Napoli star warns Maurizio Sarri as Juventus move gathers momentum

Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne has told Maurizio Sarri it will be an act of “betrayal” to the Partenopei if he signs for Juventus as manager.

The Old Lady are planning to make the former Napoli boss their manager as the Turin club have parted ways with Max Alllegri.

The Italy international worked under Sarri at Napoli between 2015 and 2018, achieving two runners-up finishes in Serie A, but the Chelsea boss appears set for Juve.

“It’s speculation that gives me displeasure,” he said at a Press conference.

“He did so much for us players and all the Neapolitan people. He’s also a professional, but choosing Juve will hurt: it’ll be a betrayal for us Neapolitans once it becomes official.”

REVEALED: What Virgil van Dijk told Liverpool about his future at Anfield

There are reports that Virgil van Dijk is ready to commit his long-term future to the Champions League-winning Liverpool.

The defender has therefore told Liverpool he wants to sign a new contract on top of his £125,000-a-week deal.

Dutch star Van Dijk, 27, signed a five-and-a-half-year deal when joining from Southampton for £75million in January 2018.

And now ESPN claim Van Dijk told Anfield top brass of his intentions even before the final in Madrid.

Formal talks did not take place straight away due to the craziness of the final few months of the season.

Liverpool were trying to catch Manchester City in the league and in the process of completing one of the greatest ever European comebacks against Barcelona.

That remains the case with Van Dijk on Nations League duty with Holland.

But, according to the Sun, both the Reds and Van Dijk’s agent, Neil Fewings of Wasserman, are “relaxed about the process” and that the deal will be agreed with “minimal fuss”.

And the centre-back can expect a big boost in his earnings, which currently sit at £125,000-a-week.

That places him among Liverpool’s top earners but he is set to jump even higher if a new contract is signed.

Van Dijk, named PFA Player of the Year, is a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or.

UEFA release Top Ten Goals of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League

1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus v Manchester United) – group stage matchday four, 07/11/2018
Technical Observers say: An accurate long pass and a brilliantly controlled volley.

2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona v Liverpool) – semi-final first leg, 01/05/2019
Technical Observers say: A powerful and precise free-kick.

3 Sadio Mané (Bayern v Liverpool) – round of 16 second leg, 13/03/2019
Technical Observers say: A precise long pass behind the full-back followed by skilful control, turn and shot.

4 Ivan Rakitić (Tottenham v Barcelona) – group stage matchday two, 03/10/2018
Technical Observers say: A suberb volley with an extremely high degree of difficulty.

5 Leroy Sané (Manchester City v Hoffenheim) – group stage matchday six, 12/12/2018
Technical Observers say: Powerfully struck swerving free-kick.

6 Kylian Mbappé (Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain) – round of 16 first leg, 12/02/2019
Technical Observers say: A swift team transition finished by an excellent low cross pass to Mbappé whose acceleration and finish were high quality.

7 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk) – group stage matchday four, 07/11/2018
Technical Observers say: A brilliant individual goal, twisting and turning away from a group of players and opening up to curl into the far corner.

8 Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona v Tottenham) – group stage matchday six, 11/12/2018
Technical Observers say: An excellent individual counter combining high speed and a calm finish.

9 Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona v Manchester United) – quarter-final second leg, 16/04/2019
Technical Observers say: A powerfully struck shot into the far corner.

10 Luis Suárez (Barcelona v Liverpool) – semi-final first leg, 01/05/2019
Technical Observers say: Clever centre forward movement and a deft sliding finish to Jordi Alba’s low cross.

UEFA Technical Observers in Madrid
Thomas Schaaf (Germany), Peter Rudbæk (Denmark), David Moyes (Scotland), Raúl González (Spain), Packie Bonner (Republic of Ireland), Michael O’Neill (Northern Ireland), Gareth Southgate (England), Roberto Martínez (Spain), Ginés Meléndez (Spain)

Argentina legend Diego Maradona reveals why he wants to coach Manchester United

Diego Maradona has offered to coach Premier League club Manchester United, claiming “I’m the man to do it”.

Maradona remains a figure of derision in England following his ‘hand of God’ for Argentina, which knocked the Three Lions out of the 1986 World Cup.

“If Manchester [United] need a Coach, I’m the man to do it”,Dorados boss told FourFourTwo as cited by Football Italia.

“I know they sell lots of shirts around the world, but they need to win trophies, too. I can do that for them.

“Manchester United used to be my favourite English team for so long. So many great players and a great team under Alex Ferguson.

“But now I have to say Man City. I know you shouldn’t change like that but it’s because of Kun [Aguero]. We speak a lot and he plays in a very good team.

“With United I liked Ander Herrera… I played at Old Trafford [in the 1983-84 Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final]. What noise, like La Bombonera.”

Juve have been linked with bringing back Pogba this summer, so what does the 55-year-old think about the Frenchman?

“Doesn’t work hard enough.”

Photo Credit: Sky Sports

Neymar rape case takes new twist as PSG star’s accuser threatens to release video of the “attack”

There is new twist in the rape allegation made against Neymar as the PSG star’s accuser threatened to release a video of the alleged attack to the media to ‘ruin’ the striker’s career.

The woman who has accused Brazilian football star of rape has reportedly been dropped by the law firm representing her because of contradictions in her story.

She is also said to have revealed in a heated exchange that she ‘should have killed the player when she had the chance’.

According to the Daily Maiol, the Fernandes e Abreu law firm say their client initially told them she had had consensual sex with Neymar, the world’s most expensive footballer, in a Paris hotel in May and that he then became violent and assaulted her.

But the Rio de Janeiro-based lawyers said that in the official complaint the woman gave to the Brazilian police on May 31, she ‘described what had happened as “rape”, which is a completely different allegation’.

Throughout their dealings with the woman, Fernandes and Abreu said she confirmed that the sexual relationship with Neymar was consensual. It has since rescinded its contract with the alleged victim.

Her representatives said they decided to withdraw their services after their ethical standards were compromised by the woman’s behaviour, according to reports on Brazilian Globo TV.

They advised her that to avoid a court case it would be better to strike a deal with Neymar’s legal team because the process could be ‘long and drawn out’.

However the accuser refused to accept these terms and claimed she wanted to get ‘maximum’ coverage by releasing the ‘damning’ video.

A report by a private doctor reportedly reveals that the 26-year-old woman had ‘bruises and scrapes on the buttocks and displayed an anxious and depressive disorder along with unspecified superficial traumatisms’

The examination was made a week after the alleged assault which is believed to have occurred on May 15 in Paris.

Neymar vehemently denies the allegations – but is now being investigated for divulging intimate images of the woman, who has not been named.

Under Brazil’s penal code, it is an offence to publish nude images without the consent of the person.

In the video released by Neymar, he erased several posts. But in some, it was possible to see her face and her full name. None of which can be disclosed for legal reasons.

Maurizio Sarri handed Juventus transfer set-back

Reports in Italy and England confirm that Juventus chief Fabio Paratici has told Maurizio Sarri he is not the only person in the frame to become their new manager.

Sarri has told Chelsea he wants to leave the club this summer if the offer of taking charge of Juve comes through.

The Italian champions are understood to have held lengthy talks over whether the Blues boss is the right man to succeed Max Allegri, according to the Sun.

And the 60-year-old, fresh from leading Chelsea to Europa League victory last week, is anxious for the switch to be finalised.

But Sarri is unlikely to be too delighted by an interview given by Juve’s sporting director Paratici today over what is happening at the Old Lady.

Paratici was stopped by reporters while attending a conference, and asked a series of questions about Juventus on and off the pitch.

And he insisted Sarri was not the only name being considered for the most prestigious job in the country.

Paratici said: “We have very clear ideas and we are working. It takes a moment, we have a range of coaches, there is not only one name.

“How long will it take? There is no time limit, we are working very quietly.”

The director was then quizzed about Sarri’s much publicised admission to Chelsea that he wants to move back to Italy.

He added: “Nostalgia for Italy? He said it, but all Italians say it.

“Here the food is very good.”

Chelsea are in a position where they do not actively want to sack Sarri after a year at Stamford Bridge which saw him deliver a third place finish and Europa League success.

But nor will they stand in the way of him leaving, either, so long as Juve come up with £5million in compensation.