Domestic soccer is back this weekend after an unexpectedly eventful international break and the goings-on off the pitch in Europe have matched the action on it. From Bayern Munich man Lucas Hernandez’s prison term to France international teammate Kylian Mbappe’s book, we have you covered for the stories which may well have escaped you the first time around.
Our picks.
Hot water Hernandez
Making headlines in Spain, Germany and France right now is the curious case of the 25-year-old defender who has been handed a six-month prison sentence in Spain after breaking a restraining order in 2017.
Hernandez is expected in court in Madrid on Tuesday and has appealed against the term which is due to restraining orders imposed on him and his partner Amelia Ossa Llorente after a violent exchange which neither pressed charges for.
The pair returned to Spain together after getting married and Hernandez now has 10 days top report to jail voluntarily after he appears in court. Bayern president Herbert Hainer has confirmed that the German powerhouse will release him to appear in court despite the risk of immediate punishment.
It has been a mixed fortnight for the Hernandez brothers with Theo of AC Milan also part of the French squad which won the UEFA Nations League title against Spain and scoring a superb winner against Belgium to send Les Bleus to the final.
No sooner had he returned from international duty, Milan confirmed that the 24-year-old had tested positive for COVID-19 which was part of a double whammy as the Italian giants were forced to bring in free agent Antonio Mirante until the end of the season after Mike Maignan underwent surgery.
Stealthy Simeone and Suarez
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has admitted that has asked star man Luis Suarez about the possibility of bringing Lionel Messi to the Spanish capital before the legendary Argentine opted to join Paris Saint-Germain after his emotional Barcelona exit.
“With all due respect, I did not call Leo,” Simeone told Diario Ole. “I did call Luis to ask him how Messi was, though. Also, if there was even the slightest possibility of him coming to Atletico. This was something that lasted three hours because PSG were already obsessed with the signing. Did it come to anything? No, nothing, you see the plane passing through the sky and you say here he comes, well, that is how it was!”
Algeria rage at Nice
Djamel Belmadi has accused Ligue 1 side OGC Nice of advising their best African players against representing their countries internationally after summer signing Andy Delort announced his intention to take a year off to concentrate on domestic soccer having only been eligible for Les Fennecs since 2019.
“It is the big joke of the year,” he raged. “Either it is massive stupidity, or it is gall that knows no bounds. He should have first spoken to the Algerian press and people. He says he is going to pause the national team and that he is prioritizing his club because of the competition there.
“Without wanting to snitch, I spoke with Nice’s sporting director, Julien Fournier, who called me. He said, ‘we tell our players (not to go on international duty).” He told Youcef Atal: ‘we do not want you to go join up with the national team.’
“At least he’s clear about it, but he does not have the right to do it — it is in the FIFA schedule. I told him: ‘from an ethical standpoint, what you are doing is disgusting, you are not showing respect to the countries, to the national teams, and to the African continent.'”
Gladbach’s Thuram gives update
Borussia Monchengladbach have been missing Marcus Thuram so far this season through injury and the France international has issued an update on his recovery from a knee injury which should finally see him return to the field.
“My knee is great, thanks to the work of the medical team,” said the 24-year-old via official club media. “Now I am focusing on getting my fitness back. I can almost put this injury behind me, and I cannot wait to get back into training with the whole squad again.
“Of course, I feel better when the team is picking up good results because it allows me to really concentrate on my comeback. It is much easier to be patient whilst working on getting back to full fitness when things are going well for the team. They are doing a fantastic job and I am grateful for that.”
Marsch gets Nkunku boost
RB Leipzig boss Jesse Marsch has been handed a boost with Christopher Nkunku fit to play despite taking a knock to his ankle in midweek ahead of a key run of games starting against Freiburg this weekend before a UEFA Champions League doubleheader against PSG.
“He is ready for Saturday, that is the most important thing,” said the American of Nkunku before adding: “our players know that they have to take a game-by-game approach. We are aware that our Champions League campaign has not gone as well as we had hoped so for but the best preparation for next week’s game is a win this weekend.”
Craving even more soccer coverage? Listen below and subscribe to ¡Qué Golazo! A Daily CBS Soccer Podcast where we take you beyond the pitch and around the globe for commentary, previews, recaps and more.
Mbappe’s book
PSG and France star Mbappe will release an autobiographical comic book next month. Lawyer Delphine Verheyden confirmed it will be titled ‘My name is Kylian’ and printed an initial 300,000 times before publication via Mbappe’s personal publishing house KM. It is his story about “the difficulties he has had to overcome in order to become a worldwide star” and L’Equipe cartoonist Faro will provide illustrations.
France teammate Karim Benzema also continued Real Madrid’s relentless charm offensive for Mbappe’s signature by against expressing his desire to play together: “why not? I have said it before, and if you want, I will say it again. Of course, one day.”
Benzema also admitted his hope at winning the Ballon d’Or: “it is a trophy which every player wants one day. It is a trophy that I have always thought about since I was a kid, but if I can win the trophy, it is also because of the work of my team-mates. It would be for everyone.”
