Latest news with #AlHilal
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Darwin Nunez's 'Napoli move is OFF' as Serie A champions 'line up alternative' - with Liverpool preparing record bid for Alexander Isak
Napoli have pulled out of the race to sign Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez due to a significant gap in valuation between the two sides, according to reports. The Uruguayan's future looks increasingly likely to lie away from Anfield, with numerous clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia keen on acquiring the striker. Napoli were previously thought to be at the top of the pile and had been negotiating a cut-price deal for the 26-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Benfica for a whopping £85million in the summer of 2022. The Serie A champions were believed to be willing to pay £47.5m to bring Nunez, who only made eight starts as Liverpool strolled to the Premier League title, across to Naples. But now, according to Sky in Italy, a deal can be considered off and Antonio Conte 's side have instead opted to sign Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca instead. The Italian giants have agreed a loan deal for the 24-year-old attacker, with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. The move opens the door for Saudi Pro League sides to make a beeline for Nunez, with Al-Hilal now at the front of the queue. Nunez struggled for minutes in Liverpool's triumphant campaign, in which they won their 20th league title - finishing 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal - with the striker only scoring five goals and supplying three assists. Both were the lowest tallies he has produced since arriving at Anfield three years ago, with Slot regularly preferring Luis Diaz in the No. 9 role. And with Nunez still looking likely to leave this summer, Liverpool are lining up a mega-move for Newcastle's Alexander Isak. The Reds are prepared to smash their transfer record for the second time this summer to sign the Swede. The Premier League champions have already made the statement signing of the summer by signing Florian Wirtz for £116m, and are now willing to spend in excess of £125m to land Isak, should they be given any encouragement. Newcastle remain adamant that Isak is not for sale and want to enhance his £ 120,000-per-week contract - a task that should have been done under the watch of former Director of Football Paul Mitchell. However, talks stalled earlier this year, and there has been no progress. Isak is currently with Newcastle's squad in Austria for a training camp, and they want to enhance their forward line by adding Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. However, their first bid has fallen way short of the Germans' expectations: they want €100m (£86m) for the France Under-21 international. Mail Sport understands that Newcastle have bid £70m for Ekitike - a player in whom Liverpool also retain an interest - but the structure of what they have offered doesn't tally with what Frankfurt want. A striker is Liverpool's main priority this summer, regardless of whether Newcastle manage to fend off their interest for Isak, who finished second behind Mohamed Salah in the Golden Boot last season, scoring 23 goals. Aside from Isak and Etikete, Liverpool have discussed Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Yoane Wissa, the livewire Brentford forward who was close to joining Arsenal in January. In terms of outgoings, Liverpool rejected a £58.5m proposal for Diaz from Bayern Munich on Tuesday, as they hold out for their £86m asking price.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Jorge Jesus named new Al Nassr coach to partner with Ronaldo
PORTUGUESE football manager Jorge Jesus has been officially appointed as the new head coach of Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr. The club confirmed the news on social media, stating, 'It's official: Mr. Jorge Jesus is the new Head Coach of Al Nassr.' Jesus, 70, returns to Saudi football after being dismissed by Al Hilal in May following their Asian Champions League semi-final defeat. His previous stint with Al Hilal began in 2023, marking his second spell with the club. With a managerial career spanning Portugal, Brazil, and Turkey, Jesus brings extensive experience to Al Nassr. His most notable roles include managing Benfica and Sporting Lisbon in his home country. The appointment comes shortly after Cristiano Ronaldo extended his stay with Al Nassr, signing a new two-year deal in June. Despite being the league's top scorer last season with 25 goals, Ronaldo has yet to secure a major trophy with the club. Al Nassr also fell short in the Asian Champions League semi-finals, adding pressure for success under Jesus.
The National
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
Ask Mina: Has Club World Cup reinforced Europe's dominance over world football?
Q: Has the Club World Cup shown Europe remains dominant or are clubs from the rest of the world catching up? @timmys_44 via Instagram A: The Club World Cup certainly delivered entertainment and gave us a proper chance to see how clubs from around the world measure up against Europe's elite. While I do have reservations about the expanded format, I was disappointed not to see clubs like Barcelona, Liverpool, or even Al Ittihad, the Saudi Pro League champions, take part. I'm not asking for more teams, but I do want to see those who dominated their domestic leagues represented. It's difficult to draw sweeping conclusions from a single tournament, but one thing is clear: European football still reigns supreme. The fact that two European sides contested the final only reinforces that fact. The gap in quality, depth, and resources remains significant. Another inescapable fact is that Eurpope's financial advantage over teams from the rest of the world keeps getting bigger. European teams won most of their games, and Uefa clubs took home over 70% of the $1 billion prize money distributed between the 32 teams, which only makes them stronger both on and off the pitch. It creates more imbalance. That said, Brazilian clubs, driven by a desire to prove the strength of their game, brought real intensity and pride to the competition, making it genuinely enjoyable. Al Hilal's victory over Manchester City was a clear demonstration of the growth of Saudi football, which many still try to dismiss. Their performance showed they and the league deserve to be taken seriously. Still, for now, Europe remains firmly in control of world football, and as long as their success continues to generate more wealth, the gap between European clubs and the rest of the world is unlikely to close anytime soon. Q: What are your thoughts on the Club World Cup final? And was Cristiano Ronaldo right to want Luis Enrique at Manchester United? @duanepatrickphotography via Instagram A: Chelsea have this unbelievable ability to win trophies even when the odds seem stacked against them. Enzo Maresca prepared his team beautifully. They played with urgency in an attempt to stop Paris Saint-Germain from taking control of the game. They isolated Nuno Mendes, took advantage of Willian Pacho's absence and made life difficult for a PSG side that hasn't looked this poor defensively for a long time. The French side had scored 16 goals and conceded only one in this tournament going into the final. Cole Palmer was clutch once again, and Chelsea were at their clinical best. They took their chances and managed the ending perfectly, with Robert Sanchez putting in a fine show in goal. PSG may have dominated possession, registered more shots on target, made more tackles, and lost the ball less often, but it was Chelsea who delivered in the key moments and showed the efficiency needed to win. Luis Enrique didn't cover himself in glory at the final whistle, grabbing the face of Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, but none of that should detract from a brilliant season in which he guided PSG to a French league-and-cup double and a first Uefa Champions League title. It was the second treble of Enrique's career, having also achieved the same feat with Barcelona in 2015. It is no wonder Cristiano Ronaldo pushed the Spaniard's credentials when the English club were seeking a replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked in November 2021, during his time at Old Trafford I think most agree Enrique would have been a strong choice. But as The National's Andy Mitten reported back then, the timing was off. Enrique was committed to Spain and preparing for the 2022 World Cup. Q: Thoughts on the growth in Saudi football. Will it be taken seriously? @ via Instagram A: Saudi Arabian football is already being taken seriously; Al Hilal's historic win over Manchester City marked the first time an Asian club had defeated a European side at a Fifa tournament. Remember, Al Hilal weren't even the strongest team in the Saudi Pro League in 2024/25. People often overlook the depth of Saudi Arabia's passion for football. When a country boasts genuine love for the game, then there's enormous growth potential. The Saudi Pro League's strength was further highlighted in the AFC Champions League Elite, where three of the four semi-finalists representing the kingdom. Television viewership continues to rise, and what was once dismissed as a retirement destination is now attracting top-level and younger talent. Gabri Veiga chose to go there even if he has since left; Theo Hernandez, a world-class player still in his prime, has joined Al Hilal, and Mateo Retegui, last season's top scorer in Serie A, has joined Al Qadsiah. Club management and tactical systems are improving too. Saudi Arabia's homegrown talent also deserves attention. Players like Al Hilal captain Salem Al Dawsari play crucial roles for club and country, and often provide so much of the entertainment. Even Cristiano Ronaldo has weighed in, recently stating: 'Of course, we [the Saudi Pro League] are still improving, but I believe that at this moment, we're already in the top five leagues in the world.' Q: Which teams do you think will end up willing the league in the top five European leagues? @Joskdek7 via Instagram A: The hardest one to pick is the winner of the Premier League. I can't decide between Manchester City and Liverpool. I think this one will go down the wire. In France, I don't think there's any team better than PSG in Europe, even if they lost the Club World Cup final. Considering how they are building and their resources, they are my favourites to win Ligue 1, and potentially the Uefa Champions League again. In Spain, Barcelona are my pick to win another La Liga title. With the awesome Hansi Flick at the helm, there's every reason to believe he'll build on last season's success, that is if they can sort out that risky high line. Real Madrid, under Xabi Alonso, will need time to settle. There's plenty of work ahead, but with the quality in their squad, they remain a serious threat. In Italy, Inter Milan no longer feel like a sure thing following Simone Inzaghi's departure. I'm not convinced Cristian Chivu can oversee a successful rebuild quickly. Any team managed by Antonio Conte is bound to be a contender, especially after Napoli's title win last season, which has only sharpened their hunger. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if Max Allegri pulls off something special at AC Milan, even if I still have serious doubts about the club's management. As for Germany, surely, it's always Bayern Munich? Bayer Leverkusen have lost the likes of Florian Wirtz and Borussia Dortmund can be terrific or very average, too inconsistent for me. Q: Morgan Gibbs-White – is he definitely moving to Tottenham Hotspur and if so, will they finish in the top four? @Wellkned via Instagram A: This has become a delicate and contentious situation, with Nottingham Forest feeling deeply aggrieved by what they view as an unlawful approach from Tottenham, and a breach of confidentiality surrounding the terms of Gibbs-White's contract. On the other side, Gibbs-White has release clause, allowing him to leave if a club meets a fee set by Forest. If that condition has been fulfilled and the move is blocked, he may have legal grounds of his own. Forest are understandably reluctant to lose arguably their most valuable player, particularly after Anthony Elanga's departure to Newcastle United. The club have serious ambitions, and losing Gibbs-White now would be a major setback. However, assuming Tottenham have approached the club and triggered the release clause, Forest look to have little say over his future. Gibbs-White is a sensational talent, one well suited to Spurs coach Thomas Frank's style of play. He possesses a relentless drive in transition, is dynamic, intelligent and tactically proficient. Ideal for a direct team. His arrival at Tottenham could have a significant impact on the North London club, but I'm not convinced Spurs can break into the Premier League top four, given the level of competition. Manchester City and Liverpool look poised to battle for the title, and Arsenal remain a threat and can never be discounted. That realistically leaves just one spot, and with Chelsea finding form, the path won't be easy.
News18
9 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Christian Pulisic Rejects Big Opportunity To Play Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo: Report
The USA winger is contracted to AC Milan until June 2027. But discussions over a potential renewal have slowed down in recent weeks. Pulisic is reportedly keen on representing Milan heading into the upcoming season. He has flourished with the team since joining from Chelsea in July 2023, recording 32 goals and 23 assists in 100 matches across all tournaments. Al Nassr would be hoping to get a deal over the line in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus was appointed on Tuesday by Al Nassr, where he will link up with Ronaldo, who signed a new two-year deal with the Saudi club in June. The 70-year-old Jesus was sacked by Saudi rivals Al Hilal in May after their Asian Champions League semi-final exit. Jesus had been in charge since 2023 in what was his second spell with Al Hilal. A long managerial career has taken place in his native Portugal, with Benfica and Sporting Lisbon and he has coached in Brazil and Turkey as well. Ronaldo, 40, inked a new contract until 2027 with Al Nassr last month, ending speculation over a potential departure.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report – Veteran Defender Keen To Stay At Inter Milan Amid Premier League Interest
Francesco Acerbi has no intention of leaving Inter Milan a year before the expiry of his contract at Stadio San Siro. Per FCInterNews, the veteran defender is not interested in leaving Serie A despite drawing inquiries from the Premier League. Advertisement Francesco Acerbi has entered the final year of his contract at Inter Milan. Despite his impressive form in 2024/25, the club won't offer him a new deal, considering he's already 37. Meanwhile, Simone Inzaghi has decided against taking his ex-Nerazzurri pupil to Al-Hilal. Francesco Acerbi Eager to Stay at Inter Milan SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 25: Francesco Acerbi #15 of FC Internazionale Milano walks on the field prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and CA River Plate at Lumen Field on June 25, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by) Although Inter won't extend Acerbi's contract, they will likely stick with the former Lazio star for another season. Indeed, the club will not pay €500,000 to terminate his deal this summer. Meanwhile, the player is perfectly fine with staying at San Siro for another year. After Inzaghi's decision not to sign him at Al-Hilal, Acerbi has no interest in leaving his homeland. Furthermore, despite drawing attention from the Premier League, it wouldn't be a switch to a top club.
