..::Football IV::..

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Pellegrini becomes frontrunner for West Ham job ahead of Benitez & Emery


Manuel Pellegrini has edged ahead of Rafael Benitez and Unai Emery in the race to become West Ham manager, sources have told Goal.

The Hammers are currently searching for a new boss following the departure of David Moyes at the end of the season.Goal reported earlier this week that co-chairman David Sullivan had scheduled talks with Emery and Benitez, but it has now been confirmed that Pellegrini has been added to the list.

Indeed, West Ham issued a statement revealing they hoped to appoint a manager with Premier League experience, and it is understood that Emery's lack of English has proven prohibitive to his appointment.

Hebei China Fortune manager Pellegrini has thus become the frontrunner, with the Chilean having won the Premier League during his three-year stay at Manchester City.Sources at the club expect Pellegrini to meet with Sullivan in the next few days but, contrary to reports in Chile, a deal has not yet been done.

The Irons are keen to appoint the 64-year-old, however, as they crave a manager with a history of playing attractive, expansive football.Of course, it remains to be seen if Pellegrini will be willing to leave Hebei, with the club less than halfway through their CSL season. They are currently ninth.Benitez, thus, remains an attractive option, and one which West Ham have pursued before.

The club agreed a deal with the Spaniard to appoint him in 2015, only for Benitez to make a U-turn once Real Madrid made their own interest known. West Ham instead appointed former defender Slaven Bilic.However, there is an acknowledgment that it will be difficult to extract Benitez from his contract at Newcastle, which currently contains a £6 million ($8m) release clause. The former Liverpool and Real boss is also understood to be keen to earn around £9m-per-year should he receive the job.

Pellegrini, too, would be an expensive appointment, as he currently earns roughly £15.7m-per-year in China in a league where most clubs are incredibly rich, per ClaretandHugh, but he is not expected to demand such sums from Sullivan and his co-chairman David Gold.

While both Pellegrini and Benitez are at the top of the Hammers' list, Emery remains a possibility should talks fall through.So too does Claudio Ranieri, who has been heavily linked with the job since his departure from Nantes. The former Leicester City manager, though, is regarded as a "back-up" should all other options fail.Paulo Fonseca, another manager who interviewed for the job, has signed a new deal at Shakhtar Donetsk.

 

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Mourinho claims Conte feud over ahead of FA Cup final reunion


Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claims to have cleared the air with Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte, with the pair set to be reunited in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Two passionate characters have become embroiled in a war of words this season, with there seemingly no love lost between two men prepared to speak their mind.A coaching feud came to a head in January when Mourinho branded Conte “a clown” and “a fake”, with the Italian hitting back by labelling the Portuguese “a little man”.

There was, however, to be a handshake between the two prior to United’s 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on February 25 and post-match discussions behind the scenes.

Mourinho considers that to be the end of petty bickering, telling Record ahead of another tactical battle with Conte at Wembley Stadium: “He stretched out, I stretched. We got bored.“After the game in Manchester I invited him to come to my office. We talked, nothing's wrong. It's OK.” While Mourinho will be in the opposite dugout to Conte this weekend, he will have Rui Faria alongside him.

A long-serving assistant is set to step down from his post after the FA Cup final, bringing to an end a productive 17-year working relationship which has delivered countless major honours.

Mourinho has suggested that Michael Carrick, who is retiring this summer, will eventually step up into the role, but for now he is looking to bring in a familiar face alongside him.“There comes a person who worked with me earlier but I can't say the name because it's still tied to another club,” he said.“Michael Carrick will be a coach but I'm looking for two new people. There are many good coaches.”

 

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Arteta agrees to become new Arsenal manager


Mikel Arteta has agreed in principle to replace Arsene Wenger and become the new manager at Arsenal.

Goal understands that, while no contract has yet been signed, the announcement of Arteta's return to the Emirates Stadium will be made in the coming days.The Spaniard is currently assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and played a huge part in guiding them to their record-shattering Premier League title success this season.

Arteta is highly regarded by Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who believes a younger coach will slot into a modern European football structure, complemented by head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and new head of football relations Raul Sanllehi.

Arteta is expected to bring his own backroom staff on board, with reports linking Santi Cazorla as a potential addition, while the futures of Steve Bould and Jens Lehmann remain uncertain despite both receiving offers to stay at Emirates Stadium.

The emergence of Arteta as the Gunners' primary choice to replace Wenger comes in the aftermath of Massimiliano Allegri ruling himself out of the running, choosing instead to remain at Juventus. Fomer Barcelona boss Luis Enrique was also considered, though Sanllehi - who knows the 48-year-old from his own time at Camp Nou - warned Arsenal off him due to him having proven difficult to work with.

Arteta left Arsenal upon his retirement from playing in 2016, having made 150 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals and laying on a further 11 assists during his four seasons at the Emirates Stadium.

 

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FA Cup Final Fixture 2018.05.19

FA Cup Final Fixture 2018.05.19

Chelsea Vs Manchester United

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Loku match ekakHoda fight ekak denna wei win karanna

Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

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LA Liga Fixtures 2018.05.19

LA Liga Fixtures 2018.05.19


Celta Vigo Vs Levante

Leganes Vs Real Betis

Las Palmas Vs Girona

Malaga Vs Getafe

Sevilla Vs Alaves

Villareal Vs Real Madrid​

 

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Serie A Fixture 2018.05.19

Serie A Fixture 2018.05.19

Juventus Vs Verona​

 

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Half Time

Chelsea 1 Vs 0 Manchester United

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Fight back ekak denawa ath Manchester United attacking sloppyFinal third eke play karana widiyath anthimaineSanchez,Rash madi

2nd half improve wenna wenawa godakmaGood luck for the 2nd half Manchester United!​

 

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Full Time

Chelsea 1 Vs 0 Manchester United

Chelsea Goal(s)

E.Hazard 22(PEN)'
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Chelsea are the FA Cup Winners 2018!

Congratulations Chelsea!
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Bad luck Manchester United!

Hoda fight back ekak dunna.Specially 2nd half improve wela play kala but not good enough

2017/18 Season eke last match eka & Team eke improvements godak wenna ona summer eke next season ekedi hoda fight ekak denna competitions hama ekakakatama wageSpecially Forward + Mid gana godakma hithanna wei Mourinho ta

Good luck for the next season Manchester United!
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Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0: Hazard seals FA Cup glory in possible Conte farewell

Eden Hazard inspired Chelsea to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

The 27-year-old forward fuelled speculation over his future this week by stating he will wait and see how Chelsea's close-season transfer policy develops before committing to a new contract at Stamford Bridge.But he was all business at England's national stadium as he turned the first half into an ordeal for Phil Jones – the United defender whose clumsy foul meant Hazard won and converted a 22nd-minute penalty.




United improved upon a tepid showing after the break and Alexis Sanchez had a goal ruled out for offside, but even the late introduction of Romelu Lukaku on his return from an ankle injury could not force an equaliser.It meant a sweet victory for Antonio Conte over his rival Jose Mourinho on what could prove his farewell outing as Chelsea coach, with the FA Cup a notable consolation after their Premier League title defence slumped to a fifth-place finish.


As in the semi-final win over Tottenham, David de Gea was preferred to United's regular cup goalkeeper Sergio Romero and the Spain international was called upon in the ninth minute.

Jones gave away possession and Tiemoue Bakayoko set Hazard running at the backpedalling England defender, who he skipped past and forced De Gea to save with his right boot at the near post.Bakayoko and Sanchez had half-hearted penalty appeals turned down but there was little doubt for referee Michael Oliver when he later pointed to the United spot.

An utterly hapless start to the game continued for Jones, who blundered through Hazard as the Belgium star darted around him after bringing Cesc Fabregas' lofted pass under his spell.Conte was furious on the touchline after Jones was only yellow carded – in line with the International Football Association Board update brought in from last season – but Hazard was a picture of calmness as he stroked home, sending De Gea the wrong way.

Jones had a chance to make amends but headed wide at the far post from Ashley Young's left-wing cross, with United belatedly arriving as an attacking force in the closing minutes of the half.Antonio Rudiger blocked well from Marcus Rashford after Paul Pogba drove a counter-attack in stoppage time.

Mourinho's side enjoyed their first sustained spell of pressure early in the second half, with Ander Herrera liberated from attempting to shackle Hazard and lending greater impetus to United's midfield play.

Thibaut Courtois beat away a drive from Rashford and Pogba saw a deflected 57th-minute shot loop behind, before Nemanja Matic scuffed wide wastefully against his former club.The pressure looked to have told in the 63rd minute but Sanchez was fractionally offside – a decision confirmed by VAR – when he prodded in after Courtois denied Jones.

Chelsea attacks had become a rarity by the time N'Golo Kante marauded forward and played in Marcos Alonso. The wing-back was denied by his countryman De Gea and Young escaped penalty claims for handball as Chelsea followed up.Courtois denied Rashford one against one before the England forward made way for Lukaku, and Mourinho would no doubt have preferred a glorious 82nd-minute headed chance fell to the Belgian as opposed to Pogba.

United's record signing was unmarked but directed substitute Anthony Martial's corner wide, condemning his boss to a trophyless campaign.

 

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Juventus 2 Verona 1: Buffon signs off on a high

Gianluigi Buffon signed off in style as Juventus celebrated their seventh straight Serie A title with a 2-1 victory over relegated Verona.

Having already wrapped up the Scudetto, it was party-time in Turin for Massimiliano Allegri's men, with Buffon taking centre stage on his final game for the Bianconeri.The Italy goalkeeper announced on Thursday that he would be calling time on his 17-year Juve career at the end of the campaign, although it is not yet clear whether he will retire altogether.




And the 40-year-old provided the highlight of a sluggish opening period, making a fine save to parry away Mohamed Fares' strike, while Paulo Dybala clipped the woodwork at the other end.Juve wasted little time in asserting their authority following the restart, however - Daniele Rugani capitalising on Nicolas' error in the 49th minute before Miralem Pjanic converted a superb free-kick.

Buffon stole the limelight just after the hour, receiving a standing ovation as he made way for debutant Carlo Pinsoglio and bid an emotional farewell to the Bianconeri faithful.Alessio Cerci pulled one back for Verona before Stephan Lichtsteiner - also making his final Juve appearance - failed to convert from the penalty spot as the Serie A champions ended another successful campaign in winning fashion.


Buffon was called into action on 16 minutes, reacting sharply to keep out Fares' curling effort - much to the pleasure of the home faithful.Mario Mandzukic should have put Juve ahead shortly after, only for the Croatia striker to head straight at Nicolas following good work from Douglas Costa.

Refusing to be outshone by his illustrious counterpart, Nicolas was also on top form just after the half-hour, lunging to his right to tip Mandzukic's acrobatic strike over.Dybala nearly grabbed the opener with a wonderful attempt just before the interval - Nicolas only able to watch on as the playmaker's delicate chip rebounded away off the crossbar, while Mandzukic's poor showing in front of goal continued as he hooked over from close range.

Juve did not have to wait long after the restart, though, as Rugani tucked home on the rebound after Nicolas had spilled Costa's low strike.The floodgates were open, and Pjanic netted Juve's second three minutes later with a sublime free-kick that nestled into the top-left corner.

Buffon had to be alert on the hour, rushing out to prevent Ryder Matos going through after Rodrigo Bentancur conceded possession.

That was to be Buffon's final act in a Juve shirt, the veteran making way moments later to a standing ovation from the crowd, a guard of honour as he reached the touchline and tears in the stands.Juve's hopes of setting a new Serie A clean sheet record were ended in the 76th minute, Cerci taking advantage of sloppy defending to nudge home from close range.

Enrico Bearzotti was harshly adjudged to have handled in the area with five minutes to go, handing Lichtsteiner the opportunity to end his Juve career with a goal, but the full-back's tame effort was easily kept out by Nicolas.

While the match continued, Buffon was embarking on a hand-shaking mission among the Juve fans with Lichtsteiner also afforded a late send-off.

 

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Barcelona unveil new home kit for 2018-19 season

 

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Caen 0 Paris Saint-Germain 0: Stalemate closes Emery tenure as Caen survive

Paris Saint-Germain closed their title-winning campaign and the Unai Emery era with a 0-0 draw at Caen that preserved their hosts' Ligue 1 status.

Emery makes way for Thomas Tuchel with a domestic treble to his name but there were few of the thrills his team have provided throughout the season after he named an experimental line-up.Timothy Weah, son for former PSG and AC Milan star and current Liberian president George, was handed a first Ligue 1 start and turned in a lively performance, although a lack of fluency in an unfamiliar PSG attack hindered the 18-year-old.




Caen enjoyed a smattering of chances – most notably for Romain Genevois and Ivan Santini late in the first half and Ronny Rodelin inside the final 10 minutes – but generally demonstrated why they have been the most shot shy team in Ligue 1 this season, with only 27 goals.Patrice Garande's team will at least get the chance to improve that return next time around, with the point good enough to condemn Toulouse to the relegation play-off despite a 2-1 win over Guingamp.


Javier Pastore should have converted Weah's cutback in the fourth minute following a poor clearance from Caen goalkeeper Brice Samba.Caen almost took a fluke lead when an over-hit cross from left-back Adama Mbengue hit the top of the crossbar.In the 13th minute, Christopher Nkunku should have given PSG the lead but fired Thomas Meunier's cross too close to Samba.

PSG's experimental line-up resulted in an open game, with home forward Santini smashing a loose ball in the box wide before veteran holding midfielder Thiago Motta – named captain on his farewell appearance for the champions – forced Samba into action with a low drive.

Alphonse Areola saved a powerfully struck effort from Caen right-back Genevois in the 43rd minute and was out quickly to deny Santini on the stroke of half-time.An uneventful start to the second half suited Caen in terms of their survival requirements, although Toulouse surging into a 2-0 lead increased the pressure on Garande's side.



Rodelin's ambitious and wayward long-ranger suggested news might have reached the pitch, although PSG were doing little to threaten.Motta powered a header wide as he sought to make a forgettable game one to remember personally in the 71st minute.

Rodelin showed fine technique to swivel and fire goalwards, but Areola – called up to France's World Cup squad this week – dealt with the shot in unfussy fashion to preserve his 17th clean sheet of the Ligue 1 season.

 

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Villarreal 2 Real Madrid 2: Luca's debut misjudgement costs Los Blancos

Luca Zidane made a costly misjudgement on his Real Madrid debut as they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Villarreal in their final LaLiga fixture of the season.

Handed a first start by his father with Keylor Navas rested, Luca impressed for much of Saturday's clash, before showing his inexperience when he was rounded by substitute Samu Castillejo five minutes from time.The goal dashed Madrid's hopes of pipping Atletico Madrid to second place in LaLiga, less than ideal ahead of their Champions League final against Liverpool next weekend.




Castillejo's well-taken equaliser – scored eight minutes after he replaced Pablo Fornals – was a deserved reward for Villarreal, who looked beaten at the interval after Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid in control.Bale has often found himself out in the cold under Zinedine Zidane this term, but looked sharp throughout at Estadio de la Ceramica - his fifth goal in four league games setting the tone for a confident first-half display from Los Blancos.

Madrid cemented their authority in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo headed in from Marcelo's sublime cross, but a sloppy second-half performance allowed substitutes Roger Martinez and Castillejo to earn a share of the spoils as a place in the Europa League was guaranteed.


Ronaldo wasted little time in testing Villarreal's second-choice goalkeeper Andres Fernandez, who reacted well to keep out the Portugal forward's dipping long-range strike.

Fernandez was beaten 12 minutes in, though. Luka Modric's quick free-kick found Bale, who spun free of his marker to arrow a low finish into the bottom-left corner.Villarreal looked to be mustering a response when Fornals struck wide of Luca's goal on the half hour, but Madrid soon had their second.

Having initially delayed his cross, Marcelo delivered an exquisite ball with the outside of his foot at the second time of asking - Ronaldo rising highest to cushion a brilliant header into the far corner.Madrid could have extended their advantage prior to the interval, Modric chipping over from close range before Ronaldo failed to capitalise on an error from Fernandez.

Nicola Sansone looked set to pull one back shortly after the restart, but Luca got across sharply to parry the Italian's free-kick wide.Bale continued to shine at the other end. He started a counter-attack with a wonderful flick into Toni Kroos, whose return pass caught the forward offside on the edge of Villarreal's box.



Luca's inexperience was exposed when Sansone got in behind with a terrific turn, but Sergio Ramos was on hand to head Enes Unal's effort off the line after Ronaldo was withdrawn with an eye on the upcoming trip to Kiev.Neither Ramos nor Luca could deny Martinez in the 70th minute, however, the winger cutting in from the left to hammer a thunderous strike high into the net just 184 seconds after replacing Unal.

Madrid's luck was out and it was Martinez's fellow substitute Castillejo who snatched the draw when he took advantage of Luca's rush of blood to coolly slot home from a tight angle.

 

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Bayern Munich 1 Eintracht Frankfurt 3: Controversial Kovac win denies new club double delight

Jupp Heynckes' fourth stint as Bayern Munich head coach ended on a disappointing and controversial note as successor Niko Kovac led Eintracht Frankfurt to a 3-1 win in the DFB-Pokal final.Veteran boss Heynckes won the treble before departing last time in 2013, but Kovac himself ensured that his Bayern reign will begin with the Bundesliga champions holding just one trophy - his side aided by a questionable late refereeing call.

Ante Rebic netted early in the first half and then struck again on the counter-attack eight minutes from time, after Robert Lewandowski had drawn Bayern level and before the drama escalated in stoppage time.Frankfurt had ridden their luck to reach the closing stages still in a position to win the game and then, having seen VAR rule in their favour for Rebic's second, had referee Felix Zwayer to thank as he opted against awarding a Bayern penalty.

Kovac's men countered and sealed victory through Mijat Gacinovic, but the nature of the defeat will leave an especially bitter taste for Bayern and Heynckes.Having ended the Bundesliga season with their title celebrations dampened by a home humbling at the hands of Stuttgart, the German champions head into the off-season - and Heynckes into the sunset - on a real downer.


A sublime early Lewandowski free-kick bounced away off the crossbar, but the opener arrived against the run of play at the other end after 11 minutes.James Rodriguez was caught in possession and that allowed Kevin-Prince Boateng to set Rebic away, with a clinical 20-yard finish beating Sven Ulreich low to his right.Bayern predictably rallied and Thomas Muller sent a clumsy header just wide, before the forward clipped in a pinpoint cross for Joshua Kimmich to nod narrowly past the opposite post.

A breathless break then moved through Muller and Franck Ribery to tee up Lewandowski, but he too could not steer on target. Muller also had another opening before the interval and shot straight at Lukas Hradecky.Bayern's equaliser finally arrived following the restart, though, when Kimmich cut the ball back onto Lewandowski's toe and a last-ditch Omar Mascarell challenge succeeded only in wrong-footing Hradecky as the ball nestled in the net.

But it was Frankfurt who initially kicked on in search of a winner and Mascarell almost made amends, thundering a volley towards goal and drawing a parry from Ulreich.The game began to really open up and, seconds after Mats Hummels directed a header against the crossbar, Rebic curled a low shot just beyond the far right-hand post.

And then Rebic struck again. The officials used VAR to wisely ignore appeals for handball in the build-up as another ball in behind took Rebic beyond Hummels to prod into the net and spark wild celebrations.In scenes of high drama, Bayern then believed they should have been awarded a 94th-minute spot-kick when Boateng appeared to foul Javi Martinez. Instead, a corner was awarded and Frankfurt broke, with Gacinovic galloping into acres of space to seal his side's fifth cup triumph.

 

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Balotelli handed Italy recall by Mancini


Mario Balotelli is set to end a four-year international exile after Roberto Mancini named the Nice striker in his first squad as Italy boss.

Balotelli is a long-time favourite of Mancini's and played under the newly installed head coach at Inter and Manchester City.The 27-year-old fell from favour during the reigns of Antonio Conte and Gian Piero Ventura but, following disappointing spells at Liverpool and AC Milan, the enigmatic forward has rediscovered his form in Ligue 1.




A return of 43 goals in two seasons at Nice has been rewarded by Mancini, who has included five uncapped players in his 30-man group to take on Saudi Arabia, France and Netherlands - games that represent the start of a rebuilding project following the Azzurri's failure to reach the 2018 World Cup.

Chelsea wing-back Emerson Palmieri, Atalanta defender Mattia Caldara, Torino midfielder Daniele Baselli, Crotone's Rolando Mandragora and Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi are all in line for maiden appearances at full international level.Mancini's squad will convene at the Italian Football Federation's Coverciano headquarters on Wednesday, five days before they face Saudi Arabia in St Gallen.

They will take on France at Balotelli's present stomping ground of the Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 1 before hosting Netherlands in Turin on June 4

Italy's 30-man squad for the friendlies against Saudi Arabia, France and Italy:

Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino); Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Domenico Criscito (Zenit), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Davide Zappacosta (Chelsea); Daniele Baselli (Torino), Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan), Bryan Cristante (Atalanta), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Jorginho (Napoli), Rolando Mandragora (Crotone), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma); Mario Balotelli (Nice), Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Matteo Politano (Sassuolo), Simone Verdi (Bologna), Simone Zaza (Valencia)

 

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'I'd do it again tomorrow' - No regrets for Payet after injury ends World Cup dream


Dimitri Payet has no regrets about risking his fitness in the Europa League final despite the decision costing him a spot in France's World Cup squad.

The Marseille skipper left the pitch in tears after just half an hour of Wednesday's crushing 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in Lyon.Payet, who had been troubled by a muscle problem in the lead-up to the match, sustained a fresh hamstring injury that France boss Didier Deschamps confirmed as the reason for his exclusion from the 23 for Russia.




The 31-year-old former West Ham playmaker took to social media on Saturday to offer his support to the national team, while insisting he would not hesitate to make the same call again."When you are a professional player, the France team is above all, it's true," Payet wrote on Instagram.

"But [Marseille] is in my heart and if it is necessary to do it again tomorrow, after tomorrow, in six months, in one year, I would do it without question."I repeat, I love this club and I am ready to make sacrifices for it... I was fully aware of the risks I was taking and I fully assume the consequences."I am and I will be the first supporter of Les Bleus for this World Cup. I will heal and start preparing for next season. You can count on me."