May 2020 - Soccer Wiretap

Napoli Confident They'll Buy Victor Osimhen, Gabriel From Lille

Jun 30, 2020 2:48 PM

Napoli are confident they will sign Victor Osimhen and Gabriel from Lille for a combined fee of €100 million.

The offer made by Napoli is split €70m for Osimhen and €30m for Gabriel, which meets Lille's asking price.

Osimhen would have preferred a transfer to the Premier League.

Julien Laurens/ESPN

Tags: Lille, Napoli, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Bayern Buys Leroy Sane From City For $50.5M

Jun 30, 2020 2:45 PM

Bayern Munich has agreed to buy Leroy Sane from Manchester City for €45 million ($50.5 million).

Sane will sign a five-year deal.

Pep Guardiola confirmed recently that Sané had turned down a new City deal. “I’m so disappointed,” Guardiola said. “When we make an offer it’s because we want him; he’s got a special quality that is difficult to find.

“We tried before the injury [and] the surgery and after that and he rejected this offer. He has other wishes and I understand [but] we want players who want to commit and achieve our targets. I love him so much, he’s incredible, I’ve nothing against him – he wants another adventure.”

Sane suffered a torn ACL in the Community Shield against Liverpool in August of last year and did not play again until the 5-0 win against Burnley on June 22nd.

Fabrizio Romano/The Guardian

Tags: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Marc Jurado Leaves Barcelona For Manchester United

Jun 30, 2020 11:29 AM

Marc Jurado has confirmed his departure from Barcelona and will sign with Manchester United.

The right-back's non-professional terms expired on June 30 but he has been eligible for a professional contract since he turned 16 in April.

Barcelona offered him a three-year deal worth €100,000 annually by the end of the deal with a €200,000 bonus if he made his debut for the B team.

"It's never easy to leave the club that has given you everything," Jurado wrote on Instagram on Monday. "Barcelona has been my second home, my second family, where I have grown as a player and also as a person. Now it is time to say goodbye but not before thanking every one of the people that have helped me since I joined in 2011.

"I've been lucky enough to share my passion with a fantastic generation of players. We started as kids that just wanted to chase the ball and I bid farewell, nine years later, able to call them my friends. We have had tremendous luck with the coaches we have had and that have developed us and helped us to keep fulfilling our dreams.

"Everything has a beginning and an end. My end, after reflecting with my family, has arrived. I leave behind unforgettable memories that I will always carry with me."

ESPN

Tags: Barcelona, Manchester United, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Gianluigi Buffon Signs One-Year Extension With Juventus

Jun 29, 2020 1:35 PM

Gianluigi Buffon has signed a one-year extension with Juventus.

Buffon returned to Juventus at the start of the 19-20 season after one season with Paris Saint-Germain.

"There are players who need no introduction," the club said in a statement. "Champions whose story speaks for itself, and whose connection with the shirt they wear is indissoluble.

"Examples on the pitch and in the locker room, leaders, driving forces, bearers of the Bianconeri DNA, who wear it as a second skin.

"Gianluigi Buffon. Giorgio Chiellini. Captains, legends. Bianconeri since the beginning. Bianconeri forever. And to confirm it, in case there is a need, today their contract renewals have become official, for another: 2021!"

ESPN

Tags: Juventus, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Barcelona, Juve Agree To Arthur, Mirlem Pjanic Swap

Jun 29, 2020 11:34 AM

Arthur has joined Juventus from Barcelona in a transfer worth up to €82 million with Miralem Pjanic going in the other direction.

Pjanic will cost approximately €60 million.

Both players will remain with their sides for the duration of their respective domestic campaigns, while they will also be available for the Champions League in August.

Compared to Xavi in his first few months at Barca, Arthur stagnated over the past year but hte motivation for the sale is financial.

Barcelona needed to bring in approximately €70 million in palyer sales before June 30th.

Sam Marsden, Moises Llorens/ESPN

Tags: Barcelona, Juventus, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Frank Lampard Compares Christian Pulisic To Raheem Sterling, Mo Salah

Jun 28, 2020 9:42 PM

Frank Lampard compared Christian Pulisic's production from wide areas to Raheem Sterling and Mo Salah.

"There is no doubt about his quality, we can see that and he is very keen to improve. He's particularly hungry at the minute because he missed some time with an injury.

"If he looks at players around him that have made that sort of a jump, he has the ability like Raheem Sterling to produce numbers from wide areas, like Salah and Sadio [Mane]. He understands the work that needs to be done to do that. He definitely has the talent, he needs to get to that level," said Lampard.

The 21-year-old Pulisic has scored in back-to-back matches against Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Pulisic currently has 8 goals on the season.

ESPNFC

Tags: Chelsea, IQ

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Konrad De La Fuente Signs Barcelona Contract Through 2022

Jun 28, 2020 2:30 PM

Konrad de la Fuente signed a new Barcelona contract through the 2022 season.

The 18-year-old de la Fuente currently plays for Barcelona's B team.

The new contract includes a $56 million release clause, which will rise to $112 million if he is promoted to the first team.

De la Fuente has previously represented the US at the U20 level. 

Sam Marsden & Moises Llorens/ESPN

Tags: Barcelona, Signing

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Jurgen Klopp Says He Doesn't Think Jadon Sancho Will Move This Summer

Jun 27, 2020 9:38 PM

Jurgen Klopp said that he doesn't think Jadon Sancho will move away from Borussia Dortmund this summer, though he added that Sancho would look good in a Liverpool jersey.

"A red jersey would look very good on Jadon Sancho. But I don't think such a transfer will take place this summer.

"He is a very interesting player. If he moved to Liverpool, I would be the most surprised of all," Klopp told Bild.

Sancho is reportedly valued at $160 million.

ESPN

Tags: Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Transfer Rumor

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Arjen Robben Comes Out Of Retirement, Will Join FC Groningen

Jun 27, 2020 6:09 PM

Arjen Robben announced that he will come out of retirement to join FC Groningen next season.

Robben began his career at Groningen in 2000 before joining PSV.

"I have spoken to multiple people in the club and the fans organised 'Arjen, follow your heart'. It started to get to me and now it is my mission.

"I am working on my comeback. If it will succeed, I don't know. But won't be about my motivation. It is my dream to play in the jersey of FC Groningen again," said Robben.

Groningen finished ninth in the Eredivisie this season.

ESPN

Tags: Signing

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Inter Close To Buying Achraf Hakimi From Real Madrid For $45M

Jun 26, 2020 2:02 PM

Inter Milan are close to signing Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid for €40 million ($45 million).

Hakimi has been on loan at Borussia Dortmund for the past two seasons.

Hakimi can play both right- and left-back as well as a winger.

The Madrid-born Hakimi joined Real in 2006, progressing through the youth ranks before making his La Liga debut in October 2017.

Fabrizio Romano/The Guardian

Tags: Internazionale, Real Madrid, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Arsenal To Pursue Transfer For Danilo Pereira

James Olley/ESPN

Liverpool Clinches Premier League Title

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Australia, New Zealand Will Host 2023 Women's World Cup

Suzanne Wrack/The Guardian

Sergio Aguero Out 5-6 Weeks With Knee Surgery

Jaime Jackson/The Guardian

Barcelona, Juventus Close To Arthur For Miralem Pjanic Swap

Moises Llorens, Sam Marsden/ESPN

Premier League Clubs Discuss How To Bring Back Fans In 20-21

Paul MacInnes/The Guardian

Arsenal To Sign Cedric Soares Permanently

James Olley/ESPN

Jose Mourinho Insists Harry Kane Won't Be Sold

Jacob Steinberg/The Guardian

Burnley Apologizes For 'White Lives Matter' Banner

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Dortmund Beats United To Sign Jude Bellingham

Stephan Uersfeld/ESPN

Manchester City May Not Sign New Players This Summer

Rob Dawson/ESPNFC

Inter Linked With Kyle Walker Transfer

ESPNFC

Neal Maupay Says Arsenal Players Need To Learn Humility After Win

Nick Ames/The Guardian

Erling Haaland Say Gio Reyna Is The 'American Dream'

Stephan Uersfeld/ESPNFC

Zinedine Zidane: Refs Are Not Favoring Real Madrid

Alex Kirkland/ESPNFC

Leroy Sane Rejects New Contract, Will Leave Manchester City

The Guardian

Premier League Clubs In Europe Seek Delayed Start To 20-21 Season

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Jurgen Klopp Feared Liverpool Would Be Denied Premier League Title

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Pedro Agrees To Two-Year Deal With Roma

Jacob Steinberg/The Guardian

Lisbon To Host Knockout Tournament Of Champions League

David Conn/The Guardian