Just in case the weekend couldn't get any worse, a Pape Matar Sarr compilation did the rounds on Sunday evening.
Roberto De Zerbi's midfield transformation didn't leave any room for the Senegalese international, who undoubtedly had his moments in Lilywhite, but was unable to sustain impressive runs of form and develop into one of the Premier League's most effective all-action No. 8s.
So he was shipped off to Juventus on loan for the 2026/27 season, joining Guglielmo Vicario in Turin. The midfielder made his third appearance for the Bianconeri at the weekend in a 2-0 victory over Atalanta, and his two-minute highlight reel curiously left some with seller's remorse.
We have almost four years of evidence at our disposal. We know what Sarr is. I hope he thrives in Italy and helps restore Juventus to greatness. It won't drastically alter my opinion of him because the gulf between the Premier League and Serie A right now is seismic. They're playing two different sports.
And plus, Spurs are in the safe hands of Conor Gallagher.
Conor Gallagher still has value despite supporter disdain
There are factions of supporters who haven't had any time for Gallagher from the outset. He was regarded as a midfield profile—with Sarr and Lucas Bergvall in the mix—that we didn't need. Still, Spurs paid Atlético Madrid £34m to sign him in January, and he became one of the highest-paid players at the club.
I understand the resentment, especially among those who'd have preferred to retain 24-year-old Sarr. Ultimately, Gallagher's arrival rendered Sarr's exit inevitable.
And some are having a hard time understanding why De Zerbi values the Englishman immensely. We've seen how clunky he can appear in possession, often killing attacks, but he has scored in back-to-back games, even if his goals were no more than consolations.
Gallagher does have pretty useful instincts in and around the box, which were particularly evident during his loan spell at Crystal Palace a while back. I've always maintained that Gallagher should be used closer to the opposition's goal than our own, and in a team that's hardly laden with natural goalscorers, Gallagher's capacity for being in the right place at the right time should be exploited.
De Zerbi's not going to count on him every week, but there are fixtures which will suit Gallagher's hard-nosed running and willingness to duel. The gritty affairs, such as the stalemate at Nottingham Forest.
“I love him. He's my player. I know he's a reliable player. When I call him, he's always ready to fight, to run.”
Add us as a preferred source on Google