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Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong not interested in being compared to legends Xavi and Iniesta

The midfielder had no interest in discussing similarities he may share with two of the club’s legendary stars

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong played down comparisons to club greats Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

De Jong, 22, was signed by the La Liga champions from Ajax in a £65 million ($81m) deal in January, but only made the move at the end of the season.

The Netherlands international has already been compared to Xavi and Iniesta, however, he had no interest in discussing any similarities he may share with two of the legends of the club, though he does think he’s well suited to playing for the Spanish giants.

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“I don’t want to be compared with those players,” De Jong told Barca TV .

“It’s the perfect club for a midfielder. They hold onto the ball well, they control the play, it suits me perfectly.”

De Jong joins Barcelona after a fine season with Ajax, winning a domestic double and reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

Barca were also eliminated in the semis, continuing their wait for a first Champions League crown since 2015.

Discussing his goals for 2019-20, De Jong is eager to be a regular starter for Barca – and he wants to help deliver in Europe.

“I want to start most games. All players want that. I’ll work as hard as I can in training to show what I can do in games,” he said.

“I like to play attacking football, for it to be attractive and for people to have fun when they come to the stadium.

“Both me and Barca are really keen to win the Champions League this year and I hope that’s what happens.”

The midfielder has also admitted that he had dreamed of a move to Arsenal as a stepping-stone to playing for Barcelona, though he jumped at the chance to sign up with the Spanish side ahead of schedule .

Having finally been revealed by the club on Wednesday, De Jong will set in on making himself at home in a team that cruised to a La Liga title last season and narrowly lost out on a trip to the Champions League final.

With Ajax having come up short in the last four of Europe’s top competition last season as well, both club and player will be hoping to go one better in his first season with the Spanish side.

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佩德罗：平局很正常，我们和兰帕德一起训练的很刻苦

北京时间今天凌晨，兰帕德执教切尔西首秀，切尔西最后和波西米亚人1-1战平，兰帕德错失开门红，赛后切尔西前锋佩德罗接受了天空体育的采访。

佩德罗说道：“我们踢的很努力，强度也很大，无球上压也很积极。然后拿球是迅速移动。”

“对我们球员而言，能和兰帕德合作很不错，他是这个俱乐部的传奇，同时他执教的一些理念也很不错。”

谈到本场比赛没有拿下胜利，佩德罗说道：“对于季前赛的第一场比赛来说，这其实很正常，我们之前也只训练了5天，所以平局很正常。”

“我们需要提高，能上场很不错，还有许多年轻人。不在最佳状态其实很正常，我们本周和兰帕德一起训练得很刻苦，这对我们而言是件好事。”

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曼城公布首批中国行名单：德布劳内、斯特林等主力在列

曼城刚刚公布了参加本次英超亚洲杯的首批球员名单，德布劳内、贝尔纳多-席尔瓦、凯尔-沃克、斯特林、大卫-席尔瓦和萨内等主力球员悉数入选。

本次英超亚洲杯将在中国的南京和上海举行，曼城的首场比赛将于北京时间7月17日在南京对阵西汉姆联，随后他们将在7月20号的上海进行决赛或者三四名决赛，对手将会是狼队或者纽卡斯尔联。

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Afcon 2019: Fit-again Mikel in line for Nigeria return against South Africa

The Super Eagles camp has positive news about the midfielder ahead of their encounter with Bafana Bafana in Cairo

John Obi Mikel has returned to full training and is in line to make his Nigeria return in Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations clash with South Africa at Cairo Stadium.

The 2013 Afcon winner is back in contention for Gernot Rohr’s side after recovering from a knee injury which has kept him out of the tournament.

He took part in light training during the team’s recovery session on Sunday morning, seven days after he limped out of Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat to Madagascar.

Mikel missed the Round of 16 tie against Cameroon – with Odion Ighalo sending Nigeria to the last eight his brace.

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But the 32-year-old is now available to return, along with Shehu Abdullahi (hamstring), who was absent since his knock versus Guinea.

Given the importance of the showdown, Gernot Rohr may choose to keep faith with same team that dismissed the reigning African kings.

South Africa chase their first win over Nigeria in Afcon history. They have lost all previous encounters versus the three-time African kings.

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Carlo Ancelotti Tunggu Kehadiran James Rodriguez di Napoli

NAPLES – Masa depan James Rodriguez sepertinya memang ada di Napoli. Pasalnya, peracik strategi I Partenopei, Carlo Ancelotti, sudah menantikan kehadiran pemain berpaspor Kolombia itu di Kota Naples. Ia bahkan telah menyiapkan formasi untuk mengakomodasi kemampuan sang pemain.

Carlo Ancelotti dan James Rodriguez pernah bekerja sama di Real Madrid pada 2014 hingga 2015. Keduanya kembali bertemu di Bayern Munich ketika Carletto menangani FC Hollywood. Bukan tidak mungkin Ancelotti dan James lagi-lagi bereuni di klub yang sama.

James Rodriguez dan Carlo Ancelotti segera reuni

Napoli sendiri tengah menjalin negosiasi dengan Real Madrid untuk menyelematkan karier James Rodriguez. Carlo Ancelotti berharap dapat sekali lagi berkumpul dengan pemain berusia 27 tahun itu, kali ini di Stadion San Paolo.

“Saya tidak tahu apakah dia akan datang atau tidak. Saya harap demikian. Saya mengenalnya dengan baik, dia bisa bermain di lini tengah. Saya pernah menggunakannya sebagai winger kiri, sebagai pemain nomor 10 (playmaker), dan sayap kanan,” tutur Carlo Ancelotti, mengutip dari Football Italia, Rabu (10/7/2019).

“Posisinya di lapangan bukan masalah. Dia selalu mampu beradaptasi dan bermain di berbagai posisi. Yang penting lagi, dia mengenakan kostum Napoli, nomor berapa saya tidak peduli,” imbuh arsitek tim berusia 60 tahun tersebut.

Carlo Ancelotti siap menyambut James Rodriguez di Napoli

Perlu diketahui, James Rodriguez identik dengan nomor 10 sejak memperkuat FC Porto, AS Monaco, hingga Real Madrid. Jika jadi hengkang ke Napoli, ia harus menggunakan nomor lain karena 10 sudah dipensiunkan klub untuk menghormati Diego Armando Maradona.

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Paham Rivalitas Persija-Persib, Banuelos Targetkan Poin Penuh

JAKARTA – Pelatih Persija Jakarta, Julio Banuelos, mengaku sangat paham rivalitas klubnya dengan Persib Bandung. Namun, juru taktik berkebangsaan Spanyol itu tidak mau rivalitas tersebut pada akhirnya menggagalkan ambisi tim untuk meraih tiga poin.

Macan Kemayoran sedang butuh raihan poin penuh untuk memperbaiki posisi di papan klasemen. Bambang Pamungkas dan kawan-kawan kini terjerembab di posisi 14 dengan meraih lima angka dari lima pertandingan, sebuah hasil yang buruk bagi juara bertahan Liga 1.

Marko Simic dan Bruno Matos jadi andalan Persija Jakarta

Kebetulan, pertandingan berikutnya pada Rabu (10/7/2019) sore WIB adalah menghadapi rival abadi Persib Bandung di Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK). Tiga poin tentu terasa amat berharga. Selain memperbaiki posisi di klasemen, kemenangan atas rival abadi bisa menaikkan moral Persija.

“Semua tahu pertandingan ini penting untuk kedua tim. Saya sangat tahu rivalitas, tetapi kami fokus di lapangan saja, konsentrasi ke tim, termasuk bagaimana mengatur strategi untuk menang, karena itu menjadi target,” tutur Julio Banuelos, mengutip dari laman resmi Persija Jakarta, Rabu (10/7/2019).

“Jadi, rivalitas itu di luar, yang penting di lapangan, bagaimana fokus, karena persiapan kami sudah maksimal. Kami yakin memenangkan pertandingan,” imbuh pelatih berusia 48 tahun itu.

Sesi latihan Persib Bandung

Kedua tim saling mengalahkan pada Liga 1 2018. Persija Jakarta sanggup menang 1-0 pada 30 Juni 2018 di Jakarta, sementara Persib gantian menang 3-2 saat menjadi tuan rumah di Bandung, 23 September lalu.

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KO 5 saat: Petarung negara Jihin, Jordan Boy terkejut dengan kekalahan Ben Askren

KUALA LUMPUR: Bekas juara welterweight ONE Championship, Ben Askren pada Ahad menerima kekalahan pertamanya sebagai petarung seni bela diri campuran (MMA) profesional.

Dia tewas ditangan Jorge Masvidal secara ‘knockout’ seawal saat kelima dipusingan pertama menerusi ‘tendangan lutut terbang’ ketika acara UFC 239.

Rata-rata peminat MMA terperanjat dengan kekalahan mengejut Askren kerana sebelum ini dia dilihat sebagai petarung yang dominan dalam kesemua 19 pertarungan MMA-nya.

Turut terkejut dengan kekalahan itu ialah petarung MMA negara, Jihin ‘Shadow Cat’ Radzuan.

Jihin kekita ditemui di acara ‘ONE: Masters of Destiny Open Workout’ di ibu negara pada Selasa, mengakui skill gusti Askren memang berapa pada tahap yang tinggi. Namun lawannya Masvidal boleh membaca strategi tersebut.

“Pada pertarungan kali ini, kita boleh lihat lawannya (Masvidal) memang sudah berlatih gerak tersebut (tendangan lutut),” katanya.

“Gerakan ‘lutut terbang’ memang susah nak buat jika tidak berlatih dengan betul. Jadi dia (Masvidal) memang bertungkus-lumus berlatih untuk pertarungan ini.

“Dia memang sudah membaca gerakkan Ben Askren, dia tengok semua pertarungan Askren sebelum ini dan kesemuanya ada cubaan ‘take down’. Jadi kali ni Masvidal ambil risiko (dengan tendangan lutut) dan dia berjaya,” kata Jihin lagi.

Tidak ketinggalan jaguh Muay Thai negara, Mohammed ‘Jordan Boy’ Mahmoud juga terkejut ketika menyaksikan pertarungan tersebut.

“Saya memang terkejut sebab dia tidak pernah kalah. Dia seorang petarung yang hebat dan penggusti yang sangat bagus,” kata Mohammed.

“Ben Askren tahu lawannya (Masvidal) tidak berapa mahir dengan ‘ground game’ jadi Askren memilih untuk terus membuat percubaan ‘take down’.

“Lawannya pula seakan boleh membaca gerakan Askren jadi dia terus buka pertarungan dengan tendangan lutut yang kena tepat pada kepala. Jadi dia memang bernasib baik,” tambah Mohammed lagi.

Kedua-dua jaguh sukan tempur negara ini sekali lagi akan beraksi di pentas antarabangsa di acara ONE: Master of Destiny yang akan berlangsung pada 12 Julai ini di Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.

Selain Jihin dan Mohammed, dua lagi petarung negara iaitu Ev Ting dan Saiful Merican bakal turut serta bertarung pada acara yang sama.

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Neymar transfer news: Barcelona should ignore past in pursuit of PSG star, says Carlos Puyol

The Catalan legend has urged the club to ignore the past behaviour of their former star

Barcelona should ignore what happened with Neymar in the past, according to Carles Puyol, as they potentially look to sign the Paris Saint-Germain forward.

Neymar, 27, could be set to leave the Parc des Princes this close season after sporting director Leonardo confirmed the star was for sale at the right price.

The Brazil international left Barca in a world-record €222 million move two years ago, but he has been strongly linked with a return to Camp Nou.

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Former Barcelona captain Puyol, who won 18 trophies with the club, said the past should have no impact on the La Liga champions’ decision.

“In the end, you have to value the present, not so much the past,” Puyol said on Monday, via Spanish media.

“If the player is on the market and you need him, you don’t have to be thinking about what happened a few years ago.”

Neymar has still starred in two seasons with PSG, but both campaigns have been hampered by injuries.

The Brazil star also recently missed out on the Copa America following an injury against Qatar in a pre-tournament friendly, although Brazil went on to win the tournament on home soil by topping Peru in the tournament finale.

However, Puyol believes the star forward can still deliver plenty for Barcelona.

“Neymar is a great player who can make a difference,” he said.

“He’s not been able to play his best football [at PSG] because of injuries, but he still has a lot to give to football.”

Camp Nou legend Lobo Carrasco isn’t on the same page as Puyol when it comes to the Brazilian however, declaring the club must get its priorities right.

“I do not want Neymar to come in,” Carrasco told El Chiringuito.

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“Barca needs to have a Puyol. With the signing of Neymar, Barca would lose even more at the back.”

While a return to Barcelona remains uncertain, Neymar’s future at PSG appears in serious doubt after he failed to report on time for pre-season.

The Ligue 1 champions declaring appropriate measures will be taken as a result – though Neymar’s father is adamant the club were aware of his son’s plans.