March 2020 – Football Flame

Month: March 2020

TRANSFERS

Man United Loanee Alexis Sanchez set to leave Milan in summer

Alexis Sanchez of FC Internazionale in action during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between FC Internazionale and PFC Ludogorets Razgrad at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Milan, Italy.Alexis Sanchez is reportedly set to return to parent club Manchester United in the summer after failing to make an impact at Inter Milan.The former Arsenal man has struggled to make a lasting impression during his loan spell at the San Siro, making just 10 league appearances in a campaign plagued with injuries.Indeed, Sanchez has only managed one goal and two assists in Italy's top flight this term, and Antonio Conte reportedly has zero intention of keeping him at Inter.According to The Daily Mail, Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta shares Conte's concerns over the at...
TRANSFERS

Leicester City in talks with Real Betis midfielder William Carvalho

William Carvalho of Real Betis during the Liga match between Real Betis and RCD Mallorca at Benito Villamarin Stadium on February 21, 2020 in Sevilla, Spain.Leicester City have held "conversations" with Real Betis midfielder William Carvalho, according to reports.And the 27-year-old is in "a good position" to sign for the Foxes, reports Coliseo Verdi Blanco.Defensive midfielder Carvalho, who is valued at £18m, notably won Euro 2016 with Portugal, playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo - and the inaugural UEFA Nations League last year as they beat Holland 1-0 in the final.He joined Betis from Sporting Lisbon on a five-year contract in July 2018, having spent six years with the Portuguese giants.He has played almost 40 times for Betis in La Liga, but has been restricted to just nine appearances...
LALIGA

Asensio will train with Real Madrid squad when quarantine ends

Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio (20) dribbles the ball during the International Champions Cup soccer match between FC Bayern and Real Madrid on July 20, 2019 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio will train with the rest of the squad as soon as the club ends their quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a report from Spanish newspaper AS. There’s no date for Madrid’s return to action yet and it looks like the confinement could last at least two more weeks.Asensio picked up a worrying ACL injury during Madrid’s pre-season stage in North America last summer. The winger seemed destined to be a key starter for Zidane this season but he has spent the last seven months recovering from surgery and now he’s ready to begin the last part of his reh...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Rashford helps feed children during virus shutdown

Marcus Rashford of Man Utd looks on from the stands before the Carabao Cup Semi Final match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on January 29, 2020 in Manchester, England.Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is working to get food to children who rely on free school meals after the coronavirus shutdown.The 22-year-old England international has teamed up with charity FareShare to help children in the Manchester area after schools were closed.And he revealed that his own childhood had inspired him to want to make a difference to the next generation."In the past I have done a lot of work in regards to children and when I heard about the schools shutting down, I knew that meant free meals for some kids that they are not getting at school," Rashford told the...
SERIE A

Serie A chiefs to discuss cancelling season on Monday

(LtoR)Demetrio Albertini, Manuela Ronchi and Damiano Tommasi arrive at the "Gran Gala del Calcio" Italian Football Association (Associazione Italiana Calciatori - IAC) awards ceremony on December 2, 2019, in Milan.President of the Italian Footballers’ Association Damiano Tommasi fears the Serie A season could be cancelled due to the outbreak of coronavirus.Italy has been hit hardest in Europe by the virus and on Sunday had over 10,000 confirmed deaths from Covid-19.Serie A has been suspended since March 9 and sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora revealed last week a blanket ban on all sport could continue until May.Spadafora’s words have alerted the attention of the Italian FA, who are due to meet on Monday via a conference call when the topic of Serie A being cancelled will be discussed.&nb...
SERIE A

Juventus, Ronaldo agree to wage reduction that will save club €90 million

Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and his partner Georgina Rodriguez push two strollers as they have a walk with their children in Funchal on March 28, 2020.Cristiano Ronaldo and his Juventus team-mates along with coach Maurizio sarri agreed to forgo 90 million euros ($100 million) in the wages on the Saturday to help the club during the coronavirus crisis.The club said the money amounted to four months worth of wages, a third of the players’ salaries.The first agreement of its kind in Serie A since play was halted three weeks ago means Ronaldo, the highest-paid player in the Italian league, will give up 10 million euros (more than $11 million).Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini, who has an economics degree, led the negotiations with the club and fellow players.The agreement comes at a time when many ...
TRANSFERS

Report suggests Spurs' Jan Vertonghen is a player Barcelona have always liked

Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on March 7, 2020 in Burnley, United Kingdom.Barcelona could reportedly attempt to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen this summer.The 32-year-old will see his current deal with Spurs expire on June 30, and it is widely thought that he will leave Jose Mourinho’s side on a free transfer in search of pastures new.Vertonghen recently revealed that he was weighing up "the pros and cons" of staying at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as his contract continues to run down.According to Sport, Barca 'have always liked' the versatile defender, who could be 'a magnificent option' for Quique Setien’s side ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.Despite the uncertainty surrounding his...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Harry Kane sets limit for Premier League season to finish or 'consider other options'

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 19, 2020 in London, United Kingdom.Harry Kane fears the Premier League season may not be completed following the coronavirus pandemic unless it has reached a conclusion by the end of June.UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin admitted this weekend the European football season "would probably be lost" if it won't restart by the end of June at the latest.The governing body of European football has set up a task force to draft up a potential calendar for federations to follow after the coronavirus pandemic forced all of its major leagues to halt.Speaking to Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp, Tottenham and England striker Kane hopes...
TRANSFERS

Report : Real Madrid could swoop for Man City Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on March 01, 2020 in London, England.Belgian magazine Sport/Foot reports that Kevin De Bruyne is considering his future at Manchester City and is in fact exploring a move to Real Madrid.With City facing a potential suspension from European football after having been adjudged to have violated Financial Fair Play rules, the Belgian title suggests that De Bruyne isn't keen on waiting for European nights to return to the Etihad, and instead fancies a move, with the Bernabeu his preferred destination.De Bruyne would cost Real around €150 million.City are objecting to UEFA's suspension and if they can get it overturned, or at least delayed for another year, it might have a k...
LALIGA

Spain boss Luis Enrique hints at Barcelona return in Q&A with fans

Luis Enrique, head coach of Spain meets press members after the UEFA Euro 2020 Final Draw Ceremony on November 30, 2019 in Bucharest, Romania.Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has not ruled out a return to the Camp Nou dugout.Enrique, who is currently managing the Spain national team, won two La Liga titles and one Champions League with the Catalan giants between 2014 and 2017.The Spaniard netted 109 times for Barcelona during his playing days, and is refusing to rule out a return to La Blaugrana in the future.Speaking to fans during a Q&A session, Enrique said: "I think I can coach anywhere I have been [before]."I have left the doors open at all of them. My time at Barcelona was marvellous and I will always be grateful. I am very lucky to have been at a club for so many years that...