Tag Archives: Newcastle

Manchester City Sign Enzo Fernández for Premier League Record-Equaling Fee

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Enzo Fernández is heading to Manchester City.

The Manchester, England team has signed the 25-year-old Argentine World Cup winner from Chelsea for a Premier League record-equaling £125 million ($169m) fee.

Enzo FernandezCity said Tuesday that the midfielder had signed a five-year deal with the club after sources told ESPN that the two clubs had settled on a fee that matches the amount Liverpool paid Newcastle to sign Alexander Isak last summer.

Fernández was part of the Argentina team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2022 before finishing runners-up to Spain in North America this summer.

“Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are,” Fernández said in Man City’s announcement.

“I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success.”

Chelsea initially set a deadline of August 14 for any interested parties to formalize their interest in a bid to close the issue before the start of the Premier League season.

Sources say the Blues had set an asking price of £120m and communicated this to all parties in late May.

However, that deadline passed without any activity, but Fernández has been firm in his insistence he wanted to leave the club.

City stepped up talks in the last 48 hours in an effort to secure a deal and that agreement has now been reached with Chelsea effectively receiving £5m over their asking price.

The club was determined to secure a profit on a player they signed from Benfica for £107m in February 2023.

Fernandez was booed by supporters at Stamford Bridge during both their final preseason friendly against Real Sociedad and in their Premier League opener against Fulham.

New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso then left him out of their midweek Carabao Cup win against Luton, claiming the pair had decided “it was better [for him] not to be part of the squad.”

Fernández repeatedly questioned his future during last season — telling ESPN Argentina in the immediate aftermath of their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain that he didn’t know if he would be at the club next season.

Former head coach Liam Rosenior then dropped Fernández for two matches following an interview in which he expressed his fondness for the city of Madrid amid speculation linking him to Real.

Chelsea were attempting to secure a replacement but after agreeing a €55 million ($64m / £47m) deal with AS Monaco for midfielder Lamine Camara, the French club reneged on the deal, sources told ESPN.

Liverpool Signs Arthur Melo from Juventus

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Arthur Melo is ready to Live(rpool) it up…

Liverpool has signed the 26-year-old Brazilian professional footballer and midfielder from Juventus on a season-long loan deal.

Arthur MeloLiverpool will pay a loan fee of €4.5 million and have the option to make the transfer permanent for a fee of €37.5m, Juventus said in a statement.

“I’m really, really happy to be here wearing this great shirt with this famous badge that represents so much in world football, it’s a dream,” Arthur told Liverpool’s website.

“We talked a lot, and our ideas and visions were a good fit so I’m sure it was the right choice. I’m really happy and highly motivated to continue living my dream on the pitch and giving my all in a Liverpool shirt.”

Arthur’s move to the Premier League side accelerated late on Wednesday after Jordan Henderson was injured in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Newcastle.

Jurgen Klopp‘s side were already short in midfield for that game with Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara among those sidelined.

Klopp confirmed earlier in the week that Liverpool were open to signing another midfielder if the right opportunity came up.

Arthur joined Juventus from Barcelona for around €70 million in 2020. He has spent just two seasons at Barcelona, where he made 72 appearances after signing from Gremio.

Navas & His Costa Rican Teammates’ World Cup Run Comes to a Close Against the Netherlands

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World Cup 2014

Keylor Navas and his Costa Rican teammates came thisclose to pulling off one of the biggest ever FIFA World Cup shocks.

The 27-year-old Costa Rican footballer and his fellow Los Ticos teammates gave the Netherlands an almighty scare, keeping the Dutch scoreless, denying stars like Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder any glory at every turn.

Keylor Navas

The Netherlands may have dominated all but the first 20 of the 120 minutes of the intense game,  hitting the woodwork, reining in shot after shot and creatingchance after chance, but still couldn’t find a way past the Los Ticos goalkeeper, who has been the hero of his country and looks to be a major contender to win the Golden Gloves award for best keeper of the tournament.

But Costa Rica and Navas’ luck would eventually run out in the penalty shootout.

With seconds left in extra time and penalties looming, Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal made World Cup history by taking out his number one, Jasper Cillessen, and replacing him with Newcastle custodian Tim Krul.

Krul didn’t let his boss down, saving two of Costa Ricas’ penalty shots to ensure that his team advanced.

Navas had kept clean sheets against England and Italy, conceded only from the penalty spot against Uruguay, and had then produced a wonderful save in the shootout against Greece to ensure the outsiders’ place in the last eight. It will be scant consolation to him or his colleagues, but history will record that he kept a clean sheet again this time.

The Levante goalkeeper was at it again throughout this match where the men in orange held sway but simply could not find a way past the Tico keeper.

Navas made numerous saves, diving to his right, diving bravely at the feet of onrushing attackers, saving with his own feet: it seemed that however the Dutch tried to breach his goal they would not succeed.

The Netherlands’ win over Costa Rica set up a World Cup semifinal meeting with Argentina next Wednesday in Sao Paulo.