Following the news that Real Madrid will be banned from signing players in the next two transfer windows, we examine five possible consequences of the Spanish giants breaching FIFA regulations.
Ronaldo s Real dream to continue
It would not be a transfer window without talking about a possible switch for Madrid s leading goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 31-year-old scored 51 times in all competitions last season, and finished with the European Championship trophy in his hands.
Ronaldo, who for the sixth consecutive campaign scored more than 50 goals, is sure to be offered a new contract with his current deal set to expire in June 2018.
Madrid are still permitted to sell players, but their transfer ban means they cannot add to the…
Nasser Al-Shamrani become the leading all-time scorer in the AFC Champions League on his return from suspension as Al Hilal beat Foolad 2-0 to go top of Group C.
The AFC Player of the Year has not featured in the Champions League since being banned for eight matches for headbutting and spitting at Western Sydney Wanderers defender Matthew Spiranovic in the final last November.
Al-Shamrani made up for lost time on Wednesday, though, opening the scoring in the first minute of the second half to take his tally in the competition to 26 having previously been level with Dong-Gook Lee.
Yasir Al Shahrani added a second goal for the Saudi Premier League outfit as last year s runners-up leapfrogged Al Sadd on goal difference with two group games remaining.
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Liverpool are not in danger of losing in-form forward Sadio Mane to Real Madrid despite apparent interest from the Spanish giants, former Reds star Danny Murphy believes.
Mane, 27, has enjoyed comfortably his best season in senior football, scoring 22 times in the Premier League to finish joint top-scorer in the division with team-mate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Senegal international has been a revelation ever since signing from Southampton in 2016, going on to form a formidable attacking trident with Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Mane also chipped in with four goals to help Liverpool reach the Champions League final, which the Reds will contest against Tottenham in Madrid on Saturday.
The Spanish capital could be where Mane p…
Harry Winks and Harry Maguire will make their England debuts from the start in Sunday s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
With their place at the finals in Russia next year guaranteed thanks to Thursday s 1-0 win over Slovenia, boss Gareth Southgate has made seven changes for the clash in Vilnius.
Winks, who was called up to the squad for the first time following injuries to Fabian Delph and Phil Jones, will start in midfield alongside Jordan Henderson.
Leicester City centre-back Maguire lines up with John Stones and Michael Keane in what is expected to be a back three, with Kieran Trippier and West Ham s Aaron Cresswell at wing-back.
Marcus Rashford and Dele Alli are in attack in support of Harry Kane, who has again been named captain.
Here …
Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta remains optimistic Marcelo Brozovic will follow Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez by signing a new deal with the Serie A champions.
Brozovic is due to be out of contract at the end of the season and has been touted as a target for the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle United.
The Croatia midfielder, who has spent nearly seven years at San Siro, is able to discuss a pre-contract arrangement with clubs from January if not tied down by Inter beforehand.
According to reports from Italy, Inter directors Marotta, Piero Ausilio and Dario Baccin met with Brozovic s representatives last week.
WARM-UP
Not long till !
— Inter(@Inter_en)
After recently tying down Barella and Martinez to new d…
Mauricio Pochettino has not asked to leave Paris Saint-Germain and no talks have been held with Zinedine Zidane, the club s sporting director, Leonardo, has said.
Speculation has persisted that Pochettino is one of Manchester United s top targets to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager.
The Red Devils have reportedly identified the Argentine as a leading candidate, most likely for the end of the season, with Ralf Rangnick poised to take over on an interim basis for the rest of 2021-22.
The former Spurs boss, who is keen to return to the Premier League according to some reports, refused to quash the rumours following his side s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday.
It has also been claimed that PSG have spoken several times with …
Barcelona have announced that director of football Andoni Zubizarreta has been sacked after four years in the role.
The former Barca and Spain goalkeeper was appointed in July 2010, but the Catalan giants revealed on Monday that the 53-year-old has been relieved of his duties.
A statement on Barca s official website said: The FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has decided to terminate as of today the contract of the club s director of football, Andoni Zubizarreta.
The president, in the name of the club, thanks Andoni Zubizarreta for his contribution, dedication and professionalism over the last four years in his role at the head of the club s football area.
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Gael Clichy has dismissed suggestions the absence of Wayne Rooney will make life easier for France in Monday s Euro 2012 opener against England.
The Manchester United striker is suspended for his country s opening two fixtures and the commonly-held view is that his unavailability is a major plus for France.
However, Clichy does not agree with the general consenus, arguing that England have the strength in depth to cope without their star forward.
I don’t think it makes any difference, the Manchester City full-back told Fifa.com. People think it’s better to play them without Rooney, who is suspended, and in their first competitive match under their new coach (Roy Hodgson).
But we’re talking about a very experienced team that has players like John …
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has challenged goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to replicate Petr Cech s career at Stamford Bridge as he puts the finishing touches on his expected move from Rennes.
Lampard confirmed Senegal international Mendy, 28, will join his squad subject to a medical and compete with the much-maligned Kepa Arrizabalaga to be the Blues first-choice goalkeeper.
Chelsea spent £71milliion on Kepa in 2018 which remains a world-record fee for a keeper but he was dropped last season following a string of errors and was at fault for Liverpool s second goal in the Blues 2-0 defeat on Sunday, passing the ball straight to goalscorer Sadio Mane.
Mendy will be following the journey Cech made when he signed from Rennes in 2004 and Lampard hopes he sees the Czech…
Arda Turan s move from Barcelona to Istanbul Basaksehir will be completed this week, according to the Turkish club s head coach.
Abdullah Avci said on Wednesday that while an agreement is yet to be reached, the transfer should be announced in the coming days.
Arda has struggled for regular game-time since leaving Atletico Madrid for Barca in 2015 and he has yet to appear in LaLiga this season, with Barca ready to trim their squad following the club-record arrival of Philippe Coutinho.
A return to Turkey has been mooted for the midfielder, and the 30-year-old former Galatasaray star is set to join Super Lig leaders Basaksehir.
The transfer of Arda will be announced on Thursday or Friday, Avci said.
It hasn t been an easy transfer, Arda has been o…