If reports in L’Equipe are to believed, Atletico Madrid have agreed a fee with AS Monaco for the transfer of Thomas Lemar. The versatile 22 year old was a target for Arsenal last season and was even linked with Liverpool after their move for Nabil Fekir broke down, but may end up going to Spain after a transfer fee (rumoured to be around the 85 million euro mark was agreed)
If Lemar does move to Atleti, it could well very end up affecting the future of Continue reading
Real Madrid have confirmed that Julien Lopetegui will be the club’s new manager. Lopetegui, the current Spanish national team manager, will link up with Los Blancos after La Furia Roja’s 2018 World Cup campaign.
The news of Lopetegui’s appointment comes as a surprise- he had inked a contract extension with the Spanish federation last month and was not among the shortlisted names to be Zinedine Zidane’s successor.
Talented youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles has committed his long term future to Arsenal after inking a long term extension. The details of the contract were not revealed but sources have it to be a five year deal, making him the first player to a pen an extension after the appointment of Unai Emery as coach. AMN also revealed that he had held discussions with the Spanish gaffer before putting pen to paper.
Maitland-Niles will also wear the No.15 jersey (he previously wore No.30). He is said to prefer a role in central midfield, but has been used in various defensive roles by Arsenal, and to his credit, has acquitted himself admirably. With the signing of Lichtsteiner and the departure of Jack Wilshere, AMN is likely to get more minutes in his preferred playing position in 2018/19. Continue reading
Some World Cups have ‘inevitable’ winners. As hosts in 1998, France seemed destined to lift the trophy. In 2010, Spain’s run to the final and defeat of the Netherlands seemed to be a coronation of the decade’s best football team. Of course, there are always tournaments with no clear favourite which throw up a shock winner. For example, Italy winning in 1982 and 2006 certainly surprised many neutral observers. Continue reading
