MONDAY, MAY 16, 2016 SPORTS Pjanic ‘a Juventino’, but Roma in denial: Report MILAN: Juventus have paved the way for It means Roma, runners-up the past from Massimiliano Allegri to the player. already received payment for Miralem score a hat-trick in a dramatic 4-0 win Miralem Pjanic to join the Serie A cham- two seasons, finished two points behind Pjanic, notably, has honed his free kick- Pjanic’s release clause. This news is totally over relegated Frosinone to enter the his- pions after paying an estimated 38 mil- second-placed Napoli and now need to taking skills this season and Juventus unfounded.” Reports in Italy claim Pjanic tory books. With a stunning 72nd minute lion Euros ($43m) to trigger his release pass the preliminary round of the have yet to find a true replacement for has been bidding his teammates farewell strike from the edge of the area, Higuain clause from Roma, reports said yesterday. Champions League to reach the competi- dead ball specialist Andre Pirlo since his in recent days and that they, in return, broke AC Milan forward Gunnar Nordahl’s The Bosnia midfielder has been one of tion’s group stages. Whether Pjanic is part move to New York City FC last year. Roma have been jokingly calling him ‘Juventino’ 1950 record of 35 goals in a single, 20- Roma’s the leading lights this season, hit- of their summer play-off fixtures remains have not denied Pjanic could leave, but in - which equates as ‘little Juventus player’. team, three-points-for-a-win Serie A sea- ting 10 league goals and two in the to be seen. a statement relayed by Gazzetta dello Juventus capped their sterling Serie A son. Nordahl’s record stood for 66 years, Champions League to help the capital Sportmediaset claimed Juventus have Sport yesterday the club said: “Roma season with a 5-0 rout of Sampdoria on but Higuain finished the season on 36 to club to a third-place finish on Saturday already paid Roma the fee to trigger denies the report relayed by Saturday to finish nine points ahead of claim a prestigious ‘Capocannoniere’ (top after a 3-1 win at AC Milan. Pjanic’s release following a phone call Sportmediaset.it claiming the club has Napoli, who saw striker Gonzalo Higuain scorer) award. — AFP History maker Higuain feels Napoli love but doubts on future persist ROME: History-making Gonzalo Higuain ‘Immense joy’ has declared his love for Napoli but left When he scored his third goal on doubts hanging over his future as rumors Saturday, Higuain immediately ran to hug persist of a possible move to the Premier Sarri on the touchlines. “I want to thank League. Higuain hit a hat-trick in a dramatic Maurizio Sarri... he has helped me so much, 4-0 win over relegated Frosinone on he always told me what I had to do to Saturday to take his league tally for the sea- improve and I always listened,” said son to 36 in 35 games, in the process break- Higuain. “It’s difficult to comprehend but I ing a 66-year-old Serie A record. hope it will all sink in soon. After I scored AC Milan forward and Sweden legend the third goal and the whole team came to Gunnar Nordahl’s record of 35 goals in a hug me, I felt immense joy.” single, 20-team Serie A season had stood Although Napoli missed out on win- since 1950. Throughout the league’s histo- ning a first title in 26 years in a season that ry, the season has variously featured saw the club win the highest ever number between 16 and 20 teams. When Nordahl of points — 87 - Higuain’s feat and scored 35 goals in 1950 it was in a period Napoli’s return to Europe’s top table has (1948-1952) of 20 teams, before the league helped make amends. Ecstatic fans reverted to 18 for 1952-1967. showed their appreciation at the San At a packed San Paolo stadium Higuain Paolo with a rendition of a song usually defied torrential rain to produce an over- reserved for Maradona. “Oh mamma, head kick from the edge of the area to mamma, mamma... I’ve seen Higuain.” score his record-setting 36th goal. Higuain’s Reports in Italy say it has not been sung at feat has revived memories of the last the stadium since Maradona’s time at the Argentine to steal the hearts of the Azzurri club, and Higuain understood the full sig- fans-Diego Maradona, who helped steer nificance. “This season I have felt the love. them to their two titles in 1987 and 1990. I feel loved here more than I did at any Yesterday, it was elevated to the highest other club I’ve been,” he said. levels-one church installed a large screen Maradona, who earlier this season blast- to the right side of the altar to show ed Sarri after a shaky start to the campaign, Higuain’s goals to the congregation with the Champions League soundtrack playing posted a message on Twitter which read: in the background. Napoli’s win also “Thanks guys for the satisfaction you’ve secured the runners-up spot and direct given to a city which lives and breathes entry to the Champions League, but when football. And for this record-filled season.” asked if he would be at the club next sea- A return to the Champions League GRANADA: Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match Granada CF vs FC son Higuain was coy. should be enough for Higuain, who was Barcelona at Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium. —AFP “We want to think back on the extraordi- bitterly disappointed when Napoli were nary season we’ve just had. The team and beaten in last summer’s play-off prelimi- the whole city deserve to soak it all up,” said nary round by Athletic Bilbao, to stay at Higuain. Having joined Napoli from Real Napoli. But if he decides to quit Napoli for Suarez the new leader of Madrid on a five-year deal worth 40 million pastures new over the summer, the love of Euros ($45 million) in 2013, Higuain has Napoli’s fans could quickly turn to anger. relaunched his career in Italy, although the Napoli’s film producer owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, meanwhile, has moved to ward Barcelona’s strike force big improvements have come under coach Maurizio Sarri this season, having failed to off potential suitors by reportedly slapping reach the same heights when Rafa Benitez a 94-million euros release clause on his BARCELONA: Barcelona’s celebrated ‘MSN’ looking to pass to me more and more,” Suarez of 90 goals compared to 80 last term. Spain’s was in charge. contract. — AFP strike force of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and said last week. “That’s a sign of the great team media acknowledged the new dynamic in the Neymar had La Liga defences at their mercy for ethic there is.” Barca’s attacking trio were even trio, with Marca and El Pais both proclaiming: much of the campaign but as Barca swept to more ferocious than last season, scoring a total “This was Suarez’s title.” — Reuters the title by winning their final five games it was Suarez who led the three-pronged attack. The Uruguayan scored 14 goals in those five games, sealing the title with a hat-trick in the 3- Five keys to Barcelona’s 0 title clincher at Granada on Saturday, ending the campaign on 40 goals and finishing as top scorer in Spain and Europe. His goal-scoring 24th La Liga triumph outshone that of his partners: Messi hit three goals in the five games, while Neymar had two BARCELONA: Barcelona claimed their 24th European football than coming from behind goals, one of them from the penalty spot. La Liga title on Sunday with a 3-0 win at against the continent’s meanest defense in The Brazilian had the chance to have the final Granada. Here, AFP Sports looks at five key Atletico Madrid. Barca and Bayern Munich say in the win at Granada when he got through reasons why Luis Enrique’s men retained found that to their cost in being eliminated on goal but he selflessly teed up Suarez for a their title despite a thrilling chase from from the Champions League. However, in hat-trick. Neymar was reportedly told by Champions League finalists Real Madrid and their two league meetings, Barca reacted Argentine team mate Javier Mascherano recent- Atletico Madrid. from conceding first to win 2-1 for six points ly to “stop being selfish and play for the team”. that prevented Diego Simeone’s men from Neymar’s pass for Suarez’s third goal and his Survived Messi’s injury absence winning a second title in three years. intelligent ball to Jordi Alba that lead to the When five-time World Player of the Year Uruguayan’s opening strike were proof that the Lionel Messi went down with knee ligament Bounce back from spring slump message had got through. damage against Las Palmas in September Barca looked set to wrap the title up Earlier in the season Neymar was the team’s ruling him out for two months, the time weeks ago during a 39-game unbeaten run figurehead, stepping up a level while Messi was seemed ripe for Barca’s title rivals to capi- stretching from October to April that saw out for eight weeks with a knee injury. Although talise.