FIFA’s true feelings about Gianni Infantino have now emerged, just as football’s governing body has called a World Cup crisis meeting following the chaos surrounding their leader’s failed plot to sell stakes in the major tournament.

Infantino’s proposal sparked outrage from all corners of the football world, forcing him into a dramatic U-turn. UEFA nations threatened to boycott future tournaments unless the plan was scrapped, while several other confederations also voiced their disapproval.

As things stand, it remains unclear whether the latest developments will prove to be the point of no return for the Swiss millionaire. Support from Donald Trump and the six nations that still back him are currently the only things standing between Infantino and resignation.

Even if he chooses to stay on, Infantino faces an uphill battle to secure re-election to the position he has held since succeeding Sepp Blatter in 2016, with the next vote set to take place in March. And while his closest colleagues have remained relatively quiet throughout the turmoil, a leaked email has now revealed how they truly feel about his helmsmanship.

How FIFA Really Feel About Gianni Infantino’s Leadership

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom has ‘ripped Infantino to shreds’ in a leaked message to staff after the plan to sell stakes in the World Cup was abandoned. In a memo obtained by Sky News, he wrote:

He continued: “I assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience. You do not need to worry.

“Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue, and that is why we should always keep our professionalism, sense of perspective and composure.”

Infantino also lost the support of his right-hand man, Carlos Cordeiro, who branded it “a bad deal for football” and resigned in protest, laying bare the issues with the current vision.

More Details About FIFA’s Crisis Meeting on Wednesday

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Anne-Marie Sorvin

Infantino is now set for crunch talks on Wednesday with senior FIFA staff, with the meeting set to take place in Rabat, Morocco – significant as it is set to be one of the next host cities in the 2030 World Cup. When presented with whether this week’s crisis meeting will bring an end to Infantino’s tyrannical reign, Sky Sports‘ Kaveh Solhekol explained: “This is going to be a very, very tense meeting. We don’t know how it’s going to end up.

“What is his stance going to be at this meeting? Is he going to throw in the towel and say, ‘I can read the room. I can feel which way the wind is blowing. I’m losing support all over the world. I’m losing support inside FIFA as well. I’m going to do the honourable thing and resign.’

“Or is he going to say, ‘I fight on. I’m the FIFA president. If you want me to leave, you’re going to have to take me down. And I still believe that I have significant support around the world, especially in South America, Africa and Asia.’ To get to the top of FIFA, you need to be a politician. And if you’re a politician, surely you have some instincts. You can sense that you are losing support. You can sense that your position is untenable.

“You sense that you have to do the right thing and resign. Of course, it’s going to be in terrible circumstances and he’s going to resign in disgrace. If he does decide to resign, this is not the way he would have liked to go out. But he’s made a cataclysmic error of judgment. And it was not just one quick decision that he got wrong. I haven’t spoken to anybody who knows how FIFA works and how football politics works who thinks that Infantino can survive.”

Arsenal are now closing in on a deal to sign Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United, but they are just getting started with their summer recruitment. The Gunners are said to be very close to reaching an agreement with Newcastle, and Guimaraes will be a vital addition to the midfield, helping Mikel Arteta establish a truly elite midfield tandem between Declan Rice and Guimaraes.

The Gunners are also said to be working on a left-winger deal, and it’s clear Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr is their prime target, but that is totally dependent on the Brazilian deciding not sign a new contract with Los Blancos, which remains in the balance.

But Arteta could yet sign another player amid an injury concern to start the new season.

Arsenal could move for a centre-back

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal could move for a new centre-back amid concerns surrounding William Saliba to start the season. Romano told Time2Play: “Arsenal is easily set to be one of the busiest clubs in the Premier League. The reigning English champs have already bagged Christos Tzolis to replace [Leandro] Trossard on the wing, but they’re nowhere near done.

“The plan is to stack another winger onto Arteta’s squad, and they might even grab a new centre-back given Saliba’s lingering back issues.”

Saliba underwent surgery on his back after the World Cup, where he exited at the semi-final stage following a defeat to Spain. The centre-back will be carefully managed by Arsenal upon his return, given the sensitive nature of the injury, and that will be a big blow for Arsenal.

Arsenal already have centre-back options

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The Gunners have relied heavily on the Saliba-Gabriel Magalhaes tandem, but they will likely have to lean on others, like Cristhian Mosquera, Jurrien Timber or others to fill the void until Saliba is fully cleared to play, and we don’t yet know when that will be.

Fortunately for Arteta, he typically signs defenders who can play at centre-back and full-back, so Arsenal have a wealth of defenders who can play in the middle. It’s for that reason it is a surprise to see reports that Arsenal could sign a new centre-back, and it would be a big surprise to see them spend a significant fee to get one.

Another up-and-coming centre-back signing or a veteran signing for cover would make more sense, but again, any signing would likely go down badly with players like Timber, Riccardo Calafiori or Mosquera, who are not likely to start the season as starters, but all are more than capable of playing there.

Everton are said to have a back-up plan in case they can’t get hold of Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston this summer. The Toffees are pushing hard to land Johnston, who impressed after coming back from a serious injury last season, helping Celtic to a league and cup double, and he then went on to impress with Canada at the World Cup.

David Moyes has called Martin O’Neill to inform his old friend of his interest in the right-back, and there has been talk of a £15million bid, but Celtic might just have a bigger fee in mind, given Johnston’s importance to the team and the fact they will welcome big money for other players this summer, meaning they don’t have to, and certainly don’t want to sell.

That’s not to say Johnston is out of reach for Everton, but they may have to pay above £15million to get a job done, and in the meantime, Johnston has been in action for Celtic, on Monday night, so a deal does not seem to be very close, and the Toffees are said to be lining up an alternative.

Molina earmarked as Johnston alternative.

According to according to Italian journalist Luca Cerchione, Everton hold interest in Atletico Madrid right-back Nahuel Molina amid their ongoing Johnston chase. Roma are also said to be interested, and the Italian giants have reportedly submitted a €15million bid, and Gianluca Di Marzio has followed up that report with a claim of his own.

He says Roma have offered €15million plus bonuses for Molina, but their main option is Givairo Read, and they are hoping Feyenoord drop their €25million plus add-ons asking price, and if they do not, then a deal for Read will not be possible, leaving them to sign Molina.

The Argentina World Cup star is expected to move on from Atleti this summer, and it’s likely Everton will only circle back to him if they don’t sign Johnston and he remains available. But for now, Johnston does appear to be the primary option.

It’s easy to see why, too, with Johnston an incredibly reliable and hard-working character, while Molina has been charged by FIFA for allegedly punching a Spain player after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat.

Simeone a big fan of hard-working Molina

Speaking in 2024, Atletico boss Diego Simeone said of Molina: “Molina is a player who is very important for us, who has many, many good things, others to improve, like all footballers. When a player has shown himself to be so important for us, with his runs, goals, crosses and work, it’s normal that when he goes through a difficult moment the criticism appears.”

He added: “Nahuel Molina is a noble and hard-working boy. When he gets through this period, he will give us the good things that he has.”

Simeone said this summer: “Molina, Musso, Robin… They have the characteristics of the players we need in our squad. About Nahuel, I’m very clear that his best football comes in transitions, from the middle of the pitch forward.”