Home Blog Page 1122

Atletico Madrid negotiating Mauro ICARDI loan deal

85

Atletico Madrid are reportedly negotiating to get Mauro ICARDI of Inter on loan.

Per a report by ESPN FC, Diego SIMEONE is interested in getting the Argentina striker on loan with a €70 million option to buy. ICARDI has not had the best reputation with the club after things went sour last season.

Mauro ICARDI has since seen his number 9 shirt go to another player, stripped of captaincy and even left out of games.

Per the report by ESPN FC, Inter would prefer that ICARDI leave the club for good this transfer window rather than a loan with a buy. Furthermore, it would appear that SIMEONE would not tolerate the same behavior by ICARDI at Atletico.

Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI: “I see GAICH’s call-up as normal”

9

Argentina national team coach Lionel SCALONI spoke about the inclusion of Adolfo GAICH into the squad while also talking about the Boca Juniors and River Plate players for the October games.

Speaking to the media, coach SCALONI defended his decision on calling up some of the younger players into the team for the friendly games against Chile and Mexico. Here’s what he had to say:

“I see GAICH’s call-up as normal, you shouldn’t be surprised about his call-up. Same thing goes for Nico DOMINGUEZ or Leo BALeRDI. Our idea is for them to know what it’s like to play with the best players and to give them the chance to play.”

SCALONI also stated that he will not be calling up any Boca Juniors or River Plate players for Argentina’s friendly games for the month of October. This is due to the fact that both teams will be facing off in the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores.

 

 

Boca Juniors, River Plate, Superclasico set for Copa Libertadores semi finals

9

For the second consecutive year, we will have a Superclasico in the Copa Libertadores as Boca Juniors will clash against River Plate in the semi finals.

The two finalists from last season’s infamous final will play once more, this time for a place in the final. The first leg of the final was played at Boca’s la Bombonera, where the match ended in a 2-2 draw. Following much drama and at one point not even knowing if the second leg would be played, River Plate would go on to lift the Libertadores after a 3-1 win in Madrid.

Argentina’s two biggest teams will play again in the semi’s. But first they will meet in the league on Sunday at River Plate’s Monumental stadium.

Boca Juniors reached the final following a 3-0 aggregate win against LDU Quito while River Plate won 3-1 on aggregate.

River Plate will host Boca Juniors in the first leg at home on October 1 with the second leg on October 22 in Boca’s stadium.

 

Lionel MESSI wins UEFA Best Striker award, second in UEFA Best Player

23

Congratulations to Lionel MESSI on winning the UEFA Best Forward award.

Scoring 12 goals in 10 matches in the Champions League, Lionel MESSI was voted as the UEFA Best Forward of last season. As for the UEFA Player of the Year, the Argentine finished in second in the voting behind winner Virgil van DIJK of Liverpool who won the Champions League. Here were the final votes:

  1. Virgil van DIJK – 305 points
  2. Lionel MESSI – 207 points
  3. Cristiano RONALDO – 74 points
  4. ALISSON – 57 points
  5. Sadio MANE 51 points
  6. Mohamed SALAH – 49 points


In addition to MESSI winning the UEFA Best Striker, Liverpool goalkeeper ALISSON was voted as the best goalkeeper, Virgil van DIJK the best defender and Frenkie de JONG as the best midfielder.

 

Nicolas DOMINGUEZ of Argentina, Velez, to join Bologna

30

Nicolas DOMINGUEZ of Velez Sarsfield is set to join Bologna.

Part of the recent Argentina national team call-up, the Velez Sarsfield midfielder is expected to fly out to Italy to complete his medical as he will make the switch over to Bologna. Playing impressively well under Gabriel HEINZE’s team, the Italian club will reportedly pay €9.5 million.