Robin Van Persie blasts Louis Van Gaal

Former Manchester United star Robin Van Persie has been opening up on how his time at the club came to an end.

In an interview, the Dutchman reveals the brutal manner in which his compatriot Louis Van Gaal ended his United career.

Van Persie sensationally moved from Arsenal to United in 2012 to fulfil his dream of playing under Sir Alex Ferguson. He hit the ground running, bagging 30 goals in his first season and helping the Red Devils to bring home the Premier League trophy, as per iSports football data API.

However, Sir Alex retired at the end of that season and Van Persie could not reach the same heights under David Moyes and Ryan Giggs the following term, although he still netted 18 times in an injury-ridden year.

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He then spent a season under Van Gaal but struggled to adapt to the new manager’s more possession-oriented playing style. He scored just 12 goals in 31 games in 2014/15, according to football livedata provider iSports API and it was at the end of that season when Van Gaal wielded the axe.

‘I had this chat with Louis van Gaal and he told me: “Ok Robin, our ways will part. I’m the coach, you’re the player – you have to go, your time is up” the striker recalled.

‘I was like: “Yeah but I still have a contract?” He said: “I don’t care”.’

‘Ruthless. Towards the end of it, I saw something coming but not this ruthless. And the way he said it as well. My kids are going to school, they have their friends and everything. So in like a split second, all these things come across. How do you react to that?

‘I said: “We will see what happens. That’s your opinion. But I have a contract and I’m happy in England at Manchester United. So we will see what happens”. And I stood up, shook his hand and left it.’

‘That ruthless, that hard, that direct. And then loads of things came through my mind and we started pre-season. I wasn’t allowed to play in the 11 vs 11 and I was given a ball and told to do my own stuff. So you try to stay calm, stay cool but there’s loads of things happening. You’re playing the macho card “It doesn’t affect me”, but it does. It does affect me, my family and my career. Big time.’

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World-Class Defender to Reject PSG in Favor of Premier League

After Paris Saint-Germain was named as one of the clubs that could realistically sign Kalidou Koulibaly, the Napoli defender reportedly prefers to play in England or remain in Italy, as per iSports football livescore API.

According to French media, Koulibaly is reluctant to join PSG this summer even if the club submits a significant offer for his services.

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Koulibaly instead prefers a move to the Premier League with Manchester City and Manchester United the two clubs thought to have the best chance of landing the Senegal international. Also ahead of PSG is the chance of Napoli retaining the 28-year-old.

Accoding to football data provider iSports API, with Thiago Silva expected to leave PSG at the end of the season when his contract expires, PSG could use an upgrade at the center-back position but not signing Koulibaly isn’t the end of the world.

Against Borussia Dortmund, Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos proved they can combine to silence one of the most potent attacks and I feel most supporters are comfortable with that duo at center-back moving forward.

As I outline in my preview of the 2020-21 squad, the money that would be spent on Koulibaly could be instead used to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić.

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Real Madrid Planning a Move For English Superstar

Real Madrid could make a big-money move for Tottenham Hotspurstriker Harry Kane in the summer transfer window. The Englishman has come through the ranks at the North London club to become one of their most important players.

According to local news media, the Spanish side’s President Florentino Perez wants to bring Harry Kane to Santiago Bernabéu in the summer. But, the report states that it will be difficult to prise the English international from Spurs as manager Jose Mourinho is a big fan of him, while Chairman Daniel Levy will not let him leave easily.

Harry Kane’s current deal with the club expires only in 2024 which puts Spurs in the driving seat if Kane does want to leave. The Englishman is third in the list of all-time topscorers for the club, having scored 181 goals in 278 appearances for the club in all competitions, as per iSports football livescore API.

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Then, will Harry Kane be a good fit for Real Madrid?

Real Madrid made a big move last summer when they signed young Luka Jovic for around €60 million from Eintracht Frankfurt. But, the Serbian international has been poor for the Spanish giants, scoring just twice in 24 appearances for the club. Madrid are a club that does not offer too many opportunities, and the 22-year-old could be on his way out in the summer.

Manager Zinedine Zidane has had to rely heavily on experienced striker Karim Benzema throughout the season, who has scored 19 times in 36 appearances in all competitions for the club. But, Madrid can’t depend only on Benzema to score the goals and will need to bring in a player who can score 20+ goals apart from the Frenchman, as per football data provider iSports livescore API.

Harry Kane would be a great addition to the Real Madrid squad, which has lacked goals since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Last season, Benzema was the top scorer for Madrid with 30 goals, 21 of those which came in the league, followed by Gareth Bale, who scored 14 goals, 8 of which came in the league, according to football livescore provider iSports API. Those numbers aren’t good enough for a side like Real Madrid, who need at least 2-3 players to score 10-15+ league goals every season.

The only problem that Zidane may have is how both Benzema and Kane can play in the same team as the Madrid manager currently plays with just one central striker. He could perhaps move to a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Eden Hazard playing behind the two central strikers, i.e. Kane and Benzema. This would be a lethal strikeforce that could torment most defences in Europe.

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Chinese Basketball Association postpones restart until at least July

The Chinese Basketball Association is facing another setback in its efforts to resume play in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is reported that league officials met overnight to discuss the fate of its season, which has been on hold since Jan. 24 according to basketball data provider iSports APPI, and elected to postpone its schedule again, this time until at least July.

The CBA had been scheduled to resume play on April 15, and teams had taken steps to call back American players. But on March 30, the General Administration of Sports -- an arm of the Chinese government -- issued a wide-ranging ban on large-scale sporting gatherings due to concerns with containment of the virus, as pei iSport basketball API.

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Further complicating matters is the entry ban that was implemented by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in late March on all non-citizens, including residents and foreigners with previously issued visas. Several players were unable to enter China, leaving many CBA rosters without one or both of the allotted import players.

No final decision on the CBA's season can be made without government clearance, which won't happen until mid-May at the earliest. The possibility of canceling the remainder of the season is still in play.

The CBA's ability to return to normalcy will be closely monitored by sporting leagues across the globe, including the NBA and EuroLeague, which are both postponed indefinitely.

According to Chinese media outlet Xinhua, CBA CEO Wang Dawei will take a 35% pay cut, and other executives will also reduce salary to help ease financial pressure.

Caught in limbo are more than a dozen Americans who returned to China and have finished their 14-day quarantine period. CBA teams have been conducting basketball activities in varying formats, some with full-contact practices and others through social distancing methods. Several player representatives told they've been informed that teams will look to extend contracts and put players on retainer in hopes of resuming play in July, while others may send foreign players home while waiting to see if reopening is likely.

CBA contracts are considered some of the most lucrative in professional basketball, which can make for a difficult decision for Americans. Considering the Foreign Ministry's ban on incoming travel from non-citizens, returning to China in June may prove impossible for those now leaving the country. Some of the top players in the CBA told they intend to stay in China as long as they are receiving salaries, rather than conducting two additional 14-day quarantines.

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Man United's Sanchez won't take pay-cut to leave

Alexis Sanchez will stick it out at Manchester United rather than leave in a cut-price deal in the next transfer window. Sanchez is spending the season on loan at Inter Milan with United paying a portion of the 31-year-old's salary, according to iSports API football data.

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He would be open to making the move permanent but the Italian side have reservations because of the cost of any potential deal.

Sanchez still has two years remaining on his £500,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford and is reluctant to accept reduced terms, even if it helped to facilitate a move away.

United are aware that the terms of the deal -- agreed when Sanchez arrived in January 2018 -- will make it hard to find a buyer in the summer and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been told he may have to include him in the squad for next season.

Sanchez's preference is to leave United after a disastrous spell during which he only managed just five goals in 45 appearances but accepts he may have to see out his contract, which runs until June 2022, as per football live data provider iSports API.

Sanchez joined Inter in August but injury has seen him restricted to 15 appearances in all competitions, scoring once, as per iSports football API.

If he is forced to stay at United, the former Barcelona and Arsenal star is likely to find first team opportunities even harder to come by.

Solskjaer is determined to revamp his forward line ahead of the new season, with priority placed on securing a right winger, centre forward and an attacking midfielder. Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Harry Kane are among the names in the frame.

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Man United renew interest in Juventus defender De Ligt

Manchester United are prepared to make a renewed bid to sign Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt this summer if the Italian club are ready to listen to offers for the Netherlands international.

De Ligt rejected interest from United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain last summer before completing a €75 million move from Ajax to Juventus as per iSports API, after he captained the Dutch champions during their run to the Champions League semifinals last season.

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But, after signing a five-year deal at Juventus, the 20-year-old has been in and out of the team under coach Maurizio Sarri. According to football data provider iSports API, the defender has started 17 of the club's 26 games in Serie A prior to the shutdown due to the coronavirus crisis in Italy earlier this month.

It's said that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to recruit a centre-back this summer, and the club have already drawn up a list of potential targets, including Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly.

De Ligt, who earns a £210,000-a-week at Juventus as per iSports football API, is regarded as having the perfect profile for Solskjkaer's United in terms of his age, versatility and character.

There is an acceptance, however, that Juventus are unlikely to sanction the sale of De Ligt after just one year in Turin unless the player seeks a move after a frustrating campaign at the club.

But, should the Italian outfit be prepared to sell the defender, United are ready to make a second attempt to sign the player.

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Garay first positive La Liga player, Valencia confirm five Coronavirus cases

Valencia's Argentinian defender Ezequiel Garay is the first La Liga player to test positive for the coronavirus, as the Spanish club confirmed they have five positive cases.

Garay, 33, who underwent surgery to repair an ACL injury last month, according to football data provider iSports API, announced on Sunday on social media he is in isolation. 

He posted a photograph on Instagram, smiling and giving a thumbs-up with the message: "It's clear that I started 2020 on the wrong foot.

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"I've tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and it's now a case of following what the health authorities recommend, for the time being to be isolated."

Valencia later wrote a statement, which explained the club had five confirmed cases of club members having tested positive for COVID-19.

La Liga declared last week that Spain's first and second divisions had been suspended for at least the next two rounds because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Real Madrid players have been in quarantine since Thursday after one of the club's basketball players tested positive.

Spain, the European country with the second-highest number of cases after Italy, called a state of emergency on Saturday.

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Barcelona complete surprise Martin Braithwaite signing from Leganes

Barcelona have completed the surprise signing of Leganes' Martin Braithwaite after being given permission to bring in a forward outside the transfer window.

Braithwaite, 28, has signed until 2024 and could make his debut on Saturday against Eibar after Barcelona paid his €18 million release clause, according to iSports . His new release clause at Barcelona is €300m, while Leganes, battling to avoid relegation in La Liga, will not be able to sign a replacement.

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Speaking about the transfer, Leganes sporting director Martin Ortega said: "We understood the 'emergency' rule was only used in cases where both clubs agreed. This goes against the idea of all clubs being equal. We'll try everything in a situation where we've been damaged irreparably.

"Barca have acted in correct manner. They contacted us Monday, and the only option was to pay the clause. We cannot hold it against them as they used the rules which currently exist. But we don't think the rules are fair.

"We hope that the federation will allow us to sign a player. We will try everything to be able to do this."

Barca were given permission to turn to the transfer market by La Liga after losing Ousmane Dembele to injury for the rest of the season, but the same rule does not exist for clubs who see a player leave through their release clause.

Barca had previously explored the possibility of signing Real Sociedad's Willian Jose, Real Betis' Loren Moron, Alaves' Lucas Perez and Getafe's Angel Rodriguez, but, for different reasons, did not push forward with their interest in any of the quartet.

Braithwaite first joined Leganes in January 2019 on loan from English side Middlesbrough before making the move permanent during the summer for €5m. He has scored 13 goals in 41 appearances for the club, as per football data provider iSports API.

He has also had two spells in France, first with Toulouse, who he joined from Esbjerg FB, and later with Bordeaux on loan. Braithwaite has been capped 39 times by Denmark, scoring seven goals, according to iSports football livescore API.

Barca are also without striker Luis Suarez for the next two to three months due to a knee problem.

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Rating the five most expensive U21 transfers in football history

Football is big business, with transfer fees seemingly on a never ending upward trajectory and record deals broken with increasing regularity.

The stratospheric fees once restricted to top-end, proven talent are no more, major clubs now often prepared to spend big on emerging youngsters in a gamble to secure the next superstar of the game.

We’ve decided to look back at some of the priciest prospects of years gone by, here are our ratings of the most expensive U21 transfers in football history, according to iSports API football data.

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Frenkie de Jong – Ajax to Barcelona, €75m, 2019

The midfield metronome at the heart of Ajax’s surprise run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, De Jong’s talents had long been admired from afar and it would be Barcelona who would win the race to secure his signature, securing the young Dutchman on a pre-contract agreement in January 2019 before he headed to the Camp Nou last summer, as per iSports football historical data.

At surface level rarely has a player looked more suited to his future destination, De Jong following in a long line of players built in the style of former Ajax and Barcelona great Johan Cruyff.

A versatile playmaker, De Jong’s ability to retain and recycle possession makes him a superb fit in the heart of the Catalan side, the now 22-year-old quickly establishing himself in Ernesto Valverde’s side and drawing comparisons with Barca greats Xavi and current teammate Sergio Busquets.

De Jong’s career in La Liga may be less than a year old, but he has already shown signs of being a key component of the side for seasons to come.

Rating: 7/10

Neymar – Santos to Barcelona, €86m, 2013

One of a long list of South American talents to emerge from the continent amongst much hype, Neymar would be chased by almost all of Europe’s leading clubs before opting for Barcelona in 2013.

The effortlessly talented forward had scored prolifically in his homeland and had long been tipped for the very top of the game, twice being named as South America’s Footballer of the Year.

His move to Europe and Spain would prove a huge success, following a season of adaptation in which he scored 15 goals with a haul of 39 in all competitions the following year, as per iSports football livescore API, forming a devastating forward partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as Barcelona completed a continental treble.

In four seasons at the Camp Nou he would score 105 goals in just 186 appearances, winning a series of major honours including two La Liga titles and the Champions League. He would ultimately depart under a cloud for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the Brazilian the most expensive footballer in football history.

Rating: 9/10

Ousmane Dembele – Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, €105m, 2017

The third big-money Barcelona signing to make this list, Ousmane Dembele would head to Spain as part of the knock-on effect of the aforementioned Neymar’s move to PSG.

Left with a Neymar-shaped hole in their forward line and pockets stashed with cash, the Catalan side chose to part with an eye-watering €105m to sign the talented French winger from Borussia Dortmund, Dembele having joined from Rennes a year earlier and enjoyed a meteoric rise in his single season in German football.

Dembele had made the Bundesliga Team of the Year after providing 12 assists during that campaign, with Barcelona believing the Frenchman possessed the creativity from wide that would be absent following Neymar’s departure.

It has proven to be a frustrating time for Dembele since the move, however, the winger failing to truly establish himself as a key figure with injuries and inconsistency hampering his progress. Team success has come in the form of back-to-back league titles, but he continues to be linked with a move away from Camp Nou having failed to make a significant impact.

Rating: 4/10

Joao Felix – Benfica to Atletico Madrid, €126m, 2019

The most recent inclusion to this feature of expensive youngsters, Felix would join Atletico Madrid last summer as the most expensive acquisition in the club’s illustrious history.

The teenage forward had thrived since being handed his opportunity in the Benfica first-team last season, scoring 20 times in all competitions as the club secured the Portuguese league title, according to iSports football result.

His performances had not gone unnoticed amongst the elite of European football, though it would be Atletico who somewhat uncharacteristically took the plunge and activated his hefty release clause.

It’s been a slow adaptation to life in the Spanish captial, Felix scoring four goals in all competitions thus far, though he has shown glimpses of the talent that saw him secure the Golden Boy award ahead of the likes of Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz last year.

The jury still remains out on whether his huge fee will be justified, but he certainly possesses the potential and promise to become a leading star in the near future.

Rating: 5/10

Kylian Mbappe – Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain, €180m, 2017

The French phenomenon would burst onto the scene with an exciting, young Monaco side, winning the league title and reaching the Champions League semi-finals with the Ligue 1 outfit just over two years ago before a mega-move came calling.

Mbappe would choose to remain in his homeland and sign for PSG, initially on loan before joining for a staggering €180m, making him the second most expensive player in football history.

Since arriving in the capital the sublime talents of the forward have continued to flourish, Mbappe scoring 78 goals in just 106 appearances, winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles and being named as the division’s Player of the Season last year in addition to winning the Golden Boot, as per iSports livescore football data.

Remarkably still just 20-years-old, the youngster’s impressive haul already includes three league titles in addition to World Cup success with France, Mbappe becoming the first teenager since Pele to score in the final against Croatia in 2018.

Delivering a maiden Champions League success would give Mbappe full marks in our ratings, and he will undoubtedly have one eye on achieving that feat this season.

Rating: 9/10

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Jürgen Klopp makes Premier League managerial history

Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has broken the record for most Premier League Manager of the Month awards in a single season.

The German has now won the award an unprecedented five times this term, surpassing the record set by Pep Guardiola in 2017/18, as per iSports football API.

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He wins the January prize after overseeing the Reds victories over the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United and his side ended the month 19 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Guardiola, Ralph Hasenhüttl and Nigel Pearson were the other three nominees.

Klopp has now won a total of eight Premier League Manager of the Month awards in his career, moving him level with Martin O’Neill and Harry Redknapp.

Only Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and David Moyes have now won more than the 52-year-old former Borussia Dortmund manager.

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Borussia Dortmund looking to make Achraf Hakimi move permanent

There’s no doubt that Achraf Hakimi has taken advantage of his two-year loan to Borussia Dortmund, winning back-to-back CAF Young Player of the Year awards while becoming one of their star performers.

The 21-year-old has delivered 9 goals and 13 assists in 58 matches for the club, as per iSports API and was absolutely clinical in helping BVB reach the Champions League knockout round.

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With the Moroccan’s loan spell coming to an end this summer, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has revealed the German giants will look to retain his services for years to come.

“We will have talks with Real Madrid in the next few weeks,” Zorc told media.

“The decision is not up to us, but Achraf’s great development has, of course, not been hidden from anyone in Spain either.

“He feels very comfortable with us. They [Real Madrid] know that we would like to keep him.”

Hakimi, who came up through the Real Madrid youth system, is currently valued at €45m on Transfermarkt.

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Chiellini named in Juventus' Champions League squad

Giorgio Chiellini has been named in Juventus' squad for the Champions League knockout stage as he nears a return from a knee injury.

Chiellini, 35, has made just one appearance for Juve this season and underwent surgery on his knee in September, as per iSports football API.

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The Juve captain was targeting a return this month or in March and was included in Juve's 22-man squad for the Champions League knockout stage.

Juventus will face Lyon in the last 16, with the first leg to be played in France on February 26.

They are top of Serie A by three points ahead of a trip to Hellas Verona on Saturday.

According to iSports football data, Juventus latest squad: Gianluigi Buffon, Carlo Pinsoglio, Wojciech Szczesny; Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Danilo, Matthijs de Ligt, Mattia De Sciglio, Daniele Rugani, Alex Sandro; Rodrigo Bentancur, Juan Cuadrado, Sami Khedira, Blaise Matuidi, Miralem Pjanic, Adrien Rabiot, Aaron Ramsey; Federico Bernardeschi, Douglas Costa, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Raptors tie team record with 11th straight win

Terence Davis hasn't forgotten about being passed over for a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend. Even so, the Toronto Raptors' rookie is just happy he's playing for a contender.

Davis came off the bench to score a career-high 31 points and the Raptors tied a team record with their 11th straight win, beating the Chicago Bulls 129-102.

Toronto also won 11 straight in January 2016 and again Feb. 26-March 16, 2018, as per iSports NBA API.

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Pascal Siakam added 17 points, Serge Ibaka had 16, Chris Boucher 15 and Kyle Lowry 14 for the reigning NBA champions. The Raptors outscored the Bulls 69-39 in the second half to win their 12th consecutive meeting with Chicago.

Davis made a career-high 12 of his 15 field goal attempts, including 6 of 7 attempts from 3-point range.

Davis is the sixth rookie in Raptors history to score at least 30 in a game and the first to do it as a reserve.

An undrafted rookie from the University of Mississippi, Davis had scored 23 points twice this season, most recently against Washington on Jan. 17. He surpassed that mark with a 13-point fourth quarter and received a hug from Lowry when he checked out with 3:12 remaining.

Thaddeus Young fouled out with 21 points, and Zach LaVine had 18 as Toronto swept Chicago for the third straight season, according to iSports reliable basketball API.

Chandler Hutchison scored 17 points, and Ryan Arcidiacono and Coby Whiteeach had 12 for the Bulls, who are 8-18 on the road.

The Raptors were without guard Norman Powell, who broke the ring finger on his left hand in Friday's win at Detroit. Center March Gasol missed his third straight game because of a sore left hamstring. Both players are out indefinitely.

Bulls guard Kris Dunn missed his first game of the season, with Hutchison starting in his place. Coach Jim Boylen said Dunn has been diagnosed with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

Dunn was injured on the first possession of Friday's loss at Brooklyn. He flew back to Chicago on Saturday to be evaluated by team doctors.

Bulls forward Daniel Gafford didn't return after suffering an apparent injury on an awkward fall in the first quarter, but Boylen said afterward that Gafford was OK. Gafford had missed the previous nine games because of a dislocated right thumb.

Chicago led 63-60 at halftime, but Toronto reclaimed the lead with a 17-4 run over the first five minutes of the third.

Siakam scored nine points in the third, and Ibaka had eight as the Raptors took a 95-85 lead to the fourth.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander youngest ever with 20-rebound triple-double

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's goal was to play a better all-around game. He did that and then some.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 20 points, a career-high 20 rebounds and 10 assists in his first triple-double, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 117-104 victoryover the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, as per iSports baskerball API.

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"Coach had challenged me before the game to fill up the stat sheet more and do more things,'' Gilgeous-Alexander said of Thunder coach Billy Donovan. "Because he thought, as well as myself thought, that I was more capable of what I was doing.''

Gilgeous-Alexander came in averaging 23.7 points in his previous 13 games but did much more than score in this one, also matching his career best in assists. At 21 years and 185 days old, he became the youngest player in league history to record at least 20 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game, according to iSports NBA livesocre API.

"He's tough. He's very tough,'' Minnesota's Andrew Wiggins said. "He's a big guard that can put it on the floor and create for others, and he's a bucket. He can make a bucket when he needs to.''

Gilgeous-Alexander is the fourth second-year player in NBA history to register a 20-20 triple-double. He joins Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Oscar Robertson. The only other guard to have a 20-20 triple-double in the past 30 seasons is former Thunder star Russell Westbrook.

Gilgeous-Alexander did not record an assist in 35 minutes against the Lakers on Saturday.

"I just felt like we were on our heels a little bit in the previous game against the Lakers," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "That was one of the things that Coach mentioned to us, attacking first. I felt we did that as a group. When you attack as a group, you get more comfortable faster.''

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Ajax hoping to re-sign Matthijs de Ligt after rough Juventus start

Ajax are reportedly considering a move to re-sign defender Matthijs de Ligt on loan – just six months after he completed a move to Juventus.

De Ligt was the most coveted young player in Europe last summer after captaining his boyhood club to the Eredivisie title and Champions League semi-finals.

He eventually joined the Serie A champions for €75m but has struggled to establish himself under Maurizio Sarri, starting 12 of a possible 18 domestic games, as per iSports football API.

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According to A Bola, former club Ajax are willing to explore the possibility of bringing the 20-year-old back to Amsterdam if his situation does not change.

De Ligt initially broke into the starting line-up following injury to Giorgio Chiellini but has been displaced by Merih Demiral, making just one substitute appearance in their last five games.

However, Sarri recently indicated that the defender remains firmly in his plans.

“I am the first to be convinced that he will become the best defender in the world,” the Bianconeri boss told Sky Italia.

“He had five difficult months playing every three days and having to settle in a new country, a new league with a new language.”

Juventus return to domestic action against Roma on Sunday.

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Former Manchester City and Chelsea star joins Preston North End on permanent deal

Scott Sinclair has officially made his return to England.

Late Wednesday night, Celtic announced the 30-year-old’s move to Preston North End for an undisclosed fee.

Though originally thought to be a six-month loan before joining permanently, Sinclair has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to Deepdale.



A major contributor in the past, the soon-to-be out-of-contract Celtic star made only seven appearances this season, scoring twice in just 176 total minutes of action.
For Sinclair, Preston will be his 13th different English side that he’s played for, featuring most frequently for Swansea and Aston Villa with stints at Chelsea and Manchester City also under his belt, as per iSports football API.

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The winger joins Preston as they push for promotion to the Premier League. The Lilywhites are currently in 10th place on 39 points, just two points back of the promotion play-off places.

Sinclair was wildly successful after joining from Aston Villa in summer 2016, scoring 62 goals and adding 34 assists in 167 career games at the club, according to iSports API football database.

Sinclair won the PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year in his first year at Celtic. and won all 10 possible domestic trophies he could have won with the Hoops.

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Sadio Mane beats Mohamed Salah, Riyad Mahrez for top African player

Sadio Mane was named African Footballer of the Year for 2019 on Tuesday after winning the Champions League with Liverpool and leading Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Mane, 27, wins the award for the first time after finishing runner-up to his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah of Egypt in 2017 and 2018, according to iSports football API data. He was third in 2016.

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He is only the second Senegalese to win the award after El Hadji Diouf, who was the winner in 2001 and after joining Liverpool in 2002.

"Football is my job, I love it. I am really happy and proud to win this award," Mane said.

"I would like to thank all the Senegalese people, they push always me. I must also thank my Senegal coach, Aliou Cisse and Liverpool, all my teammates there."

Mane finished ahead of Riyad Mahrez and Salah in a poll of national team coaches and captains, and was handed his award at the Confederation of African Football's annual gala in Hurgada, Egypt.

It is the second successive year that the top three are all from English clubs and only the third time since the award was introduced that the leading trio all play in the same league.

In 1991, the top three all came from French clubs.

Mahrez, 28, captained Algeria to Africa Cup of Nations success in July and won the Premier League with Manchester City. He was African Footballer of the Year in 2016, as per iSports API data.

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Jokic scores career-high 47 points with no TOs

Nikola Jokic wasn't keeping track of his points as the night wore on. He just knew he was scoring a lot.

Jokic scored a career-high 47 points, Will Barton added a season-best 28 and the Denver Nuggets held off the Atlanta Hawks 123-115 on Monday, as per iSports API.

The Nuggets, coming off a surprising loss at Washington two nights earlier, have won four of six to improve to 25-11, second-best in the Western Conference. Atlanta, worst in the NBA at 8-29, has dropped 11 of 13.

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Trae Young finished with 29 points and Kevin Huerter had 22 for the Hawks.

Jokic's previous career high of 41 points was set Nov. 7, 2017, at home against Brooklyn. His previous season high, 31, came at home nine days ago against Memphis.

According to iSports API basketball data, Jokic is the third center with 45 points and no turnovers in a game, joining Shaquille O'Neal (Nov. 9, 1994 at Hornets) and Moses Malone (April 8, 1987 at Nets). Turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78.

Jokic surpassed his previous career high with a putback that gave Denver a 114-109 lead with 3:14 remaining. Jamal Murray followed with a turnaround jumper in the lane and Barton put back his own miss to put the Nuggets up 118-109 at the 1:57 mark.

That essentially ended all hopes for the Hawks, but it wasn't entirely easy for Denver. The Nuggets lost 125-121 to the Hawks at home in mid-November as Young had 42 points and 11 assists. Denver had dropped nine of 11 in Atlanta, recorded by iSports API.

After John Collins' dunk cut the lead to 91-88 just 22 seconds into the fourth quarter, Nuggets coach Michael Malone called a timeout. Monte Morrisfollowed with a runner and Michael Porter Jr. jammed in a putback to make it 95-88.

The Hawks cut the margin to one before Barton found Morris for an alley-oop and hit a 3-pointer to make it 106-100 with 6:54 remaining. Atlanta pulled within two on Young's 35-footer with 4:24 left, and Malone called another timeout. The move worked as the Hawks made just three field goals the rest of the way.

Huerter's second straight 3 cut the lead to two at the 6:07 mark of the third, and Malone called a timeout. Jokic quickly followed with a jumper, then stole the ball in the lane from Alex Len to set up Murray's two free throws.

Jerami Grant's three-point play made it 36-34 at the 9:37 mark of the second, and the Nuggets didn't trail again. About three minutes later, Grant rebounded a missed Hawks shot and drove for a layup that gave Denver its first double-digit lead.

Murray's layup in the final second put the Nuggets up by nine at halftime.

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Cavaliers rookie Kevin Porter Jr. exits game with knee injury

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kevin Porter Jr. exited Sunday's 118-103 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves early with a left knee injury.

Porter entered Sunday averaging 8.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists this season as per iSports API basketball data.

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The 30th overall pick in last year's draft was injured in the third quarter, when his knee buckled awkwardly while he tried to change directions. The slender guard immediately grabbed his leg and had to be helped to Cleveland's locker room.

Porter was on crutches as he left the trainers' room after the game. He was not available for comment.

Cavaliers coach John Beilein said the team hopes to learn more about the injury on Monday.

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Real Madrid in talks with Flamengo for 17-year-old Reinier

Real Madrid have held talks with teenage Flamengo midfielder Reinier. The 17-year-old Brazil youth international is being followed by a number of top European clubs and has also attracted interest from Barcelona and Manchester City.

Additionally, a Barcelona source revealed that the club have scouted the player on several occasions, but that Flamengo's valuation of Reinier is too high for the Catalan club.

Sources close to the player have told that he is weighing up his options and has not yet made a decision on his future, with his Flamengo manager Jorge Jesus recently hinting that the player is set for a move to on of Europe's top clubs.

Reinier, who was an unused substitute in Flamengo's Club World Cup final defeat to Liverpool last month, has a €30m release clause. A source also told ESPN Brazil that Madrid had already made an offer of €25m, but that Flamengo were holding out for the full release, according to iSports API.

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Under the terms of his contract, Reinier's clause will rise to €35m in June for the summer transfer window and to €70m after that, as per iSports API football data. However, if a deal were to be agreed during the January window, Reinier would not join Zinedine Zidane's first team squad immediately.

Two options under consideration are the teenager joining Real Madrid Castilla for the rest of the 2019-20 season, or remaining on loan at Flamengo for the time being.

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