Former Inter and Argentina star Juan Sebastian Veron has questioned Jorge Sampaoli s decision to leave Mauro Icardi out of his World Cup squad, saying only the national team coach knows why the in-form goalscorer was excluded.

Icardi scored 29 goals in 34 Serie A appearances in 2017-18 – his most prolific season since joining the club in 2013 – but only featured in three of Argentina s World Cup qualifying matches.

Veron, who played for Inter on loan from Chelsea between 2004 and 2006 and made 73 appearances for Argentina, said he struggled to see why La Albiceleste would leave the 25-year-old forward behind.

From outside it is difficult to judge his exclusion from the World Cup, Veron told RMC Sport. I would need to be in the head of Sampaoli.

I …

Steve Cook has penned a new four-year deal with Bournemouth, according to the Mail Online.

Watford had been interested in signing the twenty-six year old centre-back but he has committed his future to the Cherries, who achieved their best ever league finish last season as they ended in ninth place.

Cook can certainly take his fair share of the accolades after playing every single minute of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign – a feat achieved only by him and five other players.

He also scored two goals for Eddie Howe’s side netting in the wins against both Liverpool and Hull City.

Since signing from Brighton and Hove Albion initially on loan in October 2011, he has racked up one hundred and eighty-five appearances for the club in all competitions…

Talksport understands that a number of clubs are looking at signing Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller.

Premier League trio Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have been linked with a move for the World Cup winner as have Serie A champions Juventus.

Muller has spent his entire career so far with Bayern, scoring one hundred and sixty-one goals in three hundred and ninety-eight appearances across all competitions.

He has helped the club to a number of major honours including six Bundesliga titles, four German cups and the Champions League.

The twenty-seven year old has also had success internationally having been the top scorer at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before helping his country win the tournament four years later in Brazil.

In…

Roberto Firmino has offered supporters the opportunity to have their No.11 jerseys signed by the Brazilian in another move that proves Liverpool really remains one of the most caring club towards its vast base of supporters.

Moving in to his new number, Roberto Firmino probably did not give too much thought of the significance of Liverpool’s No.9. A detailed look at the history of this number at Anfield might be enough to have Firmino regret his decision, however, as No.9 appears to have caught a curse of sorts during the last six years.

Will Firmino break the No.9 curse?

From the Premier League’s point of view – as a competition renamed and established in the current format back in 1992 – Robbie Fowler was the first Liverpool striker to don the No.9 sh…

Mark Hughes is eager to celebrate signing a new contract by ending Stoke City s long wait for an away win against his former club Chelsea on Saturday.

Stoke have lost their last eight games at Stamford Bridge and you have to go back to January 2009 to find the last time they scored at the home of the Premier League leaders.

The Staffordshire outfit have failed to hit the back of the net in seven visits since then and not since a 1-0 League Cup success back in 1995 have they secured an away win over Chelsea.

Stoke s winless streak at Chelsea in league matches goes back to 1984 and Hughes, who last week agreed a three-year extension to his current deal, knows they are overdue a victory over the club where he spent three years in his playing days.

He…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic s landmark Serie A goal was the only highlight of a poor display for Milan as they were beaten 3-1 at Udinese on Saturday.

On his first start since January 2022 following his recovery from a knee injury, Ibrahimovic became the oldest goalscorer in Serie A history, overtaking Milan legend Alessandro Costacurta.

The 41-year-old converted a penalty at the second attempt in first-half stoppage time, cancelling out Roberto Pereyra s opener at Stadio Friuli, yet Udinese nevertheless went into the break with the lead thanks to Beto s effort two minutes later.

Kingsley Ehizibue added a third in the 70th minute, sealing eighth-placed Udinese s first home league win since they defeated Inter in September.

1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the oldest goalsc…

Massimiliano Allegri has put off contract talks until the end of the season but insists he has not fallen out with Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli.

A report in Libero claimed Allegri is at risk of being sacked in the coming days after an argument with Agnelli this week, with Zinedine Zidane and Antonio Conte lined up as possible replacements.

It is claimed the Juve head coach met with Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta over the prospect of taking over at San Siro for next season, which incensed Agnelli to the point he has considered firing Allegri before the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid next Tuesday.

However, Allegri denied any such disagreement and says they agreed together at a dinner on Wednesday that talks over a possible new deal will be picked up…

Verdict: Newcastle win

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Looking to continue their form prior to the international break, Rafa Benitez s side will travel to a struggling Turf Moor on Monday night.

Burnley

Starting with the hosts, while Burnley may have enjoyed a record breaking season that saw them claim a Europa League qualifying position last year, it has been a very sluggish start for Sean Dyche s side. Playing out a lacklustre 0-0 draw with Leicester prior to the international break, the Clarets are now without a win in their last five Premier League matches. Now sat just a single point above the drop zone many fans around Turf Moor concerned they could be at the heart of a relegation scrap. If Burnley are to mount a push up the table, Dyche will know the…

Robert Lewandowski s latest Barcelona double helped take them another step closer to the LaLiga title with a 4-0 win over rock-bottom Elche on Saturday.

The Poland international s goals either side of an Ansu Fati finish helped the Blaugrana cruise to a comfortable victory at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.

Ferran Torres added a fourth as Xavi s visitors moved 15 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid in the table to further underline their domestic dominance this season.

For Sebastian Beccacece, Elche s fourth different boss of the season, it was a chastening reminder of the task at hand.

7 Robert Lewandowski has opened the scoring seven times in 2022/23, more than any other player in the competition this season.

Opener.

— OptaJos…

Long-serving Marseille goalkeeper and captain Steve Mandanda revealed he might have played his last match for the club following Saturday s 4-2 Coupe de France loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Out-of-contract France international Mandanda was helpless to prevent defeat at Stade de France as Zlatan Ibrahimovic s brace helped PSG to a second successive domestic treble.

Mandanda, who will feature at Euro 2016 in June, has attracted interest from across Europe with his contract due to expire next month, and the 31-year-old seemingly farewelled Marseille after eight years on the south coast of France.

There is a good chance that tonight was my last game, Mandanda said afterwards. That s why the disappointment and frustration are even greater.

Mandanda who has be…