The Argentine manager had a unique way of enticing the Frenchman to join his La Liga side.

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Samir Nasri has revealed that Jorge Sampaoli recruited him to Sevilla by offering him the freedom to go out and party as much as he wanted.

Nasri joined the La Liga side prior to the 2016-17 campaign on a season-long loan from Manchester City. He would go on to make 30 appearances for Sevilla, scoring three goals.

In an Instagram Live chat, the former France international said that Sampaoli, then Sevilla’s manager, offered him plenty of freedom off the pitch as long as he performed well on it.

“Sampaoli wanted me so much that he said to me: ‘Come to us, you can drink, go to a club, do whatever you want, and I will cover for you in front of the club, I’m just asking you to be good on the field at the weekend,'” Nasri said. “Sampaoli was so crazy he even wanted to watch my dog so that I could go out on weekends!”

Nasri added that he was in awe of Sampaoli’s motivational skills, despite the language barrier. “It gave me chills when listening to Sampaoli’s speeches in the dressing room, and I did not understand Spanish!” he said.

After leaving Sevilla, Nasri signed for Turkish side Antalyaspor in 2017 before his career was put on hold the following year due to an 18-month doping ban. UEFA stated that Nasri was found guilty of using a “prohibited method” in violation of the World Anti-Doping Code and UEFA’s own anti-doping rules.

Nasri explained that he was receiving a legal vitamin injection in Los Angeles but he was given too much of the substance.

“What happened in Los Angeles ruined my season. It was a vitamin injection, legal and I had a prescription,” Nasri said. “The clinic injected me with much more product than expected.”

Following his ban, Nasri signed a short-term deal with West Ham last season. After his contract with the Hammers expired, Nasri joined up with former Man City team-mate Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht. The 32-year-old has struggled to make an impact with the Belgian side, making just seven league appearances in 2019-20 as he struggled with injuries.

Source – Goal.com

The former Red Devils defender says an iconic coach told him huge deals were in the pipeline before he walked away from coaching in the summer of 2013.

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Sir Alex Ferguson claimed to be “99 per cent sure” that Cristiano Ronaldo would return to Manchester United and Gareth Bale would join from Tottenham before heading into retirement in 2013, says Patrice Evra.

Having previously backtracked on a decision to walk away from coaching, the legendary Scot rocked the sporting world when stepping down from an iconic post after 27 years.

Evra, who had been taken to Old Trafford by Ferguson, was among those left stunned when an all-time great walked away from a role that had delivered 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.

The Frenchman claims he had been told that no change in the dugout would be made, with United instead looking to put ambitious transfer agreements in place for two superstar forwards.

Ronaldo, though, was to remain at Real Madrid, with Bale linking up with him at Santiago Bernabeu.

Ferguson passed the managerial reins at United to David Moyes and a serious sense of what could have been set in for the Red Devils as they hit a rut that they have only recently shown signs of escaping.

Evra told the club’s official podcast of Ferguson’s departure and the plans that were in the pipeline: “You know, you talk about the hardest moments [in my United career], I would say maybe this is the one.

“Two weeks before that, I remember there was a lot of media saying Ferguson will maybe retire next year, and he said, ‘Patrice, I will never retire. I will be here another 10 years’.

“He then said: ‘My target is I’m 99 per cent sure we will have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. I just need these two players to win the Champions League again. Ninety-nine per cent’.

“And to be fair, when I speak with Cristiano, I ask him and he said ‘yes’ to the boss, and was coming to join United. He told me this.”

Evra added on Ferguson’s announcement that he would be leaving a post that had allowed him to build United into a global brand: “After two weeks, we were in the dressing room waiting.

“When we arrived at Carrington, I see all those cameras and I was like: ‘Wow, someone has done something wrong. Maybe a player is the story again! Someone has done something wrong, we are in trouble’.

“But we arrived and people said, ‘Guys, you have to stay in the dressing room because the boss wants to have a chat’. And when the boss came into the dressing room to talk to everyone, it’s never good news.

“He came, and he said, ‘I’m really sorry. Some people have said that I’m going to retire even before I say it myself. That’s why you saw all those cameras. But I will retire because my wife needs me’.

“He apologised to [Robin] van Persie, he apologised to Shinji [Kagawa], because he just brought them. He apologised to them especially.”

Source – Goal.com

Ligue 1 club Amiens has launched a petition “to demand justice” after being relegated from the French top flight before the season could be completed.

Amiens players celebrate scoring a goal against Marseille

Paris St-Germain were awarded the title on Thursday, with Amiens and Toulouse relegated after the French government cancelled the 2019-20 sporting season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Amiens were 19th in the table, four points behind Nimes and 10 points ahead of Toulouse with 10 games left to play.

“Amiens is launching a petition to demand justice for this very consequential decision which goes against sporting fair play,” a statement said.

The petition asks that the league’s governing body, Ligue de Football Professionnel, reconsiders its decision to relegate the two sides and instead play Ligue 1 with 22 teams instead of 20 in 2020-21.

This would include Lorient and Lens, who have been promoted from Ligue 2.

The petition had reached more than 4,000 of its 5,000 target on Monday afternoon.

Source – BBC News

Clubs in the top two German divisions have returned 10 positive results from 1,724 coronavirus tests, says the German football league.

Clubs in Germany have been training in groups and observing social distancing guidelines

The Portuguese attacker returned to Turin on Monday after spending almost two months in his homeland.

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Cristiano Ronaldo will be placed in quarantine for two weeks after the Juventus star returned to Turin.

The Portuguese attacker spent almost two months in his native Madeira as the coronavirus pandemic struck Italy, forcing the country into lockdown.

Ronaldo was expected back on May 18, when clubs were initially scheduled to return to training.

The Italian government moved that date forward to May 4 after many regions gave permission for training centres to open again, prompting Juventus to recall the foreign players who had left the country as the Covid-19 situation grew worse.

The players coming back will have to undergo two weeks of quarantine upon their arrival in Italy before they can begin training again.

While Ronaldo, 35, and his family were on the way back to Turin, many of his team-mates were being tested for coronavirus at the Juventus Training Centre.

Aaron Ramsey, Federico Bernardeschi, Juan Cuadrado, Carlo Pinsoglio and Merih Demiral, who is recovering from injury, were all examined.

As of Tuesday, training will resume but players will have to work on their own to abide by social distancing rules.

Although all 20 Serie A clubs voted to get the season underway again whenever it is safe to return and are now easing their way back to training, it remains unknown when football will be played again.

Despite the government’s decision to lift restrictions on athletes of team sports returning to training, the nation’s Sports Minister, Vincenzo Spadafora, said there is “no way” football can return soon.

Although there have been fears that the government could ban some sports for several months, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina has warned that such a move “would be the death of Italian football”, while Lazio sporting director Igli Tare said clubs are willing to wait several months before resuming the season.

“I heard that the order could come from the Minister of Sport this week,” he said. “But that would not be within his remit. FIFA, UEFA and FIGC have explained that the leagues must be finished within the calendar year.

“If we don’t start the league again in June, we will do it when it’s possible.”

Source – Goal.com

The Blaugrana legend has plenty left in the tank and will head to Qatar with his nation, according to his former team-mate.

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Lionel Messi could play until he is almost 40, according to long-time Barcelona team-mate Xavi.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner, 32, was in typically stellar form for Barca this season, scoring 24 goals in all competitions before the coronavirus pandemic brought a halt to proceedings.

Messi has arguably never been so important to the Blaugrana’s overall chances of success and Xavi feels the Argentina superstar has plenty left in the tank – both at club and international level.

“He’s still got five or seven very good years left in him,” Xavi said of Messi during an Instagram chat with another ex-Barca forward, Samuel Eto’o.

“He takes good care of himself and he can keep playing until he’s 37, 38 or 39. He’ll play at the Qatar World Cup, I’m sure.”

If Messi reaches those levels of longevity, Xavi will seemingly hope to have taken charge of him as head coach.

The Al Sadd boss held talks with his former employers earlier this year before Quique Setien was appointed as Ernesto Valverde’s successor.

“In January, it wasn’t the right moment,” Xavi said, echoing comments made on the matter earlier this year.

“I had conversations with Eric Abidal [Barcelona’s sporting director] and Oscar Grau [Barcelona chief executive] and a big offer, but it wasn’t the right moment. I need a bit more experience. Coaching Barcelona is my dream. I’d like to do it one day. I’ve said that many times.”

Ideally, Xavi would also see Neymar return from Paris Saint-Germain and be part of any prospective squad of his.

The Brazil forward has frequently been linked with a move back to Camp Nou since his record transfer to the French capital in 2017.

“Footballing wise, he’s in the top three or five players in the world, no doubt,” Xavi added. “He can make the difference. Let’s hope he returns to Barcelona. I’m a Barcelona fan and I want the best players there.”

However, the presence of Neymar at Camp Nou next season seems unlikely due to the financial crisis caused by Covid-19.

In an interview earlier this week, Setien admitted he believed there wouldn’t be any mega transfers this summer.

Source – Goal.com

Bayer Leverkusen are confident the Bundesliga will resume in May, says the club’s sporting director Simon Rolfes.

Bayer Leverkusen players are back training and are tested for Covid-19 every three–to-four days

The German Football League was hoping a decision would be taken by government on 30 April, but the issue was delayed and the next meeting is on 6 May.

“The most important thing was we got good feedback from politicians for our concepts for games without spectators,” Rolfes told BBC World Service Sport.

“They [the government] think that we are able to do it.”

He added: “In the next week we will see which decisions are there. I don’t know exactly when but we hope we play in May, the middle or the end of May, we don’t know.”

The season needs to be completed by 30 June because of deals with sponsors and broadcasters and last week the league said it would be ready to return on 9 May – but 16 or 23 May are now considered more realistic dates.

With nine games remaining in the season, Bayern Munich lead the table, four points ahead of Borussia Dortmund, with Leverkusen in fifth and chasing a Champions League spot.

“We’re also in the semi-finals of the Cup, and we’re still in the Europa League,” said Rolfes who insisted his players are not fearful of contracting Covid-19 when football does return.

On Friday, fellow Bundesliga side Cologne said three people at the club had tested positive for coronavirus, but that training will “continue as planned”.

Leverkusen brought in a pandemic officer four years ago and Rolfes says there are plans in place if a player contracts the virus, with testing taking place “every three or four days”.

“In the morning when they wake up, they [players] get five questions they have to answer and that goes to our pandemic officer and our head of medicine. So that’s the first check at home,” he said.

“Then we try to separate them as much as possible. We use different locker rooms at the stadium to try to keep the risk at a minimum.”

Source – BBC News

Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has reportedly said he would have to consider his Manchester City future if their two-year European ban is upheld.

Kevin de Bruyne scored a penalty in Manchester City’s 2-1 away win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie in February

In February, City were found to have committed “serious breaches” of Uefa’s club licensing and financial fair play regulations.

City have taken their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“Once the decision is made, I will review everything,” De Bruyne, 28, told Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws.

“Two years would be long – but in the case of one year I might see. I’m just waiting. The club told us they’re going to appeal and they’re almost 100% sure they’re right.

“That’s why I’m waiting to see what will happen. I trust my team.”

Belgium international De Bruyne joined City in August 2015 for £55m from German side Wolfsburg – a club record at the time.

He has helped City win the Premier League in the past two seasons, although they have not advanced further than the semi-finals of the Champions League.

When football was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic in March, City were second in the top flight, 25 points behind leaders Liverpool, but in a good position to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after winning 2-1 at Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

De Bruyne said he expected the campaign to be completed.

“My feeling is we may be able to train again within two weeks,” he added.

“Everything will be finished without fans, I think. That is not really interesting for anyone, but this season will be finished.

“The financial aspect is far too important in the Premier League. If the season is not finished, it will cause serious problems.”

Asked about comments from his City team-mate Sergio Aguero, who said some players were scared to return because of the threat of the virus, De Bruyne said: “I don’t think people are really afraid for themselves, but for their family. That is mainly the problem for many people.”

Source – BBC News

The easing of government lockdown restrictions means Italian top flight clubs can begin training again this week.

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Juventus have requested all its players who are currently abroad to return to Italy as Serie A clubs step up their plans to resume training amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Italian football teams have been given permission to resume training from Monday after the government brought forward the easing of lockdown restrictions for team sports.

Team sports were initially required to wait a further two weeks before training centres would open again, but the government has given the go-ahead for athletes to return on May 4 instead.

A number of clubs including Roma, Napoli, Sassuolo and Inter Milan have already declared their intentions to resume training, with Juve now joining them.

Any Bianconeri players returning from abroad will have to spend 14 days in isolation before they can begin training.

Those already in Italy will be able to resume training on Tuesday or Wednesday this week, though they will be restricted to individual sessions initially, with full team training expected to begin from May 18.

Gonzalo Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sami Khedira, Wojciech Szczesny and Douglas Costa were among the players given permission to return to their native countries and be with their families during the outbreak.

Juve team-mates Blaise Matuidi, Paulo Dybala and Daniele Rugani all tested positive for the virus in March and were required to self-isolate during their recovery.

Serie A, like all major leagues across Europe, has been suspended since March due to the Covid-19 crisis, which has killed more than 244,500 people worldwide.

There have been question marks over whether the 2019-20 season will be completed at all given the scale of the shutdown, though the postponement of Euro 2020 by UEFA has given leagues across Europe the time to complete their campaigns over the summer.

Despite being afforded that extra time, leagues in France, Belgium and the Netherlands have all been declared over, though their counterparts in England, Italy, Germany and Spain are exploring the options of returning soon.

All 20 Serie A clubs voted in favour of resuming the league whenever possible at an emergency meeting on Friday, though it is dependent on government approval. The president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, has warned against ending the season prematurely, saying it would be the “death of Italian football”.

Defending champions Juventus were a point clear of Lazio after 26 games at the time of postponement.

Source – Goal.com

The former Dutch international defender, who has also coached Southampton and Everton, is in a stable condition according to his agent.

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Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman is in hospital in Amsterdam after undergoing emergency heart surgery, his agent has confirmed.

Koeman’s representative Rob Jansen said the former Dutch international defender is in a stable condition after requiring medical treatment.

The former Barcelona player is currently national team coach after a long managerial career that has also included stints in the Premier League with Southampton and Everton.

Koeman was rushed to hospital after feeling unwell on Sunday, his wife Bartina told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, but was helped quickly, did not suffer any serious harm, and should be able to return home on Monday.

Jansen meanwhile told NOS that Koeman did not feel well after cycling and felt chest pains before being rushed to hospital.

The 57-year-old would have been expecting to be making preparations for the European Championships this summer, however they have been delayed for a year following the outbreak of coronavirus.

Koeman was appointed Netherlands manager in February 2018, following the resignation of Dick Advocaat after he failed to guide the nation to the World Cup in Russia.

He has enjoyed a successful spell in charge of his country so far, taking them to the final of the inaugural UEFA Nations League – where they were beaten by hosts Portugal – and guiding them to qualification for Euro 2020.

The Dutch football association (KNVB) tweeted: “That is a shock. Fortunately things are going better again. Much strength and improvement, coach.”

As a player, Koeman gained a reputation as a powerful centre-back who was also capable of scoring goals, with a fearsome long range shot and ability from free-kicks and penalties.

He was part of the Dutch side who triumphed at Euro 88, as well as two European Cups at club level – with PSV Eindhoven in 1988, and Barcelona in 1992. He won four successive La Liga titles with Barca between 1991 and 1994, as well as three Eredivisie crowns with PSV and a further Dutch title with Ajax.

Koeman scored a remarkable 193 goals in 535 club appearances, and also earned 78 caps for the Netherlands, finding the net 14 times at international level.

After moving into management, he has won a further three Eredivisie titles – with Ajax in 2002 and 2004, and with PSV in 2007 – as well as the 2008 Copa del Rey with Valencia. He has also coached Benfica, AZ and Feyenoord, before coaching in English football for three years.

He took Southampton into the Europa League with their highest ever Premier League finish of sixth in 2015-16, before enduring an unsuccessful period with Everton.

The Toffees tweeted: “Everyone at Everton would like to wish former boss Ronald Koeman a speedy recovery.”

Source – Goal.com