Arsenal star Granit Xhaka has reportedly opened talks with Roma over a shock transfer to link up with Jose Mourinho.
Xhaka has arguably been Arsenal’s most consistent midfielder this term, with Mikel Arteta putting huge trust in him.
The Gunners finished the season in eighth meaning the Emirates outfit will be without European football for the first time in over two decades.
And Arteta is expected to oversee a mass exodus from north London with the likes of David Luiz, 34, already confirmed to be leaving.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now claimed that Xhaka is among the players with offers to quit Arsenal this summer.
The report adds that former Tottenham boss Mourinho is a fan and has already begun talks to bring the Swiss international with him to Roma.
A return to the Bundesliga where Xhaka spent four years at Borussia Monchengladbach has also been mooted as German clubs are also monitoring his situation.
There are reports Chelsea will wear this season’s home kit in the Champions League final against Manchester City on Saturday night after poor results in their new strip.
The Blues wore their jazzy 2021-22 home kit in the defeats against Leicester in the FA Cup final and Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final.
As a result, Thomas Tuchel’s side will join Man City in donning this season’s home kit for the European finale.
According to The Mail, this is because some Chelsea bosses feel it may be bad luck to wear the new shirt in such a big game.
Back in 2008 the Blues opted to wear their new strip for the Champions League final against Manchester United and were beaten on penalties.
Since then, they played in their current home kits in the 2012 Champions League final and 2013 and 2019 Europa League finals, all of which they won.
And the Chelsea supporters seem to be happy with the decision to stick with this season’s strip.
One fan said: “That’s great. I’ve always wanted us to wear Blue (Home Kit) in the UCL final.”
And another added: “Coming back to this when we win the UCL”
Raheem Sterling insists self doubt could be the biggest obstacle between Manchester City and their Champions League dream.
The City forward struck a confident tone ahead of their date with destiny in Porto predicting Pep Guardiola’s side have the tools to overcome Chelsea.
But he maintained that banishing the inner demons of previous failures is the most important battle they have to win if they are to lift the trophy.
“It is now about focusing on winning that trophy and the only thing that can stop us are ourselves if I am honest,” said Sterling.
“It is a game where I expect a difficult test, but at the same time I expect us to pull through.”
City’s Champions League history has been a story of bad luck and poor judgement.
In Guardiola’s time at the club they have crashed out to Monaco in the last 16, and lost in the quarter-finals to Liverpool, Tottenham and also Lyon last season.
“In the past we haven’t had the rub of the green and the luck that we needed,” said Sterling.
“There have been games that we should have won and certain circumstances we haven’t.
“That is football at the end of the day and why we keep going and love it. This year, we played well and also had the luck that we needed.”
Sterling insists City’s dressing room has never been more confident or relaxed than it has been during this campaign.
And he maintained if City can reproduce their normal game it should be enough to beat Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
“The boys have been brilliant this year and we have another opportunity in the final against Chelsea to create something special again,” he said.
“Once you are winning trophies, you just want to win more. Hopefully that carries on into the weekend.
“I think the camp is pretty relaxed. It is the Champions League final, but at the same time we are footballers and we have to not let the occasion get to us and play our football.”
Romelu Lukaku sent a heartfelt message to Antonio Conte after the coach terminated his Inter contract. ‘Thank you for all you did. I owe you a lot…’
The striker was convinced to make the move to Serie A by Conte, who had already wanted to work with him at Chelsea.
It proved a masterstroke, as the Belgian had the two best seasons of his career, reaching the Europa League Final and winning the Scudetto.
Conte terminated his contract with Inter by mutual consent and Lukaku wrote this message on Instagram.
“2014 we spoke for the first time and we have had a bond ever since. We had many moments to work together but only god knows why it never happened earlier.
“You came at the right time and basically changed me as a player and made me even stronger mentally and more importantly we won together!
“Winning is and it’s all that matters to you and I’m glad that i have had you as a coach. I will keep your principles for the rest of my career ( physical preparation, mental and just the drive to win…) it was a pleasure to play for you!
“Thank you for all what you did. I owe you a lot…”
Thomas Tuchel must start winning trophies at Chelsea – or he will be sacked just like Frank Lampard.
That is the view of former left-back Wayne Bridge, who knows all about the pressure and demands for titles at Stamford Bridge.
He told bettingexpert.com: “If he stays on he’s going to have to start winning trophies but I don’t think there’s loads of pressure in terms of what he has achieved so far in terms of where Chelsea were.
“There’s always pressure in big games, you don’t want to lose and Tuchel will put that pressure on himself to win.”
Real Madrid have confirmed that Zinedine Zidane has decided to depart the club for a second time.
A club statement read: “Real Madrid announces that Zinedine Zidane has decided to end his current stage as coach of our club.
“It is now time to respect his decision and show him our appreciation for his professionalism, dedication and passion in all these years, and for what his figure represents for Real Madrid.
“Zidane is one of the great myths of Real Madrid and his legend goes beyond what he has been as a coach and player of our club.
“He knows that he is at the heart of Real Madrid and that Real Madrid is and will always be his home.”
Chelsea midfield maestro N’Golo Kante has indetified the Blues former midfielders Claude Makelele and Lassana Diarra as his inspiriation.
Perhaps the most admired holding midfielder in modern football, Kanté’s workrate has stunned Thomas Tuchel since the coach arrived at Stamford Bridge in January; “if you play with N’Golo you have half a man more,” he said.
As he tells UEFA.com, he was rejected by numerous academies in France before starting his career in the second tier, and only became a major name after he – and current Manchester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez – helped Leicester to win the 2015/16 English title.
His words: “Nine years ago, when I was playing for the reserves at Boulogne and made my professional debut in Ligue 2, I was very hungry and very hopeful in football. I didn’t know how far I could go; I just wanted to turn pro and do my best. To have got where I am today with Chelsea and to be lucky enough to play in a Champions League final, bearing in mind everything that’s happened in the meantime, is amazing.
“That said, it’s happened little by little, season after season, with wins, with losses, with joy and with disappointment. It’s shaped me as a player, and I think that it’s helped me become the player that I am today.”
“I wasn’t necessarily the best or the most talented player in the team, but I gave my best with the attributes I had. Growing up, I started watching videos of great footballers like [Diego] Maradona, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. My friends and I sometimes tried to imitate them, to score like they did. However, I haven’t ended up playing like them or in the same position. I was also less gifted than them.
“I had a good number of trials growing up. I was turned down several times by academies. I didn’t see those as failures, personally, but as opportunities to see how I compared to the academy level. At that time, I wasn’t telling myself that I had to go through an academy to turn professional. I was just thinking that I had to give my best, no matter what happened and that I’d succeed at a later stage or in a different way. I think being turned down has shaped me as well.”
“Growing up, coaches or team-mates might tell me that I resemble such-and-such a player. I was just someone who watched football; I would watch the games which interested me, without necessarily focusing on players in a similar position to mine. Whenever the international break came around, I would obviously watch France play. And getting to watch the likes of [Claude] Makélélé or Lassana Diarra, I drew inspiration from them at some point.
“But in the end, I’m not like them. I was lucky to be in touch with them and they’re great players with their own career, and I have my own career and path at my side. I have had some chats with Claude since I came to Chelsea. He was here to give me advice on my play, and the impact I can have on the game. Being able to talk with him about that is beneficial for me because he knows the position.”
The 30-year-old’s tireless midfield effort has anchored Chelsea’s run to the UEFA Champions League final, making it all the more remarkable that it took so long for Kanté to make his way to the top of the game.
On facing former Leicester team-mate Riyad Mahrez in the final, the Frenchman said: “We’ve spoken about it. We both realise that it’s exceptional. It’s taken a lot of work from before being in Ligue 2 until now, and a lot of perseverance on the pitch and in training.
“So to be playing a match like this is fantastic. But we both want to win, so we won’t be friendly on the pitch. I hope it works out for me, and he’s hoping it’ll work out for him, of course!”
Reports in Italy claim Olivier Giroud has agreed a two-year contract with Milan as a free agent and it’ll be announced after Chelsea play the Champions League Final.
This is hardly the first time that Giroud has been linked with a Serie A switch, as he had previously also been of interest to Inter, Juventus, Roma and Lazio.
Calciomercato.com insist the France international has accepted a two-year contract with Milan worth €4m per season.
There are still a few details to be finalised and it will only be announced after Chelsea have faced Manchester City in the Champions League Final.
Meanwhile, according to Football Italia, Giroud is already seeking a new home in Milan.
The Rossoneri had to wait until they had secured Champions League qualification before taking the plunge
