Manchester City &#8211; CaughtOffside

Pundit claims £90k-a-week Aston Villa man is suffering under Unai Emery

Christian Falk: Why Jurgen Klopp won’t sign a new Liverpool contract just yet

Liverpool put eye-watering price tag on Mo Salah amid renewed Saudi interest

The standard of officiating has been dreadful this season in the Premier League and it seems that the decisions they make occupy most of the conversation after matches, which is not what makes the sport enjoyable to many.

Anything that will help them improve should be welcomed and this is a positive step towards referees making more consistent decisions under the high pressure they are under.

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“Can’t say no to you” – Former Man City star unveils what Guardiola said to him before leaving

Darren Looney — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 09:11:04 +0000

The 2022 January transfer window saw Ferran Torres depart Man City for Barcelona and the winger has revealed what former manager Pep Guardiola said to him before leaving the Premier League champions.

The Spanish star moved to Catalunya as part of a €55m deal having spent just two seasons with the Manchester club, in which he won the Premier League and EFL Cup.

When Barcelona came calling, Torres wanted the move and the 23-year-old has revealed what Guardiola said to him when he asked to leave City.

Speaking to The Wild Project, the Barcelona star said via Fabrizio Romano: “Pep told me: Barça? I just can’t say no to you. It’s my Barça. My Barça. As long as the clubs can agree, you can leave. Barça is Barça.”

?? What did Pep tell to you when you told him you wanted to sign for Barça?

Ferrán Torres: “Pep told me: Barça? I just can't say no to you. It's my Barça. My Barça. As long as the clubs can agree, you can leave. Barça is Barça”, via The Wild Project. pic.twitter.com/10eoeF7WOO

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 23, 2023

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Torres’ time at Barcelona has not been as straightforward as he would have liked as the winger is yet to become a regular starter at the Catalan club.

The 23-year-old scored 19 goals and assisted a further 11 across the 87 matches he has played with Barca and being just 23 years of age, the winger still has plenty of room to develop his skills further over the coming years.

The post “Can’t say no to you” – Former Man City star unveils what Guardiola said to him before leaving appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive: Man City transfer interest likely to be rebuffed as Liverpool gain upper hand

Farrell Keeling — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:44:57 +0000

Liverpool may have the upper hand in any negotiations for Leroy Sane this summer.

Christian Falk reported that the German international is opposed to a potential return to Manchester City amid alleged interest from their league rivals.

“The big question around Leroy has always been about his mentality. This was a big discussion with Pep Guardiola,” the German journalist wrote in his exclusive column with CaughtOffside.

“Speaking of which, there were rumours around Manchester City also being interested in the player – I heard this was an option, but I also heard that Sane doesn’t want to go back there.

“Jurgen Klopp is a coach who can get his players to buy into the work rate you need at Liverpool. This would be an intelligent move for Liverpool to get Sane, as he has everything; if you can add a working mentality to this (which Jurgen Klopp can perhaps give him), he would be perfect for Liverpool.

“Leroy Sane made a huge development at Bayern Munich regarding his work rate in recent years, tracking back in addition to his offensive output. Now you see why he’s so good now, as he’s also doing this job.”

This comes amid reports of ongoing Saudi interest in Mo Salah following a failed attempt to land the No.11’s signature in the prior summer transfer window.

Could Liverpool really let their record-breaking man go?

It seems unfathomable that Jurgen Klopp’s side would even consider parting ways with a player that has brought a fanbase so much joy since his arrival in 2017.

The record-breaking wide man’s current terms are nonetheless set to expire in 2025, which raises serious questions over his club’s intentions regarding a potential extension.

Liverpool could, one imagine, secure some serious cash for the 31-year-old next year, which would be pumped back into the squad.

That said, it’s hard to imagine any player, even Bayern’s Sane, being capable of filling his boots at Anfield.

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Video: Mario Balotelli refuses to do breathalyser test as footballer struggles to walk away from car crash

Darren Looney — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:27:58 +0000

Former Premier League star Mario Balotelli was involved in a car accident in Brescia and it is reported that the footballer walked away from the accident with difficulty.

The striker has often appeared in the media for the wrong reasons and it looks like this is another story to add to his collection.

According to a local Italian police official, Balotelli refused to take a breathalyser test in the aftermath of the crash and it is believed that the Italian walked away from the accident with great difficulty, reports El Partidazo de COPE.

The former Man City star was thankfully not seriously injured as more details will likely be released involving his crash soon.

? Mario Balotelli was in a car accident in Brescia! ???

According to a local police official, the Italian refused to take a breathalyzer test.

Balotelli was unhurt, but walked with difficulty after the accident.

(?? @partidazocope)
pic.twitter.com/BcVBEkuabr

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) November 23, 2023

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Pundit claims £90k-a-week Aston Villa man is suffering under Unai Emery

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Real Madrid set sights on galactico signing with two names in mind

Connor Holden — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 23:45:05 +0000

According to AS, Real Madrid are ready to make a galactico level signing this summer, with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland the names being touted.

Real Madrid are reportedly looking to spend big in the 2024 summer transfer window, by adding an elite attacker to the squad to partner with the likes of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.

They currently sit 2nd in La Liga on 32 points, only two points behind suprise league leaders Girona on 34 points. Madrid have won 10, drew two and lost only one game so far in their opening 13 La Liga fixtures.

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Pundit claims £90k-a-week Aston Villa man is suffering under Unai Emery

Christian Falk: Why Jurgen Klopp won’t sign a new Liverpool contract just yet

Liverpool put eye-watering price tag on Mo Salah amid renewed Saudi interest

Mbappe has made 15 appearances in all competitions for PSG this campaign so far, scoring 15 goals and providing one assist in 1,241 minutes of football.

He has helped PSG to top of Ligue 1, sitting on 27 points, one point above second placed Nice. They are also second of their Champions League group on six points, one point off first placed Dortmund who have seven points after four games.

Haaland has made 18 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City so far this campaign, scoring 17 goals and providing four assists in 1,510 minutes.

He has helped Manchester City into first place in the Premier League on 28 points, one point above second placed Liverpool and third placed Arsenal. City are also top of their Champions League group on 12 points, winning four out of four so far.

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Inside Spain: Real Madrid managerial race, Barcelona respond to injury crisis and Dani Alves case

Ruairidh Barlow — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 19:34:08 +0000

Inside Spain is a weekly instalment brought to you by Football España, providing an insight into all of the major stories coming out of the rich and intense climes of La Liga and beyond.

The injury crisis across football took several victims during this international break, but the anterior cruciate ligament tear suffered by Gavi felt particularly cruel. The 19-year-old was having a monstruous season, starting for Barcelona and Spain, but will now miss the rest of the club season, the Euros and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The question for Barcelona is whether they try to replace him. Sporting Director Deco has explained that that is ‘impossible’ on the market, but Barcelona can bring in a loan signing for up to 80% of Gavi’s wages until the end of the season without salary limit restrictions.

So far the debate is whether they should try and persuade Tottenham Hotspur to part with the almost unused Giovani Lo Celso on loan, or bring forward the transfer of Vitor Roque. The 18-year-old Brazilian striker will join for €30m plus €31m in variables next summer, but they don’t have a back up for the creaking legs of Robert Lewandowski.

Meanwhile Real Madrid have lost Vinicius Junior until February and Eduardo Camavinga until mid-January, to add to a long-term injury list already containing Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois, Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni.

Marcelino will do that, according to Trigueros. pic.twitter.com/r5zfLJewXs

— Football España (@footballespana_) November 22, 2023

Yet the talk about replacements in Madrid is quiet – at least for the players. Conflicting information continues to leak out about Carlo Ancelotti and the potential for him to take over the Brazil job next summer, but Los Blancos have contacted Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi about a potential vacancy. He is added to an impressive list of candidates already containing Xabi Alonso.

Elsewhere, Real Betis are negotiating with Leeds United for midifelder Marc Roca, who has been excellent since arriving. West Ham are interested in Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza, and Sevilla are after Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.

In less frivolous news, the public prosecutor has requested a sentence of nine years behind bars and a fine of €150k for Dani Alves if they get a guilty conviction against the Brazilian for rape. Meanwhile former Sevilla and Ajax midfielder Tarik Oulida will escape jail time entirely after sexually assaulting his own six-year-old daughter.

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Promising Chelsea star who has played nine times this season keen on Man City move

Darren Looney — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 13:52:37 +0000

Chelsea full-back Ian Maatsen is believed to be very keen on a potential move to Premier League champions Man City.

The Manchester club have been heavily linked to the young defender as left-back is an area in the City squad that is not rich with natural talent in that role.

Maatsen enjoyed a successful loan spell at Burnley last season as they were promoted back to the Premier League but has failed to break into the Chelsea starting 11 this season under Mauricio Pochettino.

The Dutch star has played nine times for the Blues this season, with only two being starts, and it is clear that he is down the pecking order in London, therefore, a move would benefit his career and development.

Ian Maatsen in action for Chelsea

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According to Football Insider, Maatsen is keen on a move to Man City as he is believed to want to play more regularly.

It is uncertain if this is the right move for the 21-year-old if this is his goal but the player must see an opportunity as Pep Guardiola currently plays left-footed central defenders in that role.

Chelsea recently extended the full-back’s deal until June 2025 to ensure that they don’t lose him for free and that may pay off as Maatsen is drawing interest ahead of the January transfer window.

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Man United legend Gary Neville attacks Premier League’s Big Six clubs and labels them “bullies”

Darren Looney — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 09:39:07 +0000

Everton’s 10-point deduction has been the biggest story to emerge from the Premier League over the international break and Man United legend Gary Neville is not happy about the whole situation.

The Toffees were punished for breaking the league’s financial rules and were handed the biggest punishment ever dished out as a result, which many in the football community deem very unfair.

This comes amid Man City and Chelsea also being under investigation for financial rules breaches and Man United legend Gary Neville is not happy with the current state of the league, which includes the power the Big Six clubs have.

The Sky Sports pundit believes the trust in the league has evaporated and that the greed of the big clubs have turned them into bullies as they want to control the upper spots of the table and are happy to throw others under the bus to achieve it.

Everton are in the relegation zone after points deduction

More Stories / Latest News

Pundit claims £90k-a-week Aston Villa man is suffering under Unai Emery

Christian Falk: Why Jurgen Klopp won’t sign a new Liverpool contract just yet