Dimitar Berbatov is…The Continental

(Dimitar Berbatov/Facebook)
(Dimitar Berbatov/Facebook)

Well hello there.

I see you’ve caught me taking a selfie at my PAOK unveiling. Yes, all these people are here to see The Berba and breathe in my intoxicating scent. … No, that’s not Zlatan’s new cologne. It’s pure Berba-musk. And whiff of unseen mayonnaise. Ha-HA!

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic confirms that he has all of the superpowers

Zlatan gifted PSG’s YouTube channel with one minute of his time, which was more than enough for him to provide the full Zlatan experience.

In the video, he reveals that he can do more push-ups than his teammates, attends Michael Jackson tribute concerts, does not believe in ghosts, and says that he doesn’t need to wish for any superpowers because he already has them all.

Zlatan is always on message.

We’re Back! Highlights from southern Italy with Pepe Reina and the specter of Roman Abramovich

Palermo from the roof of the city's cathedral.
Palermo from the roof of the city’s cathedral.

Regular service resumes at DT after what feels like 12 years away and yes, I did miss you so much that you should be weirded out by it.

Though I didn’t get to ride electric scooters with Mario Balotelli (he was apparently too busy climbing mountains), I did have several experiences that you may or may not find interesting enough to read about.

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DT programming note (and a reason to get excited)

I’m going to be away until September 6 (I’m starting the international break early and hoping to ride electric scooters around Italy with Mario Balotelli). But soon after I get back, there will be a major announcement about the future of Dirty Tackle — a very good announcement. One I’m excited about and I think you will be too.

So if you want be sure that you’re notified once we’re back in action here, enter your email address and hit the “subscribe” button in the right sidebar of the site (on desktop)! And follow on Instagram in case I have any visual evidence of Mario and I on our scooters together.

In the meantime, watch Gunnersaurus attempt a dizzy penalty over and over again…

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Paulinho scores ridiculous free kick from distance to taunt Spurs

Paulinho didn’t score once in 15 Premier League appearances for Tottenham last season, but eight weeks after joining Guangzhou Evergrande, he did this.

One of two things is happening here. Either he developed an intense hatred for Spurs during his two unsuccessful seasons there and is now fueled by that, or China has weaponized Paulinho. Or maybe China hates Spurs and that’s why they’ve weaponized Paulinho? I don’t know. But there’s definitely an intense revenge/Bionic Man angle at play here.

Marouane Fellaini is a striker now because the transfer market is cruel

In July, Louis van Gaal teased the arrival of a “surprise” mystery striker who might not even be a striker. For a solid month, fans and pundits have tried to figure out the answer to this transfer window riddle to no avail. But now, Van Gaal has finally revealed that the surprise was the fact that the non-striker mystery striker has been on the team all along and that he is midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

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Borussia Dortmund resurgence coincides with pizza ban

A year after finishing seventh with a boost from a late surge during Jurgen Klopp’s last days as manager, Borussia Dortmund have gotten off to an impressive start under Thomas Tuchel. They’ve won each of their first two Bundesliga by a score of 4-0 and came back from 3-0 down to beat Odd Grenland 4-3 in their Europa League qualifying playoff. And they’ve done this while not being allowed to eat pizza, pasta, or any other delicious carbohydrates.

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