Chelsea announce Maurizio Sarri as new Head Coach

Chelsea have announced Maurizio Sarri as it's new Head Coach. He replaces fellow Italian, Antonio Conte who was relieved of his appointment on Friday after two years in West London.

The 59 year old ex Napoli manager has signed a three year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Without a trophy as a manager, his appointment continues the conveyor belt of managerial changes at Stamford Bridge since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. Since that time, it has had 13 permanent managers and two interim coaches.

During his three year stay at Naples, he guided Napoli to two second place finishes and a three place position, including a record points haul for a team that failed to win the league last season.

He was still on the books of Napoli, in spite of Carlo Ancelotti's appointment as his replacement. Which meant Chelsea had to reach an agreement with Napoli over the two years that was left of his contract.

Chelsea sack manager Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte has left Chelsea, bringing his two year stint at Stamford Bridge to an end. The future of the 48 year old has been the subject of constant speculation over the last couple of months, and after the club reached an agreement with Napoli for the appointment of fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri, they have decided to part ways with Conte. The ex-Napoli manager is now set to be the replacement of the former Juventus manager.

In his first season in West London, he took Chelsea from 10th place to the Premier League title. In spite of an indifferent second season which ended in a fifth place finish, he still guided the club to an FA Cup triumph in May.

His combustive style led to disagree ment with Diego Costa, who subsequently left for Atletico Madrid after series of exchanges between the pair. While Nemanja Matic joined Manchester United. The departure of both players denied Chelsea two stalwarts of their title winning side in the Italian's first season.

Antonio Conte is expected to be paid £9m for the last year of his contract.

Maurizio Sarri, 59, was manager of Napoli until May, when Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as his replacement. He was still contracted to the Naples club, which meant Chelsea had to reach an agreement with them before he could swap Naples for London.

Arsenal complete signing of midfielder Matteo Guendouzi

Arsenal have announced the signing of France u-20 midfielder Matteo Guendouzi from Lorient for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £7m.

The former PSG youth product becomes Arsenal's fifth signing of the summer transfer window after Uruguayan international Lucas Torreira's signing was confirmed on Tuesday.

Speaking of his move to the North London club, the 19 year old told the club's website thus;

"I want to become part of the club's history and to achieve great things here,"

"Arsenal have always been the team closest to my heart and a side I've wanted to join since I was a child."

The club's manager welcomed to the club with these words:

"[Guendouzi] has big potential and gained good first team experience last season with Lorient,"

"He wants to learn and improve and will be an important part of our first-team squad."

Standing at over 6ft 2in, he made a total of 30 appearances for the Lorient first team.

Photo credit: Arsenal.com

Algeria's Riyad Mahrez joins Man City for £60m

Man City have signed Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez for a club record £60m on a five year deal.

The departure of the 26 year old from the King Power Stadium to the Etihad Stadium marks the end of a transfer saga that dates back to the January transfer window, after a bid of £50m was rejected by Leicester City. It prompted the Algeria international to hand in a transfer request.

He leaves the 2016 Premier league champions after a stellar four and a half years, where he scored 48 goals in 179 appearances.

Speaking of his move he said;“I am so pleased to have joined City, a side playing great football under Pep Guardiola."

"Watching them from afar has been a pleasure,"

"Pep Guardiola is committed to playing attacking football, and City's performances last season were outstanding.

"I think we can be successful over the coming years and I believe my own game can develop under Pep's management."

He becomes Man City's first signing of the transfer window after they strolled to the Premier league title last season. They also broke their transfer record just six months after they paid £53m for French defender A. Laporte.

Arsenal seal deal for defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira

Arsenal have completed the deal for Uruguayan international midfielder Lucas Torreira. The 22 year old arrives on a fee of £26m on a five year deal.

He featured at this summer's World Cup in Russia for Uruguay. With three starts and two substitute appearances.

Speaking of his latest signing, Arsenal manager, Unai Emery said "In Lucas Torreira we have signed a young player who is a very bright talent in the game. A midfielder with great quality."

Standing at just 5ft 5in, he spent four years in Italy, two of which where with Sampdoria, where he made a total of 71 appearances.

He becomes Arsenal's fourth signing of the transfer window.

The club is expected to take that number to five when they confirm the capture of 19 year old France under-20 international Matteo Guendouzi who is expected to join from French side, Lorient. He reportedly underwent a medical at the club on Tuesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo's open letter to Real Madrid fans

Real Madrid confirmed the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus for a fee of £99.2m on Tuesday, for which he penned an open letter to the club's fans. It is reproduced below;

These years in Real Madrid, and in this city of Madrid, have been possibly the happiest of my life.

I only have feelings of enormous gratitude for this club, for its fans and for this city. I can only thank all of them for the love and affection I have received.

However, I believe that the time has come to open a new stage in my life and that is why I have asked the club to accept transferring me. I feel that way and I ask everyone, and especially our fans, to please understand me.

They have been absolutely wonderful for nine years. They have been nine unique years. It has been an emotional time for me, full of consideration but also hard because Real Madrid is of the highest demands, but I know very well that I will never forget that I have enjoyed football here in a unique way.

I have had fabulous team-mates on the field and in the dressing room, I have felt the warmth of an incredible crowd and together we have won three Championships in a row and four Championships in five years.

And with them also, on an individual level, I have the satisfaction of having won four Gold Balls and three Gold Boots. All during my time in this immense and extraordinary club.

Real Madrid has conquered my heart, and that of my family, and that is why more than ever I want to say thank you: thanks to the club, the President, the directors, my colleagues, all the technical staff, doctors, physios and incredible workers that make everything work, that tirelessly pursue every minute detail.

Thank you infinitely once more to our fans and thanks also to Spanish Football. During these nine exciting years I have played against great players. My respect and my recognition for all of them.

I have reflected a lot and I know that the time has come for a new cycle. I'm leaving but this shirt, this badge and the Santiago Bernabeu but they will continue to always feel part of me wherever I am.

Thanks to all and, of course, as I said that first time in our stadium nine years ago: Go Madrid!

Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Real Madrid to Juventus for £99m

Portugal international, Cristano Ronaldo has joined Juventus for a fee of £99.2m. The 33 year old would now play his football in the Italian Seria A after nine years with European champions Real Madrid. He is reported to have signed a four year contract worth around £500,000 a week.

He leaves behind a wave of record, which includes his goal count of 451 goals in 438 games for the club. A goal haul that fetched 16 - major trophies with the club, including two La Ligas, four Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups and three European Super Cups.

Speaking of his move to Italy in an open letter to the fans, he emphasised that the time was right for him to seek a new challenge. "The time has come to open a new stage in my life, that's why I asked the club to accept transferring me," He said.

The transfer fee is a record for a 33 year old. And it marks a shift for both clubs as they pursue new chapters.
For Real Madrid, the post Cristiano Ronaldo era would be closely watched as he has been the undisputed star that has rescued them from difficult situations during his time there.

Following the unexpected resignation of Zinedine Zidane as manager and the appointment of Julen Lopetegui , the club is seeking a new direction after the poor defence of their domestic title last season.

For Juventus, the aim is to win the Champions League after it's total dominance of the Seria A in the last seven years, the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo is to them a means to achieve that.