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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 Mbappe’s future dominates final hours of transfer window

MANCHESTER: In this file photo taken on December 26, 2006 Manchester United’s striker celebrates with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after scoring a rebounded penalty against Wigan Athletic during their English Premiership football match at in Manchester. — AFP

PARIS: A dizzying transfer window that has seen ing to keep their striker in the face of a sustained who shone for last season. Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan and let Tammy Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo change clubs offensive from Real. Abraham move to Italy to join up with Jose went into its final hours yesterday with the issue of A PSG insider denied reports the Spanish giants, Ronaldo’s back Mourinho at AS Roma. Inter brought in Denzel whether Kylian Mbappe could make a blockbuster having had bids of 160 million euros ($189 million) Ronaldo meanwhile sealed a return to an adoring Dumfries, the Netherlands wing-back from PSV move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid still and 180 million euros rejected, had made a third bid public at Old Trafford, where he rose to world-class Eindhoven who starred at Euro 2020. unresolved. of 200 million euros. If Paris-born Mbappe stays, status in a first stint from 2003-2009. “This is holders Manchester City, anoth- The future of Mbappe dominated the final day of and with each passing hour absolutely 100% the stuff er club bidding to win a first Champions League a remarkable window in which Messi moved to PSG that prospect looked more that dreams are made of,” title, signed Aston Villa Jack Grealish for after spending his entire career at increasingly likely, then PSG will believe Ronaldo posted on 100 million pounds to further strengthen a squad cash-strapped Barcelona and Ronaldo made a sen- they have their strongest Instagram on Tuesday when that has lost Sergio Aguero to Barcelona. But City’s sational return to former club Manchester United. chance ever of winning an Ronaldo’s back his move from Juventus was pursuit of Harry Kane ended in frustration when the While the moves for 34-year-old Messi and 36- elusive Champions League. to adoring Old officially completed. England captain decided to stay at Tottenham hav- year-old Ronaldo represented a shift in world foot- Apart from the addition After also adding ing tried unsuccessfully to force a move. ball’s tectonic plates, the future of 22-year-old of Messi, they have also Trafford England winger Jadon Liverpool reinforced their central defensive Mbappe is potentially more significant for the sport signed four-time Sancho for £73 million options by acquiring Ibrahima Konate from RB in the long term. Champions League winner from Borussia Dortmund Leipzig, but have otherwise largely focused on Already a World Cup winner, Mbappe’s goals Sergio Ramos from Real and French center-back signing established stars such as Virgil van Dijk and could vastly improve the fortunes of Real, who were Madrid and one of the Raphael Varane from Real Andy Robertson to new contracts. Of all the beaten to the Spanish title by local rivals Atletico world’s top goalkeepers, , on Madrid, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has Premier League clubs, Arsenal looked most likely to Madrid last season. But having signed Messi to line a free transfer from AC Milan. They also strength- little excuse if he fails to land a trophy this season. make moves in the transfer market as the clock up alongside Neymar and Mbappe in a formidable ened their midfield with Georginio Wijnaldum from Champions League holders Chelsea spent a club ticked down having made a disastrous pointless attacking trio, Qatari-owned PSG have been fight- Liverpool and Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi, record £97 million to bring back to start to the season.— AFP

therefore be crucial. At the moment the biggest Qualifiers: Back to European names with work to do are the Netherlands and Germany, two powerhouses who head into the autumn with new coaches. Hansi business for Italy, Flick is the new man in charge of Germany after 15 years under Joachim Loew. new-look Germany For a long time Flick was Loew’s assistant and, after winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich, he is the man tasked with restoring pride PARIS: Across Europe it is time for people to go to a national team that went out of Euro 2020 in back to work at the end of the summer holidays, the last 16. “I’m looking forward to working with and for Italy it is back to business too, less than him,” said Bayern and Germany goalkeeper eight weeks after their Euro 2020 triumph at Manuel Neuer. “I have big goals. I want to be a Wembley. Fifty-three days on from the joy of world champion.” beating England on penalties on a feverish night in Germany’s final qualifier under Loew in March London, the Azzurri will take the acclaim of their ended in a shock 2-1 home defeat to North own supporters when they play Bulgaria in Macedonia, their first loss in World Cup qualifying Florence in a World Cup qualifier. in 20 years leaving them third in Group J. Flick’s Roberto Mancini’s team cannot afford to rest on start looks gentle though, with Germany playing their laurels because until they have secured quali- Liechtenstein, Armenia and Iceland. fication for the finals in Qatar, they will not have completely erased the memory of their failure to Van Gaal returns qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The Netherlands, who also failed to qualify for Italy are unbeaten in 34 games — including the last World Cup, sacked after winning their first three qualifiers for Qatar back in going out of Euro 2020 in the last 16 and have March - and now they face three more matches in reappointed . The man who led the eight days with a trip to Switzerland and a home Oranje to the 2014 World Cup semi-finals takes meeting with Lithuania also on the agenda. “I over a team currently trailing a point behind STUTTGART: Hansi Flick (left), new head coach of Germany’s national football team, talks to his players would like the boys to pick up where they left off,” Group G leaders Turkey. It could be a challenging during a training session in Stuttgart, southern Germany yesterday ahead of their 2022 World Cup quali- said Mancini this week. “As a national team we can start to the 70-year-old Van Gaal’s third stint as fying matches against Liechtenstein, Armenia and Iceland. — AFP still improve between now and the World Cup, but national coach as the Netherlands play Erling first we have to qualify.” Haaland’s Norway in Oslo before hosting after naming a squad that has changed little from 2020, reigning world champions France get back As Italy know well, the World Cup is a different Montenegro and Turkey. the young group that took part in Euro 2020. to business in a triple-header including a testing ball game to the Euro, and not just because the For England it is all about putting the pain of After completing his transfer back to visit to Ukraine. next one takes place in November and December, their Euro final defeat behind them as they face Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo has the European teams have been spared the disputes 2022. Only the winners of the 10 qualifying groups potential pitfalls away in Hungary and Poland, chance to become the all-time top international over the release of players by clubs that have are certain to qualify, with the remaining three either side of a home meeting with minnows goal-scorer when Portugal play Ireland. Ronaldo threatened to mar upcoming matches in Africa and places up for grabs in play-offs next March. Andorra. “There is no doubt that individually these equaled the Iranian Ali Daei’s record of 109 goals South America. Meanwhile VAR will now be used Italy’s game on Sunday in Basel against players are going to improve and continue to for his country during the European in all European qualifiers after its implementation Switzerland, their biggest rivals in Group C, will improve,” England manager said Championship. Following a disappointing Euro had initially been postponed. — AFP