Former Chelsea star on AC Milan, Inter Milan radar, confirms talks “with two clubs from Milan”

Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar has revealed his interest in joining Serie A clubs Inter Milan and AC Milan this summer, stating that he “spoke to two clubs from Milan in recent weeks. I want to play in Italy!”

The former Brazil international was sold by the Stamford Bridge club to Shanghai SIPG for €60m in January 2017.

Oscar, who is arguably the most talented footballer playing in China, confirmed his desire to return to European football.

He spoke exclusively to PassioneInter.com as cited by Football Italia: “I spoke to two clubs from Milan in recent weeks… I can’t get into details, but yes, one thing I can say: I want to play in Italy!”

His £400,000-a-week contract with Shanghai SIPG runs to December 2020 and it’s likely the San Siro giants would pursue a loan with option to buy.

Photo Credit: Daily Express

Arsenal agree fee with Lille over Manchester United target Nicolas Pepe, transfer to be completed within 48 hours

Reports in England claim Arsenal have agreed a transfer fee of £71.1m with Lille for Manchester United and Napoli target Nicolas Pepe.

According to BBC Sport, the Gunners will pay in installments and an agreement over a five-year deal is expected to be reached in the next 48 hours.

The free-scoring Ivory Coast winger was on the radar of the Old Trafford club and Napoli, but reports claim the player rejected the Serie A club offer.

Napoli lost out because of issues pertaining to Pepe’s representatives and their commission, reported to be €5m each, on top of the €5m per year salary for the player.

Lille president Gerard Lopez confirmed on Friday that the club had received four acceptable offers for the highly rated 24-year-old, with L’Equipe reporting that Arsenal and Liverpool were two of the clubs involved.

Photo Credit: Sky Sports

Gareth Bale on verge of £1m-per-week deal, commences transfer talks with Chinese club

Gareth Bale is reportedly closing in on a lucrative move to China as representatives are locked in talks with Jiangsu Suning over deal that could be worth £1m per week.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane said that it would be for the best if the player left the club as soon as possible.

Bale himself has consistently stated that he wants to remain in the Spanish capital, with three years still to run on his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, however Los Blancos appear adamant to sell him.

According to Sky Sports, told talks of a move to China are progressing and there is still some work to do as Bale eyes move away from Santiago Bernabeu.

Jiangsu Suning increasingly confident they can convince Bale to sign before the Chinese windown closes on Wednesday.

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley blasts former manager Rafa Benitez

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has blasted the former manager of his club Rafa Benitez insisting that it was “impossible” to keep hold of the coach – because was only interested in money.

The Toon Army have called for a boycott of the club’s games next season after the Newcastle owner replaced the fan-favourite manager with Steve Bruce.

Benitez revealed he wanted to stay on Tyneside but left after he wasn’t given assurances over transfers and infrastructure — and because he lost all trust in Ashley.

The 59-year-old then doubled his Newcastle salary after agreeing a staggering £12million-a-year deal to become boss of Chinese side Dalian Yifang.

And Ashley has claimed Benitez was determined to follow a lucrative move to the Far East from the start and he had even offered him an eight-year contract to stay.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “I’d say it was money first, Rafa, then the club last. He took the totally soft option, took the money and went to China.

“If he’d gone back to Real Madrid, or a top-six club in the Premier League, I get it. But it was about money and all he had to do was say that from the beginning.

“He asked for a 50 per cent pay increase and I think he did that because he knew it couldn’t work.

“I’m not disappointed in him as a manager – he did an excellent job. It puzzles me why any fan thinks I wouldn’t want him. I’m not the thickest person on the planet.”

After Benitez’s exit, Ashley moved to announce former Sunderland boss Bruce on a three-year deal, report the Sun.

The Tyneside outfit had to pay the Owls £4million in compensation after the 58-year-old walked out before his resignation was accepted.

And plenty of Newcastle fans are not convinced he will be able to keep the club in the Premier League next season.

Eden Hazard makes prediction on his Chelsea successor Christian Pulisic’s future

Edden Hazard has predicted that Christian Pulisic can be one of the best footballers in the future at Chelsea.

The American international is likely to fill the void on Chelsea’s left flank created by Hazard’s departure to Real Madrid earlier this summer in a £100million deal, report the Metro.

Chelsea broke their transfer record to sign Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund in January, but loaned the 20-year-old back to the German club for the second half of last season.

Pulisic has shown flashes of the skill and dribbling ability that convinced Chelsea to invest so heavily in him on the club’s pre-season tour and Hazard is confident he will become a firm favourite of the Stamford Bridge faithful.

‘He can be one of the best in the future for sure,’ he told The Associated Press

‘He can be (a star). Now he’s at one of the best clubs in the world. He’s a proper player. He can play football.’

Hazard’s move to Madrid has coincided with him returning to the cover of the FIFA computer game series. He added: ‘When you play football, it’s a dream to, first, be in FIFA and then to be on the cover.

‘You want to play more often because you’re on the cover.’

Diego Costa on fire, scores four goals, red-carded as Atletico Madrid put Real Madrid to the sword (Watch match footage & read match report)

Diego Costa spearheaded Atletico Madrid’s demolition of their city neighbours and rivals Real Madrid 7-3 at the International Champions Cup.

Atletico showed no mercy in New Jersey, where Diego Simeone’s men led 5-0 at half-time thanks to Costa’s first-half hat-trick on Friday.

Big-money signing Joao Felix scored his first goal since arriving from Benfica and set up two others, while Angel Correa was also on target in a sensationally one-sided first half at MetLife Stadium.

Costa teamed up with Joao Felix to add his fourth six minutes into the second half before he was sent off after clashing with Dani Carvajal, which sparked a melee.

Vitolo scored a sensational solo goal in the 70th minute after Nacho Fernandez reduced the deficit on the hour-mark, while Madrid substitute Karim Benzema converted an 85th-minute penalty and Javi Hernandez bundled the ball over the line late.

Atletico were ruthless from the outset, last season’s runners-up breaking the deadlock after just 43 seconds when Joao Felix played a neat pass to Costa, whose deflected shot beat Thibaut Courtois.

That was a sign of things to come as Joao Felix made it 2-0 less than seven minutes later – the former Benfica teenager stepping in front of Marcelo and side-footing from close range after Saul Niguez cut a pass back into the penalty area.

After a lively Alvaro Morata left the field due to an apparent calf injury, his replacement Correa – linked to AC Milan – put Atletico 3-0 ahead in the 19th minute with a volley past Courtois.

While Joao Felix and Costa continued to wreak havoc, Madrid’s woes were compounded by what appeared to be a knee injury to new signing Luka Jovic, who had to be substituted following a collision with Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Madrid’s defensive problems were highlighted again as Atletico went 4-0 ahead in the 28th minute – Saul winning the ball after a bad pass from Ramos and sliding in a simple pass for Costa and he made no mistake.

Hermoso and Thomas Lemar also went close, while Vinicius Junior hit the post for Madrid. But Atletico netted their fourth on the stroke of half-time after Costa completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot following Isco’s foul.

Atletico did not take their foot off the pedal in the second half – Felix and Costa continuing their frightening combination as the former split Madrid’s defence with a delightful pass and the former scooped the ball over Keylor Navas in the 51st minute.

Eden Hazard was virtually non-existent in first half, but the Belgian star showed a flash of brilliance to help Madrid pull a goal back on the hour-mark, crossing the ball into the six-yard box for Nacho to bundle the ball over the line.

There was a flashpoint five minutes later when Costa and Carvajal were both sent off after the pair and both teams came together as tempers threatened to boil over.

It got worse for Madrid after Vitolo won the ball from two defenders on the half-way line and beat another two opponents before finding the back of the net following a stunning solo run with 20 minutes remaining.

Atletico were hungry for more and they should have scored another two or three goals but some desperate goalkeeping and defending denied Los Rojiblancos, while Benzema and Hernandez added goals for Madrid late in the game.

Photo Credit: Twitter/atleticomadrid.com

Danny Drinkwater advises Chelsea fans, trolls himself

Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater has trolled himself as he urged the club fans to stay hydrated in the UK heatwave with a hilarious Instagram post.

The English midfielder, taking advantage of his surname, reminded his 575k followers to keep a bottle of water nearby – with the mercury hitting 38 degrees this summer.

He said: “Today is supposed to be the hottest day of the year in the uk… remember, stay hydrated. #drinkwater #ukheatwave #hothothot.”

Drinkwater was ironically arrested for drink-driving earlier in the year, the Sun report.

The £35million signing was charged after a smash in the early hours of Monday, April 8, when his Range Rover crashed in Cheshire.

Blues manager at the time Maurizio Sarri told the ex-Leicester star he was finished at Chelsea and suggested the 29-year-old should leave.

However, with Sarri now at Juventus, new Stamford Bridge boss Frank Lampard is prepared to give Drinkwater, along with other squad outcasts, a chance to prove themselves this season.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Thibaut Courtois brags about his credential as Real Madrid No.1 goalkeeper

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is claiming he is Los Blancos No 1 goaltender, saying “it is clear who is No.1 at the club.”

The former Chelsea player joined the club in £35m deal at the start of the 2018-19 season in controversial circumstances.

The Belgium international was first choice between the sticks for the majority of last season, under both Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, making 27 La Liga starts for Los Blancos.

However, Costa Rican international Keylor Navas remained the option for Champions League and Copa del Rey games, with Zinedine Zidane also starting him in league games following his return to the club in March.

Navas had been expected to move on this summer, however the veteran goal keeper now looks set to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu, however Courtois is determined to be No.1 under Zidane.

“I think it is clear who is No.1 at the club now,” he told an interview with Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad as cited by Football Espana.

“I have returned to pre-season in good shape, my body fat is lower than last season, and I feel good.

“I am confident for the season ahead and I hope I can continue this way for the rest of the campaign.”

The 27-year old has started in goal for both of Real Madrid’s two pre-season friendly games so far, against Bayern Munich and Arsenal.

Photo Credit: Sky Sports