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The potential of football in Karnataka has not been realised for some time now. The state has had very little representation at the national level, in the I-League and in the Indian Super League (ISL) in the last few years in terms of players from the region.

In fact, only two players based out of Karnataka featured in the ISL last season – Hyderabad FC duo Shankar Sampingiraj and Mangaluru-born Nikhil Poojary who spent most of his formative years in Mumbai. Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) Secretary M Satyanarayan emphasised on the federation’s vision to provide a platform for upcoming talent and ensure more players from the state play at the top level.

“We are putting some plans in place because we want more players from our state to play in the ISL. Right now, we just have two players,” he said.

“We are also looking to give a boost at the grass-root level and conduct more baby leagues. Richard Hood, who is with Bengaluru United has done a lot of work to uplift our grassroots development programme.

“We have made it mandatory for all Super Division and the first division clubs to ensure that two juniors – U21 players play in the playing 11. This means that they should recruit at least four such players. With the 14 Super Division and 10-12 A Division teams, we will straight away have about 80-100 U21 players playing the top leagues.

The KSFA also wants to see better performance at the highest level in the Santosh Trophy - a title that has eluded the state since 1971. Karnataka did well in the qualification stage this year and topped a group that also contained Telangana and Puducherry. But the final round was put on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Satyanarayan said - “In the Santosh Trophy, five of the 20 have to be U21. So, we will get some good players who will gain experience from playing in these tough leagues. The Khelo India U21 is another good avenue for these players.

“In our local system, after the U15 level, there is no avenue for these boys. There is no U18 level and so we are planning to start it. Once they do the decentralisation (AIFF to hand responsiblity of conducting youth leagues to the states), we want to do U13, U15 and U18 tournaments. The boys who will play for teams in the U18 leagues will then get openings in the big clubs. If they play for 2-3 years, then they will also become better players.

“In our Santosh Trophy team from last season, barring the goalkeeper and captain who were about 29, the average age was just 22. We last won it in 1971 and are determined to try and win that.

“We have spotters who watch all the games of the Super Division and the A Division. Then they make a list of about 60-70 players. If we see some good talent from the B and C divisions, we call them. We had a long camp of about two months this time. The boys played very well and we won both our South Zone matches. The boys were looking forward to the final round but now that might not happen (due to the pandemic).”

The KSFA Secretary spoke about two initiatives aimed at nurturing local talents that will kick off when the restrictions are lifted. The federation is looking to have Super Division clubs venture into the football pockets of the city and train the talented youngsters.

A similar approach to acquiring talented youngsters from different districts was also discussed.

“Last month we asked new clubs to come up in the C division. As of today, we have 60 new clubs who have enrolled.

“Our president is keen that all 30 districts have good leagues. Earlier it was just 10-11. Now it has gone up to 19 districts. We want to change the constitution because according to the AIFF constitution, you need 10 clubs to form a district association. But what we are telling is even if you have seven clubs, we will call you an associate district. You start with six or seven clubs. Once you have 10 clubs, we will give you a full district association status. We want all districts to start leagues.

“We had a webinar with the Super Division and A Division sides which had the likes of Bengaluru FC, Ozone, Bengaluru United, Kickstart and so on. I expressed to them that we want to see more players from Bengaluru.

“The boys in some of the football pockets in Bengaluru are highly skilled but they don’t have organised training. I have asked the Super Division clubs to adopt one area each and send one of their coaches for at least three days a week for the whole year. The clubs have wholeheartedly come forward.

“Most of these clubs have academies and for them, this will be a good supply route of players. They don’t have to bring kids from the North-East and put them up in schools here. Our own boys will fill in for those players.

“The aim is to see more of our players in the ISL. They have the footballing skills but must improve their life skills. At 18-19 they are in the state team and then maybe the Indian camp and then they become wayward. That is something I did in my presentation to AIFF. We want to have classes on life-skills for these young players so they know that they can be in the ISL if they work hard.

“We have done a lot of planning but unfortunately Covid-19 has pushed us back.”

Satyanarayan also revealed that the KSFA are committed to developing women's football in the state as well.

“I also told the district teams that if they want to play in the inter-district tournament, they must have a ladies’ team. It is okay if it is seven-a-side to start with. We have girls from Mangaluru and Belgaum playing in the state side right now,” he concluded.

South African Football Association (Safa) chief medical doctor Thulani Ngwenya has revealed he nearly quit as the association's compliance officer after receiving death threats from unknown people. 

According to Ngwenya, the said people felt he was the one refusing to let PSL football to return, and he reported this to his bosses at Safa who then took the matter to the police.  

"This recent period has been the most stressful in my life. It has been really bad. It got to a point where I received private calls from people threatening my life,” Ngwenya told City Press.

"I have reported it to Safa and we have opened a case with the police. That’s how bad it is. I have been insulted and threatened I don’t know how many times in the past few weeks. I really needed to think long and hard about whether I wanted to continue," he revealed. 

One of Ngwenya's responsibilities as Safa's compliance officer is to ensure that all the 32 PSL teams observe the stringent measures set by the Joint Liaison Committee (JLC) for the return of football without exposing anyone to the risk of contracting the coronavirus.   

The association's decision to reject PSL's proposed return date of July 18 appears to have infuriated a lot of people in the football fraternity and they have directed their anger at Ngwenya.  

The KwaNyamazane-born medical doctor said his primary objective is the safety of the players, the majority of whom he works with at national team level. 

"I work with many of these players and, as a medical doctor, it’s my job to want the best for them," he said. 

"I became a doctor to help people and nothing else. People think I am being used as a pawn, but they don’t know that I took an oath as a medical doctor and there are certain principles and ethics that I have to follow."

Ngwenya, 36, said it hurts that some people are blaming him for the delay in the resumption of the 2019-20 season, saying he would have not been part of the whole process if the safety of players and officials were not a priority.  

"If I was drawn into something wrong and unethical, I would never be part of that. I am very principled. It hurts me very much that I am seen as a stumbling block to the return of football," added Ngwenya. 

"People think I don’t want football to return and that is untrue. I am part of a collective and we have worked very hard to put together the Joint Liaison Committee document that speaks to the return of games. As instructed by the government, Safa and the PSL have been engaging on the matter of the return to football."

The PSL is expected to make a decision the future of the suspended season in their Monday's board of governors meeting.  

Roy Keane believes Manchester United need to sign a "better goalkeeper" over the summer to challenge for the Premier League title next season. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side secured a third-place finish and their place in the Champions League after beating Leicester City 2-0 on Sunday with David de Gea keeping his 13th clean sheet of the season - only three shy of Golden Glove winner Ederson.

The Spaniard however did make a number of costly errors this season with Keane previously declaring he was "sick to death" of De Gea. 

While De Gea conceded just two goals across the final four games of the Premier League season for the Red Devils, Keane is adamant the club must find a replacement if they want to reach the next level.

"I’ve never been a big fan of his. He makes far too many mistakes, big mistakes that cost United big points," Keane told Sky Sports about De Gea ahead of United's game against Leicester.

"We talk about recruitment, it’s a difficult part of the game. That’s just my opinion. If Manchester United want to challenge for league titles, they need a better goalkeeper.

"They need a change, they’ve done it before. I don’t know what the big song and dance is about a goalkeeper, Man United have been doing it for years.

"Strikers are dropped or sold, same with midfielders, but for some reason, with goalkeepers, they think we have to stick with the goalkeeper for a bit longer than others because of something they did two or three years ago.

"The game doesn’t work like that. We’ve seen Liverpool get onto another level when they’ve improved the goalkeeper.

"What’s the big deal? If he’s not doing it, he’s making mistakes, then make a change. There are good goalkeepers out there."

Despite Keane's plea, the Red Devils are unlikely to replace De Gea anytime soon with the 29-year-old contracted at Old Trafford until 2023. 

Solskjaer has also shown plenty of faith in the Spanish shot-stopper in recent times and believes he remains a "top keeper". 

"David has proven it over the years. Form might be temporary, but class is permanent. He's an absolutely top keeper," Solskjaer told Sky Sports earlier this week.

Steven Dias has hailed his time at the Indian national team under Bob Houghton and feels that current coach Igor Stimac needs to be given more time.

Dias, who was a mainstay in the Indian national team in his time, feels that only under Houghton did Indian players started training professionaly and know more about important aspects like diets, nutrition etc.

"Now, what we see, the players have become more professional. At my time, players hardly knew anything because there was no information on what to do off the pitch. If you talk about diet, even when I was in (joined) the Indian team in 2004, we used to eat french fries and all because we didn't know anything.

"The one good phase I enjoyed (at the national team) was under Bob Houghton. He really showed us what professionalism is all about and personally, he made football so easy for me - positioning and all. So that full phase, I will never forget, especially the Nehru Cups that we played at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi," he told Goal.

The player who has joined the Indian Super League (ISL) side Odisha FC as an assistant coach was a key member of the Blue Tigers when they won two Nehru Cup twice (2007, 2009) that sandwiched India's only AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Challenge Cup title in 2008.

"My dream is to see India at the [FIFA] World Cup. I don't know how long it will take but we are at least going step by step (in the right direction). The team, under Igor Stimac, are playing very good football now. They (players) are keeping ball possession, they know what to do attacking wise and know their roles defensively. I hope they keep this coach for a long time."

Houghton spent the longest time in office as India coach between 2006 and 2011 wherein the Englishman led his side into the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, followed by Stephen Constantine's second stint (2015-2019). The latter helped India to its best FIFA Ranking (96) in 21 years after being ranked 94th in February 1996 and took the country to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

"The problem is that we (India) keep changing coaches. A coach comes for around two-to-three years and with the change of coach, a change in the style of play takes place. So it becomes difficult for the players also to understand," Dias explained.

Virgil van Dijk paid tribute to Naby Keita after Liverpool ended their triumphant Premier League season with a 3-1 win over Newcastle United on Sunday. 

Keita made just 18 appearances for Jurgen Klopp's side in the league this season with the 25-year-old struggling with minor injuries. 

The Guinea midfielder did manage to end the season with a bang, however, scoring a stunning goal last time out in a dramatic 5-3 win over Chelsea before backing up and playing 85 minutes against Newcastle. 

While flying somewhat under the radar this campaign, Van Dijk was quick to single Keita out for praise, suggesting his best is yet to come at Anfield. 

“I’m just very happy for Naby, he’s a fantastic guy. He works so hard and he’s an outstanding football player, we see it week in, week out," Van Dijk told LFC TV.

"Unfortunately he’s been unlucky with some injuries, but hopefully he can stay fully fit next season.

"I think he’s world class if I’m absolutely honest. I see the moments where he has the ball, the smart moves and his intelligence, it’s just incredible to see and I’m very happy for him.”

Keita, who formally joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in August 2018, endured a turbulent first season with the Reds too and missed out on the Champions League final through a groin injury. 

The midfielder's fortunes appear to be turning however with Klopp also praising Keita after a strong performance against Brighton earlier this month. 

"He is getting better and better, step by step and game by game and that's really cool," Klopp said of Keita following the 3-1 win. 

"I am really happy about that. Long may it continue, let me say it like this. When him and the boys stay fit then everything is fine with the quality they have, the way we play suits them."

The Reds have been linked with interest in Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara but Luis Garcia recently cast doubt on the need for such a signing with Keita now impressing. 

"If top players come to Liverpool and you have to move one of the ones that are moving at the moment, that's not easy," Garcia told Stadium Astro. 

"If you see Keita, the way that Keita plays is similar to Thiago. The way they move, the place that they play is very similar. Keita is still adapting to the Premier League, are you going to move him from that place?"

Sergio Ramos has invited UFC icon Conor McGregor to Real Madrid training after being impressed by social media footage of the retired fighter showing off his football skills. 

Ramos himself recently reached out to McGregor on Twitter after channeling the Irishman's famous strut celebration after scoring a stunning goal in practice.

The pair have seemingly struck up an unlikely friendship online since with McGregor in turn asking Ramos for his thoughts on Instagram along with a series of clips showing the Irishman taking shots at goal. 

While seemingly just a low-key kick about, Ramos liked what he saw from McGregor, replying: "Top class, mate! Fancy a training session at Real Madrid? More than welcome to join us anytime."

McGregor in turn accepted the offer, commenting: "My brother, thank you! The next time I am in Madrid I would be honoured."

The 32-year-old, who famously tried his hand at boxing in 2017 against Floyd Mayweather Jr., has previously admitted to being a fan of Manchester United and was a big admirer of Roy Keane.

“I was more a player than a watcher back then, but Manchester United was my team," McGregor said during a Q&A with FIFA.com in 2019.

“I was attracted to the success and winning mentality of the club and people surrounded by United. Irish legends like Denis Irwin and Roy Keane were dedicated to their craft and had that winning mentality. Roy Keane was one of the best midfielders European football has ever seen. Opponents would be mentally beaten before they’d even stepped on to the pitch to face him.

"Throughout my youth, I was big into football. I played striker or midfielder. If you were to sum me up as a player, I was efficient, devastating and slick – similar to my fighting style. Skills learned at this youthful age playing football – teamwork, leadership, commitment, dedication and discipline – without a doubt transferred over into my combat sports vocation." 

McGregor also singled out Cristiano Ronaldo for praise, noting: "Cristiano is a phenomenal athlete, person, and entrepreneur. His all-around discipline, perfectionist attitude, and dedication to his craft is inspiring and has inspired so many young children to play football."

Cristiano Ronaldo dedicated Juventus' ninth successive Serie A title to the club's fans, particularly those that have suffered as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ronaldo scored once, and missed a penalty, and Federico Bernardeschi netted in a 2-0 victory over a 10-man Sampdoria on Sunday to continue Juve's dominance in Italy.

Juve secured the league title with two games remaining, having returned to action last month following the coronavirus-enforced break.

Ronaldo, who moved onto 35 goals this season, was delighted and paid tribute to Juventus' fans.

"Done! Champions of Italy," he wrote on Instagram. "Delighted for the second consecutive championship and to continue building the history of this great and splendid club.

"This title is dedicated to all Juve fans, in particular to those who have suffered and are suffering from the pandemic that has taken us all by surprise by overturning the world.

"It was not easy! Your courage, your attitude and your determination were the strength we needed to face this tight final of the championship and fight to the end for this title that belongs to all of Italy. A big hug to you all!"

Manager Maurizio Sarri was quick to single out both Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala post-match but also stressed the club's continued success was the result of significant collboration. 

"Ronaldo and Dybala make the difference on the field, so clearly they deserve a lot of credit, but the club behind them is every bit as important," Sarri said.

"We have a president and directors who attend training every day, are there to exchange ideas, see if you need anything and put petrol in the tank of this team. The club are a big part of why they were able to win for so many years. They back you even when you lose.

“In terms of organisation, Juventus are at the top of European football. I could not have asked for anything more. Obviously, it takes a while to settle in, understand the approach, the way things work here, then after a while you can start trying to tweak a few things.

"You can't just walk straight into a club that has won for eight years in a row and immediately try to order changes. That wouldn't be very intelligent."

Juventus are "well advanced" in contract talks with Paulo Dybala, according to chief football officer Fabio Paratici.

Dybala, 26, is out of contract in 2022, but has been linked with a renewal in Turin after enjoying an impressive season.

Paratici confirmed talks with Dybala were in progress and a fair way down the track, with the playmaker set to stay at Juve.

"We often speak with his entourage and we are moving forward, despite all the difficulties related to the commitments and the movement due to the games that are played every three days," he told Sky Sport .

"Even in this period, we are talking quite frequently and we are well advanced."

Juve clinched a ninth successive Serie A title on Sunday thanks to a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria.

Paratici was full of praise for coach Maurizio Sarri, who secured the league crown in his first season in charge.

"Sarri has made an incredible climb in his career and he's in the place he deserves to be," he said."He is certainly one of the protagonists of our season."

Dybala came off against Sampdoria due to a suspected thigh injury in a worry ahead of the Champions League resuming next month.

The Argentina forward was clutching the top of his left thigh as he made way for Gonzalo Higuain five minutes before half-time.

Coach Sarri had already been forced into one change, with Danilo coming off following a clash of heads with Gaston Ramirez.

Juve continue their league campaign with matches against Cagliari and Roma next week before hosting Lyon in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on August 7.

Dybala was linked with a Juventus exit before the start of the season and was reportedly close to a move to Tottenham but ultimately stayed put in Turin. 

That decision has paid off for both club and player with the 26-year-old scoring 17 goals and adding a further 14 assists across 45 appearances to date this season.

The former Palermo player returned from the enforced break due to the coronavirus pandemic in a rich vein of form, scoring in five straight Serie A matches. 

Maurizio Sarri joked that Juventus must be really good if they claimed the Scudetto under the first-time Serie A-winning head coach as the champions maintained their stranglehold on Italian football.

Juve defeated Sampdoria 2-0 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Bernardeschi on Sunday to clinch their ninth successive Serie A crown, a record run dating back to 2011-12.

Sarri – who replaced Massimiliano Allegri at the start of the season – became the oldest coach to win Serie A as the 61-year-old claimed his maiden league trophy, having only previously led Chelsea to Europa League glory last term.

Following a difficult first season in Turin, where his philosophy has been regularly questioned, former Chelsea and Napoli boss Sarri revelled in his achievement.

"I told them, if you won with me who has never won anything, you must be really good," Sarri told Sky Sport Italia when asked what he said to his players during the celebrations.

"The first day you come in, you see people, not just world-class players. As time passes, you get fond of them and the rapport goes from being strictly professional to personal too.

"The first day, I step into the locker room and know there are some top players. After a while, you walk in there knowing there are some great guys you can rely on too."

"It has a special feeling, of course. It's difficult to win, it becomes even more complicated to keep winning, as taking something for granted in sport is one of the biggest lies in the world," Sarri added.

"It was not a walk in the park. It was long, difficult, stressful, and this squad deserves a lot of credit for continuing to find the hunger and determination to keep going after eight wins in a row.

"I left the field because I was trying to avoid getting a bucket of water thrown over me, as it was obviously on its way, but I didn't manage to get away."

It has not been easy for Sarri and Juventus during their first season together at Allianz Stadium amid reports of unrest following Allegri's departure.

Sarri's future has dominated headlines – speculation intensifying after Juve failed to wrap up the Scudetto on Thursday following a shock 2-1 defeat to Udinese.

Juve also trail Lyon 1-0 as they prepare for next month's return leg of the Champions League last-16 tie following the coronavirus-enforced break.

Sarri added: "There were tactical difficulties, trying to get all these very strong players and their various characteristics to work together. That was not something to be taken for granted, as we saw in previous years, because [Paulo] Dybala and Ronaldo didn't really start together very often.

"They are world-class, but it's not easy to get them to work together with their characteristics. With a lot of work, I think we managed it."

"Ronaldo and Dybala make the difference on the field, so clearly they deserve a lot of credit, but the club behind them is every bit as important," he continued. "We have a president and directors who attend training every day, are there to exchange ideas, see if you need anything and put petrol in the tank of this team. The club are a big part of why they were able to win for so many years. They back you even when you lose.

“In terms of organisation, Juventus are at the top of European football. I could not have asked for anything more. Obviously, it takes a while to settle in, understand the approach, the way things work here, then after a while you can start trying to tweak a few things.

"You can't just walk straight into a club that has won for eight years in a row and immediately try to order changes. That wouldn't be very intelligent."

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci conceded the club's 2019-20 Scudetto was the most difficult of the nine successive Serie A titles as they struggled to understand Maurizio Sarri's philosophy.

Juve maintained their stranglehold on Serie A by clinching yet another league title thanks to a 2-0 win over Sampdoria at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Bernardeschi were on target for Juve, who extended their record Serie A run, which dates back to 2011-12, with two matches remaining.

Sarri became the oldest head coach to win Serie A as the 61-year-old claimed his maiden league trophy, but it has been far from smooth sailing for the former Chelsea and Napoli boss during his first campaign in Turin.

There have been question marks over Sarri's methods amid reports of a falling out with superstar Ronaldo, while Juve have stuttered towards the Scudetto following their failure to wrap up the trophy on Thursday following a 2-1 loss to Udinese.

Bonucci revelled in Juve's glory but highlighted the difficulties under Sarri, telling Sky Sport Italia: "It was the most beautiful title, because it was the most difficult.

"We started a new era, a new philosophy, ran into so many difficulties, but we continued to give our all throughout, even when there were so many slip-ups."

"It was so complicated outside the field too, the world changed in three months," added veteran Italy centre-back Bonucci, who discussed the impact of coronavirus after Serie A was postponed for three months before returning in June. "We had to get our minds back on it, but we did it. We wanted it, we suffered.

"I have no words. We gave everything to ensure that we would do this for us, for the club, for the fans who cheered us on from home, or from heaven. We wanted to celebrate with those who weren't able to be here with us. When you wear this jersey, you cannot hold back. It has been an intense year.

"We struggled at times to interpret the coach's philosophy, but we remained a team, we worked as great men more than great players. Now we'll try to rest over the next 10 days and then prepare for the next challenge."

Juventus have continued their reign as Europe's most dominant team in their own league championship - after they clinched another title on Sunday.

The bulldozing Bianconeri won Serie A for a ninth year in succession following their 2-0 victory over Sampdoria at Allianz Stadium.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Bernardeschi scored the goals that clinched the championship for Juve following a run of just one win in their previous five games.

Although it may not have been a vintage Juve season they still extended their record run of consecutive titles with two league games to spare.

The first title in Juve's incredible run was secured on May 6, 2012.

By defeating Sampdoria, they clinched number nine three days after they celebrated their 3,000th consecutive day as Italian champions.

Antonio Conte led Juve to their first three titles in this run and Massimiliano Allegri extended it by a further five.

Now Maurizio Sarri has kept the tradition going in his first season at the helm, earning his first major trophy in Italian football.

By topping Serie A aged 61, he surpassed Nils Liedholm (60 years and 219 days) to become the oldest coach to win a Scudetto.

Sarri was appointed to bring a more expansive approach to Turin and their defence has seemingly suffered as a result.

Juve have already conceded 38 goals, becoming the first team to win the title while shipping that many since Milan let in the same amount in their triumphant 1961-62 season.

Veteran centre-back Giorgio Chiellini is the only player to have made at least one appearance in each of Juve's past nine Serie A title successes, with Gianluigi Buffon the only player in history to have won more Scudetti.

In the season he surpassed Paolo Maldini at the top of the all-time Serie A appearances list, Buffon, who has been back-up to Wojciech Szczesny since returning from Paris Saint-Germain, won the league for an incredible 10th time.

Juve's continued success owes a lot to the incredible goalscoring feats of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner may be 35 but his prolific nature does not appear to be waning; this season he became the first player in history to score at least 50 goals in Serie A, LaLiga and the Premier League.

Ronaldo was also the fastest to 50 goals among players to have debuted since 1994-95, hitting the milestone in just 61 appearances with a double against Lazio on Monday.

That brace also moved the Portugal captain onto 30 goals for the season, a tally he stretched to 31 against Sampdoria, making him just the third Juve star to reach that mark in a single top-flight campaign, following in the footsteps of Felice Borel (32 in 1933-34) and John Hansen (30 in 1951-52).

Odion Ighalo has expressed his delight with his Premier League club Manchester United following their performances in the 2019-20 season.

The former Super Eagles striker joined the Red Devils on loan in January on transfer deadline day from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua. 

The forward immediately hit the ground running, scoring four goals in his opening seven games to become the toast of the club’s fans.   

Ighalo's impressive displays earned him a contract loan extension with the Old Trafford outfit until January 2021.

The forward, who has made 11 Premier League appearances for United, was part of the side that defeated Leicester City in their last league game of the season at the King Power Stadium.

The victory ensured they shrugged off competitions from the Foxes to clinch a place in the Champions League next season.

Ighalo, who had 35 caps for the Super Eagles before his retirement, has taken to the social media to revel in the success of the Old Trafford outfit.

"So proud of this team," the 31-year-old striker posted on Instagram. 

Ighalo played for Prime and Julius Berger before leaving Nigeria to start his European career with Lyn Oslo in Norway in 2007.

The forward then teamed up with Udinese but spent most part his time with the Serie A side on loan, playing for Granada, Cesena and Watford.

Ighalo enjoyed success in his first stint in the Premier League with the Hornets, scoring 36 league goals in 90 appearances and won December 2015 Premier League Player of the Month award.

The forward, who joined Shanghai Shenhua from Chinese rivals Changchun Yatai February 2019, will hope to continue his impressive performances for the Red Devils in their pre-season games.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson admits he has given up on trying to convince Wilfried Zaha to stay at the club after seeing the striker's form nosedive at the end of the season. 

Zaha, 27, has been repeatedly linked to a move away from Selhurst Park over the past few years. 

Both Arsenal and Everton were reportedly interested in signing him last summer, but no move materialised and Zaha stayed on to register a disappointing term with Palace. 

The Ivory Coast international managed four goals in the Premier League in 2019-20 despite starting all but one of his side's games, and has scored just once in the whole of 2020. 

And as Palace gear up for another transfer window full of speculation over his future, Hodgson is at a loss over how to motivate his wantaway striker. 

"It's obviously affected him because his form in the last few weeks has really been quite poor considering what he is capable of doing," Hodgson told reporters following Palace's 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday.

"It's a dilemma for the club and a dilemma for him if he is so set on leaving. If he feels he just does not want to be with us any more, that would be sad.

"We still like him very much; we can't make him like us. This is a situation that only he and the club can sort out. I don't have an answer."

Hodgson had also addressed the Zaha conundrum in Friday's pre-match press conference, revealing that he is desperate to engineer a move away from Selhurst Park.

“That’s the $64,000 question isn’t it? But it’s not just Wilf Zaha – there’s players in every club that come into that category," he said when asked whether the player would stay. 

“Wilf has made it clear, ever since I came to the club really, that he would relish a move and would like to move on and find some pastures new.

“But he’s a very valuable player and the club realises his value and appreciates his value and so really everything will depend I guess  – as it always does – [on] what sort of offers the club is going to receive for him and how they will equate that with the need to keep him or the need, maybe, to satisfy his wishes, and allow him to go after giving good service to the club for a period of time.

“Quite frankly, I’ve got no answer to that question, it will be all a matter, I guess, of seeing what transpires.”

Cristiano Ronaldo's 31st Serie A goal of the season and Federico Bernardeschi's second-half effort delivered a ninth successive Scudetto for Juventus as they defeated Sampdoria 2-0.

Juve knew three points would clinch another title but, having won just one of their previous five games, they needed a moment of magic from their talisman in first-half stoppage time to set them on their way.

Ronaldo swept home following a well-worked Miralem Pjanic free-kick for his 10th goal since the league resumed - making him the most prolific player across Europe's top five leagues following the coronavirus-enforced break - and it was an unlikely source who wrapped up the triumph as Bernardeschi scored his first Serie A goal since September 2018.

Juve's night of celebration was only slightly spoiled by injuries to Danilo, Paulo Dybala and Matthijs de Ligt, while Ronaldo slammed a late penalty against the crossbar to miss out on equalling a club record.

Injuries, rather than chances, were the story early on as Samp's Julian Chabot and Juve's Danilo were forced off before Dybala made way too.

Danilo's replacement Bernardeschi forced Emil Audero into a save, but he then failed to hit the target with a set-piece, leading to Juve getting creative from their next dead-ball situation near goal.

Pjanic eschewed a shot, instead squaring for Ronaldo, whose first-time effort found its way into the bottom corner of the net to give Juve a half-time advantage.

Samp threatened a comeback, though, as Mehdi Leris and Lorenzo Tonelli both missed the target either side of a Gaston Ramirez free-kick that Wojciech Szczesny had to claw out.

However, Maurizio Sarri's men could breathe easier when Bernardeschi followed up Ronaldo's saved effort in the 67th minute to score a long-overdue goal.

Any slim hopes Samp had were extinguished when Morten Thorsby received a 77th-minute red card for a second caution following a lunge on Pjanic, with De Ligt then swiftly removed having seemingly sustained a knock in an earlier challenge.

Ronaldo could have added an 89th-minute exclamation point when Fabio Depaoli brought down Alex Sandro in the box, but the Portugal great's effort came back off the woodwork.

What does it mean? Attention turns to Champions League as Juve limp over the line

This Scudetto triumph should have been sealed weeks ago but Juve can finally celebrate again thanks to this victory, while Inter, Lazio and Atalanta will rue their late-season stumbles.

Juventus' focus will now be on the Champions League - and ending a 24-year wait to win that prestigious trophy - and they must overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg against Lyon, a task that will be harder if Dybala and De Ligt are missing.

Ronaldo continues red-hot form

Juve's form may have been patchy since the resumption, but 35-year-old Ronaldo has found another gear, stepping up when his team needed him most here.

He has scored 10 in 10 Serie A matches following lockdown, though he would have equalled Felice Borel's record Serie A haul for Juventus of 32 goals in a season had he scored from the spot late on.

Torrid Tonelli

It was Tonelli's foul on Adrien Rabiot that resulted in the free-kick from which Juventus scored their opener.

Then, having missed a good chance to level when heading wide from a corner, he was caught in possession leading to the crucial second goal.

Key Opta Facts

- Juventus have won the Serie A title in each of the past nine seasons, the best run for a side among the top five European Leagues.
- This is the first time in history that an Italian manager has won the Scudetto for 10 season in a row.
- Chiellini is the only Juventus player with at least one Serie A appearance in the last nine seasons.
- Ronaldo has scored 450 goals in the Primeira Liga, Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.
- Bernardeschi scored his first goal this season with his 43rd shot.

What's next?

With the Scudetto wrapped up, Ronaldo and others may be rested for the final Serie A fixtures against Cagliari and Roma next week before the Bianconeri resume their Champions League campaign against Lyon in 12 days' time. Sampdoria host Milan on Wednesday before rounding out the campaign at Brescia.

Juventus have won the Serie A title for the ninth consecutive season.

Maurizio Sarri’s side have clinched the crown with two games to spare, following a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria. 

The win takes them seven points clear of second-placed Inter, who cannot catch with them with only two matches remaining for both sides.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Juventus against Sampdoria in first-half injury time with Federico Bernardeschi then adding a second in the 67th minute. Ronaldo would then miss a penalty late in the game but Juve would still be able to hold out for a crucial three points. 

Thoughts will now surely drift to the potential of an unprecedented 10th straight title next season.

As has often been the case in recent seasons, Juve had seemed to have a genuine title race on their hands earlier in the season.

Early-season contenders Inter dropped off with a run of five draws from seven games around Christmas while Lazio, who looked like potential champions when the season was suspended, have taken just one point from their last five.

Atalanta have been in stunning goalscoring form since the restart and will look forward to their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, but their title challenge effectively ended when two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties saw them lose 2-1 against Juve earlier this month.

The trophy will come as a mark of vindication for Maurizio Sarri, who has come under fire at times during an inconsistent campaign.

This is only his second major honour as a manager after his Europa League win at Chelsea last year. It is also only the second trophy he has won in Italy, following the Coppa Italia Serie D with minnows Sansovino, 17 years ago.

Now, Sarri and his side will look to maintain their form through their remaining league fixtures against Cagliari and Roma, before switching their attention to the Champions League.

They welcome Ligue 1 side Lyon to Turin on August 7, looking to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit and book their place in Lisbon for the final knockout stages.

Swansea City manager Steve Cooper is full of praise for Andre Ayew’s mentality after he scored the match-winning goal in their 1-0 victory against Brentford.

The Ghana captain turned saviour for the hosts at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday after finding the back of the net with his left-footed strike from inside the penalty area in the 81st minute.

The strike came 17 minutes after Ayew's penalty was saved by goalkeeper David Raya in the 64th minute.

In his reaction, Cooper said the miss had a positive impact on Ayew who has lived up to expectations so far this campaign.

“Andre has missed a penalty, but brushed it off and raised his game even more, and it came off with the goal,” Cooper told the club website.

“His mentality is of the highest order, to brush off the disappointing return from a penalty where you fancied him.

“To have such an impact and score the goal tells you everything about the mentality he has.

“If anything, the miss affected him in a positive way.

“He is really important for us, and what is more impressive with his goalscoring record is that for a lot of the season he has played out wide, and not through the middle.

“Before Rhian came here he was our main hope for being a goalscorer, and he has lived up to the level of player we know he is.”

Ayew has been outstanding for Swansea City since his return from a season-long loan from Turkish Super Lig outfit Fenerbahce last summer.

The 30-year-old is leading the Swans' charge for Premier League promotion as their top scorer with 16 goals after 45 league appearances.

He will be looking to inspire them to Wembley when they visit Brentford at Griffin Park for the second leg on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola is encouraged to see Manchester City's assist king Kevin De Bruyne scoring more goals himself after the Belgian star claimed a Premier League record on Sunday in the final match of the Premier League season.

The Belgium midfielder set up Raheem Sterling in Sunday's 5-0 win over relegated Norwich City, claiming his 20th assist of the campaign to match Thierry Henry's single-season record in the Premier League.

De Bruyne also netted twice himself – particularly sumptuously before half-time – as City broke through the 100-goal barrier.

His first goal was an absolute stunner, as De Bruyne took several touches before firing from outside of the box, while the second also saw the Belgian star fired a wonderfully-placed finish.

It meant he finished with 13 Premier League goals, his most prolific return in England's top flight, and Guardiola was thrilled to see the midfielder add more goals to his game this season.

"We know the assists and the quality he has for this but we need his goals," Guardiola told a post-match news conference.

"Today he scored two brilliant goals. Of course, the first one is special."

Guardiola had no concerns over De Bruyne's pursuit of an individual record harming his overall performance.

"We tell them, play simple, play as you know. Don't be focused too much on achieving it because it will come along," he said.

"He made one assist but could have easily broken the record. Now he is going to share it with Titi Henry. He played really good.

"The individual target, the focus to achieve something. It's good. Athletes always want to overcome and be better and benefit for the team."

De Bruyne was not the only City player to chalk up leading individual numbers this season, with Ederson's 16th clean sheet winning him the Premier League Golden Glove.

It is an honour Guardiola felt the Brazil international earned in a sharp outing at the Etihad Stadium – his save in a one-on-one from Teemu Pukki particularly impressive.

"It's so nice, but I think today he deserves it because he made two incredible saves. Without him it would not be possible," Guardiola added.

"He made a really good season and he deserves what he has done. We are so happy for this award."

Paulo Dybala was forced off injured in Juventus' Serie A clash against Sampdoria on Sunday, causing Maurizio Sarri some concern ahead of the Champions League resumption.

Juventus went into their weekend clash knowing that victory would clinch an ninth consecutive Scudetto for the club after Atalanta failed to beat Milan on Friday.

But while they went into the break ahead, that victory may come at a price after the Turin side lost their forward in the first half.

The Argentina forward was clutching the top of his left thigh as he made way for Gonzalo Higuain five minutes before half-time.

Coach Sarri had already been forced into one change, with Danilo coming off following a clash of heads with Gaston Ramirez.

Juve continue their league campaign with matches against Cagliari and Roma next week before hosting Lyon in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on August 7.

Now the Old Lady will hope for positive news from their medical department as they look to claw their way back into that clash.

Sarri's side will need to overcome a first-leg deficit after losing 1-0 in France back in February, with the winner movin g on to a shortened version of the final phase of the tournament which will take place in Lisbon over 11 days from 12-23 August.

But while Dybala's injury will come as a concern, the Bianconeri were on the verge of yet another title triumph at half-time as they led their opponents.

Cristiano Ronaldo's stoppage-time strike gave them a 1-0 lead at half-time against Sampdoria, with the Portugal star firing home from the edge of the box to convert a prepared free-kick move executed by Miralem Pjanic.

After suffering a disappointing 2018-19 alongside Ronaldo, Dybala has enjoyed a return to form this season having recovered from coronavirus during football's hiatus due to the pandemic. 

The Cordoba native has contributed 10 goals and nine assists to Juve's efforts to retain the Scudetto, while netting a total of 16 goals in all competitions for the Italian giants.