Manchester City
Every Premier League Club’s Best Signing of 2020
2020 has been a strange year for everyone, and football is no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic, the three-month break, the null and void debacle, the eventual return of football, Liverpool finally getting their hands on the Premier League trophy, the non-stop debate over when it’s safe for fans to return. The pandemic has had a financial impact on every club, but that hasn’t stopped anyone from getting their wallets out. Here’s a look at every Premier League club’s best signing of 2020 (looking at both January 2020 and the extended summer transfer window). Arsenal – Thomas Partey (£45m) Partey was a statement of intent from the Gunners Brazilian teammate Gabriel Magalhaes could have easily gone here, but the statement of intent behind Thomas Partey’s signing is why he claims this spot. The...
‘Big decision’: Merson suggests Solskjaer must drop one Man Utd player vs Man City ‘
Manchester United suffered a big blow this week as they were knocked out of the Champions League following their 3-2 defeat against RB Leipzig. It has been a turbulent week at Old Trafford, with news off the pitch once again dominating the headlines. Paul Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, dropped a massive bombshell earlier this week where he claimed the midfielder won’t extend his contract at Manchester United, further hinting that his time at the club is drawing towards an end. Popular football pundit Paul Merson has suggested that United’s biggest problem at the moment is not Pogba but their manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He wrote a column for the Daily Star criticising the United boss, where he suggested that Solskjaer has failed to make big decisions at the club. Merson has criticised Solskj...
Appeal court upholds Brazil striker Robinho’s rape conviction
Veteran Brazil international striker Robinho on Thursday had a nine-year sentence for the rape of a young woman upheld by a court in Italy. Judges of the Milan Court of Appeal confirmed the sentence for both Robinho and one of his friends for group sexual violence dating back to January 2013. Robinho was playing for AC Milan at the time of the attack and was tried in absentia in November 2017. The pair were among a group of six men accused of taking part in the gang rape of a 22-year-old Albanian woman in a Milan nightclub. They were both ordered to jointly pay the woman damages of 60,000 euros ($ 73,000). The case against the four other accused has been suspended. Robinho, 36, who has denied the charges, has the right to again appeal the sentence within 90 days. Robinho was forced to pull...
Where Next For Barcelona’s Superstars?
The last 18 months at Barcelona have been turbulent to say the very least. A rare trophyless season, humiliation in the Champions League for the third year running, Lionel Messi’s transfer request, mass protests against the club president, three different managers. And, at the end of it all, a worrying financial situation. Last summer, several of the club’s biggest names departed, including Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. The upcoming transfer windows are expected to be no different, with a number of players rumoured to be nearing the exit door. Of course, the question remains: where will they go? Let’s have a look. Lionel Messi Messi almost left the Camp Nou last summer Lionel Messi dropped a bombshell on the world of football last summer by announcing that he wanted to leave Barcelona. Ho...
FIFPro Announce 2020 World XI Nominees
The shortlist for the 2020 FIFPro World XI has been announced. Every professional footballer around the world was invited to vote for the best player in each position. The ones with the most votes made it into the 55-man shortlist. The goalkeeper with the most votes, as well as the top three defenders, midfielders, and forwards, will be inducted into the FIFPro World XI. The remaining spot will go to the outfield player with the most votes. Bayern Munich are the most represented team in the shortlist, boasting 11 players. Title winners Real Madrid and Liverpool come in joint-second with eight players each. Bayern completed the treble with a win over PSG in August Despite going trophyless last year, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur both make it into the top five, with six and five candidates...
Manchester derby preview: United can only hope City forget keys to success
The eyes of the football world will be on the Manchester derby this weekend as United and City go head-to-head in the Premier League. The two teams have endured mixed fortunes this season and both will be eager to make a statement against their local rivals. Both sides have moved onto the fringes of the top four after a slow start to the campaign and a win for either on Saturday would keep them in touch with the leading teams. Read on as we take a closer look at some of the major talking points ahead of the game and predict who we think will emerge victorious at Old Trafford. Solskjaer Under the Cosh United have been inconsistent throughout the current campaign and they desperately need to pick up a positive result this weekend. Four successive league wins had fired the Red Devils up the t...
Pep Guardiola: Kun Aguero not ready to start Manchester derby
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Sergio Aguero won’t start Saturday’s derby against United at Old Trafford. The Argentine, who has been troubled by knee injury and hamstring issues this season came off the bench to score Manchester City’s 3-0 win against French club Olympic Marseille on Wednesday night. Aguero has featured in five games across all competitions for the Citizens this season. Guardiola has said he will not take risks with the 32-year-old and will not be tempted to throw him in from the beginning at Old Trafford. Asked if Aguero could start the derby, Guardiola simply said: “No.” On his general performance, he added: “His instinct to score will always be there. He’s had three or four training sessions and the reaction was good. “He had 25 minutes and scored a goal. S...
SL VIEW: UEFA 2020 Fans’ Team of the Year
Earlier this month, UEFA revealed their 51 nominees for the Team of the Year and it was unsurprising that Bayern Munich had the most players on the list. The Bavarian giants won the Bundesliga, DFL Pokal Cup and Champions League treble for only the second time in their history last term and they did so in stunning fashion with a 30-match unbeaten streak which included 29 wins. Since 2001, UEFA have allowed fans to vote for their Team of the Year on their official website. As always, the final result will be announced in January and here are my picks for the 2020 Team of the Year. Formation: 4-3-3 Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich: The 34-year-old was almost ever-present for Bayern between the sticks as they went on to win another treble. The club-captain kept 23 clean sheets in his ...
Six Premier League Clubs Offered Paulo Dybala
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala has been offered to six different Premier League clubs, according to 90min. Dybala joined Juventus from Palermo in 2015. Since then, he has made 238 appearances, scoring 96 times in all competitions. Under former manager Maurizio Sarri, he shone, winning Serie A Player of the Season as his side won a ninth successive league title. Dybala celebrates scoring one of his many Juventus goals However, under new boss Andrea Pirlo, the Argentine has struggled for form, netting just once in a 4-1 away win against Ferencvaros. He often finds himself competing with Spaniard Alvaro Morata for a starting berth. And now it looks like the Turin side are ready to let him go, with six Premier League sides reportedly offered his services. According to 90min, each of English foo...
Jose Mourinho lauds Spurs’ Premier League’s outstanding run
Tottenham boss, Jose Mourinho, has hailed the manner of their performance in victory over Arsenal. Harry Kane and Heung-min Son struck the goals and Mourinho says his Premier League leaders have “grown-up”. Mourinho said, “Harry Kane clearing balls in the box, Sonny for the first 60 minutes as a winger and then a second striker – it is not just about scoring goals and being world-class players. “It is about being great guys and doing your best for the team. “We grew up. I can imagine lots of people can imagine three matches in a row – against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal – would be a moment for us to drop points and go back to ‘normality’ but we didn’t go back to ‘normality’. We are there. I believe one more week at the top of the table unless Liverpool win by many.” Get more stori...
Aston Villa midfielder being tracked by former club and Juventus
Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz is reportedly the subject of interest from Italian giants Juventus and former club Manchester City, according to the Birmingham Mail. Luiz joined Aston Villa from Manchester City last summer for £15m following their promotion to the Premier League. Since then, he has become an influential player at Villa Park, featuring 51 times in all competitions. This form has seemingly caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with links of a return to Manchester City resurfacing. The Birmingham Mail reported in November that Man City were looking at re-signing the Brazilian, who has an alleged £30m buy-back clause in his contract. Luiz could be on his way back to Man City A defensive midfielder could be useful to the Cityzens, as they will be looking for a long-term ...
Real Madrid join chase for Darwin Núñez
Real Madrid have become the latest club to express interest in Benfica striker Darwin Núñez, according to FourFourTwo. The 21-year-old started his career at Peñarol, before moving to Spanish second tier side Almeria. After impressing there, he made the switch to Benfica, where he has registered five goals and a further five assists in his first ten outings The striker has four caps for Uruguay, scoring twice. He has often been compared to fellow Uruguayan Edinson Cavani. Núñez celebrates a goal for Uruguay FourFourTwo reports that Los Blancos are looking at bringing in Núñez in January in case Serbian striker Luka Jovic departs. Jovic has had a tough time at the Bernabeu since signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, scoring just twice in all competitions in a Real Madrid shirt. It is now...
