Новости за 15.01.2020

Lionel Messi has named Girona's Pablo Maffeo as the toughest man-marker he has faced.The Barcelona forward has locked horns withsome of the world's best defenders since his debut in 2004.Messi has enjoyed many memorable duelswith Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos, but he has picked a more surprising name as the toughest opponent he has come across."Man-marking doesn't bother me - you know that there will be tough matches and it can be strange to always have someone around you," the Barcelona captain... Читать дальше...

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi says his side's clashes with Real Madrid were better when Cristiano Ronaldo was still at the Santiago Bernabeu.Ronaldo ended his stay in the Spanish capital when he joined Juventus in 2018.The Portugal international enjoyed some titanic tussles with Messi during his nine-year association with Madrid.And the Argentinian forward says El Clasico was more "special" when Ronaldo was a part of it."It was a special duel and it will remain [in people's minds] forever,because... Читать дальше...

Ross County have signed Coll Donaldson from Highland rivals Inverness for an undisclosed fee. The 24-year-old defender moves to the Staggies on a permanent deal and joins up with the squad ahead of Saturdays William Hill Scottish Cup tie at Ayr United.Donaldson started his career at Livingston and had a spell at QPR before signing for Dundee United in 2015, joining Inverness in the summer of 2017. Co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson told the clubs official website: Coll is a player... Читать дальше...

An extension has been arranged to allow the Professional Footballers Association to delay the release of its charitys latest accounts.The PA news agency understands the extension is the result of ongoing conversations between the players union and the Charity Commission, which on Wednesday announced it had opened a statutory inquiry into the running of the PFA charity.It is understood the accounts for the year ending June 30, 2019 had been due to be published in November or December last year. The... Читать дальше...

Kepa Arrizabalaga says he "likes so much" English football as he reflects on his 18 months at Chelsea.The Spaniard joined the Blues from Athletic Club in summer 2018 for £71m -a world-record fee for a goalkeeper.And Kepa admits it took a while for him to adjust to the speed and intensity of the Premier League."It’s a little bit different to playing in La Liga," he told Chelsea's official website."The players, and the goalkeeper also, are less protected by the referee. You need to be stronger in some balls... Читать дальше...

Patryk Klimala aims to bring goals and glee to Celtic fans during his time at Parkhead.The Poland Under-21 striker joined the Scottish champions from Ekstraklasa side Jagiellonia Bialystok on Tuesday on a four-and-a-half year deal for a reported fee of 3.5million.Klimala has scored seven goals in 17 league appearances so far this season and wants to add to that tally in Glasgow as the Hoops look to continue their domestic domination.Speaking through an interpreter at Celtic Park, he said:It is my... Читать дальше...

Sunderland are poised to win the race to land Rangers midfielder Greg Docherty on loan, the PA news agency understands.Charlton have also made contact with Ibrox chiefs about taking the 23-year-old former Scotland youth international for the remainder of the season but the Stadium of Light is Dochertys preferred destination.Winger Jamie Murphy, meanwhile, is also set for a move this month with Burton ready to make a loan offer.Boyhood Rangers fan Docherty has featured just five times for Steven Gerrards... Читать дальше...

1996 was year that Blur and Oasis fought for chart dominance, that Charles and Diana divorced, and when England opened its doors to Europe's footballing finest, for a three-week spectacle that we still talk about 24 years later – and celebrated in the new issue of FourFourTwo, now on sale.We all have our memories of that tournament - Gazza's celebration, David Seaman's penalty heroics and Gareth Southgate's penalty heartbreak - but England aside, who else do you remember from the tournament?You have... Читать дальше...

Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has joined Sky Bet Championship side Swansea on loan for the rest of the season.The move comes a day after the 19-year-old was recalled from an impressive loan spell with Charlton where he scored six goals in 26 appearances, as well as earning four England Under-21 caps during his time at The Valley.The Blues decision left Addicks boss Lee Bowyer disappointed as he conceded he didnt see this coming.Gallagher becomes the Swans third signing of the transfer window... Читать дальше...

Anderton was the subject of bids from Manchester United and Blackburn that triggered his £4 million release clause in the summer of 1995.Sir Alex Ferguson called Anderton, then 23, personally to persuade him to replace the outgoing Andrei Kanchelskis.But Sugar, Tottenham’s chairman and future Apprentice host, resorted to desperate measures to prevent Anderton from leaving the club.“I went to the chairman’s house and Sugar wouldn’t let me leave until I’d signed a new contract to take out the clause,”... Читать дальше...

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic will be sidelined for up to three weeks with an ankle ligament injury, manager Scott Parker has confirmed.Mitrovic, who has scored 26 goals this season, limped out of the Cottagers 1-0 win at Hull on Saturday with 10 minutes remaining, with scans subsequently confirming the extent of the problem.The 25-year-old Serbia international is now poised to miss at least the next three matches, including Fulhams FA Cup fourth-round trip to Manchester City.Speaking at a press conference... Читать дальше...

Euro 96 was packed with footballing icons - from Bierhoff to Bergkamp, Stoichkovto Suker - which is one reason why we're celebrating the tournament with a special issue of FourFourTwo magazine this month.But how many of the Three Lions team can you recall?Back then, the make-up of the England squad was radically different. There were some national treasures in the team, some Premier League legends and some squad fodder you haven't heard from in two decades.We've listed the 22-man team - that's three goalkeepers... Читать дальше...

Japhet Tanganga admits the best bit of his week to remember at Tottenham was seeing the smile on his fathers face.The 20-year-old has burst on to the scene at Spurs over the past few days as he followed an impressive Premier League debut against Liverpool on Saturday with a man-of-the-match performance in Tuesdays 2-1 FA Cup replay win over Middlesbrough.Prior to last weekend, his only senior appearance for the club where he has come through the ranks was in the Carabao Cup at Colchester in September.Your... Читать дальше...

The independent review of the Professional Footballers Association must continue on its course alongside a statutory inquiry into the unions charitable arm, chairman Ben Purkiss has said.Purkiss led calls for a review of how the PFA was governed in 2018, with the unions chief executive Gordon Taylor first announcing one would take place in November of that year.On Wednesday the Charity Commission said it had opened a statutory inquiry over serious concerns about how the PFA charity was being run by its trustees... Читать дальше...

West Ham have re-signed former goalkeeper Darren Randolph from Middlesbrough.The 32-year-old, who spent two years with the Hammers before leaving to join Boro in 2017, returns for an undisclosed fee and has agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract.Im delighted to be back at West Ham United. I had no hesitation in coming back. West Ham is a massive club, with fantastic supporters and an excellent squad of players, Randolph told the club website.This opportunity was simply too good to turn down, though. Читать дальше...

Director of football Marcel Brands admits Everton cannot afford to buy players at the top end of the market despite a transfer spend of more than 480million over the last four seasons.The Toffees annual spend has ranged between 85million and 150million since billionaire Farhad Moshiri took a majority shareholding in February 2016.But, after the club announced record losses of 111.9million, and with a 500million new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock to finance, Brands accepts the numbers just do not add... Читать дальше...

Ross County have signed defensive midfielder Jordan Tillson from League Two side Exeter, pending international clearance.The 26-year-old departs the Grecians having joined the club in 2012, making 104 appearances.County co-managersSteven Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell told the club website:We are delighted to bring in somebody like Jordan, who, at 26, has had great experience in English Football.He came to us very well recommended and we really look forward to him joining up with the group and becoming... Читать дальше...

A judge has adjourned a bid to wind up Sky Bet League Two Macclesfield.Judge Mark Mullen considered the Silkmens case at a hearing in the specialist Insolvency and Companies Court in London on Wednesday and it will now be reconsidered on March 25.Tax officials have asked for the club, who are third from bottom of footballs fourth tier, to be wound up because debts have not been paid.Former manager Sol Campbell has supported that application.Campbell managed Macclesfield between November 2018 and... Читать дальше...

Matt Ritchie is ready, willing and able to throw himself into Newcastles fight on two fronts after finally returning from his injury nightmare.The 30-year-old had not started a game since August 28, when he was left with a badly gashed ankle after a challenge by Leicesters Hamza Choudhury, before Tuesday nights FA Cup third-round replay against League One Rochdale at St James Park.It took him little time to remind head coach Steve Bruce and his team-mates of what they had been missing when he provided... Читать дальше...

Gedson Fernandes is thrilled at the prospect of working under Jose Mourinho following his dream move to Tottenham.The 21-year-old midfielder has signed on an 18-month loan deal from Benfica which has the option to become permanent for a reported 56million.Fernandes becomes the clubs first signing of the Mourinho era and will provide vital cover in the middle of the park following a three-month lay-off for Moussa Sissoko, who has had knee surgery. #BemVindoGedson #COYS pic.twitter.com/lcrzwKaFf4 Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 15... Читать дальше...

Former England striker Eni Aluko has announced her retirement from football.The 32-year-old, who won 102 caps for the Lionesses, left Juventus in December after nearly 18 months with the Serie A champions and had been tipped to return to the Womens Super League.Posting on Twitter, before linking to a full letter on the Players Tribune, she wrote: My dear friend football, its time to hang up my boots and retire as a professional footballer.Thankyou football for everything youve given and taught me. Читать дальше...

Benfica’s factory line has pumped out likes of Joao Felix, Ederson and Bernardo Silva in recent seasons - and it shows no sign of slowing down.AfterChelsea, West HamandEverton were all been linked with Gedson Fernandes, Tottenham emerged triumphant, stealing thewiry midfielder on an 18-month loan deal.A small price to payHowever much Gedson Fernandes actually moves for in the end, Benfica are going to make a hearty profit on the 21-year-old.When the Portuguese was 10, Sporting signed a pre-contract agreement with Fernandes’s youth team... Читать дальше...

After their summer transfer ban prevented them from making any pre-season acquisitions, Chelsea are now able to sign players for the first time in 12 months.Manager Frank Lampard will be looking to bolster his squad as the Blues look to seal a top-four finish in the second-half of the season.One area where the west London club will be looking to strengthen this window is at left-back, with current options Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri unconvincing so far this season under Lampard.Lampard will... Читать дальше...

Gradually, attitudes have changed towards the January transfer window. Maybe they even have towards the transfer market as whole, gaudy symbol of football’s decadence that it has become.Suddenly, the yellow ties and the breathless reporting are not only viewed as a bit naff, but also rather tasteless.Locally, it’s particularly jarring. While Britain pokes around in pre-Brexit uncertainty, the Premier League continues to almost celebrate its own inefficiency. With a wink and a smile, vast payments... Читать дальше...

This article first appeared in the Autumn 2019 issue of FourFourTwo magazine. Subscribe now and get yourfirst three issues for just £3!Barcelona and Real Madrid may top La Liga, have qualified from their Champions League groups, and remain the top two football clubs in the world in terms of earnings– but it's widely accepted that neither side looks on top of their game. To carry on progressing in Europe's elite competition, they will need to sharpen up – hence Barca's decision to replace Ernesto Valverde with Quique Setien this week.Here... Читать дальше...