..::Football IV::..

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Australia 0 Brazil 4: Silva gets golden redemption at MCG

Thiago Silva scored a redemptive goal as Brazil eased to a 4-0 win away to a much-changed Australia side, looking to build momentum heading into the Confederations Cup.

Silva was stripped of the Selecao captaincy after their 2014 World Cup capitulation and dropped altogether by Dunga following another poor showing at the Copa America a year later.

However, the Paris Saint-Germain star has enjoyed an international rebirth under Tite, wearing the captain's armband again in their previous outing against Argentina before scoring his first Brazil goal since that 2015 Copa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The centre-back's effort followed Brazil taking the lead in the 12th second through a first international goal for Diego Souza – selected in place of the injured Gabriel Jesus – before Taison also opened his Selecao account and Souza struck again to wrap things up late on.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou used the match to test several fringe players, making eight changes from their World Cup qualifying win against Saudi Arabia, but the hosts barely laid a glove on their illustrious opponents and will hope for better in Russia, where they will take on Cameroon, Germany and Chile in Group B.

The MCG was stunned into silence from kick-off as Giuliano, wearing the number 10 shirt typically donned by the rested Neymar, pounced on Mark Milligan's slack pass and sent Souza into the penalty area to finish low to Mitchell Langerak's right.

Australia recovered their composure and managed to turn pressure back onto the Selecao, Tim Cahill seeing a couple of close-range chances pass by before hooking a tough left-footed shot over the crossbar.

Though the tempo dropped, Brazil looked capable of cutting through the hosts at will, but Douglas Costa could not convert Souza's pull-back and Paulinho could only scuff the Sport Recife striker's touch into him over the crossbar.

James Troisi's eyes lit up from 30 yards, but a tame, off-target effort was a waste with Cahill making a move into the danger area.Brazil's forwards were struggling to make the most of their opportunities, so defensive pair Rodrigo Caio and Silva took over to double the advantage.

David Luiz, operating in a holding midfield role, was unlucky to see his header from Philippe Coutinho's corner hit the crossbar, but Caio kept the chance alive, nodding back across goal for Silva to bundle home inside the six-yard box.

Langerak denied Souza and Taison one-on-one before the latter finally found a way through, latching onto Paulinho's back-heel and stroking across goal.

Stuttgart keeper Langerak made more stunning saves to deny Rodriguinho what would have been a debut goal and prevent Ajdin Hrustic scoring a spectacular own-goal on his international bow, but a chastening outing for Australia was completed when Souza headed home the resulting corner.

 

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Singapore 0 Argentina 6: Dream debut for Gomez in Sampaoli's bold experiment

Argentina secured a comfortable 6-0 victory over Singapore on Tuesday to continue head coach Jorge Sampaoli's winning start to the job.

Goals from Federico Fazio, Joaquin Correa, Angel Di Maria, Lucas Alario and debutants Alejandro Gomez and Leandro Paredes gave the visitors the win at the Singapore National Stadium against a side ranked 155 places below them.

Sampaoli, who was appointed as successor to Edgardo Bauza last month and enjoyed a 1-0 win over Brazil in his first match in charge last Friday, rested the likes of Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain as he gave fringe players the chance to impress in a bold 2-3-4-1 system.

It was Atalanta star Gomez who best took his opportunity, setting up Fazio to open the scoring before firing in a goal of his own after Correa had made it 2-0 from a Paulo Dybala cross.

A relentless Albiceleste saw Paredes cap an excellent display with their fourth, while Alario and Di Maria completed the rout against opposition who offered almost nothing by way of an attacking threat of their own.

For Sampaoli, a second win and clean sheet in a row offer signs of encouragement to his hopes of rescuing their World Cup qualifying campaign, which resumes with a trip to Uruguay in August.

Argentina effectively played with a seven-man attack during an opening 25 minutes in which they had 84 per cent of the possession, but it was a centre-back who finally gave them the lead.Gomez's corner was missed by Correa, but Fazio met the ball unmarked to guide a side-foot volley into the bottom-right corner from 12 yards out.

Argentina doubled their lead from another corner on the half-hour mark, Dybala picking up a short pass before drilling the ball across goal from the right, where Correa was on hand to tap home.

Singapore suffered a blow after the break when goalkeeper Hassan Sunny was forced off with injury, but their well-organised defence continued to frustrate Argentina in their pursuit of a third – until Gomez took a more direct approach.

The home side failed to clear their lines and Gomez collected the ball 20 yards out before blasting a low shot past replacement keeper Izwan Mahbud and into the net.

Paredes was handed his first senior appearance off the bench and almost made it 4-0, clattering the base of the post with a fierce strike from the edge of the area, as Argentina continued to push forward.

The Roma man was not to be denied on 74 minutes, however, as he rode a poor challenge from Faritz Hameed before unleashing a dipping shot from 20 yards that nestled into the right-hand corner.

River Plate's Alario saw a good chance for a fifth blocked at close range but he made amends in the 90th minute, rifling in off the right-hand post after being sent clean through by Di Maria's header.


Argentina's impressive outing was capped by Di Maria's goal in the dying seconds, the Paris Saint-Germain star impudently backheeling the ball into the net from Ignacio Fernandez's cut-back.

 

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Griezmann signs new Atletico Madrid deal to end Manchester United transfer hopes

Antoine Griezmann has signed a new Atletico Madrid contract to end immediate speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United.

The France international's new contract extends him until June 2022, one year longer than his previous deal and will reportedly make him the club's highest paid player. His €100 million release clause will reportedly remain unchanged.

Rumours persisted throughout the 2016-17 season it would be Griezmann's last with Atletico, with talk that he would depart the club for Manchester United in order to link up with France team-mate Paul Pogba.

Griezmann's statements over the past few months only added fuel to that fire, including at one point suggesting he had a 60 per cent chance of departing the club this summer.

Things appeared to slow down after Atletico lost their bid to have their transfer ban overturned and after signing his new deal, the attacker apologized for anything that may have indicated his departure, while stressing he is pleased to commit his future to the club."The first thing I want to do is apologize to people who have misunderstood my statements," Griezmann told the Atletico official website.

"I might have expressed myself wrong or some would like to make headlines where there were none, but since I have arrived I given everything for my club and my colleagues and my coaching staff and I am very happy to have more seasons with all of you."I will thank everyone by giving everything in the field, as always."

The 26-year-old Griezmann arrived at Atletico before the 2014-15 season from Real Sociedad and has been a hit since his arrival, scoring 83 goals across all competitions for the club.

"It is great news because he is one of the best players in the world and we should congratulate ourselves for having him," Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero said. "Antoine is a different player, able to change a match, with a spectacular qualities, a very complete player."
With Griezmann out of the picture the question of who becomes the top target for the Jose Mourinho's squad remains.United has been linked with Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata and Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic, with Morata likely the top target.

The Madrid attacker returned from Juventus this past season and while he posted a solid return of 20 goals in all competitions, he is rumored to be on his way out due to inconsistent playing time.


The Red Devils, who released Zlatan Ibrahimovic last week, are also in the mix for Torino striker Andrea Belotti should a deal for Morata fail to materialise.

 

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Schweinsteiger unsure of his MLS future beyond this season

Bastian Schweinsteiger admits he is "really happy" playing with the Chicago Fire, but it appears he isn't ready to commit his future to MLS after this season.Schweinsteiger left Manchester United midway through the 2016-17 season, signing a one-year deal with the Fire on a free transfer in March.

After a miserable two-year spell with Man Utd in the Premier League, the 32-year-old midfielder has been the key to the Fire's success 15 games into the MLS season.

With Chicago currently sitting in second in the Eastern Conference standings, Schweinsteiger is pleased with the team's direction but doesn't know if he'll stay with them beyond 2017.

"I'm really happy here and everything fits. The club is making progress and has helped my family and me a lot," the former Bayern Munich star told Die Welt.

"The team wants to improve and the training staff are super. The Chicago people are also really nice and I'm having a lot of fun here. I don't know how long I'll play in the MLS, but at least this season!"

Asked if he would be interested in closing out his playing career in his native Germany, Schweinsteiger said: "Not to play football. I can rule that out."

Schweinsteiger is Major League Soccer's seventh highest-paid player, earning $5.4 million this season. The club and player have a mutual option to extend his contract through 2018.

 

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West Ham open talks ahead of £20m bid for Arsenal star Giroud

West Ham are interested in signing Olivier Giroud from Arsenal this summer after discovering that the France international could leave the Emirates Stadium, Goal understands.

Giroud completed 90 minutes just four times in the Premier League in 2016-17, though he did score 12 goals, and reports have suggested that Arsene Wenger is in the market for a marquee forward addition in this transfer window, leading to the potential of the forward's departure.

According to Goal sources, the Hammers believe that Giroud would command a fee of around £20 million, with Slaven Bilic’s side prepared to offer him a four-year deal on a weekly wage of £100,000.

Exploratory talks between Giroud’s representatives and West Ham have already taken place, and the player is believed to be keen on the move.Giroud would prefer to leave Arsenal on a permanent deal than on a short-term basis, and is understood to want to stay in London.

Bilic’s men have already signed Pablo Zabaleta from Manchester City this summer and will remain in the market for a forward even if they secure Giroud’s signature.

Both Michy Batshuayi and Kelechi Iheanacho, of Chelsea and Manchester City respectively, are targets, but securing the former is understood to be complicated given the Blues’ desire to loan him out, as opposed to selling permanently.Iheanacho, however, is seen as attainable, and West Ham are continuing to pursue a deal.

Despite media reports to the contrary, sources have also rubbished reports of interest in City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who spent last season on loan at Torino.

Hart would demand around £175,000-per-week to sign for the club, and West Ham are more interested in reinforcing their forward line this summer.

 

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Juventus open talks for Douglas Costa as Bayern Munich hold out for €45m

Juventus are making moves to sign Douglas Costa from Bayern Munich, with the German champions looking to generate a €45 million fee, Goal understands.

The Brazil international emerged as a target for the Serie A champions in recent weeks and talks with his representatives on Tuesday suggest that he is willing to move to Turin.

Injuries limited the 26-year-old's involvement in Bayern's Bundesliga-winning campaign under Carlo Ancelotti, starting just 14 of the 23 games he played.

While Ancelotti is said to be willing to let him go, with Bayern unhappy with an interview Costa gave to Bild am Sonntag in February in which he admitted to not being happy, the Italian coach will look to add another winger to his squad before allowing the deal to go through, even after the addition of Serge Gnabry from Werder Bremen.

The German side are hoping to bring in €45m for a player they bought from Shakhtar Donetsk for €30m in 2015 and is contracted to the club until 2020.Costa, meanwhile, is understood to be looking for €7m-a-year if he trades Bavaria for Turin.

The two clubs have developed a relationship in recent years, with Arturo Vidal and Kingsley Coman going from Juve to Bayern and Medhi Benatia going the other way, which the Bianconeri will hope can help bridge the gap in negotiations.

Meanwhile, Massimiliano Allegri's side are still in pursuit of midfielder Steven N'Zonzi, who is contracted to Sevilla until 2020 with a €40m release clause and has also been linked to Chelsea and Barcelona.

They have also made contact with the agent of Fiorentina attacker Federico Bernardeschi over a potential move.

 

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'Anyone would want them' - Oxlade-Chamberlain welcomes Arsenal links to Mbappe and Lacazette

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has welcomed talk of Arsenal's interest in Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe and Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette.The Gunners have been heavily linked with both men over recent weeks as they piece together plans for the summer transfer window.

Lacazette has been on Arsene Wenger’s radar for some time, while Mbappe has emerged as one of Europe’s hottest prospects and is reported to have already been the subject of a big-money bid from the Emirates.

Oxlade-Chamberlain acknowledges that either would be fine additions to the Arsenal squad, with it possible that he could line up against both in England’s international friendly date with France on Tuesday.

The Gunners midfielder told the Evening Standard on Mbappe and Lacazette: "Anyone would want them in their team."First and foremost, Mbappe has been a phenomenal revelation this season at such a young age.

"It is hard not to watch him closely. He is scoring so many goals and every week, it's in your face!"I have been monitoring him and he really is a quality player. I feel the same about Lacazette. I have seen him for a good few years now and he is always scoring goals."

Mbappe scored 26 goals in the 2016-17 campaign, helping Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and the semi-finals of the Champions League.Lacazette, meanwhile, enjoyed the most productive season of his prolific career, netting 37 times in all competitions for Lyon.

Both men have been attracting plenty of admiring glances, with teenage frontman Mbappe said to be a top target for Real Madrid while his international colleague is believed to be among those being considered by Manchester United and Liverpool.

 

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Man Utd target Chelsea's Matic as Juventus pull out of transfer pursuit

Manchester United are targeting Chelsea's Nemanja Matic to bring balance to their midfield this summer, Goal understands, as Juventus pull out of the race.

Jose Mourinho has cooled his interest in Monaco's Fabinho in favour of his former player, whom he believes would perfectly complement Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera in the centre of the pitch.

Chelsea aren't immediately keen on selling Matic to a rival despite the expectation that they will have soon secured a £35 million deal for Monaco's Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Matic is comfortable in London having recently bought a new house in the England's capital and is unlikely to push for a move to United.

However he may use the escape route provided by his former manager Mourinho if Chelsea say he is no longer wanted later in the transfer window due to the signing of Bakayoko.

Mourinho re-signed Matic from Benfica for £21m in 2014 but the Serbia international remains on the same contract since he first signed and he will likely push for a renewal if Chelsea decide to resist United's offers.

Juventus have switched focus to Sevilla's Steven N’Zonzi, who they believe is easier to secure, and they are currently in the process of agreeing a fee which will likely be around £30m.

 

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Matic hodai.ath sell karai kiyala sure naha​

 

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Blow for Arsenal in Lacazette chase as Lyon open the door to PSG offer

Lyon have invited an offer from Paris Saint-Germain for Alexandre Lacazette amid talk of mounting interest from the Premier League.Arsenal have led the hunt for the France international for a number of years, and they are said to have been joined in the pursuit of his signature by Liverpool and Manchester United.

Lacazette could, however, end up remaining in his homeland if a summer transfer is made.Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas says he would prefer to deal with a domestic rival rather than sanction a big-money sale to England.

He told France Football: "I know Nasser suggested to Noel Le Graet [president of the French Football Federation] that he is not investing that much in French players because he thought other presidents of French clubs looked badly upon it.

"I want him to know that if he makes an offer for Alexandre at least equal to that of the other clubs bidding for him, then Alex can go to Paris without problem.

"I am a businessman and a modern club president. Transfer money must be reinvested into French football, as I always did when we were at the peak of our powers."When transfer money is shared abroad, it strengthens our competitors instead."Lacazette has enjoyed a goal-laden spell with hometown club Lyon.

He burst into life during the 2013-14 campaign and has now netted 129 times in 275 appearances for the club.

That haul includes a personal best tally of 37 from the 2016-17 season, with those efforts returning him to the Ligue 1 Team of the Season.Were he to move to PSG, Lacazette would team up with another potent frontman in the form of Uruguay international Edinson Cavani.

 

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France 3 England 2: Dembele snatches winner as Three Lions fall to 10 men

Ousmane Dembele joined Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe in netting his first international goal as 10-man France claimed an entertaining 3-2 friendly win over England in Saint-Denis.

Harry Kane, captain for the Three Lions as he was when he netted a stoppage-time equaliser against Scotland on Saturday, gave Gareth Southgate's side a ninth-minute lead after players and fans from both sides paid tribute to the victims of the Manchester and London terror attacks in a moving pre-match ceremony.

France boss Didier Deschamps came in for criticism after Friday's defeat to Sweden that put their World Cup qualification hopes in jeopardy and he responded by fielding a team packed with youthful attacking verve.

Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe was often to the fore as Les Bleus made the most of an England side still getting to grips with 3-4-3, although defenders Umtiti and Sidibe were the beneficiaries before half-time.

Even after Raphael Varane was sent off for clumsily felling Dele Alli – Kane dispatched the 48th-minute penalty – France continued to attack with gusto and, after Mbappe rattled the crossbar, Borussia Dortmund winger Dembele had the final word.

Burnley captain Tom Heaton was making his first international start for England and had to be alert when Thomas Lemar's mishit cross almost caught him out at the near post in the second minute.

Out of a scrappy opening from both teams, England crafted an opener of wonderful quality when Raheem Sterling controlled Dele Alli's floated pass inside the box and released Ryan Bertrand with a deft backheel.The Southampton left-back's low cross picked out Kane to easily complete the formalities inside the France six-yard box.

Olivier Giroud, fresh from netting a spectacular volley in France's loss to Sweden, thought he had another for his collection in the 14th minute but was ruled offside, while Dembele shot wastefully wide on the end of an excellent Mbappe pass.

England did not heed those warnings and France pulled level midway through the half, despite seeing full-back Benjamin Mendy limp out of the action.Giroud leapt to meet Lemar's searching free-kick and Heaton could only shovel his header back in front of goal for Umtiti to pounce.

Bertrand and Eric Dier both went close to restoring England's advantage, but the sight of Mbappe skipping around Phil Jones to force a near-post save from Heaton gave another example of the attacking verve that would put France ahead before the break.Dembele again enjoyed the space between visitors' midfield and defence and shimmied past Gary Cahill to see a shot saved by Heaton – once again a player in blue, this time Sidibe, reacted quickest.

Having so impressively hauled themselves into a lead, France switched off foolishly to hand the onus back to England early in the second period.

Alli was allowed to chase his own header into the home box, where Varane brought him down.Referee Davide Massa consulted with the Video Assistant Referee and brandished the red card before Kane got the better of Spurs team-mate Hugo Lloris from 12 yards.

Mbappe continued to make it a torrid evening for England's centre-backs after the hour, although Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland – on, as planned, for Heaton at the interval – was out sharply to deny the Monaco star.

England wilted considerably under late pressure and, after Mbappe failed to punish a slack pass out from the back by Cahill when he hit the bar, the teenager showed presence of mind to again pierce a flagging backline and tee up Dembele for an emphatic finish 12 minutes from time.

Mbappe was thwarted again by Butland in stoppage time, although it is surely a matter of time before this brilliant talent scores the first of dozens of goals for France.

 

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'Not good enough and lessons must be learned' - Kane frustrated by England defeat

Harry Kane vowed England will investigate how they failed to beat 10-man France as Gareth Southgate's men lost 3-2 at the Stade de France on Tuesday.

Tottenham forward Kane, captain for the second time in four days, scored either side of goals from Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe, his second from the penalty spot coming after Raphael Varane was sent off for clumsily felling Dele Alli.But England failed to kick on, instead losing to Ousmane Dembele's goal and leaving Kane frustrated.

"Yeah, definitely [a missed chance to make a statement] - obviously scoring two goals away from home in France should be enough," he told ITV."We've got to find a way to win, especially when they were down to 10 men. We just weren't good enough I don't think, we have to look at why."

On France's third goal, which came as a result of an error from Eric Dier, Kane added: "That's the way we play."If we want to be brave, sometimes mistakes like that are going to happen. It's stuff we have to work on. Dier's a great player, the pass got cut out and it's unfortunate.

"It's disappointing, getting it back to 2-2 and [they were] down to 10 men; we didn't step up another gear, they got another wind. But, yeah, not good enough."

 

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'He's got everything' - Pogba tipped to offer more in second season at Man Utd by Giggs

Manchester United will see “a new and improved Paul Pogba” next season once the £89 million man adds consistency to his game, says Ryan Giggs.Having returned to Old Trafford in a record-breaking transfer, the Frenchman was always going to find it difficult to live up to expectations.

He did, however, offer glimpses of what he is capable of and picked up an unfortunate knack of hitting the woodwork which prevented him from posting even better numbers.

United legend Giggs believes there is more to come from the 24-year-old and believes he will show his true colours in 2017-18 once fully adjusted to life back in the Premier League.He told ITV: “He’s got everything – he can go box-to-box, he can score goals.

“He hit the crossbar like nine or 10 times for United last season. If he can turn them into goals, that’s another area he needs to improve.“It’s just consistency. You never knew what you were going to get from him. But overall, I was happy with his first season.

“Of course he could have done better but he’s come from Juventus where they win the league every year and he’s in a team that was inconsistent throughout the season. If United hit the ground running next year, you will see a new and improved Pogba.”

Giggs was in attendance to see Pogba star for France in a friendly encounter with England on Tuesday, with a buccaneering display showing just what he is capable of.He controlled proceedings throughout in Paris, with his vision and direct running causing the Three Lions all sorts of problems.

More of the same is expected on a domestic stage next season, with Pogba proving that he is capable of world-class performances when confident and on top of his game.

Giggs added: “Pogba today was… you've got to be excited if you're a Man United fan. Can't wait for next season if he's going to play like that. Tonight he had everything.”

Pogba made 51 appearances for United across all competitions in the 2016-17 campaign, netting nine goals and helping Jose Mourinho’s side to trophy triumphs in the Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League.

 

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'Mbappe is a freak!' - Arsenal and Madrid target hailed after starring for France against England

Kylian Mbappe can seemingly do no wrong, with his performance for France against England helping to raise his profile even further.The 18-year-old has been the breakout story of the 2016-17 campaign, with his exploits at Monaco capturing the imagination and drawing universal acclaim.

Now considered to be one of the hottest prospects in world football, the youngster has gone from being a virtual unknown to a Ligue 1 title winner, Champions League goalscorer and senior international star.

There is also the promise of plenty more to come, be that at Monaco or at one of those on a growing list of suitors – with the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester United already in the hunt.

Supporters of those respective clubs were quick to talk up his value on social media after a star showing in a 3-2 victory over England, while his potential continues to amaze those tipping him to reach the very top.

Mbappe was handed just his second start for France against the Three Lions, and only his fourth cap, and came agonisingly close to opening his goal account when he struck the crossbar in the second half.

 

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A £45m Chelsea bid is 'low' for Napoli star Insigne - agent

The striker scored 18 times in Serie A last season but his representative does not give great credence to reports linking him to the English champions


Lorenzo Insigne has been linked with a move to Chelsea but his priority remains Napoli, according to the Italy international's agent.The Premier League champions are reported to be considering a £45 million bid to buy Insigne, who signed a new Napoli contract until 2022 in April.

Insigne hit 18 league goals as Maurizio Sarri's side finished third in Serie A and was also on target in Italy's 5-0 demolition of Liechtenstein on Sunday.

The 26-year-old's representative Franco della Monica accepted there has been interest in his client but suggested Insigne would stay at Napoli, with a bid of £45m insufficient to secure his services.

"I would start by saying the offer reported in The Sun would be low and he has always been in the sights of many clubs," Della Monica told Radio Kiss Kiss."The priority for Lorenzo, though, is to be wearing the Napoli shirt and to be rewarded in an important way by his team. Now he has both and he is happy as well."

 

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Real Madrid show off new 2017-18 Home & Away Kits

 

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Mohamed Salah to Liverpool: What is Roma’s position on the deal?

Liverpool continue to negotiate with Roma over a fee for Mohamed Salah, with the Serie A club insisting they will only part with the forward on their terms.

An opening bid of £28 million from the Reds for the 24-year-old was promptly rejected, with a figure closer to £40m more in line with Roma sporting director Monchi’s valuation.

The Giallorossi have publicly taken a strong stance on the matter, however, they are in the position of having to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations by the end of the month.This necessitates the sale of one of their key assets, while new manager Eusebio Di Francesco is also intent on tattooing his mark on the squad with incomings.

Roma’s plan had initially been to let Greek defender Kostas Manolas leave the Stadio Olimpico, with Inter having agreed personal terms with the 26-year-old, but he is now expected to commit his future to the club by signing an improved contract.

Antonio Rüdiger was reported to be close to a £27m switch to the Nerazzurri, but Monchi has insisted there “is zero possibility” the German centre-back will be sold. Conversely, there was not such a hard-line approach with regards to Salah, who wants to move to Anfield.

“There is interest from an English club and an offer for Salah, but Roma decides the price,” Monchi responded when asked about the Egypt international’s potential transfer.“We will decide, if this offer [at the price we set] arrives, whether to sell him or not.”

With Liverpool currently the only suitors for Salah, odds being slashed on his chances of lining up under Jurgen Klopp given his desire to do so, Roma’s FFP situation, and Di Francesco having designs on a reunion with his Sassuolo protege Domenico Berardi, the Reds may feel they have the stronger hand.

There will be a determination to reach an agreement that suits all parties soon, though, with the Merseysiders having already missed out on the explosive forward in January 2014.

Liverpool had opened talks with Basel in October the previous year, with a few offers batted away before Chelsea bulldozed in to pay the asking price and make a personal pitch to Salah through Jose Mourinho.

His £11m switch to Stamford Bridge ultimately proved unsuccessful before loan spells followed at Fiorentina and Roma, the latter making the transfer permanent last August. Salah proved a revelation in their attack, contributing 19 goals and 12 assists across all competitions last season.


With Klopp wanting to add another intelligent, fluid and formidable player to his front-line, Liverpool will not want to miss out on the Egyptian again.

 

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Barcelona name Eric Abidal as a new ambassador

Barcelona have handed former defender Eric Abidal an ambassadorial role at the club.

The 37-year-old enjoyed tremendous success at Camp Nou as a player, where he won 15 trophies, including two Champions Leagues and four Ligas, in a seven-year spell with the club.His career, however, was interrupted by a tumour on his liver, which forced him to receive a transplant, although he was able to resume his career.

“It makes me really happy to be officially part of the club,” he told Barca’s official website. “We’ve been talking for a long time. As ambassador, I’ll try and present the club in the best way possible, in different countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.”Abidal will also turn out for the club’s legends team.

“Given that I played for the club for quite a few years – I’m not exactly a legend – but it would be a great pleasure to share some moments with other former players from the club and to spread our message, the values that the club has,” he said.
“It’s an honour to represent the club.”

 

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Manchester United sign Lindelof for £40 million from Benfica

Manchester United have announced the signing of Victor Lindelof from Benfica on Wednesday in a deal worth up to €45 million (£40m).

The 20-time English champions confirmed on Saturday that they had agreed terms with the Swede’s club regarding a transfer fee, and on Wednesday Lindelof passed his medical and put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old centre-back is United’s first signing of the summer, with Jose Mourinho saying in a club release: “Victor is a very talented young player, who has a great future ahead of him at United. Our season last year showed us that we need options and quality to add depth to the squad and Victor is the first to join us this summer. I know that our fantastic group of players will welcome him as one of us."

Lindelof added: “I am thrilled to be joining Manchester United. I have enjoyed my time at Benfica enormously and I have learned a lot there. But I’m looking forward to playing in the Premier League at Old Trafford and for Jose Mourinho. I’m keen to get started and make my contribution to the team’s efforts to win more trophies.”

United will pay an initial €35m (£30.9m), with the remainder of the balance to be handed over if certain agreed targets are met during the course of the defender’s stay in Manchester.

Lindelof spent the majority of his youth career with hometown club Vasteras before joining Benfica in 2012. He went on to play 73 times for the Lisbon outfit and has also earned 12 caps for Sweden.

He leaves the Primeira Liga with three league titles to his name, along with two national cups, a league cup and a Portuguese Super Cup.

indelof is Mourinho’s fifth signing in total as Manchester United manager following the 2016 additions of Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba.

 

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Congratulations & Good Luck Lindelof!

Lindelof gana wadi deyak nam danne naha but success 1kak unoth echcharai​