Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne hits late equaliser at Aston Villa

Nathaniel Clyne celebrates the 81st minute goal that earned his side a point at Villa Park. Photograph: Dougie Allward/JMP/Rex

For long periods it looked like the form book would be turned on its head on a bitterly cold evening in the West Midlands but Nathaniel Clyne, Southampton’s man of the moment, enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a well-taken goal nine minutes from time to earn Ronald Koeman’s side a point.

It was no more than Southampton deserved on an evening when the apathy at Aston Villa plumbed new depths. Only 25,311 turned up – Villa’s lowest crowd in the Premier League for 15 years – and those that stayed at home had no cause to regret their decision. It was a desperately poor match. Even watching on television must have been an ordeal.

Villa, who managed to arrive for a home fixture late after their coach got stuck in what Paul Lambert described as “horrendous traffic”, took the lead from their only shot on target. It came about after a rare mistake from Fraser Forster, who dashed out of his area for a ball that he had no chance of getting. Gabriel Agbonlahor was not going to pass up an early Christmas present and gratefully accepted the Southampton goalkeeper’s gift, toe-poking the ball past him before slotting home. It was Agbonlahor’s third league goal of the season and Villa’s sixth in total.

The home side spent much of the remainder of the game clinging on to their lead, defending in numbers, counter-attacking sporadically and generally frustrating a Southampton team who had plenty of possession but lacked the craft and guile to break down a patched-up Villa defence.

Yet despite being on the back foot, Villa could easily have grabbed a second that might well have killed the game when Agbonlahor, following a swift raid up field, set up Andreas Weimann. The Austrian blazed his shot over the bar and the significance of that moment became clear two minutes later, when Southampton levelled.

It was a goal that summed up Southampton’s attacking ethos under Koeman and provided a measure of Clyne’s self-belief. Ryan Bertrand, who was on loan at Villa during the second half of last season, got forward on the left and cut the ball back for Clyne, who timed his run so perfectly that he did not need to break his stride before sweeping a fine first-time shot, from just inside the penalty area, into the far corner of the net.

Following his England debut against Slovenia and another impressive performance against Scotland four days later, it has been quite a fortnight for Clyne all in all. “One of his qualities is to play offensive, he has that freedom from the coach and it was an important goal,” Koeman said. “In my opinion he is the best right full-back in the Premier League.”

For Koeman, however, this was a result tinged with disappointment. Southampton, with 11 wins from their previous 12 matches, would have hoped to continue their excellent form against a Villa side missing key personnel and desperately short of confidence. Not that Koeman has lost any of his optimism about what his team, still two points ahead of Manchester City in second place, can achieve this season. “After 37 games I don’t believe we will still be second in the table. But we might be third,” the Southampton manager said.

Although Southampton’s attacking players struggled to make much of an impression, credit must also go to Villa’s makeshift but resolute central defensive partnership of Jores Okore, who was making his first club appearance in 14 months, and Ciaran Clark. “I thought the two young centre-backs were outstanding,” said Lambert, who was celebrating his 100th game in charge of Villa.

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Manchester United reject approach for goalkeeper prospect

Seventeen-year-old shot stopper Dean Henderson has been targeted for a loan deal, but the Old Trafford club want the teenager to stay within the youth set-up

Manchester United have turned down a loan approach from Carlisle United for 17-year-old goalkeeper Dean Henderson, Goal understands.

Henderson was a product of Carlisle's youth system before the Old Trafford club beat a host of Premier League rivals to snap him up in 2011, when he was aged just 14.

The England youth international has progressed through the academy system at Carrington and is highly thought of at the Premier League club.

Carlisle had hoped they could persuade United to allow Henderson to return to Brunton Park on a loan deal which would see the teenager gain some first team experience.

However, United have rejected the approach in favour of the 17-year-old continuing to develop as part of the club's academy system.

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Falcao wanted to join Juventus - Marotta

The Italian giants' managing director has indicated that the Colombian had prioritised joining his team until Manchester United sealed a deadline-day deal with Monaco
Radamel Falcao wanted to join Juventus before Manchester United sealed a loan move, according to the club's managing director Giuseppe Marotta.

The striker joined Louis van Gaal's side on transfer deadline day from Monaco for a season-long fee of around £10 million after United agreed to subsidise the majority of his reported £300,000-a-week wages.

A number of teams were interested in the Colombian international, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all also reportedly offered the player, though Moratta insists a move to Italy was his preference.

"We followed Falcao, but there has been no contact since he moved to Manchester United," the Juve chief told Domenica Sportiva.

"We were very close to signing him and the striker preferred a move to Italy to wear Bianconeri colours.

"Then, however, a deal was done to send the forward to Manchester United, who can now buy the player permanently, though that deal is a little blurred."

Falcao has scored once in five appearances for United so far this season, compared to the two goals he netted for Monaco in three games before leaving the Stade Louis II.

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Mourinho's Chelsea will NEVER match the Arsenal Invincibles... if only in terms of style

CORRESPONDENT COLUMN: The Blues do not look like losing a match at this moment in time but Jose Mourinho's often cautious outlook means they cannot truly emulate the Gunners

It was Patrick Vieira, the captain of Arsenal’s famous Invincibles side, who suggested last week that Chelsea could replicate that team’s achievements in 2003-04 and finish this season unbeaten.

It seems fanciful to suggest the feat being matched so soon, but even if the Blues could manage to navigate the campaign without losing a single match, they still wouldn’t hold a candle to the Invincibles.

Not while Jose Mourinho is still in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese is the best coach in the business and Chelsea are already cruising towards the Premier League title this season.

But for all Chelsea’s attractive attacking football this season - in the poorest Premier League for years - he will never send his teams out with the same swashbuckling intent to entertain as Arsenal did 11 seasons ago.

Certainly not in the big matches and Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United was a case in point.

"We don't look to others, we look to ourselves,” reflected Mourinho after Robin van Persie’s late equaliser for the hosts. "Old Trafford is one of the most dangerous fixtures we have. The result is not the result we want, but the way we performed means we don't need to look to others."

But if Chelsea failed to get the result they wanted, it is in no small part down to the way Mourinho instructed his team to play in the closing stages. While the Portuguese’s cautiousness has helped his teams see out many games, they were punished on Sunday for refusing to put United to the sword.

Quite simply, Mourinho tried to shut up shop and defend a 1-0 lead when Chelsea were well on top and United were there for the taking following Didier Drogba’s 53rd minute opener.

At that stage in the match, Eden Hazard was slicing through the hosts at will and Chelsea simply looked too strong for their hosts, who played with admirable desire but didn’t have the defensive skill to cope with the Londoners’ swift attacking moves.

But with 23 minutes of normal time still to play, Mourinho decided to try to hold what he had by bringing on John Obi Mikel for Oscar.

From that moment on, the initiative shifted towards the hosts. Chelsea sat ever deeper, the gap between the midfield and Didier Drogba increased, Hazard disappeared from prominence.

Mourinho drills his players so meticulously that he would have expected them to hold on.

But the cracks were showing as they conceded chances to Robin van Persie and conceded silly free-kicks in their own half, one of which led to the Branislav Ivanovic’s red card and Van Persie’s equaliser.

Mourinho will be happy enough, but his natural instinct, that pragmatism that has won so many trophies down the years, might have cost Chelsea two points.

It was a similar story against Manchester City, their closest title rivals, in September. With a 1-0 lead and playing against 10 men, Mourinho decided to sit back and protect the score rather than bury the hosts. Chelsea were punished as Frank Lampard scored a late equaliser against his old club.

One criticism of the Invincibles - the first team to go unbeaten over a 38-game season - is that they drew too many matches as they shared the points in 12 fixtures.

But they always did so with the intent to win and to do it in style. The same cannot be said of Chelsea under Mourinho.

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Di Maria: Manchester United move not financially motivated

The Argentina international was slammed by Carlo Ancelotti after leaving Real Madrid but the winger insists he did not move to Old Trafford purely for the money

Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria has dismissed suggestions that his move to Old Trafford was motivated by money.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti slammed the Argentina international after he made his British record £59.1 million move to United, claiming that he "demanded a lot of money and preferred to leave in order to earn more elsewhere."

But Di Maria, who has made a breathtaking start to life in the Premier League with three goals in six games under manager Louis van Gaal, insists he "truly wanted to move to United" due to his love of the club's iconic number seven shirt.

"I have these amazing feelings about having moved to Man United," Di Maria told The Mirror.

"I'm so proud of myself, you know. It's hard to explain it and put it in words. I wanted to wear this shirt.

"And it is so nice for me to wear the number seven shirt. It was worn by some of the greatest players in the club's history and I do know that it is a huge thing for all Man United fans.

"I think people here are happy with me. So I must honour this shirt. I must confess that I had all these expectations - but Man United have exceeded my expectations. It has all been perfect for me so far."

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Sterling agrees new Liverpool deal

The England midfielder has been monitored by the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City although has been convinced to commit his future to the Anfield club

Liverpool have reached a breakthrough in contract talks with England ace Raheem Sterling despite interest from Barcelona, Goal understands.

 
Sterling has three years left on his current deal, which he signed in 2012, although his outstanding performances over the last 12 months have attracted interest from a clutch of Europe's top clubs prompting the need for the Reds to offer improved terms.
 
Goal understands that Luis Enrique's Barca have been keeping tabs on the teenage sensation, while La Liga rivals Real Madrid, as well as Manchester City and Chelsea, have also been monitoring Sterling's contract situation.
 
The former Queens Park Rangers youngster joined Liverpool back in 2010 and, after initially making his Premier League debut during the 2011-12 season, a fantastic 2013-14 campaign has seen him emerge as a key player for both club and country.


 
With speculation growing over the 19-year-old's future, Goal can reveal that Liverpool are now convinced that they have reached a positive conclusion over Sterling's contract, with the England star set to earn new terms in excess of £100k a week.
 
"The deal is done as far as Liverpool are concerned," a source close to the contract talks told Goal.

 
"The general agreement is in place and - barring any unforeseen issues – this new deal should be announced sooner rather than later."
 
Like Liverpool team-mate Daniel Sturridge, Sterling has been embroiled in a club vs country row in recent times, with Roy Hodgson insisting tiredness prompted his decision to leave the midfielder out of his starting XI for Sunday's European Championship qualifying win over Estonia.
 

Having made over 50 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, Sterling has blossomed under Brendan Rodgers's tutelage at Anfield and Goal understands that the Northern Irishman's presence was ultimately the deciding factor in the teenager's decision to stay with the Merseyside club.

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Malta 0-1 Italy: Pelle strikes as two see red

The Southampton striker scored his first Azzurri goal as Leonardo Bonucci received his marching orders for the visitors

Italy kept up their 100 per cent start to Euro 2016 qualification by beating Malta 1-0 thanks to a Graziano Pelle effort.

The Southampton forward has hit the ground running since arriving in England, scoring five times in nine matches this season.

And Pelle - one of four changes from Italy's 2-1 win over Azerbaijan, replacing Simone Zaza - kept up his scoring form in the Group H clash, netting a close-range finish midway through the first half.

Malta's chances were significantly harmed when captain Michael Mifsud was given a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Alessandro Florenzi in the 27th minute.

Italy coach Antonio Conte had urged his side to be more ruthless after toiling in their victory against Azerbaijan, but they were held back from further adding to their tally when Leonardo Bonucci was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity 17 minutes from time.

The result leaves Italy with a maximum return of nine points from three matches, while Malta have now lost all of their games.

The 35-year-old Andrea Pirlo was rested by Conte, but Italy were more than capable of coping in his absence against a side ranked 155th in the world, 142 places below them.

The visitors began brightly, and Ciro Immobile fired an early warning with a sharp turn and shot just off target inside the first minute.

Malta went close themselves on the quarter-hour mark, when Clayton Failla fizzed a low shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post after pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of the area.

Italy responded strongly and hit the woodwork twice in quick succession three minutes later.

First, Pelle met Manuel Pasqual's cross with a powerful header that thudded back off the crossbar before being hacked away and then from the resulting corner Giorgio Chiellini nodded Pasqual's delivery against the upright.

Italy did take the lead in the 23rd minute, though, as another Pasqual corner caused chaos in the Malta penalty area.

Bonucci's header was saved by Andrew Hogg but the loose ball found its way to Pelle, who tucked home from inside the six-yard box.

Things then went from bad to worse for Malta as Mifsud was dismissed for a studs-up challenge on Florenzi.

Antonio Candreva's mis-hit cross clipped the top of the bar in the opening minute of the second period, while Ryan Camilleri was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty for a push on Immobile inside the box.

Immobile then headed straight at Hogg from close range when he ought to have scored before the numbers were evened up when referee Ovidiu Hategan gave Bonucci his marching orders after he brought down Andre Schembri 40 yards from goal.

Italy replaced Pelle with Angelo Ogbonna in a bid to shore up their defence but it was another replacement, Sebastian Giovinco, who almost had a telling impact, striking the base of the post after racing clear.

It mattered little, though, as Italy ensured they maintained their perfect start to qualifying.

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He's very honest with the media... that's interesting' - Ferguson runs the rule over Van Gaal

The former Manchester United boss says the Dutchman once asked for advice on dealing with the press during his time at Barcelona, and is now intrigued by his openness

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits he finds Louis van Gaal's honesty with the media "interesting", and has backed the Dutchman to succeed at Old Trafford.

Ferguson, who retired in May 2013, had a number of run-ins with the British press during his successful 27 years in charge of United, in which he won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League twice.

Van Gaal has also had a chequered history with journalists, particularly in his first spell at Barcelona between 1997 and 2000, a time when he actually asked the Scot for advice on how to handle the scrutiny.

"I've always got on well with Louis," he told MUTV. "We met several times when he was with Barcelona. In 1998 we were in the [Champions League] group stage together and he asked me about dealing with the press. I had a few things about that!

"He had a different approach to the press at that time and my advice was don't read it and don't get upset about it. He has his own way. I think watching his press conferences are quite interesting, he's very, very honest in his press conferences, which is interesting."

Ferguson says he has spoken to Van Gaal on a couple of occasions since the Dutchman took the reigns at Old Trafford following the World Cup.

"There's no ongoing dialogue, he comes into my office sometimes after the game, to have a chat, it's not a matter of picking up the phone and phoning him," he added. "He's very capable, a strong personality, he knows where I am if he ever did need me but there's not been any need for him to phone me.

"Louis has made a lot of changes and, thinking about that, actually maybe he’s doing the right thing, to clear the decks and build his own team because he’s got the experience and coaching ability to do that. The way he’s approached it I think has been brilliant.

"He'd not got the results that were expected, but when I came to the club I didn't get the results. He's been through that a bit. There's no doubt in my mind he will sort it out."

David Moyes was the man hand-picked by Ferguson as his successor back in 2013, but the former Everton boss was sacked inside his first season in Manchester after a string of poor results and performances.

Ferguson did not discuss his countryman's short reign during a 30-minute interview with the club's in-house television channel, but did admit he was unhappy with some of the campaign's most defining matches.

"I got annoyed last year when we lost to Liverpool," he said. "I didn't enjoy that, losing to Liverpool and Manchester City, because they're our biggest rivals, they are the ones. They will always strive to defeat us, particularly Liverpool of course."

The 72-year-old also admitted he is wary of expressing too much emotion while watching the game from the stands at Old Trafford: "The way I've always been, I'm actually quite stoney-faced watching a game, I don't like to show emotion, unless we're scoring a goal. You're always concious that the cameras are on you, too. The press don't miss an opportunity to focus on you during a game."

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Walcott returns to full Arsenal training

The 25-year-old has been out of action since January but has now returned to training and may make his comeback after the international break

The England international, along with Serge Gnabry, joined in the session at the Gunners's London Colney training base on Monday along with the likes of Mathieu Flamini, Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal.

Walcott has been absent since he was carried off in a stretcher in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham in January, where he was believed to face a six-month lay-off after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

The 25-year-old was expected to make his return to first-team training last month but his comeback was delayed due to a lack of training in match conditions, prompted by a lack of player confidence.

But Goal understands a focus on strengthening the muscles in his left knee, where the injury was sustained, means the winger is now in contention to make his first-team comeback after the international break.

Arsenal are scheduled to play Hull City on October 18 and end the month with European and domestic away trips to Anderlecht and Sunderland, and Arsene Wenger may be convinced into selecting him in the squad. 

Yet Walcott also has the option to ease himself back into action gradually should Wenger opt to utilise him as a designated over-age player in Arsenal Under-21s' fixture against Blackburn Rovers on October 17.

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Messi will eventually leave Barcelona for Newell's - Heinze

The former defender expects his compatriot to follow the same path he walked and retire at the club where it all started for him

Former Argentina international Gabriel Heinze does not believe that Lionel Messi will retire at Barcelona, claiming that a return to Newell's Old Boys is inevitable.
Rosario native Messi represented his hometown club as a kid before leaving for Catalunya at the tender age of 13.
The prolific attacker has since developed into one of the best players in the world and Heinze is confident that he will return to the club where it all started for him before he hangs up his boots.
"Messi will retire at Newell's, there's no need to convince him of anything," Heinze told reporters.
"I don't see him wearing any other shirt in Argentina than that of Newell's and he will retire at Newell's."
Like Messi, Heinze also started his career with Newell's and retired at the Argentine side this year, bringing the curtain down on a career that also took in stints with Sporting CP, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
"I had played very few games in Argentina and never thought of going back there to finish my career but the last two years I spent with Newell's Old Boys were the best of my life," the 36-year-old stated.
Four-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi has a contract with Barcelona until June 2018.

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Ronaldo will retire at Real Madrid when he's 40, says Mendes

Manchester United are keeping a close eye on the Portugal international's situation at his current club, but his agent has insisted that a transfer is not an option

The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a return to Manchester United - where he enjoyed success between 2003 and 2009.

However, Ronaldo's agent has stressed that he is happy at his current club for now and, as revealed by Goal last month, has no intention of leaving the Santiago Bernabeu before breaking all of the club's goalscoring records.
"Cristiano Ronaldo will retire at Real Madrid when he turns 40," Mendes told Cadena Cope.
"He is very happy at Madrid. It is impossible to lure Ronaldo away from Madrid. He breaks all the records and is regarded as the best athlete ever.
"He is happy at Real Madrid and has always been happy here. He will break all the records and then retire at Madrid.
"Manchester United will always have a place in his heart, because he spent six years there. But he is only thinking about Madrid now and will always stay here.
"He is delighted to be at Madrid. People know that it is impossible to sign him, so it's not even worth calling."
Mendes then went on to claim that the Portugal international is the greatest of all time. "Ronaldo is the best player in the world and the best we have ever seen," he declared. "You will never see a player like him again. He is getting better and better and will continue to do so until he turns 40.
"You cannot compare him with anyone. There will not be anyone like him in the next 500 years."
Ronaldo first won the Champions League with United in 2007-08 before lifting the trophy again with Madrid last term and he's desperate to win the prestigious competition a third time.
"It's his dream to win the Champions League again," Mendes explained. "He is always hungry for more and never ceases to amaze."
Ronaldo has a contract with Madrid until the summer of 2018.The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a return to Manchester United - where he enjoyed success between 2003 and 2009.
However, Ronaldo's agent has stressed that he is happy at his current club for now and, as revealed by Goal last month, has no intention of leaving the Santiago Bernabeu before breaking all of the club's goalscoring records.
"Cristiano Ronaldo will retire at Real Madrid when he turns 40," Mendes told Cadena Cope.
"He is very happy at Madrid. It is impossible to lure Ronaldo away from Madrid. He breaks all the records and is regarded as the best athlete ever.
"He is happy at Real Madrid and has always been happy here. He will break all the records and then retire at Madrid.
"Manchester United will always have a place in his heart, because he spent six years there. But he is only thinking about Madrid now and will always stay here.
"He is delighted to be at Madrid. People know that it is impossible to sign him, so it's not even worth calling."
Mendes then went on to claim that the Portugal international is the greatest of all time. "Ronaldo is the best player in the world and the best we have ever seen," he declared. "You will never see a player like him again. He is getting better and better and will continue to do so until he turns 40.
"You cannot compare him with anyone. There will not be anyone like him in the next 500 years."
Ronaldo first won the Champions League with United in 2007-08 before lifting the trophy again with Madrid last term and he's desperate to win the prestigious competition a third time.
"It's his dream to win the Champions League again," Mendes explained. "He is always hungry for more and never ceases to amaze."
Ronaldo has a contract with Madrid until the summer of 2018.

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Manchester United took a gamble on me - Falcao

The Colombian is thankful for the faith shown in him and hopes to stay at Old Trafford following a year that saw him suffer a serious knee injury and miss the World Cup

The Colombian has previously insisted that he wants to stay at Old Trafford and emphasised that desire again as he discussed his move to the Premier League.


Speaking to Onda Cero, Falcao expressed his relief at joining Louis van Gaal's team after a difficult year that ended in him missing the World Cup because of a serious knee injury.

He said: "Manchester United were the ones that gambled on me when it was very difficult to do so. It has been a very difficult year, not just in my professional career.

"What happened at the start of the year [serious knee injury] affected me in every way, but it has also helped me grow as a human being, to think about many things, to mature."

United signed Falcao on a season-long loan deal from Monaco with rumours suggesting there is an option to buy, something the 28-year-old hopes comes to fruition.

"In terms of my thoughts and plans for the future, I want to stay at Manchester United for the coming years," he added.

"I'm still going to need some time to be ok, but I am feeling very comfortable and very good on the pitch, in harmony with myself, with the ball and with football."

Falcao also says he can understand the frustrations of Monaco fans following his exit, and that of James Rodrgiguez to Real Madrid, this summer.

Some supporters expressed their anger with Jorge Mendes, the agent of both Falcao and James, after both men left the Stade Louis II just 12 months after arriving, and the team currently sit 13th in Ligue 1.

"Maybe it's understandable because of the expectations that were generated last season", he added.

"Now they have lowered their spending and kept the foundations. They have changed the policy and now rely more on young players who can get good results.

"I am very thankful to them for the good and bad moments, it all made me grow."

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Cavani can do at PSG what he did at Napoli, insists Mazzarri

The striker has failed to shine in Ligue 1, having been utilised as a winger since he joined, but his former coach believes he can still star for the French club

Walter Mazzarri has defended Edinson Cavani's performances for Paris Saint-Germain and insists the Uruguay international can play together with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The South American has been criticised for his displays since his move to the French capital from Napoli, where he was one of the star players under Mazzarri for four years.

The 27-year-old has generally been used as a winger, only being moved into the centre-forward role in the absence of Ibrahimovic.

But Mazzarri insists he can go on to be a key player for the Ligue 1 champions and reach the same heights he hit in Serie A.

"Cavani is a player who gave me a lot and for whom I have great respect," the Inter coach told France Football.

"We have always had a good relationship. He is an athlete and an outstanding professional who was instrumental in my team.

"We made history together with Napoli, getting into the Champions League twice and the Europa League twice too.

"I don't want to judge the situation at PSG. His coach knows what to do. Given that he is no longer my player, I'd rather not go into details on the matter.

"Cavani is a great player and I am convinced that at PSG he can do what he did with Napoli. He and Ibrahimovic form a great pair and they can play together - that is not a problem." 

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Valdes in talks to join Liverpool

The Merseysiders are in pole position to sign the former Barcelona goalkeeper on a free transfer if he can prove he has recovered from knee surgery when he undertakes a medical

Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Victor Valdes with the former Barcelona goalkeeper set to undergo a medical this month, Goal understands.

Liverpool are confident of wrapping up the signing of the 32-year-old if he can prove his fitness.

Valdes is a free agent after running down his contract with the Catalan giants in the summer but has been sidelined since March with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Spain international is in the late stages of rehabilitation and his representatives are confident he will now be able to pass medical tests.

Valdes had been close to joining Monaco on a free earlier this year but the move fell through when he got injured and the French club subsequently signed Maarten Stekelenburg on loan from Fulham to challenge established No.1 Danijel Subasic.

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Dani Alves wants to stay at Barcelona, says agent

The Brazil full-back claimed he is set to move to the Premier League but his representative says his future is far from certain


Dani Alves would prefer to stay at Barcelona despite claims he will move to the Premier League, according to his agent.
The right-back claimed he is set to move to England next season at the end of his current contract after spending six hugely successful years at Camp Nou.
His representative and ex-wife, Dinorah Santa Ana, has since stated there are no talks with anyone regarding his future - and suggests his priority would be to remain in Catalunya.
"His future is uncertain. Right now, we're not negotiating with anyone - not with Barca nor any other club," she told Catalunya Radio.
"We would like to stay here, mainly because our children are here. No one has told us that they want him to go."
She also added that his comments on moving to England initially emerged a year ago, but that the remarks should no longer be considered accurate.
"A year ago he did say he liked the Premier League, but that interview was a long time ago."

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There will be a referendum on Catalonian independence on November 9 and the Spanish FA president believes Barca and Espanyol will be ousted from the league if it passes

Barcelona and Espanyol will be ineligible to play in La Liga if Catalonia becomes an independent country, Spanish FA president Javier Tebas has said.

A referendum will be held on November 9, with potentially destructive consequences for the 22-time Spanish champions and neighbours Espanyol.

"Barcelona and Espanyol would not play in the Spanish League if Catalonia becomes independent for the following reason: the Sports Act has an additional provision that only one non-Spanish state can play in La Liga or official Spanish competitions, and that is Andorra," Tebas told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.

Tebas conceded if Catalonia did become independent, changes to the law secluding Barcelona and Espanyol from the league could be put on the agenda.

"For that to take place there would need to be a change in parliament and we'd need to see if the affected industry would agree or not," Tebas said.

On the issue of match-fixing, Tebas confirmed the LFP were investigating a fixture between Elche and Malaga - one of six matches under the microscope.

"I have not believed what has been said for some time now. I think it's been increasingly evident in recent times," Tebas said.

"Some dressing rooms are taking extreme weight from above. I don't know if Spanish football is prepared to see a player go to jail for a year, but there will definitely be penalties, just like the ones you see in other countries.

"We are investigating the Elche-Malaga game, but this one is a little different. We are looking at two [or] three players from the Malaga team but we're not sure about Elche yet.

"For the last four years, we've got six games that we're investigating.

"People want us to have a clean game. I haven't received a call from any manager who has taken issue with what we're planning to do." 

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Cech open to Chelsea exit

The 32-year-old is unhappy with his role as second-choice goalkeeper behind Thibaut Courtois and insists he will look to leave Stamford Bridge if his situation does not change

Petr Cech has indicated that he will leave Chelsea if he remains as the club’s second-choice goalkeeper.

The 32-year-old has featured only twice this season, with Jose Mourinho preferring Thibaut Courtois in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Cech has been Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for 10 seasons since his arrival from Rennes in 2004 and insists he is not prepared to stay on the bench at Stamford Bridge this term.

"I have not spoken to anyone, but I think they know me well enough at the club to know that the situation is definitely not the way I would imagine,” Cech told Czech radio.

“With the Euros [in 2016] and the national team in mind, there is no time for me to sit on the bench and not to play.

“If the situation will not start to improve for me, then I will want to solve it."

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Roy Keane reveals details behind his explosive Manchester United exit

Roy Keane has revealed the details behind his departure from Manchester United in his latest book.Photograph: John Giles/PA

Roy Keane has revealed he warned Sir Alex Ferguson against taking on the Irish racehorse owners John Magnier and JP McManus in the Rock Of Gibraltar dispute that backfired on Manchester United and put in place the chain of events that led to the Glazer family’s takeover.

Keane, now assistant manager at Aston Villa and with the Republic of Ireland, is heavily critical of Ferguson for pursuing the legal case and says he went to see the United manager to tell him he was taking on the wrong men and that it would have serious repercussions for the club.

Yet Ferguson ignored him and the dispute over stud fees for Rock Of Gibraltar, the retired racehorse, started to have damaging ramifications at Old Trafford, with Magnier and McManus using their position as major shareholders to submit their infamous 99 Questions document, predominantly looking at 13 transfers from the Ferguson era.
“Somebody I met in Ireland had told me to tell him [Ferguson]: ‘You are not going to win this,’ Keane writes in his new autobiography, The Second Half. “I mentioned it to him. And I told him that I didn’t think it was good for the club, the manager in a legal dispute with shareholders.

“I felt I was entitled to say that. He was just a mascot for them. Walking around with this Rock Of Gibraltar – ‘Look at me, how big I am,’ – and he didn’t even own the bloody thing.”
Keane recounts the details of his explosive departure from United in 2005, claiming a training ground bust-up with Ferguson and the assistant Carlos Queiroz made his Old Trafford exit inevitable. The former midfielder also records an incident where he head-butted Peter Schmeichel, leaving the goalkeeper with a black eye.

An interview with MUTV in which Keane criticised a number of his team-mates following a lacklustre performance in a 4-1 defeat by Middlesbrough had weakened the midfielder’s position at the club but he writes that a fierce falling out with Queiroz on a pre-season training camp on the Algarve was the final straw.

“He was just on my right shoulder; how I didn’t fucking hit him again – I was thinking, ‘The villa in Portugal, not treating me well in training – and he just used the word “loyalty” to me,’” said Keane.

“I said, ‘Don’t you fucking talk to me about loyalty, Carlos. You left this club after 12 months a few years ago for the Real Madrid job. Don’t you dare question my loyalty. I had opportunities to go to Juventus and Bayern Munich.’ And while we’re at it we spoke about training downstairs. And were just on about mixing things up in training a bit.”

Keane went on to reveal that Ferguson soon stepped in, saying: “That’s enough. I’ve had enough of all this,” which prompted the midfielder to round on his manager, replying: “You as well gaffer. We need fucking more from you. We need a bit more, gaffer. We’re slipping behind other teams.”

Manchester United fined Keane £5,000 for the MUTV interview but when Ferguson dropped him from a reserve game in which he was supposed to continue his rehabilitation from a broken foot, the Irishman knew the writing was on the wall. Keane claims that Ferguson and David Gill had prepared a written statement to confirm his departure and further angered him by getting the length of his service at Old Trafford wrong.

Keane continued: “I said to Ferguson, ‘Can I play for somebody else?’ And he said, ‘Yeah you can, cos we’re tearing up your contract.’ So I thought, ‘All right – I’ll get fixed up.’ I knew there’d be clubs in for me when the news got out. I said, ‘Yeah – I think we have come to the end.’ I just thought, ‘Fucking prick’ – and I stood up and went ‘Yeah. I’m off.’”

Keane also said he regrets attempting to reconcile with Ferguson and Queiroz a few days later. “Now I kind of wish I hadn’t. Afterwards I was thinking, ‘I’m not sure why I fucking apologised.’ I just wanted to do the right thing. I was apologising for what had happened – that it had happened. But I wasn’t apologising for my behaviour or stance. There’s a difference – I had nothing to apologise for.”

Roy Keane head-butted Peter Schmeichel on a 1998 pre-season tour in Asia. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

Keane’s bust-up with Schmeichel came much earlier in his Manchester United career, on their pre-season tour to Asia in 1998, with the midfielder adding: “I had a bust-up with Peter when we were on a pre-season tour of Asia in 1998, just after I came back from my cruciate injury. I think we were in Hong Kong. There was drink involved.

“He said, ‘I’ve had enough of you, It’s time we sorted this out.’ So I said ‘OK’ and we had a fight. It felt like 10 minutes. There was a lot of noise – Peter’s a big lad. I woke up the next morning. I kind of vaguely remembered the fight. My hand was really sore and one of my fingers was bent backwards.

“The manager had a go at us as we were getting on the bus, and people were going on about a fight in the hotel the night before. It started coming back to me – the fight between me and Peter.
“In the meantime Nicky Butt had been filling me in on what had happened the night before. Butty had refereed the fight. Anyway, Peter had grabbed me, I’d head-butted him – we’d been fighting for ages. At the press conference, Peter took his sunglasses off. He had a black eye. The questions came at him: ‘Peter, what happened to your eye?’”

Roy Keane: The Second Half, is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £20, orionbooks.co.uk

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The forward joins up with Vicente Del Bosque's side with a long-term hamstring issue but insists he will be the one who has the final say on his fitness

Diego Costa insists he decides when he is fit to play, not Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

The former Atletico Madrid forward, who has scored nine goals in seven Premier League appearances this term, has struggled with a hamstring problem since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Costa has been named in Spain's squad ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifiers this week, and while Mourinho believes the 25-year-old should be rested by Vicente Del Bosque, the striker maintains he will be the one who has the final say on his fitness.

"I don't want to be in the middle [of Spain and Chelsea]," he told Marca. "Mourinho has not told me anything.

"One has to take into account that many times I am the one that makes the decision depending on how I feel. Here I have the confidence of the coach, the technical team, and if there is a problem I tell them.

"If I'm here and I'm injured then I don't play because it would be worse."

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"I'm here ready to play. I've had some problems but it's getting better," said Costa.

"I've already played three games in a week and the coach [Del Bosque] knows that I carry some problems, but I will treat them during the week."

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Watzke backs Klopp amid Dortmund crisis

The club are facing troubled times in the Bundesliga after picking up just seven points from their first seven games

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Dortmund invested in the region of €50 million [£39.3m] over the summer, with Ciro Immobile and Shinji Kagawa their marquee signings, though they did lose last season's top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich.

Injuries have also played their part, with Ilkay Gundogan, Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all on the sidelines, but Watzke is adamant Klopp can improve the team's form.

He said to Kicker: "It is obvious that some players have reached their limit. This is understandable, they are not machines.

"Jurgen Klopp is absolutely the right man for Dortmund."

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"There are always times in a season where form dips. We're not going to go crazy about it," said the central defender. 

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