Ahotor Sports Daily Update – Monday Edition 6th September 2021

                                                             HEADLINES
‘Italy unbeaten in record 36 games’ 
Brazil vs Argentina suspended after health officials storm pitch
Bukayo Saka says support from England fans ‘means everything’ 
Ronaldo’s Man United move ‘bad news’ for Van de Beek, says agent
McKennie out of USMNT squad for team policy violation 
Jadon Sancho leaves England duty with injury
Man United close to appointing Ed Woodward replacement
Eden Hazard insists he’s happy at Real Madrid
Solskjaer tells current Man Utd side they’re better than 1999 treble-winners
Salah demands £500,000 a week contract to stay at Liverpool
Man City set to offer Phil Foden bumper new contract
Tottenham stars unhappy with Fabio Paratici’s touchline behaviour
Lukaku rejects Cristiano Ronaldo comparisons
Rabiot plays down Mbappe and Pogba family feud reports
FIFA postpones Guinea vs Morocco World Cup qualifier due to attempted coup

                                                                       
                                        WHAT THE PAPERS SAY   

  Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Argentina has been suspended after the Brazilian health authorities and police entered the field of play to detain four Argentinian players who failed to quarantine after entering the Country. 
In utterly surreal scenes, the game was halted after ten minutes following the incident. Prior to kick off Premier League quartet Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso and Emiliano Buendia were investigated by the Brazilian authorities for a breach of coronavirus regulations.
It was alleged that they failed to declare that they had been in England prior to arriving in Brazil. Currently, anyone doing this is required to quarantine for 14 days but the players did not – for obvious reasons.
                             *SPANISH PAPERS*

Barcelona defender Sergino Dest was forced out of the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup qualifying clash with Canada with an apparent injury.
Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero is stepping up his recovery from injury as he edges closer to a return to action.
Eden Hazard has insisted that he is ‘happy’ at Real Madrid amid rumours swirling that the wide midfielder is unsettled at the club.
Karim Benzema: “I wanted Mbappé to come to Real Madrid this summer, but anyway, sooner or later he’s coming to Madrid.”
Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui says Chelsea failed in their pursuit of Jules Kounde because they failed to meet their valuation of the France defender.
Toni Kroos says he is still in pain and does not know when he will return to action as the Real Madrid midfielder continues his recovery from a groin injury.
Benzema on Real Madrid’s attempts to sign Kylian Mbappé this summer: “It’s no secret anymore that Real want him. We spoke over the summer but not about that specifically, we just kept in touch.”
Karim Benzema discusses France’s recent form: “We need to be setting the tempo. We have the technical players for it, so it’s just a question of not falling into the opposing team’s rhythm.”
Hansi Flick: “It’s important to deliver when it matters. The atmosphere was fantastic today. I’m happy that we were able to impress the fans and have them on our side. That’s how it should be.” 
Hansi Flick says he’s confident that Kai Havertz and Robin Gosens will return for the third World Cup qualifier against Iceland on Wednesday. All 25 players are set to travel to Reykjavík. 
Bayern Munich confirm that Marcel Sabitzer will remain in Munich to continue his recovery and will not travel to the Austrian national team for the rest of the international break. 
Italy made history last night setting the all-time record for 36 international games unbeaten, although there is some debate in Brazil about whether this is a new best or merely equalling it. 
Roberto Mancini was irritated with his Italy side after a 0-0 draw in Switzerland, their second consecutive stalemate. ‘We cannot fail to win with that many scoring opportunities.’  Switzerland coach Murat Yakin praised his men for ‘pushing beyond their limits’ in the 0-0 draw with Italy and hopes this will boost their confidence. 
The Italian media have heavily criticised Azzurri and Chelsea star Jorginho, claiming that it was ‘not a Ballon D’or performance’ from him against Switzerland.
Jorginho’s agent confirms Juventus had tried to sign him under Maurizio Sarri, while it is the Chelsea midfielder’s ‘dream’ to return to Italy, ‘hopefully after winning the World Cup.’
Giorgio Chiellini assures the 0-0 draw with Switzerland was ‘a big step forward’ from the Bulgaria performance and ‘probably better’ than when Italy beat the same team 3-0 at UEFA EURO 2020. 
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala reportedly asks to be paid as much as centre-back Matthijs de Ligt to renew with the Bianconeri.
Ajax director Marc Overmars confirms goalkeeper Andre Onana has refused to sign a new contract, as it has been said for months he’ll join Inter as a free agent.
Roberto Mancini has lamented the ‘disappointing’ and dramatic career downward spiral of Mario Balotelli after his former player punched a team-mate. ‘I worked with Balotelli when he was young and did really well. “Clearly, it was disappointing for all of us who knew him as a person and a player that in the last five or six years he was unable to do what he was capable of doing.”

                                   *MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS*
Jadon Sancho has left England duty and returned to Manchester United after suffering a knock in training.
Phil Foden has been offered a new six-year contract at Manchester City, with the club prepared to almost quadruple his current salary to keep him at the Etihad
Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen has tested positive for the coronavirus and will not travel for the U.S. men’s national team’s upcoming World Cup qualifier in Honduras, U.S. Soccer 
                                     *BRITISH MIRROR*Everton star James Rodriguez could still be on his way out of Goodison Park this summer, as Turkish outfit Istanbul Basaksehir are lining up a loan bid for the
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has been told by club president Joan Laporta to make more use of Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig and France defender Samuel Umtiti. 
                  *LIVERPOOL ECHO*Mohamed Salah has demanded £500,000-a-week to become the last Liverpool star to commit his long-term future to the club. The 29-year-old is already one of the highest earners at Anfield and a new deal would make him the best paid player in the club’s history, eclipsing Vigil Van Dijk’s new £220,000-a-week contract.
                       *BRITISH MAIL*Paris St-Germain are hopeful France striker Kylian Mbappe will commit to a new contract despite the 22-year-old’s desire to join Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer.
Tottenham are prepared to use wantaway France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele as a makeweight in a swap deal for AC Milan’s Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie. 
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is keen for the club to sign Germany winger Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich. 
                 *LONDON FOOTBALL*Aaron Ramsdale ‘has told his friends that he will replace Bernd Leno in goal for Arsenal’s next game against Norwich’ after 5-0 hammering at Manchester City.
Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui says the La Liga club did not deliberately block French defender Jules Kounde from moving to Chelsea this summer, but decided it was better for him to stay after evaluating the offers made. 
Tottenham Hotspur players are unhappy with the manner in which Fabio Paratici has conducted himself at the club so far, due to his constant presence on the touchline.
Arsenal’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny continues to be linked with a move to Besiktas, but the 29-year-old’s wage demands are said to have seen a deal collapsed