Del Piero open to helping Juventus as Italian giants look for new chairman and board

Alessandro Del Piero is open to helping Juventus as the Serie A giants begin their search for a chairman to replace Andrea Agnelli and an entire new board.

Juve announced after an emergency meeting on Monday that Agnelli, vice-president Pavel Nedved and managing director Maurizio Arrivabene have all quit their roles.

It comes amid an investigation into alleged tax fraud, which Juventus have denied, and on the back of the club registering a record loss of €254.3million for 2021-22.

Exor, who have a controlling stake in Juve, indicated on Tuesday that Gianluca Ferrero is in line to replace Agnelli as president.

Any decision over who succeeds Agnelli, Nedved and Arrivabene is expected to be made at a shareholders meeting on January 18.

In what is …

Milan failed to see Aubameyang potential – Maldini

AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini admitted that transfer target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has exceeded all expectations the club had of him when he came through the youth ranks at San Siro.

Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang wanted to rejoin Milan before the transfer window closed, according to Rossoneri director Massimiliano Mirabelli, and Maldini revealed the Gabon international loves Milan .

But the Bundesliga outfit refused all approaches for the 29-year-old and Maldini indicated that Aubameyang s stock may have risen beyond the point at which a return to his first professional club is possible.

After signing professional terms with Milan in 2008, Aubameyang spent time on loan at Dijon, Lille, Monaco and Saint-Etienne, before joining the latter in 2011 and th…

Gakpo´s Liverpool debut might be delayed by New Year holiday, says Klopp

Jurgen Klopp is delighted by Liverpool s swift signing of Cody Gakpo but knows the forward will likely be made to wait for his debut.

The Reds concluded a transfer reportedly worth around £37million (€42m) for the Netherlands international as their first piece of business for the mid-season window, which opens officially on January 1.

With New Year s Day falling on Sunday, it means there will be a national holiday on Monday, and based on other dealings in the past, it is unlikely the move would be ratified in time for Gakpo to make his debut that day against Brentford.

Though he was delighted to get a deal over the line, Klopp knows it might not be until January 7, against Wolves in the FA Cup, that he can call on the 23-year-old.

There might be a cha…

PSG´s Mbappe wants to represent France at Tokyo Olympics

Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe said he is dreaming of playing for France at the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Mbappe and world champions France are preparing for the rescheduled Euro 2020, which gets underway next month.

As Didier Deschamps Les Bleus eye European glory, Mbappe also wants to represent his country at the Tokyo Games, starting in July.

For us, having recognition from the whole country is very important, the 22-year-old Mbappe told TF1.

Everyone knows that my dream has always been to take part at the Olympic Games and I hope I will be able to realise one of my lifelong dreams.

Les Bleus qui partiront sur les routes de l’Europe ! 

— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance)

France have been drawn alongsi…

Karren Brady ‘ahead of the game’ with Ange Postecoglou prediction

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has doffed his cap to the intuitiveness of West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady after she predicted in May he would take the Premier League by storm.

Spurs host West Ham on Thursday aiming to end a four-match winless run, but they still sit fifth in the table after an excellent start to the campaign.

Postecoglou has been without a host of players during the past month but earned plaudits for an unwavering commitment to his attacking philosophy, which resulted in Tottenham fighting back to earn a 3-3 draw at Manchester City last weekend.

Back in May, Brady used her column for the Sun to tip the then Celtic boss to flourish in England if given the chance.

Asked if he had seen Brady’s “love letter”, Postecoglou said: “Ha h…

Liverpool reach Gravenberch agreement

Liverpool have reached an agreement with Bayern Munich over the proposed transfer of Ryan Gravenberch, according to multiple sources. The Premier League giants will be paying a fixed sum of €40 million for the services of the 21-year-old Dutch international, who is set to travel to Merseyside on Friday to undergo the medical.

The talks between the two clubs took up a serious note only a few days ago, even though reports linking Gravenberch with Liverpool appeared several months before. The departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson increased the need for midfield reinforcements, even after the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo.

As for Gravenberch, he only joined Bayern from Ajax last summer, and having started just three Bundesliga…

Pogba to undergo surgery with World Cup place in doubt, Allegri confirms

Paul Pogba could be set to miss the World Cup after deciding to undergo surgery on a troublesome knee injury, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed.  

Pogba ended a six-year spell at Manchester United to return to Turin in July but has yet to play a competitive game during his second Bianconeri spell after injuring his meniscus.

The midfielder, who was a key part of France s 2018 World Cup-winning side, initially opted for therapy over surgery in a bid to ease his injury woes ahead of the tournament in Qatar, which begins in November.

But speaking ahead of Juventus Champions League group-stage trip to Paris Saint-Germain, Allegri revealed the 29-year-old will now go under the knife, casting doubt over his chances of featuring in Qatar.

I ha…

Young Boys 3-2 Galatasaray: Swiss side take slender first-leg lead

A late Filip Ugrinic penalty gave Young Boys a crucial 3-2 first-leg lead over Galatasaray in their Champions League play-off tie after an enthralling contest in Bern.

Ugrinic scored from the spot after Abdulkerim Bardakci was sent off for a handball in the penalty area following a VAR review.

A Michy Batshuayi brace had looked to have boosted Galatasaray s hopes of reaching the Champions League s new league phase, dragging the visitors level after Joel Monteiro scored either side of half-time.

However, Ugrinic s 86th-minute spot-kick gave the Swiss side the advantage as they bid to reach the Champions League proper for a second straight campaign.

Galatasaray remain in the tie ahead of next Tuesday s second leg, though, and will look to hit back in front …

Reported Tottenham target Piero Hincapie signs new Bayer Leverkusen deal

Highly rated Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the Bundesliga club until 2027.

The Ecuador international has impressed since his move from Argentinian side Talleres ahead of the 2021-22 season and was linked with a move to Premier League outfit Tottenham in the January transfer window.

He has 24 senior international caps for Ecuador under his belt, playing every minute of his country s three group stage fixtures at the Qatar World Cup.

Leverkusen are keen to hold onto the player and have extended his existing deal by a year to ward off any potential suitors.

has extended s contract.

More info

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en)

Hincapie said: They didn t promise m…

´Embarrassing question´ – Klopp bemused at Naples dangerous city claims despite Liverpool fan advice

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has scoffed at a question about Napoli being a dangerous city despite the club warning traveling fans they could be targeted during their Champions League visit.

The Reds take on Napoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday in their first Champions League fixture since May s final loss to Real Madrid in Paris, where chaotic scenes unfolded outside the venue for their fans, including bottleneck queues and being sprayed with tear gas.

In the lead-up to Wednesday s game, The club issued a series of recommendations to traveling fans, warning they could be targeted for theft, robbery or assault .

Twitter account Liverpool FC Help posted the recommendations including remaining in their hotel to drink and eat, not congregating in pu…