Capology @CapologyDB

⚖️ According to The Athletic, Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has resigned in opposition to plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Cordeiro, 70, had held the role for five years following a career in investment banking. He described the proposals as a bad deal for FIFA's member associations, football itself, and the sport's long-term future. FIFA announced plans to sell a significant minority stake in a new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprises, established to run major events including the World Cup and Club World Cup. The plans drew backlash from UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation, with UEFA threatening a World Cup boycott unless the proposals were abandoned. FIFA aims to sell one-fifth of the new entity to an investor group led by Thrive Eternal for 4.2 billion dollars, with proceeds distributed to participating member associations through a new funding scheme. Cordeiro argued FIFA already possesses substantial financial resources, citing 15 billion dollars in revenue generated during the 2022-2026 World Cup cycle, and questioned the rationale for selling a permanent stake in football's most valuable asset. Cordeiro also criticized the transparency of the process, raising questions about oversight, competitive bidding, and ultimate beneficiaries. UEFA, Concacaf, and the AFC formally rejected the proposals by Friday, though FIFA maintained it was proceeding with its plans while insisting no one was attempting to sell football itself. Cordeiro previously served as U.S. Soccer president between 2018 and 2020, resigning amid controversy during the women's national team's equal pay lawsuit. Following his departure, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham described Infantino as the wrong person to lead FIFA, calling the proposal outrageous. [Source: The Athletic] #FIFA #Infantino #WorldCup #Governance

⚪⚫ According to Sky Sport Italy, Kolo Muani's transfer to Juventus is now confirmed as a done deal, following a restructured formula in the latest negotiations between the clubs. The agreement includes a fixed fee of 38 million euros plus 12 million euros in bonuses, with the mandatory buy clause removed from the deal. According to Gianluca Di Marzio and Sky Sport Italy, the striker's salary has been set at 5.5 million euros net per year. [Source: Sky Sport Italy, Gianluca Di Marzio] #Juventus #KoloMuani #SerieA #Transfers

🔵 According to Nicolò Schira, Como are preparing to submit a new bid to Chelsea in the coming hours in an effort to sign Trevoh Chalobah. The club has prepared a contract worth 3.6 million euros per year through June 2031 for the defender. [Source: Nicolò Schira] #Como #Chalobah #Chelsea #Transfers

⚫🔵 According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, Fabrizio Romano and Nicolò Schira, Inter have officially extended Yann Bisseck's contract and are closing in on an agreement with rising striker Pio Esposito. Both players are set to earn around 3 million euros net per year with the club. The structure reflects higher salaries but lower amortization costs for the Italian champions. [Source: Sky Sport Italia, Fabrizio Romano, Nicolò Schira] #Inter #Bisseck #PioEsposito #SerieA

🟡🔴 According to Gazzetta dello Sport, AS Roma have officially confirmed John Galantic as the club's new Chief Executive Officer, two years after Lina Souloukou's departure from the role. Owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin announced the appointment, highlighting Galantic's leadership at major global companies and his prior board experience at both Roma and Ferrari during the Pallotta era. An American and Swiss citizen of Italian descent, Galantic has long identified as a Roma supporter, with the club emphasizing his understanding of the city and its fanbase. The appointment coincides with Roma's return to the Champions League and the recent launch of centenary celebrations that began on July 22. Born in Boston, Galantic built an extensive career in luxury and cosmetics leadership. He graduated from Tufts University and holds a master's degree from Harvard Business School. His professional path began at Procter & Gamble across Italy, the UK, and the United States, before moving to GlaxoSmithKline and later Coty Beauty, where he served as President of Coty Americas. He spent 16 years at Chanel, eventually becoming President and Chief Operating Officer, contributing to the brand's international expansion. After leaving Chanel in April 2023, Galantic joined the boards of Ferrari and Bacardi Limited. His most recent CEO role prior to Roma was at the Tod's Group, which he left on May 27, 2026. [Source: Gazzetta dello Sport] #ASRoma #JohnGalantic #SerieA #Governance

⚪⚫ According to Sky Sport Italy, Juventus continue their transfer market activity as they close in on completing the signing of Kerim Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen. The move follows the club's agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for Kolo Muani's return to Turin. Alajbegovic will earn 3 million euros net per year under his new contract. [Source: Sky Sport Italy] #Juventus #Alajbegovic #BayerLeverkusen #Transfers

⚖️ According to Calcio e Finanza, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has issued an ultimatum to the organization's 211 member federations over a proposed commercial company that would open ownership to private investors. Federations have until September 19 to accept the plan, valued at 20 billion dollars overall. Those agreeing would receive a 40 million dollar funding package from a 10 billion dollar total pool, while those declining would see their allocation cut by roughly 75%, down to 2.7 million dollars. The proposal caught most federations off guard. England's Football Association said it had no prior knowledge of the plan, while CONCACAF noted it only learned of the matter through press reports. European Football Clubs, chaired by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, voiced serious concern over the unilateral announcement, and players' union FifPro Europe warned of potential consequences for player welfare given the plan's development behind closed doors. [Source: Calcio e Finanza] #FIFA #Infantino #Football #Governance

🏦 According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter Milan have signed a new sleeve sponsorship deal with Spanish banking institution BBVA, reportedly valued at 8.5 million euros. The agreement makes it the most lucrative sleeve sponsorship deal in Serie A. [Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport] #Inter #BBVA #SerieA #Sponsorship

⚪🔵 According to Nicolò Schira, Lazio have expressed interest in West Ham striker Niclas Füllkrug, proposing a loan deal with an option to buy. The offered salary is approximately 1.5 million euros per year plus bonuses. [Source: Nicolò Schira] #Lazio #Fullkrug #WestHam #Transfers

💶 According to The Athletic, the German Bundesliga has held discussions with U.S. investment firm Apollo Sports Capital about a potential 1 billion euro loan. Representatives met in New York in June to discuss a 20-year loan framework guaranteed against the league's future domestic broadcasting earnings. Sources indicate the proposal did not stem from a tender process and would not involve any equity transfer. Any agreement would require approval from the 36 member clubs across both Bundesliga divisions, needing a two-thirds majority to pass. The discussions occur against the backdrop of Germany's 50+1 ownership rule, which mandates that club members retain majority voting rights, preventing external investors from gaining control. This structure has helped maintain affordable ticket prices and strong stadium atmospheres, while also limiting German clubs' financial competitiveness in European competition, with Bayern Munich as the notable exception, having won 13 of the last 14 league titles. This marks the third attempt at securing external investment at league level. A 2023 proposal to sell 12.5% of future broadcasting rights for 2 billion euros failed to gain sufficient support amid fan protests. A modified version proposing an 8% stake for 1 billion euros passed in December 2023 but was abandoned in February 2024 after widespread supporter demonstrations, including tennis balls and sweets thrown onto pitches, disrupted matches nationwide. Former Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, representing the league's executive board at the time, acknowledged the continuation of that process was no longer feasible given the circumstances. It remains unclear how funds from this new proposal would be allocated if approved. [Source: The Athletic] #Bundesliga #ApolloSports #Football #Investment

⚫🔵 According to multiple sources in Italy including Fabrizio Romano, Nicolò Schira, and Sky Sport Italia, Inter Milan have completed a free agency deal to sign John Stones. The move addresses Inter's need for an experienced defender following the departures of Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi. Stones will earn 4 million euros net per season under the agreement. Inter remains interested in Tottenham's Cuti Romero but are no longer under pressure to complete that deal following the Stones signing. The club's remaining transfer budget could instead be directed toward other targets, including a right-back and Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. [Source: Multiple Italian sources] #Inter #JohnStones #SerieA #Transfers

🟡🔴 According to Nicolò Schira, Santiago Castro is set to earn around 2.2 million euros net per year at AS Roma. The potential transfer fee for the player would be structured at 30 million euros plus 5 million in bonuses, along with a small percentage on any future sale. The contract would run until 2031. [Source: Nicolò Schira] #ASRoma #SantiagoCastro #SerieA #Transfers

🦊 According to the Financial Times, Leicester City's Thai owners are exploring a sale of the club a decade after its historic Premier League title. King Power, which has owned Leicester for over 15 years, has enlisted Citigroup bankers to identify potential buyers. Founder Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha acquired the club in 2010, guiding it to an unexpected Premier League title in 2016 under Claudio Ranieri. Following his death in 2018, control passed to his son Aiyawatt. The club has struggled since the pandemic, dropping from the Premier League to the Championship and now League One after a six-point deduction for breaching spending rules. Recent accounts showed losses of £71.1mn during the 2024-25 season, with owners converting £124mn in shareholder loans to equity last year. Stadium expansion plans have been paused, while King Power's core retail business has also suffered from reduced tourism to Thailand. The potential sale follows a broader slowdown in football club takeovers and comes alongside a separate report of investors seeking a stake in Liverpool valued above $6bn. [Source: Financial Times] #LeicesterCity #KingPower #PremierLeague #ClubOwnership

🇩🇪 According to Calcio e Finanza, Germany's football federation has officially presented Jurgen Klopp as the national team's new head coach, signing him through 2030, covering the next World Cup. Klopp departs Red Bull, where he served as Head of Global Football since January 2025. He stated he would step away without severance if the federation ever wanted him gone, and welcomed constructive criticism while asking that his family be left in peace. The former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager reportedly agreed to a contract worth 7 million euros annually, below both his Red Bull earnings of 10-12 million euros and his final Liverpool salary of 17.5 million euros. This places him as the second-highest-paid national team coach, behind only Carlo Ancelotti, who earns 10 million euros annually with Brazil. [Source: Calcio e Finanza] #Klopp #Germany #NationalTeam #Football

🟡 According to Nicolò Schira, Fenerbahçe have offered Rafael Leao a contract through 2030 worth 10 million euros per year plus 2 million in bonuses in an attempt to convince the forward to join the Turkish club. AC Milan are seeking between 50 and 60 million euros to sell the player, with talks now open between the parties. [Source: Nicolò Schira] #Fenerbahce #Leao #ACMilan #Transfers

🏟️ According to Calcio e Finanza, Fiorentina has submitted a project financing proposal to Florence's city hall for the second phase of renovation work at the Artemio Franchi stadium. The city council approved a directive acknowledging the proposal's launch while confirming Florence's bid to host Euro 2032 matches. The process now moves forward on two parallel tracks: technical evaluation of Fiorentina's proposal under Italy's stadium legislation, and continued efforts to secure Florence's place among host cities for the tournament. The preliminary services conference held its first session on July 14, triggering a 60-day evaluation period for the proposal's technical, administrative, financial, and management elements. This timeline extends past the July 31 deadline for submitting Euro 2032 candidacy documentation to the Italian Football Federation. To prevent delays affecting the European bid, the municipality has committed to covering the estimated 55 million euro funding gap if Fiorentina's proposal isn't declared of public interest, using measures already outlined in a June 2026 resolution. This guarantees financial coverage for the second phase regardless of the evaluation's outcome. City officials have been tasked with preparing all required documentation by July 31 for submission to the football federation and UEFA, which will remain confidential until the review process concludes. Securing Euro 2032 host status could also unlock additional funding designated for stadiums considered strategically important nationally, potentially supporting technology upgrades, skyboxes, and other facility improvements. [Source: Calcio e Finanza] #Fiorentina #Franchi #Euro2032 #StadiumDevelopment

🇳🇱 According to multiple European sources, Crysencio Summerville signed his contract with Al Hilal last night, with the 23-year-old winger set to earn up to 17-20 million euros net per year including incentive bonuses. #Summerville #AlHilal #WestHam #Transfers

🌐 According to BBC Sport, Jeff Bezos has reportedly been approached about joining a consortium led by Amit Bhatia that is exploring a strategic minority investment in Liverpool. The development follows news that Bhatia, backed by his father-in-law Lakshmi Mittal, was seeking to acquire a reported 30% stake in the club. Bhatia stepped down as a Queens Park Rangers director and co-owner after 18 years on Tuesday, a move seen as clearing the way for him to lead the investment group. Sources close to Bhatia declined to confirm Bezos's involvement, stating only that discussions had been held with multiple potential investors. Bezos, Amazon's founder and the world's fourth-richest person with an estimated net worth of $256.9bn, has previously come close to sports ownership without completing a deal, including exploring bids for the NFL's Washington Commanders in 2023 and the Seattle Seahawks. Unlike FSG's 2023 sale of a minority stake to Dynasty Equity, which helped offset pandemic losses and fund infrastructure projects, Liverpool currently sits in a strong financial position, having reported record revenues exceeding £700m in February and ranking as the highest-placed Premier League club in the Deloitte Football Money League. A deal with the Bhatia consortium would reportedly value the club at around £4.5bn. The potential investment comes amid broader changes at Liverpool, including a new head coach in Andoni Iraola, Michael Edwards stepping down as FSG's CEO of football, and sporting director Richard Hughes being linked with a move to Al Hilal. Anfield Wrap CEO Neil Atkinson noted that questions about motive are worth asking whenever wealthy individuals seek involvement in a Premier League club, adding that the underlying reasons can vary significantly between investors. [Source: BBC Sport] #Liverpool #Bezos #FSG #PremierLeague

🔄 According to reports, Luka Modric has put pen to paper on a fresh one-year deal with Milan, keeping him at the club through June 30, 2027, following the expiration of his previous contract at the end of June. That earlier agreement included an automatic renewal clause, activated only if both sides wished to continue together, but confirmation was pushed back due to the World Cup. Milan coach Ruben Amorim and owner Gerry Cardinale had both signaled confidence throughout that Modric would remain for the 2026/27 campaign. Financial terms remain unchanged from the prior contract, with the Croatian midfielder set to earn 3.5 million euros net per year. On Milan's books, this translates to a gross impact of nearly 6.5 million euros for the 2026/27 season. The extension is expected to mark what could be Modric's last year as a regular starter before winding down his playing career. #Modric #ACMilan #SerieA #ContractExtension

🏟️ According to Calcio e Finanza, the Municipality of Naples has approved the feasibility project for modernizing the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, positioning the city for its Euro 2032 candidacy. The Services Conference concluded positively, granting formal approval from all municipal services and external bodies involved in urban planning, environmental, safety, and mobility assessments. This allows Naples to meet international deadlines for its bid to become one of five Italian host cities co-organizing the tournament alongside Turkey. The approval follows an institutional process that began with the redevelopment masterplan submitted in April 2025, later supported by municipal resolutions covering the third ring restructuring and energy efficiency improvements. A key agreement between the Campania Region and Naples municipality, signed in April 2026, provided financing for strategic interventions at the stadium. Technical coordination between city offices, the Italian Football Federation, and the Euro 2032 Organizing Committee continued from July 2025 through June 2026. Infrastructure, mobility, and civil protection councilor Edoardo Cosenza confirmed the timeline remains on track, with the approved project and required documentation set to be submitted to the Italian Football Federation and UEFA by July 31. Following submission, mayor Gaetano Manfredi will present the project as technical work continues toward executive design and implementation, aimed at transforming the stadium into a modern, sustainable venue for international football. [Source: Calcio e Finanza] #Napoli #Maradona #Euro2032 #StadiumDevelopment