Atletico Madrid President opens up on Antoine Griezmann departure, aims dig at striker

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo says he is “disappointed” that Antoine Griezmann is leaving the club now and “doesn’t care” where the France international moves to.

Griezmann told Atletico on Tuesday evening that another club would trigger his €120m release clause on July 1, having just 12 months ago made a big show of turning down Barcelona and accepting a €20m a year salary to remain at the Wanda Metropolitano.

“I’ve not spoken with Griezmann and I didn’t expect this,” Cerezo said on El Larguero.

“Just like last year I thought he would stay. I don’t know why he’s decided to leave now. I don’t know where he’s going, and I don’t care at all, once he is leaving, whether it’s to Barca or outside Spain. If you make a big effort to keep a player, and suddenly he says he is leaving, of course it’s a disappointment.”

Atletico are set for a big squad shake-up this summer with the exits of defenders Lucas Hernandez and Diego Godin also already confirmed, full-backs Filipe Luis and Juanfran Torres out of contract and midfielder Rodrigo potentially joining Manchester City, reports ESPN FC.

“I would be more worried, of course, if [coach Diego] Simeone was leaving,” Cerezo added.

“He is the chief of the team, and we have a good relationship with him. Now it is about bringing in the signings we need, and to move on.”

Manchester United chief reveals club’s plan for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as club commence major shake-up

Ed Woodward says Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will get support in the transfer market this summer after a turbulent season.

Solskjaer is embarking on a major rebuild at Old Trafford after United finished sixth in the Premier League table and executive vice-chairman Woodward has suggested the club is well-positioned to provide the necessary financial backing.

“After a turbulent season, everyone at Manchester United is focused on building towards the success that this great club expects and our fans deserve,” said Woodward, as United announced their third quarter financial results on Thursday.

“Preparations for the new season are underway and the underlying strength of our business will allow us to support the manager and his team as we look to the future.”

Serie A club chief set to meet Maurizio Sarri in London, prepares 3-year contract for Chelsea boss

Reports in Italy claim that AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis is on his way to London to meet Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.

Accoridng to Sport Mediaset, Gazidis will touch down ‘in the next few hours’ to hold ‘face-to-face’ talks with Sarri.

The broadcaster agrees with Gazzetta dello Sport that the Coach will be sacked, even if Chelsea win the Europa League.

Football Italia adds that the Rossoneri will offer a three-year contract to the ex-Napoli tactician, worth €3m a season after tax.

Milan would be acting now to steal a march on Roma, although the capital club look to be targeting Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini.

Barcelona President confirms club’s final decision over Ernesto Valverde’s future at Nou Camp

Barcelona will not dismiss Ernesto Valverde regardless of the club’s result in the Copa del Rey final, the club president has confirmed.

Josep Maria Bartomeu insists that the club are ‘very happy’ with the boss who has won back-to-back league titles and could win successive doubles with a final victory in the Copa against Valencia.

“Ernesto already said the other day, has the support of the president and the board, because it is the Coach we want, has a contract in force and we are very happy with him,” Bartomeu told reporters, as cited by El Mundo Deportivo.

“The planning of the next season has been under way for some time, there are already signed players and we will continue talking when the Copa final is over.

“Now it is about the players recovering from the mental shock that we suffered, but the result of the Copa final will not be decisive for anyone.

“We come from a painful defeat and we must recover our spirit, our enthusiasm and our desire to compete, but we are recovering from the European elimination.”

Atletico Madrid identify red-hot Arsenal star as Antoine Griezmann’s replacement, plot summer transfer

Reports in France and Spain claim Atletico Madrid have idenfified Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette as Antoine Griezmann’s replacement.

Griezmann announced his departure from Los Rojiblancos during the week, throwing the Madrid club’s hierachy into confusion with regards to finding a replacement.

Two summers ago, there was total agreement between the France international, Atletico and Olympique Lyonnais for the transfer but the deal never went through.

That was the summer where Los Rojiblancos saw their FIFA-imposed transfer ban upheld and the deal subsequently collapsed, with the striker instead joining Arsenal.

The 27-year-old scored 13 times in the Premier League this season and the club will hope his friendship and on-field partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be enough to persuade him to stay at the Emirates Stadium.

But he has slightly fallen from prominence since January 2018 with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang taking the lead of the main striker under Unai Emery.

Now, French newspaper Le10 Sport reckon that Atletico Madrid are already planning for Griezmann’s departure and have targeted Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette.

The French striker has also been linked with a summer move to Barcelona but any talk over his future will be delayed until after his participation in this month’s Europa League final.

El Mundo Deportivo have also confirmed that Atletico Madrid have returned with interest in Arsenal striker Lacazette.

Chelsea fans angry with Sarri over Loftus-Cheek injury in charity friendly match, want him sacked

Chelsea fans have expressed their anger against Maurizio Sarri after Ruben Loftus-Cheek suffered a potentially season-ending injury against New England Revolution during a charity friendly match.

The Blues midfielder was part of a strong squad which left London for America just hours after the end of the Premier League season on Sunday.

Maurizio Sarri started a strong line-up against New England, with Eden Hazard, David Luiz and Kepa Arrizabalaga all starting.

Chelsea are currently preparing for the Europa League final against Arsenal on May 29 and Sarri was unhappy about having to travel to the United States given the long and tiring campaign his players have had.

The Daily Express reports that due to prior commitments, they were made to travel, and in doing so they raised an incredible $4million (£3.1m) for anti-antisemitism charities.

The Blues took a commanding 2-0 lead into the break, but the afternoon took on a sourer note for the visitors in the second half as Loftus-Cheek limped off with an injury.

The midfielder went down with 20 minutes remaining in the game, and was visibly uncomfortable as he was helped off.

He appeared to hurt his heel, with fans taking to Twitter and immediately fearing the worst for their star.

“Loftus Cheek tore his Achilles. He’ll be back in like 7-8 months. F**k you Chelsea board and your stupid friendly games,” one fan raged.

“Loftus-Cheek tore his Achilles, probably. Thanks to you idiots at Chelsea board,” another wrote.

“So… Loftus-Cheek definitely just tore his Achilles as well,” one fan fumed.

Another posted: “And you knew it would happen! Loftus-Cheek one of six half time subs looks like a serious Achilles/ankle injury. Just brilliant planning for this game Chelsea.”

Some fans chose to blame Sarri for the injury, despite the Italian boss venting his frustrations over having to play the game at all.

“Wait Sarri played first teamers in a meaningless friendly, and now Loftus Cheek is injured,” one fan tweeted.

“And what should happen, just happened, Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks injured. F**k off Chelsea and Sarri for your stupid friendly games,” another posted.

One fan raged: “And we just lost RLC for the Europa League final f**k you Sarri.”

“He doesn’t give a flying f**k about this club, and you’re deciding yourself if you think it will all magically change next season. A FRIENDLY. Not one youth player gets a full debut. #SarriOut,” another posted.

Photo Credit: ESPN

Roman Abramovich in attendance as Chelsea win friendly in United States

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich ended his Chelsea exile as he watched the Blues defeat New England Revolution in the US last night.

The Russian owner was in the stands at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts for the friendly arranged to raise awareness in the fight against anti-Semitism, reports The Sun.

The Chelsea chief was seen chatting to New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft as the London club sailed to a 3-0 victory.

Both have pledged to donate £780,000 to tackle a rise in anti-Semitic behaviour.

Abramovich, 52, has not been at Stamford Bridge at all this season having been denied a new UK visa by the government last May.

That absence has also coincided with the club pulling plans to build a new £1billion stadium, leading some to question whether the Russian billionaire had lost his hunger.

Chelsea insist the Russian billionaire has no intention of selling the club despite interest from Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Abramovich fuelled speculation that he is on his way out after it was revealed that he no longer has a corporate box at Stamford Bridge.

The 52-year-old previously forked out up to £3m-per-season on corporate hospitality boxes, but had other ideas this season.

Blues players visited a Holocaust Memorial on Wednesday ahead of their game against the MLS side in the evening.

Ross Barkley scored twice as Chelsea eased past New England Revolution – but the match was marred by an injury to Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Barkley got the Blues off to a perfect start inside three minutes before Olivier Giroud’s header on the half-hour mark doubled their advantage.

Photo Credit: chelseafc.com

Another Barcelona star tells club he wants to leave Nou Camp in summer

Barcelona defender Nelson Semedo is reportedly considering a summer exit from the club amid interest from England and Italy.

The Blaugrana’s goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen is scheduled to leave after complaining about limited opportunities and on the verge of joing Benfica.

Despite helping Barcelona to two Copa del Rey titles, the 30-year-old has played second fiddle to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the club’s no.1 in LaLiga and the Champions League.

Same goes for Semedo, who has started less than half (36) La Liga matches since his arrival at the Camp Nou in the summer of 2017.

The Portugal international joined in a €35m deal from Benfica and whilst he is the only natural right-back in Ernesto Valverde’s first-team squad, the versatile Sergi Roberto has often been preferred to him.

The report outlines how his 42% of minutes across first-team football this season is not enough for the Portuguese and he has informed the club that he may consider a move away.

Meanwhile, Football Espana claims that the Catalan giants may be willing to recuperate the value which they spent upon the right-back two summers ago should a suitable offer come in.

Jose Mourinho aims dig at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer amid uncertain future at Old Trafford

Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has declared that his successor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces being turned into a “puppet” at the Old Trafford club.

The Portuguese was booted out of the club in December after series of dismal results that kept the Red Devils out of the top four on the Premier League table.

Now, in an apparent swipe at his successor, Mourinho told L’Equipe: “Generally, the players can feel a certain erosion, especially when you ask a lot of them.

“When I say that the second season was fantastic, I say it because the potential and the objectives were met.

“I really squeezed, like an orange, to achieve them. When you have a very professional group of players who are ambitious, hard-working and talented, at a structured club, you don’t have that erosion.

“When you are almost alone, in that you don’t have the support of the club close to you, while certain players go somewhat against the coach, who is the nice guy.

“I don’t want to be the nice guy, because the nice guy, after three months, is a puppet and that doesn’t end well.”

Mourinho issues with £89million record signing Paul Pogba have been well documented, but he insists problems at the club go far deeper than the France star.

“The problems are there, you can say that these are the players, the organisation, the ambition,” he added.

“I only say that I cannot say ‘yes’ when you ask if Paul was the only one responsible.”