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Leeds United star Raphinha has revealed that he attended Ronaldinho’s birthday party as a child - and that finally having the chance to play in front of a packed Elland Road was worth the wait.

The Brazil winger, who earned his first call-up to the national setup ahead of their Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers earlier this month, has opened up on his relationship with the Selecao legend.

The 24-year-old has also professed his gratitude to Leeds and their supporters for embracing him upon his arrival, stating that he will "do his best" to repay their faith.

What has been said?

"When I was seven, I went to Ronaldinho’s birthday party," Raphinha penned in The Players' Tribune. "How, you say? My dad was a musician in a samba band, and they were playing there.

"Ronaldinho was born in the community where I grew up, so my dad and my uncles knew him. I always wanted to be like Ronaldinho. The things he did ... I was transfixed.

"When he saw me, he took me in his arms and walked around with me. I’m pretty sure that was the best birthday party I ever went to that wasn’t my own.

"I have met Ronaldinho many times since then, and I feel blessed to consider him a friend. I get even more starstruck now than when I was a kid!!

"He even watches my games and says that he admires the way I play. I mean, how do you even respond to that?"

Raphinha thanks Leeds faithful

The winger has spoken of the sudden circumstances surrounding his arrival in West Yorkshire last year, when he was sold by Rennes just as he was poised to play Champions League football.

But following a superb first season with the Whites, where he built his name as a fan favourite, Raphinha admits that he has truly fallen in love with the club and the city.

"I’m so happy here," he added. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms: Marcelo [Bielsa, head coach], the owner, the players, the staff, the fans. A friend of mine sent me the song. I couldn’t understand all of it, but to get my own song really is a dream.

"All I could think about last season was to play in front of a packed Elland Road. To all you Leeds fans, I want to say that even then I felt your love and affection. 

On playing in front of a home crowd against Everton earlier this month, Raphinha added: "It was worth the wait. That noise, man. It was just like I remembered it. It was everything I hoped it would be. 

"I already can’t wait to play in front of you guys again. You’ll cheer us on. We’ll put on a show. And I’ll do my best to make you smile."

The bigger picture

Raphinha will be expected to feature for Leeds this weekend when they take on Burnley in the Premier League, having sat out their Carabao Cup win over Crewe Alexandra in midweek.

But a potential debut for Brazil remains under threat following the decision of the league to ban players from heading to red-listed countries during the international break.

Team-mates Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford however are expected to be on duty for England, with the latter having earned a maiden call-up this week to the Three Lions squad.

Further reading

Former Ghana skipper Stephen Appiah believes the Black Stars must be wary of Comoros ahead of their meeting at the Africa Cup of Nations finals next year.

The four-time champions have been drawn together in Group C of the championship, the other two teams being Morocco and Gabon.

The delayed tournament takes place between January 9 to February 6 in Cameroon. 

"It’s a very tricky one, I always say that as a former player, I will prefer to play against Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and the others because you know the players," Appiah, who played for Ghana at the 2000 and 2006 Afcon finals, said as reported by Citi Sports. 

“But when you are playing against countries like Comoros and the rest, you don’t even know them, so they are likely to surprise you.

“So for me, there are no underdogs anymore, we just have to prepare well and go and perform."

Ghana will open their Afcon campaign with a clash with Morocco on January 10 before taking on Gabon four days later. 

On January 18, the Black Stars will wrap up their group stage assignments with an encounter with Comoro,s who are set to make their debut at the tournament. 

"It’s a tricky group. Currently, every country has improved because the game is dynamic and you cannot idle around. I see it as a difficult group," Appiah’s former international colleague John Pantsil, who featured at multiple Afcon tournaments for Ghana, said after the Afcon draw.

"Ghana will qualify at all cost, but we need to approach everything about it seriously. During our time we were always serious about qualifying, so I pray they maintain that discipline. It’s a very tricky group but Ghana will qualify.

"We will have problems if we don’t get ready. Our readiness is what will take us to the next stage. The group we find ourselves in is not something to relax over.

"We cannot underestimate Gabon and Morocco, they always prove stubborn in tournaments they feature in. So we must be serious and be well prepared."

At the last Afcon, Ghana were eliminated at the Round of 16 following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Tunisia.

Ghana defender Abdul Rahman Baba has extended his contract with Chelsea and promptly headed out on loan to EF: Championship side Reading, both clubs have announced.

The 27-year-old left-back is set to spend the entire season with the Royals, his fifth loan club away from the Blues since a 2015 move from Bundesliga side Augsburg.

It is, however, his first club in England away from Stamford Bridge.

“Baba Rahman has extended his contract with Chelsea and moved on loan to Championship side Reading for the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign,” Chelsea have announced on their official website.

At Reading, Baba, who had one more year left on his Chelsea contract before the latest extension, reunites with Ghanaian compatriot and international colleague Andy Yiadom, who is the Royals’ first-choice right-back.

The left-back’s first taste of action for his new club could be a home clash with Huddersfield Town in the Championship on Monday.

“We are very pleased to confirm that left-back Baba Rahman has joined Reading Football Club on a season-long loan from Chelsea, subject to the normal ratification procedures from the relevant football authorities,” Reading wrote on their official website.

“The 27-year-old has represented the Blues in the Premier League and Champions League, as well as bringing with him top-flight experience in Germany, France, Spain and Greece – and now embarks on a new challenge in Berkshire as a Royal!

Coach Veljko Paunovic said: “It is no secret that recruiting an experienced left-back was a priority for us this summer, so I am delighted that we have managed to do this deal to bring Baba to Reading. He is a quick, strong, physical footballer who has a lot to offer to the club and the players around him. Baba was really keen to be part of our project and to test himself in this tough division and I am excited to see him playing for us.”

After signing a five-year deal with Chelsea, Baba spent the 2015-16 campaign with the Blues, making 15 Premier League outings for the side.

His limited game time forced him out on loan to Schalke 04 the following season, leading to subsequent spells away with Ligue 1 fold Stade Reims, La Liga side Real Mallorca and most recently Greek club PAOK, where he spent the second half of last season.

Cristiano Ronaldo has now made a sensational return to his former home of Old Trafford, having signed for Manchester United for an initial £13 million (€15m/$18m) fee with add-ons of up to £7m (€8m/$9m). 

The striker had informed Juventus coach Max Allegri of his desire to leave Serie A for opportunities elsewhere, and while Manchester City seemed to be the favourites to sign him, it was Man Utd who won the race.

Ronaldo is famed for his relationship with the number seven, but what shirt will he wear at Manchester United? Goal takes a look at the possibilities, the options available as well as Ronaldo's squad number history.

What shirt number will Cristiano Ronaldo wear at Man Utd?

It has not yet been confirmed which number Ronaldo will wear at Man Utd.

Ronaldo has long been synonymous with the number seven, and has even built his entire brand under the 'CR7' name

Currently, the number seven at Manchester United – which Ronaldo has previously worn during his first spell – is being occupied by Edinson Cavani.

The issue would be resolved should Cavani end up leaving Man Utd this window, but Goal can confirm that the Uruguay international's future is still firmly in Manchester.

Ronaldo would likely not be happy to wear a number that isn't seven, a number that has also been worn by United club legends such as David Beckham, George Best, Denis Law, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson.

But for now, the number is currently unavailable to the Portugal captain.

The number nine (Anthony Martial), which Ronaldo has also worn in the past, is currently taken.

What shirt numbers are available to Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd?

Currently, should Ronaldo be unable to take up number seven, he would have to make do with one of the following available numbers: 12, 15, 24, 30, 31, 33, 35.

What numbers has Cristiano Ronaldo worn before?

Though Ronaldo has built his entire career around his favoured number seven, it wasn't always the number that he was associated with.

Read: Why does Cristiano Ronaldo wear the No.7 shirt?

He wore the number 28 during his career at Sporting Lisbon, and it was his preferred number when he signed for Man Utd under the management of Six Alex Ferguson in 2004.

It was Ferguson who persuaded Ronaldo to take up the iconic number seven jersey, due to his confidence that the forward could reach the same astronomical heights as previous wearers of the shirt.

Indeed, a new era began at Old Trafford when Ronaldo assumed the number seven shirt, and the rest is history.

Ronaldo did have to initially make do with the number nine shirt when he transferred to Real Madrid in 2009, until the number seven was vacated by club legend Raul, who left for Schalke in 2010.

Bruno Fernandes has cheekily claimed credit for Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Manchester United, after the Red Devils confirmed that they have reached an agreement for the Juventus forward.

The Portuguese captain, a legend in the halls of Old Trafford after a six-year spell between 2003 and 2009, has sealed a sensational homecoming after a decade away from the Premier League.

Now, Fernandes has led the reaction of his clubmates following the news that the 36-year-old will play for United once more, with the attacking midfielder - Ronaldo's international team-mate - joking that he is responsible for the remarkable deal.

What has been said?

"‘Agent Bruno’?" Fernandes wrote on Twitter, complete with an emoji of a suitcase, shortly after news broke that Ronaldo would be headed to United, subject to personal terms, visas and a medical.

"Welcome back home Cristiano," he added, with a subseqnet emoji of a goat - to signify the forward's assumed status as one of the greatest players of all-time.

Fernandes - who, like Ronaldo, left Sporting to further burnish his reputation at Old Trafford - was just one of several players who offered their response to Ronaldo's return.

United stars react to superstar arrival

The bigger picture

Ronaldo's arrival - mere hours after it seemed he was destined for a move to arch-rivals Manchester City - completes what has been a fruitful transfer window for United.

In addition to the Portuguese's return, they have also recruited long-term target Jadon Sancho after last year's dogged pursuit, and brought in Raphael Varane to bolster their defence.

While the former has already made his United debut, the latter could well make his bow for the club this weekend when they face Wolves in their final game ahead of the international break.

Further reading

Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus has earned a recall to the Germany national team, while Hansi Flick named four uncapped players in his first squad as national team boss.

The BVB captain is one of seven players absent from Joachim Low's final selection at Euro 2020 included by the former Bayern Munich coach for his maiden clutch of games.

Chelsea trio Kai Havertz, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner all retain their spots, but there is no place for Mats Hummels or Emre Can, while Matthias Ginter misses out through Covid-19.

Who's in? Who's out?

Having sat out Euro 2020 in order to overcome fitness issues, Reus is the headline inclusion in Flick's first team since succeeding Low in the job, following Germany's last-16 defeat to England.

Captain Manuel Neuer headlines the same goalkeeping trio that made this summer's rearranged tournament, with Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich and Ilkay Gündogan all retaining their spots.

Hoffenheim defender David Raum, Freiburg centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz and Salzburg forward Karim Adeyemi are the quartet without a senior game under their belt named for the matches with Liechtenstein, Armenia and Iceland in Group J.

Germany's squad in full

Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Trapp

Defenders: Ridle Baku, Robin Gosens, Thilo Kehrer, Lukas Klostermann, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule

Midfielders/Attackers: Karim Adeyemi, Mahmoud Dahoud, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Ilkay Gundogan, Kai Havertz, Jonas Hofmann, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala, Florian Neuhaus, Marco Reus, Leroy Sane, Timo Werner, Florian Wirtz

The bigger picture

Flick will hope to have an instant impact when he takes charge of his first game next month, with Germany having already suffered hiccups on the road to Qatar.

While victories against Iceland and Romania got them off to a winning start, a shock reverse against North Macedonia means they sit off the lead of Group J heading into the autumn.

Under new stewardship, they will hope to immediately revive their fortunes when they face the Liechtenstein in St. Gallen next week.

Further reading

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena has revealed why he anticipates a difficult game when they take on Golden Arrows in their MTN8 semi-final first-leg clash on Saturday.

The Brazilians will face the 2009 champions at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban but Mokwena is worried they will come up against a side that is very good in counter-attacking while remaining tight at the back.

What did Mokwena say?

“Traditionally, it’s not easy to prepare for Golden [Arrows] because they have had a distinctive way of playing,” Mokwena said as quoted by Sowetan Live.

“I think it’s synonymous with how they are known as ‘Abafana Bes’thende’ - they play with a little bit of exuberance and play a little bit off the cuff.

“Even when they try to have some organisational forms, they still try to maintain the flair and the expressive abilities of their players, and sometimes that’s where it can be a little difficult to prepare.

“They’ve got a very good team and a very good coach, with a good assistant. They counter-press very well and their fullbacks are very important. They average about 18 crosses into the box, so it’s a team where we know what to expect, but controlling that is the most difficult thing in football.”

How have Sundowns performed so far?

On the team’s performance so far this season, Mokwena said: “Going into the Kaizer [Chiefs] match [a penalties win in the MTN8 quarters] we anticipated it would take us five or six games before we hit top gear and our performances so far have shown us that we were correct.

“We are trying to work in a very systematic way and trying to be a bit scientific about how we go about the season because our form guide informed us that after a good start we had a dip in form towards the end of the season [in 2020-21]. To try to find a little bit more consistency we altered the way we are working.”

On injuries in the team, Mokwena explained: “We had a rest day [on Wednesday] as we travelled from PE, and the players who needed medical attention received it. Regarding the players who were left behind, as of yet we still have not received information about their readiness. They will be assessed by our medical department.”

Despite dominating the top-flight over the past five seasons, Sundowns last won the Top 8 trophy in 2007 but since it changed its name to MTN8, they have twice finished as runners-up.

Further PSL reading 

Uganda Premier League side Vipers Sports Club have confirmed the appointment of Roberto 'Robertinho' Oliveira as their new head coach.

This is Robertinho's first club appointment since he left Kenyan giants Gor Mahia before the just-concluded season began. The Brazilian was unable to coach K'Ogalo as Caf and Football Kenya Federation's president Nick Mwendwa claimed he did not possess the requisite qualification papers to oversee the local giants.
 
At the Venoms, Robertinho replaced Fred Kajoba, who left the former champions in May this year. Kajoba had been given the option of remaining as Vipers' coach only if he leaves his position at the national team or tenders his resignation in order to continue serving the Cranes as their goalkeeper coach.

Kajoba chose the latter option, thus the head coach position at the Kitende club became vacant.

"We received 84 submissions from interested parties from all over the world, including Uganda, who felt they had requirements who felt they deserved the job," said Denis Luganda, the Legal Director at Vipers, as was quoted by Kawowo Sports.

"We went through all the applicants using the committee set up for the job and 13 shortlisted were shortlisted. Interviews were conducted – some physical and others virtual, and we believe we got the right choice."

Club president Lawrence Mulindwa explained why they settled on the Brazilian after a rigorous recruitment process.

"I want to thank whoever has been involved in the process and we got the right candidate. We needed a coach with strategic and leadership skills – innovative and who would give strategic direction to the club to ensure the vision and mission of the club are achieved," said Mulindwa.

"We needed a coach who could bring a fundamental change to the club, one with a strong winning mentality as we aim to become the number one club on the continent.

"It’s not a mere change of guard but a real marriage this time around. "

On his part, the coach made his ambition public: "I came here to be a champion. We have the same direction as the Vipers. My philosophy is good football and attacking football with a good balance between young and experienced players," said the former Rayon Sport tactician.

Chelsea have agreed a new four-year contract with Andreas Christensen, which includes a club option to keep him for an extra year beyond that.

The 25-year-old's current deal was set to expire in less than a year and had he failed to agree with Chelsea, he would likely have left the west London club.

However, after two months of talks, the Denmark international has finally come to terms with the Stamford Bridge outfit over a new deal which will see him increase his salary.

Christensen makes major turnaround

It is understood that the central defender has negotiated a significant pay rise but also shunned talks with a host of clubs that tried to turn his head.

Having joined the Blues at the age of 16, he is known to feel an affinity towards Chelsea and he will now likely surpass 10 years with the team.

Under Thomas Tuchel, Christensen has produced his best form and he was a key player in the run that saw Chelsea win their second Champions League trophy last term.

"I feel like I am getting close but I still think I can get better than I have been. I play more and get more fit if that makes sense. I've been playing a lot and growing a lot," Christensen said in a response to  Goal  ahead of the final.

He followed up his good form with Chelsea to be a key player for semi-finalists Denmark at Euro 2020.

It's a remarkable turnaround for the defender who hadn't been a big part of former manager Frank Lampard's plans. Christensen was only offered a one-and-a-half year extension to his current contract in January, before Tuchel arrived.

What else is happening at Chelsea?

Chelsea are dealing with new contracts, incoming and outgoing transfers in the last week of the window.

With Christensen renewing his deal, there have been struggles in trying to get Antonio Rudiger to do the same.

Some around the club are worried that the Germany international will run down his contract so that he can talk to clubs over a free transfer in January.

Furthermore, Kurt Zouma is close to being sold to West Ham for £26 million ($36m) in a deal that is expected to trigger another approach to sign Jules Kounde from Sevilla.

As first revealed by Goal , Trevoh Chalobah has been offered a new five-year contract by Chelsea after being taken off the loan list.

Tuchel has been impressed with the 22-year-old enough to offer him a place in the squad at Stamford Bridge.

With 15 players already out on loan, the Blues will move to sell and send more out on temporary moves. Tiemoue Bakayoko will soon join AC Milan on a two-year loan with an obligation to buy.

Emerson Palmieri left the squad to join Lyon last week and it has been revealed to Goal that the deal saw him extend his Blues contract until 2024.

It's possible that the Italy international could return to the club next season after a season in Ligue 1.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are weighing up their plans in midfield with Tuchel having taken a long look at both Ethan Ampadu and Ruben Loftus-Cheek as options.

Yet, the Blues boss is still considering signing Saul from Atletico Madrid on loan to bolster his options.  It would likely trigger loan moves or even sales for Ampadu and Loftus-Cheek.

Further reading

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has missed out on a place in the England Under 21 team for the upcoming matches against Romania and Kosovo.

The 20-year-old was an unused substitute for Chelsea's first two Premier League matches of the season, though he did start in the UEFA Super Cup win against Villarreal.

Hudson-Odoi was a notable omission from the squad ahead of the 2023 Under 21 European Championship qualifying matches and coach Lee Carsley says it was the player's choice.

What has been said?

"Callum is a player that we really like," Carsley, who replaced Aidy Boothroyd at the helm of the team in July, said.

"I’ve had some really good conversations with him and his advisor and Callum felt that it wasn’t the right time for him at the minute to come with England.

"He’s stayed back at Chelsea to work on his development there. I respected that decision and that was it really."

Elliott and Smith Rowe called up

While Hudson-Odoi misses out, Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott has been named in the 24-man list for the first time.

The 18-year-old winger has played in both of his club's Premier League matches this season, being included in the starting XI as they beat Burnley 2-0 last week. 

Fellow Reds player Curtis Jones is also named in the team but is suspended for the clash against Kosovo. 

Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, who made his U21 debut in March this year, has also been called up alongside his team-mate Folarin Balogun.

Tottenham duo Ryan Sessegnon and Oliver Skipp and Marc Guehi, who recently joined Crystal Palace from Chelsea, are involved, too.

When do the U21s play?

England will play their first game under new coach Carsley against Romania on September 3.

Four days later, they will begin their U21 Euro qualifying campaign with a home match against Kosovo.

England's group also consists of Albania, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Andorra.

Further reading

Liverpool and Chelsea meet at Anfield on Saturday with both sides aiming to continue their strong start to the Premier League season.

Jurgen Klopp's men have recorded two wins from their two matches played having overcome both Norwich City and Burnley without conceding a goal, large part to the return of both Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip, while up front the attacking quartet of Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have all already found the back of the net this term.

Chelsea meanwhile have taken a considerable step up in quality from last season with the signing of Romelu Lukaku. The Blues too have six points from a possible six having overcome local rivals Crystal Palace and Arsenal also while keep two clean sheets.

Here's how to watch Liverpool vs Chelsea in India.

Contents

What time does the 2021-22 Premier League game between Liverpool vs Chelsea start?

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How to watch Liverpool vs Chelsea on TV & live stream in India?

The  Star Sports network (Star Sports and Star Sports Select) has the rights to show Premier League matches in India.

In addition to the English Broadcast on Star Sports Select, regional feeds in Bangla and Malayalam will be made available for key weekend matches on Star Sports 3 (geo-tagged for West Bengal and Kerala) and Star Sports 1 Bangla.

Matches will also be available on streaming mobile applications  Disney+ Hotstar VIP and JioTV , allowing supporters to watch multiple games simultaneously and catch the replay of matches in their preferred language.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

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Liverpool vs Chelsea: Team news

Liverpool have doubts over Fabinho who suffered a family bereavement this week while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are also rated as doubtful.

Chelsea for their part are without Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek who are both ruled out following positive coronavirus tests. 

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Further reading:

Jurgen Klopp has had his say on Cristiano Ronaldo’s potential move to Manchester City, insisting it will not affect Liverpool’s chances of success this season.

Ronaldo, 36, is edging closer to a dramatic return to the Premier League, having informed his current club, Juventus, of his desire to leave this week.

City appear to be favourites to land the Portugal legend, having failed in their summer-long efforts to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham.

What’s been said?

Speaking at a press conference ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Chelsea on Saturday, Klopp was asked about the potential ramifications of Ronaldo joining City.

He told reporters: “I watch that like a football supporter, actually. You probably have much more knowledge about whether it will happen or not, than I have.

“It’s not about me to judge that, but if other clubs can do things like this then it’s obviously not business for the future, that in three or four years they will have the benefit of it. It’s for now, and immediately! 

“That’s how some clubs are obviously working, and that’s fine, but there must be different ways. There must be a team for a year later and for two years later, three years later. 

“It’s really nice if you can win trophies, but even with the best squad in the world that’s not possible every year. If it’s not possible then you still need to make sure that you develop as a team, as a club, and that you use these kind of things. That’s what we did and that’s what we do. 

“All the rest is not in our hands. We watch it like all of you, and we see what happens.”

Later, Klopp was asked if he felt football was now in an era where commercial and marketing value outweighs football value, in terms of transfer dealings.

He said: “First of all, with [Lionel] Messi and Ronaldo especially, there might be a commercial aspect of course, but I don’t think Paris Saint-Germain bought Messi for commercial reasons. They brought him in because Messi still has a lot to give to a football team.

“If Cristiano comes to the Premier League then that is the first intention as well. I never had to make a ‘commercial’ signing, whatever that means. Nobody ever asked me that. If they did, then I would start thinking about it.”

What about Liverpool’s transfer business?

Ronaldo’s proposed move to England is just the latest in a series of mega-money deals among Europe’s elite clubs this summer.

With the likes of Messi, Jadon Sancho, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Romelu Lukaku and Jack Grealish all moving, and with long-running sagas involving Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and now Ronaldo, it has been a fairly remarkable window.

Liverpool’s sole signing so far is Ibrahima Konate, who joined from Leipzig in May, and Klopp says it is unlikely that there will be further additions at Anfield before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

“Do I expect a busy four days for us? Not really, to be 100 per cent honest, but you never know,” he said. “The options didn’t get worse for some teams, but as I said before, there are so many different ways to win football games. It’s not all about bringing in new players.

“Again, it’s a little bit disappointing that I have to mention that we brought in Ibou Konate, and he wasn’t a bargain, he cost money - but yes, all these attacking, offensive players other clubs are signing, that’s obviously something they thought they need, and they had the resources to do it.

“We will not take that as any kind of excuse. We will just go for it with all we have.

“There is no need to buy a midfielder just because somebody is in the market. The supporters who want us to sign a player just to get somebody in - if you’re really with us, if you really think about it, you will realise there is no real need

“If there is one player, one who would really improve all the things we spoke about, we would go for it, I promise. If we could see him.”

Further reading 

Pep Guardiola says Cristiano Ronaldo will decide his future amid Manchester City's interest in the Juventus forward.

The Premier League club have had talks about signing Ronaldo after missing out on top target Harry Kane, who decided to stay with Tottenham Hotspur, sources have told Goal.

However, the City boss said that he expects his squad to stay the same with the transfer deadline just four days away.

What has been said?

"I cannot say much. So Harry Kane announces he is continuing at his club, an exceptional club like Tottenham, and Cristiano was a Juventus player, I think is a Juventus player and I cannot add anything else," Guardiola told a news conference ahead of Saturday's game with Arsenal.

"Only I can say in these three or four days until the transfer window shuts, anything can happen but in my personal view there are few players, Cristiano Ronaldo is included and [Lionel] Messi of course, they decide where they are going to play.

"They have the leading role in the negotiations and everything is the desire where they want to play. The position right now this is my feeling that I am more delighted with the squad I have and we will say the same.

"Cristiano will decide where he wants to play, not Manchester City not myself.

"There are many things that right now looks far, far away. All I can say is we are incredibly fortunate to see and enjoy the best two players in the last 20-30 years and all we can say is thank you.

"The Argentinian and Portuguese guys were amazing in every single season in different clubs, especially Messi in Barcelona. I don’t think we will watch anything quite similar in the future."

The bigger picture

Juventus boss Max Allegri confirmed at his news conference that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has no "intention of staying" with the Italian club.

He was seen leaving Juventus' training ground on Friday morning while the rest of the team began their session, before Allegri confirmed he wants to leave.

Goal confirmed on Thursday that City have had some talks over the possibility of a deal but there was no agreement over terms with the player or club.

The former Manchester United player is believed to be open to a move to Etihad Stadium despite saying in the past that he would never line up for one of the Red Devils' main rivals.

Juventus are looking for around €29 million (£24m/$34m) from any potential buyers, otherwise they would suffer a capital loss. However, City do not want to pay a fee for the 36-year-old forward.

Further reading:

Real Madrid have put Eden Hazard up for sale as they prepare for Kylian Mbappe's arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, Goal can confirm.

Goal has reported the Blancos have submitted an improved €170 million (£146m/$200m) bid for Mbappe after seeing their opening offer rejected, with PSG having publicly confirmed that the striker wants to leave the club after turning down a new contract.

Madrid are now working behind the scenes to make room for Mbappe, with Carlo Ancelotti likely to trim down his squad amid intense competition for places in attacking positions.

What's the situation?

Goal understands the Spanish giants will look to offload one of Hazard, Marco Asensio or Rodrygo if they complete a final deal for Mbappe.

Real already made Gareth Bale, Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz available for transfer earlier in the summer, and are now stepping up their efforts to sanction multiple departures before the window closes on August 31.

Who is most likely to leave?

Hazard has been linked with a return to Chelsea in recent months, but Goal has learned that he intends to stay put and fight for his place in Ancelotti's starting XI.

Madrid are also aware that the Belgian's wage packet will prove a stumbling block for any potential suitors, meaning it would likely take an astronomical offer for him to complete a transfer away from Santiago Bernabeu.

Asensio, Bale and Mariano seem most likely to depart at this stage, while Rodrygo has been linked with another loan move.

The Blancos are ready to listen to any offers for all five players, but Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior are considered untouchable, while Casemiro, Thibaut Courtois and Dani Carvajal all recently signed new long-term deals.

PSG's stance on Mbappe

PSG sporting director Leonardo has accused Real of using underhanded tactics in their pursuit of Mbappe, but has hinted that they will need to pay more than the €180m the French giants initially forked out to sign him from Monaco back in 2017 in order to conclude a deal.

He said after their first offer of €160m was submitted: "For the last 2 years, Real Madrid have been behaving like this, it is not correct, illegal even, because they contacted the player. It is unacceptable for us, because it is not correct.

"We consider the offer to be very far from what Kylian represents today. We also owe part of this money to Monaco and we consider that the offer is not enough, but we will not hold anyone back. If someone wants to leave and our conditions are met, we will see."

Further reading