Top Stories
Manuel Locatelli: Italy midfielder signs for Juventus on loan with obligation to buy in 2023
The England striker, who reportedly wants to leave the club, was not part of the group who flew to Portugal on Wednesday for the game.
Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock says he has considered quitting social media over racist abuse he receives on a daily basis.
Cristiano Ronaldo has criticised media reports linking him with a move away from Juventus.
Galatasaray's Marcao was red carded after headbutting and punching his own team-mate on Monday.
"It is not a common occurrence," said Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim.
Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli has joined Juventus on a two-year loan from Sassuolo with an obligation to buy in 2023.
Locatelli, 23, was part of the Italy squad that won Euro 2020 last month, scoring twice in five games and coming on as a late substitute in the final.
The deal will become a permanent transfer in June 2023 for a further three years, with a fee of up to 37.5m euros (£32m) agreed.
Locatelli joined Sassuolo in 2018.
The former AC Milan player had been linked with both Arsenal and Liverpool during this summer's transfer window.
Juventus missed out on the Serie A title for the first time since 2012 as they finished fourth last season and reappointed former boss Massimiliano Allegri in May after sacking Andrea Pirlo.
They begin their 2021-22 Serie A season at Udinese on Sunday.
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday criticised media reports linking him with a move away from the Turin club.
#####
Harry Kane will not play for Tottenham in Thursday's Europa Conference League play-off first leg against Pacos de Ferreira
Kane, 28, also missed Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester City, the team who are trying to buy him.
He returned to training late after a post-Euro 2020 holiday in the USA.
"He is getting his fitness better each day," said boss Nuno Espirito Santo. "He is going to work today, he is going to work tomorrow, he'll join the group on Friday and Saturday we will make a decision [on whether he could face Wolves on Sunday]."
Nuno has confirmed none of the starting XI who beat Manchester City will face Pacos de Ferreira, who finished fifth in the Portuguese league last season.
"It's important that all of them have real competition," he said. "The players that started the game on Sunday are not going to be involved."
The winner of this two-legged tie will go into the group stage of the inaugural third-tier European competition.
#####
Joe Willock: Newcastle midfielder has considered quitting social media over racist abuse
Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, the 21-year-old added he still continues to use the platforms due to the "wonderful fans" that support him.
"I don't want to lose that connection with the everyday supporters," he said.
Willock completed a move to St James' Park from Arsenal on a six-year deal last week.
The England Under-21 international feels social media sites need to "step up" to eradicate the problem which has seen a number of black footballers targeted with abuse across the various platforms.
"Every day I get messages," he said. "Messages saying about my colour or different things that are disgusting, really.
"There's not much you can do - you just have to try and ignore it. I don't think Instagram, Facebook and Twitter have put up enough of a fight for us to do anything else.
"I feel like the only thing you can do in this day and age is just ignore it and try to put it at the back of your head.
"It comes up on your phone and they have a way of direct messaging you on to your phone these disgusting things and it sort of hurts. It hurts a lot - even speaking about it."
Despite the difficulties he and other players have faced, Willock stressed that a close relationship with supporters is the main reason behind his decision to stay active online.
He said: "If you come off social media, you lose that connection with all the wonderful fans that are supporting me every day, want to see my everyday life and see what I do and have that connection with me over the platform that they wouldn't have in real life."
Willock scored eight goals for Newcastle while on loan at the club in the second half of last season.
He missed the Magpies' 4-2 home defeat by West Ham last Sunday but will be available for the trip Aston Villa this Saturday.
#####
Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus striker says transfer rumours are 'just talk'
In a post on social media he did not outright deny a move was possible or commit his future to the Italian side.
But the 36-year-old forward said he was "focused on his work" despite reports linking him with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
The Portugal captain called rumours "a disrespect for me as a man and as a player".
He added: "Less talk and more action, this has been my guiding motto since the start of my career.
"However, in view of everything that's been said and written recently, I have to set out my position.
"The frivolous way that my future is covered in the media is disrespectful to all the clubs involved in these rumours, as well as to their players and staff."
Earlier on Tuesday, Real's new boss Carlo Ancelotti had responded to the rumours in a tweet, dismissing speculation of Ronaldo returning to the Spanish club.
"Cristiano is a Real Madrid legend and he has all my love and respect. I have never considered signing him. We look forward. #HalaMadrid," he wrote.
Ancelotti's tweet appears to have been prompted by a report by Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, which claimed on Monday night that a reunion between Real and Ronaldo was a possibility, three years after he left the club to sign for Juventus in a £99.2m deal.
Ronaldo joined Real from Manchester United in July 2009 and went on to score a club record 450 goals in 438 games over the following nine seasons.
In his time with Los Blancos, Ronaldo also won four Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles. One of those Champions League trophies was won under the guidance of Ancelotti, during the Italian's previous spell in charge.
He currently has just 10 months remaining on his contract in Turin, but after Ancelotti's intervention Ronaldo was exercised to quash rumours of a return.
"My story at Real Madrid has been written. It's been recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines. It's in the Museum at the Bernabeu Stadium and it's also in the minds of every fan of the club," the long statement ran.
"I know that the true Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine.
"I'm breaking my silence now to say that I can't allow people to keep playing around with my name. I remain focused on my career and in my work, committed and prepared for all the challenges that I have to face.
"Everything else is just talk," he concluded.
Speculation over Ronaldo's future has intensified in the days since great rival Lionel Messi left Barcelona and joined PSG on a two-year deal.
#####
Galatasaray defender headbutts his own team-mate and is sent off
The Brazilian defender was dismissed just after the hour mark of Gala's 2-0 league win over Giresunspor after losing it with winger Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu.
The centre-back seemed to take exception to something that Akturkoglu said, as well as the winger putting his finger to his lips in a 'be quiet' gesture.
He responded by running from his own half to headbutt and then throw punches at the winger, and had to be restrained by team-mates before he was shown a red card.
"We all have all kinds of arguments in the dressing room, on the field. This is the first time I have seen such a position with his own team-mate on the field.
"We don't know what's going on yet. Whatever it is, it's not nice.
"This incident was not pleasant in any way, but the solution belongs to us. Don't worry, we'll figure it out somehow."
We often hear about training ground bust-ups (remember when Roberto Mancini had a tussle with Mario Balotelli?) but team-mates scrapping with one another during matches is less common.
That's not to say it's entirely without precedent. The most famous example is probably that of Kieron Dyer v Lee Bowyer, 2005. The two then-Newcastle teammates had a proper barney with one another on the pitch during a 3-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.
Way back in 1995, Graeme Le Saux punched his Blackburn Rovers team-mate David Batty during a Champions League encounter with Spartak Moscow.
Marcao, 25, has been a bit of a mainstay for Galatasaray since he joined in 2019, with 107 appearances. He was shown a straight red after the incident went to video review on Monday and may face a lengthy suspension.
Asked about sanctions for the player, Terim added: "Marcao will first come out and apologize to Kerem, his team-mates, Galatasaray fans, Turkish football and everyone. We'll see later."
#####
Lionel Messi sent "scandal" message amid Jorginho challenge for Ballon d'Or
Former Italy striker Antonio Cassano believes it would be a "scandal" if the 2021 Ballon d'Or went to Chelsea midfielder Jorginho ahead of Lionel Messi.
Messi is the bookies favourite to pick up the annual award but Jorginho has had quite the year too, picking up winners medals for both the Champions League and European Championships.
The Blues' playmaker was superb for club and country in their respective runs, although Cassano says now-Paris Saint-Germain star Messi should "always" claim the accolade.
The Ballon d'Or has been given to Messi six times already and the Argentine is the current holder of the award, which has not been handed out since 2019.
Cassano was speaking to fellow former Italian striker Christian Vieri on his Twitch channel and asked him: "Remember when I said any journalist who voted for Jorginho as Ballon d’Or should have his licence taken away?
"Well, I was in Formentera with my family and just as I sat down, I felt a touch. ‘Antonio, you’re great!’ the voice says. I turn around to ask who he was, he took off his glasses and mask, and it was Jorginho!"
The ex-Real Madrid, AC Milan and Inter Milan hitman then revealed: "I told him, Jorgi, can you believe the scandal if they should give you the Ballon d’Or and not to Messi?
"He replied that he absolutely agreed with me, Messi should always win it."
However, the "exceptional" Jorginho took the 39-year-old's comments well.
"Now I admire Jorginho even more. We were talking for a good 90 minutes," Cassano said.
"He is an exceptional guy, very intelligent, humble and polite."
#####
(Courtesy: BBC SPORTS, Mirror, Getty images)
Comments
Post a Comment