Napoli will pay Chelsea around €25m including add-ons for Lukaku, obtaining a significant discount on the circa €44m (£37.5m) release clause.
Sports
As Man City humble Leicester 2-0, Mendy upstages Aguero
It was supposed to be all about Sergio Aguero, but it was a fellow Manchester City player with an uncertain future that made the difference as the Premier League leaders took another huge step towards the title on Saturday evening.
Benjamin Mendy was making just his second Premier League appearance in four months as he nimbly avoided one challenge and coolly sidefooted home the crucial opener in a 2-0 win over Leicester City that propelled Pep Guardiola’s side 17 points clear at the top of the table.
City had dominated against Brendan Rodgers’ strangely unadventurous side and were only missing a goal until Mendy became the game’s unlikely hero.
Aguero was one of the first players to sprint over to celebrate with the enigmatic Frenchman, who has found himself on the periphery of Guardiola’s plans this season.
But it almost seemed unfair that the Argentine was never presented with an opening as enticing as the one Mendy converted in the 58th minute.
Just five days after the announcement that Aguero would leave the club, he was given the opportunity to show from the first whistle that he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.
Against Leciester, the 32-year-old made his usual astute runs, worked hard off the ball, linked up with the team – but somehow the big chance he was craving never came.
Indeed, his biggest goal contribution was getting Fernandinho’s 30-yard strike into the bottom corner of the Leicester goal disallowed, with Aguero standing in an offside position when he leapt out of the way of the Brazilian’s superb fifth-minute shot.
The striker could not hide his frustration during the game as he was forced to feed off scraps while others went close to scoring, with Kevin De Bruyne firing against the bar, and Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus both forcing Kasper Schmeichel into action.
He clasped his hands in frustration when Jesus failed to square the ball to him after he had found some space for himself in the six-yard box.
He held his head in his hands after he volleyed high over the bar when a poor clearance had dropped for him around the penalty spot, and then slapped his thigh when he failed to control a short pass as he darted into the box.
And he was already in the dugout, replaced by Raheem Sterling two minutes after Mendy’s goal, when fellow forward Jesus poked in City’s second goal in the 74th minute.
Still, despite Aguero’s disappointment, this was a victory that showed City’s strength in depth as they ramped up their bid for an unprecedented quadruple.
While Mendy’s long-term future at the club remains uncertain, he stepped seamlessly into a side that easily dealt with a team that scored five times at the Etihad Stadium in September.
He was one of six players that started against the Foxes after staying behind at the Etihad Campus during the international break.
Goal.com
Sports
Be humble in Madrid, former Liverpool striker tells Mbappe
Be humble in Madrid, former Liverpool striker tells Mbappe
A former Liverpool striker, Stan Collymore, has issued a warning to Kylian Mbappe as the French star joins Real Madrid.
Drawing from his own experience as a high-profile signing at Liverpool, Collymore advised Mbappe to approach his new role with humility.
Collymore, who was once a British record transfer to Liverpool, shared his insights with CaughtOffside on Thursday.
He stressed the importance of Mbappe navigating the dressing room dynamics carefully, stating, “They (Real Madrid players) won’t really care that he (Mbappe) was a Real Madrid fan as a kid or that he had Cristiano Ronaldo posters on his wall.”
The former striker recalled his experiences at Liverpool, where he faced challenges integrating with the team.
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“When I went to Liverpool, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind whatsoever that within two or three weeks of signing and after all the happy, clapping, ‘hey, how you doing, do you want to come out with us for a beer and be our friend?’ kind of thing, that my team-mates thought I was some big-time Charlie,” Collymore revealed.
He warned Mbappe about the potential pitfalls of being perceived as arrogant or entitled.
“Kylian Mbappe, who has been top dog and massively overindulged for so long, will have to fall in line fairly quickly, be humble and say the right things. If he doesn’t, there’ll only be problems down the road,” Collymore said.
Collymore highlighted the challenges faced by high-profile signings in adapting to new team environments. He suggested that despite Mbappe’s status as a World Cup winner and global superstar, he need to earn respect within the Real Madrid squad.
“Players like Dani Carvajal have been there, seen it, got the t-shirt, and so there’ll be two or three that will be looking at him and seeing how he is in the dressing room,” Collymore said.
Be humble in Madrid, former Liverpool striker tells Mbappe
Sports
PSG snub Osimhen, table €60m for Rennes Doue
PSG snub Osimhen, table €60m for Rennes Doue
Paris Saint Germaine have reportedly tabled a €60 million offer for Desire Doue, which could invariably likely end their pursuit of Napoli’s Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen.
The Rennes’ winger has been subject of intense interest to PSG , Bayern Munich as well as Premier League duo of Chelsea and Arsenal but Football Transfers, yesterday reported that the French giants have tabled a whopping €60m for the 19-year-old youngster.
The news outlet claimed that the offer for Doue may scuttle PSG’s interest in the Nigerian ace striker since the €60m offer for the Rennes’ youngster is a far cry from the €130m release clause planted on Napoli by the Partenopei.
French tabloid, L’Equipe, also reported that PSG have agreed to match Rennes’ valuation of Doue, offering a financial package worth €60m.
“This development could have massive implications for the future of Victor Osimhen,” noted.
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Tom Weber of Football Transfers. “The Nigerian wants to leave Napoli and the Serie A side are keen on cashing in on him, with Chelsea outcast Romelu Lukaku already waiting in the wings to replace him.”
But in what was a positive development , Football Italia claimed yesterday that PSG have not lost hope in their pursuit of Osimhen as they only await a price drop.
Transfer expert, Gianluca Di Marzio, was quoted as saying that PSG are set to return to the forefront in their charge for Osimhen soon.
“The Ligue 1 giants were dealt a blow recently when they failed to convince the Partenopei to agree on a transfer fee lower than the release clause which is set at around €130 million,” the Italian outfit stated. “PSG are now contemplating restarting negotiations with Napoli CEO Aurelio De Laurentiis who is personally dealing with the high-value player.
“The Nigerian has expressed his desire to move away from Naples this summer and his wish will be granted as soon as a considerable offer arrives.”
With Napoli reportedly finalizing a deal for Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku who is seen as a capable replacement for Osimhen by new coach Antonio Conte, the Neapolitans might be forced to drop their asking price by a resounding margin for PSG to snap up Osimhen.
PSG snub Osimhen, table €60m for Rennes Doue
Sports
PSG to complete ‘discounted’ Osimhen’s deal Thursday
PSG to complete ‘discounted’ Osimhen’s deal Thursday
Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen is expected to complete his transfer from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain on or before Thursday, according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport.
Speculations were rife over the weekend that the French Champions are ‘close to unblocking the deal’ for Osimhen with Napoli reportedly ready to give a slight discount on Osimhen’s €130m release clause.
According to Football Italia, the Parisian giants have decided to fully focus on a deal for the 25-year-old Nigerian striker and have been in close contact with Partenopei president Aurelio De Laurentiis and the player’s agent Roberto Calenda in recent days.
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On Saturday, Osimhen missed the club’s second pre-season friendly as the coach Antonio Conte-led side beat Mantova 3-0, following their earlier 4-0 win against Anaune Val di Non in the first pre-season game.
But yesterday, Football Italia reported that Corriere dello Sport detailed how Napoli are hoping to sell Osimhen to PSG by Thursday next week, allowing them to finally pull the trigger on the deal with Chelsea for Lukaku, who is waiting to be reunited with Antonio Conte.
The Belgian striker has reportedly returned from his holiday in Turkey and is now individually training to start preparing for the move. He has agreed to a three-year contract worth €10m gross per season, taking advantage of the Growth Decree tax relief.
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