The off-season is here, but the silly season is in full effect. With Manchester United linked to approximately 17,832 players in the 2019 summer transfer window, there is always a lot to talk about regarding transfer narratives.
We also have some off-the-pitch news and notes, regarding current players, to cover in this segment too. Thus, we begin with Forbes releasing their annual list of the world’s 100 highest paid athletes in the past year, and United placed a pair.
There are four Premier Leaguers on the list, and Old Trafford comprises half of the contingent. Paul Pogba leads the way at #44 with $33m, followed by Alexis Sanchez at #53 with $30.8m.
Ironically, both have been linked with a move away from the club this summer. (Here’s the latest on Pogba transfer rumors btw) The United duo are joined on the Forbes list by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah #99 (total earnings of $25.1 million: $16.1m from football, $9m from endorsements) and Mesut Ozil of Arsenal (#57 with $30.2m),
Also, here is the top ten overall:
1. Lionel Messi, soccer: $127m
2. Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer: $109m
3. Neymar, soccer: $105m
4. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, boxer: $94m
5. Roger Federer, tennis: $93.4m
6. Russell Wilson, football: $89.5m
7. Aaron Rodgers, football: $89.3m
8. LeBron James, basketball: $89m
9. Stephen Curry, basketball: $79.8m
10. Kevin Durant, basketball: $65.4m
Speaking of highly priced, overpaid players who could be leaving, striker Romelu Lukaku has been strongly linked with a move to Inter Milan, in numerous publications, but discussions haven’t even taken place yet. Inter has a new manager in place, Antonio Conte, and he’s a big fan of Lukaku.
The big Belgian has returned the admiration and respect, saying that Conte is the best manager in the world, Serie A is his favorite league and that he loves Italy.
“I was always a big fan of the Italian league,” he said in an interview with Sport Mediaset.
“I have two leagues which I always dreamed about which are the English league and the Serie A. So for me the Serie A is my favorite league as well — I love Italy.”
“With the transfer of [Cristiano] Ronaldo, I think the Italian league is now coming back. Antonio Conte going back to Inter Milan, which is really good because he is, to me, the best manager in the world.”
“And then you have Maurizio Sarri going to Juventus and [Carlo] Ancelotti at Napoli. So I think Serie A will be really exciting next year and I’m really happy for Italian football.”
Lukaku also discussed his future a bit, but didn’t have anything conclusive to say.
“He [Conte] knows what I think about him,” Lukaku continued.
“I’m not somebody who likes to talk about my personal relationships with managers, but you know, I’m a player of Manchester United and I have to respect my club.”
“And if something happens, the teams and my agent have to do the talking. I have my decision and stay outside.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.