⚽️ Manchester City Stars Dominate EA Sports FC 24 Ratings

Good morning. We feel like this international break will never end. But there is still a lot happening relevant to the Premier League, albeit not on the field.

In the email today:

Electronic Arts Sports and FIFA are no longer partners in the digital soccer gaming space. We suspect that’s no loss for EA. Most gamers could care less what the game’s name is or who stands to profit from it. They just want to play. And play they will with the new release of EA Sports FC 24. Premier League fans will definitely recognize some of the names at the top of the game’s ratings.

• FC 24 features a revamped rating system that includes player ability rankings out of 100, as well as special talents and playing styles based on Opta stats.

• The highest player rating in FC 24 is 91, shared by four players — Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland (City), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), and Alexia Putellas (Barcelona).

• City have the most players in the top 24 rated in FC 24, likely due to their status as reigning treble champions. Ruben Dias and Rodrigo (both with 89 ratings) are the other two Sky Blues in the top 24.

• Liverpool have three representatives, but none of them are in the top 10. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker are all tied for 13 with 89 ratings.

• Notably, Son Heung-Min (Spurs) dropped out of the top 24.

Our take: It’s subtle, but the power dynamic is slowly drifting away from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich and moving in the direction of the Etihad Stadium. Note also that Haaland is only 23. That rating is going to creep toward 100 if he stays healthy.

2) Former Manchester United Centerpiece Paul Pogba Suspended by Italian Anti-Doping Agency

One of our absolute favorite exchanges here is the Ernest Hemingway passage from one of the greatest novels ever written, “The Sun Also Rises.”

In the 2018-2019 season, former Manchester United midfield star Paul Pogba scored 16 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils. That’s terrific productivity from midfield. From there, though, Pogba’s star fell slowly, then quickly. Now, it appears the star is about to flame out.

• Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba tested positive for testosterone, as announced by Italy's anti-doping agency (Nado Italia).

• The test took place after Juventus' game against Udinese on August 20, even though Pogba did not play but was on the bench.

• Pogba has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect, and pending a trial and testing of a backup B sample, he faces a potential suspension of up to four years.

• Juventus acknowledged the positive result and suspension, mentioning that they would assess the next procedural steps.

• This incident adds to a series of setbacks for Pogba, including injuries since his return to Juventus from Manchester United and a police investigation in France related to extortion allegations.

Our take: We don’t think a four-year ban is all that likely, but at some level it sort of doesn’t matter. Pogba is 30, which is a tough age for dynamic midfielders (especially when they don't care to play much defense.) It’s unfair to call Pogba’s career a disappointment. It’s fair to say he underachieved given his gifts. Regardless, a doping charge is not the way to save your name/career.

3) ❌ Tweet of the Day: Do Not Mess With Son’s Money

Give Son credit for a. knowing who’s paying him, and b. knowing that everything he does is likely to wind up online somewhere. That’s the life he has chosen.

4) 🗳️ Poll: Are You Up for Some EA Sports FC 24?

Have additional thoughts? Reply directly to this email to comment, and see if we include your response tomorrow.

5) 🔗 Links

• 🇦🇷 Not sure why we are still doing this, but here’s another “hey, what would Lionel Messi do in the Prem” take.

• 💵 It’s difficult to believe, but every National Football League team is more profitable than any Prem team.

• 💷 Speaking of profit, United are in talks with Qualcomm over a kit deal that could be worth upwards of £60m per year.

• 🇪🇸 Real Madrid have a reported interest in City’s Julian Alvarez, who may be thinking about leaving Haaland’s shadow.

The newsletter today was written by Phil Keidel. Follow Phil on X @philkeidel.

Thanks for reading!