Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane reveals uncertainty over future

Real Madrid are currently having a nightmare season as they sit fourth in the La Liga table, 16 points behind Barcelona.

And they have also been less than convincing in the cups as they finished second in their Champions League group and drew 2-2 with second division side Numancia last night.

Zidane signed a contract extension with Real in September but pressure has been growing on his position in recent weeks.

And he understands the need to turn results around quickly.

"I just go game to game, year to year," said Zidane.

"I cannot think two or three years down the line, as I know how it is here, even having a contract, which means nothing.

"It is not easy for the players who play less. We played a good game. We maybe lacked a bit of gas at the end."

Lucas Vazquez scored a brace as Real progressed to the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey with a 5-2 aggregate win last night.

And Zidane says he was pleased with how his side played.

Read More: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/903059/Real-Madrid-Zinedine-Zidane-future-La-Liga-news

Paper Talk: Klopp’s Dortmund warning, Lukaku seeks legal advice, Messi’s hand-painted boots

BARCELONA have forked out huge coin to finally replace Neymar and it’s been revealed Jurgen Klopp was behind making them pay so much for two record signings.
Plus Romelu Lukaku responds to ‘voodoo’ claims and Leo Messi shows off his new boots.
A text Jurgen Klopp sent to former club Borussia Dortmund essentially cost Barcelona $405m.

Barca have finally got their man in Philippe Coutinho, but had Klopp not alerted his ex-employers to their transfer plans, they’d have almost certainly have saved themselves a huge sum of money.

Last summer the Catalans were in the market for an attacker after selling Neymar to PSG, with Coutinho very firmly atop their wish list. The Spanish giants had money to spend and Klopp was in no way ready to part with his prized asset.
Aware of the situation and Barca’s probable plan b, the German manager got in contact with Dortmund and informed them to be weary of an approach for starlet Ousmane Dembele.

According to German journalist Raphael Honigstein, Klopp informed the BVB that he would not be selling Coutinho, and that they could essentially hold the Spaniards to ransom over Dembele’s transfer fee.

Honigstein revealed the bombshell on The Totally Football Show, “Dortmund revealed that they benefited from Barca’s interest in Coutinho in the Summer. Klopp passed on a message to them to say that LFC wouldn’t sell, saying, ‘don’t worry, we’re not selling Coutinho to Barcelona. So, if they come to you looking to sign Dembele, be assured that they have enough money and ask for a lot of money’. They signed Dembele for a lot and topped that with Coutinho, so I don’t know where that leaves with them in terms of Antoine Griezmann.”

It appears, Klopp may have had the last laugh.

MESSI’S INCREDIBLE HAND-PAINTED BOOTS

The remarkable story of Lionel Messi’srise from Argentina to Barcelona has been immortalised on a pair of football boots.

30-year-old Messi was presented the boots by Paraguayan artist Lili Cantero, who had painted them by hand after being inspired by the Barca ace’s life and achievements.

The boots feature a range of moments from the forward’s life, dating back to his early childhood and also feature images of his family.


His famous celebration against Real Madrid is depicted, as is the iconic picture of the Argentine on Ronaldinho’s back.

“These boots were sent to Barcelona as a gift for the player, they are fully hand-painted,” Cantero said of her artwork.

“The boots are inspired by the life of Messi, narrating with images its history and how it was working hard to reach the top. From Paraguay with Love, for the world.”



Read More: https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/teams/liverpool/paper-talk-klopps-dortmund-warning-lukaku-seeks-legal-advice-messis-handpainted-boots/news-story/affaf43df87a4ff59d1ab468c289aa7d

Real Madrid, Barcelona transfer news: Mo Salah, Zinedine Zidane, Arda Turan, Philippe Coutinho

REAL Madrid are plotting an audacious Anfield raid of their own to steal the spotlight back from Barca, while Zinedine Zidane is at loggerheads with club president Florentino Perez.
That and more in a La Liga edition of Rumour Mill!

REAL TO RAID LIVERPOOL FOR SALAH

Not fans of being outdone, Real Madrid are preparing an audacious counter to Barcelona’s signing of Philippe Coutinho, by sanctioning an Anfield raid of their own.

Despite manager Zinedine Zidane’s assertion that Los Blancos wouldn’t sign anyone in January, Los Blancos are being linked with a big-money swoop for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, according to Sky Sport Italia.

Barca smashed their transfer record with the signing of Coutinho, and now Real are determined to splash the cash themselves in a bid to counter the deal.

Salah has been on fire since joining Liverpool in the summer, netting 17 goals in 21 appearances after signing for £37m from Roma.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/la-liga/real-madrid-barcelona-transfer-news-mo-salah-zinedine-zidane-arda-turan-philippe-coutinho/news-story/ffb0108fcaaa4391931d213318035e61

La Liga news: Suarez to Liverpool, Griezmann to Man Utd, Kane to Real Madrid updates

LA LIGA news is coming thick and fast with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all looking at strengthening during the January transfer window. Express Sport brings you all the latest.

Luis Suarez to Liverpool
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly hopeful of re-signing Luis Suarez from Barcelona.

Spanish outlet Diario Gol claim the Reds manager is determined to bring Suarez back.

Liverpool are on the lookout for new attackers after selling Philippe Coutinho to Barca for a huge £142million.

And though Roberto Firmino has excelled in a no9 role this season, Liverpool want Suarez back to lead the line.

The Uruguay international swapped Anfield for the Nou Camp in 2014 after hitting 31 Premier League goals during his final season on Merseyside.

Antoine Griezmann to Manchester United
ESPN journalist Mark Ogden thinks Manchester United could sign Antoine Griezmann from Atletico this month.

“Manchester United looked at Antoine Griezmann last summer,” Ogden told ESPN FC.

“They kind of pulled out of the race because they said their priority was a centre-forward, they signed Lukaku.

“Diego Simeone has admitted Griezmann will probably leave Atletico Madrid this year.

“He’s got an escape clause in his contract which is around £85million.

“He’s a player that United like, he scores goals, his future at Atletico Madrid is uncertain so it’s a deal that could be done in January.”

Read More: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/901492/La-Liga-news-Luis-Suarez-Liverpool-Antoine-Griezmann-Man-Utd-Harry-Kane-Real-Madrid

Manchester United may take full advantage of Barcelona's Coutinho transfer from Liverpool

As far as weekends go, it was a pretty quiet one for Manchester United ahead of their trip to Dubai.

With FA Cup progress secured, the squad enjoyed a rare Saturday off. Daley Blind headed back to Amsterdam, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard wore matching jackets in Paris while Ander Herrera paid his favourite London restaurant a visit.

But, away from Carrington, there was a development which could yet have a huge bearing on United's summer and, indeed, Jose Mourinho's tenure.

Barcelona finally announced the signing of Liverpool talisman Philippe Coutinho for a whopping £142m, making him the second-most expensive footballer of all-time. Sorry, Paul.

Coutinho has been signed as the heir apparent to 34-year-old Andres Iniesta and it is hard to imagine him dislodging Lionel Messi to play in the left-wing role he excelled in at Liverpool.

With Ousmane Dembele fit and firing again, following a hamstring injury, Coutinho looks set to take up a role in Barcelona's midfield three with Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

Having made £197m from the world-record sale of Neymar last summer, Barcelona have since spent £35m on Paulinho, £93m on Dembele, a fee which could yet rise to £124m, and now a further £142m on Coutinho.

But they will not stop there, as they put together the most feared frontline in world football, and Antoine Griezmann is top of their list.

Barcelona director Guillermo Amor only admitted last month that 'there may well have been an approach' already. Those comments have landed the Catalan giants in hot water after Atletico Madrid reported the alleged approach to FIFA earlier this month, but that will not dissuade them.

Griezmann's release clause stands at £178m until July 1 and it is unclear, officially, whether it reverts back to the original £84m figure after that. If so, expect teams to wait in a summer where the World Cup will take centre stage.

Read More: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-transfer-barcelona-coutinho-14123807

Messi marks new milestone

Lionel Messi marked his 400th appearance in La Liga with the opening goal as Barcelona eased to a 3-0 win over Levante at the Camp Nou on Sunday, AFP reports.

Messi’s 365th goal in Spain’s top flight came inside 12 minutes, with Luis Suarez adding the second before the interval and Paulinho completing the victory late on as Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of the table back to nine points over Atletico Madrid.

The Catalans are still unbeaten in La Liga this season and have Philippe Coutinho to come in, with the Brazilian expected to be officially unveiled as a Barcelona player on Monday following the announcement of his 160m-euro move from Liverpool.

The 25-year-old Brazilian, whose transfer is the third-biggest in football history, was not in attendance at the Camp Nou as the club’s previous record recruit Ousmane Dembele started.

The Frenchman, signed for 105m  euros from Borussia Dortmund at the start of the campaign, was included in the line-up for the first time since tearing his hamstring nearly four months ago.

He came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, including from one 20-yard strike that was beaten away by Levante’s ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Oier Olazabal.

But it was Messi who broke the deadlock from a Jordi Alba assist, a combination that has proved fruitful on so many occasions this season.

The Argentine’s flighted pass found Alba, and the left-back headed the ball down for Messi, arriving in the area, to finish first-time in off the far post for his 16th league goal of the campaign.

The second goal arrived seven minutes before the interval, as Suarez controlled Sergi Roberto’s fine ball into the box before firing home.

Read More: http://punchng.com/messi-marks-new-milestone/

Barcelona news: When will Philippe Coutinho make his debut after Liverpool transfer?

PHILIPPE COUTINHO is expected to complete his move to Barcelona at some point today, but when will he be able to make his debut for the Catalan club?

The Brazilian finally got his dream move to Barcelona when it was announced yesterday Liverpool had agreed a deal worth £142million.

Coutinho made it clear in the summer he wanted to leave but Liverpool stood firm and released a statement that the player would not be sold.

However, six months later and an improved offer from Barcelona with ‘achievable’ add-ons as opposed to the ones offered in the summer left Liverpool with little choice but to sell.

Coutinho arrived in Barcelona yesterday and is expected to be in attendance for the club’s match against Levante this afternoon.

Read More: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/901185/Barcelona-Philippe-Coutinho-Liverpool-transfer-La-Liga-debut-Nou-Camp-Celta-Vigo