MOURINHO: I FEEL WEAKER WITHOUT FELLAINI

Mourinho cited the absence of the Belgian as a reason for United’s dropped points against Stoke on Saturday and is desperate to have him back

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that he "feels weaker" without the presence of Marouane Fellainiin his first-team squad.Fellaini has endured a mixed time at Old Trafford since signing from Everton in 2013, but the 29-year-old has emerged as a trusted member of the senior setup in the North-West.

Fellaini was absent from the 2-2 draw with Stoke City on Saturday and remains a doubt for the Champions League opener with Basel due to a calf injury, but Mourinho has suggested that the versatile Belgian will be involved if passed fit by the medical team.
The 54-year-old told reporters: "He's an important player for me - a lot more important than you can imagine.
"I feel weaker without Fellaini in my squad, doesn't matter if it's on the pitch or on the bench. If his conditions are improved, he will be selected, I need him."

Mourinho also confirmed that his central defensive pair will be Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof, who is yet to start a competitive game for United.

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The Atletico star spoke of his admiration for Lionel Messi as a man but revealed that he's never asked for the Argentine's shirt

The Atletico star spoke of his admiration for Lionel Messi as a man but revealed that he's never asked for the Argentine's shirt

The Atletico star spoke of his admiration for Lionel Messi as a man but revealed that he's never asked for the Argentine's shirt
Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is not worthy of winning the Ballon d’Or again this year.
The Real Madrid attacker has claimed the individual prize on four occasions previously, including in 2016, and is red-hot favourite to lift the award once again after helping his side to the Champions League and Spanish titles in 2016-17.

However, the Brazilian left-back has suggested that there are more consistent candidates than the Portuguese, who failed to help his side to Confederations Cup success in Russia during the summer.

“The Ballon d'Or is a subjective matter,” he told Panenka. “Cristiano hasn't done anything until the last two months.”

Meanwhile, he also spoke about the challenge of playing Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and had words of praise for the 30-year-old.

“I admire Messi, he’s never complained to me in any game we played but I've also never asked him for his jersey and never would. I came to win, not to say I played against Messi,” he said.

Filipe’s Atletico Madrid team-mate Antoine Griezmann came third in the 2016 edition, placing behind the Portuguese and the Argentine.

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OTHER CLUBS OFFERED MORE FOR MBAPPE, CLAIMS PSG PRESIDENT

The ex-Monaco teenager and Neymar arrived at Parc des Princes over the summer, and Nasser al-Khelaifi says the club's commercial profile is booming

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has claimed that the club fought off fierce competition for the signature of Kylian Mbappe but eventually landed the wonderkid for less than their rivals offered.
Mbappe became PSG's second blockbuster signing of the summer shortly before deadline day when he signed on a one-year loan from Monaco.

Once the Ligue 1 giants exercise their purchase option at the end of the current season, the potential €180 million fee will see the 18-year-old become the world's most expensive teenager — and second only after Neymar in the history of football transfers.
Al-Khelaifi, however, now assures that there were other clubs, whom he declined to name, who were willing to pay even more for Mbappe.
"It was very competitive, trust me," Al-Khelaifi explained to the Telegraph.
"Some other clubs offered him more than us. Every big club wanted him. But we explained to him our project and the ambition of the club and he's French, he's a Parisian and he had the club in his heart.
"He wanted to stay in France and defends the French colours in the Champions League. It's deep inside him.
"He wants to write history here and he has history here already — you saw the pictures of him [at his unveiling] when he was here 10 years ago? A picture does not lie. He loves the club and it's his dream to play for Paris Saint-Germain."

Some observers have questioned how PSG have managed to complete the signings of Neymar and Mbappe while staying inside UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations, with calls for the European governing body to look in to the transfers.
But the PSG president rejects the notion of financial wrongdoing while affirming that the deals are part of an ambitious project to expand the PSG brand worldwide.
"There is pressure from other clubs [to investigate] but I don’t think Uefa will be influenced by the pressure because they are very professional and very serious," he said.
"Today we have a good problem to solve — we don't have enough jerseys! This is huge for us.
"I was in the US last week and I saw the jersey of Paris Saint-Germain everywhere. It is the same in Asia and Latin America, the Middle East."

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Arsene Wenger insists expiring contracts are an 'ideal situation' for Arsenal

Arsene Wenger rejects the notion that he faces a major issue at Arsenal due to a number of his first-team players entering the final year of their contracts, claiming it is "an ideal situation".

Arsenal's star players Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are both yet to sign extensions to their deals beyond next summer while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs could also leave on a free in 12 months time.

However, Wenger suggested that all of his players will perform to their maximum level regardless of how long they have remaining on their contracts.

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Jose Mourinho: Marouane Fellaini not leaving Manchester United

Jose Mourinho has dismissed speculation that Marouane Fellaini could leave Manchester United for Galatasaray, saying he is "too important".

Fellaini has a year left on his contract and, with Nemanja Matic seemingly on his way to Old Trafford, might face more of a fight for a starting role next season.

He has been linked with a move to Galatasaray, but, after Fellaini scored in a 3-0 pre-season win over Valerenga on Sunday, Mourinho was clear in his stance on the midfielder.

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Jose Mourinho says Nemanja Matic wants Manchester United move

Jose Mourinho says Nemanja Matic wants "very much" to leave Chelsea and join Manchester United.

Sky sources understand the United hierarchy have agreed a £40m fee for Matic, who made 40 appearances in all competitions last season, and hope to complete a deal in the coming days.

The 28-year-old Serbia international defensive midfielder would be United's third summer signing following the arrivals of defender Victor Lindelof and striker Romelu Lukaku.

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AC Milan chairman has revealed the club have spoken to Diego Costa's agent

AC Milan chairman Marco Fassone has revealed that he has spoken with Diego Costa's agent Jorge Mendes.

Costa, who recently uploaded a video to his Instagram account of himself doing some improvised training on a Brazilian beach, was omitted from Chelsea's pre-season tour of Asia by Blues boss Antonio Conte.

When asked about the former Atletico Madrid forward, Fassone told Sky Sports: "I would prefer to avoid talking about players from other teams; Diego Costa is a great player, but a Chelsea player.

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