Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez confirmed Claudio Bravo will feature in Saturday's La Liga opener against Real Betis, but conceded he may not remain at the club beyond the current transfer window. Bravo played in Wednesday's 3-0 Super Cup win against Sevilla, saving a first-half penalty from Vicente Iborra, amid growing reports he's set to sign for Manchester City. However, while Robert didn't rule out a transfer, he did say that the Chilean goalkeeper will not move to the Premier League before the weekend. "A lot has been said but I can only say that Claudio Bravo will be with us on Saturday," Fernandez told TV3. "After that, we will see. If in the end Bravo goes, another goalkeeper will have to come in first." The deal has been held … [Read more...]
Riyad Mahrez rejects Arsenal and Chelsea to sign new deal at Leicester City
Reigning PFA Players' Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez has committed his future to Leicester by signing a new deal with the Premier League champions. Mahrez, 25, had been linked with making a move to Arsenal during the summer transfer window. But the Algeria international has followed striker Jamie Vardy in committing his future to Claudio Ranieri's side. Mahrez scored 17 goals and assisted 11 as the Foxes claimed a shock Premier League title last season. He's signed! #lcfc magician @Mahrez22 commits future with new deal to 2020! Leicester City (@LCFC) August 17, 2016 The forward, who was on target in a 2-1 loss at Hull City in the opening game of 2016-17, was named PFA Player of the Year following his stunning campaign. Mahrez had said only … [Read more...]
Arsenal attacker Alex Iwobi out for four weeks
Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi will be sidelined for up to four weeks, according to sources, adding another injury blow to Arsene Wenger's team. The Nigerian was substituted just before the hour mark in the Gunners' 4-3 loss to Liverpool on Sunday with what Wenger described as a thigh strain, and a source said on Wednesday that he could be out for up to a month. That would rule him out of Arsenal's next two games, against Leicester on Saturday and Watford the following weekend before a possible return on Sept. 10 against Southampton. He would also miss Nigeria's final African Nations Cup qualifier against Tanzania, though the Super Eagles have already been eliminated. Iwobi could well be back earlier than that as he is already in physiotherapy and responding … [Read more...]
Costa: I feel marked by referees in England
Chelsea striker Diego Costa was the subject of controversy once again in the win over West Ham and he feels the attention is undeserved. Diego Costa says he feels targeted in England and receives harsher punishments than other Premier League players. The Chelsea striker scored a dramatic late winner as Antonio Conte's team defeated West Ham on Monday, but only after he had avoided a second yellow card for a foul on goalkeeper Adrian, having earlier been booked for dissent. West Ham boss Slaven Bilic said after the match that Costa would have seen red "nine times out of 10" for the incident, but the Spain international feels the attention he gets is undeserved. The 27-year-old told ESPN Brasil: "I am aware of [the new dissent law] now. The second time … [Read more...]
Torres: Liverpool made me look like a ‘traitor’
Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres left Liverpool for Chelsea in 2011, sparking outrage among fans. Fernando Torres has hit out at Liverpool for portraying him as a traitor following his move to Premier League rivals Chelsea in 2011. Anfield favourite and Atletico Madrid striker Torres swapped Liverpool for Chelsea in a big-money deal, believed to be worth £50million, more than five years ago. The Spaniard was the subject of criticism by Liverpool fans following his record-breaking move to Stamford Bridge but the 32-year-old has lifted the lid on his transfer to Chelsea, where he won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup. "[Director of football Damien] Comolli told me that the new owners [Fenway Sports Group], they had an idea of how to … [Read more...]
Fabregas deal complicated for Madrid- Zidane
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane says a move for Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas would be 'complicated'. It has been reported that the Spaniard has been offered to clubs like Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain as new boss Antonio Conte continues to revamp his squad. The 29-year-old, who moved back to the Premier League in 2014, has had mixed fortunes at Stamford Bridge and was left out of the starting line-up for Chelsea's opening game of the season against West Ham on Monday night, fueling speculation about his future. However Zidane has poured cold water on claims that Fabregas could be headed for the Spanish capital by suggesting that he already has enough options in central midfield. Speaking after Madrid's 5-3 win over Reims on … [Read more...]
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane sent for shoulder scan
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane may face a spell on the sidelines after reportedly undergoing scans on a potential shoulder injury. Mane, who joined Liverpool this summer from Southampton in a bumper £30million deal, is understood to have sustained the knock in training at Melwood on Wednesday before leaving accompanied by a physio. The 24-year-old was one of the stars of the show as Liverpool overcame Arsenal 4-3 at the Emirates on the opening weekend of the season, scoring what turned out to be the winner with a brilliant individual effort. … [Read more...]