HEADLINES
Louis van Gaal says Qatar hosting World Cup is ‘ridiculous’
Richarlison ready to leave Everton at end of season
Kessié to join Barcelona from Milan this summer on free transfer
UEFA to impose new spending regulations to replace FFP
Manchester & Liverpool mayors call for FA Cup semi final to be switched from Wembley
Pogba reveals World Cup medal among items stolen in home burglary
Luka Jovic linked with summer transfer to Arsenal or Everton
UK and Republic of Ireland in line to host Euro 2028 after no one else bids
FIFA signs cryptocurrency sponsorship deal for Qatar 2022
Ghana squad generates mixed fan reactions
England call up is my mum’s dream – Mitchell
SPANISH PAPERS
According to Javier Miguel, Xavi is planning on resting Ronald Araujo in their next match against Sevilla.The technical staff are worried about him picking up an injury after international duty with Uruguay.
Real Madrid & Barcelona are closing in on an Agreement for a pre-season ‘El Clasico’ in Allegian Stadium, Las Vegas.
Benzema was in Paris yesterday undergoing cupping therapy. This morning as soon as he landed he went straight to Valdebebas to recover from injury.
Carlo Ancelotti earns €910,000 gross monthly at Real Madrid, according to L’Équipe.
Ronald Araújo wants to renew for Barcelona, and that was what he told Xavi and the dressing room.
Barcelona are preparing a new contract renewal offer for Ousmane Dembélé, who has a verbal agreement in place with PSG.
Raphinha would be Barcelona’s priority if Ousmane Dembélé leaves the club. Leeds want at least €40M for the Brazilian.
Franck Kessié has signed as a new Barcelona player until June 2026, done deal and here-we-go! He joins as free agent. Kessié will receive €6.5M net salary plus add-ons. Medical already completed.
Ansu Fati, who is in Madrid undergoing treatment, is expected to return to Barcelona in a few days. He will undergo a medical examination on his return.
Pedri will wear the number 10 with Spain for the friendlies against Albania and Iceland.
Real Madrid were surprised by Barcelona’s celebration after winning El Clásico. They consider them too excessive because Madrid have a 12-point advantage over Barça in LaLiga.
UEFA’s FFP measures are dead. The new rule removes the salary limit, and allows 70% of the team’s spending ratio to be used on salaries. The most benefited teams are state-owned clubs like PSG or Manchester City, with seemingly unlimited money.
Wales expect captain Gareth Bale to face Austria despite missing El Clasico because he was feeling unwell.
Real Madrid prioritizes departures of Eden Hazard & Gareth Bale — two of the highest wage earners at the club.
FRENCH PAPERS
N’Golo Kanté has left the French camp yesterday for personal reasons – he will return if possible.
Paris Saint-Germain would have to pay around €20 million in compensation if Mauricio Pochettino and his staff were sacked.
Paulo Dybala has enquired with his entourage over the possibility of joining PSG.
Blaise Matuidi launches tech investment fund involving 50 other athletes, including former teammates N’Golo Kanté and Olivier Giroud.
Mauricio Pochettino’s future is likely to be decided after the international break.
Paris Saint-Germain would have to pay around €20 million in compensation if Mauricio Pochettino and his staff were sacked.
Top 5 earners in the Premier League, per L’Équipe (gross/month):
1 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United) – €2.63m
2 | Kevin de Bruyne (Man City) – €2.06m
3 | David de Gea (Man United) – €1.93m
4 | Jadon Sancho (Man United) – €1.85m
5 | Raphaël Varane (Man United) – €1.62m
Top 5 earners in LaLiga, per L’Équipe (gross/month):
1 | Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) – €2.33m
2 | Gareth Bale & Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) – €2.27m
4 | Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) – €1.91m
5 | David Alaba (Real Madrid) & Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) – €1.88m
Top 4 highest paid managers in Europe’s top 5 leagues (gross/month), per L’Équipe:
1 | Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid) – €3.33m
2 | Pep Guardiola (Man City) – €1.89m
3 | Antonio Conte (Tottenham) – €1.49m
3 | Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool) – €1.49m
Ligue 1’s highest gross monthly earners, according to L’Éq:
1 | Neymar – €4m
2 | Lionel Messi – €3.375m
3 | Kylian Mbappé – €2.2m
4 | Marquinhos, Marco Verratti – €1.2m-15 | Wissam Ben Yedder – €650k
18 | Cesc Fabregas – €600k
GERMAN PAPERS
The FIFA World Cup draw (taking place on 1 April) will be based on the
FIFA World Ranking of 31st March.
Real Madrid are targeting Bayern Munich defender, Dayot Upamecano, ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
Joshua Kimmich got vaccinated against Covid-19 after his recovered status ended in February.
ITALIAN PAPERS
According to multiple reports in Italy, Inter and Atletico Madrid are in pole position to sign Paulo Dybala in the summer, but Arsenal have opened preliminary talks with the player’s entourage.
Former Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi is surprised to see Paulo Dybala leave the Allianz Stadium and believes that ‘it won’t be easy’ to replace him.
According to multiple reports in Italy, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is Juventus‘ dream signing to replace Paulo Dybala in 2022-23.
Andre Onana was involved in a horrific car accident in Cameroon, which luckily didn’t have any consequence for the new Inter goalkeeper.
Tottenham Hotspur could purchase Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus early this summer for €30m, according to The Guardian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, as well as the mandatory clause for €35m in 2023
It is now confirmed Italy and Argentina will play at Wembley Stadium on June 1, as winners of the European Championship and Copa America
Marco Verratti urges #Italy to rediscover the enthusiasm they felt at UEFA EURO 2020 for the World Cup play-off with North Macedonia
Roma have received an invitation from Barcelona to participate in the Joan Gamper Trophy in August.
The FIGC confirmed two members of the Italy staff have tested positive for COVID-19 and more checks are being performed after rumours five players had caught the Coronavirus ahead of the World Cup play-offs
The dates and times have been confirmed for the second legs of the Coppa Italia semi-finals. Inter Milan and AC Milan will face off at San Siro on Tuesday April 19. Juventus will host Fiorentina at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin on Wednesday April 20.
BRITISH PRESS
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS
Erik ten Hag has been interviewed for the Manchester United job as the club’s search for a new permanent manager gathers momentum. It is understood that Ten Hag spoke with United yesterday.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed his World Cup winner’s medal was among the items stolen during a recent burglary at his home.
Ederson pulls OUT of Brazil squad for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia due to illness, with Manchester City goalkeeper replaced by Atletico Mineiro’s Everson.
LONDON EVENING STANDARD
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool mayor Steve Rotherham have called for the FA Cup semi-final clash between Manchester City and Liverpool to be moved to a ‘more accessible stadium instead of Wembley.’
Gabriel Martinelli is convinced Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will win ‘lots of titles’ during his managerial career and insists the Gunners ‘need’ to seal a return to the Champions League.
DAILY MIRROR
Mino Raiola will receive around €50m in any transfer involving Erling Haaland this summer.
Belgium winger Eden Hazard is confused and frustrated at Real Madrid, who intend to offload the 31-year-old this summer.
Serbia striker Luka Jovic is not part of Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti’s plans and will also leave the Spanish club in the summer.
DAILY MAIL
West Ham will demand a record transfer fee of £150million as they prepare to sell England midfielder Declan Rice this summer.
Richarlison is looking to leave Everton at the end of the current season to boost his chances of making Brazil’s World Cup squad.
Mike Dean is likely to continue as a full-time VAR official when he retires from referring this summer.
LIVERPOOL ECHO
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold stepping up his recovery in Dubai as he looks to return to fitness following his hamstring injury.
Scotland trained yesterday without Andy Robertson, who is unlikely to be fit for Thursday’s friendly against Poland.
FOOTBALL LONDON
A bid from the Saudi Media Group is not considered to be among the frontrunners for Chelsea.The Ricketts family are flying to London as part of their bid to buy Chelsea. It remains unknown if they will be included on Raine’s shortlist, but they are coming to meet key stakeholders including the CST and CPO.
The current players missing from England training yesterday but there are no real concerns as to why;
Declan Rice
Emile Smith Rowe
Sam Johnstone
Raheem Sterling
