August 2020 – Football Flame

31Aug

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Dani Ceballos to make Arsenal return for second loan from Real Madrid

Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal , Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal and Dani Ceballos of Arsenal pose with the FA Cup Trophy after their teams victory in the Heads Up FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 01, 2020 in London, England.Dani Cebollas is set to rejoin Arsenal on a season-long loan from Real Madrid this week after spending the 2019-20 campaign at the Emirates Stadium.Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta called to the 24-year-old to convince him it would be best for him to return to the Premier League for another year. The Gunners put in three bids with La Liga champions Real Madrid before coming to an agreement with the club.Ceballos has happy memories from his time in England, having been a key component in the Arsenal team which defe...

31Aug

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LALIGA

Messi could face suspension by Barcelona

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks dejected during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 1, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.Lionel Messi could be suspended and have a portion of his salary seized by Barcelona if he continues to refuse to attend official club events.Messi did not show for Sunday's coronavirus tests and it seems clear he will not attend new coach Ronald Koeman's first training session as coach on Monday.Both of those indiscretions would represent his first and second 'serious offences' and as both La Liga and the club believe that he is still under contract, this represents a breach of the collective agreement for players and clubs in the division.If he were to refuse to attend a further training session, this could ...

31Aug

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LALIGA

Ronald Koeman hires new fitness coach for FC Barcelona

Barcelona's new Dutch coach Ronald Koeman poses during his official presentation at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 19, 2020.Ronald Koeman has hired a new fitness coach as he attempts to rebuild FC Barcelona, and it is understood previous staff will either be re-assigned or fired.Albert Roca, who was the fitness coach under Frank Rijkaard in the Dutchman’s reign at Barcelona, will return to the Catalan club.Edu Pons and Antonio Gomez, who were previously in charge, will have to find new jobs - perhaps still with the club, perhaps not, according to reporting.Pons was usually in charge of training on the pitch, while Gomez was in charge in the weight room.The club has hired Lluis Til, most recently of AS Monaco, to be the new head doctor. He was also in the staf...

31Aug

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TRANSFERS

Chelsea ‘complete signing of Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz’

Kai Havertz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks on during the DFB Cup quarterfinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FC Union Berlin at BayArena on March 4, 2020 in Leverkusen, Germany. Chelsea have reportedly completed the €100m (£90m) signing of Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz and are preparing to make an announcement.The Blues have already made five signings this year and are looking to further strengthen their squad ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.Havertz has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge in recent weeks and, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, a deal is now over the line.Romano claims that the Germany international agreed terms with Chelsea last week and the Premier League side have matched Leverkusen's valuation.However, ...

31Aug

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City will move for Napoli centre-back once deal for Barcelona star is completed

Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli gestures during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio San Paolo on August 1, 2020 in Naples, Italy.For several months, Pep Guardiola's side have been heavily linked with 29-year-old Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly. It was the biggest transfer story of the summer at the Etihad - that is, until last week, when Lionel Messi announced his intention to leave Barcelona. Since then, the Argentine wonder has overshadowed everything else in world football, and news about Koulibaly has run dry for City fans. Now, though, journalist Alfredo Pedulla is reporting that the defender will move to Manchester - once there's more clarity regarding Messi's situation.Koulibaly, who made the Serie A Team of the Season in four c...

31Aug

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NEWS

Neymar wants to create Champions League history at PSG

Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany.Neymar insists he wants to stay at Paris Saint-Germain and create history by guiding them to their first ever Champions League triumph.PSG have dominated Ligue 1 in recent years, save for a single league win for Monaco, but their owners have injected significant funds into the club hoping to dominate Europe, too, wth the Champions League now representing a 'holy grail' of sorts.The acquisition of Neymar was meant to be the signing which propelled them into Europe's elite, but it took them to the 2019/20 season to reach as late as the semi-final, which they would win to p...

31Aug

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TRANSFERS

Report: Crystal Palace and Southampton want Danny Welbeck

Danny Welbeck of Watford takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Watford FC at London Stadium on July 17, 2020 in London, England.Crystal Palace have already made a statement signing this summer by landing Eberechi Eze from QPR ahead of a host of potential suitors.The Eagles paid £19.5m to sign Eze last week. And now, they’re looking to secure two more signings this summer.According to reports from the Daily Mail, Palace are considering a move for Watford forward Danny Welbeck this summer.The former Arsenal forward joined Watford last summer. He managed three goals in 20 appearances for the club, but couldn’t prevent Watford from getting relegated.Several key players of Watford are attracting i...

31Aug

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LALIGA

Argentine President Tells Messi To End Career At Newell’s Old Boys

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 1, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.Lionel Messi's future remains unclear as the Argentine looks determined to bolt Camp Nou. Though there are several clubs linked to the 33-year-old footballer, a sensible place to go to maybe at his homeland.Argentine president Alberto Fernandez sent a message to Messi, calling on him to return and end his career with Newell's Old Boys. Even at his age, many feel that Messi can still compete at a high level and Argentinians are dreaming of a possible homecoming.Fans of the Argentine club took the streets recently, holding a parade that could hopefully convince Messi to come home. However it may take more than that alth...

31Aug

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool Star Sadio Mane Lauded Could Replace Barcelona Captain, Reports Say

Sadio Mane of Liverpool FC looks on 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.Liverpool star Sadio Mane has become the new favorite to replace Lionel Messi in Barcelona as the Argentine’s exit looms, reports from Spain said.The Catalan club is already preparing for a future without its longtime superstar, and the names of several highly-rated players have emerged as candidates to fill his shoes. But although replacing Messi is indeed difficult, Mane could be up for the challenge of filling the massive void the Barca captain would leave behind. In fact, the Liverpool star has already been “offered to Barca,” Mundo Deportivo reported.Following a successful...

31Aug

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LALIGA

Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid May Benefit In the Future For AS Monaco Defender

Benoit Badiashile Mukinayi of AS Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between FC Metz and AS Monaco on August 30, 2020 in Metz, France.The expectations are high for Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid and one player that the club has gained interest in in the future is AS Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile. Spending for a big deal this year is out of the question but that hasn’t hindered the organization in scouting for the years to come.With everything that Badiashile offers Real Madrid has already put Badiashile as a possible 2021 signing per Fansided’s The Real Champs. Considering the way Zidane’s team has been playing, having someone of Badiashile’s caliber will greatly complement the club’s dynamic. The defensive intensity of the rising star has the potential to play w...