AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said he always knew departed Inter boss Leonardo did not want to be a coach.
Leonardo called it quits from Inter on Saturday and has been linked to a move to Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain, where he is expected to take on a role as general manager.
Galliani, who helped give Leonardo his first opportunity as a manager with the Serie A champions in 2009, said he was not surprised by his decision to leave Inter.
I didn t expect it to happen so suddenly, but I know that Leonardo has always wanted to cover a managing role instead of being a coach, he said on Monday.
It had taken me more than three months to convince him to work as a coach. He has always preferred being a manager instead of a coach, but I don t kn…
Melbourne Heart have secured the services of former Melbourne Victory grand final hero Fred.
The 32-year-old, who has spent the past four seasons win the MLS with DC United and the Philadelphia Union, has been lured back to the A-League by the Heart.
Fred achieved great praise for his performances in his one season for Melbourne Victory in 2006-07, where he played a major role in the famous 6-0 grand final demolition of Adelaide United.
He left the Victory in controversial circumstances, taking up a big-money move to DC United. He scored 11 goals in his first spell with the club, before returning for a guest stint with Wellington Phoenix in 2008.
He then scored four goals in 25 games when out on loan with Philadelphia before returning to Washington for t…
The Premier League duo, Chelsea and Tottenham, are said to be hot on the trail of the AC Milan midfield star Franck Kessie.
The Ivory Coast international joined Rossoneri from Atalanta in 2017 on a two-year loan deal with an obligation to buy at the end of the current season. It is believed AC Milan are required to pay £19.5 million to secure his signature on a permanent deal.
Kessie’s future at AC Milan will very much depend on whether Rossoneri will be able to secure a place in the Champions League next season. The talented midfielder wants to play at the highest level and AC Milan would have their hands tied should they fail to grab the top-four finish.
The Italian media are suggesting that both Chelsea and Tottenham are keeping a close eye on the Ivorian.…
Josh King scored a first-half penalty but missed another late on as Bournemouth and Wolves played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
King gave the Cherries a 14th-minute lead from 12 yards after being brought down by Joao Moutinho, but Wolves pulled level with a spot kick of their own in the 83rd minute, Raul Jimenez slotting home.
Referee Roger East then remarkably awarded a third penalty just two minutes later after Ryan Fraser when down softly under Ivan Cavaleiro s challenge as he entered the area, King this time firing wide from 12 yards.
While Eddie Howe s side will be disappointed not to have taken all three points, they have at least ended a run of two defeats, while Wolves remain in eighth after being leapfrogged by Watf…
Lionel Messi s desire to leave Barcelona showed no sign of impacting his on-pitch performance as he and Ansu Fati led the 4-0 dismantling of Villarreal on Sunday, marking a triumphant start to the Ronald Koeman era.
Barca have been engulfed by all manner of turmoil since losing 8-2 to Bayern Munich in their previous competitive match on August 14, with the unsuccessful attempt to force a transfer by club talisman Messi undoubtedly the major headline, but as they started their 2020-21 season they proved this is not a team to write off lightly.
Fati got the ball rolling with an impressive double in a five-minute period, before then winning the penalty that was scored by Messi, who subsequently saw a cross of his turned in by Villarreal defender Pau Torres.
Unai E…
Antonio Conte insists there are no problems between himself and Jose Mourinho after his old rival took a swipe at him over Inter s pursuit of Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen.
Inter have been extensively linked with Denmark playmaker Eriksen, who is out of contract at Spurs at the end of the season.
Speaking ahead of his team s 0-0 Premier League draw at Watford, Mourinho expressed distaste over what he perceived to be a public courtship of his player.
I think Antonio. He has said publicly [about Eriksen], Mourinho said.
We coaches should all behave in the same way in relation to transfers. I think we should always be closed, until something happens.
I think we shouldn t speak about players from other clubs until they become our players. …
Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro has revealed that Neymar will remain with the Brazilian Serie A club.
The 19-year-old striker has starred with Santos since 2009 and he has also impressed at national level, representing the Brazilian Under-20s and the senior side since 2010.
But Ribeiro said the forward would not be going anywhere and that he was disappointed at clubs and their ongoing attempts to illegally lure the striker.
If Real Madrid or any other club (that has approached Neymar) decides to meet his buy-out clause, we have no other option but to report them to FIFA for approaching the player without our permission, Ribeiro told Terra.
Negotiations have been stalled and won t be re-opened.
Real Madrid spoke with Neymar s …
Stoke City are close to signing Wilson Palacios from Tottenham in a seven -million-pound deal but are struggling to add his team-mate Peter Crouch.
Palacios, 27, has been in talks with Stoke over the weekend and is expected to complete the switch in the next 24 hours if he successfully passes a medical. There have been concerns within the Spurs camp about the Honduran midfielder s long-term fitness after he struggled last season with a series of knee injuries.
Crouch, 30, is the subject of a nine-million-pound bid from the Potters but they face a battle to convince the England international to accept the switch, which would be the ninth of his career.
The former Liverpool man, who has also attracted strong interest from Sunderland, is reluctant to leave London f…
Riyad Mahrez has maintained a great attitude despite being linked with a move to Roma after confirming his desire to leave Leicester City, says club captain Wes Morgan.
Roma have had an offer rejected for the winger as they seek to replace Mohamed Salah, with sporting director Monchi indicating they may not return with a fresh bid for the Algeria international.
Mahrez, PFA Player of the Season in Leicester s Premier League title-winning campaign in 2015-16, has continued to feature for the Foxes during pre-season despite announcing his intention to move on.
And Morgan says Mahrez has acted professionally, with Leicester set to get their Premier League season under way with a trip to Arsenal on Friday.
It s to be expected that big clubs will be after our …
West Ham have signed teenage Montenegro international Sead Haksabanovic from Halmstads BK.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder has signed a five-year contract at London Stadium after joining for an undisclosed fee, reported to be in the region of £2.7million.
Haksabanovic became the second-youngest player to appear in the history of the Allsvenskan when he turned out for Halmstads in April 2015 and made a full international bow in May this year, having represented Sweden at Under-17 and Under-19 level.
West Ham is a big club and it is a nice feeling to have signed, Haksabanovic told the club s official website.
Haksabanovic Just rolls off the tongue
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd)
The move happened quite fast we heard that they w…