Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
If Real Madrid come calling, you’d be wise not to reject them. Milan shouldn’t give Malick Thiaw the chance to accept their advances, should their reported interest escalate into a formal approach next summer as Los Blancos’ never-ending pursuit of reinforcements sees them return to Italy for younger talent. Continue reading “Real might come calling next summer, but Milan must hold firm with Malick Thiaw”
Per reports in Italy today, Inter are monitoring a series of Premier League-based defenders – Tottenham’s Japhet Tanganga, Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah and Arsenal’s versatile fullback Takehiro Tomiyasu as their search for more defensive reinforcements continue after news broke of their accelerated interest in acquiring Bayern’s wantaway World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard. Continue reading “Pavard push aside, Inter linked with Tottenham’s Tanganga and Chalobah at Chelsea as possible defensive signings”
Little over four weeks after my update on Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun’s club future, it appears the United Status international – 22 earlier this month – could be nearing a permanent switch to Italy, if this weekend’s reports are to be believed. Inter are favourites for his signature after their Romelu Lukaku pursuit went cold, though they’re attempting to whittle his price down.
Continue reading “Inter frontrunners for Arsenal’s Balogun, attempting to lower £34m price-tag”
Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Milan have all been linked with an approach to sign Chelsea’s out-of-favour winger Callum Hudson-Odoi this summer, after the 22-year-old’s unspectacular loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen this past season. Continue reading “Fulham, Forest and Milan all linked with move for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi”
After six goal involvements in 21 appearances during half-a-season with Championship side Middlesbrough last term, Folarin Balogun notched seven in his first six Ligue 1 matches – four starts – as Stade Reims reaped the rewards of their Arsenal loanee’s ever-improving growth abroad. Now with uncertainty over his long-term future in north London, suitors across Europe are circling. Continue reading “Milan rivals, Leipzig, Monaco and Villarreal linked with Arsenal’s £34m-rated Balogun”
Two seasons and 742 days after being an unused substitute, watching from the dugout in Porto as his teammates were sucker punched by a savvy Chelsea side in their maiden Champions League Final, Rodri secured their treble-winning season with a second-half winner as Manchester City at long last seized the one trophy that has eluded their grasp against a wasteful Inter showing in Istanbul. Continue reading “Manchester City 1-0 Inter: Rodri’s strike secures Champions League glory, at last”
Two goals in eight first-half minutes by in-form forward Lautaro Martinez saw Inter recover from an early setback to topple Fiorentina in yesterday’s Coppa Italia Final. Naturally, their chairman Steven Zhang has publicly praised their growing big-game mentality though head coach Simone Inzaghi stressed a desire for his side to maintain this red-hot form before Istanbul on June 10. Continue reading “Inzaghi insists Inter must keep going after Lautaro’s Coppa Italia-winning brace”
Premier League champions Manchester City banished their demons from twelve months ago, avenging a painful collapse against Real Madrid with a 4-0 (5-1 aggregate) win over the Champions League holders on Wednesday, earning a date with Serie A giants Inter Milan for the Istanbul final on June 10. Five games in 20 days across three competitions between now and then, what’s next?
Continue reading “Istanbul bound: City composed in 4-0 Real rout, as a pivotal three weeks now beckon”
Many are unconvinced after watching last Wednesday unfold the way it did. However, Milan boss Stefano Pioli remains steadfast in his belief they can pull off an unlikely comeback with a two-goal deficit to overturn tomorrow vs. their arch-rivals Inter, as a Champions League Final berth dangles in the balance. Continue reading “Pioli staying positive as Milan look to overturn UCL semi-final deficit tomorrow”
Two goals in three first-half minutes saw Simone Inzaghi’s disciplined Inter side seize a valuable cushion heading into next Tuesday’s second leg, as Edin Dzeko’s venomous volley and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s composed finish exposed Milan’s meek defending. The 220th Derby della Madonnina, and first in the Champions League since 2005, ultimately proved a happy one for the Nerazzurri.
Continue reading “Milan 0-2 Inter: Dzeko, Mkhitaryan strikes stun Rossoneri in UCL semi-final first leg”
In a tense Champions League semi-final first leg encounter headlined by two excellent strikes from distance, Kevin de Bruyne’s emphatic equaliser midway through the second-half saw Manchester City restore parity vs. defending champions Real Madrid during their nailbiting affair at the Bernabeu tonight. Continue reading “Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City: de Bruyne keeps semi-final tie finely poised”
Graham Potter was always going to find himself under intense scrutiny after succeeding Thomas Tuchel last September, and has barely lasted seven months in charge. The managerial merry-go-round has returned once more in west London, where club legend Frank Lampard will this week take interim charge while a host of free agent big names are linked for the summer months. Continue reading “Graham Potter was doomed at Chelsea from Day 1, but poisoned chalice moves on”
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