Blog – Page 404 – Football Flame

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BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich yet to make a decision on Ivan Perisic

Bayern Munich's Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic.Ivan Perisic’s future at Bayern Munich is still uncertain. The Croatian winger is on loan from Inter Milan, but Bayern has an option to activate a buyout clause in his loan contract for an estimated fee of around €20 million. Both Perisic and Philippe Coutinho were purchased on loan deals at the end of last summer’s transfer window when the deal for Manchester City’s Leroy Sane temporarily collapsed due to his cruciate ligament injury. While both have buyout options in their contract’s, Perisic’s is significantly cheaper as Coutinho’s would cost Bayern around €80 million.Per Italian newspaper Gazzetto dello Sport based in Milan (via SemperInter), Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said that the club’s front office has not yet discussed in...
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NEWS

UEFA proposal leaves door open for season to resume in June

In this photo illustration the top level of the English football league Premier League logo seen displayed on a smartphone with a computer model of the COVID-19 coronavirus on the background.UEFA are considering a plan to hold the final stages of European competition in August - paving the way for the Premier League to complete their current season.The top flight has been suspended since March 13 due to the coronavirus outbreak, with clubs having committed to resume the campaign once it is safe to do so.Liverpool stand a record 25 points clear at the summit and need to win only two of their remaining nine games to lift the title for the first time since 1990.Everton, meanwhile, are in 12th place but stand only six points adrift of European qualification.Players would then be given a few we...
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NEWS

Ex-Chelsea star Drogba offers hospital in coronavirus fight

Ivorian retired professional football player Didier Drogba.Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba has offered his hospital in his native Ivory Coast as a treatment centre for COVID-19 patients, Anadolu Agency reported according to local media.The hospital, located in the city of Abidjan, is named after Ivory Coast footballer Laurent Pokou, who died in 2016. The head of Abidjan's regional council, Vincent Toh Bi Irie, thanked Drogba for the patriotic move and said the hospital will be very useful in the fight against the virus once it is functional.The government recently announced that 13 hospitals in Abidjan and 45 in the country will be used as COVID-19 centres.Since March 11, when the first coronavirus case was reported in the country, 574 people have been diagnosed with the illness, 85...
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NEWS

Former Chelsea Goalkeeper Peter Bonetti Passes Away Aged 78

Former Chelsea player Peter Bonetti.Former Chelsea and England goalkeeper Peter Bonetti has died at the age of 78 after a long battle with illness, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.Nicknamed “The Cat” for his quick reflexes in goal, Bonetti made 729 appearances for the London club in two stints between 1960 and 1979 — second on the club’s all-time appearances list behind former defender Ron Harris."Chelsea Football Club is hugely saddened to announce the passing today of one of our indisputably all-time great players, Peter Bonetti," the club said in a statement here“Our former goalkeeper had been suffering from long-term illness. All at Chelsea wish to send our heartfelt and deepest condolences to Peter’s family and friends.”Bonetti kept over 200 clean sheets for the club over ...
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TRANSFERS

Inter Milan set to make a Move for Napoli star Dries Mertens

Dries Mertens of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Torino at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 29 February 2020.Inter are prepared to make a move to sign Belgian striker Dries Mertens, according to a report from today’s paper edition of the Rome based newspaper Corriere dello Sport.The report details how the 32-year-old Belgian forward’s contract is set to expire with Napoli at the end of the season.Mertens met with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis at the start of March and signs suggested that a new deal was likely on the way, but since the Coronavirus pandemic has put a stop to football, discussions have been stopped.Mertens is now considering every possible option open to him, the report continues. Inter are ahead of Monaco in his mind because his choice w...
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LALIGA

Liverpool made approach for Martin Odegaard last summer, claims former manager

Martin Odegaard of Real Sociedad during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou Stadium on March 7, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain.Liverpool made an approach for Real Madrid youngster Martin Odegaard last summer, according to his former manager.Odegaard is currently on loan at Real Sociedad. However, the midfielder spent the 2018-19 season on loan at Vitesse.Odegaard’s manager at Vitesse, Leonid Slutsky, has revealed that Liverpool were looking to sign the Norwegian in July 2019.“His time at Vitesse has been very important,” Slutsky told Spanish outlet EFE.“He became one of the best players in the Eredivisie and had many offers in his pocket. Not only from Real Sociedad, but also from Liverpool and Ajax.”Odegaard has scored seven goals and registered eight assists in...
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NEWS

Beating virus would be ‘real’ victory, says PSG’s Sarabia

Pablo SARABIA of PSG celebrates after putting his side 4-1 ahead during the French Cup semi-final between Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint Germain on March 4, 2020 in Lyon, France.Paris Saint-Germain winger Pablo Sarabia says that beating the coronavirus would be the “real victory of the season”, with most professional football shut down due to the pandemic.France’s Ligue 1 was suspended on March 13, with PSG sitting 12 points clear of Marseille at the top of the table, while having also reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2016.But Spanish international Sarabia says public health has to come first ahead of getting back onto the pitch.“No, I’m not afraid about that (the season not restarting), it’s not the thing I am worrying about,” he told AFP.“I am thin...
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LALIGA

Real Sociedad cut player salaries by 20 percent

Imanol Alguacil, head coach of Real Sociedad in the dugout before the Barcelona V Real Sociedad, La Liga regular season match at Estadio Camp Nou on March 7th 2020 in Barcelona, Spain.Real Sociedad said on Saturday that they were cutting players' wages by up to 20 per cent in an attempt to stabilise the club's budget during the coronavirus crisis. "An agreement has been reached with the first team for the reduction of their wages by 20 per cent in case the league does not resume this season, and by 5 per cent in case the season can start again," said a club statement. "This decision, taken with all of the parties concerned, helps us avoid traumatic measures for the rest of our employees and helps to balance the club's economic objectives in the face of a drop in income suffered a...
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NEWS

Swiss prosecutors set to drop cases against ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter gestures as he speaks during an interview with AFP on May 28, 2019 in Zurich.Switzerland's federal prosecutor is about to end its investigation into former FIFA President Sepp Blatter's deals with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to sell World Cup broadcasting rights.The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said it has informed all the parties of its intention to close the case and was seeking ways to end it."We confirm the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland ...considers the criminal investigation into the partial facts and allegations concerning the contractual relationship with the CFU to be complete and ready for conclusion," it said in a statement.The OAG "intends to discontinue the proceedings", it added, giving no reason for the decisio...
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TRANSFERS

PSG keen on signing Juve Midfielder Miralem Pjanic

Juventus player Miralem Pjanic during a training session at JTC on March 10, 2020 in Turin, Italy.Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic this summer.The Bosnian international has suffered from a noticeable dip in form, despite coach Maurizio Sarri making him a key part of his Juve team.Sarri had inititally suggested that he wanted Pjanic to have at least 150 touches of the ball every game, but the 30-year-old has looked poor in recent months.La Gazzetta Dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira reports that PSG have a sustained interest in Pjanic and his agent Fali Ramadani has already spoken with PSG director Leonardo.The Bianconeri are planning a revolution in midfield this summer and have been linked with Gaetano Castrovilli, Sandro...
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LALIGA

Barcelona deny corruption after 6 board members resign

(L to R - Top to Bottom) FC Barcelona's Members of board of Directors Emili Rousaud, Maria Teixido, Javier Bordas, Jordi Moix, Jordi Mones, Silvio Elias, Pau Vilanova, Enrique Tombas, Oriol Tomas, Manel Arroyo, Carles Vilarrubi, FC Barcelona incumbent president Josep Maria Bartomeu, Jordi Cardoner, Jordi Mestre and Susana Monge.Vice presidents Emili Rousaud and Enrique Tombas, and directors Silvio Elias, Maria Teixidor, Josep Pont and Jordi Calsamiglia all signed a joint letter of resignation on Friday night.Rousaud then gave an interview on Catalan radio station RAC1 on Friday in which he suggested someone at the club had had their "hand in the til".The resignations are the latest episode in a scandal that emerged in January when it was revealed a company called I3 Ventures, hired to moni...
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TRANSFERS

Report: Barcelona eye Liverpool target Diego Carlos

Diego Carlos of Sevilla FC controls the ball during the Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Sevilla FC at Wanda Metropolitano on March 7, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.Barcelona have reportedly turned their attentions to Sevilla defender Diego Carlos as they continue to search for a new centre-back.According to Sport, Barca have been planning a move for Carlos for a little while now after he enjoyed a strong La Liga campaign in 2019-20 before the competition was suspended.The 27-year-old has a buyout clause of €75 million which is too high for Barca, given the attacking signings they are planning, but they are confident they can negotiate.One factor that might help swing a deal is Ivan Rakitic. The midfielder is surplus to requirements at Camp Nou but would be happy to return to Sevilla...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

West Ham players agree to defer wages as Moyes and Brady accept 30 per cent pay cuts

West Ham United manager David Moyes (left) hugs Mark Noble at the end of the Premier League match at London Stadium.Players at English Premier League side West Ham on Friday agreed to defer part of their wages during the coronavirus suspension while manager David Moyes will take a 30 per cent pay cut. The move comes just a day after top-flight rivals Southampton struck a similar deal with their players as clubs wrestle with the financial fallout of the virus which has shut down the sport for a month. "The savings created by the measures will support the entire infrastructure of the club and enable us to retain jobs and continue to pay 100 per cent of staff salaries," said a West Ham statement.Joint-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold as well as fellow shareholders also agreed ...
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LALIGA

Lionel Messi denies Inter transfer and Ronaldinho bail rumours

Brazilian retired football player Ronaldinho arrives at a hotel in Asuncion where he and his brother will serve house arrest after a judge ordered their release from jail on April 7, 2020. - A judge in Paraguay ordered the release of Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto Assis into house arrest after the siblings spent almost exactly a month in jail awaiting trial on charges of using false passports to enter Paraguay. Lawyers for the men posted bail of $1.6 million.FC Barcelona superstar footballer Lionel Messi has denied reports of him moving to Italian giants Inter Milan. The Argentine had recently been linked with a move to Inter Milan as well as his childhood club Newell’s Old Boys, while Manchester City was touted as a possible destination for the Argentine earlier in the season aft...
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TRANSFERS

Real Madrid join race to sign Arsenal target Dayot Upamecano

Dayot Upamecano of Red Bull Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Red Bull Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur FC at the Red Bull Arena on March 10, 2020 in Leipzig, Germany.Zinedine Zidane has told Real Madrid chiefs to target RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano according to AS.Arsenal target Upamecano has recently been warned by an RB Leipzig chief to take his time with his next transfer decision.Leipzig’s sporting director, Markus Krosche, has told the Frenchman that he needs to think carefully before taking another leap forward in his career. Krosche told Kicker when quizzed on Upamecano and what his next move should be: “This is a far-reaching decision for a player. He should take his time with that.“He has to be clear about exactly what he is go...
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BUNDESLIGA

Bruno Labbadia named new Hertha Berlin coach

Bruno Labbadia New Hertha Berlin Head Coach.Hertha Berlin have named former Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg and Wolfsburg coach Bruno Labbadia as the club's new head coach.The 54-year-old German tactician is the fourth head coach to take charge at the Olympiastadion this season - Ante Covic began the campaign, before Jurgen Klinsmann and Alexander Nouri took over leading up to the Bundesliga's suspension due to the coronavirus.With the capital club sitting in 13th place - six points ahead of the relegation play-off spot with 28 points from 25 games played - the Old Lady felt the need for further change, having originally planned to keep Nouri in charge until the end of the 2019/20 season."With Bruno, we're getting someone who has known the Bundesliga in detail for many years as a player and coac...
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SERIE A

Jose Fonte : Cristiano Ronaldo has always left door open to return to Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus in action during the Serie A match between Juventus and FC Internazionale played behind closed doors at Allianz Stadium after the Italian Government has issued a list of new guidelines to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 on March 8, 2020 in Turin, Italy.Cristiano Ronaldo has left the door open for a surprise return to Real Madrid, according to his Portugal teammate Jose Fonte. Ronaldo joined Madrid from Manchester United in 2009 and spent nine record-breaking years at the Santiago Bernabeu before he left for Juventus in 2018. During his time at Madrid, the 35-year-old scored 450 goals in 438 games and helped the club win the Champions League four times and La Liga twice. Reports in Italy have claimed that Juventus could be forced to o...
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NEWS

Rio Ferdinand reveals he was close to Barcelona move in 2008

Rio Ferdinand pitchside for BT Sport television during the FA Cup Third Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on January 04, 2020 in Wolverhampton, England.Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he was close to signing for Barcelona in 2008.The 41-year-old enjoyed a magnificent stint at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning six Premier League titles and one Champions League with the Red Devils between 2002 and 2014.The defender's solitary European crown in the 2007-08 season saw United defeat Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and Ferdinand has lifted the lid on discussions with then-manager Frank Rijkaard.Speaking to BT Sport, Ferdinand said: "It came close, there were discussions with my agent. ...
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LALIGA

Covid-19 : Real Madrid players accept up to 20 percent pay cut

(L-R) Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid, Marcelo of Real Madrid, Karim Benzema of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Betis Sevilla v Real Madrid at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on March 8, 2020 in Sevilla Spain.Real Madrid players have agreed to cut their salaries by as much as a fifth, the La Liga club announced on Wednesday, as Spanish football remains on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.In a statement, Real said players and coaches from the side's football and basketball teams, as well as key directors, had voluntarily agreed to the reduction, of either 10 or 20 per cent, "depending on the circumstances that may affect the closing of the current 2019/20 sports season".Real didn't say what circumstances would affect the rate of salary cut, but Spanish media report...
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BUNDESLIGA

Dortmund captain Marco Reus urge Jadon Sancho to Reject Man United move

Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland (R) celebrate scoring the 4-1 goal with his teammates Dortmund's German forward Marco Reus (L) and Dortmund's English midfielder Jadon Sancho (C) during the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia Dortmund v FC Cologne in Dortmund, on January 24, 2020.Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus believes Jadon Sancho should reject the chance to move to Manchester United and stay with the Bundesliga outfit. The England international has been heavily linked with a return to his homeland with his good form attracting interest from a host of Premier League sides, with United believed to be leading the race for the 20-year-old. However, Sancho should stay in Germany for at least one of more season, or at least that's the opini...
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