Open Thread: August 27

We’ll fill this open thread with some scattered news and rumours:

James Rodriguez is willing to lower his salary in order to facilitate a move to Everton, per Marca:

For a round figure of 25 million euros, the ‘Toffees’ have played it and the signing of Rodríguez is closer than ever . But in all this James himself has also been key, agreeing to lower his high salary (eight million euros) after the request of his football ‘father’ such as Carlo Ancelotti. Also fulfilling that dream of having him in their ranks again, as he did in Madrid and Bayern.

Ryan Giggs in a Wales presser, says that Gareth Bale will not get any “special treatment” during his call-up to the Welsh national team:

“Since I took over he’s been playing at Madrid and I’ve picked him, also he’s not been playing regularly and I’ve picked him,” Giggs said.

“Gareth is a special player. He’s someone who can make the difference.

“He’s such a good professional that some players may turn up having not played for four, five, six weeks and you can tell.

“Of course, sometimes you miss that sharpness. But he always looks good in training, his physique never changes and he always looks the same, his mentality is really strong and he always wants to play every game. That’s up to me to gauge.

“Maybe if the games are in a short space of time, like we potentially have three games in October and November, we will have to manage it in a different way but I’ll tackle that when it comes.

“Gareth looks after himself, but there is no special treatment for anyone. I will look at each case individually.”

“I hope he is remembered for the fantastic footballer that he is,”

“To score twice in Champions League finals, to win it four times and to score one of the best goals ever seen in a final – things like that don’t happen every day.

“Big players turn up in the big moments in the big games and he has certainly done that.”

In an interview with Esquire magazine, Dani Carvajal said Neymar is the toughest player to defend:

“Neymar is the striker who has been the hardest to defend. He is a very elusive player, technically very good, he goes to space, he is going to ask for it, he has a goal... It is difficult to stop him”, said Carvajal.

“I would love to win many titles. I would like to retire in white. I have won everything with the club and at the title level it is difficult to ask for more but I would like to win one fifth Champions League with Real Madrid. This era will be remembered as one of the three best in the club.“

On quarantine...

“It was a bit like having a lion in a cage, but I can’t complain: I live in a big house, with a gym to train, a garden... I have felt very lucky and that is why I have tried to help those who they were really having a hard time, with much more adverse situations”

Full interview here.