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Barcelona target Memphis Depay is also the subject of interest from Roma, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed.

Lyon captain Depay is into the final year of his contract with the Ligue 1 club and has been linked with a big move to Barca.

The former Manchester United forward previously worked with new Blaugrana coach Ronald Koeman with the Netherlands.

But Aulas warned a deal with Barca has not yet been done, encouraging Roma's rival interest.

He told Telefoot: "Memphis' contract is expiring. Koeman wants him at Barcelona, but there is also Roma in for the player."

Depay returned from a serious knee injury to feature in Lyon's run to the Champions League semi-finals, having earlier netted nine goals in only 13 Ligue 1 matches last term.

Last week he scored a hat-trick in Lyon's first Ligue 1 game of the season as Dijon were beaten 4-1.

The Netherlands star has admitted that he could be lured away from Lyon, but insists he is focusing on building on his bright start to the new campaign.

"I never said I want to leave. When I say something, it is often distorted,” he said on Tuesday.

"I still have a one-year contract, I am captain, and we have a good team. We have shown that. I feel good about myself but also have my dreams. I have always expressed that too."

The 26-year-old said a few days ago that he has a good relationship with Koeman, who offered his support as the ex-Manchester United winger was sidelined with injury.

"He was very involved in my recovery, he came to see me in Rome,” he added. “When I was training in the Netherlands, he came to see me. Our relationship is good.”

Meanwhile, Lyon coach Rudi Garcia said on Sunday that he would not hold the attacker back from a move to Camp Nou, adding that he would take him there himself.

“Like many of my players, if they have the opportunity to play in a club built to win the Champions League, and he's met a lot of them last season, I will personally take him in my car,” he said.

Paris Saint-Germain's interest was piqued when Lionel Messi declared his intention to leave Barcelona, sporting director Leonardo has admitted.

The Argentina star sent shockwaves around world football when he declared his intention to leave the Spanish club for free this summer, though the Blaugrana insisted any buyers would have to match his €700 million release clause.

But Messi revealed to Goal this week that he will remain at the club because he does not want to fight the Catalan giants in court.

Manchester City were seen as the most likely destination for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, but PSG would have considered making a move for him.

"Today when you think about the financial situation it's complicated," Leonardo told Telefoot when asked if the French champions were interested. 

"When we are told Messi wants to leave, we are tempted. You say to yourself, will it be f*cking possible? They are players completely out of any discussion. 

"I don't know, David Beckham ended up at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi ending up in Paris? I don't know. 

"It's football, in the end, everyone's sitting at the table, everyone knows everything, and it's moving forward."

While the Ligue 1 giants missed out on the signing of one icon, they said goodbye to two club legends when Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva left after their contracts expired.

Silva’s agent said Leonardo offered the Brazilian centre-back an extension after he had already agreed to join Chelsea and the director admits deciding whether or not to keep the pair was a tough call.

"Decisions over players like this are not easy. They are players who have done everything for the club, absolute idols,” he said.

“It’s hard to say if one year more, or less, would be better, or just to stop there.

"This group, and what they did in the second half of the year, is great. We want to keep the group together."

While Ligue 1 is two weeks into the 2020-21 campaign, PSG are yet to kick theirs off because of their participation in the Champions League final. Thomas Tuchel's team will play their first game of the new season on Thursday when they visit Lens. 

Nigeria's Emmanuel Dennis, Senegal forwards Youssouph Badji and Krepin Diatta have been shortlisted for Club Brugge's Player of the Month award for August.

The African trio join goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Belgian midfielder Hans Vanaken in the five-man list released on Sunday.

They have helped Club Brugge bounce back after starting their Belgian First Division A title defence campaign on a losing against Sporting Charleroi on August 8.

Badji and Diatta are the joint top scorers in Philippe Clement's team so far this season with two goals each while Dennis has only provided an assist as he awaits his maiden goal this term.

Diatta scored a brace in Club Brugge's 4-0 demolition of AS Eupen on August 16 while Badji grabbed a goal in the fixture before scoring the match-winning goal against Genk last Sunday, after Dennis assisted Vanaken to open the scoring in the encounter.

18-year-old Badji who joined the Blue-Black this year, has started his European career on a promising note with the two goals scored in four Belgian top-flight matches.

Since the start of the 2020-21 campaign in August, Club Brugge have lost two and won two of their four league games. They are placed fifth in the First Belgian First Division A table with six points behind leaders Sporting Charleroi.

After the international break, they host Waasland-Beveren for their next league fixture on September 12.

Ansu Fati made history on his first start and Sergio Ramos scored twice as Spain coasted to a 4-0 victory over Ukraine in Sunday's Nations League contest in Madrid.

Barcelona star Fati, who made his senior international debut off the bench in Thursday's 1-1 draw with Germany, made it 3-0 in fine fashion prior to half-time at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano to become Spain's youngest goalscorer at 17 years and 311 days old.

Fati had earlier won the penalty from which Ramos opened the scoring and the Real Madrid great doubled the lead at a familiar venue, which is part of Los Blancos' Valdebebas training complex.

Ferran Torres got off the mark for La Roja with a well-controlled finish six minutes from time as Spain moved to four points from two matches to sit top of Group A4.

Fati's quick feet proved too much for Sergey Krivtsov in just the third minute, with Andriy Pyatov unable to stop Ramos' penalty finding the bottom-left corner.

The Barca forward placed an effort just past the right post after tormenting Oleksandr Tymchyk on the left flank and had an overhead-kick blocked by Mykola Matvyenko in a goal-mouth scramble.

Ramos deservedly doubled the lead with a fine looping header from Dani Olmo's cross before Fati brilliantly jinked inside Ihor Kharatin and fired into the bottom-right corner off the post.

Olmo, also making a first international start, drew a smart stop from Pyatov just after the hour, while Gerard Moreno had the ball in the back of the net only to be flagged offside. 

Pyatov again kept the scoreline down with a fine fingertip save from Oscar Rodriguez's dipping effort but could do nothing to prevent new Manchester City winger Torres placing a side-footed volley into the bottom-right corner.

What does it mean? Fati a star who can help Spain reign again

Spain were the dominant force of international football during a golden period that returned two European Championships and the World Cup between 2008 and 2012. In 17-year-old Fati they seemingly have a generational talent who can be the driving force behind a new crop of emerging players.

Ramos matches Di Stefano

Ramos, his country's most-capped player, will forever be regarded as a Spain legend and his double means he now sits joint-eighth in the nation's list of highest goalscorers – level with fellow Los Blancos great Alfredo Di Stefano, after whom Sunday's venue was named.

Fati not feeling the weight of international expectation

This was Fati's first start in international football, but he played with the swagger and quality of a seasoned veteran. Time and again Ukraine's defenders were left quaking by the Barca forward, who fully deserved his historic goal.

What's next?

Spain prepare for their next Nations League assignment with a friendly against Portugal on October 7, while Ukraine host Germany in their third Group A4 encounter.

Germany are still waiting for their first Nations League win after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland on Sunday.

The 2014 World Cup winners were relegated from League A in the inaugural 2018-19 Nations League but a change in format to the competition saved them from demotion.

Die Mannschaft's winless run was extended to five games with a draw against Spain on Thursday and they were again frustrated in Basle.

Ilkay Gundogan gave Germany the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour but an inability to convert chances came back to hurt Joachim Low's men as Silvan Widmer's well-taken goal secured a share of the spoils for Switzerland.

Germany dominated possession early on and were rewarded in the 14th minute when Gundogan rounded off a well-worked move by meeting Matthias Ginter's pull back with a composed low finish from the edge of the area.

Switzerland responded well to going behind and could have been level had Haris Seferovic made proper contact with Djibril Sow's cross.

Julian Draxler spurned a chance to double Germany's lead when he shot straight at Yann Sommer following good work down the left from Timo Werner, who then volleyed over the bar as Switzerland continued to look vulnerable at the back.

The hosts remained an attacking threat, however, Seferovic clipping the outside of the post before Granit Xhaka forced Arsenal team-mate Bernd Leno to turn his long-range drive over the crossbar.

Draxler saw an effort deflected wide seven minutes after the break and Germany's failure to double their advantage was punished when Breel Embolo cut in from the left and laid off for Widmer to find the bottom-left corner with a first-time finish.

Switzerland looked the more likely to find a decisive goal in the closing stages, with Germany's ability to keep them at bay likely cold comfort to Low as their winless run in this competition goes on.

What does it mean? Germany with work to do in Finals quest

This result, combined with Spain's win over Ukraine, means Luis Enrique's men are two points ahead of Germany in Group A4.

Overhauling La Roja and earning a spot in the Finals will be a difficult task for Low's side, while Switzerland are bottom of the group after picking up their first point.

Gundogan in the goals

The opener was a first goal since January for Manchester City's Gundogan, with his confident finish surely a welcome sight for Low and his club manager Pep Guardiola.

Profligacy proves costly

Germany were without several members of Bayern Munich's treble-winning side but the team they put out should have had enough to see off Switzerland. Low will have been disappointed to see players of such calibre waste as many chances as they did.

What's next?

The next international window in October sees Germany host Turkey in a friendly before their search for an elusive Nations League win takes them to Ukraine.

Spain are next for Switzerland in the Nations League following a friendly with Croatia.

Ansu Fati became Spain's youngest goalscorer in history with his strike in the first half of Sunday's clash with Ukraine in Madrid.

The Barcelona forward marked his first international start with a fine effort to make it 3-0 before half-time in the Nations League match being played at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.

Aged 17 years and 311 days, Fati became the youngest player to net for Spain. The rising star broke the record that was set in 1925 by Juan Errazquin, who was 18 years and 344 days old when he struck three times against Switzerland.

It was the culmination of a fine opening period for Fati, who also won the penalty for Sergio Ramos to open the scoring, with a looping header from the Real Madrid defender then doubling Spain's lead.

Fati made his senior international debut off the bench in Thursday's 1-1 draw against Germany.

The Guinea-Bissau-born winger was 10 when he joined Barcelona’s youth system and made his senior debut in August 2019. He then became the club’s youngest ever scorer when he struck against Osasuna less than a week later.

He ended the season with eight goals from 33 games in all competitions for the Camp Nou side.

He is currently tied to the club until 2022, but president Josep Maria Bartomeu said last month that he would like to hand him a contract for life.

“He’s essential for the future of the club. Ansu is not for sale. He represents the academy the players come out of, learn from and consolidate themselves in the first team,” he said .

“He’s unique because he jumped from the youth team to the first team. There are not many players like him and Barcelona cannot sell him, even if it would be an economic solution for the club in the times of this pandemic.

“At no time have we considered selling him. On the contrary: what we have to do is help him in his growth and get him to sign a new contract in the future, so that he plays here for life.”

South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan has explained how Bafana Bafana can benefit after the PSL's Big Three clubs qualified for Caf interclub competitions. 

Mamelodi Sundowns clinched the PSL title after defeating Black Leopards 3-0 on Saturday, while long-time log leaders Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 1-1 draw by Baroka FC on the final day of the season.

Jordaan lauded Sundowns for showing utmost professionalism throughout the season and also praised the club president Patrice Motsepe.

‘’I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sundowns Football Club for being true champions," Jordaan told Safa's official website on Sunday.

"This is their third league title on the trot and 10th overall and well done to coach Pitso Mosimane and his technical team for leading the team to the top again. 

“Competing in Africa year in year out and continuing to dominate on the domestic front shows the vision of club President."

Sundowns and Chiefs qualified for next season's Caf Champions League, while third-place Orlando Pirates are set to compete in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Pirates will be joined by Bloemfontein Celtic in the Confederation Cup after Siwelele reached the 2020 Nedbank Cup final where they will face Sundowns on Tuesday.

"Winning the league title also means Sundowns will once again be representing South Africa together with Kaizer Chiefs in the Caf Champions League tournament while Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic will take part in the Caf Confed Cup," he added. 

‘’Up until the final whistle, the league could have gone either way but ultimately Sundowns through their never-say-die attitude, prevailed.

"The club has done well in Caf club competitions and we look forward to them raising the South African flag again together with other continental representatives.

“When our clubs do well in Caf tournaments, it rubs off our national teams especially the senior men’s national team, Bafana Bafana."

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) confirmed the return of Sundowns, Chiefs and Pirates to interclub competitions. 

“Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are all coming back for Interclubs competitions next season. Early predictions?” a Caf statement read on Twitter on Sunday.  

They are the only South African clubs which have won continental trophies thus far as Sundowns and Pirates have lifted the Caf Champions League and Caf Super Cup.

While Chiefs clinched the African Cup Winners' Cup in 2001 and the competition has since been merged with the Caf Cup to form the Caf Confederation Cup.

Young Africans SC (Yanga SC) started their Tanzania Mainland League campaign with a point after labouring to a 1-1 draw against Tanzania Prisons.

In the last 16 matches between the two sides, the 27-time league champions had managed 10 wins, drawing five and losing just once, a loss that came way in 2018. Last season, Timu ya Wananchi managed to get four points from the administrative side.

With many signings made, the hosts were keen to start on a high to reduce the pressure on them to win silverware and build momentum.

However, it was the administrative side who started the game well, and they were rewarded in the seventh minute. Yanga failed to clear their lines and the ball fell kindly to Lambert Sabiyanka, who had enough space to set himself up before unleashing a good shot that beat Farouk Shikhalo in the Yanga goal.

The lead lasted just 13 minutes as the Jangwani-based side fought hard for the equalizing goal.

Prisons defenders failed to clear a cross from the left, and the loose ball fell to new signing Michael Sarpong whose first-time shot was too much for the custodian to deal with.

Those were the only goals in the first half, as neither of the two teams could get the vital second.

After the break, Yanga came back stronger hoping to get the second goal and lead the proceedings for the first time. On their side, Tanzania Prisons ensured they did not make costly mistakes, especially at the back, and they did everything possible to keep the strikers at bay.

Their resolute defending ended with full-back Nurdin Chona getting sent off in the 85th minute after a second bookable offence. Nevertheless, they had done enough to get a point from their hosts who were desperate for a win.

In other matches played on Sunday, Namungo defeated Coastal Union by a solitary goal. The lone strike came in the 63rd minute courtesy of Blaise Bigirimana.

Newcomers Dodoma Jiji FC needed a Khamis Mcha strike with 20 minutes remaining to start their campaign in the top tier with a win at the expense of Mwadui while their fellow newbies Gwambina fell by the same margin to Biashara Mara United.

The goal was scored in the 88th minute by Friday Kelvin.

Mtibwa Sugar and Ruvu Shooting settled for a goalless draw.

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Rudolph Seale has shared his thoughts on why the late inclusion of experienced goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has somehow dented the club’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) title chances.

While he said it was difficult to comfort the players after failing to lift the PSL trophy, he says they should not be discouraged.

Moreover, Seale is against the view the departure of George Maluleka to join new league champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, left a void in the midfield.

“I’m not pointing fingers here but I thought playing Khune when we smelled the title could have made things better,” Seale told Goal.

“I’m not saying [Daniel] Akpeyi was a bad keeper or blaming him. But to change him when he is injured did have a dent on our challenge.

“Look, there are some players that can give you good performances but sometimes fail to manage the game, organize things, and have that winning mentality especially when it comes to trying times like the final games of the season.

“We all know Khune is a good motivator, managing the game and has experience in big games and coming to the challenges of the title race, the character is what counts at such stages."

Coming to the title that was decided on the last day of the season, the former full-back says he expected one team would suffer heartbreak. 

“I think we expected the title to end up in tears for either club. It was obvious one would lose it in the last game,” added Seale.

“It’s very difficult to motivate and inspire the players. It’s been a very taxing and tough season not only for Chiefs but for everybody in the PSL. So, the fact that Chiefs managed to do well and challenge for the title up to the last game is something big for them.

“It happens in football that you lose the title. I think they can still come back and do well next season, I have faith they can continue where they left off.

“Losing the league title has always been happening in football and it’s not something new with Chiefs. I just hope the players will not feel bad about it. They must be professional and look at it in a positive manner.”

Speaking about the former Ajax Cape Town midfielder who recently joined the Tshwane giants, the legend believes coach Ernst Middendorp had quality to use in the heart of the park.

“On George, there are players there. The talk that George has left a void in the midfield and that sort of thing, it doesn’t work because Chiefs have top players in the midfield,” continued Seale.

“For those that didn’t enjoy regular game time, it was an opportunity for them to play just when they heard that George is leaving. This is not a one-man team but there’s talented and quality players at Chiefs.

“You can’t have passengers in a big club like this one, all the players have to play. Khune was out, he [Middendorp] played Akpeyi and unfortunately, Akpeyi cannot match Khune’s qualities when it comes to leadership.

“But there is plenty of players. They gave their best, to finish there is an achievement after finishing ninth last season.”

Former Nigeria U17 star Peter Olawale made a dream start to life at his new club Hapoel Ra’anana.

The teenager scored for the club’s U19 team as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Hapoel Rishon Lezion Yehuda in Saturday’s Israeli Youth League fixture.

Olawale was making his competitive debut for the team, having recently joined the club from Tripple 44 Academy.

With the first-half ended 0-0, the Nigerian handed Ra’anana the lead after 49th minute – drilling home a one-time shot past the opposing goalkeeper.

However, they were denied a second victory this season as the visitors equalised with five minutes left to play.

Speaking through his club’s media department, the 18-year-old expressed his delight with his maiden goal while sharing his ambition for the senior team.

“Going into the game, I had a strong belief that I will register my name among the goalscorers,” he told Goal.

“Rishon Lezion are a very physical team and did not give us the room to operate, but when the chance came, I had no option than to strike at first touch before the defenders found their bearing.

“Overall, I gave a good account of myself but I would have been happier if we picked maximum points at stake.”

Olawale will make his debut for Hapoel Ra’anana’s senior squad when they welcome Hapoel Afula to the National Stadium Ramat Gan for a Liga Leumit clash on September 14 – and the ex-Tripple 44 man is ready to shine if paraded by manager Gal Cohen.

“I was drafted to play for the club’s youth team because of the international break, now my focus will be on that cracker which coach [Gal] Cohen claimed is a big match.

“With luck on my side I hope to continue my scoring run.

Shortly after the game on Saturday, he took to social media to revel in his achievement.

“I feel proud scoring on my debut for Hapoel Ra'anana A.F.C. this evening [on Saturday]. I give all glory to God and I believe it can only get better,” Olawale tweeted.

Thanks to an impressive outing at the 2019 U17 Fifa World Cup staged in Brazil, where the Golden Eaglets crashed out in the Round of 16, the striker attracted interest from a host of European teams, nonetheless, he signed for the Israeli outfit for an undisclosed fee.

Neco Williams scored a stoppage-time winner to secure Wales a 1-0 Nations League victory over Bulgaria and take charge of the group.

Ryan Giggs' men left it late on matchday one of Group B4 when netting an 80th-minute winner against Finland, and they had to wait even longer after what had been an underwhelming performance at home to Bulgaria.

The hosts did not pose any credible threat to the Bulgaria goal until the latter stages of the first half, but David Brooks spurned a decent opportunity and that failed to usher in much of an improvement after the interval.

Gareth Bale, only able to play 45 minutes last time out, managed the whole match though hardly terrorised the Bulgaria backline – instead it was left to substitute Williams to nod in with virtually the last action of the match to make it two wins from two for Wales in the Nations League.

A deflected Galin Ivanov effort in the 25th minute was the first talking point of note in a low-key first half, but it ultimately went wide of Wayne Hennessey's left-hand post.

Wales eventually showed signs of life in attack in the final minutes of the first period, with Bale's long-range free-kick forcing Georgi Georgiev into an easy save, before Brooks volleyed off target when gifted an opportunity by Kristian Dimitrov.

The home side initially maintained a decent level upon the resumption, but their tempo soon fell flat again.

It was not until the 67th minute that they threated Georgiev's goal again – Daniel James cutting in from the left and shooting at the keeper following a one-two.

James was involved again soon after, teeing up Brooks as he struck the top of the post.

But deep into added time, just when Wales' chances appeared lost, substitute Williams latched on to a cross from Jonny Williams to steal a dramatic win.

What does it mean? Wales do just enough to take charge of the group
Victory for Giggs' side leaves them with six points from two games, meaning they will head into matchday three at least two points clear at the top regardless of other results.

Doing well in this competition could vastly improve their World Cup qualification hopes, so clinching all three points at the end may prove pivotal in the long run.

Nevertheless, Giggs might be a little concerned with the performance. He named a strong side but for so much of the match they were devoid of craft and creativity.

Neco Williams makes the difference
Introduced in the 65th minute, Liverpool defender Neco Williams looked bright throughout his cameo.

He impressed even without the goal, though that is what earns him the headlines, as he showed admirable belief and positivity to even get into the position to score.

Bale fails to inspire
In a tight contest such as this, you look to your superstars – if you have one. Granted, Bale has not played a huge amount of football this year, but it is not unfair to expect more from him.

Four shots, only one of which was on target, and no key passes – he is better than that.

What's next?
Wales go to England for a friendly on October 8, while Bulgaria have a Euro 2021 qualifying play-off semi-final against Hungary to look forward to on the same day.

Barcelona are preparing a final offer for Lautaro Martinez, Goal can confirm, with the beleaguered Blaugrana ready to test Inter's resolve as they prepare for life without Luis Suarez at the head of their attack.

New boss Ronald Koeman recently made it clear to the Uruguayan, despite him being close friends with wantaway Lionel Messi, that he would no longer be a key player for the Catalans and should attempt to find a new club.

And although Lyon attacker Memphis Depay has been mooted as a potential successor due to his ties with Koeman, Goal can confirm that Lautaro remains at the top Barca's wishlist, with the Argentine seen as a complete centre-forward in the precise mould the club are looking for.

There are many complications in the way, however, the most notable of which being the fact that Suarez still has a year left on his contract at Camp Nou, with an automatic renewal for a further year should he feature in more than 60 per cent of matches.

In essence, Barcelona have two options: let Suarez stay and look on from the stands while he sees out the final season of his current deal or pay him his full salary for the 2020-21 season and allow him to leave as a free agent.

The latter, of course, would see the striker sent off with a clean break, but forking an annual salary of €14 million (£12.5m/$16.5m) in one go is far from ideal for the Liga side, whose financial issues amid the coronavirus pandemic are well documented.

Sources close to the situation have learned that Suarez is willing to sit down with the club and negotiate his exit. 

However, should president Josep Maria Bartomeu try to play hardball and attempt to wriggle out of paying said €14m, the 33-year-old will simply return to training and collect his weekly wage.

Should both parties reach an accord, it is understood that Juventus have already come to an agreement with Suarez over a three-year contract worth €10m (£9m/$12m) per season, with the attacker having already begun the process of applying for an Italian passport.

Barca will try to recoup some kind of compensation from Juve should Suarez make the switch to Turin, but the Italian giants have no intention of providing Bartomeu and Co. what would essentially be a handout.

Lautaro, at least at first, would earn significantly less than Suarez per annum, yet another reason the Camp Nou side are keen to bring the 23-year-old Argentine in to lead the club into the future.

Joel Matip has declared his delight at returning to action after featuring in Liverpool’s 7-2 victory over Blackpool on Saturday, getting a goal for himself.

The 29-year-old was out of action for much of the 2019-20 season due to various injury problems, playing just 13 times in all competitions, nine of them in the Premier League, which the Reds emphatically won by 18 points compared to closest challengers Manchester City.

After playing 73 minutes of the goalless draw against Merseyside rivals Everton at the restart of the league, Matip failed to make any further appearance because of a foot injury.

The Cameroon international scored just once which was in a 3-1 win over Arsenal at Anfield.

In Saturday’s friendly, Blackpool took a 2-0 lead in the first half before Matip halved the deficit few minutes to the half-time break.

Senegal forward Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Harvey Elliot, Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi and Sepp van den Berg all got their names on the scoresheet as the Reds took total control of the second half.

“It was nice to be back on the pitch and to be directly back in the stadium. I’m looking forward to the season,” Matip told the club website .

“Of course, they started quite well and made some problems, but that’s the thing about pre-season – you have to learn about things in the game. In the second half especially, we made it much better.

“You can learn from every game and every situation, even if you have not the perfect start. You always can come back.”

Matip has been in the red half of Merseyside since February 2016 having arrived on a free transfer from Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04. He has made 111 competitive appearances, scoring five goals and providing one assist.

Liverpool had previously played two pre-season games against VfB Stuttgart and Red Bull Salzburg, the former ending in a 3-0 win while the latter ended 2-2. In between these was the Community Shield against Arsenal which the Gunners won 5-4 on penalties after it ended in 1-1 in regular time. 

Jurgen Klopp’s men begin their Premier League campaign at home to newly-promoted Leeds United on Saturday.

Former Manchester City forward Benjani Mwaruwari says he “became an instant hero” after scoring on his debut for the Citizens in the derby showdown against Manchester United in February 2008.

After being signed by Sven-Goran Eriksson from Portsmouth, Benjani immediately repaid the Swede for his faith in him a few days later by scoring on his maiden appearance for City against old foes United at Old Trafford.

City won 2-1 following Benjani's 45th-minute goal to add to Darius Vassell’s opener, while United pulled one goal back through Michael Carrick.

“That is the kind of a game that you don’t forget until you die,” Benjani told The Sunday Mail.

“That single goal in the Manchester derby changed everything for me. I became an instant hero, remember this was my debut for City and scoring in such a big game was no mean feat.

“When I arrived at City I didn’t know the history associated with the Manchester derby in terms of head to head clashes. I only realised I had done something big when journalists started talking about that victory being the first for City at Old Trafford since 1974.”

Benjani says he became a security risk after he had sunk United, prompting City to provide him with bodyguards.

“It made me famous, the fans accepted me, and players embraced me. Sometimes you are not that good as a player but if you work hard you can achieve your goals,” said Benjani.

“After that match, the club even assigned bodyguards to protect me for two weeks as they feared something bad could happen to me. “But, being someone who was raised in Magwegwe back in Bulawayo, I later told them I didn’t need any protection.

“You see, I was brought up in a tough environment back home in Bulawayo and that kind of hardened me.”

This was two years after he had arrived in the Premier League from Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre.

Having played Champions League football with Auxerre, Benjani caught the attention of then Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

“Arsene once assured me he would sign me if I continued excelling. However, it was Portsmouth who came in earlier and after Wenger’s recommendation, Harry Redknapp signed me in 2006,” said Benjani.

Other spells at Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland marked the Zimbabwean’s days in the Premier League and lifting the 2008 FA Cup with Pompey was arguably his biggest achievement during his time in England.

The Confederation of African Football has released a statement that it is ready to support Egypt in their quest to find an Africa Cup of Nations trophy which has gone missing.

It was revealed by former Egyptian FA vice-president Ahmed Shobeir that the trophy which the Pharaohs won three times in a row in 2006, 2008 and 2010 was lost in a fire incident at the association’s headquarters in Cairo in 2013. This discovery was made after the FA had plans to build a museum that would house trophies won by the North African powerhouse.

"Officials of the committee which meets every five years and currently manages the Football Association were surprised that the trophy was not available, in light of their desire to create a museum at the federation headquarters, which would feature the trophy and the national team's kits," Shobeir said on the 'On Time Sports' TV show.

"However, [they] were surprised to find that the Afcon trophy was lost, and decided to open an investigation."

Caf - which is also headquartered in the city of Cairo, in a solidarity move, have offered their support to help Egypt find the missing piece of silverware.

“Caf has learnt with shock, reports of missing Afcon trophies from the Egyptian Football Association secretariat. Our doors are open and the @EFA can count on our support in the search for the priceless memorabilia,” read a statement on the Caf Twitter handle.

Egypt are the most successful team in the history of Afcon with seven titles, two better than the next successful team Cameroon who have five titles.

The Pharaohs first won it in 1957 followed by the 1959 edition on home soil. It had to take them 27 years before they landed a third continental title, this time on home soil again in 1986. Egypt would be triumphant again in 1998, seeing off South Africa in Burkina Faso before they dominated it three times in a row in 2006, 2008, 2010. The 2006 edition was the third time they would win it on their turf, the only team to achieve such in Afcon history.

Egypt were hosts for the fourth time in 2019 but they crashed out at the round of 16 stage to Bafana Bafana while Algeria went on to claim ultimate glory in the final by dispatching Senegal.

Donny van de Beek has revealed that fellow countryman Steven Bergwijn tried to steer him towards Tottenham before he settled on his move to Manchester United earlier this month.

The Red Devils fought off several other clubs to capture the signature of the highly rated 23-year-old from Ajax, who arrived at the Theatre of Dreams on Wednesday on a five-year deal with the option of an additional season.

Van de Beek's signing has reaffirmed United's intent to challenge for top honours at home in domestic competition and abroad in the Champions League under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season, as the Norwegian continues to rebuild his squad following on from a third-place finish in the Premier League last term.

Having impressed for Ajax throughout the 2019-20 campaign, the midfielder had been linked with a move to Real Madrid as well as garnering interest from Arsenal, though a switch to the former fell through with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, Van de Beek has also revealed that a move to Tottenham was theoretically mooted at one point - mostly because his Dutch team-mate Bergwijn tried to lure him there instead - while adding that a discussion with his agent just before his move convinced him to make the switch away from Ajax.

“Steven Bergwijn texted me to see whether I would play for Spurs,” he told Algemeen Dagblad. “But I chose United.

"I felt ready for the next step. This was the time to go. That is why I was on the phone with my agent last weekend. In the end, there was an agreement."

Van de Beek previously opened up on the role that former United shot-stopper Edwin van der Sar played in the switch, with the latter helping to broker the deal in his current position as chief executive officer of Ajax, as well as the discussions that the pair held about United's history.

"We talked about football things, about the club and I always make decisions about my feelings and my feelings were directly good with everything," he stated. "That was for me an important thing.”

Zesco United have started a rebuilding process with the arrival of Lazarus Phiri from Green Eagles.

The Team ya Ziko had a disappointing campaign last term, missing out on a ticket to represent the country in Caf competitions for the first time in ten years.

“Zesco United is delighted to confirm the arrival of Lazarus Phiri from Green Eagles. The former Kansanshi Dynamos winger has signed a one-year loan contract subject to completing medicals,” the club confirmed on their official website.

Zesco United technical chairman Peter Mutale, who witnessed the signing ceremony, said: “Lazarus is a young player who has a bright future ahead of him. He is an exciting winger who will bring speed to our game. This is also a great opportunity for him to shine at the biggest stage of the Zambian game.

“He has joined us on a one-year loan spell with a chance to extend. As a club, we want to get the best on the market.”

On signing for the club, the winger revealed: “It is rare that one gets such an opportunity to play for a big club like Zesco United. This is an important moment for me to prove that I am worth playing for this club. My focus now is to work hard and help the team win trophies.”

On Friday, Zesco United announced their first signing in Bruce Musakanya from Red Arrows. The Zambian international attacking midfielder signed a two-year contract to join the Ndola-based club.

The 26-year-old Musakanya was excited to sign for Zesco United: “I am very excited to sign for a big club like Zesco United. My aim is to work hard and help the team win the league and qualify for Caf next season," he also told the club website.

“It was unfortunate that the team didn’t qualify for continental football owing to the fact that the league ended prematurely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Musakanya further revealed his main mission is to win the league title with the club in the new campaign.

“It is my mission to win my first career league title with Zesco United. This is a big opportunity for me. I will work hard to make everyone happy at the club," he concluded.

Zesco United is also the home of three Kenyan players - goalkeeper Ian Otieno, striker Jesse Were and defender David Owino.

Fantasy Premier League is back for the 2020-21 season and, as any veteran of the game will know - picking your team is a constant process.

However, if you get it right at the beginning with a solid selection then it can save you some headaches further along the campaign, when you run out of wildcards.

To help you get started, Goal brings you some advice on the new signings to pick as well as some hidden gems and bargains.

Contents

Fantasy Premier League new signings

Donny van de Beek | Man Utd | £7m

Manchester United's new signing Donny van de Beek is a goalscoring midfielder and he will be expected to burst through the lines for the Red Devils, similar to how Frank Lampard would at Chelsea.

The Netherlands international probably found himself in the shadow of Frenkie de Jong during their time at Ajax together, but he has the ability to be very effective for United.

Expect Van de Beek, who is relatively cheap to begin with in Fantasy Premier League, to bag his fair share of goals at Old Trafford.

Timo Werner | Chelsea | £9.5m

Germany international Timo Werner arrives at Chelsea this season on the back his best ever season at RB Leipzig, where he scored over 30 goals.

The striker will be expected to carry that form on at Stamford Bridge and he immediately showed a glimpse of what he is capable of with a goal in the Blues' pre-season friendly against Brighton.

Ferran Torres | Man City | £7m

While Pep Guardiola's Manchester City teams are notoriously difficult to predict, given his tendency to rotate, new signing Ferran Torres could turn out to be a bargain on FPL.

The 20-year-old winger is highly rated and he is priced lower than Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling at the beginning. That price could easily shoot up if he hits the ground running.

Hakim Ziyech | Chelsea | £8m

Hakim Ziyech has the capacity to be an extremely effective signing for Chelsea and the Morocco international is relatively cheap too.

Over the course of the past few seasons, Ziyech has been directly involved in a bulk of Ajax's goals. Not only is he a threat in terms of supplying assists, he has shown that he can score into double figures himself.

Fantasy Premier League hidden gems

Joe Bryan | Fulham | £5m

Fulham's play-off final hero Joe Bryan is a player that may not find himself part of many FPL squads, but his ability is reflected in his price.

The full-back takes free kicks for Fulham - and is well capable of scoring from them too - as well as being a strong crosser of the ball, so he will get assist points.

Matheus Pereira | West Brom | £6m

Brazilian Matheus Pereira had a hand in 24 of West Brom's goals in the Championship last season - around a third of their total.

The former Sporting forward laid on 16 goals for the Baggies and scored eight himself on the way to promotion. The chances are that he won't get the same freedom in the Premier League, but he has the ability.

Mateusz Klich | Leeds | £5.5m

Mateusz Klich has been around the block, but he won't be too familiar to followers of the Premier League and thus might be overlooked as an option.

A Poland international, Klich thrived under the challenges of the Marcelo Bielsa regime and last season he scored six goals from midfield, laying on five more.

Ivan Cavaleiro | Fulham | £5.5m

Former Wolves winger Ivan Cavaleiro is always good for a few goals a season and has plenty of pedigree, having played in Spain, Portugal and France.

He scored five league goals last season and also chipped in with seven assists so is certainly an attacking threat.

Fantasy Premier League bargains

Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | £5.5m

Arsenal's No.7 is a definite bargain in FPL this season at just £5.5m to begin with. Bukayo Saka may still be a teenager, but he looks set to play a crucial role for the Gunners this season.

Saka, who got six assists and a goal for Arsenal last season, set up his side's goal in the Community Shield against Liverpool and will be eager to kick up a gear in 2020-21. Get him in your team.

Ruben Vinagre | Wolves | £4.5m

With Matt Doherty gone from Wolves, it has opened up the right-wing-back position for Ruben Vinagre and, if Nuno Espirito Santo's side continue with the same system, Vinagre should score points.

Vinagre is quite cheap too at £4.5m and should pick up clean sheet points as well.

John McGinn | Aston Villa | £5.5m

Scotland international John McGinn missed about a quarter of last season through injury, but had been one of Aston Villa's best players before being laid low.

A midfielder who's been linked with Manchester United, McGinn scored three goals and assisted three last season, a number that was certainly affected by his injury. He is fit again now though and relatively cheap.

Mason Greenwood | Man Utd | £7.5m

OK, so £7.5m is not exactly what you expect to spend when you're looking for a bargain, but it is a good price for Mason Greenwood considering what the youngster is capable of.

Greenwood - who is deemed a midfielder in FPL - has been tipped as Harry Kane's deputy for England by none other than Wayne Rooney and the teenager looks impossibly comfortable in the Manchester United forward line.

Tom Cairney | Fulham | £5.5m

Tom Cairney didn't live up to his reputation as a goalscoring midfielder when he last featured in the Premier League, so the Scotland international will feel he has a point to prove this time.

Cairney scored eight goals last season and is a strong option for set-pieces.

Mat Ryan | Brighton | £4.5m

It is somewhat perplexing to see Mat Ryan priced so lowly, considering the fact that the Brighton goalkeeper has been among the top scoring FPL goalkeepers in the past three seasons.

The transition from a more defensive style of play under Chris Hughton to a style which is more attacking under Graham Potter has not affected Brighton's goals against column and Ryan is a big part of that.

Aleksandar Mitrovic | Fulham | £6m

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is very much a striker of Premier League quality and he finished last season as the top scorer in the Championship with 26 goals.

Still in his mid 20s, the Serbia international is a powerful unit who is very much adept at ploughing a lone furrow in attack - he will be worth a punt at £6m.

Jonjo Shelvey | Newcastle United | £5.5m

Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey rediscovered his goalscoring touch to a degree last season and if he can continue that form in 2020-21 he could prove a bargain.

The England international is usually always good for a few goals, but had gone off the boil in recent years. However, he looks refreshed and at £5.5m isn't a bank breaker.

The match-ups for the 2020-21 MTN8 competition were confirmed on Saturday following the completion of the 2019-20 season. 

As this has been in the previous season, teams that finished in the top four will enjoy home ground advantage and will be seeded, meaning they will play terms that are finished outside the top four. 

Mamelodi Sundowns successfully overhauled Kaizer Chiefs and won the championship - their third successive league title and their 10th since the inception of the PSL.  

The Brazilians will play Bloemfontein Celtic who finished eighth on the log. 

Kaizer Chiefs finished second behind the Tshwane giants and will therefore play Maritzburg United, who finished seventh on the PSL log.  

Orlando Pirates did the most they could since the arrival of Josef Zinnbauer in December 2019 by finishing third and qualifying for the Caf Confederation Cup. 

They will then get to face Cape Town City who finished sixth on the log after the tough campaign they had. 

The Citizens were written off by many following the sacking of Benni McCarthy in 2019 but Jan Olde Riekerink saved the campaign and finished in a respectable despite the criticism from many football fans in South Africa. 

Lastly, Bidvest Wits secured the fourth spot but they will not exist beyond the current season after selling their PSL status to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) owner Masala Mulaudzi. 

This means TTM will campaign in the MTN8 in their first season in the top-flight and they will face SuperSport United. 

With the 2020-21 season pencilled to kick off on the weekend of the October 9-10, it is expected that the season will get underway with the MTN8 taking the centre stage. 

The official draw for the MTN8 and the launch is expected to take place some time this month while the dates and venues will be released at a later stage. 

The MTN8 remains South Africa's richest Cup competition as eventual winners pocket R8 million prize money. 

Chiefs remain the only team to win it 15 times, a record that's yet to be matched by any team in the history of South African football. 

MTN8 fixtures in full: 

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Bloemfontein Celtic

Kaizer Chiefs vs Maritzburg United

Orlando Pirates vs Cape Town City 

TTM vs SuperSport United

Sandro Tonali's move to AC Milan is almost complete but Brescia's president Massimo Cellino wanted him to join Roma.

Italy international Tonali has been one of the hottest properties in Italian football over the past few years, having broken into the Brescia team as a 17-year-old.

A technically gifted midfielder renowned for his dribbling and passing abilities, Tonali – now 20 – has long been seen as a future star of the Azzurri.

Brescia managed to keep hold of Tonali for the 2019-20 season after they were promoted to Serie A, but their relegation left them helpless to resist offers.

Cellino previously claimed Tonali ignored offers from Barcelona and Manchester United, while Inter had also tried to prise the talent away.

But Milan, whom he supported as a child, look set to win the race for Tonali – though Cellino would have preferred to sell him to Roma.

Speaking to Il Messaggero, Cellino said: "Sandro has supported Milan since he was a child.

"The negotiation with them made me doubly happy – I also respect a club that gives value to money.

"[Milan technical director, Paolo] Maldini has Milan DNA and has all the prerequisites for becoming a great manager.

"I would have seen Sandro more at Roma. It's a beautiful team, a hot city. [Roma vice-president, Mauro] Baldissoni told me some time ago that he was their dream, but now I don't know who is in charge of their transfers.

"I had an excellent relationship with [former president, Franco] Sensi and I know [former director of football, Walter] Sabatini very well.

"I feel very attached to Roma. For this reason, when I sold Cagliari, I had the dream of buying Roma and rehabilitating it, enhancing its potential through my work and my experience. It remained just a dream."

The deal for Tonali is rumoured to be an initial loan worth €10 million (£9m/$12m), plus an option to buy set at €20m (£18m/$24m), and given Brescia's relegation, Cellino felt it was impossible to keep him any longer.

"It had never happened to me before, to discover a strong player like Tonali," he added.

"I would have liked to keep him, but unfortunately the dream was shattered with the relegation and the uncertainty transmitted by the pandemic.

"I had to manage Brescia without refinancing the company. I hold the position of president as a profession, while my other millionaire colleagues do it as a hobby."