Libero

Arsenal’s pursuit of Vinicius Junior is over after Real Madrid announced on Thursday afternoon that the Brazil international had signed a new long-term contract.

But on today’s episode - recorded just before the news was confirmed - Jack Pitt-Brooke, James Horncastle and John Brewin discussed why Arsenal’s attempted move for him felt so significant. For all the Premier League’s wealth and success, it generally does not buy in the most famous players in the world. Apart from the arrival of Erling Haaland in 2022, there have been few other high-status imports in recent years.

So does that actually matter? Is the league itself the star? Especially when big signings like Paul Pogba or Angel Di Maria fail to make too much of an impression in the Premier League. Or should the willingness of young players like Michael Olise and Jude Bellingham to reach the top outside the Premier League be a cause of concern in this country?

P1: (07:31)

P2: (32:25)

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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With a $15bn World Cup bolstering Fifa's bank account, Gianni Infantino was riding high and set fair to continue as football's self-appointed pope, with another term as president all but guaranteed. Little more than two weeks later, following an abruptly abandoned plan to sell a stake in the golden goose to the brother of Donald Trump's son in-law and Infantino is facing the prospect of having to resign the Fifa presidency. How did we get here and what does it say about modern football? Will this finally be the moment the game changes? Jonathan Wilson is joined by Miguel Delaney and Tariq Panja to discuss.

P1: (00:20)

P2: (32:47)

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham are all beginning the new Premier League season with different managers than started the last. With a cast of new characters now coming into focus, Jack Pitt-Brooke, John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson consider what storylines might take shape and the longtail impact of the World Cup. Also discussed is how the creep of football is eroding away the traditional summers sports and the return of international football to borderline irrelevance.

P1: (00:56)

P2: (25:51)

A note to listeners, it's fair to assume that Libero 145 will be discussing the drama in Fifa-land at length.

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—

Produced by: Tom Bassam

Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com

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Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions
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Johan Manzambi has become the latest player to earn a big transfer off the back of an impressive World Cup, following the likes of James Rodriguez, Ilie Dumitrescu and Papa Bouba Diop. Yet in recent years clubs have turned away from scouting players at major tournaments, but why is that when they provide tangible evidence of a player's quality and ability to handle playing under immense pressure? James Horncastle, Tariq Panja and Rory Smith look back at the history of this phenomenon and ask if once more the World Cup is becoming a viable proving ground.

P1: (02:43)

P2: (32:53)

Join SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, now: liberopodcast.com.

—

Produced by: Tom Bassam

Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod

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Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions
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The sad passing of Kevin Keegan at the age of 75 last week brought to an end of the ultimate football lives. One of British football's earliest superstars, highly decorated as a player, revered as one of the game's boldest attacking coaches, Keegan was beloved figure both in England and further afield. Here John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson look back at the life of 'King Kev'.

This was originally released for SC Libero members last week, but we thought it would be nice for all Libero listeners to hear John and Jonathan's tribute to the great man.

—

Produced by: Tom Bassam

Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod

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Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions
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