Inside the Massive 14-Player Barry Turner Transfer Labyrinth
Evaluations and inside scoop on the mega deal that shook MFL.
American International and burgeoning superstar Barry Turner has a new home! Just days after signing a new contract with Istanbul Silver, the 89-rated forward has switched allegiance to super team Munich in the Diamond Division. In what has widely been reported as the largest deal in the history of Metaverse Football League, 13 players from Munich’s senior, youth and affiliated clubs abroad are moving in the other direction.
It’s a rarity, a unicorn, a series of moves unlike any other seen in world football and solidifies Munich’s place as the dominant club and destination for MFL’s elite players. Feedback was immediate and polarizing. Here’s what we know about the deal (which should be plenty since Disclosure: the author owns Istanbul Silver and was a part of the deal).
Moving to Munich: Barry “Barry” Turner, American hero.
Twitter super agent Fabrizio Romano, in a now deleted tweet, first reported dissatisfaction in Turner’s camp just hours after his former club had issued a press release detailing the long-term deal, confirming Turner’s installation as club captain by manager Serkan Ulusoy and affirming the club’s ambition to build a European powerhouse from their stronghold on Marmara Denizi.
Romano would later confirm the details of the deal, but he was not the first to make the full extent of the player + cash + considerations pact public, leading many to believe he has lost the trust of his connection inside Istanbul’s camp.
As to Turner, his world class finishing is rivaled only by - ironically enough - Turkish international Hayri Eryılmaz. A dazzling set of skills lead to mazy runs at defenders, lightening quick turns and rapid-fire passes turning the goal scorer into provider nearly as often as he hits the net himself.
Here’s the full universe of MFL players with 95+ shooting and 86+ pace: Barry Turner.
That he’ll have to compete for minutes in Munich with Arno Heck and Rory Gaughan should make him stronger and Mr. T, and the rest of the world, pity the fool that has to face that front three. When news of his transfer first broke the fee seemed impossibly low, but further reports - eventually confirmed by not one, but two separate club statements - confirmed the extent of the deal which sent a potential generational talent to Germany.
Moving to Munich: Additional future considerations for talent developed in Istanbul’s system.
Publicly available details are slim and uncorroborated at this time, but it’s believed Munich have acquired future rights to additional players and a buyback option on a player - or players - moving to Istanbul in this deal.
Both clubs are reluctant to disclose too many details with a Financial Fair Play investigation sure to be triggered by complaints from Munich’s chief rivals who have seen the behemoth swallow up yet another talent, and this time without breaking out a novelty sized check.
Moving to Munich: This lock screen.
Perhaps the most important piece of MFL lore and a singular motivation for Tuner to maximize his potential, and stunt on these hoes, the lock screen was no mere throwaway.
The screen first started as a joke within the American training camp for Copa America, and got picked up and brought to Istanbul by USMNT players Nicholas Slater and Derek Swanson. Slater and Swanson both took to the Gram before the trade became official, posting just the meme and handshake emojis. All eyes will be on Frederick Huber’s Insta to see if he picks up the baton.
What’s going the other direction?
Moving to Istanbul Silver: eight players. Eight!
Francisco Morales | 85 Overall | 22 Years | CB
Argentine center back Francisco Morales was not originally reported as a target for Istanbul Head of Football Operations Miran Groß, but was the second name listed in Istanbul’s press release. The 22 year old had fallen out of favor with Munich, as Hasan Mohammad and Hans-Jürgen Böhm emerged as the first choice CB pairing at the end of last year.
Morales limitations have been well documented in the press, with the center back becoming meme fodder for his Row Zed shot from inside five meters against Sankt Gallen in a reserve match. That shot left the opposing goalkeeper in awe, handed a young spectator 40 yards away with a souvenir ball, and installed both the mishit and the unsubtle reaction as mainstays in banter football accounts since.
The are rumors that Munich have retained a rebuy clause in Morales transfer, with neither side denying the reports. What it would take to see Kiko return to Munich is unknown, and the fiercely competitive player may just welcome the challenge of leading Istanbul up the ranks.
Silvio da Motta | 82 | 18 | RB, LM
The Brazilian sensation was the third name listed on the transfer announcement, but his name was trending in Istanbul immediately with the fan created hashtag #Instabul for the paparazzo-courting, Ferrari 458 Speciale-driving, super model-dating, runway-strutting, Instagram legend himself. At 18, Amorzinho has captured the hearts of football aficionados for his play on the pitch, and anyone with a pulse for his antics and appearance off of it.
That physical rating must feel tragically low to fans who found him after his duet with Larissa Manoela, but exactly in line with the pundits who often fault the 18 year old for his petulance. Unfortunately for the stayed and stale pundit class, Silvio’s disciplinary record amply reflects he is fouled far more than he fouls (nearly 4-to-1), with opponents left flailing as he passes them on the pitch - and probably a bit jealous as he passes them off of it.
Claus Marinkovic | 82 | 19 | ST
Poor Claus. He’s been handed the top billing in a deal which saw Barry leave town, a one-time Next Great One arrive to reclaim his career piquing the interest of the football intelligencia, and one of the planet’s preeminent sporting celebrities soak in the adoration of the masses. Oh and he’s maybe the third best striker on his new team. His agent better watch his back.
The reason Marinkovic lead the press release is because he is expected to not only win a starting spot, but develop a partnership with Slater than can rival the Two Batmen moniker that Slater and Tuner earned through the US youth ranks as both got their fill of hero moments, without either ever playing Robin. Good luck to that man.
Hans-Peter Prinz | 79 | 20 | LM, RM, ST
One of three players who were named in a second release, Prinz, Asier Herrera and Guillaume Lalanne were names in discussion to fill out the deal. That’s no slight to the 20 year Austrian who has demonstrated an ability to play anywhere in the front three, where his balanced approach contributes as much to the attack as it does to setting a high line of defense.
Prinz’s development could go in any direction, with unlimited upside. The only certain thing about HP2 is that - even if he never makes another step forward in his career - he will never lack for suitors for his absurd skillset that plays anywhere on the pitch.
Gonzalo Bonjour | 79 | 18 | LB
Bonjour! And welcome to one of the few clubs in the world where Gonzalo (6’4”) is the short option at left back; one of the few clubs where Gonzalo (82 pace) is the slow option at left back; one of the few clubs where Gonzalo (79 dribbling) is not the best on-the-ball option at left back. Guys, we really like Jørgen Zimmermann but that doesn’t mean GB shouldn’t receive plenty of plaudits on his own. It remains to be seen if Groß signed him to give manager Ulusoy depth to push Zimmermann into the midfield where his pace and power make propel him to superstardom, but Bonjour can - and will - be a key cog in many a championship side in his career.
Eduard Mitrache | 79 | 19 | LW, LB, LWB
The Romanian Swiss Army knife is an anomaly wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a multi-faceted left-sided play maker.
The gaffer has already spoken about his plans for the Romanian and it appears that Mitrache will have an opportunity to compete for a starting role immediately.
Asier Herrera | 79 | 21 | GK
Herrera’s name did not appear in the initial deal sheet, or any of the initial medical reports, making his name the most surprising inclusion. His agent, the player and his new clubs sporting director have all confirmed that Herrera agreed to the deal only after being assured he would have a chance to win the No. 1 shirt from incumbent Eryk Lech.
“Coming to Istanbul, a club with big ambitions, only means something if I have a chance to contribute to those ambitions. I’m here to fight for a starting role.” -Asier Herrera, being presented to the media
The club is taking a sizeable risk making public proclamations that both Herrera and Mitrache could win their respective positions, unseating established starters Lech and Zimmermann. Some local papers are relieved to see the naked ambition on display, applauding Miran Groß’s ruthless approach to club improvement; many supporters groups are reportedly unhappy that Turner was allowed to leave and see this as posturing for approval which will only sew further disharmony in the squad. If this turns out to be a sham the club’s credibility with supporters, the press and potential future signings will all be placed in joepardy.
Yngve Lauritsen | 76 | 19 | LB, LWB
Arriving from Dublin, Munich’s Silver division affiliate, is Norwegian U-20 winger Yngve Lauritsen. While Mitrache and Bonjour are both left backs with more pedigree than Lauritsen, a shift into the left back role for his new club has won him the starting job in preseason. Yngve’s exceptional pace (93), coupled with above average passing (79) and dribbling (72) for a defender are likely due to his midfield role through the youth ranks for club and country. But his wavy hair matches his wavy play, and an exceptional commitment on the defensive end (74) has resulted in a temporary (or perhaps permanent) shift to left back. Though it’s early doors, the experiment is paying off and left-back for Istanbul figures to be one of the hottest position battles in the Silver division this season.
Moving to Istanbul’s affiliate Bronze Club Zilina: three players.
Hugh Charles | 73 | 16 | LM, LW
The youngest primary player to move is Harry Charles, sorry Hugh, an exceptional on-the-ball talent that had Aussies comparing him to Harry Kewell. It’s not just the game that had people comping the two with Charles’ build and off-the-ball movement eerily similar to the former Socceroo star.
Charles is already on his second professional club after coming through the youth ranks at Brisbane. Leaving Munich for Wuppertal may have been less of a culture shock, but the explosive winger should relish playing against the higher level competition in Bronze.
Rudolf Prokop | 73 | 17 | CB, RB
Not much older than Charles, Prokop will partner either Adrien Demange or Alois Hammer in the center of the defense, with the other player likely to be recalled to Istanbul ahead of squad registration. That’s a tall task for any 17 year old, and manager Mikula Zima will need to instill a degree of cold, precise restraint in the defender who made a name for himself with tenacious play which opponents vehemently argued went past the line of fair play.
Prokop spent the last two seasons on loan with Munich’s Iron division affiliate Perugia and will have undoubtedly benefitted from regular minutes in the lowest tier. He’s due an opportunity to prove his talent at the next level.
Evaristo Rea | 70 | 20 | RM, CM
Mexican winger Rea will have to hope this move jumpstarts a national team career that stagnated at the U-18 level. A big move from Guadalajara to Munich stalled his progress, with Rea stuck too far down the pecking order to earn meaningful playing time; the long international flights likely contributed to his inconsistent play with the youth national team and the current U-20 manager heavily favored players based in domestic clubs.
Moving to Istanbul’s affiliate Iron Club Wuppertal: two players
Wuppertal has long been a forge to shape young talent, having graduated plenty of elite players into the top divisions in Europe while remaining a competitive side in their own right. The two players moving into the squad are expected to challenge for starting minutes and could play an outsized role in the club chasing promotion into the Bronze division after several years away.
Bill Ennis | 65 | 16 | RB, RWB
The kid from County Kilkenny has a bright future ahead of him, and earning regular first-team minutes should sharpen his resolve, not that there’s much lacking from a well-rounded right back with a bit of pace on his 6’"0” frame. A growth spurt last season has cost him a bit of his on-the-ball prowess, but the club is confident he’ll develop the same dribbling skill he showed off in the U-16s as a right wing back.
Guillaume Lalanne | 62 | 16 | LM, RM
You can’t say Lalanne is anything more than an add-on to this deal, with his name being reported three days after the bulk of the other transfers. But the French teenager has proved his grit and versitility; he’s naturally right-footed but plays well on either wing and has a bit of pace (73) and passing (62) with tekkers on the come (57). If it’s no secret he was a late addition to the deal, it’s also no secret why: there are few teenagers with more first-team level grift in them. Lalanne (68 physical) has never been one to back down from a challenge - a trait which should earn him a bench spot and regular playing time as soon as this season.