Inter Milan

Inter Milan are reportedly still interested in signing Barcelona forward Malcom amid speculation he may be set for a swift Camp Nou exit. 

According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Calciomercato), despite missing out on the Brazilian in the summer, Inter would be open to signing him in the upcoming transfer window and are said to have made the La Liga side aware they remain admirers of the player.

As noted by Calciomercato, Inter manager Luciano Spalletti is reportedly a big Malcom fan, although the Milan giants appeared to have missed out on the player to Serie A rivals Roma ahead of the campaign. However, Barcelona pipped the capital club to the signature of the former Bordeaux man at the last minute.

Despite getting a huge move, things haven't gone well for Malcom so far in Catalonia, having only played 25 competitive minutes for his new club. That's prompted speculation he may be on the move quickly.

The BarcaTimes Twitter account provided more details from the Mundo Deportivo story:

📰 [MD] | Inter asks for Malcom.

🔶Arturo Vidal confesses to Ivan Zamorano in Querétaro, that he would like to play in Mexico one day.

🔷In Milan, Piero Ausilio, their technical director and coach Luciano Spalletti have an interest in the future of Malcom. pic.twitter.com/QiKue8mGW4

— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) October 17, 2018

For the 21-year-old it must be a challenging time, having gone from the highs of securing a transfer to one of the biggest clubs in the world to being on the periphery of the team.

While he would've been well aware that competition would be fierce at Barca with the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho jostling for positions in attack, to have played less than half an hour will be disappointing.

It's not as if Barcelona have been performing brilliantly in recent weeks, especially in La Liga where they are without a win in their last four matches. 

Rafael Hernandez of the Grup14 Barca fan site thinks Malcom would've been a good option to call upon during the recent 1-1 draw against Valencia:

Barcelona lost all width in the second half, Dembele on the bench while Malcom on the stands.

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) October 7, 2018

It's worth considering just how highly-rated the winger was prior to his move to Barcelona too, as he had established himself as one of the most exciting young players in French football during his time at Bordeaux.

Cutting in from the right flank Malcom can be dangerous. He has searing speed, excellent close control and a thunderous left foot that has been responsible for many eye-catching goals.

Scouted Football summed up what he has accomplished already in the nascent stages of his career:

Malcom at 21 years-old:

2014 • Debut for SC Corinthians
2015 • U20 World Cup runner-up
2015 • Brasileirão champion
2016 • Debut for Girondins Bordeaux
2018 • Debut for FC Barcelona
2018 • Debut Selecão call-up

Quick work. pic.twitter.com/4ZsaW2Cb7G

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) September 25, 2018

Barcelona are expected to fight it out on multiple fronts this season and as the games begin to come thick and fast, chances should begin to materialise more frequently for Malcom. Given the quality of the players available to manager Ernesto Valverde, it's imperative he grasps any chances he gets.

Inter, meanwhile, would benefit from having another vibrant option out wide along with Ivan Perisic and Matteo Politano. Malcom surely won't be ready to give up on his Barca dream yet, though.

Rumours linking Inter Milan with Real Madrid's Luka Modric refuse to go away, with the latest reports from Italy indicating the Nerazzurri could try again for the midfielder in January or next summer if he doesn't sign a new contract.

Corriere dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato's Kaustubh Pandey) reported Inter will move on if he does sign a new deal, with his current contract set to expire in 2020.

The Italian outlet maintains the Croat was keen on Inter during the summer and held talks with the club, even though Modric has repeatedly denied those reports. Per AS, he took to Instagram to call the speculation "the biggest pile of nonsense in history."

Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has also ruled out a January move, per Calciomercato.com, but that isn't stopping the gossip.

Modric helped Real to their third straight UEFA Champions League title last season and followed that up with an outstanding World Cup run, guiding Croatia to the final.

He's the favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or after already winning the Best Men's Player award and has the backing of several colleagues, including Chelsea's Eden Hazard:

Eden Hazard: “I hope that Luca Modric wins the Ballon d’Or. It would be the ultimate proof that football is more than just goals and assists. Modric is just like Zidane. Zidane scored important goals, but never more than 20 per season. I enjoy watching Modric.” #cfc pic.twitter.com/PXj3VcToXN

— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) October 13, 2018

Inter have a strong group of Croatia internationals that would welcome Modric, as Ivan Perisic, Marcelo Brozovic and Sime Vrsaljko have all played with the former Tottenham Hotspur man. The club underlined its ambition with transfers of Radja Nainggolan and Stefan de Vrij in the summer.

But the Nerazzurri would present a significant step down for the 33-year-old, and after losing Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo, Los Blancos won't be too keen on selling. At the very least, they'll want more than fair value for their star midfielder, and Inter don't appear to have the budget to spend big money on an ageing veteran.

With his contract not running out until 2020, Real hold all the cards. Even if they can't get him to sign a new deal, the European champions are unlikely to sanction a sale in January unless Inter meet their valuation.

Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has said the club is in negotiations with captain Mauro Icardi over a new contract.

The Argentina international has three years remaining on his deal, but he's been the subject of speculation regarding a possible exit lately. 

According to Chris Burton of Goal, the €110 million (£96 million) release clause in his contract can be triggered in the first two weeks of July by overseas clubs, and that's a concern for the Milan giants.

However, Ausilio told Sky Sport Italia that talks are ongoing and the club don't feel pressured to hurry to an agreement (h/t Gianluca Di Marzio).

"Icardi's renewal? We are working on it," the sporting director said. "We aren't hiding that fact. We saw each other and talked. We aren't in a rush."

Ausilio's positive update comes after Icardi's wife and agent, Wanda Nara, said the parties had yet to start talks over an extension, per Tiki Taka (h/t Burton). Burton added that the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United have been linked with moves for the player.

Icardi is a talisman for Inter, having taken on the captain's armband in 2015 and proved to be one of the best strikers in the game during his time at the San Siro.

He is also making strides towards becoming one of the Nerazzurri's all-time great goalscorers:

Inter Serie A goals:

—Christian Vieri: 103
—@MauroIcardi: 103

Icardi is tied at seventh all time for @Inter 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JniMBfkKfR

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 7, 2018

This season, he struggled to get off to a fast start in an Inter team that underwent major changes in the summer, but he has started to find form again in recent weeks.

Icardi's brace on Sunday helped Inter to a win over SPAL, meaning he has now scored five goals in his past five games. For Inter's hopes of thriving in Serie A and in the UEFA Champions League, it's vital he continues this sort of form.

Inter appear to be going in the right direction, with Icardi making his first appearance in the Champions League this term:

Hard to believe that Icardi & especially Handanovic had never played in @ChampionsLeague until tonight, they at least get quite the setting for their debuts

— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) September 18, 2018

There will be other teams looking at his consistency in front of goal in recent years and thinking that the release clause represents decent value in an ever-inflating transfer market.

Madrid, in particular, are having issues at the point of the attack. Karim Benzema is a little past his best, Gareth Bale continues to be hampered by injury issues and they lack a ruthless goalscorer in the final third following Cristiano Ronaldo's summer departure to Juventus.

Icardi has shown e can provide that edge, although it's also clear he has an affinity with an improving Inter Milan team. All parties appear relaxed that an agreement will be reached, but the club will surely look to extend his terms and increase the release clause before the end of the campaign.

Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has ruled out any chance of the club launching a January move to sign Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric after saying it would be an impossible manoeuvre.

Modric was fervently linked with the Nerazzurri after guiding Croatia to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, but Real managed to keep hold of their star playmaker after they'd already sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus.

Ausilio was speaking at the book launch of Dr. Piero Volpi (h/t Calciomercato.com) and said: "Modric is impossible in January. We also look at the zero-parameters market and we know where to look, but the most important thing for the next market will be quality."

Modric was named FIFA's The Best Player for 2018 after a rousing runners-up finish in Russia, not to mention the instrumental hand he played in helping Real to a third successive UEFA Champions League crown.

It's unsurprising the puppeteer has therefore also made it onto the ballot for this year's Ballon d'Or, hoping to add to his haul of individual awards for 2018, via France Football:

22/30

👌 Luka Modric
🇭🇷 Croatia
⚽ Midfielder
📍 @realmadrid
3⃣3⃣ years old

The nominees ▶ https://t.co/y3VLt9O2WY #ballondor pic.twitter.com/jf1GUMylt9

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 8, 2018

So serious was Inter's alleged interest in Modric that Real even reported his suitors to FIFA, but BBC Sport confirmed in September the Nerazzurri would face no punishment for their pursuit. This was despite reports Inter had contacted Modric in August, when he was two years into a four-year Real contract.

Inter invested in their squad all the same this past summer and added Radja Nainggolan to their ranks after he was convinced to leave AS Roma, though it appears a January recruit of Modric's quality is off the cards.

It speaks volumes of Modric's talent and how well-respected he is inside elite football circles that Chelsea star Eden Hazard, who will likely be another Ballon d'Or contender, backed Real's maestro for the win, via Goal:

❎ Lionel Messi
❎ Cristiano Ronaldo
❎ Himself

Eden Hazard says that Luka Modric deserves the 2018 Ballon d'Or award! pic.twitter.com/4DOCKjAgoA

— GOAL (@goal) October 11, 2018

At the same time as dismissing the chance of a winter move for Modric, Ausilio added that one of his Croat compatriots, Marcelo Brozovic, is close to signing an extension: "The renewal of Brozovic is almost completely defined."

Brozovic resides in Milan with countrymen Ivan Perisic and Sime Vrsaljko—on loan from Atletico Madrid—and it was suggested that Croat contingent could be one of the main tools used to prise Modric from Madrid.

Modric turned 33 in September but will enter the last year of his contract at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in June, at which point it should be easier to convince Real to sell.

Real president Florentino Perez said in August that Modric couldn't leave Real unless his €750 million (£668 million) release clause was met, and Ausilio doesn't appear any more confident of striking a deal in January.

Wanda Nara, the wife and agent of Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, has said the striker wants to stay at the club for a long time amid recent speculation regarding his future. 

Icardi has proved himself as Inter's main man in recent years and excelled at the point of the attack last term, netting 29 times in 34 top-flight appearances for the Milan giants. 

His goalscoring exploits have triggered links with a move away from the San Siro, but loyalty is important to the striker, according to Nara, citing Inter legend Javier Zanetti and Roma icon Francesco Totti as examples, per Canale 5 (h/t Chris Burton of Goal).

"Staying at one club for a long time is an added value," she said. "His choice has always been to stay at Inter, and the fans recognise that. Having examples like [Javier] Zanetti at Inter and [Francesco] Totti at Roma is an added value, and good for anyone who comes to the club.”

As noted by Burton, Real Madrid were linked with Icardi during the summer, as were Juventus before they secured a deal for Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Icardi remains an Inter player and the captain of the club, as they seek to reestablish themselves as one of the elite sides in Italian football. Last season they qualified for the UEFA Champions League and in the summer they spent big in order to improve their squad.

The Argentina international started the season slowly but lately there have been signs he's finding his edge in front of goal once again. 

After a stunning equaliser against Tottenham in the Champions League that inspired an eventual 2-1 win for the Nerazzurri, Icardi opened his account for the Serie A campaign from the penalty spot against Fiorentina this week.

The victory was crucial for Inter, and Icardi loves coming up against La Viola:

11 - Mauro Icardi has scored 11 Serie A goals against Fiorentina, his best victim in the competition. Habit.

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) September 25, 2018

Although Icardi may not be the most technically gifted, the quickest or the strongest, when he gets into the penalty area he comes alive. He reacts and anticipates as well as any striker in the game, while he can finish with his head, or either foot.

Inter have designs on getting back to the summit of Italian football and keeping Icardi around will be crucial to that. 

His goal in the Champions League against Tottenham ensured he etched his name alongside some iconic former Inter forwards:

Mauro Icardi writes his name alongside Champions League legends 🚀 pic.twitter.com/P9Z5lGLPd6

— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 18, 2018

Few are as synonymous with Inter as Zanetti, though, as no player has made more appearances than him for the club. The Argentina icon played 858 times for the Milan club in a 19-year stint at the San Siro.

As noted by Burton, there has been some talk of Inter offering Icardi a new contract as of late. The man himself said he is "calm" regarding any extension and "if the contract has to be improved then it'll be done," per Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia).

Inter Milan will reportedly look to tie down captain and star goalscorer Mauro Icardi to a new contract.

According to Corriere della Sera (h/t Football Italia), the Serie A side want to extend the striker's current deal, which is poised to run out in 2021, by another two years. There are, however, said to be disagreements when it comes to salary.

It's noted that a release clause does become active in Icardi's contract in the summer worth €110 million (£98 million) for clubs from overseas; that trigger amount is said to be in place for two weeks and Inter are reportedly concerned about the amount following the inflation in transfer fees as of late.

Inter are not only said to be ready to increase that release clause amount to €130 million (£115 million), but they will offer Icardi an annual salary of €6.5 million (£5.8 million). The player himself is said to want a wage of €8 million (£7.1 million) before committing to the Milan giants again.

Icardi has been the subject of transfer speculation recently, with Jose Felix Diaz and David G. Medina of Marca reporting in July that the Argentina international was on Real Madrid's radar.

The European champions are not the only team to be linked with the Inter No. 9, though. According to Ole (AS), Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is also a big fan of the striker and would be willing to meet the release clause Icardi has in his current contract.

While the release clause does represent an extraordinary amount, the goalscoring prowess Icardi has showcased down the years in Serie A means some clubs would possibly be willing to pay that kind of money to get him on board.

OptaPaolo noted just how lethal the 25-year-old has been in front of goal:

1.8 - In the last Serie A Mauro Icardi scored on average a goal every 1.8 shots on target, the best ratio among players with 10 or more goals. Crucial.

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) July 22, 2018

Icardi showcased what he's capable of in the UEFA Champions League earlier this week, as his stunning volley from distance inspired the team to come back from a goal down late on against Tottenham Hotspur and earn a dramatic late win.

But in the main, those spectacular moments don't tend to be Icardi's game. In Serie A, his bread and butter has been finishing from shorter distances, as his movement and acceleration allows the forward to get away from opposition defenders frequently and finish chances.

Gabriele Marcotti was surprised to see Icardi hammer one in from distance in the clash against Spurs:

Can’t remember the last time, before tonight, that Icardi scored from outside the box... given how he hit that one maybe he should shoot from distance more often...

— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) September 18, 2018

Inter have been active in the transfer market this summer and will be keen to establish themselves as a Champions League team in the years to come. The most surefire way of doing that would be to ensure Icardi remains at the club, as goals are guaranteed with him at the point of the attack.

Given the affinity Icardi has with Inter's supporters, it would be a surprise to see him agitating for a move anywhere else if the Nerazzurri continue to match his ambition.

Inter Milan and star forward Mauro Icardi are reportedly closing in on a contract extension, amid rumours Real Madrid are interested in his services. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato), Icardi makes €4.5 million per year, and his wages could increase as much as €1.5 million annually. Calciomercato previously reported on the negotiations and Real's interest.

Per the report, Icardi's current deal runs until 2021, and the new contract would see two years tacked on.

The 25-year-old has been with the Nerazzurri since 2013 and has been the team's ace forward for years, scoring at a consistent rate. He has crossed the 20-goal mark in three of his last four Serie A campaigns, bagging 29 last season.

Some fans were furious he was left out of the FIFA XI nominations:

https://twitter.com/Kloppholic/status/1039154224343535617

His strong form has led to some speculation, and Los Blancos were most frequently mentioned as suitors in the summer after losing Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. The European champions opted to bring back Mariano Diaz but could still spend big on a new striker at some point in the near future.

Icardi seems content in Milan, but Inter's struggles in the last few seasons have continued to fuel the speculation. His lack of World XI recognition and minor role with the national team can be at least partly attributed to Inter's issues and the relative low profile he has carried as a result.

A transfer could fix that, vaulting the Argentinian among the sport's elite, where he deserves to be. 

Meanwhile, the report also stated Inter are looking at extending Milan Skriniar, but the star defender has rejected their initial offer. The Slovakia international has been linked with Manchester United and Barcelona following a sensational 2017-18 campaign, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia).

The wife and agent of Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi has targeted Serie A champions Juventus after dismissing reports linking her husband with a move to the club over the summer. 

Wanda Icardi spoke to Tiki Taka (h/t Football Italia) and said the Bianconeri opted to sign Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the Inter star, though she gave the impression her beau wouldn't be interested in the move:

"The only contact Mauro has had with Juventus is the seven goals he's scored against them. 

"It's obvious that there'll be offers for a striker like Mauro, but his choice was clear from the start.

"Juventus looked at him, but CR7 [Cristiano Ronaldo] was their primary objective for the Champions League.

"I do my job, if other clubs call me then I answer, but the final decision is always Mauro's.

"Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis? I met him, he's a very good person. We talked about a bit of everything, from cinema to football.

"I think he made an offer to Inter, but Mauro made another decision."

Per Transfermarkt, the Argentina international has scored eight times in 12 meetings with Juve—three times with Sampdoria and another five since joining Inter in 2013.

The 25-year-old netted a career-high 29 goals last season, earning praise from sportswriter Andy West as a potential solution to Real Madrid's problems:

Real Madrid's inactivity in the transfer market has been very odd. Their only established centre forward is a centre forward whose main strength isn't goalscoring, meaning their only option from the bench when in need of goals tonight was Borja Mayoral. Icardi incoming?

— Andy West (@andywest01) August 15, 2018

A buyout clause in the striker's deal meant he could have been signed for €110 million (£99 million) in early July, but a transfer then always seemed unlikely with the 2018 FIFA World Cup taking place in Russia.

Juventus instead concentrated their efforts on landing Ronaldo, and Inter will have been glad to keep hold of their goalscoring gem, particularly after signing Lautaro Martinez, who looks to be another fine addition up front.

A strong summer of business, and the Nerazzurri are all of a sudden looking like the greatest threat to Juve's throne, at least according to writer Paul Little:

Suspect Inter Milan will be Juve's main rivals this term. Spalletti made some strides last term - 7th up to 4th, 10 pts extra. Kept Icardi & Perisic again. Good signings this summer: Nainggolan, de Vrij, Vrsaljko

— Paul Little (@little_football) August 8, 2018

Wife Wanda has long handled Icardi's business affairs, but any hopes of a future move to Turin may be more difficult to imagine after her driving a competitive wedge between the two.

Juve signed Ronaldo before loaning Gonzalo Higuain to AC Milan with the intention of selling him permanently next summer.

However, blogger Arjun Pradeep argued Inter's talisman would have been an inferior fit at the Allianz Stadium:

Teams can only go for players on the market.. Kroos isn't available.. May be not even Icardi, regardless.. I don't really want Icardi at Juventus right now.. He has never played in UCL & we are at a stage where we need starters to immediately give us guarantees in UCL ..

— Arjun Pradeep (@IndianRegista) July 2, 2018

Icardi has three years remaining on his contract at the San Siro, but they are sure to maintain links so long as he keeps up a consistent stream of scoring in Serie A.

The South American averaged a career best of 0.85 goals per game in the Italian top flight last season, and a combative approach from wife Wanda suggests he's not interested in taking his talents anywhere else in Italy.

Inter Milan director Piero Ausilio has said the squad is "complete" at the San Siro and dismissed links to Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric. 

The Italian club were rumoured to be interested in Modric throughout the summer, although the deadline for players to join clubs in Italy's top flight was August 17.

Speaking after the Nerazzurri's 2-2 draw with Torino on Sunday, Ausilio was asked about the interest in Modric by Sky Sport Italia (h/t Sacha Pisani of Goal). "Who? Let's talk about the game," he said, before going on to praise the squad put together for Inter boss Luciano Spalletti for this season.

"We're happy with the team we put together, as we tried to improve it and bring in elements we were missing, particularly in terms of experience and alternatives in attack to make us more unpredictable," said Ausilio. "I think the Inter squad is now complete."

As noted by Pisani, Madrid are said to have lodged an official complaint to FIFA following their pursuit of the Croatia international.

Meanwhile, Modric himself recently said reports that he wanted to leave the European champions for Milan were "the greatest nonsense in history."

Inter had a summer of major investment ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, with high-profile players like Stefan De Vrij, Radja Nainggolan and Lautaro Martinez a few of the big names to join. However, they've been slow out of the blocks so far this term, with just one point taken from their first two games.

Getting off to such a poor start has been rare for the San Siro club in recent years:

1 - Inter had earned one point after the first two Serie A games played only two other times in the 21st century (2011-12 and 2016-17). Difficulty.

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) August 26, 2018

Still, there's an understanding among the supporters that it will take time for these new signings to settle in, while the club also have the UEFA Champions League to look forward to this season.

Had they been able to get Modric in then you sense the start to the campaign would've been much slicker. The Madrid man has established himself as one of the finest footballers on the planet in recent years, helping Los Blancos to three Champions League titles in succession and Croatia to the FIFA World Cup final.

For Inter, it would've been a huge coup to get Modric on board, especially after Real sanctioned the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus earlier in the summer. After all, the Croatian has accomplished much during his time in the Spanish capital:

On this day in 2012, Real Madrid signed @lukamodric10.

Since then: 🏆 pic.twitter.com/rB2XaCxMNX

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 27, 2018

Having lost Ronaldo and manager Zinedine Zidane in pre-season, it was imperative Madrid kept hold of Modric. Barring a surprise January sale, it appears as though the club have been successful in that aim.

Inter may move again in midseason or ahead of next season, but the club is well stocked in midfield already and should be primed for an exciting year. If Spalletti can draw the best from longstanding key men like Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perisic along with a number of new acquisitions, they can thrive.

Inter Milan have announced their intention to sue La Liga president Javier Tebas over his claims the Nerrazzuri are using "tricks" to sign Luka Modric. 

Per Football Italia, the club released a statement on the matter, saying: "FC Internazionale Milano announces that it will take legal action against Mr. Javier Tebas in the face of statements made today in the Press."

Tebas voiced his displeasure with the market and how certain clubs conduct their business in an interview with Spanish newspaper ABC (h/t Football Italia):

"Things don't happen just because we make mistakes, but I don't think this is the case, but other clubs things have happened, which shouldn't happen.

"I'm not only referring to PSG but also Juventus with the signing of Ronaldo and Inter, who have no money to buy players but then offer a mountain of money, the source of which I don't know.

"Tricks in the market? As for Juve I don't know. We'll have to see how their deal [for Ronaldo] pans out, but Inter's offer for Modric hid some tricks.

"The PSG-Neymar issue was also rigged. PSG are a club of 'just tricks' like Manchester City, and this generates circumstances that destabilise the market and media."

The outspoken Tebas has long aimed criticism at Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, telling L'Equipe (h/t Sport Witness) UEFA should consider disqualifying them from European competition. Sport Witness noted many have accused of him of "sour grapes," and he denied criticism of favouritism toward Real Madrid and Barcelona in the same interview.

These latest comments are the first regarding Serie A, and it's no wonder he expressed anger at Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Juventus and the links between Inter and Modric―as La Liga president, he would much rather see the two stay in Spain.

He has gone to great lengths to keep La Liga's big stars around: As reported by Sid Lowe of The Guardian, he flat-out rejected PSG's deposit of Neymar's buyout clause last year, going directly against FIFA regulations.

Sportswriter Lars Pollmann thought Inter's response wasn't any better than Tebas' initial comments:

https://twitter.com/LarsPollmann/status/1030510347445301248

This isn't the first time a club has threatened to sue Tebas, as Manchester City also hit out at the La Liga boss last year, per Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News.