Danny Welbeck’s last-minute winner for Arsenal against Leicester City in February was the most talked about moment of the Premier League title race on Twitter.
The goal, which gave Arsenal a 2-1 victory and appeared a crucial result at the time, attracted 51,000 tweets per minute.
Leicester’s fairytale season has captured the imagination of sports fans around the world and 33,000 tweets a minute were sent when Jamie Vardy broke the Premier League record in November by scoring in an 11th consecutive game.
Zamparini punished
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has been fined and suspended by the Italian Football Federation for comments he made about FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The FIGC has banned the 75-year-old for 20 days and fined him €18,000 for what the governing body said were “damaging statements” towards Infantino, who was elected FIFA president in February.
Palermo have also been fined €18,000.
Howe committed to Bournemouth
Eddie Howe insists he remains fully committed to Bournemouth amid reports suggesting he could be the next Everton manager.
Asked if he would be interested in succeeding Roberto Martinez should he leave Everton, Howe told reporters: “I don’t think I have to reaffirm my commitment here every week. I love it here and I’m committed to the job.
“You’ve got to win games to stay in work and I’m fully committed to this job here.
“It’s a very difficult profession and you’re judged constantly every week on your results, on a lot of aspects of your job. It’s very tough at this level.”
Chinese group offers €700m for Milan
A group of Chinese investors has offered to buy Milan, one of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s most cherished assets, two sources familiar with the matter said yesterday.
The offer values the club at around €700 million including debt, one of the sources said.
Berlusconi, whose family holding company Fininvest owns the Serie A club, has been looking for a buyer for a minority stake for more than a year without reaching a deal.
The identities of the Chinese investors, who first expressed interest in buying the club last year, were not immediately clear.
“The offer is 700 million euros for the whole club, including debt. They want 70 per cent now and the rest in a year or a year and a half,” the first source said.
The second source said formal talks can only begin with the approval of Berlusconi, who is reluctant to sell a majority stake.
Ranieri to get £5m if Foxes win league
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri will earn a five million pound bonus if his team win the Premier League title, reports said yesterday.
Ranieri also has a separate clause in his contract that guarantees him £100,000 for every place that his team finish above 18th, which will see him earn £1.7m if the Foxes come first.
When Ranieri took charge of Leicester in the close season, he was tasked with keeping the team in the Premier League.
Ranieri asked for clauses of his own, granting him incentives if the club qualified for the Europa League, the Champions League or won the Premier League.
He currently earns about £1.5m a year and is in discussions over a new Leicester contract.
Inter in talks with China’s Suning
Inter are in talks with up to four potential investors including Chinese retailer Suning Commerce Group Co Ltd, China Daily reported yesterday.
Inter received a 12-person delegation from Suning headed by chairman Zhang Jindong last week, club chief spokesman Robert Faulkner was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
The purpose of the visit was to discuss a “strategic partnership” including possible capital investment and opportunities for the club in China.
Suning, who own Jiangsu Suning soccer club, are also interested in Inter’s academy structure and training centre.
Pochettino extends Tottenham contract
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has agreed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2021.
The Argentine has become one of the most feted coaches in the English game after guiding Spurs into second place in the Premier League.
“I believe in this project and this club. I want to stay here,” Pochettino told reporters.
“It was an easy decision when you feel the love of the people.”
Tottenham will consider the 44-year-old’s contract extension a real coup as Pochettino’s name has been linked with major clubs around Europe, including Manchester United and PSG.