Friday, March 29, 2024

Ancelotti dismisses Ribery link; Schalke put off Huntelaar talks

Paris Saint-Germain manager Carlo Ancelotti has rubbished reports linking Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery with a move to the Parc des Princes, with 20-year-old Brazilian ace Lucas Moura already set to join the club in January, Sky Sports reports.

According to reports in Germany, PSG were set to launch an official move for Ribery during the January transfer window, but PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Les Parisiens will not pursue the France international when the transfer window re-opens in January.

“It is not true that Ribery could come to PSG,” said Ancelotti.

“He is a very good player, but I cannot see where we can find a position for him in our group.

“I have too many people in that position, moreover we are expecting someone.”

Both Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are at the top of their respective leagues, with the Bavarians having tallied a perfect record through eight league games, while PSG are also unbeaten.

Ribery has featured in five of Bayern’s eight league matches this season, tallying two goals and four assists.

His form for both club and country has been very good, to say the least, in 2012-13, with the 29-year-old having netted seven goals and nine assists in 20 appearances.

Schalke put off Huntelaar talks

German Bundesliga outfit FC Schalke 04 will hold talks with talisman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in December, Sky Sports understands.

Huntelaar, 29, was the leading goal scorer in the Bundesliga last term after bagging 29 goals and eight assists in 32 appearances for Die Königsblauen.

The Holland international’s current contract with the club expires next summer, fueling speculation that Schalke are preparing to cash in on their star striker, with Juventus and other European giants reportedly keen on the Dutchman.

“We have decided that we won’t have any contract talks before December and there will be no new developments,” Schalke’s general manager Horst Heldt told Sport 1.

“I have had the feeling Klaas-Jan can’t decide at this stage and I will give him the time he needs.

“My goal is to persuade him to stay at Schalke and to extend his contract.

“We will resume the talks in December, January at the latest, and then I expect a quick decision.”

Huntelaar has registered three goals — tied with No. 10 Lewis Holtby for the team-lead — and two assists in eight league matches for third-place Schalke 04 this season.

Meanwhile, Juventus’ striking quartet — consisting of Alessandro Matri, Fabio Quagliarella, Mirko Vucinic and Nicklas Bendtner (on loan from Arsenal) — have scored a combined five league goals in 18 Serie A appearances. That’s just not good enough for a side who have gone an astonishing 47 league matches without defeat.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shawn Etemadi


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