🚨 Mbappé to LEAVE PSG, Palace hire Glasner, Mourinho's REGRET, Flick's new agent, Tuchel DEFIANT, ten Hag happy with INEOS and more
Today's football headlines, featuring Arsenal, Bayern, Man United and much more!
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Today’s top stories:
Plus more from Milan, Arsenal and Real Madrid
AC Milan
AC Milan CEO Furlani on the deal for Giroud due to expire in June: “It’s early to discuss his future but the doors are open if he wants to stay.”
AC Milan CEO Furlani: “Mike Maignan new deal? He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he still has two years left on his contract. We hope Mike stays with us for many years.”
AC Milan CEO Furlani on Pioli’s future [Calciomercato]
Ajax
Ajax are closing in on a new deal for centre-back Jorrel Hato. There are still details to clarify then it will be done — until 2028. Hato has been on the list of top European clubs including Arsenal. There will be NO release clause.
Arsenal
Arsenal winger Marquinhos has signed the contract as a new Fluminense player, medical also completed. Announcement imminent for a loan move after documents reviewed.
Premier League club want record fee for Arsenal target [The Standard]
AS Roma
José Mourinho on being fired by AS Roma: “It’s an owner decision. You have to respect that, not even discuss. I feel that the fans are always the heart of football club, but there’s an ownership, when the owner decides you have to respect it.”
José Mourinho: “Being sacked by AS Roma is the one that has been hurting me more. I gave everything. In these three years, I refused to become new Portugal head coach with the best national team ever. I also had a big proposal from Saudi Arabia.”
José Mourinho: "I can't go to Africa. Too much everywhere. I had Drogba, Geremi, Kalou, Obi Mikel, Essien... every time I go to Africa I can't walk. The guys they love me. Even in Europe with many African guys people really love me. To be honest I love the guys and I feel that the African player is very loyal and very pure."
Romelu Lukaku on his loan deal due to expire in June: “Back to Chelsea or staying at Roma? It makes no sense to discuss that now. I’m focused on helping Roma to win and then we will see at the end of the season.”
De Rossi on Lukaku and errors against Feyenoord [Football Italia]
Aston Villa
Huge news for Aston Villa as the club announces Tyrone Mings’ return to training. Positive one for Unai Emery after recent problems with injured players.
Aston Villa could land Premier League player in Bosman deal [SportsLens]
Barcelona
Aleix Garcia on Barça interest: "I don't even think they have my phone number. When you play at a good level, many clubs are obviously attracted and the rumours start. We will see at the end of the season.”
Hansi Flick will be represented by Pini Zahavi as his new agent, it’s all done between the parties. The former Bayern Munich and German national team manager wants to return to work as soon as possible.
Luis Enrique is high up on many people’s list for the Barcelona job if Xavi leaves [The Athletic]
Bayern Munich
Bayern director Freund on Thomas Tuchel: "Of course Tuchel is struggling with the situation, which is very difficult for all of us. Our goal is to fight our way out of this together. We’re all in the same boat, we are together."
Bayern president Hainer: “Tuchel and his staff are working meticulously. We now need a spark to overcome this on the pitch — we are all working on it together, I am convinced that we can do it.”
Thomas Tuchel asked about his future: "No. I'm not worried.” When asked again on next steps for his job at Bayern and why he believes he's the right man for the club: "I'd like to talk about the game. You already asked a question and I said no."
Benfica
João Neves on his future: “Staying at Benfica next year? I can’t promise anything for next season. My wish at the moment is to stay at Benfica and then we will see, you never know.”
Brentford
Brentford have included a club-side option into Igor Thiago's contract to extend it for a further season, potentially valid until June 2030. Club Brugge will receive more than £30m for Thiago. The deal also includes a sell-on clause.
Chelsea
Andrey Santos, ready for his new chapter at Strasbourg after joining the club on loan from Chelsea. The West Londoners are convinced this is the best solution for Andrey, and he will be working with Patrick Vieira as the new head coach. Guaranteed game time for the Brazilian midfielder.
PSG targeting £112m Chelsea target to replace Mbappé [Daily Telegraph]
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have appointed Oliver Glasner as new head coach. Roy Hodgson has been fired. Two year contract for Glasner.
Europa League Play-Off First Leg Results
Galatasaray vs Sparta Prague: 3-2. A topsy-turvy game which saw a player sent off for each side and Mauro Icardi hitting the winning in the 91st minute. Absolute scenes! [pictures from TNT Sports]
Feyenoord vs Roma: 1-1. All square ahead of the second leg. Igor Paixao opened the scoring for the hosts in first-half injury-time, before Romelu Lukaku equalised on 67.
Milan vs Rennes: 3-0. A Ruben Loftus-Cheek double, and a super finish from Rafael Leão (below), gave the hosts a comfortable victory in a game in which they dominated [pictures from TNT Sports].
Benfica vs Toulouse: 2-1. Ángel Di María was the match winner in this one, with two penalties - including one in the 98th minute - to win the game against Toulouse, who had Christian Mawissa sent off in injury time.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille: 2-2. A game that sprang into life in the second-half. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put the French side ahead on 64 before they were pegged back on 68 thanks to Mykola Matviyenko. Ilman Ndiaye thought he’d won it for Marseille in the 90th minute, only for Shakhtar to equalise again on 93, this time through Eguinaldo [pictures from TNT Sports].
Young Boys vs Sporting: 1-3. An Aurèle Amenda own goal gave Sporting the lead and Viktor Gyökeres doubled it from the spot on 41. Young Boys immediately hit back through Filip Ugrinic before Gonçalo Inácio added a third for the visitors just after the break.
Braga vs Qarabag: 2-4. A game that was full of incident and goals, including three in a dazzling 15-minute second-half spell for the visitors. Marko Janković gave Qarabag the lead from the spot on 21, before Simon Banza equalised right on half-time. Abdellah Zoubir (54), Juninho (65) and Zoubir again (69) took the game away from Braga who bagged a 91st minute second from João Moutinho’s penalty, which could prove crucial.
Lens vs SC Freiburg: 0-0. The only tie in this set of eight matches which didn’t produce a goal, or much in the way of entertainment. Despite being the home side, Lens didn’t even manage a shot on goal.
Man United
Dan Ashworth has already said yes to Manchester United. He's prepared to accept their proposal as it's considered a big opportunity and project. Man United are intentioned to negotiate and pay compensation to Newcastle; they absolutely want Ashworth now, not in 2025.
Erik Ten Hag on Man United injured players. “Aaron Wan-Bissaka will take some weeks because he picked up another injury in training last week. For Mason Mount and Tyrell Malacia it will take some more weeks.”
Ten Hag on INEOS working to bring in new staff, director and more: “I’m very happy in this construction. At Man United you can’t do everything alone and so you need very good people around you. I am happy, but a club like Manchester United absolutely need it.”
Ten Hag: “We are working on the plans for the summer transfer window. We plan in this construction what we have in the club and for the future, it’s crucial to be on the same page. At Man United you always need to look for better. Good is not good enough.”
Man United defender could miss Luton game through injury [Manchester Evening News]
Orlando City
Official, confirmed. Luis Muriel has signed in as a new Orlando City player from Atalanta. New chapter in MLS for the Colombian striker.
Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappé has now informed PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi that he will LEAVE the club as a free agent. The terms of the departure are yet to be fully agreed but he will leave PSG in the summer. The decision is 100% confirmed. PSG and Mbappe will communicate together about Kylian’s exit in the upcoming months. Real Madrid keep working on the Mbappé deal with total confidence to get it done.
Real Madrid’s fixed salary proposal for Kylian Mbappé is way lower than the one made in summer 2022 — and also lower than his current salary. Real want Mbappé to join the club at their conditions after spending years on this saga. Contract proposal, already in Kylian’s hands.
The relationship between Mbappé and Florentino Pérez is very good because of a specific detail. On May 21, 2022, Mbappé insisted with his camp to call the Real president personally to inform him about his decision to reject their bid and stay at PSG - Pérez appreciated that.
PSG advisor Luis Campos is currently not planning to leave Paris Saint-Germain despite Kylian Mbappé’s exit in June. Campos wants to stay and continue his project at PSG with the Champions League as their main goal.
Real Madrid
Brahim Díaz will be available to play for Real Madrid’s next game vs Rayo Vallecano as his injury is not serious. Tests took place on Thursday and Brahim has no issues, all set for the weekend.
Carlo Ancelotti tells Real Madrid he would renew defender’s contract [Relevo]
Southampton
Southampton manager Russell Martin on Jason Wilcox as a candidate for the Man United director job. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Jason and it’s no surprise someone would be interested in working with him. He’s so open and honest. I hope he would have a chat with us first.”
The Debrief Podcast
Angus and Ben are joined by CBS Reporter James Benge and FIFA Referee -- and rules analyst -- Christina Unkel to debate the future of Blue Cards and the state of rule implimentation in football.
There were reports about the Redondo to Miami deal falling apart, has it?