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Thomas Tuchel backed Mauro Icardi to deliver for Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final against Atalanta.

Icardi failed to score in the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue finals as PSG returned to competitive action last month.

The 27-year-old has netted 20 goals in 33 games in 2019-20, and will need to step up amid doubts over Kylian Mbappe, who is dealing with an ankle injury.

PSG coach Tuchel said Icardi would play an important role in Lisbon on Wednesday.

"Mauro is very important, especially with Kylian's injury and Edi Cavani absent," he told a news conference.

"It will be very important that he play a great game, showing his personality, showing that he can fight in important games. He is never scared, he can always score.

"We can rely on him tactically and defensively. His integration was great with the group, which was not very complicated as we have plenty of South American players, but he really fits in this locker room.

"It's now time for him to put us into the semis."

Despite a lingering injury, Tuchel hinted that Mbappe is set to feature for the French giants against Atalanta, with the Frenchman recovering quicker than expected. 

Icardi, meanwhile, noted last month that the remaining teams in the Champions League are a mixed bag with plenty to prove and PSG desperate to finally succeed in the competition. 

“I realised on the day of the draw that on our side there was no team that had already won the competition, while on the other side, there are practically only previous winners,” he said. 

“But be careful, because the teams in our part of the draw all have the same ambition as us, that is to say to finally win this title and change the course of history. 

“In recent years the team have failed in the Champions League and we are all very committed to changing that. The club's objective is to reach the final, and God willing, to finally be able to lift this trophy, because that is the reason why the club has invested in recent years.”

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has condemned Boli Bolingoli for failing to follow the club's coronavirus guidelines, stressing he put the entire club in jeopardy. 

The Belgian midfielder recently travelled to Spain without informing the club or following proper quarantine protocol upon his return. 

Bolingol played for Celtic against Kilmarnock on Sunday before the Hoops became aware of his travel breach . 

The Scottish government has since threatened to pause the Scottish Premiership season with Lennon not holding back when asked about Bolingoli's actions. 

“I think it is one of the worst behaviours from an individual I have come across,” Lennon was quoted by The Scotsman .

“Everything has been tight and everything has been strict and he had been warned previously about travelling and he blatantly disregarded my instructions and the club’s instructions. It is a complete act of selfishness.

“It’s just appalling behaviour and one the club will deal with in the strongest 
possible way internally.

"He put everyone associated with the club, the playing staff, the backroom staff, the players at Kilmarnock and their staff in jeopardy. By the grace of God, he’s had two negative tests, but it’s not the point. It’s the lack of responsible behaviour which is paramount.”

Lennon was quick to defend the club's own behaviour surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that Bolingoli had simply decided to ignore Celtic's guidelines. 

“You cannot be any clearer than saying, ‘Don’t leave Glasgow. Stay around if you are going to the shops or whatever’. Now we have to log in 
everything we have done in terms of where we’ve been," Lennon said.

"There are no restaurants, no socialising, no cafes, but this particular individual has decided to jump on a plane and go to Spain for a day, which is baffling. Then he comes back and doesn’t tell anybody where he has been.

"We have been totally oblivious to it for the whole week leading up to the Kilmarnock game [on Sunday]. Obviously he played some minutes in the game and, again, we were oblivious to it. But all this came out yesterday and blew up in our faces really. So, in terms of the club responsibility, the club can’t do any more. The club have done everything possible for my backroom team, the playing staff, the people who work here.

“Everybody has done their bit. We’ve had umpteen rounds of testing now and everything is negative But we can’t legislate for the behaviour of an individual. We can’t legislate for tracking them 24 hours a day. Sometimes you have to take accountability for this. I’m not saying the club are not taking accountability – we are holding our hands up. But it’s reprehensible behaviour from one individual.”

Atalanta have a responsibility "not to disappoint" when they face Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Gian Piero Gasperini says.

The Serie A side are the last Italian team left in the Champions League in what is their first appearance in Europe's top competition.

Gasperini's men have become renowned as one of Italy and Europe's most entertaining teams: they scored 98 times in Serie A this season and have averaged two goals for and two against per Champions League match.

The Bergamo region was hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and Gasperini thinks Atalanta owe it to themselves and their supporters at home to stick to their principles in the quarter-final.

"We know very well the anticipation around this match, given the passion and love around Bergamo for Atalanta," he said.

"This year, there is even more motivation given all that has happened. It's a football match but we have to represent our region in the best way possible.

"We arrive in the best mental condition. We've got some very important results after the lockdown.

"We are proof that even a team without a European heritage can do well and achieve important goals through playing, enthusiasm and other things.

"We have a responsibility to ourselves not to disappoint. We want to continue to show that Atalanta can sit at the table of the biggest clubs."

The threat of Covid-19 means the remaining Champions League matches are being held as one-off ties behind closed doors in the neutral city of Lisbon.

Gasperini admits he would prefer to have a two-legged tie, saying Atalanta "historically have done well in the second match".

"We are facing a team we've never faced before and have no direct parameters in terms of meeting their players," he said.

Kylian Mbappe is an injury doubt and Angel Di Maria is suspended, but Gasperini expects his players to have their hands full when it comes to stopping Neymar.

"He is undoubtedly one of the strongest in the world. It's a problem for anyone to face him," he said.

"The best way to defend is to play well. We'll try to stop him with our organisation. We've faced a lot of strong players."

Julen Lopetegui says Manchester United are "the biggest team in the world" but is confident Sevilla will come out on top in Sunday's Europa League semi-final tie.

The La Liga side set up a showdown with 2017 winners United in Cologne with a late 1-0 victory over another English opponent in Wolves  on Wednesday.

Yassine Bounou saved Raul Jimenez's early penalty and that proved a key moment, with Sevilla's pressure telling two minutes from time when Lucas Ocampos headed in.

United beat Copenhagen 1-0 after extra-time on Tuesday and now await Lopetegui's men, who are seeking a record-extending fourth triumph in the competition since its rebranding in 2009.
 
"We are going to play against Manchester United in the next match - they're the biggest team in the world but we're going to be prepared for them," Lopetegui told reporters.

"We're focused on the next game, against a top, historic side, one of the best in the history of the sport who are in great form. 

"We will give our best as we always do. To play against them will be really tough, but we'll go into it believing we can beat them."

Sevilla had 76 per cent of the ball against Wolves but created only a couple of chances before Ocampos popped up late on with his 17th goal of the season.

Lopetegui insists his side were good value for the win and is after a similar type of performance against in-form United next weekend.

"I think we deserved the win today. The key was to chip, chip, chip away, have patience and wait until the right moment," he said.

"I am very proud of my players because we were against a very good team. We needed to have the ball and not make mistakes because they have very fast forwards. 

"We played very well against a good team. We had to be very concentrated."

Defeat for Wolves brings an end a gruelling 2019-20 campaign that started 13 months ago and saw them play 17 games in Europe.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo is proud of his players' efforts and already has one eye on next season, which begins in a little over four weeks' time.

"There is a sense of frustration," he told BT Sport. "The last minute [goal] is something that's happened to us too many times, but I'm proud of the boys. 

"We played a tough team but it's all about small margins. We came this far, now it's over – let's rest and look to the future.

"There are players out there who gave everything. Of course the legs and the brain don't work so good. 

"We must be proud of ourselves and admit we made some mistakes this season which we need to rectify to compete at a higher level. 

"It was a long journey. We wanted to go as far as we could - we had it very close today and everyone's disappointed but we should not ignore the players' efforts. 

"It's been almost 14 months of hard work. Disappointment is something that can't take away all the good things we've been doing."

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo believes that his side need new signings to reach the next level after exiting the Europa League at the hands of Sevilla on Tuesday.

Raul Jimenez missed a first-half penalty in the quarter-final match at MSV-Arena in Duisburg, and Wolves were made to pay late in the match when Lucas Ocampos scored the winner from a header in a 1-0 result.

Wolves have finished in seventh place in back-to-back seasons after being promoted to the Premier League, and Nuno has said his side were hampered in 2019-20 as they looked to compete domestically and in Europe. Still, the Portuguese boss was happy with his team reaching the last eight of the continental competition.

“It’s a small squad. We must be very proud,” Nuno told BT Sport after the game on Tuesday. “Now we need to make good decisions so we cannot make mistakes like we did before. We need more players to help us."

The off-season will be shorter than usual after the coronavirus break pushed the season back, with the Premier League set to start up again on September 12. Nuno is again targeting European qualification next season after helping his side achieve the feat in back-to-back campaigns.

“It’s a short break, you cannot stop and start again, we now have to prepare well this period we have to rest," he continued. “We are here because we did some really good things. We made the same classification with more points.

“European football is something we chase, because we want to improve.

“The Premier League is challenging enough, it’s almost like playing in the Champions League. Nothing can disturb the work the players are doing. They will be ready for the next one.”

Although Nuno is hoping to add new players during the brief off-season, one of his biggest priorities will be finding a way to keep Jimenez at the club.

The 29-year-old had a career-best season in 2019-20, managing 27 goals in all competitions including 17 in the Premier League. 

That form has led the Mexico star to be linked with a host of Europe's biggest clubs, including Manchester United and Juventus.

The Nigeria Football Federation announced the distribution breakdown of five hundred thousand dollars received from Fifa for women's football.

Following consultations with the Sports Ministry, the Nigerian football body released the breakdown of beneficiaries of Fifa funds allocated for women's football after Monday's executive meeting.

In the distribution breakdown released on Tuesday, the Super Falcons will get $100,000 (N38,600,000) while the U17 and U20 women’s team will receive $70,000.00 (N27,020,000).

All sixteen Nigeria Women's Football League [NWFL] Premiership Clubs will get $10,000 (N3,860,000) each totalling $160,000 (N61,760,000) and the fourteen NWFL Championship Clubs will get $4,000 each (N1,544,000) totalling $56,000.00 (N21,616,000).

Other beneficiaries include the NWFL for administration and operations $30,000 (N11,580,000) and support to 12 NWFL Amateur Clubs at $1,500 each (N579,000), amounting to $18,000 (N6,948,000); women’s coaching $10,000 (N3,386,000); women’s refereeing $10,000 (N3,386,000).

For other women's football-related decisions, the NFF mandated its Technical and Development Committee to, in the next one week, provide to the Board a shortlist of candidates for the positions of head coaches of the U20 and U17 women's teams, working with its integrity unit.

It also approved that its consulting firm should, as soon as possible, submit a shortlist of candidates for the positions of head coach of the Super Falcons, NFF Head of Women's Football.

They also mandated its Youth Football Committee to conclude the modalities for the staging of the first-ever U15 Future Super Falcons’ Tournament as part of its efforts to discover talents.

On U17 and U20 Women's World Cup qualifiers preparation, the NFF said it is waiting for presidential approval for the teams to resume camp after writing the government through the Sports Ministry.

With these developments, the women's football will enjoy a huge leap in the country, especially the clubs following the distribution of Fifa Covid-19 relief funds for the women's game.

Cameroon international Gabrielle Onguene continued her brilliant form in front of goal in CSKA Moscow’s 2-2 draw with Krasnodar in Tuesday’s Russian Superliga encounter.

Having starred in 3-0 win against Yenisey, where she scored her first brace of the season to follow up on her inspiring opening day effort in a 2-1 comeback for CSKA against Zenit Saint Petersburg.

The 31-year-old forward found the back of the net in the match to take her tally to four goals in the current campaign after being handed her third start in a row this season.

Inspired by her Goal of the Week prize off opener against Yenisey, the Cameroonian opened the scoring for the hosts after being assisted by Julia Pleshkova in the 16th minute of the encounter.

However, the visitors fought back and won a penalty, leaving Polina Organova to convert from the spot for the leveler in the 34th minute.

Seven minutes after the hour mark, Elena Kostarev handed Kransdor the lead but Nadezhda Smirnova did not allow the celebration to last as she equalised two minutes later to force a stalemate.

Onguene featured for the duration of the match against Kransdor but her fourth goal of the season in three outings could not help CSKA preserve their 100 percent winning start to the campaign.

With her latest goal, the 2019 Africa Women's Player of the Year nominee has now matched her goalscoring feat in 16 outings last season, with just three matches this term.

The result saw CSKA drop to the second position on the log with seven points from three matches, while Krasnodar moved up to fourth with three points from the same number of games.

Onguene and Zinovyev's team will hope to return to winning ways when they travel to face Chertanovo on Saturday, while Krasnodar welcomes seventh-placed Zvezda Perm on the same day.

Lucas Ocampos punished Raul Jimenez's early penalty miss with a late winner as Sevilla beat Wolves 1-0 in Wednesday's Europa League quarter-final at the MSV-Arena.

Sevilla have won the competition in its various guises a record five times and will now face Manchester United on Sunday for a place in the final.

It may have been a different story in Duisburg had Jimenez converted from 12 yards but Yassine Bounou made a save and Ocampos glanced in the only goal two minutes from time.

Wolves, whose European adventure started 13 months and 17 games ago, had too little time to respond and Sevilla saw things through to advance to another continental semi-final.

Shakhtar Donetsk eased past Basel 4-1 on Tuesday to book an intriguing Europa League semi-final against Inter.

The 2008-09 UEFA Cup winners made light work of their Swiss opponents in Gelsenkirchen after scoring early through Moraes.

Taison doubled Shakhtar's lead and further goals could and perhaps should have followed long before Alan Patrick's penalty made it three as Basel were dominated in the one-legged last-eight tie.

Shakhtar, who got a late fourth through Dodo, will surely now back themselves to at least cause Antonio Conte's Inter problems next week, although this routine victory did little to test their readiness.

Luis Castro's side led after just 100 seconds with the aid of some generous goalkeeping from stand-in Djordje Nikolic.

Marlos delivered a corner from the right and Nikolic, playing due to Jonas Omlin's injury, lunged hopelessly towards the ball, granting Moraes an open goal when he got there first with the header.

Afimico Pululu shot agonisingly across the face of goal at the other end, but Shakhtar remained in control and the second soon followed.

A speedy break from halfway resulted in Marlos controlling on the right corner of the box, taking his time to pick out Taison, whose wayward attempt was deflected high into the net by Fabian Frei.

Nikolic saved smartly from Moraes and was alert again as Marlos rifled an effort goalwards from 20 yards, before Marcos Antonio swept a stunning strike against the crossbar.

Basel belatedly enjoyed a better spell just after the hour mark, but a VAR review did not provide Pululu with a penalty and then Arthur Cabral squandered a big opportunity, lifting his finish wide of goal with Andriy Pyatov stranded.

There would be no fightback as Taison went over in the area and a spot-kick did this time follow, allowing Alan Patrick to calmly beat a scrambling Nikolic.

There was still time for Dodo to thump in number four following Mateus Tete's well-timed pass on the counter, with Ricky van Wolfswinkel's stoppage-time tap-in from Kemal Ademi's centre the scantest of consolations. 

What does it mean? Elite European experience tells

This Shakhtar side are experienced campaigners in continental competition and made the most of the absence of a couple of key men in the Basel XI, with Nikolic and centre-back Jasper van der Werff each struggling.

The Ukrainians showed their nous throughout a comfortable triumph, pouncing on Basel's errors while making few of their own. Inter should prove a different proposition.

Marvellous Marlos dazzles

Shakhtar's best work was channelled through Marlos, who excelled from set-pieces and so often picked the right pass in open play – as evidenced by his assists.

The second goal in particular came courtesy of the winger's calm in the final third. With Shakhtar players bombing forward, Marlos steadied himself and, when he might have rushed a shot, teed up Taison.

Nikolic nixes Basel hopes

Shakhtar were clear favourites coming into this clash, but Basel did not need to look far for inspiration. Quarter-final underdogs Copenhagen had taken Manchester United to extra-time on Monday.

But where Copenhagen kept things tight and relied on a standout performance from their goalkeeper, Basel's Nikolic quickly erred. The inexperienced 23-year-old was foolishly tempted from his line with less than two minutes on the clock and gave his side a mountain to climb.

What's next?

Shakhtar might find next opponents Inter a little less accommodating when they meet in Dusseldorf next Monday.

Andrea Pirlo encapsulates the essence of a modern footballing legend, with his legacy on the pitch reaching far beyond his native Italy.

Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all-time, Pirlo had a starring career in Italy playing for the likes of AC Milan and Juventus before retiring at New York City FC in 2017 - not to mention being a pivotal force in the Azzurri's 2006 World Cup victory.

The icon was named head coach of former side Juventus in August 2020, replacing Maurizio Sarri at the helm after just over a week of managing the Under-23 side.

Goal brings you everything you need to know about Pirlo's net worth, how much he earns, the charity work he is involved in and more.

Contents

What is Andrea Pirlo's net worth?

Pirlo's net worth is estimated at around £38 million (€42m/$50m), amassed from a combination from his earnings as a footballer as well as several sponsorship deals.

The Italian earned that figure across a 22-year playing career across Italy and the United States.

He lifted two Champions League trophies with AC Milan before winning four consecutive Scudettos with Juventus.

Pirlo was a crucial part of the Italy national team that won the 2006 World Cup, and was elected into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

The ex-midfielder is known to not discuss his finances in public, and also owns a stake in his father's metal trading company, Elg Steel.

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How much does Andrea Pirlo earn?

As head coach of Juventus, Pirlo is reported to be earning an annual salary of up to £7.5 million (€8m/$9.8m), according to online sources.

Pirlo signed a two-year contract with the Serie A side, which means that his contract is worth £14 million (€15.5m/$18m) across two years.

He is also understood to be have signing and tournament-winning bonuses included in the terms of his contract, which would see his salary amount to £16 million (€18m/$20m) over the course of two years at the Allianz.

It is slightly less than the amountother top-class coaches earn in lucrative divisions such as the Premier League.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola earns £15 million (€16.5m/$18.5m) a year in comparison, similar to what Jose Mourinho receives at Tottenham. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp earns a reported £10 million (€11m/$12.5m) a year at Liverpool.

Taking the £7.5m as Pirlo's annual salary at Juventus, you can see a breakdown of what he earns per month, week, day, year and minute below.

*Approximates

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What sponsorship deals does Andrea Pirlo have?

Pirlo has had previous deals with the likes of Nike throughout his playing days and beyond, with the popular sportswear brand even releasing a special limited edition of the Nike Tiempo Legend 6 boot for the ex-midfielder.

The Juventus head coach also has a partnership with Rolex, who have released his own Submariner watch as part of the Andrea Pirlo Project.

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What charity work does Andrea Pirlo do?

Pirlo has been involved in several charities throughout his playing career and post-retirement, playing in high-profile charity football matches supporting a variety of organisations - such as support of the Piedmontese Foundation for Cancer Research.

He has shown his support for fighting racism in football, joining other FIFA legends in solidarity against discrimination.

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How many social media followers does Andrea Pirlo have?

Pirlo has approximately 7.8 million followers across his Instagram page, where he posts photos regularly about his life on and off of the pitch.

He also has a Twitter account which is home to 2.8 million followers, though he is less active on this platform.

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Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane was left disappointed following his side's draw with Orlando Pirates on Tuesday night.

The Brazilians resumed their PSL campaign with a 0-0 draw against the Buccaneers at Dobsonville Stadium and the result saw Sundowns remain second on the league standings - three points behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs.

However, Mosimane admitted that it was a game of two halves with his side having dominated the first half, before Pirates took control of the match after the restart. 

"Yes, a game of two halves for us, we were much better in the first-half, second-half we have to give it to Orlando Pirates, let's be honest and they missed two chances, to be honest. Okay, we had one [chance] but not really convincing," Mosimane told SuperSport TV.

"The second-half they took it, you could see they were much stronger, much fresher than us in the second half. We survived a bit, Mosa [Lebusa] calf [injury], you know. But it's okay, it's a good point, we'll take a point. We're playing Orlando Pirates remember?"

Mosimane, who is looking to guide Sundowns to their third successive PSL title this season, explained that he had to introduce Jose Ali Meza and Andile Jali in the second half because Pirates were dominating the midfield.

"We put Ali [Meza] there to put more fresh legs, I think Keletso [Makgalwa] ran enough, 'Mshishi' [Themba Zwane] also, we put Andile [Jali] to help us in midfield because we could see that they were going through, to make sure that we strengthen the midfield because we had a problem there," he added.

"They were going through and I played a three-man midfield. But it's football, we're going for the long haul, it's a good point, don't undermine a point against Orlando Pirates. It's a big point, two tough games, [Bidvest] Wits and Orlando Pirates. Yes, not bad. It's still a long haul, we're still going," he said.

Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer had mixed feelings as the Buccaneers drew their maiden competitive match since March.

Despite the draw, Bucs moved up to the third place on the league standings and Zinnbauer was left to rue his side's missed chances with the likes of Paseka Mako and Fortune Makaringe having failed to convert their goalscoring opportunities. 

"First time, you could see it's [been] a long time since we last played but we came more and more in the game. In the first half, a 0-0 was okay. The second half was much better, we had chances to win the game but Sundowns always had a chance," Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV.

"It was a very difficult game for us, top players against us. Yes, at the end of the time we hit the post, with a little luck you win the game. I'm not 100 percent unhappy, I'm not 100 percent [feeling] bad. We have the next game in three days, that's the focus now."

Pirates were without Thembinkosi Lorch and Justin Shonga as the two attackers are facing disciplinary action after they were found to have breached the team's protocols and Zinnbauer explained that the decision was taken by the technical team.

"It was a decision from us, the staff, from the coaches. We have to see the next game, we need a lot of players. You know this difficult time, after three days you have a game, we need the whole squad, so yes all the players have a chance," he concluded.

Pirates' next match will be against Bidvest Wits at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday, while Sundowns are set to take on Highlands Park on Friday.

Atalanta are preparing for their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain by assuming Kylian Mbappe will be fit to play, manager Gian Piero Gasperini says.

PSG’s top scorer Mbappe had looked certain to miss the quarter-final after suffering an ankle injury in the Coupe de France final win over Saint-Etienne on July 24.

At one point, Thomas Tuchel said it would take a “miracle” for Mbappe to recover in time.

On Tuesday, though, Tuchel confirmed Mbappe would likely be fit to make an appearance from the bench , bar any last-minute disruptions.

Atalanta are the underdogs going into the game despite an exceptional season in Serie A, and Gasperini is in no illusions as to the size of the task awaiting his team.

"Mbappe is an extraordinary player. He can change a game,” Gasperini told reporters.

“We are preparing ourselves by thinking that he will be on the field. We'll see tomorrow."

On Tuesday, Tuchel said: "If he has a good training session today and nothing extraordinary happens, he will be with the team tomorrow.

“We are very happy that he is with the group and that we can have the possibility of finishing the match with him.”

PSG will still be without midfield lynchpin Marco Verratti, who suffered a calf problem recently.

Whatever team PSG do play, it will be one packed with star names – including the irrepressible Neymar. Gasperini believes he has a plan to stop the Brazilian, but he knows the quality he possesses.

"Neymar is one of the best players in the world,” he said.

“It's a problem for any team that faces Neymar, but I think the best way to defend against him is to play well and force him to defend.

“We'll try to do it with our organisation. We have met a lot of great players. He's one of them, but I think we can reduce his impact."

The winner of Wednesday's tie will go on to meet either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals, with Atletico the only club of the four ever to have reached the Champions League final in the past.

Javi Martinez is looking to leave Bayern Munich after eight years with the German club, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed.

The 31-year-old midfielder joined Bayern from Athletic Bilbao in 2012 and has won 19 trophies during his time at the Allianz Arena.

However, Martinez has been restricted to just 10 starts in all competitions in 2019-20 and recently entered the final 12 months of his contract.

Goal and SPOX reported last month that no talks over a new contract had taken place and that no decision had been made over Martinez's future.

Rummenigge has opened the door for the Spaniard to move on during the close season, with teams in France and former club Athletic rumoured to be interested.

"We know that he would like to leave the club with a suitable offer," Rummenigge told AZ. 

"We wouldn't put any obstacles in his way because he was always a good player and a reliable, serious person. We will always try to find a solution that suits the player."

In an interview with Marca in June, Martinez insisted that he was not looking to leave Bayern but admitted that he was also keeping his options open, including a potential return to Athletic.

"I am open to everything that fulfils me personally and physically. I could live and play in the USA, in Australia, or return to Spain," Martinez said.

"I had six unbelievable years in Bilbao. Of course it is an option."

Rummenigge also reiterated on Wednesday that fellow midfielder Thiago Alcantara, strongly linked with Liverpool, will only be allowed to leave if his valuation is met.

"Regarding Thiago, it's known that he told us he wanted to do something new," Rummenigge told Bild.

"If a club approaches us that is willing to pay a fair transfer fee, we will work on it."

Bayern are also in talks with versatile defender David Alaba over a new contract, while loanee Philippe Coutinho will return to Barcelona later this month.

On Alaba, Rummenigge told the media that he was "cautiously optimistic we will find a solution" as the Austrian's contract enters its final year.

Kylian Mbappe is set for a sensational return to action for Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final clash with Atalanta on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old had been expected to miss out after suffering an ankle injury in the Coupe de France final win over Saint-Etienne on July 24. However, PSG boss Thomas Tuchel has now suggested Mbappe is ready to play a role from the bench.

"If he has a good training session today and nothing extraordinary happens, he will be with the team tomorrow,” Tuchel told his pre-match press conference.

“We are very happy that he is with the group and that we can have the possibility of finishing the match with him.”

If Mbappe does feature, even if only from the bench, it will represent a remarkable change of fortunes for PSG. Tuchel has previously said he thought it would take a “miracle” for Mbappe to be fit in time for the game, as the French champions look to stake their claim for the European crown.

Having Mbappe back eases some of the pressure on Neymar, although Tuchel feels the Brazilian has the mindset and ability to carry the PSG attacking threat if needed.

"I have the impression that there is always a lot of pressure on him, but he likes it," said Tuchel of Neymar. "He is used to playing with this pressure.

"We are very happy that Kylian is also with the group and that we can have the possibility to finish the match with him, because the two like to play together. Neymar is decisive on the big matches and I am convinced that he can be the key man for us. He has the necessary quality for this kind of situation."

While plenty of fans saw PSG as having received a favourable draw in Atalanta, Gian Piero Gasperini’s vibrant side are in the last eight on merit and scored 98 goals this season in Serie A.

Having his team as close to full strength as possible would, therefore, be a huge relief to Tuchel, who has already made clear his frustration at finishing the campaign without the likes of Edinson Cavani and Thomas Meunier, who have left the club.

Mbappe has scored 30 goals and registered 18 assists in 34 games in all competitions for PSG this season, their top scorer ahead of Mauro Icardi and Neymar.

Tuchel is also sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Marco Verratti, who didn’t fly to Portugal with the rest of the squad due to a calf injury.

“There isn’t much time, but we will try everything,” Tuchel said on the Italian.

Verratti has played in all but one of PSG's Champions League outings so far this season, missing their last-16 second leg against Borussia Dortmund through suspension.

Manchester City’s new signing Ferran Torres has hailed David Silva as an “inspiration” after making the same move from Valencia to the Premier League.

The 20-year-old winger has arrived in the North West with big shoes to fill, following in the footsteps of Silva and replacing the departed Leroy Sane out wide.

Torres joined Valencia’s youth setup as a child in 2006, the same year Silva’s performances for Valencia earned him his first senior international cap for Spain.

“When I started at Valencia, he was enjoying his best time at the club,” Torres told Man City’s official website.

“He was always an inspiration and then, when he moved to City where he’s been playing his best football, I’ve always admired him. Above all, [what impressed him was] his ability to hold the ball, his capacity to make the final pass and his quality.”

Torres was also asked why he chose Man City as his next step, and what sort of player fans can expect to see.

“Being part of the project the club set out to me,” he said. “My aim is to grow as a player. I have a lot of room for improvement and the fact of having Pep Guardiola as a manager was a big factor too.

“It was crucial because he’s one of the best, or I’d say the best manager in the world and at the point I am at now in my career, he can get the best out of me.

“I’m always trying to improve. I always like to ask the reason why we do things and I think this is fundamental for improving and also because I think I’m young and I still have lots of things to improve.”

Torres is also confident he can bridge the gap from La Liga to the Premier League, noting he might not be exactly the sort of old-school winger fans might expect.

He said: “The truth is that English football is more physical than it is in Spain but I really feel I’m ready and I’m looking forward to getting going as soon as possible. I’d say that I have more strength than speed. I also make good crosses, but above all I’d highlight my power and strength.”

Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA FC) have confirmed their seventh signing in this transfer window after unveiling Samson Kigozi.

The 22-year-old winger has landed from Uganda Premier League (UPL) rivals Police FC ahead of the new season set to kick-off on October 17.

“Samson Kigozi has penned a three-year contract that will run from August 2020 until August 2023,” the former UPL champions confirmed on their official website.

Kigozi, who scored a total of five goals in all competitions for the Law Enforcers, has welcomed his move to the Lugogo-based giants by stating: “I feel so happy to join KCCA. It is a dream come true. This is a team of trophies with great players and coaches and with great history and success.

“I want to play at the highest level, I want to compete with the best on the continent and at KCCA I have a chance to play in Caf competitions.

“This will give me more exposure as a player. The fans should expect a hardworking man and one who is ready to help the team achieve its goals.”

On signing the player, KCCA coach Mike Mutebi said: “I have really followed [Samson] for a very long time and I know he is one kind of a player, who can help us achieve our targets for the new season.

“I know we will be competing in several competitions and it is good to have such players, he can score goals and he proved that with Police last season and can also set up the goals, so he is a good addition to my squad.”

He was part of the Uganda Cranes squad preparing for the 2020 African Nations Championships (Chan) finals that was scheduled to be held in Cameroon before the competition was postponed owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kigozi has now become the seventh signing for the Mike Mutebi led side, after Lwanga Charles, Mugume Ashraf, Mazengo Stefano, Iguma Denis, Bright Anukani and Brian Aheebwa.

KCCA are keen to beef up their squad after losing the league title to Vipers SC when the Federation of Uganda Football Association (Fufa) moved to end the top-flight prematurely owing to Covid-19.

Vipers, who were by then topping the table, were declared champions and will represent the country in the Caf Champions League while KCCA, who were sitting second, will now go for the Confederation Cup.

Mamelodi Sundowns were frustrated by a resilient Orlando Pirates side in a PSL match which ended in a 0-0 draw on Tuesday evening.

Coach Pitso Mosimane made several changes to the team which faced and defeated Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup semi-final match on Saturday.

Despite his poor performance against Wits, Motjeka Madisha kept his place in the starting line-up, while Lyle Lakay and Keletso Makgalwa both started as a reward for scoring over the weekend.

Mosimane's counterpart Josef Zinnbauer had to do without attackers Thembinkosi Lorch and Justin Shonga, who are both facing disciplinary action after they were found to have breached the team's protocols.

Frank Mhango and Augustine Mulenga led Bucs' attack, while Ben Motshwari started after recovering from the coronavirus with the Buccaneers looking to resume their campaign with a victory.

Sundowns got off to a lively start as they pressed Pirates in order to grab an early goal which would have unsettled the away side's leaky defence. 

However, the Buccaneers were compact at the back with Happy Jele marshaling the defence which came into the game having conceded 26 goals from 23 league matches.

Masandawana upped the tempo towards the half-hour mark with Sphelele Mkhulise and Makgalwa looking to use their speed to unlock the Bucs' defence.

The duo combined well before Mkhulise set-up Themba Zwane, who forced Pirates' experienced goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands into a smart diving save at the near-post.

Pirates took control of the match towards the end of the first half, but they could not seriously test Denis Onyango in the Sundowns goal-posts and the score was 0-0 at the interval.  

The Buccaneers were the better side after the restart with Zinnbauer having introduced Luvuyo Memela with the attacker bringing some creativity in the away's side midfield.

Memela set-up Fortune Makaringe, who burst into the box from midfield and unleashed a low shot which was finger-tipped onto the upright by Onyango and Madisha cleared the ball away from danger.

Uganda captain Onyango was the busier of the two keepers as he produced a fine low save to deny Memela, before finger-tipping Vincent Pule's long-range shot over the crossbar as Pirates pushed for the opening goal.

Madisha, who was having a great match at the heart of the Sundowns, produced a crucial tackle to stop Paseka Mako from pulling the trigger inside the box in the closing stages of the match.

Former South Africa under-20 captain Madisha then sustained a head injury and he was replaced by Wayne Arendse, but Sundowns were able to contain Pirates and ultimately, the match ended in a 0-0 draw.

The result saw Sundowns fail to close the gap on league log leaders Kaizer Chiefs, who are now three points above Mosimane's side.

While Pirates moved up to the third spot - four points behind second-placed Sundowns with the latter having two games in hand.

Kylian Mbappe was set to miss out for PSG against Atalanta in the Champions League quarter-final after picking up an ankle injury in the Coupe de France final on July 24.

The forward limped off the pitch after being on the receiving end of a heavy tackle, only joining in on his side's trophy celebrations on crutches.

The France star was set to miss up to three weeks of action – but the Ligue 1 champions were handed a massive boost as the forward was named in their Champions League squad on Saturday.

He was also spotted training with the side in the lead-up to the clash, heavily implying that he will be part of the action on Wednesday.

PSG boss Thomas Tuchel was originally not optimistic about his star recovering in time for the quarter-final clash, but Mbappe might be defying expectations and he could be set to feature much sooner than expected.

"The deadline is short, super short," Tuchel had told reporters. "We spoke with the doctor today and we decided to meet again on Saturday to see what phase he is in and if it is possible that he is on the bench against Atalanta. 

"But I do not expect too much."

After the Coupe de France final, the club issued a statement saying that Mbappe would be forced to remain on the sidelines for three weeks - which initially ruled him out of the European knockout clash against the Serie A side.

PSG stated on their website: "As announced after the final of the Coupe de France against Saint-Etienne, Mbappe was examined on Monday in order to know the severity of his right ankle injury. 

"The examination performed today confirms a sprained ankle with external ligament injury. Following this, the recovery time is estimated at around three weeks."

Mbappe's potential absence for the quarter-final would be a huge blow for the Ligue 1 champions, with the French international netting 30 goals and registering 18 assists in 34 appearances for PSG this season – including five goals and five assists in the Champions League.

The French giants are heavy favourites heading into the tie against Atalanta, but the Italian side have proved to be a plucky team.

PSG are targeting a Champions League semi-finals berth for the first time since 1994-95.

The likes of Neymar, Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria, Thiago Silva, Mauro Icardi, Thilo Kehrer and Presnel Kimpembe have all returned to the squad after being rested for the midweek friendly against Sochaux.

Tuchel, however, stated that Marco Verratti is set to miss out after nursing a calf injury picked up in training. 

Layvin Kurzawa will be forced to sit on the sidelines with a thigh issue.