Marco Giampaolo has been rewarded with a new contract after leading Sampdoria into the top half of Serie A.
After a single season at Empoli, 49-year-old Giampaolo joined Samp as Vincenzo Montella’s successor, in a summer that followed a serious flirtation with relegation at the Marassi.
Swiss-born Giampaolo, who has steered the Blucerchiati to ninth place with eight games of the campaign remaining, has signed a contract tying him to the Genoese club until June 2020.
CL final under closed roof?
The 2017 Champions League final in Cardiff could be played under a closed roof for the first time.
UEFA will make the decision closer to the June 3 final at the Principality Stadium, local organising committee officials told a Champions League media briefing. The roof of the 74,500-capacity stadium has been closed in the past for Wales rugby internationals, but shutting it for European club football’s showpiece event would see UEFA break new ground.
More than 170,000 people are expected to arrive in Wales for the June 3 final, with the women’s Champions League final being held at the Cardiff City Stadium two days earlier.
Rafinha injury blow for Barcelona
Barcelona midfielder Rafinha will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his knee injury.
The 24-year-old Brazil international went under the knife on Friday after suffering meniscus damage during the first half of Barcelona’s 4-1 win at Granada last Sunday.
Rafinha, who has scored seven goals in 28 appearances for treble-chasing Barcelona this season, is expected to be out of action until August.
It means he will miss the Copa del Rey final against Alaves, the end of the league campaign and the Champions League final if the Catalan team get there.
Juventus to bid €80m for Verratti
Gazzetta dello Sport reported yesterday that Italian champions Juventus will be tabling an offer of €80m to get midfielder Marco Verratti from Paris St Germain in the summer transfer window.
The Parisian club have already turned down offers for the Italy international but Juve’s new interest could convince the Ligue I champions to part with their prized asset in the off-season.
Gazzetta said Juve could also turn their attentions to Lyon playmaker Corentin Tolisso but their priority remains Verratti whose agent, Donato Di Campli, has a good rapport with the Turin giants.
Inter and Bayern Munich are also showing interest in Verratti but if he decides to move his likely destination will be Juventus.
£174 million on agents’ fees
Premier League clubs paid £174 million to agents in the past two transfer windows with Chelsea and Manchester City the biggest spenders, the English FA said.
Overall, England’s clubs spent £220 million on agents from February 2, 2016 to January 31, 2017, a rise of 38 per cent. Premier League clubs had splashed out £130 million on agents’ fees in the corresponding year earlier period.
City topped the agents pay league with £26.3 million, followed by Chelsea (25.1 million), Manchester United (19 million), Liverpool (13.8 million) and Arsenal (10.2 million).
LA Galaxy break their duck
Goals from Romain Alessandrini and Jermaine Jones powered Los Angeles Galaxy to a 2-0 win over Montreal Impact yesterday.
Alessandrini scored for the third time in two outings from Emmanuel Boateng’s cut-back after 15 minutes, while Jones wrapped up the points with his first Galaxy goal on 74 minutes.
The result was Galaxy’s second win from their opening five matches – and first at home – but Montreal remain winless having drawn three of their first five fixtures.