January 2021 – Football Flame

31Jan

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Messi’s €555m Barca contract sports biggest deal

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona before the spanish cup, Copa del Rey, football match played Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Vallecas on January 27, 2021 in Madrid, Spain.Lionel Messi’s current deal will end up costing Barcelona €555million (£492m) when it concludes this summer, a significant leak of his contract has revealed, reports Daily Mail.The four-year deal was signed in 2017 and will end this June when the 33-year-old will be able to leave for nothing.Spain’s El Mundo, who published the details of the contract under a headline which says it will 'ruin Barcelona', say the combination of fixed salary, image rights, variables and the tax that Barcelona have had to pay on the contract will rise to €555,237,619.Messi has been guaranteed €138m (£122m) a season in gross salary a...

30Jan

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SERIE A

Milan ready to defend Ibrahimovic against racism

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan reacts during the Coppa Italia match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 26, 2021 in Milan, Italy.AC Milan will defend Zlatan Ibrahimovic if he faces disciplinary action for racism after the Swede clashed with Inter's Romelu Lukaku during an Italian Cup match this week, team technical director Paolo Maldini said Saturday."We are ready to defend Ibrahimovic in any way possible if racism should be brought up, which has nothing to do with him," said Maldini."It happens to argue, it's an ugly episode to watch, but it ends there."(Ibrahimovic) was sorry for having left the team with 10 (players), he defended his teammates against Lukaku's unprovoked attacks."The heated altercation between the former Manchester United teammat...

29Jan

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SERIE A

Ibrahimovic, Lukaku get away without further bans after spat

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (R) of AC Milan argues with Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale during the Coppa Italia football match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan. FC Internazionale won 2-1 over AC Milan.MILAN — Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku were each given one-match suspensions by the league on Friday following their spat in the Italian Cup, with no bans added on for further disciplinary reasons. Ibrahimovic's suspension is because of the two yellow cards and his subsequent sending off during Tuesday's game, while Lukaku's suspension is for accumulated cards. There was a huge argument — and head-to-head clash — between Ibrahimovic and Lukaku just before halftime and both players were given yellow cards. The spat between the former Manchester United teammates continued after the halfti...

29Jan

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NEWS

Official: Barcelona to face Granada in Copa del Rey quarter-final

The quarter-final draw for this years’ edition of the Copa del Rey was completed on Friday morning. Barcelona will face Granada in the last eight of the competition, in a bid to lift the cup title for a record 31st time.The Catalans will travel to the new Los Carmenes to take on last season’s semifinalists. Barcelona are the clear favourites out of all the teams remaining in the competition after both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid bowed out in previous round upsets. Barcelona took a trip to Granada just a couple of weeks ago in La Liga, with the match ending in a resounding 4-0 win for the visitors.Barcelona first beat UE Cornella in the Round of 32 after extra time, followed by Rayo Vallecano in the Round of 16. Granada, en-route to the quarters have had to win 4 games. They have picked...

28Jan

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Premier League: Manchester United slams ‘mindless idiots’ after Anthony Martial, Axel Tuanzebe face racist abuse online

Anthony Martial of Manchester United takes a knee in support of the black lives matter movement during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Sheffield United at Old Trafford on January 27, 2021 in Manchester, England.London: Manchester United on Thursday called for stronger measures to be taken against "mindless idiots" who post racial abuse after Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe were targeted.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men fell to a shock 2-1 loss to the Premier League's bottom side Sheffield United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.That defeat sparked a torrent of online invective aimed at United's players, including racist abuse aimed at defender Tuanzebe, who inadvertently turned home Oliver Burke's winner, and forward Martial.Racist terms and monkey emojis were put on Instagr...

28Jan

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NEWS

Ronaldo Under Investigation for Violating Travelling Restrictions

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus Fc celebrate during the Serie A match between Juventus Fc and Bologna Fc. Juventus Fc wins 2-0 over Bologna Fc.While his teammates where breezing past SPAL in the Coppa Italia’s quarter-finals on Wednesday night, Cristiano Ronaldo, who was given the day off, spent the day with his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez in Courmayeur, a renowned skiing destination. However, he may have broken the travelling restrictions imposed by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the local authorities are looking into the matter, news agency Ansa reported.In order to contain the spread of the disease, it is currently allowed to leave the region where one is located only for some limited exceptions, like for work or for an emergency, and not for recreational purposes....

28Jan

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NEWS

Copa del Rey: Lionel Messi scores on return from suspension to guide Barcelona to win over Rayo Vallecano

Santi Comesana of Rayo Vallecano and Lionel Messi of FC Barcelonain action during the spanish cup, Copa del Rey, football match played Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Vallecas on January 27, 2021 in Madrid, Spain.Madrid: Lionel Messi marked his return from suspension with a goal in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as Barcelona survived a scare against Rayo Vallecano to reach the quarter-finals.With Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid already out, another upset looked on the cards when Fran Garcia gave Rayo a surprise lead at Vallecas early in the second half.But Messi tapped in Antoine Griezmann's pass to equalise before turning creator, sending Jordi Alba through, with Frenkie de Jong at the back post to seal a 2-1 victory.Rayo sit fourth in Segunda, Spain's second tier, after bein...

27Jan

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea squad a ‘present’ for talented Thomas Tuchel, says Jurgen Klopp

New manager Thomas Tuchel of Chelsea holds up the home Nike Shirt at Stamford Bridge on January 27, 2021 in London, England.Jurgen Klopp expects Chelsea to thrive under Thomas Tuchel but described the decision to sack Frank Lampard as “really harsh”.Tuchel, the man who replaced Klopp as boss at both Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, was on Tuesday named as the new Chelsea manager following Roman Abramovich’s decision to show Lampard the door on Monday morning.Asked about the German’s arrival in the Premier League, Klopp’s first response was to talk about the man he follows.“Frank Lampard lost his job and I have to say that is a really tough one,” he said.“I think that Chelsea did an incredible job in the transfer market this summer and brought in good players but things like this take time.“It ...

27Jan

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City go top after hammering West Brom 5-0

Joao Cancelo of Manchester City celebrates with team mates Rodri after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City at The Hawthorns on January 26, 2021 in West Bromwich, England.With a sparkling attacking display, Manchester City’s players powered to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season, and even the opposition are stopping to admire their work.In a comical exhibit for VAR’s ever-lengthening highlights reel, West Bromwich Albion’s defenders virtually stopped in their tracks and looked on as Joao Cancelo curled a shot into the top corner for the second of City’s goals in a 5-0 rout on Tuesday.After all, the assistant referee had raised the flag for offside moments earlier but City, unlike West Brom...

26Jan

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Tomas Soucek leads comeback at Crystal Palace as West Ham reach top four

Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace is challenged by Tomas Soucek of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and West Ham United at Selhurst Park on January 26, 2021 in London, England.A brace from Tomas Soucek helped West Ham come from behind to win 3-2 at Crystal Palace and move into the Premier League top four.David Moyes watched his in-form side make a poor start to the London derby when Wilfried Zaha grabbed the opener after three minutes.But it was largely one-way traffic afterwards, with Soucek hitting a first-half double to take his tally for the campaign to seven while Craig Dawson wrapped up the points with a fine header after the break.The Hammers have now won their last six games in all competitions and are up to fourth which has put them in the mix fo...