Monday’s latest stories from the world of football in ESPN FC’s What’s Trending…
ARSENAL: Chief executive Ivan Gazidis has claimed the Gunners made “a clear statement of our ambitions” by keeping Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, and denied that the club are too focused on profits.
MAN UNITED: Phil Jones has backed Manchester United teammate Marcus Rashford to become “a world-beater.”
– Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been included in the Manchester United squad for the Champions League, raising the prospect the striker could return to action ahead of schedule.
LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will be without Nathaniel Clyne for “some time” due to his lingering back issue.
Brendan Rodgers has spoken about the “draining” job that is being Liverpool manager, which forced him to take a break from football.
BARCELONA: President Josep Maria Bartomeu has said that Lionel Messi’s contract renewal is effectively already signed and rejected fears a club could trigger the €300 million buyout clause in the new deal.
– Borussia Dortmund defender Marc Bartra has described Ousmane Dembele as a “very talented” player but appealed to fans to be patient as the France international settles in at the club.
ATLETICO MADRID: Diego Simeone has committed to a new contract until 2020, the club have announced.
PSG: Julian Draxler has accepted that he faces competition for a role in Unai Emery’s Paris Saint-Germain starting XI after the arrivals of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and is relishing the challenge of establishing himself as a key figure in an overcrowded attack.
– Hatem Ben Arfa’s lawyer has claimed that the player has no idea why he is being made to feel so unwanted by Paris Saint-Germain.
BELGIUM: Romelu Lukaku said he took the opportunity to get his own back on “irritating” Greece fans in Sunday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier through his goal celebration.
ITALY: Gianluigi Buffon says he will not be affected by criticism of his performance against Spain on Saturday, saying he has been written off for years.
ENGLAND: Dele Alli says his middle-finger salute during England’s win over Slovakia was aimed at his teammate Kyle Walker in jest and not the referee.
UNITED STATES: Bruce Arena said that current U.S. immigration policy is being used as a rallying point by the U.S. team’s World Cup qualifying opponents, including Honduras.
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