FOOTBALL TRANSFER RUMOURS: REAL MADRID BUDGET FOR MBAPPE & HAALAND; ARSENAL MAKE TONEY DECISION

 90min rounds up the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world...

Real Madrid have organised their finances in such a way that they will be able to compete for more 'Galactico' signings next summer, with PSG's Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City's Erling Haaland on their shortlist. (AS)

Manchester United view Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo and Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio as ideal long-term replacements for Raphael Varane. (The Sun)

Another player on Manchester United's radar is Pedro Neto, who is also wanted by Arsenal and Saudi Pro League clubs. Wolves have set a £60m asking price. (TeamTALK)

Liverpool lead Inter and Juventus in the race to sign Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, with the France international able to leave if a club comes in with a £35m bid. (Corriere dello Sport

Chelsea could turn to Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez if Napoli's demands for Victor Osimhen prove excessive. (Football Transfers)

In their attempts to find a cut-price replacement for the injured Gavi, Barcelona are weighing up a move for West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals, whose contract expires in the summer. (Cadena SER)

Read more 

Source: https://onefootball.com/en/news/football-transfer-rumours-real-madrid-budget-for-mbappe-haaland-arsenal-make-toney-decision-38611601

MILAN’S R9-INSPIRED PUNK ROCK STRIKER PROSPECT IS READY TO TAKE SERIE A BY STORM – AND HE’S ONLY 15

What do you do when footballers are being introduced too young, inevitably ravaged by injuries and then forced to deal with a shorter career as a result? Bring through more children to cover for injuries, of course.

In an era where footballers are dropping like flies with muscle and ligament injuries galore in and around seasons that are asking for as many as 60 games from players, managers are having to instil more trust in youth prospects, even if those youth prospects are not still legally old enough to drive a car or buy an energy drink

It’s a double-edged sword, though. Because if you’re good enough, you’re old enough

And if you’re good enough to be given a chance to play first-team football at a jaw-droppingly young age, the chances are you’re going to grasp that once-in-a-lifetime, genuine fairytale opportunity with both hands.

Despite their recent resurgence which culminated with winning the Scudetto in 2021-22, Milan’s striker roster is still incredibly fragile.

The Rossoneri managed to extract the absolute maximum out of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his second spell with the club before his body finally forced him into retirement, plugging the gaps around him whenever he faltered by relying on Olivier Giroud, who has since taken over the role as starting striker.

Experience is great, but having two players in the autumn of their careers with a limited shelf life is bound to catch up on you at some point.

Read more 

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/milans-r9-inspired-punk-rock-striker-prospect-is-ready-to-take-serie-a-by-storm-and-hes-only-15-38611422

VIRTUAL COACHES AND SCOUTING APPS: HOW THE AI REVOLUTION IS TRANSFORMING FOOTBALL'S FUTURE

Football

Clubs not embracing the new era of artificial intelligence risk being left behind with the impacts set to be wide-ranging

Matt Majendie2 minutes ago

QPR’s relegation at the end of the 2012-13 season acted as an unlikely precursor of sorts to the introduction of artificial intelligence in football.

At the start of the season, midfielder Esteban Granero arrived amid fanfare from Real Madrid but was unable to halt the club’s drop from the top flight.

He returned to Spain the following season, first on loan with Real Sociedad before joining permanently. While there, he befriended a team analyst, who found himself unsure what to make of the reams of data he had at his disposal.

Granero’s solution was perhaps atypical to that of his peers. “I took the data and started asking clever people about it,” he recalls. “I went to universities and asked professors about artificial intelligence, as I felt AI could improve data analysis, as in other industries.”

By 2016, he had founded Olocip, an early entry into football AI used to aid decision making when it comes to signing players and also around in-game decisions.

Read more 

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/virtual-coaches-and-scouting-apps-how-the-ai-revolution-is-transforming-footballs-future-38608623

RAPHAËL VARANE WANTS TO LEAVE MANCHESTER UNITED

 According to Florian Plettenberg, Raphaël Varane (30) would like to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window. The former France international is hoping that the Premier League club will give him the green light and allow him to leave in the winter window.

The 30-year-old is said to be unhappy with his current situation at Old Trafford. Following an injury which kept him out for a month at the start of the season, the former Real Madrid defender has seen his minutes at United limited. Varane has only seen 116 minutes of action under Ten Hag since he returned from injury in late September.

Florian Plettenberg reported that Bayern Munich are considering a winter move for the World Cup winner. However, as things stand, the Bundesliga champions are yet to make any advances to the Frenchman’s entourage. Manchester United have set a price tag of between €20m – €30m for the centre-back and are not willing to entertain loan moves for Varane in the January transfer window.

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Source: https://onefootball.com/en/news/raphaeal-varane-wants-to-leave-manchester-united-38609014

REAL MADRID STUNNED IN UWCL; CHELSEA CRUISE; BAYERN BEAT PSG; ROMA WIN

 The second round of Women’s Champions League group games concluded on Thursday with several big-hitters in action.

Here’s what went down.

BK Hacken Women - 02

Real Madrid Women - 01

Scorers: Kafaji 59′, Kosola 76′; Bruun 9′

Real Madrid are still seeking their first Group D win of the season after being downed by Häcken.

Signe Bruun had opened the scoring for the visitors by reacting quickest after Jennifer Falk tipped Ivana Sanz’s long-range attempt onto the post.

But Las Blancas were pulled level right before the hour mark when Rosa Kafaji pounced on a loose ball to rifle home from inside the area.

The hosts completed their comeback in the final 15 minutes as Katariina Kosola produced a curling effort from Kafaji’s pass to deliver a famous victory.

It means Alberto Toril’s side sit third in the group with just one point from their opening two fixtures while their hosts are comfortably top with six.

Read more

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/real-madrid-stunned-in-uwcl-chelsea-cruise-bayern-beat-psg-roma-win-38609790

BRAZIL 'COULD FACE POINTS DEDUCTION' FOR ARGENTINA BRAWL BECAUSE OF FIFA RULE

 

Highlights

• The brawl during the Brazil vs. Argentina match may result in a points deduction for Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers, as per FIFA's Disciplinary Code.

• Lionel Messi and other players expressed concern for the safety of families in the stands during the incident, emphasizing the potential for tragedy.
• A points deduction could severely impact Brazil's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, as they are currently in sixth place and struggling for form

The brawl that broke out inside the Maracana stadium during Brazil's match against Argentina could have massive aftershocks for the home side. According to reports, one FIFA rule means that Brazil could face a potential points deduction because of the incident.

The two nations renewed their feisty affair in a recent World Cup qualifying match, which saw Lionel Messi clash with Rodrygo. Argentina would eventually run out 1-0 victors, thanks to a goal in the 63rd minute from former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi, which handed Brazil a first defeat in a World Cup qualifying match at home.

However, the main headline news from the game came from an incident which occurred before the match even kicked off. There was chaos in the stands of the stadium as tempers flared between both sets of fans, with Emiliano Martinez and other players intervening as the police stepped in. The match was postponed for almost 30 minutes as Lionel Messi led the visiting squad from the field

Readmore

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/brazil-could-face-points-deduction-for-argentina-brawl-because-of-fifa-rule-38608088

EURO 2024 PLAY-OFF DRAW IN FULL: WALES TO HOST FINLAND IN SEMI-FINAL CLASH

 Wales are having to go through the play-off route in a bid to qualify for Euro 2024 next summer

Action Images via Reuters

Wales will host Finland in a home semi-final in the Euro 2024 play-offs next year.

The match will take place at the Cardiff City Stadium on March 21, with the winners of the one-legged clash heading through to the final in Path A.

If Wales were to get past Finland, then Rob Page's side would also have crucial home advantage against either Poland or Estonia for a place at the tournament in Germany next summer.

Poland will entertain Estonia in their semi-final, while in Path B Ukraine have been handed a trip to face Bosnia and Herzegovina after being beaten to the runner-up spot behind England in qualifying Group C by Italy following a goalless draw in Leverkusen on Monday night.

Israel host Iceland, with the winners of that tie travelling to play either Bosnia and Herzegovina or Ukraine in the Path B final.

In Path C, Georgia are at home to Luxembourg, while 2004 winners Greece host Kazakhstan.

Georgia or Luxembourg will then have home advantage against either Greece or Kazakhstan in the final.

Read more

Source: https://onefootball.com/en/news/euro-2024-play-off-draw-in-full-wales-to-host-finland-in-semi-final-clash-38606890