Welcome to The Athletic's coverage of today's football news.
Yesterday, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski sensationally said that he didn't see a future for himself at the club, despite having a year left on his contract.
Today, we'll bring you the latest from around the football world, including updates on Sadio Mane's Liverpool future and build-up to tomorrow's UEFA World Cup play-off semi-final, with Scotland hosting Ukraine.
The Athletic’s end-of-season quiz
The numbers behind Liverpool’s marathon season
Signing Perisic and his medals is a direction change for Tottenham and a win for Conte
(Photo: Getty Images)
May 31, 2022 at 5:57 PM EDT
Veteran midfielder Steven Davis has signed a new one-year extension to his deal at Rangers.
The 37-year-old re-signed for Rangers in 2019, and has made 141 appearances in his second spell at Ibrox.
đź“ť #RangersFC are today delighted to confirm Steven Davis has signed a one-year extension to his contract.
👉 https://t.co/rxpM1SdLdc pic.twitter.com/mscgobKRUs
May 31, 2022 at 5:36 PM EDT
Ahead of their postponed World Cup play-off semi-final tomorrow, Scotland manager Steve Clarke has spoken about facing Ukraine – after they were invaded by Russia earlier this year.
"They made a decision to get their football players out the country and to a training camp because they want to play and want to try to give their nation a boost by qualifying for Qatar," Clarke said earlier.
"The game goes ahead amid the horrific outside influence, but for us, we focus on the game of football.
"How you would deal with yourself if you were put in that situation, you don't know until you're actually there, but I've nothing but good thoughts for them and good wishes for them – except for during the game,"
May 31, 2022 at 4:52 PM EDT
Our man Jordan Campbell has all you need to know after an enthralling season for Rangers.
Insights into GvB’s tenure:
♟ Training highly tactical
👆Gio more hands-on
đź“ş Combing over own game
⚖️ Initially told only one FB to push up
🍽 Bassey, Kamara & Aribo’s Italians
👴🏻 Davis & Arfield helping youngsters
đź‡đź‡· Barisic helping Bassey’s crossinghttps://t.co/RMdhmSoXmg
May 31, 2022 at 3:59 PM EDT
The Italy captain will end his international career with the Finalissima match against Argentina at Wembley Stadium tomorrow.
Chiellini, 37, has amassed 116 caps since making his debut in 2004.
Asked how it feels to end his career in the Finalissma, he replied: "It's beautiful.
"Argentina have exceptional players. It's obvious that the first one who comes to your mind is (Lionel) Messi but the others around him are fantastic. They didn't win (the Copa America) by accident.
"It has been, without a doubt, better than I could ever have imagined. When you're a kid, you dream of playing for the national team, because that's the ultimate.
"The thought of being able to play more than 100 games over the course of 18 years, being captain, and lifting an important cup like I did last year at Wembley was the icing on the cake."
May 31, 2022 at 3:25 PM EDT
Tottenham's new signing Ivan Perisic and their head coach Antonio Conte have worked together before, when the pair were at Inter Milan.
And Perisic has spoken about Conte upon signing for Spurs earlier today, saying: “It’s a privilege to work again with a coach like this.
“We did well at Inter, won the league after 10 or 11 years, it was a perfect year. I’m really happy to see him again. I think we’re going to do some good things here in England.
“He’s living football, every minute, every hour, every day, even when he’s sleeping, he’s thinking about football! He’s so passionate. He wants to win. I like his character and I know we’re going to do a great job here.
“Like I said, I can’t wait to start, to train, to play in this amazing stadium, I think we will have a great time and we can do a great job here.”
(Photo: Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
May 31, 2022 at 2:31 PM EDT
Sam Stejskal sat down with Matt Turner, the USNMT goalkeeper and incoming Arsenal signing, to talk about the 27-year-old's heartbreaking experience earlier this year.
A fantastic, emotional read.
As the #USMNT called and Arsenal hovered, Matt Turner and his fiancée were given some devastating news. @samstejskal spoke to Turner about loss, new beginnings, and this summer's dream move to London: https://t.co/AUBRfSjzwa
May 31, 2022 at 1:56 PM EDT
They are the newest Premier League side, but who are Nottingham Forest?
Peter Rutzler has the answer.
GO FURTHER
Rest of the world – meet Nottingham Forest
May 31, 2022 at 1:12 PM EDT
Signing a player of Perisic's age and calibre is a departure from the norm for Spurs in recent years.
So what does this say about Tottenham under Antonio Conte?
GO FURTHER
Signing Perisic and his medals is a direction change for Tottenham and a win for Conte
May 31, 2022 at 12:30 PM EDT
Leeds have already brought in Brenden Aaronson from Red Bull Salzburg, but what next for Jesse Marsch's side who just stayed up on the last day of the Premier League season?
Phil Hay has the details.
Transfers at Leeds United.
Always of interest.
So here’s a piecehttps://t.co/gqN77gEjFG
May 31, 2022 at 12:02 PM EDT
The 25-year-old Japan international featured 32 times as Schalke won the 2 Bundesliga, but the German side have opted not to activate their buy option on the midfielder.
Schalke sporting director Rouven Schroder explained: "We’d have loved to have him in our Bundesliga squad, but that wasn’t possible due to financial reasons.
"We don’t want to beat around the bush. At this moment in time, when a lot of squad planning decisions still need to be made, we were unable to exercise the purchase option.
"The financial outlay was too large and would have exceeded our carefully-planned budgets."
May 31, 2022 at 11:05 AM EDT
The Croatian utility man has penned a two-year deal with Tottenham, upon the expiration of his contract at Inter Milan.
Perisic previously worked with Spurs head coach Antonio Conte at Inter.
(Photo: Getty Images)
May 31, 2022 at 10:25 AM EDT
The Aston Villa assistant coach is anticipated to be appointed in the next 24 hours.
Fantastic opportunity for Mick Beale at QPR.
Another former #LFC academy coach going on to bigger and better things at senior level.https://t.co/xuWOJt3DWo
May 31, 2022 at 9:47 AM EDT
Romain Saiss has confirmed that he will leave Wolverhampton Wanderers after six years at the club.
The 32-year-old is out of contract and no agreement has been reached over a new deal. The defender said last week that he was “probably” going to leave.
Wolves had offered the Moroccan centre-back a new contract but his wage demands are said to be above what the club are willing to pay. Saiss also turned down a contract extension last year.
It is believed he has several other offers from across Europe.
Saiss has made 206 appearances for Wolves across all competitions since joining from Angers in 2016, and was a crucial member of the defence which anchored the club’s position in the Premier League after their promotion in 2018.
More here.
(Photo: Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images)
May 31, 2022 at 9:12 AM EDT
The Athletic answer all the questions here.
We answer:
(Photo: Getty Images)
May 31, 2022 at 8:47 AM EDT
Simon Hughes analyses the French reaction to events which overshadowed the Champions League final.
None of the claims by the French ministry stack up, particularly the one about the number of forged tickets. Mathematically impossible to have three forgeries attempting access per second. Independent report needs to speak to all fans for it to be accurate https://t.co/8YfDUQV19s
May 31, 2022 at 8:35 AM EDT
Karim Benzema was named 2021/22 UEFA Champions League Player of the Season after topping the scoring charts with 15 goals, while teammate Vinicius Jr scored the winner in the final – he managed four goals and six assists across the competition.
(Photo: Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
May 31, 2022 at 8:09 AM EDT
What do you make of this?
Goalkeeper: Thibault Courtois (Real Madrid)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Antonio RĂĽdiger (Chelsea), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Andy Robertson (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Fabinho (Liverpool), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Kylian MbappĂ© (Paris Saint-Germain), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), VinĂcius JĂşnior (Real Madrid)
May 31, 2022 at 7:54 AM EDT
Rangers have spoken to the United Kingdom's government over the issues at their Europa League final in Seville.
The Athletic detailed the "shambolic" conditions that fans were confronted with at the game earlier this month. Rangers fans were left drinking from bathroom taps amid a lack of food and bottled water and had items that were permitted by the ticket taken by police.
A fan told The Athletic they were "amazed no one died.”
More here.
(Photo: Getty Images)
May 31, 2022 at 7:27 AM EDT
Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney has revealed his season-ending knee injury occured while doing leg exercises in the gym after his return from international duty.
It was known that Tierney did not pick up the injury while with Scotland and that has now been confirmed.
The defender missed the end of Arsenal’s season, in which the club failed to qualify for the Champions League, and will also be unfit for Scotland’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.
More here.
(Photo: Getty Images)
May 31, 2022 at 6:52 AM EDT
Manchester United have appointed ex-Liverpool fitness coach Andy O’Boyle as deputy football director.
The Athletic reported in February that United were creating the role as they sought to overhaul their operational side.
The 39-year-old joins the club from the Premier League, where he worked as head of elite performance, advising clubs on talent identification and recruitment.
O’Boyle will work closely with John Murtough, United’s football director, and operate across the first-team, women’s team, and academy.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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