Atletico Madrid have revealed both Diego Godin and Augusto Fernandez suffered knee ligament injuries in Saturday’s defeat to Barcelona.
Fernandez was substituted with 15 minutes remaining in the 2-1 loss, with Atleti already down to nine men after Godin followed Filipe Luis in being sent off.
The Uruguay defender had also suffered an injury early in the game, though, as his club revealed in a statement on their official website yesterday.
No timescale was placed on either player’s recovery.
Wenger wants Elneny to be more physical
Arsene Wenger says new signing Mohamed Elneny must adapt quickly to the physical challenges presented by English football.
Elneny, who arrived from Basel in a £5 million deal last month, made his Arsenal debut in their 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Burnley on Saturday.
“I felt he started a bit cautious and played a bit secure,” said Wenger of the midfielder.
“But he became more adventurous and his workrate was exceptional.
“It will take him some time to adjust to the power side of our game here but his mobility and the technical level are good.”
Terry to leave at end of season
Chelsea captain John Terry has announced he will leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season after the club decided not to renew his contract.
The 35-year-old defender has spent his entire career at Chelsea. He was informed prior to last week’s win over Arsenal.
He said: “It’s not going to be a fairytale ending, I’m not going to retire at Chelsea.”
Chelsea have endured a season of struggle and now their skipper will be moving on.
Terry added: “Ideally I would have loved to stay, but the club’s moving in a different direction.
“Really… it took me a couple of days to get over it.”
Tunisian Khazri joins Sunderland
Sunderland have signed Tunisia international Wahbi Khazri from French club Bordeaux for an undisclosed fee.
The 24-year-old midfielder has put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year deal and is Sunderland’s fifth signing during the current transfer window.
“Wahbi is a quick, dynamic attacking player,” manager Sam Allardyce told reporters.
“He has many attributes, not least his delivery from wide areas and set pieces and of course his ability to score goals.”
Khazri started out at Bastia and in 2014 moved on to French rivals Bordeaux, for whom he made over 50 appearances.
He has scored six goals in 13 appearances for Tunisia since making his debut in 2013.
Iheanacho poised for promotion
Manuel Pellegrini has dropped the biggest hint yet he will include Kelechi Iheanacho in Manchester City’s Champions League squad.
The manager is ready to select the 19-year-old after the striker’s treble in their 4-0 FA Cup win at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Iheanacho was omitted from City’s UEFA Champions League squad for the group stages but with Samir Nasri injured he is likely to replace the midfielder ahead of tomorrow’s registration dead-line.
Pellegrini said: “It’s a decision we are going to take before the last date. Of course he pushes a lot. We need him because we have players injured.
“I see him working every day so I know what he can do.”
AS Monaco sign defender Jemerson
AS Monaco have signed Brazilian defender Jemerson from Atletico Mineiro.
The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the principality side after the two clubs agreed a fee reported to be in the region of €10 million.
Jemerson, who has been given the number five shirt, told his new club’s website: “I am very proud to sign for AS Monaco.
“This is a big club where a lot of great players have come through, and I’ll be doing all I can to be one of them.”
Jemerson’s arrival could be timely for Leonardo Jardim’s side after they conceded three goals in Saturday’s defeat to Angers.
Monaco face Bastia tomorrow and in-form Nice next weekend.
Denis bids farewell to Atalanta fans
German Denis has bid an emotional goodbye to Atalanta’s fans after his goalscoring swansong with the club.
The Argentinian netted a penalty in La Dea’s 1-1 draw with Sassuolo on Saturday, after which he stayed on the field to accept the crowd’s acclaim ahead of a return to his former club Independiente.
“I want to enjoy the last moments in the stadium,” he told the Stadio Atleti Azzurri D’Italia faithful.
“I have enjoyed some great times here but it is now time for my family and me to return to Argentina. I leave Bergamo to go home.”
Denis, 34, scored 56 goals in 152 games for Atalanta.