Category: Sport

Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia insists he was tried to “isolate” himself from Arsenal speculation after his move to the Emirates Stadium collapsed in the summer.

The Gunners reportedly reached a ‘verbal agreement’ at the end of August over a deal to bring the former Spain Under-21 international to north London.

However, talks between Arsenal and Espanyol ‘hit an impasse’ and the transfer collapsed with the Gunners signing Neto on loan from Bournemouth instead.

Arsenal were prepared to spend £25m on Garcia as they looked for a goalkeeper to provide back up to number one David Raya, who plays for the Spain national team.

And reacting to the collapsed transfer months later, Garcia insists he shut himself away from the incessant speculation about a potential move to Arsenal.

Garcia told Spanish publication Marca: “I tried to isolate myself from everything that was being said.

“I had been given the opportunity to do something I had been fighting for for a long time, which was to be Espanyol’s starting goalkeeper.

“I couldn’t waste this opportunity.”

With Neto only joining Arsenal on loan there is still a possibility that the Gunners could explore their interest once again next summer.

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And Espanyol sporting director Fran Garagarza refused to rule out a transfer away from the La Liga club at the end of the season for Garcia.

Garcia said: “It is something that I think should not be talked about so much. I try not to let it affect me and try to be isolated, although it is complicated.

“I think I am handling it quite well, I cannot control it. It is not affecting me. Whatever will be, will be.”

Espanyol have won one match in their last seven La Liga matches and Garcia’s side find themselves languishing down the table in 18th position.

But Garcia is confident Espanyol will turn it around, he continued: “The important thing is the team’s performance.

“Personally, I think I’m doing well, but I’m demanding and I think I can do much better. We are very clear that we will get through this.

Garcia added: “We are in the best condition, we have made good use of the break and we are looking forward to playing again.

“Nobody likes to look at the table and see themselves so far down.

“Now is a key moment of the season and we must make a statement and distance ourselves from the bottom.”

Pep Guardiola has been told he has a massive task on his hands to rebuild Manchester City after agreeing a contract extension, with seven stars in “natural decline” at the Etihad.

Guardiola has won six Premier League titles in his time at the club, including the last four, and also led City to their first Champions league title.

The Spaniard was set to leave the club at the end of the season before signing a one-year extension earlier this week, with the option of a further year which would keep him at the club until the end of the 2026/2027 season.

It means he will be heading what looks to be a significant rebuild at the club, with a number of their older players like Kevin De Bruyne and Ederson heavily linked with moves away.

Alan Shearer picked the seven members of Guardiola’s squad who are “in a state of natural decline” and believes “it’s a big ask” for the current group to win the Premier League title again.

Speaking to Betfair, the ex-Newcastle striker said: “Looking through their current squad, you’ve got Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker, Ederson & even John Stones who are all 30+ years old, so you could argue the bulk of their squad is in a state of natural decline.

“However, you could also argue whether a little bit of their hunger may have also decreased, because a lot of those players have been incredibly successful and I don’t care who or what you are, it’s difficult to keep going again, again and again.

“They’ve done it so many times now so it’s a big ask for them to come back and go again, and only time will tell. They also have the off-field charges that have been put to them as a football club to deal with, and the questions that are going to be asked there too.

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“Plenty of people will say that the current charges hanging over City shouldn’t affect the players that are on the pitch, ‘they just have to go out and play’, and I understand that, but ultimately what happens at the top of the football club always filters its way down to the pitch at some stage.

“It shouldn’t do but often it does. Having said all that, if you ask me if they’ll be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, my answer to that would be yes.”

Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year extension at Manchester City and admits the four-game losing streak may be why he’s decided to stay.

Reports earlier this week suggested Guardiola had agreed to stay for a further year with the option of another with his deal set to expire at the end of the season.

But as it turns out he’s opted for a straight two-year extension that takes him up to the summer of 2027.

Guardiola, who has won 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League while at the Etihad, explained that City’s recent losing run was a factor in his decision to extend his stay at the club.

“I felt I could not leave now, simple as that,” he told the club’s website.

“Don’t ask me the reason why. Maybe the four defeats were the reason why and I felt I cannot leave. I felt the club still want me or had the fact that we were together and that’s the reason why we sign.

“Manchester City means so much to me. This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.

“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.

“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and of course the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.

“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much. Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”

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Guardiola rejects the idea that the club’s success is down to him.

“People believe that I am the reason,” said Pep.

“ I am part of the reason, but I’m not the only reason. All the managers of every Club know that. They need incredible support for the other people to have success.

“That’s why it’s a team, that’s why it’s a Club. It’s not individuals and I’m very proud to be part of that. Very proud.

“I never felt I am the only reason why we had success. I like to be part of the success and share it with many, many people.

“As long as we have good players there will be success. I think the club is targeting this.

“You have to remove players, bring in new ones and have a good mentality and continue the standards the Club will be in the position you have to be, not just with me in the last 10 years.

“I think everyone knows the reason for success is Sheikh Mansour. When he took over and the direction of Ferran Soriano and all the people.

“All the players that have been here, all the players and the backroom staff, contributed to put this Club where it is.

“I know I am the spokesman of the Club before and after the game.”

“I’ve said many times that to be here nine years is because, first of all you win, but you win sometimes you win, why?

“Because of the players and we are on the same path we are aligned since Khaldoon talked to me and Ferran and Txiki, all my backroom staff and I have friends around me, and I know that in the bad moments, we are together.

“Now we can celebrate this nine incredible years but in this time we’ve had some tough, tough periods and football is not always success all the time.

“We have won one title already this season, but we are maybe not going to win the other one or the other one is not going to happen – but this is not the problem.

“What’s next? What are the decisions you have to take to still be in there and still a good team. That is our challenge.”

Joshua Zirkzee only joined Manchester United in the summer but is ‘unhappy’ and wants to return to Serie A, according to reports.

Zirkzee joined the club from Bologna in a £36.5m deal and scored on his debut for United against Fulham, but has been heavily criticised since having failed to find the net again after that first game.

Recent reports have suggested the Netherlands international wants out and that’s been backed up by Turin-based newspaper La Stampa, who claim the 23-year-old ‘is unhappy and is therefore seriously thinking about saying goodbye in the winter window’.

‘He has given the order to his agents to find him another accommodation and try to probe the ground with Juventus’ where Thiago Motta, his coach at Bologna, is now in charge, as Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford is set to provide Zirkzee with ‘even less space’ to make his mark.

The Old Lady’s first-choice striker Dusan Vlahovic has managed six goals in 12 games so far this season but Motta is keen on adding more forward options to his squad and it’s believes Zirkzee ‘would fit perfectly’ at Juventus, who would want to take the striker on loan as they won’t be able to get anywhere close to the fee United paid for him.

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It won’t be a like-for-like replacement, but Zirkzee’s exit could make space in the squad for Ademola Lookman, who came close to leaving Atalanta in the summer.

Paris Saint-Germain were in talks over a move for the former Everton winger, who starred for the Serie A star on their way to Europa League glory last season and continues to impress, with his eight goals and five assists in all competitions this term also bringing Real Madrid to the table.

CaughtOffside claim ‘a January move is considered unlikely’ but United ‘could be on alert depending how things develop’ ahead of the summer, when Lookman is set for pastures new.

It’s claimed United are ‘closely monitoring’ the Nigeria international’s situation as Atalanta hold talks over a new contract, though the Red Devils are yet to hold any concrete talks of their own, either with the player or the club, over a potential transfer.

It’s claimed Atalanta would want between €60m and €70m for Lookman and United ‘view that as a fair price’, although ‘other targets in that area of the pitch will also be considered in the months ahead’.

Man City have taken the lead in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, according to reports.

The Citizens had made a good start to the new Premier League season with Guardiola’s side winning seven of their first nine matches of the new season.

However, Man City have now lost four matches in a row in all competitions, including two Premier League defeats, which has seen them drop down to second in the table and Guardiola’s men are now five points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

Guardiola has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup during his time at Man City.

Widespread reports earlier this week claimed that Guardiola has now signed a new one-year contract extension at Man City with the deal to be made official over the next few days.

The Athletic‘s Sam Lee first revealed the news on Tuesday night, he wrote:

‘Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has agreed a new one-year contract extension with the option of an additional year.

‘The 53-year-old’s existing City deal was due to expire at the end of this season and, if the new contract is fulfilled, it would take Guardiola to over a decade in charge of the club.

‘It had been suggested that Guardiola may leave City at the end of the campaign alongside director of football Txiki Begiristain, whose departure — and the arrival of Hugo Viana from Sporting CP as his replacement — was confirmed in October.’

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And that has given clarity over Guardiola’s future in some much-needed positive news amid the hearing over the club’s alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial fair play rules and speculation that some players could leave.

Reports in Spain now claim that Man City ‘go crazy’ following the news that Guardiola will stay and are ‘preparing an astronomical offer that could reach 120 million euros (£100m)’ – which would equal the amount they paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish – for Wirtz.

Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are also interested in the Germany international but Man City ‘seem to have taken the lead’ for the Bayer Leverkusen star.

It is understood that the Premier League champions are ‘willing to offer a contract that not only meets Wirtz’s financial expectations, but also guarantees him a leading role in the team’.

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Pep Guardiola wants Man City to tie down Erling Haaland to a new contract after sorting his own future, according to reports.

The Citizens made a good start to the new Premier League season under Guardiola with seven wins from their opening nine matches.

However, Man City have now lost their last two Premier League matches in the Premier League, and their last four in all competitions, with Guardiola’s side struggling without Spain international Rodri in the middle of the park.

But Man City fans received a boost this week with widespread reports claiming that Guardiola has ‘agreed a new one-year contract extension with the option of an additional year’.

There have been a number of off-field distractions over the last few months, including the case into their 115 charges over alleged breaches of financial fair play rules, and the news that Guardiola is set to sign a new deal will be a huge relief.

Another issue has been the future of some players at Man City with star striker Haaland being linked with moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona.

But reports in Spain now indicate that Haaland’s future is likely to be intertwined with Guardiola’s after the Catalan boss resolves his short-term plans.

Guardiola ‘has made his priorities clear: to retain the Norwegian striker at all costs, even if this means breaking the team’s financial schemes to protect him with a star contract’.

Barcelona ‘see him as the perfect heir to lead their attack in the long term’, while Real Madrid and PSG are also interested but ‘Haaland’s continuity has become the main objective for Guardiola’.

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Guardiola ‘has taken matters into his own hands and has demanded that the club act quickly to ensure that Haaland does not give in to the temptations of the market’ and now Man City ‘have already put a historic offer on the table: a renewal that would make the Norwegian one of the highest-paid players in the world’.

It is claimed that the new Haaland contract will contain ‘special clauses that would reinforce his commitment to Guardiola ‘s project’.

With Man City now five points adrift of leader Liverpool in the Premier League, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith reckons it is not going to be the Citizens’ year.

Smith told AceOdds: “Yeah, it’s difficult. Liverpool, you could say, have they had a big test yet? but they’ve played Chelsea, Villa, and Arsenal, and haven’t lost to any of them. They’ve got City coming up, I know that, and I think they’ve got Newcastle away and somebody else away.

“They’ve got Man City on the 1st of December at home and that’ll tell us more about where they are. There’s still a question mark over Arne Slot’s Liverpool, but he’s answered all the questions so far. I don’t know.

“For City to win it five times on the track would be unbelievable without Rodri. You have to feel that this year’s going to be the one where they’re not going to lift it. Given that, Liverpool are nine points ahead of Arsenal, you’re thinking, well, I don’t think a team’s overturned that deficit. At the moment, you’d say Liverpool.”

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Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore reckons Arsenal winger Raheem Sterling has “stunk the place out” so far this season.

The north London club have had a shaky start to the new Premier League season with Arsenal winning just five of their first 11 matches.

Mikel Arteta’s fourth-placed side are now nine points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool with the Reds making a fast start to the new season, while defending champions Man City are four points ahead in second.

Arsenal have not won in their last four Premier League matches as they struggle to stay in the title race and their summer signings are yet to make the desired impact.

Sterling, in particular, has struggled to get into Arteta’s side with the former Manchester City winger – who signed on loan from Chelsea in the summer – only starting two Premier League matches all season.

And now former Premier League striker Collymore has named Sterling as “one of the flops of the season” after he’s “stunk the place out” at Arsenal.

Collymore told the Metro: “Raheem Sterling has been a massive disappointment. He came in and said he was going to give the club his best work, but that hasn’t happened.

“He’s arguably stunk the place out so far and he’s definitely one of the flops of the season having promised to do his best work at Arsenal.

“He’s an experienced player who has won everything there is to win, he was expected to push the dressing room up another level and he hasn’t done that.”

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Riccardo Calafiori was another summer signing and the Italy international has had a mixed start to his time at the Emirates Stadium and has struggled with injuries.

Collymore added: “Arsenal spent £42 million on Riccardo Calafiori which has been a mildly disappointing move so far. He’s had a couple of injuries, but he was meant to come in and be the man.”

Emile Smith Rowe was sold to Fulham in the summer transfer window as Arsenal looked to make room on their profit and sustainability spreadsheet but the academy product could have been useful in hindsight this season.

Collymore continued: “Emile Smith Rowe’s move to Fulham also shows that Arsenal haven’t exactly been amazing in who they’ve let go, because he’s done very well for Fulham.

“Especially with the injury to Martin Ødegaard as well, Smith Rowe could’ve slotted into that position.”

According to reports, Liverpool have learned how much it would cost to sign Nottingham Forest standout Murillo in January or next summer.

Forest paid around £10m to sign Murillo from Brazilian outfit Corinthians during the 2023 summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old has proven to be a great find and it’s only a matter of time before he earns himself a big move elsewhere.

Liverpool are understood to be in the market to sign a new centre-back as they need to land a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk.

The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season. He may sign a new deal, but he still has a limited shelf life and Liverpool would be wise to sign a centre-back even if he pens an extension.

Earlier this year, presenter Gary Lineker suggested Liverpool are interested in Murillo after Alan Shearer revealed his “worry” with Arne Slot’s side.

“The one tiny worry would be if one of those two [Liverpool] centre-halves were to get injured,” Shearer said.

“I understand they’re after Murillo from Forest,” Lineker claimed. “They’ve been linked with him anyway.”

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Shearer added: “Right, interesting. Well those two at Forest have done really well as well this season, it’s one of the reasons why Forest are flying high in the Premier League.”

A new report from Football Insider claims Liverpool have been ‘told the bid Forest would accept for Murillo’.

Nottm Forest are said to want ‘more than £70m for in-demand defender Murillo’ as ‘Liverpool and Barcelona swoop’.

‘Forest will not consider January offers for the 22-year-old amid interest from Real Madrid.

‘Real have a pressing need for defensive reinforcements following serious injuries to David Alaba and Eder Militao, while Barcelona and Liverpool are also keen on the Brazillian.’

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‘Los Blancos cannot currently afford Forest’s asking price but could free up funds to do a deal in the next summer window.

‘Sources say Forest feel losing Murillo in the near future is “inevitable” as he goes from strength to strength in the Premier League.

‘The centre-back is likely to have a decision to make at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

‘It is believed he is flattered by the interest from Europe’s top clubs, with the potential to play regular Champions League football a particularly huge attraction.’

Liverpool could also look to sign a new forward as Mohamed Salah is another player in the final year of his contract.

Real Sociedad standout Takefusa Kubo has been mooted as a replacement for Salah and a report in Spain claims Liverpool are ‘preparing a brutal offer’ to sing him.

‘Takefusa Kubo, one of the most prominent figures of Real Sociedad in recent seasons, could be on the verge of a significant career leap.

‘Liverpool, always seeking players who fit their dynamic style of play, has set their sights on the young Japanese as one of their top priorities for the upcoming transfer market.

‘According to close sources, Anfield’s side would be willing to put an offer on the table that would be around 80 million euros, a figure that would make it difficult for the Basque club to reject the operation.’

Gary Neville claims Manchester Untied pair Marcus Rashford and Casemiro should have stayed a little closer to home over the international break.

Rashford was seen at an NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets in New York City last week, while Casemiro posted pictures of him with his family at Disney World in Orlando.

Neville wasn’t bothered by the optics of Rashford’s attire or that he “wants attention”, but was concerned by the Red Devils pair travelling so far ahead of Ruben Amorim’s first week in charge of the club.

“It comes with the territory when you’re this sort of player and stature,” Neville said when asked about the attention Marcus Rashford has received on the It’s Called Soccer! podcast.

“I’ve got very little sympathy for players who are the stars who are on huge money, huge commercial contracts, they want that attention, they need it as that’s what fuels them and makes them the great players what they are and that’s what gives them that adrenaline rush, they’re going to get more attention, so I’ve got no problem with that and the attention he gets.

“I’ve got no problem with him going away in the international break and I’ve got no problem with the clothes that he wears, he can wear whatever he wants, the only thing I would say, and I’m saying this very calmly as I don’t want a ‘Neville hammers Rashford’ to be honest with you, as I’m not hammering him.

“It’s been a very difficult period for the club and it’s been a very difficult period for Marcus Rashford. There was a player I used to play with that used to say, when times were tough that basically you go down to that extra level of detail in making sure everything’s perfect, you take the butter off your toast, you literally make sure you’re absolutely looking at every single 1% of detail you could.

“So I used to think standing in that tunnel, when going through a difficult time, I’d think ‘right I’ve got to work my way out of this, I’ve got to be absolutely perfect’. Every drink, every sleep, every training session, every stretch, has just got to be absolutely perfect.

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“So would I think the most relaxing way to spend your time, whether you’re Casemiro, and I’ll bring him into it, Casemiro is 30 odd years of age, Marcus Rashford is in his 20s, travelling 10 or 11 hours and I, to be fair, have done that quite a few times in the last few months, you get a bit of jet lag going to the US. So, a three, four day jet lag-based trip, when you’ve got basically the idea of training and making sure you’re fit, I don’t personally think it’s the right choice of distance and choice of destination.

“If the New York Knicks were playing three or four hours away, with a one-hour time difference I’d say go for your life. But I think personally, If I was looking at being absolutely perfect in myself, and I maybe took professionalism to an obsessive level, I wouldn’t be on a 10 hour flight to a different time zone that was potentially going to cause me more of a problem.

“Physically from a tiredness perspective, at particularly this point where a manager has just been sacked and we’re going through a tough time and all eyes are on us. I’d lie low and I’d go somewhere and rest. There are some Manchester United players who have gone away for the international break, and you don’t know where they’ve gone, but they’re the clever ones in my mind.”

Aston Villa owner Nassef Sawiris has explained why he has sided with Manchester City and will vote against the Premier League’s associated party transaction (APT) proposal.

All 20 Premier League clubs will vote on Friday on the new sponsorship rules which were drawn up on the back of an independent panel finding that sections of the existing APT rules were unlawful after a legal challenge from City.

But City have accused the Premier League of rushing its consultation and called on clubs to vote against the amendments, raising the prospect of further legal action should they be enforced.

The Daily Mail claim the vote is ‘on a knife edge’ after Villa wrote to their fellow Premier League clubs to explain their position.

They wrote: ‘It is now abundantly clear that any vote (if passed) will result in immediate further litigation by Manchester City FC and an associated defence by the EPL [English Premier League], incurring material further costs and unnecessary distraction and devotion of time to this issue.

‘It is highly likely that the tribunal will conclude within the coming three months, and that an APT rule that takes into consideration the tribunal’s verdict will be supported by all clubs and cannot be contested.’

The changes would need the support of 14 clubs to pass and the Daily Mail claim Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Wolves and Everton all have their doubts and are considering their options carefully.

The report adds:

‘The meeting is of huge significance with many factors at play. Previous votes have seen abstentions and City’s threat of potentially-costly further legal action has not gone unnoticed across the league.

‘The league’s legal costs for a variety of cases, including the ongoing hearing with City over the champions’ 115 alleged breaches of financial rules, have raised concerns among a large number of clubs.

‘A vote that fails would also increase the pressure on Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and has the potential to have huge implications, according to those close to the matter.’

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Villa chief Sawiris confirmed his position in a statement on Wednesday.

‘In our view, a vote in 90 days on amended terms taking into consideration the Tribunal’s findings will have a significantly greater chance of securing the unanimous support of all 20 Premier League clubs,’ he said.

‘Crucially, a unanimous vote will present a fresh start for an embattled Premier League that began with the failed attempt to launch a Super League in 2021.

‘With the imminent arrival of the Government’s Independent Football Regulator, it is more important than ever that the Premier League can present itself to the regulator with a united front.

‘In our view, this will be far more easily achieved if the APT vote is held in February and supported unanimously by all clubs.

‘It is noteworthy that legal bills to date on this matter have already reached astronomical amounts; further challenges and escalation of these fees could be avoided through reaching consensus.

‘Ultimately, a unanimous vote will showcase the emergence of a new era of clubs who can compete vigorously on the pitch but work together to strengthen the Premier League and its global appeal.’