Prandelli defends attacking set-up

River Plate vice-president Diego Tunes claims the club have opened talks with Inter Milan in a bid to acquire the services of Ricky Alvarez.

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has struggled in Milan after joining from Velez Sarsfield in the 2011, and has featured just eight times in Serie A this season.

Tunes said there has been contact with Inter over a possible loan switch, but no agreement has been reached as of yet.

Alvarez interests us, and (club president Daniel) Passarella has already spoken with Inter officials, the vice-president was quoted in Tuttosport.

(River coach) Ramon Diaz likes him, we ll see if Inter will give him on loan to us.

River may face a struggle acquire Alvarez s services however, with the father of the Inter midfi…

Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu will be sidelined for six months after undergoing knee surgery on Monday, the club have announced.

The 21-year-old had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery and medial meniscus ligament repair on Monday after being forced off in the first half of Saturday s 3-1 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Romeu lasted just 20 minutes before being replaced by Oscar.

It was hoped the former Barcelona man would be fit enough to fly to Japan with rest of the squad to take part in the Club World Cup.

However, further assessment revealed the injury was more serious than first thought and the Spain Under-23 international, who has started four of interim manager Rafael Benitez s five matches in charge, remained in L…

New Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann was all smiles as he faced the media on Wednesday for the first time in his new role as boss of the German giants despite a photographers boycott.

Before the 43-year-old former Germany boss took to the stage in Munich, some 20 photographers walked out of the press conference in protest over Bayern s insistence they had just three minutes to photograph the new coach.

But with smile firmly in place, Klinsmann, who led his side to third place at the 2006 World Cup, greeted the remaining media and said he wants to take defending Bundesliga champions Bayern to the next level .

The expectations at Bayern are always the highest you can possibly have, said former Germany striker Klinsmann.

The Bundesliga and German cu…

Paris Saint-Germain rounded off their stellar season by smashing another record with a 4-0 Ligue 1 win over Montpellier.

Laurent Blanc s champions extended their Ligue 1 benchmark point total to 89 with a 27th triumph this term the most victories ever recorded in a French top-flight season.

Montpellier, league winners in 2012 but uncomfortably close to the relegation places this term, could not repeat the heroics displayed in January s 2-1 Coupe de France win at the Parc des Princes, which denied PSG a tilt at the domestic treble.

But the league and Coupe de la Ligue crowns are stowed for safe keeping in the French capital, with Friday s confirmation of punishments for breaching UEFA s Financial Fair Play rules never likely to dampen the festivities.

Before kick-…

Jurgen Klopp paid a fond tribute to Liverpool legend Georginio Wijnaldum after the midfielder s move to Paris Saint-Germain was confirmed.

The Dutchman has agreed a three-year deal with Mauricio Pochettino s side ahead of the expiry of his Reds contract at the end of June.

The news officially brings the curtain down on Wijnaldum s five-year stay at Anfield, which saw him win the Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

And that has prompted Klopp to highlight the 30-year-old s contributions to a glorious era in Liverpool s history.

“As a team we said our goodbyes to Gini at Anfield after the final game of the season. There was the public farewell on the pitch with the guard of honour. But then a more private occasion al…

Jurgen Klopp suggested Premier League leaders Liverpool could look to sign a striker in January if Rhian Brewster leaves on loan.

Brewster, 19, has been linked with a short-term stint away from Anfield – Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Swansea City reportedly interested.

The highly rated England Under-21 international impressed in pre-season but has managed only a pair of EFL Cup appearances this term.

Allowing him to gain experience elsewhere would leave Champions League holders Liverpool without a recognised centre-forward beyond Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi.

Yes, we have to see, Klopp told UK media when asked whether Brewster s departure could lead to a new arrival.

We can t just give the boys on loan because we have built this squad.<…

Manchester City s Raheem Sterling has left a lot to be desired since his 2015 move from Liverpool.

Manchester City are in bid for Celta Vigo forward Nolito and Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer, which raises questions on where the future of Raheem Sterling lies under new manager Pep Guardiola.

Transfer targets could force Sterling out

The 21-year-old had a troublesome debut season at the Etihad Stadium and his poor form has leaked into this summer’s European Championships for England too. He’s likely to have stiff competition for starting berth in the City side if the Sky Blues sign their proposed transfer targets, and may find his place in jeopardy unless he can turn his form around.

Raheem Sterling was always going to be u…

When you play in a team alongside Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, it is easy to be overshadowed but Xavi cannot understand why Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has not been considered for the Ballon d Or.

Barcelona star Messi has dominated the prestigious award, winning it five times after claiming the 2015 honour ahead of Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and team-mate Neymar.

Quartet Suarez, Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano and Ivan Rakitic were also on the shortlist for last year s Ballon d Or, with midfield general and Spain international Busquets absent, much to the dismay of former Barca star Xavi.

Barcelona are at another level, Xavi now plying his trade for Qatari side Al Sadd told Four Four Two. They don t let the opposition breathe. And th…

Inexperienced defender Serdar Tasci has been preferred to 2002 World Cup and Euro 2008 finalist Christoph Metzelder for Germany s opening 2010 World Cup qualifier, assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick announced on Friday.

The Germans semi-finalists in the 2006 World Cup take on minnows Liechtenstein on Saturday in Vaduz and Flick said that 21-year-old Tasci, who has one cap, had earned his place on merit.

He (Tasci) was really good against Belgium (a 2-0 friendly win in August), and showed he was ready to step up to the senior team, said Flick of the son of immigrant Turks who plays for VfB Stuttgart.

Whilst Flick refused to suggest that 47-timers capped Metzelder s time as automatic first choice had come to an end, his demotion comes after a series of under-par…

Romania s road to the World Cup in 2010 seems to be longer and bumpier than ever after a very hard fought and unimpressive win at the Faroe Islands.

After the 3-0 trashing by Lithuania last week, Romania hoped to show a more convincing performance in Torshavn on Wednesday.

But the side that only just missed out on the quarter finals at Euro 2008 failed to score a single goal in the first half, and lost Ghionea as result of a red card four minutes after the break.

Romania would take the points thanks to a single goal from Cocis in the 59th minute, but pressure will mount on the team to do better versus France next month.

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