Di Maria has lost his head and he’s sent off for kicking out on Fernandinho!
The ball goes out of play, Di Maria takes a swipe at the City captain with his arm, doesn’t have much success and looks to dig a boot in on Fernandinho’s foot!
Uruguayan midfielder Fede Valverde is ready to play for Real Madrid against Chelsea in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final after testing negative for covid-19 according to Marca.
He’s not trained with the squad in recent weeks, but he has travelled to London with them for the titanic clash at Stamford Bridge.
Valverde, a favourite of Zinedine Zidane, hasn’t played for five games, missing four in La Liga and one in the Champions League. The versatile midfielder, so impressive in Madrid’s quarter-final victory over Liverpool, is deemed so important that he could come straight into the team for the clash at Chelsea.
The Uruguayan was isolated as a precaution last April 18th, after coming into close contact with a positive covid-19 case. Valverde then tested positive himself, and had to wait until he received the all-clear via a conclusive negative to make himself available for first team action again. He got that this Tuesday morning, and is ready for road.
Roma have officially announced Jose Mourinho will be the new head coach and has signed a three-year deal with the Giallorossi.
After having announced the departure of current coach Paulo Fonseca after the season, La Lupa have now confirmed Mourinho will take over ahead of next season.
“The club are delighted to announce an agreement has been reached with Jose Mourinho for him to become our new head coach ahead of the 2021-22 season,” the club said in an official statement.
Vice-President Ryan Friedkin said the Giallorossi are ‘thrilled’ to announce the arrival of the former Inter coach.
“We are thrilled and delighted to welcome José Mourinho into the AS Roma family,” club president Dan Friedkin and vice-president Ryan Friedkin said.
“A great champion who has won trophies at every level, José will provide tremendous leadership and experience to our ambitious project.
“The appointment of José is a huge step in building a long-term and consistent winning culture throughout the club.”
Mourinho was sacked from his position at Spurs last month and has now penned a deal with the Giallorossi.
“After meetings with the ownership, I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions for Roma,” Mourinho said.
“The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season.”
There are reports in Spain that Real Madrid’s star Marcelo was lucky to catch Real Madrid’s flight to Chelsea in time after completing his election duties.
The 32-year-old had to fulfil his obligations as a citizen on Tuesday, participating as a substitute member at an assigned table during the Community of Madrid’s elections.
The Brazilian left-back was stationed at the Liceo Europeo de la Moraleja in Alcobendas, and left to catch a plane to London, where his Real Madrid team are facing Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final second leg, as soon as he finished up according to Marca.
Both the club and the player tried to convince the Electoral Board to release him from the commitment as Los Blancos had been scheduled to leave for London at 10.30 on Tuesday morning, but they resisted. So the Brazilian international turned up at the polling station at 08.28 to do his duty.
According to Football Espana, Marcelo went about his business until an older woman, who was an alternative substitute, offered to replace him, enabling him to return home and join up with the team before they caught their plane out of Madrid.
The left-back was pictured leaving the polling station this morning alongside club officials.
Real Madrid had lined up a £17,000 private jet to fly him over to London tonight in case he was needed all day at the polling station – Uefa rules meant he could not fly on the morning of the game.
But Real Madrid officials were angered that he would be mixing with other people not in their bio-secure bubble and therefore at risk of catching coronavirus.