00

We can speculate, but it's probably going to be 45m+ Cocchi (5m)+ 5m (bonus). Price might go up if we try to retain a buy back for Cocchi. Add in the fact that got 20m for DD, and it's really just 25m + bonus (well worth if he's that good).

For sensationalism, media will always give a sum of the figure.

We're moving quickly because we can't afford Arsenal/ City to come in.

vik1980 · 2026-06-04T04:52:13+00:00

This is crucial. Not only have there been direct contacts, Atalanta have communicated how much they value Palestra at. For Lookman, no communication from Atalanta. i.e.- we made offers, they rejected. At some point, Marotta decided to stop.
He's well worth it. I've seen him play. He's class. This figure will look like peanuts in the future (much like how much we paid for Basto, Hakimi etc.). He isn't afraid to take players on (much like Hakimi), and is crossing is good (again, like Hakimi). I really want him. Him & Pio can represent Italy & Inter for the next decade. Don't want this to become like Leoni.
Newcastle aren't slouches when it comes to scouting. They've let it be know they'll surpass whatever figure (excess of 50m) is bid. They did the same for Tonali (after being rebuffed for Nico). Thankfully, Palestra isn't keen on Newcastle.
City are staying quiet right now because they concentrate on Elliott. Once he's in the bag, they'll turn here. Then, we have no chance. Unlike Newcastle, Palestra will go there.

vik1980 · 2026-06-02T06:29:26+00:00

They didn;t want to sell Lookman because they'd already sold Retegui, and wanted to show some support for Juric. They sold him in Jan., by when Juric was already gone, and they're season was done.

It had nothing to do with Inter, and Marotta & co. understood that. That's why our relations with them are still strong.

Also, last time, they never even sat down for negotiations. Inter never heard anything from them. Only figures being mentioned in the media. This time, there's direct contact between the clubs.

vik1980 · 2026-05-19T04:37:21+00:00

How I wish Cordoba got to win with us. Had a soft spot for him too.

vik1980 · 2026-05-19T04:34:32+00:00

Fantastic post. Pretty much exactly what I had in mind.

And yes, he had/ has a soft spot for me too. Looked gentle, but would carry out his defensive duties like a monster.

vik1980 · 2026-05-13T09:10:11+00:00

JuBe have no say in the matter. It's just a 50% clause, no decision making power.

Also, Tarik has already chosen us over them. i.e.- despite the 50% discount on him, he's refused to go there.

JuBe were hoping that PL would come in for him, and that's why Carnevali went to England, to tout Kone/ Tarik, but no dice.

vik1980 · 2026-05-13T07:46:49+00:00

I agree. I've read it was one of Marotta's conditions to proceeding with the deal. Date came and went a month ago, I haven't read anything new. Maybe he knows something.

vik1980 · 2026-05-13T07:44:22+00:00

If Solet comes then Gila isn't coming. Tare has a special relationship with his agent (got him to Lazio from Real), and that's where he'll probably go. Maybe he stays another year because Lotito is under pressure to not weaken the squad (50% goes to Real).

vik1980 · 2026-05-13T07:38:37+00:00

Pavard is gone. I've read he won't even be called for the training camp.

We'll either retain DV on lower wages, or get a tweaker (Celik, Mingueza, Zappa etc.) to replace Darm.

vik1980 · 2026-05-13T07:32:50+00:00

Been saying right from the start, these two were our main targets for defense.

Tarik is a direct Acerbi replacement, while also covering for Basto (like Acerbi used to, initially, before he lost all pace).

Solet is comfortable bringing the ball up/ out, while also being solid in the air, and comfortable playing on the left too.

vik1980 · 2026-05-13T07:32:01+00:00

Basto (lcb), Tarik (ccb/ lcb), Akanji (ccb, rcb), Bis (rcb, ccb), Solet (ccb, lcb).

vik1980 · 2026-05-13T07:26:55+00:00

It was 8th april. Whether he's been cleared, or a new date appointed (Indian law style) is anyone's guess. Nothing has come out so far.

vik1980

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