The agent of Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has denied rumours that he has met with Barcelona over a potential free transfer in 2023.
The 30-year-old joined the Blues from Napoli in 2018, penning a five-year deal.
He has not signed a fresh contract since moving to London, meaning his current deal is set to expire next year.
As a result, the Euro 2020 winner will be free to discuss a pre-contract with clubs outside of England from January 1.
His team-mate, N’Golo Kante, is also out of contract next year, but Chelsea are reluctant to offer the Frenchman fresh terms due to his injury problems.
Jorginho is available for the Blues more often than not and is also nine months younger than Kante, making him a more reliable long-term option should the club wish to extend his contract.
The Italian defensive midfielder has won the Champions League, Europa League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.
He has once again discussed his future, saying that he is “very happy” in the capital, hinting that he is open to signing a new contract.
“I’m very happy at the moment we’re all very focused on what we need to do,” Jorginho said. “I’m enjoying life here.
“I’m enjoying working with everyone and I think everybody says the same thing. It’s enjoyable to be at Chelsea.”
Despite this, interest in the Italy international is growing.
Barcelona are believed to be Jorginho’s biggest admirer, and it has been reported that his agent, Joao Santos, met with the La Liga club’s director Mateu Alemany.
Santos has denied these rumours, insisting that the player’s priority is to extend his Chelsea contract.
“It is not true that I’ve met Mateu Alemany,” he told Relevo.
“Our priority is to extend with Chelsea; that’s the only club I’ve talked to in the last few weeks. Jorginho’s future is at Chelsea.”
While Barca are thought to be interested, Spanish outlet SPORT have claimed this week that Italian champions AC Milan are also keen.
Jorginho joined Chelsea from Serie A, so could be open to a return to Italy.
The report says Barca and Milan are two clubs ‘best positioned’ to land Jorginho as a free agent.
Both clubs are making moves behind the scenes to ensure the ‘Jorginho operation’ does not fall flat on its face.
However, the Catalan club need to reduce their wage bill before being able to complete the signing of the experienced midfielder.
This is a common theme in every Barca transfer, with their financial situation well documented.
Milan will be able to further benefit from the tax system in Italy, which is less aggressive than in Spain.
Although I said Jorginho’s history in Serie A could tempt him to go back, the report states that it could have the opposite effect, and that he will be eager to take on a fresh challenge.
The former Napoli man has made over 200 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 29 goals.
READ NOW: Coventry City winning on the pitch but how long will they have a pitch? The saga continues
FORMER WALLABY CAPTAIN David Pocock was issued with a formal warning by the Australian Rugby Union after he was arrested and charged over a protest at a coal mine.
Pocock, 26, locked himself onto a digger at the Maules Creek mine in New South Wales on Sunday along with a small group of others to draw attention to its potential environmental impact.
He was arrested after coming down from the machine and was charged with entering and remaining on enclosed land and hindering mine equipment, said Leard Forest Alliance, who were behind the protest.
“While we appreciate David has personal views on a range of matters, we’ve made it clear that we expect his priority to be ensuring he can fulfil his role as a high-performance athlete,” the ARU said in a statement.
Pocock was ruled out of rugby for nine months in March following knee surgery but is back training with the ACT Brumbies.
He said he joined the long-running protest and blockade at the mine in support of farmers’ concerns about the impact it had on climate change and on the water table.
“I know some are very uncomfortable with breaking the law, but I feel that non-violent direct action in the face of coal mines and climate change draws on a long history of civil disobedience being used to highlight injustice,” he tweeted on Monday.
Pocock, who was released on bail, is next due to appear in court on 14 January, reports said.
The alliance said police have arrested more than 280 people since the blockade started in August 2012.
Whitehaven Coal’s flagship Maules Creek project is set to be one of the world’s largest open-cut coal mines, with construction on the site starting in January this year.
Whitehaven expects that the first coal will be produced in the March quarter of next year.
MUNSTER WERE BEATEN at their own game for much of this encounter, as Clermont’s hugely aggressive line speed forced Anthony Foley’s men into errors in a 16-9 defeat. An uncharacteristic blocked-down Conor Murray kick outside the Munster 22 in the first half was symptomatic.
Clermont celebrate a superb victory in Limerick. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Julien Bonnaire, man of the match Fritz Lee and the rest of the Clermont pack scrapped for every single loose ball, got hands into the rucks to slow Munster’s possession and looked for trouble off the ball too.
We’ve become accustomed to travelling French sides not quite bringing that intensity to Thomond Park, but this international-influenced Clermont team are something altogether different.
Out-mauled
Usually an area of major strength for Anthony Foley’s side, the attacking maul failed to fire at Thomond Park this evening. On four occasions, Munster kicked for touch and attempted to maul from within striking range of the Clermont tryline. Thrice they dropped their transfer, on the final occasion Damien Chouly picked off the throw.
O’Connell and Munster just couldn’t get their maul going. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
In contrast, Clermont took their one prime mauling opportunity, the powerful Lee crossing with just a minute gone. The Samoan number eight broke back to the right after his pack had drawn the Munster resistance in, Lee finding little in his way as he dove over.
Opportunism or analysis-driven, it was a clever score. Although Munster drew a first-half penalty at the maul to allow Ian Keatley to kick three point, it was very much a case of being out-mauled in Limerick.
Foley’s side too narrow
The narrow nature of Munster’s attack has been a genuine strength on other occasions this season, notably against Leinster and Saracens. However, at Thomond Park this evening the same attribute turned into a weakness.
Zebo showed glimpses of his attacking quality. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Clermont were more than happy to defend around the fringes, winning collisions time and again in the tight channels and forcing Munster into several unsuccessful offload attempts. Simon Zebo did make a couple of half-breaks in those zones but Foley’s men needed more variety.
It was certainly not a night for expensive rugby in the slippery conditions in Limerick, although Munster might regret not adding a little more width to their attack. Oftentimes, it was too predicatable, allowing Clermont to hammer forward into the tackle.
Lee dominant
Rarely before has a man of the match decision been so clear-cut. Clermont’s number eight was sublime throughout, even if he was lucky that some of his tussle with Peter O’Mahony was off camera.
Lee [left] and Noa Nakaitaci share a moment after the game. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
The Kiwi number eight arrived in France last season on a short-term ‘medical joker’ contract to cover injuries, but has been inspirational for Clermont ever since, earning himself a three-year deal.
This was the clear peak of his time in Europe, however, as he carried dynamically, made telling hits, competed for everything at the breakdown and contributed to the set-piece as much as he could.
Pool 1 test
Munster are left on nine points in Pool 1 after this defeat, with Saracens’ win over Sale having put them on the same total earlier in the day. Now Foley’s men face a trip to France in search of an altogether more cohesive performance.
Paul O’Connell leads his side off at the final whistle. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
In effect, a win for Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin would leave Munster all but out of the mix to advance to the knock-out stages. Saracens will look for a bonus point win over the Sharks at home next weekend.
It’s not over for Munster in Europe just yet, but this defeat leaves them in a tricky situation.
Clermont’s 77-game unbeaten record at their home stadium came to an end last season, and Montpellier beat them there in September. Still, it will take an exceptional performance to pull it off.
Ulster’s match programme features a superb Jack Kyle portrait on the coverIt was the same old story for Treviso as Northampton gave them a bit of a hiding in Italy
The mainstream media covered the death of WWE Hall of Famer Mean Gene Okerlund, who passed away yesterday at the age of 76.
News websites such as CNN, Fox News, ABC News, CBS, ESPN, TMZ, and many others all had stories about Okerlund, with news outlets like CNN giving the news a prime spot on the website.
According to an obituary published by the New York Times, Okerlund’s son Todd said that his father died at a hospital in Sarasota, Florida around a month after he fell.
Hulk Hogan, who was a close friend of Mean Gene, wrote on Twitter that he was the best partner he ever had and the two never rehearsed any of the interviews.
“Gene would ask me ‘Hey big man, what do you want to do?’ I would always answer, ‘Just follow you brother,’” Hogan wrote, adding that the formula worked from 1980 until their last segment together.
WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon also wrote a touching tribute on Twitter, just weeks after he wished him a happy birthday on December 19. “It was impossible not to crack a smile whenever “Mean” Gene Okerlund entered a room. He was the voice behind so many of WWE’s most iconic and entertaining moments, and the WWE family will miss him immensely.”Click Here: St George illawarra Dragons Jersey
QUADE COOPER WILL be available for the 2015 Rugby World Cup after signing on with the Australian Rugby Union for another year.
Cooper, 26, is a 53-cap veteran and could add to that next year, having impressed for the Wallabies on their disappointing Autumn Tour.
The Queensland Reds star said he was excited by what Australia could achieve in 2015.
“I really enjoyed the Spring Tour, even though some of the results weren’t what we wanted,” Cooper said in a statement.
“We’re working hard to improve and I’m confident we’ve got a great group of players going into 2015.
“I love being at the Reds and playing rugby for Australia, and am looking forward to the opportunities next year.”
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was understandably delighted with Cooper’s decision.
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching Quade on the Spring Tour. He brings a lot to the team on and off the field,” he said.
“He’s clearly a quality player and has proven himself at a state and national level for many seasons.
“From watching him play in Super Rugby, and during recent weeks, it’s clear he has a lot to offer and I’m glad he’s chosen to continue his future with Australian rugby.”
It is believed former Leinster coach Cheika has been negotiating a deal with Kurtley Beale, who only a couple of months back was facing the sack over offensive text messages he sent to then Wallabies manager Di Patstson.
“It’s on the way, we’re very close to getting that deal done now,” Cheika told News Corp.
“Everything is agreed, it’s just a matter of the final papers being drawn up by the ARU.”
Australia begin their World Cup campaign against Fiji at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on 23 September.
Originally published 09.03.
‘You’ve got to believe’ – O’Mahony backs Munster for Clermont trip‘I’ll be tucking into my turkey’ – Connacht’s Faloon on striking a balance over Christmas
Larry “The Axe” Hennig, the father of the late Curt “Mr. Perfect” Hennig and grandfather of WWE Superstar Curtis Axel, passed away today at the age of 82. The news was announced by The Post and Courier’s Mike Mooneyham.
Hennig made his professional wrestling debut in 1956 and worked for the American Wrestling Association starting from the early 1960s. He is best known for his tag team work with Harley Race, a tag team that won the AWA World Tag Team titles on multiple occasions.
Larry also teamed with his son Curt and before his retirement in 1985, the father-and-son duo won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team championship.
Hennig was married to Irene and the two had five children together.
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WWE is saddened to learn that Larry “The Axe” Hennig passed away today at the age of 82.
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THERE IS CONCERN for Johnny Sexton as a report in France suggests the Ireland out-half will be sidelined until mid-February with the after effects of a head injury he sustained against Australia last November.
French sports daily L’Équipe is reporting that Sexton has been suffering headaches and nausea since clashing heads with Rob Kearney late on in Ireland’s November win over the Wallabies and will not return to action until 14 February.
Having been contacted by TheScore.ie, Sexton’s French club Racing Métro said their medical team had no statement to make regarding how long the player will be sidelined for, although they did confirm that the 29-year-old was dealing with a head injury.
Sexton has not played for the Top 14 club since returning from Ireland duty last month, and has been ruled out of this weekend’s league clash with La Rochelle.
Speaking at a press conference in Paris earlier today, Racing coach Laurent Labit said: “As long as Johnny Sexton doesn’t feel 100%, we cannot take any risks. He’s not ready to play yet.”
L’Équipe’s article on Sexton states that he has visited a neurologist in Paris several times in recent weeks. The result of those visits is that Sexton has been ordered not to play rugby again until the 14 February, says the French sports newspaper.
Sexton, the article continues, will still be free to take part in non-contact training in the meantime.
Contacted by TheScore.ie this afternoon, the IRFU said it had no statement to make on the issue, with their medical team not currently in camp.
Should Sexton be absent until mid-February, he would miss Ireland’s opening game of the 2015 Six Nations against Italy in Rome on 7 February. However, that timeframe would give him some chance of returning for the clash versus France in Dublin on 14 February.
Connacht spread a little Christmas cheer around GalwayIreland have automatically qualified for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup
But what about [insert your county here]? Don’t worry, we’ll be producing a series of articles that will cover every county in Ireland – even yours – over the next few weeks. See the ones we’ve already covered here.
1. Donegal on the double
Source: Jacksonsmediatv/YouTube
Donegal Town rocked into the early hours as Jim McGuinness’s seniors lifted the Ulster SFC in Clones, while Declan Bonner oversaw victory in the provincial MFC — it was the first time the county managed to win both titles in the one year.
2. Top Marks for English
Mark English is congratulated by his sisters Michelle and Joanne after winning Bronze in the Men’s 800m Final Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Mark English won Ireland’s only medal with 800m bronze at the European Track and Field Championships in Zurich. His sisters Michelle and Joanne were at trackside to start the celebrations.
3. Given’s back on board
Shay Given returned from his 27-month international exile to win his 126th and 127th caps in the friendly wins over Oman and the United States with Martin O’Neill’s Ireland
4. Parental guidance for McGinley
Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Paul McGinley might strictly be a Dubliner but with his father Mick a native of Dunfanaghy and mother Julia from Rathmullan, Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles meant plenty of glasses were clinked in the north-west
5. Stand up for the Donegal girls
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Larissa Muldoon touched down Ireland’s try at Twickenham in the RBS Women’s Six Nations and Nora Stapleton was part of the team who produced a magnificent 17-14 win over the All Blacks on the girls in green’s way to fourth place at the Rugby World Cup
6. Coleman is sweet as a Toffee
Seamus Coleman capped a fine season at Everton by winning the right-back spot on the PFA team of the season as the Goodison Park club finished the 2013/14 campaign in fifth place.
7. Oscar’s Golden Boy Quigley
Source: boxingfan3334/YouTube
Having won the AIBA World Amateur Boxing Championships at European level and winning silver at the 2013 Worlds, Jason Quigley signed a pro contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s with Golden Boy Promotions. So far, the Ballybofey man is three from three …
8. Comeback king Harley
What’s the best way to re-announce yourself on the horse racing circuit after breaking a T1 vertebrae in your neck? Well, by winning a treble on your first afternoon of course — as jokey Martin Harley managed at Newcastle in June.
9. Sky’s the limit for Deignan
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Almost five years had passed since Philip Deignan’s stage win during the Vuelta a España. This year, in the colours of Team Sky, the now 31-year-old was back to his best, with the third place finish into Rifugio Panarotta on stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia the highlight.
10. Strumming the Harps
Finn Harps might be stranded in the middle of the SSE Airtricity League First Division but did upset the odds to reach the semi-finals of the FAI Cup, only to go down 6-1 to eventual winners St Patrick’s Athletic.
11. Boyles reclaim title
Cousins Declan and Brendan Boyle reclaimed the Dunlop National Rally Championship as well as giving home followers a rare local success in the Donegal International in June.
12 . Captain Marvel Murphy
Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Michael Murphy was again the man entrusted with the Irish captaincy for the International Rules Test in Perth. However, Australia won the one-off Test 56-46.
13. Donegal beat the ‘unbeatables’
With Dublin raging hot favourties to reclaim Sam Maguire, Dublin produced the shock of the summer as Jim McGuinness’s side left Croke Park in raptures following a 3-14 to 0-17 semi-final win. However, like the minors, Donegal failed to find that form in the final and it was Kerry who claimed both titles.
14. ‘Jimmy’s winning matches … Rory’s in charge …’
Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
After his four-year term of office concluded, there wasn’t a dry eye in Donegal as Jim McGuinness stepped aside, having been promoted to first team sports psychologist at Celtic FC. His former assistant Rory Gallagher is now the man entrusted with winning matches.
15 – The Race – Ireland’s Ultimate Endurance Event
Donegal played host to Ireland’s first 24-hour endurance event, simply titled ‘The Race’. Competitors ran, in total, 67km, kayaked 15km, cycled 175km as well as ran, walked or scrambled the 5km 500-metre vertical metres up and down Muckish Mountain. Canadian Bill Wells was first home in 15 hours and 22 minutes. Phew!
16 – The maroon and white are dynamite
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Geraldine McLaughlin scored 3-8 – a record in an All-Ireland football final – as Termon ladies sealed a dramatic comeback win against Mourneabbey from Cork to become the first ever Donegal team to win a national senior title.
What have we forgotten?
25 years old today: 7 times when The Simpsons was perfect sporting TVThere are some absolute rockets in the top 5 goals of the 2014 Football Championship
During the latest episode of Being The Elite which was filmed before and after the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 show, a big hint was given as to where Kenny Omega would ultimately end up.
With the former champ confirming that he is leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling, the obvious choice would be a big run in the WWE. But with all his friends off to run and be part of All Elite Wrestling, the odds of Omega joining WWE don’t look that good.
During this episode of Being The Elite, Omega tells Marty Scurll that he lost his phone and he would be seeing him later. The end of the episode comes with someone lurking around a TGIF restaurant outside the Tokyo Dome and Omega’s phone is there on the grass, face down with a ticking timer heard in the background. The group has already used mobile phones to reveal the AEW logo in a previous episode of Being The Elite.
During the same 23-minute episode, Cody, Brandi, The Young Bucks, and Page all sign their All Elite Wrestling contracts. You can see the episode below.Click Here: Cardiff Blues Store
THE FEELING WITHIN the Leinster group all season has been that the attacking performance they know they are capable of is within touching distance.
An accurate pass here, an aggressive rucking contribution there, a slightly more understanding support line; get those details right and the flow will follow.
Despite many outside their circle increasingly losing faith, the coaches and players remain positive about their prospects of clicking into top form. The evidence on the pitch might suggest that those thoughts are misguided, but Leinster plow on in search of their attacking zenith.
“The accuracy probably hasn’t been there,” admits kicking and skills coach Richie Murphy. “The ball carrier needs to work that little bit harder when he has the ball, our cleanout has to be accurate.
“It’s amazing if you can be 1% or 2% better there, these guys can be 2% better somewhere else, all of a sudden the ball is a little bit quicker and the opportunities will present themselves a lot easier.
Back row Kevin McLaughlin has stated his belief that Leinster have been forcing passes at times in attack, “getting over-excited and trying to force it a little bit.” The 30-year-old admits those errors have “an impact on confidence when you’re on the pitch.”
Other players have expressed similar sentiments around Leinster’s stuttering form too, underlining that once those passes start to stick, there will be notable improvements in terms of breaking the opposition down.
Murphy [left] and O’Connor want their players to make better decisions on the pitch. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
That said, Leinster’s coaching staff were disappointed by ignored opportunities against Munster, when chances to move the ball into potentially advantageous wide channels were spurned in favour of lower-risk inside passes or switch plays.
For skills guru Murphy, the key for Leinster is making the ideal decisions in attack.
“Some people say they’re forcing the pass, then there’s other opportunities when we actually can pass and we don’t. So it’s about making the right decisions really.
“We’ve a certain way that we try to play, especially when we’re getting into the opposition’s 22, but we just need to focus on exactly what their role is. You need to earn the right to actually move the ball into those areas.
“We’ll be focusing back to the process of what we’re actually trying to achieve in those areas, it’ll be up to the players then to try and focus on that, rather than not passing or throwing the pass and turning over the ball.”
Mention of the players themselves is apt there, from a Leinster point of view especially. Luke Fitzgerald yesterday said he and his teammates owe head coach Matt O’Connor a performance, a notion McLaughlin also expressed last week.
Much has been made of how Leinster’s style of play has altered in the last two seasons under the Australian’s rule, but Murphy stresses that there really hasn’t been too much difference to what has gone before in terms of philosophy and approach.
Leinster conceded three tries in Limerick. Source: Inpho/Billy Stickland
“Not massively,” says Murphy, “Matt’s asking the guys to see what’s in front of them and play it a little bit, but I don’t see it as being massively different to where it has been before.”
Echoing Fitzgerald and McLaughlin’s words, Murphy points out that the onus is on the players on the pitch at any one time to deliver.
“At the end of the day, we can’t play the game for the guys,” outlines Murphy.
“They have to deliver and believe in what we’ve given them, and deliver at the weekend.”
That Leinster’s injury issues are beginning to ease means competition for places in the starting XV should become a little fiercer in the coming weeks. That in turn is likely to spike individual performance levels.
Rugby is a team game, but Murphy underlines that improvements in the component parts of Leinster’s XV will naturally mean a better performance collectively.
“The individual has a role to play, where he is on the park,” says the former Leinster out-half. “He needs to focus on his role and not worry about anyone else’s role. If everyone has that, the team focus will look after itself.”
Jimmy Gopperth and Ian Madigan provide the options at 10. Source: Inpho/Billy Stickland
Ben Te’o’s recovery from injury adds a formidable option in the centre and perhaps frees up Ian Madigan to play at out-half more often.
O’Connor himself has indicated that Madigan’s deployment in the centre and at fullback is something that has been somewhat forced upon him by injuries. Murphy backs up that suggestion.
“He’s [Madigan] been moved around in order to accommodate putting all our best players on the pitch.
“I thought Ian did quite well [against Munster last weekend]. Some stuff was very good and then there were one or two mistakes as well. That can be expected, he hasn’t played much at 10 this year.
“I think it was only his third start there, including the one he had for Ireland, so he’ll be a lot better for that moving forward. Hopefully we can get him more game time at 10.”
Henshaw set for Connacht return in sold-out New Year’s Day Munster tieWorld Cup with Ireland is ‘top of the pile’ for Luke Fitzgerald