After nearly eleven weeks without European club football, the wait is finally over. The 2024/25 season is upon us, and teams are gearing up for the title races with renewed vigor and they are on the mission to strengthen their arsenal ready to unleash terror to other teams.
In Spain, football giants Real Madrid have bolstered their attack with Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, aiming to address their long-standing number nine issue. We n to see how it goes because this now means Jude Bellingham won’t be playing upfront but rather deep in midfield which could lead to a reduction in his goals and assist tally.
Meanwhile, Atlético Bilbao has rewarded Nico Williams with a contract extension and the iconic number 10 shirt following his standout performance at Euro 2024 with the Spain national team. This move is seen as a strategy to keep him, as the young winger had attracted interest from several clubs, including the financially struggling Barcelona FC.
Speaking of Barcelona, the once-dominant force in football is currently facing financial difficulties and match-fixing allegations. They’ve turned into selling seats and grass from their Camp Nou stadium but despite this these challenges, they’ve managed to stay on course. They have signed Spaniard Dani Olmo, but can’t register him until there is a departure from the team. With a new coach and a revamped technical staff, including the recently retired Thiago Alcántara, Barcelona’s prospects are uncertain, especially given their reliance on teenager Lamine Yamal for match-winning performances.
Atlético Madrid has made headlines by acquiring Julian Alvarez from Manchester City. Alvarez, who has won everything that is there to be won in club and international football could prove to be a game-changer.
Manchester United have made significant moves by signing Dutch internationals Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt, alongside Noussair Mazraoui. With the substantial investments made under Erik ten Hag’s management, there is growing expectation for him to deliver the Premier League trophy. Ten Hag now has a squad filled with his former players and key acquisitions, making it crucial for him to deliver results. He should now deliver and stop being a crybaby on the press.
Chelsea continues their usual spree of signings, recently adding Pedro Neto from Wolves. Despite having enough players to form multiple teams, Chelsea’s constant additions haven’t translated into consistent success, having managed only 29 wins in the Premier League over the last two seasons despite signing 35 players.
Liverpool, having lost their manager last season, seems to have found stability with their new gaffer, who has shown promise with a strong pre-season performance. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta has added a new left-back to his squad even though he has almost sic players on his team that can play in that position and deliver results. He is yet to address the need for a prolific striker who can win titles for him and not to bottle when it matters most as it has been the past two seasons. We’ll see if Arteta makes a game-changing statement signing of a striker soon before the transfer market shuts and it will be a mistake of him to head into the title challenge without a new striker.
Westham have signed defenders Aaron Wan Bissaka and Jean clair Todibo from Manchester united and OGC Nice respectfully. Aston Villa have acquired the services of Belgian Amadou Onana from Everton while Fulham have Smith-rowe from the gunners. Manchester City, the current holders of the EPL trophy who also are faced with 115 charges from cooking financial books have Savinho in their books in a fraudulent deal as usual.
Football’s return brings a renewed sense of excitement and fulfillment. The thrill of match days, the camaraderie among fans, and the passion of the game create a deep emotional connection that leaves a noticeable void during the off-season. As we head into the 2024/25 season, I wish success to all teams—except when they face Arsenal and Real Madrid. #COYG! #HalaMadrid!
