Lewis Hamilton acting on “fundamental” Ferrari advice from F1 boss ahead of new era

by | Dec 23, 2024 | Blog

Lewis Hamilton is preparing for life at Ferrari and F1 president Stefano Domenicali was keen to offer suggestions to the seven-time world champion if he wants to fit in with the Italian team

Lewis Hamilton is preparing for life at Ferrari and F1 president Stefano Domenicali was keen to offer suggestions to the seven-time world champion if he wants to fit in with the Italian team Lewis Hamilton is preparing for life at Ferrari and F1 president Stefano Domenicali was keen to offer suggestions to the seven-time world champion if he wants to fit in with the Italian team

Lewis Hamilton has been told by ex-Ferrari boss and current F1 president Stefano Domenicali that he needs to learn Italian if he wants to be fully integrated at the Italian team.

The Brit has opted to take the advice and the former Mercedes man is currently learning a new language as he prepares for his two-year deal in Maranello. Hamilton signed with Ferrari nearly 12 months ago and will finally make the move to the illustrious outfit.

Ferrari are known for being incredibly patriotic and continue to be based out of Italy, unlike many of their rivals who have chosen to locate themselves in England, the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull.

Many of their leading lights and engineers are all Italian and Hamilton will need to quickly pick up the language if he is to easily communicate, Domenicali is adamant that he will need to speak their native tongue.

He told Autoracer : “He will bring a lot of interest. He is learning to speak Italian and to understand how to integrate into our culture. I told him, it is fundamental for him to be able to do this as well. In Ferrari he will find a different environment than before.”

Charles Leclerc, who has been with the team since 2019, is fluent in Italian and often speaks it over team radio. Sebastian Vettel, another former Scuderia driver, was capable of speaking Italian. Hamilton will have to quickly strike up a relationship with Leclerc if they are to have harmony in the team.

Domenicali said: “Charles will obviously have to accept that having someone like Lewis in the house will not be an easy partner. At the same time Lewis will definitely have the ability to transmit this positivity of his in trying to achieve his record.

“He has it as clear as if it were on the centre bar of the Halo. They love each other very much and I hope they will love each other again at the end of the year.”

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who was once in charge at Ferrari, urged Lewis Hamilton to buy into the Ferrari culture
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Image:

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Leclerc is yet to mount a title challenge despite often being near the front of the field. He’s won eight races whilst with the Italian team but, for the second time, will have to deal with a world champion team-mate.

He said: “I will be super curious to see what he has done right for all his career to have had all the success that he’s had. He has very little weaknesses – well actually, I don’t know any weaknesses of Lewis. He’s a super strong driver, always there, super fast, super consistent. It will be super interesting for me to learn from Lewis, as much as showing what I am capable of in the same car as Lewis. These two things motivate me a lot.”

Hamilton meanwhile is still looking to land the eighth world championship of his career which would set him out alone as the sport’s most successful driver. Currently he’s tied with Michael Schumacher on seven and hasn’t been the champion since 2020.

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Source: No pressure on Amorim to pick Rashford

by | Dec 24, 2024 | Blog

Source: No pressure on Amorim to pick Rashford

Ruben Amorim is under no pressure from Manchester United bosses to pick Marcus Rashford, a source has told ESPN.

Ruben Amorim is under no pressure from Manchester United bosses to pick Marcus Rashford, a source has told ESPN. Ruben Amorim is under no pressure from Manchester United bosses to pick Marcus Rashford, a source has told ESPN.

play

Laurens: Amorim’s start at Man United isn’t good enough (1:26)Gab & Juls react to Man United’s loss to Bournemouth and their run of form so far under Ruben Amorim. (1:26)

Ruben Amorim is under no pressure from Manchester United bosses to pick Marcus Rashford, a source has told ESPN, with the Portuguese head coach being allowed to handle the situation with the England forward without outside intervention.

Rashford has been dropped from the squad for the last three games, including the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday. Speaking during his exile, the 27-year-old has said he is “ready for a new challenge.”

His continued absence could harm United’s negotiating position ahead of a possible move when the January transfer window opens. But a source has told ESPN that Amorim will be left to decide when to reintegrate Rashford with no pressure from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe or technical director Jason Wilcox to bring him back in from the cold.

Wilcox is heading up United’s recruitment following Dan Ashworth’s exit as sporting director just five months after arriving from Newcastle United.

Rashford is one of United’s top earners on more than £325,000-per-week. He’s under contract until 2028 — a potential stumbling block for any interested club looking for a cut-price deal.

A source told ESPN that Rashford has been told there is no guarantee that a January transfer will materialise. United are willing to listen to realistic offers.

Despite a downturn in form which has contributed to Rashford losing his place in the England squad, he remains United’s biggest star and they will not consider offers which are not viewed as financially viable.

Rashford said he wanted a “new challenge” just two days after being axed from Amorim’s squad for the 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. It is unclear whether he has submitted a formal transfer request.

Speaking about Rashford’s decision to comment publicly on a potential move away from Old Trafford, Amorim told Sky Sports on Monday: “It is a hard situation. I understand that these players have a lot of people around them, making choices that are not the first idea from the player.

“I am always here to help Marcus. I have to do what I have to do. They chose to do the interview, as it is not just Marcus. I understand that.

“As a coach I focus on performance and the way you train. The rest, it is better for me and the club to deal with that when the time comes. At the moment I focus on improving Marcus and we need a talented guy like Marcus. I forget the interview now and see what I see on the pitch.”

Rashford has scored seven goals in 24 appearances in all competitions so far this season. He signed a lucrative long-term contract in July 2023 but has scored only 15 goals in 67 games since.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Ruben Amorim is under no pressure from Manchester United bosses to pick Marcus Rashford, a source has told ESPN.

Source: No pressure on Amorim to pick Rashford

by | Dec 24, 2024 | Blog

Source: No pressure on Amorim to pick Rashford

Ruben Amorim is under no pressure from Manchester United bosses to pick Marcus Rashford, a source has told ESPN.

play

Laurens: Amorim’s start at Man United isn’t good enough (1:26)Gab & Juls react to Man United’s loss to Bournemouth and their run of form so far under Ruben Amorim. (1:26)

Wilcox is heading up United’s recruitment following Dan Ashworth’s exit as sporting director just five months after arriving from Newcastle United.

Rashford is one of United’s top earners on more than £325,000-per-week. He’s under contract until 2028 — a potential stumbling block for any interested club looking for a cut-price deal.

A source told ESPN that Rashford has been told there is no guarantee that a January transfer will materialise. United are willing to listen to realistic offers.

“I am always here to help Marcus. I have to do what I have to do. They chose to do the interview, as it is not just Marcus. I understand that.

Rashford has scored seven goals in 24 appearances in all competitions so far this season. He signed a lucrative long-term contract in July 2023 but has scored only 15 goals in 67 games since.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Ruben Amorim is under no pressure from Manchester United bosses to pick Marcus Rashford, a source has told ESPN.

Inzaghi remains calm amid Lautaro’s goal drought

by | Dec 24, 2024 | Blog

Inzaghi remains calm amid Lautaro’s goal drought

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi praised his team’s 2-0 victory over Como on Monday, while expressing unwavering confidence in captain Lautaro Martínez despite his recent goal drought.

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi praised his team’s 2-0 victory over Como on Monday, while expressing unwavering confidence in captain Lautaro Martínez despite his recent goal drought. Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi praised his team’s 2-0 victory over Como on Monday, while expressing unwavering confidence in captain Lautaro Martínez despite his recent goal drought.

Dec 23, 2024, 11:02 PM ET

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi hailed his side’s 2-0 Serie A home win over Como on Monday and said he was not worried about hard-working captain Lautaro Martínez‘s goal drought.

Martinez has struggled to reach the form that made him league’s goal leader last season and has failed to score in over a month since securing a 1-0 win over Venezia in early November.

Yet Inzaghi remains confident in his forward, saying the Argentine is playing a key role in his side’s packed schedule.

“I was a striker, I know these moments happen,” he said. “Lautaro was one of the outstanding performers against Lazio.

“The forwards are working hard, we ask a lot of them and are trying to rest them as much as possible in the circumstances.

“I told Lautaro to relax, because he has always scored goals and always will, luck will turn and he should only be worried if he doesn’t get scoring opportunities.”

Despite the defending champions lacking the firepower from last week’s 6-0 thrashing of Lazio, Inzaghi stressed his team were up to the challenge posed by battling Como.

“Clearly we are maintaining a very high level. All teams are running ahead, there are opponents like Como who come to play great games, but we played an important game as a mature and aware team,” the Italian told reporters.

“I feared this match a lot, we had some weaknesses in the back line. We played a game of concentration, in the first half we weren’t as sharp as usual. Then in the second half we raised the intensity and struck at the right moments.”

Goals from Carlos Augusto and Marcus Thuram earned Inter the victory that keeps them third with 37 points and a game in hand on leaders Atalanta, who sit on 40 points.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi praised his team’s 2-0 victory over Como on Monday, while expressing unwavering confidence in captain Lautaro Martínez despite his recent goal drought.

FIFPRO rejects transfer changes after Diarra ruling

by | Dec 24, 2024 | Blog

FIFPRO rejects transfer changes after Diarra ruling

The world soccer players’ union, FIFPRO, disagreed with FIFA’s interim amendments to transfer rules, implemented following a European Court of Justice ruling against some existing regulations.

The world soccer players’ union, FIFPRO, disagreed with FIFA’s interim amendments to transfer rules, implemented following a European Court of Justice ruling against some existing regulations. The world soccer players’ union, FIFPRO, disagreed with FIFA’s interim amendments to transfer rules, implemented following a European Court of Justice ruling against some existing regulations.

Dec 23, 2024, 05:05 PM ET

ZURICH — The world soccer players’ union disagreed with FIFA’s temporary changes to transfer rules on Monday following the landmark Lassana Diarra judgement.

Former France international Diarra challenged FIFA ‘s rules due to a dispute with a club dating to 2014, and the European Court of Justice ruled in October that some rules were contrary to European Union law because they restricted freedom of movement and were anti-competitive.

FIFA then opened a “global dialogue” and on Monday published interim amendments which take effect in time for the January transfer window. They “strike a balanced compromise,” FIFA said in a statement.

But global players’ union FIFPRO was against the changes, and accused FIFA of failing to reach consensus.

“Following Lassana Diarra’s successful challenge against the legality of Article 17 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, FIFPRO informed FIFA of the conditions under which it could negotiate the amendments to the regulations to reflect the ruling,” a union statement said.

“Until now, we have been unable to reach a consensus. We do not agree with the temporary measures announced by FIFA which have been introduced without a proper collective bargaining process.

“The measures do not provide legal certainty to professional footballers and do not reflect the judgement by the European Court of Justice.”

FIFA said there was “a clear understanding” between all parties that the interim measures have no impact on ongoing discussions over long-term amendments to the rules, and introduced interim changes to offer stability and certainty for the upcoming transfer window.

“FIFA looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with key stakeholders as part of the global dialogue launched in October with the objective of developing a robust, transparent, non-discriminatory, objective and proportionate regulatory framework that will apply uniformly to professional football at a global level,” it said in a statement.

FIFA legal director Emilio Garcia Silvero posted on X on Monday saying the next goal was to have “a permanent framework that fully aligns with the ECJ’s views & has the support of all parties before July 2025.”

Diarra took his case to the ECJ after he sued FIFA for damages in the Belgian courts. Diarra cited FIFA rules for the collapse of a move to Belgian club Charleroi after the termination of his contract with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014.