Tag Futebol

Klopp here to stay.

In the not so distant past, beIN Sports correspondent Tancredi Palmeri made the sensational claim that Juventus had been in touch with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp about their manager position, which was recently vacated by Massimiliano Allegri.

Naturally, Klopp didn’t hold back when responding to the speculation, dismissing it out of hand.

The German coach, who is preparing to lead Liverpool into a second successive Champions League final on Saturday night, has reaffirmed the fact that there is absolutely no chance of him walking away from Anfield this summer, which we are 110 per cent inclined to believe.

“Of course it’s a league that I like, it’s really exciting but all these rumours I hear about Juventus are bull****,†Klopp told Sky Italia (via Liverpool Echo).

“There is nothing true about it. I am not going to leave Liverpool. I know Serie A very well, I follow it and I like it, but I am going to stay at Liverpool.â€

And breathe…

Remarkably, Klopp will be looking to end a run of six straight final defeats in his managerial career when his Liverpool side battle with a club who know a little something about bottling themselves, Tottenham Hotspur.

It just seems nonsensical that Klopp would even consider leaving at this point. The Premier League may not have gone to plan, but surely if they replicate their form from this season next time around then the master of man management has a domestic title to look forward to. Not to mention the fact that they will more than likely be challenging for another major European cup next season. When they’re on the cusp of something special, why would he give that up now?

Simple answer: he wouldn’t.

Liverpool fans, could you ever see Klopp leaving the club? How badly do you think it would damage your future prospects? Let us know in the comments below…

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According to the Evening Standard, Everton are in pole position to land Danny Welbeck on a free transfer once his contract with Arsenal comes to an end.

The England international is being let go by the Gunners after a campaign in which he barely featured, netting just five goals before he was ruled out for the season with a broken ankle in early November.

Even if he had managed to stay fit all year, it is questionable as to why Everton even want the 28-year-old in the first place.

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Welbeck has hit just 70 goals in his entire career as a footballer, roughly the same amount as Mohamed Salah has scored in just two seasons as a Liverpool player.

Those strikes have come in a whopping 311 appearances, meaning that the former Manchester United man averages a goal every 4.4 games – that isn’t all too good for a striker who is reportedly set to be offered a contract in excess of £100,000-a-week.

Another striker that the Toffees have been linked with is Fulham marksman Aleksandar Mitrovic, a man much more familiar with the net than Welbeck.

The Serbian international is four years younger than the Arsenal forward, but has already managed to score almost 40 more goals than him across his career.

Mitrovic has managed to bag 109 goals in just 289 games, which works out at a goal every 2.7 games; a much more respectable figure.

The former Anderlecht man cost Fulham £22m when they signed him from Newcastle, so they will presumably hope to get their money back at least.

However, that fee will be offset by the fact that Mitrovic currently earns £60,000-a-week compared to Welbeck’s £125,000-a-week earnings in north London – the transfer fee shouldn’t really be an issue when you take into account that huge difference in wages.

All things considered, Mitrovic would be a much better option for Everton than Welbeck.

For Arsenal fans, having more than one defender capable of playing consistently well seems like an almost impossible feat, but it was once the case when Gabriel Paulista was at the club.

The Brazilian defender joined the Gunners in the winter transfer window of 2015 when Arsene Wenger realised midway through the 2014/15 season that the team needed more than two fully fit centre-backs in Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, and after a few games of Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers covering in central defence, it was quickly apparent Arsenal needed reinforcements, and Gabriel was brought in.

Signed for £11.2 million from Villarreal, Gabriel joined the Gunners with a respectable reputation after a good half-season with the Yellow Submarine, and good things were expected of the Brazilian defender.

Gabriel’s first season with the Gunners saw the defender establish himself as a solid member of the Arsenal team, with his warrior-attitude and impressive last-ditch tackles the Brazilian quickly became a fan favourite in north London, but it soon became apparent that the centre-back might not last long in the Premier League.

First-team opportunities were hard to come by and there were reports that Gabriel had found it hard to adjust to life in England, which is why it didn’t come as a surprise when Arsene Wenger sold the defender just 18 months after signing him to Valencia for £9.9 million according to Transfermarkt.

It might have seemed like the right move at the time, but since returning to Spain, Gabriel has been nothing short of impressive for the La Liga side, manning a defence that has seen Valencia make it to the Champions League and subsequently the Europa League semi-final, where the Brazilian will face a reunion with his former club.

It will be a bittersweet affair for Arsenal. Whilst the fans will have no quarrels with Gabriel, the club will be kicking themselves for letting the Brazilian go after just 18 months at the club, especially with how poorly the Gunners have been defensively this season.

Gabriel has shown that Arsenal were wrong to sell him two years ago, and Unai Emery will be thinking why his predecessor didn’t keep hold of him just that extra bit longer.

Gunners fans, what are your standout memories of Gabriel? Join the discussion by commenting below…

علق ليونيل ميسي أسطورة برشلونة والمنتخب الأرجنتيني، على اعتزال الثنائي فرناندو جاجو وخافيير ماسكيرانو مؤخرًا.

فرناندو جاجو لاعب الأرجنتين وريال مدريد وروما وعدد كبير من الأندية الأورويبة والأرجنتينية، أعلن اعتزاله كرة القدم يوم الأربعاء الماضي “طالع التفاصيل”.

خافيير ماسكيرانو، أعلن أمس اعتزاله كرة القدم أيضًا، بعد مسيرة حافلة بالانجازات مع برشلونة، وتاريخ كبير مع ليفربول والأرجنتين “طالع أكثر”.

ليونيل ميسي، لعب مع الثنائي في المنتخب الأرجنتيني، وعلق على توديعهما لكرة القدم، من خلال منشور على حسابه الشخصي بموقع التواصل الاجتماعي انستجرام.

وكتب ميسي: “شخصان عشت معهما واستمتعت بهما لفترة طويلة، الآن يغادران كرة القدم، لذلد أريد أن أغتنم الفرصة لألقي التحية عليهما”.

وعن فرناندو جاجو: “عزيزي فرناندو، أتمنى أن يكون كل شيء رائعًا بالنسبة لك بعد اتخاذ قرارك، تقابلنا منذ 17 عامًا، وكان من دواعي سروري أن أشاركك غرفة الملابس والتنافس ضدك”.

وأضاف: “أنت تعرف ذلك، أنا أحبك كثيرًا، آمل أن تكون على ما يرام وأن تكون موفقًا في اختياراتك وتحقيق أحلامك”.

وعن ماسكيرانو: “ماذا عن ماسكي؟ نحن معًا منذ سنوات عديدة، نرى بعضنا البعض كل يوم ونتشارك كثيرًا، نعيش لحظات سعيدة جدًا، وأيضًا بعض الأوقات الصعبة في الملعب مع الأرجنتين وبرشلونة، لقد افتقدتك كثيرًا منذ أن غادرت برشلونة”.

واختتم: “أتمنى لك التوفيق ماسكي، ولعائلتك الجميلة دائمًا”.

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Steven Gerrard will surely be expecting to make a number of changes to the Rangers team that once again failed to beat Celtic to first place this season. Sigh.

During his first campaign as manager, Gerrard would be pleased with how his Rangers team performed, yet he also knows the number of improvements he needs to make to get them back to the top. Clearly, it is not going to be easy but with the resources given to him, Steven Gerrard has the contacts and the opportunity to give a player a fine destination to come to.

One player who has been linked previously with a move to Ibrox is Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn, a man who has reappeared on their radar in recent weeks, according to reports from the Scottish Sun late last month.

Woodburn, (who is valued at £4.5 million on Transfermarkt) is well-known to Gerrard as a Liverpool youngster and it’s seemingly obvious that the pair would be glad to link up. If they do, the Gers could be on to something special.

It was believed a loan spell at Sheffield United would do wonders for Woodburn in a bid to escalate his progression but unfortunately, it went the other way and the 19-year-old failed drastically. He made just one start and seven appearances in a spell that lasted just six months, hence the need for Woodburn to rebrand himself at a club like Rangers.

Together, they can rise up.

There will be plenty of competition to sign Ben Woodburn despite his failed loan move, because clubs sense the potential in him to come good in the right team. West Brom are thought to be interested but the last few years have seen exciting young players grow in Scotland, so why not try and play that card?

Surely there’s nowhere better, the Light Blues truly are a massive club.

The 19-year-old specialises in direct, quick-play and has the ability to find the back of the net with ease. Imagine that at Ibrox, especially considering reports from the Daily Express at the start of the week that Morelos could be sold.

At his age, development under Steven Gerrard at Rangers could be key for Ben Woodburn to go on and forge a successful career.

Gers fans, what do you make of the Woodburn rumours? Fancy him? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

With the new stadium now open for business, all of you Tottenham fans must be in boisterous spirits right now as the future looks extremely bright, so long as you can bring some quality players to the exciting new ground.

It’s all well and good spending a lot of money on a fancy new stadium but Tottenham fans will also be wanting to see their team possess some top talents on the pitch as well. Right now, no matter how good some may say their team is, the fact is that Tottenham have still not won everything and that must be something that changes next season,

The future of Tottenham looks to be extremely bright and it must continue in that fashion. The most efficient way in which that can be achieved is if Spurs look to invest in the game’s next best players.

For example, Lille striker Rafael Leao looks to be the complete striker and if a deal was configured, could progress on to being a real hero for Tottenham.

Leao, (who is valued at £10.8 million on Transfermarkt) has impressed in his debut season in France, so much so, that other top European outfits will be interested in his signature as well. With seven goals coming in 15 Ligue 1 starts, it’s clear to see exactly why.

At just 19-years-old, Rafael Leao – touted as a potential Spurs target by Calciomercato last week – is showing all the credentials that he will become a far better player with a top club.

Tottenham could be one of the better clubs for Leao to opt for, with first-team opportunities sure to be a lot easier to come by playing as back-up to Harry Kane and the wingers as well.

It could be a costly initial investment but one that looks like a bargain in a few years time when he’s at the peak of his game.

Tottenham fans, would you love to see a wonderkid of this stature brought in? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

With 190 Premier League appearances to his name, Gary Cahill is sure to go down as one of the best defenders of his generation having won everything there is to win at club level.

The Derbyshire-born player took the first steps to his footballing dream by signing at the age of 15 for Aston Villa where he would represent the club’s youth teams for a further four years.

Despite impressing as a teenager for the Lions, he was loaned out to Burnley in order to gain some first team experience. 32 games later and now a fully-established central defender, Cahill would mark his return to Villa Park with arguably the stand-out moment of his career for the club.

With the score locked at 1-1 during a Premier League clash against arch-rivals Birmingham City in 2006, Cahill produced a spectacular overhead kick finish to put his side ahead and send the home supporters crazy. The sublime technique displayed would have been more suited to that of a striker rather than a defender yet it showed just how much talent that he had at his disposal.

Nevertheless, after sanctioning yet another loan move to the Championship in 2007, Villa decided to let Cahill leave on a permanent deal at the turn of the year, selling him to Bolton Wanderers. In hindsight, Villa supporters must have seen this is a huge mistake as throughout his five year stay with the Trotters, the defender proved to be very consistent and reliable.

A number of outstanding performances during the 2011/12 campaign attracted the interest of Chelsea who agreed a fee believed to be in the region of just £7m for Cahill (via the BBC). The former Villa man’s career then skyrocketed as he was part of a squad which won both the FA Cup and the Champions League with the latter seeing him produce arguably the greatest ever performance of his career to date in the final.

Despite going into the game against Bayern Munich as underdogs at the Allianz Arena, Chelsea prevailed via a penalty-shootout after a dogged defensive display led by Cahill and fellow central defender David Luiz. In a match which was dominated by Die Roten, it was quite simply incredible just how the Blues managed to come out victorious, especially when you consider that they were managed by the vastly inexperienced Roberto Di Matteo.

Following this achievement, Cahill played an integral part in winning the Europa League in 2013 before going on to claim the second double of his career two years later, winning both the League Cup and the Premier League under then-boss Jose Mourinho.

After a change in the way that Chelsea set-up in 2016 by Antonio Conte, the England international was almost faultless in the side’s barnstorming run to the title, producing an incredible level of consistency.

Cahill would later captain the Blues to his first ever FA Cup final in 2018 where an Eden Hazard penalty secured a 1-0 victory for the club. However, since this triumph, the defender has been left out of Maurizio Sarri’s plans for the future and has only featured sporadically during the 2018/19 campaign.

At the age of 33, Cahill undoubtedly has at least two or three more campaigns to play before he calls time on his distinguished career and maybe, just maybe this could happen where it all began, with Villa.

Regardless of what division the Lions find themselves in next season, the acquisition of a former Champions League winner would clearly bolster the club’s squad and bring much-needed experience to their back line.

كشف مصدر مسؤول داخل اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية عن تصعيد جديد من جانب اللجنة ضد مرتضى منصور رئيس نادي الزمالك، لطلب إيقافه دوليًا في جميع الألعاب.

أعلنت اللجنة الأولمبية في بيانها، ثبوت الوقائع التي صدرت من مرتضى منصور، ليتقرر إيقافه عن مزاولة أي نشاط رياضي لمدة 4 سنوات وتغريمه 100 ألف جنيه. طالع التفاصيل

وأشار المصدر إلى أن اللجنة الأولمبية طلبت من اتحاد الكرة إخطار الاتحادين الدولي والإفريقي بعقوبة إيقاف مرتضى منصور حتى يأخذ الاتحادان نفس القرار بإيقافه قاريًا ودوليًا.

وأكد المصدر ذاته أن اتحاد الكرة استجاب لطلب اللجنة الأولمبية وأرسل للاتحادين الإفريقي والدولي قرار إيقاف مرتضى منصور بحيثياته.

وأوضح أنه جرت العادة أن الاتحادين الإفريقي والدولي في كل المواقف يتفق قراراتهما مع قرار اللجنة الأولمبية في البلاد؛ لذلك نتوقع أن يتخذ الاتحادان نفس العقوبة على مرتضى منصور في المباريات القارية والدولية.

وأتم أن اللجنة الأولمبية تسعى لإيقاف مرتضى منصور قاريًا ودوليأ.

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Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to discuss a move for Stoke stopper Jack Butland and have also given their views on the situation regarding Spaniard Vicente Guaita, who Palace have doubts over regarding his long-term commitment to the club.

According to The Sun, the Eagles are eyeing up a £15m move to sign England international Butland, who stayed loyal to the Potters following their relegation to the Championship.

Another season in England’s second tier, however, will reportedly see Butland have to take a pay cut, so a move back to the top-flight could well be on given the fact that Nathan Jones is unlikely to guide Stoke to promotion this season.

As a result, the south London-based side have been keeping tabs on the situation and are likely to make a move in the summer, should Guaita return to La Liga.

Guaita has impressed since breaking into the starting eleven, so let’s take a look at how the Palace fans reacted to the news on Twitter…

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Luciano Narsingh made his first Swansea City appearance of the season in their 2-1 defeat at Leeds United in the Championship on Wednesday night.

A 2017 arrival from PSV Eindhoven, Narsingh scored once in 18 Premier League appearances for Swansea during the 2017-18 campaign.

The 28-year-old has not been in the plans of Swansea boss Graham Potter this season, but he did appear as a second-half substitute against Leeds.

There is absolutely no question that the winger – a 16-time Netherlands international – has a lot of talent and Swansea need to find a way to get him fit and firing for the final months of the campaign.

It is safe to say that the Swansea fans were delighted to see Narsingh back in action on Wednesday night.

And a number have called on head coach Potter to hand the attacker more minutes between now and the end of the season.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the club’s fans can be seen below: