Gennaro Gattuso might be crazy but Nikola Kalinic expects the AC Milan head coach to deliver success.
Kalinic was at San Siro last season and, despite failing to produce his best form, the Atletico Madrid forward was impressed by Gattuso s methods.
Milan have not won the Serie A title since the 2010-11 season and they are already 12 points behind leaders Juventus this term, albeit with a game in hand.
But Kalinic – who was sent home from Croatia s World Cup campaign after refusing to come on as a substitute during his country s opening 2-0 win over Nigeria – is confident the club will make significant progress under Gattuso.
He is amazing. There were all types of jokes, a very good atmosphere, laughs, but when you start training or get on the …
Paolo Di Canio said he is not surprised by Mauro Icardi s move to Paris Saint-Germain as the Ligue 1 champions are the natural home of undisciplined players .
Former Inter captain Icardi joined PSG on an initial loan deal on transfer deadline day after being frozen out by Nerazzurri head coach Antonio Conte.
PSG have the option to buy Icardi – who was linked to Napoli and Juventus prior to the deadline – for a reported €70million at the end of the season.
Former Lazio, Juve, Napoli and AC Milan forward Di Canio hit out at Icardi following his switch to the French capital.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)
Di Canio told Il Mattino: Why did Carlo Ancelotti want someone like Icardi at Napoli? Someone unable to apologise to his…
Having joined Manchester United from Fulham in 2010, Chris Smalling has entered his ninth season with the 20-time English champions, and it is the last one on his current deal. However, the centre-back has reportedly joined the list of players in line for a new deal.
Smalling has always been a very important player for United. He has never made less than 22 appearances in a single season, and that was in 2012/13 when he missed a large chunk of the campaign due to a broken metatarsal. In total, he has so far put on the United shirt 303 times and scored 18 goals.
However, he has had issues with manager Jose Mourinho since the Portuguese s appointment in 2016, and he has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford a few times. Arsenal and West Ham have been mentioned as…
What the papers say
Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, 33, is keen on joining Newcastle United after first choice Nick Pope suffered a shoulder injury which will keep him out for four months, reports the Daily Telegraph. The Daily Mirror says Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale, 25, could be another option in January.
Manchester United are eyeing a move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, 28, according to The Sun via Foot Mercato. Andre Onana, who replaced de Gea in the summer, has yet to convince as United’s first-choice stopper.
One player who could be staying at Manchester United is Raphael Varane. The Manchester Evening News says the 30-year-old France defender is keen to stay at Old Trafford beyond the January transfer window.
Juventus could make …
Cristiano Ronaldo has accepted a 23-month prison sentence and an €18.8million fine for tax fraud.
The Juventus star attended a court in Madrid on Tuesday to ratify an agreement already reached with Spanish prosecutors.
The 33-year-old was accused of committing four crimes against the Spanish treasury between 2011 and 2014 while he was playing for Real Madrid.
Ronaldo is alleged to have concealed income earned through image rights by using offshore companies.
The Portugal international told reporters that everything is perfect after his short appearance in court, during which he accepted the charges as part of a plea deal with the prosecution.
Under Spanish law, he will not be required to spend any time in jail as it is a first-time offence.
…
Crystal Palace cruised into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a clinical 2-0 victory over third-tier Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium on Sunday.
Jeffrey Schlupp and Max Meyer scored at either end of the first half to reward a professional performance and confirm Palace s passage into the last eight.
Doncaster were competitive throughout and managed to keep Michy Batshuayi goalless on his first Eagles start but lacked the attacking threat to maintain their best FA Cup run in over 60 years.
Roy Hodgson s men, now unbeaten in five matches, will enter Monday s draw as one of six Premier League teams left in the competition.
Palace struck early in their 2-0 fourth-round triumph over Tottenham and did likewise in South Yorkshire as Schlupp, sent through b…
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Two sides who will be looking to claim a crucial first-leg advantage on Wednesday night, Dynamo Kyiv and RB Salzburg will meet at the Arena Lublin in Poland.
Dynamo Kyiv
Starting with the hosts, while Dynamo Kyiv might have once again fell short last season in the chase to reclaim their domestic crown, the Ukrainian heavyweights have come flying out of the traps since opening up the new campaign. Making a real statement over in Scotland last week as they secured a 3-1 aggregate victory against Rangers, Oleksandr Shovkovskyi s men should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they secured a routine 3-1 win away at Karpaty Lviv, Kyiv have won all of their previous three appearanc…
Jesper Olsen believes Manchester United should continue to pursue a deal for Jadon Sancho as he hailed the quality of the Borussia Dortmund star.
United have been strongly linked with a move for Dortmund and England sensation Sancho, though his club have repeatedly insisted the 20-year-old will not be sold ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Sancho established himself as one of the hottest properties in European football last term after scoring 17 goals and supplying 16 assists for Bundesliga runners-up Dortmund, prompting links to the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool and Barcelona.
As United reportedly continue to try to negotiate with Dortmund – who remain unmoved on their £108million (€120m) valuation – former Red Devils winger Olsen told Stats Perform News: I…
Mainz goalkeeper Rene Alder has confirmed he will retire at the end of the Bundesliga season.
The 34-year-old, a 12-time Germany international, is to bring an end to his playing career after 17 years in the senior game.
Adler, who has not featured for Mainz in 2018-19, says his body can no longer cope with the rigours of the sport.
The trust in my body just isn t there anymore. It doesn t make sense anymore to continue and therefore I am retiring, said Adler, who suffered a serious knee injury in his last outing for Mainz a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in April 2018.
It was a huge mental effort. I have paid a heavy price. My body has had enough.
Adler came through Bayer Leverkusen s youth team and spent a further six years there after making his deb…
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke warned against premature expectations of a title challenge as he promised new boss Lucien Favre time to rebuild.
Former Nice head coach Favre fronted his first media conference on Friday following his appointment on a two-year contract in May.
BVB initially identified the experienced Swiss as their preferred candidate 12 months ago and finally landed their man after a tumultuous season saw the sacking of Peter Bosz and departure of successor Peter Stoger.
Watzke insisted it would certainly take more than one transfer period for Favre to return the club to the heights of their back-to-back Bundesliga glories in 2011 and 2012.
We don t dream of a title, but we remain highly ambitious, Watzke told reporters.