Sports
Mbappe’s deadline to trigger his one-year PSG contract extension expires midnight
Mbappe’s deadline to trigger his one-year PSG contract extension expires midnight
French star Kylian Mbappe has until midnight to trigger a one-year extension to his PSG contract, with the Ligue 1 club expected to sell him should he allow the option to lapse.
Mbappe signed a new deal with PSG last summer, with the 24-year-old appearing to commit his future to the club until 2025.
In the three-year contract, an agreement was for an initial two years with Mbappe having the option of whether to extend into an extra season.
Mbappe triggered another transfer saga last month after he informed PSG via a letter to say he did not want to exercise the option.
The forward insisted that the club had been made aware of his decision last year.
‘PSG has been informed since July 15, 2022, of my decision not to extend beyond 2024, and the letter that was sent only served to confirm what I had already told them,’ Mbappe said in a statement to AFP.
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The deadline on whether to activate the option expires at midnight.
With Mbappe confirming his intention to let the clause lapse, PSG are faced with either selling the forward this summer or losing him on a free transfer in 11 months.
Mbappe would be free to enter talks and sign a pre-contract agreement with non-French clubs from January 2024.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is determined not to allow their prize asset to leave the club for nothing next summer.
‘My position is very clear,’ he said earlier this month. ‘I don’t want to repeat it every time: if Kylian wants to stay, we want him to stay. But he needs to sign a new contract.
‘We don’t want to lose the best player in the world for free, we can’t do that. This is a French club.
‘He said he would never leave for free. If he changes his mind today, it’s not my fault. We don’t want to lose the best player in the world for free, that’s very clear.’
Mbappe’s deadline to trigger his one-year PSG contract extension expires midnight
Sports
UCL: Real Madrid beat Bayern to book final ticket …to face Dortmund in London
UCL: Real Madrid beat Bayern to book final ticket …to face Dortmund in London
Real Madrid snatched an incredible semi-final victory as two late goals defeated Bayern Munich and set up a Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern looked to be heading to the final when Alphonso Davies cut in and blasted past Andriy Lunin after England captain Harry Kane had found him with a superb pass.
But Joselu grabbed an 88th-minute equaliser when he reacted quickest after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had been excellent up until then, fumbled Vinicius Jr’s effort.
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There was even more drama to come two minutes later when Joselu, a former Stoke City striker, swept home from six yards out from Antonio Rudiger’s square pass.
The goal had originally been given as offside only for a video assistant referee decision to show that Joselu was onside, sparking incredible scenes of celebration in the Bernabeu, with Real hanging on to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Real, 14-time European champions, will face Dortmund on Saturday, 1 June at Wembley.
UCL: Real Madrid beat Bayern to book final ticket …to face Dortmund in London
Sports
Diego Maradona’s golden ball trophy for auction in Paris
Diego Maradona’s golden ball trophy for auction in Paris
Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy, which he earned as the best player in the 1986 World Cup, will be auctioned in France in June, according to the Aguttes auction house.
This is the first Golden Ball to be auctioned, and while the value has yet to be determined, the auction house anticipates it to earn millions on June 6.
Maradona, who died in 2020, won the award after leading Argentina to World Cup victory in Mexico, scoring five goals at the finals where he captained his country and played every minute of the tournament.
That tournament is probably best remembered for Maradona’s two goals against England in the quarter-finals.
Maradona out jumped England keeper Peter Shilton as he thumped in the first goal with a raised fist, which he later dubbed as being scored by the “Hand of God”.
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The second was an incredible mazy slalom run from his own half, when he dribbled past five English outfield players, and was voted as the “Goal of the Century”.
The jersey he wore that day, along with the ball from the match, have both previously been sold at auction.
After his display against England, Maradona went on to score the two goals which defeated Belgium in the semi-final and Argentina won a thrilling final 3-2 against West Germany.
The Golden Ball award was introduced at the 1982 World Cup, and its list of winners include Italy’s Paolo Rossi, Romario and Ronaldo of Brazil, Zinedine Zidane of France, while Argentine great Lionel Messi is the only player to have won the accolade twice.
Maradona’s award had disappeared before resurfacing among several trophy lots in an auction room.
Recently it was entrusted to Aguttes, which carried out an investigation into its provenance and managed to authenticate it as Maradona’s Adidas Golden Ball trophy.
Diego Maradona’s golden ball trophy for auction in Paris
Sports
Dortmund whip PSG 2-0 aggregate to reach Champions League final
Dortmund whip PSG 2-0 aggregate to reach Champions League final
Borussia Dortmund produced a fine away performance to beat Paris St-Germain and reach their first Champions League final since 2013.
Dortmund held a 1-0 advantage following the first leg and doubled their lead when Mats Hummels was left unmarked five yards out to head in from Julian Brandt’s left-wing corner.
That goal came just after PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery wasted a glorious chance as he volleyed against the post from close range early in the second half.
PSG hit the upright twice in the opening match in Germany and, after falling 2-0 behind on aggregate, again struck the post through Nuno Mendes.
The hosts thought they had been given a penalty and a potential lifeline when Italian referee Daniele Orsato pointed to the spot, only to instantly change his mind and rule that Hummels’ foul on Ousmane Dembele had been just outside the area.
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PSG have never been European champions, losing in the 2020 final, and Dortmund produced an excellent defensive display to frustrate the French title winners.
Kylian Mbappe, in his last European match for PSG before joining Real Madrid in the summer, had an effort deflected on to the crossbar, before Vitinha fired against the bar too – the sixth time overall his side had hit the frame of the goal in the tie.
The final will be at Wembley on Saturday, 1 June (20:00 BST) and could be an all-German affair, just as it was in May 2013 when Bayern Munich beat Dortmund 2-1 in London.
Bayern and Real are in the second 2024 semi-final and the first leg ended 2-2 in Germany, with the second leg in Spain on Wednesday (20:00 BST).
Dortmund are aiming to become European champions for the second time in their history after they defeated Juventus 3-1 in the 1997 final.
Dortmund whip PSG 2-0 aggregate to reach Champions League final
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