More stories

  • in

    Former Juventus chief calls Cristiano Ronaldo ‘challenging’ to work with as he opens up on three-year relationship

    FORMER Juventus chief Beppe Marotta has admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo could be “challenging” to work with.Ronaldo, 38, joined the Serie A giants in an £88million transfer in 2018 following a glittering nine-year spell with Real Madrid.
    Cristiano Ronaldo spent three years with Juventus after leaving Real MadridCredit: PA
    Giuseppe Marotta claims Ronaldo could sometimes be ‘challenging’ but overall had a positive impact on the squadCredit: Getty
    The five-time Ballon d’Or winner spent three years in Italy, winning two league titles and scoring 101 goals in 134 appearances, before returning to Manchester United in 2021.
    Although he enjoyed success in Turin, Marotta has revealed that his time at the Allianz Stadium wasn’t always plain sailing.
    However, he also admitted that overall the forward had a positive impact on the squad.
    Speaking to Cronache di Spogliatoio, the ex-Juventus chief said: “He was a very good player, he still is and above all he is a great champion.
    Read More on Football
    “The champion is that person who manages to convey beliefs to his team-mates.
    “He was a bit of a leader of the team, he was the most famous and he dragged the others into the game. 
    “So, it was challenging, but he didn’t make me angry.”
    After leaving Juventus Ronaldo returned to Man Utd where he spent another 16 months.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    However, his time at Old Trafford was cut short at the end of 2022 when he criticised the club and manager Erik ten Hag in an explosive interview.
    The Portugal captain subsequently joined Al-Nassr and has since scored 32 goals in 39 appearances.
    He recently broke the record for the most first division goals scored in football history. More

  • in

    Arsenal ‘set to move for Juventus wonderkid, 18, in January transfer swoop’ just five months after he joined from Bayern

    ARSENAL are plotting a January move for Juventus wonderkid Kenan Yildiz, according to reports.Mikel Arteta is eager to add to his squad next month as he looks to lead the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 20 years.
    Arsenal are interested in Kenan YildizCredit: Getty
    And Turkish-Football claim that Yildiz is one of his preferred targets.
    The 18-year-old broke into the Juventus first team at the start of the season after moving from Bayern Munich last summer.
    He has since made five senior appearances for the Serie A giants.
    Yildiz also earned his first senior call-up to the Turkish national team in October.
    Read More on Arsenal
    The forward opened his international account in a sensational 3-2 win over Germany.
    His impressive performances this season have seen him attract interest from the likes of Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Liverpool.

    But Arsenal are understood to be willing to bid for him in January.
    Yildiz’s current contract expires in June 2027, so the Gunners will likely have to table a significant offer to convince Juventus to sell.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    Manager Massimiliano Allegri gushed over the teenager’s talent during a post-match press conference in October.
    He said: “In my opinion, he becomes a wonderful player, stopping the ball as he stops.”
    Arsenal have also been linked with Ivan Toney, Pedro Neto and Douglas Luiz ahead of the January transfer window. More

  • in

    Jose Mourinho stuns Italian media with bizarre protest as he refuses to speak in Italian in Roma press conference

    JOSE MOURINHO left Italian media baffled following Roma’s 2-1 victory over Sassuolo yesterday.The former Spurs manager launched his own one-man protest at his perceived ill-treatment from the media by refusing to speak Italian after the game.
    Mourinho was full of mind games this weekCredit: Getty
    Despite speaking the language fluently, Mourinho answered questions through an interpreter and responded in Portuguese.
    As reported by Football Italia, Mourinho opened his post-match press conference by saying: “I want to thank the club and director Tiago Pinto, who over the last 24 hours gave me the support and therefore the emotional stability that allows me to do my work.
    “They showed faith in me. This was a very important, hard-fought and deserved victory, because even when we were a goal down, Roma were still the best team on the pitch.
    “I am very happy with the players and all our fans. I want to dedicate this to my fantastic assistant manager, Salvatore Foti, who was not here today but worked very hard to help us achieve the victory.”
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    Roma trailed in the game for nearly an hour before goals from Paulo Dybala and Rasmus Kristensen secured victory for the Giallorossi.
    Ahead of the game, Mourinho had employed mind games against Sassuolo, the referee and VAR.
    Just 24 hours before the match he said: “To be honest, I will say that I am worried about the referee. We had this official three times and I don’t think he has the emotional stability to work at this level.
    “I am not relaxed about the referee or the VAR, who we were also often unlucky with.
    Most read in Football
    Dybala’s goal helped Roma claim fourth spotCredit: Getty
    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFER
    “[And] I am worried about Berardi, who is a fantastic player, I love him, but he needs to show more respect for his opponents. He mocks other players and gets them booked, so I love and hate him. I don’t like that kind of behaviour on the field and would really dislike seeing that from one of my players.”
    Mourinho appeared to suggest his choice of phrase had been used against him when he again referenced “emotional stability” after the game.
    He said: “The reason I am speaking Portuguese is that my Italian is not sufficiently polished to express certain concepts. When I talked about emotional stability, I was referring to a quality that in life and in football is necessary to perform at the highest level.”
    The dark arts continued into added time at the Mapei stadium, with a member of Mourinho’s coaching staff sent off for refusing to return the match ball to Sassuolo’s players when they attempted to take a quick throw.
    On the incident, Mourinho said: “As for the situation that caused some irritation in the Sassuolo staff and fans when we did not give the ball back quickly, I went over to my colleague and simply said that to receive fair play, it is necessary to first give it and there is a player in the Sassuolo squad who is lacking in that area.”
    That comment appeared to be another crack at Berradi.
    The victory away at Sassuolo was Mourinho’s first win at the Mapei stadium as Roma manager and has his side now sitting in the top four.
    Roma’s next game takes place at the Stadio Olimpico against Fiorentina. More

  • in

    Chelsea suffer transfer hammer blow as Napoli chief confirms Victor Osimhen is close to signing new contract

    CHELSEA look set for major transfer disappointment after Napoli claimed Victor Osimhen was on the verge of committing his future to them.The 24-year-old Nigerian striker achieved legendary status last season by firing the Italian club to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
    Chelsea’s hopes of signing Victor Osimhen from January have suffered a huge blowCredit: Getty
    Osimhen scored 26 goals in 32 top-flight matches and has continued that red-hot form this term.
    That led to him being linked with a host of Europe’s biggest clubs over the summer transfer window as both Manchester United and Chelsea chased his signature.
    Despite that, he has kept his focus and added another six strikes to his Napoli tally this term despite a number of controversies.
    Both the Premier League duo and rivals Arsenal were put on red alert after a controversial TikTok post left the player contemplating SUING his employers back in September.
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    Now Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is itching to strengthen his frontline and has made Osimhen his top January target.
    But he looks set to suffer frustration after Napoli’s CEO Aurelio de Laurentiis revealed that the club and their talisman are close to agreeing a contract extension.
    Despite previous talks breaking down, he made the revelation while awarding the Campania Felix award this week.
    De Laurentiis said: “For Osimhen, we are at signing of the contract that was pending this summer.”
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    Previous speculation had stated that under the terms of the deal, Napoli are likely to include a hefty release clause.
    Osimhen’s current contract expires in June 2025.
    Napoli are currently struggling in their title defence and are currently nine points behind leaders Juventus.
    But they will be hoping to try and close that gap when they take on second-placed Inter Milan at home on Sunday. More

  • in

    Chelsea ‘reject transfer bid’ for defender with just one Premier League appearance this season

    CHELSEA rejected a loan offer for Benoit Badiashile from AC Milan, according to reports.The Blues signed the defender last January and he has made 13 appearances for the club.
    Benoit Badiashile was the subject of a loan bid from AC MilanCredit: EPA
    Badiashile has struggled with injury this campaign however and has featured in just one Premier League game.
    But he is considered a valuable member of the Chelsea squad so Milan’s advances were rejected.
    The Serie A giants made Chelsea a loan offer for the centre-back which included an obligation to buy, report Tuttomercato.
    Chelsea rebuffed the offer with the £33million star part of Mauricio Pochettino’s plans.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    The Argentine has an established centre-back pairing of Thiago Silva and Alex Disasi but that could change once players return from injury.
    Wesley Fofana is another long-term injury absentee with fears his knee problem could keep him out for the season.

    The centre-back shared an update on his fitness last month as he worked out in Chelsea’s Cobham gym – offering hope he could return sooner than expected.
    Chelsea have been hit hard by injuries this campaign and have had to fill their bench with academy players in some games.
    Most read in Football
    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFER
    Another forgotten Chelsea star is being targeted in a potential January switch by West Ham – defender Ian Maatsen.
    The left-back was subject to a £30m bid from Burnley in the summer which was rejected, but he has played just 106 minutes of football this term. More

  • in

    Arsenal suffer transfer blow as Dusan Vlahovic opens talks on new Juventus contract

    ARSENAL transfer target Dusan Vlahovic has confirmed that he wants to stay at Juventus.The striker has been on Mikel Arteta’s radar for the last two years.
    Dusan Vlahovic insists he wants to stay at JuventusCredit: Alamy
    Arsenal launched an attempt to sign him in January 2022, but he instead decided to join Juventus in a £62million transfer and has since scored 28 goals in 75 appearances.
    Vlahovic has been heavily linked with a move away from Turin in recent months amid the club’s financial issues.
    However, the 23-year-old recently told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he has no intention to leave.
    He said: “I didn’t experience it as a different summer from the others, from my point of view nothing happened.
    Read More on Arsenal
    “I have always been focused and calm, even during the tour in America, when I missed the match against AC Milan due to a physical problem. I have always been calm.
    “I was always sure I wanted to stay. The noises are always there, and they are part of the game, if we start listening to everyone, we can go crazy.
    “I isolated myself and only thought about the retreat and in the end I’m very happy I stayed. It was what I wanted.”
    Arsenal were reportedly considering the possibility of signing the striker in January, with Chelsea also interested.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    Some clubs in Saudi Arabia also allegedly considered a swoop.
    Juventus currently value Vlahovic at £86m – £24m more than they initially paid for him.
    His current contract expires in June 2026.
    Both Arsenal and Chelsea are also understood to be interested in signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
    However, he will likely cost a Premier League record fee of £120m at least. More

  • in

    Man Utd in advanced talks to hijack Arsenal’s £26million transfer for the ‘new Nemanja Vidic’

    MANCHESTER UNITED look set to hijack Arsenal’s deal for Radu Dragusin, according to reports.The Red Devils are keen to sign a centre-back in January after leaking goals in the Champions League.
    Radu Dragusin is on Man Utd and Arsenal’s radarCredit: Rex
    Man Utd have conceded 14 times in five European matches this season and their hopes of progression are now hanging by a thread after drawing 3-3 with Galatasaray.
    And to fix their defensive woes, the Red Devils are keen on Dragusin.
    The 21-year-old Romanian international has been compared to ex-United captain Nemanja Vidic.
    Dragusin came through the ranks at Juventus and now plays for Serie A side Genoa.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    They had the defender on loan last season and made the move permanent in the summer for around £5million.
    He penned a contract at Genoa that runs until 2027 but it contains a release clause worth £26million.
    Reports from Romanian outfit ProSport claim United are in advanced talks with the player ahead of potentially triggering the clause.
    Dragusin’s agent Florin Manea previously revealed he has been in discussions with a host of Premier League clubs over a transfer.
    Most read in Football
    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
    He said: “I have been in London for some time and have almost weekly meetings with important teams.
    “We are getting closer. I spoke with Newcastle, with Arsenal, with Tottenham.
    “I also have messages with them, conversations. There are teams that ask about Dragusin.” More

  • in

    I turned down Man Utd and got banned for smoking on the BENCH – now I’m playing for a team run by the POLICE

    BELGIUM star Radja Nainggolan has made an arresting new move … to a club run by Indonesia’s national POLICE.The former Roma, Inter Milan and Cagliari midfielder was a free agent after leaving Italians SPAL in the summer.
    Radja Nainggolan has joined Bhayangkara FCCredit: INSTAGRAM @ sabreenadressler @radja_nainggolan_l4
    He last played for SPALCredit: Getty
    Nainggolan has now signed a deal until the end of the season with Bhayangkara FC, who are bottom of Indonesia’s Liga 1.
    Nicknamed the Guardians, they are owned by the Asian country’s police service – and many of his team-mates are serving cops.
    Antwerp-born Nainggolan’s estranged father, Marianus, is Indonesian, and his first name means “King” in the local language.
    The 35-year-old said: “I didn’t hesitate for a moment when I saw how keen the club was to sign me.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    “I was really starting to miss football, I still enjoy myself out on the pitch, and I’m very keen to do it in Indonesia.
    “I’ve had a couple of great weeks out here, and I’m looking forward to learning more about one of my countries of origin.
    “In the past months over 100 agents contacted me. But when push came to shove, it was very difficult for me to get any offers in writing.”
    Capped 30 times, Nainggolan has become the biggest-ever signing made by a club in Indonesia.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    The football-mad south-east Asian country has only once reached a World Cup finals – in 1938, when known as the Dutch East Indies.
    A Belgian title winner with Antwerp in 2022, Nainggolan will combine his playing career with promoting Indonesia as a travel destination.
    His new Jakarta-based club plays at a 30,000-capacity stadium and goes by the full name Bhayangkara Presisi Indonesia FC.
    Nainggolan is known for his career in which he enjoyed success in Italy’s Serie A.
    He won the league in 2021 as part of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan team.
    During his time at SPAL, he admitted that he was playing for “peanuts”.
    DRIVING BAN
    His time at Antwerp was full of controversy as he first lost his licence for drink-driving and speeding, just ONE week into his Antwerp career.
    And then he was suspended indefinitely for smoking an e-cigarette on the bench.
    He ended up being forced to work with the youth team before leaving by mutual consent.
    Nainggolan has previously claimed that he could down 20 shots the night before a match and still play the same.
    His career could have taken a different path in 2017 as he rejected moves to Chelsea and Manchester United.
    In 2018, he told ESPN FC. “I am the kind of person who above all needs to live well and be at a club which plays to win, or where I am happy with my life.
    “In Italy, you live really well – I like the culture and way of life here.
    “Chelsea offered me more money [while at Roma in 2017] and they are a big club, yes.
    “But I’m interested in waking up in the morning in a place where I feel good and, at the age of 29, winning back all the respect I’d worked 12 years to earn in Italy was not for me.
    “There are lots of components – lots to evaluate.
    “I stayed in Italy, with Roma, because I wanted to end in the best way possible. There was Manchester too.
    “There were many things that I was not interested in at all.
    Read More on The Sun
    “Of course you are flattered by the interest, but this is how it is.”
    He won the Serie A title while at Inter MilanCredit: Reuters
    Nainggolan once turned down Manchester United and Chelsea while at RomaCredit: AFP or licensors More