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Cristiano Ronaldo may have broken coronavirus protocol by returning to Turin despite testing positive for Covid-19 says Italy’s minister of sport, Vincenzo Spadafora.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was forced into a period of self-isolation while away on international duty.

He had made two outings for his country, against France and Spain, but was ruled out of a third that saw Portugal overcome Sweden 3-0 in the ongoing defence of their Nations League crown.

Rather than figuring in that fixture, Ronaldo had headed back to Italy. The Juventus superstar arrived on Wednesday evening, with his Serie A employers claiming that a green light had been given for him to break quarantine in order to travel by private jet.

The Bianconeri said in a statement: “Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Italy with a medical flight authorized by the relevant health authorities at the request of the player and will continue his isolation at his home.”

While Juve believe they and their forward acted in an appropriate manner, Spadafora has suggested otherwise.

He claims to have been unaware of any agreement that allowed Ronaldo to travel while he was supposed to be self-isolating.

Quizzed by Rai Radio on whether rules had been breached, Spadafora said: “Without authorisation from the health authorities, I think he has violated the protocol.”

Juventus believe they had that clearance and are now waiting on Ronaldo posting a negative test as quickly as possible.

Ronaldo will not figure in their upcoming domestic outings against Crotone and Verone. He must also sit out a Champions League group stage opener against Dynamo Kiev, with the clock ticking on his involvement in a highly anticipated second outing of that competition.

Juve are due to face Barcelona on October 28, where Ronaldo could rekindle his long-running rivalry with Lionel Messi. For now, the 35-year-old faces a waiting game.

The same can be said for supporters in Italy, with games continuing to be held behind closed doors.

Spadafora believes competitive action will remain on the calendar despite the problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic and has urged patience from fans that are desperate to get back onto the terraces.

Asked whether he expects the lockout to continue, he said: “For now, certainly yes. Some regions had proposed 25% of a possible audience but for now we cannot authorise it. At least until next month, we must see how it goes.”

Moussa Djenepo will miss Southampton’s Premier League clash with Chelsea on Saturday due to a hamstring injury.

The Mali international was substituted in the second half of the Saints’ 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on October 4.

Before he was replaced by Nathan Redmond, Djenepo had scored the opener for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men as they cruised to their second Premier League win of the 2020-21 campaign.

Despite the injury setback, he was part of the Eagles’ squad that defeated Ghana 3-0 in a recent international friendly, albeit, as an unused substitute.

“He had a problem with his hamstring in the first half [against West Brom] – he even scored with this problem,” Hasenhuttl told club website. “It was at the beginning of the game.

“When we see the scans now, it’s definitely an injury, and this is the biggest problem for Moussa all the time.

“This is something we have to work on with him, because he has some physical deficiencies.

“There is always a push back every time he makes a step into the team, and this is a problem for us.”

Southampton boss also revealed he could hand deadline-day signing Theo Walcott against Frank Lampard’s men, while offering an update on France youth international of Senegalese descent Ibrahima Diallo who joined his team from Brest.

“With all the injuries we have in the number 10 position, with Stuey out and Moussa out, Theo has more chance to play on the weekend,” he continued.

“With Ibrahima it’s a bit more difficult. He was not here for the whole week – just one session yesterday [Wednesday], so we are just starting work with him, which may take a little bit longer.”

After the trip to Stamford Bridge, they also have a crunch tie against red-hot Everton at home before heading to Aston Villa, with Djenepo’s presence a potential deciding factor in both fixtures.

The winger moved to England from Standard Liege on 13 June 2019, having penned a four-year contract with the English topflight side for a reported fee of £14 million. His first goal came on August 2019 as the Saints secured a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Vipers SC forward Najib Iga has revealed his hopes of emulating former Uganda international Andrew ‘Fimbo’ Mukasa as well as Farouk Miya.

The St Mary’s School student is already known as ‘Fimbo’ in reference to his love for the retired Crane and since he has been promoted to the senior team, he just wants to be like Mukasa.

“While I was growing up my dad and his friends always talked about [Andrew] ‘Fimbo’ Mukasa and heaped so much praise on his style of play and eye for goal,” Iga told the club’s website.

“Despite the fact that I did not watch him play, I know a lot about him and I have always wanted to emulate him. In fact, it’s the reason my dad and peers nicknamed me ‘Fimbo’. 

“Uganda Cranes winger [Farouk] Miya is the other player whose character and humility inspire me.”

The youngster has likened his playing style to French World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann.

“I think I play more like Frenchman [Antoine] Griezmann of Barcelona FC. I position myself well, I have good pace and I am very lethal in-front of goal,” Iga, who is expected to start enjoying first-team football in the 2020/21 season, said.

The 18-year-old left-footed forward was part of the U17 team that featured in the Caf tournament and has shared his experience.

“It was a total learning experience for me,” he added. “I remember my debut was against Ethiopia during the Caf U17 regional qualifiers in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. I was shy, nervous and really struggled to settle into the side.

“I was subsequently benched in the second game but got back into the starting eleven against Kenya in a must-win group game. I scored and felt so happy. It gave me confidence and things got better for me since then.”

Iga also spoke about his expectations of the new season where Vipers will take part in the Caf Champions League.

“Of course, I’m ready for a new challenge,” he concluded.

“My confidence and game have improved tremendously. Besides I am not afraid of competition so there is no better time than now.”

Iga is among several youngsters who have been graduating from the St Mary’s Kitende School which acts as the feeder team for the Vipers.

Heading back to a Manchester United squad lacking confidence and character is going to do little for Harry Maguire’s bid to play his way back into form, says Roy Keane.

The most expensive defender in world football has been enduring a torrid time at the start of the 2020-21 campaign. Incidents on and off the field are conspiring against the £80 million ($104m) centre-half, who is struggling for club and country.

Questions have been asked of Maguire’s displays for United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have stumbled out of the blocks and eroded much of the optimism that they built up last season.

The 27-year-old has also found the going tough when away with England and collected a reckless red card on his most recent outing for the Three Lions against Denmark.

Former Red Devils captain Keane feels England manager Gareth Southgate should have been doing more to protect a clearly out-of-sorts performer before sending him into UEFA Nations League battle.

“I think sometimes he [Gareth] knows Harry has had a tough time on and off the pitch, a pat on the back would have helped him,” Keane told ITV Sport. “That would have settled him from Gareth.”

With no spark found on international duty, Maguire must now return to Old Trafford and endeavour to breathe new life into faltering United.

Keane thinks that is going to be a big ask given the issues the Red Devils have, with a man desperate to turn his fortunes around warned that things may get worse before they get better.

“The only down side is for Maguire, he's going back to a team not full of confidence,” Keane added. “I've been in situations before when I was in a situation with brilliant characters, I felt the dressing room was the best in the world. He's not going to get that, in that back four.

“I wouldn't be anywhere near those lads - I don't see them as leaders.”

While Keane fears for Maguire, England boss Southgate has backed him as an important part of his plans to come.

He has said: “Knowing Harry as I do, he'll want to play football.

“The best place for him to be is on the pitch. We know he's happy for everybody to have an opinion on what he should be doing. That's life as a top player. If nobody's interested, your life's very straightforward.

“If you're captain of United and a top player for England, everybody has an opinion. You have to ride with that. He's strong enough to deal with it. He's got to show the resilience I know he has to come through that.

“He is having a period where he is getting a lot of sticks thrown his way but he is big enough to deal with that he will come through it, he will be stronger for it. He's got our support and I'm sure his club will do the same. He is getting all sorts at the moment, from people who should know better. None of us like to be in the centre of that storm.”

The first black man to play a full international match for England was Viv Anderson in 1978.

Born in Nottingham, defender Anderson spent the first 10 years of his career at Nottingham Forest, breaking into the first team under Brian Clough in 1974.

Anderson was an important part of the Forest side which won promotion to the First Division in 1977, lifting the title and the League Cup a year later. He was called up to the England side by then-manager Ron Greenwood soon after, making his debut in a 1-0 friendly win over Czechoslovakia at Wembley.

English football in the 1970s could be a hugely hostile place for a black man, and Anderson was regularly subjected to racist abuse from fans.

Anderson told ITV: "I remember going to Carlisle; something happened and I'm sat down within five minutes. [Clough] said, ‘I thought I told you to warm up.’ I said, ‘Well they’re throwing apples and pears and bananas at me.’ He said, ‘Go back out there and get me two pears and a banana.’

"Then in the dressing room he pulls me and says, ‘I did that for a reason, you know - because if you let them dictate to you, you aren’t going to make a good career and I think you can play. Don't let them influence you in any way.’"

Anderson went on to enjoy a hugely successful career, winning back-to-back European Cups under Clough at Forest.

His competitive debut for England came in a 2-0 win over Bulgaria in qualifying for the 1980 European Championships.

Anderson left Forest for Arsenal in 1984 and, three years later, became Sir Alex Ferguson’s first signing as manager of Manchester United.

He eventually won 30 senior caps for England in an international career spanning 10 years. Short spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Middlesbrough followed, before his retirement in 1995.

Across six clubs, Anderson won all there was to win in English football, with medals for the First Division, FA Cup, League Cup and Charity Shield, as well as two European Cups and the European Super Cup.

While Anderson was the first black man to win a senior international cap for England, he was not the only such pioneer.

In 1977, West Brom winger Laurie Cunningham became the first black man to represent an official England team when he won his first cap at Under-21 level.

Cunningham later became the first English player to play for Real Madrid, enjoying a much-travelled career as he represented the likes of Manchester United, Marseille, Charleroi and Wimbledon.

He made his senior international debut against Wales in 1979, eventually playing six times for England.

Cunningham was tragically killed in a car crash at the age of just 33 while playing for Madrid side Rayo Vallecano.

A report from BBC London revealed that in 1971, Benjamin Odeje became the first black male to represent England when he played for England Schoolboys against Northern Ireland in front of 70,000 fans.

Decades before Anderson made his senior debut, Plymouth striker Jack Leslie was called up to play the Republic of Ireland in 1925. However, he was dropped from the squad before making his debut.

Leslie’s family believed he was dropped after a scout was sent to watch him play and realised the colour of his skin, having been called up on the strength of his goalscoring statistics in the days before video footage was available.

The first black woman to play for England is thought to have been Liverpool-born Emma Clarke in 1881. Clarke played in a match against Scotland in Edinburgh which is widely considered to be the first organised game of women’s football.

The first black woman to play in an official England international was Kerry Davis in 1982. Davis scored twice on her debut against Northern Ireland and went on to become England’s record goalscorer with 44 goals in 82 games, until her tally was surpassed by Kelly Smith in 2012.

Marcus Rashford has launched an online petition calling on the United Kingdom government to provide free school meals for more children.

In June, the Manchester United striker successfully lobbied the government to extend its policy of providing free school meals for underprivileged children into the summer months through the school holidays.

The 22-year-old also partnered with FareShare and helped to raise £20 million ($25m) to help provide free meals to those in need amid the coronavirus pandemic, while he has since worked with supermarkets and food brands to create a taskforce with the aim of tackling child food poverty.

Rashford's work in helping to tackle child hunger led to the England international being awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours, after which he vowed to continue his fight.

Speaking about the latest initiative, Rashford, who received free meals as a child, said: "For too long this conversation has been delayed. Child food poverty in the UK is not a result of Covid-19.

"In 2020, no child should be going to bed hungry, nor should they be sat in classrooms concerned about how their younger siblings are going to eat that day, or how they are going to access food come the holidays. Let's wrap arms around each other and stand together to say this is unacceptable, that we are united in protecting our children."

The petition calls for three recommendations to be implemented, including expanding free school meals to all under-16s where a parent or guardian is in receipt of Universal Credit or equivalent benefit.

It also says meals and activities should be providing during all holidays, and Healthy Start vouchers should be increased to the value of £4.25 ($5.50) per week.

The Welsh government announced on Thursday that it will provide free school meals during all holidays up to and including Easter 2021. It said the decision will come at a cost of £11 million ($14m).

Rashford has said that it is "mind-blowing" to see the amount of suffering in the UK, which spurs him on to continue his fight.

"Every single day it shocks me," Rashford said. "It’s not until people see the numbers and I’ve had the chance to visit some of the families I’ve managed to help and hear how it’s affected them and changed their lives.

"It’s just mind-blowing the amount of people who are suffering and the amount of people who don’t know where to get the help. "There’s a lot of things that would shock a lot of people if they knew the facts about the issue. For me not enough people do know the facts, as I was one of them."

Victor Wanyama and Montreal Impact suffered a second straight Major League Soccer loss after going down to New England Revolution on Wednesday at Red Bull Arena.

The loss came after the Canadian side had lost to Philadelphia Union on October 12 and the win ensured the Revs recorded a third straight victory over Montreal Impact in 2020.

Kekuta Manneh, Teal Bunbury and Adam Buksa scored goals that sealed the win for the New England Revolution while Amar Sejdic and Ballou Tabla were the scorers for Wanyama’s side.

The loss came just after Saphir Taider sealed a transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ain while first-choice goalkeeper Clement Diop was not available after he travelled to France for personal reasons.

Wanyama’s manager Thierry Henry admitted it was difficult to pick up any positives from the game.

“It’s really hard to be positive,” Henry said during the post-match interview.

“Some nights I try to find the positives, but tonight it’s really hard. We lost [Rod Fanni], [Saphir] Taider is leaving, [Clement Diop] isn’t there. We find ourselves down two goals again and trying to catch up which makes us spend more energy.

“So, it’s hard.”

The fact that Montreal Impact have lost three games to their Canadian counterparts makes Henry even more worried about his side.

“It’s another game against New England and I get the same impression against them where they wanted it more than us at the start,” Henry added.

“They showed it and they took advantage even though there are mistakes that are quite easily manageable.”

Montreal Impact’s scorer Sejdic stated he would be happy to play in any position that Henry would want him to.

“For me as a player, I’m just trying to soak up all the information like a sponge from the coaching staff trying to learn as much as possible and become a better player,” Sejdic said.  

“So, if they want me to play in any of the attacking positions, if they want me to drop in as a midfielder I’m more than happy to do so. My biggest thing is just enjoying playing and winning games.”

Wanyama and Montreal Impact will hope to put to an end their poor run when they host Inter Miami on October 18.

Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland are among the names on the final shortlist for the 2020 European Golden Boy award.

The final 20 nominations for the annual prize distributed by Italian newspaper Tuttosport have been confirmed, with the continent's best player under the age of 21 set to be revealed on December 14.

Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Matthijs de Ligt have all won the award in the past, while last year's prize was given to Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix following his breakthrough season at Benfica.

Sancho finished second in the 2019 voting while his Borussia Dortmund team-mate Haaland came in fourth after a prolific start to the 2019-20 campaign at Red Bull Salzburg, which ultimately earned him a move to Westfalenstadion in January.

Both men are in contention to win the prize again this time around, with Sancho now reportedly valued at around €120 million (£108m/$140m) after another outstanding year in Germany while Haaland is attracting attention from Real Madrid after scoring 21 goals in his first 23 outings for BVB.

Elsewhere, Barcelona teenager Ansu Fati and Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies have both been nominated for the second time, while Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has also been included.

Six players have been nominated from the Premier League in total, with Manchester City pair Phil Foden and Ferran Torres making the final cut along with Manchester United's Mason Greenwood, Wolves striker Fabio Silva, Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka.

Barcelona's new signing Sergino Dest has also been named in the final 20, having been rewarded for a bright start to his career at Ajax with a €21 million (£19m/$20m) move to Camp Nou.

Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo are representing Real Madrid in the shortlist, while Juventus midfielder Dejan Kulusevski, Paris Saint-Germain defender Mitchel Bakker, Lille forward Jonathan David, Ajax prospect Ryan Gravenberch, Salzburg's Dominik Szoboszlai, and Milan playmaker Sandro Tonali complete the nominees.

The final winner will be decided by a panel of 40 journalists from across Europe, with a new name set to be carved on the trophy as the next generation of talent continues to emerge.

Golden Boy 2020 final nominees in full:

Mitchel Bakker - PSG

Eduardo Camavinga - Rennes

Jonathan David - Lille 

Alphonso Davies - Bayern Munich

Sergino Dest - Barcelona

Fábio Silva  - Wolverhampton 

Ansu Fati - Barcelona 

Phil Foden - Manchester City

Ryan Gravenberch - Ajax 

Mason Greenwood - Manchester United 

Erling Haaland - Borussia Dortmund

Callum Hudson-Odoi - Chelsea 

Dejan Kulusevski  - Juventus

Rodrygo - Real Madrid 

Bukayo Saka  - Arsenal 

Jason Sancho -  Borussia Dortmund

Dominik Szoboszlai - Red Bull Salzburg 

Sandro Tonali  - Milan

Ferrán Torres  - Manchester City

Vinícius Junior - Real Madrid

Lionel Messi is an “incredible” talent but Ronaldinho remains the “best player in history”, says Gerard Deulofeu, a man who has worked alongside both at Barcelona.

Deulofeu, a product of the Blaugrana’s famed La Masia academy system, was a starry-eyed youngster when the Brazilian legend was strutting his stuff at Camp Nou. He then went on to break into the first-team alongside the Argentine icon.

Ronaldinho and Messi are both all-time greats, with seven Ballons d’Or collected between them. Six of those are owned by Messi, but Deulofeu believes a fan favourite of the past was the more exciting and precocious talent.

He told Serie A’s official website: “For me, Ronaldinho is the best player in history. I met him, I went to see a match at the Camp Nou and he was sitting next to me. It was a wonderful experience.

“Messi is incredible too, I like him very much. I played with him for six months and he is a nice person, a great player. The whole world knows about Messi.”

Deulofeu has had two spells at Camp Nou during his career, but struggled to make his mark.  That has forced him to seek opportunities elsewhere, at Everton, AC Milan and Watford.

The 26-year-old winger is now back in Italy at Udinese – on a season-long loan from Vicarage Road – and he is excited to have been given a second chance at starring in Serie A.

Deulofeu added on being in Udine: “The stadium is beautiful, but I already knew that because I played here with AC Milan. I like the training complex, it's very big.

“I had a wonderful experience in Serie A the last time, as I played a lot and I played well.

“I have a wonderful memory of AC Milan and of their fans, but now I'm here and my respect goes to Udinese and the club's fans.

“I feel different than I did then, because then I was looking for regular game time and consistency in my performances. Now, after two-and-a-half years at Watford, I think I am a totally different player.

“I want to help the team by playing my best in attack. Let's see what happens. I'm happy, I've worked a lot in the last few months.”

Thomas Partey was “the signing of the transfer window”, claims former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, with Atletico Madrid told they “dropped the ball” in allowing the midfielder to leave for just £45 million ($58m).

The Gunners decided to trigger a relatively low release clause in the Ghana international’s contract as the summer deadline approached.

Campbell believes the right call was made, saying there is every reason to believe that the new big-money addition in north London will deliver an immediate return on the investment of faith and funds made in him.

“Thomas Partey was the signing of the transfer window,” ex-Gunners frontman Campbell told GentingBet. “For Arsenal to get him for £45m is tremendous business – Arsenal almost went in with balaclavas on and stole him!

“Atletico Madrid dropped the ball by only having a £45m release clause, he is a player that is a lot better than £45m in this current market, but that was the release cause and Arsenal met it and they have their man.

“It is a key position for the club, he is moving into his prime and he will spend those years at the football club, so he is someone that the club can build around in midfield.”

Partey has linked up with a buoyant Arsenal squad at Emirates Stadium, with Arteta’s side looking to build on FA Cup and Community Shield successes. They have made an encouraging start to their 2020-21 campaign, with Campbell of the opinion that a top-four finish can be chased down.

He said: “With Partey added to the mix, Arsenal need to be looking at finishing in the top four.

“Having that key figure defensively, someone who can protect the back is so important in modern day football and Arsenal haven’t had that in years – they’ve had players there who haven’t really liked playing there that have done a job but this is a level above.

“If they don’t get top four that will be disappointing - it needs to be the focus of the team this year.”

It could be that Partey is thrown in at the deep end on Saturday with a debut against Manchester City, up against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho.

“Well, it's the decision of Mikel,” Partey said when asked if he is expecting to face City. “I just arrived. For me, I'm prepared but I need to get used to the style of play before I can play.”

Sports Club Villa interim committee headed by William Nkemba has assessed their own work since they were appointed to stabilise the club.

The committee was formed in mid-2018 to help find solutions to the problems the club was facing. They have now reported on the progress so far especially on the core issues they were mandated to work on.

“We have been able to restore the club to a comfortable sporting trajectory and the governance structure put in place will be for the club’s prosperity,” Nkemba said in a statement obtained by Goal.

“Whereas we have had well-intended intentions as far as solving the challenges at Villa, we did not come close to solving the core problems.

“In July 2018, when an interim committee was selected to help put the club on track and address the issues that were at Villa Park, we were tasked with three immediate challenges.

“The challenges included sporting continuity and the leadership of the club.”

Nkemba’s committee was asked to come up with ways to help restore sporting continuity and the ownership of the 16-time Premier League winners. The club legend feels they did well on those aspects.

“In terms of sporting continuity, in the first season we had challenges because it was at the last hour, the major challenge was to put together a team and at that time almost the entire team was depleted. We performed at an all-time low at the club,” he added.

“For the next season, we embarked on improving the sporting credentials of the club. It was fundamental that the club continues working sportingly and we managed to finish third.

“The other issue was to deal with the ownership of the club. The club was founded as Nakivubo Boys, transformed into Nakivubo Villa and later SC Villa and has since gone on to compete like that.”

The club will now be run by what has been dubbed as Villa Members Trust which will be inducted at the end of the month.

“We managed to go back to the roots of the club and we now announce the Villa Members Trust as the owners of Villa and will be duly incorporated on October 30,” Nkemba explained.

“Membership shall be for those persons who subscribe annually to its membership of paying an inauguration fee of USh50,000 to the club.

“This membership shall be open to all who have the best interests of the club, and it is only those who will be members who hold ownership and will decide the future of the club.”

The wrangles led to the instability that at one point saw the club fighting hard to avoid relegation.

Apart from the 16 league titles, SC Villa have nine Uganda Cups, three Cecafa Club Championship titles and have appeared 13 times in the Caf Champions League and once in the Confederation Cup.

Mikel Arteta still hopes to have Kieran Tierney available to face Manchester City on Saturday, despite the defender still being in coronavirus self-isolation in Scotland.

It was announced at the start of the international break that Tierney, along with Ryan Christie, would have to endure two weeks of quarantine north of the border after being deemed to have been in "close contact" with Stuart Armstrong, who had tested positive, by the Lothian Health Protection Team

Tierney, who had been playing a computer game in a hotel room with Armstrong, tested negative for Covid after his team-mate's positive result, but still had to remain in Scotland due to regulations imposed by the government.

Discussions have been taking place between Arsenal and the authorities ever since, with the north London club requesting to bring Tierney back to the England in a private car.

So far that request has fallen on deaf ears, but there are further talks planned on Thursday afternoon and Arteta is hopeful Tierney will be given the green light to return to London.

“I hope so,” said the Arsenal boss, when asked whether the left-back would be available to face Manchester City on Saturday. “This is getting very complicated when you are sending players abroad and obviously you lose control.

“Some authorities have different regulations to the actual ones in the Premier League. We are still having some discussions with the authorities and hopefully we will know more this afternoon.”

Meanwhile, Arteta says he will see how new signing Thomas Partey reacts to his first couple of training sessions before deciding whether he can play a part at Etihad Stadium this weekend.

Partey arrived at London Colney on Tuesday and will have his first training session with his new team-mates on Thursday following his £45 million ($58m) deadline day move from Atletico Madrid.

The Ghana international has stated he is ready to play this weekend, if called upon, and Arteta has suggested he could be involved.

“He is getting familiar with everything around the club, today [Thursday] he will have his first session, so everything has to come really quickly for him,” said the Gunners boss. “He is fit, he is very willing to start playing, so we will how he goes in the next few days.”

On Partey's arrival, Arteta added: "I've seen the buzz around the place, I think the fans are really happy. I've seen some really positive reactions after we brought him here. It's been the same from the team, the squad and the staff. I think he's a player we've had the radar on for a long time and I think he is going to be a really important addition to the team."

Manchester City opted not to sign another striker during the summer transfer window and Danny Mills admits “replacing Sergio Aguero has always been an issue” for those at Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola faced plenty of calls to bolster his attacking ranks before the latest deadline passed. He chose to ignore them, with City’s recruitment efforts focused on the opposite end of the field.

Big money was invested in Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias as the Citizens sought to plug defensive leaks.

Mills believes the right areas were prioritised, with funds only able to stretch so far, but concedes that finding a suitable successor to the club’s all-time leading goalscorer – whose contract expires in the summer of 2021 – remains a source of concern.

The former Blues defender told GentingBet: “Replacing Aguero has always been an issue for Manchester City, because how do you replace him? [Gabriel] Jesus is a very good player who works very hard but he’s not Aguero and if Aguero is missing for any length of time, you do worry a little bit about City.

“However, I think the fact that they've tried to address their defensive issues more than anything else with Dias coming in, that was where they had to sort themselves out because that's what cost them last season, especially in the Champions League.

“I think they've got enough strength in depth and enough quality going forward. Then Guardiola will always find a way to work that out whether he plays a false nine or however he plays it, it’s just defensively where they need to tie it up.”

Portuguese centre-half Dias has been acquired to help address those faults, with a club-record £62 million ($80m) deal put in place.

At 23 years of age he is already being tipped as the man to fill the Vincent Kompany-shaped void at the Etihad, but Mills is wary of expecting too much from a player still learning his trade as he adjusts to life in new surroundings.

The ex-England international full-back added: “Dias isn’t as good as Kompany, who was just magnificent, as a person, as a player, as a leader and as a captain. He was absolutely outstanding, with his mindset, he was Manchester City’s answer to John Terry.

“I think the Dias can build a relationship with [Aymeric] Laporte and if they can build a really solid foundation, which I think they will do, City will have a much better chance of winning more trophies this season.”

Hertha Berlin have confirmed that Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi has tested positive for coronavirus.

Guendouzi returned to the Olympiastadion earlier this week after starring for France's U21s during their latest round of European Championship qualifiers.

The 21-year-old started a 5-0 victory over Liechtenstein last Thursday before being left on the bench for Monday's 1-0 victory against Slovakia.

The midfielder underwent standard medical checks after touching back down in Germany, and Hertha have now revealed that he has contracted Covid-19 ahead of their clash with Stuttgart on Saturday.

Guendouzi will sit out that Bundesliga meeting as well as a trip to RB Leipzig on October 24 as he heads into self-isolation for the next ten days.

Hertha delivered an update on the Frenchman's condition via social media on Thursday, which reads: "Matteo Guendouzi has tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from international duty.

"There has been no contact with any Hertha players or staff.

"He is symptom-free and feeling well, but will now self-isolate for 10 days.

"Get well soon, Matteo!"

Guendouzi joined Hertha on a season-long loan from Arsenal on October 5, having fallen way down the squad pecking order at Emirates Stadium under Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners playmaker hadn't featured for the club since a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on June 20, after which he was seen grabbing Seagulls forward Neal Maupay by the throat.

Guendouzi escaped retrospective action from the Football Association, but Arteta lost faith in him and ultimately deemed him surplus to requirements for the 2020-21 campaign.

Hertha have given the midfielder the chance to rebuild his career in Germany, but he will now have to wait until November for the chance to make his full debut for the club.

Manchester City-linked superstar Lionel Messi would have no issue adapting to any other league but the "romantic" idea of the Argentina great remaining a one-club man with Barcelona is appealing, says Gaizka Mendieta.

There was a time when the idea of Messi, Barca's all-time leading goalscorer, departing Camp Nou would have been unthinkable.

But such a notion was a very distinct possibility during a tumultuous period following Barca's humiliating 8-2 exit at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League in August.

Messi provided Barca with a message notifying the club of his intention to leave, citing his belief that a clause in his contract allowed him to depart on a free transfer.

Both Barca and La Liga disputed his interpretation, stating any potential suitor would have to pay the €700 million (£634m/$820m) release clause or negotiate a fee with Barca.

Consequently, Messi opted to remain at Barca, insisting he did not want to drag the club through the courts. But he hit out at president Josep Maria Bartomeu, before striking a more conciliatory tone, vowing to give his all for the team in the new La Liga season.

Mendieta, who spent a season with Barca in the 2002-03 campaign, told Stats Perform: "Regarding what happened, it is already in the past. 

"We can go into details, but Leo has always shown he is a professional. He has shown it for many years."

Speaking while launching the Player 4 Player management group, Mendieta said: "I think all Barcelona fans, his team-mates and people who work for the club, know Leo will give his 100 per cent this season.

"Whether he leaves or not at the end of the season, the fact is he is here, he has stayed, and he will give his best. I don't think other thoughts are correct.

"The most important thing is having him, he is a professional and he will give all as he has been given all the time. That's the key for Barcelona and his fans."

Barca's reluctance to lose a player considered by many as the greatest of all time is obvious given Messi has scored 635 goals and provided 254 assists in 734 appearances for the club.

As well as being Barca's all-time leading scorer, he also holds that same benchmark in La Liga having found the net 445 times in Spain's top flight.

One argument against Messi's claims to be the best ever, albeit a rather weak one, is that he has not proven his talent in another division.

Joining Man City for a reunion with his former Barca boss Pep Guardiola was seen as the likeliest outcome had Messi left Camp Nou, and Mendieta was unequivocal in his belief a player of his talent would flourish elsewhere.

"Messi would get adapted everywhere. He has already shown many times. On the left, On the right, in the middle, being a striker, being an offensive midfielder, and even being a midfielder," Mendieta said.

"So, a player who reads and understands football as he does, he will not have any issue in any country or any club he joins."

But is it a scenario the former Spain international, now a prominent pundit, would like to see?

"I do have mixed feelings. On one hand, I did play in different leagues and seeing him competing in another league, I would like it," Mendieta said.

"But on the other hand, I do feel the romantic side of watching a player like him starting and finishing his career at the same club. We seldom see that nowadays and I have that feeling, that nostalgia of seeing this.

"It also means both sides have done properly, when a footballer keeps playing for that long a time with the same club.

"Especially a player with the profile of Leo who normally you believe he would be attracted by millionaire bids.

"Therefore, I think I would rather see him staying at Barca forever than seeing him playing in another competition."

Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United are the two teams promoted in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League with Vihiga United set to play Kisumu All-Stars in promotion/relegation play-offs.

Simba wa Nairobi will open their account at home against Nzoia Sugar at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, November 22 at 2 pm. It will be their first game in top-flight football since 2016.

Their second game will be at Kericho Green Stadium a week later against their hosts Zoo FC from 3 pm. On Friday, December 4, Simba wa Nairobi will be hosting either Kisumu All-Stars or Vihiga United at Nyayo Stadium from 4 pm.

Kakamega Homeboyz, who finished second in the abandoned 2019/20 season, will be hosting the Nairobi-based side at Bukhungu Stadium on Wednesday, December 9 from 4 pm. The fifth game for Stars is scheduled for December 13 against Western Stima at Nyayo Stadium from 3 pm.

Bidco United, who finished second in the abandoned 2019/20 season, will make their debut in the top-tier with an away trip on Sunday, November 22 to Machakos where they will play their hosts Posta Rangers.

The Thika-based charges will then host 13-time league champions AFC Leopards at Kinoru Stadium on Sunday, November 28 from 4 pm. 

Four-time champions Ulinzi Stars will then entertain Bidco at Afraha Stadium on Saturday, December 5 from 4 pm. The latter will then have the privilege of hosting Tusker FC four days later at Kinoru Stadium.

The Anthony Akhulia-led charges will then complete their fifth round in the Kenyan Premier League with a game against Gor Mahia at Kinoru Stadium on Sunday, December 13 from 4.15 pm.

According to the FKF governing council, the decision to resume the league on November 20, was informed by the need to ensure the completion of the 2020-21 season in good time and in line with the global football calendar.  

"The progress of the pre-season training sessions by the league clubs that are currently ongoing and with the successful international friendly between Kenya and Zambia while observing the Ministry of Health protocols has laid a positive ground for the safe resumption of the league," read a statement from FKF obtained by Goal.  

The statement continued: "The general council remains cognizant of the Covid-19 situation in the country and has put in measures that will ensure the league will be conducted within the existing health regulations in the country to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all those involved."  

Football lovers in Kerala are used to welcoming a new season of Sevens football every year around November. This year, there is no such excitement. 

The Coronavirus pandemic has put Sevens football teams, managers and players in an unprecedented situation. With financial debt, lack of action and plenty of foreign players stuck in the state, the situation is an unfortunate mess. 

Since the pandemic forced the government to enforce a lockdown in the country in March, there have been no Sevens tournaments or one-off games in Kerala. Seven months into what has been a difficult period for everyone involved, the plight has only worsened. 

While back-to-back floods in Kerala in 2018 and 2019 had affected teams and tournament organizers financially, they still managed to pull off tournaments and even raise funds for the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). 

In 2018, as the state recovered from the biggest natural disaster it had experienced in decades, a new season of Sevens football was inaugurated by football legend IM Vijayan at Edappalam on November 13. 

Nearly two years after pulling that off, the Sevens football teams now not only have worsened financial debt but are also struggling to get the foreign recruits back home.

"If people want to watch Sevens, they should come to the grounds. Because crowd should be avoided due to COVID-19, Sevens has sunk," Sevens Football Association (SFA) president KM Lenin told Goal. 

"The local Kerala players made a living from the money they received from Sevens games. So they have all suffered huge losses financially. The team managers are finding it hard to take care of foreign players who are stuck here. The foreigners also depend on this, so their lives are also in turmoil."

The managers have worked hard to provide shelter and food to the foreign footballers who are stuck but it is not just the physical health that needs attention. 

Lenin said, "International travel issues meant that some players had to pay more fees to return. The news of the rise in COVID cases here reached the foreigners' families and they are all scared. The players here were affected seeing the kind of COVID spread here.

"Around 115 foreign players are registered under our association (SFA). Around 150 players were initially stuck, around half of them have managed to return. According to our books, around 70-90 players are stuck here. Hopefully, by next month, they can return."

After everything that has happened and is ongoing, there is no chance for a new season of Sevens football to kick off in Kerala this year. The state recorded 6,244 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The SFA are hoping that the situation improves by January so that they can start thinking about organizing a few matches. 

"We don't know if the next season will happen. There have been no preparations for a new season. We are not in a situation to prepare due to the pandemic. So no plans till December 31, 2020."

Sevens football is hugely popular in Kerala and the craze stems from the fact that the association with such tournaments are deep-rooted in small provinces particularly across the Malabar region that includes Malappuram and Kozhikode. 

The SFA helps run a lot of the Sevens football tournaments in the state. More than thirty teams have been registered under the association and they usually conduct around 50 tournaments.

While national leagues can adapt to the changes brought about by the pandemic, Sevens football arenas that thrive on large crowds and electric atmosphere will have to wait.