Giampiero Ventura joked that he will manage Chelsea when Antonio Conte eventually departs as the new Italy boss attempts to fill the void left by his good luck charm .
Ventura took charge of the national team after Conte left for Premier League side Chelsea following Italy s quarter-final run at Euro 2016, and the pair have shared similar paths in Italian football.
After Conte guided Bari to promotion from Serie B in 2008-09, Ventura was appointed at the Stadio San Nicola and as the 68-year-old attempts to replicate the success of his predecessor, he hopes to continue following in the footsteps of the former.
I managed Bari after he won the Serie B title there and everybody was in love with him there, Ventura told reporters.
Conte is a good luck charm f…
Bruno Fernandes has commended Erik ten Hag for instilling a style and the requisite discipline at Manchester United, comparing the Dutchman s early approach to that of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
The former Ajax boss succeeded interim predecessor Ralf Rangnick at the end of the last Premier League campaign and spent the pre-season looking to reshape the Old Trafford club following a dire 2021-22 term.
After something of a tough transfer window, a poor start to the new season saw Ten Hag drop captain Harry Maguire and left-back Luke Shaw – and since then, United have gone unbeaten domestically, lying fifth before the international break.
Reflecting on what Ten Hag has brought to the club over the past few months, Fernandes says he has enforced his plans wit…
New Zealand winger Ronaldo Mulitalo is hoping to emulate his namesake Cristiano Ronaldo – who he is named after – when the 2021 Rugby League World Cup gets under way this month.
The Cronulla Sharks winger is making his tournament bow with Michael Maguire s Kiwis, as the world number one-ranked nation look to dethrone holders Australia and hosts England among others over the next few weeks.
While New Zealand will raise the curtain on their campaign in Group C against Lebanon at Warrington s Halliwell Jones Stadium, it is up the road at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, where the final will take place.
Mulitalo is aiming to guide his side to the November 19 showpiece, revealing his name is indeed inspired by the Portuguese talisman who calls it home,…
FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Ecuador over the potential use of an ineligible player in their successful World Cup qualifying campaign.
Chile last week asked the world football governing body to investigate allegations that right-back Byron Castillo is actually Colombian and not eligible to represent Ecuador.
Castillo played eight times for Ecuador in South American qualifying, including a goalless draw with Chile in September and a 2-0 victory in November.
La Roja finished seventh, meaning they just missed out on a play-off spot, but believe Ecuador should be expelled from the quadrennial competition.
And FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that it is looking into the recent complaint made by the Federacion de Futbol de Chile.
The stat…
Sevilla are interested in signing Barcelona forward Memphis Depay on a free in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the former Manchester United player wants Barcelona to release him from his contract in the middle of the season, and La Liga rivals Sevilla want to secure his services on a free transfer.
Depay moved to Barcelona on a free transfer from Lyon in the summer of 2021. The Dutchman did well when he initially moved to Camp Nou, but he has lost his place in the starting lineup now and is not guaranteed a place in the starting lineup. Depay scored 12 goals and gave two assists in 20 La Liga starts last season, and has scored one goal in two La Liga matches so far this campaign.
Barcelona are at the top of the La Liga table at th…
Sergio Ramos late goal in Real Madrid s Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid in 2014 may have altered the history of European football, according to Luka Modric.
Madrid trailed to Diego Godin s opener when Ramos forced extra time with a dramatic 93rd-minute header at Estadio da Luz.
Gareth Bale put Carlo Ancelotti s side in front and further goals followed from Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo to seal a 4-1 victory in Lisbon.
It was Madrid s 10th European Cup known as La Decima but their first in 12 years after a series of near misses.
Victoria, gol, y líderes.
— Luka Modrić (@lukamodric10)
The Spanish giants have since added three more Champions Leagues to their collection, but Modric is unsure whether it would have be…
Neither Liverpool nor Napoli could secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League as Jurgen Klopp s side drew 1-1 with their Italian visitors at Anfield.
The Reds – whose only previous defeat in all competitions this season came against Napoli in September – wanted a victory to secure top spot in Group E with a match to spare.
Yet it was Napoli, also wanting a win to ensure their progression, who took the lead thanks to Dries Mertens composed 21st-minute finish.
Roberto Firmino missed two big chances to equalise, though it was Dejan Lovren who proved the unlikely hero for the Premier League leaders with a towering header as the points were shared in Klopp s 100th European match as a coach.
Liverpool were dealt a blow in the 19th minute,…
Liverpool missed the chance to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League as they let slip a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Sevilla.
Roberto Firmino scored twice the Brazilian breaking the deadlock inside two minutes and Sadio Mane also found the net as Jurgen Klopp s side coasted into 3-0 half-time lead in the battle between the top two in Group E.
However, a second-half meltdown, triggered by two mistakes from former Sevilla defender Alberto Moreno, saw Liverpool let a seemingly certain victory slip from their grasp.
Wissam Ben Yedder struck twice after the break, heading home a free-kick before converting a penalty, as Sevilla fought back valiantly against the same opponents they defeated in the 2016 Europa League final.
The visitors looked …
Tiemoue Bakayoko is hopeful he can help AC Milan qualify for the Champions League this season to help secure a permanent move from Chelsea.
The France international joined Milan on loan at the start of the campaign, with the Italian club also having an option to buy the player for a reported €35million fee.
Bakayoko has enjoyed his time in Serie A so far after struggling to make an impact at Stamford Bridge. The former Monaco midfielder admits he wants to remain at San Siro beyond this season.
It s my dream [to stay], the thought fixed in my mind, he told Corriere dello Sport. But I have a contract with Chelsea.
[Milan chief] Leonardo says the deal is tied to the Champions League. I m not in a position to talk about it. I just want to…
Fabio Borini has completed a move to AC Milan in what is likely to prove one of the most surprising signings of the close-season.
The forward gets his transfer to the seven-time European champions despite only scoring two Premier League goals last season as Sunderland finished bottom of the table and suffered relegation.
Even though he has a relatively poor scoring record, Borini can now boast a CV that includes some of Europe s biggest clubs – Milan, Chelsea, Liverpool and Roma.
Here, we look at five of the best other WTF transfers from the modern era.
JULIEN FAUBERT TO REAL MADRID
In a signing that will always rank among the most bizarre, the wide man swapped West Ham for Real Madrid on a reported £1.5million loan deal in 2009, the Spanish giant…