‘Do you think you’re Messi?’
Edinson Cavani’s relationship with Neymar was reportedly strained from the moment the former uttered those words upon the latter’s arrival at PSG. Spanish newspaper El Pais, via the Daily Mail, claim this first exchange occurred when Neymar first walked into the dressing room after his move from Barcelona. The pair have since fallen out over free-kick and penalty-taking duties, which leads us neatly to…
PSG rubbish Cavani penalty bonus claims
Monday morning brought with it the news that PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi had offered Cavani a €1m bonus to NOT take penalties, and leave that duty to Neymar. The reports also suggested Cavani had rejected this offer, but now the Parisian outfit are firmly denying that any such deal was made – the Independent reports.
Paper Round’s view: My, my. The public fallout continues, and despite Dani Alves’ best attempts to paper over the cracks, this one isn’t going to lie down anytime soon. Every look, every non-pass, every exchange is going to be scrutinised and replayed and photographed in the coming weeks. Think Alexis Sanchez (see below) and every time he makes a slightly-exasperated face, but times that by two. The cameras won’t know which way to face.
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez reactsReuters
Alexis SanchezGetty Images
Arsenal’s Chilean striker Alexis SanchezGetty Images
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£155m Dybala to Man Utd?
Manchester United are planning a £155m move for Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, according to The Sun. The Argentine has already scored 12 goals in eight matches for the Serie A outfit and boasts the best goals-per-minute ratio of any player in Europe’s top five leagues this season. The 23-year-old does not have a release clause, but any deal would have to smash the amount United paid for Dybala’s once-Juventus team-mate Paul Pogba.
Dybala Pogba – Juvenuts-Sampdoria – Serie A 2015/2016 – LaPresseEurosport
Paper Round’s view: So they’re going to get Antoine Griezmann and Dybala while also accommodating Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku? Something has to give, and this seems rather far-fetched, but get Agent Paul on the case and perhaps anything is possible.
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Utd target three extensions
Manchester United will look to complete contract extensions for Rashford, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini before the January transfer window opens, the Independent reports. Jose Mourinho is keen for the trio to put pen to paper soon to avoid it becoming a distraction later in the season.
Paper Round’s view: Even though Rashford’s current deal runs until 2020, Mourinho is keen to reward the youngster, and rightly so. Herrera may be concerned by his lack of Premier League game-time so far this season – just 118 minutes over six matches – and could be more reluctant to sign at this present time, especially with Fellaini ahead of him in the pecking order.
