The Argentine was forced out of San Siro but has already netted seven goals in just eight outings in Paris to take Edinson Cavani’s starting spot

Just a few short months ago, Mauro Icardi’s career appeared to be going nowhere fast.

Stripped of the Inter captaincy at the start of 2019 after he and his wife Wanda fell spectacularly out of favour at San Siro, the Argentine saw his place in the Nerazzurri line-up taken by young compatriot Lautaro Martinez.

Antonio Conte’s arrival at San Siro did nothing to improve his prospects of remaining in his beloved Milan, as the new coach quickly moved for Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to strengthen his attack.

The former was even given Icardi’s No.9 jersey. As with the decision to take away the armband, Icardi was given no prior warning. The message was clear: he was no longer welcome at Inter.

Click Here: creed perfume sale

Icardi was willing to leave, but only for Juventus and the Nerazzurri had no intention of strengthening their bitter rivals. An impasse ensued and just when it appeared that Icardi was going to spend the season in the stands at the Giuseppe Meazza, a deadline-day loan move to Paris Saint-Germain was arranged.

Even then, Icardi’s future looked grim. Indeed, given the incredible attacking depth boasted by Thomas Tuchel’s men, the striker’s prospects of regular first-team football in 2019-20 seemed extremely slim.

But fortune smiled on the loanee, and he has grabbed his chance with both hands.

A spate of early-season injuries to the likes of Neymar and Edinson Cavani thrust Icardi into the spotlight and his enviable goalscoring instincts mean he is now shining on centre-stage.

With seven goals in just eight games so far, the 26-year-old is PSG’s second-top scorer, just behind the phenomenal Kylian Mbappe.

Icardi’s arrival and a brilliant start to the season from Angel Di Maria have been key to the Ligue 1 side’s success, especially in the Champions League, where they have raced to three consecutive wins to lead Group A ahead of Real Madrid, whom they routed 3-0 at the Parc des Princes.

“Icardi is very reliable for us. He scores goals, he is super. He works hard and is very disciplined,” Tuchel beamed to reporters following Icardi’s two-goal haul against Club Brugge in October. “He controls the ball and he is very tactically intelligent.

“Edi [Cavani] also works hard when he plays. We have the talent to play the same way without Edi.”

On-field prowess has admittedly never been an issue for Icardi, of course. For years he almost single-handedly kept an underwhelming Inter side afloat with his prolific goalscoring while those around him floundered, even while taking flak from the stands.

Of course, it is primarily the Argentine’s off-field lifestyle which provokes so many observers. While other players’ private lives generally remain just that, the fact that Icardi married Wanda Nara, the ex-wife of his former team-mate Maxi Lopez, still causes waves.

Wanda also acts as her husband’s agent, another fact that the testosterone-fuelled world of football seems to have a hard time digesting.

The ex-model may be a pushy negotiator and prone to questionable public outbursts on her client’s behalf, but then so are Neymar Sr, Mino Raiola and indeed most of the game’s top representatives, who receive only a fraction of the negative press that sticks to the Icardis.

“I realise it is a taboo that she was married to my ex-team-mate, but we fell in love and you do not choose who you fall in love with,” Maurito explained to Canal +.

“I think that having her as my agent is the best decision for my family and career. I did not hesitate. I am someone who treats men and women equally. I have three sons and two daughters but I treat them the same and give them the same gifts.

“I have been with Wanda for seven years, she is a celebrity and so am I, so we are clearly conscious of what that implies. That does not change my way of thinking or how I play; otherwise, I couldn’t have scored 150 goals at Inter.”

Nor, if Icardi’s early form at PSG is any indication, will it prove any obstacle to hitting the net in France.

He will have another chance to add to his tally on Wednesday as Brugge visit Parc des Princes, where another win would seal early qualification to the Champions League last 16.

His future may have looked bleak at the depths of his Inter hell, but he has responded in the best possible way: with goals, and lots of them.

Now, PSG are already reportedly considering paying the purchase option to turn what has proven a dream transfer to date into a permanent deal.

Icardi stated on Tuesday, “I will do anything to stay here.” Merely continuing to let his football do the talking for once should do the trick.

The Three Lions coach admits the Leicester City star needs to put recent controversy behind him

England manager Gareth Southgate urged James Maddison to become a “low-maintenance” player for the national team.

The uncapped Leicester City star, 22, was named in England’s squad for this month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo.

Maddison, who has three goals and two assists in the Premier League this season, was pictured in a casino after pulling out of the last squad due to illness.

Southgate said the attacker needed to remain focused as he tries to cement a spot in the England setup.

“It’s not a good situation for a player when we’re talking about him in Sofia, and talking about him here and he’s yet to get on the pitch for us,” he told UK newspapers.

“So, that’s the challenge. You want to be high-performance, low-maintenance. I am prepared to work with players who are more difficult but you’re more likely to back those players if they’ve scored a winner for you and sweated blood for you, and that’s the bond you build with those players over a longer period of time.”

England are top of Group A in Euro 2020 qualifying, sitting three points clear of the second-placed Czech Republic.

Maddison could make his England debut this month, but Southgate revealed he felt no need to call the midfielder before his latest call-up.

“I didn’t feel the need to make a special case to call him. I wanted to see whether we would be selecting on form,” he said.

“I think it would be dangerous territory for me to go on a moral crusade over something that I don’t think was a good decision but was in his own time and we had released him from the squad.”

England host Montenegro at Wembley on Thursday before facing Kosovo in Pristina three days later.

Click:全国楼凤论坛

The youngsters he is bringing through should look to emulate the great teams of the past, on and off the field, says the Red Devils boss

 Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged his young Manchester United charges to live quiet lives if they want to maximise their opportunities at the highest level.

The Norwegian has focused on youth this season as he looks to rebuild a United side that has looked incoherent at time after several years of changing managers and bloated spending.

Click Here: cheap rugby league jerseys

Some of the youngsters, some like Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood having come through the ranks, while others like Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James have joined from other teams.

Solskjaer believes they all need to focus on football if they want to follow in the footsteps of famous United players of old, including himself.

‘When you’re a footballer, you should be proper boring,” he told the media ahead of Sunday’s game with Brighton.

“You go to bed, rest, recover and get ready for the next game. You can do all the other stuff after your career.

“In between games from July to the middle of May, football should be your only thought. Then you have a summer holiday to do the other stuff. That’s the way I was – boring. Loads of my team-mates were boring and that’s why we became successful.”

Solskjaer says he can check up on his players through their social media accounts,saying he does so only in their best interests.

“Now it’s impossible for them to do something because I get to know!” he joked.

“I want these boys to get the most out of their career. It is the best feeling in the world when you are part of a winning Manchester United team. That is what we are working for.”

A torrid start to the season sees United enter Sunday in 14th place, six places below the Seagulls, but a win would see the Red Devils go into the international break in seventh, only one point behind Arsenal in sixth.

Solskjaer believes his team’s European performances point the way to the future.

He added “we want to play attacking football like we did in the 3-0 victory against Partizan Belgrade on Thursday. That was an example of how we want to look.”

The Manchester United man picked up an ankle knock against Brighton while his Liverpool counterpart is thought to have a similar issue

Click Here: nrl shops

Scott McTominay and Andy Robertsonr have withdrawn from Scotland duty with injuries as Manchester United and Liverpool fans are left to sweat on their fitness.

McTominay picked up an ankle knock late on as United beat Brighton 3-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday while Robertson’s injury has not been officially confirmed, though early reports suggest that he also has an issue with his ankle and is a doubt for Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace after the international break.

While no return date has been given for McTominay, he has had a scan on his ankle after what looked like an innocuous coming-together with Solly March at the weekend.

He eventually had to be carried down the tunnel on a stretcher and is also a doubt for United’s next few fixtures.

Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser has also pulled out of Steve Clarke’s squad while Leeds United captain Liam Cooper had already withdrawn with a minor groin injury.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have requested that Kieran Tierney remain in north London as he continues to work his way back from a long-term hip problem, with Derby County midfielder Graeme Shinnie and Celtic winger Lewis Morgan called-up as replacements.

Scotland are preparing for their last two Euro 2020 qualifiers against Cyprus and Kazakhstan, though they can now only qualify via the UEFA Nations League play-offs in March.

They narrowly beat Cyprus at Hampden Park back in June – this in Clarke’s first game in charge – but their last game against Kazakhstan ended in a disastrous 3-0 defeat which set the tone for their qualifying campaign.

Since that rare win against Cyprus, Scotland have lost four out of their last five games. Their only win came against San Marino, while they suffered two defeats apiece to Belgium and Russia.

The latest withdrawals are an unwelcome setback for Clarke, with his two best full-backs now absent along with some of his better performers in the midfield.

Speaking ahead of Scotland’s final two qualifiers, Clarke said of his absentees: “I have to focus on the players that come and build a squad that comes committed.”

Asked about Tierney specifically, Clarke said: “It’s a little bit frustrating. It’s obviously frustrating for Kieran as well, but we’ve got good cover in that position.”

The Man City boss enjoyed three trophy-laden years with the Bundesliga giants and rumours have linked him with a return to Bavaria

Joshua Kimmich says he would not be against the return of Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich.

The Manchester City manager is being linked with a possible return to the Allianz Arena at the end of the 2019-20 season.

Guardiola, who was a rumoured target for Juventus before they appointed Maurizio Sarri, is said to be one of Bayern’s top candidates as a permanent successor to Niko Kovac, who left in the wake of the 5-1 Bundesliga defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Although Hansi Flick appears likely to stay on as interim boss for the time being, and perhaps until the end of the season, Kimmich would not be averse to Guardiola’s return next year.

Speaking at a news conference while on Germany duty, the Bayern full-back said: “Regarding Pep Guardiola. I have no idea what Bayern’s plan is with Hansi Flick.

“At first you thought that we would get a new coach after the international break. Now, we won both games with Flick and it sounds like he will stay until winter or even the entire season. What happens then is the business of the club – we players have nothing to do with it.

“But of course, I know [Guardiola] and have a lot to thank him for. He took me from the second division and let me play in the Bundesliga. We won the double together and after that season I became a player for Germany. So, of course, I won’t be against him coming back.”

Kimmich joined from RB Leipzig ahead of 2015-16, Guardiola’s final season in charge of Bayern, and won the domestic double.

In total, Guardiola guided Bayern to three Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup in his three years in charge.

He could not deliver the Champions League, though, losing to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the semi-final stage in each of his three seasons in Germany.

Regardless of Catalan boss’ shortcomings in Europe, Kimmich is not the only Bayern favourite to be open to Guardiola’s return, with Lothar Matthaus telling Bild: “If Bayern want to play possession football, there is no better solution than Guardiola.

“It would be a win for Bayern Munich and for the Bundesliga.”

The 19-year-old made a surprise switch from Juventus to the Toffees ahead of the current season, but has played just 288 minutes in the Premier League

Everton forward Moise Kean made a huge “mistake” moving to Merseyside and should cut short his stay to return to Italy with Roma, claims the player’s father.

The 19-year-old made a surprise switch from Juventus to the Toffees ahead of the current campaign, in what was seen as a major coup for Marco Silva’s side.

However, the Italy international has only made two Premier League starts in total, with just 288 minutes on the field across the opening dozen rounds of the season.

Reports have suggested that the teenager will seek a prospective return to his home country in the new year and now Kean’s reportedly estranged father Jean has weighed in on the matter.

Speaking to Centro Suono Sport, Kean Sr blasted the decision of agent Mino Raiola to take the ex-Bianconeri star to the Premier League, hanging the blame on both him and his ex-wife Isabelle Dehe for doing so.

“Sending my son to England was a mistake, because he’s still too young,” he stated. “He’s not feeling good at Everton, I didn’t like this transfer.

“I hope he can come back to Italy as soon as possible, I hope he goes to Rome, but the important thing is that he comes back here.

“I don’t have a relationship with Raiola, I have never met him, I don’t think he even wants to see me.

“He demanded my son’s power of attorney when he was 14 and together with my ex-wife he wanted to take him to England.

“At Everton, where he is playing now, he is not settling in well. I think he was supposed to wait a few more years before he had an experience abroad.

“If there is a possibility for him to come back to Italy, I hope he can do that, so as not to ruin him.”

Kean was widely seen as one of Europe’s most exciting propsects in Turin, under Massimiliano Allegri, but was allowed to exit after Maurizio Sarri was handed the reins at the Allianz Stadium.

His lack of game-time has however seen him frozen out of the Italian national team, having missed out on selection for their latest Euro 2020 qualifiers, and last featurning against Liechtenstein in March.

Click Here: kenzo men’s new collection

The defender remains in “positive” mood heading into a busy December period which gives the Gunners an opportunity to “set off on a run”

Arsenal have not yet reached “crisis point” and can still secure a place in the Premier League’s top four come May, according to Rob Holding.

The Gunners have slipped to sixth in the top flight standings after 12 fixtures of the 2019-20 season, behind newly-promoted Sheffield United on goal difference.

A 2-0 defeat at Leicester just before the international break left Unai Emery’s men eight points outside the Champions League places, with Southampton set to arrive at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Arsenal manager’s position has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, with some suggesting that the Spaniard is already on borrowed time in the hot seat.

Jose Mourinho was tipped to succeed Emery at the Emirates before taking over at Tottenham on Wednesday, and there are now calls for Mauricio Pochettino to move across north London for his next role in management.

However, Holding has played down the severity of Arsenal’s current plight, with it his belief that a “couple of wins” could see confidence restored within the squad.

“We just need to string a couple of wins together and I think that will lift the confidence again and hopefully set us off on a run,” the Arsenal defender told Sky Sports.

“We just need to stay calm and stay positive. We’re sixth, we’re not a million miles off it.

“We’re going into a busy Christmas period now where there’s going to be three Premier League games a week.

“We’re eight points off the top four but if we have three wins in a week we’re back up within touching distance so it’s not crisis point by any stretch of the imagination. We need to keep calm, keep positive and keep working on what we need to improve on.”

The Arsenal captaincy has been a hot topic of discussion this season, with supporters left divided after Granit Xhaka was awarded the armband following a group vote back in September.

The Swiss international was stripped of his leadership duties less than a month later after reacting angrily to abuse from the Emirates faithful when being substituted during a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has since been named captain, with Xhaka now being tipped to leave the club in January after being dropped from Emery’s squad.

Holding went on to praise Aubameyang for “leading by example on the pitch”, before insisting Xhaka still retains his full support within the dressing room.

“Pierre’s great in the dressing room. He’s such a happy character so everyone is positive around him,” he added.

“He knows how to lift people and he leads by example on the pitch. Having someone like that up front, scoring goals for you always make things easier.

“I’ve never had any problems with Granit and none of the players have ever had any problems with him.

“He’s a great lad to have around the changing rooms and I just think what happened with him was between him and the fans and that is nothing to do with me. I just know I can support the team and support Granit.”

Click Here: gws giants guernsey 2019

Steve Bruce signed the Scotland international when in charge of Aston Villa and is not surprised to see the midfielder generating more transfer talk

John McGinn is at the “level” required to represent Manchester United, says Steve Bruce, the Red Devils legend who took the Scotland international to Aston Villa.

Few in the English Championship knew much about the midfielder when he was lured away from Hibernian for just £2 million in the summer of 2018.

By the end of his debut campaign at Villa he had helped the club to promotion back to the Premier League and was attracting admiring glances from elsewhere.

There was talk of United plotting a £50m ($65m) bid to bring the 25-year-old onto their books.

That speculation refuses to go away, with it suggested that former Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson is eager to see a fellow countryman at Old Trafford.

Bruce, who is now in charge at Newcastle, is not surprised by the rumours as he considers a creative playmaker to be of the necessary standard to represent a truly elite club.

He said when asked if McGinn would be ready for a move to United: “He is that level, yeah.

“From what he has done in 12 months, he can only improve. He scored twice again for Scotland the other night, so that’s six in three games for them.”

Villa were not the only side to have expressed interest in McGinn when an exit door swung open at Easter Road.

Nottingham Forest and Celtic were also heavily linked with an approach, but Bruce won the battle after moving discussions out of football circles.

He added: “A club like Villa – we didn’t have £2m, but in the end we got him.

“How we got him out of Celtic I don’t know because his grandfather was the chairman. It took a couple of games of golf at the Belfry with his dad until we could muster the money together!

“I am delighted for the kid because he is a smashing lad. He has to be one of my best-ever signings because he has a determination to do well.

“I wish I could find a few more like him that’s for sure.”

McGinn registered nine goals and 12 assists for Villa last season, as they secured promotion through the play-offs, and has found the target three times in the Premier League this term.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel will face no further sanctions from the FIA for his on-track clash with Lewis Hamilton in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The German was summoned to the FIA and owned up to the mistake which saw him deliberately ram into Hamilton’s Mercedes after believing the Brit has brake-tested him while the field was preparing to re-start the race after a Safety Car period.

The sport’s governing body said in a statement Vettel had “admitted full responsibility” and “extended his sincere apologies to the FIA and the wider motorsport family.

“In light of these developments, FIA President Jean Todt decided that on this occasion the matter should be closed,” it concluded.

• Rosberg chimes in on Vettel-Hamilton clash

Vettel will however issue a formal public apology and take part in various FIA educational activities.

The four-time world champion was also warned by the FIA that any recurrence of his behaviour will result in an immediate  referral to the FIA’s International Tribunal for further investigation.

“Top level sport is an intense environment in which tempers can flare,” commented FIA President Jean Todt on the outcome of the meeting.

“However, it is the role of top sportsmen to deal with that pressure calmly and to conduct themselves in a manner that not only respects the regulations of the sport but which befits the elevated status they enjoy.

“Sportsmen must be cognisant of the impact their behaviour can have on those who look up to them. They are heroes and role models and to millions of fans worldwide and must conduct themselves accordingly.”

GALLERY: F1 drivers’ wives and girlfriends

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Williams chief technical officer Paddy Lowe has indicated that Paul di Resta might be in with a chance of a full-time return to Formula 1 in 2018.

Di Resta stood in for regular driver Felipe Massa at short notice after the Brazilian fell ill on Saturday morning. With just 90 minutes notice, di Resta qualified in 19th place for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

He went on to have a smooth, incident-free race on Sunday before being forced to retire with technical issues shortly before the finish. The 31-year-old Scot was commended for his coolness in quickly adapting to the situation.

“I was cautious and just wanted to keep my nose clean,” di Resta said after the race. “It would have been nice to finish without the oil leak. But overall I’m not too dissatisfied with where I was, given how little running I’d had.”

“I think he’s done his reputation no end of good this weekend,” said an impressed Lowe, who agreed that di Resta deserved consideration for a race seat next season.

“We’re very open-minded about what we’re going to do for next year anyway. Being open-minded, we’ll consider all options.

“I noticed that Mercedes said they might give him the same call,” he added. “And that’s the situation.”

• ‘Plenty of potential’ for Williams super-sub di Resta

However, the reality is that it’s a crowded drivers market at the moment. Williams is almost certain to retain Lance Stroll next season, and the chances are that Massa will also stay on.

“We’ve got a bit of a problem on the horizon with a lack of destinations for drivers that don’t quite make it into Formula 1,” Lowe admitted.

“We have unfortunately got the prospect of less destinations for accomplished drivers in the future.”

Di Resta previously competed for Force India between 2011 and 2013, starting a total of 58 starts. He subsequently moved to DTM with the Mercedes-affiliated HWA team, and became Williams’ reserve driver in 2016.

Ironically, di Resta had already been providing sick cover during the weekend on the media side. He was filling in for Sky Sports F1 co-commentator Martin Brundle, who fell ill at the previous Grand Prix at Silverstone and was still recovering at home.

 
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter