Jadon Sancho Says He Intends to Stay at Borussia Dortmund Amid Transfer Rumours
Jan 10, 2019
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 08: Jadon Sancho of Dortmund celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund at Veltins-Arena on December 8, 2018 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund starlet Jadon Sancho has said he is happy in the Bundesliga amid speculation regarding his future.
Following a sensational rise at the German giants and a brilliant beginning to the 2018-19 campaign, Sancho has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in European football. Earlier in the season, the 18-year-old earned a call up to the England senior team on the back of his form.
Rumours have swirled at times as a result, although when asked about whether he intended to stay at Dortmund for the foreseeable future, Sancho was clear, per Stephen Crawford of Goal:
"I will. I just want to play football and I'm getting that opportunity here. I'm happy right now.
“[The language barrier] worried me quite a lot, but when I came and everyone started speaking English I got more comfortable. My German isn't the best but I'm learning, I have to learn.
“I've adapted really well. Obviously when I first came it was a bit difficult because I'm not around the corner from my house. But my family have helped me with that—and the club also."
MARBELLA, SPAIN - JANUARY 09: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund looks on during a training session as part of the Borussia Dortmund training camp on January 9, 2019 in Marbella, Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images)
It was reported by Sky Sports in October that Paris Saint-Germain are "very interested" in signing the teenager, with Manchester United and Arsenal "also thought to be keen."
According to Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News, former club Manchester City have first refusal on the player should they match any potential bid.
Nevertheless, it doesn't appear as if the Dortmund winger has any ideas of leaving his current club. Given the way in which his game has developed this season under the guidance of manager Lucien Favre, that's understandable.
Scouted Football provided the numbers behind what was a 2018 to remember for the former City star:
Jadon Sancho (18) in all competitions for Borussia Dortmund in 2018:
Not only has Sancho showcased his quality in the Bundesliga this season, his goals and assists have been vital to Dortmund putting together a surprise title challenge. As things stand, they lead Bayern Munich by six points at the summit of the German top flight.
In Dortmund's final game before the winter break, they beat Borussia Monchengladbach, who were then second in the table, 2-1. Sancho scored and starred in that critical win.
Alex Chaffer is impressed by how well Sancho is doing considering he's still in the nascent stages of his football career:
Proof to the ridiculous talent at his age that Sancho possess. Only Timo Werner has ever had more goals than Sancho (7) at his current age.
Provided he continues to turn in performances and offer Dortmund productivity in the final third, rumours will constantly crop up.
Still, Sancho left City in order to play consistent football at a high level and make strides in his career. He's doing exactly that, and provided he continues on this upward trajectory, there's no need for the England star to think about going anywhere.
Christian Pulisic Agrees Chelsea Transfer: Is He Ready for the Premier League?
Jan 2, 2019
In the summer of 2016, Liverpool made an offer of £11 million for Christian Pulisic. There was a long-term vision to integrate him into the squad, bring him through as a first-team member and ease him into Premier League life without expectation or pressure.
The offer was rejected, and in the time that has passed, Liverpool's outlook changed. Jurgen Klopp, the man who first introduced Pulisic to the Borussia Dortmund first team, has built a side on Merseyside that are now leading the table and looking like they could win the title. As a result, he decided at the start of this season that their pursuit was up—Pulisic's name was crossed off their list of targets.
Since Liverpool's initial bid, Pulisic's value has soared, and we now have confirmation of a £58 million transfer to Chelsea. His huge price tag makes him a bigger signing than Fernando Torres, Diego Costa or Eden Hazard in terms of money spent, and when he arrives in London in the summer, there will be a weight of expectation.
Pulisic, aged 20 and with 23 international appearances for the USMNT to his name, has his chance to shine on the biggest stage of all. The big question: Is he ready for it?
Borussia Dortmund has agreed with @ChelseaFC on the transfer of Christian Pulisic for a fee of €64 million 📝
It has been a strange season for Pulisic. He has started just nine of Dortmund's 23 matches across Bundesliga and the Champions League, scoring twice and adding two assists. Part of the problem has been with muscle injuries, but his game time has also been limited because of the great form of Jadon Sancho, the exciting 18-year-old signed from Manchester City.
Sancho left City because he was not getting a chance in the Premier League, where it was perceived he was not quite ready. Strange, then, that Pulisic is heading in the opposite direction at a time when he is behind Sancho in the pecking order.
Kevin Hatchard is a Bundesliga commentator who has seen close up just how Pulisic has found himself on the fringes at Dortmund.
"He has been edged out of the first-team picture by Sancho, whose consistency has taken everyone by surprise," Hatchard tells Bleacher Report. "Sancho operates in the right-sided role that Pulisic excels in, so the American's been given just a handful of chances to shine, and he's looked like he's been a bit too desperate to impress each time."
Abel Meszaros is an analyst at Sport 1 and an expert on German football for Bundesliga Fanatic, and he feels the excitement around Pulisic has faded at Signal Iduna Park.
"Many Dortmund fans, and one suspects also people in the club, have soured on Pulisic—who is yet to crack 500 Bundesliga minutes this season. He lost his starting spot not only to Jadon Sancho but to Danish winger Jacob Bruun Larsen—a team-mate of Pulisic since BVB U17s," he explained.
"[Manager] Lucien Favre has even preferred to use Raphael Guerreiro over Pulisic at times. It speaks volumes of the difficulties for Pulisic this season recently that, as they played three Bundesliga matches in six days, he started and was invisible against Fortuna Dusseldorf—the only loss in a flawless fall season for Dortmund.
"That start was his first league one since late September against Leverkusen, where he struggled against Brazilian left-back Wendell, who was rated as the worst performing defender in the Bundesliga by Germany's prestigious Kicker magazine.
"He gave way to Jadon Sancho on 70 minutes and the rest, as they say, is history. The Englishman, who had been Pulisic's understudy in the previous games, came up with two gorgeous assists and Dortmund won 4-2."
Pulisic is a likeable guy, and anyone who comes into contact with him in a professional sense talks of his maturity and the lack of any ego. He has the personality and character to adapt quickly to life in London, and he retains a close relationship with family in America. His father, Mark, continues to play a big role in helping to guide him.
Yes, he has struggled this season, but Chelsea's scouting of him goes back years. Recruitment staff were undeterred by the fact he was not getting the game time he might have expected, and still there is an expectation that Pulisic has a huge future ahead of him.
"There's still so much we don't know about Pulisic's future—he is still only just out of his teens—but Dortmund were right to cash in on a player they deemed as not a cornerstone of the franchise, especially with the club's history of developing young talent over the last 10 years," adds Sport 1 analyst Meszaros. "Chelsea, and most English clubs on the other hand, can spend in a much more cavalier manner and will no doubt use the marketing aspects of the Pulisic deal to its fullest.
"While there is some truth to the 'win-win' phrase that BVB's Christian Pulisic used to describe the deal that will take him to Chelsea in the 2019/20 season, Dortmund are certainly the bigger winners of the two clubs."
COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - OCTOBER 10: Christian Pulisic of the United States mens national team reacts to the referee's call during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, T
They will consider themselves winners because they get to keep the player for this season's title push, where they hold top spot, and also collect a huge transfer fee. Chelsea fans will now begin to keep a close eye on his performances, no doubt.
In the U.S. he is viewed as the player who takes the sport to a new level. U.S. soccer fans have been waiting for a moment like this, when a talented product who spent his early years developing on American soil, gets a shot with an elite club in England.
Roger Gonzalez, a writer for CBS Sports, told B/R: "It's an extraordinary move, but one that isn't surprising. Having fallen behind Jadon Sancho at Dortmund, signs have pointed at an exit for most of the season. He's the third-most expensive player in Chelsea's history and shatters the transfer record for an American player.
"With that comes more pressure, but he's a player unlike any American we've ever seen and has the potential to be world class. With the presence of the Premier League in the United States and the supporters Chelsea have here, it's a move that makes sense for all parties."
Bundesliga commentator Hatchard has hope, too.
"Pulisic still has huge potential, and he should thrive in a 4-3-3 formation that he's familiar with. I think he'll do really well. Sarri's system and style should suit him down to the ground."
Bundesliga writer Chris Williams has a similar feeling. "He hasn't managed to hit the highs seen under Thomas Tuchel 18 months ago," he explains. "But his arrival at Stamford Bridge next season should see a reinvigorated player thrive on the wing. He'll still need development time, but with the right nurturing he could easily become world class in five years' time."
Five years is a long time in football—Sarri may not even be in charge at that stage. But Matt Law of the Telegraph reported how Chelsea wanted him even before Sarri took over in west London. There is hope that Pulisic becomes one of the club's great success stories, but progress is needed.
One Dortmund source told Bleacher Report that Chelsea will need to work on specific areas of Pulisic's game to fulfil his potential. He is dynamic and often decisive in the final third, but the need to help the team before that stage is seen as the area they are likely to focus on—particularly how to make him more influential with the ball when he drops further back.
But, as the source added: "His mentality is very impressive, he will make this move work for him."
Pulisic seems happiest when driving forward, and Meszaros explained: "Pulisic is an elite ball-carrier and great dribbler, leading in the number he attempted in Bundesliga last season. He can create efficient shots and finish quite well with both feet. In addition, he rarely takes bad shots from outside the box and is useful in open play."
In an interview with Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Independent in November 2017, Pulisic explained how he had to be strong-willed to make his name in Germany after joining Dortmund.
"Coming here, nothing was easy," he said. "I worked for it all. What I learned is that nothing is given easy to you. Nothing was going to be spoon-fed to me. That's why it was a huge step in my development, and the perfect environment for me."
Those close to Pulisic insist he knows he is not the finished article, and that he realises how far he still has to go to win over those who doubt his ability to become a top player in European football.
He has his own expectations, brings his own pressure and is motivated to make sure he proves himself at the top of the game.
Borussia Dortmund Bus Attack Suspect Convicted of Attempted Murder
Nov 27, 2018
FILE - In this April 11, 2017 file photo a window of Dortmund's team bus is damaged after an explosion before the Champions League quarterfinal soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco in Dortmund, Germany. On Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017 a man will go on trial. He is charged with the attempted murder of Borussia's soccer team by detonating homemade bombs when traveling to the match. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner,file)
The man charged with carrying out an attack on a bus carrying German soccer club Borussia Dortmund in April 2017 was convicted on 28 counts of attempted murder Tuesday.
The Associated Press reported the man, only identified as Sergej W. because of Germany's privacy laws, was sentenced to 14 years in prison by the Dortmund state court.
Prosecutors alleged during the 11-month trial that Sergej W. placed a bet that BVB shares, which are available for public trading on the stock exchange in Germany, would fall and then bombed the bus under the guise of Islamic terrorism, according to the AP.
Former Dortmund centre-back Marc Bartra, who completed a move to La Liga club Real Betis in Spain during the 2018 January transfer window, was injured in the attack. He missed more than five weeks of action while recovering from a fractured wrist.
Upon his return last May, hetold reporters, "I've suffered so much through this negative experience."
The AP noted prosecutors sought a life sentence in the case, but Sergej W., a German citizen born in Russia, said in court that he designed the explosives with hope "that no harm to people could be expected."
Report: Christian Pulisic Could Be Bought by Liverpool, Chelsea for £70 Million
Nov 26, 2018
MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 06: Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmund in action during the Group A match of the UEFA Champions League between Club Atletico de Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on November 6, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
Chelsea or Liverpool could reportedly buy Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic for £70 million, provided they are willing to let him remain with the Bundesliga side until the end of the season.
According to Matt Law at the Daily Telegraph, Dortmund will not allow the United States international to leave in January, but they are willing to negotiate a deal "if they receive a big enough bid."
Pulisic's deal at Dortmund expires in 2020, and it's said he has attracted interest from both of the Premier League teams and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
German giants Bayern Munich are also reportedly interested in Pulisic, per Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated.
The 20-year-old has spoken about his future and says he will make a decision in January:
#cfc & #Lfc target #Pulisic has told NBC he will make a decision on his future in January:"I’m still focused on Dortmund.We are doing great this season.Once the break comes(in Jan)that is always when I will have to discuss with Dortmund and see about my future.”summer move likely
Pulisic is an exciting prospect and has emerged as America's top talent. He became the youngest player to wear the national team's armband when he captained the side in November's international friendly against Italy:
Borussia Dortmund are enjoying a superb season under new manager Lucien Favre. They are four points clear at the top of the table, although Pulisic has had to be patient. He's made only four starts in the league, contributing a goal and two assists.
Opta noted how he has still been an effective performer:
41.3 - Christian Pulisic and Jadon Sancho have combined to be a part of 41.3% of Dortmund's goals across all competitions this season. Starlets. pic.twitter.com/4mkasEPCjn
A move away from Dortmund may benefit Pulisic as he looks to kick on in his career. Former Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly keen to bring him to Anfield:
Yet Chelsea may also be in need of reinforcements, particularly if they lose talisman Eden Hazard this season. The Belgium international has spoken about a summer exit and said "it's a possibility," per thePress Association(h/t theGuardian).
Chelsea wingers Willian and Pedro are also already into their 30s, making Pulisic a potential option to succeed either player at Stamford Bridge.
Borussia Dortmund Sign Paco Alcacer from Barcelona on Permanent Deal
Nov 23, 2018
DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 10: Paco Alcacer of Borussia Dortmund controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Muenchen at Signal Iduna Park on November 10, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of Paco Alcacer on a permanent deal from Barcelona.
The Spanish striker joined Dortmund on a season-long loan deal in August, and the German club have now exercised their option to buy him, per the club's official Twitter account:
He has penned a contract with the club until 2023 and expressed his delight with making his move permanent, per Dortmund'swebsite (h/tBundesliga.com): "I'm very happy in Dortmund, at BVB and in this wonderful team. Borussia Dortmund was and is exactly the right decision for me. I'll do everything I can to say thank you for your trust."
When Alcacer initially made his loan move to the Bundesliga, Dortmund said their option to buy was worth €25 million (€22 million), perBBC Sport.
Alcacer's career had stalled at Barca. He moved to the Camp Nou in 2016 from Valencia for €30 million (£25.5 million), but in the two full seasons he spent at the club, he started only 14 La Liga games.
Since moving to Dortmund, he has proved himself to be a superb frontman.
The 25-year-oldhas netted eight goals in just 236 minutes of action as BVB have set the pace in the 2018-19 Bundesliga:
Best mins per goal return in Europe's top 5 leagues this season (5+ goals scored):
It is little surprise that Dortmund have activated their option to keep him permanently, and it could be a move that benefits all parties involved.
As noted by Spanish football writer Simon Harrison, the transfer could also be beneficial for the Spain national team:
Very good news for the Spanish national team. Was always a waste to have Alcácer twiddling his thumbs at Barça. Best place for him to get consistent minutes and feeling confident. https://t.co/zozspyX61B
Alcacer will look to get back on the scoresheet when the Bundesliga returns this weekend.
BVB have a four-point lead at the head of the German top flight and visit Mainz on Saturday.
Dortmund Chief Rules out Christian Pulisic January Transfer Amid Chelsea Rumours
Nov 19, 2018
DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 10: Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Muenchen at Signal Iduna Park on November 10, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmundsporting director Michael Zorc has ruled out the possibility of rumoured Chelsea and Liverpool target Christian Pulisic leaving the club during the January transfer window.
The United States international is earning an increasing amount of attention at the Westfalenstadion, but Zorc told Kicker (h/t Goal) the speculation won't change his chances of leaving this winter: "We've known these rumors for many years. We're planning to continue with him at least until the end of the season. We will still need Christian significantly."
Martin Samuel recently wrote for MailOnline and said Chelsea "look to have won the battle" for Pulisic ahead of the January window, when the 20-year-old will have less than 18 months remaining on his contract.
It says a lot about the player that Pulisic, 20, still managed to stand out as his nation fell to England 3-0 at Wembley Stadium on Thursday.
Liverpool are owned by American company Fenway Sports Group, while former Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp is thought to be another driving force behind the Reds' alleged interest in Pulisic.
The tactician left the Westfalenstadion in the summer of 2015, only a few months after Pulisic moved to Germany.
Bleacher Report's Dean Jones predicted it's Klopp who will win the battle for one of the most promising young talents in the sport:
Pulisic becoming a more serious target now for Liverpool and Chelsea—and Bild report that Borussia Dortmund are already looking for his successor. I think he'll see out this season... but he has always wanted to play in the PL. Surely Klopp wins the battle?
Pulisic stated his ambitions when asked if he'd like to feature in the Premier League one day:
"As you can see, we are having a great year at Dortmund, and I am enjoying every moment of that. Then, when the time comes for me to talk in the breaks about my future, then that's when those things happen.
"England and the Premier League, it is a league where lots of kids dream of playing, so there is no reason why maybe one day I won't play here."
The wide man has had a couple of muscular injuries this season and was an unused substitute in Dortmund's recent 3-2 win over Bayern Munich. He has three goals in 12 appearances this term and has contributed four assists.
It's been more than three years since Klopp left Germany, but the Mirror'sJohn Richardsonwrote a Liverpool source said Pulisic's progress has only further convinced the coach of his talent.
Chelsea have relied a lot on the strength of their wings in recent seasons, but the right flank in particular could use freshening up, with Pedro and Willianset to turn 32 and 31 in July and August, respectively.
Pulisic adapted quickly to the first-team rigours of the Bundesliga and has been a staple of the side almost since his introduction in early 2016.
WhoScored.com recently attested to his ability with the ball at his feet:
Christian Pulisic: Has completed more dribbles (90) than any other player since the start of the 2017/18 Bundesliga season
The Black and Yellows currently lead the Bundesliga and have the chance to break Bayern's six-year hold on the title.
Dortmund have fended off interest in their most popular stars before, and Zorc's remarks suggest the German giants are prepared to hold out for a better deal next summer at the earliest.
Christian Pulisic Says He's Open to Premier League Transfer Amid Chelsea Rumours
Nov 14, 2018
DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 10: Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Muenchen at Signal Iduna Park on November 10, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Christian Pulisic has said "there is no reason" why he won't swap the Bundesliga for the Premier League one day. The gifted Borussia Dortmund forward has hailed England's top flight as "a league where lots of kids dream of playing," per Ed Aarons of the Guardian.
Aarons noted how 20-year-old USA international Pulisic has been linked to a trio of Premier League sides. Chelsea are credited as the keenest, while Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have previously shown interest.
Interested suitors, including the Blues, will get a firsthand glimpse ofPulisic's talent when he helps the USA take on England atWembleyStadiumin an international friendly on Thursday.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 14: Christian Pulisic (second left) of the USA attends a training session ahead of the International Friendly between England and the USA at Wembley Stadium on November 14, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Ge
Bundesligadefences already know all about howPulisiccan change matches. He's helped himself to a pair of goals and two assists in domestic andUEFAChampions League action so far this season.
Those contributions have helped Dortmund to the top of the table in Germany, while the club also leads the way in Group A of the Champions League.
He's also produced magic in theDFBPokal, helping Dortmund earn a 3-2 win over Union Berlin in the second round back in October:
It's no wonderPulisicalso said he is "enjoying every moment" of this campaign in Dortmund.
His happiness won't stop teams like Chelsea exploring a move for one of the game's rising talents. Any interested club will be enamoured withPulisic's versatility since he can play at the tip of midfield and also operate anywhere across the forward line.
Chelsea's fluid brand of football under manager MaurizioSarriwould provide an ideal platform forPulisicto succeed in west London. The Blues may even have an opening on the flanks in the near future since links between Eden Hazard and Real Madrid aren't going away.
Hazard has left the door ajar after he toldSporza(h/t Football.London'sOliverHarbord) he will consider his Chelsea future at the end of the season.
Pulisicwould make sense as a potential replacement for Hazard, although signing the American may encourage the Belgian to stay with the Blues if he sees an improvement in the squad.
Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho Reportedly Not for Sale Amid PSG Rumours
Nov 1, 2018
Dortmund's English midfielder Jadon Sancho celebrates scoring the opening goal with Dortmund's German forward Marco Reus during the German first division Bundesliga football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Hertha Berlin in Dortmund, western Germany, on October 27, 2018. (Photo by Patrik STOLLARZ / AFP) / RESTRICTIONS: DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund reportedly have no intention of selling Jadon Sancho amid fresh speculation linking Paris Saint-Germain with a move for the youngster.
The England international has enjoyed a remarkable start to the 2018-19 campaign, and it was reported by Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports that the French giants are "very interested" in landing the 18-year-old.
However, on Wednesday, Sky Sports reported that despite interest from the Ligue 1 outfit, Dortmund are not looking to sell the winger, who is quickly becoming the club's prized asset.
"Sky Sports News understands Dortmund are under no pressure to sell any more of their top stars following some high-profile player sales over the last 18 months," the report said. "The biggest of those departures saw Ousmane Dembele join Barcelona for more than £100 million, while Arsenal's signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brought in a fee of around £57 million."
Sancho moved to Dortmund from Manchester City in 2017 for a fee in the region of £8 million; it was reported by Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News that City do have an option to match any successful bid for Sancho in the future.
You suspect the interest surrounding the youngster will not die down any time soon, as he continues to set the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League alight.
So far this season, his productivity in the final third puts him up with some of the best players in the game:
10+ direct goal involvements in Europe's top five leagues this season:
Sancho's performances are all the more extraordinary because of his age, especially given he moved away from England as a teenager in search of regular football. Despite that, he hasn't appeared daunted by the challenge of one of European football's most competitive divisions.
In addition, manager Lucien Favre continues to use Sancho with caution. He started on Saturday for Dortmund for just the third time in the Bundesliga this season; his four goals and six assists in the German top flight have come in just 377 minutes.
At the moment, he's among the best players in the division:
Dortmund will now have to cope with the inevitable interest that comes the way of the youngster, as he will be catching the eye of some superclubs.
PSG have shown in recent years they have the financial muscle to sign the most expensive players in the game, and the prospect of linking up with the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe would no doubt appeal to Sancho.
Still, the reason he's made such a rapid ascension is because of the consistent opportunities being handed to him at Dortmund. At a bigger club, those chances might not be available so readily, and as such, don't expect Sancho to be moving anywhere for the foreseeable future.
Valencia, Barcelona, Dortmund: The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Paco Alcacer
Nov 1, 2018
Paco Alcacer's life was rocked on a Friday night in mid-August 2011. He was a few weeks shy of his 18th birthday and on top of the world. Less than two weeks earlier, he had become a national hero, coming on as a substitute to score two goals in extra time in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final against the Czech Republic, which helped Spain to a dramatic 3-2 win.
AS Roma were in town to play Valencia at their historic stadium, the Mestalla, for a pre-season tournament called the Trofeo Naranja (Orange Trophy). It marked the first time Luis Enrique—who was coaching AS Roma—returned to Spain for a match.
Enrique got a torrid welcome—Valencia swept aside his team. The game ended in a 3-0 defeat. Alcacer scored the match's final goal in the 82nd minute. French defender Jeremy Mathieu—who later played alongside Alcacer at Barcelona—raced into the box to get on the end of a pass before cutting back a cross to Alcacer, who finished from close range.
After the final whistle, Valencia's players—including Jordi Alba, another future Barca team-mate of Alcacer's—crowded around team captain Juan Mata as he paraded the trophy. In the dressing room afterwards, Alcacer's agents, Lorenzo and Alberto Toldra, asked him if he needed a ride home. He said he was OK—he was going to meet his parents, who were waiting outside the stadium for him.
VALENCIA, SPAIN - AUGUST 13: Paco Alcacer of Valencia reacts during the pre-season friendly match between Valencia CF and AC Fiorentina at Estadio Mestalla on August 13, 2016 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
Then tragedy struck. Alcacer's father collapsed along Avenida de Suecia, the avenue that sits in the shadow of Valencia's stadium. Medics spent 30 minutes trying to revive him to no avail. He died on the street from a heart attack. He was only 44. The tragic circumstances endeared the grieving Alcacer to Valencia's supporters.
"Because of it he became an idol, and for his goals," says Cayetano Ros, a journalist with El Mercantil Valenciano. "He had such a great facility for scoring goals. He stood out from the beginning since he was very young."
Alcacer graduated to Valencia's first team at a difficult moment in their history, as they were committed to leaving Mestalla for a new stadium it couldn't afford to complete. Each season, the club had to sell their star player: David Villa (2010), David Silva (2011) and Alba (2012). Alcacer got to mix with some great young talents, though, including Isco, Mata, Ever Banega, Dani Parejo and Juan Bernat.
He made his La Liga debut in January 2012, coming on as a sub against Real Sociedad, and started to make his goalscoring mark in the 2013/2014 season, especially in Europe. That season he scored seven times in Valencia's march to the UEFA Europa League semi-final, which they lost on away goals to Sevilla.
As the club tumbled into further crisis during the brief reign of Gary Neville in 2015/16, the Englishman made Alcacer his captain. He was 22 years old and one of the few rays of light at the club, but then things turned dark. "He was the team's most beloved player until they sold him in an unexpected way," says Ros.
Paco Alcacer of FC Barcelona during the Trofeu Joan Gamper match between FC Barcelona and Boca Juniors at the Camp Nou stadium on August 15, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
In the summer of 2016, Valencia's owner Peter Lim sold Alcacer to Barcelona for a reported fee of €30 million. The deal was kept quiet. Valencia's former president Lay Hoon Chan assured Valencia's players and, according to Ros, 1,500 supporters at a fan meeting—that Alcacer was not being sold. Alcacer played along until the transfer was revealed publicly. He was seen as a traitor.
"When he left Valencia, it was emotional and sad because people didn't want him to leave, but also he [left a bad taste in the mouth] because he said Valencia wasn't run properly," says Ros. "That wasn't well received here, even if it was true. People didn't like him saying it. When he returned here with Barca, fans were hostile towards him. They felt he betrayed them by accepting Barcelona's offer because he was a huge idol here. The love for him turned into hatred, so this summer when there was a possibility for him to return to the club, I think the club didn't do it because a big part of the fanbase was upset with him."
Alcacer endured a difficult two seasons at the Camp Nou. He failed to break into the starting XI, given the vaunted Lionel Messi-Luis Suarez-Neymar Jr. trident was first choice during his first season. He got poorer returns during his second season despite Neymar Jr.'s departure. Ernesto Valverde, who took over as head coach in the summer of 2017, had less faith in him than his predecessor, Enrique.
"I think Alcacer didn't see himself as being good enough—at the same level as Barca's players like Messi, Suarez and Neymar in his first year," says Ros. "He shrunk in stature because he saw them as superstars and he was not up to their standard. Also, he stopped playing—he wasn't playing regularly. He only played a few minutes here, a few minutes there.
"He developed an inferiority complex. He didn't feel good enough to be at Barcelona. He is an instinctive goalscorer. He scores a lot of goals—he always has—in a natural way even when he is not a super special player, not technically or physically. What he has is an eye for goal. At Barcelona, it was a problem of self-confidence."
It would be a lie to suggest Alcacer was a disaster at Barcelona. He scored 15 goals in 50 appearances but only started 22 of these matches. In fact, during his first season at the club, he scored a goal every 138 minutes, which placed him sixth on La Liga's list of top scorers, according to goals-per-minutes-played ratio. Alcacer also scored in that season's Copa del Rey final. In November 2017, he got two critical strikes in a 2-1 victory over Sevilla in a league game at the Camp Nou.
"For the money Barcelona paid for him weighed against his performances, Alcacer is considered a failure, yes, but he's not considered a total failure," says Manuel Bruna, a journalist with Mundo Deportivo. "At an economic level, yes definitely, but football wise I'm not so sure."
Bruna draws a comparison with Andre Gomes, who also arrived at the Camp Nou—a UEFA Euro 2016 winner with Portugal—at the same time as Alcacer, reportedly for €35 million, and also went out on loan this season, to Everton in the Premier League.
The Portugal international Gomes couldn't adapt and admitted to the anxiety he felt trying to perform at the Camp Nou. In a revealing interview with Panenka, he said he felt "embarrassed" playing at Barcelona where fans regularly whistled him.
"Gomes was an absolute failure at Barcelona," says Bruna. "He cost a lot of money, and we saw nothing from him. He was given a lot of opportunities. The coaches trusted him. They saw something in him, but in the end he was a financial failure and a sporting failure."
Alcacer has revived his career in Germany. Since landing at Borussia Dortmund he has been a revelation. He scored on his debut against Eintracht Frankfurt; he bagged a hat-trick against Augsburg. In a record haul, Alcacer has amassed seven goals in 127 minutes played in the Bundesliga.
47 - Within the top five European leagues, only Paco Alcacer (a goal every 27 minutes) has a better mins/goal ratio than Patrick #Cutrone (a goal every 47 minutes) among players to have scored at least five times in all competitions so far this season. Future. pic.twitter.com/BmknGSpC5G
Stefan Buczko, editor-in-chief of weekly Dortmund podcast Yellowwallpod, points toward the astute management of Borussia Dortmund's coach Lucien Favre in Alcacer's rejuvenation. Favre previously revived the career of another striker whose career had been drifting in Mario Balotelli at Nice, too.
"Alcacer fits the profile of the kind of player Favre needs as his centre-forward. Favre likes a fluid striker," says Buczko. "He doesn't like having a big, physical No. 9 up front that hardly moves. He needs players that drop back, that know how to press and that read spaces really well. He needs a player with a high footballing IQ, and Paco Alcacer has exactly that. Alcacer also moved into a team—a well-oiled machine with players like Axel Witsel, Thomas Delaney and Mahmoud Dahoud—that was basically designed for him, somewhat unwittingly."
Borussia Dortmund are top of the Bundesliga, and the club also lead their UEFA Champions League group, having posted an eye-catching 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid last week. Alcacer is a man reborn. He's got his mojo back for Spain, too. Recalled to the national team by his old club coach Enrique, he repaid the favour in spades, scoring three goals against Wales and England, respectively.
"At Dortmund, he has been liberated," says Bruna. "There is not the same pressure he suffered at Barca—the pressure to play and to score. Because if he didn't score, he felt he was failing. It is such a demanding club. With the pressure off, he is the old Alcacer from Valencia again—the guy who scores goals."
Borussia Dortmund Reportedly Target Man City's Brahim Diaz for January Transfer
Nov 1, 2018
OXFORD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Brahim Diaz of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Oxford United and Manchester City at Kassam Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Oxford, England. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
According to Sean Kearns of Metro, the Bundesliga side are ready to capitalise on Diaz's contract situation at City, with his deal set to expire at the end of the season. Kearns reported that little progress has been made regarding an extension because of Diaz's lack of minutes in the first team.
As such, Dortmund are said to be ready to make their play for the Spain youth international, having lured Jadon Sancho to the club in 2017 from the Etihad Stadium outfit.
According to Kearns, the fact that the youngster has made just 12 senior appearances for City has "led to Diaz contemplating his future at the club, and Metro.co.uk understands Dortmund and Real Madrid are both interested in signing him in January."
It's added that Dortmund have also sought the advice of Sancho regarding his former City team-mate, with the England international said to have provided a glowing review of the 19-year-old.
It's understandable if Diaz is concerned about his first-team prospects, as the youngster is a long way down the pecking order at City. The teenager can play in an advanced midfield position or in wide areas, arguably the two positions that are most stacked in Pep Guardiola's squad.
Despite his lack of minutes, the City manager spoke about Diaz recently and made it clear he believes the Spaniard has lots of potential:
The issue City have is getting him in the team. Out wide, Guardiola has Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez to call upon, while centrally Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden are all vying for places.
With that in mind, Diaz may look at Sancho and decide to move abroad. For the former City man, the decision to join Dortmund has expedited his development.
Sancho scored twice on Saturday for BVB in a 2-2 draw with Hertha Berlin, continuing his incredible start to the 2018-19 season. In terms of productivity, he is rivalling some of the best players on the continent:
10+ goals or assists in Europe's top five leagues this season:
L. Messi - 12 K. Mbappe - 12 Neymar - 11 N. Pepe - 11 C. Ronaldo - 11 E. Hazard - 10 S. Haller - 10 J. SANCHO - 10
Diaz will likely look at the development of players like Sancho and Reiss Nelson in Germany and be envious. At his age, he will want to start getting regular minutes and testing himself in one of European football's top five leagues.
Although there may be plenty at City who admire Diaz's ability, he's on the periphery of the squad, and it's tough to see that changing anytime soon. As such, Diaz appears poised to try his hand elsewhere.
