Giorgio Chiellini was happy for Lionel Messi to win this year s Ballon d Or, but the Juventus defender blasted the theft that meant Cristiano Ronaldo missed out in 2018.
Barcelona star Messi claimed the prize for a record sixth time on Monday, beating Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Ronaldo.
It came a year after Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric ended the 10-year dominance of Messi and Ronaldo, but it was that decision that upset Chiellini.
It s OK the Ballon d Or for Messi this year, the Juve captain told Sky Sport Italia at the Gran Gala del Calcio awards in Milan on Monday.
The real theft was last year. Real Madrid decided that Cristiano should not win the Ballon d Or. It was really strange.
Chiellini added: Real didn t want him to w…
Atletico Madrid scored four times in 13 second-half minutes to win 7-0 at Rayo Vallecano to move second in the LaLiga table.
Atletico were 3-0 up inside 36 minutes as goals from Antoine Griezmann, Memphis Depay and Nahuel Molina effectively ended the game as a contest against Rayo, who had previously won their opening two games of the season.
Alvaro Morata scored twice as Diego Simeone’s side put their hosts to the sword in the final 20 minutes, with Angel Correa and Marcos Llorente also on target to move Atletico two points behind Real Madrid at the top.
Starting the week off right
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish)
Elsewhere an 84th-minute penalty from Borja Mayoral sealed a 1-0 win for Getafe at home to Alaves.
Denzel Dumfries…
Didier Deschamps has told his France players to end their year of mixed fortunes on a high note as the World Cup holders attempt to seal their Qatar 2022 place.
A dismal Euro 2020 effort, where pre-tournaments favourites France were knocked out in round two by Switzerland, was followed in October by Les Bleus winning the Nations League.
Now they can make sure of a return to the biggest stage as the final internationals of the year loom. France have a home game against Kazakhstan on November 13 and go away to Finland three days later. If they beat Kazakhstan, their place in next year s finals will be secure.
Deschamps wants that put to bed as soon as possible, saying: You know what happened this summer, with our early elimination at the Euros. That didn t stop us…
MLS leaders Inter Miami were held to a 0-0 draw by state rivals Orlando City on Wednesday, as they failed to spark in Lionel Messi s absence.
Messi was missing from the squad due to a knee injury, and Miami were unable to extend their winning run to six MLS games without their superstar.
Indeed, other than a few Luis Suarez attempts, Orlando had the better of the chances at Inter Co Stadium.
Yutaro Tsukada might have won it for Orlando on his debut, but the substitute sliced off target late on.
Miami are a point clear of FC Cincinnati at the top of the Eastern Conference, and Gerardo Martino will hope to have Messi back for the Herons clash with D.C. United.
Points shared a clean sheet on the road
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF)
…
Chelsea defender David Luiz has revealed he rejected an official offer from FC Barcelona in favour of staying at Stamford Bridge, understands.
Luiz, who joined Chelsea from S.L. Benfica for a fee believed to be in the region of €25 million in January 2011, has been linked with the Spanish champions on several occasions over the past two seasons, with many suggesting the Brazilian could be the long-term replacement for Carles Puyol.
The Brazil international, 26, made his season debut in the Blues defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Super Cup at the Stadion Eden in Prague on 30 August.
There was an official offer [from Barcelona], but I decided to stay at Chelsea, Luiz told Gazeta Esportiva.
I am happy to play for a big club and be in the …
Douglas Costa is keen to build up his fitness and form when Bayern Munich take on Darmstadt on Saturday, ahead of a Champions League test against Juventus.
The Brazil international has netted just two goals in 16 league outings this campaign and he has admitted he can still improve in front of goal.
Bayern won 3-0 at Darmstadt earlier in the season, but only snuck past Dirk Schuster s men 1-0 when they met in the DFB-Pokal.
While keen to improve his tally in front of goal against Darmstadt, Costa will be taking nothing for granted against a side that have won three of their last four away games.
We re not thinking of Juve yet. We ll take it step by step: first Darmstadt, then Juventus, Douglas Costa said at a media conference.
The most important…
Sevilla have confirmed the sale of striker Alvaro Negredo to Manchester City.
The La Liga club announced the deal on their official website with the player set to undergo a medical at the Etihad Stadium in the coming days, although the finer details of the move have yet to be released.
A move to City for the Spain international had long been mooted, with new manager Manuel Pellegrini keen to add to his forward line following the sale of Carlos Tevez to Juventus.
It s official: Alvaro Negredo is a Manchester City player, short of doing the medical tests, a club statement read.
Sevilla has organised a farewell gathering for the player at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this (Wednesday) evening at 19:30 (CET), so that those who have been his team-mates can say goodbye be…
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has hit out at Schalke s fans for the way they have treated him since he left the club in 2011.
The Germany international came through the ranks of the Schalke youth academy, but opted to leave his boyhood club when Bayern came calling.
He has since been subjected to offensive chants on more than one occasion when the two clubs have met, and Neuer feels the supporters are crossing a line with their behaviour.
I don t mind it if they whistle me when I m on the ball. But I cannot understand it when they insult me with the words they used, Neuer told Kicker.
Emotion is part of the game, but I find it incomprehensible when I hear people shout at me and call me a son of a w****.
Everything that happened when I l…
Kevin De Bruyne is not concentrated on Belgium s final World Cup Group G match against England, because the Red Devils have already qualified.
Belgium and England have won their opening two matches over Tunisia and Panama to book their places in the last 16, though Thursday s meeting in Kaliningrad will decide who takes top spot.
Head coach Roberto Martinez hinted he will make wholesale changes, with De Bruyne one of three players a booking away from a ban and Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens, Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany all injury concerns.
The Manchester City midfielder does not appear too worried about rounding off the first stage with a strong result against England.
Obviously they have a good team. But to be honest I m not really concentrated on …
The spine-tingling feeling slowly wears down as we turn our attention to the Champions League’s ugly sister Europa League.
In order to extend the sensation, we have decided to treat you with 5 Things We Learned from the opening week of Europe’s elite club competition. We witnessed plenty of great football, fantastic goals and record-breaking stats but also ugly scenes and spoilt-child behaviour.
Fortunately, we have it all piled up right down here:
Cristiano Ronaldo is Real
Interpret the pun as you like.
Real Madrid superstar extended the and put in a flying display against APOEL. Before you rush to weigh the strength of Los Blancos’ rivals let us just hit you with these Opta-provided numbers just to get a clearer picture as to how important the …