Boudewijn Zenden believes Real Madrid s 4-0 Clasico loss to Barcelona will continue to hurt coach Rafael Benitez for some time.
Barcelona ran out comfortable winners at the home of their bitter rivals in November and, despite a string of emphatic wins since then at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Madrid faithful have fostered a frosty relationship towards Benitez.
Displeasure from the stands was clear at regular intervals during Sunday s match against Rayo Vallecano, despite Real coming from behind to thrash their beleaguered nine-man opponents 10-2.
Former Barcelona and Netherlands midfielder Zenden is well-versed in the impact Clasico results can have on each of the Spanish giants fortunes but believes recent matches show accusations that Benitez is an overly cauti…
Javier Zanetti has made it clear Inter are keen to hold on to Mauro Icardi amid speculation linking the prolific attacker with a move elsewhere.
Icardi has become a key figure at Inter since joining the club from Sampdoria in 2013 and helped his team to a 1-0 win over Frosinone at the weekend with his 14th Serie A goal of the season.
The 23-year-old s performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere and clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are believed to be keeping a close eye on the Argentina international.
Nevertheless, Inter have no intention of cashing in on Icardi any time soon.
Icardi is our striker and our captain, Zanetti said.
We hope that Mauro can stay with us.
Icardi has a contract with Inter until Jun…
Less than a week after director Justin Lin stepped back mid-production on Fast X to only serve as a producer, it’s now coming out that he will be replaced by Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk, Netflix’s live-action Lupin). Variety was the first to report.
According to Variety, Leterrier was Universal Picture’s “first choice” over many other unnamed candidates–as of this writing, the production schedule is “still being hammered out.” It couldn’t have come too soon for the franchise, which after Lin’s dropping out was reportedly costing the studio as much as $1 million per day Come from Sports betting site VPbet . The production delay was “costly,” particularly for holding onto newly added stars, including Brie…
Jose Mourinho does not think Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw should be in England s starting XI to begin Euro 2020.
The former United boss has been involved in media controversies around both players in the past.
Mourinho feels Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell is a better option than Shaw at left-back for England, who open their campaign against Croatia at Wembley on Sunday in a World Cup semi-final rematch.
That is despite Shaw having a fantastic season for United, which saw him recently named the Players Player of the Year at the club.
I wouldn t think twice, I d go with Chilwell, Mourinho told talkSPORT.
I know that he plays normally with Chelsea in a five, but he is intelligent, he covers the space and the diagonals inside …
Veteran striker Michael Owen is hoping his stay at Manchester United will be extended beyond this season.
Owen, 31, signed a two-year-deal when he joined the Old Trafford outfit on a free transfer from Newcastle United in 2009, but now has less than six months running on his contract.
The forward has netted 13 goals in 37 matches during an injury-plagued stint with Sir Alex Ferguson s side, but still remains hopeful of signing a new deal.
I am not sure about my future yet my contract expires at the end of this season, Owen told the club s official website.
I ve made no secret that, in an ideal world, I would extend my stay. I would love to play here for longer, but I will just wait and see what the club say. We ve not held any talks yet.
Owen …
Shakhtar Donetsk have ended Roma s Champions League campaign with a 3-0 win in their last-16 second leg in Ukraine on Tuesday.
Shakhtar, who have not lost at home in any competition since October 2008, advance to the quarter-finals 6-2 on aggregate at the expense of the Italian club, who conceded a fluky goal, missed a penalty and went down to 10 men in a torrid 23 minutes in the first half.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges, and could have scored had Mirko Vucinic done better with his attempt to reach a terrific floated cross to the six-yard box.
But the Ukrainian champions scored against the run of play in the 18th minute through Tomas Hubschman, the Czech defender deflecting Willian s cross inside the far post with a clever heel touch.
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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would prefer to have seen striker Fernando Torres join Inter as opposed to Milan on loan.
The Spain international completed a two-year switch to San Siro on Sunday, bringing an end to a disappointing spell at Chelsea.
Torres moved to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool for £50million in January 2011, a fee that represented the British transfer record prior to Angel di Maria s £59.7m switch to Manchester United earlier this week.
However, the Spainiard failed to exhibit his best form at Chelsea, scoring just 20 Premier League goals for the club in 110 appearances, although he did win the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup with the club.
Despite declaring his satisfaction at the deal, ex-Inter boss Mourinho says his prefe…
Milan to make a move for Drogba
Milan have shown interest in Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.
The Rossoneri are looking to further improve the squad that won the Serie A title this season and they have now set their sights on the Ivorian striker.
Milan chiefs want to ease some pressure on Zlatan Ibrahimovic by signing another quality striker and they see the Chelsea forward as the perfect man for the job.
The Ivorian has lost his starting place at Stamford Bridge following the purchase of Fernando Torres, and he is now reportedly looking to leave the club.
With Chelsea set to complete the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Anderlecht, Drogba is aware that he is no longer an indispensable member of the squad and is e…