Gabriele Marcotti
marcotti.bsky.social
Gabriele Marcotti
@marcotti.bsky.social
ESPN Senior Writer and Corriere dello Sport Correspondent
One half of the Gab + Juls Show http://smarturl.it/gab-juls-show
"Leges sine Moribus vanae" - Proud Penn alumnus
Go BIRDS!
(That's not me in the profile pic, that's Paul Robeson)
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
Love to see these types of stories with genuine insight rather than the usual transfer gossip and churn
August 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
Things you should know about transfers and recruitment… from somebody who does this for a living…

www.espn.com/soccer/story...
From market rate to intermediaries, seven truths about the transfer market
Very few teams have the spending power and influence to keep up with the super-clubs, but there are plenty of ways teams like Genoa can keep pace. Here are seven such truths about the transfer window.
www.espn.com
August 28, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Things you should know about transfers and recruitment… from somebody who does this for a living…

www.espn.com/soccer/story...
From market rate to intermediaries, seven truths about the transfer market
Very few teams have the spending power and influence to keep up with the super-clubs, but there are plenty of ways teams like Genoa can keep pace. Here are seven such truths about the transfer window.
www.espn.com
August 28, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
Wrote about how FIFA's Art 17 helps explain Isak's trying to force a move so aggressively. Next June, he can simply walk out, likely for less than half than what NUFC want. What's more, they won't see the money for 18 to 24 months.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
The little-known FIFA rule that gives Isak all the leverage over Newcastle
You've probably seen coverage of the Alexander Isak transfer saga, but you are probably far less familiar with a little-known FIFA rule called Article 17. It could be the key to unlocking Isak's futur...
www.espn.com
August 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Wrote about how FIFA's Art 17 helps explain Isak's trying to force a move so aggressively. Next June, he can simply walk out, likely for less than half than what NUFC want. What's more, they won't see the money for 18 to 24 months.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
The little-known FIFA rule that gives Isak all the leverage over Newcastle
You've probably seen coverage of the Alexander Isak transfer saga, but you are probably far less familiar with a little-known FIFA rule called Article 17. It could be the key to unlocking Isak's futur...
www.espn.com
August 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Donnarumma, Ederson, Maignan... all top 10 GKs, all in prime, all 1 year from free agency w/out much buzz or desire to extend. Doesn't happen with other positions. Feel that - unlike with outfield players - clubs don't see much difference between great + very good
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Why are elite goalies like Donnarumma treated differently in the transfer market?
This summer is showing us, again, that being an elite goalkeeper doesn't measure up to other positions when it comes to the transfer window.
www.espn.com
August 2, 2025 at 2:57 PM
I agree, needless to say… why does Victor Osimhen keep getting overlooked? (Yet we get tons of Cunha, Mbeumo, Gyokeres, Sesko etc chatter…)
Think @marcotti.bsky.social makes a good point here. And it does at minimum bring up questions as to what is repelling leading sides from trying to sign him 🤔
June 17, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Yeah, I think PSG and Arsenal will struggle to match this game for sheer epic cinematics entertainment...
But go on, give it a go... given the way this UCL is panning out, anything is possible
May 6, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
NFL draft time so as per tradition it's the 4th annual Gab + Juls draft (2003-born). Previous top picks include Camavinga, Saka + Haaland.
1. Wirtz (G)
2. Musiala (J)
3. Bellingham (J)
4. Kerkez (G)
5. Sesko (G)
6. Cherki (J)
7. Antonio Silva (J)
8. Xavi Simons (G)
9. Balde (G)
10. Fermin Lopez (J)
April 24, 2025 at 8:49 PM
NFL draft time so as per tradition it's the 4th annual Gab + Juls draft (2003-born). Previous top picks include Camavinga, Saka + Haaland.
1. Wirtz (G)
2. Musiala (J)
3. Bellingham (J)
4. Kerkez (G)
5. Sesko (G)
6. Cherki (J)
7. Antonio Silva (J)
8. Xavi Simons (G)
9. Balde (G)
10. Fermin Lopez (J)
April 24, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
Mark Ogden and I play Arsenal DoF with our Keep or Dump, Gooner edition.
I’m a much bigger Havertz fan than he is. Decent money to spend, scope for a few big signings, but also some big contract extensions on the horizon.

t.co/nKAp6N6EtO
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44801626/arsenal-keep-dump-summer-transfers-mikel-arteta-kai-havertz-jorginho-thomas-partey
t.co
April 23, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
The road-rage killing looked like an open-and-shut case of self-defense. Except the shooter's phone was recording everything he said. 🧵
Police Say He Killed in Self-Defense. His Phone Tells Another Story.
Two drivers crossed paths on Highway 9, headed for trouble. One ended up dead, the other walked free, but there was much more to know.
www.wsj.com
April 24, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Mark Ogden and I play Arsenal DoF with our Keep or Dump, Gooner edition.
I’m a much bigger Havertz fan than he is. Decent money to spend, scope for a few big signings, but also some big contract extensions on the horizon.

t.co/nKAp6N6EtO
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44801626/arsenal-keep-dump-summer-transfers-mikel-arteta-kai-havertz-jorginho-thomas-partey
t.co
April 23, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Pulisic needs to prove himself… again. Does being a good egg hurt you sometimes?

www.espn.com/soccer/story...
February 19, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
Leicester City's main sponsor was declared bankrupt by a Curaçao court on 12 November, yet still operates both in the UK and abroad. How is this even possible? A pretty wild deep-dive into BC.GAME with @stevemenary.bsky.social for @josimarfootball.bsky.social.

josimarfootball.com/2024/11/25/f...
Fox News - josimarfootball.com
BC.GAME has been declared bankrupt after five gamblers who were owed more than 2 million dollars took them to court, but the crypto casino operator remains Leicester’s shirt sponsor.
josimarfootball.com
November 25, 2024 at 11:58 AM
Plus the whole notion of whether clubs can make money from producing content aimed at children…. Vinicius’ Cameroon roots… and Werder Bremen leaving X
🚨The new Gab&Juls Show has dropped! We discuss Pep Guardiola’s contract extension at City + Brazil, Amorim, R9, Paris FC, WUCL, San Marino, Gyokeres, Vieira, Argentina, Wales, Benin, Wilfried Nancy, Liverpool calendar & more!🎙️🔊
@marcotti.bsky.social @espnfc.bsky.social
November 22, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
In which I rank the most expensive (inflation-adjusted) U21 players between 1999 and 2022 and ask... was it worth it?
HITS INCLUDE: Sterling, Gvardiol, Rooney, Vinicuys
BUSTS INCLUDE: Joao Felix, Dembele, Fabio Silva, Pulisic, Martial et al.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
From Mbappé to Pulisic, which most expensive U21 soccer signings were hits?
ESPN looks at the 25 most expensive under-21 signings made from 1999 to 2002 to determine whether those players met or broke their ceiling, or failed to live up to the hype.
www.espn.com
November 18, 2024 at 6:08 PM
In which I rank the most expensive (inflation-adjusted) U21 players between 1999 and 2022 and ask... was it worth it?
HITS INCLUDE: Sterling, Gvardiol, Rooney, Vinicuys
BUSTS INCLUDE: Joao Felix, Dembele, Fabio Silva, Pulisic, Martial et al.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
From Mbappé to Pulisic, which most expensive U21 soccer signings were hits?
ESPN looks at the 25 most expensive under-21 signings made from 1999 to 2002 to determine whether those players met or broke their ceiling, or failed to live up to the hype.
www.espn.com
November 18, 2024 at 6:08 PM
🚨Gab&Juls Show has dropped! Julien Laurens + I talk Italy-France in Nations League + Germany, England, Ajax, CR7, Messi, Brazil, Neymar, Aitana, Textor, Haaland, Poch Olmo & more!🎙️🔊
Oh, and how Infantino's name ended up on Club World Cup trophy (twice)
@espnfc.bsky.social

smarturl.it/gab-juls-show
November 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Enjoyed recording this with @ginkers.bsky.social + his cousin...
November 18, 2024 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
It may be the international break, but we have another surprise bonus episode of the pod out today - and it's a bumper-length one as we chat with the one and only legendary calcio correspondent @marcotti.bsky.social!

Listen now: linktr.ee/rigore
Rigore! - Listen on Spotify - Linktree
View Rigore’s Linktree. Listen to their music on Spotify here.
linktr.ee
November 18, 2024 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Gabriele Marcotti
In The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, after hearing about a massive & deadly scapegoating, the narrator asks why the peasants didn't attack the landlords, their true enemies, & is told, "When your real enemies are too strong, you get weaker enemies," & every day I think about this & also see it
November 16, 2024 at 7:25 PM
The president of my Alma Mater resigned her post today 48 hours after a congressional hearing in which she said that whether or not “calling for genocide” is harassment is “context-dependent”.
So many better answers she could have given….
December 9, 2023 at 9:39 PM
Morning rainbow sorts to brighten everyone’s day…
November 10, 2023 at 8:20 AM
The new Gab + Juls show is up. Talking Manchester United (alas), but also Milan, Barca, City, Real Madrid, Arsenal and the rest of the Champions League...
Plus Nuno telling Benzema he's lazy...
smarturl.it/gab-juls-show
November 9, 2023 at 6:43 PM