December 2019 – Football Flame

31Dec

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Man City handed Aymeric Laporte boost after lengthy injury absence

Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City is stretchered off the pitch during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion at Etihad Stadium.Aymeric Laporte is close to a return to Manchester City's line-up as Pep Guardiola hopes to have the influential defender back ahead of schedule.The 25-year-old centre-back has not played for the defending Premier League champions since injuring knee ligaments on the last day of August.His absence has been cited as a key reason for City falling so far behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who hold a 14-point advantage over Guardiola's team.City originally expected Laporte to be unavailable until February but he is now back in training, albeit on his own, and Guardiola expects him to join in with the full first team squad...

31Dec

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TRANSFERS

Juventus wrap up a deal for Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski of Parma(Loan) during the football Serie A match Parma v Brescia at the Tardini Stadium.Juventus have reached an agreement with Atalanta over the transfer of Dejan Kulusevski according to a report from Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio.The youngster looked set to join the Bianconeri’s arch-rivals Inter but the reigning Italian champions have swooped in with an offering totalling €45 million for the 19-year-old.Inter are believed to have made a €35 million offer for Swedish international in recent weeks but will not raise their offer and will therefore miss out on him and will be forced to go after other targets instead.Kulusevski has starred whilst out on loan at fellow Serie A club Parma this season and the report does not spec...

31Dec

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NEWS

Diego Alonso appointed as first manager of David Beckham’s Inter Miami

Diego Alonso, Manager of Monterrey celebrates his sides victory during the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 3rd place match between Monterrey and Al Hilal FC at Education City Stadium.David Beckham's Major League Soccer team Inter Miami have named Diego Alonso as head coach ahead of their debut next season in the fast-growing league.The former Uruguay striker led Monterrey to the CONCACAF Champions League title this year and a place in the Club World Cup after managing Liga MX club Pachuca from 2014-18.The 44-year-old, who played for several clubs in Spain, including Atletico Madrid and Valencia, coached in Uruguay and Paraguay before arriving in Mexico in 2014.Inter Miami sporting director Paul McDonough praised Alonso's "drive, passion and leadership" in a statement."In Diego we found a ma...

30Dec

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NEWS

Stuttgart appoint Pellegrino Matarazzo as Head Coach

Pellegrino Matarazzo Head Coach of VfB Stuttgart.Pellegrino Matarazzo has been appointed the new head coach of VfB Stuttgart. The 42-year-old moves from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, where he’d worked as an assistant coach since 2018 under Julian Nagelsmann and more recently under Alfred Schreuder. Matarazzo has signed a contract with VfB until 30 June 2021.The coaching team is completed by current assistants Rainer Widmayer and Michael Wimmer, goalkeeping coach Uwe Gospodarek plus fitness coaches Martin Franz and Matthias Schiffers. Match and training analysts Marcus Fregin and Emiel Schulze will also remain part of the first-team coaching staff.Chairman Thomas Hitzlsperger:“We took great care in our search for our new head coach and have had several intense discussions in the last few days. In th...

30Dec

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Mikel Arteta Reportedly wants to make Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot his first signing as Arsenal manager

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium.Mikel Arteta wants to make Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot his first signing as Arsenal manager, according to a report in England.The Times is reporting that the Gunners boss is a big admirer of the France international and Arteta is hoping to add Rabiot to his squad.The same article states that the Gunners are hoping to initially secure the 24-year-old on a season-long loan deal following Rabiot’s lack of first-team opportunities at Juventus this season.According to the same story, Arsenal’s bid to sign former Paris Saint-Germain star Rabiot isn’t connected to Granit Xhaka’s future at the north London outfit.The Times go on to add that Arsenal have been linked with...

30Dec

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LALIGA

Barcelona return to training ahead of Espanyol test

Anssumane Fati of FC Barcelona.Barcelona were back to work on Sunday evening as the team took part in their first training session after the Christmas break.The majority of the first team were present, while Ansu Fati also joined in part of the session as he continues his comeback from a hip problem.Inaki Pena and Carles Perez were also part of the group, while Moussa Wague missed out with conjunctivitis.Sergi Roberto was also absent on compassionate leave after sadly losing his mother to illness on Saturday. A minute’s silence was held before the session.The South American contingent of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Neto and Arturo Vidal are still away and not expected back until January 2.Barcelona will have a double training session on Monday and return again on Tuesday as they step up the...

29Dec

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Sadio Mane keeps Liverpool on track for Premier League title as VAR assists Anfield win over Wolves

Sadio Mane of Liverpool competes with Jonny of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield.Liverpool continued their relentless march towards a first Premier League title in 30 years, but Jurgen Klopp’s men needed the benefit of two VAR reviews to see off Wolves 1-0 at Anfield.Sadio Mane scored the only goal three minutes before half-time as the Senegalese’s strike was allowed to stand after initially being ruled out for handball against Adam Lallana.Moments later Wolves had an equaliser scored by Pedro Neto disallowed by VAR for the tightest of offside decisions.An 18th win in 19 Premier League games this season re-established Liverpool’s 13-point lead at the top of the table and they have a game in hand over closest ...

29Dec

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Tammy Abraham clinches Chelsea victory as Arsenal let late lead slip

Tammy Abraham of Chelsea celebrates after he scores a goal to make it 2-1 during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium.Chelsea scored twice in four minutes to come from behind and beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday, ruining Mikel Arteta's first home match in charge of the north London club.Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno missed an attempt to punch Mason Mount's free kick clear, allowing Jorginho to net in the 83rd minute and cancel out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's first-half opener.Jorginho had been fortunate to still be on the pitch after avoiding a second yellow card for pulling down Matteo Guendouzi.The winner came after Chelsea launched a counterattack from the edge of its own penalty area, with Tammy Abraham then allowed to race thro...

29Dec

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TRANSFERS

Juventus join PSG and Bayern Munich in transfer race for Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen next summer

Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona during team warm up before the Barcelona V Alaves, La Liga regular season match at Estadio Camp Nou.Barcelona star Marc-Andre ter Stegen is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in recent time. His sparkling career at Camp Nou, his maturity and determination to give his best is being noticed by the all the great European clubs.However, according to Mundo Deportivo, clubs like Juventus, Bayern Munich and PSG are reportedly in the race to rope in Ter Stegen.The three clubs have already made their interest known to the German goalkeeper to see if he has any interest in leaving the Camp Nou, say Reports.“Three of the most important teams in the continent have already polled Ter Stegen to know if he would be willing to leave Barcelona. As MD has l...

29Dec

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TRANSFERS

Inter Milan Reportedly Reach Contract Agreement With Arturo Vidal

Arturo Vidal of Barcelona in action during the Barcelona V Alaves, La Liga regular season match at Estadio Camp Nou.Arturo Vidal's relationship with Barcelona has hit boiling point, with the Chilean international ready to depart Spain to link up with former boss Antonio Conte at Inter.The friction between the two clubs reached its tipping point earlier in the month when Vidal's agent allegedly held talks with the Spanish champions earlier this month after the South American was left out of the starting side for the clash with Real Madrid.According to Gazzetta dello Sport,Inter are ready to offer the former Juve man a two-year contract to lure him to the San Siro as soon as January.Reports claim that Inter are a little turned off by the transfer fee, which Barcelona still expect to reach 15...