France Ligue 1

Subterms

    More stories

    • 200 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter closes in on return to management after positive talks with surprise club

      by

      FORMER Chelsea boss Graham Potter is reportedly closing in on his next job at Nice.Current manager Didier Digard is set to depart the club at the end of the season.
      Nice have spoken to Graham Potter about becoming managerCredit: Rex
      That means the Ligue Un side are seeking a permanent manager and Potter is under consideration.
      According to Footmercato, Nice have met with Potter on two occasions to discuss the job.
      And Potter is believed to be open to the prospect of joining the French club, who sit tenth in the league after a difficult campaign.
      Nice owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly keen to appoint an English speaker.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Potter ticks that box and Ratcliffe hopes to lure him to the south coast with the promise of funds to spend.
      Nice are said to be ambitious and they believe Potter matches that following his success with Brighton.
      Potter has been without a club since his sacking by Chelsea in April.
      The former Brighton boss was picked to take over at Stamford Bridge by the new Todd Boehly-led ownership in September.
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
      But things quickly unravelled by April with Potter booted out after overseeing a string of poor results.
      Potter made his name by managing abroad and grew his reputation over seven years at Swedish club Ostersunds.
      He spent a year at Swansea before Brighton swooped, with Potter becoming loved by fans for turning the Seagulls into an attractive, mid-table Premier League outfit.
      But his time at Chelsea proved difficult as Potter struggled to get on top of the club’s string of big money signings More

    • 250 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Messi booed by PSG fans in first match since Saudi trip with team-mate admitting ‘it hurts’ amid Barcelona transfer talk

      by

      LIONEL MESSI was booed by Paris Saint-Germain fans in his first match back since his unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia.The Argentine legend missed training to visit the Middle East with his family.
      Lionel Messi was jeered by PSG fans versus AjaccioCredit: Rex
      Danilo Pereira has been left saddened by the supporters’ reactionCredit: AP
      Messi was then slapped with a suspension by PSG for the unauthorised trip – although they later backed down.
      In his first game back after the incident, the 35-year-old was jeered and whistled by some of the team’s supporters in their 5-0 win over Ajaccio.
      Team-mate Danilo Pereira was left saddened by the fans’ reaction, saying: “The context is hard, it hurts to see a teammate being whistled.
      “If we have to whistle, we have to whistle the whole team.”
      READ MORE ON MESSI
      Messi travelled to Saudi Arabia to fulfil commercial work as he’s an ambassador for the country’s tourism board.
      Since agreeing the £25million deal last year, he had only been to the nation once.
      Messi’s contract at PSG ends this summer and despite the club having the option to renew it for one-year, he reportedly wants to leave and club are understood to be happy for him to go.
      He has been linked with a return to Barcelona, where he spent 21 years, winning ten LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      The Catalan giants are keen to bring him back due to the financial boost he can offer the club as they aim to balance the books amid cash difficulties.
      However, Barca must reduce their wage bill and Messi may have to take a huge pay cut to re-join his former side.
      He has also been linked with a lucrative move to a club in Saudi Arabia. More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      PSG are in a right old Messi as he moves closer to facing Cristiano Ronaldo in a riotously expensive publicity stunt

      by

      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are truly in a Messi over the world’s greatest player.All that money paid by PSG owners and now faced with the prospect that rival oil state Saudi Arabia could grab him for a reputed £522million contract.
      Karren Brady writes exclusively for Sun SportCredit: Andrew Styczynski – The Sun
      Lionel Messi was suspended and fined by PSG for his recent Saudi tripCredit: PA
      So PSG are on the brink of Lionel’s labours lost. And they will be lost to competitive European football, to a team who play in the modest Saudi Pro-League.
      Should Messi choose desert sands rather than the delights of Paris, Milan or perhaps some other city yet to be leaked to reporters, the rematch in Riyadh of the Argentinian star and the wilful Ronaldo, paid the paltry sum by comparison of £174m a year by Al Nassr, will be on the Saudi capital’s agenda.
      No doubt it would be sold in Saudi as big as the World Cup held in Qatar last November.
      Saudi royal sheikhs were not delighted by Qatar’s successful selling of Fifa’s controversial choice of country, which was soon reported to be brutally using a human resource of workers from the Indian sub-continent.
      READ MORE FROM KARREN BRADY
      But the possibility of a rerun or two of the highly publicised Ronaldo-Messi match-ups must have given irritated Saudi sheikhs a taste of retribution which seems to be, perhaps like their popular testicle soup, best eaten cold.
      Whether two 35-plus players taking part in what amounts to a riotously expensive publicity stunt rather than a thrilling football occasion owes any significant passing attraction to gushing oil wells rather than public demand.
      Old champions and repeated Ballon d’Or winners don’t die, they only fade away.
      The major losers so far are PSG, whose own pursuit of a Champions League title has been as frustrating as Frank Bruno’s was for the world heavyweight belt.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Initially, PSG’s Qatari owners must have believed that the acquisition of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, arguably then the three best attacking players in the world, were a guarantee of becoming European champions.
      Too much of a good thing maybe or even that they should have been purchasing better defenders, but the guarantee wasn’t worth the paper it wasn’t written on.
      Now Neymar is on his way somewhere, maybe the Premier League. That Messi, captain of the world champions, visited Saudi recently as part of a promotional trip — upsetting PSG’s owners, who banned and fined him for his two-day jolly — suggests a transfer move rather than chats about selling the country’s tourist potential.
      Anyway, Neymar was determined to take his ball control and not-so-controlled moods elsewhere.
      And by all accounts so is Messi for probably the last move of his magnificent career.
      Mbappe might well remain in the French capital, although he tends to be difficult to predict.
      Qatari citizens are also in a long financial wrestle with Brit Sir Jim Ratcliffe to pay multi-billions to the Glazers, who intend to make a last killing at Manchester United before hightailin’ it back to the US.
      All of which makes me ­wonder how wise it is to allow the citizens of one country to buy control of two major European clubs.
      United’s potential owners, like those at Newcastle, claim that they are totally separate elements but questions remain.
      Read More on The Sun
      These would be very pointed should United be paired with PSG in a future Champions League.
      My take on it all is that Fifa and Uefa should consider whether fair play and fair purchase should feature in fresh legislation. More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      How PSG could line up under Jose Mourinho with Harry Maguire alongside former Man Utd and Chelsea flops

      by

      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN could have a whole new look to them next year if Jose Mourinho takes the helm.And instead of superstar names such as Neymar and Lionel Messi, they may have a few instead that struggled in the Premier League.
      Jose Mourinho looks set to take charge of PSG this summerCredit: Getty
      Harry Maguire is one of the players linked with a switch to Parc des PrincesCredit: Getty
      We reported how Mourinho has reportedly identified his first signing at Paris Saint-Germain.
      Former Red Devils, Chelsea and Tottenham boss Mourinho is being strongly tipped for the PSG job this summer.
      Christophe Galtier is expected to be dismissed after a poor showing in the Champions League.
      There are also claims of a massive squad fracture, with Messi set to depart along with world-record signing Neymar, who SunSport understands is another target for United.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL
      And Roma gaffer Mourinho could be the man hired to solve the situation with it widely-believed that the Special One has already held a meeting with PSG chiefs expressing his desire to join.
      It has been claimed Morocco’s World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat is Mourinho’s first target should he get the PSG job.
      The talented holding midfielder has been starring for Fiorentina over the past three years.
      And Mourinho is so eager for Amrabat to anchor his PSG side that he’s already spoken to the player’s agent.
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK

      However, he is not the only man that the Portuguese coach could bring in.
      We revealed that Harry Maguire is a shock £50m summer target for misfiring French giants PSG.
      SunSport can reveal that a deal ‘was on the table’ for Manchester United’s skipper in the January transfer window but time ran out before it could be finalised.
      But that has only mothballed a move that will offer the England centre-half an escape route from his frustrating four year spell at Old Trafford.
      PSG will have to match Maguire’s £200,000-a-week wages but with the club backed by billions of Qatari petro-dollars that is not seen as a problem.
      Meanwhile, should Neymar and Messi depart, then Mourinho will need to bring in some attacking reinforcements.
      The Daily Express claims that one of those potentially on PSG’s radar is Chelsea flop Hakim Ziyech.
      The Moroccan forward was not at Stamford Bridge during Mourinho’s second spell there but he was set to join PSG in January before the move collapsed.
      And with the same directors still at the Parc des Princes, it is allegedly a deal that PSG may look to revive over the summer. 
      The same publication also links him with a potential swoop for his current Roma striker Tammy Abraham.
      He has managed the Englishman both at the Blues and Roma and could look to reunite with the powerhouse forward in France.
      Read More on The Sun
      And another name linked is Manchester United’s Scott McTominay.
      The 26-year-old, who Mourinho promoted to the first-team at Old Trafford, is believed to be one of the players that United chief Erik ten Hag wants to offload to fund new signings. More

    • 263 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Watch former West Ham star Dimitri Payet ‘SLAP rival coach’ as he faces being banned for the rest of the season

      by

      DIMITRI PAYET has been accused of “slapping” an opposition coach during Marseille’s fiery victory over Lens.The Ligue 1 clash took place on Saturday night and the Frenchman found himself at the centre of attention despite not even starting the game.
      Former West Ham star Dimitri Payet has been accused of slapping a rival coachCredit: Prime Video via Twitter
      Dimitri Payet went on to score the winner off the bench against LensCredit: Reuters

      The match was marred by an altercation when Lens’ Argentine full-back Facundo Medina rifled the ball towards the Marseille bench. 
      Tensions began to boil over between both sets of players following that angry encounter.
      Both sets of stars and each team’s respective coaching staff got involved in some pushing and shoving down near the touchline.
      That led to referee Clement Turpin sending off a member of the Marseille staff and Lens’ assistant manager Yannick Cahuzac.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL
      However, footage from Amazon Prime Video has now appeared to show ex-West Ham ace Payet, who was still an unused substitute at the time of the incident, slapping Cahuzac.
      Lens boss Franck Haise was then allegedly heard urging the ref: “Monsieur Turpin! Monsieur Payet should receive a red card!
      “Did you not see the slap?”
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      However, Payet managed to escape any punishment.
      Most read in Football
      And he later came off the bench to grab the second goal for Marseille and earn them a 2-1 victory, although some reports in France are claiming he could now be facing a ban if found guilty of the salp.
      Despite their setback, results elsewhere did ensure that Lens have secured second spot in the Ligue 1 table behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain. More

    • 238 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Lionel Messi ‘agrees Saudi Arabia move on HUGE contract’ with PSG star set to reignite rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo

      by

      LIONEL MESSI is reportedly closing in on a transfer to move to an unknown club in Saudi Arabia.And that would see the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner reignite his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo.
      Lionel Messi could leave PSG and move to Saudi Arabia this summerCredit: AFP
      That would see him go up against Cristiano Ronaldo againCredit: Getty
      Reports last week suggested Messi could be offered a staggering £400million for just one season in the Gulf State with Al-Hilal.
      Now French media agency AFP alleges Messi, 35, has held negotiations with a club in Saudi over a “huge” contract with his Paris Saint-Germain deal expiring this summer.
      The Daily Mail claim it is worth a staggering £522million.
      But SunSport understands Messi will make no decision on his future until after the end of the Ligue 1 season.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL

      He is fully focused on securing the league title with PSG and then will assess his options.
      L’Equipe also state Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo is reluctant to move the family to Saudi and would prefer to stay in Europe.
      But AFP tweeted: “Messi’s move to Saudi a ‘done deal’ – source close to negotiations.
      “Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will play in Saudi Arabia next season under a ‘huge’ deal, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AFP on Tuesday.”
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
      The alleged move to Saudi, following Ronaldo’s late last year, would prove a massive boost for the country’s publicity and the league’s promotion.
      However, AFP remains unclear which Saudi team are trying to close in on the World Cup winner.
      The forward has also been linked with a return to Barcelona as well as MLS side Inter Miami.
      Messi’s two-year deal at the Parc des Princes expires next month, two years after his emotional free transfer from boyhood club Barcelona.
      And he looks increasingly unlikely to sign an extension in the French capital, especially after initially being suspended for two weeks for his unauthorised promo trip to Saudi.
      Remorseful Messi, who returned to training just five days later yesterday, said: “I thought we were going to have a day off after the game as always.
      “I had this trip organised and I couldn’t cancel it. I had already cancelled it before…
      “I apologise to my team-mates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me.”

      Messi spent Monday night with his wife at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Paris, hours after being pictured in PSG training kit on the club’s official Twitter.
      He was crowned sportsman of the year after captaining Argentina to glory at Qatar 2022, pipping Max Verstappen, Mundo Duplantis, Rafael Nadal, Steph Curry and PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe to the prestigious gong.
      Messi angered PSG with his unauthorised trip to Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP
      He collected the sportsman of the year award in Paris alongside wife Antonela RoccuzzoCredit: Getty More

    • 313 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      I’m a former Man Utd star and played against Lionel Messi – I was stunned when he asked me for my shirt after the game

      by

      LIONEL MESSI asked for Angel Gomes’ shirt at the end of a match last season, the former Manchester United starlet has revealed.Gomes, 22, quit Old Trafford for Lille in 2020 despite having been offered a new deal at United.
      Angel Gomes swapped shirts with Lionel Messi last season
      A successful loan spell at Boavista followed, before he became a regular in Lille’s side in Ligue 1.
      He first crossed paths with Messi during a match vs Paris Saint-Germain last season.
      After his side’s 5-1 home defeat, Gomes waited for the Argentine in the tunnel in order to try to get his shirt.
      Messi courteously obliged – but left the England youth international stunned when he asked for his in return.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      Speaking to Football Focus, Gomes said: “It was just like a fanboy moment, like, I can’t lie. [Messi] gave me his shirt, he took his t-shirt off and he gave it to me.
      “And for me, I was like, ‘Alright, happy days’ like, cheers, and he was like, ‘Wait, are you not giving me your shirt?’
      “And I was like, ‘What? You want my shirt?’ And he was like ‘Yeah!’ So I was like, ‘Alright.’
      “From watching him on TV, watching videos of him actually playing, to playing against him and getting his shirt, like, It was surreal for me.”
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Gomes made ten first team appearances for Man UnitedCredit: PA
      Gomes made ten first team appearances for Manchester United before quitting for France.
      He has emerged as a key man in midfield for Lille, starting in all but two of their Ligue 1 matches this term.
      The diminutive ace has 11 England Under-21s caps, and could soon target a senior call-up.
      Messi, meanwhile, has previously admitted that he seldom asks for other players’ shirts.
      He said: “I don’t ask for shirts, I usually swap them, but I asked [Zinedine] Zidane once.
      “If there is an Argentine I swap it with him, but, unless someone asks me, I’m not asking anyone.”
      Gomes, 22, is now a key man for Lille in Ligue 1Credit: Getty More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Lyon 5 Montpellier 4: Ex-Arsenal star Lacazette nets FOUR goals as hosts come from 4-1 down to keep Euro hopes alive

      by

      EX-ARSENAL star Alexandre Lacazette was the hero as Lyon fought back from 4-1 down to beat Montpellier on Sunday.The striker scored a 100th-minute winner to leave Lyon just three points off a European place.
      Alexandre Lacazette scored four goals in Lyon’s remarkable comebackCredit: AFP
      Montpellier’s Elye Wahi also scored four goalsCredit: AFP
      Lacazette opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark but Montpellier hit back with a quick-fire double from Elye Wahi to lead at half-time.
      The 20-year-old Frenchman repeated the trick after the break to put his side well on top – but Lacazette was not finished.
      He scored six minutes later to spark a comeback with former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren also getting in on the act.
      But with ten minutes left, Montpellier were still ahead and incredibly Wahi almost scored a fifth – his effort whistling just wide of the post.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Lyon and Lacazette would not lie down though, and the 31-year-old equalised with a pinpoint finish following Bradley Barcola’s cutback.
      The home side piled on the pressure and came close to a goal in added time.
      But Montpellier appeared to have done enough to hang onto a point.
      That was until Lacazette was bundled over in the box, with referee Bastien Dechepy pointing to the spot after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Lacazette kept his cool to fire the penalty into the top corner and send the stadium into bedlam.
      The former Arsenal forward is now the top scorer in Ligue 1 this season with 24 goals. More