Football News: Review Of The Day 29th December 2020
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Review of the Day
Contracts
Experienced Preston North End defender Paul Huntington has agreed a new deal which expires in the summer of 2022.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that the club are looking to extend Edinson Cavani's deal.
Transfers
It has been reported in Spain that Diego Costa has requested that his Atletico Madrid contract is terminated. The player has also been reported to be no longer turning up for training.
AC Milan's defender Mateo Musacchio has gone from being an integral part of the team to being the only player in the squad who has not played a single moment this season, only making the squad occasionally. The Argentine centre-back's agent has responded to rumours of a possible switch to Genoa by ruling out a move, but then he hit back at his treatment by Milan head coach Stefano Pioli. Marcelo Lombilla said: "Mateo will stay at Milan until July and then we'll see. Only I am authorised to speak for his interests and I have not had any contact with Genoa. It's a strange and uncertain situation for everyone, I don't understand this treatment when he gave his all for the team and also played with problems, at the request of the coach and this cost him an injury. But football is like this, Pioli was fired and now he looks like Guardiola. That's life, you have to wait for opportunities." Musacchio's contract expires in the summer.
Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters have signed veteran Spanish midfielder Juande from Australian A-league club Perth Glory.
Injury Round-Up
Rochdale's next two League One games have been called off due to the requirement for first-team staff and players to self-isolate. They were due to face Crewe Alexandra and MK Dons this week. In League Two, Morecambe are in the same situation after an outbreak at their club which has led to them shutting their training ground. Bolton Wanderers and then Bradford City were due to be their opponents.
The Premier League match between Everton and Manchester City was called off just 4 hours before kick-off due to their virus outbreak. City have shut their training ground for an "indeterminate period" and requested a postponement, which the Premier League granted on medical advice. City stated: "After the latest round of Covid-19 testing, the club returned a number of positive cases, in addition to the four already reported on Christmas Day. Based on strong medical advice the Premier League, in consultation with both clubs, have decided to postpone the fixture."
Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard is set to miss four weeks with a knee injury. Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed: "The injury of Jannik, it was an old injury from an international game where he was overstretching his leg and the knee was maybe starting to make problems. It was getting worse and worse and he had to stop now."
Managerial Changes
Bradford City have confirmed that caretaker managers Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars will stay in charge "until further notice".
In the South African Premier League, Chippa United's new coach Luc Eymael lasted just 24 hours before the decision to appoint him was changed. The Belgian coach was fired by Tanzanian side Young Africans in July after allegedly calling their fans "illiterate" and "monkeys". Dan Malasela has been appointed by Chippa instead. A club statement said: "After having announced Mr Eymael's appointment until the end of the season on Wednesday 23 December 2020, the club has considered public outrage. There was also the reputational damaged cause to our brand and that of our stakeholders, partners as well as our sponsors. We would like to clarify that the initial decision to make this appointment was based on Mr Eymael's coaching track record, where we felt he was the best person to take the club towards our desired top half finish in this DSTv Premiership season. Our withdrawal of this appointment is an acknowledgement of our stance on such matters (of anti-discrimination) with the club also having informed Mr Eymael and his representatives of our position." Eymael has denied that he made the comments saying: "I am telling you I never said those words, that's first of all. I have never been found guilty, I never went to a DC, and I never had any termination of contract letter. I have been working for 10 years in Africa and I have never had a problem. Do you think for one minute if I was racist, I could have stayed 10 years in Africa? It's impossible. I am very surprised because it's like its political interference."
Disciplinary Charges
Santos Deny Messi Broke Pele's Record
After Barcelona star Lionel Messi was celebrated in most of the world as breaking Pele's record of goals for one club, Pele's former club Santos have denied that he has set a new world record. Santos are claiming that Pele has scored 1,091, as they believe that goals scored in friendlies count as well. A statement by the Brazilian club read: "The matches were played in official uniforms, with the official rules of the game and with a score sheet. The numbers are absolute. A goal against Eibar is statistically the same as that scored against Valencia. A goal against Transvaal (from Suriname) has the same value as a goal scored at Real Madrid, in the middle of the Santiago Bernabeu."
CR7 Finds Football Boring Without Fans
Speaking at the Dubai International Sports conference, Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo said: "It is really boring to play without fans. It feels like training. We as players respect all the protocol and health is the most important of all, of course. But I don't like it. I do it because, first of all, I love football. Playing football is my passion. I play for my family, my kids, for my friends, for the fans. But I don't like it, to be honest. It's so weird to play without fans. I like when the people boo Cristiano. When I touch the ball they 'booo', I like it. I am motivated by those boos. But it's not good to play sans spectators. I hope next year they can change the rules and see the stadiums full of people. Because the passion without fans is nothing."
Written by Tris Burke December 29 2020 06:04:48
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