..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

'Bale will not leave Real Madrid on loan' - Agent shuts down talk of 'makeshift' deal


Gareth Bale’s agent has reiterated that the Wales international will not be leaving Real Madrid on loan, despite speculation building regarding an imminent move away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Blancos have made no secret of their desire to find a buyer for the 30-year-old forward this summer.Zinedine Zidane has suggested that an agreement is close, with Bale currently removing himself from contention for pre-season selection.

A switch to China has been mooted, potentially with a side in Asia taking Bale on loan while covering the costs of his lucrative salary.Similar deals have been mentioned when it comes to leading Premier League and Bundesliga sides, with Tottenham, Manchester United and Bayern Munich among those to have been linked with Bale.

Jonathan Barnett is, however, adamant that no loan switch will be sanctioned.He told Sky Sports: “There will be no makeshift deals to get him out of the club.“Gareth is one of the best players on the planet. I can guarantee you he will not be going on loan to any club.”

There are not many clubs in world football that can afford to finance a move for Bale.That is proving to be a stumbling block in Real’s efforts to move him off their books.Barnett, though, maintains that Bale will not be forced out of the Santiago Bernabeu, as he remains under contract until 2022, and is prepared to wait for any suitable offers to be tabled.

He added: “Gareth is a Real Madrid player and for now he’s staying as a Real Madrid player.“If something comes along that suits us, then things could change and he could be gone in a day or a week. Or he could still be a Real player in three years when his contract ends.”

Amid the uncertainty surrounding his future, Bale continues to train alongside his Real Madrid team-mates.The Blancos are currently in America on International Champions Cup duty.Zidane’s side are due to face Premier League side Arsenal in their next outing, but it remains to be seen whether Bale will play any part in that contest.

 

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Man Utd target Pepe the subject of 'big offers' as Lille brace for imminent exit


Nicolas Pepe is set to be on the move, with Lille admitting that they have “big offers” on the table for a player who has been heavily linked with Manchester United.It has been suggested that the Red Devils have a £70 million ($87m) bid in place for the highly-rated winger.If true, then that may be enough to lure the talented 24-year-old to Old Trafford.

He is all set to take on a new challenge in the summer transfer window, with Lille president Gerard Lopez conceding that an agreement is imminent.No indication has been offered as to where Pepe will be heading, but interest from the Premier League has been building for some time.Lopez told La Voix du Nord: “Our work is done.

“In terms of departures and arrivals, if a player leaves, we will go and get what we need.“For Nico, it is almost done and he could have left last summer.“It is true that there are big offers and big clubs in for him, so I think [he will leave]. Aside from that, you never know in football.”

Pepe recorded 22 goals in 28 appearances for Lille last season to thrust himself onto the recruitment radars of leading sides across Europe.Only Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe bettered his return in Ligue 1, with the Ivory Coast international proving that he can mix it with the best in the business.

A move elsewhere has been on the cards for some time, with Pepe’s agent conceding in early July that the current window is set to be the one in which a step up the ladder is taken.Samir Khiat told L’Equipe: "Nicolas is open to everything,

"The aim is for him to sign in the right place. PSG is a possibility."Today, all parties need to reach an agreement. There are exchanges and discussions. He is wanted by a considerable number of clubs."For him the most important thing is to be wanted and to go to a good club in which he will play and continue to progress."

 

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'You need to win things every season' - Hazard hoping to lead Real Madrid to trophies following diappointing season


Eden Hazard stressed the importance of winning trophies every season at Real Madrid as the star signing eyes silverware in 2019-20.Hazard swapped Chelsea for Madrid in a big-money move during the off-season after the La Liga club's difficult 2018-19 campaign.

Madrid finished third behind bitter rivals Barcelona in La Liga, crashed out of the Champions League in the last 16 following a stunning defeat to Ajax and lost in the Copa del Rey semi-finals to Barca once again.

Hazard – who led Chelsea to Europa League glory last term – understands the importance of titles at the Santiago Bernabeu as he looks to make his mark now that he has joined up with the historic Spanish side."When you play for Real Madrid you need to win things every season. You need to win, win, win," Hazard told Jay Shetty via Madrid's official website.

"If you don't win the Champions League the fans get down and that's to be expected. At this club you always want to win and that's why I'm here."I want to play games, score goals and, come the end of the season, lift trophies."Hazard made his debut for Madrid in last week's 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich at the International Champions Cup.

The Belgium international and Madrid are back in action against Arsenal in Maryland on Tuesday."I play with freedom. That's difficult in football because there are defenders, midfielders... but that's the kind of player I am," Hazard said.

Hazard – who led Chelsea to Europa League glory last term – understands the importance of titles at the Santiago Bernabeu as he looks to make his mark now that he has joined up with the historic Spanish side."When you play for Real Madrid you need to win things every season. You need to win, win, win," Hazard told Jay Shetty via Madrid's official website."If you don't win the Champions League the fans get down and that's to be expected. At this club you always want to win and that's why I'm here.

"I want to play games, score goals and, come the end of the season, lift trophies."
Hazard made his debut for Madrid in last week's 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich at the International Champions Cup.The Belgium international and Madrid are back in action against Arsenal in Maryland on Tuesday.

"I play with freedom. That's difficult in football because there are defenders, midfielders... but that's the kind of player I am," Hazard said.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus 1-1 Inter (4-3 on penalties): Buffon, Ronaldo spare De Ligt's blushes


Matthijs de Ligt scored an own goal on his first Juventus start but Gianluigi Buffon proved the hero for Maurizio Sarri's side as they beat Serie A rivals Inter 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the International Champions Cup.

Having come on in Juve's defeat to Tottenham, big-money signing De Ligt was handed a full debut for the Derby d'Italia encounter in China, but the occasion was marred when he diverted Stefano Sensi's 10th-minute corner beyond Samir Handanovic.

De Ligt's unfortunate opener was cancelled out midway through the second half - Cristiano Ronaldo making it two goals from two games with a deflected free-kick that looped in to restore parity midway through the second half.


Daniele Padelli brilliantly denied Ronaldo a second as penalties were required to settle the contest, but it was his counterpart Buffon - re-signed from Paris Saint-Germain - who ruled in the shoot-out.

Two Buffon saves from Andrea Ranocchia and Samuele Longo looked set to be enough to tee up victory, but after Adrien Rabiot and Federico Bernardeschi missed their penalties, Juve's veteran goalkeeper saved Borja Valero's spot-kick, with Merih Demiral sealing the win.

Ronaldo was the first to go close in Nanjing, sending a rasping strike straight at Handanovic. But it was Inter who had the lead when De Ligt was caught out from a corner, with the youngster only able to turn Sensi's delivery into his own net.

Danilo D'Ambrosio wasted a fantastic chance to extend Inter's advantage before the half hour, heading wide from close range after getting the better of Joao Cancelo.



Padelli had to be alert when Ronaldo drilled a low effort towards the near post, before Rabiot forced Inter's substitute goalkeeper into an instinctive stop. He could do nothing to deny Juve an equaliser in the 68th minute, though, as Ronaldo's free-kick deflected in off the wall.Ronaldo looked set to double his tally after rounding Padelli soon after, but the shot-stopper made a superb recovery challenge to force penalties.

Inter's luck appeared to be in after misses from Rabiot and Bernardeschi resulted in sudden death, though Buffon stood firm to parry out Valero's tame effort, and Demiral – who replaced De Ligt at half-time – duly tucked in the winning spot-kick.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'It looks bad' - Emotional Asensio taken to hospital for checks after injury against Arsenal


Real Madrid star Marco Asensio has been taken to hospital for checks after he was stretchered from the field with a "worrisome" knee injury during the penalty shootout win over Arsenal in Maryland.The attacking midfielder appeared to get his foot stuck in the turf during a tussle with Gunners star Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang around the hour mark, before falling to the pitch clutching his left knee.

Asensio was seen banging the turf in frustration after suffering the issue before covering his face to hide his emotion as he was removed from the pitch by medical staff - with Real coach Zinedine Zidane admitting the injury could be serious.

"It's worrisome," Zidane said in his post-match press conference. "Hopefully not, but he's gone directly to the hospital to be tested. It looks bad."The end to the 23-year-old's night completed an eventful 15-minute period, which saw the Spaniard come on as a substitute at half-time, contribute to Gareth Bale's goal before scoring the equaliser himself - all before the injury.

His 56th-minute challenge in the six-yard box in front of Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez allowed Bale to pounce on a tap-in rebound - with Real pulling the score back to 2-1 after Alexandre Lacazette and Aubameyang gave the Gunners a two-goal advantage in the first half.Only three minutes later, Asensio levelled the game with a wonderful goal after combining with Marcelo before blasting the ball into the roof of the net.

Both teams played with 10 men for more than half of the match - with Real's Nacho receiving a straight red on nine minutes for handball and Arsenal's Sokratis seeing a second yellow shortly before half-time - but neither could break the deadlock in 90 minutes.Despite Bale missing Real's first penalty, Los Blancos triumphed in the shootout with Granit Xhaka, Nacho Monreal and Robbie Burton missing for Arsenal.

It remains to be seen how Asensio's injury could affect Real's transfer plans with Bale seemingly on the way out after Zidane confirmed the club wanted him to leave.Another Real playmaker, James Rodriguez, has also been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu, with Serie A club Napoli interested.

Real's International Champions Cup obligations finish on Friday with a Madrid derby against Atletico in New Jersey before heading to Germany for the Audi Cup - which will feature Bayern Munich, Tottenham and Fenerbahce.

 

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Arsenal complete £27m Saliba signing as defender loaned back to Saint-Etienne


Arsenal have confirmed the signing of defender William Saliba for a fee of £27 million ($34m) on a long-term contract.The Gunners have been hot on the trail of the Frenchman for a number of weeks, fighting off competition from Tottenham, and the deal was finally announced on Thursday.

The 18-year-old made 16 appearances for Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 last season as the club finished fourth, and he will return on loan to the club for the 2019-20 season as part of the deal which sees him become an Arsenal player.

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of defender William Saliba for a fee of £27 million ($34m) on a long-term contract.The Gunners have been hot on the trail of the Frenchman for a number of weeks, fighting off competition from Tottenham, and the deal was finally announced on Thursday.

The 18-year-old made 16 appearances for Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 last season as the club finished fourth, and he will return on loan to the club for the 2019-20 season as part of the deal which sees him become an Arsenal player.

The 22-year-old made 34 appearances for Los Blancos last season but has now been deemed surplus to requirements at Santiago Bernabeu following two seasons with the club.The midfielder takes Aaron Ramsey’s No. 8 shirt after the Wales international departed on a free transfer this summer, before moving to Italy to join Serie A champions Juventus.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tottenham 1-2 Manchester United: Gomes gets late winner as Bailly is injured again

Angel Gomes scored the late winner as Manchester United beat Tottenham 2-1 in the International Champions Cup on Thursday, though the Red Devils will rue another injury suffered by Eric Bailly.United generally looked the better side across the 90 minutes and 18-year-old Gomes ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men made it two wins from as many matches in the ICC with a lovely goal towards the end.

Martial's pace worried Spurs throughout the first half and, after hitting the post early on, he converted in the 21st minute to leave Paolo Gazzaniga questioning himself.


A raft of substitutions at the interval unsurprisingly upset the flow of the game, though Spurs were able to make an improvement and they restored parity through Lucas Moura's deflected effort just past the hour, with United losing Bailly to an apparent knee injury shortly before.

Gomes secured the points for United after a clever exchange with Juan Mata 10 minutes from time, continuing the side's encouraging pre-season form.

United looked the more promising in the early exchanges and went desperately close to the opener when Daniel James latched on to a loose ball and fed Martial, whose left-footed strike came off the right-hand post.Spurs responded by crafting a chance of their own, but Dele Alli's finish after a well-worked move was feeble, allowing David de Gea to make straightforward save.

Martial capitalised on his next opportunity, though, racing on to Andreas Pereira's pass into the area and his effort from a tight angle inexplicably found its way past Gazzaniga in the Spurs net.United changed their entire starting XI at half-time and Spurs made a host of alterations of their own, resulting in a less cohesive beginning to the second period.



Among those introduced was defender Bailly, but he lasted only 10 minutes before appearing to suffer an injury to his right knee when attempting to block a Son Heung-min effort.

Spurs then equalised with 65 minutes on the clock – Lucas bringing the ball down brilliantly on the edge of the box, before seeing his scuffed effort deflect just past the helpless Sergio Romero.But Solskjaer's side clinched victory late on, as Gomes played a one-two with Mata and then produced a composed finish from a tight angle to cap a solid cameo from the teenager.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

& Get well soon Bailly!​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal sign Real Madrid midfielder Ceballos on loan

Arsenal have completed the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos on a season-long loan deal.The Spaniard will wear the No. 8 shirt for the Gunners, the squad number previously assigned to Aaron Ramsey, who left the club to join Juventus on a free transfer.

The move represents the north Londoners' second signing of the summer, with Gabriel Martinelli having arrived from Ituano in a £6 million ($8m) move.

It is not expected to be the Gunners' final summer move, however, with more activity expected before the window shuts.Indeed, as revealed by Goal, a £27m ($34m) deal has been agreed for Saint-Etienne centre-back William Saliba, with that transfer, that will see the 18-year-old return to the Ligue 1 club on loan for the season, set to be announced in the coming days.

Unai Emery's side also remain interested in signing Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha and a fresh bid is expected to follow having already tested the water with an initial £40m ($50m) offer.The Eagles are, however, demanding £80m ($100m) for their star man, a figure that is currently out of reach for the Gunners.

Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney is another on Arsenal's wish-list and, despite Celtic's reluctance to sell, there is still hope that they can seal a move for the Scotland international.The Hoops are sticking to their £25m ($31m) asking price, with the majority of that fee up front, although the north Londoners had been reluctant to agree to those demands up to now.

Ceballos, meanwhile, will add quality to the Arsenal midfield and is capable of operating in a No.10 role or in a deeper midfield position.

Speaking following the completion of his temporary switch to Emery's side, Ceballos said: "I’m really proud to be able to wear this shirt. I’m joining an historic Premier League side and it’s a step forward in my career."I know the Premier League because I followed it while I was in Spain. It’s a very tactical league but it’s also physical. I’ll need to adapt to the team but I can’t wait to get started. It’s really exciting."

Emery added: "We’re excited to see Dani join us. He is a talented player with big technical ability, creativity and precision."

 

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[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United-linked Milinkovic-Savic could leave Lazio, says Inzaghi


Lazio head coach Simone Inzaghi says that while he wants Manchester United target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to stay, they must take offers into consideration.

The Serbia international midfielder has been linked with a move to Old Trafford since last summer, and reports suggest a deal between United and Lazio is near to completion.Inzaghi would like to see the 24-year-old remain in the ranks at the Stadio Olimpico, but with a fee of £90 million ($111m) mooted he knows his club may have to cash in.

“My thoughts are that I’d like Milinkovic-Savic to stay,” the former Lazio forward told the press. “But I also believe the club has to consider offers when they come in and then make a decision.

“Milinkovic is 24 years old now, he’s no longer a kid. I can give him advice, he is at our disposal and hasn’t missed a training session, but then I don’t know what will happen.“I hope he stays.”This is the second summer of speculation regarding the Serb's potential transfer to the Premier League giants.

Last summer Milinkovic-Savic was thought to be on the verge of a move, only for it to fall through at the final hurdle and Lazio president Claudio Lotito has said it would be more difficult to keep the player this summer.

His current head coach is under no illusions about the issue of finding a replacement for Milinkovic-Savic, who has 22 goals in 125 Lazio appearances.“We know that if he was to leave, we’d have some important shoes to fill,” Inzaghi added.

“I hope he remains, he had a great pre-season training camp, but the market is open, and we are ready for any situation.“If he were to leave, we’d need a physical player to come in the midfield. Purchases are targeted and chosen together with the club, we have sat down and talked calmly.

“If an important offer arrives, it is only right the club take it into consideration.”
If Milinkovic-Savic does arrive in Manchester it might pave the way for Paul Pogba to head for the exit door.

The two players share a similar playing style and Pogba has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and is reportedly agitating for the transfer to go through.

 

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‘Bale will find it easy in China’ – Real Madrid outcast backed by ex-Spurs team-mate to thrill Asian audience


Gareth Bale will find it “easy” if a move to China is made, says Mousa Dembele, with the former Tottenham team-mate of the Wales international hoping to see a transfer completed from Real Madrid.A switch to Asia continues to be mooted for a man who is in danger of being frozen out at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Zinedine Zidane has brought Bale back into his plans during pre-season, but the Blancos are still looking to move the 30-year-old on if a suitable bidder can be found.

A lucrative switch to the Chinese Super League is considered to be the most likely option at present, with Jiangsu Suning reported to have tabled a £1 million-a-week offer to the four-time Champions League winner.Dembele, who spent a year alongside Bale at Spurs, would like see a mooted deal pushed through.

He believes a man who has been unfairly scapegoated in Spain could thrive in the CSL, with there no questioning his ability despite the struggles he has endured in recent years.Belgium international Dembele, who is on the books at Guangzhou R&F, told BBC Sport of the Bale talk: “I know him. He is a very good guy. I think he will do very well here. It is a league where he will fit in.

“In China, they really want players who can create something from nothing.
“If you are a stable player who just goes sideways it isn't really what they want because you can only have three [overseas players] on the pitch. “Gareth is a player who can beat three people and shoot. For him it will be easy.”Bale has showcased that match-winning ability on a regular basis down the years.

He had become a Premier League superstar prior to making a move to Madrid in the summer of 2013.While on Real’s books he has recorded over 100 goals, while helping the Blancos to an enviable haul of La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey and Club World Cup honours.

Zidane has continued to hint that his days at the club are now numbered however, with a move expected to be made before the current transfer window slams shut.

 

[kellsupun]

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Dani Alves 'looking for a job' amid links to Arsenal & Juventus


Dani Alves is still waiting on offers this summer, with the legendary Brazilian full-back admitting on social media that is “looking for a job” after dropping into the free agent pool.

The 36-year-old finds himself without a club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract.He opted against committing to fresh terms with the French champions, with another fresh start being sought.

Several landing spots have been mooted for the Barcelona legend, with leading sides across Europe said to be keen on acquiring his experience and ability.It has been confirmed to Goal that Juventus are considering a move to take the South American back onto their books.

Inter have also been linked with an approach to take Alves to Serie A, while Arsenal are said to be leading the Premier League pursuit for the most decorated player of the modern era.

No deal has been done, though, and a man with 40 major honours to his name continues to wait on discussions.He has now taken to Instagram in an effort to tout his services, saying: “Looking for a job, where do I put my resume? “Someone let me know if you have time to read!”

Manchester City are another of those to have been linked with Alves, with Pep Guardiola having previously worked with the iconic defender at Barcelona.

The Blues boss has, however, distanced himself from those rumours, saying: “All the important clubs in the world know his situation and the incredible player he is.
“He’s an extraordinary person too but now we have two incredible full backs.”Wherever Alves ends up, he has made it clear that he will only be joining a project of serious ambition.

He stated when bidding farewell to Ligue 1 champions PSG: "I am passionate about the people of PSG, the people who care and are part of the club."But sportingly speaking we did not get the results we expected and I need a team that really knows how to compete for what we aspire to achieve."Right now I don't know what is going to happen. My future will depend on the proposal made to me."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Soon to be continued' - Lukaku teases Man Utd exit as he poses with agent


Romelu Lukaku has hinted at an update on his situation at Manchester United, with the Belgian striker continuing to be heavily linked with a move to Inter.Antonio Conte has made no secret of his desire to take the former Chelsea striker to San Siro, with the Nerazzurri eager to bolster their attacking ranks amid the uncertainty surrounding Mauro Icardi.

United have left Lukaku out of their pre-season programme to date, in what looks to be another indication that a move will soon be made.

The Red Devils are seemingly eager to avoid seeing their frontman pick up an untimely injury which could scupper transfer talks.

And Lukaku has now suggested that an announcement on his future is imminent as he posted an image on social media with his agent Federico Pastorello, stating that events are “soon to be continued”.

Pastorello, meanwhile, has been talking up his client as transfer talk rages around Lukaku.He considers a player who has over 100 Premier League goals to his name to be one of the very best in the business."We’ve improved our selection of forwards and reached the apex with Lukaku, who is one of the three-four best strikers in the world," Pastorello told Il Foglio Sportivo.

Pastorello works for P&P Sport Management, with Lukaku having joined them in December 2018, and he has been tipping a star client for a summer switch since before the 2018-19 campaign came to a close.

Pastorello, meanwhile, has been talking up his client as transfer talk rages around Lukaku.He considers a player who has over 100 Premier League goals to his name to be one of the very best in the business."We’ve improved our selection of forwards and reached the apex with Lukaku, who is one of the three-four best strikers in the world," Pastorello told Il Foglio Sportivo.

Pastorello works for P&P Sport Management, with Lukaku having joined them in December 2018, and he has been tipping a star client for a summer switch since before the 2018-19 campaign came to a close.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lukaku yai wage.​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal set to land Nicolas Pepe as talks for €80m Lille winger enter advanced stages


Arsenal are looking increasingly likely to see off strong competition to land Nicolas Pepe, with the Gunners now in advanced talks over the structure of a staggered payment plan for the €80 million (£72m/$89m) Lille winger.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain had all been credited with an interest in the Ivory Coast international, who bagged an impressive 23 goals and 12 assists across all competitions in the 2018-19 season.

Indeed, Napoli head coach Carlo Ancelotti recently admitted to being in talks with the winger's representatives , stating: "Obviously, we are interested in Pepe, his agents are here [in Italy] and there’s no point hiding that. Negotiations are in progress and we’ll see what happens."

Goal can confirm that Arsenal have also been involved in negotiations and that the Gunners are now leading the race to sign the player after talks in the last 48 hours progressed at a rapid pace, with Pepe seemingly preferring a move to the Premier League over Serie A.

Lille president Gerard Lopez admitted on Friday that four "big clubs" had met their €80m valuation of the 24-year-old, leaving the former Angers man with a big decision to make as he plans the next step in his career.

Lopez said: "Last year we asked Pepe to stay with the promise that we would sell in this transfer window."We received offers that satisfy us economically from four big clubs. Now it is up to the player to decide where he wants to go.

"He must make that decision based on the offers that his agents have received from the four clubs."On Monday, Pepe will return from vacation and I believe that by the middle of the week he will have made a decision."

Should Arsenal complete the signing of Pepe, it would mean the club would have to pull out of talks for Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, for whom the Gunners had a bid of £40m ($50m) rejected by the Eagl es.

The Gunners had also been linked with Barcelona winger Malcom and Bournemouth star Ryan Fraser, but a deal for Pepe would also mean moves for the pair would be off.One player who could still arrive, however, is Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney, with Arsenal still hopeful they can land the highly-rated Scotland international ahead of the 2019-20 Premier League season.

Should Pepe arrive, he'll be the north Londoners' four signing of the summer, with Gabriel Martinelli arriving from Ituano, Dani Ceballos joining on loan from Real Madrid and William Saliba being brought in in a deal that will see him loaned back to Saint-Etienne.

 

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Pogba would improve Real Madrid, says Manchester United star's brother


Paul Pogba would strengthen Real Madrid if he makes the move from Manchester United, according to the midfielder's brother.Zinedine Zidane wants to sign France star Pogba, and with Gareth Bale reportedly set to complete a move to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning, it is claimed a bid for Pogba is imminent.

The rumours come in the wake of Madrid's humiliating 7-3 loss to city rivals Atletico Madrid in the International Champions Cup.

Paul Pogba would strengthen Real Madrid if he makes the move from Manchester United, according to the midfielder's brother.Zinedine Zidane wants to sign France star Pogba, and with Gareth Bale reportedly set to complete a move to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning, it is claimed a bid for Pogba is imminent.

The rumours come in the wake of Madrid's humiliating 7-3 loss to city rivals Atletico Madrid in the International Champions Cup.

Bale’s protracted exit from the Bernabeu would free up his wage bill, allowing Real officials to make their move for Pogba for what would be a Premier League record fee.

The reported amount would eclipse the £145m (€161m/$179m) Barcelona paid Liverpool for Philippe Coutinho in January 2018, while landing United a healthy profit on the £89m (€99m/$110m) they paid Juventus for Pogba’s services three years ago.

Were Pogba to arrive in Madrid, he would become the club’s sixth big name signing this summer alongside Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao.

 

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Conte still confident on Lukaku deal following Inter transfer approach


Inter coach Antonio Conte has stated that he remains confident in the club's ability to conduct business as speculation continues to swirl over a move for Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku.

The Serie A club have reportedly seen a €60m (£54m) bid for the Belgium international knocked back by the Red Devils, but their boss remains hopeful of bringing the forward to San Siro.

The Nerazzurri have already made several eye-catching signings during the off-season, recruiting Valentino Lazaro, Nicolo Barella and Matteo Politano to their squad.

But, speaking after his side's pre-season penalty shoot-out victory against Paris Saint-Germain in Macau, the former Chelsea manager has reaffirmed his belief that Inter's hierarchy will deliver, whoever they add in the final weeks of the transfer window.

"As I've always said, we're talking about a player [Lukaku] who isn't ours," Conte told media when addressing the rumours surrounding the striker. "Therefore, it's not right to talk about him because that would show a lack of respect towards the player and the club.

"Lukaku is a United player, we know that the transfer market is ongoing and the club is working to try and complete the squad, including both incomings and outgoings.

"As I've always said, I have a lot of confidence in the club. The most important thing for me at the moment is to stress that I'm happy with how my players are working.

"We're working to create something solid. It's inevitable that we'll then go on to complete the squad, but the important thing is that those who arrive integrate well and possess the mentality that this group of lads have."In the absence of Lukaku's prospective arrival, Samuele Longo benefited for the Italian outfit, netting in the 94th minute against PSG to take his side to their ultimate shoot-out victory.

The 27-year-old, who has only two competitive appearances in eight years on the books at Inter, has spent time on loan with nine different clubs, but earned the praises of his coach for his efforts."We're talking about a player who has a decent career behind him," Conte added.

"He was in Spain, where he played for Espanyol. He then played in a number of leagues and was successful in Serie B."He's taking part in this tour with us and has joined up with the group. We're talking about a really good footballer.

"He's made an excellent impression and is putting in a lot of effort. I'm very happy for him because he's had a long time out with injury and now he's ready to play."

 

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If Pogba says he wants to join Real Madrid, then Man Utd should sell him - Greening


Manchester United should be prepared to sell Paul Pogba for as much as they can and reinvest the money in the squad, according to former Red Devils midfielder Jonathan Greening.

Pogba continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford, although time is running out for Real Madrid to complete a deal for the World Cup winner.The France international has previously suggested he is keen on a new challenge and Greening feels that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in a difficult situation.

"He’s come out and said that he wants to go, and Ole has come out and said that he wants to keep him so it’s a Catch-22 situation," Greening, speaking exclusively to AmericanGambler.com.

"He’s a world-class player on his day but if he keeps saying that he wants to go...
"It’s going to be interesting over the next few weeks, if Madrid come out publicly and say that want him at Madrid, as it will be in Paul Pogba’s corner to say to the world, the players and Ole that he wants to leave United.

"Then Ole will have a decision; do you sell him for £160 million ($194m) and invest back into the squad or do you keep an unhappy player that might not try for you? It’s a tough situation, but for me, if he came out and said he wanted to go to Madrid, I’d sell him for as much as I could and invest in the squad."Greening, who was part of the club's treble-winning squad in 1999, said that Pogba could be become unpopular with his team-mates."For me, if you have an unhappy player, it kills the team spirit in the changing room," he continued.

"If I’m a United player, sitting next to Paul Pogba who wants to leave, I know he’s not going to give 100% in training or on the pitch, so automatically it creates an atmosphere where players won’t like him."

The retired midfielder, who also had spells at Fulham, West Brom and Nottingham Forest amongst others, is disappointed with the French midfielder's lack of consistency.He added: "Obviously Fergie got rid of him; he said he thought he was too big for the club so he got rid of him, which was quite interesting!

"On his day he can be absolute world class. Against Inter Milan he was absolutely fantastic. His range of passing, his skills to beat players and his possession of the ball.
"One game he’s a 9/10 – his work ethic, you can’t get near him – and then the next three games he looks like he’s not even trying, passing the ball out of play."I think for United fans, it’s just the consistency that you need to bring every game which he isn’t doing."

With regards to who Solskjaer should bring in to improve his squad, Greening said that Juventus striker Paulo Dybala would be a welcome arrival amid reports he could be offered in part exchange for Romelu Lukaku.

Greening said: "He’d be a great acquisition for the club. I think if they sell Pogba they need to sign two or three players extra to fill the void. He’s (Solskjaer) looking for younger, hungrier players who want to play for the badge.

"He (Dybala) fits the mould as a player with a lot of years ahead of him and he can look after the ball really well."