March 2020 – Page 2 – Football Flame

Month: March 2020

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West Ham United Reportedly eye summer move for Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius

Goalkeeper Loris Karius of Besiktas JK during the Turkish Spor Toto Super Lig match between Besiktas AS and Demir Grup Sivasspor at the Vodafone Park on January 19, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey.According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, West Ham United are interested in a move for Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius this summer.The German is currently on a two-season long loan at Super Lig giants Besiktas, and he is set to return to Merseyside this summer.Karius joined Liverpool from Bundesliga side Mainz in the summer of 2016 for around £4.7 million, but his costly errors in the final of the Champions League in 2018 was the final nail in the coffin following several gaffes prior to that.Things haven’t particularly changed in Turkey, though, it’s not a surprise that Besiktas aren’t willing to make a p...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Mikel Arteta reveals COVID-19 symptoms and effect it had on him

Arsenal Head Coach Mikel Arteta during a training session at London Colney on March 10, 2020 in St Albans, England.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has opened up on his recovery from the coronavirus, which led to the suspension of top-flight football in the UK.Arteta was the first high-profile name in English football to contract COVID-19, and the Spaniard immediately began self-isolating.Meanwhile, Arsenal closed down their London Colney base, and players were given individual training regimes for home.Arteta has now recovered from the disease and has provided a timeline of events from learning he had the disease and opening up on what it was like, to explaining how he informed Arsenal, and finally confirming he is healthy once more."I'm very well now, I feel that I have recovered," Arteta told ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Wayne Rooney admits Liverpool deserve to be crowned Premier League champions

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp rallies his players before the start of extra-time during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.Jurgen Klopp’s side had opened up a 25-point lead at the top of the table before the league was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic earlier this month.It is not yet clear when the 2019/20 season will resume, and there have even been calls for the campaign to be declared null and void.But Rooney, who currently plies his trade as a player-coach at Derby, believes it would not be right if the Reds were denied a first league title since 1990.“Liverpool will win the Premier League,” he told The Times. “Now, as you can imagine, I have Everton fans pho...
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NEWS

Unai Emery opens up about Aaron Ramsey’s Arsenal exit

Juventus player Aaron Ramsey during a training session at JTC on March 10, 2020 in Turin, Italy.Unai Emery has revealed that he complimented Aaron Ramsey on joining a “big club” when he left Arsenal to sign for Juventus last summer.The Wales international was allowed to leave The Emirates on a free transfer after his contract at the north London side expired last summer and he opted to sign for the Italian club.Ramsey had been a regular fixture in the Arsenal team up until his move away from the north London club and he was a much-loved figure amongst Gunners fans.Many Arsenal fans were not happy at the way the club dealt with Ramsey’s move away from the club last year, and former Gunners boss Emery – who was in charge when the midfielder left – has now opened up about the move for the pla...
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Arsenal and Spurs reportedly make Philippe Coutinho enquiries

Philippe Coutinho of FC Bayern Muenchen run with the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and FC Augsburg at Allianz Arena on March 08, 2020 in Munich, Germany.Arsenal are in the race with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham to sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona, according to reports. The Brazil international has spent the season on loan at Bayern Munich, scoring nine goals and registering eight assists for the German champions. But Bayern are not willing to permanently sign Coutinho, which leaves the door open for the former Liverpool midfielder to return to the Premier League. According to the Sunday Mirror, Arsenal have enquired about Coutinho’s availability.But the report also claims that Mikel Arteta’s side face competition from Chelsea, Manche...
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LALIGA

Luis Suarez set to return from knee surgery as soon as Football resumes

Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona during a training session at Estadi Johan Cruyff on January 05, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain.Luis Suarez hopes to be back playing football as soon as professional games are allowed to start up again. The Barcelona forward has been out of action due to a knee injury, and was expected to be away for four months after he had surgery in January.“The doctor told me that my recovery was going really well and that gave me hope to play again as soon as I could,” he told Uruguayan newspaper El Observador (via the Evening Standard). “The difference now is that when the team returns, I will be able to be with them.”Professional football has been suspended due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, in an attempt to stop the spread. Spain is one of the worst hit coun...
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NEWS

Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz passes away after Coronavirus diagnosis

Madrid, SPAIN: Former Real Madrid FC President Lorenzo Sanz, one of five candidates for the club's presidency, appears in Madrid 15 June 2006.Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz has died aged 76, his son Lorenzo said on Saturday.The former Real president was taken to hospital on Tuesday, with newspaper El Mundo saying he had been suffering from the novel coronavirus. His son said he had a respiratory disease.Sanz presided over the club between 1995 and 2000, in which they won two Champions League titles and one La Liga crown among other trophies. Their 1998 Champions League triumph was the first time they had won Europe’s top prize, which they have lifted a record 13 times, in 32 years.“My father has just passed away. He didn’t deserve it to end this way. One of the most brave and ha...
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BUNDESLIGA

Robert Lewandowski and wife chip in €1million for coronavirus fight

(L-R) Robert Lewandowski and his wife Anna attend the Sport Bild Award 2019 at the Fischauktionshalle on August 19, 2019 in Hamburg, Germany.Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski and his wife Anna have donated €1million (£924,000) to try to help with the coronavirus pandemic.The COVID-19 death toll has now passed 11,000 worldwide, while the number of confirmed cases has passed 275,000.Bavaria, the state in Germany where Lewandowski is based, has become the first state in the country to impose a 14-day ban on going outdoors, and during their self-isolation Lewandowski and Anna sent a message of hope to fans.As reported by Polish outlet Sportowefakty, they said: "Today, we are all aware of the difficulties of the situation that surrounds us. Today we all play in one team."Let's be strong ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Odion Ighalo refuses to discuss his future at Old Trafford

Odion Ighalo of Manchester United in action during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg match between LASK and Manchester United at Linzer Stadion on March 12, 2020 in Linz, Austria. The match is played behind closed doors as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has refused to discuss his future at Old Trafford beyond this season, with his focus now firmly on the the global fight against coronavirus.Professional football in England has been suspended until at least April 30, and with very few matches now going ahead globally Ighalo has warned: "Staying safe and alive is our biggest game in the world now."The 30-year-old completed a loan move to United on January's transfer deadline day after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to ...
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SERIE A

Napoli set to Return to training next week

SAN PAOLO STADIUM, NAPLES, CAMPANIA, ITALY - 2020/02/29: Napoli's Turkish midfielder Eljif Elmas,Napoli's Italian defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Napoli's belgian striker Dries Mertens celebrate at the end of the Italian Serie A football match SSC Napoli vs Torino FC. Napoli won 2-1.Although the Italian Players’ Association insists no team activities should happen until April, Napoli have announced that the team will return to training next Wednesday.The Azzurri have called their players back for a morning session at Castel Volturno on March 25, as President Aurelio De Laurentiis and Lazio boss Claudio Lotito are the only Serie A clubs that want to return before April 4.Italy is on a full lockdown until April 3, and AIC President Damiano Tommasi has made it clear that returning before the...
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Report : Barcelona target summer move for Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare

Boubakary Soumare of Lille during the Ligue 1 match between Lille OSC (LOSC) and Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon, OL) at Stade Pierre Mauroy on March 8, 2020 in Villeneuve d'Ascq near Lille, France.Barcelona could reportedly attempt to sign Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare this summer.The 21-year-old was strongly linked with a move to the Premier League during the January transfer window but ultimately remained with his Ligue 1 side past the deadline.Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have all credited with an interest in Soumare, who has made 30 appearances at club level during the 2019-20 campaign.However, according to Sport, Barca have now identified the defensive midfielder as a possible signing as the Spanish champions look for alternatives to Rennes youngster Eduardo Camavinga.Souma...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Moussa Sissoko provides positive update on knee injury

Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on March 12, 2020 in Enfield, England.Moussa Sissoko believes his knee problem is now gone after spending the past fortnight training again with Tottenham Hotspur.The Spurs players have now been sent home to work on their fitness individually rather than train at Hotspur Way, but before they did Sissoko had finally returned to training following knee surgery in January.The 30-year-old is now working on his fitness for when the Premier League does eventually return - currently April 30 at the earliest - from the coronavirus pandemic."I'm fine, my knee's okay," the French international told Spurs TV."I've been training with the team for nearly two weeks now and everything is...
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BUNDESLIGA

Borussia Monchengladbach players offer to give up their salaries

Football: Bundesliga, press conference by Borussia Monchengladbach. The sports director of Borussia Monchengladbach Max Eberl, coach Marco Rose and managing director Stephan Schippers (from left) answer questions from journalists during the press conference. At the PK, the club's managers announced that the catch-up match against 1 FC Köln will be played without spectators.Players, coaches and directors of German top-flight club Borussia Monchengladbach, who sit fourth in the table, have agreed to defer their wages to help less advantaged employees in football’s latest humanitarian gesture to counter Covid-19 .On Wednesday the German Football Association (DFB) said the national team would donate €2.5m million to help fight the coronavirus crisis in the country.But Borussia are the first pr...
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Liverpool and Barcelona join the race to sign Camavinga

Eduardo CAMAVINGA of Rennes during the French Ligue 1 Soccer match between Rennes and Montpellier at Roazhon Park on March 8, 2020 in Rennes, France.Liverpool have made contact to sign Rennes star Eduardo Camavinga this summer, according to reports in Spain. Manchester United have been credited with an interested in the 17-year-old, while Arsenal made a bid for his services last summer.Camavinga is regarded as the next superstar in French football and United think he can be their successor to Paul Pogba.Arsenal were unable to convince Rennes to part with their rising star last summer, but Sport claim Liverpool have now entered the race. The Reds have been in touch with Rennes about signing the midfielder, who is valued at over £45million by his club.Jurgen Klopp is keen to make a few ...
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Arsenal Reportedly plotting move for Athletic Bilbao defender

Unai Nunez of Athletic Bilbao during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Athletic de Bilbao v Granada at the Estadio San Mames on February 12, 2020 in Bilbao Spain.Reports in Spain are claiming that Arsenal is interested in a summer move for Athletic Bilbao star Unai Nunez.The defender has been one of the shining lights for Bilbao this season and if he continues to perform well he might represent a cut-price buy for Mikel Arteta.The defender recently revealed that he idolises Sergio Ramos. Arsenal fans will be hoping that he only idolises the Real Madrid player in combativeness and not in collecting red cards.Mikel Arteta is plotting several summer moves and reports in Spain via elgoldigital claim that he has plans to add Nunez to his team.The report further claims that the defender wou...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Premier League Season Postponement extended until April 30

The logo is pictured through a glass window at the headquarters of the English Premier League in London on March 13, 2020.The Premier League and EFL seasons will restart no earlier than April 30, the Football Association has announced.Representatives of the 20 Premier League teams discussed options in a video conference call as they bid to finish the current campaign, despite coronavirus continuing to spread across the United Kingdom.Player contracts either expire on June 30 or roll on to the 2020-21 campaign, creating a series of legal issues which the game’s authorities are desperate to avoid if the impact of Covid-19allows.UEFA are keen for domestic football to end by that date and there is understood to be a broad consensus among top flight clubs that finishing the season is preferable...
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NEWS

FIFA president Infantino proposes to postpone 2021 Club World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestures as he speaks during the 44th Ordinary UEFA Congress , in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on March 3, 2020.FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the planned 2021 Club World Cup dates should be moved by the governing body of world soccer to make way for the postponed Euro 2020 Championship and the Copa America, which have both been pushed back a year.Infantino said in a statement on Tuesday that FIFA would hold a conference call on Wednesday in which it should accept those changes from Uefa and CONMEBOL and decide whether the planned expanded 24-team Club World Cup should be held “later in 2021, in 2022 or in 2023”.The new tournament was the brainchild of Infantino and was scheduled to be held in China in the 2021 slot that will now feature the European an...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United Reportedly set new price for Real Madrid target

Paul Pogba of Manchester United wearing his personalised wrist bands against racism during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on December 26, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Manchester United are reportedly ready to cut ties with Paul Pogba as they seek to move on from their former world record signing.And they are willing to listen to offers in the region of £100m for the World Cup winner whose contract is up next summer, according to The Sun.Pogba's Old Trafford future has been uncertain for the best part of 12 months after he failed to force through a move to Real Madrid last summer.United were holding out for a £150m sale in 2019 but will be forced to settle for less as the option of triggering a one-year extension appears increas...
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Barcelona and Real Madrid interested in signing Bayern Munich left-back David Alaba

David Alaba of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during a training session at Saebener Strasse training ground on March 13, 2020 in Munich, Germany.Versatile Bayern Munich defender David Alaba, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea this summer, is now possibly looking at Spain as a destination.According the German newspaper SPORT BILD, both Real Madrid and Barcelona are interested in hijacking any potential deal for the 27-year-old.Last year, Alaba hinted that going to one of Spain’s big-two was on the table, saying: “Spain, England [the countries I want to play in],” the Austrian told BILD last year.”In Spain, it would be the two big clubs, I guess, Real or Barcelona. Also the big clubs in England.”Alaba’s contract expires this summer with Bayern, meaning he could negotiate with any club, ...
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Inter Milan Reportedly want to sign Barcalona Midfielder Arthur

Arthur Henrique Ramos de Oliveira Melo of FC Barcelona reacts during the Liga match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Mestalla on January 25, 2020 in Valencia, Spain.Inter Milan are reportedly interested in a summer move for Barcelona midfielder Arthur.The Brazilian has had his injury problems during the 2019-20 campaign but has still featured on 23 occasions for the Spanish champions, contributing four goals and four assists in the process.The 23-year-old only joined Barca in 2018 and has a contract at Camp Nou until June 2024.However, according to Tuttosport, Inter are weighing up an approach for the South American when this summer's transfer window opens for business.Antonio Conte is expected to be handed funds to improve his squad this summer having impressed since taking...
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