Donald Trump once deported a footballer to a terrorist prison in El Salvador after he appeared to misinterpret his tattoo, having since been released. The US president has been front and centre in the sport over the past year due to his country’s hosting duties for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, but, to the surprise of nobody, his involvement has rarely – if ever – been positive.
Perhaps the biggest talking point of Trump’s unwanted entanglement with the beautiful game is his travel ban list of 39 nations, which has repeatedly thrown the tournament – set to be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico – into chaos. Despite complications around visas, security and overall logistics, the White House leader was still awarded the peculiar inaugural FIFA peace prize by Gianni Infantino in December.
Since then, Trump, 79, has ordered attacks on Venezuela, threatened the UN over the acquisition of Greenland, and now finds himself spearheading a US-Israel operation in conflict with Iran as bombings across the Middle East continue. But there is also a little-known story within football that deserves more eyes on it.
Jerce Reyes Barrios is a footballer and children’s coach from Venezuela who was detained after taking part in protests against Nicolas Maduro’s regime in early 2024. After later fleeing the country, he travelled to the Mexican border and entered the United States in September 2024 using the CBP One app – a mobile system introduced under former president Joe Biden that allowed migrants to schedule appointments at official ports of entry.
After arriving in the US, Barrios’ attorney, Linette Tobin, said the player was eventually deported to El Salvador – allegedly because of one of his tattoos, which features a football-themed design. According to reports, as cited by UNILAD, the Department of Homeland Security claimed the tattoo suggested gang affiliation and also pointed to a photo of Barrios making a hand gesture they interpreted as a gang sign.
Tobin disputes that claim. She said the tattoo shows a crown on top of a football with the word “Dios” – Spanish for “God” – and was chosen because it resembles the crest of Barrios’ favourite team, Real Madrid. A declaration from the tattoo artist confirms the design was inspired by the Spanish club’s logo.
Barrios is reported to have no criminal record. However, authorities have alleged he is linked to Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan transnational organised crime syndicate. Tobin said the footballer had been waiting for an immigration hearing the following month but was deported before it could take place. In court documents, she wrote that his family and legal team had lost contact with him and had not known his whereabouts before his release this year.
Trump has repeatedly claimed the Tren de Aragua gang is “invading” the United States and invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport non-US citizens suspected of links to the group. Hundreds have since been sent to El Salvador’s high-security Terrorism Confinement Center prison. In Barrios’ case, the Department of Homeland Security insists its assessment goes beyond a single tattoo and said it remained confident in its findings.
Inside “World’s Worst Prison” Barrios Was Sent To
CECOT (Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism) is a maximum security jail built in 2023 by the Salvadoran government to lock behind bars ‘high ranking’ members of the country’s most violent gangs. Hidden away in the middle of nowhere, the massive prison complex, known as ‘the Alcatraz of Central America’, looms as the ultimate symbol of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele’s hardline crackdown on crime.
The cells are unlike American prisons in that they are ‘built to hold 80 inmates’ or more. As well as this, inmates are held for 23.5 hours a day, far from the expected ‘luxuries’ of westernised institutions. After paying a visit to the prison, CNN’s David Culver reported: “The only furniture is tiered metal bunks, with no sheets, pillows or mattresses … an open toilet, a cement basin and plastic bucket for washing and a large jug for drinking water.”
Football legend Diego Maradona gave his honest thoughts about US President Donald Trump before his death in 2020
It is believed between 10,000 and 20,000 prisoners were housed there last year, with the 261 people shipped to the country by Trump’s administration believed to be the newest inmates at the time. The Daily Mail also went in depth with details about the prison, which has helped to create an existence designed to break even the most hardened criminals.
One inmate facing a staggering 1,500-year sentence for his alleged role in over 500 murders, kidnappings, and extortions has spent the last three years inside CECOT, where conditions are as relentless as the crimes he is accused of. The lights inside the cells never go off – blazing a full 24 hours a day Prisoners are forced to sleep on bare metal slabs, with no mattresses to cushion them, while hygiene is just as grim, with inmates washing themselves from a basin of water in cells crammed with over 40 men.
Arsenal have opened talks to sign a Manchester City midfielder in the summer transfer window as they look to bolster Mikel Arteta’s young options.
It’s not so often you see players move between Arsenal and Man City, although there have been a handful in recent years.
Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are two recent examples, but there’s unlikely to be too many in the future due to their Premier League rivalry.
The Gunners are in the market for reinforcements this summer as they aim to build on what was a phenomenal 25/26 season.
The North London club will be hoping to go one better in the Champions League and lift the trophy, but they will also aim to win the Premier League title once again.
City are hoping to keep hold of the 16-year-old talent and have offered him a new contract, believed to be one of the biggest financially for a player his age in Europe.
Parker, described as a ‘powerhouse’, is yet to commit his long-term future to City, which has alerted a number of clubs around Europe, including Arsenal.
The Gunners are set to face competition from a number of clubs, including Premier League sides. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig are also keen, while Real Madrid are aware of his situation.
The Midlands club have slapped a £130m price tag on his head, and it remains to be seen whether the Gunners will get close to that figure.
Arsenal are looking to bring in young talent from around the world, but they will also be looking to add new signings to improve the senior squad.
Mikel Arteta’s side certainly don’t need to panic when it comes to additions for the first team after such an impressive 25-26 season, which saw them win the Premier League title.
Newcastle United have agreed a deal to sign Ajax sensation Seun Steur in a deal worth around £20m, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Magpies have had a busy window so far after selling Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £70m, while a deal for Sandro Tonali to join Tottenham Hotspur for £100m was completed earlier this week.
That has allowed the club to seal a deal for Bazoumana Toure in attack, while they are also pushing to sign World Cup star Johan Manzambi to bolster their midfield. But they have now moved ahead with a deal for another midfield star to help Eddie Howe.
Manchester United could be in the market for a new defender in the summer transfer window as they look to improve Michael Carrick’s squad.
The Red Devils have been heavily focusing on signing midfielders so far this summer, but they have struggled to get deals over the line.
A move for Ederson appears to be reaching a conclusion, especially now the Brazilian midfielder has been knocked out of the World Cup.
After securing the signatures of some new additions in the middle of the park, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see United move on to different areas of the pitch.
There is no doubt the midfield is a major priority, but due to competing in the Champions League, they will need to reinforce multiple areas.
The Red Devils face competition from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and they are actively seeking reinforcements in defence.
The Bundesliga club could charge up to £43m to allow Coulibaly to depart this summer. At the age of 19, he’s seen as a potential long-term investment for interested parties.
Werder Bremen are hoping to keep Coulibaly, described as ‘elite’, for another season, whether that be through rejecting any potential bids or inserting a loan-back clause in any deal.
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Signing a midfielder has to be a priority
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Despite links to signing a new defender, Manchester United have to prioritise bringing in midfield additions in the summer transfer window.
They are yet to confirm a new signing in the middle of the park, and although there is plenty of time remaining, they could continue to miss out on key targets.
With Casemiro already through the exit door and Manuel Ugarte suffering a serious injury, United are desperate for midfield reinforcements.
Mateus Fernandes and Elliot Anderson were both key targets for the Red Devils, but they failed to get their signatures as they moved to other Premier League clubs.
