Appie Culé

There’s a reason behind the interest in Gordon, in my opinion, and it’s connected to the interest in Álvarez specifically. I think I somewhat understand Flick’s attacking philosophy. Maybe Flick doesn’t want a pure goal machine or a traditional striker whose only job is scoring inside the box. I think Flick wants attacking pressing machines — productive players who also have goalscoring instincts, while offering defensive qualities and excelling in transitions as well. That’s exactly what Anthony Gordon and Álvarez both provide. So it’s possible that Álvarez’s scoring numbers with Atlético aren’t a major concern for Flick, because the idea is to have a front three that collectively produces and scores. In general, pulling off those two signings in one summer would be extremely difficult, but with Barcelona… expect the unexpected 👍🏽🔥

For those who say Gavi isn’t a technical player and is just reckless, Luis Enrique — who already has Vitinha and João Neves, two of the best players in the world in their positions — would do everything possible to bring Gavi to his team. Gavi doesn’t receive the appreciation he truly deserves from Barcelona fans.

I need you to be ready for Monday, which is tomorrow, starting from now. A lot is going to happen regarding the Julián Álvarez transfer saga… 🔥👀💣 According to journalist Germán Grova, Barcelona are currently preparing their second bid for Julián Álvarez. Deco personally called Álvarez to get a clear answer before making the next move, and the player reportedly made his intentions crystal clear: he only wants Barcelona. He has already rejected offers from PSG and Arsenal, is willing to do whatever it takes to join Barça, and is fully aware of Atlético’s stance. He’s also pushing his agent to find a solution and make the move happen. Meanwhile, Álvarez continues to put pressure on Atlético every single hour. He keeps turning down approaches from other clubs and is doing everything he can to secure his exit. This story is far from over, but it’s about to get very interesting. 🍿🔥

Things are already heating up before Monday even begins… 🔥 Yesterday, Julián Álvarez turned down an offer from Paris Saint-Germain, and PSG pulled out of the race. This morning, reports claimed that Álvarez informed Atlético Madrid of his desire to join Barcelona. Then, a few hours later, fans noticed that his father, Gustavo Álvarez, follows Barcelona’s Instagram account. Shortly after, TyC Sports reported that Álvarez had asked Atlético Madrid to listen to Barcelona’s offer. If all of this is just a coincidence… then the number of coincidences is starting to get scary. 👀❤️💙 Tik… Tak… ⏳🔥

I genuinely can’t take the Champions League Team of the Season seriously if Lamine Yamal isn’t in it. The player who has been the most influential, creative, and entertaining presence in the competition somehow gets left out. 10 games. 6 goals. 4 assists. And that’s before even mentioning the dribbles, the chance creation, the constant double and triple marking, and the moments that made people tune in just to watch him. 10 goal contributions in 10 games. Highest-rated player in the Champions League. The biggest star of the tournament. At some point, the awards stop judging him. He becomes bigger than them.

Fermín López has contributed to 30 goals this season despite starting only 34 games, and most of those appearances came as a midfielder. Those are numbers that many wingers and strikers fail to reach. Fermín has played this season with confidence and freedom. He deserves to be in the top 10 of the Ballon d’Or rankings, and anything less would be a huge injustice because he doesn’t have a media machine promoting him. There are hundreds of players being praised as some of the best in the world despite having seasons that are clearly inferior to his, both statistically and in terms of performances. He was Barcelona’s second-best player behind Lamine Yamal throughout the entire season and barely put a foot wrong.

That’s exactly the point. Against Arsenal’s low block they couldn’t dribble when necessary either. 3 successful dribbles from 9 attempts combined. Meanwhile Yamal gets doubled and tripled every game and is still expected to create something out of nothing. By that logic, every squad player with two UCLs is better than every superstar without them.

@appiecule They just dribble when necessary They don't force themselves to dribble past 5player That's why they both have 2 UCL in a row

Kvara, Dembélé and Doué completed just 3 successful dribbles from 9 attempts combined against Arsenal’s low block. Now imagine dealing with that every single week. That’s Lamine Yamal’s reality. 10 men behind the ball. Constant double and triple teams. Sometimes 3-4 players collapsing on him the second he receives possession. Atlético Madrid did it. Inter Milan did it. Countless teams have done it. The difference? While most wingers disappear against those conditions, Lamine still finds a way to beat his man, create chances and entertain. That’s why nobody in football is more fun to watch right now. The degree of difficulty isn’t even comparable.

@DaniMens6 Ofc we do

@appiecule As much as I agree with you to a certain point you also have to know that we need more than only these two we need at least a first eleven where you can pick them and argue with any player in their position so we need to strengthen the defense with at least two players

Yesterday’s game was the latest proof of what I’ve been saying since the start of the season: Barcelona have a duo unlike any other on the planet. How many times has Lamine Yamal faced a deep defensive block like Arsenal’s, with three or four players constantly surrounding and marking him? Quite a few, right? Most notably against Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid. What happened then? The entire plan was simply: give the ball to Lamine. And the kid delivered two of the best Champions League performances you’ll ever see. As for Pedri, in the second leg against Atlético Madrid, he had one of his worst games of the last two seasons (although that’s only by Pedri’s own standards). If any other player had fluctuating form and put in that kind of performance, people would be praising him non-stop, just like they do with Gavi, João Neves, and Declan Rice (the Segunda Division legends). The bottom line: there’s no forward in world football who can be compared to King Lamine Yamal, and there’s no midfielder worthy of polishing Pedri’s boots. 👑🔥

I always used to disagree with those who said that Vitinha was overrated, but after last night’s game, I became convinced that he is the most overrated midfielder in the world. Even the Man of the Match award should have gone to Rice or Neves. Pedri has been treated unfairly by being compared to Vitinha. Pedri is miles ahead of him both technically and tactically, and even Vitinha himself has acknowledged that when speaking about Pedri.

A report from Mundo Deportivo says that Bernardo Silva has formally asked to join Barcelona and play under Hansi Flick. However, the club is waiting to offload a player before completing the deal, and that player will most likely be Casadó or Roony. It’s the same thing that happened with João Cancelo. Just a few days ago, he publicly stated on his social media that he wants to stay at Barcelona, sending a clear message to his former club Al Hilal to help facilitate his permanent departure. And now the same is happening with Julián Álvarez. He has reportedly told his club that he wants Barcelona, and has also informed PSG and Arsenal that Barcelona is his only dream destination. All three are willing to sacrifice everything for the same dream. 💙❤️

If I was 50% happy with Gordon before, now I’m 80% happy. The reason? I just read Rafael Leão’s farewell message to Milan. Had Barcelona failed to sign the Englishman, Leão would’ve likely become a serious option through Jorge Mendes. The thought of spending huge money on a player as inconsistent and frustrating as Leão was my nightmare. Thankfully, Gordon is the one joining Barça. As for Leão, unless he changes his mentality and becomes more professional, I struggle to see him succeeding at the highest level. The Saudi Pro League feels like a better fit for him, much like his compatriot João Félix.

Far from PSG Champions League triumph, I have to admit this was a final I’ll probably forget very quickly. The strange thing is that many people didn’t even realize today was the Champions League final. Throughout yesterday and today, most of the news, discussions, and attention were focused on Barcelona and everything happening around the club, even though this was supposed to be the biggest game of the European season. Many people may not like hearing this, but it’s a reality that cannot be ignored. When Barcelona or Real Madrid are absent from the Champions League final, the competition loses a huge part of its appeal and global attention. Not because the other teams don’t deserve to be there, but because those two clubs possess a fanbase and media influence that very few teams in world football can match. This takes nothing away from PSG achievement or their deserved title, but in terms of fan engagement and media interest, it’s difficult to deny that the Champions League feels completely different when Barcelona or Real Madrid are part of the final act. That’s why, for me, this final seemed to pass by more quietly than usual.

Thomas Tuchel left Paris and went on to win the Champions League with Chelsea. Carlo Ancelotti, who had already won the tournament three times, coached him at Real Madrid and ended up with a trophyless season. He left Paris and joined Real Madrid, the club that has won the competition more than anyone and sometimes seems to win it effortlessly. Yet Madrid ended up with two trophyless seasons, while Paris won the Champions League twice. The irony is almost impossible to ignore.

@hm6092293877410 No one will

@appiecule I will never forgive him for what he missed against Liverpool

Football will remember that Ousmane Dembélé ended up achieving what many expected Kylian Mbappé to achieve. - Mbappé left PSG chasing the Champions League. Dembélé helped bring PSG two of them. - Mbappé left to win the Ballon d’Or. Dembélé won it first. - Mbappé joined Madrid to dominate Europe. Madrid ended up trophyless while Dembélé was busy making history in Paris. The funniest part? The player everyone called inconsistent ended up becoming the face of PSG’s greatest era, while the “guaranteed Ballon d’Or winner” is still waiting for the story to begin. Dembélé didn’t just surpass Mbappé—he ended up living the career Mbappé thought he was leaving Paris to achieve. 🔥

I really can’t stand PSG, but seeing Luis Enrique happy makes me happy. He deserves all the good things that come his way. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE! YOU DESERVE IT ALL, LUCHO ❤️‍🩹

@S_Abdul06 Exactly

@appiecule He will add our squad depth

Bernardo Silva is the type of player who can play in multiple positions without his level dropping. He can operate in almost every midfield role, while also being capable of playing on either the right or left wing. This kind of player is extremely valuable for any coach, especially with the demands of a packed schedule and the constant risk of injuries. More importantly, he is a player with an excellent understanding of the game. He moves intelligently, helps maintain possession, and can control the tempo of a match, while also possessing outstanding quality under pressure. Perhaps what Hansi Flick would appreciate most is his tactical discipline and his ability to press and run relentlessly throughout the entire game. He may not be a “headline-grabbing” signing, but he would be a very successful addition both to the squad depth and the starting lineup overall, especially since the team needs players who combine versatility with quality.

@egoxjs Can i know why ?

@appiecule We catalans despise spanish and spain. This is the first thing he needs to learn if we wants to be a true culer.

A special moment took place during Anthony Gordon’s presentation as a new Barcelona player. While answering questions from the media, Gordon surprised everyone by suddenly responding in Spanish. Curious journalists asked him how he had learned the language. The 25-year-old Englishman explained that he had been learning Spanish since he was young because he always believed that one day he would play for FC Barcelona — the club of his dreams. During his time at Newcastle, he often spoke with his physio about his ambition to wear the Barça shirt, which motivated him to keep improving his Spanish. Today, that dream has become reality. 💙❤️🥺