Bitesize Prediction: Torino vs Udinese – 23/12/23

Former AC Milan and Brazil star Kaka has announced his retirement from professional football.

Kaka revealed his intention to leave Orlando City when his contract expired this month, and the 35-year-old has opted against continuing his career elsewhere.

His decision comes 10 years to the day since he won the Ballon d Or, having helped Milan to Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup glory in 2007.

Kaka began his career at Sao Paulo in 2001 and was part of Brazil s World Cup-winning squad under Luiz Felipe Scolari a year later in Japan and South Korea.

After three seasons in Sao Paulo s first team he was snapped up Milan in 2003, joining a team that included the likes of Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo.

The languid…

Wales boss Ryan Giggs lauded Harry Wilson for his exceptional free-kick against the Republic of Ireland, joking that he fined the youngster for scoring a similar goal against Manchester United earlier in the season.

Wilson s sensational set-piece strike proved the difference in Dublin on Tuesday, as Wales moved top of their Nations League group with a 1-0 victory.

The Liverpool winger  on loan at Derby County in the Championship  scored an equally as impressive free-kick against Giggs former club United in the EFL Cup in September, and the Wales manager was delighted to see Wilson continue his form on the international stage.

Harry Wilson, I fined him for the goal at Old Trafford a few weeks ago, I won t be tonight! Giggs joked to Sky Sports.

He d…

David Silva could become the 14th player to make 400 competitive appearances for Manchester City when the Premier League champions visit Bournemouth on Sunday.

The last player to reach the milestone in the blue half of Manchester was former captain Paul Power, who spent 11 years at Maine Road but did not win a trophy during his time at the club.

Times have changed and Silva, who has confirmed this will be his final season with City, now skippers the most dominant team in English football.

Opta data shows the classy 33-year-old has been at the forefront of the club s transformation from noisy neighbours to Premier League powerhouses.

MOVING ON UP

Silva could conceivably bow out next year ranked as high as eighth on City s list of all…

Former Swansea City manager Carlos Carvalhal is in talks to take over the reigns at Sporting Clube de Portugal, Soccernews.com understands. 

The Lions surprisingly sacked Sinisa Mihajlovic after mere nine days in charge as Jose Sousa Cintra was appointed club s interim president and the search has begun for a new head coach.

Soccernews.com has learned that Carlos Carvalhal has been offered the job and he is seriously considering a return to Estadio Jose Alvalade.

The 52-year-old, who left Swansea at the end of last season, had been in charge of the Lions during the 2009/2010 season. 

Even though he would prefer to remain in England, Carvalhal is now seriously considering a proposal from Sporting CP. 

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp thanked the Anfield crowd for inspiring the 2-1 win over Tottenham on Sunday that lifted them back to the top of the Premier League.

The Reds moved two points clear of Manchester City, having played a game more, thanks to a 90th-minute own goal from Toby Alderweireld in front of the Kop.

Klopp was impressed with the support of the home fans after the disappointment of seeing Lucas Moura deservedly level the match following a first-half opener from Roberto Firmino.

Indeed, Klopp thinks Liverpool s sheer desire to win would be the key factor if they were to end their 29-year wait to become champions of England this season.

He told reporters: We are all human beings. Nine months ago, we started this mission, this ride, and want…

Atalanta s players crumpled to the turf dejected, crestfallen and beaten.

Gian Piero Gasperini s side were a had been half a minute, plus stoppage time, away from a place in the Champions League semi-finals before late goals by Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting saw Paris Saint-Germain break their hearts in Lisbon.

It concluded a season of unlikely triumph surrounded by crushing tragedy for the club and their city of Bergamo.

As they prepare to host Real Madrid on Wednesday, memories of their previous Champions League home game remain vivid, yet feel like they are from another time altogether.

Game zero

On February 19 last year, around 40,000 Atalanta fans – a shade under a third of Bergamo s population – packed themselves into coach…

Surprisingly enough, Serie A title holders Juventus failed to beat Sassuolo at home on Sunday. Despite Leonardo Bonnuci opening the scoring for the Old Lady, they allowed the visitors to bounce back, equalize and take the lead, before a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty snatched a point back for them. Goals for Sassuolo were scored by Jeremie Boga and Francesco Caputo.

Caputo scored the one which saw the game turn on its head after a failed attempt at a clearance by 20-year-old Matthijs de Ligt and a goalkeeping blunder by 41-year-old Gianluigi Buffon.

Not de Ligt s best performance today

Dicky (@DickyJuve)

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At the midpoint of Serie A, Fiorentina and Bologna, separated by a single point in the league standings, are set to collide in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals on Tuesday evening.

Fiorentina aim for their seventh national cup and currently hold a higher position in the league compared to Bologna. However, Bologna s recent triumph over Inter Milan in the last-16 stage has ignited aspirations of securing their first Coppa Italia victory in 50 years.

Fiorentina

Fiorentina, last year s runners-up in the Coppa Italia, have their sights set on redeeming themselves this season and clinching the trophy in Rome after their painful loss to Inter in the 2023 final.

Despite also facing defeat in the Europa Conference League final, the Vi…

Gareth Bale gave up fighting for a place at Real Madrid, according to former Los Blancos striker and director of football Predrag Mijatovic.

Bale is the subject of much transfer speculation, with the Wales star – signed by Madrid for what was a world-record fee in 2013 – seemingly set to return to Tottenham.

On Wednesday, Bale s agent Jonathan Barnett confirmed to Stats Perform News that talks were ongoing between Spurs and Madrid. There has also been reported interest from Manchester United.

Mijatovic believes the 31-year-old, who made just 20 appearances last season having slipped far down the pecking order under Zinedine Zidane, stopped pushing for a place in the side.

However, he is unsure who is to blame for a breakdown in the relationship betw…

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has confirmed the club intends to bring in further transfer market reinforcements as they aim to take back the Premier League title from Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola s side were unable to make it three domestic titles in a row in 2019-20, falling well short of a dominant Liverpool, who ended 18 points clear of second-placed City.

Winger Ferran Torres and defender Nathan Ake have already arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Valencia and Bournemouth respectively, for a combined outlay in excess of £60million.

Speaking to his club s official website, Khaldoon said City would seek to strengthen further and would not limit themselves to younger players if readymade, experienced performers are what Guardiola requires.

Wh…