Jacob Whitehead and Luke Bosher
April 4, 2022 at 5:15 AM EDT
April 4, 2022 at 5:15 AM EDT
Manchester City attacker Jack Grealish set to agree major endorsement deal with Gucci
Manchester City attacker Jack Grealish is on the verge of agreeing a major endorsement contract with major fashion house Gucci.
He became the most expensive British footballer of all time last year when he joined Manchester City from Aston Villa for £100 million, a move that saw the midfielder’s profile rocket. He also helped England reach the European Championship final earler that summer.
It has led to an array of new sponsorship opportunities, with the 26-year-old largely avoiding team rivalries to establish himself as an iconic figure during the tournament.
Grealish has often been photographed wearing Gucci items, but these will usually be purchased or gifted to such individuals. Instead, this partnership would make him an official ambassador of the luxury Italian company, which is thought to be pretty much unprecedented for a sportsperson.
Discover more with David Ornstein’s Monday column.
Jacob Whitehead
GO FURTHER
Ornstein: Jack Grealish to sign seven-figure deal with Gucci
April 4, 2022 at 4:57 AM EDT
News: Mbappe insists he has not made a decision on PSG future but notes “new elements”
Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has insisted that he has not made a decision on whether he will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but noted that there are “new elements” in play.
His comments came after PSG’s 5-1 win over Lorient on Sunday evening, in which Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe all scored in the same game for the first time. Mbappe scored the second and third goals of the match.
Asked about his future by Amazon Prime, Mbappe replied: “I haven’t made a decision but there are new elements.
“If I had made a decision I would have said it, I would have fronted up. I always front up. I don’t have to hide. I want to make the best possible decision. But it’s not an easy decision.”
Read more here.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
April 4, 2022 at 4:36 AM EDT
News: Fans shouting ‘shoot’ is putting off our players — Brighton manager Graham Potter
He was speaking after Brighton’s 0-0 draw with bottom-place Norwich on Saturday, the sixth time that his side have failed to score in their last seven games.
Against Norwich, Brighton had 30 shots, but only four on target. Neal Maupay also missed a first half penalty.
Asked about the discrepancy, Potter replied: “The build-up suggests we’re getting there. Of course, the longer you go, you can hear the crowd, ‘shoot, shoot, shoot’, and that sometimes is a challenge for the players.
“Because sometimes there’s an opportunity to shoot – sometimes it’s a chance for the block and then the transition. And sometimes maybe one more pass gets you in a better position but, if you miss the pass, you should have shot.”
(Photo: Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
April 4, 2022 at 4:06 AM EDT
News: Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal announces he is battling prostate cancer
Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal has announced he is receiving treatment for prostate cancer.
The 70-year-old, who was in charge of Manchester United between 2014 and 2016, has already said that he will step down from his third spell with the national team after the 2022 World Cup.
He has previously managed Ajax, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich in a sparkling career.
Speaking about the disease on Dutch television programme Humberto on Sunday, Van Gaal said: “I didn’t want to tell it to my players because it could have influenced their performances.
“In each period during my time as manager of the national team I had to leave in the night to go to the hospital without the players finding it out until now. While thinking I was healthy, but… I am not.”
(Photo: Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
April 4, 2022 at 3:51 AM EDT
Good morning!
And welcome to another day of football news. The international break has given way to a feast of football, with the Champions League following hot on the heels of the Premier League.
Benfica play Liverpool and Manchester City face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday – stay here for build-up throughout the day. Plus, Arsenal meet Crystal Palace in Monday Night Football this evening.
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 4:55 PM EDT
Howe hopeful on Trippier return
The Newcastle head coach did admit that Trippier wouldn’t be able to step up his recovery process as quickly as anticipated, but there’s still hope the right-back can return this season.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 4:50 PM EDT
Pedri is money
The Diamond from the Island does it again for Barcelona.
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
MAGIC from Pedri! 😱😱
The Sevilla defence left scrambling as the youngster bided his time before smashing Barca in front 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/OfTA56YxI4
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) April 3, 2022
April 3, 2022 at 4:34 PM EDT
PSG are having fun
The Ligue 1 leaders are 4-1 up against Lorient, with Mbappe, Neymar and Messi the scorers.
The sensational Mbappe has two goals and two assists…
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 4:14 PM EDT
Chelsea are back on top of the WSL
Arsenal threw the gauntlet down with a 5-0 win at Leicester earlier today, but Chelsea responded in kind by beating Reading by the same scoreline this evening to retake the lead at the top of the WSL.
Both sides have four matches left to play.
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 3:46 PM EDT
HT in the Derby d’Italia
Absolute carnage at the end of the first half, as Hakan Calhanoglu misses a controversially awarded penalty… before a lengthy VAR check sees a retake ordered after Matthijs de Ligt encroached – with the referee having blown for a foul by Inter as Juventus scored an own goal.
Cahanoglu went the same way again but this time Wojciech Szczesny could not keep it out, and Inter lead 1-0 at the break.
Just the five yellow cards in the first period, with 10 minutes of added time played…
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
Absolute madness 🤯
Inter awarded a penalty, which Szczesny saves.
The referee rewards a retake and Calhanoglu’s 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 converts on his second try. pic.twitter.com/6GPGOdOXcF
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 3, 2022
April 3, 2022 at 3:30 PM EDT
Inside Vieira’s impressive start at Palace
The ex-Arsenal midfielder has been very impressive at Selhurst Park.
He faces his former side tomorrow evening and for more on how he’s getting the best out of his charges at Palace, check out our story below.
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
Inside Patrick Vieira’s impressive impact at #CPFC
🔵 The meeting on a yacht that sealed the deal
🔴 Calls to help get transfers over the line
🔵 Commitment to ‘fearless’ style
🔴 Getting the best out of Zaha, Gallagher and others— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) April 3, 2022
April 3, 2022 at 3:10 PM EDT
Jakub Moder ruptures his ACL
The Brighton midfielder faces a long spell on the sidelines after sustaining the injury in yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Norwich.
Moder, a Poland international, faces a race against time to get fit for the World Cup, which is less than eight months away.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 2:35 PM EDT
The impact of Varane and Maguire swapping positions
It was a subtle change from Ralf Rangnick, but switching Varane and Maguire appeared to pay some dividends against Leicester yesterday.
Michael Cox reports from Old Trafford.
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
I was at Old Trafford yesterday to watch a pretty bad game, a bit of a pantomime surrounding Maguire, and he and Varane swapping positions https://t.co/zuyxSyoSTq
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) April 3, 2022
April 3, 2022 at 2:03 PM EDT
‘The worst game of football I’ve seen in a long time’
West Brom manager Steve Bruce pulled no punches when speaking about his side’s 1-0 West Midlands derby defeat by Birmingham City today.
Lyle Taylor’s penalty gave Birmingham the win, and condemned Bruce’s side to their fifth loss since he took over in February.
“It’s got to be the worst game of football I’ve seen in a long time,” Bruce admitted.
“We didn’t possess any real quality in the top end of the pitch. We had some moments but it lacked quality on both sides.
“After being here for seven weeks, we go up and down. The reason why we’re in the middle of the pack in the Championship is because of that.
“We can play really well against Fulham and that’s my biggest disappointment, it’s not acceptable. For a team that should be, or supposed to be, at the top end, we go up and down far too often.”
West Brom are 20th in the Championship form table since Bruce took over from Valerien Ismael.
(Photo: Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
GO FURTHER
West Brom fans: Discuss the Birmingham game with our writer Steve Madeley
April 3, 2022 at 1:29 PM EDT
Wow
It finishes 5-1 to Tottenham after a stunning second half from Antonio Conte’s side.
Son Heung-min, Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Steven Bergwijn were the scorers in the second 45 as Spurs move into the top four.
Arsenal play Crystal Palace tomorrow…
(Photo: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 12:35 PM EDT
1-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after 45 minutes
This free kick from Fabian Schar gave Newcastle a surprise lead, but Ben Davies headed in an equaliser for Tottenham not long after.
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
Newcastle take the lead and Hugo Lloris won’t want to see this again 👀
Fabian Schär fires his free-kick round the wall and Lloris can’t keep it out! pic.twitter.com/JskCxtGIEU
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2022
April 3, 2022 at 12:11 PM EDT
Promotion for Liverpool!
They are heading to the WSL after a 4-2 win at Bristol City!
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
Liverpool Women have won the Championship title and with that they have earned themselves promotion back to the WSL.
What a season!!!!!https://t.co/6FKcj7BJvX
— Caoimhe O’Neill (@CaoimheSport) April 3, 2022
April 3, 2022 at 11:20 AM EDT
Laporta: ‘The agreement with Spotify is bigger than any other in Barca history’
Barcelona’s partnership with Spotify was ratified today at an extraordinary meeting of delegate members, with 89 per cent of the 909 participants voting in favour. The deal was announced two weeks ago.
“Due to a confidentiality clause, applicable in all of Spotify’s global agreement, we cannot give exact figures but what we can say is that its is the best jersey and stadium agreement in financial terms that FC Barcelona has received,” Laporta said earlier today.
“The name of Spotify will appear associated with the stadium for the next 12 seasons at least.”
Spotify will appear on the front of the Barcelona men’s and women’s team shirts starting next season for four years. The streaming giant will also sponsor the training shirts from next campaign for three years.
(Photo: Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
