Romelu Lukaku has claimed he could have joined Juventus in the summer transfer window but opted to stay at Everton. Chelsea are understood to have tried to re-sign Lukaku, who Everton reportedly valued at £75million. The Belgium international admits he is unhappy without European football and suggests he could still leave Goodison Park next summer. “It stings a little [not being in Europe], but I’m someone who believes that everything happens for a reason,” Lukaku said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad . “Otherwise I would have gone … [Read more...]
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane opens up on Mourinho talks
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has told Canal+ it was "difficult to turn down Jose Mourinho" and a move to Manchester United this summer, but says Zinedine Zidane's vote of confidence convinced him to stay in Spain. Varane, 23, has developed into a world-class centre-back since moving to Madrid from Lens in 2011 bearing the tag of being one of the game's most promising youngsters. That transformation was aided in great part by Mourinho during his three-year tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the United coach hoped to reunite with … [Read more...]
Jurgen Klopp calls Sadio Mane to check fitness amid injury concerns
Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Sadio Mane did not suffer a serious injury while on international duty. The winger was substituted midway through the second half of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Namibia, prompting speculation about his fitness. Jurgen Klopp is understood to have called the 24-year-old the following day to check on his status and was given a positive response and Mane was back in for training at Melwood on Monday. That was a welcome news ahead of the visit of Premier League champions Leicester this weekend for … [Read more...]
Toure treatment will cost Manchester City African fans – agent
Yaya Toure's agent says Pep Guardiola will cost Manchester City millions of supporters in Africa due to his treatment of the midfielder. Guardiola has sidelined the 33-year-old since taking over as City manager this summer. Toure has yet to feature in the Premier League this season and has been left out of the Champions League group stage squad. The Ivorian's representative, Dimitri Seluk, is unhappy with the way his client is being treated and claims it will have serious ramifications for the club. "They will lose a lot of millions of … [Read more...]
Norway 0 Germany 3: Muller’s brace sinks Norway
Thomas Muller made sure Germany made a successful start to the defence of their World Cup title with a 3-0 win over Norway in Oslo. Thomas Muller was on target twice while Joshua Kimmich's first goal for his country crowned an emphatic start to qualifying for Germany, who immediately took their place at the top of Group C. Manuel Neuer led Germany out for the first time since being named their new captain following Bastian Schweinsteiger's retirement from international football. (read) The Bayern Munich goalkeeper's touch of the ball … [Read more...]
Slovakia 0-1 England: Lallana scores late to give Allardyce first England win
Adam Lallana grabbed an injury time winner to hand Sam Allardyce a 1-0 win over Slovakia in his first game in charge of England. Allardyce had looked as though he would have to settle for a deeply uninspiring stalemate in Trnava – the hosts having held firm in the World Cup Group F qualifier despite Martin Skrtel’s sending-off after a nasty stamp on Harry Kane. However Lallana picked a perfect moment to break his international duck and seal a 1-0 success. The Liverpool forward had already clattered the post when the ball broke for him … [Read more...]
Zlatan hails Mourinho as ‘masterbrain’ behind his United move
Jose Mourinho was key to persuading Zlatan Ibrahimovic to move to England, as the Swedish icon felt no need to play in the Premier League. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has credited Jose Mourinho as the decisive factor in persuading him to bring his stellar career to the Premier League, claiming he previously rejected moves to England's top flight on two occasions. Ibrahimovic headed the winner in Manchester United's Community Shield victory over Leicester City and has scored three times in as many Premier League matches to prove an instant hit with … [Read more...]
Guardiola humiliated Yaya Toure- Agent
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has humiliated Yaya Toure by dropping him from his Champions League squad, according to the player's agent Dimitri Seluk. Toure, 33, will not be eligible to play in Manchester City's Champions League group games because Guardiola was forced to drop an overseas players from his squad as UEFA rules permit only 17 players who are not "locally-trained" or "association-trained." "If he wins the Champions League for City this season then I will travel to England and I will say on television that Pep Guardiola … [Read more...]
Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil wants Jack Wilshere’s No 10 shirt
Mesut Ozil has spoken of his desire to wear the Arsenal No. 10 shirt in the absence of Jack Wilshere, amid talks with the Gunners over a new contract. The 27-year-old has taken over wearing No. 10 for Germany after Lukas Podolski's retirement and has admitted that he would like the same shirt back at the Emirates Stadium. With Wilshere joining Bournemouth on loan for the season, Ozil says that he now has the opportunity to lock down the number he desires. "It has become free and I will definitely have it," Ozil told German newspaper … [Read more...]
Jamie Vardy: Why it was an easy decision to snub Arsenal
Jamie Vardy has revealed the pain felt by England’s stars at their Euro 2016 humiliation and how he made the tough decision to turn down a move to Arsenal before bumping into Gunners boss Arsene Wenger during the tournament. Despite winning the Premier League with Leicester, being named footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association and getting married, Vardy was also part of the England squad which crashed out of the European Championships to Iceland. Add to that a high-profile bid from Arsenal, which the … [Read more...]
Luke Shaw withdrawn from England squad
Luke Shaw withdrew from the England squad for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia after missing training on Saturday morning. The 21-year-old left-back has only just returned from double leg-break and has started the season well with Manchester United. He was replaced in training at St George’s Park by Arsenal’s Tafari Moore, who is part of the Under-20s set-up, and did not fly with the team. Shaw now misses out on a potential England return having last been capped almost a year ago in a 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over … [Read more...]