Ballon d’Or rankings showcase Liverpool’s smart move for the 2025/26 season

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris has concluded with Man City’s Rodri taking the top honor, but the rankings reveal that Liverpool made a savvy move by signing Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Liverpool experienced a quiet summer transfer window in 2024, marked by significant changes behind the scenes following Jurgen Klopp’s departure. New head coach Arne Slot needed time to evaluate his squad, and with his satisfaction in what he observed, the club added just two players.

The Reds secured Federico Chiesa from Juventus, technically their sole addition for the current season. They also signed Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in a £29 million deal but loaned him back to the La Liga club.

The Georgian international showcased impressive performances throughout the 2023/24 season, notably during Euro 2024, which attracted interest from various clubs across Europe. However, Liverpool surprised many by acquiring the 24-year-old over the summer.

This move has proven to be a smart investment, as highlighted by the latest Ballon d’Or rankings

Giorgi Mamardashvili achieved an impressive seventh-place finish in the final standings for the Yachine Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper in the world, which went to Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez.

Mamardashvili outperformed Liverpool’s current number one, Alisson, underscoring the Reds’ astute summer signing. Valencia might have demanded a higher price for him in 2025, especially now that he is recognized among the top 10 goalkeepers globally.

Next season will be intriguing to see whether Mamardashvili can claim Alisson’s starting spot at Anfield or if he will need to wait another year before taking over from the Brazilian.

More news…..

£83.5 million star ‘set to join Liverpool as Salah’s replacement’

Liverpool are considering several high-quality playmakers to succeed Mohamed Salah, with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo once again in the spotlight.

During the summer, Sport reported that Liverpool made a €120 million bid for the South American talent, but it was rejected by Los Blancos. Now, the situation has evolved.

Le Foot Magazine’s latest edition (as shown in the image below) lists the top 50 forwards in Europe, with Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland ranked first. Mohamed Salah comes in at 12th after scoring over 30 goals last season, while Rodrygo is placed 17th.

Salah has been among the world’s elite players at Anfield, and only a world-class replacement could fill his shoes when he departs. His current contract has just over eight months left.

Rodrygo’s contract at the Bernabeu extends until 2028, and last season he played a crucial role in the squad that secured both La Liga and the Champions League titles under Carlo Ancelotti.

French sources suggest that with the additions of Mbappe and Endrick, Rodrygo faces a significant risk of reduced playing time, which has indeed occurred. This season, the 23-year-old has started 6 of 9 league matches, completing the full 90 minutes only twice.

Additionally, in the most recent Champions League match, Ancelotti chose not to substitute him in during the reigning champions’ loss to Lille.

Le Foot reports that he is “already announced at Liverpool to replace Salah,” and the £83.5 million+ valued player felt let down after failing to receive a Ballon d’Or nomination, unlike six of his Madrid teammates: Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham, Kroos, Carvajal, and Valverde.

Thus, Rodrygo may need a change of environment to solidify his status as a team superstar, and a potential move to Liverpool to take Salah’s place could be the solution. What do you think?