Mbappé Law

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Head Start

Don’t be fooled by the “Mbappé Law”

Over the next few weeks, you will see the term ‘Mbappé Law’ floating around.

But we’re here to equip you with the BS Detection Radar amongst a sea of clickbait in the football world.

So… strap in tight as we debunk this myth. 

What’s the Mbappé Law? 

It’s being reported that the Community of Madrid is pushing a Bill to change tax laws for when Mbappé joins Real Madrid.

In theory, the reports say that Mbappé will pay just 24.5% tax on his salary - not the 45% tax for high earners.

(The 45% is from 24.5% state tax and around 20% regional tax).

It’s not what it seems…

A Reddit user has explained what the proposed Tax Bill actually means. And here’s what you need to know…

Mbappé, like everyone, will always be subject to Spain’s state tax of 24.5%. But, Madrid will introduce a tax break on regional tax with certain investments in the capital.

That means anyone investing in Madrid-based companies or state bonds - not property - and residing in the capital for six years will enjoy a regional tax break. 

So… the Bill is not made for Mbappé but rather as an incentive to boost foreign investment in Madrid. 

In effect, Mbappé would be more out of pocket by triggering the tax break - ignoring the returns on investment of course.

Without boring you with the details, this sort of thing is commonplace….

… oh and another thing. The Bill hasn’t even been passed yet.

Plus…

Arsenal Women will use Emirates Stadium as their main ground for at least 11 matches next season (More)

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has unexpectedly agreed to extend his sale and purchase agreement with crisis-engulfed 777 Partners (More)

Raphael Varane will leave Manchester United at the end of the season following three seasons at Old Trafford (More)

Matchday 37 Stats Zone

Spurs 0 - 2 Manchseter City

Erling Haaland 51’, 90+1’ (P) | Highlights here.

→ Manchester City will sit top of the Premier League table heading into the final day of the season for the sixth time in the last seven seasons (except 2019-20), going on to win the title in each of those previous campaigns.

→ Tottenham are now guaranteed to finish outside of the top four positions in the Premier League for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Aston Villa have now confirmed their spot in the Champions League for the first time.

→ Kevin De Bruyne has now assisted 10+ goals in six different Premier League seasons (10th tonight); the joint-most of any player in the competition's history, along with Cesc Fàbregas.

Manchester United vs Newcastle (Tonight, 20:00 BST - Sky Sports)

→ Manchester United have lost just one of their 28 Premier League home games against Newcastle. 

→ But Newcastle have won their last three meeting with United in all competitions without conceding a single goal. 

→ Erik ten Hag’s side have only beaten Sheffield United inside 90 minutes since mid-March, whereas Newcastle have won four of their last seven away games after having only won once in their first 10 away league games this season. 

Brighton vs Chelsea (Tonight, 19:45 BST)

→ Nicolas Jackson has been involved in five goals (four goals, one assist) in his last three Premier League games - as many as he had in his previous 11 games. 

→João Pedro is the first player to reach 20 goals in a single season for Brighton in all competitions since Glenn Murray in 2016-17

Premier League

The overachievers this season…

There was always that one kid from school. 

Everyone thought they wouldn’t amount to much. But now they’re pulling up in a brand new Porsche. You know… the one with the obnoxious spoiler at the back.

That’s a little like the story of Aston Villa and Bournemouth this season. 

Between January 1 and the start of the Liverpool games, Villa’s expected points (xPTS) ranked them 15th in the Premier League. 

Fifth-teenth?! 

And they’ve defied the odds… sitting 4th in the league.

Then there’s Bournemouth. They are currently 11th in the league which doesn’t sound spectacular.

But - and it’s a big but - at the start of the season… 

• They took three points from 10 games - missing out on 27 points.

• Gary Neville said they’d be relegated.

• There were calls for manager Andoni Iraola to be sacked. 

Yet, Iraola has just signed a contract extension through 2026 season… 

… but, most impressively, Bournemouth have achieved their highest-ever Premier League points total (48), with a game to spare.

What a turnaround.

Off The Pitch

👑 The first official painted portrait of the King since the coronation has been unveiled at Buckingham Palace (More)

🇻🇪 Venezuela has become the first modern country to lose all of its glaciers (More)

😳 Two French prison officers have been killed as an inmate escapes from a hijacked van outside Paris (More)

🌉 The Baltimore bridge which collapsed in March has been blown up in a controlled demolition (More)

🍿 Downton Abbey 3 is underway as a number of new additions join the cast (More)

⛰️ Two world records were broken on Mount Everest on Sunday as a British climber sets the record for a foreigner (More)

💊 New cancer vaccine triggers response to fight malignant brain tumour (More)

🌲 Solar and wind completely replace diesel at South Pole Station (More)

Around The Football World

🌍 Only captains will be allowed to approach referees at Euro 2024 as other players will be penalised if they surround officials during the tournament (More)

🇩🇪 Thomas Tuchel could stay at Bayern Munich after the club has been rejected by a number of prospective coaches (More)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 James Milner and Danny Welbeck extend their contracts at Brighton. Milner has extended for one year whilst Welbeck has extended for two (More)

🇸🇦 The Saudi Pro League clubs are interested in signing Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes when the transfer window opens next month (More)

🇦🇹 Red Bull Salzburg is targeting Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders to become their new head coach (More)

🇪🇸 Iker Muniain was emotional at his farewell ceremony at Bilbao, where he has served the club for 15 seasons and 578 matches (Watch)

Extra Time

Neil Warnock announces he’s back in management exactly how we thought he would.

Arsenal fans set off fireworks at the Manchester City team hotel early this morning… but City’s players weren’t even there.

They don’t make them like Ronaldinho any more.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher hand out their season awards…

… and their Team of the Season.

Time wasting at its best or worst?

We didn’t know we needed to see Peter Odemwingie’s shredding a guitar today.

Game Face On

Question: Which famous English footballer was ironically born at Whipps Cross Hospital?

Hint: It was meant to be.

Scroll below for the answer.

On Today

FOOTBALL

Premier League: Manchester United vs Newcastle United (20:00 BST, Sky Sports)

Premier League: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Chelsea (19:45 BST)

Women’s Super League: Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea Ladies (19:15 BST, BBC Four)

La Liga: Sevilla vs Cadiz (18:30 BST, La Liga TV)

La Liga: Rayo Vallecano vs Granada (18:30 BST, La Liga TV)

La Liga: Celta Vigo vs Athletic Bilbao (21:00 BST, La Liga TV)

La Liga: Getafe vs Atletico Madrid (21:00 BST, La Liga TV)

Scottish Championship: Hamilton vs Inverness Caledonian Thistle (20:05 BST)

Ligue 1: Nice vs Paris Saint-Germain (20:00 BST, TNT Sports 1)

Ligue 1: Reims vs Marseille (20:00 BST, TNT Sports 2)

Coppa Italia: Atalanta vs Juventus (20:00 BST)

*EST -5. PST -8. CET +1. CST +8. JST +9.

Answer: David Beckham

“If you don’t believe you can win, there is no point in getting out of bed at the end of the day.”

-Neville Southall