Martin Odegaard's Transfer to Real Madrid Was a PR Stunt, Says Carlo Ancelotti

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Former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he never asked for Norwegian teenager Martin Odegaard to be signed by Los Blancos and condemned the move as only "to do with PR." 

In January 2015—when Ancelotti was still in charge at the Bernabeu—Real beat a variety of top clubs to the €3 million (£2.3 million) signing of Stromsgodset sensation Odegaard, then just 16 years old.

He has subsequently made one La Liga appearance in the Real first team and spent the rest of his time with the club's Castilla side in Segunda Division B. In his new book, Quiet Leadership, Ancelotti said it was club president Florentino Perez's idea to sign the youngster, viaLiam Corless in the Mirror:

When [club president] Florentino [Perez] buys a Norwegian footballer, you simply have to accept it. Furthermore, the president decided that he would play three games with the first team as a public relations exercise. He could be the best player in the world, but I don't care because he was not a player who I asked for. That signing was to do with PR.

Still only 17, Odegaard is unquestionably talented—he already has nine caps for the Norway national team—and could yet develop into a world-class star.

However, he has had his troubles since his move to Real, with previous reports suggesting he was "increasingly frustrated" by his lack of first-team opportunities, per MailOnline's Pete Jenson.

GERARD JULIEN/Getty Images

It seems likely that he will go out on loan this summer to either the Bundesliga or the Premier League, which are his father's preferences, per AS' J.L. Guerrero.

At a mid-table club in Germany or England he would doubtless have more chances in the senior team than at Real, and more opportunities would likely lead to greater improvement in his game.

He would also likely benefit from a brief move away from the pressure of Real. 

Odegaard's signing was heavily publicised at the time, and it was viewed as a coup that Real had beaten top clubs from across Europe in the race to clinch him.

It is now clear that Ancelotti had little to do with his signing, but, given his youth, Odegaard still has plenty of time to live up to the hype
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Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal star throws reporter's microphone into lake

Without a win or a goal at Euro 2016, is Cristiano Ronaldo starting to crack under the pressure?

The Portugal star was out for a leisurely stroll with his compatriots near the team hotel in Lyon when he was approached by a journalist for comment.

Instead of his years' worth of media training kicking in, Ronaldo snatched the reporter's microphone out of his hand and launched it into a nearby lake. 

The Real Madrid man is coming under increasing scrutiny, having underperformed in both his country's matches at Euro 2016

Mexico sees ugliness on and off the field in historic Copa America loss to Chile

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Chile’s Eduardo Vargas, second from left, celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal against Mexico during a Copa America Centenario quarterfinal soccer match at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, June 18, 2016. (AP Photo/ Marcio Jose Sanchez)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Mexico suffered through an ugly display on the pitch and an even uglier one off it in the Copa America Centenario on Saturday.

The Mexicans lost their quarterfinal in stunning fashion – 7-0 to Chile – to crash out of the tournament in front of 70,547 fans at Levi's Stadium. And as the game got out of hand, the behavior of the El Tri supporters only got worse with every goal by the defending Copa America champions.

[ COPA AMERICA | Predictions | Scores/Schedule | Standings | Teams ]

With the match still scoreless in the 13th minute, Jesus Duenas missed a chance and Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo attempted his first goal kick. On cue, Mexico fans chanted a homophobic slur at the Chilean No. 1, an act that has been heavily criticized in the aftermath of the Orlando shootings.

Seemingly, though, the chant triggered a chain of events that broke the spirits of Mexican fans.

Only three minutes later, Chile scored to take a 1-0 lead. Before the break, the scoreline jumped to 2-0 in favor of the away team. However, hope and joy still appeared in the stands, which were described as one journalist as consisting of 29 Mexican fans for every 30 people.

After the break, though, Alexis Sanchez took only four minutes to show that two changes for Mexico would have no impact on the result. After their third goal, Chilean players gathered at the corner flag to celebrate before Mexican fans acted heinously by throwing beer cups and popcorn at the players.

Arturo Vidal --> Alexis Sanchez --> 3-0, Chile. #MEXvCHI #MyCopaColorshttps://t.co/maBxQus3Mh

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2016

Ushers trying to clean up the trash #Mexico fans threw at #Chile after Alexis scored. Still some popcorn visible. pic.twitter.com/8VBcYqGVIr

— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) June 19, 2016

A fourth goal arrived only four minutes later, and the Chileans opted to celebrate in the middle of the pitch this time.

Eduardo Vargas' 29th career international goal extends Chile's lead over #ElTri.#MEXvCHI #MyCopaColors https://t.co/vuQufYAeFB

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2016

At that stage, popcorn was still visible on the pitch. At first, ushers moved to pick up and dust off the kernels whenever play shifted to the opposite side of the pitch. Before the 60th minute, the scoreboard read 5-0 in favor of Chile. With popcorn still visible on the pitch, Mexican fans began heading for the exits.

Brooms and dustpans appeared in the ushers’ hands, as the popcorn would finally disappear from the playing field, mirroring the El Tri supporters leaving Levi’s Stadium.

By the time the sixth goal arrived, Mexico fans had halted shouting the homophobic slur at Bravo and instead screamed it every time Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa punted up from his own box. When Edson Puch scored in the 87th minute to make the score 7-0, fans behind Ochoa’s goal hurled anything they could find in the direction of the keeper. A few pieces of plastic made it to the field but most fell short and put the security staff in danger.

As the stadium emptied, pockets of violence popped up. It was not widespread, and this match did not feature flares like the European Championships. But following the previous outbursts, the minor violence only further accented the poor display by Mexico on the pitch and in the stands.

When the final whistle blew, more debris rained down. However, with the crowd mostly emptied and the trash already thrown, the final flurry did not cause much of a disturbance or cause for concern.

A segment of Mexican fans reminded everyone that they're not all rotten apples. As the Chilean players walked off the pitch, Sombrero-donning and green-wearing Mexico supporters close to the tunnel stood and applauded the victorious players off the pitch.

The gesture showed how beautiful a little bit of class can be, even on a monumentally ugly night.

France midfielder Paul Pogba would 'provide answers' in Manchester United midfield

Manchester United should look to sign France international Paul Pogba or Belgium's Radja Nainggolan to inject energy into their midfield, according to former player Paul Ince. As Louis van Gaal's replacement, Jose Mourinho made Ivory Coast international Eric Bailly his first signing but – as his next move in the transfer market – is being urged to make improvements to his midfield.

Follow all the ins and outs this summer through our dedicated transfer window page

Manchester Evening News understand that Mourinho made signing Pogba among his summer's top priorities. The 23-year-old left Old Trafford in 2011 after failing to agree a new contract and has since become a central figure for both Juventus, who value the midfielder at £73m [€100m], and Euro 2016 hosts France.
Nainggollan has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, who are plotting a third bid close to his £35m release clause, in order to tempt him away from Roma. The 28-year-old will feature for Belgium at the European Championships and his Italian club will hope he can impress to help ratchet up his valuation.
Despite tying Michael Carrick down to a new contract, Ince believes United need to add dynamism to their midfield in order to match Leicester City's Premier League title winning pair Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante.
"United need someone to energise them in the centre of the field," Ince told the Manchester Evening News. "That wasn't a Manchester United midfield last season, there were no legs in the department.

"In the last two campaigns, under Louis van Gaal United have been very light in midfield. It was slow and ponderous. You look at Leicester City winning the title and what did they have? In midfield they had two players prepared to give the team that energy in N'Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater.

"Not the most obvious stand-out players around. They were not your glamorous names but they did a stunning job for Claudio Ranieri. You have to have those kind of players in a team if you want to be successful.
"United didn't. They were far too slow and easily overrun. There was no steel, there was no pace, no runners, no power. There was no Roy Keane or Patrick Vieira in the middle taking control."
"Every club would want Paul Pogba. Without doubt he'd be one name who'd provide the answers for United. He is a fantastic player with the power and strength Mourinho must get back into that engine room. I also like Roma's Belgian Radja Nainggolan. Whoever the player is it is a must problem for United to solve."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic agrees to terms with Manchester United

Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) goes up for a header against Manchester United midfielder Daley Blind during the first half of their match in the 2015 International Champions Cup on July 29, 2015 in Chicago. Paris Saint-Germain defeated Manchester United 2-0. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI

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MANCHESTER, England, June 14 (UPI) -- Ibra is nearing Old Trafford.
After relentless discussion, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has "agreed to provisional terms with Manchester United," according to ESPN FC. The Swedish star will complete the move following EURO 2016.

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Ibrahimovic, 24, has been the centerpiece of talks with United, which heated up after the club acquired new manager Jose Mourinho.
Manchester United is making plans for Ibrahimovic's medical after the tournament. After medical completion, he can sign a one-year deal at Old Trafford.
"Sky Sports News HQ has been told United do not expect any problems with the medical so long as Ibrahimovic is not injured whilst on international duty. The 34-year-old is understood to be in excellent physical condition and the process is expected to be a formality," Sky Sports News HQ's Andy Burton reported.

He leaves Paris Saint-Germain after joining the French club in July 2012. As Ibrahimovic talks warmed, PSG has been rumored to be looking at Brazil's Neymar Jr. as a possible replacement.
Ibrahimovic trails only Robbie Keane for most international goals among active players. He is looking to become the first player ever to score in four EURO tournaments.

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Manchester United have been dealt a major blow in their pursuit of Zlatan Ibrahimovic withBayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti having secretly initiated talks with the player. The Swede was top of Jose Mourinho's list for the summer but will now have to face competition from Bayern, who can offer him Champions League, an elusive trophy missing from the 34-year-old's list of honours.

 

Follow all the ins and outs this summer through our dedicated transfer window page

German outlet SportBild suggests that Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski could be on his way to Real Madrid, which has forced the Bayern management to look at possible striking options in the market. United are still favourites to land the striker but do not have a clear path as they had before, something that Mourinho has to talk through with the Swede.

The former Chelsea manager has previously worked with Ibrahimovic in Inter Milan and share the same agent Jorge Mendes, which could turn the tide in their favour. The transfer is currently being held up by Ibrahimovic's desire to wait until 30 June, which will allow him to claim a loyalty bonus worth £1m ($1.43m) from Paris Saint-Germain. He is also pondering over whether to travel with the Sweden U-23 squad to the Olympics in Rio, as one of the three overage players qualified for the world's biggest sporting event.

Meanwhile, the striker has said that there has been no confirmation over his future thus far but a decision will be made soon. The former Barcelona man is currently in the Euros with Sweden where they drew 1- 1 against the Republic of Ireland, despite holding the upper hand in the contest for major parts of the game.

"For me, with Manchester [United], there is nothing to say. I feel happy for the moment,"the reported United transfer target said. "What the future will be, you will know soon. But I enjoy football. Wherever I go I will be the same person and I will enjoy [myself]."

Nigeria Boko Haram: Gunmen slit throats of four women in latest attack in Borno

Gunmen believed to be part of Boko Haram terror group have killed at least four women by slitting their throats during an attack in Mairari village, in Nigeria's restive Borno state. Witnesses said at least 14 gunmen stormed the village on seven motorcycles on Saturday (11 June) and picked four women, aged between 27 and 45, and killed them in front of the other villagers.

"They went into four homes while residents were breaking their fast around 7:00 pm, brought out the four women and slaughtered them," Babakura Kolo, a member of a vigilante group based in Maiduguri, Borno's capital, told AFP.

"We believe the killings were targeted, the gunmen were from all indications after the husbands of the women.They killed the women when they didn't find their husbands."

The latest attack in Borno came as US officials said they would not send troops to West Africa to help the region in the fight against Boko Haram, after claiming there was no evidence of a real link between the Nigerian terrorists and the Islamic State (Isis/Daesh) terror group.

This contradicts a previous statement made by another US official, who warned in May 2015 the link between the two groups was a cause for concern and could undermine peace and stability in West Africa.

Regional offensive

Nigeria is heading an ongoing regional offensive against Boko Haram. The task forceconsists of 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin.

The group has scored some successes, such as the recapture of several territories and the release of thousands of civilians previously held captive.

Although Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, declared a technical victory over the insurgents in December 2015, Boko Haram has continued to carry out attacks with security experts warning underlying issues such as disenfranchisement, poverty and strong links with IS continue to pose major threats to stability in the region.