Pallotta: Roma set for Qatari takeover? Fake news

According to a recent report from Goal, Chelsea are considering going after Sander Berge, the popular Genk midfielder, in the January transfer window. They’ll only be doing so if their transfer ban is officially lifted on Wednesday, otherwise, fellow Premier League giants Liverpool look set to swoop in and make some kind of offer. 

Chelsea have been unable to go after any players cross the last few months, including the summer transfer window from earlier this year, as a result of their aforementioned transfer ban. The Blues have still been able to get off to a strong start this season in the league and look set to make a sustained push for a place in the top four, but even with that being the case, they’re always going to be on the lookout for a few new faces. 

B…

Luis Suarez led the praise for Ajax after their sensational win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.

The Eredivisie giants stunned Madrid 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to eliminate the three-time defending champions 5-3 on aggregate in the last 16.

Plenty of praise followed for Ajax, who reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002-03.

Former star Suarez – now playing for Barcelona – led the tributes on Twitter afterwards.

Why couldn’t you beat a richer club? I’ve never seen a bag of money score a goal.

— Johan Cruyff (@JohanCruyff)

Suarez, who dominated for Ajax before his move to Liverpool in 2011, sent congratulations and wrote the club would always be with him.

Gefeliciteerd! Ik ben altijd ajacid …

“What I feel for this club goes beyond any signature, any contract or any piece of paper,” he said. 

Those are the words of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi who has made it evidently clear that he will not be triggering the clause in his contract that would allow him to leave the club for nothing during next summer’s transfer window. There was a great deal of concern regarding the future of the little Argentine with the expectation being that he might test the market and see what other offers he had out there aside from the Nou Camp. 

Either way he’ll be competing at what you’d imagine to be a pretty high level, and yet, his heart still seems to be with the famous Spanish city. 

Barca are enjoying a solid enough season so far both domestically and i…

Before the Premier League pauses for the penultimate international break of the year, there is another packed weekend of action to look forward to – not least the showdown between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield.

City inflicted a first defeat of the season on Chelsea last Saturday, the reigning champions moving to within a point of top spot following Liverpool s thrilling draw with Brentford.

With those two heavyweights exchanging blows on Merseyside, third-placed Chelsea will be looking to take advantage when they host Southampton, though the Blues are winless in their last three in this fixture.

Two other sides on 13 points after six matches meet at Old Trafford on Saturday as Manchester United host Everton, while Arsenal travel to high-flying Bright…

Ryan Giggs has denied allegations of assault and is assisting police with ongoing investigations after being arrested on Sunday. 

Police were called to an address in Worsley, Salford following reports of a disturbance. A 46-year-old man was arrested and then released on bail pending further inquiries. 

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: Police were called at 10.05pm on Sunday to reports of a disturbance. 

A woman in her 30s sustained minor injuries but did not require any treatment. 

A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of section 47 assault and section 39 common assault.  

A representative for Giggs, who spent his entire playing career with Manchester United and is now in charge of Wales national team, releas…

Raphinha hopes Brazil will have reason to dance in celebration at the World Cup as he joked Tite s side have 10 routines rehearsed for goals.

Brazil are among the tournament favourites in Qatar ahead of their Group G opener on Thursday against Serbia as the Selecao aim for a first World Cup triumph since 2002.

Barcelona winger Raphinha was one of many to celebrate in support of Vinicius Junior, who was told in September by a Spanish journalist to stop dancing to respect your mates and stop playing the monkey .

Gabriel Jesus, Neymar and Richarlison – all members of Tite s 26-man squad in the Middle East – were other notable supporters of Brazil team-mate Vinicius.

Raphinha appears a likely contender to start for the five-time world champions and he int…

Nishan Velupillay came off the bench to score the winner as Melbourne Victory defeated Adelaide United 2-1 in a thrilling A-League encounter.

One of the fiercest rivalries in the A-League served up a treat on Saturday, as Victory came away with Original Rivalry spoils.

There was no shortage of action – the match seeing 35 goal attempts in total and an 88th-minute red card for Victory full-back Jason Davidson.

His dismissal for a second yellow-card offence came 10 minutes after Velupillay was teed up by fellow substitute Robbie Kruse to tap in from close range and decisively restore Victory s lead.

Francesco Margiotta put the visitors ahead in the 59th minute, but Adelaide had responded through Jacob Tratt 11 minutes later.

Melbourne s win ended…

Pep Guardiola played down the significance of his side’s victory over Sheffield United on Saturday despite it increasing the pressure at the top of the Premier League.

Goals from Rodri and Julian Alvarez at the Etihad Stadium saw the champions wrap up a memorable 2023 – a year in which they won five trophies – with a comfortable 2-0 victory over the struggling Blades.

The result lifted City within two points of leaders Liverpool at the end of a draining month in which they played nine matches, including two in Saudi Arabia at the Club World Cup.

That could be viewed as ominous for the rest of the competition but City manager Guardiola did not want to be drawn into such talk.

Guardiola said: “What we have done in the past doesn’t mean it is going…

Luis Enrique believes it is not the right time to discuss his future after Spain slumped to a shock World Cup exit against Morocco, saying he could yet stay on as La Roja s head coach.

Spain arrived in Qatar as one of the tournament favourites, but La Roja suffered a second consecutive last-16 elimination via a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw at Education City Stadium.

Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets all failed to convert as Morocco ran out 3-0 winners in the shoot-out, with the latter duo seeing their efforts saved by Yassine Bounou.

Spain have now lost four of their five penalty shoot-outs at the World Cup, more than any other side in the history of the tournament, with their latest loss throwing the future of Luis Enrique – whose contract …

Market: Over 1.5 goals

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Two nations who are still looking to pick up their first qualifying victory on Saturday night, Cyprus will welcome Georgia to the AEK Arena in Larnaca.

Starting with the hosts, although Cyprus might have signed off 2022 with a stunning 3-2 friendly victory away at Israel, it appears that might have just been a minor boost for Temur Ketsbaia s squad. Opening their European Championships qualifying adventure with a routine 3-0 drumming away at Scotland on March 25th, the Blues are the only Group A contender that are yet to put a single point on the board. Likewise, last seen playing out what was an action-packed 2-2 draw against Armenia, the one-time Olympiacos boss will have a growing headache over his side’s extended defensive …