Liverpool star reveals abusive word Lionel Messi uttered against him during Champions League match

James Milner has revealed that FC Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi called him a ‘donkey’ during their Champions League clash on May 1st.

Messi scored twice in Barcelona’s 3-0 first leg win at the Camp Nou, and the former Manchester City man stated the Messi was frustrated with some of the tackles he received in the first half.

“He is an incredible player, but we he was not happy at half time, Milner told UK newspaper the Daily Mail.

“He was giving me plenty (of abuse) in the tunnel at half time.

“He called me a burro (donkey), which in Spanish refers to someone who kicks someone else a lot.”

Messi famously embarrassed Milner with an audacious nutmeg, when Milner was a City player, and according to the veteran midfielder, Messi referenced that incident in their conversation, report Football Espana.

The Liverpool midfielder added that Messi was surprised about his Spanish language skills, after beginning to learn the language three years ago, but insisted that he had nothing but respect for Messi after the incident.

Kante hands Chelsea huge injury concern ahead of Europa League final against Arsenal

There are reports N’Golo Kante could miss the Europa League final after the midfielder sustained an injury setback during training on Saturday.

Kante had almost completely recovered from a hamstring injury and was expected to feature in Wednesday’s clash against Arsenal in Baku.

However, the Frenchman now looks to be facing an extended period on the sidelines after reports of aggravating the problem.

According to Goal, Kante is now considered a major doubt to play against Arsenal.

Maurizio Sarri indicated last week that he was optimistic about Kante’s chances of regaining full fitness before the final, so this news will come as a bitter blow for Chelsea.

Kante is likely to have further fitness tests this week to determine whether or not he is capable of playing some part against Arsenal, report the Daily Mail.

Chelsea are have concerns over Jorginho, who also suffered a slight problem during an open session last week.

Sarri’s squad has already been reduced to the bare bones with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Antonio Rudiger all out with serious injuries.

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Antonio Conte to raid Chelsea again as Inter Milan gun for Sarri’s key player this time

Chelsea face a battle on their hands if they want to keep Mateo Kovacic at Stamford Bridge at the end of his loan spell from Real Madrid.

The Blues could keep the Croatian international even though they have got a transfer embargo hanging over them as he is already at the club but Inter Milan are keen.

Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Kovaci on another loan deal but much will depend on who the manager is after next week’s Europa League final.

Maurizio Sarri is expected to leave following a difficult first season at the club

Maurizio Sarri agrees Juventus terms, offered £6.1million per annum

Reports in Italy and England claim Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has agreed terms to take over at Juventus after Pep Guardiola rejected the Italians’ advances.

The Serie A side are looking for a new manager following the announcement that Massimiliano Allegri will depart at the end of the season.

The Daily Mail reveal that Manchester City’s Guardiola was earmarked as their No 1 target, but the Spaniard is not interested in leaving his current job.

Sarri, who impressed during his time with Napoli, has been widely considered as the frontrunner and is now expected to be given the job after Chelsea’s Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday.

Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho were also reported options for Juventus, but according to SNAI sportnews, Sarri has already reached an agreement with the club to replace Allegri.

They claim that Sarri stands to earn £6.1million a year on a three-year contract but will not be officially announced until after the Europa League final in Baku.

The Italian boss will now need to discuss a financial package with Chelsea in efforts to force through his exit.

Sarri has come under heavy criticism from large sections of the Chelsea supporters after an underwhelming first season in England and his time at Stamford Bridge now appears to be drawing to a close.

Juventus set to hijack Paul Pogba’s Real Madrid move, offer two key players in swap deal

There are reports in England Juventus are ready to offer Manchester United Paulo Dybala and Alex Sandro in a bid to steal a march on Real Madrid in the race to land Paul Pogba.

The controversial French midfielder is set to quit Old Trafford for a second time this summer after struggling for much of last season.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is ready to match United’s £120 million valuation of the World Cup winner but he might need to offload Gareth Bale before he can move.

That could open the door for Juventus who despite struggling to find that kind of money do have one major advantage.

Manchester United have expressed an interest in signing Argentinean striker Dybala, 25, and Brazilian left wing back Sandro, 28, a long-time target of Chelsea.

And, according to Sunday Express, they are ready to offer both players in a mega swap deal for Pogba who won four successive Serie A titles with Juve before his record £94.5m return to United.

Dybala who is also attracting the interest of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool has struggled to hold down a regular place in the Juventus side this season.

And he would be a more than ideal replacement for Romelu Lukaku who tops the wanted list of former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte if he takes over at Inter Milan.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told the board that he wants all of their summer business concluded by July 1.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Manchester City battle Bayern Munich to keep Leroy Sane, set to meet midfielder’s representatives for contract talks

Reports in England claim Manchester City are poised to consolidate their hold on Leroy Sane as Bayern Munich become resolute in their desire to sign the German this summer.

According to the Sunday Mirror, the Premier League champions will meet with Sane and his advisers this week to offer him a bumper new contract worth £150,000-a-week after Bayern Munich launched a public charm offensive to take the Germany international back to the Bundesliga.

Talks over a new deal have been deadlocked for months – giving Bayern hope that they can land the 23-year-old winger.

But City are now prepared to more than double Sane’s current wages to show how much he is valued by the club.

And, the newspaper adds, that City will slap a £100million-plus asking price on the former Schalke favourite if a breakthrough over a new deal fails to materialise.

City executives are furious that Bayern president Uli Hoeness and chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have been making statements about signing Sane when the German champions are still to make any official contact about the player.

Both men have been fierce critics of City and their Abu Dhabi owners and their conduct is being viewed as another example of the lack of respect Bayern have for the Blues.

Guardiola has made it clear to Sane that he wants him to stay, but the City boss has also said he will not stand in the winger’s way if he demands a move.

That has given Bayern hope that they can strike a deal on their terms.

But Sane still has two years left on his current contract.

And City’s position is strengthened further by the knowledge that the German giants are desperate to refresh an ageing squad which was eliminated from the Champions League by Liverpool in the last 16 despite winning a seventh successive Bundesliga title.

Franck Ribery, 36, and fellow winger Arjen Robben, 35, will both leave when their contracts expire next month.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Valencia clinch Copa del Rey title, end Barcelona’s successive domestic double dream (Match Report)

Two first half goals were all Valencia needed to secure their first Copa del Rey title since 2008, with a 2-1 win over FC Barcelona at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno effectively ended Ernesto Valverde’s chances of a second successive domestic double since taking over at the Camp Nou in 2017.

Barcelona started the game slowly, and Valencia almost took the lead after just five minutes, but Gerard Pique made a brilliant goal line clearance from Rodrigo, following an error from Clement Lenglet.

However Marcelino’s side found a breakthrough on 20 minutes, as French international Gameiro slotted home from close range after a flowing Valencia counter attack.

Los Che doubled their lead on 34 minutes, as Spanish forward Rodrigo powered home a header from Carlos Soler’s whipped cross from the right wing.

Valverde reacted at half time by bringing on Malcom and Arturo Vidal, however the La Liga champions struggled to generate a comeback as the pressure increased.

Skipper Lionel Messi hit a post just after the hour mark, before the Argentina international netted his 51st goal of the season on 73 minutes, turning home from a yard out after Lenglet’s header hit the post.

Pique had a late chance to send the game into extra time, but at the end, Valencia were deserving of their cup success.

Photo Credit: fcbarcelona.com