2023 – Page 29 – Football Flame
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Year: 2023

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Al-Hilal make record £259m bid for PSG’s Mbappe

 Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Paris Saint-Germain and Le Havre at Campus PSG on July 21, 2023 in Poissy, France. Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal have permission to speak to Kylian Mbappe after making a world record £259m bid for the Paris St-Germain forward. The 24-year-old France captain, who has a year left on his contract, has refused to sign an extension at the French champions and was not selected for their pre-season tour to Japan. PSG want to sell Mbappe now rather than see him leave for free next summer. Neymar’s £200m move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 is the current record. PSG activated Brazil forward Neymar’s release clause to make him the most expensive player in the world. Should he move, Mbappe will have com...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Newcastle come from behind to draw 3-3 with Villa

 Ollie Watkins #11 of Aston Villa scores a goal in the first half during a Premier League Summer Series match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Lincoln Financial Field on July 23, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Newcastle and Aston Villa played out an exciting 3-3 draw in Philadelphia as both sides continued their preparation for the new season and return to European football. The Magpies have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, while Villa will be in the Europa Conference League. Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Buendia put Villa 2-0 ahead inside 11 minutes in the Premier League Summer Series match, before Elliot Anderson and Alexander Isak got Newcastle back on level terms. Buendia added a second after the break, with England striker Callum Wil...
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NEWS

Bellingham impresses on Real debut in friendly win

 Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid CF and Tommaso Pobega of AC Milan battle for the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Real Madrid and AC Milan at Rose Bowl Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Pasadena, California.Manager Carlo Ancelotti said Real Madrid are “lucky” to have the “fantastic” Jude Bellingham after the England midfielder impressed on debut in a 3-2 pre-season win against AC Milan in Los Angeles. It was another Englishman, Fikayo Tomori, who got his name on the scoresheet, heading the opener for AC Milan, but two second-half goals from Federico Valverde and a superb winner from Vinicius Jr, who ran on to a sublime Luka Modric pass, sent the majority of fans in a 70,000 crowd at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena home happy. Bellingham’s 62-minute debut had flashes of his natura...
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Everton sign Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal

 Arnaut Danjuma of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 6, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. Everton have announced the signing of Arnaut Danjuma on a season-long loan from Villarreal. The 26-year-old spent the second half of the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, representing the North London side on 12 occasions, scoring twice in the process. Spurs turned down the chance to acquire the Netherlands international on a permanent basis, but he is now back in the Premier League for a third time, with Everton signing him for the 2023-24 season. Danjuma previously represented Bournemouth between 2019 and 2021, scoring 17 goals and registering eight assists in 52 appearances in all c...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Treble-winning Man City can improve – Guardiola

Pep Guardiola manager of Manchester City poses with the trophy at the end of the UEFA Champions League final match between Manchester City FC and FC Internazionale at Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey on June 10, 2023. Pep Guardiola says Manchester City can improve “many things” after coming from behind to beat Yokohama F Marinos 5-3 in Tokyo. The City boss also warned Erling Haaland was “fitter” than last season after scoring twice in the friendly. “It’s a good test because we don’t have enough preparation,” said Guardiola. The match saw Kyle Walker start as captain, Mateo Kovacic make his debut and Joao Cancelo play following his loan spell at Bayern Munich. “Yokohama played really well on the transitions – it was good for us,” added Guardiola. “Many things we can improve, o...
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Newcastle sign £38m winger Barnes from Leicester

 Leicester City's Harvey Barnes during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal FC at The King Power Stadium on February 25, 2023 in Leicester, United Kingdom. Newcastle United have signed England winger Harvey Barnes from Leicester City for a fee of about £38m. The 25-year-old, capped once by England, has signed a five-year contract with the Magpies. He is the club’s third signing of the summer following the arrivals of forward Yankuba Minteh and Italian international midfielder Sandro Tonali. “I think it’s an attacker’s dream to come into a team like this,” Barnes said. “I’m delighted. It’s an amazing club and for me it’s a massive opportunity to come and be involved in a successful team that’s doing exciting things, so I’m absolutely buzzing to be here.” Newcastl...
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Ilestedt scores late as Sweden beat South Africa

 Amanda Ilestedt of Sweden celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group G match between Sweden and South Africa at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. Amanda Ilestedt scored a last-minute winner as Sweden beat South Africa at the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Wellington. The 2022 Africa Cup of Nations champions came close to picking up their first point at a World Cup, having lost all three matches on their only previous appearance in 2019. South Africa opened the scoring with a 48th-minute goal from Hildah Magaia, but it was cancelled out by a deflected Frida Rolfo effort before Ilestedt’s decisive header. Sweden top Group G, with Argentina and Italy to meet on Monday. So...
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Van der Gragt gives Netherlands win over Portugal

 Stefanie van der Gragt of Holland Women celebrates 1-0 with Dominique Janssen of Holland Women, Esmee Brugts of Holland Women during the World Cup Women match between Holland Women v Portugal Women at the Dunedin Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Dunedin New Zealand.Stefanie van der Gragt’s first-half goal gave the Netherlands a 1-0 victory over Fifa Women’s World Cup debutants Portugal in Dunedin. Van der Gragt’s powerful header was ruled out by referee Kateryna Monzul before the video assistant referee encouraged her to review her decision. Portugal failed to trouble the Netherlands defence, registering their only shot on target in the 82nd minute. The win moved the Netherlands second in Group E, below reigning world champions USA on goal difference. Despite coming under pressure from a ...
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Denmark score late winner to mark World Cup return

 Amalie Vangsgaard #9 of Denmark celebrates with team mates after scoring her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group D match between Denmark and China at Perth Rectangular Stadium on July 22, 2023 in Perth, Australia. Amalie Vangsgaard scored a late winner as Denmark marked their their return from a 16-year Fifa Women’s World Cup absence with a 1-0 win over China. The substitute, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, headed home Pernille Harder’s corner in the 90th minute in Perth, Australia. There were doubts over whether the goal would stand but VAR officials decided that Danish defender Rikke Sevecke had not interfered with China’s goalkeeper Xu Huan as the ball hit the back of the net. The result moves Denmark to ...
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Ligue 1

Mbappe left out of PSG’s pre-season trip to Asia

 Footballer Kylian Mbappe is seen attending the Men's Singles Final match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Casper Ruud of Norway on Day Fifteen of the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros on June 11, 2023 in Paris, France.  Kylian Mbappe has been left out of Paris St-Germain’s squad for their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea. The club’s all-time leading goalscorer is refusing to sign a year’s extension to his contract which ends next summer. PSG therefore want to sell the France forward now and secure a transfer fee rather than let him go for nothing. Mbappe, however, has said he wants to remain with PSG for one more year before leaving upon the expiration of his current deal. He is widely believed to be aiming to join Real Madrid for nothing at the end of the upcoming s...
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Messi scores late winner on Inter Miami debut

 Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball during the second half of the Leagues Cup 2023 match between Cruz Azul and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Argentina star Lionel Messi curled in a stunning stoppage-time free-kick on his Inter Miami debut to clinch a 2-1 victory against Mexican side Cruz Azul. Messi, 36, struck in the fourth minute of added time as his Major League Soccer side won the Leagues Cup tie. The 20,000-capacity crowd included celebrities such as basketball’s LeBron James, tennis legend Serena Williams and US TV star Kim Kardashian. “We wanted to start like this by giving these people a victory,” said Messi. “We knew that it was very important for us to start this championship in winning fashion. Luckily we w...
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NEWS

USA launch World Cup defence with victory over Vietnam

 Sophia Smith of USA and Portland Thorns and Le Thi Diem My of Vietnam and Than Khoang San compete for the ball during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Spain and Costa Rica at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand.United States launched their bid for an unprecedented third consecutive world crown with a comfortable win against Women’s World Cup debutants Vietnam in Auckland. Sophia Smith struck twice before half-time for the the four-time world champions in front of thousands of travelling USA fans in a crowd of 41,107. Smith, one of 14 players in the squad appearing at their first World Cup, fired the number one ranked team in the world ahead with a low drilled finish from an ...
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Brighton plan for Caicedo stay amid Chelsea interest

 Moises Caicedo of Brighton & Hove Albion in action during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City at American Express Community Stadium on May 24, 2023 in Brighton, England. Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi says he is planning to have midfielder Moises Caicedo in his squad for next season amid transfer interest from Chelsea. Caicedo is one of Chelsea’s long-term transfer targets and a £70m bid was rejected this week. The 21-year-old has been the subject of interest from a number of clubs, with Arsenal also trying to sign the Ecuadorian in January. “At the moment Moises is a Brighton player,” De Zerbi said. Speaking in the United States, where his team is participating in the Premier League Summer Series alongside five other English sides...
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Manchester United suffer blow as target prefers La Liga despite verbal offer

 Dutch Fiorentina player Sofyan Amrabat during the match Roma v Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Rome (Italy), January 15th, 2023.Manchester United have made a verbal offer to Sofyan Amrabat’s agent but the Fiorentina midfielder would still prefer a move to Spain. The Moroccan midfielder has been heavily linked with a move away from Fiorentina in the ongoing transfer window. Manchester United have been linked with an interest in him but the Red Devils are now focused on getting a striker. However, talks have taken place between Amrabat’s agent and the Premier League giants over a potential switch this summer. And according to French outlet Foot Mercato, the Red Devils have made a verbal contractual offer to the midfielder’s agent. Manchester United have their eyes on him with a view...
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Superb Spain earn comfortable win over Costa Rica

 Alba Redondo of Spain and Valeria Del Campo of Costa Rica embrace after the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Spain and Costa Rica at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand. Spain cruised to victory in their Women’s World Cup opener as they dominated Costa Rica in Wellington. Valeria del Campo scored an own goal to put Spain ahead, before Aitana Bonmati curled in a second two minutes later. Esther Gonzalez added a third after a header against the crossbar by Jennifer Hermoso, who then had a penalty saved by Daniela Solera. Olga Carmona hit the bar and Solera made a number of fine saves to restrict Spain to three goals. The Spanish team’s dominance was shown in the match stats, as t...
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Jordi Alba joins Messi & Busquets at Inter Miami

 Jordi Alba of Spain celebrates the victory during the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 Final match between Croatia and Spain at the De Kuip on June 18, 2023 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.Jordi Alba has joined former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami. The Spain full-back, 34, has signed a contract to the end of the 2024 Major League Soccer season, with a club option for 2025. Alba left Barca this summer after 11 years with the Spanish giants. “We know that he’ll help Inter Miami achieve the club’s objectives this season and beyond,” said Inter Miami’s sporting director Chris Henderson. Alba helped Barca win six La Liga titles and the Champions League in 2015 while winning Euro 2012 and the 2023 Nations League with Spain. Argentina World Cup winner Messi, 36, ...
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Burnley sign Man City’s Trafford in £19m deal

 James Trafford of England looks on during the UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 final match between England and Spain at Batumi Arena on July 08, 2023 in Batumi, Georgia.Newly promoted Burnley have signed goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City in a four-year deal worth up to £19m with add-ons. City have a 20% sell-on clause and a buy-back option within the deal, which is £15m up front and £4m add-ons. Trafford, 20, is yet to appear in the Premier League and has spent the previous two seasons on loan in League One with Accrington and Bolton. Burnley face champions City in their top-flight opener on 11 August. The £19m deal will make Trafford Burnley’s record signing, eclipsing the £15m paid for Chris Wood and Ben Gibson in 2017 and 2018 respectively. He becomes Burnley’s second major si...
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Al-Ettifaq agree £12m deal for Liverpool’s Henderson

 England's Jordan Henderson during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group C match between England and North Macedonia at Old Trafford on June 19, 2023 in Manchester, England.  Liverpool have agreed a deal in principle worth £12m plus add-ons to sell captain Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq. Henderson travelled to Germany with Liverpool for their training camp but was not involved in their 4-2 friendly win over Karlsruher. The England midfielder, 33, has two years left on his contract at Anfield. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was recently appointed as manager of Al-Ettifaq. The agreement for Henderson follows Liverpool receiving a £40m offer from Al-Ittihad for fellow midfielder Fabinho last Friday. Unlike Henderson, the 29-year-old Brazil internation...
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NEWS

Rice and Havertz make mark as Arsenal crush MLS All Stars

 Gabriel Martinelli #11 of Arsenal FC is congratulated by Declan Rice #41 and Jurriën Timber #12 after scoring during the MLS All-Star Game between Arsenal FC and MLS All-Stars at Audi Field on July 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. Declan Rice made his Arsenal debut and Kai Havertz scored his first goal for the Gunners as Mikel Arteta’s side hammered the Major League Soccer All Star team 5-0 in a friendly at Audi Field on Wednesday. Rice became the most expensive British player in history when Arsenal signed the England midfielder from West Ham for a reported £105 million ($137.5 million, 122.4 million euros). The England international was introduced from the bench in the 65th minute to huge cheers from the overwhelmingly Arsenal supporting crowd. German Havertz, who joined Arsenal fr...
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Mendy signs for Lorient after being cleared of rape

 Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy arrives for the continuation of his trial at Chester Crown Court on July 14, 2023 in Chester, England. In January, Mendy was cleared of rape and sexual assault charges involving six women, the jury could not reach verdicts on sex offences involving two other women.  Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has signed for Ligue 1 side Lorient five days after being cleared of rape. The left-back, 29, whose City contract expired in the summer, has signed a two-year deal with the French club. He was cleared at Chester Crown Court on Friday of raping a woman and attempting to rape another. That followed a trial in January when Mendy was cleared of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault. Mendy became the world’s most expensi...
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