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Manchester United and Chelsea have also been linked with the defender who could be available for £20million
Will he make City slicker? Joao Miranda could be on the move
Atletico Madrid are willing to sell Brazilian defender Joao Miranda in January - and that has put Manchester City on red alert.
The manager's decision to leave St James' Park for a
relegation battle says much about the unhappy state of the Toon under
Mike Ashley
Smiling again: Alan Pardew is off to a club where he'll feel wanted
Alan Pardew has delivered a spectacular snub to Newcastle by quitting for Crystal Palace.
On
Monday morning, Pardew’s peers queued up to insist you simply don’t
walk out of St James’ Park (capacity 52,400) for Selhurst Park (26,000).
How could a manager with a firm belief he could one day be England boss, give a two-fingered salute to a club cruising in the top half, with a decent squad and a global profile?
And swap it for a relegation battle at a homely club with a fraction of the potential?
Then Pardew did just that.
He
has the last laugh with a double-your-money new job, a fresh challenge
he believes is more satisfying, and a lot less friction and vitriol to
contend with now he is leaving Tyneside.
He was driven away by an impossible cocktail of factors, both football and fan-related.
Quids in: Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will be happy with a compensation fee from Palace
Like his wish for a new striker to be signed in January, reiterated very publicly on Boxing Day, being unlikely to happen.
Like the possibility of having his latest star man, Moussa Sissoko cashed in, either in January or the summer.
True, he has taken on a smaller club than Newcastle, but he’s wanted and loved at Selhurst Park.
He’s taking a no-lose crack at avoiding the drop, for fans who support and respect him.
For months he has taken the taunts of a Tyneside hate-mob on the chin.
Alan Pardew's Newcastle record
185 Games
71 Won
41 Drawn
73 Lost
He called it “mass-hysteria” and played it cool, but it hurt, and he admitted it bothered his family.
It
went quieter when he conjured a winning streak and won manager of the
month for November, but the “Pardew Out” campaign ridiculed him daily,
and made his life outside of football on Tyneside less than fun.
He isn’t perfect and had has some bad moments as United boss. Remember the headbutt and bad runs of form lasting 10 months earlier this year?
But
he has also coached the team to fifth place, had a decent Europa League
run, and kept the team afloat despite the club selling every top player
they stumbled upon.
The thirst of some to see the back of Pardew
at Newcastle – and there was a moment this season when I thought he was
finished – assumes Mike Ashley is capable of making a great appointment
to replace him.
Abuse: Newcastle fans wanted Alan Pardew gone
That is one huge assumption to make of an owner Pardew himself said doesn’t understand football and gets frustrated by its ways.
“We need a manager who is experienced in delivering trophies”, some supporters cry.
Fans drool about a statesman like Jurgen Klopp, Frank de Boer and Rafa Benitez.
De Boer’s agent says he won’t quit Ajax mid-season. Meanwhile the usual suspects including Steve Bruce and Tony Pulis are keen.
Interested
bosses will have to swallow their pride and be deferentially grateful,
learning never to pick a public fight with Ashley.
Appointing a big name would assume ambition, but there is none at boardroom level.
Ashley appears happy with Newcastle finishing between eighth and 10th.
A run in the cups? No thanks, that could ruin league form, so the club policy goes.
Which next-big-thing manager is going to salivate at that prospect?
It is a mission for mid-table mediocrity.
Say goodbye: Pardew applauds the crowd after Newcastle defeated Everton on Sunday
Alan Pardew at Newcastle
Signed on December 9, 2010 with five-and-a-half year deal.
Agreed an eight-year contract extension in September 2012. League finishes:
2010-11: 12th
2011-12: 5th
2012-13: 16th
2013-14: 10th Overall record:
P 185 W 71 D 41 L 73
The former Manchester United and Spurs defender has made
just one appearance for the Eagles since his £2.5million signing on
deadline day
Not gone well: Zeki Fryers signs for Crystal Palace from Tottenham on deadline day
Crystal Palace have told out-of-favour defender Zeki Fryers he cannot go out on loan. Fryers, 22,
who has made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League for
the Eagles, had become surplus to requirements despite only joining in a
£2.5million move from Tottenham in September.
Former Palace boss Neil Warnock made it clear the left-back could leave Selhurst Park after tabling bids for four players in his position.
The couple called the police this evening when a user on
the social media site made a vile comment after striker Austin posted a
photo of himself and his little girl, Ava Bella
Queens Park Rangers star Charlie Austin and his fiancée Bianca
have been left sickened by Twitter trolls who threatened their
two-year-old daughter.
The couple called the police this evening
when a user on the social media site posted a vile comment after striker
Austin posted a photo of himself and his little girl, Ava Bella.
Another tweeter joined in with another sick tweet
Bianca Parker, 24, tweeted: "I've reported you to the police. I'm doing as much as I can to get you charged.
"Bringing in my two-year-old daughter to your sick games is too far."
Distraught Bianca later told her followers: "Disgusting. I'm
shaking. You don't talk about a baby that way. Let the police do their
job now."
Earlier in the evening Charlie, 26, had put a picture up
of himself and little Ava Bella in a toy car at their home. Austin is
currently the highest British goal scorer in the Premier league with 10.
He
scored a hattrick in QPR's win against West Brom last week. Manager
Harry Redknapp has vowed to keep him at Loftus Road when his contract
expires at the end of the season.
Head's gone: It was an eventful game for Shelvey - who also scored an own goal
Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has apologised for elbowing Liverpool's Emre Can, and denied any intent to hurt the Kop star.
Shelvey caught Can - who started in central defence - with a strong elbow to the face in the first half of the Reds' 4-1 win over Swansea.
But
the England international wasted no time in taking to Twitter to
apologise for hurting the German utility man and denying any malice:
"Just wanna say didn't intentionally elbow emre can [sic]," Shelvey tweeted.
"Was
just trying to get my arm across to get round him and it's come off as
I'm trying to hurt another play and I can assure you that , that isn't
the case.
The England attacker has featured in 24 of Liverpool's 25 matches this season, only missing the Capital One Cup fourth round victory over Swansea
Rest: Sterling will be given a lay-off in the new year
Brendan Rodgers has promised to give Raheem Sterling a break in the new year.
On the weekend when the Liverpool forward was officially recognised as one of Europe’s hottest young prospects, the Reds boss has confirmed that he will be handed a rest in 2015, reports Steve Bates in the Sunday People.
But Rodgers – while admitting there are dangers attached – is determined to protect his young star.
He said: “Raheem will have a rest even though he hasn’t been looking tired, either the other night or over the last number of games.
"But he is in a similar mould to Wayne Rooney – who I think is brilliant – in that if you take him out of a rhythm, it takes him a while to get going again.
"If you look at Rooney, he is better in rhythm. Take Rooney out for a couple of games and he is not the same player.
"There is a period already mapped out for Raheem when he will come out and have that breather and recovery after Christmas.”
The former England midfielder spent seven years at the German side, but believes Sterling is too young to make a move to the Bundesliga
Too soon: Sterling would be better off staying at Anfield, according to Hargreavesm
Former Bayern Munich star Owen Hargreaves has urged Raheem Sterling to reject the overtures of the German giants.
Hargreaves spent seven years at Bayern, winning four league titles and the Champions League before joining Manchester United in 2007.
Sterling’s deal with Liverpool expires in 2017, but he is stalling over a new contract which could see him earn £70,000 a week.
“I think he should stay at Liverpool for another four years,” said Hargreaves. “It will be good for his development.
“He is far too young mentally to make that move.”
Pep Guardiola has expressed an interest in the 20-year-old England star, who is seen as a contingency plan if he fails to sign Marco Reus.
Hargreaves said: “Bayern are one of the best clubs in the world. Pep is a great manager. There is no better place in the world for a player like Sterling to be. He would fit in as good players always do,
“It would benefit him to play in such a team.
“But he should stay at Anfield a bit longer. Brendan Rodgers is also a great manager and will really develop him as a player.”
The Blues were eight points adrift of Chelsea in November and City's boss said: “Two months ago nobody would have believed we would be in this position"
Form: City have won eight games on the bounce
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini warned the rest of football they had better start believing in the sky blue peril now.
David Silva’s first home league goals for a year and Yaya Toure’s strike made it 18 points from 18 for the champions.
And victory at West Brom on Boxing Day would be their ninth in a row in all competitions to equal a club record.
Chelsea can regain a clear lead at Stoke tomorrow evening, but Pellegrini insisted he wasn’t thinking about putting pressure on his old adversary Jose Mourinho’s side.
Pellegrini said: “I don’t think of Chelsea and whether we give them pressure or not. It was important to get the three points and show we can be involved in the title.
In pictures - Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace:
“Two months ago nobody would have believed we would be in this position in the Premier League and in the Champions League.”
City were in danger of losing contact with Chelsea and upset the odds by beating Bayern Munich and Roma to reach the last 16 of Europe’s elite competition.
Even without their three recognised senior strikers and using James Milner in a centre-forward role, City were too good for a Palace team with one win in 11.
Pellegrini said: “We had to show patience. Milner is a player who creates space for team-mates. We planned this all week.”
Palace boss Neil Warnock admitted his side wasted early chances, but insisted they were denied a valid James McArthur goal at 2-0.
He said: “It was a disgraceful decision. We had a goal chalked off that was two yards onside. In the end they won at a canter, but it shouldn’t have been like that.”
Good Samaritan: Khan wants to help out in Pakistan after the sickening atrocity
The Black Cats have recorded two 3-0 away victories in a row over their neighbours but Cattermole has been absent for both of them
Charlie Crowhurst Hard-hitter: Cattermole will be looking to stamp his authority on tomorrow's game
Lee Cattermole admits Newcastle will always have a ‘special’ place in his heart – but don’t expect Sunderland’s kingpin to show any kindness in the heat of derby battle.
The tough-tackling midfielder has a liking for St James’ Park after making his league debut there with Middlesbrough as a teenager.
Now, having missed out on the Black Cats’ 3-0 wins on Tyneside in the last two seasons, Cattermole is eager to get in on the act – and play a part in a victory at St James’ for the first time in his career.
If he does, it will be an unprecedented fourth consecutive success for Sunderland over their arch-rivals.
Cattermole, 26, has experienced eventful times at Newcastle. He was in Steve Bruce’s Sunderland side who suffered a 2010 Halloween horror there as they were thrashed 5-1.
Emotion: Two seasons ago Paolo Di Canio provided us with this image as Sunderland won 3-0
And Cattermole was sent off AFTER the final whistle by referee Mike Dean for foul and abusive language in a 1-1 draw three seasons ago when Sunderland also had Stephane Sessegnon red-carded. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew blamed Cattermole for an ‘ugly’ struggle after he was booked for a first-minute foul on Cheick Tiote.
But Cattermole maintained: “With making my debut there, it’s a special ground for me and I have good memories. Barring the 5-1 defeat, it’s been decent.
“I went there with Boro when I was 17 and obviously that was a buzz when I saw Alan Shearer coming out of the tunnel.
“That was brilliant, it was massive. We nearly won – it was 2-2, Lee Clark scored their equaliser in the last minute.
Last time around - Sunderland win 3-0 at St James' Park last season:
“In my time with Sunderland, when we went back to Newcastle after the 5-1, we had to make sure the first thing we did was turn up.
“I remember Cheick Tiote made a meal of a challenge when Sessegnon was sent off and I got frustrated with that. That’s the point I was making to the referee at the end.
“It was a really harsh sending-off.”
Cattermole welcomes hostility from Toon fans. He added: “There’s a bit of a rough reception and that’s nice. It’s a big game and you have to enjoy it.”
Cattermole faces former Sunderland team-mate Jack Colback, who made a controversial close-season move to Newcastle as a free agent.
The midfielder scored one of Sunderland’s goals in last season’s 3-0 win, and Cattermole confessed: “Jack’s a friend and a good player – we’ve missed him.”
Brendan Rodgers’ side have struggled without Luis Suarez and the injured Daniel Sturridge, but Aldridge reckons Sterling could be the solution up front.
“Sterling is a really good player,” said the Irishman, who was speaking on behalf of official FA Cup sponsor williamhill.com.
“He could be a star up front. We've seen Thierry Henry and Theo Walcott make the switch from out wide, so why can’t Raheem?
“He’s got all the attributes. He might not be a natural scorer but he will get a lot of goals. He’s not lightweight and is pound-for-pound as strong as anyone at the club.
“He reminded me of a young Jermain Defoe the other night against Bournemouth, with his movement and pace. I think Brendan could have fell on something there.”
GOLDEN BOY:Sterling claims prestigious award
Liverpool will be looking to build on the midweek win against the Cherries when they face Arsenal at Anfield tomorrow.
And Aldridge reckons the win on the south coast can kick-start their season.
He added: “I think we can only get better. We’ve been waiting for a turning point all season and the Bournemouth game could be it.”
James Milner is about to play his first game as a Manchester City striker and the City fans are worried. But fear not you Blues, Pellegrini knows all about his new super duo...
Awww, aren't they cute?
With all his senior first team attackers out injured, Manuel Pellegrini has turned to Yorkshireman James Milner in his hour of need to lead his attack.
It could be a maverick move, a midfielder more famed for his industrial, hard working performances rather his goalscoring flair is going to need to play out of his skin to convince the doubters.
Thing is though, Pellegrini has a secret. He knows something nobody else knows... James Milner and David Silva are brothers separated at birth!
So with Milner playing the 'false 9' position and his brother from another playing in just behind Manchester City have partnership stronger than Cole and Yorke, stronger than Gerrard and Torres stronger even than Shearer and Sutton.
How do we know this? Well, here's how:
James offers David some advice:
Then they have a little giggle:
Get used to this City fans, they'll be celebrating with each other a lot more:
The BBC presenter also expects Sepp Blatter to remain in power for a fifth term declaring it's "as sure as Christmas is around the corner."
Speaking out: BBC presenter Gary Lineker is unhappy with FIFA's running of football
Lineker, top scorer at the 1986 World Cup also said the administration of football is "just wrong", adding: "The whole thing is a farce. It's said football is the beautiful game, but it's hugely tarnished by what's going on.
"It's come to the stage really where something needs to be done," the 54-year-old former striker said.
"The only way something will really change is if the major federations around the world come together and say 'we have had enough of this'. But don't hold your breath."
The Dutchman's start at United mirrors his debut campaign with Bayern, who went on an 14-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga - from November to March - en route to becoming champions.
United boss Van Gaal admitted he can see his Bayern blueprint starting to take effect at Old Trafford.
"Yes, but that I have said already, in preparation time [pre-season] that I need time," he said. "In the United States, we had direct success. I think we played very well there - surprisingly, very good.
"I coach in a way that players have to think for themselves and think why they are doing things on the pitch. When you work at that rate, you have to be conscious of what you are doing. That takes time." Training day - United prepare for Villa trip:
Neither player has offered the Villans any encouragement they will extend their existing deals, which expire in the summer.
“The way January works, if somebody’s worth something you may as well put another 15 zeros on the end of it.
“The price gets inflated. Even if anybody came in, you would never let them go cheap or anything like that. Would any amount of money tempt me? No. They’ll not go anywhere in January. It’s my say."
"At this point, I feel that I’m in the best time of my career and I still see my retirement very far.
"I would like to stay many years here [at Atletico Madrid]. Did you know we have a Manchester United page on Facebook?
Iconic left boot of Mario Gotze was auctioned at a charity fundraising gala
Bids for the World Cup-winning boot reached a whopping two million euros
Treasurer for charity 'A Heart for Children' described it as 'overwhelming'
When the
left boot of Mario Gotze smashed home the only goal in extra-time of the
2014 World Cup final, it became the most important kick in German
football for 24 years.
It's no surprise, then, that people were scrambling for the right to own such an iconic item in a gala for German charity 'A Heart for Children', where the boot was put up for auction.
World Cup hero Gotze told Bild: 'I have never washed the boot. It is still in the same condition as it was in Rio, when I left the stadium with it.
VIDEO Scroll down to see Gotze score a thunderbolt for Bayern Munich
Mario Gotze's left footed strike for Germany against Argentina was the only goal in the 2014 World Cup final
A picture of the Germany and Bayern Munich star's unwashed boot was published on social media
Gotze becomes a national hero as the ball flies past Argentina's Sergio Romero and hits the back of the net
'There is still grass on it. I have never put the boot on after the final. I kept it safe at my house.'
Charity
treasurer Niko Knochenhauer described the amounts raised as
'overwhelming' and 'unimaginable,' as bids soared into the millions.
'I
would not have dreamed . Two million - that's a huge sum . The good
thing is that it is for a good cause... and not just for the
shoe,' Knochenhauer gleamed.
Having gone 24 years without lifting the trophy it was Germany's fourth World Cup tournament victory
The match-winner takes some time out to savour the moment with football's most sought after prize
Striker in hot water over an Instagram post many found offensive argues that was never his intention because he knows first-hand how much such abuse hurts
Mario Balotelli has offered his defence to a possible FA charge, by delivering examples of the many cases of discrimination he has suffered as a footballer. The Liverpool striker was given until 6pm on Friday to provide observations to an investigation by the game’s governing body, relating to a message he posted on his Instagram site which contained a message which many have found racially offensive.
The Italian, in his submission, has made clear his social media post was meant as a strong anti-racist statement, and he did not understand the potential for it to be misinterpreted.
Under new rules governing the use of social media by players, any posts or images found to be racist will result in a minimum five game ban, and strong action will be taken against any offender who uses inappropriate or discriminatory language. Rio Ferdinand was banned for three matches for using a slang term in a manner found to be gender offensive, and Balotelli fears he will suffer an even more severe punishment, despite his intentions.
Apology: Balotelli took to social media to try to explain his actions
The Reds' forward has made clear in his observations that he has felt the full force of racist abuse throughout his career, and would never intentionally do that to others.
He has apologised for his post, which showed the gaming character Super Mario, referenced by a clear anti-racist message, but with the addition of two terms portraying racial stereotyping below.
Balotelli was the victim of such severe racist abuse whilst playing in Italy, that he threatened to walk off the pitch the next time it happened. In one game against Roma whilst playing for Milan, the game was suspended while appeals were made to the crowd.
He was even racially abused by his own country’s supporters whilst playing for Italy, and this season with new club Liverpool, racist messages sent to his Twitter account were investigated by police.
The striker is hoping the FA will take his history and his commitment to anti-racist efforts into account, avoiding the pursuit of ban.
A specially commissioned committee will now investigate the matter after receiving the player’s observations, and deliver a verdict by early next week at the latest.
The
contenders for this year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or award for the best player
of 2014 and for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2014 award
were announced today on FIFA.com, francefootball.fr and YouTube.
In
alphabetical order, the FIFA Ballon d’Or nominees are: Cristiano
Ronaldo (Portugal), Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Manuel Neuer (Germany),
while Nadine Kessler (Germany), Marta (Brazil) and Abby Wambach (USA)
will contest the women’s award.
The candidates for the FIFA
World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football and FIFA World Coach of the
Year for Women’s Football awards were also announced. In alphabetical
order, the contenders are: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Real Madrid CF),
Joachim Loew (Germany/German national team) and Diego Simeone
(Argentina/Atletico de Madrid) for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for
Men’s Football award, and Ralf Kellermann (Germany/VfL Wolfsburg), Maren
Meinert (Germany/Germany U-19 and U-20 national teams) and Norio Sasaki
(Japan/Japan national team) for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for
Women’s Football award.
All the nominees were confirmed after a
voting process which was open to the captains and head coaches of the
men’s and women’s national teams of the 209 member associations as well
as to international media representatives selected by FIFA and France
Football voted for candidates.
The percentages of the collected votes are as follows (number of votes/number of associations):
Voting for men’s awards:
Member associations (captains & coaches): 87%
Media representatives: 94% Voting for women’s awards:
Member associations (captains & coaches): 83%
Media representatives: 77%
The voting procedure for each of the
awards is supervised and monitored by the independent observer
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Switzerland.
The shortlist of 15
forwards for the FIFA FIFPro World XI was also announced, completing the
final shortlist of 55 players also featuring five goalkeepers, 20
defenders and 15 midfielders.
The forward shortlist is (home country, club): Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City FC); Gareth Bale
(Wales/Real Madrid CF); Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid CF); Diego
Costa (Spain/Chelsea FC); Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid CF);
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Paris St-Germain FC); Robert Lewandowski
(Poland/FC Bayern Munich); Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona); Thomas
Muller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich); Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona); Marco
Reus (Germany/Borussia Dortmund); Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern
Munich); Franck Ribery (France / FC Bayern Munich); Wayne Rooney
(England/Manchester United FC); Luis Suarez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona).
In
addition, the three nominees for the FIFA Puskás Award for the “most
beautiful goal of the year” were announced. The three final goals are:
Stephanie Roche - 20 October 2013, Peamount United v Wexford Youths,
BEWNL (Ireland Republic); James Rodriguez - 28 June 2014, Colombia v
Uruguay, 2014 FIFA World Cup™; Robin van Persie - 13 June 2014, Spain v
Netherlands, 2014 FIFA World Cup™.
All the awards will be
presented at the FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony at the Kongresshaus in
Zurich on 12 January 2015 during a televised show to be streamed live on
FIFA.com and FIFA on YouTube.
In addition to the above awards,
the recipient of the FIFA Presidential Award and the winner of the FIFA
Fair Play award will also be revealed during the award ceremony.
Manchester United want both of these stars (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United are lining up a double deal to sign Real Madrid duo Pepe and Fabio Coentrao in the January transfer window.
United boss Louis van Gaal has been promised big funds in the new
year to further strengthen his squad, with defensive cover on the cards.
And claims
in Spain suggest United are ready to go all out for powerful Madrid
centre back Pepe and his team-mate Coentrao in a double deal.
Pepe would add significant cover and strength to the middle of the
back-line, while Coentrao can play at left-back or on the wing, giving
plenty of options.
The pair would likely cost a combined fee of £30million.
Myanmar National Team head coach Raddy Avramovic urges his side to start
having faith in themselves after their 4-2 defeat against Singapore on
Wednesday evening.
The result meant that Myanmar drops to the bottom of the group, with a solitary point and a negative goal difference.
But Avramovic felt that Myanmar showed that they were able to match Singapore, but just needed a little bit more of self-belief.
“Over 90 minutes, Myanmar did well. The players showed that they can compete with Singapore,” Avramovic said.
“Today, we scored two and we could have easily scored at least 2 more.
“(But) those moments when I see an attack break down because of one bad pass or lack of concentration is frustrating.
“We were a little unlucky because at 3-2 we could have scored more
goals but the players dribbled too much instead of going (straight) for
goal.
“They just need to believe they can do it.”
Avramovic also believed that Singapore won the game because they were
helped by defensive errors at the back, and predicted the Lions to
struggle against Malaysia in their final game.
“Christmas came too early for Singapore because we gave some presents, at least 3 goals,” Avramovic explained.
“Our plan (in the first half) was to try to keep Singapore away from our goal, but we conceded those 3 very easy goals.
“One thing that’s missing is a leader. You have to have leaders in
the defence. They (Myanmar defenders) must act in those (dangerous)
moments.
“I’m afraid if they play like (they did) today it will be difficult
for Singapore. I think Malaysia is a good team and as the competition
progresses they will get better.”
Camila Andrade claims striker first contacted her after she won Miss Chile'
'He sent her pictures while he was on Disneyland break with his girlfriend'
Miss Andrade claims he also asked her to dinner during World Cup training
But she 'turned him down' because he wasn't her type and had a girlfriend
She says: 'I could never have taken seriously some of the things he said'
Sanchez, 25, is dating Spanish art director and designer Laia Grassi
Miss Grassi stuck by him in June when an ex claimed he got her pregnant
A former Miss Chile has accused Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez of texting her behind his doting girlfriend's back.
Camila Andrade claimed the striker sent her holiday snaps during a winter break in Disneyland Paris with partner Laia Grassi claiming he was with a younger relative and not his other half.
And she explained how she turned down the £33million signing when he invited her out to dinner during his World Cup preparation weeks before he was pictured on a romantic beach holiday in Mexico with his current girlfriend.
MailOnline has been unable to verify whether Miss Andrade can support her claims and attempts to contact Sanchez for comment have failed to elicit a response.
'He invited me out for dinner': Former Miss Chile Camila Andrade (pictured, left, during the Miss World opening ceremony last year) has accused Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez (right, with his girlfriend Laia Grassi) of texting her behind his lover's back
Beauty: Miss Andrade (pictured) claimed she turned down the £33million Arsenal striker when he invited her out to dinner during his World Cup preparation weeks before he was pictured on a romantic beach holiday in Mexico with his girlfriend
In reports which have made headlines across the media in Chile, Miss Andrade, 23, told an interviewer in her home country how he asked her out earlier this year.
She said: 'Alexis invited me out for a meal while he was back in Chile preparing for the World Cup.
'I was between boyfriends at the time and it was the first time that he'd asked if we could meet up.
'I turned him down because he wasn't my type and I knew that many of the times he'd messaged me he was with his girlfriend and I liked that even less.
Arsenal’s
Alexis Sánchez wheels away after his low curling shot made it 2-0
against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Photograph: Eddie
Keogh/Reuters
Arsène Wenger can call off the search for the dictionary,
at least for now. The Arsenal manager had said that he might have to
delve for the tome to reacquaint himself with the meaning of crisis.
After so many years and so many crises, he joked that he had forgotten
how one could be qualified.
Many Arsenal supporters felt that the club was flirting with
one as they took to the field here, on the back of three sobering
results – the Champions League draw against Anderlecht, when they had
led 3-0, and the Premier League losses to Swansea City and Manchester
United. Per Mertesacker, the defender, said that the players had
“dropped mentally”. This, he said, was a psychological challenge.
But on a dank night in north London, the players showed
their mettle, albeit against a Borussia Dortmund that looked like a
shadow of the team that had stormed to the final of the competition in
2013. Jürgen Klopp, the manager, lamented a lack of confidence and
courage.
Arsenal were occasionally vibrant, almost always solid –
which was arguably the biggest boon, after the well documented, recent
lapses – and thoroughly deserved victors. The reward was a 15th
consecutive qualification to the second round of Europe’s elite
tournament. Whisper it, but they are not yet out of the running to nick
top spot in Group D from Dortmund, which would increase their chances of
a more favourable last-16 draw.
It was a game that will go down as the one in which Yaya
Sanogo broke his scoring duck for the club on his 19th appearance and it
was illuminated by the thrusting performances of Alexis Sánchez and
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Sánchez scored again; Oxlade-Chamberlain was
denied only by the woodwork.
But above all, it was defined by a more balanced feel to the
performance. As Wenger put it afterwards, Arsenal were “more urgent to
defend”. He has regularly stressed his confidence that there is
something special in his squad and there was evidence here to support
him.
The opening goal always stood to be decisive and, from a
Dortmund point of view, Arsenal plundered it with indecent haste. For
Sanogo, it was the stuff of dreams. The 21-year-old owed his selection
to Danny Welbeck’s knee injury and Olivier Giroud’s ineligibility, and a
penny for the thoughts of Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell might have
been worth the investment. The World Cup winner and World Cup star
respectively could not have taken kindly to being overlooked for a
callow rookie. Sanogo has looked almost painfully raw during his
injury-scarred Arsenal career but Wenger’s faith in him has never
wavered. “Sanogo will surprise you,” the manager has said. One minute
and 15 seconds were on the stadium clock when Sanogo did just that.
There was a maverick quality to his hold-up work from Calum
Chambers’ throw-in, as he played a bit of keepy-uppy before executing an
extravagant back-heeled flick to Santi Cazorla. Sanogo span away, then
he got the ball back and, suddenly, there he was, with only Roman
Weidenfeller to beat. His first touch felt heavy but with the second
Sanogo poked the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs. The delirious
celebrations were underpinned by an element of collective amazement.
Sanogo had looked to have been marginally offside from Cazorla’s pass
but the flag stayed down. The linesman was a romantic at heart.
Dortmund’s travelling fans banged their drums and bellowed
their anthems throughout. Their team came to flicker on the counter in
the second part of the first half and Henrikh Mkhitaryan was at the
heart of their best moments. He was denied an equaliser on 39 minutes by
Emiliano Martínez. Mkhitaryan’s first touch following Lukasz Piszczek’s
header was perfect and the second was struck at goal from close range.
Martínez diverted it past his near post. Arsenal’s third-choice
goalkeeper emerged with credit, and his reflex block at the very end
from the substitute Adrián Ramos was of the highest order.
Arsenal played good football in patches and they might have
taken a two-goal lead in the 10th minute, when Aaron Ramsey sprang
Sanogo through the Dortmund back line. This time, Sanogo opted to jink
inside only to run into Marcel Schmelzer. He battled to win the ball
back and, when he shot, he was denied by Matthias Ginter’s block.
Klopp had said that this engagement had represented a
holiday for him; a welcome break from the nightmare that has been the
Bundesliga season so far. Almost implausibly, Dortmund languish third
from bottom. Klopp must be an angry tourist. He roared at the fourth
official and he berated his players when they erred. If Dortmund had
been poor at the outset, it was a similar story at the beginning of the
second half. With the onus on them, Klopp’s team pressed onto the front
foot but Arsenal, and Sánchez in particular, simply revelled in picking
them off.
Sánchez barrelled through to extend Weidenfeller with a low
drive while Oxlade-Chamberlain, on his 100th appearance for the club,
hit a marvellous looping shot from Sánchez’s pass that rattled the
crossbar.
Not unusually, Sánchez provided the champagne moment. From
Cazorla’s pass, he darted inside Piszczek to open up the shooting chance
at the far corner. It has become his trademark and the bend on the
right-footed shot from 20 yards was beautifully judged. Sánchez had his
13th goal for the club and Wenger was out of his seat, smiling broadly
and pumping his fists. It was a night for him to enjoy.
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