Tag: Romeo Lavia

Kylian Mbappe will be barred from training with Paris St Germain’s main first-team group as his contract dispute with the club continues, it has been reported.

PSG return to their training base on Monday following their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea, but Mbappe will be part of the so-called ‘loft’ training group rather than the first team as his stand-off with the club drags on.

PSG sources remain convinced the player, who is out of contract next summer, has already agreed a free transfer deal with Real Madrid, the PA news agency reports.

Mbappe’s management are understood to have refused to engage with an offer from the club to sign a new contract containing a guaranteed sale clause, which would allow him to join another club for a fee next summer.

From PSG’s perspective, there is no reason why he would turn down the offer, because it gives him the opportunity to leave when he wants and join the club he wants.

PSG had given Al Hilal permission to speak to the player after they tabled a world record bid of £259million last month, but Mbappe reportedly refused to even meet with delegates from the Saudi club who had flown to Paris.

Chelsea and Barcelona are understood to be two of the clubs trying to work out a player-plus-cash deal for Mbappe, who was part of France’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018 and also one of the stars of the last tournament in Qatar.

PSG kick off their 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign at home to Lorient on Saturday.

Former Arsenal winger Perry Groves has hailed Erik ten Hag and praised Manchester United for their business so far this summer.

Speaking on the Sunday Session, the talkSPORT host said: “It shows you that all the top managers, and I’ve always said this, no matter who your director of football is, or your football committee, you have to have the final say.

“Ten Hag has a really good relationship now with John Murtough, obviously he was the director of football, and he would have gone to him and said, ‘This is what I need, and I need it done quickly’.

“So getting Onana in goal, everybody knew that De Gea’s best days were behind him. Mason Mount, because of Eriksen, obviously his legs have gone a little bit, and he needed a young centre-forward that he can mould into the player that he wants him to be.

“And Rasmus Hojlund will give Manchester United now a threat going in behind, which they probably didn’t have before. It’ll end up suiting Marcus Rashford, because he likes coming off the left-hand side. So there’s been really good transfer business for Manchester United.

“If you look at what will probably be their starting XI – Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, and Luke Shaw, Casemiro and Mount, two holders, and then Rashford on the left of the three, Fernandes in the middle, then you’ve got a choice of Diallo, Anthony, Garnacho or Sancho on the right, and Hoyland up front – that’s not bad.

“It’s a lot stronger than it was last year and in terms of style of play as well, because the goalkeeper can play out from the back, you’ve got Mount who is going to add a little bit more creativity in midfield, but has got more legs than Christian Eriksen had.

“It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Manchester United.”

Chelsea have been hit with an £8.6million fine by UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play rules stretching back to Roman Abramovich’s ownership.

The club’s new owners – including Todd Boehly – alerted UEFA to the breaches after they assumed control of the Blues last year.

And on Friday, UEFA released a statement where they have revealed they have imposed punishment on the west Londoners.

It read: “With respect to Chelsea FC (ENG), the CFCB First Chamber concluded that the club breached the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations as a result of submitting incomplete financial information.

“Following the club’s sale in May 2022, the new ownership identified, and proactively reported to UEFA, instances of potentially incomplete financial reporting under the club’s previous ownership.

“The reported matters related to historical transactions which took place between 2012 and 2019.

“Following its assessment, including the applicable statute of limitations, the CFCB First Chamber entered into a settlement agreement with the club which has agreed to pay a financial contribution of €10million [£8.6m] to fully resolve the reported matters.”

America wants Premier League games played in the country.

That’s according to New Jersey governor Phil Murphy, who saw 82,000 fans watch the pre-season game between Man United and Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium.

Talk of a 39th game being staged abroad is nothing new, but it has always been resisted and governor Murphy, who is an America 2026 World Cup executive, has eyes on a European fixture being played in the States, too.

“We would die to have a real competitive game anywhere in America. To have a Champions League game in New York/New Jersey, it would be overwhelming,” he said.

“I know the clubs have not been wild about that in Europe. The guy who brought [the pre-season] game here [Charlie Stillitano], who is a good friend – over the years he has tried to do just that. It’s more what will the clubs from Europe want.

“But I would assume that United and Arsenal view this as a good brand: putting your best players out there, 82,000 fans in New York/New Jersey.

“You would have Barcelona playing Real Madrid in New Jersey at some point in a regular season or in a Champions League game. I’d love to think it would happen.

“I tell you what’s a good model, the NFL. As you all know, they play real games in Europe with great success. I’m a New England Patriots fan and they are playing the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt in November. The stadium is not that big, only 55,000 seats, and they had demand for 700,000 tickets.”

In 2008, Richard Scudamore’s plan for a 39th game of the season was met with very fierce resistance and was abandoned. Two years ago, fans forced a rethink from Premier League bosses when they attempted to pull away and form a European Super League.

“It’s going to be clubs and their fans [who decide], or maybe if there is a different configuration or a super league ever happens,” Murphy added. “I can say unequivocally, US fans would die to have a real competitive game anywhere in America. If it was in New York/New Jersey, you wouldn’t get near that game.”

Wilfried Zaha has sent an emotional message to Crystal Palace fans as he confirmed he will leave the club.

The forward is in Turkey to seal a move to Galatasaray on a free transfer after his contract at Palace ended last month.

Zaha, who rejoined Palace after a brief spell at Manchester United in 2015, played 458 times for the Eagles and scored 89 goals.

“As I start a new chapter I want to speak to you Palace fans who mean so much to me,” he wrote on social media.

“We have been through so much together, including 10 years in the Prem [Premier League]. There are loads of amazing memories that will stay in my head forever and also some really tough times along the way, but I’m so proud to have played my part in getting us to the Prem and helping to keep us there.

“I’ve been wearing the Palace shirt since I was eight-years-old, it’s literally been my second skin and I always gave everything when I wore it.

“You have all seen me angry and frustrated, but you’ve also seen my hunger and passion and the joy that I take from winning, and I hope that is the memory that lives on in the minds of Palace fans.”

Former Manchester United and Newcastle striker Giuseppe Rossi has announced his retirement at the age of 36.

The 30-time capped Italy international had been playing back in his home country for Serie C side SPAL.

Rossi produced his best football at Villarreal between 2007 and 2013, becoming one of LaLiga’s most lethal strikers during an injury-hit career.

Now those injuries have taken their toll, and Rossi thanked his employers, fans and family in an emotional Instagram post.

Brighton are close to completing the £15m capture of Fiorentina defender Igor Julio, talkSPORT understands.

Brazilian centre back Igor will become the Seagulls’ fifth summer signing.

Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton have had a busy summer so far, seeing Aleix Mac Allister sold to Liverpool for £35m, rising to £55m.

They also broke their club record transfer fee by signing Joao Pedro from Watford for £30m.

Keen not to be left short at the back, 25-year-old Igor will now strengthen their defensive corps.