March 2022 - Soccer Wiretap

Lionel Messi: 'No Doubt' Karim Benzema Deserves Ballon D'Or

May 31, 2022 8:11 AM

Lionel Messi believes Karim Benzema deserves to win the Ballon d'Or this year.

Benzema had the best season of his 13-year career at Real, scoring 44 goals with 15 assists in all competitions as they won a LaLiga-Champions League double.

"There are no doubts; it's very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended up victorious in the Champions League," Messi said on Argentine television.

"He was fundamental in all the matches from the round of 16 onwards. I think there is no doubt this year."

The award will be presented on Oct. 17th ahead of the World Cup. The trophy will now be awarded on the basis of a regular season from August to July rather than a calendar year.

ESPN

Tags: Real Madrid, Personal Award

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Frenkie De Jong Prefers To Remain At 'My Dream Club' Over United Move

May 31, 2022 8:09 AM

Frenkie de Jong has gone on the record indicating he would prefer to remain with Barcelona rather than accept a transfer to Manchester United. 

"I prefer to stay with Barcelona," De Jong told ESPN on Tuesday.

"Barcelona is just my dream club. Also from a young age. I just said it too. I've never regretted my choice despite the fact that I had hoped for more in terms of prizes than I've achieved so far. But I have never regretted my choice."

Erik ten Hag has been eager to bring De Jong to United. 

De Jong, who is valued at around €75m, is one of Barca's most expensive assets, but the 26-year-old has said there has been no contact with Ten Hag or United.

He added: "What I'm saying, there is absolutely nothing of an agreement or anything official. At the moment there is no question of it at all.

"Not that I know of in any case. Or they must not have told me, but I don't think so."

ESPN

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

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Spurs To Sign Ivan Perisic On Free Transfer

May 30, 2022 8:35 AM

Tottenham Hotspur will sign Ivan Perisic on a free transfer.

Inter offered Perisic a contract extension, and Juventus were also in lengthy negotiations.

Antonio Conte previously managed Perisic and his presence is believed to have been a decisive factor in his decision.

Perisic's imminent arrival represents a marked departure from Tottenham's typical transfer strategy, which has predominantly been to sign young players in the hope of realising their potential or making a profit when they sign elsewhere.

ESPN

Tags: Internazionale, Tottenham Hotspur, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Real Madrid Beats Liverpool 1-0, Win 14th Champions League

May 28, 2022 5:34 PM

Real Madrid have defeated Liverpool 1-0 to win their 14th Champions League in club history.

Vinícius Júnior's goal in the 59th minute was enough for Real Madrid as Thibaut Courtois was unflappable in goal. Liverpool had 24 shots and nine on goal compared to just four total shots and two on target for Real Madrid. 

Real Madrid advanced to the final by way of a thrilling comeback win over Manchester City.

Real Madrid most recently won the Champions League in 2018 when they also beat Liverpool, culminating three straight titles. Real Madrid has now won five Champions League trophies over the past nine years. 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Liverpool, Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League

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Todd Boehly Completes $5.4B Purchase Of Chelsea

May 28, 2022 8:01 AM

A consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly has completed its takeover of Premier League club Chelsea in a deal worth up to £4.25 billion ($5.4 billion).

The deal ends the 19-year ownership of Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea will now be granted a new licence to compete in the 2022-23 season, bringing to an end three months of uncertainty during which it was feared the club might cease to exist.

The club said in a statement: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that a final and definitive agreement was entered into last night to sell the Club to the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital consortium. It is expected that the transaction will be completed on Monday. The Club will update further at that time."

James Olley/ESPN

Tags: Chelsea

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Eddie Nketiah To Sign Long-Term Deal With Arsenal

May 26, 2022 2:48 PM

Eddie Nketiah will sign a long-term deal with Arsenal.

Nketiah had been expected to seek a new challenge upon the expiry of his current deal in June, with West Ham, Crystal Palace and Brighton among a number of clubs at home and abroad monitoring his situation.

Nketiah, however, became part of Mikel Arteta's starting XI toward the end of the season and played well.

With Alexandre Lacazette virtually certain to depart when his contract runs out next month, Nketiah and Folarin Balogun will be the only recognised central attackers on Arsenal’s books. 

Nick Ames/The Guardian

Tags: Arsenal, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic Out Up To Eight Months With Knee Surgery

May 25, 2022 3:23 PM

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has undergone surgery on a knee injury and will be out up to eight months.

A statement from AC Milan said: "AC Milan announces that Zlatan Ibrahimović underwent an operation on his left knee carried out by Dr Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, with the Club's Medical Director Stefano Mazzoni in attendance, at the Hôpital Jean Mermoz in Lyon.

"The arthroscopy had been planned for a while to definitively resolve the joint's instability through the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, with lateral reinforcement and meniscus reparation.

"The operation was a complete success and the prognosis is estimated between 7 and 8 months."

Ibrahimovic is now 40 and is worrying for the future of his career.

"I'm in a situation now where I'm close to the goal line ... so I'm a little bit panicking," he said.

"Because when it stops, what do you do? I know I can do a lot of things, I will have offers from all over the place. But the adrenaline I get on the field, I will never get that [from] something else."

ESPN

Tags: A.C. Milan, Injury

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Mohamed Salah Confirms He'll Stay At Liverpool

May 25, 2022 10:37 AM

Mohamed Salah has confirmed he will not leave Liverpool this summer. Salah's contract expires at the end of next season, which has put into question his future.

Salah has been linked with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

"I am just focused on the team and don't want to talk about my contract," Salah said at Liverpool's pre-Champions League media conference. "But I am staying next season for sure, that's for sure.

"In my mind, I don't focus about the contract at the moment. I don't want to be selfish. I said two months ago, it's all about the team now.

"It's a really important week for us, so I am just focused on the team. I want to win the Champions League again."

Mark Ogden/ESPN

Tags: Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Kylian Mbappe Held Brief Contract Talks With Liverpool

May 24, 2022 1:45 PM

Kylian Mbappe had discussions with Liverpool before he decided to extend with Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe had previously only been seriously linked with Real Madrid. 

Jurgen Klopp said earlier this month that Liverpool were interested in Mbappe and the player said there had been some contact.

"We talked a little bit, but not too much," Mbappe told the Daily Telegraph. "I talked to Liverpool because it's the favorite club of my mum, my mum loves Liverpool. I don't know why, you will have to ask her.

"It's a good club and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco I met them. It's a big club. Of course, it was between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the end."

Reuters

Tags: Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Kylian Mbappe To Net $61M Per Season On New Deal With PSG

May 23, 2022 1:52 PM

Kylian Mbappe's contract with Paris Saint-Germain is the richest in soccer, signing a three-year contract that will net him €57 million ($61 million) per season.

Various bonuses could potentially made the deal worth €300 million over three years. 

PSG also gave Mbappe the ability to help influence who is the manager, sporting director and probably players. 

Mbappe didn't want to work with Leonardo anymore, and on Saturday night, only a few hours after the official announcement of the forward's extension, PSG told the sporting director he was sacked. 

Julien Laurens, Rodrigo Faez, Alex Kirkland/ESPN

Tags: Paris Saint-Germain, Misc Rumor

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Borussia Dortmund Hires Edin Terzic As Manager

ESPN

Kylian Mbappe: My Decision Based On PSG's 'Sporting Project'

Alex Kirkland, Rodrigo Faez/ESPN

Real Madrid, Liverpool Favorites To Sign Aurelien Tchouameni

Rodrigo Faez, Julien Laurens/ESPN

Barca Targeting Ruben Neves, Zubimendi If Frenkie De Jong Leaves

ESPN

Liverpool Signs Fabio Carvalho From Fulham

ESPN

City's Comeback Win Over Villa Seals Premier League Title

David Hytner/The Guardian

Kylian Mbappe Rejects Real Madrid, Signs Three-Year Deal With PSG

Alex Kirkland, Rodrigo Faez/ESPN

Kylian Mbappe's Decision Causing Confusion At Real Madrid, PSG

Alex Kirkland, Rodrigo Faez/ESPN

Arsenal Unsure On Transfer For Gabriel Jesus

James Olley/ESPN

US Soccer Equalizes Pay For Men, Women

Anne M. Peterson, Ronald Blum/Associated Press

City Targeting Midfielder, Full-Back On Transfer Market

Xherdan Shaqiri Becomes Highest Paid MLS Player At $8.15M

Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Lionel Messi's Agents Deny Report He'll Be Inter Miami Player-Owner

The Guardian

PSG Give Up On Keeping Kylian Mbappe With Real Madrid Signing Close

Julien Laurens/ESPN

Arsenal Likely Out Of Top-4 Following Loss At Newcastle

Mark Ogden/ESPN

Luis Suarez To Leave Atletico In Summer

Kylian Mbappe 'Almost' Ready To Announce PSG, Real Madrid Decision

ESPN

Paulo Dybala Confirms He'll Leave Juventus

ESPN

Robert Lewandowski Won't Extend With Bayern, Seeks Transfer To Barca

Sky Sports

United Unlikely To Complete Signing Of Frenkie De Jong

Rob Dawson/ESPN