Mandzukic left out by Juventus amid Qatar transfer speculation

Mario Mandzukic has not been included in Juventus squad for Saturday s Serie A clash with Fiorentina as speculation continues over his future.

Mandzukic has not played for Juve this term having reportedly been deemed surplus to requirements by Maurizio Sarri, who also left the forward out of his Champions League squad.

Reports emerged this week linking the Croatian with a move to Qatari side Al-Gharafa, while offers from other leagues – including MLS – are also rumoured to be on the table.

The 33-year-old, who is said to be fully fit, looks to have taken a step closer to leaving Juve, with Sarri leaving him out of the squad to face Fiorentina.

Your Bianconeri squad for is CONFIRMED!

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)

Mandzukic – a W…

Arsene Wenger: The Arsenal manager´s worst moments

And now, the end is near. Arsene Wenger certainly did it his way at Arsenal, but his reign at the club is drawing to a close.

The Frenchman caught the footballing world by surprise on Friday by announcing he will leave the Gunners at the end of the season, ending his 22-year tenure. 

During over two decades in charge, Wenger has won the Premier League three times and lifted the FA Cup on seven occasions.

However, it hasn t always been plain sailing during his time in England. There have been near misses, painful departures and disappointing defeats.

Here, we recall five moments Wenger would probably like to forget (and that is without even mentioning his shoving match with Jose Mourinho in 2014).

 

THE END OF THE INVINCIBLES

Arse…

Rangnick wants Leipzig’s Haidara at Man United

RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara is the first player Ralf Rangnick, the newly appointed interim manager at Manchester United, wants the club to sign, according to .

At the age of 23, Haidara is a Mali international with 24 senior caps to his name so far. He mostly plays in a central, box-to-box role, though he has been deployed to provide protection to the back line as well. Having left his homeland in 2016, he joined RB Salzburg at first, and like many other players of the Austrian Bundesliga side, he spent a year on loan with FC Liefering first.

Haidara made the move to Leipzig for a reported fee of €19 million in 2019, when Rangnick was in charge at the German club. The 63-year-old now wants to bring in an energetic midfielder to help him implement his pressing…

Prosecutors split following conclusion of Messi tax fraud trial

The public prosecutor has recommended Lionel Messi be acquitted following a four-day trial for tax fraud, but the government prosecutor has called for a prison sentence of 22 months and 15 days.

The Barcelona star and his father, Jorge, have been charged with three counts of tax fraud worth €4.1million, relating to a period from 2007 to 2009.

On Thursday, Lionel Messi testified that he didn t know anything  about any fraudulent activities, with his father supporting that claim.

Public prosecutor Raquel Amado contended that Jorge Messi was the man responsible for defrauding the Spanish tax office and should face 18 months in prison, while the Argentina forward should be acquitted.

If there is any doubt, Lionel Messi should be acquitted, Amado tol…

Napoli 1 Real Madrid 3 (2-6 agg): Ramos rises to the big occasion yet again for holders

Sergio Ramos once again rose to the occasion as the centre-back helped Real Madrid come from behind to win 3-1 at Napoli and secure progression to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 6-2 aggregate triumph.

The Spain international has come up with the goods on the big stage for Madrid time and time again, including in last season s Champions League final, and he allayed Madrid s fears with a hand in two goals after the break to turn things around following Dries Mertens well-taken first-half opener.

The match lived up to its billing in the opening 45 minutes, as Napoli took the game to the reigning European champions and caused them no end of problems from the start, before eventually halving Madrid s two-goal aggregate lead just before the half-hour mark –�…

Bayern president Hoeness backtracks on Germany boycott comments

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has backtracked over comments he made suggesting the club s players could boycott playing for Germany.

Speaking after Bayern s Champions League Group B game against Red Star Belgrade last week, Hoeness talked about the debate over who should start in goal for Joachim Low s side.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has opened up about his frustration at being unable to dislodge Bayern s Manuel Neuer, who was in between the sticks for Germany s World Cup triumph in 2014.

Hoeness criticised Ter Stegen for his comments and claimed the media are coordinating a campaign against Neuer, insisting Bayern would not let their players be damaged without reason .

He added the Bundesliga champions could no longer send pla…

Atletico will grow through hard work, says Simeone

Diego Simeone insists the only way Atletico Madrid can end their current slump is through hard work. 

The Argentinian leads his side into Champions League action on Tuesday against Monaco looking to turn around a poor start to the season, as they have picked up just five points from their opening four LaLiga games. 

Such an underwhelming return has already seen them fall seven points behind league leaders Barcelona, but Simeone says he has seen enough to suggest Atleti are moving in the right direction. 

We have had ups and downs, with good match passages,  he said at his pre-match media conference. 

The other day [a 1-1 draw with Eibar] there were good things. The only improvement I know in football is through work, it is the only way for the team…

Watzke ´100 per cent convinced´ by Kehl and Terzic despite Dortmund wobbles

Edin Terzic and Sebastian Kehl are 100 per cent the men to lead Borussia Dortmund, according to the club s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.

Terzic replaced Marco Rose as head coach in May while former Dortmund midfielder Kehl took over from long-term sporting director Michael Zorc at the end of the 2021-22 season.

Dortmund began the 2022-23 campaign steadily, winning four of their first five games in the Bundesliga, and they qualified from their Champions League group to reach the last 16.

However, an inconsistent run in the league ended with back-to-back defeats to Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach just before domestic football halted for the World Cup in Qatar, and Dortmund found themselves in sixth place after 15 games, nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Paris Saint Germain eye Reina

Talksport understands that Paris Saint Germain are keen on signing Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

The Spain international has been in Italy for the past two years and is keen on penning a new deal with the Naples club though fresh terms have not yet been agreed.

PSG are interesting in bringing in another keeper to challenge Alphonse Areola and Kevin Trapp for the number one spot while Newcastle United are also interested in securing the services of the thirty-four year old with their manager Rafa Benitez having previously worked with him at Liverpool.

Reina has racked up ninety-three appearances in all competitions for Napoli since signing for them permanently while he also played for them forty-three times during a loan spell in the 2013/14 campaign.

Bitesize Prediction: Olympiacos vs Genk – 10/08/23

Market: Olympiacos win

Odds: 11/10 @

Looking to pick up a first-leg advantage when they open their Europa League qualifying adventure on Thursday night, Olympiacos will welcome Genk to the Karaiskakis Stadium.

Starting with the hosts, signing off their pre-season preparations with a disappointing 2-0 friendly defeat against Championship outfit Norwich, Olympiacos will certainly be seeking an immediate response here. Tipped as a standout contender to extend on their Europa League qualifying adventure his month, Diego Martinez’s men will certainly be excited to make a return to the Karaiskakis Stadium here. Despite being forced to settle for a bronze medal finish among Greece’s elite earlier in the year, the Reds have gained a reputation for their continued su…