Channel 5 are set to air a documentary about the rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United following the news Arsene Wenger will be stepping down as Arsenal manager at the end of the season.
The documentary, titled ‘
“>
Let’
/5ada1f4ed39b873064000001.jpg)
Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey could leave the club this summer, even though the player’s contract runs until 2022, after an extraordinary rant from his father and agent on Instagram.
According to the Mirror, the Bundesliga club would be unlikely to reject an offer of more than £35m for the 20-year-old, who has taken German football by storm since moving to the BayArena from Belgian side Genk last year.
Bailey has netted 12 goals this season, helping to propel Leverkusen to third place in the Bundesliga.
However, the club’s relationship with Bailey’s agent Craig Butler – who is also his adoptive father – is bound to be extremely strained, after Butler publicly criticised the way Bailey was used in a 6-2 drubbing by Bayern Munich in the German Cup semi-final.
In a strongly-worded Instagram post, Butler wrote: “They put him on the bench. They put him on at left-back. They don’t pass to him. The opponent double teams him. They kick him down. “What does he do? Gets up and put the free kick in the back of the damn net.”
Leon Bailey’s agent and adopted father Craig Butler has revealed that the Bayer Leverkusen star has rejected Jamaica call up and is prepared to wait until he qualifies to play for Germany through residency [Goal] pic.twitter.com/SMkuXOINdM
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) March 11, 2018
In addition, Bailey has admitted that he aspires to move to a bigger club than Leverkusen, even though he is content at the BayArena for now. Speaking in February, he said: “Leverkusen is perfect for me. I want to develop and then I can take the next step. When I move to a big club, the people there will want to know me.”
Although he is Jamaican-born and has represented the Reggae Boyz at Under-23 level, Bailey is yet to pledge his allegiance to any nation at senior level.
” style=”” contenteditable=”false”>
Among other countries, he is reportedly eligible for England, which has given rise to speculation that he may yet represent the Three Lions – though his agent has also reportedly claimed he could represent Germany.
Let’
/5ada05d8c4612216e8000008.jpg)
Sweden legend Zlatan Ibrahimović has claimed that he could revolutionise football in the USA – but he won’t because he wants to devote his time to his family.
Interviewed on the Dan Patrick Show, a legendary sports show in the USA, and quoted on the LA Galaxy website, the LA Galaxy striker said: “I have my wife, I got my two kids. If I was single I would spread my investment here in the US and you would have future legends in the soccer. But sorry I’m already occupied by my wife and two kids.”
“I have my wife, I got my two kids. If I was single I would spread my investment here in the US and you would have future legends in the soccer. But sorry I’m already occupied by my wife and two kids.” – @Ibra_official when asked if he could help development of soccer in US.
— Paul Pabst (@PaulPabst) 19 April 2018
The former Manchester United striker has never been short of self-confidence, as illustrated by his comments when discussing his superstar status in his native Sweden in the same interview: “I don’t think that you can measure how popular I am. I am Sweden. They will even change the name Sweden to my name on the map.
“When you navigate in Sweden, you don’t write Sweden, you write Zlatan..
Ibrahimović’s remarks about not helping with the development of US soccer don’t seem to have caused offence to his current team LA Galaxy, at least not if the club’s official website is anything to go by. Their recently-acquired striker is merely described as ‘his usual quotable self’.
Then again, this is hardly surprising, seeing as he has already scored three goals for the Major League Soccer side in just three appearances.
The Swede has also broadly hinted that he will play at this year’s FIFA World Cup, having retired after Sweden’s dismal showing in the 2016 European Championships.
However, even though he is Sweden’s all-time record goalscorer with 62 international goals in 116 caps – including a sensational double brace against England in 2012 – the prospect of him playing in Russia this summer has had a mixed reception in Sweden. Some Swedes feel that his egotistical and individualistic approach may detract from their team spirit.
” style=”” contenteditable=”false”>
Sweden qualified for the World Cup without their former talisman, stunning Italy in the playoffs last autumn.
Let’
Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar has revealed some interesting details about his relationship with former manager Jose Mourinho.
In an interview with
“Iker went to the dressing room to talk to me [to thank him for the gesture] and I told him to have a discussion with Mourinho, which is difficult but he had to face it,” Cesar continued. “Mourinho likes to go face to face with the players who are considered stars in the teams that he coaches.”
The Brazilian goalkeeper also discussed life under Mourinho’s management, and revealed the harsh words that Mourinho would say to him.
“The first year was great, but the second one was more difficult,” he added. “
“In training Mourinho approached me and said ‘you are the best goalkeeper in the world, but today you’re a Serie C goalkeeper.'”
This was not the only time Mourinho was rude to Cesar. who explained the Portugese manager’s weird obsession with a yellow shirt.
“There was a time when Mourinho wanted me to play with a yellow shirt,” Cesar said.
“>
“He gave me a yellow shirt, which was the training shirt, and I told him I was not going to play in yellow. Mourinho mocked me in every way possible and told me I was afraid of the ball. In short…I played in yellow.”
Let’
Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku has teamed up with Jay-Z’s sports management firm Roc Nation Sports, per RTE.
The Belgian joins Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng as the second high-profile footballer to join the rapper’s company, which represents numerous American athletes across the NBA, MLB and NFL, and is the first from England’s top flight.
Lukaku helped United to a 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday night, coming off the bench to score United’s second goal, which he celebrated by displaying Jay-Z’s trademarked diamond symbol.
Jay has actually filed legal documents to obtain exclusive rights to the hand symbol, something he has been using for many years.
Despite Lukaku signing on with Roc Nation Sports, Mino Raiola remains his agent. It is not clear how this latest development will affect them, however.
Paul Pogba, meanwhile, set Lukaku’s goal against Bournemouth up during the victory, and the forward has since revealed what the manager told the Frenchman during half time before they connected to put United’s second past the Cherries defence.
Romelu Lukaku has set a new career best for most goals in a single season (27). It surpasses the 26 he scored for Everton last season pic.twitter.com/zmBf0fwl6d
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 18, 2018
“Of course, we knew we had space going forward,” the former Chelsea and Everton man said after the match. “At half-time he told Paul to keep making those runs.
“He did, it was a perfect pass and the finish was great.”
“>
The Red Devils have seen their rivals Manchester City win the Premier League title this season after postponing their clinching of first spot with a 3-2 comeback win and then ironically following that up with a charitable loss to West Brom. But they will be hoping to be more competitive next season in an effort to snatch the trophy away.
Let’