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☆ Enzo Fernandez: Chelsea sign midfielder in £106.8m British-record transfer deal from Benfica
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chelsea had been in talks to sign the World Cup winner throughout January, but Benfica had refused to do business unless the Blues paid his €120m release clause. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesChelsea have signed midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a British-record £106.8m. The deal for the Argentine surpasses the £100m Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish from Aston Villa 18 months ago. But Chelsea agreed a deal of €121m at 9.15pm on Deadline Day after 12 hours of talks led by Chelsea's co-owner Behdad Eghbali from London. Fernandez will help to replace Jorginho, who joined Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal on Deadline Day in a £12m deal.

☆ Leeds sign U.S. midfielder McKennie on loan from Juventus
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Soccer Football - Serie A - Cremonese v Juventus - Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremona, Italy - January 4, 2023 Juventus' Weston McKennie during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini/File PhotoJan 30 (Reuters) - Leeds United have signed United States midfielder Weston McKennie on loan until the end of the season from Juventus, the Premier League club said on Monday. The 24-year-old has made nearly 100 appearances for the Serie A team since joining in 2020, scoring 13 goals and providing five assists. The former Schalke 04 player will join fellow U.S. internationals Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson at Leeds, who are coached by compatriot Jesse Marsch. Leeds have also signed defender Max Wober and forward Georginio Rutter in the January transfer window. The club are 15th in the standings and sit just one point above the relegation zone halfway through the season.

☆ Juventus suffer shock home loss to Monza
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 29 (Reuters) - Juventus suffered another blow in their bid for Champions League qualification as they slumped to a 2-0 home defeat by Monza in Serie A on Sunday. Juventus are languishing 13th in the standings with 23 points, two places behind Monza. Massimiliano Allegri's side have not been able to recover momentum after being docked 15 points this month following an investigation into the club's transfer dealings. They are 15 points behind AC Milan in the last Champions League qualification spot. Juventus dominated the second half but were repeatedly denied by Monza keeper Michele Di Gregorio who made several good saves.

☆ Exclusive: JPMorgan looking to finance Italy's Serie A for up to 1 bln euros - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Elvira Pollina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The sources said the 20 clubs which comprise Serie A were informed of the interest by the U.S. bank at a closed-door meeting of their top executives on Thursday. Serie A has been looking at options to extract more money from its media rights, which account for roughly half the revenues of its clubs. Like other European soccer leagues, Serie A lags behind England's Premier League in terms of income and is looking at ways to revive its global appeal. Back in 2021 JPMorgan had offered to support soccer clubs looking to launch a breakaway European Super League, a plan which collapsed due to a storm of protest from fans and politicians. The sources said the Serie A clubs will assess in the coming weeks how to proceed in relation to the interest expressed by both the funds and JPMorgan.

☆ Exclusive: JPMorgan looking to finance Italy's Serie A for up to 1 bln euros -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Elvira Pollina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The sources said the 20 clubs that comprise Serie A were informed of the interest by the U.S. bank at a closed-door meeting of their top executives on Thursday. Serie A has been looking at options to extract more money from its media rights, which account for roughly half the revenues of its clubs. Like other European soccer leagues, Serie A lags England's Premier League in terms of income and is looking at ways to revive its global appeal. The sources said Serie A clubs learnt on Thursday that Apollo Global Management (APO.N) had also come forward, without providing further details. Prior to that meeting, clubs are due to discuss in mid-February the sale process of the media rights, which is expected to start later this year.

☆ Juventus shares tumble after 15-point penalty imposed
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Shares in Juventus (JUVE.MI) tumbled some 10% on Monday after Italian soccer authorities docked the club 15 points for its transfer dealings, in a blow to its reputation and short-term sporting prospects. Juventus, who have won the Italian league more times than any other club, are now 9th in the Serie A standings and face an uphill struggle to qualify for lucrative European competition. Juventus drew 3-3 with Atalanta on Sunday night in their home city of Turin in their first game since the punishment was announced late on Friday. By 0907 GMT, shares are down 8.5%, underperforming a 0.2% drop in Italy's all-share index (.FTITLMS) and on track for their worst day since April 2021. Reporting by Elvira Pollina and Keith Weir Editing by Toby Chopra, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Italy's Juventus docked 15 points for transfer deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Giulio Piovaccari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With 20 games left to play this season, Juve were third in Serie A with 37 points, 10 behind leaders Napoli. In a late night statement, the court also imposed bans from holding office in Italian soccer on 11 past and present Juventus directors. Juventus said it would appeal to the country's Sport Guarantee Board once the reasons for the ruling were published. CASE REOPENEDThe ruling reversed a previous decision in April to clear Juventus, 10 other clubs and their executives of wrongdoing. Public prosecutors in Turin have requested Andrea Agnelli, 11 other people and the club itself to stand trial over allegations of false accounting.

☆ Juventus handed 15-point deduction for transfer deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

With 20 games left to play in this season, Juve were third in Serie A, 10 points adrift of leaders Napoli. The points deduction would push them down into mid-table, outside the spots for European competition. The ruling is tougher than a nine-point deduction a soccer prosecutor had requested earlier on Friday during a hearing looking at the way Juventus, Italy's most successful club, and a number of other teams dealt with player exchange deals. The soccer court also ruled that former Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli be banned from holding office in Italian soccer for 24 months. It also decided on a 30-month ban for Juve's former sports director, Fabio Paratici, now managing director of football at England's Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

☆ Agnelli warns of Premier League dominance as he quits Juventus
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Giulio Piovaccari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SummarySummary Companies Agnelli warns Premier League will marginalise rivalsStepping down from Juventus and two other board rolesNew Juventus board faces legal battle over accountsTURIN, Italy, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Outgoing Juventus <JUVE.MI> Chairman Andrea Agnelli, who could face trial over the club's accounting, signed off on Wednesday with a plea for reform of European soccer to counteract the power of the English Premier League. As well as leaving Juventus, Agnelli also said he would step down from his board roles at carmaker Stellantis (STLA.MI) and Exor (EXOR.AS), the Agnelli family holding company which controls the football club. Prosecutors in Turin have requested that Agnelli, 11 other people and the club stand trial over allegations of false accounting. "I believed and still believe that European soccer needs structural reforms to tackle the future," he said. Andrea Agnelli retains his role as board member at Giovanni Agnelli B.V., Exor's controlling shareholder, which groups all descendants of Fiat founder Giovanni Agnelli.

☆ Ronaldo-Messi rivalry set for new chapter in Riyadh
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Manasi Pathak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The highly anticipated showdown, which will take place at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, reportedly had more than two million online ticket requests. The bidding for a VIP "Beyond Imagination" ticket to the match has already topped 10 million riyals ($2.66 million) in an auction that is set to end later on Tuesday. While Thursday's friendly will be Ronaldo's first in Saudi Arabia, the 37-year-old's first competitive appearance will come in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday when Al Nassr host Al Ettifaq. French newspaper L'Equipe reported on Monday that PSG will earn just over 10 million euros for the game. ($1 = 3.7556 riyals)($1 = 0.9247 euros)Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chelsea earn scrappy 1-0 win over Palace to ease pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Clare Lovell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It was only the second league win in 10 matches for the home side who remain in an unaccustomed 10th place half-way through the season. Today we had five young players in the starting 11, they are doing a really good job at the moment." "Today we are happy for the three points," said Potter, who took over from Thomas Tuchel in September. Palace are in 12th place, six points behind Chelsea. Before kickoff, former Chelsea players who had been coached by or appeared alongside Gianluca Vialli joined the teams to pay tribute to the former Italy international and Chelsea player-manager who died 10 days ago.

☆ 'Class, charisma, tenacity': Italian football pays tribute to Vialli
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Vialli, who earned 59 caps for Italy and enjoyed a stellar club career with Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea, passed away on Friday aged 58 after a long battle with cancer. I can never forget your sense of humour, your class, your charisma, your tenacity. "Nobody can ever forget the memories you gave us with your football and your goals. "Unfortunately, you have had to fight a great and terrible battle in life these past few years. Reporting by Aadi Nair and Tommy Lund Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Italian soccer great Gianluca Vialli dies at 58
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Gianluca Vialli, the former Italian soccer forward who helped Sampdoria and Juventus win Serie A and European trophies before becoming player-coach at Chelsea, has died. Vialli and Mancini also helped Sampdoria reach the 1992 European Cup final, which it lost to Barcelona at Wembley Stadium. Mihajlović also played with Mancini at Sampdoria after Vialli left the club for Juventus. Vialli won another Serie A title at Juventus and also raised the Champions League and UEFA Cup trophies with the Bianconeri. He ended his playing career while also managing Chelsea, leading the London club to FA Cup, League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup titles.

☆ Saudi Arabia's new love for soccer could cause ripple effects across the sports world
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with the jersey after signing with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 30, 2022. Al Nassr Football Club / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesSoccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Saudi club Al-Nassr, and the kingdom's growing investments in the sport, could have ripple effects across Europe and the U.S., experts have told CNBC. The former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus star earlier this week contended that the "unique contract" was befitting of his status as a "unique player." The Financial Times reported in October that the Saudi PIF had committed more than $2 billion to sponsorship deals over the first eight months of 2022, most of which was directed toward domestic soccer competitions. The Saudi PIF's takeover of Newcastle United was met with criticism across the soccer world — deemed an effort to launder the country's reputation against the backdrop of a poor human rights record.

☆ Ronaldo embracing new challenge at Al Nassr after winning everything in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RIYADH, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo said his "work is done" in Europe, adding that he is relishing new challenges both on and off the pitch after being unveiled as a player of Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on Tuesday. "I won everything, I played in the most important clubs in Europe and now it's a new challenge in Asia." "I'm grateful to Al Nassr, for giving me this opportunity to develop football for the younger generation, for the women as well. Al Nassr coach Rudi Garcia said the signing of Ronaldo was a huge step for the Saudi Arabian league. I want him to enjoy playing with Al Nassr and winning with Al Nassr, just that."

☆ How many?! Pele's astonishing goal record
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Andrew Downie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FIFA put his overall total at more than 1,200 - over 1,000 of which came for his first club, Santos. Almost half of Pele's goals came in friendly matches – including games as an army conscript - and some argue they do not carry the same weight as goals scored in competitive matches. Barcelona celebrated in December 2020 when Messi scored his 644th goal for the Spanish club, surpassing the 643 competitive goals Pele scored for Santos. Two months later, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 768th goal, three more than Pele's total, including international goals. Pele sent his congratulations to both players but his supporters still argue the Brazilian's goal haul is superior because in Pele's day friendly matches were much more competitive than they are today.

☆ Quitting top job at Juventus wasn't an easy decision, Andrea Agnelli says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TURIN, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Outgoing Juventus (JUVE.MI) Chairman Andrea Agnelli said on Tuesday his decision to stand down was not an easy one to take, and he remained convinced he had acted correctly. "On top of loving Juventus, in recent years I have given my best to achieve results on and off the pitch," Agnelli told shareholders gathered in Turin to approve the Serie A team's results for the fiscal year ended in June. "I am strongly convinced I have acted properly in recent years, and that accusations raised against us were not founded," he added. Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari, editing by Gavin JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Dec 16 (Reuters) - Argentina look set to keep Julian Alvarez in attack for Sunday's World Cup final against France after he scored twice in a devastating combination with Lionel Messi in the semi-final. He scored his first goal for the national side in the World Cup quarter-final against the Dutch, which Argentina won on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Leandro ParedesA defensive midfielder with Juventus, 28-year-old Paredes has featured in four of Argentina's World Cup games - infamously booting the ball at the Netherlands' bench in the quarter-final. Rodrigo De PaulThe tough 28-year-old Atletico de Madrid midfielder has been a stalwart in Scaloni's World Cup starting lineup, even playing through injury against the Dutch. The 35-year-old Paris St Germain forward is on a mission to lift his first World Cup at his fifth and final attempt and has been simply magnificent, scoring five goals while creating others with his dribbling and passing wizardry.

☆ FIFA and UEFA did not breach EU laws in blocking European Super League, but proponents aren’t for giving up
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Sammy Mngqosini | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The decisions taken by soccer bodies FIFA and UEFA to block the European Super League (ESL) are in line with European Union (EU) competition laws, according to an EU Opinion issued on Thursday. “The FIFA-UEFA rules under which any new competition is subject to prior approval are compatible with EU competition law,” Advocate General Athanasios Rantos at the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) said. The ESL was set up in 2021 by 12 European clubs with the intention to break away from European football governing body UEFA to create their very own competition. FIFA also welcomes the Advocate General’s recognition of FIFA’s exclusive rights to market international competitions organized by FIFA. Fans of Chelsea Football Club protest against the European Super League outside Stamford Bridge on April 20, 2021.

☆ FIFA, UEFA rules compatible with EU competition rules, EU court adviser says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Soccer bodies UEFA and FIFA's rules giving them the right to block clubs from joining a breakaway league and penalise players who do so are compatible with EU antitrust laws, an adviser to Europe's top court said on Thursday. The case centres on the dispute between UEFA, FIFA and the European Super League last year but could also impact other sports, clubs and players tempted by lucrative deals offered by rebel bodies and seeking to cash in during relatively short careers. The Super League took its case to a Spanish court which subsequently sought guidance from the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). "The FIFA-UEFA rules under which any new competition is subject to prior approval are compatible with EU competition law," Advocate General Athanasios Rantos at the EU Court of Justice (CJEU), Europe's highest, said. While the Super League is free to set up its own independent football competition outside the UEFA and FIFA ecosystem, it cannot at the same time continue to participate in FIFA and UEFA football competitions without their prior authorisation, he said.

☆ Gonçalo Ramos: Meet the striker who replaced Cristiano Ronaldo and made World Cup history at Qatar 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Not only was it his first start at Qatar 2022, the tournament’s first hat-trick, but Ramos’ three goals in this last-16 tie puts Ronaldo record in one-off World Cup games somewhat in the shade. Ronaldo has never scored in a World Cup knockout match, despite competing in five tournaments. Michael Steele/Getty ImagesBenfica CampusRamos is a product of the famous Benfica academy. Never gives up!” Ramos’ Benfica teammate Grimaldo told Marca. His trio of goals ensured Ramos became the first player to score a hat-trick in his first World Cup start since Miroslav Klose against Saudi Arabia in 2002.

☆ What next for US soccer after an inspiring World Cup?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But the talented, telegenic and multiracial Americans left fans with soaring hopes before the US, Canada and Mexico host the 2026 World Cup. Often, the World Cup and Olympic gold medal-winning US women’s soccer team gets more attention than their male counterparts — although their pay is only just beginning to catch up. The idea of an unexploited market of soon-to-be-soccer fans has long beckoned to FIFA’s marketing teams, especially during the 1994 stateside World Cup, but has never been fully realized. US soccer fans are also increasingly sophisticated, glued to NBC’s Premier League coverage reportedly worth more than $2 billion. The beautiful game’s place in the country’s sports scene could be cemented if the US makes noise in the next World Cup.

☆ World Cup quarter-finals a step too far for gritty underdogs Poland
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Rohith Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

We succeeded, but in the next round we faced the world champions," Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said. After weeks and months, we can proudly say we achieved what Poland wasn't able to achieve in 36 years." In order to take advantage of every striker in our team, we need to bring them closer to the right zone. Lewandowski and Szczesny may not be around for the 2026 edition after both players admitted the tournament in Qatar could be their last World Cup. Reporting by Rohith Nair in Al Rayyan; Editing by Ken Ferris and Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo denies he swore at Portugal coach over substitution
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Ronaldo, Portugal’s captain, said the comments he made as he left the field in the 65th minute were in fact aimed at a South Korean player. “What happened was before my substitution, the South Korea player told me to get off quickly. The 37-year-old is seeking to equal the Portuguese record of most World Cup goals held by Eusebio, who racked up nine in 1966 in England, the only World Cup tournament he played in. Fu Tian/China News Service/Getty ImagesSantos, asked by reporters about the substitution incident, also said a South Korean player had been aggressive in his comments towards the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. We wanted to go through with a win, we wanted to go through playing good football to keep boosting our confidence,” Santos said.

☆ Ronaldo denies he swore at Portugal coach over substitution
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ronaldo, Portugal's captain, said the comments he made as he left the field in the 65th minute were in fact aimed at a South Korean player. The 37-year-old is seeking to equal the Portuguese record of most World Cup goals held by Eusebio, who racked up nine in 1966 in England, the only World Cup tournament he played in. Santos, asked by reporters about the substitution incident, also said a South Korean player had been aggressive in his comments towards the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Ronaldo was kept largely at bay by South Korea's defence in the Asians' last-gasp victory over Portugal that sent Uruguay out of the World Cup. We wanted to go through with a win, we wanted to go through playing good football to keep boosting our confidence," Santos said.

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