Atletico Madrid are reportedly considering a surprise move for Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta this summer.
Los Rojiblancos are potentially in the market for defensive reinforcements ahead of the 2021/22 La Liga season with current right back options Kieran Trippier and Sime Vrsaljko out of contract in 2022 and Jose Gimenez linked with an exit.
According to reports from Gol Digital, as cited by Fottball Espana, Diego Simeone is monitoring Azpilicueta closely.
Chelsea are also reportedly looking for defenders this summer, with German star Niklas Sule on Tuchel’s radar meaning Azpilicueta would likely be moved even further down the pecking order as a result.
Azpilicueta has 12 months left on his current deal at Stamford Bridge and the former Osasuna man could be available for around £12m, if Chelsea do opt to sell him after nine successful years at the club.
Inter coach Antonio Conte insists he’d like to stay at Nerazurri and is aware his ‘surname brings responsibility.’
The Italian tactician said Inter have 95 per cent of chances to win the Scudetto after their 1-0 win over Hellas Verona.
“I was clear, we must remain focus on the present, we’ll have time to talk about the next season and the Champions League,” he spoke to Sky Sport.
Will the Suning project be crucial to understand his future at the club?
“If you ask the same thing to our director, they will tell you the same thing. I am not a warmonger. I’d like to stay at Inter, but we need to understand what will happen and what we will be able to do.
“I know my surname is heavy and brings responsibility. It’s not easy to start from scratch. I work every day, and I hope I can continue to do so for a long time.”
Juventus striker Alvaro Morata explains why he doesn’t care about the result of Real Madrid-Chelsea in the Champions League.
The west London club and La Liga giants are billed to lock horns in the Champions League semi final first leg in Spain today
When the Spain international was asked which of the two side would come on top by Sky Sport Italia, he said: “It doesn’t change much to me, I don’t think about it, with all the respect due. I have no idea, and it burns to see the Champions League because we are supposed to be there,”
Morata is on loan from Atletico Madrid and his future remains up in the air.
“Everyone knows I would gladly stay here for life if I had the chance, but this is a profession, football is a business and a lot of the time we players don’t have much choice.”
Tiemoue Bakayoko’s powerful strike and a Victor Osimhen counter-attack gave Napoli a 2-0 half-time lead, but Torino are fighting back.
Napoli took the lead with a surprise hitman, as Tiemoue Bakayoko hit a ferocious strike from 20 metres into the far bottom corner.
Just 120 seconds later, Torino’s corner was cleared and Nicolas Nkoulou was caught in a weak tackle, allowing Victor Osimhen to sprint forward on the counter, his effort deflected past Sirigu off Bremer.
Matteo Politano went on another rapid counter, his finish skimming the upright after a deflection, while Amir Rrahmani’s free header whistled wide on the resulting corner.
Torino almost had a way back into the game on 36 minutes when Giovanni Di Lorenzo accidentally nodded a corner backwards, but Osimhen was there to clear off the line.
Alex Meret also fingertipped a Simone Verdi free kick off the head of Armando Izzo, but Piotr Zielinski was unlucky to see his daisy-cutter bounce off the base of the upright.
Toro started the second half strong too, Meret using his legs to keep out a smart Cristian Ansaldi solo effort and Rolando Mandragora’s free header too weak.
Napoli remained dangerous on the counter, Politano’s effort deflected over the bar and Sirigu beating away two Osimhen angled drives at the near post.
Insigne saw one of his trademark right-foot curlers bounce off the inside of the far post, Sirigu preventing Hirving Lozano from turning in the rebound.
There was a double chance when Dries Mertens saw his shot charged down, then threaded through for Osimhen to force a Sirigu save from point-blank range.
Lozano also stung Sirigu’s gloves from a tricky angle, but Torino ended the game with 10 men because Rolando Mandragora received his second yellow card for wrestling back Lozano.
Hakim Ziyech has been urged to quit Chelsea by Dutch legend Marco van Basten.
Van Basten, 58, told Ziggo Sport: “Ziyech was on the bench yet again against West Ham. When he does come on they use him as a striker. He can operate in that role too, as he is a good player.
“But I find it sad to see. The system that Thomas Tuchel employs is simply not good for Ziyech.
“If I was Hakim I would say to myself: ‘You know what, I’m going to leave.’
“I’d say: ‘Listen, I’ve got no rapport with the guy [Tuchel] – I’ve got to get out of here.’ There is no sense in him staying put.”
UEFA have officially opened a disciplinary investigation into Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘for having an alleged financial interest in a betting company.’
And, if he is found guilty it could cost him his place at Euro 2020.
Uefa disciplinary chiefs announced the former inquiry into the Swedish superstar’s links with a betting company.
Ibrahimovic is part-owner of Malta-based Bethard, seemingly in direct contravention of both Uefa and Fifa regulations.
A statement was released by UEFA this afternoon and it could lead to some very serious repercussions for the Sweden international.
“In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has today been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations by Mr. Zlatan Ibrahimović for having an alleged financial interest in a betting company.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet had reported that a company Ibrahimovic holds shares in had also invested in a betting company.
It leaves the AC Milan and Sweden star facing a massive fine and potential ban – which may spell the end of his chances of appearing at this summer’s Euro.
Fifa’s ethics code, which is shared by Uefa, prevents players or others in football from having “any interests, either directly or indirectly” in companies that “promote, arrange or conduct betting”.
The maximum penalty is a three YEAR ban and fine of £85,000.
Monday afternoon has seen the confirmed Real Madrid squad for the first leg of their Champions League semi final game against Chelsea.
The big team news for Madrid is that left-back Ferland Mendy has missed the matchday squad due to injury and he has not been included for selection.
The unavailability of Mendy means that veteran Brazilian Marcelo is almost certainly going to come into the starting line-up in place of the Frenchman.
There are three more Madrid stars unavailable: Sergio Ramos and Fede Valverde – who both have Covid-19 – while Lucas Vazquez is out for the season through injury.
Despite an injury ravaged season in the Spanish capital and multiple setbacks since joining Madrid from the Blues in the summer of 2019, Eden Hazard is available to face his former club.
The Belgian star will be competing for a starting spot alongside Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio.
Andrea Pirlo’s son Niccolo has hit back at the death threats he receives due to Juventus’ poor form.
The Serie A giants are out of this year’s title race and could miss out on a top-four finish.
On Monday, Niccolo, 17, posted a picture of himself and dad Andrea, 41, on to Instagram with a statement against the threats, stating that he receives them daily.
The Bianconeri coach has struggled in his first season at the Allianz Stadium and the issues continued in a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina last weekend.
He wrote: “I’m not a person who judges, I don’t like doing it.
“Everyone has the right to be able to say what they want, I’m the first to do it and I would never want someone to take away my freedom of speech.
“My parents taught me to have thoughts and above all to listen to those of others.
“But I believe that there is a limit to everything and this limit has been exceeded for some time.
“I am 17 years old and every day I receive messages of this kind (here I show you the last one, received a little while ago).”
An attached screenshot showed a direct message from one account that declared: “You must die together with your father.”
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is reportedly having selection headache as four key players have been ruled out of the first leg of the Champions League semi finals against Chelsea.
Left-back Ferland Mendy is among the absentees for Madrid along with Sergio Ramos and Fede Valverde – who both have Covid-19 – while Lucas Vazquez is out for the season through injury.
A report in Diario AS now outlines how there is only one big selection headache for Los Blancos – who to select in the attacking trident.
Toni Kroos is available again for Madrid and will form a midfield trio with Casemiro and Luka Modric, but the return of Eden Hazard could potentially freshen up the top three.
Karim Benzema will undoubtedly start as the central striker and it remains likely that Vinicius Junior will maintain his place in the side.
However, Marco Asensio may have his place under vulnerability due to Hazard’s return, the report adds.
