..::Football III::..

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Inter or Juventus will win the Scudetto, says Sacchi

Inter and Juventus will outlast their Scudetto rivals and compete to win Serie A this season, according to Arrigo Sacchi.The Italian top flight is intriguingly poised after 18 matches, with just three points separating Inter, Fiorentina, Napoli and holders Juve.

Sacchi won Serie A and two European Cups with AC Milan as well as leading Italy to the World Cup final.

The 69-year-old, who has been impressed by the work of Inter coach Roberto Mancini and his Juve counterpart Massimiliano Allegri, feels the two clubs have the power to pull away during the second half of the campaign.

"Inter and Juve have the best chances and history suggests that," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport."They have almost won 50 titles, while Fiorentina and Napoli are at four. They have spent the most and in the long run that matters.

"Juve have two advantages in that they have a unique history and great management. Antonio Conte did some great work and Massimiliano Allegri is continuing it.

"He made tough decisions and was embraced by a tough environment that treated him like an invader," he added, referring to the scepticism of many Juve supporters at the appointment of former Milan coach Allegri in 2014.

"Although they are not playing as well as Napoli or Fiorentina, they have real quality in the group. They are a scary side."I must give credit to Mancini because he knows how to handle a group and because he has grown tactically. He loves beautiful football, I know that, and he knows that is achieved by playing well.

"For example against Empoli they were dominated even though it should have been the other way around. I am certain that he will work on that in order to improve their quality. Mancio knows what he is doing."Both sides are in action on Sunday as Inter host Sassuolo, while Juventus are away to Sampdoria.

 

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Monreal agrees new Arsenal contract

Arsenal have reached an agreement with Nacho Monreal to extend the left-back’s contract until 2019, Goal understands.

Negotiations over the new deal began in October and confirmation is expected to be announced within the next few days. The 29-year-old’s contract had been due to expire in 2017.

Monreal, who joined Arsenal in January 2013, had been linked with a move to Athletic Bilbao last summer.

Goal understands that Bilbao remain in the market for Monreal and retain a small hope of trying to lure the defender away from Arsenal at the end of the season.

Monreal has featured in every Premier League game this season and admitted in December that he was happy with life in north London.

"Everything feels right,” he told Arsenal’s official podcast.

“I can say that I feel at home on and off the pitch. If you don't feel good off the pitch and in life in general, obviously you can't give 100 per cent.

“However, at the moment, I love England, I love London and I love my team-mates so everything is positive.”

 

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Norwich 0-3 Man City: Pellegrini's men stroll to FA Cup victory

Manchester City booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with consummate ease, as they overpowered Norwich City on the way to a 3-0 victory.

Pellegrini's decision to rest the likes of Yaya Toure, David Silva and Joe Hart was justified as the visitors cruised into round four, with Sergio Aguero getting more valuable game-time after his recent heel injury.The 27-year-old opened the scoring after 16 minutes at Carrow Road with a stunning strike, before setting up Kelechi Iheanacho for a second before half-time.

Norwich enjoyed more possession after the break but were punished as Kevin De Bruyne added a third with 12 minutes to play.

Victory sees Manchester City into the draw for the next round as they look to lift the trophy for the first time since 2011, while Norwich focus their attentions on Premier League survival.

Cameron Jerome and Jonny Howson both caused the visitors concern early on as the hosts started well, but neither were able to worry Caballero in the Manchester City goal.

Slowly Pellegrini's side began to assert themselves with Iheanacho and Aleksandar Kolarov threatening Norwich's goal, the pair both denied by John Ruddy inside the opening 10 minutes.

Eventually the Premier League title contenders found a way through as a cute back heel from Raheem Sterling found Aguero, who beat four men with a surging run before stabbing a finish beyond Ruddy.

Having netted his 11th goal in all competitions this season, Aguero turned creator on the half-hour mark as he found strike partner Iheanacho with a low cross, the youngster coolly slotting home Manchester City's second.

Norwich enjoyed a good spell of possession as half-time approached, but Alex Neil's side lacked quality in the final third as the visitors took a two-goal advantage into the break.

Pressure continued to build on the Manchester City defence after the restart with Howson and Vadis Odjidja heavily involved. Both created openings for Jerome but the flag denied him the chance to pull one back.Aguero's match-winning display came to an end with 20 minutes to play, the striker withdrawn by Pellegrini to avoid further injury.

Three minutes later Jesus Navas went close to adding gloss to the victory with a strike that beat Ruddy, but the Spaniard was denied successive goals by the woodwork.

They did not have to wait long for the third though, as De Bruyne fired beyond Ruddy with a powerful effort to secure Manchester City's progression.

 

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Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland: Gunners come from behind for FA Cup win

Arsenal came from behind to beat Sunderland in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger has never lost at this stage of the competition and is on track to become the most successful manager in FA Cup history - no manager has ever won it seven times - thanks to the victory over Sam Allardyce's spirited side.

Jeremain Lens scored his third goal of the season to give Sunderland a surprise lead, but Joel Campbell equalised for Arsenal less than 10 minutes later.

The Gunners, who left Mesut Ozil out of the matchday squad and lost David Ospina to a groin problem earlier on Saturday, struggled to give Sunderland's debutant goalkeeper Jordan Pickford much to do in a balanced first half, but the England youth international kept his side in the encounter as Arsenal increased the pressure in the second half.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Steven Fletcher both hit the woodwork, but substitute Aaron Ramsey - whose last goal in the tournament came in the final win over Hull City in 2014 - scored from close range before Olivier Giroud made the win safe five minutes later.

Kieran Gibbs tested Pickford early on, but it was Sunderland who struck first after 17 minutes. Laurent Koscielny dithered on the ball on the edge of the Arsenal area after a poor pass from Gibbs, and Lens took it from him before rifling right-footed past Petr Cech.

Arsenal responded, Pickford racing off his line to thwart Alex Iwobi's fine run into the box before some poor defending from the visitors allowed the holders to draw level after 25 minutes. Theo Walcott cut in from the left and clipped a low cross to the far post, where Campbell arrived completely unmarked to slot home first time into the bottom corner.

Despite the breakthrough, Arsenal looked short of inspiration in attack for much of the opening 45 minutes, but turned up the heat early in the second half, with Iwobi forcing DeAndre Yedlin into a vital clearance in front of his own goal before he brought a good save out of Pickford with a low drive.

Oxlade-Chamberlain endured a quiet first half, but he almost gave the holders the lead on 56 minutes when he rattled the woodwork with a curling effort from 20 yards, before Walcott scuffed the rebound wide of Pickford's left-hand post.

Sunderland then wasted a glorious chance to take back the lead as Fletcher powered a header onto the crossbar from just six yards out and young Duncan Watmore sliced the rebound high into the stands, before an Arsenal break saw Pickford save superbly to deny Campbell a second from right in front of goal.

Walcott was given another good chance thanks to Gibbs' cut-back, but his tame finish from the middle of the box went straight into Pickford's gloves, as Arsenal - having brought on Ramsey and Mikel Arteta - pushed for a winner. And the crucial third goal finally arrived with 18 minutes to play.

Campbell fed Hector Bellerin to the right of the area and his low cross was met by Ramsey from just three yards out, with the Wales international giving Pickford no chance.

The Emirates breathed a sigh of relief and the home fans were able to relax even more when Bellerin's driven ball across goal was met by Giroud, who prodded home at the far post to send Arsenal into round four again.

 

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Manchester United Vs Sheffield United

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Manchester United Starting Line-up​

David De Gea
Chris Smalling
Daley Blind
Matteo Darmian
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
Juan Mata
Anthony Martial
Ander Herrera
Marouane Fellaini
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Wayne Rooney​

&

Sheffield United Starting Line-up​

George Long
John Brayford
Neill Collins
James McEveley
David Edgar
Chris Basham
Paul Coutts
Martyn Woolford
Dean Hammond
Billy Sharp
Conor Sammon​

 

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Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

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Half Time

Manchester United 0 Vs 0 Sheffield United

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Adath 1st half pattama boring

Passing witharaifinish karanne naha
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Full Time

Manchester United 1 Vs 0 Sheffield United

Manchester United Goal(s)

Rooney 90+3'(PEN)
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Congratulations Manchester United!

Injury time penalty 1ka nisa shape Ath all round nam Manchester United performance anthimailast week Swansea match 1ke play karapu widiya dakkama hithuna ewagema adath improve wela play karai kiyala.Ath ada play karapu widiya dakkamanam hithune ayeth kalin thathwetama awith kiyala

Penalty 1ka nisa goda giyatata peformance nam hari naha

Good luck for the next round!

 

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Dybala is great, he is like me - Montella

Sampdoria coach Vincenzo Montella says he sees shades of himself in Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.

During his playing career, Montella consistently found the back of the net in Serie A at Sampdoria and Roma, who he helped to the Scudetto in 2000-01 with 13 goals.

Dybala already has nine in his maiden season at Juve following a big-money transfer from Palermo, proving a capable replacement for the departed Carlos Tevez.

The Sampdoria boss confessed to trying to sign the 22-year-old Argentina international when he was coaching at Catania in the 2011-12 season and is reminded of himself when watching the striker.

"Dybala is a great player – he reminds me a bit of myself when I was a youngster," said Montella."When I was the coach of Catania we did try to sign him, but he was already expensive even in Serie B."

Following their Derby della Lanterna win over Genoa in midweek, Sampdoria host Juve on Sunday.

Montella praised the upturn in form of veteran forward Antonio Cassano, who has supplied three assists in the past two games."Antonio is one of the few players in the history of football who enjoys an assist more than a goal," he added.

"He is very generous in the penalty area and that's saying something. He is growing in terms of consistency, is motivated and I think he can give a great deal."

 

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Van Gaal open to January signings

anchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed he is considering making new signings in the January transfer window.

United ended a run of eight games without a win by beating Swansea City 2-1 last weekend, but Van Gaal remains under heavy scrutiny for his side's poor form and what have been perceived to be negative tactics.

Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson and Southampton forward Sadio Mane have been linked with moves to Old Trafford this month, with the Dutchman reportedly looking to remedy his team's attacking shortcomings.

The 64-year-old will sign new players if he feels they can improve the squad, but he thinks it could be difficult to integrate any potential reinforcements.

"January brings the opening of the transfer window and, as I have already seen, we have been linked to a host of players," Van Gaal wrote in United's matchday programme ahead of Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie at home to Sheffield United.

"I don't see January as the ideal time to do business as the players cannot then have the pre-season that I feel they need to be integrated into the squad, both on and off the pitch.

"However, if I and the coaches feel that something can be done to improve the current squad then that is something we will look at if the opportunity does arise."

 

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Luis Enrique confirms he will not attend Ballon d'Or gala

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique announced he would not attend Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony after award favourite Lionel Messi inspired a 4-0 Liga win over Granada.

Messi is tipped to collect the coveted gong for a fifth time in his illustrious career at the gala in Zurich next week and he completed his latest Camp Nou hat-trick on Saturday as Barca made light work of their struggling visitors.Having guided the club to five trophies in 2015, Luis Enrique is well placed to win the Fifa Coach of the Year award on the same evening.

But following news that predecessor Pep Guardiola and the Bayern Munich squad will not be in attendance, the current Barca boss confirmed he would also not spend time with his fellow footballing luminaries.

"I will not be at the Ballon d'Or gala," he told reporters at a post-match media conference, before turning his attention towards Messi's exceptional talents.
"Messi is a unique player and there won't be another one like him.
"Team goals motivate him year on year."

Luis Enrique also reserved praise for versatile youngster Sergi Roberto, who turned in an assured central midfield display as Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta rested on the bench, along with Arda Turan – finally Liga debutants for Barcelona after the club's Fifa transfer sanctions expired.

"I like Roberto's approach in midfield, playing with few touches and an ability to get us between the lines," he said."He also has good defensive work. Midfield could be the ideal position for him but he has strong competition.

"He will be a vital player for Barcelona."On Turan, who crossed for Messi's opener and had a hand in the third goal, Luis Enrique added: "I saw Arda play very well.

"It is different when you play in Barcelona and have to adapt to your team-mates. I am very happy with the performance."

 

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Manchester United 1-0 Sheffield United: Late Rooney penalty rescues hosts from embarrassing draw

Wayne Rooney converted a 93rd-minute penalty as sluggish Manchester United edged past Sheffield United with a 1-0 win in the third round of the FA Cup.

Louis van Gaal's side were lacklustre for much of the match, but were handed a chance to progress at the death when substitute Memphis Depay was felled in the box by Dean Hammond.

United captain Rooney duly stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, crushing the League One side's hopes of forcing a replay at Bramall Lane.

After struggling to convert their dominance of possession into goalscoring chances, the hosts were met with a chorus of boos as they failed to score in the first half at Old Trafford for the 10th successive match in all competitions.

Van Gaal's team continued to lack adventure in the second period, although the introduction of Depay provided United with a new lease of life and his run down the left wing culminated in the decisive moment as he earned a penalty from referee Andre Marriner.

With Juan Mata taken off earlier in the game, Rooney was handed the responsibility of taking the spot-kick and he showed great composure to spare the blushes of the Premier League side.

United - who will be hoping a late knock to Bastian Schweinsteiger does not lead to a spell on the sidelines - started slowly despite dominating possession in the early exchanges and struggled to create opportunities to test visiting goalkeeper George Long.

Conor Sammon's powerful 20-yard strike was tipped over by David de Gea in the 18th minute, and, although the referee pulled play back for a handball by the striker in the build-up, it shocked Van Gaal's men into action.

Two minutes later, Matteo Darmian slid a pass into the box for the run of Rooney, who beat the onrushing Long to the ball but went too wide to go for goal and David Edgar did enough to hold him up before Jay McEveley blocked the attempted cross.Just as quickly as they had burst into life, United receded to a slow tempo in which invention was severely lacking.

Rooney was beaten to Ander Herrera's pass into the box by a brave dive from Long, while Daley Blind fired over from 20 yards in first-half stoppage time.

There was no change from the hosts after the interval as they continued to labour as the Blades dealt with a series of crosses into the box.In a bid to provide his side with an attacking injection, Van Gaal replaced the disappointing Mata and Herrera with Depay and Jesse Lingard on the hour mark.

Depay showed desire to get involved quickly and released an ambitious shot from 25 yards with 66 minutes played that swung harmlessly wide.

Chris Basham replied with the game's first shot on target that he scuffed straight into the arms of De Gea, while Darmian forced Long into a simple save in the 69th minute.

There was a late scare for Schweinsteiger, who required lengthy treatment following a collision with Basham in the 82nd minute, and did not look comfortable as he saw out the remainder of the match with United having already used their three substitutes.

Depay had been the best player on the pitch following his introduction and he won a penalty when his dribble into the box was brought to an end by the sliding Hammond.

Marriner pointed to the spot and Rooney showed the requisite composure as he lashed home from 12 yards, sending Long the wrong way and ensuring Van Gaal's team are in the hat for the fourth round.

 

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We all know Messi deserves the Ballon d'Or - Vidal

Barcelona full-back Aleix Vidal believes Lionel Messi collecting a fifth Ballon d'Or should be a formality after watching the forward complete a hat-trick in Saturday's 4-0 Liga win over Granada.

Vidal made his long-awaited full debut for Barca, having been signed during the club's ban from registering players, and turned in an accomplished display as Messi took centre stage at Camp Nou.

The Argentina superstar will head to Zurich for Monday's gala in the running for the main prize alongside team-mate Neymar and Real Madrid's current holder Cristiano Ronaldo.

Vidal told reporters pitchside after the match that it would be "strange" if the award did not make its way back to Catalonia from Switzerland."We all know who deserves it and if nothing strange happens one of the two here will win," he said.

Victory took Barcelona back to the top of the table, a point above Atletico Madrid ahead of their nearest rivals taking on Celta Vigo on Sunday.

"We have put in a serious performance, we are leaders again and now we have to see what happens the rest of the weekend," Vidal said.

"We knew Granada have not been doing well but had good things up front. Justice has been done on the scoreboard."

Arda Turan, making his Liga debut for Barcelona in similar circumstance to Vidal, had a hand in Messi's first and third goals."Arda and I have tried to adapt during these months," Vidal added, "Today we have picked up three important points."

 

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Worse than Moyes! Van Gaal's Man United have become a parody of themselves

That it took a 93rd minute penalty said much about the display. Manchester United so very nearly failed again at Old Trafford on Saturday, and their 1-0 victory over Sheffield United will paper over only so many of the widening gaps on display.

“The minute that we don’t work harder than the other team, we’ll not be Manchester United,” Sir Alex Ferguson used to tell his players. Sheffield United worked far harder than the 20-time champions here, but they held out so well largely because they were simply not asked enough questions.

The ironic cheers and quasi-standing ovation which followed a speculative drive from Memphis Depay midway through the second half said it all. Manchester United, once the club who would batter down the door of visiting teams until they could take no more, are now busy making third division defences look organised and disciplined. Even the David Moyes reign didn’t have lows quite like this.

Sheffield United are not even that good a League One outfit at this moment in time. Far from the side which had a season in the Premier League back in 2006-07, the Blades have looked as unconvincing this term as during any in their five-year spell so far in the third tier. Just last week they were beaten 3-2 at home to Peterborough United and looked leaky for long spells.But here they had more than enough to keep their supposedly mighty hosts at bay. In fact, it took United 68 minutes to have a shot on target, and even then it was an easy take for Blades goalkeeper George Long. This was not the sort of test League One sides should expect when arriving at Old Trafford.

There was no movement, no energy, no real urgency from United until the final throes of the match. Wayne Rooney’s winner from the spot came after substitute Depay had run beyond John Brayford and instigated a sliding challenge from Dean Hammond. The Dutchman’s direct approach which created a number of mini-openings was the best thing about the afternoon.

They may have got the result in the end, but Manchester United are simply a shadow of the team they once were.

 

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LVG gana decision 1kak ganne nathuwa mona karanawada manda​

 

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Scholes: I'd be depressed if I played in that Manchester United team

Paul Scholes admits he would be left “depressed” if he played for Manchester United in their 1-0 win against Sheffield United in the FA Cup third round.

Wayne Rooney’s penalty in injury time spared United’s blushes but Louis van Gaal side struggled once again to create clear-cut chances, while Memphis Depay was sarcastically cheered by the Old Trafford crowd after having a shot at goal.

“As players, you have to lift the crowd - we saw Memphis lift the crowd in the 70th minute with a shot, okay it wasn’t on target, but it gets you going, you need to make something happen as a footballer at this club,” Scholes told BT Sport.

“People need digging out sometimes, there seems to be an acceptance of bad performance.

“I’d have my head in my hands, I’d be depressed, it’d take me two or three days to get over that performance.

“What inspires them now? You’ve just seen 90 minutes of boring, defensive. I tried to defend this team for the last two or three weeks, it’s getting more and more difficult to do, every time you come to Old Trafford this is what you see - negative football. You talk about 31 shots in the last two games, they’ve only scored two goals.”

 

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Real Madrid 5-0 Deportivo: Bale hat-trick gets Zidane reign off to perfect start

A Gareth Bale hat-trick helped Real Madrid to a thumping 5-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna in Zinedine Zidane's first match in charge.

Zidane, who replaced Rafael Benitez as head coach this week, was forced to deny rumours that Bale could be sold this month and the Wales star responded in perfect fashion by inspiring Madrid to an impressive win.

Karim Benzema flicked home the first before Bale doubled the lead in the first half against a Deportivo side who could have given Zidane much more to worry about had it not been for some wayward early finishing.

But Bale promptly killed the game in the second half with a brilliant placed finish and a glancing header to take his tally to 10 goals in his last seven Liga matches.
Depor, to their credit, continued to push for a consolation, but Madrid stretched their lead oncemore through Benzema to put pressure on Barcelona and Atletico Madrid above them and give Zidane the winning start he wanted.

Cristiano Ronaldo had German Lux at full stretch with the first shot in anger but Deportivo started the brightest, and Keylor Navas reacted well to stop Lucas Perez from snatching the lead from close range with 11 minutes played.

Madrid survived that early scare and got off the mark under Zidane with just 15 minutes played. Sergio Ramos hooked the ball goalwards after Toni Kroos' corner was half-cleared, and Benzema just managed to stay onside before backheeling the ball into the bottom corner.

The home side suddenly looked more comfortable and promptly doubled their lead after 23 minutes, as Bale headed Dani Carvajal's pinpoint cross from the right past Lux from six yards.

Bale then almost turned provider for Ronaldo, but the Portugal star headed his delicate chip onto the woodwork. Deportivo continued to threaten through Perez and Luis Alberto towards the end of an entertaining first half but couldn't find a way past Navas.

Madrid took advantage and put the game beyond the visitors with just four minutes of the second half played. Ronaldo raced clear down the right and pulled the ball back across the box for Bale, whose superb first-time finish with his side foot beat Lux at the near post from 18 yards out and moved him ahead of the 49 goals Zidane scored in a Real shirt.

And the unstoppable Bale secured his hat-trick with a strong glancing header from Toni Kroos' corner, before he was withdrawn to a rapturous reception in the closing stages.

Depor kept pushing for a consolation and Navas leapt superbly to his left to parry Alberto's strike from 25 yards, before Ronaldo dragged an effort wide after charging into the area in what proved a disappointing personal 90 minutes for the Portuguese.

A fine tackle from Alejandro Arribas denied Ronaldo a chance on the counter-attack in injury time but Benzema arrived to smash home the rebound off the crossbar from just inside the box to put the icing on the cake for Madrid and Zidane.

 

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Van Gaal tight-lipped on Anderson bid as midfielder refuses to rule out move

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is remaining tight-lipped over a potential bid for Felipe Anderson, and the Lazio midfielder has refused to rule out a move to Old Trafford.

Goal understands that United have prioritised a move for the 22-year-old and that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward opened negotiations over the possibility of triggering his £35 million release clause in December.

Negotiations have since stalled, however, with Anderson locked in talks with the Serie A club over the bonus payments that he is believed to be owed.

Van Gaal has refused to rule out the possibility of bolstering his squad in the January transfer window, despite claiming that acquisitions are unlikely.

"I cannot discuss that with you,” he replied following the club’s 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on Saturday. “I don't think that we shall do business in January. But you cannot say that because when there is the chance to make your selection better you have to try to do that."

Anderson, meanwhile, admits that his future is up in the air, having made 26 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring five goals and providing three assists.

"My future? I don't know if I'll stay in January, I'm focused only on my work because I don't live a good moment. I don't know what happens,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

Anderson scored as Lazio beat Fiorentina 3-1 on Saturday.