Mavrias heads back to Panathinaikos

Gaga Slonina has joined Chelsea on a six-year contract before returning to the Chicago Fire on loan until January.

The 18-year-old has established himself as the most exciting young goalkeeper in MLS since making his Fire debut last August.

Then 17, Slonina became the youngest goalkeeper to start a match in MLS history as he kept a clean sheet in a draw with New York City FC.

Slonina has gone on to keep 13 clean sheets in 34 appearances and is Chicago s first-choice keeper, playing every minute of the 2022 campaign.

The United States youth international, who rejected a senior call-up from Poland in May, will play out the rest of the season in Illinois ahead of joining a pool of Chelsea goalkeepers that includes Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea have reported…

Radhi Shenaishil was full of praise for Iraq captain Younis Mahmoud following victory over Iran in the Asian Cup quarter-finals.

Iraq coach Radhi Shenaishil praised the influence of captain Younis Mahmoud after guiding his team to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup with a penalty-shootout victory over Iran.

The 31-year-old without a club since 2013 scored the goal that put Iraq 2-1 up in extra time, but the sides ended the additional 30 minutes tied at 3-3 following a frantic period of play.

Mahmoud s Panenka helped Iraq to a 7-6 win in the shootout, and Shenaishil was quick to recognise his skipper s contribution.

Younis essentially played four halves today and he played amazing, he said. We have a young squad and we need a leader. He s the type of play…

Cardiff City would love to talk to Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy over a return to the club, according to chief executive Alan Whiteley.

The Wales striker played and captained the Championship club in the 2010-11 season when on loan from Manchester City, however, they were unable to secure a permanent deal for the 32-year-old.

Bellamy re-joined former club Liverpool last season but only has one year left on his contract and the Bluebirds admitted they would like to re-sign him if he s not in new manager Brendan Rodgers plans.

We d love to have Craig back, Whiteley told reporters.

But he is a Liverpool player and until Liverpool and Craig decide what they are going to do, there are conversations that we can t even have at the moment.

We don t …

Rio Ferdinand has launched a blistering attack on FIFA for failing to deal with racism in football after Croatia were fined just 14,920 pounds (19,084 euros) for abuse aimed at England striker Emile Heskey in Zagreb.

Heskey was subjected to monkey chants from a section of the crowd as England won 4-1 in the Maksimir Stadium last month and Ferdinand believes it deserved tougher punishment from world football s governing body.

The Manchester United and England defender is calling for points to be deducted in future if FIFA and UEFA, Europe s governing body, are serious about eradicating racism from the game.

The football authorities need to look at themselves. They make a lot of comments and say they are going to do this or that but they never back up the words…

Real Madrid have announced the signing of Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of €60million.

Jovic became one of Europe s most in-demand players after scoring 17 Bundesliga goals and a further 10 in Eintracht s run to the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2018-19.

Barcelona were said to be interested in signing Jovic and reportedly scouted the Serbia striker as they hunt for a long-term successor to Luis Suarez.

But it is LaLiga rivals Madrid who have sealed a deal for Jovic, who has signed a five-year contract with Los Blancos as they look to rebuild under Zinedine Zidane.

Vielen Dank für deinen Einsatz, Tormaschine! Alles Gude und viel Erfolg in Madrid!

— Eintracht Frankfurt (@Eintracht)

Jovic becomes the se…

Antonio Conte is eager to restore Inter to their former glory after enjoying a trophy-laden past with rivals Juventus.

The 49-year-old was named as Luciano Spalletti s successor on May 31 to end his year-long exile from the game since being dismissed by Chelsea.

Conte returns to the Italian top flight five years after leaving Juventus, where he won five major honours, including three successive Serie A crowns. 

Juve are considered Inter s fiercest rivals, but the ex-Italy boss insists coaching multiple clubs is normal and says he is ready to end his new club s trophy drought, which spans eight years since they lifted the Coppa Italia.

| OFFICIAL

Antonio Conte will be Inter s new Coach!

— Inter (@Inter_en)

Conte, who also spen…

Juventus striker Alessandro Matri has made it clear he is willing to stay and fight for his place in Turin.

The Bianconeri have already agreed to sign Fernando Llorente and are reportedly eager to lure another high-profile striker, which has fuelled speculation that Alessandro Matri is set to leave in the summer.

However, the 28-year-old has continued to score important goals in spite of the transfer talk and he is adamant he doesn t want to leave the Old Lady.

I want to stay here and be a part of this group of strikers, Matri explained to club s official website.

This constant talk of top players has somewhat overshadowed the great work of our attackers.

Obviously you need the quality of champions to be able to win in Europe, but I think that…

Spanish newspaper Il Centro understands that Sevilla are seriously considering a bid for Pescara winger Vladimir Weiss.

Los Rojiblancos look set to stay without Jesus Navas at the end of the current campaign and they seem to believe the Slovakian would be a perfect replacement.

The fact Weiss will be a free agent in the summer is another major positive given club s difficult financial situation.

However, that basically means that a number of Europe s high-profile clubs are also keen, with Italy s top sides already establishing first contacts.

Vladimir Weiss already has some La Liga experience, having spent the 2011/2012 season on loan at Espanyol.

He was later sold to Pescara for mere €1.8 million, but after signing a one-year deal he is now se…

Jurgen Klopp has joked Mohamed Salah found a right foot on holiday as he hailed the forward s continued development ahead of Monday s trip to Manchester United.

Salah has picked up from where he left off last season with two goals and an assist in Liverpool s opening three games of the 2022-23 campaign.

The Egypt international has also created 12 chances across those three outings, which is five more than next-best Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Indeed, only Borussia Monchengladbach s Alassane Plea and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar (both 13) have created more chances this term across Europe s top five leagues.

And as Salah looks to match Thierry Henry in winning the Premier League Golden Boot for a record fourth time, Klopp believes the 30-year-old is only get…

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is relishing the challenge of facing Liverpool, issuing a rallying cry to the club s supporters after a torrid start.

Erik ten Hag s side welcome their north west rivals to Old Trafford on the back of a woeful start to the season, losing back-to-back matches at Brighton and Brentford to stand pointless in the early stages of 2022-23.

While there is additional pressure on Monday s fixture, with Liverpool also seeking their first win of the season after consecutive draws, Rashford is feeling no different to how he did in previous encounters.

To be honest, I feel exactly the same [as in the past], he told the club s official website.

Against anyone, you want to win but against your Liverpools and Manchester Citys…