Pep’s €1 billion spending as Messi snubbed for Best Player – FootballTransfers recap

FT Desk

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 3 min read

It was another eventful day for Football Transfer news as Europe’s biggest clubs start to ramp up their plans ahead of the summer window.

Guardiola’s spending tops €1 billion

Manchester City suffered a sensational late collapse to lose to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals. Rodrygo scored twice in injury-time to force extra time and a Karim Benzema penalty in extra time won them the tie 6-5 on aggregate.

The Champions League has become the holy grail for Guardiola as he has spent over €1 billion on transfers since joining the club in 2016.

Messi left off Ligue Player of the Season shortlist

Lionel Messi’s disastrous first season in French football continued after he was snubbed from the shortlist for the Ligue 1 Player of the Season prize.

The five players shortlisted for the award are Messi’s PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, Rennes' Martin Terrier, AS Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder, Marseille's Dimitri Payet and Lyon's Lucas Paqueta.

Barcelona step up Raphinha interest

Messi’s ex-team Barcelona are ready to step up their interest in Leeds and Brazil winger Raphinha.

The South American has long been associated with a possible move to Camp Nou, though FootballTransfers reported previously that Chelsea were frontrunners for his signature.

Since then, the goalposts have moved. The Blues’ future has been thrown into doubt because of Roman Abramovich’s assets being frozen, which is turn has created an ownership vacuum at the club that it may well take weeks to fill.

With Chelsea foundering, Barcelona are set to take advantage of their weakness and move for the 25-year-old.

Winners and losers of Mbappe to Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe’s free transfer move from PSG to Real Madrid edges ever closer, with an announcement an expected this month.

FootballTransfers had a look at the winners and losers from the move.

Rudiger’s agent meets Newcastle

Newcastle have been offered the chance to sign Watford attacker Ismaila Sarr, FootballTransfers understands.

Antonio Rudiger's agent Saif Rubie - as well as Senegalese representative Thierno Seydi - met with the club last month in London, with the winger looking for a way out of his current club who are looking like they will drop to the Championship.