Juventus star takes sly dig at boss Massimiliano Allegri in social media post amid Arsenal links
All Arsenal fans will be praying for a new centre-back in January following recent issues in defence.The Gunners have conceded 31 goals in their 21 Premier League games so far this term, 23 more than current league leaders Liverpool.
It's a problem that needs sorting out and fast as it could potentially cost the club a Champions League place come the end of the season.
While the good news for Arsenal is that Laurent Koscielny is now back to fitness after rupturing his Achilles in May, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis looked far from solid in the recent 5-1 defeat against Liverpool.
Rob Holding has been a miss following his season-ending knee injury he suffered against Manchester United and he does need replacing before the transfer window slams shut.
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has been heavily tipped to seal a move across the capital in recent weeks, with Torino's Nicolas Nkoulou also linked with a transfer to the Emirates.
Mehdi Benatia has been mentioned regarding a move to Arsenal in the past and it's fair to say that he's not very happy at Juventus at present.
The 31-year-old has only featured in six games for the Bianconeri this term, with his last appearance coming in the 2-0 win over AC Milan at the start of November.
Previously complaining to manager Massimiliano Allegri about his lack of game time, the Moroccan has now taken a swipe at the Juve boss on Instagram.
Uploading a story to his account when out for dinner, the defender was asked by his waiter if he would dedicate his next goal to him.
"I have to play, in order to score," replied the defender immediately.
Given his latest comments will not go down well with Allegri, it remains to be seen what will happen with the centre-back come the end of the transfer window.
As well as reported interest from Arsenal, AC Milan are also said to be keen on signing the experienced defender.
Ronaldo given Best Player nod at Globe Soccer Awards
Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the Best Player as the Juventus superstar scooped two honours at the 2019 Globe Soccer Awards.
Ronaldo reigned supreme in Dubai, where he beat Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann and Paris Saint-Germain sensation Kylian Mbappe to the award on Thursday.
It marked the third consecutive year Ronaldo was crowned the award's best player, and fifth in total since 2011.
Last season Ronaldo and Real Madrid took a clean sweep of the awards, with Ronaldo claiming Best Player, Zinedine Zidane taking Best Coach and the Spanish giants earning Best Club.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner also received the Fans' Award at the ceremony in the United Arab Emirates.
"What better way to start the new year. Thanks for the appreciation and the care that I have received today," Ronaldo wrote in an Instagram post as he shared a photo of the award alongside Jorge Mendes, who was named Agent of the Year.
Ronaldo has made a seamless transition from Real Madrid to Juventus following his sensational €112million transfer in the off-season.
He has scored a league-high 14 Serie A goals to help Italian champions Juve sit nine points clear atop the table.
World Cup-winning France
boss Didier Deschamps took the Best Coach award, beating out an
impressive list of nominees that included Zinedine Zidane, Diego Simeone
of Atletico Madrid, Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool and Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Simeone’s Atletico, meanwhile, were named Best Club of the Year with chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin
Juve's Blaise Matuidi and Brazil great Ronaldo were also among the recipients of the various honours handed out.
Matuidi was recognised for his career progress, while the Brazilian Ronaldo, Fabio Capello and Zvonimir Boban were given awards for past achievements in the game.
Ronaldo’s Juventus have been out of action since his two-goal showing thier December 29 win over Sampdoria.
They will return to the pitch January 12 with a Coppa Italia round of 16 match against Bologna and face a Supercoppa Italiana final against AC Milan four days later.
The club won’t be back in action in Serie A until a date with Chievo on January 21.
Ronaldo reigned supreme in Dubai, where he beat Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann and Paris Saint-Germain sensation Kylian Mbappe to the award on Thursday.
It marked the third consecutive year Ronaldo was crowned the award's best player, and fifth in total since 2011.
Last season Ronaldo and Real Madrid took a clean sweep of the awards, with Ronaldo claiming Best Player, Zinedine Zidane taking Best Coach and the Spanish giants earning Best Club.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner also received the Fans' Award at the ceremony in the United Arab Emirates.
"What better way to start the new year. Thanks for the appreciation and the care that I have received today," Ronaldo wrote in an Instagram post as he shared a photo of the award alongside Jorge Mendes, who was named Agent of the Year.
Ronaldo has made a seamless transition from Real Madrid to Juventus following his sensational €112million transfer in the off-season.
He has scored a league-high 14 Serie A goals to help Italian champions Juve sit nine points clear atop the table.
Simeone’s Atletico, meanwhile, were named Best Club of the Year with chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin
Juve's Blaise Matuidi and Brazil great Ronaldo were also among the recipients of the various honours handed out.
Matuidi was recognised for his career progress, while the Brazilian Ronaldo, Fabio Capello and Zvonimir Boban were given awards for past achievements in the game.
Ronaldo’s Juventus have been out of action since his two-goal showing thier December 29 win over Sampdoria.
They will return to the pitch January 12 with a Coppa Italia round of 16 match against Bologna and face a Supercoppa Italiana final against AC Milan four days later.
The club won’t be back in action in Serie A until a date with Chievo on January 21.
Italy's Serie A under fire for men-only seats in Saudi final
MILAN (Reuters) - Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on Thursday condemned as “disgusting” restrictions imposed on women hoping to see the final of the Italian Supercoppa, which is being staged this month in Saudi Arabia.
FILE
PHOTO: Soccer Football - Coppa Italia Final - Juventus vs AC Milan -
Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - May 9, 2018 Juventus' Paulo Dybala
shoots at goal as AC Milan's Giacomo Bonaventura looks on
REUTERS/Alberto Lingria/File Photo
The decision to go ahead with the game in the wake of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul had already caused controversy.
But the anger built this week when Serie A released information on how to get tickets, saying some category of seats were only available for men and explaining that women could only gain access by buying tickets in “family” areas.
“To have the Italian Supercoppa being played in an Islamic country where women cannot go to the stadium unless they are accompanied by a man is sad. It’s disgusting. I won’t watch the game,” said Salvini, a passionate AC Milan fan.
Giorgia Meloni, head of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, called for the final to be postponed. “It should be organised in a country that respects our women and our values,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
The Supercoppa final, which pitches the Serie A champions against the winners of the Coppa Italia, has been played abroad several times, with the United States, China and Qatar the previous foreign venues.
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In a statement he said women would not have to be accompanied by a man to get into the stadium, adding that this would be a “historic first”.
“Until last year, women (in Saudi Arabia) could not attend any sporting event,” he said. “We are working to ensure that in the next games that we play in the country, women can access all the stadium seats.”
A ban on women attending some football matches in the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom was lifted in January 2018 as part of a wider relaxation of social restrictions, with special family sections set up in three stadiums.
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