Agent confirms Rabiot’s psg departure
Paris: Midfielder Adrien Rabiot has decided to leave Paris Saint-Germain, his agent told French radio station RTL on Wednesday. Veronique Rabiot, who is also the player's mother, added the situation between the French champions and her son had totally deteriorated. PSG said on Monday they will allow him to join another club at the end of the season due to his reluctance to sign a new deal. The 23-year-old, with more than 150 top-flight appearances, has been agitating for a transfer for some time, and also snubbed a chance to be on standby for France's World Cup-winning squad. Despite media reports linking him with a move to La Liga giants Barcelona, Veronique Rabiot denied an agreement had been reached with another team. "We're not allowed to talk to any club until January 1 and I will not discuss with any club before January 1," she said.
Lucas Hernandez to join Bayern in January
Madrid: Atletico Madrid's World Cup-winning left-back Lucas Hernandez could join Bayern Munich in January, Spanish newspaper Marca reported on Wednesday. The German champions — who sit in an unfamiliar third place in the Bundesliga — would be ready to pay a release clause of 80 million euros ($90 million) to bring the France international to Bavaria when the January transfer window opens. But Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic played down the reports. "I can't confirm that," he said. "These are just rumours, I've already had the chance to say that, if the opportunity arises, we will be active in the transfer market, but these are just rumours." Atleti president Enrique Cerezo said he is not aware of the offer from Bayern. "For now Lucas Hernandez plays for Atletico Madrid and he wants to stay here with us. We are in the process of building a team and we're not a selling club," Cerezo told website Sportyou.
Belgium end year ranked ahead of France
Paris: Belgium will end the year as No 1 ahead of world champions France in the global rankings released by FIFA on Thursday. Belgium, beaten by France in the World Cup semi-finals, edge Didier Deschamps' team by one ranking point. Belgium have 1,727 points by FIFA's calculations to 1,726 for France. Brazil are third on 1,676. FIFA noted on their web site that France, who were ranked No 9 last Christmas, were the year's "Best Mover" after a "stellar 2018...having gained more points (165) since December 2017 than any other nation." The governing body of world football also noted that Europe and Asia have gained top-50 places at the expense of Africa. Europe has 31, an increase of two, Asia is up one to three and Africa is down three to five top-50 representatives.
Monaco appoint Passi to assist Henry
Monaco: Veteran coach Franck Passi has joined Monaco as an assistant to Thierry Henry, the struggling Ligue 1 club announced on Thursday. The 52-year-old Frenchman reinforces a staff of first-time coaches with little Ligue 1 experience. Henry, who is in his first management job, is rediscovering the French topflight, which he left in 1999. Neither of his assistants has any experience in France. Irishman Patrick Kwame Ampadu joined from Arsenal where he had spent six years coaching youth teams. Portuguese Joao Tralhao was a youth coach at Benfica. On their web site, Monaco noted that Passi was familiar with both the French league and the role of assistant after working in that capacity under Marcelo Bielsa at Marseille and Lille.
‘L'pool can match Arsenal's Invincibles'
Liverpool: Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren says the Premier League leaders can go through the whole season unbeaten, matching the achievement of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' in 2003/04. Jurgen Klopp's side are one point clear of defending champions Manchester City after 14 wins and three draws from 17 games. "Hopefully we can be unbeaten until the end of the season," said Lovren, buoyed by Sunday's victory over arch-rivals Manchester United. "Of course it will be a challenge but this is what we want, this is why we came here to Liverpool, because we know we can do it. Arsenal did it before so why not?" Liverpool have not won the English top-flight since 1990 but could extend their lead over Pep Guardiola's City to four points with a win at Wolves on Friday.
Korea not top favourites at Asian Cup: Bento
Seoul: South Korean football coach Paulo Bento on Thursday named his squad for the upcoming Asian Cup, seeking to downplay expectations despite a string of impressive performances by his side in recent months. Tottenham's Son Heung-min is included in Bento's 23-man roster for next month's 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), alongside homegrown talent he has tested in recent friendly matches. "I'm confident that we'll play well, but I also know we're not the only team chasing the title. Other teams will be ready, too. I don't think we're the top favourites," Bento told journalists in Ulsan. "Our main goal is to execute our style of play and do what we intend to do on the pitch," he said of the tournament in which South Korea are in Group C with China, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines.
Mooy included in Socceroos squad
Sydney: Aaron Mooy on Thursday was included in the Socceroos squad to defend their Asian Cup title, despite Huddersfield ruling him out of the tournament, but the experienced Tomi Juric was axed. Midfielder Mooy has been in fine form in the English Premier League this season, but suffered a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee earlier this month. Huddersfield announced he would be sidelined until February, but Australian medical staff is en route to Britain to get a second opinion and Socceroos' coach Graham Arnold said midfielder Mooy, a key cog in the team, is desperate to play. "He wants to play the Asian Cup. He will be looked at tomorrow (Friday) and then we will make the next decision from there," he said. "He believes that he will be ready, and so do we, and there's a process we have to go through and we'll do that." Australia are already missing Celtic striker Daniel Arzani, who was ruled for the rest of the season last month after surgery on a knee injury.