Andrew Cesare Richardson – Football Scout

Messi The Best vote fix claims: FIFA issue denial

Craig Burley says Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde’s struggles can only get worse if Lionel Messi’s injury against Villarreal sidelines the star man.

Julien Laurens questions where new Barcelona signing Antoine Griezmann can fit in alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the team’s formation.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi says hard work and a desire for more titles has given him longevity at the top after winning best men’s player at FIFA’s The Best awards.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk says he was proud to even be nominated as he lost out to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi at FIFA’s The Best awards.
FIFA have denied allegations of foul play with regards to the voting as Lionel Messi was named Best Men’s Player at the FIFA The Best awards in Milan on Monday.
Nicaragua captain Juan Barrera has said he did not vote for the Barcelona forward, who beat Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award, with votes cast by national team manager and captains as well as various media representatives.
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Sources: Juve to offer United Dybala for Lukaku

After Eric Bailly’s injury against Tottenham, ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol says Manchester United’s needs at the centre-back position are more dire than ever.

ESPN FC’s Ian Darke and Stewart Robson share their thoughts on the likelihood Harry Maguire joins Manchester United this summer.

Manchester United starlet Mason Greenwood comes of the bench to earn a 1-0 win over Inter Milan.

International Champions Cup: Greenwood(78′) Manchester United 1-0 Inter Milan. To watch 2019 International Champions Cup, sign up for ESPN+.
Juventus are ready to make a bid for Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku which would include Paulo Dybala as part of the deal, according to ESPN FC sources.
Lukaku is a target for Juve’s Serie A rivals Inter Milan and sources have told ESPN FC he is keen to join the Nerazzurri and work under manager Antonio Conte, who he recently labelled the “best manager in the world.”
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Injuries have prevented Lukaku from making any…

Source: Inter to make £60m bid for Lukaku

ESPN FC’s Julien Laurens says Inter Milan are getting closer to acquiring Man United’s Romelu Lukaku and explains what that means for Mauro Icardi.

Paul Mariner and Steve Nicol can’t believe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is considering Paul Pogba for Manchester United’s captaincy.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking forward to the contest, and doesn’t expect any clashes between rival supporters.

ESPN FC’s Julien Laurens and Steve Nicol examine how Harry Maguire would impact Man United’s defence if they sign the Leicester star.

ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol identifies five players that are under the most pressure to perform this coming campaign.
Inter Milan will return with a new bid for Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku of £60 million plus add-ons, a source has told ESPN FC.
Lukaku is a prime transfer target for new Inter boss Antonio Conte, who had previously tried to sign the Belgium international while manager of Chelsea in 2017.
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Inter’s opening offer of a two-year loan worth €10m with obligation to then sign him for €60m was rejected, with United looking for £80m, according…

Source: Mourinho rejected ¬100m CSL offer

Gab Marcotti speculates on the type of club Jose Mourinho will manage next if the top tier teams don’t come calling.

After Man United’s sixth-place finish, the FC crew question if there was some merit to Jose Mourinho calling second place ‘an achievement’ last campaign.
Jose Mourinho turned down the biggest managerial offer in football history of €100 million to manage Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande, a source has told ESPN FC.
Mourinho has been out of work since being dismissed by Manchester United in December 2018.
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And a source has told ESPN FC he was given the chance to return to management with a €30m-a-year offer plus bonuses and was allowed to select…

Source: Buffon agrees deal to re-join Juventus

ESPN FC’s Ligue 1 correspondent Julien Laurens examines the reports that Adrien Rabiot is headed to Juve on a free, while Leonardo Bonucci departs for PSG.

Mina Rzouki breaks down the key reasons Juventus have emerged as the likely landing spot for Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.

With Juventus the reported front-runners to land Matthijs de Ligt, ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe examines whether or not Barcelona will give up their chase.

ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti questions whether Maurizio Sarri will be able to implement “Sarri-ball” at Juventus, after leaving Chelsea for the Italian club.
Gianluigi Buffon has agreed a one-year deal to re-join Juventus after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, a source has told ESPN FC.
The former Italy goalkeeper left Juve for PSG last summer after winning eight Serie A titles in a row. He moved to the French capital in the hope of helping them win the Champions League.
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However, despite comfortably winning Ligue 1, it was an underwhelming campaign for the Parisians, who lost in the Coupe de France final and were knocked…

Source: Lukaku eyes Utd exit amid Inter links

Gab Marcotti outlines the reasons for the delay in Romelu Lukaku’s proposed move to Inter from Manchester United.

ESPN FC’s Craig Burley examines Paul Pogba’s latest admission that his future might be away from Manchester United.

Paul Pogba believes now could be a good time to leave Manchester United in order to find a new challenge.

With no director of football in sight for Manchester United, the FC guys debate whether Ed Woodward’s transfer-by-committee method still works.
Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku, a target for Inter Milan this summer, is open to a move if he can join a club which would offer him an integral role in the team, a source has told ESPN FC.
New Inter boss Antonio Conte has made the Belgium international his main transfer target this summer, and Lukaku recently labelled the Italian “the best manager in the world” — adding that he “always dreamed” of playing in Serie A.
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Lukaku: Inter’s Conte ‘best manager in world’

After he scored twice for Belgium against Scotland, the FC crew examine the discrepancies in Romelu Lukaku’s goalscoring form for club and country.

ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol says Manchester United should focus their efforts on keeping David de Gea happy before splashing the cash for Jan Oblak.

Steve Nicol loves what he saw from Aaron Wan-Bissaka last season and says he would be worth every penny for Manchester United.

The FC crew debate whether Manchester United can afford Gareth Bale and how effective he could be if he returned to the Premier League.
Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku has said Antonio Conte is the “best manager in the world” and that, along with the Premier League, Serie A is the league he “always dreamed” of playing in.
Sources have told ESPN FC that, while new Nerazzurri boss Conte is interested in making Lukaku his first signing at San Siro, there has not yet been any contact between the two parties. Conte reportedly wanted Lukaku when he was Chelsea manager, but the Belgium international moved to United instead.
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Inter target Lukaku expects hectic summer

After he scored twice for Belgium against Scotland, the FC crew examine the discrepancies in Romelu Lukaku’s goalscoring form for club and country.

ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol says Manchester United should focus their efforts on keeping David de Gea happy before splashing the cash for Jan Oblak.

Steve Nicol loves what he saw from Aaron Wan-Bissaka last season and says he would be worth every penny for Manchester United.

The FC crew debate whether Manchester United can afford Gareth Bale and how effective he could be if he returned to the Premier League.
Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku has said he expects a hectic summer, amid interest from Inter Milan.
Sources have told ESPN FC that, while new Nerazzurri boss Antonio Conte is interested in making Lukaku his first signing at San Siro, there has not yet been any contact between the two parties.
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Asked after Belgium’s 3-0 Euro 2020 qualifying victory…

Sources: Conte eyes Lukaku as first Inter buy

Frank Leboeuf joins ESPN FC to talk Paul Pogba and Manchester United, explaining why the France star might be ill-suited for the United captaincy.

Paul Mariner says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s wealth of experience and knowledge will be an asset for Marcus Rashford to find consistency at Man United.

ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop looks at a few reported Man United young transfer targets, headlined by Fulham midfielder Ryan Sessegnon.

Check out the best goals from the Serie A season, including the best from Cristiano Ronaldo and this year’s Capocannoniere, Fabio Quagliarella.
Antonio Conte is edging closer to being named Inter Milan manager and wants to make Romelu Lukaku his first signing, sources have told ESPN FC.
The former Chelsea boss had wanted to sign Lukaku at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2017, but saw the Belgium international join Manchester United before the Blues brought in Alvaro Morata.
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Conte is expected to be announced as Luciano Spalletti’s replacement at Inter in the coming days — with the ex-Roma boss having…

Sources: Cosmos chief close to Fiorentina deal

Gerson’s late own goal gives Parma a vital win and hands Fiorentina their fifth consecutive Serie A defeat.
New York Cosmos owner Rocco B. Commisso is close to completing a deal to purchase Serie A club Fiorentina for around $150 million, according to ESPN FC sources.
Billionaire Commisso moved to the United States from Italy when he was 12 and is the founder of cable company Mediacom.
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Sources have told ESPN FC the deal could be finalised as soon as Monday, with La Viola’s Serie A future to be decided on Sunday where defeat to Genoa could see the club relegated to the second tier.
Fiorentina…

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