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European Leagues

Brentford striker Ivan Toney ‘free’ to play after eight-month ban

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Brentford striker Ivan Toney has said he feels “free” following the end of his eight-month ban from football.

Toney, 27, is now able to play for the Bees after a suspension for breaking Football Association gambling rules.

The forward has scored 32 goals in 64 Premier League games since joining Brentford in 2020 and is eager to build on his tally this season.

“It feels like we lost wi-fi connection but we’re back connected again and reloaded,” Toney told Sky Sports.

“I feel like a free man. It feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I have a target of how many goals I want to get,” he added.

Toney has not played a competitive match since 6 May 2023, having served an eight-month ban for 232 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules.

He was allowed to return to training with Brentford in September but the ban prohibited from playing until 17 January.

Toney marked his return on Wednesday morning with a social media post saying he was “free”.

Toney, who has been linked with transfer interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, is set to feature when Brentford face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.

“It’s obvious I’d like to play for a top club, everybody wants to play for the top clubs, fighting for titles and these kinds of things.

“So whether it’s this January for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows?”

Only ‘unbelievable’ offer will force the sale of Toney
In his build-up to returning to competitive action, Toney scored a hat-trick for Brentford’s B team in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Southampton Under-23s, and last Saturday scored a Panenka penalty in a friendly against Danish side Brondby.

“I’ve been training well and playing well in behind closed doors. I don’t have anything to prove to anyone but myself. I want to show I can do it,” the striker said.

“It was the ‘feel sorry for yourself’ moment for so long, but I think I’ve chosen the right way by working hard.”

Among those looking forward to the return of the one-time England international is Bees boss Thomas Frank, who said he would have played Toney in their FA Cup replay at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night had it taken place 24 hours later when the ban lifted.

“It’s like signing a Premier League striker who can score 20 goals, because he’s proved it,” said Frank of Toney’s return.

“Every team would be happy to sign a quality player like him. Ivan is a top player but he’s also very good at making the whole team better.”

Toney also spoke of his gambling addiction, saying he is feeling better and “focused on doing the right thing”.

“I’m sorted out now so hopefully, I will focus on doing the right thing going forward,” Toney said.

“There’s no urge to do any of that rubbish, it’s all good.”

 

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Serie A

Juventus Eye Super Eagles Striker As Possible Vlahovic Replacement

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Juventus Eye Super Eagles Striker As Possible Vlahovic Replacement

Former Italian Serie A champions Juventus could sign Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen if Dusan Vlahovic decides to leave them next summer, according to soccernet.

Osimhen has been impressive for Galatasaray since his season-long loan transfer from Napoli last summer. The Nigerian striker had impressed at Napoli in the previous three seasons, and he was expected to move to a bigger club in one of the top five leagues.

However, he did not get the move. And after getting alienated from Napoli’s squad, he had to settle for a loan move to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Osimhen has produced eight goals and four assists in nine games for Galatasaray. And this has fueled rumors that the club want to sign him permanently. However, it is unlikely, due to the toll it would take on Galatasaray’s finances.

Meanwhile, Osimhen would be more keen on the transfer to a club in one of the top five leagues in Europe.

According to a recent report from Nicolo Schira, the Nigerian striker may just return to the Serie A next summer. This is as Juventus are monitoring his situation with Napoli. The Old Lady may lose Vlahovic, as he has refused to pen an extension even though his current deal expires in 2026.

If the Serbian leaves, Juventus will move to sign Osimhen from Napoli as he is a proven striker in the Serie A. The Old Lady have a penchant for singing players from other Serie A clubs. And if Osimhen okays the deal, Juventus can pull it off.

 

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Premier League

Ruben Amorim Makes Brutal Decision Ahead Ipswich Clash

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Ruben Amorim

Manchester United are back in action this weekend after what has been a hectic fortnight.

The Red Devils will be under the control of their third boss as they take on Ipswich at Portman Road. Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim will lead United for the first time since arriving from Sporting Lisbon.

Ahead of that, he has been hard at work on the Carrington training pitches, getting his players up to speed with his style. And he should have a full complement of players following the international break.

Amorim is expected to give an update on everything during his first official press conference on Friday. Before that, take a look at the latest news from the red half of Manchester:

Amorim makes squad call
New Red Devils Ruben Amorim has already decided the players that won’t fit into his style of play. The Portuguese coach has been working with a small group at Carrington over the past week.

He has apparently been left surprised by the lack of speed and intensity in training, while he also believes the squad is too big. As a result, he believes that his new side needs some streamlining.

According to The Sun, he already knows the players that do not fit into his 3-4-3 system. Despite that, coaching staff and analysts are drilling players and getting them to watch demonstrations of Amorim’s set-up to get them up to speed before his managerial debut.

Neville slams Rashford and Casemiro
Gary Neville has taken aim at Marcus Rashford and Casemiro for “unprofessional” trips to the US during the international break. “They [Casemiro and Marcus Rashford ] have chosen that international break,” said Neville on the Stick To Football podcast from Sky Bet.

“If you’re talking about the minor details in being as professional as you can be and as prepared you can be for a training session on a Monday night, that isn’t the best choice of venue.

“I’m not that wound up about Rashford and Casemiro going over to the United States, but what I’m asking is, if you’ve got a four-day break, Portland is a 12-hour flight and an eight-hour time difference, your jet-lag is bad, and you feel a bit [rough].

“I’m asking the question based on professionalism – you’re playing badly, the team are losing, you’re 13th in the league, and there’s a new manager coming in – would you choose that trip as a break to recharge your batteries? That’s not a recharging trip. It’s not right that.”

Amorim’s first target revealed
Manchester United are reportedly looking to re-sign Angel Gomes as part of a recruitment drive under Ruben Amorim. The club are aware that funds are set to be limited in January, which opens up the opportunity for a shrewd move for Gomes.

The midfielder initially left Old Trafford for Lille in 2020, signing a five-year deal. That contract expires next summer, meaning Gomes can sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs.

Amorim has already given his approval to a move. Asked about a move back to Old Trafford last month, Gomes said: “There’ll always be that sentimental soft spot, so of course it’d be difficult to say no.”

 

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LaLiga

Jurgen Klopp Was Like A Father To Me – One Conversation With Him Changed My Career

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Jurgen Klopp Was Like A Father To Me – One Conversation With Him Changed My Career

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski said Jurgen Klopp was “like a father” to him at Borussia Dortmund, with the manager changing the striker’s career trajectory after one pivotal conversation.

Klopp left Liverpool in the summer after a hugely successful eight-and-a-half years at Anfield. Before that, the 57-year-old Reds legend achieved marvellous feats with German club Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles and reaching a Champions League final between the years of 2008 and 2015.

A key part of Klopp’s success was Lewandowski – initially an unproven youngster who developed into one of the greatest forwards of the 21st century. The Pole made 187 appearances under Klopp, notching an impressive tally of 103 goals, before joining rivals Bayern Munich.

While appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, presented by Qatar Airways, the clinical Barcelona ace was asked by Ferdinand about the specifics of Klopp’s renowned man-management skills. Lewandowski recalled one specific heart-to-heart conversation with Klopp early on in his Dortmund career, where they discussed their expectations of each other, which ended up unlocking his potential.

He said: “We lost one game in my second year at Dortmund, I think it was away and we were in the hotel. At that time I had just started to speak German, so I couldn’t understand everything.

“I felt that I didn’t know what he wanted from me, what he expected from me. I had to talk with him. Because I lost my father when I was 16 years old and, in my life, I didn’t have someone who I could always speak to about my problems. So I thought that if I went to speak to him, maybe I’d feel better.

“We spoke for like one-and-a-half hours. Even though I didn’t understand everything he said, I tried to understand. He spoke then I spoke. In that conversation it was important what we were talking about.

“For me, it was more important that he talked to me in that way, which for me was like I was speaking to my father. Maybe because of my private situation and emotions at the time, I needed that conversation.”

Lewandowski went on to score a hat-trick and provide an assist just days later in a 4-0 victory. He added: “So, in the end this kind of conversation opened up something inside me.”

The forward has not looked back since, scoring 620 club goals for the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona. He holds the joint-record for the most top-scorer awards in Europe’s top five leagues (eight) alongside Lionel Messi, and was widely considered to be deserving of a Ballon d’Or until the award was cancelled in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

His story will resonate with many Liverpool players who were transformed under Klopp and responded well to his paternal management style. Such players include current captain Virgil van Dijk and Reds hero Sadio Mane.

Liverpool Echo

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