Valentino Lazaro is hoping to repay the faith shown in him by Antonio Conte after revealing his new coach played a key part in his decision to join Inter.
The 23-year-old completed his move to the Serie A side from Hertha Berlin on Monday for a reported fee of €22million.
He had also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, but the Austria international wanted to work under a coach like the former Chelsea and Juventus boss.
I talked to Conte recently. He told me exactly what he expected of me and wants from me, Lazaro told Inter TV.
11 Valentino has provided 11 Bundesliga assists since November 2017, less only than Jadon Sancho (18), James Rodriguez (13) e Daniel Caligiuri (12) among the midfielders over the same period. Vivacious.
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Premier League strugglers Newcastle United will hope to reverse their dreadful away form when they visit West Ham on Saturday.
Alan Pardew s side have plummeted down the table in recent weeks and sit 17th after suffering a 6-0 home thrashing at the hands of Liverpool last week.
Only one more club can be relegated from the top-flight after QPR and Reading had their fate sealed on Sunday, and Newcastle are still five points above the 18th-placed Wigan.
But the DW Stadium outfit have a game in hand and will be hopeful Newcastle s woeful efforts on the road this season – they have won just two of 26 away matches in all competitions – continue at Upton Park.
West Ham also lost last week, but they were far from disgraced in a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City, a result that ended a fi…
Milan coach Stefano Pioli said criticism and speculation are part of his job, as he still does not know if he will remain in the role for next season.
Milan snapped a six-match winless streak with an emphatic 5-1 win over Cagliari on Saturday, yet the pressure remains on the Italian coach, with the Rossoneri only aiming for second place in Serie A after city rivals Inter became champions.
We are a big club, there are big expectations, so fierce criticism is to be expected, just as ebullient praise is expected when you win, Pioli told Sky Sports.
That is part of the job, you have to accept it all, or you do a different profession.
I try to help the team to overcome difficult moments and play as well as possible. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes I got …
Chelsea will meet Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge.
Guus Hiddink s side thrashed MK Dons 5-1 on Sunday and will now host the 2011 winners, who beat Aston Villa 4-0 on Saturday.
Manchester United have been handed an away trip to League One side Shrewsbury Town, while Arsenal will meet Hull City in a repeat of the final of two seasons ago and a third-round contest from last year.
AFC Bournemouth host Everton and Tottenham take on Crystal Palace in two all-Premier League affairs, while the winner of the replay between Liverpool and West Ham will travel to face Blackburn Rovers.
The fifth-round fixtures are due to be held over the weekend of February 20 and 21.
Fifth-round draw in full:
Chelsea v M…
Bayern inquire about Thomas Lemar
European powerhouses Bayern Munich are showing interest in Monaco youngster Thomas Lemar, .
The Bavarians have been impressed with the midfielder s performances since arriving at Stade Louis II and they seem prepared to try and lure him to Allianz Arena at the earliest opportunity.
According to L Equipe, Bayern have contacted Monaco to ask about the possibility of signing Lemar in the January window.
And while the Principality club are not too keen on selling the 20-year-old footballer mere six months after he joined from Caen, they are not in a position to reject a big money offer.
Thomas Lemar was one of a plethora of talented youngsters to join Monaco last summer and he impressed to score 3 goals in 11 Ligue 1…
Isco has reassured fans he will still be at Real Madrid next season after winning LaLiga on Sunday.
Linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu throughout the season, Isco has worked his way into Zinedine Zidane s starting XI.
Isco started Sunday s 2-0 win at former club Malaga as Madrid claimed LaLiga for the first time since 2012, setting up Cristiano Ronaldo for the opener, and the Spain international midfielder has no plans to leave the capital.
Do not worry the fans of Real Madrid. I will stay, Isco said.
Isco continued: Yes it was complicated at first, but I have remained strong psychologically and I have received the support of all.
It was a day to remember for Madrid, who dethroned bitter rivals Barcelona.
Barcelona had wo…
League One club Portsmouth have a new owner guiding their fairytale rise up the Football League after former Walt Disney chief executive officer Michael Eisner completed a takeover on Thursday.
Eisner, who led Disney from 1984 to 2005, has acquired the club through The Tornante Company for a reported £5.67million.
Portsmouth have endured a turbulent period since their relegation from the Premier League, twice entering administration and almost being wound up before the Pompey Supporters Trust (PST) took over in 2013.
Four seasons of fan ownership culminated in promotion to back to the third tier at the end of last season as champions of League Two.
My family and I are thrilled to take on this incredible responsibility as stewards of a football club wi…
Bayer Leverkusen starlet Benjamin Henrichs is a target for the Serie A side Napoli, according to the club president Aurelio de Laurentiis.
With Senegal international Youssouf Sabaly failing his medical and Napoli pulling the plug on his move from Bordeaux, the Partenopei president moved on to reveal that he is looking at a number of alternatives, one of which is the 21-year-old Germany international.
“We are looking at six different player profiles this summer and Henrichs from Bayer Leverkusen is definitely an option.” De Laurentiis told Radio Kiss Kiss.
Napoli are said to be also watching Santiago Arian from PSV. Partenopei are also keen on adding a goalkeeper with Mexico international Guillermo Ochoa being considered as an option.
Bayer Leverkusen…
Johan Djourou believes anything is possible as Switzerland prepare to face Brazil in World Cup opener.
Brazil are among the pre-tournament favourites, having fallen in spectacular fashion on home soil against Germany in the semi-finals four years ago.
Serbia and Costa Rica the latter were quarter-finalists in 2014 fill out a competitive Group E, but Djourou feels Switzerland can qualify for the knockout rounds in Russia.
The Antalyaspor defender, though, accepts the calibre of opponent Switzerland face against Brazil on Sunday makes their opening task difficult.
I think that when you play a World Cup you can only be excited, Djourou told Omnisport.
That s one of the best things that can happen to a football player, is to play for your co…
Speculation is beginning to grow around the vacant Tottenham coaching position after Jose Mourinho s exit last week.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is on the hunt as Spurs try to return to England s top echelon.
Spurs appear set to miss out on Champions League football for the second straight season.
TOP STORY – SPURS PLOT RODGERS SWOOP
Tottenham are planning a move to recruit Brendan Rodgers from Leicester City as their new head coach this off-season according to The Sun.
Levy is a long-time admirer of the former Liverpool coach although he reportedly needs to convince his fellow Spurs board executives after disparaging comments Rodgers made about the club years ago.
Rodgers has been in charge of Leicester since 2019 with the…