Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has revealed he cried when his move to Manchester United fell through, but insists he never wanted to leave Spain.
The Costa Rica international was set to head to Old Trafford as part of a deadline day swap deal on August 31, which would have seen David de Gea going the other way, until paperwork complications scuppered the trade.
“I cried that night when I found out I was staying, it was a build-up of emotions. I didn’t want to leave,” Navas said.
“My agent told me to be alert to my phone. We had to go to Barajas, although I never actually got on a plane.
“I thought that if God wanted me to leave Madrid, it would be for the best, but he didn’t want me to.”
Blanc calls for severe sanctions
Paris SG coach Laurent Blanc has called for “very severe” sanctions after crowd trouble marred Marseille’s clash with Lyon.
The match, which finished 1-1, was delayed for more than 20 minutes in the second half as Marseille fans, whose team were trailing at the time, threw objects including bottles onto the field.
Blanc said: “It’s not the first time and we need strong enough decisions to eradicate this.
“Not suppress it, eradicate it. You have to be very severe.
“Unfortunately, this happens at very high-profile matches. Do not think it is just Marseille, it happens at all grounds.”
Chelsea doctor leaves after Mourinho row
Doctor Eva Carneiro has left Premier League champions Chelsea in the wake of last month’s public spat with manager Jose Mourinho, according to several media reports yesterday.
The club would not confirm the reports. “Afraid I cannot comment on internal staffing matters,” a spokesman told Reuters.
The Gibraltar-born doctor and physio Jon Fearn upset Mourinho by going on to the pitch to treat playmaker Eden Hazard during the league opener against Swansea, a game at Stamford Bridge that ended in a 2-2 draw.
It meant Hazard had to leave the field, putting Chelsea temporarily down to nine men as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had already been sent off.
Verona’s Toni out for two months
Veteran Verona striker Luca Toni has been ruled out for up to two months with a knee injury.
The 38-year-old former Italy international picked up the knock during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Atalanta and was taken off after just 25 minutes.
“Testing that was performed on the player Luca Toni showed a second degree lesion of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Recovery times are estimated approximately eight weeks,” the club said on their website.
Liverpool’s Benteke to undergo scan
Liverpool striker Christian Benteke is set to undergo scan after sustaining a hamstring injury during their 1-1 draw to Norwich on Sunday, first team coach Gary McAllister has said.
The Belgium international, who was withdrawn at half-time against the Canaries due to tightness in his hamstring, has scored two goals for the club.
McAllister also confirmed captain Jordan Henderson had a successful operation on his broken metatarsal.
“Christian will have an MRI scan today and hopefully they’ll find the problem -- he’s got a little problem with his hamstring,” McAllister said.
Van Dijk calls for Saints response
Virgil van Dijk has called on his Southampton team mates to bounce back after their 3-2 Premier League defeat by Manchester United at the weekend when they take on MK Dons in the third round of the League Cup tonight.
Southampton were outfoxed by Louis Van Gaal’s team at St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday, as two goals from Anthony Martial and one from Juan Mata sent United up to second in the table and the Saints down to 16th.
“Losing is always a terrible feeling,” the 24-year-old said.
“I think from defeats you learn the most and that’s what we’re going to do as well.
“We’re going to talk about it, we’re going to discuss what we need to do better and we’re going to bounce back – that’s what’s going to happen,” he added.
Everton shun Mirallas appeal
Kevin Mirallas will miss the League Cup tie against Reading tonight and Premier League games against West Brom and Liverpool after Everton decided not to appeal against the red card he received against Swansea.
Mirallas was shown a straight red for a tackle on Modou Barrow two minutes after coming on as a substitute during the 0-0 draw at the Liberty Stadium.
“The truth was it was his (Mirallas’) first challenge, his first action in the game, and it looks worse than it actually is,” manager Roberto Martinez said.
“It’s a harsh red card... (but) to be able to appeal and get the decision overturned is difficult. I don’t think we have a chance.”