Chelsea legend Ray Wilkins has described the club’s decision to sell Nemanja Matic to Manchester United as “the worst” they have made in a long time.

The Serbian midfielder made the switch to Old Trafford for £40million in July and has wasted little time in becoming an integral member of Jose Mourinho’s Premier League leaders.

Wilkins, who enjoyed both playing and coaching roles at Stamford Bridge, has been left bemused by his former employer’s decision, and believes it has given United a significant edge in this season’s title race.

“It’s the worst decision I’ve ever seen,” Wilkins told Sky Sports. “You’ve got a guy here who was paramount to Chelsea along with Kante in the middle of the pitch, winning the title with Chelsea the year before, and all of a sudden you’ve sold him to one of – or the biggest – rivals we have.

“I say ‘we’ because I am a Chelsea supporter so I’m speaking from the heart when I speak. I just could not see that for the life of me. Why would we let Nemanja go there?

“He’s been outstanding for us and you’ve seen in the short period that he’s been there [at Man Utd] how he’s allowed [Paul] Pogba to basically do what he wants. I just couldn’t see that piece of business at all.”
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Mathew Leckie scored a dramatic 86th-minute winner as Australia piled the pressure on Saudi Arabia in the race to qualify for the World Cup by beating Thailand 2-1 in their final fixture.

A tense match in Melbourne saw Australia hit the post three times and have two efforts cleared off the line but they appeared to have done enough when Tomi Juric eventually struck 21 minutes from the end, his third goal in as many qualifiers.

But Pokkhao Anan netted a fine finish with eight minutes remaining as Thailand hit back, only for Leckie to settle a contest that saw the hosts rack up an astonishing 45 shots.

Ange Postecoglou’s men are now reliant on Group B winners Japan avoiding defeat in Saudi Arabia later on Tuesday in order to join Vahid Halilhodzic’s side in Russia, having failed to better the Saudis’ goal difference.

If the Saudis claim victory, Australia will have to make do with a third-place finish which would take them into a play-off system, facing off against a fellow AFC team to earn a shot against CONCACAF’s fourth-place nation for a spot at the tournament.
Australia created a great early chance when Leckie raced down the right before cutting back to Aaron Mooy, who saw his left-footed strike hit the base of the post.

Tom Rogic had a long-range effort parried away by Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool, before the hosts hit the woodwork for a second time when Tim Cahill curled a magnificent effort from the edge of the area off the inside of the post.

A Mooy drive forced another save from the Thailand goalkeeper as Australia remained on top, while Cahill blazed over from a good close-range chance on the turn.

When a Mooy corner was kept alive by the Socceroos and Hathairattanakool failed to punch clear, Mark Milligan’s strike was cleared off line as two defenders bore down on him and there were still further chances for Australia before half-time.

After the visiting keeper was adjudged to have carried the ball out of his box, Juric made a hash of the resulting free-kick, blazing over, before the striker had another golden chance moments later having been sent through on goal by Leckie, only for defender Adison Promrak to make a heroic block.

The visitors caused a major scare early in the second half and had a strong penalty claim turned down when Trent Sainsbury challenged Teerasil Dangda as the Thailand captain raced through on goal.

The lively Rogic had two efforts saved as Australia desperately searched for the opener, before he became the third player to hit the post after another Mooy corner caused chaos.
Australia finally scored when Mooy’s in-swinging cross from the left was headed in by Juric after he nipped in front of Hathairattanakool.

Rogic, who was responsible for 13 of his side’s attempts, forced a fine save from Hathairattanakool, while Juric had another effort cleared off the line by Tristan Do as the hosts looked to boost their goal difference in comparison to the Saudis.

But Thailand stunned the home crowd when a tidy passing move ended with Perapat Notechaiya cutting back from the left and Anan firing a shot from 12 yards in off the underside of the bar.

Australia were not to be denied, though, Mooy’s corner punched clear into the path of Leckie to fire in a deflected effort from eight yards, as all eyes turned to the match in Jeddah.
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Leicester City will reportedly not be adding former Manchester City right-back Bacary Sagna to their squad.

The Foxes were said to be keeping close tabs on the 34-year-old, who was released by the two-time Premier League champions at the end of last season.

Danny Simpson has little competition for the right-back role, but according to the Leicester Mercury, Sagna is unlikely to be recruited by the club.

The Frenchman spent three years at City after joining from Arsenal on a free transfer in 2014, and in that time he won a single trophy – the EFL Cup.

Meanwhile, Leicester will face Chelsea at home this Saturday when Premier League football returns after the international break.
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Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez has trained with his Chile teammates, despite fears that he was struggling with an ankle problem.

The 28-year-old, who was reportedly denied a move to Manchester City on the final day of the transfer window last Thursday, is with the national side ahead of this evening’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia.

Reports emerged claiming that Sanchez limped out of an earlier training session with an ice pack on his left ankle, but it appears that it was just a precaution.

The Daily Mail reports that the former Barcelona star joined his teammates for training on Monday evening, which suggests that he will be involved in tonight’s qualifier.

Sanchez has only played one competitive game for Arsenal this season due to an abdominal strain.
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Borussia Dortmund did not allow Barcelona to “screw” them over the transfer of Ousmane Dembele, president Reinhard Rauball said.

Dembele, 20, made the move from Dortmund to Barcelona for a reported €105million late last month.

It was the LaLiga giants’ biggest signing of the transfer window, having needed desperately to try and replace Neymar after the Brazilian’s world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Rauball said Dortmund were clear with Barca from the outset, setting out what they wanted for the France international.

“In the case of Dembele, we didn’t let Barcelona screw us and made all the conditions clear from the beginning,” he said on Monday.

“If they hadn’t met those conditions, the transfer wouldn’t have been possible. The fact that it happened shortly before the window closed is just the way things are.

“Nevertheless, we really have to think about whether we can accept the fact that such transfers are possible until the end of August.”

Dembele ended up spending just one campaign at Dortmund after joining from Rennes last year.
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Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson believes manager Jurgen Klopp will help new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain develop even further.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, joined Liverpool from Arsenal in a reported £35million move on deadline day.

The England midfielder was apparently targeted by numerous clubs, and offered a new deal by Arsenal, but opted to head to Anfield.

Henderson said Klopp could get the best out of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is into his seventh Premier League season.

“You’d have seen him [Klopp] on the sidelines, he’s very passionate, what you see is a fantastic manager and I think he will help Alex a lot,” Henderson told UK newspapers.

“He will help him develop as a player and hopefully you will see even more good things from him.

“I’m delighted he’s signed for Liverpool, but, at the end of the day, we are with England and our focus has got to be on the game here [against Slovakia] and after Monday then I’m sure we can start focusing on Man City and getting him into Melwood for his first session and stuff like that.”

Henderson talked up Oxlade-Chamberlain’s versatility, saying the 28-time England international could perform out wide or centrally.

“I think he can do both very well, he’s a fantastic player, he can adapt to each position, gives you something different on the wing,” he said.

“He’s very direct and powerful and in the midfield he’s clever enough to get on the ball and get on the half turn so, for me, he can play in either position.”

Liverpool’s first outing after the international break is a trip to Manchester City on Saturday.
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Businessman Aka Udofia has offered the Super Eagles the sum of $20,000 for every goal scored in Monday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying cracker against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in Yaounde.

The young and ebullient businessman from Akwa Ibom State made the promise as he briefly greeted players and officials inside the chartered ARIK Bombadier CRJ 1000 aircraft just before take –off at the Ibom International Airport, Uyo.

“I am a very good friend of the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, and I am happy that I am here in time to see you guys before take –off for Yaounde.

“I watched the game against the Cameroonians here in Uyo on Friday and I am sure you have the ability to conquer them again in their own territory. I promise to reward you with $20,000 for every goal scored in Yaounde,” Udofia announced to the applause of players and officials.

Three –time champions Nigeria play Cameroon on Monday in Yaounde in a Day 4 encounter of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Africa qualifying race, with five points clear of second –placed Zambia and seven ahead of third –placed Cameroon.
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Tite is unsure where Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho will be playing when the transfer window shuts but the Brazil boss has told the Barcelona target to go where he feels happy.

Coutinho continues to be heavily linked with a move to Spanish giants Barca ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline in the Premier League, though LaLiga clubs have an extra day to complete their business.

The Brazil international – subject of three failed bids from Barcelona after handing in a transfer request – is yet to feature for Liverpool this season due to a back injury and illness.

As Coutinho and CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying leaders Brazil prepare to face Ecuador on Thursday, head coach Tite provided an update on the attacking midfielder.

“I can’t assess Coutinho in financial terms,” Tite told reporters. “My thing is in the pitch, that’s my concern. We have different realities.

“But I’ve talked to Coutinho, told him the same I’ve told you: go where you feel happy. If it’s Liverpool, I’ll be ok. If it’s another one, I’ll be ok.

“I have to know my limits. I don’t have to have opinion about everything. I don’t want to be a showman, to be talking about everything. I’m very discreet in this kind of things. And fair. And justice is that he can be happy. I don’t know which club he’s going to. He’ll decide it. But the Brazilian squad won’t lose him.”

Coutinho is in line to feature in Brazil’s qualifiers against Ecuador and Colombia, despite his lack of playing time at Liverpool.

Back problems and a bout of illness are behind Coutinho’s Liverpool absence, though his doctor in Brazil contradicted this by claiming the player was suffering from stress brought about by uncertainty over his future.

Talking about Coutinho’s fitness, Tite said: “Coutinho was called up with 15 days of anticipation. We were aware that we are in a transference window with all the chances of changes coming in. I have to pay attention to it.

“That’s a reality because it touches the emotional side, the player’s life, the routine of the clubs. And, at the same time, we have to look at the essence of Brazilian squad. A player with the level and the quality of Philippe.

“Coutinho, fit at that moment, had to be called. He had a problem. And the dimension of this injury, to know that our basis was the moment in which he arrived to the Brazilian squad. I have this responsibility of telling you this.

“And the medical department made an assessment, a transition work, a contact from physician to physician from Liverpool, from staff to staff, I didn’t do that because I don’t speak English but we made it, so that we wouldn’t put a player at risk but also don’t lose him. Don’t lose a player with the level of Coutinho. He stays as an option.”
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Swansea City have reportedly accepted an offer from Tottenham Hotspur for in-demand forward Fernando Llorente.

For a number of weeks, it has been claimed that Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte is keen to sign the player – who he has previously worked with at Juventus – and it appeared that the switch would likely materialise without complications.

However, according to Sky Sports News, Spurs have entered the race for the Spaniard and had an offer accepted for his signature.

It has been suggested that Chelsea are likely to launch a counter offer for the 32-year-old, who scored 15 goals in 33 Premier League appearances last season, but Spurs are currently the only team to meet Swansea’s valuation of the player.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is seemingly after a proven deputy for Harry Kane, with Vincent Janssen having struggled to make an impact during his first season in North London.

Chelsea currently have Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi in their ranks, but it has been reported that Batshuayi could have offers from elsewhere should the Blues be able to secure the services of Llorente.
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West Brom have completed the signing of full-back Kieran Gibbs from Arsenal for a reported fee of £7million.

The 27-year-old has signed a four-year contract at The Hawthorns, where he will wear the number three shirt.

Gibbs had been linked with Watford and Galatasaray but is relishing the prospect of playing under Tony Pulis.

“It has been an amazing journey to play for my childhood club since I was 14,” he said via his official Twitter account.

“I would like to thank Arsene Wenger for giving me the chance to start my career and fulfil a dream!

“Now it’s time for the next chapter with West Bromwich Albion and I can’t wait to get started with the boys!”

Pulis added to West Brom’s official website: “We’ve now got a deal which I think is right for the club and I’m really pleased to add a player of this quality and experience to our group.

“Kieran’s a good age and has made over 200 appearances for Arsenal, represented his country and has Premier League and Champions League experience.

“To add these qualities to our squad is exactly what we’re looking for.”

Gibbs, who made his debut for the Gunners in 2007, made 229 appearances in total in all competitions.

He follows Oliver Burke, Gareth Barry, Ahmed Hegazi and Jay Rodriguez in moving to West Brom in the transfer window, as well as Yuning Zhang, who has been loaned to Werder Bremen.
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Maria Sharapova felt like she had no right to beat Simona Halep as the former world number one celebrated her winning return to grand slam tennis at the US Open.

Sharapova made a triumphant comeback to the major scene after upstaging second seed Halep 6-4 4-6 6-3 in the opening round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows on Monday.

The five-time major champion was making her first slam appearance since testing positive for a banned substance at the 2016 Australian Open, having returned from a 15-month suspension for violating anti-doping rules in April, but was denied a wildcard for the French Open and then pulled out of Wimbledon qualifying through injury.

Sharapova – who missed the Western & Southern Open and Rogers Cup due to injury – was granted a wildcard for the year’s last slam and she took full advantage, outlasting world number one hopeful Halep in an absorbing clash approaching almost three hours.

“When I found out that I received the wildcard, I was obviously extremely excited,” 2006 US Open champion Sharapova told reporters. “I realised how long it had been since I played at the US Open.

“Just the thought of being back here. When me and my coach first scheduled my practice on centre court, actually it got moved because they had some maintenance issues. I was upset about it because I really wanted that first practice on centre court. Those little things you kind of take for granted. From the moment that I’ve been here, I’ve really understood what this means to me, to be back and to be playing.

“Then when the draw came out, I knew what a difficult matchup this would be, how much excitement was behind this matchup and the hype. That all goes to the fact that we’ve just competed so well against each other in the past. Really produced some good tennis.

“Despite not playing a lot of matches coming into this, it almost seemed like I had no right to win this match today. And I somehow did. I think that is what I’m most proud of.”
Sharapova added: “I was looking forward to it. From the second I found out I was playing Simona, I was actually getting my nails done, I got my phone out and I pulled up YouTube videos of our matches and started studying our matches.

“I felt like going into this match, I knew my game plan. It’s one thing knowing what you want to do and it’s another thing executing it. I haven’t been on court much in the last few weeks, not as much as anyone that’s in the draw this week.

“The fact that I was able to come out and play that way, beat the number two player in the world in the first round of the US Open, it’s been a while, I think those are definitely the emotions that I was feeling.”

Sharapova was greeted with an ovation from the Arthur Ashe crowd before the match and afterwards, and the Russian continued: “[It was] so special. I felt the support in the States, I mean, even just the first match in Stanford. It’s a smaller event, a smaller venue, it’s a little bit more intimate. This is obviously a different scale, completely different calibre to anywhere you play in the world. It’s electric.

“As much as I want to be in the zone, focus in on what I have to do, execution and all those things, I definitely felt the energy. I felt the crowd. I felt it for both of us, you know. That’s what makes this great. I love that feeling, that there’s fans cheering for both players, that it’s a great match and a great level. They’re getting their evening’s worth.”
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Philippe Coutinho’s early season absence at Liverpool was down to stress amid speculation over a big-money move to Barcelona, according to the player’s doctor in Brazil.

Coutinho has not featured for Liverpool competitively this term and handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a switch to Camp Nou, although Liverpool are understood to have rejected three bids for the playmaker – the latest coming in at £119million.

The official reason for the 25-year-old’s absence was a back injury initially, before illness kept him away from last week’s resounding victories over Hoffenheim and Arsenal.
READ Slaven Bilic has four games to save West Ham United job

Coutinho still joined up with Brazil’s national team for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Colombia on August 31 and September 5 respectively and trained separately from his team-mates on Monday.

Amid reports in Brazil that he will be ready to play, Michael Simoni – Fluminense’s medical director – spoke to the midfielder and concluded his long-time friend was suffering with an “emotional issue manifesting itself as back pain”.

“Coutinho’s back problem? He is okay now. The back problem was a matter of stress, it was something emotional,” Simoni told Esporte after meeting with Coutinho in Rio.

“The uncertainty about his future led him to feeling stressed. Everything is solved now.

“Coutinho and I have been friends for years. I always treat his medical cases. All he needed was someone to give him a pep talk.”
Speaking at the presentation of club-record signing Ousmane Dembele on Monday, Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez said the club hoped to make another signing this week, further stoking speculation over Coutinho.

“He’s a bit anxious about the possibility of changing club,” Simoni said in a separate interview with ESPN Brasil. “Of course, we talked about this possible transfer, about the things that are in his heart right now.

“His back pains, in my opinion, are explained by this anxiety. Muscular tension normally does that.

“He can show up to train normally. I didn’t do a clinical exam, he came to chat, he came to talk to a friend.”
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Liverpool boast the Premier League’s most dangerous attack, according to defender Dejan Lovren.

Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge were all on target as Liverpool routed Arsenal 4-0 on Sunday.

The trio of Mane, Firmino and Salah share seven Premier League goals between them after three matches, while they have nine in total in all competitions this season.

And Croatia international Lovren believes Liverpool’s front line is number one in the league.

“For me, they are the best, they caused Arsenal a lot of problems,” he said.

“It’s a long season and we will see towards the end of the season who is in the first place, but you can see the difference those three players [Mane, Firmino and Salah] make.

“I’m lucky that I don’t have to face them very often in training. It tends to be the guys who aren’t in the first-eleven.

“All three of them are top players, they have pace and great quality. They are amazing. It would be quite difficult for any defender when you are up against Salah, Mane and Firmino.”
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Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig in a club-record deal that will see him join the club next year.

The 22-year-old had been one of manager Jurgen Klopp’s primary transfer targets, but the Bundesliga club had been unwilling to consider a sale ahead of their first season in the Champions League.

However, the Reds have finally struck a deal that will reportedly see them pay the £48million release clause in Keita’s contract, allowing him to move to Anfield on July 1, 2018.

The transfer makes the Guinea midfielder Liverpool’s most expensive signing, eclipsing the £36.9m upfront fee they paid Roma for Mohamed Salah in June.

Keita will spend the rest of the season with Leipzig and told Liverpool’s official website: “I am delighted that an agreement has been reached which will allow me to join Liverpool Football Club next summer, when I will become part of a project that excites me greatly.

“My commitment to RBL remains absolute for the remainder of my time at the club. I have given my all every time I have worn the shirt – that will be the case until the final whistle, in my final appearance.

“Having my future resolved means I can now focus on helping RBL achieve great things this season. Until I join my new club I will remain an interested supporter from a distance.”

Keita has made three appearances for Leipzig this season and scored in the 5-0 DFB-Pokal win over Sportfreunde Dorfmerkingen.

He won two league and cup doubles in Austria with RB Salzburg before moving to Leipzig last year and helping them to a second-place finish in their debut season in the Bundesliga.
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MAKE UNA SHA NO FIGHT FOR FUTBALL MATTER

Tonnyb12:
World best player in the making

I PRAY O

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has said that the strength of his squad will be tested when the Red Devils return to action after the international break.

Mourinho has made minimal changes to his XI in the opening weeks of the new Premier League campaign, and a strong start to the season has seen the 20-time English champions win all three of their league matches.

The bench has also remained largely unchanged, but the group stage of the Champions League will start on September 11, while Man United also have a League Cup clash against Burton Albion on September 18.

“If I have one week to prepare a match, my team is always very good because you have time to organise a week of work, going through every item of the game,” Mourinho told reporters.

“When you start playing every two, three days, it’s more based on what you build during pre-season. From now, (there are) no more clean weeks, from now every week has a midweek match until the moment we are out of one of the cups.

“Now my team is also the mirror of the work we are doing in clean weeks where we can train five days and close to every item of the game-plan.”

Man United enter the international break atop the Premier League table on nine points from a possible nine.
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Asmir Begovic believes the likes of Bournemouth are at a disadvantage compared to the Premier League heavyweights when it comes to refereeing decisions.

Begovic, who joined Bournemouth from reigning champions Chelsea during the close-season, was on the receiving end of a cruel defeat against Manchester City on Saturday, when Raheem Sterling’s 97th-minute winner gave Pep Guardiola’s side a dramatic 2-1 win at the Vitality Stadium.

Sterling was then sent off as referee Mike Dean deemed his celebrations to be excessive amid wild scenes, with some of the travelling supporters spilling on to the field.

Dean earlier engaged in lengthy dialogue with Guardiola and his Bournemouth counterpart Eddie Howe to resolve a dispute between the two benches that contributed to the signalled five minutes of stoppage time being extended

The last-gasp nature of City’s winner irritated Begovic, who felt Nicolas Otamendi was fortunate to be awarded a free-kick for a foul by Lys Mousset in the build-up to the goal. The Bosnia-Herzegovina international suggested such calls are part of a wider trend.

“I don’t think we got many calls at the end. That’s to be expected; the bigger team always gets the calls,” he said, as quoted by The Guardian.

“There were probably a couple of dodgy calls at the end. Jermain [Defoe] being fouled on the halfway line when we tried to break. That was obviously a call we would’ve liked and didn’t get.

“There were a couple of things that didn’t go our way. The seventh minute [of added time] they scored, when it should’ve been five minutes. There’s probably a couple of things we have a right to be unhappy with.

“You look at the extra time, you could see a couple of things didn’t go our way that’s for sure. Maybe it is subconsciously … but we were on the wrong side of it and I think the bigger teams do get those calls.”
Dean made few friends on the south coast, with City angered by Nathan Ake only being booked for bringing down Gabriel Jesus as he looked to bear down on goal.

Brazil international Jesus cancelled out Charlie Daniels’ spectacular opener but was also on the receiving end of a robust challenge from Steve Cook that went unpunished.

Nevertheless, Begovic maintained Bournemouth were entitled to feel hard done by.

“It is maybe a thing because maybe the bigger teams put more pressure on and maybe they get more calls, more decisions,” he added.

“I don’t know if it’s pressure from people on the sidelines or whatever it is.

“There were definitely a couple of things in the last 10 minutes. You look at it and think we would’ve liked that and deserved that to go our way but, hey, we gave it our best and it wasn’t meant to be.”
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Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane insists Gareth Bale remains a key player for the Spanish and European champions after he was booed on Sunday.

Bale came in for extra attention from the Santiago Bernabeu crowd following Madrid’s 2-2 draw against Valencia in LaLiga.

The 28-year-old Wales international – linked with Premier League giants Manchester United – was upstaged by two-goal hero and team-mate Marco Asensio as he was substituted and jeered by sections of the home fans.

“He’s a key player in the squad. Gareth is Gareth. We keep working hard and we rely on Gareth, just as is the case with the other players,” said Zidane.

“Gareth’s situation is good. He had scoring opportunities but did not convert them. We’re going to keep working on this.

“I can’t criticise my players, quite the contrary. I’m very happy with their work.”
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Marco Asensio’s game-saving performance against Valencia proved he is no longer just a future prospect for Real Madrid, according to right-back Dani Carvajal.

Asensio opened the scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu with a lovely finish, but Valencia hit back through Carlos Soler and took the lead when debutant Geoffrey Kondogbia slotted past Keylor Navas with 13 minutes remaining.

However, Asensio, elevated to the starting line-up due to Sergio Ramos’ suspension, tucked home an excellent free-kick in the 82nd minute to earn the LaLiga champions a share of the spoils.

“There is no doubt that Asensio is already the present of Madrid, not the future,” Carvajal told Spanish television after the 2-2 draw.
Karim Benzema wasted a host of chances and saw a stoppage-time header tipped onto the post by Valencia goalkeeper Neto, with Carvajal ruing their missed chances.

“We have not won one point, we have lost two,” he said.

“We got a point and we have paid for the intense month that we have had. We had plenty of chances and we could have achieved something more.

“We let two points get away from us and we had clear chances in which the goalkeeper made a save or Benzema had bad luck.”
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Chelsea have reportedly maintained their interest in pushing through with the signing of Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

With the 24-year-old having less than a year remaining on his contract, the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool have been linked with his signature before the end of the transfer window.

Arsenal want to keep a player who has been part of their first-team squad since 2011, with manager Arsene Wenger acknowledging that the former Southampton trainee is a key part of the club’s plans for this season and beyond.

However, according to The Telegraph, Chelsea are confident of securing Oxlade-Chamberlain’s signature within the next seven days as Antonio Conte looks to strengthen his squad at Stamford Bridge.

It has been suggested that the versatile England international has been offered wages of £180,000 per week to remain at the Emirates Stadium, but those terms are likely to be rejected.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has made 197 appearances for the Gunners, but only 67 of those outings have been starts in the Premier League.
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Claudio Marchisio has been ruled out for up to four weeks after suffering an injury setback on the same knee he had surgery on last year.

The 31-year-old underwent an operation on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in April 2016, ruling him out of Italy’s European Championship campaign, and required another procedure following complications.

Juve, who confirmed Marchisio’s latest absence on Friday, revealed he required “specific therapies and muscle strengthening work”, sidelining him for “the next three to four weeks”.

It means Marchisio, who was substituted in last weekend’s 3-0 Serie A win over Cagliari, will miss the forthcoming league matches against Genoa and Chievo, as well as the Champions League trip to Barcelona.

Marchisio this week seemingly ended speculation he could leave the Italian champions before the closure of the transfer window, with AC Milan and Chelsea having been linked.

“Sometimes, no words needed #nodoubt #thankyou,” Marchisio wrote on Twitter in response to speculation about his future, alongside a photograph of him with his hand on the Juve crest.
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A Manchester City swoop for Lionel Messi before the transfer window closes has been dismissed as “impossible” by Txiki Begiristain.

With ex-Barca chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Begiristain joined last year by the Catalan giants’ former coach Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, City have been touted as one of the most likely destinations should Messi seek to leave Camp Nou.

The concept of Barca being vulnerable to interest in the Argentina international, who has agreed a new four-year contract but is yet to sign it, appeared laughable in recent years, but Neymar’s shock €222million departure for Paris Saint-Germain has prompted a reassessment of that stance.

Nevertheless, Begiristain, speaking at the draw for the Champions League group stage on Thursday, rejected the suggestion City could attempt to stage such a stunning coup in the next week.

“It’s impossible,” he said.

“He [Messi] will stay at Barcelona.”

According to Begiristain, City will only add to their squad before August 31 if an enticing opportunity presents itself, the club having already brought in Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Danilo, among others, at great expense.

“We can try to do some movement but now we are very happy,” he said.

“If something happens in the last days our job is always to be ready. If we think we can improve the squad, we will do it. As we are now, we are really happy.”

City’s sporting director claimed it was highly unlikely the club would seek to land a major marquee target at short notice, despite having previously been linked with Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe.

“It’s not our job to do it today or tomorrow,” he said.

“When you try to get those kind of players you have to move much earlier. It’s impossible to do it now in the last days.”

City will take on Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester City, Napoli and Feyenoord in Group F of the Champions League.
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Maccabi Tel Aviv – SCR Altach
Yes H Wins Either Halves
1.38
1129
AEK Larnaca FC – FC Viktoria Plzen
Over(1.5) O/U 1.5
1.27
1147
HNK Hajduk Split – Everton
X2 Double Chance
1.28
1143
Ath. Bilbao – Panathinaikos
1 1X2
1.33
1144
Marseille – NK Domzale
1 1X2
1.19
1130
FC Dynamo Kiev – CS Maritimo Madeira
Over HT(0.5) O/U 0.5 HT
1.30
1142
Shkendija 79 Tetovo – Milan
Over HT(0.5) O/U 0.5 HT
1.23
1136
Fenerbahce – Vardar Skopje
Over HT(0.5) O/U 0.5 HT
1.18
1133
FC Oleksandria – FC BATE Borisov
Over(0.5) O/U 0.5
1.08
1135
FC Zenit St Petersburg – FC Utrecht
12 Double Chance
1.15

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Barcelona are reportedly preparing a bid for Chelsea forward Willian after admitting defeat in their pursuit of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele.

The Catalan giants are desperate to bring in some attacking reinforcements in the remaining seven days of the transfer window after losing key man Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool are understood to have knocked back three formal offers for Coutinho, while Borussia Dortmund want close to £140m to part company with France international forward Dembele.

According to France Football, Barca have now given up hope of landing their top targets and will instead turn to Chelsea ace Willian, who was linked with the Stamford Bridge exit earlier this summer.

Willian was denied the chance to reunite with former boss Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, and the Blues are expected to reject any further advances for the Brazilian.

Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel di Maria is also understood to be on Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde’s wishlist.
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba said he had not met a gay footballer in the Premier League but added any player who came out would have his respect.

The France international was speaking at the launch of UEFA’s RESPECT campaign in Monaco, where stars of the game were helping to promote diversity, fan culture and accessibility for everyone in football.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger is the only Premier League player to have openly declared his homosexuality, but did so after retiring from the game.

When asked whether the league would provide a safe environment for a gay player, Pogba said: “That’s something that I’ve never seen but why not? It’s a human being.

“What he does in his private life has nothing to do with the player. You just have to respect him. Because he respects you, you respect him. That’s it.

“It’s all about respect. It’s all about equality everywhere in the world. We are all equal when we play football.”

Pogba was also asked about the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the concerns that have been raised about potential racism.

The 24-year-old accepted the responsibility that players carry for spreading the right message to supporters, saying: “We can play with Chinese people, African guys, French, American, but we’re all equal when we do what we love on the pitch, and that’s the message we want to give to everyone.

“It’s a big thing, the World Cup, and we all play to win. But there has always been the respect on the pitch and outside the pitch and we hope that nothing is going to happen.

“Hopefully nothing will happen but we can just talk, help each other, and talk about racism and equality on the pitch. We can’t really do anything about it but give everyone a good message to avoid those things.”
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A China League One reserve match was suddenly cut short due to a referee’s desperate need to catch a flight.

The first half between Hangzhou Greentown’s reserve side and Meixian Techand lasted only 40 minutes, while the whistle blew 38 minutes into the second because the referee feared he would miss his plane last week.

Hangzhou – home of Australia international defender Matthew Spiranovic – confirmed to Chengdu Economic Daily that the game was abandoned as there is only flight scheduled daily at the nearest airport.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is investigating the incident.
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FC IfeanyiUbah goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa was the hero in Kano as CHAN Eagles beat the Squirrels of Benin Republic 2-0 (2-1 on aggregate) to book a place in the 2018 CHAN Championship to be staged in Kenya.

The Home Eagles who head into the second leg knowing a 2-goal marking victory is all they need to make it to the next round had to work for their victory on a sunny Saturday at the Sani Abacha stadium.

Coach Salisu Yusuf started Rabiu Ali, Alhassan Ibrahim while Afeez Aremu was dropped to the bench.

His 4-3-3 had Ikechukwu Ezenwa in goal; Osas Okoro, Stephen Eze, Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, Chima Akas making up the back four Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Rabiu Ali, Samuel Mathias as the midfield trio and Alhassan Ibrahim, Stephen Odey, Kingsley Eduwo upfront.

Within the first 4 minutes, Rabiu Ibrahim and Osas Okoro gave the Squirrels a hint of what is to come with both players having a pop at goal.

With Rabiu Ali, Kingsley Eduwo and Ibrahim Alhassan mounting serious pressure on the away team their play was soon rewarded when Rabiu Ali finished off a sweet move involving the Akwa United attacker in the 22nd minutes.

It was a back and forth play from both teams and at the end of the first 45 minutes, Rabiu Ali’s goal was the difference.

Very early in the second half Kingsley Eduwo nodded home Osas Okoro’so cross to increase Nigeria’s tally to 2 after 4th minutes of play.

The game from then on continued to be a back and forth play as both teams continued to do what will take them to the next round but three minutes after the hour mark referee Esono awarded a penalty to the visitors.

Stephen Eze was adjudged to have blocked a goal-boudoir effort with his hand and Seibou who scored last week in Cotonou stepped up only for his effort to be saved by Ezenwa before Eze made a timely clearance.
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