Surprises are a dying phenomenon in top-level football. Gone are the days of mystery, the digital age has coincided with the exhaustive reporting of every little detail, from initial scout missions to final medical checks. So when League Two’s Salford City, out of nowhere, announced the signing of ex-Premier League folk hero Fabio Borini on a quiet October evening, we took notice.
It was a dopamine hit for niche-loving football nerds, marking the return of a proper “streets won’t forget” player - not your Hatem Ben Arfas and Michus, who everyone and their dog remembers.
