I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS DECEMBER 31, 2019

Eighty percent of Barcelona members want Valverde out Boy born without legs joins

Ernesto Valverde’s contract with Barcelona ends in the summer of 2021, but either party is allowed to terminate the deal in June 2020 and, if the decision was left to the hero Ronaldo for a game members of the club, they would overwhelmingly prefer to see him leave earlier rather than later. has played alongside some of the great- Despite winning LaLiga Santander in each of his two est players in the world during his career - but his latest season in charge, Valverde has lost the backing of the knockabout was a rather heartwarming one. fans largely due to the Champions League exits in those Ali Turganbekov was born without legs but that has not years, and especially the humiliating manner in which prevented him from developing his passion for football they occurred. as he continues to remain physically active. Mundo Deportivo ran a detailed poll past the club’s And the 12 year-old boy from Nur Sultan in Kazakhstan members about the current state of the Catalan club, could not contain his excitement when he got the chance one of which was about whether or not Valverde should to knock the ball around with his idol in Dubai. continue beyond next summer. Ali has 158,000 followers on Instagram where he has The results were stark, with 80 percent of Barcelona been photographed alongside other greats of the game members wanting Valverde gone in the summer of 2020 such as former Barcelona star and Real Madrid the latest. legend . Valverde and his side have started the league campaign But he could not contain the thrill of meeting Ronaldo, well once again, leading LaLiga Santander one week chucking the ball to the Portuguese moments after he had before the halfway stage of the season but the European walked through the door before engaging in a series of disappointments against Roma and Liverpool respectively games of keepy uppies. seem impossible to forgive. After the first short game, Ali goes over to Ronaldo Jurgen Klopp is the preferred replacement with 82 to embrace him in the most heartwarming aspect of the votes (33.6 percent), while Ronald Koeman closely follows video which also sees the Juventus star take photos with with 78 votes (31.96 percent), and Roberto Martinez was the boy and signing the ball they are playing with. third with 42 votes (17.21 percent). On Instagram, Ali describes himself as a ‘unique op- (Source: Marca) timist’. He plays in goal and has developed impressive handling and heading skills, which are immediately evi- dent throughout the video. Cassano: ‘Inter better than The meeting with Ronaldo, set up by Russian Mixed Juventus’ Martial Arts champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is not the first time young Ali has met one of his sporting heroes. home town to join in the knockabout with the side thanks on his Instagram by saying: ‘That’s why you the best in the Antonio Cassano has let loose with his caustic opinions on In March, he was introduced to Andriy Shevchenko to the help of Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Kairat. world. Thank you so much. You make my brother happy’. Juventus, Maurizio Sarri, Romelu Lukaku, the Champions and Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko after in- He also handed out medals in Istanbul to Liverpool Ronaldo is currently on a winter break in the Emirates League and why “Inter will win the Scudetto.” viting Ali to join the Ukrainian national team during a players after the team’s European Super Cup victory in and spent the week in Dubai where he was named the FantAntonio has never been one to hold back and following training session. August over Chelsea. men’s player of the year at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. his retirement is becoming a sought-after pundit on Italian Ali travelled more than 4,000 kilometres from his And Nurmagomedov thanked Ronaldo for the gesture (Source: Daily Mail) television, although he did recently get his certificate to qualify as a director of sport. “I’ve been saying since the end of August that Inter will Struggling West Ham turn to Moyes for AS Roma in talks over sale to U.S. win the Scudetto,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “ is a coach who by himself brings you second time billionaire Friedkin an extra 15-20 points, he’s world class and lights the fire within his players. “I’ll admit, though, I didn’t think Lukaku would do so well in Serie A straight away. He works for the team and already speaks Italian after two months. “Lautaro Martinez is a great striker and we’ll be talking about him for at least the next 10 years. As for Sebastiano Esposito, you can see he has that fire inside him and determination to do well. Not everyone can play with such confidence at San Siro aged 17. He’s fortunate to have Conte as a coach, because it’s the best environment to mature. “I give credit to (Inter director Piero) Ausilio for signing the players who were suited to Conte’s football.” Another reason why Cassano tips Inter for the Serie A title is his irritation with Sarri and Juventus director of sport Fabio Paratici. “Sarri did some good things in recent years, but before that he was always in Serie B or C. I consider him nothing more than a normal coach. (Source: Football Italia) Struggling West Ham said on Sunday they Bournemouth at the London Stadium. AS Roma is in talks with a group led by 9% at the open in Milan on Monday but had appointed David Moyes as manager “David proved in his short time with U.S. billionaire Dan Friedkin looking pared gains to stand 4.4% up at 1226 GMT. for the second time in a bid to safeguard the club that he was capable of getting to buy the Italian Serie A soccer club, it “Any deal with Group Friedkin is sub- Seeing Red: Guardiola says their place in the Premier League. results and we believe that he will start said on Monday ject to the positive outcome of the legal Moyes, whose career has never moving the club in the right direction once Europe’s top soccer clubs have at- due diligence process on the AS Roma title is Liverpool’s recovered from a deeply unsuccessful again,” said West Ham’s co-chairman tracted big money from some of the group,” the club said in a statement. world’s richest investors over the past Manchester City manager said he is already spell as Manchester United boss in 2013- David Sullivan. AS Roma last changed hands in 2012 decade as the game draws more fans and preparing for next season because Liverpool are destined 14, succeeds Manuel Pellegrini, who was “We are delighted to welcome David when it was taken over by a group of television revenue in lucrative markets to win the title. sacked after a 2-1 defeat to Leicester on back – he knows the club well and he built U.S. investors led by James Pallotta, who such as Asia, the United States and the City beat Sheffield United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday that left the Hammers just one strong relationships during that time which became the club’s president. Middle East. Sunday to bounce back from defeat at Wolves on Friday, but point above the relegation zone. will be crucial for the work that needs to Pallotta, a U.S. businessman of Italian The proposed deal is the latest soccer Guardiola insists his focus has already turned to wrestling The 56-year-old has been without a be done going forward.” descent, failed to revive the fortunes of foray by a U.S. investor after Manchester the trophy back from Jurgen Klopp’s side, who are 13 club since leaving West Ham after a six- Moyes won nine and drew 10 of his the club, which won the last of its three City’s Abu Dhabi-controlled owner in points clear at the top with a game in hand, in next year’s month spell in the 2017-18 season. 31 previous games in charge of the club. Serie A titles in 2001. November sold a $500 million stake in campaign. Moyes guided West Ham to safety that He made his name in 11 successful years AS Roma idol , a former the English club to U.S. private equity “It’s unrealistic to think about it [catching Liverpool],” season after Slaven Bilic was dismissed in at Everton, but was sacked after less than captain of the club who won the World firm Silver Lake. said Guardiola. “When a team has the numbers that early November and will be tasked with a year as Alex Ferguson’s successor at Cup with Italy in 2006, left as technical In June American billionaire Rocco Liverpool has why should we think about it, when we doing the same for a second time. Manchester United. director in June, complaining he had Commisso bought Serie A club ACF are 14 [points] or 17 behind? “It’s fabulous to be back,” said Moyes Moyes also struggled in short spells never been given a proper role during his Fiorentina from Italy’s Della Valle “Prepare, play good, be as close as possible, play the in a club statement. at Real Sociedad and Sunderland before two years on the management team and family for a reported sum of about 160 knockouts and prepare for next “I’m feeling very proud that I’m back taking the West Ham job first time round had been excluded from key decisions. million euros. Having accepted that City’s title defence is over, Guardiola here at West Ham. But I think more on a short-term contract. He said he would be ready to return Press reports said Friedkin would pay has suggested they still have work to do to ensure they importantly I’ll be looking to see what I can He was not offered a new deal despite to the club if Pallotta left. between 750 million and 790 million qualify for the Champions League. do and what I can make improvements to. comfortably keeping the club up by Having missed out on UEFA Cham- euros (640.63- 674.19 million pounds), Everton are the visitors on Wednesday looking to build “I do believe that the squad of players finishing 13th. pions League qualification after finish- including debt, for an 82% stake in AS on back-to-back wins under new boss . I’ve got here is a better squad of players However, West Ham’s ambitious ing sixth in Serie A last season, when Roma. “The best motivation is to try to play good, win games, than when I took over before, so I am appointment of former Real Madrid Juventus won their eighth consecutive The club made a loss of 24 million that’s the best,” said Guardiola. looking forward to working with them.” and Manchester City boss Pellegrini did title, AS Roma are in the second-tier euros on revenue of 233 million euros “Now we recover for three days -- thank you for three The West Ham hierarchy were keen not pay off as the Chilean was let go on Europa League. They have reached the in the financial year to June 30. Net debt days, we appreciate it -- and it’s Everton, so that’s what to make a swift appointment following Saturday after a run of seven defeats in knockout stages and next play Belgian amounted to 221 million euros. we have to think about.” Pellegrini’s sacking ahead of Wednesday’s nine Premier League matches. side KAA Gent for a place in the last 16. Shares in AS Roma shot up more than (Source: ESPN) crucial clash with fellow strugglers (Source: AFP) (Source: Reuters) Nishikori out of Australian Struggling West Ham turn to Moyes for second time Open and ATP Cup with Struggling West Ham said on Sunday they West Ham’s co-chairman David Sullivan. elbow injury had appointed David Moyes as manager for “We are delighted to welcome David back the second time in a bid to safeguard their – he knows the club well and he built strong World number 13 Kei Nishikori has pulled out of next place in the Premier League. relationships during that time which will be month’s Australian Open as he is yet to fully recover from Moyes, whose career has never recovered crucial for the work that needs to be done right elbow surgery, tournament organisers announced from a deeply unsuccessful spell as Man- going forward.” on Monday. chester United boss in 2013-14, succeeds Moyes won nine and drew 10 of his 31 The 30-year-old Japanese, who has not played since Manuel Pellegrini, who was sacked after previous games in charge of the club. losing to Alex de Minaur in the third round of the U.S. a 2-1 defeat to Leicester on Saturday that He made his name in 11 successful years Open and underwent minor elbow surgery in October, will left the Hammers just one point above the at Everton, but was sacked after less than a also miss the inaugural ATP Cup team event in Australia. relegation zone. year as Alex Ferguson’s successor at Man- “Today, together with my team, we have made this The 56-year-old has been without a club chester United. decision as I’m still not 100% ready (or) healthy to compete since leaving West Ham after a six-month Moyes also struggled in short spells at at the highest level,” Nishikori said in a statement . spell in the 2017-18 season. Real Sociedad and Sunderland before tak- “This decision was not taken lightly as Australia is one Moyes guided West Ham to safety that ing the West Ham job first time round on a of my favourite places to compete. Together with my team season after Slaven Bilic was dismissed in short-term contract. I will keep working hard to be back on court as soon as early November and will be tasked with do- He was not offered a new deal despite possible. Thanks for all the support.” ing the same for a second time. comfortably keeping the club up by finish- Nishikori is the latest high-profile men’s player to “It’s fabulous to be back,” said Moyes in ing 13th. pull out of the season’s first Grand Slam following the a club statement. I’ve got here is a better squad of players than clash with fellow strugglers Bournemouth However, West Ham’s ambitious appoint- withdrawal of Briton Andy Murray on Saturday. “I’m feeling very proud that I’m back here when I took over before, so I am looking at the London Stadium. ment of former Real Madrid and Manchester Yoshihito Nishioka replaces Nishikori as Japan’s top- at West Ham. But I think more importantly forward to working with them.” “David proved in his short time with the City boss Pellegrini did not pay off as the ranked player for the ATP Cup which begins on Friday. I’ll be looking to see what I can do and what The West Ham hierarchy were keen to club that he was capable of getting results Chilean was let go on Saturday after a run of They face Spain, Georgia and Uruguay in Group B in Perth. I can make improvements to. make a swift appointment following Pel- and we believe that he will start moving the seven defeats in nine Premier League matches. (Source: Reuters) “I do believe that the squad of players legrini’s sacking ahead of Wednesday’s crucial club in the right direction once again,” said (Source: AFP)