Is Anyone Turning Up For Pre-Season Training?

Pre-season has started for most clubs across Europe, but it seems as if no one wants to turn up for it anymore!

It is vital for clubs that they get their pre-season right to get off to a good start in the league. When your best players turn up for training this usually helps a lot. However, it seems across Europe that some of the biggest players are choosing not to!

Antoine Griezmann

The French forward has been linked away with a move from Atletico for many years now. It appeared as though he would be joining Man United but Lukaku went instead. Since then Barcelona have been trying their best to get him. Earlier this season, Griezmann released a statement saying he would be leaving the club this summer.

Now we are into pre-season and Barcelona still haven’t agreed on a deal. Atletico have started training and their contract with Griezmann states he should be back by now. The sage continues and Paddy Power thinks the Frenchman will end up at Barcelona. He is priced at 1/18 to join but reports are suggesting they are struggling to afford the move. Griezmann to go nowhere is 10/1!

Neymar

It appears as though if you want to join Barcelona you just don’t turn up for training. Neymar left the Spanish club back in 2017 for €222 million, the biggest ever transfer fee. Since then it hasn’t gone as planned and he is now looking to leave the club.

Neymar has been away with Brazil at the Copa America and has stayed to do some pre-arranged charity work. PSG said they didn’t know about this but Neymar’s father said they did. Paddy Power thinks it’s going to be a close one as to where he goes. Neymar is 5/6 to stay, 7/5 to go Barcelona or 4/1 to go to Real Madrid who are looking to spend money.

Romelu Lukaku

His time at Man United has been up and down. He got off to a brilliant start at the club but has come under a lot of criticism from fans. Since Solskjaer arrived at the club he has found playing time limited with the manager preferring Rashford.

Inter Milan are said to be interested in the striker and Lukaku has always spoken about his desire to play in the Seria A. Lukaku was missing from training in Australia last night with the club saying he was doing “gym work”. It’s also being reported that Inter’s representatives have been in the UK this week to finalise a deal. He is 1/6 on Paddy Power to go to Inter, 9/2 for Juventus or 500/1 to go to Staines Town…

Laurent Koscielny

The final pre-season no show is Koscienly. The Arsenal captain has one year left on his contract at the club but has said he would like to return to France. Currently, Arsenal needs to keep him as their defence needs a lot of improvement.

However, when it came to travelling to the USA for a pre-season tour Koscienly was a no show. This is very poor from the captain of Arsenal and it looks as if he’ll get his wish now.