Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South) – Tuesday’s latest stories from the world of football in ESPN FC’s What’s Trending…
MAN UNITED: Romelu Lukaku scored his first Manchester United goal in a 2-1 friendly victory over Real Salt Lake.
– Jose Mourinho has defended Antonio Valencia after the defender was sent off during the match, while he said the injury Juan Mata picked up is likely to leave him sidelined for a week.
– ESPN FC’s Mark Ogden asks if it was ultimately a costly win for United.
– United are still confident of landing Ivan Perisic this summer despite the prospect of the Croatia international winger flying out on Inter Milan’s preseason tour, sources have told ESPN FC.
– Wayne Rooney could return to United as club ambassador after he retires despite leaving Old Trafford for Everton this summer, sources have told ESPN FC.
INTER MILAN: Sporting director Piero Ausilio has played down suggestions Ivan Perisic is on the verge of a move to Manchester United, while Jose Mourinho has said he has “no idea” how the deal is progressing.
– Perisic has been named in the club’s 28-man squad for the summer tour to China and Singapore.
– Inter president Erick Thohir has revealed how he sought to step down from his position at the club in order to focus on his role as head of the Indonesian Olympic Committee for the Asian Games, but was told he is still a valued member at the San Siro.
DORTMUND: AC Milan may have made 10 signings this summer already but they were well beaten by Borussia Dortmund in the first International Champions Cup clash in China on Tuesday.
– Borussia Dortmund are no longer ready to sell AC Milan and Chelsea target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer.
– Mario Gotze says Borussia Dortmund have lots of room to improve under new head coach Peter Bosz following a difficult spell under Thomas Tuchel that “wasn’t always easy.”
HELLAS VERONA: Antonio Cassano has announced he will continue playing for Hellas Verona— just hours after he had told the Serie A club he wanted to retire.
FIFA: Police have arrested Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar and his son as part of an anti-corruption investigation.
BARCELONA: Barca are confident that Neymar remains happy at the Camp Nou amid reports that Paris Saint-Germain are triggering the Brazilian’s release clause.
– Ernesto Valverde and Robert Fernandez have suggested Barcelona will wait until the very last day of the transfer window before giving up on signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti.
ARSENAL: Arsene Wenger has downplayed Alexis Sanchez’s comments that he wants Champions League football, and said that “a decision has been made” not to sell the Chile international.
BAYERN MUNICH: Carlo Ancelotti says “there was no opportunity” to buy Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal this summer, which forced the club to focus on other targets.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN: Mexico international Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez could leave Leverkusen, the Bundesliga club’s sporting director has confirmed, amid reports of interest from West Ham.
AC MILAN: Leonardo Bonucci insists he will work hard to “shift the balance” in AC Milan’s favournext season after completing a shock switch from Serie A champions Juventus.
– Milan sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli has told Mediaset his side are interested in Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata but will sign him “only on our conditions.”
– Milan have reported a tenfold year-on-year increase in the number of season tickets sold on the opening day of sale on Monday.
MAN CITY: City are closing in on a deal for Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina, sources have told ESPN FC.
ROMA: Francesco Totti has confirmed that his playing days have come to an end by accepting an offer from Roma to become a club director.
– Roma president James Pallotta has hinted that Radja Nainggolan is about to sign a new contract with the Serie A club.
REAL MADRID: Former Real Madrid striker Emmanuel Adebayor has told BBC Sport he might have made a permanent move to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2011 if not for interference from members of his family.
– Casemiro has told ESPN Brasil that Real Madrid have no problem playing tough against Barcelona if they need to ahead of their International Champions Cup meeting in the United States.
LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp says Daniel Sturridge is in the best physical shape since he took over at Liverpool. He also ruled out selling any key players.
– Klopp has said he is concerned about the state of the pitch at the Hong Kong Stadium, with the weather continuing to disrupt Liverpool’s preparations for the Premier League Asia Trophy.
– RB Leipzig have told Liverpool that Naby Keita is not for sale at any priceafter turning down a €68 million bid last week. The midfielder has also said he will fly his father in from Guinea for his Champions League debut with Leipzig.
TOTTENHAM: Kieran Trippier has extended his contract with Tottenham until 2022, the club have announced-ESPN
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