Mbappe swaps shirts with Pique

Mbappe swaps shirts with Pique

Monaco are well aware of the talented 18-year-old striker they have on their hands, and amidst discussions on his future, Kylian Mbappe swapped shirts with Barcelona defender Gerard Pique during the France-Spain friendly that took place Tuesday at the Stade de France.

The decision won't have gone down well in the Spanish capital, as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is preparing a 'galactico' signing, and many expect Mbappe to be it.

The young French striker sought out the Catalan defender in the tunnel at half-time to ask him for his shirt, while the Blaugrana star duly obliged.

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Messi banned for four matches by FIFA

Messi banned for four matches by FIFA

Argentina forward Lionel Messi has been banned from their next four competitive internationals, starting with Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Bolivia, for swearing at a match official, FIFA said on Tuesday.

The decision was announced less than six hours before kickoff of the match in La Paz and means that the five-times world player of the year will play in only one of Argentina's remaining five World Cup qualifiers.

His absence will be a severe blow to the two-times world champions who are struggling in the marathon South American campaign where their results have included home defeats by Ecuador and Paraguay and a 3-0 mauling by arch-rivals Brazil.

FIFA said Messi had "directed insulting words at an assistant referee" during the 1-0 win over Chile on Friday, in which he scored the only goal from a penalty.

Television pictures showed him swearing at Brazilian linesman Emerson Augusto do Carvalho at the end of the match after being harried and fouled by Chilean player Jean Beausejour. The official patted him on the head and tried to calm him down but Messi kept ranting.

FIFA said in a letter to the Argentine Football Association (AFA), published by Argentine media, that the incident was not detailed in the referee's report at the time and was brought to their attention by the media.

According to the letter, Carvalho said he did not understand at the time what Messi was saying.

"I only realised he was swearing afterwards on reading the press," he said.

Messi, 29, will also miss games away to Uruguay and home to Venezuela and Peru. The Barcelona forward will be eligible again when Argentina visit Ecuador on Oct. 10.

Argentina are third in the 10-team South American group with 22 points from 13 games but have only a two-point cushion over sixth-placed Chile, with Colombia (21) and Ecuador (20) sandwiched in between.

The top four qualify directly for the tournament in Russia and the fifth side play off against a team from a different confederation for another place.

"This decision is in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's previous rulings in similar cases," FIFA said.

Messi has not enjoyed the same success with Argentina as he has with his club Barcelona and announced his international retirement earlier this year before back-tracking on his decision.

He was frustrated after they lost 1-0 after extra-time to Germany in the World Cup final in 2014, then on penalties to Chile in the Copa America the following year and again on penalties to Chile in the Copa Centenario final last year.

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Are Isco and Iniesta incompatible?

Are Isco and Iniesta incompatible?

As two of the most talented Spanish midfielders of their generation, Spain would be expected to find a way to get Andres Iniesta and Isco playing together, and yet they are routinely separated.

Friday night's win over Israel saw the Real Madrid man replace his international colleague for the second time in a row under Julen Lopetegui, who just like Vicente del Bosque appears none too keen to pair them up.

Only once in the past 18 games have both Iniesta and Isco been on the pitch at the same time, in the 1-0 win over Ukraine in qualifying for Euro 2016.

Otherwise, Isco has been substituted on for the Barcelona playmaker on five occasions in this run, sitting out seven games altogether through injury or tactical reasons.

However the 24-year-old is in a rich vein of form in the present campaign and while Iniesta can also boast an excellent standard of play, Lopetegui may be drawn into breaking this habit sooner rather than later.

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Alerta internacional en el Real Madrid

Alerta internacional en el Real Madrid

Zidane mira con preocupación la diáspora de su plantilla con las selecciones a las puertas del tramo decisivo de la temporada

Casemiro y Marcelo, piezas 'insustituibles', juegan dos duros partidos con Brasil. Morata y Ramos ya volvieron lesionados de citas con España

JAIME RODRÍGUEZ

«Yo sí voy a descansar, pero mis jugadores no mucho...», decía Zinedine Zidane el pasado sábado, con cara de preocupación. Ni los valiosos tres puntos de San Mamés servían para amortiguar los temores a la diáspora internacional de su plantilla. Cualquier parón de selecciones estropea el humor de los entrenadores de élite. Por unos días pierden de vista a sus jugadores, que cambian de horarios, de preparación, de dieta... Suman kilómetros en aviones y jet lag. Se ejercitan en otras condiciones y a veces juegan en campos con el césped en mal estado. Pasan de los mimos de los grandes clubes a los brazos de las selecciones. Y tal giro pone de los nervios a los técnicos, mucho más a estas alturas del año.

La ventana internacional asoma a las puertas del cierre del curso, con los títulos de mayor prestigio pendientes de decidirse en abril. Un mes cargadísimo para el Real Madrid. Un calendario que asusta al repasarlo.

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Sergi Roberto: Unzue would be a great coach for Barcelona

Sergi Roberto: Unzue would be a great coach for Barcelona

After being left out of the Spanish squad set to face Israel and France in friendly matches, Sergi Roberto had time to address several issues regarding Barcelona, such as the possibility of Juan Carlos Unzue making the jump from assistant to head coach at the Camp Nou.

The Champions League hero seems to be one of several dressing room voices backing the ex-keeper and set-piece expert to become first team boss.

"[Should Unzue be hired as our new coach,] it would be a great way of maintaining Barcelona's philosophy," Roberto told TV3. "We have an great relationship with him.

"Even though he is technically in charge of strategy, he always gives us very good tips overall.

"He would be a great coach for Barcelona."

After the improbable comeback against Paris Saint-Germain, the 25-year-old admitted the Catalans are confident about their chances in the top European competition.

"Winning another Champions League would be very exciting, there is no doubt about it.

"I wouldn't say it is a priority for us, but it would mean a lot to win it after the comeback."

Lastly, the converted midfielder briefly discussed the Blaugrana's next opponent - Juventus.

"As your typical Italian side, they are a stout defensive team," he concluded.

"Moreover, their attacking players are incredibly skilled, so we know that advancing to the semi-final will be far from easy."

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Simeone outperforming himself in the second half of the season

Simeone outperforming himself in the second half of the season

Even by Diego Simeone's own admission, Atletico Madrid's 2016/17 campaign has been far tougher than previously envisaged, although a fightback is well and truly underway at Estadio Vicente Calderon.

Injuries to the likes of Jan Oblak, Augusto Fernandez, Tiago, and now Sime Vrsaljko have combined with January's FIFA transfer ban and an uncharacteristically poor start to the season to leave Los Rojiblancos fighting for Champions League qualification.

However, their fortunes have turned around significantly since the second half of the season began, with seven points recovered in the gap from third-placed Sevilla in the last three rounds alone.

Sunday's 3-1 win over the Andalusians put Atleti two points behind their main rivals and completed their best start to their LaLiga return matches across Simeone's spell at the club.

In the nine games since the midway point of the season, the Madrid side have won six, drawn two and lost one to earn 20 points, beating their previous best of last season by a margin of three goals - notching 18 to 15.

In previous years, Atletico have managed to bag 18 points over the same period in 2014/15, going one better than the start of their run to title glory in 2013/14.

Therefore, a rejuvenated atmosphere engulfs the Calderon as Simeone pushes his side towards the top three along with their quest for Champions League glory, which takes them to Leicester City in the last-eight.

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Messi: Master of braces

Messi: Master of braces

Barcelona's Sunday night victory over Valencia saw Lionel Messi reach yet another milestone, this time scoring his 100th brace for the club.

Given that he hasn't even reached his 30th birthday, which he will do this June, it is an even more impressive achievement.

Sevilla are the team to have suffered the most from the Argentine's doubles, having conceded twice in one match to Messi on six occasions, while Atletico Madrid have done so four times.

As for which competitions he has scored his braces, 70 of them have come in LaLiga, 19 in the Champions League, eight in the Copa del Rey and one in each of the UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana and Club World Cup.

For Messi, his two-goal performance against Valencia was the perfect way to put a couple of quiet showings behind him, having been ineffective against Deportivo La Coruna and having been good but not great in the Paris Saint-Germain comeback.

The goals also moved him onto 25 league goals for the season and further clear in the race for the Pichichi and European Golden Boot.

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Busquets: Sometimes the line of what is respectable is blurred because of the rivalry

Busquets: Sometimes the line of what is respectable is blurred because of the rivalry

As is usual when Barcelona and Real Madrid players join together for the Spanish national team, club rivalry was put on hold, for the time being at least, as Sergio Busquets lamented the lack of respect from both sides on several occasions.

Sergio Ramos has admitted that he is able to put his past differences with Gerard Pique to the side to focus on La Roja's upcoming World Cup Qualifier against Israel on Friday, which has led to a more favourable atmosphere.

"Sometimes the line of what is respectable is blurred because of the Real Madrid-Barcelona rivarly," the Catalan defensive midfielder stated. "Most of all there needs to be respect.

"It has been a lot of years now that Pique and Ramos join with La Roja and create a good atmosphere.

"Here Ramos is the captain and is higher up in the team hierarchy, while at Barcelona Pique has more of the protagonism."

Busquets also responded to Ramos' post-PSG dig at Barcelona, who had contended that it was historic, although insinuating that that was the case because of refereeing controversy.

"Let them say what they want," Busquets said of the matter. "I'm not one to get into that type of war.

"Sometimes you thik one thing, and you say another.

"Between us here [with Spain], we don't give those types of comments too much importance - it happens and that is that."

At Barcelona, Luis Enrique's 3-4-3 has altered Busquets' play slightly, and the midfielder highlighted some of the major differences.

"Every system has its good and its bad things, depending on the team," he pointed out. "Now that we are playing a 3-4-3, opposing teams are placing a man on me and I am receiving the ball less than I was accustomed to."

Busquets refused to speak of the vacant Barcelona coaching position after Luis Enrique steps down at the end of the season, but did acknowledge that he already knows Juan Carlos Unzue well and has hardly even met Ernesto Valverde.

"It is not right for me to comment on it," he concluded. "I don't know Valverde and out of respect for the club he is currently training, I won't speak of the matter."

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Klopp confident he is the right manager for Liverpool

Klopp confident he is the right manager for Liverpool

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp remains convinced he is the best person to lead the club to its first Premier League title since 1990.

With just three wins from last nine Premier League games, Liverpool have seen their title bid fade but back-to-back victories over Arsenal and Burnley have helped strengthen their grip on a top-four spot.

Liverpool's slump since the turn of the year may have dashed hopes of silverware but Klopp felt qualification for next season's Champions League would represent "an outstanding success".

"I feel supporters still think I'm the right person in the right place so we feel that trust and faith," Klopp told British media. "I always think about alternatives. Is there somebody else who could do it better?

"If I knew somebody who could do it better I wouldn't be here. How long it will take? I have no idea but everybody should see we tried every day really hard.

"I would say this season going to the Champions League would be an outstanding success because of all the quality around us."

Klopp also called for patience in his quest to end the club's wait for the league title.

"There is pressure and sometimes we are still not patient enough," he added ahead of Sunday's trip to Manchester City.

"We have a lot of fans that maybe were not alive when we won the last title. My job is to make it more likely."

Liverpool are fourth in the table with 55 points, one behind third-placed City, who have a game in hand.

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Verano sin revolución en el Barcelona

Verano sin revolución en el Barcelona                                                 

No habrá revolución en la plantilla azulgrana el próximo verano. El club se ha marcado una línea de actuación en cuanto a política de refuerzos que no piensa cambiar sean cuales sean los acontecimientos. Esto quiere decir que aunque no haya títulos, la base de la plantilla azulgrana seguirá siendo la misma que en el actual ejercicio porque la gran inversión se produjo el pasado verano.

La llegada del nuevo entrenador en ningún caso supondrá una salida masiva de jugadores. Uno de los aspectos que se pide al nuevo técnico es que sea un hombre de club. Esto quiere decir, entre otras muchas cosas, que no puede venir exigiendo la llegada de jugadores de su confianza y poniendo en el mercado a varios futbolistas porque el rendimiento que hayan dado al equipo no haya sido el esperado.

Luis Enrique: "No seré el entrenador del Barcelona la próxima temporada"

El Barcelona va a seguir con el plan que ya tenía previamente trazado. No habrá muchas incorporaciones, tres como mucho. Es seguro que llegará un lateral derecho. Esta es la posición en la que el Barcelona anda claramente descompensado.

La marcha de Dani Alves no ha sido bien cubierta. La opción de Sergi Roberto como lateral parecía un grandísimo hallazgo en los primeros compases de temporada. Sin embargo, con el tiempo el experimento se ha ido diluyendo. Tanto, que el canterano ha regresado al centro del campo. El segundo de a bordo, Aleix Vidal, estuvo con pie y medio fuera en el mercado invernal. Con eso está dicho todo.

Las otras dos posiciones a reforzar son la de central y el centro del campo. La opción de que sea un sólo refuerzo o dos, dependerá del dinero que haya para fichajes. El centro de la defensa vuelve a pedir más efectivos. Mascherano y Mathieu cumplen este año 33 y 34 años, respectivamente. Y el francés es demasiado propenso a las lesiones. Piqué y Umtiti se han consolidado como la pareja titular, pero necesitan un jugador más. La respuesta podría ser un joven.

Otro puesto a reforzar es el centro del campo. Iniesta sigue siendo indispensable, pero ya no puede jugar los 60 partidos que hay en la temporada. Un guardaespaldas para Busquets también sería recomendable, ya que no tiene un recambio específico dentro de la plantilla. Luis Enrique ha utilizado a varios jugadores en ese puesto: Mascherano, Rakitic, André Gomes y Sergi Roberto. De todas formas, el mejor fichaje sería un André Gomes al más alto nivel.

El papel de las ventas

Un factor clave para ver cuántos refuerzos vendrán y qué potencial tendrán, es el de las ventas. Arda Turan podría salir. China ya se ha interesado en varias ocasiones por él y puede volver al ataque. Si en anteriores ocasiones el turco ha tenido el apoyo incondicional de Luis Enrique, en el futuro ya no será así. Si hay una buena oferta económica se irá.

En la defensa está el caso de Mathieu que acaba contrato en junio de 2018. El club podría venderlo este verano e intentar obtener algo de dinero antes de que se fuera libre un año más tarde. Su salida es determinante para la llegada de otro central.

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