While Argentina and Real Madrid won the World Cup and the Champions League, respectively, while Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland created headlines in 2022, there are already major plotlines in the works for 2023. Two of football’s most prominent clubs are expected to see a change in ownership, and several of the game’s top players will move to other teams. If you are looking for the top sports betting casinos of the new year then you are at the right place.
The sole important event on the men’s international calendar in 2023 will be the Asian Cup, which will be held in Qatar; however, the FIFA Women’s World Cup will award its winner in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.
What happens to Cristiano Ronaldo?
Since Manchester United terminated Ronaldo’s contract during the World Cup, the 37-year-old has been an unrestricted free agent and has been able to sign with any team. Although Ronaldo has been working out with his old side Real Madrid to keep in condition, he hasn’t yet revealed where he will play next.
Ronaldo’s most likely consequence is a move to Saudi Arabia, where Al Nassr of Riyadh has offered the star a very generous offer. Al Nassr is willing to offer Ronaldo £175 million annually to join the team.
When Ronaldo tried to push a transfer away from Manchester United in the summer, he underlined his desire to play in the Champions League. However, a move to Saudi Arabia would put an end to his chances of playing in a Champions League final. However, as things stand, it is doubtful that a major European team would make a play for him.
Another option is to transfer to MLS, although not even the glitzy squads in Los Angeles or Miami could match the money on offer in the Middle East. Make sure you check out 18bet!
Will Haaland make history in the PL?
Football predictions are seldom a sure thing, but if you want to make a safe wager for 2023, there’s probably nothing safer than picking Haaland to break the Premier League’s all-time scoring record.
The record for most goals scored in a Premier League season is shared by Andy Cole (Newcastle 1993–94) and Alan Shearer (Blackburn 1994–95), however, they did it during a season with 22 teams in the top league and 42 games instead of the current 20 teams and 38 games. Haaland, a forward for Manchester City, increased his total number of Premier League goals during Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Leeds. He did it in just 14 outings, making him the player to reach that mark the quickest ever.
The only thing that remains to be seen is how many goals Haaland will score; it seems probable that Cole and Shearer will no longer be included in the list of record holders in the coming weeks. Jimmy Greaves of Chelsea, who scored 41 goals in the 1960–1961 season, was the last player to surpass the 40-goal mark in England’s premier league. The Norway international will come next.
The two biggest and most storied clubs in the Premier League, Manchester United, and Liverpool, are both up for sale.
Are Liverpool and Man United getting owners?
Given that Chelsea was sold by former owner Roman Abramovich to an American consortium led by co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers Todd Boehly for £2.5 billion in May, with an additional £1.75 billion pledged for future investments, it is anticipated that United and Liverpool will fetch prices significantly higher than the Chelsea sale price. Additionally, the Glazer family, who owns United, believes they can raise more than £6 billion for the team, while the Fenway Sports Group, who owns Liverpool, is anticipated to want a sum greater than £4 billion for the six-time Champions League champions.
United and Liverpool’s selling prices are anticipated to increase due to the rarity value of two such illustrious and well-known teams being on the market, but sources claim that the Glazers’ asking price is overly ambitious. If United and Liverpool can’t find new owners who can match the extraordinary financial strength of two of their Premier League rivals, champions Manchester City (United Arab Emirates) and a rising Newcastle (Saudi Arabia), they fear slipping behind in the fight for the championship.
Will Mbappe stay at PSG?
Every transfer window comes to a Kylian Mbappe drama concerning his decision to join Real Madrid or remain at Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG successfully resisted Real’s strong interest in keeping Mbappe at Parc des Princes throughout the previous two summer transfer windows, and the Qatari-owned French champions were able to convince the 24-year-old to sign a three-year extension when his current term expired this summer. However, Mbappe has occasionally appeared disgruntled at PSG this season amid persistent rumors of his discontentment with the team and his desire to transfer to Madrid.
Mbappe’s PSG contract is allegedly valued at more than £540 million over three years, so Real would incur significant financial losses if they struck a deal to acquire him from Paris. However, Real will make a strong drive once more for Mbappe this time around after missing out on both Mbappe and Haaland last summer when they wanted both. So, this summer, anticipate another significant transfer battle.
Is there anything left for Messi?
Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30, meaning the 35-year-old may begin talks with teams in January about a free transfer move at the end of the season.
Messi has the option to extend his contract with PSG for an additional 12 months, and insiders claim that will most likely happen because PSG is keen to keep hold of the player who led Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar. But the president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta, has expressed openly his wish for Messi to return to Camp Nou and finish his playing career with the team where he had such amazing success.
Inter Miami has recently discussed a transfer to the Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2023 or 2024 with the Messi camp. Messi still has unfinished business in the European club game, so a transfer to MLS now looks improbable in the upcoming year. However, if he helps PSG win their first Champions League this season, that may change.
Nobody will ever be able to match PSG’s financial might, thus a move to MLS or a return to Barcelona appear to be at least 18 months away.
The Jude Bellingham race:
Jude Bellingham is expected to be the Haaland of 2023, placing Borussia Dortmund at the center of the largest summer transfer pursuit for the second year in a row.
Before Manchester City won the fight to recruit the striker by triggering his £51 million release clause at the German team last year, every big club in Europe attempted to get Haaland from Dortmund. Even though Bellingham was just 19 years old in Qatar in 2022, the same teams are already competing for the chance to sign him. Bellingham emerged from the 2022 World Cup as one of England’s stars of the competition.
The midfielder is currently being pursued by Liverpool, Manchester City, and Real Madrid, with Manchester United admitting they cannot compete for a player they came so close to securing when he left Birmingham City for Dortmund in 2020 as a 17-year-old.
According to insiders, Liverpool has been vying for Bellingham for more than a year. However, because Bellingham’s contract does not have an escape clause as Haaland’s did, Dortmund will likely want a transfer fee in excess of £120 million, which might edge Liverpool out of the race.
City and Real will be the last two again if it comes down to whatever club can pay the most sum, just as they were with Haaland. Don’t discount Liverpool, though. They have done so much research on Bellingham that it might still be crucial.
