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The American star appears to have run out of road at Stamford Bridge, with his disappointing Blues career likely to end in the summer

It's been a rough year or so for Christian Pulisic, at least at club level. Brought in to be one of the shining stars of Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea attack in 2019, injuries once again disrupted his 2022-23 season.

Even when he was fit, a string of Blues bosses never seemed to be fully convinced of the USMNT star's talents, with Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard all showing a rather limp commitment to the Pulisic project.

His Chelsea career reached its nadir in May when he was left out of the matchday squad entirely for the Blues' 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. Incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino does not seem to have a radically different view on the forward, and it's all but certain that he will be moving onto pastures new this summer.

He could be available at a knockdown price too, with Pulisic's contract set to expire at the end of the season. AC Milan are believed to be leading the race for his signature at the time of writing, but Lyon remain keen and several other clubs could enter the running as they look to grab themselves a bargain this summer. Below, GOAL analyses where Pulisic will end up as he looks to rebuild his stuttering club career.

GettyAC Milan

It was a disappointing 2022-23 season for AC Milan. Their Scudetto defence did not go to plan at all, and eternal rivals Inter also bested them in the Champions League semi-final over two blockbuster legs at San Siro. Soon after, technical director and club legend Paolo Maldini was sacked, capping off a pretty torrid year.

The Rossoneri were one of the first clubs linked with a move for Pulisic when it became clear that things were not going to work out at Stamford Bridge, and it's easy to see why they would be interested. Even if he has signed a new contract, Rafael Leao's long-term future is still not certain, and Pulisic could be their succession plan for the Portuguese star.

Several Premier League players – including Fikayo Tomori and Chris Smalling – have been able to resurrect their careers in Italy recently, and it's easy to imagine Pulisic repeating the trick should he move to San Siro this summer.

With personal terms reportedly agreed and Pulisic keen on the switch, Milan have to be considered strong favourites to win the race for the 24-year-old's signature.

AdvertisementGettyLyon

The only other club who have tabled a formal offer for Pulisic is Lyon. Les Gones are a side in transition at the moment, with Jean-Michel Aulas' three-decade long tenure as chairman coming to an end in May.

American businessman John Textor now has majority control of the club and the tech millionaire has looked close to home for his first marquee signing. Unfortunately for Lyon, Pulisic does not appear to be convinced by the prospect of joining the Ligue 1 side at present.

And who can blame him? Paris Saint-Germain's stranglehold over French football means his chances of winning a league title are perilously thin, while Lyon's disappointing seventh-placed finish last campaign means they cannot even offer Pulisic Champions League football.

It's difficult to envisage the American changing his mind, but if Milan cannot get a deal over the line, there are worse places to rebuild your reputation.

Getty ImagesManchester United

Pulisic was linked with an audacious move to Manchester United last summer, in a deal that might have involved Harry Maguire going in the other direction.

Things have changed dramatically since then, with Chelsea looking well-stocked at centre-back due to the arrivals of Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, and Maguire now worth a fraction of his previous value.

Meanwhile, United are also thought to be prioritising other areas, with a striker at the top of their shopping list. The Red Devils' forward ranks are pretty bloated too, meaning Pulisic could find playing time similarly limited at Old Trafford. This one seems unlikely unless United opt to sell Jadon Sancho this summer, which isn't complete out the realm of possibility.

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GettyJuventus

Moving to Juventus could allow Pulisic to link up with long-time friend and USMNT team-mate Weston McKennie. McKennie moved to Leeds United on loan in January, but was on the train back to Turin just hours after the Whites' relegation was confirmed a few months later.

The prospect of playing alongside his compatriot would be enticing for Pulisic, but if recent reports are to be believed, he could be on the move too.

Juve are open to McKennie leaving Turin this summer, and may even include the midfielder in a part-exchange deal with for, ironically, Milan defender Pierre Kalulu. Perhaps then, Pulisic and McKennie will be reunited after all, just not at Juventus.

Leaving that factor to one side, it may be advisable that the winger snubs a move anyway. Juve remain in turmoil and after a tricky season at Chelsea he is in danger of jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Gio Reyna started for the first time this season, but turned in an underwhelming 45 minutes as Dortmund fought back to earn a point against Frankfurt

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Only managed 45 minutesFirst start of the season for DortmundBack in the USMNT squadWHAT HAPPENED?

Gio Reyna started brightly, but failed to have a serious impact as his Dortmund side fought back to snatch a point against an expansive Frankfurt team. The USMNT attacking midfielder started on the left, and only managed 45 minutes before being removed at the break — only to watch Dortmund provide much more going forward after his removal.

Reyna carried his side's most obvious threat early on, whipping an incisive ball into the box — but no one could convert. Frankfurt had the most joy in front of goal, though. Omar Marmoush opened the scoring inside 10 minutes, bagging from the penalty spot. He added a second midway through the first half, tucking home a rebound.

Marcel Sabitzer pulled one back on the stroke of half time, latching on to Niclas Fullkrug's cutback and sliding the ball home to bring his side back into the game.

And Edin Terzic's side equalised early in the second half, with Youssouf Moukoko — brought on for Reyna at the break — bagging his team's second. Fares Chaibi thought he had won it for Frankfurt, but a late goal from Julian Brandt saw the spoils shared.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Reyna appeared to have worked his way back into Terzic's plans, after appearing for the USMNT and turning in a few lively cameos for his side.

And he earned a start here, functioning on the left side of an attacking midfield trio — an enticing fit against Frankfurt's three-defender setup. Reyna was bright early on, getting involved in build-up play, and creating a chance inside 10 minutes.

But his side never really worked their way into the game. Reyna was isolated for long spells as a result, and lost the ball on a couple of occasions when the home side applied pressure. It was hard to say that he deserved to play more than the 45 minutes he was allotted.

GettyUSMNT IMPACT

This could be a pivotal one. Reyna recently cooled his high-profile feud with USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter, making the squad for their friendlies in the mid-October international break.

And after turning in a duo of strong showings for his country, a strong run of form at the club level could have been exactly what Reyna needed to realise his immense talent.

Instead, this was an all-too-familiar tale. The odds were admittedly against the American here, who really doesn't function effectively in sides that don't keep the ball. Once again, Berhalter faces the reality that Reyna is too talented to drop — but not good enough to make his club team's XI consistently.

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GettyGOAL'S RATING

Gio Reyna (3/10): If Reyna's job is to make an impact in attacking areas, he didn't do it here. The American enjoyed some good moments early, but Dortmund were markedly better when he was off the pitch. Back to square one.

The star striker had a bit of an off night, but the French champions had enough quality to secure the win anyway

Paris Saint-Germain recovered from their Champions League humbling in midweek by securing a comfortable 3-1 win against Rennes in Ligue 1 on Sunday. Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi and substitute Randal Kolo Muani were among the goals for the visitors to ensure they returned to winning ways and get within two points of leaders Monaco.

Vitinha, Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele were lively throughout as PSG dominated from the off, but came up against a tricky opponent who caused some problems with their quick movements and runs. The home team managed to capitalise on the capital club's dodgy defence and snatch a goal back through Amine Gouiri, but were eventually overpowered.

The quality available to Luis Enrique saw them get PSG job done despite a quiet night by Kylian Mbappe, who had a slow start to the match. His performance was summed up late on by an incredible miss as he charged forward, rounded the goalkeeper to face an open goal and ended up missing the target completely.

GOAL rates PSG's players from Roazhon Park…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Gianluigi Donnarumma (7/10):

Dominated his penalty area and pulled off a few saves to keep Rennes out.

Achraf Hakimi (8/10):

His goal had a hint of controversy as the ball hit his arm on the way down, but he made some excellent runs and was dangerous on the ball.

Milan Skriniar (5/10):

A bit slow to close down and just stood there gawking at Blas to cross in for Rennes' goal.

Marquinhos (6/10):

Struggled to catch up when Rennes moved into the final third at speed but was sound on the ball.

Lucas Hernandez (6/10):

His touch is a bit heavy at times and defensively a bit weak – Assignon got beyond him far too easily to have a shot on goal.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Warren Zaire-Emery (7/10):

A gorgeous diagonal ball into the box to find Hakimi for the second goal.

Manuel Ugarte (6/10):

Always stable on the ball with some good control and accurate, sensible passes.

Vitinha (8/10):

Opened the scoring with a superb curling effort. Did well to drive forward and up the tempo of PSG's attacks.

Attack

Ousmane Dembele (7/10):

PSG's most involved attacker. Has a good balance with Hakimi and cut inside a lot, leading to Vitinha's lovely opener.

Goncalo Ramos (4/10):

A couple of sloppy touches and was unable to get clear to be a proper threat.

Kylian Mbappe (6/10):

A muted performance. Often kept things simple instead of using his explosiveness to be a direct threat. Went on a great, late run and rounded Mandanda to be faced with an open goal, but sent it well over.

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GettySubs & Manager

Randal Kolo Muani (7/10):

An immediate improvement on Ramos as he scored just a minute after replacing him. Thought he had a second but denied by the flag.

Fabian Ruiz (6/10):

Did not get a chance to impact the game after settling into the midfield for the last 15 minutes.

Bradley Barcola (5/10):

Had a chance to kill things off when Mbappe sent him through on goal but goalkeeper Mandanda got the better of him in the one-on-one.

Carlos Soler (N/A):

A late replacement for Vitinha.

Luis Enrique (7/10):

His team were on top for the most part, with Hakimi, Vitinha and Dembele looking sharp, but he has some problems to figure out as the defence had some sloppy moments.

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan will leave the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka because of bereavement in his family

Umar Farooq25-Aug-2014Pakistan batsman Younis Khan will leave the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka to return to Karachi because of the death of his nephew. The PCB is not going to send a replacement for the final two ODIs.Younis was making his comeback to the ODI format after a break of more than a year, in his bid to stake a claim for the 2015 World Cup. Before the first match in Sri Lanka, Younis’ last ODI for Pakistan was in March 2013.”I am deeply saddened at the passing away of your nephew. Please accept my condolences, and convey these to your family as well,” Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, said in a message to Younis.Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after their four-wicket win in Hambantota on August 23. The second ODI against Sri Lanka is on August 26, and the third on August 30.

Stuart Broad believes the appointment of Eoin Morgan as captain can help England discover the freedom to challenge in the World Cup

George Dobell05-Jan-20151:48

We’re underdogs – Broad

Stuart Broad believes the appointment of Eoin Morgan as captain can help England discover the freedom to challenge in the World Cup.Broad, who was captain the last time England won an ODI series in March, admitted England had become “tight” under the leadership of Alastair Cook and welcomed the opportunity to play a more aggressive brand of cricket that he feels can “excite the world”.”Morgs is the right man to be leading us to this World Cup,” Broad said. “He’s an attacking bloke, he’s a positive bloke. He will want guys who could stand up and win him games.”It was pretty clear from the ODIs in Sri Lanka that we do need to free up a little bit and play a bit more attacking cricket. Do not be shy.”Cook just came under so much pressure. It made him tighten his game and possibly made the team tighten their game too. This is a bit of a fresh slate.”I’m very disappointed for Cooky, as a close friend. But his form has been under question for a year or so and it just got to a tipping point. This decision has taken a bit of pressure off the team. You could tell immediately on Twitter – and I think even Morgs found out he was captain from Twitter – that people’s attitudes turned from that negative ‘we’re never going to win the World Cup’ type thing to, ‘we’ve got an exciting team that could do something here’.”We will go to Australia with a batting line up that could excite the world. Guys like Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, Morgs and Moeen Ali can strike the ball beautifully. We just need to get them clicking together. It could be a really exciting time to watch English cricket.”‘Hales could be like Finch, Warner’

Stuart Broad has thrown his support behind Alex Hales as opening batsman in England’s World Cup campaign. Hales, a team-mate of Broad at Nottinghamshire, would appear to be battling for inclusion at the top of the order with Moeen Ali and Ian Bell.
Even though Hales’ ODI record to date is modest, averaging just 18.00 from seven matches, Broad feels his game will be well-suited to Australian conditions and that he can replicate the devastating impact David Warner and Aaron Finch have made as opening batsmen in the same format.
“Hales is the sort of player who would really suit Australian 50-overs games and Aussie wickets,” he said. “I may be biased, but you saw when he scored 141 against Middlesex and was out in the 31st over, he almost won the game there and then.
“I think he is a hugely talented player. People say he has a weakness against spin early doors, but good luck to any spinner bowling with the new ball in Australia. Those knocks in the World T20 in Bangladesh – that century against Sri Lanka – he was hitting good spinners a long, long way.
“You watch the likes of Warner and Finch opening for Australia and it’s a bit of a different ball game. The ODI game has changed so much in the last four years. I would love to see Hales get an opportunity.”

While Broad accepted that Morgan’s own form – he has averaged just 16.35 in 18 ODIs since the start of March – is no better than Cook’s, he felt that the captaincy might provide the catalyst to help him rediscover his touch.”The captaincy will do Morgs good,” Broad said. “He is not a technical player. He almost needs that extra responsibility to take his mindset away from his own game.”The captaincy is quite hectic. You leave your own game to one side and that will help Morgs because he is a free spirit. He has had tough time in past year but I am sure he will just go out and express himself which is the best thing for him. Hopefully he will bring runs for himself because we need Morgs firing if we are to do well in this World Cup.”While Broad, who has fully recovered from the operation he underwent on his right knee in early September, feels England go into the tournament benefiting from their best ever preparation period, he accepts that time is running out. Coming into the event with a grim run of form – they have won only one of their last seven multi-match bilateral ODI series and three of their last 13 completed ODI matches – he conceded that they go into January’s tri-series event with Australia and India desperate for some victories.”We need to start winning some games,” he said. “The confidence and momentum that brings is important. We need guys scoring hundreds and taking four or five wickets. That boosts the whole squad. I don’t expect us to win the World Cup if we don’t go in with some victories in this tri-series.”No team has ever been better prepared for a World Cup so there can be no excuses. In the past, we might have come into a World Cup after a gruelling Ashes series, but this time we have perfect preparation in this tri-series.”We have some great strikers of the ball but we need our belief levels up a bit. We’ve been pretty average all year. It could be very exciting, but it is time for the players to put their hands up and start delivering.”Such is the nature of the World Cup draw that Broad believes England would have to have “an absolute stinker” not to qualify for the quarter-finals. “I hope those words don’t come back to haunt me,” he said, with a smile.”It is not like there is an All Blacks where if you get drawn against them in the quarters you think ‘Oh, God,'” he said. “You should really be making that and then you have three games in a shootout. We need four or five guys to grab the bull by the horns and run with it. If you have a bit of form just keep going and keep positive.”We will have to get up to speed very quickly. But this could be a really exciting time to watch English cricket.”

Emma Hayes had to make Mauricio Pochettino wait after she received a call from Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson.

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Hayes reveals she made Pochettino wait to attend Ferguson's callWill join USWNT as their new managerWill leave Chelsea at the end of the 2023/24 seasonWHAT HAPPENED?

The Chelsea women's manager revealed that she was forced to tell the men's manager Pochettino to wait after she received a call from legendary former Manchester United manager Ferguson.

The Blues confirmed last month that Hayes would leave the club after 11 years at the end of the ongoing season. The 47-year-old will next take up the role of the US women's national team's manager.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The English manager has been with the London-based club for a decade now and has won every single trophy on offer at domestic level and converted them into a dominant force in English women's football.

The USWNT, who had a disastrous outing at the 2023 Women's World Cup, are on a mission to overhaul their squad and have thus picked Hayes as the suitable candidate to oversee the changes.

WHAT EMMA HAYES SAID

Speaking to , the Blues boss said, "We had a chat last week, he rang me, but I was in the middle of talking to Poch so I was torn. There's not many people you tell Poch to wait for but I did say to him it was Sir Alex. He calls me from time to time so I wasn't surprised.

"Anything he says to me I always take with such pride. He is a legend of the game and someone whose opinion I value and he has a love of America. We talked a little bit about that, a little bit about legacy, a little bit about leaving at the top. So there were wise words from him. I'm sure it won't be the last phone call I get from him this season."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

Hayes' Chelsea, who are unbeaten this season so far and are at the top of the Women's Super League, will next take on Liverpool on Saturday.

The west coast giants grabbed their long-awaited first win of the MLS season on Saturday during another entertaining round of fixtures

Entering the weekend, there were just two winless teams remaining in MLS. And while one was finally led to three points by their superstars, the other continued to be exposed as an MLS legend's hot seat gets even hotter.

The LA Galaxy finally fought their way to their first victory on what was their eighth attempt, with the club's biggest names stepping up to lead the way.

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez and Riqui Puig put in performances worthy of their reputation, offering a glimmer of hope that the Galaxy could just play their way out of this disastrous start to the season.

There's no such hope in Kansas City, though, as Sporting KC continue to be abysmal, to put it kindly. Nine games, just three goals and, most importantly, zero wins; it's quickly going from bad to worse for Peter Vermes and co.

With that said, here's a look at this weekend's winners and losers from across MLS:

WINNER: Galaxy superstars

The LA Galaxy have always been a team of superstars and, this weekend, for the first time this season, those players were there to lead the way.

Chicharito, only recently returning from injury, scored his first of the season, joining Puig on the scoresheet to lead the Galaxy to a 2-0 win over floundering Austin FC.

It's a win that, for the Galaxy, will go a long way as they finally have something positive to work with.

Greg Vanney made the much-needed and long-awaited change to a 3-5-2, uniting Chicharito with Dejan Jolevic up top. That partnership should be as good as any in the league, as long as Vanney is flexible enough to play them together. With Chicharito finally healthy, the Galaxy's attacking issues should get somewhat better, even if their wide players continue to be nothing short of useless.

As for Puig, adding goals to his game will be a big part of his development. Even in the Galaxy's defeats, the ex-Barcelona prospect is a player that can dictate the entire game from midfield, and he's done that several times this season. But if he can do that provide service to the front two, the Galaxy can start cooking.

One win is a start, and only that: a start. It did, however, show that there are some reasons for optimism for a team that still has nowhere to really go but up given their start.

"When you are in this type of club, the pressure and the standards and the responsibility is very high. It's not the same to be in another club and not win six games," Chicharito said. "Here in LA, you don't win in six games when you're the Galaxy, you can see we don't even have fans in our stands. So yeah, it was a release, a confirmation moment."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Sporting KC

It would be fair to say it feels like it's all crashing down at once in Kansas City but, to be honest, that has been going on for some time.

Now winless through nine games, Sporting KC's problems go far beyond this season. This disaster, this mess, has been a long time coming, even if a slew of injuries has made it all a bit worse than it should.

The club has failed to sign top-end, star contributors for the better part of the last decade and their heroes of yesteryear have finally fallen apart. Roger Espinoza, who started the 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution this weekend, has been, aside from a brief spell at Wigan, at this club since 2008. It's no wonder he's slowed down.

For years, Sporting KC relied on a core spearheaded by the likes of Espinoza, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi. Besler is retired, but the other two are still there with nearly 30 years of service at the club between them.

That, on its own, isn't a problem. It is good to have continuity and club legends. The problem is that the club has never replaced much of anyone from the team's heyday in the mid-2010s.

The blame, of course, falls on Vermes, who is in charge of all facets at Sporting KC. For years, Vermes has been synonymous with this club, and he will remain so, even if this continues to get worse and worse and a change is required.

The good news? Alan Pulido is back, so that should help up front, but there may be nothing this club can do about their problems in midfield or defense. There are just simply too many holes for this team to be competitive as Vermes, or whoever else is in charge should the club make a change, is likely staring down a multi-year rebuild.

Facebook/Philadelphia UnionWINNER: Philadelphia Union

That's more like it!

Finally, the Union put together a performance in MLS, snapping a five-game winless skid in the league. Sandwiched between that skid is a CONCACAF Champions League triumph over Atlas, and it appears that has given this team a bit of confidence, not that they really need it.

The Union smashed Toronto FC, 4-2, in a game that wasn't quite as close as that scoreline indicates. The hero this week was Mikael Uhre, who smashed a hat-trick past TFC to help right the course for the Union, a team that hasn't yet looked like the juggernaut that many expected them to be this season.

“I thought that we played our best 45 minutes of the season in that first half," said Union coach Jim Curtin. "I think it looked like us. I think we were proactive."

Up next, though, is a marquee matchup in the CCL: an MLS Cup rematch against LAFC. If the Union really want to make a statement, and if they want to exact a bit of revenge, they'll have the stage to do so in the CCL semi-finals.

What a showcase that should be, especially with the Union looking something like their old selves once again.

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GettyLOSER: Phil Neville and Inter Miami

It's only April, but we've already reached the point where Phil Neville has to answer questions about job security.

Such is life at Inter Miami, a club that is always under the microscope, even more so when they aren't winning.

Right now, Neville and Miami simply aren't winning enough.

"It's nowhere near good enough for what we want for this football club," Neville said after the latest defeat, a 1-0 loss to Houston that marks the club's sixth-straight defeat after beginning the season with two wins.

"I take full responsibility for that and the consequences that come my way, but I believe 100 percent that we can start winning. We can start getting wins on the table. We can start climbing the table. I've got belief in the players we've got. I see it."

Neville has something of a point: Miami can, and probably should, start winning. They have been the better team several times throughout those six games but, for a variety of reasons, have fallen short. On the balance of play, they should have picked up a few points over the past few weeks but, unfortunately for Miami, you don't get much of anything for winning the 'balance of play' battle.

Still, it's hard to win games if you can't score and, right now, Miami simply can't score. This loss to Houston makes it three straight without a goal, and it's hard to argue with the results when you can't find the back of the net.

There's work to be done in Miami. After a U.S. Open Cup match against Miami FC this week, they'll head to Columbus on Saturday to face the Crew. That's a winnable game and, while we may not yet be in must-win territory for Neville, we may be in must-not-lose territory.

After four disappointing years, Frenkie De Jong has found a perfect role at Barcelona, and become one of the world's most effective centre-midfielders

In mid-August, Frenkie de Jong gave an interview to Catalonian publication . In a lengthy chat, he acknowledged that he nearly left Barcelona after a high-profile summer of transfer speculation in 2022. He admitted that he was aware of the criticism he so regularly received in his first few years at the club. But, crucially, he made it clear that he doesn't ever want to play anywhere else.

De Jong is certainly saying these things because he wants a new contract – something Barca are reportedly willing to offer. But there is certainly some sincerity to his claims, too.

De Jong's four years at Camp Nou haven't gone exactly according to plan. He cost the Blaugrana €75 million (£65m/$85m) and looked like an imperfect fit from day one.

At first, he was being asked to fill a role he wasn't made for. Then, he underperformed at a spot that seemed to suit him the most. He was almost sold to Manchester United at least once. But now, thanks to a number of tactical switches, and uncharacteristic patience from those in the front office, De Jong has come into his own.

The former Ajax midfielder has always possessed a unique skillset, one that had for some time needed a manager to set up a system that could maximise it. Xavi has done just that, turning De Jong into an indispensable part of a Barca side, a player who fills a niche role for a winning team, certainly worth every single penny of the exorbitant fee Barca paid for his services in 2019.

GettyA rocky start to his career

De Jong's Barcelona tenure wasn't supposed to be this tumultuous. When the Dutchman first arrived, he was a buzzing presence ready to lead Barcelona into the post-Sergio Busquets era.

He had just starred for an exciting Ajax team that had come within a miraculous Lucas Moura goal of reaching the 2019 Champions League final. De Jone was the maestro at the heart of a remarkable run, a then-21-year-old who pivoted, sliced, and pirouetted his way through Real Madrid's midfield in the last 16.

The price tag seemed hefty – De Jong had only really had one outstanding season in an Ajax shirt – but the Blaugrana had been after him for over a year. This was, of course, the old Barcelona, the free-spending, use-the-company-credit-card machine that knew no budgetary constraints. Besides, €75m looked tame compared to the €160m (£142m/$176m) willingly had splurged on Philippe Coutinho just a few months before.

De Jong, in return, appeared ecstatic. There has long been a connection – familial and tactical – between Ajax and Barcelona. That Cruyffian link is perhaps one of the good unifying things in football. And De Jong was just the latest to embrace it.

“I am very happy to be here finally. As a child, it was a dream for me to play at Barca, and now I’m here, so it’s great. I’m really looking forward to setting foot on the Camp Nou pitch for the first time," the Dutchman asserted upon his arrival.

It became clear fairly quickly that this iteration of Barcelona wasn't the idealistic one he had mused about in his pre-season media duties. Although De Jong appeared to be a solid signing, the rest of Barca's summer signings were erratic – and expensive.

The arrival of unproven Brazilian Malcom for €41m (£36m/$43m), and puzzling acquisition of Antoine Griezmann for€120m (£100m/$130m), painted a picture of a team lacking in direction.

Manager Ernesto Valverde had the Blaugrana playing well, but was sacked in January 2020 after losing in the Spanish Super Cup. Underwhelming option Quique Setien took his place and fared worse than his predecessor.

The obvious sense of coherent thinking at the very highest level of the club culminated in an infamous 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. De Jong was part of a Barca midfield torn apart by the Bavarians, and played all 90 minutes as his side suffered one of the most embarrassing defeats in the club's history. Setien was quickly dismissed – and took legal action against the club for unlawful termination of his contract.

This was not the Barcelona that De Jong had been promised.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Man United saga

And things didn't get much better from there. Barcelona endured two miserable seasons, seeing club legend Lionel Messi leave, falling into financial ruin, and experiencing very little on-field success. Summer 2022 was supposed to represent something of a turnaround, with some shrewd transfer business – backed by risk financial transactions – poised to put the Blaugrana back on track. But for Barca, that meant sacrificing De Jong.

Xavi wasn't particularly subtle in his efforts to drive De Jong out of Catalunya in July of 2022. The manager did everything possible to ensure that the midfielder didn't play in his natural position during Barca's summer tour of the US.

In fact, De Jong spent most of their preseason awkwardly stationed at centre-back, even starting a Clasico there, which led to him awkwardly stumbling through space as Real Madrid's attack surged into the Barca defensive third.

It was a message of sorts. Not only would De Jong not be a guaranteed starter for his third season in Catalunya; he would also have to play an unfamiliar position, one that his manager knew he wasn't the right fit for.

But De Jong refused to heed the warning. He reportedly turned down a move to Manchester United – despite cash-strapped Barca's numerous efforts to get rid of him – and vowed to fight for his spot in the side.

His decision baffled many around the club, and although Joan Laporta later insisted that De Jong was never going to be sold, the fact that Barca accepted a hefty bid for his services showed that they were more than willing to let him go for the right fee.

Getty ImagesThe turnaround

The numbers suggest that De Jong had been consistently improving for a few years by the time he spurned United's interest. His pass completion, ball recovery and interception numbers all improved in 2021, and held steady in 2022. Although his exact role was up for debate – and linked to a perceived positional clash with Sergio Busquets – there was, statistically at least, hope that De Jong could develop at Camp Nou.

He was, of course, not helped by the club's reputation. Learning curves are not allowed for senior players at Barcelona. Those who are not good enough are either exiled or sold. At times it was De Jong's price tag, not performance, keeping him in the side.

Xavi's tactical adaptations, though, stirred something in the player. The manager had long asserted that De Jong could be a world-class talent, and set up a system to get the best out of him.

There had long been a fascination with deploying De Jong as a deep-lying playmaker for his team – operating, effectively, as a long-term replacement for Busquets. But De Jong was never really going to be that player. Barca, Xavi realised, needed a more physical presence in the role.

Instead, he carved out a new position for De Jong. The midfielder had thrived as part of a deep-lying duo at Ajax, functioning best with a more natural defensive presence alongside him. De Jong, in turn, would be the all-action option, someone to dominate the middle third of the pitch and rarely venture further forward – more Luka Modric than Busquets.

So, Xavi tinkered with the system, asking De Jong to start from a deeper position on the left, while relying on the attacking prowess of left-back Ajelandro Balde and advanced midfielder Gavi to do the damage in the final third. Busquets, meanwhile, was deployed to his right, and asked to dribble less, tackle more, and, crucially, get the ball to De Jong as much as possible.

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Getty ImagesA Culer for life?

The result was De Jong's best season in blue and red so far. He didn't score or assist at a prolific rate. But he didn't have to. The numbers paint a picture of De Jong becoming very good at the crucial skills of a box-to-box midfielder.

Fundamentally, he received the ball a lot, and almost always looked to pass forward. He completed his most progressive passes in a season since his final year at Ajax – and did so more efficiently than at any other point in his career. His progressive carrying numbers – a metric of how often a player successfully dribbles forwards – were up, too. And, perhaps most importantly, he retained the ball at a higher rate.

Such a combination of ball retention and passing prowess is a skillset reserved for very few players in world football. Arguably only Modric does it better – or with more elegance. And perhaps that is now what will come to define De Jong's Barcelona career.

For four years, he was an interesting player with a unique skillset – but no real space to showcase it in a winning team. Now, he has been utilised perfectly in a successful system. Xavi has, effectively, created a 'De Jong' role.

Perhaps he will be allowed to thrive there. At Ajax, De Jong was the next great box-to-box midfielder from a country that had produced countless talents.

Barcelona spent a handful of years trying – and failing – to get him back to his former self. Now, they have accepted that he can function as something else altogether. And that is where the real value is found, where a replaceable player becomes undroppable.

How to watch and stream West Ham against AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League on TV and online.

West Ham will be looking to book their ticket to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League when they take on AEK Larnaca in the second leg of their round-of-16 clash on Thursday.

Watch AEK vs West Ham on Paramount+ today!

The Premier League side recorded a 2-0 win last week and have every reason to be confident about their chances of making it through.

West Ham might be struggling domestically, but they have been in sublime form in Europe so far this term.

It all started with a 6-1 aggregate win over Viborg in the play-off round, before they saw off FCSB, Anderlecht and Silkeborg in the group stages.

AEK Larnaca, meanwhile, started their European adventure in the Champions League, where Midtjylland proved to be too strong in the second qualifying round.

They then dropped to the Europa League and came in third behind the likes of Rennes and Fenerbahce to move into the Conference League, having eliminated Dnipro-1 in the knockout round playoffs.

It's not all lost yet for the Cypriots after losing at home to West Ham, but they will have to show significant improvement if they are to turn things around.

GOAL brings you all the details on how to watch the game on TV as well as how to stream live online.

West Ham United vs AEK Larnaca date & kick-off time

Game

West Ham United vs AEK Larnaca

Date

March 16, 2023

Kick-off

4:00pm ET

Venue

London Stadium

AdvertisementHow to watch West Ham vs AEK Larnaca on TV & live stream online

In the United States (US), the game can be streamed live on Paramount+ and ViX+.

Country

TV channel

Live stream

US

N/A

Paramount+, ViX+

Check out GOAL's Soccer on U.S. TV guideGetty ImagesWest Ham team news and registered squad

Midfielder Flynn Downes is unavailable due to suspension, but David Moyes has no major injury concerns heading into the match.

West Ham possible XI: Areola; Kehrer, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell; Paqueta, Rice; Fornals, Lanzini, Benrahma; Antonio

Position

Players

Goalkeepers

Fabianski, Areola, Hegyi, Anang

Defenders

Cresswell, Zouma, Coufal, Ogbonna, Kehrer, Aguerd, Emerson, Robinson, Baptiste, Laing, Forbes, Scarles, Casey, Clayton

Midfielders

Fornals, Paqueta, Downes*, Soucek, Rice, Chesters, Forson, Potts, Woods, Earthy, Orford

Forwards

Johnson, Scamacca, Antonio, Lanzini, Cornet, Ings, Bowen, Benrahma, Okoflex, Swyer, Mubama, Kodua

*suspended

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AEK Larnaca team news and registered squad

Long-term injury concerns Andreas Paraskevas and Bruno Gama remain unavailable. Still, coach Jose Luis Oltra has a full squad to pick from otherwise, with Pere Pons and Angel Garcia back from their European suspension.

AEK possible XI: Piric; Casas, Milicevic, Tomovic, Garcia; Ledes, Pons; Rosales, Sanjurjo, Jakolis; Lopes

Position

Players

Goalkeepers

Piric, Toumpas, Stylianidis

Defenders

M. Gonzalez, Tomovic, Casas, Garcia, Milicevic, Rosales, Christoforou, Andreou

Midfielders

Sanjurjo, Ledes, Pons, Naoum, M. Gonzalez, Mamas

Forwards

Trickovski, Faraj, Lopes, Englezou, Constantine, Jakolis, Gyurcso, Altman, Nikolic

It is no surprise to see the Argentine lead the way when it comes to dead-ball situations, but who else is adept at beating the wall?

Getty10Shunsuke Nakamura | CAM | Jubilo Iwata | JapanFree kick: 88
Curve: 87AdvertisementGetty Images9Paulo Dybala | CAM | Juventus | ArgentinaFree kick: 88
Curve: 88Gettyimages8Memphis Depay | ST | Lyon | NetherlandsFree kick: 88
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Getty7Marvin Plattenhardt | LB | Hertha | GermanyFree kick: 89
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