Reports suggest Paul Pogba of Juventus will complete a £105 million world-record transfer to Manchester United “this weekend,” signing a five-year deal to join Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.

Phil Cadden of the Sun reported the France international midfielder will put pen to paper on a Red Devils contract, earning him £202,000 per week to return to the “Theatre of Dreams” after departing in 2012.

Cadden claimed negotiations between United and Pogba agent Mino Raiola will be concluded over the weekend as the self-proclaimed “Special One” secures his fourth signing since the start of his tenure in the northwest. The world-class talent is currently finishing a holiday in the United States and will sign the world-record deal when he returns.

Cadden wrote: 

Raiola has spent the last few days in talks with United chiefs over the France international’s  personal terms — for a transfer which will eclipse the £86 million Real Madrid paid for Gareth Bale in 2013.

Pogba could now travel to Manchester as soon as Tuesday to have his medical.

Negotiations have been complicated by the fact that Raiola has a deal with Juve which will see him collect a staggering 25 per cent of the transfer fee.

Here is a video of the player in action:

The player was asked about the rumours linking him with a switch to United during his recent stay in Los Angeles, and Pogba refused to deny he would leave Juve for his first professional club.

When asked how he would react if Mourinho called him to instigate a transfer, the Frenchman told ESPN in America (h/t Sachin Nakrani of the Guardian): “I don’t know. Let’s see, let’s see. For the moment, I am here [Juventus], and I am happy here, but I don’t know where I want to go.”

Nakrani wrote the Old Lady value Pogba at £84 million, but Cadden believes the final fee will eclipse the world-record for Bale. Juve are believed to want to retain Pogba next term, but United will aggressively back Mourinho in the transfer market in the coming weeks.

Pogba was lined up to be a superstar at United when he was a teenager, but Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t give the prodigious player his big break, forcing him to abscond to Italy. The 23-year-old won his fourth Serie A title in a row last season, featuring 35 times in the top Italian division and scoring eight goals, according to WhoScored.com.

Mourinho has already had an impact on his new players at Carrington during pre-season training, as Michael Carrick told MUTV (h/t Michael Kelleher of Sky Sports):

There’s been a lot of football and fun at the right times, and I think everyone’s enjoying it. When you get a new manager, pre-season is always a little bit different because it’s a new personality and new ways. But you approach the season as any other and you’ve got to prepare yourself to be ready for the battle.

The capture of Pogba will take United to the next level, and with a happy set of players under Mourinho, the Red Devils will once again be title contenders.

The midfielder would provide United with the engine they desperately need in the centre of the park and provide the manager with the powerful individual he prefers at the core of all his sides, as previously seen at Real, Inter Milan and Chelsea.   

United fans will be cautious to celebrate Pogba’s capture before the club officially unveils him, but his signing will be a statement of intent as the club do their utmost to challenge on all fronts and competitions.

Mourinho will want to be in the UEFA Champions League in 12 months time, and the quickest way to achieve the goal is to pay a huge price for the best talent available. 

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It is becoming increasingly rare that a transfer rumour still has the power to shock in this era of round-the-clock news, but on Thursday evening a story broke in Italy and sent shockwaves throughout the peninsula.

Media outlets across the country linked Juventus with a move for their rival’s biggest star, Gonzalo Higuain, with some incredible details emerging as the evening developed. According to Sky Italia and Mediaset (h/t Football Italia), the Bianconeri had already agreed to terms with the striker on a four-year contract.

In that same report, both insisted that the Turin giants—while hoping to include the likes of Daniele Rugani, Stefano Sturaro and Simone Zaza—were willing to pay Higuain‘s €94 million release clause should Napoli reject an exchange.

It is here that some confusion arises, however, as La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) insists that the stipulation in the player’s contract expired on June 30, meaning that the Bianconeri would need to negotiate with Napoli.

That would likely prove to be almost impossible given the rivalry between the two clubs, but Gianluca Di Marzio believes the clause remains fully valid. The Italian transfer expert wrote at length about a potential deal on his own website—translated here by David Amoyal—and notes that the fee could even be paid in two annual installments.

Such an arrangement would make a move much more palatable to Juventus, who have been extremely careful with their finances over the past five seasons, investing when they need to but always seeking out good value in the market.

The same is true of Napoli of course, with owner Aurelio Di Laurentiis steering a remarkable turnaround of the club and he is unlikely to allow Higuain to leave without a fight. His son Edoardo told La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t ESPN FC) that the “whole thing is a hoax” and the same Italian newspaper believes the club President is also preparing a counter offer.

According to their reporter Vincenzo D’Angelo (h/t Gazzetta World), Di Laurentiis will attempt to keep Higuain at Napoli with a new contract that will pay him a staggering €7.5 million per season after tax.

Fans of the Partenopei must hope that such a deal is successful, or at least that their owner can force the Argentina international to move abroad because losing him to Juventus would wreck the competitive balance of Serie A irreparably.

This summer has already seen the Bianconeri sign Miralem Pjanic—arguably the best player AS Roma had—and it was only Higuain’s goal scoring that made the league anything resembling a contest last term.

The 29-year-old plundered a staggering 36 goals in 35 appearances, setting a new Serie A record and helping Napoli provide a title challenge that would simply not exist without him. Juventus, already crowned champions in each of the last five seasons, would exert a dominance similar to that currently seen in Germany and France.

Like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, signing Higuain would create a gap between the Bianconeri that domestic opponents simply could not overcome and one which would leave the rest simply fighting for second place.

However, that is arguably of no concern to the Old Lady, who has repeatedly made clear that her aims lie elsewhere in the immediate future as coach Massimiliano Allegri explained in a recent interview with Jtv and the club’s official website:

Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign. And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it. That said, we need to take it steady, work every day and lay the foundations for a great season between now and 31 August, when the campaign gets underway.

Adding a clinical striker like Higuain would undoubtedly help the Juve boss achieve just that, as the former Real Madrid star proved throughout 2015/16. In his history-chasing quest, he found the net with all manner of goals; headers, volleys, tap-ins and snap-shots, eventually sealing his new record with a superb overhead kick.

That rounded off a hat trick on the final day against Frosinone, with the video shown above highlighting the diverse manner in which he amassed that incredible tally. He was helped by the team playing almost exclusively for him, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri’s system designed to get him the ball in a position to score as often as possible.

That resulted in Higuain taking more shots than any player in Europe’s top five leagues other than Cristiano Ronaldo, his 5.2 efforts per game trailing only the Portugal star’s 6.3 according to figures taken from WhoScored.com. The Squawka graphic below shows just how deadly accurate he was with those attempts.

He scored one more league goal than the Real Madrid icon, with his nearest rival in Serie A—none other than Juve’s Paulo Dybala—managing “only” 19 league goals. It was a phenomenal return from Higuain, with Roberto Mancini perhaps giving the most succinct analysis of his impact when he spoke to the Corriere dello Sport back in December.

“In Italy, Higuain is like Messi in La Liga and the Champions League. There’s him and then the rest in Serie A in his wake,” the Inter Milan coach said (h/t ESPN FC). “He scores once or twice a game and can be decisive with every touch he makes.”

Clearly that was the case, yet questions remain over his mental fragility and—aside from his Capocannoniere crown—Higuain still ended the season empty handed. That stark reality brings to mind the words of Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri as his side equalled the club’s previous mark of 12 consecutive victories back in January as they continued their own Scudetto push.

“To me, records don’t matter,” the Livorno native told a press conference. “What’s the point of winning 20 in a row if it doesn’t win you the title?” Allegri asked, and that lack of silverware may yet be what drives Higuain to make this surprising move.

It would be a decision that Miralem Pjanic would certainly sympathise with, the former Roma midfielder explaining to reporters at his official unveiling what he had already discovered about life with the Bianconeri.

“Now that I’m inside, I can see and understand why it was always difficult to get in front of them,” the Bosnia international said at his first press conference. “They have the team to keep winning and improve even more. There is a difference from where I was in the past to the present.”

But while this transfer would seemingly be good for both Juventus and Higuain, it would almost certainly be a devastating blow to Napoli and their supporters, who recently adapted the words of a Diego Maradona chant for their new Argentinian idol.

“Oh mamma, mamma, mamma,” they sing at the Stadio San Paolo. “Do you know why my heart is beating? I’ve seen Higuaín.” They might not be so welcoming if he returns there wearing the black and white stripes of their most bitter rivals.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29Ktuhv
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

It is becoming increasingly rare that a transfer rumour still has the power to shock in this era of round-the-clock news, but on Thursday evening a story broke in Italy and sent shockwaves throughout the peninsula.

Media outlets across the country linked Juventus with a move for their rival’s biggest star, Gonzalo Higuain, with some incredible details emerging as the evening developed. According to Sky Italia and Mediaset (h/t Football Italia), the Bianconeri had already agreed to terms with the striker on a four-year contract.

In that same report, both insisted that the Turin giants—while hoping to include the likes of Daniele Rugani, Stefano Sturaro and Simone Zaza—were willing to pay Higuain‘s €94 million release clause should Napoli reject an exchange.

It is here that some confusion arises, however, as La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) insists that the stipulation in the player’s contract expired on June 30, meaning that the Bianconeri would need to negotiate with Napoli.

That would likely prove to be almost impossible given the rivalry between the two clubs, but Gianluca Di Marzio believes the clause remains fully valid. The Italian transfer expert wrote at length about a potential deal on his own website—translated here by David Amoyal—and notes that the fee could even be paid in two annual installments.

Such an arrangement would make a move much more palatable to Juventus, who have been extremely careful with their finances over the past five seasons, investing when they need to but always seeking out good value in the market.

The same is true of Napoli of course, with owner Aurelio Di Laurentiis steering a remarkable turnaround of the club and he is unlikely to allow Higuain to leave without a fight. His son Edoardo told La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t ESPN FC) that the “whole thing is a hoax” and the same Italian newspaper believes the club President is also preparing a counter offer.

According to their reporter Vincenzo D’Angelo (h/t Gazzetta World), Di Laurentiis will attempt to keep Higuain at Napoli with a new contract that will pay him a staggering €7.5 million per season after tax.

Fans of the Partenopei must hope that such a deal is successful, or at least that their owner can force the Argentina international to move abroad because losing him to Juventus would wreck the competitive balance of Serie A irreparably.

This summer has already seen the Bianconeri sign Miralem Pjanic—arguably the best player AS Roma had—and it was only Higuain’s goal scoring that made the league anything resembling a contest last term.

The 29-year-old plundered a staggering 36 goals in 35 appearances, setting a new Serie A record and helping Napoli provide a title challenge that would simply not exist without him. Juventus, already crowned champions in each of the last five seasons, would exert a dominance similar to that currently seen in Germany and France.

Like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, signing Higuain would create a gap between the Bianconeri that domestic opponents simply could not overcome and one which would leave the rest simply fighting for second place.

However, that is arguably of no concern to the Old Lady, who has repeatedly made clear that her aims lie elsewhere in the immediate future as coach Massimiliano Allegri explained in a recent interview with Jtv and the club’s official website:

Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign. And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it. That said, we need to take it steady, work every day and lay the foundations for a great season between now and 31 August, when the campaign gets underway.

Adding a clinical striker like Higuain would undoubtedly help the Juve boss achieve just that, as the former Real Madrid star proved throughout 2015/16. In his history-chasing quest, he found the net with all manner of goals; headers, volleys, tap-ins and snap-shots, eventually sealing his new record with a superb overhead kick.

That rounded off a hat trick on the final day against Frosinone, with the video shown above highlighting the diverse manner in which he amassed that incredible tally. He was helped by the team playing almost exclusively for him, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri’s system designed to get him the ball in a position to score as often as possible.

That resulted in Higuain taking more shots than any player in Europe’s top five leagues other than Cristiano Ronaldo, his 5.2 efforts per game trailing only the Portugal star’s 6.3 according to figures taken from WhoScored.com. The Squawka graphic below shows just how deadly accurate he was with those attempts.

He scored one more league goal than the Real Madrid icon, with his nearest rival in Serie A—none other than Juve’s Paulo Dybala—managing “only” 19 league goals. It was a phenomenal return from Higuain, with Roberto Mancini perhaps giving the most succinct analysis of his impact when he spoke to the Corriere dello Sport back in December.

“In Italy, Higuain is like Messi in La Liga and the Champions League. There’s him and then the rest in Serie A in his wake,” the Inter Milan coach said (h/t ESPN FC). “He scores once or twice a game and can be decisive with every touch he makes.”

Clearly that was the case, yet questions remain over his mental fragility and—aside from his Capocannoniere crown—Higuain still ended the season empty handed. That stark reality brings to mind the words of Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri as his side equalled the club’s previous mark of 12 consecutive victories back in January as they continued their own Scudetto push.

“To me, records don’t matter,” the Livorno native told a press conference. “What’s the point of winning 20 in a row if it doesn’t win you the title?” Allegri asked, and that lack of silverware may yet be what drives Higuain to make this surprising move.

It would be a decision that Miralem Pjanic would certainly sympathise with, the former Roma midfielder explaining to reporters at his official unveiling what he had already discovered about life with the Bianconeri.

“Now that I’m inside, I can see and understand why it was always difficult to get in front of them,” the Bosnia international said at his first press conference. “They have the team to keep winning and improve even more. There is a difference from where I was in the past to the present.”

But while this transfer would seemingly be good for both Juventus and Higuain, it would almost certainly be a devastating blow to Napoli and their supporters, who recently adapted the words of a Diego Maradona chant for their new Argentinian idol.

“Oh mamma, mamma, mamma,” they sing at the Stadio San Paolo. “Do you know why my heart is beating? I’ve seen Higuaín.” They might not be so welcoming if he returns there wearing the black and white stripes of their most bitter rivals.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29Ktuhv
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

It is becoming increasingly rare that a transfer rumour still has the power to shock in this era of round-the-clock news, but on Thursday evening a story broke in Italy and sent shockwaves throughout the peninsula.

Media outlets across the country linked Juventus with a move for their rival’s biggest star, Gonzalo Higuain, with some incredible details emerging as the evening developed. According to Sky Italia and Mediaset (h/t Football Italia), the Bianconeri had already agreed to terms with the striker on a four-year contract.

In that same report, both insisted that the Turin giants—while hoping to include the likes of Daniele Rugani, Stefano Sturaro and Simone Zaza—were willing to pay Higuain‘s €94 million release clause should Napoli reject an exchange.

It is here that some confusion arises, however, as La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) insists that the stipulation in the player’s contract expired on June 30, meaning that the Bianconeri would need to negotiate with Napoli.

That would likely prove to be almost impossible given the rivalry between the two clubs, but Gianluca Di Marzio believes the clause remains fully valid. The Italian transfer expert wrote at length about a potential deal on his own website—translated here by David Amoyal—and notes that the fee could even be paid in two annual installments.

Such an arrangement would make a move much more palatable to Juventus, who have been extremely careful with their finances over the past five seasons, investing when they need to but always seeking out good value in the market.

The same is true of Napoli of course, with owner Aurelio Di Laurentiis steering a remarkable turnaround of the club and he is unlikely to allow Higuain to leave without a fight. His son Edoardo told La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t ESPN FC) that the “whole thing is a hoax” and the same Italian newspaper believes the club President is also preparing a counter offer.

According to their reporter Vincenzo D’Angelo (h/t Gazzetta World), Di Laurentiis will attempt to keep Higuain at Napoli with a new contract that will pay him a staggering €7.5 million per season after tax.

Fans of the Partenopei must hope that such a deal is successful, or at least that their owner can force the Argentina international to move abroad because losing him to Juventus would wreck the competitive balance of Serie A irreparably.

This summer has already seen the Bianconeri sign Miralem Pjanic—arguably the best player AS Roma had—and it was only Higuain’s goal scoring that made the league anything resembling a contest last term.

The 29-year-old plundered a staggering 36 goals in 35 appearances, setting a new Serie A record and helping Napoli provide a title challenge that would simply not exist without him. Juventus, already crowned champions in each of the last five seasons, would exert a dominance similar to that currently seen in Germany and France.

Like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, signing Higuain would create a gap between the Bianconeri that domestic opponents simply could not overcome and one which would leave the rest simply fighting for second place.

However, that is arguably of no concern to the Old Lady, who has repeatedly made clear that her aims lie elsewhere in the immediate future as coach Massimiliano Allegri explained in a recent interview with Jtv and the club’s official website:

Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign. And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it. That said, we need to take it steady, work every day and lay the foundations for a great season between now and 31 August, when the campaign gets underway.

Adding a clinical striker like Higuain would undoubtedly help the Juve boss achieve just that, as the former Real Madrid star proved throughout 2015/16. In his history-chasing quest, he found the net with all manner of goals; headers, volleys, tap-ins and snap-shots, eventually sealing his new record with a superb overhead kick.

That rounded off a hat trick on the final day against Frosinone, with the video shown above highlighting the diverse manner in which he amassed that incredible tally. He was helped by the team playing almost exclusively for him, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri’s system designed to get him the ball in a position to score as often as possible.

That resulted in Higuain taking more shots than any player in Europe’s top five leagues other than Cristiano Ronaldo, his 5.2 efforts per game trailing only the Portugal star’s 6.3 according to figures taken from WhoScored.com. The Squawka graphic below shows just how deadly accurate he was with those attempts.

He scored one more league goal than the Real Madrid icon, with his nearest rival in Serie A—none other than Juve’s Paulo Dybala—managing “only” 19 league goals. It was a phenomenal return from Higuain, with Roberto Mancini perhaps giving the most succinct analysis of his impact when he spoke to the Corriere dello Sport back in December.

“In Italy, Higuain is like Messi in La Liga and the Champions League. There’s him and then the rest in Serie A in his wake,” the Inter Milan coach said (h/t ESPN FC). “He scores once or twice a game and can be decisive with every touch he makes.”

Clearly that was the case, yet questions remain over his mental fragility and—aside from his Capocannoniere crown—Higuain still ended the season empty handed. That stark reality brings to mind the words of Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri as his side equalled the club’s previous mark of 12 consecutive victories back in January as they continued their own Scudetto push.

“To me, records don’t matter,” the Livorno native told a press conference. “What’s the point of winning 20 in a row if it doesn’t win you the title?” Allegri asked, and that lack of silverware may yet be what drives Higuain to make this surprising move.

It would be a decision that Miralem Pjanic would certainly sympathise with, the former Roma midfielder explaining to reporters at his official unveiling what he had already discovered about life with the Bianconeri.

“Now that I’m inside, I can see and understand why it was always difficult to get in front of them,” the Bosnia international said at his first press conference. “They have the team to keep winning and improve even more. There is a difference from where I was in the past to the present.”

But while this transfer would seemingly be good for both Juventus and Higuain, it would almost certainly be a devastating blow to Napoli and their supporters, who recently adapted the words of a Diego Maradona chant for their new Argentinian idol.

“Oh mamma, mamma, mamma,” they sing at the Stadio San Paolo. “Do you know why my heart is beating? I’ve seen Higuaín.” They might not be so welcoming if he returns there wearing the black and white stripes of their most bitter rivals.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29Ktuhv
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

It is becoming increasingly rare that a transfer rumour still has the power to shock in this era of round-the-clock news, but on Thursday evening a story broke in Italy and sent shockwaves throughout the peninsula.

Media outlets across the country linked Juventus with a move for their rival’s biggest star, Gonzalo Higuain, with some incredible details emerging as the evening developed. According to Sky Italia and Mediaset (h/t Football Italia), the Bianconeri had already agreed to terms with the striker on a four-year contract.

In that same report, both insisted that the Turin giants—while hoping to include the likes of Daniele Rugani, Stefano Sturaro and Simone Zaza—were willing to pay Higuain‘s €94 million release clause should Napoli reject an exchange.

It is here that some confusion arises, however, as La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) insists that the stipulation in the player’s contract expired on June 30, meaning that the Bianconeri would need to negotiate with Napoli.

That would likely prove to be almost impossible given the rivalry between the two clubs, but Gianluca Di Marzio believes the clause remains fully valid. The Italian transfer expert wrote at length about a potential deal on his own website—translated here by David Amoyal—and notes that the fee could even be paid in two annual installments.

Such an arrangement would make a move much more palatable to Juventus, who have been extremely careful with their finances over the past five seasons, investing when they need to but always seeking out good value in the market.

The same is true of Napoli of course, with owner Aurelio Di Laurentiis steering a remarkable turnaround of the club and he is unlikely to allow Higuain to leave without a fight. His son Edoardo told La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t ESPN FC) that the “whole thing is a hoax” and the same Italian newspaper believes the club President is also preparing a counter offer.

According to their reporter Vincenzo D’Angelo (h/t Gazzetta World), Di Laurentiis will attempt to keep Higuain at Napoli with a new contract that will pay him a staggering €7.5 million per season after tax.

Fans of the Partenopei must hope that such a deal is successful, or at least that their owner can force the Argentina international to move abroad because losing him to Juventus would wreck the competitive balance of Serie A irreparably.

This summer has already seen the Bianconeri sign Miralem Pjanic—arguably the best player AS Roma had—and it was only Higuain’s goal scoring that made the league anything resembling a contest last term.

The 29-year-old plundered a staggering 36 goals in 35 appearances, setting a new Serie A record and helping Napoli provide a title challenge that would simply not exist without him. Juventus, already crowned champions in each of the last five seasons, would exert a dominance similar to that currently seen in Germany and France.

Like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, signing Higuain would create a gap between the Bianconeri that domestic opponents simply could not overcome and one which would leave the rest simply fighting for second place.

However, that is arguably of no concern to the Old Lady, who has repeatedly made clear that her aims lie elsewhere in the immediate future as coach Massimiliano Allegri explained in a recent interview with Jtv and the club’s official website:

Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign. And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it. That said, we need to take it steady, work every day and lay the foundations for a great season between now and 31 August, when the campaign gets underway.

Adding a clinical striker like Higuain would undoubtedly help the Juve boss achieve just that, as the former Real Madrid star proved throughout 2015/16. In his history-chasing quest, he found the net with all manner of goals; headers, volleys, tap-ins and snap-shots, eventually sealing his new record with a superb overhead kick.

That rounded off a hat trick on the final day against Frosinone, with the video shown above highlighting the diverse manner in which he amassed that incredible tally. He was helped by the team playing almost exclusively for him, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri’s system designed to get him the ball in a position to score as often as possible.

That resulted in Higuain taking more shots than any player in Europe’s top five leagues other than Cristiano Ronaldo, his 5.2 efforts per game trailing only the Portugal star’s 6.3 according to figures taken from WhoScored.com. The Squawka graphic below shows just how deadly accurate he was with those attempts.

He scored one more league goal than the Real Madrid icon, with his nearest rival in Serie A—none other than Juve’s Paulo Dybala—managing “only” 19 league goals. It was a phenomenal return from Higuain, with Roberto Mancini perhaps giving the most succinct analysis of his impact when he spoke to the Corriere dello Sport back in December.

“In Italy, Higuain is like Messi in La Liga and the Champions League. There’s him and then the rest in Serie A in his wake,” the Inter Milan coach said (h/t ESPN FC). “He scores once or twice a game and can be decisive with every touch he makes.”

Clearly that was the case, yet questions remain over his mental fragility and—aside from his Capocannoniere crown—Higuain still ended the season empty handed. That stark reality brings to mind the words of Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri as his side equalled the club’s previous mark of 12 consecutive victories back in January as they continued their own Scudetto push.

“To me, records don’t matter,” the Livorno native told a press conference. “What’s the point of winning 20 in a row if it doesn’t win you the title?” Allegri asked, and that lack of silverware may yet be what drives Higuain to make this surprising move.

It would be a decision that Miralem Pjanic would certainly sympathise with, the former Roma midfielder explaining to reporters at his official unveiling what he had already discovered about life with the Bianconeri.

“Now that I’m inside, I can see and understand why it was always difficult to get in front of them,” the Bosnia international said at his first press conference. “They have the team to keep winning and improve even more. There is a difference from where I was in the past to the present.”

But while this transfer would seemingly be good for both Juventus and Higuain, it would almost certainly be a devastating blow to Napoli and their supporters, who recently adapted the words of a Diego Maradona chant for their new Argentinian idol.

“Oh mamma, mamma, mamma,” they sing at the Stadio San Paolo. “Do you know why my heart is beating? I’ve seen Higuaín.” They might not be so welcoming if he returns there wearing the black and white stripes of their most bitter rivals.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29Ktuhv
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

It is becoming increasingly rare that a transfer rumour still has the power to shock in this era of round-the-clock news, but on Thursday evening a story broke in Italy and sent shockwaves throughout the peninsula.

Media outlets across the country linked Juventus with a move for their rival’s biggest star, Gonzalo Higuain, with some incredible details emerging as the evening developed. According to Sky Italia and Mediaset (h/t Football Italia), the Bianconeri had already agreed to terms with the striker on a four-year contract.

In that same report, both insisted that the Turin giants—while hoping to include the likes of Daniele Rugani, Stefano Sturaro and Simone Zaza—were willing to pay Higuain‘s €94 million release clause should Napoli reject an exchange.

It is here that some confusion arises, however, as La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) insists that the stipulation in the player’s contract expired on June 30, meaning that the Bianconeri would need to negotiate with Napoli.

That would likely prove to be almost impossible given the rivalry between the two clubs, but Gianluca Di Marzio believes the clause remains fully valid. The Italian transfer expert wrote at length about a potential deal on his own website—translated here by David Amoyal—and notes that the fee could even be paid in two annual installments.

Such an arrangement would make a move much more palatable to Juventus, who have been extremely careful with their finances over the past five seasons, investing when they need to but always seeking out good value in the market.

The same is true of Napoli of course, with owner Aurelio Di Laurentiis steering a remarkable turnaround of the club and he is unlikely to allow Higuain to leave without a fight. His son Edoardo told La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t ESPN FC) that the “whole thing is a hoax” and the same Italian newspaper believes the club President is also preparing a counter offer.

According to their reporter Vincenzo D’Angelo (h/t Gazzetta World), Di Laurentiis will attempt to keep Higuain at Napoli with a new contract that will pay him a staggering €7.5 million per season after tax.

Fans of the Partenopei must hope that such a deal is successful, or at least that their owner can force the Argentina international to move abroad because losing him to Juventus would wreck the competitive balance of Serie A irreparably.

This summer has already seen the Bianconeri sign Miralem Pjanic—arguably the best player AS Roma had—and it was only Higuain’s goal scoring that made the league anything resembling a contest last term.

The 29-year-old plundered a staggering 36 goals in 35 appearances, setting a new Serie A record and helping Napoli provide a title challenge that would simply not exist without him. Juventus, already crowned champions in each of the last five seasons, would exert a dominance similar to that currently seen in Germany and France.

Like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, signing Higuain would create a gap between the Bianconeri that domestic opponents simply could not overcome and one which would leave the rest simply fighting for second place.

However, that is arguably of no concern to the Old Lady, who has repeatedly made clear that her aims lie elsewhere in the immediate future as coach Massimiliano Allegri explained in a recent interview with Jtv and the club’s official website:

Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign. And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it. That said, we need to take it steady, work every day and lay the foundations for a great season between now and 31 August, when the campaign gets underway.

Adding a clinical striker like Higuain would undoubtedly help the Juve boss achieve just that, as the former Real Madrid star proved throughout 2015/16. In his history-chasing quest, he found the net with all manner of goals; headers, volleys, tap-ins and snap-shots, eventually sealing his new record with a superb overhead kick.

That rounded off a hat trick on the final day against Frosinone, with the video shown above highlighting the diverse manner in which he amassed that incredible tally. He was helped by the team playing almost exclusively for him, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri’s system designed to get him the ball in a position to score as often as possible.

That resulted in Higuain taking more shots than any player in Europe’s top five leagues other than Cristiano Ronaldo, his 5.2 efforts per game trailing only the Portugal star’s 6.3 according to figures taken from WhoScored.com. The Squawka graphic below shows just how deadly accurate he was with those attempts.

He scored one more league goal than the Real Madrid icon, with his nearest rival in Serie A—none other than Juve’s Paulo Dybala—managing “only” 19 league goals. It was a phenomenal return from Higuain, with Roberto Mancini perhaps giving the most succinct analysis of his impact when he spoke to the Corriere dello Sport back in December.

“In Italy, Higuain is like Messi in La Liga and the Champions League. There’s him and then the rest in Serie A in his wake,” the Inter Milan coach said (h/t ESPN FC). “He scores once or twice a game and can be decisive with every touch he makes.”

Clearly that was the case, yet questions remain over his mental fragility and—aside from his Capocannoniere crown—Higuain still ended the season empty handed. That stark reality brings to mind the words of Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri as his side equalled the club’s previous mark of 12 consecutive victories back in January as they continued their own Scudetto push.

“To me, records don’t matter,” the Livorno native told a press conference. “What’s the point of winning 20 in a row if it doesn’t win you the title?” Allegri asked, and that lack of silverware may yet be what drives Higuain to make this surprising move.

It would be a decision that Miralem Pjanic would certainly sympathise with, the former Roma midfielder explaining to reporters at his official unveiling what he had already discovered about life with the Bianconeri.

“Now that I’m inside, I can see and understand why it was always difficult to get in front of them,” the Bosnia international said at his first press conference. “They have the team to keep winning and improve even more. There is a difference from where I was in the past to the present.”

But while this transfer would seemingly be good for both Juventus and Higuain, it would almost certainly be a devastating blow to Napoli and their supporters, who recently adapted the words of a Diego Maradona chant for their new Argentinian idol.

“Oh mamma, mamma, mamma,” they sing at the Stadio San Paolo. “Do you know why my heart is beating? I’ve seen Higuaín.” They might not be so welcoming if he returns there wearing the black and white stripes of their most bitter rivals.

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Barcelona’s chances of landing Atletico Madrid forward Luciano Vietto have reportedly suffered a major blow, with the player said to be close to moving to Sevilla on loan. 

That’s according to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, who has stated the striker is on the brink of a switch to Andalusia, despite interest from Barca. “Sevilla have acted quickly to convince the 22-year-old that he’ll receive the assurances of playing time during the upcoming season and thus preventing Barca from swooping in and scuppering the deal,” it’s noted.

According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana) the forward’s agent, Jorge Czyterspiller, has been in negotiations with Barcelona about a move. It’s reported that both a loan deal and a permanent transfer were options, and the player was keen to join to play alongside Lionel Messi.

Vietto is a gifted footballer who shone at Villarreal before making his move to Atletico. Here is a look at what he is capable of at his very best:

Atletico boss Diego Simeone seemed like an ideal mentor for Vietto, but his move to the Vicente Calderon didn’t yield a prosperous debut term. Indeed, the Argentina youth international netted a solitary goal in his first season at the football club in 19 La Liga appearances. 

As we can see here, Sport (h/t Sergi Dominguez) had previously suggested Vietto was one of four options Barcelona were considering as support for Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez:

The club’s sporting director, Robert Fernandez, has also revealed they are looking at landing a forward ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. 

“There has been a lot of speculation, and it’s true that in terms of signing a forward there are two lines we could follow: sign a young player or sign a more experienced one,” he said, per Sport. “We are analysing both options, and we won’t take long to choose what’s best for the club. We’re studying it.”

One option for the future could well be Brazilian prospect Gabriel Jesus, who is said to have held talks with both Barca and their great rivals Real Madrid about a transfer.

That’s according to Sport, which reported the Palmeiras sporting director Alexandre Mattos will speak with both clubs about a transfer after arriving in Spain. Barcelona are said to be keen to sign Jesus before sending him back to Palmeiras on loan. Here is a look at why some of Europe’s elite clubs are courting the player:

Inter Milan are also tipped as possible suitors, although Real are said to be Barca’s “main threat” when it comes to securing the 19-year-old. 

While Jesus may not be ready for the first team at the Camp Nou yet, it’s important the club considers the next generation who’ll be tasked with taking over from the likes of Messi and Suarez. The teenager has a long way to go before reaching those standards, although his potential is sky high.

Football journalist Rafael Hernandez has been impressed with the progression of the forward during his recent outings:

Should Jesus come in, it’s clear he’s not quite ready to play a supporting role to the aforementioned illustrious trio. So Barcelona would need to bring in another versatile forward who could potentially fill in.

It’s a tricky deal to get done as no elite striker will likely want to join a club knowing he’ll be a back-up option to arguably the finest attacking setup the game has ever seen. As a result, the Blaugrana may have their work cut out getting a top-class name through the door.

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Barcelona’s chances of landing Atletico Madrid forward Luciano Vietto have reportedly suffered a major blow, with the player said to be close to moving to Sevilla on loan. 

That’s according to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, who has stated the striker is on the brink of a switch to Andalusia, despite interest from Barca. “Sevilla have acted quickly to convince the 22-year-old that he’ll receive the assurances of playing time during the upcoming season and thus preventing Barca from swooping in and scuppering the deal,” it’s noted.

According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana) the forward’s agent, Jorge Czyterspiller, has been in negotiations with Barcelona about a move. It’s reported that both a loan deal and a permanent transfer were options, and the player was keen to join to play alongside Lionel Messi.

Vietto is a gifted footballer who shone at Villarreal before making his move to Atletico. Here is a look at what he is capable of at his very best:

Atletico boss Diego Simeone seemed like an ideal mentor for Vietto, but his move to the Vicente Calderon didn’t yield a prosperous debut term. Indeed, the Argentina youth international netted a solitary goal in his first season at the football club in 19 La Liga appearances. 

As we can see here, Sport (h/t Sergi Dominguez) had previously suggested Vietto was one of four options Barcelona were considering as support for Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez:

The club’s sporting director, Robert Fernandez, has also revealed they are looking at landing a forward ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. 

“There has been a lot of speculation, and it’s true that in terms of signing a forward there are two lines we could follow: sign a young player or sign a more experienced one,” he said, per Sport. “We are analysing both options, and we won’t take long to choose what’s best for the club. We’re studying it.”

One option for the future could well be Brazilian prospect Gabriel Jesus, who is said to have held talks with both Barca and their great rivals Real Madrid about a transfer.

That’s according to Sport, which reported the Palmeiras sporting director Alexandre Mattos will speak with both clubs about a transfer after arriving in Spain. Barcelona are said to be keen to sign Jesus before sending him back to Palmeiras on loan. Here is a look at why some of Europe’s elite clubs are courting the player:

Inter Milan are also tipped as possible suitors, although Real are said to be Barca’s “main threat” when it comes to securing the 19-year-old. 

While Jesus may not be ready for the first team at the Camp Nou yet, it’s important the club considers the next generation who’ll be tasked with taking over from the likes of Messi and Suarez. The teenager has a long way to go before reaching those standards, although his potential is sky high.

Football journalist Rafael Hernandez has been impressed with the progression of the forward during his recent outings:

Should Jesus come in, it’s clear he’s not quite ready to play a supporting role to the aforementioned illustrious trio. So Barcelona would need to bring in another versatile forward who could potentially fill in.

It’s a tricky deal to get done as no elite striker will likely want to join a club knowing he’ll be a back-up option to arguably the finest attacking setup the game has ever seen. As a result, the Blaugrana may have their work cut out getting a top-class name through the door.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29Tzg17
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Barcelona’s chances of landing Atletico Madrid forward Luciano Vietto have reportedly suffered a major blow, with the player said to be close to moving to Sevilla on loan. 

That’s according to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, who has stated the striker is on the brink of a switch to Andalusia, despite interest from Barca. “Sevilla have acted quickly to convince the 22-year-old that he’ll receive the assurances of playing time during the upcoming season and thus preventing Barca from swooping in and scuppering the deal,” it’s noted.

According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana) the forward’s agent, Jorge Czyterspiller, has been in negotiations with Barcelona about a move. It’s reported that both a loan deal and a permanent transfer were options, and the player was keen to join to play alongside Lionel Messi.

Vietto is a gifted footballer who shone at Villarreal before making his move to Atletico. Here is a look at what he is capable of at his very best:

Atletico boss Diego Simeone seemed like an ideal mentor for Vietto, but his move to the Vicente Calderon didn’t yield a prosperous debut term. Indeed, the Argentina youth international netted a solitary goal in his first season at the football club in 19 La Liga appearances. 

As we can see here, Sport (h/t Sergi Dominguez) had previously suggested Vietto was one of four options Barcelona were considering as support for Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez:

The club’s sporting director, Robert Fernandez, has also revealed they are looking at landing a forward ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. 

“There has been a lot of speculation, and it’s true that in terms of signing a forward there are two lines we could follow: sign a young player or sign a more experienced one,” he said, per Sport. “We are analysing both options, and we won’t take long to choose what’s best for the club. We’re studying it.”

One option for the future could well be Brazilian prospect Gabriel Jesus, who is said to have held talks with both Barca and their great rivals Real Madrid about a transfer.

That’s according to Sport, which reported the Palmeiras sporting director Alexandre Mattos will speak with both clubs about a transfer after arriving in Spain. Barcelona are said to be keen to sign Jesus before sending him back to Palmeiras on loan. Here is a look at why some of Europe’s elite clubs are courting the player:

Inter Milan are also tipped as possible suitors, although Real are said to be Barca’s “main threat” when it comes to securing the 19-year-old. 

While Jesus may not be ready for the first team at the Camp Nou yet, it’s important the club considers the next generation who’ll be tasked with taking over from the likes of Messi and Suarez. The teenager has a long way to go before reaching those standards, although his potential is sky high.

Football journalist Rafael Hernandez has been impressed with the progression of the forward during his recent outings:

Should Jesus come in, it’s clear he’s not quite ready to play a supporting role to the aforementioned illustrious trio. So Barcelona would need to bring in another versatile forward who could potentially fill in.

It’s a tricky deal to get done as no elite striker will likely want to join a club knowing he’ll be a back-up option to arguably the finest attacking setup the game has ever seen. As a result, the Blaugrana may have their work cut out getting a top-class name through the door.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29Tzg17
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Barcelona’s chances of landing Atletico Madrid forward Luciano Vietto have reportedly suffered a major blow, with the player said to be close to moving to Sevilla on loan. 

That’s according to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, who has stated the striker is on the brink of a switch to Andalusia, despite interest from Barca. “Sevilla have acted quickly to convince the 22-year-old that he’ll receive the assurances of playing time during the upcoming season and thus preventing Barca from swooping in and scuppering the deal,” it’s noted.

According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana) the forward’s agent, Jorge Czyterspiller, has been in negotiations with Barcelona about a move. It’s reported that both a loan deal and a permanent transfer were options, and the player was keen to join to play alongside Lionel Messi.

Vietto is a gifted footballer who shone at Villarreal before making his move to Atletico. Here is a look at what he is capable of at his very best:

Atletico boss Diego Simeone seemed like an ideal mentor for Vietto, but his move to the Vicente Calderon didn’t yield a prosperous debut term. Indeed, the Argentina youth international netted a solitary goal in his first season at the football club in 19 La Liga appearances. 

As we can see here, Sport (h/t Sergi Dominguez) had previously suggested Vietto was one of four options Barcelona were considering as support for Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez:

The club’s sporting director, Robert Fernandez, has also revealed they are looking at landing a forward ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. 

“There has been a lot of speculation, and it’s true that in terms of signing a forward there are two lines we could follow: sign a young player or sign a more experienced one,” he said, per Sport. “We are analysing both options, and we won’t take long to choose what’s best for the club. We’re studying it.”

One option for the future could well be Brazilian prospect Gabriel Jesus, who is said to have held talks with both Barca and their great rivals Real Madrid about a transfer.

That’s according to Sport, which reported the Palmeiras sporting director Alexandre Mattos will speak with both clubs about a transfer after arriving in Spain. Barcelona are said to be keen to sign Jesus before sending him back to Palmeiras on loan. Here is a look at why some of Europe’s elite clubs are courting the player:

Inter Milan are also tipped as possible suitors, although Real are said to be Barca’s “main threat” when it comes to securing the 19-year-old. 

While Jesus may not be ready for the first team at the Camp Nou yet, it’s important the club considers the next generation who’ll be tasked with taking over from the likes of Messi and Suarez. The teenager has a long way to go before reaching those standards, although his potential is sky high.

Football journalist Rafael Hernandez has been impressed with the progression of the forward during his recent outings:

Should Jesus come in, it’s clear he’s not quite ready to play a supporting role to the aforementioned illustrious trio. So Barcelona would need to bring in another versatile forward who could potentially fill in.

It’s a tricky deal to get done as no elite striker will likely want to join a club knowing he’ll be a back-up option to arguably the finest attacking setup the game has ever seen. As a result, the Blaugrana may have their work cut out getting a top-class name through the door.

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