Here are the latest stories for Thursday.
REAL MADRID: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 500th club goal against America in the Club World Cup on Thursday.
– Real Madrid forwards Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Mexican side Club America were beaten 2-0 in Thursday’s Club World Cup semifinal at the International Stadium Yokohama.
– Luka Modric has criticised FIFA’s introduction of a touchline video assistant referee (VAR) technology for the Club World Cup — saying that he does not like the system and hopes it is not rolled out any further.
MAN UNITED: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said that Marcos Rojo is a “clean player” despite the defender receiving criticism for a two-footed challenge against Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Alan Pardew was upset that Rojo was not sent off.
– Paul Pogba has told SFR Sport that Manchester United‘s ambition remains to claim top spot in the Premier League, rather than a top-four finish.
– Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not face a charge for violent conduct in relation to an incident involving Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye during Manchester United’s 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park on Wednesday, sources close to the Football Association have told ESPN FC.
– Eric Bailly is confident of a swift return to action for Manchester United, sources have told ESPN FC, despite limping out of Wednesday’s 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace.
ARSENAL: Arsenal are in advanced talks with Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin over new contracts at the Emirates Stadium, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC.
CHELSEA: Gary Cahill has said Chelsea’s surge clear at the top of the Premier League is down to team spirit and a miserly defence.
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed there is no timescale on under-fire goalkeeper Loris Karius’ return to the starting lineup.
– Adam Lallana was pleased with Liverpool’s response to their recent disappointing results in the 3-0 win away at Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
– Liverpool’s principal owner John W. Henry has used his personal Twitter account to hit back at reports that the club will soon be sold.
TOTTENHAM: Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has rubbished speculation linking Eric Dier with a move away from the club.
– Pochettino nearly paid the price for drinking too much water during Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Hull City, but the manager was delighted with the fluidity of his side’s changed formation.
MAN CITY: Ilkay Gundogan is set to be out for a “long, long time” with suspected knee ligament damage after hobbling off in Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Watford, manager Pep Guardiola said.
PREMIER LEAGUE: West Bromwich Albion and Watford have both been fined £45,000 by the Football Association for failing to control their players during a Premier League clash earlier this month.
BARCELONA: Lionel Messi and long-time partner Antonella Roccuzzo are to be married next year, according to multiple reports in Argentina.
BAYERN MUNICH: Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that everyone else will have to wait to win a Ballon d’Or, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have another “two or three years” of sharing the prize between them.
– Ancelotti has said that Bayern Munich beat off competition from Real Madrid in persuading Robert Lewandowski to extend his stay at the club.
– Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has said Arjen Robben will agree new terms to stay at the club when his current deal expires next summer.
ATLETICO MADRID: Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak underwent a successful operation on his shoulder and reportedly could spend three or four months on the sidelines.
– Yannick Carrasco has played down talk of a crisis at Atletico Madrid. A poor recent run has seen Atleti fall 12 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid, with Monday’s 3-0 defeat at Villarreal a fourth in six league games.
PSG: Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery was delighted some of his younger and lesser-used players were able to lead the defending champions in the quarterfinals of the Coupe de la Ligue with a 3-1 win over Lille OSC on Wednesday.
FIFA: The European Club Association (ECA) has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to reconsider plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams.
– History was made during Wednesday’s Club World Cup semifinal between Atletico Nacional and Kashima Antlers when referee Viktor Kassai used touchline video replay technology to award a penalty to the Japanese side.
– Kashima Antlers became the first Asian team to reach the Club World Cup final after beating Atletico Nacional 3-0.
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