April 2019 - Soccer Wiretap

Germany, France, Portugal Drawn In Group F Of Euro 2020

Nov 30, 2019 2:24 PM

Germany, France, and Portugal were drawn in the same group of the 2020 European Championship.

The tournament takes place from June 12 through July 12th.

The groups are as follows:

Group A: Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Wales

Group B: Belgium, Russia, Denmark, Finland

Group C: Ukraine, Netherlands, Austria, Play-off Winner D (Georgia, Belarus, North Macedonia or Kosovo)

Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic, Play-off Winner C (Norway, Serbia, Scotland or Israel)

Group E: Spain, Poland, Sweden, Play-off Winner B (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Slovakia or Republic of Ireland)

Group F: Germany, France, Portugal, Play-off Winner A (Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland or Romania)

ESPN

Tags: France, Germany, Portugal, UEFA Euro

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Liverpool To Expand Anfield To 61,000 Seats

Nov 29, 2019 1:11 PM

Liverpool announced plans to add 7000 seats to Anfield, expanding the stadium to 61,000 seats.

Currently the 6th largest stadium in the Premier League, they will move past Arsenal to third largest following the expansion.

The expansion will also include added entertainment options, including a bar.

Liverpool currently sit top of the table by 8 points. 

ESPN

Tags: Liverpool, IQ

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Fabinho Out Until January With Ankle Injury

Nov 29, 2019 1:07 PM

Liverpool confirmed that Fabinho damaged ligaments in his ankle during a Champions League match against Napoli.

Fabinho will be out until January.

Liverpool will play in the Club World Cup on December 18th.

Liverpool FC

Tags: Liverpool, Injury

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Arsenal View Mauricio Pochettino As Candidate For Manager

Nov 29, 2019 1:03 PM

Arsenal view Mauricio Pochettino as a candidate to replace Unai Emery as their next manager.

Pochettino was recently sacked by Tottenham.

It is not known how Pochettino would feel about the approach due to the rivalry between the two clubs. He has previously stated that he will not manage Arsenal or Barcelona due to his previous affiliations. 

The Athletic/David Ornstein

Tags: Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Misc Rumor

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Arsenal Fires Unai Emery As Manager

Nov 29, 2019 9:05 AM

Arsenal has fired Unai Emery as manager and installed Freddie Ljunberg on an interim basis.

Emery replaced Arsene Wenger 18 months ago.

In a statement Josh Kroenke said: “Our most sincere thanks go to Unai and his colleagues who were unrelenting in their efforts to get the club back to competing at the level we all expect and demand. We wish Unai and his team nothing but future success.

“The decision has been taken due to results and performances not being at the level required. We have asked Freddie Ljungberg to take responsibility for the first team as interim head coach. We have full confidence in Freddie to take us forward. The search for a new head coach is under way and we will make a further announcement when that process is complete.”

Mikel Arteta, Massimiliano Allegri and Nuno Espírito Santo are considered potential replacements.

Nick Ames/The Guardian

Tags: Arsenal, Misc Rumor

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Jurgen Klinsmann To Manage Hertha Berlin

Nov 27, 2019 1:09 PM

Jurgen Klinsmann has been announced as the new manager of Hertha Berlin.

Hertha Berlin are currently in 15th place in the league.

Klinsmann last managed in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich during the 2008-09 season.

The Guardian

Tags: Hertha BSC, Terms Agreement

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Juventus Not Interested In Ivan Rakitic

Nov 27, 2019 1:07 PM

Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici said that his side are not interested in signing Ivan Rakitic over the winter window.

Rakitic has fallen down the midfield ranks with Barcelona, and is said to be looking for a move away from the club.

Paratici also said that Matthijs de Ligt will become one of the best defenders in the world despite early season struggles.


Football Italia

Tags: Barcelona, Juventus, Transfer Rumor

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Friedkin Group Looking To Purchase Roma For $824 Million

Nov 27, 2019 1:05 PM

The Friedkin Group are reportedly interested in purchasing Roma for $824 million, according to reports in Italy.

Current Roma owner James Pallotta is said to be ready to walk away from majority ownership of the club, though he was remain as a minority owner.

Pallotta purchased Roma in 2011.

Football Italia

Tags: Roma, IQ

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Luis Enrique Calls Out Robert Moreno For Disloyalty

Nov 27, 2019 12:49 PM

Luis Enrique opened up about why he fired Robert Moreno from his national team staff, saying Moreno had been disloyal to him.

"I feel obliged to give more explanations than I would like, because this controversy has been generated by someone who worked with me for many years. I had a meeting with Robert Moreno on Sept. 12. It's the only contact I've had with him. We met for 20 to 30 minutes at my house. It was clear he wanted to coach at the Euros. It wasn't a surprise, I saw it coming, I understand -- he's ambitious. But for me it was disloyal," said Enrique.

Enrique temporarily left his position after his daughter was diagnosed with cancer, with Moreno taking over.

Spain president Luis Rubiales said that the arrangement was clear that Enrique could return when he was ready.

Alex Kirkland/ESPN

Tags: Spain, Misc Rumor

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City Football Group Valued At $4.8 Billion After Sale

Nov 27, 2019 12:41 PM

City Football Group, which owns a group of soccer teams across the world including Manchester City and NYCFC, said they were worth $4.8 billion.

The valuation comes after the Silver Lake equity group invested $500 million into Manchester City.

The valuation could create further ripples within the industry.

"Within world football, this is almost certainly the largest ever sports enterprise valuation. When we look at major league baseball and the eye watering deals in the NFL and even e-sports now, this news will no doubt cause ripples across the sporting and private equity worlds," said Bryn Anderson of Brand Finance.

Charles Riley/CNN

Tags: Manchester City, IQ

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La Liga's TV Rights To Exceed $2.2 Billion For 2019

Sachin Nakrani/The Guardian

Vinicius Could Go On Loan During Winter Window

Sergio Gómez/As.com

Sergio Aguero Will Be 'Out A Few Weeks' With Muscle Injury

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Arsenal, Manchester United Interested In Ezequiel Barco

ESPN

Thomas Tuchel To Bench Neymar For Real Madrid Clash

Julien Laurens/ESPN

Zinedine Zidane Says He's 'In Love' With Kylian Mbappe

Alex Kirkland/ESPN

Jadon Sancho Linked With Move Away From Dortmund

David Ornstein/The Athletic

Aurelio De Laurentiis Fines Napoli Squad $2.75 Million

Andrew Cesare Richardson/ESPN

Jose Mourinho Says 'No Chance' To Zlatan Ibrahimovic Move

ESPN

Rennes Place $55 Million Valuation On 17-Year-Old Eduardo Camavinga

Andrés Onrubia/As.com

Antoine Griezmann Admits Lack Of Confidence In Decision Making

Juan Jiménez/As.com

Rafa Benitez, Chris Hughton Emerging As West Ham Candidates

Jacob Steinberg/The Guardian

Flamengo Defeat River Plate 2-1 To Win 2019 Copa Libertadores Final

RealGM Staff Report

Jose Mourinho Rules Out Possibility Of Spurs Selling Harry Kane

Reuters

Klopp: Mauricio Pochettino Will Be Candidate For Any Job He Wants

ESPN

Diego Maradona Stays On As Gimnasia Manager

Football Guardian

Frank Lampard: I'll Never Manage Tottenham

Marca

Real Madrid Looking To Extend Karim Benzema's Contract

Pablo Polo/Marca

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Not Bothered By Mauricio Pochettino Rumors

Rob Dawson/ESPN

Luis Suarez: MLS Is An 'Attractive' League

Moises Llorens & Sam Marsden/ESPN