Two weeks left until the buzzer sounds on the summer transfer window. Jones, Mora, Icardi, Leão, Moreira, and more—we are coming down the stretch, folks. Buckle up, because this deadline is packed with plot twists and game-changers.
Portuguese super-agent pulls off big moves for Milan and Roma
The mastermind behind the latest two blockbuster deals? Pure Portuguese star power. Super-agent Jorge Mendes completely took over the front office plays for Rodrigo Mora to Roma and Diego Moreira to AC Milan.
Mendes pulled the strings behind the scenes to land these two blue-chip prospects in Italy. He’s been the MVP for Milan’s offseason following the Gonçalo Ramos deal, and he’s been running point on Roma’s radar since July.
Fun fact: Mendes actually pitched Alejandro Garnacho to Roma first (who was totally down to sign), but Aston Villa swooped in with an easy-to-trigger buy mandate. Mendes then pivoted to Moreira, who ultimately landed in Milan.
Roma lands Rodrigo Mora, but they aren’t done shopping
Mendes officially got the Rodrigo Mora deal across the goal line in Rome. After a grueling 10-day negotiation grind, it’s a done deal: $27M (€25M) for a 50% stake. Porto holds the other half for now, but Roma holds the buyout option down the road.
The 19-year-old prodigy was on PSG’s radar last year and almost took a payday with Al-Ittihad, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini called his shot and brought the kid to Rome.
Roma is not done making moves yet. They are still searching the market for another winger—it comes down to Lyon’s Malick Fofana (personal terms already agreed) or Inter’s Luis Henrique (Inter wants to sell, but they still need to agree on contract numbers with the player)
AC Milan bags Diego Moreira. Does this trigger a Rafa Leão trade?
Meanwhile, Mendes is bringing Diego Moreira to Milan. The Belgian winger will sign a five-year contract worth $54M (€50M) guaranteed, plus another $16M–$17M in bonuses. Strasbourg also gets a high percentage of any future sale, after valuing him at $75M since July. Milan is spending heavily on one player, but it is a major victory—Moreira was wanted by many top clubs, has huge potential, and can make an immediate impact.
Keep an eye on this: Moreira’s arrival could trigger Rafa Leão’s departure. Galatasaray has been calling every day since July hoping for a deal, Saudi Arabian clubs are still interested, but rumors of a move to Roma are completely false.
The rest of the League: what are Inter, Napoli, and Lazio cooking?
Inter Milan’s front office isn’t done making moves after landing Djed Spence. GM Piero Ausilio is gearing up for another full-court press to snag Curtis Jones. They’re making another run at Liverpool, and Jones is lobbying hard for the move. He wants to rock the Nerazzurri jersey, but Liverpool still holds the cards.
Elsewhere, Napoli just signed defensive reinforcements Benoit Badiashile and Costantino Favasuli. Meanwhile, Lazio is shooting their shot for Mauro Icardi. They put a starter offer on the table, but Icardi is holding out for a max-style contract with heavy competition coming out of South America and Liga MX. It’s a total long shot—but hey, in deadline season, anything can happen.
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What do you think of these late-window moves? Will Moreira be worth the big price tag for Milan, and should Inter break the bank for Curtis Jones? Drop your predictions and hot takes in the comments below!
