Новости за 02.08.2018

Rangers booked their place in the third qualifying round of the Europa League despite a 1-1 draw with Osijek on Thursday, winning 2-1 on aggregate. Alfredo Morelos' goal in Croatia had given Steven Gerrard's men the advantage and a single Nikola Katic goal proved enough once more at Ibrox, even if a late Borna Barisic drive set up a tense finish. Both sides struggled to truly test the goalkeepers in the first half, with most shots on target fired straight at Marko Malenica or Allan McGregor. The... Читать дальше...

Gonzalo Higuain's initial loan switch to AC Milan gives the Argentina international the chance to put his name alongside some of the great strikers to have graced San Siro. However, while memories of Marco van Basten, George Weah, Andriy Shevchenko and others still endure, recent high-profile recruits have not entered the affections of the Rossoneri faithful so easily. Nikola Kalinic and Andre Silva arrived as part of last year's transfer splurge under the ultimately brief ownership of Li Yonghong... Читать дальше...

Cristiano Ronaldo's €112million move to Juventus from Real Madrid is good news for the casual Serie A fan, although it does not exactly level the playing field in terms of the title race. One thing it does pretty much guarantee, though, is that we will have a new name in the race to finish as the top goalscorer in Italy's top flight next season. The Capocannoniere prize has been keenly contested in recent years – the top scorers finished level in two of the last four seasons – but 2018-19 might... Читать дальше...

One of the transfer window's most complex deals has reached a successful conclusion, with Gonzalo Higuain and Mattia Caldara joining AC Milan and Leonardo Bonucci returning to Juventus. Italy's two most successful clubs do not always see eye-to-eye, but the agreement involving this trio could end up being one of the most mutually successful pieces of business they have done. It also means Higuain and Caldara will join a surprisingly substantial list of players to reside on the books of both clubs... Читать дальше...

Crystal Palace have announced the signing of Germany international Max Meyer on a three-year contract. Meyer, who has won four caps for his country, was available on a free transfer after leaving Schalke at the end of last season. Having come through the academy at Schalke, the 22-year-old went on to make 192 appearances and score 22 goals for the club. "I feel really good and I'm happy to be here," said Meyer. "I can't wait to start training with the team and I hope I'll have a good season. ... Читать дальше...

AC Milan have announced the signings of striker Gonzalo Higuain and defender Mattia Caldara from Juventus, with Leonardo Bonucci going the other way to rejoin the Serie A champions.

Roma vice-captain Alessandro Florenzi has extended his career-long association with the club by signing a new five-year contract that runs until 2023. The versatile wideman's future had been the subject of speculation, with his previous deal due to expire at the end of this season and sporting director Monchi conceding he was uncertain over Florenzi's next move. But fresh terms mean the 27-year-old Roma academy product will have the opportunity to add plenty more appearances to the 222 he has made for his hometown team. Читать дальше...

Watford have tied down midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure to a new five-year contract. The 25-year-old French midfielder was a standout performer for the Hornets last season, scoring seven goals to be named Watford's player of the year by both his team-mates and supporters. Doucoure had been linked to a reunion with former boss Marco Silva at Everton, while Tottenham were also reportedly interested in the ex-Rennes player. His absence from Watford's pre-season fixtures served to fuel speculation but... Читать дальше...

Most Premier League clubs have more money than they know what to do with. They barely feel the loss when some is misspent on a player who fails to make a contribution, but it’s galling all the same. Given the financial disparity between the English top flight and leagues in other countries, many end up on contracts that nobody else can compete with.Unless another Premier League club wants them, these players can be incredibly difficult to shift. With the end of the transfer window approaching, these... Читать дальше...

Andy Cole for Keith Gillespie + £6mManchester United and NewcastleAt the time, this just seemed proof that Alex Ferguson was losing his grip – this being the season (1994/95) when he shipped out a number of players who'd helped earn Manchester United’s first league title since the days of Matt Busby.It worked out OK – Cole went on to win pretty much everything going at United, although he is still maligned by some for perceived wastefulness in front of goal. While Cole was winning it all, and dabbling in music... Читать дальше...

Chelsea winger Willian has instructed his lawyers to take legal action over a "forged" letter purporting to authorise a change of agent. The Brazil international shared the document on Instagram on Thursday with a statement denouncing its authenticity. The letter, which Willian says has been "circulated through the football market", claims to sanction a change in his representation until August 15. It comes with the 29-year-old at the centre of intense transfer speculation linking him to Real Madrid and Manchester United. Читать дальше...

Juventus star Paulo Dybala has shared a fond farewell to Gonzalo Higuain as the 31-year-old finalises a move to AC Milan. Argentina striker Higuain is expected to join the Rossoneri on an initial one-year loan deal worth €18million after undergoing a medical on Thursday. The former Real Madrid and Napoli man will make the switch alongside defender Mattia Caldara, with Leonardo Bonucci headed in the opposite direction. Dybala has been Higuain's strike partner throughout his two seasons in Turin and the countrymen... Читать дальше...

Timo Werner says the prospect of working with Julian Nagelsmann has convinced him to block out thoughts of leaving RB Leipzig. Nagelsmann has agreed to take over as head coach at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. The 31-year-old has established a strong reputation with his work at Hoffenheim, leading the club to successive top-four finishes in the Bundesliga. Leipzig striker Werner is impressed by what he has seen and is already looking forward to linking up with his future boss. "Julian... Читать дальше...

Newcastle United have completed the signing of striker Yoshinori Muto after he was awarded a work permit. The Magpies had to wait for the relevant documents to be ratified in order to complete the deal, despite Muto having already agreed a four-year contract. The club confirmed on Wednesday that the process has been completed, meaning he becomes their fifth signing of the transfer window, following Martin Dubravka, Ki Sung-yueng and Fabian Schar and the loan deal for Kenedy. However, the 26-year-old... Читать дальше...

If reports are to believed, Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic recently declined the opportunity to discuss a move to Manchester United. Kovacic has been searching for an escape from the Bernabeu substitutes’ bench for some time but, apparently, the prospect of playing for Jose Mourinho is none too enticing.Veracity is in short supply at this time of year, but it’s the kind of anecdote which is easy to believe. Mourinho has become known as an enemy of flair and Kovacic, whose game depends on expression and license... Читать дальше...

Leon Goretzka insists he has no regrets about turning down a number of offers in order to join Bayern Munich, one of which came from Barcelona. The midfielder reached an agreement with the Bundesliga champions in January after deciding against extending his contract with Schalke and was officially presented as a Bayern player on Thursday. Goretzka was heavily linked with Barca and Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed in January that only their offer stopped the 23-year-old leaving the Bundesliga for LaLiga. Читать дальше...

Jordan Pickford has challenged Everton to seal a European spot in Marco Silva's first season in charge. The Toffees appointed former Watford boss Silva on May 31 after a turbulent 2017-18 campaign in which they finished eighth, after Ronald Koeman, David Unsworth and Sam Allardyce all had spells in charge of the first team. Silva has been backed in the transfer window, with close to £60million being spent on Richarlison and Lucas Digne, as Everton target a return to continental football. And Pickford... Читать дальше...

Algeria have appointed former midfielder Djamel Belmadi as their new head coach. The 42-year-old has agreed a contract that will run until the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, according to a statement published by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF). Belmadi succeeds Rabah Madjer, who was sacked in June. After a playing career in which he captained Algeria and played for Marseille, Manchester City and Southampton, Belmadi was coach at Lekhwiya, now known as Al-Duhail, and the Qatar national team. Читать дальше...

Gonzalo Higuain was all smiles as he posed for photos during his AC Milan medical on Thursday ahead of an impending move from Juventus. The Argentina striker is set to finalise a reported one-year loan switch worth an initial €18million. Milan will then have the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the campaign. Higuain enjoyed a successful two seasons in Turin, winning the Scudetto twice, scoring 40 league goals and securing a place in his country's World Cup squad. But the 30-year-old... Читать дальше...

Is the Community Shield a pre-season friendly oran official game? It's a question you’ll get a different answer to depending on who you ask. If, for example, you ask Jose Mourinho after his side has won it then it’s very much a trophy; part one of a potential treble, no less.But if you ask Jose Mourinho after his team have lost such a game then it’s a meaningless friendly, we imagine. Less than a friendly. A total nothing. Shrug.Still, whether you count the game as official – and the Community Shield as a trophy ... Читать дальше...

Leonardo Bonucci is rejoining Juventus from AC Milan and will trade places with Gonzalo Higuain and Mattia Caldara, Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed. The Bianconeri boss revealed Italy defender Bonucci, who flew into Turin to complete a medical on Thursday, is bound to link up with the club he left in a shock €42million switch just over a year ago. Paris Saint-Germain were rumoured to be interested in the 31-year-old, but the former Juve skipper has engineered a swift return to the club where he spent seven successful seasons. Читать дальше...

Real Madrid will be just as difficult to beat without Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Portugal captain Ronaldo joined Juventus this month in a €112million deal after nine trophy-laden years at the Santiago Bernabeu, in which he won four Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles. The 33-year-old built up an impressive record against Barca during his time in Spain, too, with his strike in May's 2-2 draw at Camp Nou taking him level with Alfredo Di Stefano on 18 Clasico goals. Читать дальше...

Leicester City manager Claude Puel has joked Manchester United's interest in Harry Maguire is purely to stir "trouble" before their Premier League encounter. The Red Devils are believed to be interested in bolstering their defence with 25-year-old Maguire, who was a standout performer for England at the World Cup. Puel, though, has repeatedly insisted the centre-back would not be sold, describing him as too valuable to lose in the wake of Riyad Mahrez's departure to Manchester City. The stand-off... Читать дальше...

The Football Association (FA) is hoping to tie England manager Gareth Southgate to a new long-term contract that will take him beyond Euro 2020. Southgate and his team garnered a wave of public support with their unexpected run to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia. It was the first time England had reached the tournament's final four in 28 years and the FA are eager to reward that success with an extension of the former Aston Villa boss' current deal, which has two years left to run. However... Читать дальше...

Former Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has had his suspension for violating UEFA's anti-doping regulations increased from six to 18 months. Nasri was originally banned for six months after he received a drip treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in 2016, which UEFA said contravened rules laid down by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). But an appeal against the initial sanction by UEFA's ethics and disciplinary inspector has resulted in an extended suspension, announced on Wednesday. The ban... Читать дальше...