HEADLINES
‘Ronaldo is the greatest player of all time’ – Neville Demba Ba: Former Chelsea striker retires from footballBarcelona are not a lot worse off without Messi, says NagelsmannLiverpool’s Salah the best Arab footballer in history – MidoEverton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffers broken toeGoretzka agrees new long-term contract with Bayern MunichChelsea ready to open talks with Mount over new contract Doucoure’s brace of assists propels Iwobi’s Everton past BurnleyNewcastle United and Besiktas lead tributes to Demba BaThomas Tuchel gives Kante & Pulisic injury updatesMan United have no excuses in Champions League, warns SolskjærBarcelona striker Braithwaite to have knee surgery FIFA 22: Messi confirmed as highest rated player Real Madrid have the money to sign Haaland & Mbappe – Tebas
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
SPANISH PAPERS
Real Madrid star David Alaba has returned to their matchday squad for their crunch midweek trip away to Inter Milan.Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos, Marcelo and Ferland Mendy have been left out of Real Madrid’s squad list to face Inter on Wednesday.
Martin Braithwaite has a femoropatelar injury to his left knee, which has not responded to conservative treatment. The Danish player will undergo surgery in the coming days.
GERMAN PAPERS
Julian Nagelsmann on Barcelona: “They’ve no longer got someone as extravagant as Messi, but they have other players who can make a difference.” Corentin Tolisso doesn’t travel with the Bayern Munich squad for their Champions League game vs Barcelona – he trained individually yesterday.Kicker announced that Bayern Munich and Leon Goretzka have reached an agreement on a contract extension until 2026.
ITALIAN PAPERS
Federico Chiesa and Federico Bernardeschi have been left out of Juventus’ squad list for their Champions League opener against Malmoe. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed Wojciech Szczesny and Matthijs de Ligt will play against MalmöFF in the Champions League and stressed the Bianconeri ‘have to win’ in Sweden. Former Juventus attacker Alessandro Del Piero believes Chelsea are favourites to win the Champions League, spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the Allianz Stadium and Paulo Dybala’s ‘enormous potential’. AC Milan have announced the club has sent a ‘complaint to the Federal Prosecutor’ after Tiemoue Bakayoko was allegedly racially abused by Lazio fans.
BRITISH EXPRESS
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS
Bruno Fernandes is close to agreeing a new deal at Manchester United worth a whopping £200,000 a week. The Manchester United team landed in Switzerland yesternight ahead of their Champions League clash with young boys.Cristiano Ronaldo is “the greatest player of all time” according to former Manchester United stalwart Gary Neville, with the ex-right-back giving his former Old Trafford colleague the edge over rival Lionel Messi. Manchester United made enquiries about Barcelona and Spain winger Ansu Fati through Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes.
LONDON EVENING STANDARD
The 2020/21 Club World Cup could be held in South Africa in the month of December.Tottenham are willing to sell England midfielder Harry Winks this summer but only if clubs paid £40m for the 25-year-old.
BRITISH MIRROR
It would take a bid of 100m euros or more for Borussia Dortmund to let Jude Bellingham go, with both Manchester City and Liverpool said to be interested in the England international. Former Bayern Munich Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says no club in the Bundesliga will be able to afford Borussia Dortmund and Norway striker Erling Haaland because of the high salary the 21-year-old could command.Arsenal are one of a number of Premier League clubs who have Sweden striker Alexander Isak as a transfer target, despite Real Sociedad player recently agreeing a new five-year deal with the Spanish side. Tottenham have ‘put an offer on the table’ for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie although it is not clear whether Spurs will make a move in January or wait to sign the Ivorian on a free transfer next summer.
LIVERPOOL ECHO
Harvey Elliott will face six weeks rehabilitation and physiotherapy without putting weight on the joint, six weeks of some weight bearing activities, including hydrotherapy, and three months light training before he can return, hopefully in March.
Liverpool are working to tie Sadio Mane down to a new long-term contract at Anfield Stadium.
BRITISH MAIL
Leicester City have taken an interest in Manchester United 28-year-old England midfielder Jesse Lingard.Chelsea could make a move for two Inter Milan defenders, Alessandro Bastoni and Milan Skriniar linked with the European Champions. France midfielder Paul Pogba who has been heavily linked with Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid, is leaning towards extending his stay at Manchester United after Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford. Manchester United’s former England Under-21 defender Axel Tuanzebe wants to make his loan spell at Aston Villa a permanent move.
LONDON FOOTBALL
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that both N’Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic will miss Chelsea’s Champions League opener against Zenit Saint Petersburg.Former Chelsea star Demba Ba announces his retirement from professional football. The Chelsea medical team has stated that N’Golo Kante is set to return back to the pitch again. 78% assurance for him to feature for Chelsea against Tottenham on Sunday. Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta says he has no ‘concerns’ over his contract situation at Stamford Bridge with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.Chelsea are ready to reward Mason Mount with a lucrative new contract. He could double his wages to around £150,000-a-week.Bayern Munich are working on signing Germany striker Timo Werner from Chelsea in January.
