Serie A
Two former Manchester United players urge club to bring back Cristiano Ronaldo
Two former Manchester United players have encouraged the club to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo this summer. Ronaldo has been at Juventus for three seasons, and recently hit his 100th goal for the club. During this time, he has won two league titles and a Serie A Player of the Year award, and is on course for his first Golden Boot in Italy. Ronaldo celebrates one of his 100 goals for Juventus However, things haven’t been so great this season for the Bianconeri. Andrea Pirlo’s men look on course to miss out on Champions League football. In addition, they have not progressed past the quarter-finals of the competition since Ronaldo arrived, being eliminated by Ajax, Lyon, and Porto respectively. As of now, the forward’s future is uncertain. He has just one year left on his contract, and will proba...
Zinedine Zidane prepared to leave Real Madrid this summer – Juventus and France interested
Zinedine Zidane will quit his job in charge of Real Madrid this summer, according to a report by the Daily Mail. Zidane first took charge of his former club back in January 2016 following the dismissal of previous manager Rafa Benitez. The Frenchman had worked with the club’s B team for the two years prior to his appointment. In his managerial debut season, he helped the club win the Champions League, defeating local rivals Atletico Madrid in the final on penalties. He followed this up with another European title the next season, becoming the first club to ever win back-to-back Champions Leagues. In the same season, he secured the club’s first La Liga title since 2012. Zidane has won three Champions Leagues as a manager The next year, he won a third straight Champions League trophy, beatin...
Big two dwarf £470m star on rich list – move to Madrid or Barcelona would have fuelled jump
Three of football’s biggest superstars have retained their places in the top 10 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. According to Forbes, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are raking in massive amounts of money every year. Messi and Ronaldo have swapped places on this year’s list, but they lag miles behind Conor McGregor’s $180 million annual earnings. However, while the big two have seen their income increase over the past 12 months, Neymar has suffered a slight reduction. Sportslens takes a look at the three high-earning footballers. Lionel Messi – Barcelona – $130 million Messi has edged back in front of Ronaldo in the standings, pocketing a staggering $130m to claim second spot on the list. A lucrative lifetime endorsement deal with adidas helps to keep Messi’s bank bala...
Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona stars could beat Lewandowski for 2021 Ballon D’Or
The Ballon d’Or is arguably the most prestigious individual award in modern football, celebrating the beautiful game’s best player from the previous year. Now it is worth noting that the Ballon d’Or is not the be-all-and-end-all of football. It’s often biased towards those who shine in the Champions League. Media hype, big moments, and trophies won usually take precedence in the voting over individual performances. In fact, all Ballon dOr winners since 2007 has either won the Champions League or been the competition’s top goalscorer, and all since 2007 have reached at least the semi-finals stage. With no obvious standout, however, this summer’s international tournaments could be decisive. Lionel Messi and co. will compete in the Copa America, while Europe’s finest battle it out at the Euro...
Juventus eyeing up return for former striker if Cristiano Ronaldo leaves
Juventus have set their sights on two strikers in case star man Cristiano Ronaldo departs this summer. Ronaldo came to Juventus in the summer transfer window of 2018 for a club-record fee of €100 million. 33-years-old at the time, it was hoped that the Portuguese would be the man to bring them to European glory, having not lifted the Champions League trophy since 1996. On an individual level, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been a smashing success in Turin. He is just one goal short of the century mark for the Old Lady, having made 130 appearances in all competitions. As things stand, he leads the Serie A Golden Boot race with 27 – six more than Romelu Lukaku, Dusan Vlahovic and Luis Muriel in joint second. Ronaldo is on the verge of hitting the 100-mark at his third club In contrast,...
Juventus could be kicked out of Serie A if they do not withdraw from European Super League
Juventus could be kicked out of Serie A if they refuse to withdraw from the European Super League, confirms Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina. Juventus were one of 12 clubs to break away from UEFA and attempt to form a new European Super League (ESL)), along with fellow Italian clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan, and three from La Liga and six from the Premier League. Many fans spoke out against the ESL The proposal was met with intense fury from the world of football. Some players and managers spoke out against the idea, while fans gathered outside grounds to protest. Two days after the announcement, it began to crumble. Chelsea were the first team to confirm their withdrawal, and the other five English clubs quickly followed. The two Milan clubs and Atletico Madrid also ...
Report suggests 30-yr-old has received a transfer proposal from Everton
Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey has been linked with a move back to the Premier League this summer. According to Il Bianconero, the midfielder could be up for sale at the end of the season, and the 30-year-old is keen to return to England. The report further states that Everton have offered him a ‘serious and intriguing’ proposal, but the midfielder wants to rejoin Arsenal. Carlo Ancelotti could use a goalscoring midfielder like Ramsey, and the Italian may be able to help him rediscover his form. Ramsey has not been at his best since leaving the Gunners, and a return to the Premier League could help him regain his confidence. There is no mention of Arsenal wanting to sign their former midfielder, and Everton are thought to be the only Premier League club interested. Juventus have been lin...
United grind their way to success as Europa League final – and a tough May schedule – awaits
Manchester United progressed through into the final of the Europa League with an 8-5 aggregate win over A.S. Roma, though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side did lose out 3-2 to the Italians in the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico. A brace by Edinson Cavani was bettered on the night by goals from Edin Džeko, Bryan Cristante and the debuting Nicola Zalewski. United were fresh going into the clash as their scheduled fixture on Sunday with Liverpool was postponed due to fan protests against the Glazers’ ownership of the club. That said, Solskjaer’s side now face four games in seven days (including the second leg against Roma), so squad rotation will be key. Accordingly, the manager named his starting 11 and there were three changes from last week’s first leg of the semi-final at Old Trafford: Manche...
Barcelona looking at trio as they aim to find a long-term replacement for club legend
Barcelona have got their eye on three central midfielders as they look for a long-term replacement for club legend Sergio Busquets. Busquets first joined Barcelona in 2005, arriving at the famed La Masia academy. He made his debut for the first team in September 2008 under Pep Guardiola. Since then, he has been a key part of their side. He has made over 600 appearances for the Catalan giants, winning eight La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues, and seven Copas del Rey, as well as a World Cup and a European Championship with his national team. Busquets was part of Barcelona’s best side The defensive midfielder is renowned for his class and composure on the ball, controlling things in the middle of the park while offering protection to the back four. However, the time is approaching when B...
Spurs have reportedly approached EPL-winning boss who once wanted to sign Kane
Tottenham Hotspur have approached Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte over becoming their permanent boss this summer, according to Corriere dello Sport. The Italian outlet claimed that talks took place last month after Jose Mourinho was sacked, and both parties discussed Spurs’ current squad and potential reinforcements needed for next season. However, Conte is not necessarily looking to leave Inter this summer and will hold talks with the owners at the end of the campaign over the plans for next season. The former Chelsea boss won the Premier League title and FA Cup in the two seasons he spent at Stamford Bridge and could be tempted to return to England if he leaves Inter. Conte’s current contract with the Nerazzurri runs until 2022, and he earns around €13 million after tax. The Itali...
Jose Mourinho: Why I accepted to coach Roma
Jose Mourinho has said he desires to ‘create a winning project’ at Roma and chose the Gialloross for ‘the incredible passion of the fans’. The 58-year-old returns to Serie A ahead of 2021-22 with 25 major trophies in his luggage so far. The former FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur coach has accepted a three-year contract and will succeed Paulo Fonseca after the season. “Thank you to the Friedkin family for choosing me to lead this great club and to be part of their vision,” Mourinho told the club’s official website. “After meetings with the ownership and Tiago Pinto, I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions for AS Roma. It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning proje...
Spurs have reportedly approached 63y/o under-contract Italian boss, he has responded positively
Tottenham Hotspur have enquired about Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini as they continue their search for Jose Mourinho’s permanent replacement, according to The Transfer Window podcast. Ryan Mason has taken charge of the team on an interim basis, and while he is reportedly under consideration for the job, Spurs would ideally prefer someone with experience. While Gasperini does not fit the ‘young and dynamic’ model they are looking for, his recent achievements with Atalanta appear to have caught chairman Daniel Levy’s attention. A leading agent in Europe has informed the 63-year-old of Spurs’ interest, and he has responded positively. Gasperini plays a possession-based football, favouring the 3-4-3 formation and high-octane pressing style, and the lure of managing in the Premier League...
