A dreadful week in Europe for British teams only got worse on Thursday, as Everton were the only club to advance from the Europa League round of 32 thanks to their 3-1 (7-2 on aggregate) win over Young Boys.

Liverpool bowed out of the tournament to Besiktas on penalties, Tottenham Hotspur lost to Fiorentina 2-0 (3-1 on aggregate) and Celtic had little chance of causing an upset against Inter Milan, dropping their match 1-0 (4-3 on aggregate).    

The Toffees will know their round-of-16 opponent on Friday. Here are the full results for the return legs from the round of 32:

Just one day after Arsenal’s 3-1 loss against Monaco in the Champions League, the European misery for British teams continued. Liverpool couldn’t defend their 1-0 lead from the first leg against Besiktas, losing 1-0 in regulation to set up extra time and penalties.

During the shootout, Dejan Lovren skied his attempt over the bar, handing the Turks a ticket to the next round. Sportswriter Paul Tomkins didn’t hold it against the centre-back, but questioned why he was chosen to kick the decisive penalty in the first place:

In fairness to Besiktas, the hosts were the better team for large stretches of the match and deservedly took the lead through Tolgay Arslan. Demba Ba came close to winning the match in regulation for the Turks, and none of their players faltered from the spot.

The result sent a massive cheer around Goodison Park, where Everton were playing Young Boys after their big win in Switzerland. Goal UK’s James Dutton knows this is a day that will live on in Toffee lore:

Everton knew they didn’t have to do much on Thursday after winning the first leg 4-1, and with Romelu Lukaku bagging a brace and Kevin Mirallas adding a goal in the first half, progression was never in question for the Toffees, to the delight of former England international Gary Lineker:

The second half saw little action as both teams knew the tie was over, allowing Roberto Martinez’s men to simply play the ball around and do what no other British team could do in the Europa League on Thursday—win a match.

Tottenham marched into Florence looking for at least one goal after the 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane, but after a promising first half, the hosts completely took control of the match and scored twice to end any hopes Spurs had of advancing.

Things could have been very different had Roberto Soldado done better when through on goal with Nacer Chadli next to him. The Spaniard panicked and turned a sure goal into a weak pass that dribbled into the arms of Neto. BT Sport’s Ian Darke noted mistakes like that sealed the club’s fate:

Manager Mauricio Pochettino couldn’t hide his disappointment:

Celtic did a fantastic job holding Inter to a 3-3 draw last week in a spectacular match, but an early red card for Virgil van Dijk all but gifted the Italians the tie. The Scots hardly threatened throughout the match, and Fredy Guarin took away all suspense with a stunning goal from range.

Sports writer Brian McNally thought the first booking was very harsh on the Dutchman:

The match between Feyenoord and AS Roma was briefly suspended on multiple occasions as the home fans threw objects onto the pitch throughout the fixture. Amid much controversy, the Giallorossi won 2-1, as all five Italian teams advanced to the round of 16.

Ajax waltzed to an easy 3-0 win over Legia Warsaw, while Villarreal overcame a strong challenge from Salzburg to win 3-1 and move on to the next round. Zenit St. Petersburg dominated PSV, and Sevilla edged Borussia Monchengladbach in a spectacular match, winning 3-2.

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After Matthew Upson’s late own goal against Everton cost Leicester City a much needed win on Sunday, the odds are stacked against the Foxes avoiding the drop. However, in Andrej Kramaric and Esteban Cambiasso, Leicester have what they need to ensure Premier League survival.

There’s no denying that the three points Leicester were so close to securing at Goodison Park would have helped immeasurably in the run-in to the end of the season.

The Foxes are bottom of the table and now four points adrift.

With away trips to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in March, it’s not getting any easier for Nigel Pearson’s side to claw their way to safety. 

Nevertheless, there are encouraging signs for Leicester, starting with their record-signing Kramaric.

The £9.5 million man arrived in January having scored 28 goals in 31 appearances for Rijeka this season, including seven in the UEFA Europa League. 

Leicester have often played well but paid the price for not taking their chances. The prolific Kramaric can add the clinical edge they need to start turning these performances into wins.

Since arriving, the Croatian is already off the mark with two goals, including this perfectly placed header against Aston Villa in the FA Cup:

This is very important as foreign players often take time to acclimatise to the Premier League. In finding the net already, the 23-year-old has eased the pressure placed on himself considerably.

Of course, the pressure of his price tag and the need to keep City in the league still weigh heavily, but breaking your duck can often be a big obstacle for new signings. 

Kramaric has also demonstrated more to offer than just goals.

The striker boasts a passing accuracy of 84 percent in his five league showings (h/t Squawka), bettered only by Andy King, of the players who have made the same number of appearances or more.

Kramaric is yet to make a key pass for his new side in the league, but he has impressed with his link-up play. In his recent performance against Arsenal (below), the forward looked comfortable in possession and brought others into play. 

To get the most out of Kramaric, manager Pearson may need to rethink his 5-4-1 formation of recent weeks.

The formation has left Kramaric isolated up front, causing the Croatian to drop deep in order to involve himself in play, effectively leaving the Foxes strikerless. As you can see from his heat map against Everton (h/t Squawka), Kramaric spent little time where he is needed most—the penalty area.

Partnering him with Leonardo Ulloa or Jamie Vardy—devastatingly effective on Sunday—would give him an outlet to feed off and give the team a body in the box to finish chances.

Leicester’s other ace in the hole is Cambiasso, who put in a man-of-the-match performance against Everton.

The classy midfielder is the most decorated footballer in Argentinian history, having won La Liga with Real Madrid, and five Serie A titles and the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan.

The 34-year-old has been a consistent performer despite his advancing years, and has had a profound effect on his team-mates.

Foxes first-team coach Kevin Phillips revealed to Sky Sports on Cambiasso‘s arrival that injured players had taken their exercise bikes outside just to watch him train.

Further, Dean Jones of the Mirror reports the veteran as getting involved in discussions with Pearson over the team setup and helping the players adjust to top-flight football.

Speaking to the Leicester Mercury, fellow midfielder Matty James is full of praise for Cambiasso and his positive influence on the team:

“It is really good playing with him and you learn a lot from him. Being the player he is and where he has come from, you can’t help but learn from him.”

A player of Cambiasso‘s almost unrivalled experience is something none of Leicester’s relegation rivals can boast, and this can inspire the Foxes as they approach the end of the season.

Leicester are playing better than table suggests. Though they have lost 16 games, nine were by just one goal and none by more than two.

Despite Man City and Spurs looming, the Foxes also have winnable games coming up. Trips to West Brom and Burnley in April will be crucial.

Importantly, four of their last five games are at the King Power. With the supporters right behind them and the team fighting for their lives, the stage is set for Leicester to perform what would be one of the most memorable great escapes.

With Kramaric and Cambiasso leading the charge, it will be all smiles in Leicester on May 24.

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Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero says Palermo chief Maurizio Zamparini “made death threats” and “threatened to kill” him during a text message exchange about the potential transfer of Paraguay midfielder Edgar Barreto.

Ferrero—who recently received a three-month ban after referring to Inter Milan’s Indonesian owner Erick Thohir as “that Filipino,” per Football Italia—spoke to Sky Sport Italia (h/t The Guardian) about Zamparini’s alleged comments:

Zamparini insulted me, made death threats and now he is frankly going over the line. I received a three-month ban for making a joke, so now I expect the justice system to intervene, because I am fed up with him.

He gets publicity for himself by insulting me. Enough with the insults. I called him to ask about Barreto and he threatened to kill me!

Ferrero continued, suggesting Zamparini needs to change his attitude, per The Guardian:

Zamparini needs to take a long hard look at himself and think of how many players he has taken away from others in an ungentlemanly manner. I called him and said there could be this negotiation with Barreto, but I respect old men and therefore he should stay calm. I get on with all presidents who aren’t mean. Every now and then Zamparini loses his head.

Zamparini has denied these allegations and suggests he has kept proof of the conversation. “Ferrero is insane. I never threatened to kill anyone,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t The Guardian). “I have the messages stored. I told him not to talk to Barreto until we have discussed the renewal and I wrote: ‘Bravo, you’ll look on the bank of the river.’ This is certainly not a threat.”

The relationship between the pair is perhaps frayed due to both clubs currently competing for a spot in the Europa League. Sampdoria are seventh with 35 points in Serie A, while Palermo have played a game extra and currently reside two points from this position. Both teams have aspirations to make fifth, currently occupied by Fiorentina on 39 points.

Two 1-1 draws have been played out between the clubs this campaign, with Barreto grabbing an assist in the Jan. 25 fixture, per WhoScored.com. Highlights of this match can be seen below:

Alongside the partnership of Paulo Dybala and Franco Vazquez, captain Barreto has played an important role in Palermo’s push up the table. The 30-year-old midfielder has scored twice, provided five assists and averages 3.2 tackles per match this season, per WhoScored, a snapshot of his ability to control the centre.

He has so far “refused” to sign a new contract—his current deal runs out in the summer of 2016—a factor which continues to see him linked with Palermo’s rivals, reported by Football Italia.

While Ferrero appears keen to land the Paraguay player, it seems heated discussions are likely to continue if a deal is to go ahead.

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Brazil legend Ronaldo has confirmed that he will come out of retirement to play for the North American Soccer League’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the club at which he is a part owner.  

The 38-year-old suggested back in January he was aiming to turn out for the club, per Sports Illustrated‘s Grant Wahl, and he is now in training, eyeing an appearance in the end-of-season play-offs in November.

As reported by The Guardian, the former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker has not played for four years—since he finished his playing days at Brazilian club Corinthians in 2011—but he is clearly eager to get back into action: “It’s going to happen. I have already said so. But it’s going to be a bit later, in the play-offs. For now, we are organising it all, but I am going to have a [weight] goal.”

Ronaldo is now a name more associated with Real’s superstar forward Cristiano. But the original Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of recent times, and his return will likely be welcomed by many, although some are also questioning the decision, per Goal USA’s Jon Arnold:

The two-time World Cup winner was beset with fitness concerns and weight issues in his career, and he will have to work incredibly hard to get in shape to contribute significantly for Fort Lauderdale.

But Ronaldo is unquestionably a legend of the game, and his return would bring terrific publicity to the NASL, as well as a touch of greatness. 

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Brazil legend Ronaldo has confirmed that he will come out of retirement to play for the North American Soccer League’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the club at which he is a part owner.  

The 38-year-old suggested back in January he was aiming to turn out for the club, per Sports Illustrated‘s Grant Wahl, and he is now in training, eyeing an appearance in the end-of-season play-offs in November.

As reported by The Guardian, the former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker has not played for four years—since he finished his playing days at Brazilian club Corinthians in 2011—but he is clearly eager to get back into action: “It’s going to happen. I have already said so. But it’s going to be a bit later, in the play-offs. For now, we are organising it all, but I am going to have a [weight] goal.”

Ronaldo is now a name more associated with Real’s superstar forward Cristiano. But the original Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of recent times, and his return will likely be welcomed by many, although some are also questioning the decision, per Goal USA’s Jon Arnold:

The two-time World Cup winner was beset with fitness concerns and weight issues in his career, and he will have to work incredibly hard to get in shape to contribute significantly for Fort Lauderdale.

But Ronaldo is unquestionably a legend of the game, and his return would bring terrific publicity to the NASL, as well as a touch of greatness. 

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Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has admitted he would like to play in the Premier League “one day,” a revelation which could catch the attention of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Busquets is due to face Manchester City on Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium, a Champions League tie which will go a long way to deciding who Chelsea could face later in the competition (if they overcome Paris Saint-Germain). He is proud to carry out Barca‘s patrolling work, but he admits he could be tempted into an eventual change, reported by Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail:

Perhaps when you play the same style of football for many years you can tire of it and the football in England is very different. I can’t say I’ll definitely play there because I’ve always said that I want to be here for many years but I would like to experience the Premier League one day.

Chelsea were among those to be linked to Busquets throughout the January transfer window. The controlling midfielder has been a vital cog in Barca‘s era of success and is the type of player whose influence is easy to overlook. However, Busquets‘ quality in possession, eye for a pass and ability to track play has seen him widely recognised as one of the world’s best in his particular role.

Mourinho currently deploys the more physical presence of Nemanja Matic in Chelsea’s destructive midfield role, with Cesc Fabregas and either Oscar or Ramires performing multi-functional tasks in front of him.

Speculation suggesting Busquets could move to Stamford Bridge may have never arrived if Ramires‘ recent return to form happened earlier, as the Brazilian is now performing with the tireless vigour which makes him a potential match-winner.

Busquets isn’t too dissimilar to Manchester United’s Michael Carrick. He could succeed in the Premier League without altering his game, as those long strides up the pitch and willingness to wait for play to develop before passing makes him an effective conductor on the halfway line. Like Carrick’s importance to the Red Devils, Barca never quite muster the same control when Busquets is absent.

His comments are sure to grab the interest of the Premier League’s elite. Chelsea are also said to be interested in Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi, a player who is reportedly “demanding” a new contract “worth triple his current salary” to remain at the San Siro, per Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard.

Collomosse noted Chelsea’s interest and suggests Icardi wants £100,000 per week to stay in Italy, something there is a “chance” Inter will refuse. The Argentinian striker has netted 13 Serie A goals this season, per WhoScored.com, but is a prime candidate to be sold with the club “under pressure” to meet UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations, per Collomosse.

Although David Amoyal, writer on behalf of Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, suggests a new contract won’t “close the door” on Icardi‘s potential departure, he details how a new investment could keep the player at the club:

One of the issues complicating the negotiating is how the marketing rights will be split. There is an important update on the subject: as reported by Fabrizio Romano, Icardi‘s entourage led by Abian Moreno is close to reaching an agreement with an important sponsor from China. The Asian market is very important to Inter, and the club is trying to capitalize on the striker’s appeal.

Amoyal suggests Inter could increase their offer to “well over €2 million euro after taxes per season to Icardi” if this deal goes through. This would still fall short of his alleged desires, however.

Icardi‘s transfer would likely rank among the costliest of the summer. B/R UK’s Ryan Bailey and Matteo Bonetti recently analysed a few deals which could compete:

Chelsea’s squad appears well stacked right now. Mourinho has strength-in-depth and world-class quality in every position to enjoy. While Busquets‘ quality could improve any side in the world, Icardi would likely have to fight for his place under Diego Costa.

Both transfers appear unlikely, despite the quality of the individuals who may be tempted to move.

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