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“Rodri Deserved 2023 Ballon d’Or but Vinicius Deserved 2024” – Ancelotti

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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Manchester City’s Rodri should have won the 2023 Ballon d’Or. Speaking ahead of his team’s Champions League clash against City, Ancelotti shared his thoughts on past and present award winners.

Lionel Messi took home the 2023 Ballon d’Or, finishing ahead of stars like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri, who placed fifth. But in 2024, the Manchester City midfielder finally claimed the prize, beating Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, who finished second and third.

That result didn’t sit well with the Madrid camp. In protest, the club, including Ancelotti, skipped the awards ceremony in Paris. While the Italian coach praised Rodri’s talent, he made it clear that he felt Vinicius should have been the 2024 winner.

“I don’t think skipping the ceremony was a bad decision,” Ancelotti said. “We believed Vini Jr. was the rightful winner. But that doesn’t mean we don’t respect Rodri. He’s a fantastic player, and in our view, he should have won it the year before.”


 

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Jadon Sancho Set to Join Juventus After Man United Agree £17.3M Deal

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Jadon Sancho is closing in on a move to Juventus after the Italian club reached a £17.3 million agreement with Manchester United. United have been keen to move the winger this summer, especially after Chelsea turned down a chance to sign him for £25 million and instead paid a £5 million penalty to send him back to Old Trafford.

Sancho was also in talks with Napoli, but the deal fell through as the Serie A side refused to meet United’s £21.3 million asking price. Now, according to La Stampa, Juventus have had a productive meeting with United, leading to a breakthrough in negotiations.

Sancho is said to have agreed personal terms with the Turin-based side, with a reported salary of just over £5.2 million per season. However, there’s still one hurdle left, the 24-year-old and Manchester United are yet to settle on a severance package, with Sancho demanding at least £4.3 million to walk away from the club.


 

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Real Madrid Want €100M for Rodrygo as He Considers Leaving for Arsenal

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Real Madrid have placed a hefty €100 million price tag on Rodrygo as interest grows from top clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea. According to reports from COPE via Madrid Zone, the Spanish giants won’t entertain any bids below that amount.

The Brazilian forward is expected to make a decision about his future after the FIFA Club World Cup final this Sunday. Rodrygo, who was left out of the squad in Madrid’s 4-0 loss to PSG in the semi-final, is reportedly unhappy with his current role under manager Xabi Alonso.

The coach said after the game that not playing Rodrygo was purely a tactical choice. Despite several clubs circling, sources close to the player suggest that if he does leave, Arsenal is his preferred destination. However, Madrid will only consider a sale if Rodrygo himself pushes for an exit.


 

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Maresca Says He’s Not Worried About PSG and Chelsea Will Prepare as Usual

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has played down any special fears about facing Paris Saint-Germain, saying his approach remains the same no matter the opponent.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium, Maresca said he’s focused on preparation, not names. “I don’t look at PSG any differently,” he said via Chelsea’s official platform. “Just like every other team, I study how we can attack them and where we need to defend better.”

Chelsea reached the final after a solid 2-0 win over Brazil’s Fluminense, while PSG knocked out Real Madrid to book their spot. But for Maresca, the process doesn’t change. “I respect Fluminense, and I respect PSG too. It’s all about balance; how we hurt them and how to stop them from hurting us,” he added.


 

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