By DAN KARELL
While plenty of attention was being paid to Edinson Cavani’s Uruguayan National Team teammate on Wednesday evening, Cavani made an important statement regarding his future.
Following Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-1 defeat to Barcelona in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, Cavani told English broadcaster Sky Sports that he has no intention of leaving Paris this summer.
“There’s too much talk about my future,” Cavani told Sky Sports. “I’ll stay here and respect my contract and think about doing well for PSG.”
Nearly every summer, the Uruguayan forward is linked with a move away from the Parc des Princes, and considering his goal-struggles this season (eight goals in 28 Ligue 1 games, 20 goals in all competitions) and rumors of him not getting along with star PSG forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the speculation over his future has continued to fester.
Cavani has previously been linked with a move back to Italy, where he played for Palermo and Napoli from 2006-2013, as well as a number of English Premier League clubs including Manchester United.
Here are some more stories to kick off your Thursday:
RIVER PLATE ADVANCE THANKS TO TIGRES HEROICS IN PERU
Argentine champions River Plate have advanced to the Copa Libertadores knockout stages in remarkable fashion.
River took care of business on their own end on Wednesday evening, defeating Bolivian side San Jose, 3-0, in Buenos Aires, with Rodrigo Mora scoring a brace. But in addition to needing a win of their own, River needed a weakened Tigres side to win on the road at Juan Aurich, and win they did.
Backup forward Enrique Esqueda scored his first goals for Tigres, nabbing a hat-trick in a wild 5-4 victory. The victory ensured that River made it to the next stage past Juan Aurich by just one point.
Elsewhere in Copa Libertadores action, Bolivian club The Strongest defeated Ecuadorian club Emelec, 1-0, Mexican side Atlas defeated Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro, 1-0, Brazilian club Sao Paulo came back to defeat Uruguay’s Danubio, 2-1, and Chilean side Colo Colo were surprised at home by Colombian club Santa Fe, 3-0.
INTER CONFIRM INTEREST IN DYBALA
Inter Milan won’t have to look far for forward upgrades should they choose to pull the trigger on a big transfer this summer.
Speaking to Sky Italia, Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio confirmed the club’s interest in Palermo forward Paulo Dybala, who has attracted transfer interest from across Europe. Other clubs reportedly interested in the Argentine are Arsenal, AS Roma, and Juventus.
“I can say that we like Dybala,” Ausilio said. “I don’t know what the conditions of the transfer would be, but I imagine it would be expensive. He’s a player we admire, and that we’ve been following since he was in Argentina.”
The 21-year-old striker has scored 13 goals in 29 Serie A appearances for Palermo this season.
In related news, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has claimed that he believes Dybala will be sold to a new club by the end of April, according to Italian sports page Tuttosport.
QUICK KICKS
The Caribbean Football Union leader Gordon Derrick of Antigua has stated that the CFU won’t necessarily vote in a block for FIFA president Sepp Blatter as they did under former leader Jack Warner in previous FIFA presidential elections. (REPORT)
AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has backed under-fire head coach Filippo Inzaghi in spite of reports that he’ll be fired this summer. (REPORT)
Hoffenheim manager Markus Gisdol has signed a contract extension to remain with the club through June 2018. (REPORT)
Chelsea are close to securing the £4.5 million transfer for 19-year-old Brazilian starlet Nathan from Atletico Paranaense. (REPORT)
Athletic Bilbao forward Iker Munian will undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL on May 7, and the subsequent recovery will keep him out for at least seven months. (REPORT)
————-
What do you think of these reports? Do you see Cavani staying with PSG this summer? Think he could change his mind? Do you see River Plate making a deep run in the Copa Libertadores now that they’ve qualified for the knockout rounds?
Share your thoughts below.