Month: July 2019

The Portugal international has cut short his stay at Wanda Metropolitano for a five-year deal at Stade Louis II

Atletico Madrid winger Gelson Martins has completed a permanent transfer to Monaco after spending the second half of last season on loan with the Ligue 1 outfit.

The Portugal interntional, who only joined the La Liga club ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, struggled to establish himself under Diego Simeone at Wanda Metropolitano.

He subsequently made the switch to join the principality club in January, where he went on to score four goals in 16 appearances as they narrowly avoided relegation.

Now, Gelson has made a full-time move to Stade Louis II, penning a five-year deal that will take him through until 2024.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the 24-year-old spoke effusively about the chance to build on his efforts with the team following last season’s cliffhanger finale.

“I am very happy to be able to join Monaco in time and I am now very much looking forward to seeing the group again in preparation for the upcoming season,” Gelson told the club’s official website .

“Despite the difficult situation, we managed to show some good things last season and I will do everything to help the club achieve its goals this season.”

Born in Cape Verde, and coming through the ranks at Sporting CP, Gelson spent his career with the Portuguese outfit up until 2018, winning the Taca da Liga before making the switch to Atletico on a five-year deal on a free transfer.

With only 12 appearances however, his stay was curtailed with the move to Ligue 1, where he was signed by then-manager Thierry Henry.

At international level, he was a member of the Portugal squad that finished third in the 2017 Confederations Cup, as well as the team who travelled to Russia in 2018 for the World Cup.

He was however passed over for seleciton for their Nations League finals campaign on home soil last month following his limited chances.

Gelson becomes the latest in a line of exits from Atletico, with Sime Vrsaljko, Diogo Jota and Fernando Torres among the host of players set to play elsewhere next season, with Antoine Griezmann thought to also be poised to leave.

Monaco kick off their new domestic campaign on August 10 when they host Lyon.

Click Here: fjallraven kanken backpack

The 24-year-old midfielder will sign a five-year deal to seal the free transfer to the Turin side after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired

Juventus have completed the signing of Adrien Rabiot, the Serie A side have announced.

The midfielder joins the Italian champions on a free transfer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired, with a medical completed Monday. 

Juve did not disclose any details about the France international’s deal, but he will be presented to the media on Tuesday. 

Goal had previously reported that the 24-year-old midfielder had agreed to sign a five-year deal with the Turin side worth around €7 million per year. Meanwhile, his mother and agent, Veronique, is set to pocket a commission of €10m (£9m/$11.4m).

Rabiot had been linked with a number of high-profile clubs – including Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Barcelona – after being frozen out by PSG in the second half of the 2018-19 campaign as his contract wrangle rumbled on in public.

He revealed in June he had opened talks with Juve over a possible move and an agreement has now officially been reached after sporting director Fabio Paratici flew to Paris last week to conclude negotiations.

The 24-year-old won five Ligue 1 titles with PSG in his seven years in their senior ranks. He made 227 appearances for the first-team but his last game was in December 2018, having been frozen out of the team. While reports suggest the suspension was due to Rabiot’s looming departure, coach Thomas Tuchel insisted it was due to his poor performances for the Ligue 1 giants. 

The return of sporting director Leonardo to PSG sparked reports that Rabiot could be set to renew his contract at Parc des Princes but his mother and agent, Veronique, issued a “formal denial” last week, saying there was no chance of the player turning back on his decision to leave.

Juve, who appointed Maurizio Sarri as Massimiliano Allegri’s successor, have already added ex-Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey to their squad ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, the Wales international also joining on a free transfer.

 

Click Here: fjallraven kanken backpack

The right-back’s inclusion in a deal for the France star would get a transfer done, and in turn potentially help in the pursuit of the PSG attacker

Nelson Semedo may hold the key to Barcelona’s summer pursuit of both Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann and Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar.

Griezmann remains likely to join the Liga champions, with an agreement between the France international and Barca on personal terms having already been reached.

However, despite that agreement, Barca have yet to finalise a deal with Atletico, which prevents any announcement of a Griezmann transfer on Monday, or possibly even this week.

Currently, Goal can confirm that Barcelona have offered Atletico a fee of €126 million (£113m/$143m), which is more than Griezmann’s €120m release clause.

However, Barca are offering that deal as a split payment, rather than up front, which Atletico are less interested in accepting.

The capital club want to re-invest the Griezmann fee directly into the squad, including a move for Benfica starlet Joao Felix, and are requiring the €120m in full.

However, Barca are hesitant to pull the trigger on such a move, as paying the release clause in full this summer would make their pursuit of Neymar much more difficult.

Barca are hoping to land both the France and Brazil internationals this pre-season, and splitting the payment for Griezmann this summer would allow the Catalan club to offer more money for the PSG star.

However, another option for Barca exists if they want to get Griezmann over the line without paying the entire release clause.

That option is including Semedo in a deal with Atletico, who as Goal previously reported, has the eye of the capital club.

However, sources tell Goal the situation with Barca has not changed – the Liga champions do not want to include Portugal international in any transfer.

Semedo’s development this season has the club optimistic about his long-term future, while there currently is no natural replacement in the squad for the right-back, leaving Barca unwilling to part with him at the current time.

That leaves the Griezmann situation in limbo for the moment with both teams holding firm – Barca do not want to hand over Semedo or pay the release clause in full this summer while Atletico will not accept the fee in installments.

Barca are therefore unable to announce Griezmann today, and do not have a timetable on when a deal will be completed, short of reluctantly including Semedo in the move.

Click Here: cheap kanken backpack

The forward is set to lead the line for Gregg Berhalter’s side once again, with Jozy Altidore left out of the starting XI

After making wholesale changes in the U.S. national team’s final Gold Cup group stage match, Gregg Berhalter is bringing back his original 11 starters for Sunday’s quarterfinal clash against Curacao.

Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie lead the attack, with Pulisic wearing the captain’s armband for just the second time in his national team career. Columbus Crew striker Gyasi Zardes has been given the nod over Jozy Altidore for the target striker role. Altidore came into the Gold Cup considered the favorite to start, and boosted his case after scoring the winner in Wednesday’s group stage victory against Panama, but Zardes earned another start after his strong showing in the team’s opening victories.

The same defense that posted shutouts in wins against Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago is back, with Aaron Long partnering with Walker Zimmerman in central defense, with Zimmerman edging out Matt Miazga for the starting role. Tim Ream will feature at left back, where he will face a tough assignment in Cardiff City midfielder Leandro Bacuna, while Nick Lima will feature at right back.

Click Here: cheap kanken backpack

USMNT newcomer Tyler Boyd will reprise his role as the starting right winger, partnering with Paul Arriola on the flanks, earning the start ahead of Seattle Sounders’ attacker Jordan Morris, who had made a good case for breaking into the lineup.

Manchester City signing and reported Fortuna Dusseldorf loan target Zack Steffen returns to his role as the team’s starting goalkeeper, and will be playing in his hometown market. Both Steffen and Pulisic are Pennsylvania natives.

The United States will be looking to reach the Gold Cup quarterfinals for the ninth straight Gold Cup, with the last time the team lost in a quarterfinal coming in 2000, when the Americans were eliminated by guest participant Colombia in penalty kicks.

The Americans will be taking on a Curacao side that is a considerable underdog, but a team that advanced out of group play courtesy of a victory against Honduras and draw with Jamaica. Curacao standout and PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Eloy Room will look to build on his outstanding play in the group stage, which earned him Best XI honors for the Gold Cup group phase.

The winner of Sunday’s USA-Curacao quarterfinal will face Jamaica in the Gold Cup semifinals on Wednesday in Nashville. Jamaica advanced to the Gold Cup semifinals for the third straight tournament after edging Panama, 1-0, on Sunday’s early quarterfinal match at Lincoln Financial Field.

Blaugrana academy side defeat Los Blancos in final of La Liga Promises competition to lift trophy

Barcelona’s under-12 side won an international tournament in New York winning the final 6-1 to claim victory over their rivals Real Madrid.

On their way to the final, Barcelona defeated Hoboken City FC, a local American side, as well as Villarreal, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

In the end, the final was a routine victory for the junior side, after they took the lead within just four minutes. By half time, the scores were still close, as the Catalonia based side led 2-1, but in the second half, they pulled away to clinch victory by five goals.

Among the goalscorers was Shane Patrick Kluivert, who bagged a brace. Kluivert, son of the Barcelona legend Patrick, scored two in the final, while Landry, Xavi Castellanos, Marco Bernal and Sylla all scored a goal a piece. 

Shane Kluivert signed his first contract with sportswear giant Nike aged just nine years old in 2017, and is clearly beginning to live up to his potential.

Shane’s brother, Justin, came through a different youth academy, having started in his native Netherlands with Ajax, where he made his professional debut in 2016. Since then, he earned a move to Roma in Italy and made 29 league appearances in his first campaign with the Serie A club.

Justin Kluivert also made his senior debut for the Netherlands in March 2018, coming on as a substitute for Memphis Depay in a 3-0 win over Portugal in an international friendly. 

Patrick Kluivert played the majority of his club football for Barcelona, scoring 90 league goals in 182 appearances, and he will be hoping that his son can replicate his impact on Spain’s north-east coast one day.

Although Real Madrid were well beaten by Barcelona in the final of the La Liga Promises tournament, they too had to overcome tough opposition to reach the last two, conquering Liverpool, Inter Milan and Espanyol on their way to second place in the tournament. 

Barcelona’’s U12 side, known as El Alevin A, have now won the New York edition of the tournament in four of the last five years and have cemented themselves as one of the strongest youth organisations in the world. 

Click Here: cheap kanken backpack

Real Madrid, however, won two editions of La Liga Promises earlier this season, and were ultimately disappointed not to make it a treble this campaign.

The defender departs Rome after five seasons with the club as he moves to the Serie A runners-up

Kosta Manolas has joined Napoli as the defender has finalised a departure from Roma. 

The 28-year-old Greece international will switch Serie A sides this summer with Napoli having paid €36m (‎£32m/$41m) to secure the defender’s services.

Manolas originally joined Roma in 2014 from Olympiakos for €15m (£13m/$17m) and made 206 total appearances during his time with the club, scoring eight goals across all competitions.

During the Greek’s five seasons with the club, he had numerous memorable moments including scoring the goal which completed Roma’s Champions League quarter-final comeback against Barcelona in 2018.

His side ultimately fell at the semi-final stage that season as Liverpool overcame the Rome side 7-6 on aggregate to advance to the final where they lost to Real Madrid.

Despite his contribution to the club from the Italian capital, Manolas leaves Roma without adding any silverware to his two Greek Cups and two Super League Greece titles from his time at Olympiakos and AEK Athens.

The closest they came to a trophy during his time at the club were two second-place finishes to Juventus in both 2014-15 and 2016-17, missing out by 17 points and four points respectively. He also featured heavily in their run to the Coppa Italia semi-final, but could not help them to go all the way.

According to Football Italia, Manolas will earn €3.5m (£3.1m/$3.9m) per year plus bonuses as well as a €2m signing on bonus. 

With fellow centre back Raul Albiol departing Napoli for Villarreal after six years in Naples, Manolas looks to be the Spaniard’s direct replacement. Albiol leaves the club after Villarreal paid the 33-year-old’s release clause of €4m, according to Spanish outlet Sport.

Napoli midfielder Amadou Diawara is also set to join Roma in a separate deal which has been pointed to as part of a swap deal involving Manolas, but will process as two separate transfers. 

The 21-year-old Guinea international, who is currently on duty with his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, had previously been linked with Wolves among other clubs, but should finally remain in Serie A with Roma, with the transfer to be processed on his return from Egypt.

Click Here: cheap kanken backpack

The Ligue 1 club’s outspoken president claims that his team could spend far more on their squad if they wanted to

Jean-Michel Aulas, president of Lyon, has said that his club are capable of spending €100 million (£90m/$114m) each year on transfers if necessary. 

The Ligue 1 side have earned themselves something of a reputation for producing and selling star talent, with the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso leaving for other big European clubs.

This summer, Lyon’s squad has yet again been attracting interest from elsewhere on the continent, as Tottenham are reportedly showing strong interest in Frenchman Tanguy Ndombele and left-back Ferland Mendy has already sealed a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. 

Last year, club captain Nabil Fekir was close to a Premier League transfer, as Liverpool nearly signed the midfielder, but finally the move collapsed. 

Following these numerous sales, the Lyon president said that his club could spend up to €100m per year if they so wished.

“We are capable of investing €100m per year. I don’t know if we’ll do it, but [if we do] not on one player. On five players. That’s a better strategy,” the 70-year-old told French news outlet Le Progres .

“Is it better to be the king of the transfer market for one year and earn yourself a reputation, or to build an environment over a long period where you can generate your own resources?”

Since he took over the presidency of the club in 1987, Aulas’s mission has been to turn his club into a shrewd business operation while challenging for silverware. 

This has successfully resulted in Lyon establishing themselves in Europe, while maintaining strength in the transfer market, as Tottenham have discovered. 

“If I wait eight days, [Ndombele] will be worth €80m… Tottenham made us a first offer of €45m,” he said to RMC Sport in a recent interview.

“Afterwards, we discussed. Nothing is set in stone, I assure you of that, and we’re in no rush.

“Tanguy is one of our best players. How much is he worth? I don’t know, but more than €45m for sure.”

Despite his stubbornness in negotiations, Tottenham are still in pole position to sign Ndombele before the summer transfer market closes. 

Lyon have already lined up Thiago Mendes from fellow Ligue 1 club Lille as a replacement, which would allow them to sell the 22-year-old.

Click Here: Sports Water Bottle Accessories