..::Football IV::..

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'I do not request anything' - Zidane claims he's happy with squad amid Mbappe links

Zinedine Zidane denied asking Real Madrid to sign a forward as Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe continues to be linked with the Spanish and European champions.

Zidane has already lamented Madrid's forward options after Alvaro Morata moved to Premier League champions Chelsea.

French teenager Mbappe, 18, is reportedly at the top of Madrid's list after scoring 26 goals in all competitions last season.

Quizzed on his reported request for a forward following Madrid's 2-1 penalty shoot-out loss to Manchester United after Sunday's International Champions Cup clash finished 1-1, Zidane told reporters: "You know I will not ask for anything.
"I'm talking to the president. The staff. We have 28 here, and I'm happy with the job. Then we'll see what happens.

"Until August 31 anything can happen. I do not request anything."On the match itself in Santa Clara, Madrid head coach Zidane was left pleased.

Marcelo, Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Isco and Karim Benzema all played in the first half, which Madrid trailed to a Jesse Lingard goal.Madrid's youngsters were given a chance to shine as Theo Hernandez, Oscar and Alvaro Tejero were introduced and helped force penalties via Casemiro's 69th-minute spot-kick.

Zidane, who said captain Sergio Ramos is close to resuming full training, added: "Very happy for this match. The kids played 45 minutes and they did very well. Satisfied, there were no injuries.

"We competed well. They played four games before. It is positive. Now we have another match. Hopefully we will find the shape little by little."

 

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Mexico 0 Jamaica 1: Late Lawrence stunner sinks defending champions

Jamaica gained some revenge for their loss to Mexico in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup final by claiming a stunning 1-0 win over the defending champions.

The Jamaicans advanced all the way to the final two years ago but were outclassed 3-1 by Mexico in the decider.However, Jamaica went some way to avenging that defeat thanks to Kemar Lawrence's outstanding 88th-minute free-kick on Sunday.

After Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake produced a masterclass to thwart Mexico throughout in Pasadena, California, Lawrence stepped up and curled a set-piece past Jose Corona.Jamaica will now meet hosts and five-time champions the United States in the tournament final in Santa Clara on Wednesday.

Mexico – with suspended head coach Juan Carlos Osorio watching in the stands – have rotated throughout the tournament but they only made two changes to the team that beat Honduras 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Erick Torres and Erick Gutierrez came into the starting XI as Angel Sepulveda and Jesus Gallardo dropped out.There was just one change for Jamaica, who overcame Canada 2-1 in the last eight. Ladale Richie replaced Kevon Lambert.

Mexico and Jamaica played out a dour goalless draw in the group stage but this was a far more eventful clash as Blake produced a stellar first half to keep the scores level.

After a cagey opening, Blake pulled off a stunning double save to deny Jesus Duenas and Torres in the 12th minute.A low shot from Duenas, which took a wicked deflection, forced Blake into a fine block with his legs before stepping up to thwart Torres.

As Jamaica struggled to create anything in attack, Blake was kept busy as the Philadelphia Union goalkeeper somehow stopped a Torres header from point-blank range.

Mexico continued to dominate but Jamaica almost snatched the lead seven minutes before half-time. Jermaine Taylor's audacious long-range free-kick almost found the back of the net but Corona fisted the ball away for a corner.Jamaica were much more threatening in the second half as Darren Mattocks almost weaved past three defenders en route to goal.

The counter-attacking system that proved so effective against Canada almost put Jamaica ahead but Ricardo Morris' effort was too tame and straight at Corona approaching the hour-mark.Blake made another save in the 65th minute, albeit routine to push away Gallardo's free-kick.

Jamaica had another opportunity to take the lead but Corona scrambled to palm away Damion Lowe's goal-bound header with 13 minutes remaining.But Jamaica were not to be denied at the death as Lawrence fired his team into a second successive Gold Cup final.

 

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Van Dijk left out of Southampton squad amid Liverpool rumours

Virgil van Dijk has been left out of Southampton's squad for a pre-season training camp in France.

Manager Mauricio Pellegrino has chosen a panel of 25 players to head for Evian-les-Bains, but the Netherlands international centre-back will not travel with the team as speculation grows that he could make a switch to Arsenal or Liverpool in the coming weeks.

Southampton have been fighting to retain the services of the 26-year-old former Celtic centre-back, stating in June that he is not for sale "at any price" and even threatening legal action after indicating they felt Liverpool had made an illegal approach for him.

For a period, that quelled the Reds' apparent interest, yet over the course of the last fortnight, reports have steadily increased linking the Anfield club with a renewed push to sign the defender.

On July 21, Pellegrino confirmed that Van Dijk had asked to leave the club and said that as a result he would have to train alone. Arsenal have also been associated with a move for the Dutch defender, who has played 55 times in the Premier League since moving to the Saints in 2015.

 

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Bonucci reveals why he left Juventus for Serie A rivals AC Milan

Leonardo Bonucci has revealed that he felt "the bond had faded" at Juventus and says that was a key reason he elected to move to AC Milan this summer.

The centre-back had established himself as a cult figure in Turin, playing two Champions League finals, but though Juve fell at the final hurdle again Madrid in May, he felt things had gone as far as they could for him at the club.

“When you are part of a group for seven years, you leave something - I hope - beautiful inside each of your former team-mates. I had intense seven years with Juventus, in which I gave so much to them and vice versa,” he told Milan TV .

“In the last part of the last season, this bond had faded a bit on both sides and thus it was decided for us to go our separate ways. I was lucky enough to have this offer from Milan, which intensified quickly.“From now on, I’ll think only of Milan.”

Additionally, there were many players at San Siro that the 30-year-old looked up to as a youngster. Alessandro Nesta, for example, was the player who inspired him to become a defender.He pinpointed Nesta as a player who has particularly influenced him, citing the former Lazio and Italy ace as one of his boyhood heroes.

“The players who played for Milan when I was a child are legends for what they’ve won and given to football. Then, when I got bigger, Nesta became my idol and I went on to become a defender,” he told Milan TV.

“That being said, they’ve written important pages in the history of football and this club. “I’m at the beginning of my Milan career and I hope to do my bit in helping this jersey back to its previous heights.”Having finished sixth in Serie A last season, Milan again missed out on Champions League football.

 

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'Amazing Morata will do very well at Chelsea' - James hails fellow ex-Real Madrid star

Former Real Madrid attacker James Rodriguez has hailed Alvaro Morata saying that the forward will be a success at Chelsea after also leaving Santiago Bernabeu.

Both James and Morata left Madrid during the summer transfer window, and the Colombia international has high hopes for Chelsea's new £70 million signing .

Morata scored 20 goals in 43 apperances in all competitions last season for Madrid after returning from Juventus, but was allowed to leave the club by Zinedine Zidane.

With Diego Costa set to depart Stamford Bridge, the 24-year-old is set to be Antonio Conte's first-choice striker and former team-mate James believes he can flourish in the role."Morata is an amazing player with an amazing strike," the new Bayern Munich signing told reporters.

"He will do very well at Chelsea. At Real Madrid, he was very good."Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti also expects Morata to impress at Chelsea, believing that Conte has made a fantastic signing by bringing the Spain international to the Premier League."He is a fantastic striker and young too. Chelsea have a made a good signing," Ancelotti said.

"He can help the team to be better. He is a complete striker. At Real Madrid, he played as a central striker, on the side sometimes and in all attacking positions.
"He is a really good signing. He can work a lot for the team also."

 

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Morata set for Chelsea debut against Bayern, Conte confirms

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says that Alvaro Morata will make his first appearance for the Blues in Tuesday’s friendly against Bayern Munich.

The Spain international striker represents Chelsea’s biggest transfer outlay of the summer to date, having arrived from Real Madrid for a club record fee of £70 million.

He will be given a gentle introduction in the friendly, which will be played in Singapore.

“I will give him the chance to play some of the game,” Conte said in a pre-match press conference.“Not from the start, though. He’s just started to work but I want to give him part of the game.

“He is a young player but has a lot of experience in his career. He’s played with two big teams, Juventus and Real Madrid, played difficult games and won the Champions League last year.

“I think he can have a good impact. “For sure, the Premier League is a different league. It is very tough, physically very strong, but he’s ready to have a good impact.”

 

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Mendy makes world record Manchester City switch

Benjamin Mendy has completed his switch from Monaco to Manchester City, with the English side paying £52 million for the left-back.

With the deal, Mendy, who turned 23 on July 17, has become the most expensive defender in football history and eclipses the £45m fee City paid for Kyle Walker last week that made the England star the game’s most expensive full-back.

The France international has signed a five-year deal with the Etihad Stadium outfit, becoming their fourth major signing of a window that has also seen them sign Benfica goalkeeper Ederson as well as Mendy’s Monaco team-mate Bernardo Silva.

Manager Pep Guardiola is focussing on the long term with City, explaining on Thursday that the players he is targeting this summer “are young players, with the next three, four, five years in mind”.

Mendy, who joined Monaco last summer in a €12m deal from Marseille, helped the Stade Louis II side win the Ligue 1 title last season, creating nine goals in only 32 outings in Ligue 1 and Champions League combined. He has won five caps for France and has become renowned for his crossing over the last year.

 

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'He's only going to get better' - Martial is a defender's nightmare, says Lingard

Jesse Lingard hopes to see Manchester United team-mate Anthony Martial continue his pre-season form in the Premier League when it kicks off next month.

The France international set up Lingard for the opening goal in the International Champions Cup clash with Real Madrid on Sunday, beating three defenders with a dazzling run before squaring the ball for the England man to tap home.

Manager Jose Mourinho praised Martial's performance but called on the forward to show more consistency following a season in which he struggled to nail down a regular place in the starting line-up.

Martial has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, with his place in the squad reportedly under threat due to United's pursuit of Inter winger Ivan Perisic.

However, Lingard is confident that the 21-year-old, whom he describes as "a nightmare for defenders", can produce his best form throughout the 2017-18 campaign."Anthony's got great feet when it comes to close control and he's got the confidence to do it in a game," Lingard told MUTV.

"It's a nightmare for defenders. Luckily I've got myself into space at the back post, got away from my man and then put it away."He's only going to get better. He's still young and if he carries on with that confidence [he showed for the goal] in the next few games and throughout the season, he'll help us a lot."

United won on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Madrid in San Francisco, capping a positive pre-season tour in which they have also beaten Manchester City, Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy.

 

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Inter 1 Lyon 0: United target Perisic impresses as Jovetic nets winner

Rumoured Manchester United target Ivan Perisic impressed off the bench as Inter defeated Lyon 1-0 in the International Champions Cup on Monday.

Nerazzurri coach Luciano Spalletti kept several of his prized assets in reserve in the first half at Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, where both teams struggled for fluency amid their continuing preparations for the 2017-18 season.

The introduction of Geoffrey Kondogbia, Stevan Jovetic, Gabriel Barbosa and Perisic, the latter heavily linked with a switch to join former Inter coach Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, helped the Serie A side to assert themselves in the second half.

Gabriel was involved when Inter finally took a deserved lead in the 74th minute, the Brazilian playing in Joao Mario, who set up Jovetic to stroke the ball into the back of the net.

The teams were presented with a threadbare pitch at the home of Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning and their efforts in the first half matched the quality of surface on offer.

It took until the 14th minute for either side to create a notable opportunity and even when Joao Mario slid Eder into a promising position inside the penalty area, the offside flag denied Inter a shot on goal.

Similarly, Lyon side struggled to trouble Samir Handanovic, Nabil Fekir having a shot blocked and Bertrand Traore, signed from Chelsea to replace the departed Alexandre Lacazette, firing over the bar.

In the 34th minute, the Nerazzurri goalkeeper had to advance sharply off his line to deny another new Lyon arrival in the form of Mariano Diaz following Sergi Darder's clever ball in behind the Inter defence.

Borja Valero produced a well-timed challenge to dispossess Memphis Depay in the box three minutes later and Traore fired tamely at Handanovic from a tight angle with two minutes to go in the half.

At the other end, Miranda headed narrowly wide of the far post from a corner and Roberto Gagliardini drew saves from Anthony Lopes with long-range efforts, as did Eder, but neither side proved capable of breaking the deadlock before the break.Both coaches made sweeping changes at half-time and early in the second period, with Inter the immediate beneficiaries.

Kondogbia sent an acrobatic scissor-kick wide from Perisic's cross, while Jovetic dribbled into the area and past several Lyon defenders before shooting at replacement goalkeeper Mathieu Gorgelin.

The shot-stopper was called on again to snuff out the best chance of the match so far in the 57th minute, coming out to smother Gabriel's shot after the Brazil forward was played in on goal by Jovetic.

Lyon suffered a blow when Ferland Mendy, a first-half replacement for the injured Fernando Marcal, had to be replaced on the hour mark due to a fitness problem of his own.

And Inter's mounting pressure finally told with 16 minutes to go, as Jovetic was left with too much space inside the area and managed to steer a firm finish past Gorgelin following Gabriel and Joao Mario's efforts down the right flank.

 

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New Chelsea signing Morata takes No.9 shirt

Chelsea have confirmed that new signing Alvaro Morata will wear the No.9 shirt for the 2017-18 campaign.The Blues completed a £70 million deal for the Real Madrid striker on July 21, with the Spaniard signing a five-year contract.

And the west London club have revealed that Morata will take the No.9, a squad number that had been vacant over the 2016-17 campaign.
The last player to have worn that particular number on their back is Radamel Falcao during what was a disappointing loan spell during the 2015-2016 season.

Fernando Torres has also had the number in years gone by, with Morata having had the No.9 during a previous loan spell with Juventus.

Morata is set to make his debut for the Blues in Tuesday's pre-season friendly meeting with Bayern Munich at the National Stadium in Singapore.

Despite largely being back-up to Karim Benzema at Madrid, the 24-year-old still managed to score 15 league goals in 26 appearances.

 

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Bailly to miss Man Utd's Super Cup clash with Real Madrid

Manchester United will be without Eric Bailly when they face Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup due to suspension.

The Ivory Coast defender will also miss the first game of United's Champions League campaign after UEFA confirmed Bailly had been handed a three-game ban following his dismissal in the second leg of United's Europa League semi-final win over Celta Vigo last season.

Bailly was sent off at Old Trafford after raising his hand to John Guidetti's face, sparking a brawl which also saw Celta defender Facundo Roncaglia dismissed.

The defender, one of United's most consistent performers last season after joining from Villarreal, served the first game of his suspension in the final victory over Ajax and will be absent again when Jose Mourinho's men tackle Madrid in Skopje.

United beat Madrid on penalties in Santa Clara in the International Champions Cup on Sunday, but new centre-back Victor Lindelof conceded a penalty with a wildly clumsy tackle on Theo Hernandez.

Bailly had played the first half of the fixture at Levi's Stadium alongside Phil Jones, keeping Madrid at bay in a first half lit up by Anthony Martial's stunning slaloming assist for Jesse Lingard's opener.

 

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Juventus complete €40 million Bernardeschi signing

Juventus have completed the signing of winger Federico Bernardeschi from Serie A rivals Fiorentina.

Champions Juve will pay €40 million (£36m/$47m) for the Italy international, with the fee to be paid in installments over the next three years.

Bernardeschi signed a five-year contract after completing a medical on Monday.
Fiorentina will receive 10 per cent of the fee, up to a maximum of €5m, should Juve sell Bernardeschi in future.

Bernardeschi's exit had been expected after the 23-year-old rejected a new contract offer from Fiorentina.

Speculation of an imminent move intensified after he pulled out of a Fiorentina training camp last week, complaining of what the club called "acute gastroenteritis".

The winger, who scored 11 goals in Serie A for La Viola last season and had previously been linked with Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea, will add to Massimiliano Allegri's attacking options after the loan signing of Douglas Costa from Bayern Munich.


Juve have also brought in Juan Cuadrado and Medhi Benatia on a permanent basis after successful loans, while goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and full-back Mattia De Sciglio have arrived from Arsenal and AC Milan respectively.

 

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I always wanted Manchester City, says new signing Mendy

New Manchester City signing Benjamin Mendy says he decided he wanted to join the club as soon as the Ligue 1 season was over.The 23-year-old completed his move to Pep Guardiola's side on Monday for a reported fee of £52million, making him the world's most expensive defender.

Mendy, who has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium, has been linked with City for several weeks and he admits that it is a move he has been desperate to make.

"I am very proud of it, this is what I wanted from the beginning," the France international, who is City's sixth signing of the transfer window, told the club's official website.

"As soon as the championship was over, I talked to my family and it was all clear in my head, I wanted to join Manchester City. I was really happy about it.
"I think I am the right person for the group. I adapt easily. There are some players with whom I exchanged a few emails, I knew them from years ago."It's good to be the sixth signing, that means they have excellent staff and are trying to reinforce it. It means Manchester City will have a competitive squad."

Mendy registered 11 assists in all competitions for Monaco last season and attempted more crosses than any other player in the Champions League in his side's run to the semi-finals.

The former Marseille man believes his attacking flair will be well suited to City and the Premier League."I can bring a lot of creativity to the game, I can offer different solutions, I like to play as a full-back and provide assists for the strikers," he said.

"I always considered the Premier League the best in Europe. I like the intensity, there's always an attacking mindset with a team like this one, who play with the ball.

"It's been a dream to play in the Premier League since I was a kid and I will do everything to enjoy it."Mendy is also relishing the chance of working with Guardiola, adding: "He likes to motivate and push his players. He is in the same mould as Marcelo Bielsa, the same football family, and I think that can only be beneficial for us and the rest of the team."

 

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New Chelsea signing Morata takes No.9 shirt

Chelsea have confirmed that new signing Alvaro Morata will wear the No.9 shirt for the 2017-18 campaign.The Blues completed a £70 million deal for the Real Madrid striker on July 21, with the Spaniard signing a five-year contract.

And the west London club have revealed that Morata will take the No.9, a squad number that had been vacant over the 2016-17 campaign.
The last player to have worn that particular number on their back is Radamel Falcao during what was a disappointing loan spell during the 2015-2016 season.

Fernando Torres has also had the number in years gone by, with Morata having had the No.9 during a previous loan spell with Juventus.

Morata is set to make his debut for the Blues in Tuesday's pre-season friendly meeting with Bayern Munich at the National Stadium in Singapore.

Despite largely being back-up to Karim Benzema at Madrid, the 24-year-old still managed to score 15 league goals in 26 appearances.

Chelsea No. 9 shirt eka awul ne. (Torres, Falcao)

 

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Chelsea No. 9 shirt eka awul ne. (Torres, Falcao)

Morata success 1kak wei bro Chelsea wala​

 

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Chicharito completes West Ham move from Bayer Leverkusen

West Ham have confirmed the signing of Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee worth £16 million.

The two clubs announced a fee for the striker had been agreed last week, and the Mexico international has now officially joined the Hammers after finalising personal terms and completing a medical.

Hernandez, 29, joins on a three-year deal after spending the past two seasons in the Bundesliga.
The striker scored 39 goals in 76 competitive games in Germany after moving from Manchester United in 2015, following one season on loan at Real Madrid.

“I am very happy to join West Ham United,” he said. “For me, the Premier League is the best league in the world and when the opportunity came, I was desperate to sign for this club.

“It was not a difficult decision. West Ham is an historic club, and very ambitious – this summer you can see with the players signed that they are looking to have a very good season.

“I’ve had three fantastic years playing in Spain and Germany, but England was really the first big chapter in my career and I am so happy to be back.“I am desperate for the season to start and to help the team achieve all their objectives.”

Joint-Chairman David Sullivan added: “We are delighted to welcome Javier as the latest fantastic addition to the West Ham United squad.“Following the arrivals of Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart and Marko Arnautovic, he is another top class professional who brings great experience and quality to the Club.

“He has a proven goalscoring record in the Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga, as well in the UEFA Champions League and at international level with Mexico.

“We now have some fantastic options in attacking positions and, like all West Ham fans, I am looking forward to seeing Javier score goals in a claret and blue shirt next season.”


Chicharito became Mexico's all-time leading goalscorer in May, recording his 47th international goal during a friendly against Croatia.

 

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Good Luck Chicharito!

West Ham lath godak hoda signings set 1kak karagattha​

 

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Lukaku aiming to emulate Ronaldo at Man Utd

Romelu Lukaku wants to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo's career at Manchester United as he eyes goals and trophies under Jose Mourinho.

Lukaku arrived from Everton in a deal reportedly worth £75million, having scored 25 Premier League goals last season and 53 in total after leaving Chelsea in 2014.
The Belgium striker has already netted twice on the pre-season tour of the United States — scoring against Real Salt Lake and Manchester City.

However, the 24-year-old said he still has room for improvement as he tries to reach the level of four-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, who scored more than 100 goals as he claimed three Premier League titles and the Champions League during his six seasons at United.

"I'm far from that level. But it's the level I want to aim for. I'm 24, I can't say I'm the complete package. I can't say I'm in my prime," Lukaku said."There is a lot of work to be done and I'm delighted that there is still work to be done. That means I can become even better than I am.

"That's the state of mind I have — I always want to be better. There is always room to improve. I just want to become the best player I can be."I'll never say it's good enough. It's a pressure I put on myself. When you play for United you have to perform every week."

After comparisons with former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba were raised, Lukaku said: "I'm different."Drogba is more of a hold-up player, a target man. I prefer to have ball to feet and run in behind. We're totally different."We might have physical similarities but we're totally different player

United won the Europa League and EFL Cup last season but have not tasted Premier League glory since 2012-13 and Lukaku added: "The manager has a masterplan and we are following his plan.

"For me it's all about winning. I want to win. Now I'm at a club where winning is the most important thing. It's something inside of me. I want to help my team-mates deliver wins game in game out.

"That's what I came here for [trophies]. Manchester United, for me, equals trophies. The biggest club in the world equals trophies."Growing up, I've seen United win the league every year, almost! You want to be a part of that history. It's drilled into your head when you do training sessions with the players, you don't want to be on the losing side.

"That is something that I wanted to feel. I wanted to feel that pressure, I wanted to feel that hunger — to be here now. I'm grateful to be part of the biggest club in the world, but there is a lot of work to be done, and I know that I need to work much harder than I have until now."I want to do it because, at the end of the day, I want the club to reach bigger heights, I want the players to win a lot of trophies and I want to create history with the club."

 

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James Rodriguez - 'I don’t really know what the future will be'

Bayern Munich attacking midfielder James Rodriguez, who is on loan from Real Madrid, has admitted that he doesn't know what the future holds for him and is focused only on the German champions currently.

The 26-year-old cut a frustrating figure at Real Madrid last season, after being relegated to mostly substitute appearances from the bench, under Zinedine Zidane.So, it came as no surprise when news emerged that the Colombian was looking for the exit door from Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

However, it did surprise most when it was announced that James Rodriguez will join Bayern Munich on an initial two-year loan deal, with the option to make the move permanent in 2019.

James, who is with the Bayern Munich squad currently in Singapore as part of the International Champions Cup (ICC) pre-season tour, feels that all he wants to do his play more and win trophies and is not worried about his future.

"I don’t really know what the future will be. For the time being, I just want to be focused on Bayern Munich," he told Goal on the sidelines of an Adidas event at Collyer Quay, Singapore.

The attacking midfielder, who made just 13 La Liga starts last season, has only one thing in his mind and that is to play regularly. "The idea is to play as much as I can, win as many titles as I can. When the time comes, I will see what will happen," he added.

 

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Mourinho Crashes Lingard's Interview