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LUKA JOVIC reportedly wants to quit Real Madrid and return to Eintracht Frankfurt after a torrid year away.
Mundo Deportivo reports the 22-year-old is pushing for a move back to Frankfurt and an end to a nightmare 12 months in the Spanish capital.3
Luka Jovic is looking to return to Eintracht FrankfurtCredit: Getty – Contributor
The Serbian striker has been given the Gareth Bale treatment by Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu.
Jovic started just FOUR LaLiga games last season as he was frozen out by the club’s French boss.
The young forward had enjoyed a prolific 2018-19 season with Frankfurt, slamming home 27 goals and seven assists in 48 games in all competitions.His stock rose across the continent after some eye-catching displays in the Europa League.
Jovic bagged ten goals in just 14 games to help his side reach the semi-finals where they were knocked out by eventual winners Chelsea.
His scintillating form in front of goal convinced Los Blancos to fork out £53million for his services last summer.
But Jovic has struggled to live up to his big billing, mustering just two goals in 27 appearances in the famous white shirt.And the report states he told the club last week he wants to return to Frankfurt where he was previously happy.
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Luka Jovic has been used sparingly by Real Madrid manager Zinedine ZidaneCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Jovic has also had off-field problems after being rapped for escaping Madrid during lockdown to return to his homeland.
Zidane has appeared reluctant to throw him into the action, even when chasing goals in games.
In the first match of the new league season, Zidane ignored Jovic as he made changes to try and break the stalemate against Real Sociedad, instead handing debuts to youth-team products Marvin and Arribas.Luka Jovic gives stunning Wag a cheeky wink as Real Madrid ace keeps fit isolating with Serbian model Sofija Milosevic More
CHELSEA old boy Emerson cancelled out new signing Joao Felix’s first goal for the Blues.Then VAR stopped Tomas Soucek heaping more misery on Graham Potter – because former Chelsea trainee Declan Rice was offside from Emerson’s late free kick.
Joao Felix is finally off the mark for ChelseaCredit: Getty
Former Chelsea star Emerson Palmieri earned West Ham a pointCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
When you bring in as much talent as Chelsea have in the last two windows, some of it is bound to deliver.
And Felix, sent off on his debut, returned from suspension to give the visitors an early lead from a cross by £107m man Enzo Fernandez.
But when you buy and sell so many players, one or two of those who get away are going to bite you on the bum every now and then.
And it was ex-Stamford Bridge left back Emerson who equalised on another frustrating day for Blues boss Graham Potter and his new owners.
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Soucek thought he had stolen all three points for the Hammers when he forced the ball home after Kepa Arrizabalaga had saved Rice’s header.
But the Hammers captain was offside from Emerson’s delivery.
Nevertheless it was another disappointing day for big-spending Chelsea as they failed to take a grip of a humdrum game.
Potter has now overseen a run of just two wins in 13 Premier League games.
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His free-spending bosses will be starting to wonder why.
While West Ham were unchanged and could name only eight substitutes, including two keepers, Chelsea flexed their moneybags muscles.
Felix was among five of their eight January signings to start the game.
The loan star had the ball in the net inside nine minutes but had was ruled offside from the initial through ball.
But seven minutes later, £107m man Enzo Fernandez sent in a cross, Felix was onside and then calmly volleyed into the net – although Mykhailo Mudryk seemed to have fouled Jarrod Bowen in the build-up.
The £88m Ukrainian almost provided a more conventional assist, only for Kai Havertz also to be offside before taking the ball round Lukasz Fabianksi.
West Ham had offered next to nothing until Michail Antonio’s backheel from a Bowen cross forced a save from Kepa Arrizabalaga.
But suddenly they equalised. This time Bowen nodded on a Vlad Coufal cross and Emerson stole in at the back post to finish from close range.
The London Stadium woke up from its lunchtime doze, for a few minutes at least.
Noni Madueke had already looked dangerous on his full debut for Chelsea and a trademark burst and shot brought the best out of Fabianski.
At the other end, Thiago Silva found the legs to catch a breaking Said Benrahma, then a Bowen error led to another counter-attack that Mudryk and Fernandez wasted between them.
The chances kept coming, with Felix hitting a free kick that Fabianski flung himself to his left to push away.
The second half followed the same pattern – a lot of mediocrity, punctuated by odd moments of excitement.
When a Fabianski throw sent Bowen off on a promising break, his attempted pass to Antonio was intercepted. Declan Rice hit a shot wide.
Chelsea were also struggling, although Antonio’s touch on a Reece James free kick sent the ball only just past Fabianski’s left-hand post.
The game needed something to liven it up and the managers tried, with five substitutions between them with a quarter of the match to go.
On came the Chelsea “old guard” – Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell and wantaway winger Hakim Ziyech.
News that Marc Cucurella was coming off was greeted first by cheers from the visiting fans, and then by boos aimed at him specifically.
Danny Ings, back sooner than expected from the injury suffered on his Hammers’ debut, replaced Antonio.
Chilwell had a great chance to make an immediate impact but delayed his shot long enough for Nayef Aguerd to block it.
Mount burst into the penalty area only for his cross to be kicked away by Fabianski.
Soucek thought he had won it with seven minutes to go, but his joy was shortlived.
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Chelsea screamed for a penalty when the Czech blocked a Conor Gallagher shot with his hand as he fell.
But VAR did not help the Blues twice and, to be honest, they didn’t deserve it. MoreCRISTIANO RONALDO is ‘very happy’ at Manchester United, insists Jorge Mendes.And the superagent added the Portuguese forward will have a ‘great season’ and continue his goalscoring form.
Cristiano Ronaldo was smiling on Thursday night after scoring in the win over BurnleyCredit: Reuters
Jorge Mendes has been Ronaldo’s long-term agent and friendCredit: Reuters
There had been murmurings of discontent surrounding Ronaldo and suggestions he may leave the club, just months after his stunning return in the summer.
One Spanish newspaper joked the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was even open to joining Real Madrid’s arch-rivals Barcelona in an April Fool’s Day-style report while a return to the Bernabeu has also been mooted.
But on the day Ronaldo inspired Ralf Rangnick’s side to a 3-1 win over Burnley, Mendes reiterated his client’s commitment at Old Trafford.
The agent told Sky Sports in Italy: “Cristiano Ronaldo is very happy at Manchester United.
“He’s going to continue with his solid, great performances as always in his career.
“It’s going be a great season for him, I’m sure.”
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Ronaldo should have fired United into an early lead against Burnley but he blazed over when through on goal.
But after Scott McTominay’s finish and Ben Mee’s own goal, Ronaldo tapped in a rebound to wrap up the win.
Ronaldo has now scored 14 goals in 21 appearances for the Red Devils this season.
That includes four in his five Premier League games in December as United continue to challenge for a top-four finish.
But there is still many who believe the match is not good news for the club.
His body language during Monday’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle – moaning and berating team-mates then sulking down the tunnel – left Gabby Agbonlahor fuming at the forward’s treatment of younger players.
The ex-Villa striker said: “That performance from Ronaldo was somebody sulking all game. His attitude was off.
“The harmony is not right in that changing room. The form of Rashford and Greenwood has dropped since Ronaldo has been there.
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“If I’m Rashford, Greenwood and Sancho I’m scared to have a shot. Every time they have a shot he’s got his arms up to say, ‘Why haven’t you passed to me?’
“I’d be saying to myself, ‘Oh, why did we have to bring him here?'”
And there has also been rumours of a power struggle between captain Harry Maguire and Ronaldo, who skippers Portugal and is one of the greatest players of all time. MoreLIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp appeared to taunt Arsenal by claiming Manchester City only sold Gabriel Jesus to them because the “distance was big enough”.The Gunners landed Jesus, 25, in the summer transfer window following a £45million deal with City, where he played for five years.
Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus joined from Manchester City last summerCredit: Getty
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp taunted Arsenal over the way they signed Gabriel JesusCredit: Getty
The striker has hit the ground running with five goals and four assists in 10 appearances across all competitions and is helping Mikel Arteta’s side rival his former team for the title.
Klopp sang the Brazil international’s praises ahead of today’s clash between Liverpool and the North Londoners at the Emirates.
But the German tactician suggested City would have never sold him to a more direct rival.
Klopp said: “I don’t know Gabriel on a personal basis but I always liked him as a player.
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“I know City would not have sold him to every club but to Arsenal the distance was big enough geographically and they did it.
“Exceptional player, you always saw that when he played for City. The Gabriel Jesus role at City was a nine, a winger, last year everybody said City had no No.9.
“He was still there but he played obviously from the wing and now he can play his role.”
Jesus joined City from Palmeiras in 2017 but never managed to land a starting role on a consistent basis despite a raft of impressive appearances.
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The Brazilian amassed a total of 95 goals and 46 assists in 236 appearances at the Etihad.
However, the centre-forward is leading Arsenal’s unlikely Premier League title charge with Arteta’s side second in the table with a game in hand. MoreARSENAL have opened contract talks with Reiss Nelson, according to reports.The 23-year-old’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season.
Nelson is expected to sign a new deal with ArsenalCredit: Alamy
But Nelson has made it clear that he wants to stay in north London beyond the summer.
According to The Daily Mail, new contract talks have now opened and Arsenal are confident that an agreement will be reached relatively quickly.
The intention is for all parties to agree on a deal which will see the winger remain at the Emirates Stadium for the foreseeable future.
Nelson stunned Arsenal fans when he scored an incredible last-minute winner against Bournemouth on Saturday.
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The Gunners found themselves 1-0 down just 10 seconds into the clash after Philip Billing fired Bournemouth into the lead with the second-fastest Premier League goal of all time.
Marcos Senesi then doubled the advantage shortly after half time.
But, the Gunners kicked off the comeback when Thomas Partey scored with 30 minutes to go.
Ben White then claimed his first Arsenal goal in dramatic style to draw the club level again.
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And with a matter of seconds remaining in extra time, super-sub Nelson fired home an incredible strike into the top right corner to steal all three points.
Arsenal retained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table as a result.
Arteta was full of praise for Nelson after his extraordinary strike on Saturday.
He said: “I have always seen Reiss’ potential, talent and desire to succeed, but now he is at a different level.
“It was my decision not to include him in the squad in our previous games because we had other options, but he has been knocking on the door and this is a good lesson for me that we need him and that he can be really important for the team.” More