MANCHESTER UNITED: SIR JIM RATCLIFFE 'WANTS NEWCASTLE'S DAN ASHWORTH AS NEW SPORTING DIRECTOR'

 Alex Young @alexwsyoung

According to Manchester Evening News, the highly rated Ashworth is INEOS Group's top target to oversee the club's transfer business after success at both Brighton and on Tyneside.

INEOS's 25 per cent stake in United is yet to be ratified, but Ratcliffe is already mulling over his plans once he takes control of the footballing side of the club

United's recruitment has been disasterous at times since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure over a decade ago, spending more than £1billion without ever mounting a serious Premier League title challenge.

Ashworth, meanwhile, has a fine reputation in the game and was key to Newcastle signing stars Kieran Trippier, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

MEN report that football director John Murtough remains a popular figure at United and any move for Ashworth would not necessarily mean the end of Murtough, who could move to a more administrative role.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/manchester-united-sir-jim-ratcliffe-wants-newcastles-dan-ashworth-as-new-sporting-director-38747613

CRISTIANO RONALDO NETS 50TH GOAL OF 2023 IN AL-NASSR WIN

 Once again showing that age is just a number, Cristiano Ronaldo hit his 50th goal of 2023 in Al-Nassr’s 5-2 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi King Cup of Champions.

After a neat one-two, the 38-year-old finished coolly from inside the box to put his side 4-1 in front.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus man has scored 40 goals for Al-Nassr since signing on after the World Cup last year, while he has also extended his international goal record, netting 10 times in nine games for Portugal.

No player has scored more this calendar year, albeit Ronaldo has not been playing in one of the recognised “Big Five” leagues or in the Champions League like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.

Ronaldo will be looking to continue his fine form heading into the new year, as he readies himself to lead his country to his sixth European Championships – another record.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/cristiano-ronaldo-nets-50th-goal-of-2023-in-al-nassr-win-38709161

VICTOR OSIMHEN IS NAMED 2023 AFRICAN MEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 African Men’s Player of the Year.

The Nigerian and Napoli striker beat off competition from Liverpool and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, as well as Morocco and PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi, to win the award for the first time.

The 24-year-old was the highest ranked African player in the Ballon d’Or honours, finishing eighth after a stunning 2022/23 season for Napoli, in which he netted 31 goals as the club won their first Serie A title in 33 years.

Osimhen also netted scored five times in as many games for his national side in 2023, making it 20 goals from just 27 appearances for Nigeria.

He will be the key man as Nigeria look to claim a first African Cup of Nations since 2013 when the tournament kicks off next month in Ivory Coast.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/victor-osimhen-is-named-2023-african-mens-player-of-the-year-38709234

GIRONA FAIRYTALE CONTINUES AS BARCELONA BEATEN 4-2 BY SHOCK LALIGA LEADERS

 High-flying Girona reclaimed top spot in LaLiga after winning 4-2 at defending champions Barcelona on Sunday.

Artem Dovbyk and Miguel Gutierrez both scored for Girona in the first half, either side of Robert Lewandowski's equaliser, before Girona's Valery Fernandez and Cristhian Stuani sealed the victory after the break.

Girona, who remain unbeaten away from home in LaLiga this season, top the standings with 41 points from 16 games, having leapfrogged Real Madrid on 39 points after Carlo Ancelotti's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis on Saturday.

Barcelona, whose only previous defeat this season was to rivals Real at the end of October, are fourth on 34 points, level with third-placed Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand.

Barcelona fired off 31 shots, 11 of which were on target, but Girona's ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga pulled off a string of saves while the leaders scored with four out of their seven shots on target.

Dovbyk put Girona in front in the 12th minute with a shot that bounced in off the bottom of the post for his eighth goal in his debut LaLiga season.

Lewandowski then rediscovered his goalscoring touch and equalised for the hosts seven minutes later, heading home following a corner. It was the Poland striker's first goal for Barcelona in nearly a month.

Gutierrez restored Girona's lead before half-time, after the defender broke into the box and netted a fine individual effort, and Fernandez made it 3-1 in the 80th minute with a low shot two minutes after coming off the bench

"It is a tough defeat, we have not been good," Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong told DAZN. "Girona did well, but it is our fault.

"We haven't been good with the ball, neither have I, especially in the first half.

"We are seven points behind Girona, which is a lot. There is time, there is a lot of LaLiga left, but we have to improve a lot. We are disappointed, it is hard, but we can come back."

Sources:https://onefootball.com/en/news/girona-fairytale-continues-as-barcelona-beaten-4-2-by-shock-laliga-leaders-38704093

ROMA ANNOUNCE PRESS BLACKOUT AFTER CHAOTIC DRAW AGAINST FIORENTINA

 Serie A side Roma have announced a press blackout after the club’s 1-1 draw against Fiorentina.

The Giallorossi ended the game against Fiorentina to nine men, but they somehow held on to a point. But the game was chaotic and that is how it ended.

Nicola Zalewski had picked up a second yellow card to initially put Roma down to ten men, leading to Lucas Martinez Quarta equalising soon after. Romelu Lukaku’s bad tackle on Christian Kouame saw the Belgian get sent off and Roma were down to nine men.

Fiorentina couldn’t break through but after the game, Vincenzo Italiano had a vocal confrontation with Leandro Paredes, who had tackles Nico Gonzalez rather ruthlessly. Italiano hadn’t shook hands with Jose Mourinho, who also seemed to be fuming at the officiating in the game.

It has been reported that Roma will not speak to reporters after the game (via TMW) and that is likely to be in protest to Zalewski’s second yellow card, which led to him being sent off. Mourinho was initially expected to speak to the media but he will not now and neither will anyone from the club.

Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN

Sources:https://onefootball.com/en/news/roma-announce-press-blackout-after-chaotic-draw-against-fiorentina-38703983

KARIM BENZEMA INCLUDES HIMSELF IN HIS DREAM XI, BUT NOT LIONEL MESSI OR CRISTIANO RONALDO

 Al-Ittihad forward Karim Benzema (35) has revealed his dream XI during an interview with the Saudi Arabian club’s social channels. The former France international includes himself in the team, but notably not Lionel Messi (36), nor former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo (38).

Messi and Ronaldo are considered by many to be two of the best players to have ever played the game; the former has won eight Ballon d’Or, the latter five. No players have won more than the pair. However, neither were good enough to make Benzema’s all-time XI.

The absence of Messi may not be entirely surprising, given their rivalry during their time at Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, although that didn’t prevent him from naming Dani Alves at right-back. However, the absence of Ronaldo, with whom he spent nine years with Los Blancos (2009-2018) certainly constitutes a shock.

Benzema’s XI is full of former Real Madrid teammates, notably in defence, and also Les Bleus legends, notably Zinédine Zidane.

Benzema’s dream XI

Manuel Neuer; Dani Alves, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Claude Makélélé, Paul Pogba, Zinédine Zidane; Ronaldinho, Ronaldo (R9), Karim Benzema.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/karim-benzema-includes-himself-in-his-dream-xi-but-not-lionel-messi-or-cristiano-ronaldo-38704032

IS PAULO DYBALA THE UNLUCKIEST PLAYER IN FOOTBALL?

 Roma welcome Fiorentina to town and star man Paulo Dybala will be full of mixed emotions.

Roma - 01

Fiorentina - 01

The Argentina international pulled off an exquisite cross for Romelu Lukaku’s opener and notched his sixth assist in 11 matches.

But the storyline that routinely haunts Dybala struck again on Sunday.

La Joya limped off the pitch after just 24 minutes of action with an apparent knee issue after turning his right leg in an awkward fashion.

He has already missed 24 games through injury since joining Roma 18 months ago.

Recently named Serie A Player of the Month, injuries have truly curtailed his true potential.

Is he the unluckiest player in football?

Read more

Sources:https://onefootball.com/en/news/is-paulo-dybala-the-unluckiest-player-in-football-38703659

LIONEL MESSI AND LIONEL SCALONI SET FOR KEY ARGENTINA MEETING

 Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni is planning a key meeting with Lionel Messi before the end of 2023.

Under his leadership, Argentina won the Copa America title in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, in the nation’s first respective triumphs in each tournament since 1993 and 1986.

However, he has admitted the strain is beginning to take its toll, claiming he needs time to think in the coming months, as he considers his options with La Albiceleste.

Sources:https://onefootball.com/en/news/lionel-messi-and-lionel-scaloni-set-for-key-argentina-meeting-38703443

Messi remains a key part of Scaloni’s squad, with the pair expected to remain in place for the Copa America in 2024, but the 2026 World Cup is a different situation.

Scaloni’s current deal runs until after that tournament, but he is keen to make changes in his squad, and wants to discuss his plans with captain Messi.

As per reports from ESPN, Scaloni has earmarked certain players he wants to remove from the squad, and will talk to Messi before making any firm decisions, with his desire focused on ensuring the team remains competitive at the highest level.

Sources:https://onefootball.com/en/news/lionel-messi-and-lionel-scaloni-set-for-key-argentina-meeting-38703443

PREMIER LEAGUE WEEKEND: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

 

Following the latest round of Premier League action we look at five things we learned from the weekend fixtures.

Elliott a game-changer, but Liverpool need anchor

Liverpool escaped from Crystal Palace with a 2-1 win that moved the Reds top of the table, but there was little convincing about the performance of Jurgen Klopp’s side. A controversial red card saw the game turn in Liverpool’s favour, after Jordan Ayew was dismissed for two bookings, with Palace leading.

Harvey Elliott continued his habit of influencing games off the bench, as the 20-year-old fired in a stoppage-time winner. Elliott has started just once in the Premier League this season, but has proven to be an effective option from the bench. After late assists to help Liverpool come from behind to earn results against Wolves and Luton, the England u-21 international fired home his first goal of the season at Selhurst Park to snatch the points.

While Elliott is banging on the door for inclusion in midfield, issues remain in Liverpool’s new look side. Wataru Endo was poor at Palace, filling in for the injured Alexis Mac Allister as the deepest of the midfield three. The Japan international is the only available defensive midfield option in Klopp’s squad, but lacked imagination in possession and struggled with the physicality of Palace.

The 30-year-old was a stop-gap signing after missing out on Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo last summer, and his underwhelming start at Liverpool has heightened the need for an engine room anchor. Finances and availability will dictate whether one arrives in January, but a specialist defensive midfielder could make the difference in Liverpool’s title challenge.

Read more

Source :https://onefootball.com/en/news/premier-league-weekend-five-things-we-learned-38703393

BAYERN'S UNBEATEN RUN ENDS WITH FRANKFURT THRASHING

 Bayern Munich lost for the first time in the Bundesliga this season in stunning fashion, with Eintracht Frankfurt putting the champions to the sword on Saturday.

Eintracht Frankfurt - 05

Bayern Munich _ 01

Scorers: Marmoush 12′, Dina Ebimbe 31′, 50′, Larsson 36′, Knauff 60′; Kimmich 44′

Eintracht had lost four consecutive matches in all competitions heading into this one, but they took the lead after 12 minutes, when an effort from Farès Chaïbi came back off the crossbar, and Omar Marmoush was on hand to score his seventh goal of the season.

The second goal came after 31 minutes and Éric Dina Ebimbe was the scorer, with his shot squirming through Manuel Neuer’s grasp.

Bayern’s afternoon got even worse when they fell three behind a few minutes later. Joshua Kimmich lost possession cheaply and was punished by Hugo Larsson finding the net

Kimmich atoned for that error by pulling a goal back from distance just before half-time, but early in the second half Dina Ebimbe got his second goal to make it 4-1 after Dayot Upamecano had been caught in possession.

It got worse for Thomas Tuchel’s side just after the hour mark too, with Ansgar Knauff lashing past Neuer to rub salt in the wounds.

That result leaves Bayern three points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who travel to face third-placed Stuttgart on Sunday.

While Eintracht are up to seventh.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/bayerns-unbeaten-run-ends-with-frankfurt-thrashing-38697267