Benatia set for big club move
The agent of AS Roma defender Mehdi Benatia has all but suggested that his client could leave Stadio Olimpico at the end of the season.
The Moroccan has been in scintillating form since joining the club from Udinese, catching the eye of Europe s top clubs in the process.
And his official representative has confirmed that AS Roma could be ready to entertain offers at the end of the season.
“The future of Benatia? Soon we will have a meeting with Roma,” agent Moussa Sissoko confessed to L Equipe.
“The leaders are aware that big clubs are interested. Following the meeting with Roma, we will see what the decision will be on Mehdi.”
Mehdi Benatia, 26, has made a total of 30 Serie A appearances since arri…
Barcelona are keen on bringing winger Gerard Deulofeu back to Camp Nou.
Deulofeu, a product of the club s famed La Masia academy, made six senior appearances for Barca – all as a substitute – before season-long loan stints at Everton and Sevilla.
He joined the Premier League side permanently in 2015, with Barcelona inserting a buy-back option that appeared unlikely to be activated when he fell out of favour under Ronald Koeman at Goodison Park and joined AC Milan for the rest of this season.
But Deulofeu has been a revelation for the Rossoneri in Serie A and his form earned an international recall – one the 23-year-old grasped by scoring a maiden Spain goal in last month s 2-0 friendly win in France.
His progress has not gone unnoticed at Barca, wi…
Luis Enrique has dismissed suggestions he no longer has the backing of the Barcelona players and stressed the team has always been united ever since his arrival in 2014.
The 46-year-old has come under pressure following Barcelona s heavy Champions League defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, with the Catalans on the brink of European elimination after their 4-0 loss at the Parc des Princes.
Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba were among the players to come out in support of their coach in the aftermath, but their backing has failed to end speculation that some key figures have lost belief in Luis Enrique.
The team has always been united, Luis Enrique said at a media conference.
The players are happier when things go well and less happy when they go�…
Mikel Arteta described Arsenal s form in the last six months as an incredible run after a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace kept their hopes of qualifying for Europe alive.
West Ham s win at West Brom means that the highest Arsenal can finish, should they beat Brighton and Hove Albion on the final day of the season and both Tottenham and Everton fail to win, is seventh.
That would earn them a place in the Europa Conference League play-off round, with West Ham s result ruling Arsenal out of both major European club competitions for the first time since 1995-96.
But Arteta recalled a run of seven winless Premier League matches towards the end of 2020 as he reflected on the improvement in their season.
If somebody would have said to us in November or Decemb…
Milan head coach Stefano Pioli is in no doubt over Zlatan Ibrahimovic s enduring value as talks continue over the possibility of an extended stay at San Siro for the veteran striker.
Ibrahimovic returned to Milan from MLS side LA Galaxy in January on a short-term deal – a transfer that proved something of a catalyst for an impressive second half of the campaign that ultimately saved Pioli s job.
The 38-year-old scored 10 times in 18 top-flight appearances, becoming the oldest player to reach double figures for a season in Serie A history.
In an interview with Milan premium sponsor Skrill, Pioli explained Ibrahimovic s influence upon a developing squad extends far beyond that weight of numbers.
Zlatan is a great professional, he said. He teaches young p…
Aston Villa s Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma has returned home to PSV Eindhoven after a five year stint with the Midlands outfit. Bouma, 32, has joined PSV on a free transfer and has put pen to paper a two year contract with the Dutch outfit.
Bouma started his career with PSV in 1994 and stayed with them till 2005, when he was signed by Aston Villa. He has also previously had loan stints with MVV and Fortuna Sittard.
Bouma is a four time Dutch league winner with PSV, having won the trophy with them in , 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005.
Bouma has also represented the Netherlands at international level and was part of their Euro 2004 and Euro 2008 squads.
[Source:- PSV Eindhoven, Aston Villa]
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Maurizio Sarri has aired his frustration over the consistent speculation on Lazio s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and his future, amid frequent links with a move to Serie A rivals Juventus.
The Serbia international has been one of the form players of the campaign in the Italian top flight, with three goals and six assists for a total of nine involvements so far this term.
That form has not gone unnoticed, and Milinkovic-Savic has been subsequently mooted as a major transfer target, with La Gazetto dello Sport running a splash page on a potential Bianconeri switch.
It is not the first time the playmaker has been the subject of intense speculation, but the feverish nature has irked Sarri now, who believes too much hyperbole is being spun about his player.
I thin…
Coupe de France holders Guingamp have announced the signing of Danish forward Ronnie Schwartz from Randers.
The 24-year-old striker was joint-second top scorer in the Superliga last season with 15 goals and that was enough for Ligue 1 side Guingamp to make their move.
Schwartz has agreed a four-year contract at the Stade du Roudourou and will be officially unveiled after completing his medical early next week.
The forward scored 40 goals in 88 appearances for Randers, having previously played for Aalborg until 2011.
Schwartz s domestic form enabled Randers to a mid-table finish last season and Guingamp will hope he can help them push further up the table after ending the campaign 16th in Ligue 1.
Guingamp coach Jocelyn Gourvennec will also be keen for Schwa…
Porto have confirmed an agreement to sell Brazilian midfielder Fernando to Manchester City for a fee of £12million (€15million).
The Premier League club have been linked with the 26-year-old for a number of months with reports suggesting that they came close to signing the player in January.
In a statement to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission on Wednesday, the Primeira Liga club revealed they had reached an agreement with the English champions.
FC Porto hereby informs the market that it has reached an agreement with Manchester City for the permanent transfer of the professional sports player Fernando Reges, for the amount of €15,000,000, the statement read.
Fernando, who operates primarily as a defensive midfielder, began his career wit…
Fernando Llorente has nothing but fond memories of his time at Juventus and would happily return to the Serie A champions if the opportunity arose.
The striker joined Juventus from Athletic Bilbao on a free transfer in July 2013 and won two Serie A titles before leaving for Sevilla at the start of this season.
A return to Juventus? I am only thinking about ending the season on a high with Sevilla for now, Llorente told Tuttosport.
But you cannot predict what will happen in the future. You can never rule anything out in football. I honestly don t know whether a return to Juventus would be possible, but it would be a dream if it happened.
I enjoyed two fantastic seasons at Juventus and won plenty of trophies. My time at Juventus and winning the World Cu…