Elanga strikes for Forest as limp Spurs lose again

Ronaldo: Vinícius deserved Ballon d’Or over Rodri

by | Dec 28, 2024 | Blog

Ronaldo: Vinícius deserved Ballon d’Or over Rodri

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he believes Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was unfairly snubbed for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award.

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he believes Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was unfairly snubbed for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award. Cristiano Ronaldo has said he believes Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was unfairly snubbed for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award.

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Are Atlético Madrid the LaLiga title favourites? (1:44)Gab and Juls discuss the current LaLiga title race between Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona. (1:44)

Dec 27, 2024, 01:05 PM ET

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he believes Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was unfairly snubbed for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award.

Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, Ronaldo said Vinícius deserved the prize over Manchester City‘s Rodri. Vinícius and his Madrid teammates boycotted the ceremony in Paris hosted by France Football magazine.

“In my opinion, he [Vinícius] deserved to win the golden ball [Ballon d’Or award],” Ronaldo said. “It was unfair in my opinion. I say here in front of everybody. They give it to Rodri, he deserved it too, but they should have given it to Vinícius because he won the Champions League and scored in the final.”

Vinícius was later awarded FIFA’s The Best men’s player award earlier this month and won Globe Soccer’s best men’s prize on Friday, while Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati won the women’s player of the year award, her latest such honour.

Ronaldo, who has won five Ballon d’Ors but was not shortlisted for this year’s prize, criticised France Football magazine.

“You know these galas, they always do the same thing,” he said.

Ronaldo then praised Globe Soccer, who named him Best Middle East Player of 2024 on Friday.

The Portugal international has scored 74 goals in 83 games since joining on a free transfer in January 2023 after leaving Manchester United.

Ronaldo took aim at his old club, saying the club is still struggling from issues stemming from more deep-rooted issues.

“The problem of Manchester United is the same,” he said. “The problem is not always the coach. It’s much more than that.

“If you have the fish inside and he’s sick and you take him out and you fix the problem and you put him again in an aquarium you will be sick again.”

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he believes Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was unfairly snubbed for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award.

Ronaldo: If I owned Man United, I would fix issues

by | Dec 28, 2024 | Blog

Ronaldo: If I owned Man United, I would fix issues

Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that Manchester United’s problems are not down to new manager Ruben Amorim.

Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that Manchester United’s problems are not down to new manager Ruben Amorim. Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that Manchester United’s problems are not down to new manager Ruben Amorim.

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Amorim: Every coach is in danger (1:37)Ruben Amorim talks about his role as Manchester United manager and looks ahead to welcoming Newcastle to Old Trafford. (1:37)

Dec 27, 2024, 12:54 PM ET

Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that Manchester United‘s problems are not down to new manager Ruben Amorim, and believes he would be able to fix them if he was the club’s owner.

Amorim has lost five of his 10 games in charge of United — including four of the past five in the Premier League — and said ahead of the next game against Newcastle United that his job is not safe.

But Ronaldo, who scored 145 goals over two spells at United but has been critical of the club’s ownership, among other things in recent years, has said his countryman is not to blame.

“The Premier League it’s the most difficult league in the world,” Ronaldo, now playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, said at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Friday.

“All the teams are good, all the teams fight, all the teams run, all the players are strong. Football is different right now. There’s no easy games anymore.

“I said this one and a half years ago, and I will continue to say it: The problem is not the coaches.

“It’s like an aquarium. If you have the fish inside and he’s sick and you take him out and you fix the problem and you put him again in an aquarium they will be sick again.

“The problem of Manchester United is the same. The problem is not always the coach. It’s much more than that.

“If I will be the owner of the club, I will make things clear and adjust what I think is bad there.”

Ronaldo’s comments followed him hinting at ownership of a “big club” in the near future.

“I’m not a coach. I’m never going to be a coach, president of the club? No. Maybe owner of the club,” he said.

“It will depend on the moment, the right opportunities.”

Asked if he had any in mind, Ronaldo cryptically responded: “Not yet. A few, maybe.”

But questioned about contact with the Glazers directly, Ronaldo said: “I’m still very young, I have so many plans and dreams ahead.

“But mark my words, I will be owner of a big club. For sure.”

Ronaldo left United in 2022 following a public fallout with Erik ten Hag and a TV interview where Ronaldo made a number of explosive claims, including that the owners — the Glazer family — “don’t care about the club.”

Since Ronaldo’s exit, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group have assumed control of football operations, while Ten Hag was sacked before the hiring of Amorim. But Ronaldo still feels problems persist.

Asked about Amorim, the Portugal forward was complimentary as he said: “He did a fantastic job in Portugal with my club Sporting. But the Premier League is a different beast, it’s a different league, it’s the most competitive league in the world.

“I knew it would be tough and they would continue the storm, but the storm will finish and the sun will rise. Fingers crossed things will be good with him and I hope the best for Manchester United because this is a club I still love.”

At the awards, Ronaldo was named Best Middle East Player of 2024 after a strong year in Saudi Arabia.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that Manchester United’s problems are not down to new manager Ruben Amorim.

Barça’s Dani Olmo registration rejected in court

by | Dec 28, 2024 | Blog

Barça’s Dani Olmo registration rejected in court

Barcelona risk having Dani Olmo unavailable for the second half of the season after a court rejected the club’s request to extend the forward’s registration beyond Dec. 31.

Barcelona risk having Dani Olmo unavailable for the second half of the season after a court rejected the club’s request to extend the forward’s registration beyond Dec. 31. Barcelona risk having Dani Olmo unavailable for the second half of the season after a court rejected the club’s request to extend the forward’s registration beyond Dec. 31.

Dec 27, 2024, 07:06 AM ET

Barcelona risk having Dani Olmo unavailable for the second half of the season after a court rejected the club’s lawsuit to extend the forward’s registration beyond Dec. 31.

Olmo, a €57 million ($59.5m) summer signing from RB Leipzig, was granted a temporary registration with LaLiga until the end of the year to cover a long-term injury suffered by Andreas Christensen.

Barça were seeking a court order to prolong the pair’s registrations until the end of the season, arguing at a hearing on Monday that a failure to do so would go against workers’ rights in Spain.

The Catalan club had presented a similar case to register midfielder Gavi with the first team in 2023.

On that occasion they won, so there is some surprise Friday’s ruling has not gone in their favour.

LaLiga on Friday issued a statement saying it welcomed the court decision.

“LaLiga has today learned of the ruling… rejecting the request for the provisional registration of Dani Olmo until June 30, 2025, on the grounds that none of the necessary conditions for the adoption of an interim measure have been met,” it said.

Barça’s LaLiga-imposed annual spending cap is fixed at €426 million for the season.

They remain in breach of that limit and, as a consequence, face certain restrictions when it comes to registering new additions.

LaLiga’s rules only allow them to spend a percentage of anything they raise in transfer fees or save in wages, while they can also create more room within their cap by raising revenue.

The approval from members of a new multi-year deal with kit supplier Nike last week helps in that sense, but sources told ESPN it will not be enough to push through Olmo’s registration.

That registration is due to expire next week and, with Barça still in excess of their annual spending limit set by the league, sources have told ESPN the club are now working on two possible scenarios to prolong it.

The first involves the presale of VIP seats at Spotify Camp Nou, which is being redeveloped, and the second is for a board member to put up a personal guarantee to enable the registration, a route was previously taken to ensure Jules Koundé‘s registration in 2022 and João Félix and João Cancelo‘s in 2023.

Striker Pau Víctor, signed from Girona last July, is also in the same position as Olmo.

Mundo Deportivo have previously reported that if the registration is not processed, Olmo could leave for free, although sources close to the club and the player have played down that possibility.

Barça president Joan Laporta has expressed confidence the Olmo and Victor’s registrations will both be extended, but the club now face a race against time to ensure that is the case.

Laporta has already said that, beyond the court route, Barça are also pursuing other avenues to prolong the registrations beyond Dec. 31.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Barcelona risk having Dani Olmo unavailable for the second half of the season after a court rejected the club’s request to extend the forward’s registration beyond Dec. 31.

Liverpool in ‘constant’ talks over Salah, VVD

by | Dec 28, 2024 | Blog

Liverpool in ‘constant’ talks over Salah, VVD

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has said the club is in “constant talks” with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold as uncertainty over the trio’s long-term futures continues.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has said the club is in “constant talks” with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold as uncertainty over the trio’s long-term futures continues. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has said the club is in “constant talks” with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold as uncertainty over the trio’s long-term futures continues.

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Arne Slot delighted with ‘outstanding’ Virgil van Dijk as contract talks continue (1:38)Arne Slot praises Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and comments on the club’s contract talks before the January transfer window opens. (1:38)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has said the club is in “constant talks” with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold as uncertainty over the trio’s long-term futures continues.

All three players are out of contract at the end of the season and will therefore be free to start negotiating with clubs overseas from Jan. 1.

Slot has largely remained tight-lipped on the matter but has now insisted that he is not concerned by the contract impasse, with his team currently seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand.

“If we would then it’s probably not the moment to tell you now,” Slot said when asked whether he had an update on negotiations in a news conference ahead Liverpool’s clash with West Ham.

“In general, I don’t talk about contract situations here. It would be a surprise I was the one to announce that one of them have extended.

“It’s clear that from Jan 1., maybe for you guys, things change a lot but they are in constant talks with the club and let’s wait and see what happens. As long as they keep performing like this, the head coach is happy.”

Slot also issued an update on the fitness of injured duo Ibrahima Konaté and Conor Bradley, who have both been sidelined since Liverpool’s victory over Real Madrid in November.

“They will not be back for West Ham United,” the Liverpool boss said. “Then there is a week in between [West Ham and the Manchester United game].

“Let’s see how close they are then. It is difficult to tell you at this moment because they don’t train with the group yet. Hopefully, in the upcoming days they come closer to that situation.

“But then again, Ibou has been out for five or six weeks maybe, Conor just as long and they are in competition with players who are completely fit and doing really well so I have to make the right judgement the moment they are back.”

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has said the club is in “constant talks” with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold as uncertainty over the trio’s long-term futures continues.

Aston Villa striker Duran’s red card appeal rejected

by | Dec 28, 2024 | Blog

Aston Villa striker Duran’s red card appeal rejected

Aston Villa failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal.

Aston Villa failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal. Aston Villa failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal.

Dec 27, 2024, 08:57 PM ET

Aston Villa says it has failed in an attempt to have Jhon Durán‘s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal.

The 21-year-old Colombia international was sent off 32 minutes into a 3-0 defeat in the Premier League at St. James’ Park on Thursday after appearing to stamp on defender Fabian Schar, prompting a furious reaction from Villa head coach Unai Emery, who later indicated that the club would appeal.

However, Villa said Friday night that its bid was unsuccessful and the forward will now serve a three-match ban for violent conduct.

“Aston Villa can confirm that our decision to appeal Jhon Durán’s red card in our match with Newcastle United has been rejected,” a statement on Villa’s official X account read. “The player will now miss our next three matches.”

Durán will miss Premier League games against Brighton and Leicester City, followed by Villa’s FA Cup third-round match with West Ham on Jan. 10.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Aston Villa failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal.

Elanga strikes for Forest as limp Spurs lose again​​

Ronaldo: Vinícius deserved Ballon d’Or over Rodri​​

Ronaldo: If I owned Man United, I would fix issues​​

Barça’s Dani Olmo registration rejected in court​​

Liverpool in ‘constant’ talks over Salah, VVD​​

Aston Villa striker Duran’s red card appeal rejected​​

Ronaldo: Vinícius deserved Ballon d’Or over Rodri

Ronaldo: If I owned Man United, I would fix issues

Barça’s Dani Olmo registration rejected in court

Liverpool in ‘constant’ talks over Salah, VVD

Aston Villa striker Duran’s red card appeal rejected