La Liga 2026/27 Masterclass: Tactical False Nines & Galáctico Power Struggles

Early morning on a Manhattan sidewalk, a shooting caught on surveillance video. It was an assassination style killing, and everybody saw it. A new podcast series from ABC Audio in 2020 goes inside this captivating case. I'm ABC News legal analyst Brian Buckmeyer. Listen to burden of proof Luigi Mangione, wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the latest edition of Football America. Alongside, Shaka Hazlop, Rovey Fies. I am Mauricio Pedroza, welcome to the show. Coming up, a big time La Liga preview. La Liga is underway already, but we're still waiting to see Real Madrid. Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, will go deep into how the players from the Americas will do this season. But we have to get things started in Barcelona. La Liga Champions will miss on 54 goals. Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, Marcos Rashford have led the club. Rovey is now a Barcelona player after Barça completer. A transfer fee with Manchester City for 77 million euros. Also, Joe Concedo has been now has landed in Barcelona. We'll return it to the club after fixing his deal in the Saudi League. But Rovey, the question, the big question is so far, no traditional number nine. And Rafinha seems to be the one who has played several roles, different roles with Barcelona under Hansi Flick. Is he the one, if there's no other traditional number nine coming before the transfer window closes? Will he be Barça's number nine? We have to wait and see what Flick has in mind, but indeed you got that option. And I think that if you have to choose between Anthony Gordon, Lamin Jamal and Rafinha, indeed I would go for Rafinha. First of all, because Anthony Gordon can play on the left as he proved in Newcastle. And I think that he still has to prove a lot of things in Spain. Like he has to adapt as soon as possible, but it could be his natural position. Lamin Jamal, he's in shape and he's getting back in shape again after the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico and winning the trophy. And I think he still has to be there for at least one or maybe two seasons. And for me, that's why Rafinha should be the ideal false nine. Because he's quick, he can play in between lines. He has experience and indeed he has the best goal of those three up in attack. Does not forget Shaq two seasons ago. He was fully fit, played a full season and scored over 30 goals in all comes. Does that make him the most reliable source of goalscoring for Barça so far? With all questions, there was talk earlier in the summer that Anthony Gordon could play, could fill in that number nine role. Anthony Gordon is quick. He's not the finisher that Rafinha is. So again, I'm going to echo Roger here. If you have a choice between Anthony Gordon and Rafinha to play that number nine and be freely assumed that Lamin Jamal will continue to operate on the right hand side as he always does as his best position. Rafinha is easily the better of the two choices. Maybe if you want, attempted to stay traditional, played football in England, but a bigger target man to play through the middle of that number nine. Anthony Gordon can fill in on occasion. But more times than not, against better opponents, I think Rafinha would be the preferred choice. Now, transfer windows still open. Barcelona, they now have made serious business for Anthony Gordon, for the Yemi, and now obviously Rodri. Is there still space available? Is there still some budget available for Barcelona to find a proper number nine? Because it seems like the Juliana Albert is option is no longer on the table for Barça. When you talk to Barça, they say, no, we are still going to try to try. One least try with Juliana Albert, and I looked to them like this. Everybody is going to face everybody. For real? How? How are you going to do it? The thing is that they told you that they got budget enough. But for me, this is like a game. It looks like they haven't limited budget to sign whoever. But the thing is that they have to face a Latica Madrid. A Latica Madrid doesn't really want to sell Juliana Albert and not even to Barcelona, because they would be reinforcing the direct rival for any Spanish trophy. So I think it's going to be almost impossible. I'm not going to say this is impossible, but 99% impossible for Barcelona. First of all, because I think this is going to be really, really, really expensive. If there is any last chance, because we remember that a Latica Madrid refused, rejected. A Real Madrid offer around 150 million euros. And I find this really hard to equal for Barcelona. So for me, it's almost down this. And the thing is that this morning I again call a Latica Madrid. And they again and again and again are saying the same message. No, he's not in sale and we're not going to sell into Barcelona. It even feels like it's not a matter of money. It's a matter of respect. Yeah, I fully agree with. I'd like to come to Madrid. Well, yes, for all intents and purposes, they're the third largest club in Spanish football. They want to be seen differently. Whether they see themselves differently or not, they want to be seen differently. And at the very least, they want to be respected as that. And do not want to be seen to be bullied over players for whatever reason it may be. So again, I'm a green Roger here. This is not about money. We could question Barcelona's ability to pull even more levers this summer. But a Latica Madrid have dug their heels in. And I think this is not about money. This is not about who you now have resists. Supposed want to leave. This is about them being respected. They felt disrespected and will not back down from that. Now, Jacques, let me say with you here. Cancer flick has been extremely, extremely smart the way he has managed his squad. But it seems like Rafinha, it's clearly a leader on the field, off the field. But also his performance has been fantastic, especially when he starts on that left wing, as opposed to La Minha Mal. If you take him out of that spot, just because you have to fill the number nine position, are you removing Rafinha from the place that he is the most dangerous at? Yes, you are. Yes, you are. Rafinha, for me, is at his best on that left-hand side for Barcelona to provide balance to La Minha Mal, on the right-hand side. You have a finisher like you've had in Leverdowski last couple of seasons. That's when I think you've seen the best of Barcelona. Now, given any number of circumstances, they have to make do, I think. They'll have to make do with what they have in the squad this season. Rafinha has shown that he can play on that left, he can play on the right, he can play through the middle, he can sit in behind and play in that hole as a ten-roll. And be just about as effective in any one of those positions. Now, you look at the squad, you look at what options there may be. There's got a Danny Armour, got a Fermin Lopez, got Rooney to come in. You look at those, you look at those, almost can play in the ten. The others you want to feel are more squad players and need a different rotation in what may be a Front 3 or Front 4. That means, as we discussed before, I think Rafinha would be tasked with playing as at number 9. The goal scorer for, or the goal geter for Bassa. Can I ask you both a question? Of course. Because there was a part of the transfer market where FC Barcelona people, according to my sources, they were debating inside the club one option. That it was, okay, can we sell Rafinha and get Juliana Álvarez? And that was an interesting debate inside Barcelona, because they were thinking about this, that Shaka was just saying, which I find it really interesting. But at the same time, they were saying, yeah, who's going to be better for us now? To win Champions League trophy, which is now the main target for Barcelona. Juliana Álvarez or Rafinha? Production on the field could be equal. But I go back to what Rafinha means to that dressing player. He's leadership skills. And it's not only the way I see it, it is the way Hansi Flick has expressed it. Do you guys remember a game last season? Barcelona ended up winning. But Hansi Flick's body language was devastated. The one player that approached him to comfort him, it was Rafinha. And Hansi Flick then explained how well they worked together and the relationship that they have and the way it works. I think Rafinha is crucial to this Barcelona success. Even though Juliana Álvarez is a fantastic player. Now, the other option, because a lot of people see a parallel between Lionel Messi's career trajectory and Lamine Yamal's. Messi also started on the right wing. And then transition to a false nine spot where he became world class. Historic. Is it too soon to ask Lamine Yamal to go on change positions and start playing on a different role? Because from what we hear from our insiders is that he really wants to do that. He really wants to become that false nine for Barcelona. I'd say yes. In that, leave Lamine Yamal where he is. Out on that right, has that very continue to be effective. I think as he grows in the game, as he starts his understanding gets better. His kind of maturity and impact in the team gets better. He will start to drift inside naturally, as Lino Messi did. And then you figure you realize, okay, now we have to figure out how we kind of plug those gaps that Lamine Yamal leaves when he drifting from that side. I'm not moving to Lamine Yamal right now. Yeah. He'll move himself. We'll figure out as a team how we adapt to suit. The one final thing I said about this role that you'll see if you agree is the best club in the world right now, PSG. They don't play with a set number nine. No. It's very fluid. Spain. The world champions. Oyer Sabal is the number nine. But is he a pure number nine? He's not. So why couldn't Barcelona try to follow that and play with a traditional proper number nine? I understand. But first of all, you don't have Lucenrique. And secondly, you don't have Cabaret Scalia. You don't have Dembele. You don't... I mean, powerful. The D.R. at the PSG in that attacking line is just incredible. So that's why I think PSG are far, far away about Barcelona in that term. I also think that the two... Well, international football and, well, legal for PSG are shorter tournament formats. In that, international football, but eight games and you want to work up, PSG are going to win the league. They barely play their starters in the league in all honesty. They are judged on the Champions League. Again, shorter format to what we're used to in a league format where you're playing anywhere between 36 and 40 games. I just feel the ask is different in those circumstances. And yes, they have been successes. Barcelona has had very successful seasons with a force nine. Those are the anomalies. Yeah, that's the exception to the rule. All right, let's go to the other side. Let's take a look at Real Madrid's transfer window so far. It's been seven years since the club spent that much money on a single transfer window. Yan Yomande's fee is the highest. Los Blancos have ever paid for a player. So let's stay with the way Real Madrid they have handled the transfer window. Shaka, that's a lot of star player. That's a loaded dress room. Can you have too many star players in a team like it seems like Real Madrid they do now? For most teams that say yes. For Real Madrid they say no. Real Madrid's foundations are built on bringing in star players and getting them to fit, making it work. And while it hasn't for the last couple of seasons, I think the spending is reflected on that. That they did too. Many regain their title, at least at the top of Spanish football and in European football. I think it takes another seasonal two to fully gel, to fully come together for them. But if there's one club that can handle this kind of spending, handle this kind of star power, within the same dress room, it's Real Madrid. As a matter of fact, I think that was kind of the primary gyro behind bringing Jose Mourinho back. You've seen a disconnect with some of those players within that dressing room. Mourinho knows that dressing room. He's been there, done it. He's been asked to come back and do it all over again. Now, Madrid with Diomandé, the expectation is that he will start. I mean, when you pay 125 million years for a player, he will definitely start on that right hand side wing. It's not coincidence that the one player in our graphic wearing a different collar on his jersey is Rodrigo. With Diomandé in is Rodrigo the odd man out. Rodrigo goes out. Nicely done. That's why I'm here. That's why yes. Awesome. He's a pity because he's a... Can't say that in Spanish or not or nunca. I know it. I was seeing on that. You were seeing on that for a long time. It's a pity because Rodrigo goes. He was so important for Real Madrid locker room in the recent seasons. Now, I won't really expect it down from the outside, but he's believed me really important in that locker room. But the thing is that Real Madrid never waits for anyone. And now he's injured. We don't really know how he's going to recover. We don't really know how long he takes to be in shape again. And when you got someone like Diomandé, we don't really know how Diomandé will adapt to Real Madrid. We don't really know how he's going to fit in these new Jose Mourinho's style. So that is why both options for Mourinho indeed Diomandé is going to start. Because when you pay 125 plus 10 more in items, he's going to play and you are forced to start with Diomandé. But the thing is that we remember what happened last season with Mastantoano. It was going to be the one to watch and suddenly one year after he's alone to Fiorentina. So you have to wait. And what people inside Madrid tell you is that they have to wait. Don't press him a lot. That is why he's going to share the attack in life with Benifio San in Bate, well experienced players and they need to wait. But indeed, the one who's going out is Rodrigo. Well, he played the attack. I was about to say, but it doesn't really bother Rodrigo. Let's be honest. It seems like for the majority of his time at Real Madrid, he's always been seen as the odd mano. As whenever Real Madrid are linked with an attacking player, Rodrigo is going to be the one that misses out. And yet still, season after season, he continues to prove his worth thirsty. Whether it's coming off the bench to start with or when he's given his opportunity to start, he just continues to prove his value. Engine right now, we see what he's like when he comes back. But this is not new territory for Rodrigo. And I don't think in phases in that much. I wonder how patient Jose Mourinho is going to be with Dio Mandela. Here's why. Number one, the fee. Highest fee ever paid by Real Madrid for a player. But the expectation with Jose Mourinho is that he will start to deliver results as soon as possible. Would that be Rodrigo's best chance? That Dio Mandela doesn't really add that quick to La Liga. Doesn't really add that quick to playing for Real Madrid. I mean, it's not the same to play for a high school in Florida and then play for Leganes. And then go play for Erbe Leipzig, then to play for the biggest club in the world. So Rodrigo has been there. And when his number has been called in specific occasion, he has delivered. So will he have to be patient as you said? He has to, he's been suffering. He has to endure a lot. Would now has to be patient and maybe find that window shack. Would Dio Mandela would not be the player of the Real Madrid expecting to be? Absolutely. And again, Rodrigo has been patient for so much of his career certainly at Barcelona. I don't think that phases them. And yes, they, of course, will be question marks over Yandeo Mandela simply because we've not seen him in a real Madrid shit. Not in meaningful competition. We know who can end up is, we know who's going to score goals in La Liga. You can almost guarantee that again this season. You know who finishes is. You understand his importance to this team. You can guarantee that again this season. Dio Mandela, of course, is coming in as an unknown quantity. At least in a Real Madrid shit. That's a very heavy shit to carry, especially without price tag. And again, for me, Rodrigo has been there, seen there, seen it. Waited for his opportunities and made them count. And I don't see this as being different. I don't see this. If he comes back to full fitness, exactly the player he was 12 months ago. I don't see this waiting game that he will be asked to play as being an issue for Rodrigo. But it does feel like this is the last season that Rodrigo will have to see either can he become a regular for Real Madrid or maybe he makes a move. Vinicius is obviously not new signing, but there was speculation surrounding. He's exit from Real Madrid. He extended his contract and we see that the way the club has been trying to link Vinny with Killian Mbappe. With Mbappe, that's his heat map. Without Killian Mbappe, it's a different thing. Now, Rodrigo, if this is going to work, if Vinny and Mbappe are going to work together, it's been two years now. And it hasn't really clicked so far. Will it depend on a fresh, newly signed, re-signed Vinny or will it depend on Giusem Orenio's tactics? I got a third option. It will depend on Killian Mbappe. Is he going to play for Mbappe FC or he's going to play for Real Madrid FC? That is my big question mark. And I think that that should be Mbappe's question mark at the same time. If I were in Mbappe, I got it clear. I would sit down in the locker room with both of them and I would tell them I need you both to defend. And if you don't defend at the same time, try to turn into yourselves. And the first one, OK, you and Mbappe. The next one, Vinicius, but they need some balance. That is the most important thing in Real Madrid. You can lie that to me. I need to do a word. Yeah, but we said we could try it with Cabaret Scaliat and it worked. With Mbappe, and it worked. No with Mbappe, but if he wants to win the Champions League because he hasn't won any Champions League title, he needs to do something different. And he has to work harder because if not, he's going to be lost. Who's at fault that it hasn't worked together between Vinicius and Mbappe? I'm not sure who you put the blame on there because you kind of saw this coming. You know where Kline Mbappe likes to play, whether for PSG for France. You understood how much it overlapped on Vinicius. And his preferred kind of channels to run into. And the big question, man, from the time Kline Mbappe signed for Real Madrid, to be asked of Carlo Ancelotti was, how do you make these two work? Given the fact that even if you play Kline Mbappe through the middle, as that Hit Mbappe demonstrated, he has this natural pension to drink drips of salt on the left hand side. Whereas Vinicius plays on that left hand side and wants room to run and defend us, to go one-on-one with defenders. Carlo Ancelotti couldn't get it right. Javier Lanzo couldn't get it right. José Moreno is a very big ask at this point in getting that right. Now, to Roger's point here, in asking both of these to defend, when you say you can get them to defend, and they've shown they can defend, not track the winger back to the edge of their own 18-yard box or anything of the sword, but if at least you provide some direction. I thought you saw that vision of Kline Mbappe in a French this summer, not tracking the centre back to top of his own box, but at least putting his body there. You want to show the team down the left hand side for argument and say, how he immediately impacts that from the front. Now, you get them to play those roles at least defending in the top half of the park. I think you get the best vision of Mbappe. On this debate, I think there's something that we should keep clear. And Real Madrid, Vinicius has already won two Champions League titles. Yeah. And he was important in both of them. How many Champions League titles, how many titles has Kline Mbappe won with Real Madrid so far? Not so far. Nothing. And that is... Well, there is a red eye couple of them. Oh, yeah. Or for that one. Yeah, there are margamios. But that is something to keep in mind, because if Mbappe wants to keep winning trophies like he used to do in PSG, he has to change his mind. To that point, though, I would say Kline Mbappe scored 40-plus goals in his first season. Right? And the reason why he's there is to score goals. Is he the one to blame for Real Madrid not winning titles the last two seasons? I don't know. But I am the one who believes that Jose Mourinho has what he takes to make this work. If Jose Mourinho cannot make this work, then feels like nobody would make this work. You know what also has to do with Jose Mourinho? He has to bring peace between Federico Azerre and Shomini. Remember how these two last season, you know, they had like a fist fight in the dressing room. Now they've been playing together in the midfield of Real Madrid. Valverde, this is his ninth season at Real Madrid. He's one of the captains. He will play most of the games as captain for Real Madrid. And he still is one of the best players on the team. How crucial will it be for Real Madrid's success to find the right place? The right spot for Federico Valverde to succeed. Absolutely vital. And I see that as a big fan of Federico Valverde. I have him in every single team, every single time. As a midfielder, you could make arguments for him to play. And right back, as he did for Long Spence for Real Madrid last season, I think he is that important. Not just for his work, he had the ground that he covers. But I'm not sure that there's anybody else in that team who has a threat from distance that Federico Valverde has. That's an option to have. You have to play through that. Playing for Federico Valverde, understanding a threat from distance, allows more space through the middle, through the front, for the likes of Kellyanne and Bappy and Venetia's junior. I think Federico Valverde is certainly in terms of midfielders. The first name on the team sheet should be Fijuism Renew. And then the bigger question is, who fills those gaps around them? Is it now the mind, the thought of José Maurinho, that couple he's spare in the midfield is Shomini and Valverde? That's what it looks so far, right? Yes, I mean, today that is the only question. I mean, the only option that José Maurinho has, if by the end of these transfer markets, some midfielder, some other midfielder arrives, I will doubt it. I'm sure that Valverde is going to start. And I'm sure that Shomini is going to start. I mean, the other spots of the midfield are the one in doubt if someone comes in, but if someone, I mean, Maurinho, this is 100% sure, because he wants another midfielder. Because he thinks and he understands that the team is lacking a proper midfielder in order to get the balance back in the recent years, since Stony Cross left. But the thing is that, I mean, he doesn't really have any option left now. So Valverde is going to start. Valverde is going to start. And Shomini is going to start. The only doubt is, are they going to tell each other? I was going to ask you real quick. Do your sources have you talked to your sources about? Is everything okay now between Valverde and Shomini? Yes, it is. It is. What are under the bridge? I mean, they're not best friends. I mean, as long as they don't fight again, they fight that dress. Yeah, we're going to be happy. Let me ask this question, Roger. You say too many, and Valverde starts. I'm pretty assuming they're belling and also starts. Yeah. So we have a front three. We have a midfielder. I'm assuming they're going to play a back four, or if they can find another midfielder, is there a change of formation? Is that what you're saying to expect? At the end of the day, I think it is going to be just like you said. I mean, Shomini and Valverde, and then, you know, the app front in the link in between the attack and land at the midfielder, I think belling is going to play there. And there's no more options for voting. Yeah. Kind of being still there, but they're trying to find a way out. But not a silver? I think Bernardo Silva is going to be a rotation player, number 12. And Kamabinga to be honest, Maureen is not a big fan of Kamabinga, but this is a good chance for Kamabinga to change Maureen's thoughts. Yeah. Let's see what happens. All right, both Real Madrid and Barcelona will make their season debut this weekend. You can catch the action on ABC and ESPN. Real Madrid will play at Espanyol and Barcelona. On Sunday, we'll play at Elcha Coverage or Vote Matches at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Moving on, Spider-Man is one of the blockbusters of the summer. Another Spider-Man is Stari. He's very own drama. Juliana Álvarez is still a Athletico de Madrid player after making extremely public his wish of making a move to Barcelona. Álvarez and Simeone already had a tough talk where Simeone told his player that the board have made their decision very clear. He's not for sale, especially not for Barcelona. So at this point, Rodríguez, with what we know and still want pending conversation between Hilmarín and Juliana Álvarez, is there a way in which Juliana Álvarez could still land in Barcelona? To be honest, according to my Athletico de Madrid sources, they say no, no, no, no. They don't want to sell. So clear. And Álvarez, first of all, because they invested a lot of money on Juliana Álvarez, and secondly, because they don't really see any proper replacement on the transfer market. And thirdly, because they understand the Barcelona didn't do the best job on these signings. So they consider that it was a lack of respect from Barcelona to a Athletico de Madrid. They want to show the world that a Athletico de Madrid has changed and now with the new investment fund that just came in from the United States, Apollo. And they want to show the new investment investors that they are a big team in Europe, so that's why they're not going to sell Juliana Álvarez. This is wall, Athletico de Madrid sources are telling me even this morning. But when you talk to Juliana Álvarez and Torrej, they say to you, yes, this is the actual situation, but they do believe that they're going to be a final light at the end of the tunnel, at the end of the transfer market, that could be a little option for Juliana Álvarez to leave a Athletico de Madrid. They find it really difficult and almost impossible, but they think this is going to be a last chance for Juliana Álvarez to join Barcelona. It's been said when we have sagas like this, as a club, you don't want to have a player that could not see his dream fulfilled. Juliana Álvarez said his dream was to play for Barcelona. Some might say you don't want a player like that in your roster to start the season, or even to play a full season. But as we've said from Brodery sources, other ESPN insider sources, Juliana Álvarez had a conversation with his teammates. Is this a fixable situation between Juliana Álvarez? If you were his teammate, and you would be inside that dressing room, how do you think teammates would handle something like this? How hard is it? I don't think players are at all bothered by this. The business is only one hand very cutthroat. You understand that. And all you care about is results. Juliana Álvarez scores a couple of goals. Even the fans kind of rewound to him. That's a difficult task. I know. But from a player's perspective, you understand that there's always a lot going on behind the scenes, whether it's transfer speculation, whether you want old and you aren't able to get out as we're having with Juliana Álvarez, or that is just a part of the business. And I don't think anybody is bothered by it at all. What's your best guess? What's going to happen? Because Atlético de Madrid has been very clear, as you said, we're not going to sell Juliana Álvarez to Barcelona, but they are very specific. Not to Barcelona. He's a chance that he would be on the move to a different club. Or do you see, like, the best chance right now, is that he stays at Atlético de Madrid. I think he's going to stay first of all, because he wants to fulfill in some future time. Juliana Álvarez wants to fulfill his dream for Barcelona. So that is why he's going to stay, because if he signs for, imagine, art and art or PSG, he's going to have that closed door. And I think that if he stays one more season, and let's go to Madrid, that's not really matter if he plays well, if he succeeds or if he fails. At the end of the next season, he's going to have the chance again to join Barcelona. So if he goes to Premier League or PSG or whoever team, I think it's going to be much more difficult and those doors are going to be closed for sure. Yeah, this is not easy, because he still has four years left on his current deal with Atlético de Madrid. Johnny Cardoso, he is back after recovering from ankle surgery. He missed the World Cup because of that injury. He missed game time three times last season due to injuries. He played 30 games in all comps. Shaq, can he make his way back into becoming a regular starter at Atlético de Madrid? I'm not too sure. I'll be honest. Well, 12 stars last season, something of the short. They've spent money. There's the summer mortar and leak coming in, both coming in for sizable sums, sizable sums for Atlético de Madrid. I just feel that that knocks Johnny Cardoso down the pecking order even more. Second season in, and maybe one of those two players between Morton and leak and don't settle as well as he would hope. But right now, all things have been equal. I just do not see Cardoso even matching that 12 stars. Well, he was fit. He was playing. He's a really important game time. What was the feeling inside Atlético de Madrid regarding Johnny Cardoso? Was Jolosumeone happy with him? Were they satisfied with what they saw from Johnny Cardoso on the field? He was delighted by Johnny Cardoso. He's in love with Johnny Cardoso. And I'm sure that this season is going to make that step ahead in order to be a proper Atlético de Madrid starter. I'm sure. Because last season he was very regular. I mean, the performances because of those injuries that he's been through. But this season, I think he's fully convinced that even if he has to sacrifice something else, he's going to bet on Atlético de Madrid. He's going to prioritize Atlético de Madrid even above United States soccer team. I'm sure. I'm sure about that. And this is something that Simon really likes. And this is something that Simon really values. Because he was injured and he missed World Cup because he forced with a electrical imagery. And that is something that for Simon, he wants fighters. And he fought for him. And that is something that is in Simon's mind. Yeah, there's two things that are very important for Diego Pablo Simon, as a manager, once as Rodriguez, if you're a fighter and if you're loyal. And the effort that Johnny Cardoso put to try to stay on the field when Atlético de Madrid was still competing to stay alive in the Champions League, trying to make it late run in La Liga. They made the Copa del Rey final as well. Does that help Johnny Cardoso in terms of perception when there's a small, even a small window that he would see some important game time? Absolutely. It does help in terms of perception. No question, especially given this manager and this team. My concern is, I thought that even when he put together a decent run of games, performance is well a bit inconsistent. And maybe you could look at the injuries as being the reasons for that. But performance is started slowly. Performance is even when he settled in. Performance is still inconsistent. And then while we aren't talking, we're 145 or whatever it is. Real Madrid player for Diego Mandi, Atlético de Madrid brings in two midfielders at the substantial cost for them. You just wonder how that plays out in terms of a hierarchy or a pecking order maybe is a better tune for it. Speaking of Atlético de Madrid's midfield, there's another name that will have to fight to see some game time. And that's Oved Bargas. It is a loaded Atlético de Madrid midfield as Shaq said. Oved started four of the last five league games for Atlético last season, played in three World Cup games for Mexico. Rodrigo, how do you see his chances? And is his best shot staying at Atlético de Madrid or maybe trying to find a loan deal that gives him some more flexibility in terms of playing time, even if it's still in La Liga? I think it's going to be up to Atlético de Madrid's sporting direction. Because when we reported last week that he has three good options on the table to exit on loan for this season, we remember Betis, Valencia and Hitáfe. This is not sure that Atlético de Madrid lets him out because, first of all, as Shaq mentioned, they get an overbooking position that midfield with six people the same or less profile. So one of them has to be out. And that one should be in between Rodrigo Mendoza, he came from Elte, and we're seeing the Poke Barrios, Cardoso, Betbargas, Rodrigo Mendoza, and the thing is in between Rodrigo Mendoza and Oved Bargas. Rodrigo Mendoza's profile, I think, is more attacking because he's more like the kind of link between the midfield and the attacking line. And I think Oved Bargas proved last season that he can play quality minutes with Atlético de Madrid. This is a player that really likes, Simeone really likes Oved Bargas. But the important is not going to be the same for Johnny Cardoso down for Oved Bargas. An exit could be happening in the next week, but it's not 100% sure. But if I were Oved Bargas, indeed if I were Oved Bargas, I would leave Atlético de Madrid trying to find more minutes because in Betis, they're going to play Champions League. Valencia is going to be a start at 100%, Hitáfe is going to start. But indeed, if you stay in Atlético de Madrid, you're going to improve, but you're not going to play those minutes. And it seems like a win-win situation for Oved because he's still a very young player. It will be really, really hard to make a regular roster spot with Atlético de Madrid. But also for Atlético de Madrid, you invested in this young player. You're success does not depend on Oved Bargas right now. Why not give him the chance to perform with a different club to see more minutes and then become a better player, even if it's playing at Betis Valencia or Hitáfe? I think that's best for Oved Bargas, that's better for Atlético de Madrid, and that's best for whichever club he joins. And I like the list that Roger gives there because those will be three teams that will be competing not for the first or second, or the third at top of La Liga, but we'll have their eyes set on European football, quite frankly European football, indeed Betis playing in Champions League football. At his age of 21 years old, having significant minutes in meaningful competition is the best thing for Vargas at this point. So as I say, you take the next week or two whatever is left in the transfer window and you work on getting him that meaningful move. Yeah, let's see what happens between now and the end of August when the transfer window closes. Atlético de Madrid plays on Wednesday, the first game they will host Malaga. Malaga's back in first division La Liga, coverage begins at 2.30pm Eastern time on ESPN Plus, catch the game in Spanish also on ESPN Deportes. Peregrino Matarazzo made a name for himself at Real Sociedad last season. He took over 18 that was fighting to stay away from relegation spots and ended up beating Atlético de Madrid to win La Copa del Rey and qualifying for European competition. Now, it's a new season, not really any signings. What's the real expectation for Real Sociedad and Peregrino Matarazzo in this upcoming season, Shaka? Well, to improve on the 10th-3th finish and I think threatening those European spots. They'll be playing European football because of the Copa del Rey win and you want to continue to build on that. You look at their finish and you look at those teams around them and their own summer signings. Nobody really had a summer to suggest that they automatically leapfrog, right? I think building on that finish, threatening European places is or should be their focus this season. It was a hot start for Peregrino ahead of Real Sociedad and then between playing Copa del Rey, quarters, sem finals and then the final run in La Liga was not the best, as Shaka said. They ended up 10th in the table still. Fantastic job by Peregrino Matarazzo. What's the expectation and what kind of performance he delivered that really created a really good press around him in Spain? I was looking to Carlos Valera some weeks ago and he replied me, we want to compete and we want to enjoy. Just like the second half of last season and that is something important because they're going to play for competition this year. And since they don't have big signings, this is going to be really hard for Real Sociedad because they're going to play Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona and Real Madrid. They're going to play Copa del Rey. They're going to be Europe and they're going to fight with the same squad 99% than last year in La Liga for those European spots. I think they're ready for fighting for that European spots by the end of next season but the thing is that you have to be calm down and indeed you get enjoy. But at the end of the day what Real Sociedad is doing is that okay we don't have big signings as some previous seasons but we bet everything first of all on Matarazzo because he showed us that he's a really really good coach and secondly on the player's academy. On that growth of the player's academy like Gorotsategi or Torrientes or some people like that because they are meant to be grown after Matarazzo's arrival. What if he did right? Because the team was really struggling. And it feels like his impact was immediate. The team didn't lose in the first 10 games that they played. Number one, number two, made a run and won Copa del Rey beating Atlético de Madrid. How do you have an impact so quick, so good? I know quite a few managers who want to know exactly that. I think Matarazzo comes in, gives his team personality. He's a big personality. I think he's also kind of humble behind that. So I love this team to be their best selves. He didn't make himself the star. As much as he was the leader. I thought everything he did, he got it absolutely right in allowing this team to be the best version of themselves. Challenge No, though. You said that by that high as you did last season. How do you know replicate that? How do you keep building on those successes of the last season? Top four seems like a big ask, like a stretch. What about top six? They could be there. They could be fighting for there. I mean, if you compare Real Sothea to some other big, big Spanish gloves, you can compare Real Sothea to be real. You can compare them to Atlético de Madrid. Even Betis are investing a lot of money. And, you know, I get Real Sothea's squad here and you are watching how only Alex Remino is 30 or older because he's 31 years older. And the other one, he's a goalkeeper. Yeah, it's not his respect to goalkeepers. He's not an attack. Never is. And the other, the oldest guy alongside Remino is Oliro Thola. He's 30 years old and he's injured. The rest are under 30 years old. And that proves that they are a really, really young, young team. And they have to grow, but you can't compare or even better. You can't tell them you got to win. You got to get there 100% when you are competing with people like Betis. Remember how a lot of money they invested Betis on Anthony, for example. They couldn't be out there in that league, but they can fight for that. Speaking of Real Betis, Rodrí, this is one special for you. You're going to like it. After making the move from Club America, Alvaro Fidel, he played 13 games with Aberdee Blanco. Made the World Cup roster for Mexico. Now set to start his first full season in La Liga. Remember, he didn't play for Real Madrid in first division when he made the move to Club America. Fidelgo joins a deep Latin American crew at Betis. We'll take a look at the names of those players. Fidelgo had ups and downs, but take a look at this list. Fidelgo, Cucho Hernández, Giovanni Lochelso, who's been a long time there. Valentin Gomez, Facundo Bernal, Anthony Nelson de Osa, Junior Firpo, Natan and Gonzalo Petit. You know Manuel Pellegrini also from Chile. You know the manager, Rodrí, really well. And Manuel Pellegrini is one of those managers then, that when he puts his trust in you, you will play a lot. But if you cross him just once, you may never play again for him. And he really has a big belief in these Latin American players. How crucial are they for Betis' success on the Manuel Pellegrini? I mean, for me, they are crucial. 100% because Pellegrini, as you mentioned, he's a very old school coach. But at the same time, he's a very talented coach. I remember Sergio Canales saying, that doesn't really matter. What do you think about Pellegrini? Betis will never find a better coach than the Chilean. So, you know, he trusts a lot in South American talent. He knows perfectly how the market is. Alongside Manufajardo's fortune director, they know perfectly how these markets work and how these players should be handled. And in the case, for example, in Facundo Bernal or Álvaro Fidelgo, they've been following them for a lot of time. So that's why when they do a movement like those, they do it because they are fully convinced that they can keep in feeding in Betis' tacticals as soon as possible. We saw that with Álvaro Fidelgo last year when he landed in Sevilla. The first two games were just delighted for him. Then we get to be honest and he disappeared, but at the same time, they need a lot of players in order to compete for Champions League because they're going to play a lot of big trophies next season. They finished fifth last season. Exactly. That means they will play Champions League football this upcoming year. But the priority seems to be again in La Liga. Similar thing happened to be Yarréa last season, where the Qualified for Champions League really struggled at the European level. But we're able to sustain that level, finish third and we know what financially it means for these teams to make Champions League competition. Do you see Real Betis with this roster making again a run to finish in the top five, top four of La Liga? In La Liga, yes. In La Liga, yes. Maybe they don't do as Valencia did in Champions League. Maybe they compete a little bit more, but the focus will always be and should always be in the league. But just not sure that teams, scores like Betis, can compete at the highest level in both those competitions at the same time. I will always advocate for the league. That's a bread and butter. What you get from it in terms of Champions League or any European competition. That's to be added on top, but the league will always be focused. And I think Betis, that will again be their report of season. That can distract the squad because if you ask inside the club, what competition would you prefer? Would you prioritize Manuel Pellegrini and his port into our action would say La Liga. We're going to make sure that we're going to end fourth, fifth position. But at the same time, you ask the players they're going to say, La Liga is beautiful. Champions League, this is my dream and this is going to be the first time that the 90% of the squad are going to play, are going to compete in the Champions League. So that's why I think it's going to be very important for the team to say to the squad, OK, we have to compete. We have to invest in more players in order to have more options because we can distract. Remember what happened to Gerona when they were there for the first time ever. And at the following year, they got relocated. It's really tough. But the way Manuel Pellegrini and Betis have built this roster, it is made for La Liga. If they can compete, if they can deliver a good performance in the Champions League, feel like a cherry on top of the cake that it would be a good year for Betis. Betis will play on Friday against Real Sociedad 3pm Eastern. You can catch every single game of La Liga on ESPN Plus. We talk about Bia Real. We also have, that means that we have. We want to talk about Takeda Bicanan and Alex Freeman both. Since some minutes already in Bia Real's draw against Rassing, that was already La Liga competition. Max, week number one with the Canadian Bicanan and Alex Freeman, the American. Who do you see getting more minutes to see Sushek? I just think his versatility, Sydney, in that from three years as attacking mid, gives him better options. For Freeman, I think those opportunities are far more limited. Moreenio, fourth on that right hand side, you could make the argument. He's third in the pecking order as it is. And as a result, I just don't see Freeman seeing the kind of minutes that Bicanan will get because of his versatility and his ability to play almost anywhere in that attack. Do you agree, Brody? Yeah, I should be Bicanan because it's so important for Bia Real's attack that, you know, he was really important for Marthelino. I only have the doubt that he's going to rotate a little bit more because he knew what better he wants. Rick, physicality players have there. This is my only doubt, but I think that Bicanan should play much more than Freeman. Because we understand that Freeman is a really young guy still because he's only 22 years old. Bucanan is 27, but he's more adapted. He's really important. And the important to see that he has for Bia Real is much, much higher than the U.S. player. We saw Freeman during the World Cup when his team plays in the back three, he can play a certain way. When the team plays in the back four, the way Bia Real does, then the team, he can play in a different role. What is the best fit for him? I like him as that bright side of center back in all honesty in the back three. It's a completely different ask. It's not as simple as well. It's a three or four, one extra player. As one of these center backs, particularly on either flank, there's a lot more room for you to cover. There's a lot more understanding that has to go on between you and the other two. But Freeman is quick over the ground, reads the game well. I like him as that bright side of center back in a back three. In the back four, I find he's a little more limited, and it doesn't suit his skill sets as well. As you said, four, there's a set, started out, four missed some time last season due to injury. Again, if there's an opportunity for a young player, he got their late last season, those minutes are going to be crucial for Alex Freeman to leave a good impression at Villarreal and maybe see more minutes. But clearly, Tatian Buchanan has more of a name with Villarreal and we'll see the most minutes. We will see them on Sunday. Athletico de Madrid hosting Villarreal, coverage begins at 10-3 a.m. Eastern on ESPN2 and ESPN, the point is. All right, so far we have explored the possibilities. We've done some breaking down of the players representing the Americas in La Liga this season. So now it's time to crown the one. Who will be the MVP of the Americas in La Liga 2026, 2027? Several options. I think we've discussed every single one of these players. So, we'll start with you, Shaq. Who will be the MVP of the Americas in La Liga this year? Quick math, 10 options. I think there's only one winner in this. Prapinia, I expect Barcelona to go through in a row. The dominated Real Madrid during the course of the season while they figure things out on the shows of Merino. Captain's Amban, a lot of responsibility, whether he plays as a nine, as a ten, almost doesn't matter. I think Prapinia dominates the league, certainly in terms of players from the Americas. I always said he can play it on both wings. He can play as a false nine. There's a big chance he will actually play that role in the beginning of the season. Do goals matter in your consideration for crowning him as the MVP of the Americas? No, I still think Killian and Bapy will lead the league in terms of goalscored. It's about impact here. And I think Barcelona are favorites again to go through in a row. I think Prapinia, I kind of give everything that's been happening with William Alvarez, will he arrive won't he? Almost regardless. I think Prapinia will be key to Barcelona's successes, whether he plays as that nine, whether he plays alternate wing, whether he sits just behind of Julian Alvarez theoretically. I think Prapinia proves himself to be the man for Barcelona this season. All right, so Prapinia is a pick for Shakar Rodrí, what you got? Oh, big players here. I'm going to go for a midfield because he has international experience. He just landed in La Liga. I'm going to go for Alvaro Fidda. Oh! Hey, what are you doing? I should go for him because he's one of my best friends, but no. Hey, you're a big club, America fan. Indeed. Forget it. That's last second team after Realist Prapinia. Keep going. Yes. But I'm sorry for this, Alvaro. But I'm going for Denise's junior. Wow. He's going to be a brand new player. He's different indeed. Because he just renewed his contract. He's going to be more calm down in Madrid. He's going to have Maurinho. So he's going to be baked by a coach from the very beginning, not like last year, with Chabi Alonso. I think he's going to score more goals than last season because we remember how he performed last season. The second half of the season was really good for him, but the first half wasn't that good. So I think the beneath his junior is going to be my king of La Liga. So Shack associated his pick to Barcelona winning the league. Are you doing the same? Do you think Vinnie's impact will translate into Real Madrid taking the league away from Barcelona? It's about time for Real Madrid. Because after two years without winning any major trophy, they need to be out there. They've invested to be out there. They got not only, but they got the Oman de. They got, again, Mbappe, they signed, so good people at the back. So I do believe that Maurinho is going to make him. And Beningham, who had a great World Cup, has to be also the building. I'm from his first season at Real Madrid. Okay, so far we have one Barcelona player, one Real Madrid player. We are missing one Atlético de Madrid player and that's going to be my pick. With everything that has surrounded Juliana Álvarez, this has to be his season. Whether he makes the move and plays for Barcelona, all the Barcelona had to go through to sign him. Even if he stays at Atlético de Madrid, the way Atlético de Madrid put their foot forward, their best foot forward to keep Juliana Álvarez, that's a big commitment. And there's only one way to repay the way Atlético de Madrid has fought for him. And that's scoring big time. Last season it was not the best for Juliana Álvarez at La Liga level. He's wore some important goals during the Champions League campaign. But I feel that everything that has happened around him, you said it before, he has apologized to his teammates for the way his behaved. There's still time, there's still 12-13 days for the transfer window to close. Whether he stays at Atlético de Madrid or makes the move to Barcelona, this has to be the season for Juliana Álvarez. So he hasn't did play well last season, unsettling summer, while he may have apologized his teammates, the fans are a different ask altogether. You don't think that's disruptive to Juliana Álvarez? I think he's going to show his personality. I think he's going to show big character and big character players. You know what they do? They deliver on the field. And the only way, because I agree with you in terms of how the Atlético de Madrid fans will react the first time, he steps on that field. We'll know what to expect from the fans. There's only one way to make them change their mind and it's scoring goals. He has a good talent for him. Big time player are made. Big time players are made for big time challenges. All right. We'll wrap up this edition of Football America's next Thursday. We'll have an exclusive conversation with Chris Richards. You will not want to miss it. For sure. Brody, I'm Mal. Thank you so much for watching. This has been Football America's and we will see you on Thursday. Thank you.