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Tag: PSG

  • Inter forward Icardi reportedly set for move to PSG

    Inter Milan forward, Mauro Icardi, his club’s leading scorer in each of the last five seasons and former captain, is set to join Paris St Germain, the Gazzetta Dello Sport and other Italian media said Monday.

    The move would end a turbulent spell at the club for the Argentine, who has fallen out with fans along on the way and provided fodder for the gossip columns, thanks to his marriage to Wanda Nara, a media personality who also acts as his agent.

    Gazzetta published what it said was a photograph of Icardi and Nara at Malpensa airport, saying would board a private jet for Paris to finalise a loan spell at PSG with an option to buy.

    Other Italian media carried the same story, including Sky Sport Italia.

    The 26-year-old, an out-and-out centre forward, who is deadly in the penalty area but whose contribution elsewhere on the pitch has been questioned, has scored 124 goals in 219 appearances in all competitions during six years at the club.

    Despite his scoring exploits, Icardi fell out with Inter’s hardcore fans over an account of an argument with supporters in his autobiography in 2016.

    Curva Nord ultras responded that “Icardi is not our captain, not now or ever’’ and applauded when he missed a penalty in one of Inter’s next games.

    In February, he was stripped of the captaincy after becoming embroiled in protracted negotiations over a new contract.

    He then said he could not play because of a knee injury although the club said a medical examination had found nothing wrong.

    He returned to the side in April after talks between his lawyer and the club, although Luciano Spalletti, the Inter coach at the time, said it had been “humiliating” for Inter to have to negotiate with a player to get him to play.

    Spalletti left Inter at the end of last season and was replaced by Antonio Conte, who said that Icardi did not figure in his plans for the future.

  • Transfer: Everton's Gueye set for PSG medical

    Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye is set to have a medical with Paris St-Germain as the Senegal international nears a move to the French champions.

    The 29-year-old joined Everton from Aston Villa for around £7m in 2016 and is reported to be set to leave for a fee of over £25m.
    Gueye has made 108 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions.
    He was pictured in Paris on Sunday and is expected to have a medical on Monday.
    He would be the second high-profile exit from Goodison Park in a week following the sale of winger Ademola Lookman to RB Leipzig.
    Manager Marco Silva has signed midfielders Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph, as well as goalkeeper Jonas Lossl, but has said he hopes to recruit in another five positions before the transfer deadline on 8 August.

  • Neymar can leave PSG if we get an offer – Leonardo

    Paris St Germain sporting director Leonardo says Neymar is free to leave the French champions, but there have been no offers for him and only “superficial” talks with his former club Barcelona.
    The Brazilian forward joined PSG from Barcelona on a five-year deal for a world record transfer fee of 222 million euros (£199 million) in 2017.
    “Neymar can leave PSG if there is an offer that suits everyone.
    “But to date, we do not know if anyone wants to buy him or at what price
    “All this is not done in a day, that’s for sure,’’ Leonardo told Le Parisien.
    ““It’s clear to everyone (that he wants to leave), but in football, you say one thing today and tomorrow another.
    “It’s amazing but it’s like that.
    “We talked with his entourage too.
    “Everyone knows everything.
    “The position is clear for all participants.
    “But one thing is concrete today: he still has three years of contract with us and since we have not received an offer, we cannot discuss anything.’’
    Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, said last week that Neymar wanted to return to Spain, but that PSG was reluctant to sell him.
    “We have not received any offers,’’ Leonardo added.
    “But we have had, it’s true, very superficial contacts (with Barcelona).
    “They said they wanted to buy but we are not sellers.
    “He’s (Bartomeu) the one saying it… But we did not see that Barcelona was really in a buyer position.’’
    Paris St Germain said on Monday they would take action against the Brazilian forward after he failed to report for training.

  • PSG sign Sarabia from Sevilla on five-year deal

    French side Paris St Germain have signed midfielder Pablo Sarabia from Sevilla on a five-year deal, the Ligue 1 champions said on Tuesday.
    The development potentially paves the way for a move away from the club by Brazilian star Neymar.
    Financial details of Sarabia’s deal were not disclosed but Spanish media reported that the 27-year-old was signed for around 20 million euros ($23 million).
    The Spanish attacking midfielder had 23 goals and 17 assists for Sevilla in all competitions including Europa League qualifiers last season.
    Media reports suggested that the signing may herald a move out by PSG’s Brazilian star Neymar, who has been widely linked with a move back to Barcelona.
    “We are delighted to announce Pablo Sarabia, the 27-year-old attacking midfielder from Sevilla, has signed a five-year contract with PSG,” the Parisian club said in a statement.

  • Transfer: Adrien Rabiot agrees Juventus move

    Transfer: Adrien Rabiot agrees Juventus move

    Juventus are set to complete the signing of Adrien Rabiot after agreeing personal terms with the midfielder, according to Sky in Italy.

    The 24-year-old will join on a free transfer when his Paris Saint-Germain contract runs out on June 30 and is expected to sign a four-year deal at the Allianz Stadium.

    Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici flew to Paris on Friday to finalise the move after days of talks between the two parties.

    It will be the Italian champions’ second free transfer of the window after the signing of Aaron Ramsey from Arsenal.

    Rabiot has not played a game for Paris Saint-Germain since December after refusing to sign a new contract and being subsequently dropped from the squad.

    The 23-year-old’s agent Veronique Rabiot, who is also his mother, revealed in December that he had made the “firm and definitive” decision to leave the club, but she remained tight-lipped when asked about the chances of his son moving to Juventus.

    “In football, we’re all very superstitious, so it’s better to keep quiet until any deal is done,” she told Rtl.fr on Thursday.

    “I like Italy very much, staying here is wonderful, you rest and you recover,” the French midfielder said earlier this month.

    “A demanding season awaits me. I have spoken with Juventus, but we can’t say anything.”

    Rabiot, a product of Paris Saint-Germain’s academy, won five Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, and five League Cups during his time at the Parc des Princes.

  • Neymar’s three-game European ban upheld

    Neymar’s three-game European ban upheld

    Neymar’s three-match European ban has been upheld after Uefa rejected an appeal by his club Paris St-Germain.

    The PSG forward, 27, was charged with insulting match officials after their Champions League exit at home to Manchester United on 6 March.

    Neymar described as “a disgrace” the award of a decisive 94th-minute United penalty in their last-16 second leg match.

    He also wrote in an Instagram post that the penalty “doesn’t exist”.

    Neymar will now miss half of next season’s Champions League group stage.

    The forward was injured with a broken metatarsal and missed both legs of the European knockout tie – which United won as a result of the penalty converted by Marcus Rashford.

    Referee Damir Skomina reviewed footage of a Diogo Dalot shot striking the hand of PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe before awarding the visitors the injury-time spot-kick, having initially given a corner.

    The penalty ensured a 3-1 win in Paris for United, who went through to the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals after the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate.

    Neymar wrote: “It’s a disgrace. Four guys who know nothing about football watch a slow-motion replay in front of the television.

    “What can he do with his hand while his back is turned?”

    BBC

  • Tax dispute: Brazil authorities seizes Neymar’s mansions, other properties

    Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Neymar’s off-pitch woes continue to mount, as Brazilian tax authorities put a freeze on dozens of his mansions and other properties amid a long-running tax dispute.

    A local Brazilian media outlet, Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, reported on Monday that Brazilian authorities blocked 36 properties in Brazil as they seek 69 million reais (£14 million) in back taxes.

    They claim that amount is due in connection with Neymar’s 2013 transfer from Santos to FC Barcelona.

    The action means Neymar can use the properties but not sell them.

    Folha cited an unspecified court ruling as approving the action by Brazil tax authorities.

    It was not immediately possible to locate the ruling.

    Brazil’s tax agency did not respond to a request for comment.

    Also, a spokeswoman for Neymar did not have any comment.

    In addition to his tax fight, Neymar in recent weeks has been accused of rape, an allegation that Brazilian police are investigating.

    A Brazilian woman accused the 27-year-old Neymar of raping her at a Paris hotel last month.

    He denies the allegation and says the relationship was consensual.

    On Sunday, a report in L’Equipe said PSG were prepared to sell Neymar, as chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi warned that irresponsible behaviour from players won’t be tolerated anymore.

  • Brazil star Neymar denies rape accusation

    Brazil star Neymar denies rape accusation

    Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has denied he raped a woman he met on Instagram and insisted he is the victim of attempted blackmail.

    Reuters and Associated Press say they have seen a document filed in Sao Paulo alleging the footballer drunkenly assaulted his accuser at a hotel in Paris, where he plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

    The former Barcelona player, who signed for PSG for a world record £198m, is alleged to have met the woman after they exchanged messages on the social media site.

    His assistant is said to have sent the woman plane tickets on 15 May and the pair checked in to a hotel.

    According to the claims in the police report, after Neymar and the woman “caressed” the footballer became “aggressive”, then used “violence” and “practised sexual intercourse against the will of the victim”.

    The player posted a seven-minute video on Instagram on Sunday in which he denied the accusation and insisted it was “a set-up”.

    “Anyone who knows me, knows of my behaviour, knows that I would never do something like that,” he said.

    The video included intimate images and WhatsApp messages he says he exchanged with the accuser in a friendly way days later.

    “There was a relationship between a man and a woman between four walls,” he said, adding that “the next day nothing happened”.

    “I hope investigators read the messages and see what happened,” said the striker.

    A statement issued by Neymar’s management on his website said the 27-year-old forward completely repudiated the allegations and that he was a victim of blackmail.

    “Although he was surprised by the news, the facts were already known to the player and his staff, considering that a few days ago he was the victim of an attempted extortion, practised by a lawyer from Sao Paulo who said he represented the interests of the alleged victim,” it said.

    “The player’s lawyers were immediately notified and have since taken all appropriate steps.

    “We completely repudiate the unjust accusations and, above all, the exposure in the press of an extremely negative situation.

    “All evidence of attempted extortion and non-rape will be submitted to the police authorities in a timely manner.”

    The woman told police about the incident when she returned home to Brazil, saying she did not report it in Paris because she was “emotionally shaken and afraid to register the facts in another country”.

    Earlier, Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Sr, said his son had consensual sexual relations with the accuser and was blackmailed by her lawyer after they broke up.

    He said his son was innocent, but said the family were going through a “tough” time.

    PSG have not commented on the allegation, nor has the hotel where it is said to have taken place.

    Neymar is currently in Brazil, training with the national team ahead of the Copa America tournament this month.

     

  • I’m not joining Real Madrid , French star insists

    World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe on Sunday dismissed rumours linking him to joining Spanish giants Real Madrid, insisting he will remain with Paris Saint-German.

    The rising superstar, who helped PSG to winning the sixth Ligue I title with an hat-trick against Monaco on Sunday, declared he is staying put in the Paris-based club.

    Speaking to Canal+ after the match, Mbappe said he is staying in France and won’t me making the move to Real Madrid:

    According to him “I’m staying at PSG. I’m fully involved in PSG’s project.

    “I’m happy for Real Madrid that [Zinedine Zidane] has come back. I’ll watch their games as an admirer.”

    Real Madrid has been linked with some big signings this summer since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and the return of Zidane as head coach.

    The club is going through a trophy-less campaign, which is a huge drop off from winning the Champions League the last three seasons.

    Zidane is Real’s third coach this season after the failed stints of Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari.

    With the team struggling, and some players like Gareth Bale appearing to be on the way out, Real Madrid has been linked with some of the world’s top talent, with Eden Hazard of Chelsea reportedly set to join.

    Each summer, Real Madrid usually splashes the cash and it’s going to need to if it wants to contend. It just looks like that for now, Mbappe is off limits.

  • Ander Herrera set to leave Man Utd

    Ander Herrera set to leave Man Utd

    Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera is expected to leave the Premier League club at the end of the season.

    The midfielder’s contract ends this summer and, despite talks with United, it is understood he has told Paris St-Germain he will join them.

    Barring a late intervention, it means the 29-year-old Spaniard, United’s player of the year in 2017, will leave after five years at the club.

    United paid Athletic Bilbao £29m for Herrera in 2014.

    His contract has not been upgraded since then, meaning Herrera is behind many comparable players in United’s pay scale.

    In an interview with Diario ABC at the weekend, Herrera admitted: “As it is right now, Manchester and I are not thinking alike.”

    He has made 187 United appearances, scoring 20 goals. He was part of the starting line-up for both the Carabao Cup final and Europa League successes under Jose Mourinho in 2017.