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Manchester City announce Premier League record revenue of £712.8m
Treble winners Manchester City release their annual report for the 2022-23 season, confirming a Premier League record revenue of £712.8m for the financial year....Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Manchester City have released their annual report for the 2022-23 campaign, confirming a second consecutive year of record-breaking revenues and profits.
The Citizens have reported a Premier League record revenue of £712.8m, an increase of £99.8m on the last twelve months, which exceeds the previous record £648.4m posted by rivals Manchester United last month.
City have also reported profits of £80.4m, which has increased by almost double that of the previous year’s club record of £41.7m.
The figures revealed come on the back of a historic treble-winning season under manager Pep Guardiola, who successful steered the club to a third successive Premier League title – fifth in six seasons – a seventh FA Cup and a first-ever triumph in the Champions League – becoming just the second English club after Man United in 1999 to win all three trophies in the same season.
Man City, who surpassed Real Madrid be named the most valuable football club brand in the world and top the 2023 Brand Finance Football 50 Report earlier this year, have seen significant year-on-year growth with their three main income streams of commercial, broadcast and matchday.
Not only has the men’s team excelled across the board, but City have also seen a sizable increase in ticket sales and the average attendance for all games for the women’s team and at youth level with their Elite Development Squad and Under-18s, who won their respective league titles for a third consecutive year in 2022-23; several titles were also won at younger youth levels all the way down to their Under-9s.
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In addition, Man City have reported another year of social media and membership growth as well as their best-ever year for TV viewing figures, with the club’s total audience reaching 786 million across all competitions – 28% higher than the 2021-22 campaign.
Reflecting on the report following another successful year, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak told mancity.com: “In short, last season saw Manchester City achieve the greatest football and commercial year of its storied history. The season was the validation of a philosophy and sustained approach that has defined the club since His Highness Sheikh Mansour became its custodian in 2008.
“It’s an approach that has always respected, and continuously built upon, the club’s near 130-year history. It is founded on three key elements: putting in place all of the necessary ingredients to create football teams that excite, entertain and win silverware; relentlessly strengthening the club’s sustainable commercial and financial positions; and maximising its ability to serve the growing communities of which it sits at the heart. We regard each of these elements as equally important and completely co-dependent on one another.
“Behind the first team trophies and financial headlines, and against these three areas of focus, there sit less obvious, but equally important, outcomes. For our Ownership, Board and Executive Leadership these outcomes and their associated metrics demonstrate that the club has never been stronger, nor had greater potential to continue to evolve and succeed.”
Al Mubarak added: “In the aftermath of the UEFA Champions League win in Turkey and the completion of ‘The Treble’ the question I was asked most often, was ‘How do you top that?’
“The answer is by doubling down on the proven philosophies and practices that have brought us this success and to challenge ourselves to continue to constantly innovate in order to achieve new levels of performance both on and off the field.
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“We will not be afraid to set new goals and develop new strategies that deliver for our club, its communities and stakeholders and especially for the fans.
“Success today simply means further investment for tomorrow. Our financial health and on field success mean everyone connected to Manchester City can look forward to the future with excitement. Our collective achievements give me huge confidence that together we can accomplish even more in the years to come.”
Man City have also announced that their net expenditure of summer transactions for players stands at approximately £84m following the addition of four new senior players – as well as several academy signings – and the sale of 11 players.
Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes all joined Guardiola’s side in the summer, while Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte and Cole Palmer were notable players to be sold by the club.
Man City currently sit top of the Premier League table – one point clear of second-placed Liverpool who they face next on November 25 – while they have already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, although they were eliminated in the third round of the EFL Cup by Newcastle United.
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...Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Arsenal have been closely monitoring Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres ahead of a possible approach, according to Portuguese publication Record (page 14).
The Sweden international had a good stint in the Championship with Coventry City last term. He registered 22 goals and 12 assists from 50 appearances.
He was linked with a potential switch to the Premier League over the summer, but Sporting eventually won the race to sign him for €20 million plus add-ons.
It is now reported that the Gunners have scouted him more than once this campaign and they are now considering the possibility of landing his signature.
However, Sporting are quite clear that they don’t want to lose him in January unless any club is willing to trigger the hefty €100m release clause in his contract.
Arsenal linked with surprise move for Gyokeres
The 25-year-old was linked with a Premier League switch last summer after Coventry missed out on top-flight promotion to Luton Town via the play-offs.
West Ham United were the most interested English club in the Swede, but he chose to make the move to Sporting, who are currently top of the Primeira Liga.
Gyokeres has been pivotal for the club with 15 goals and seven assists from just 17 appearances and we are not surprised that Arsenal are monitoring him.
The Gunners already hold an interest in his teammate Ousmane Diomande, but any deal could be delayed until the summer with Sporting unwilling to negotiate in January.
A move for Diomande seems justifiable with his huge potential as a 19-year-old centre-back, but we believe there are better strikers that Arsenal could pursue over Gyokeres.
Gyokeres would be a good acquisition for a mid-table Premier League side, but the Gunners should aim higher and recruit someone like Victor Osimhen if they want to win titles.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
AC Milan are reportedly set to step up their efforts to sign Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior and are ready to open discussions over a possible move for the player in January....Click Here To Continue Reading>>
AC Milan are reportedly set to step up their efforts to sign defender Jakub Kiwior and are ready to open discussions with Arsenal over a possible move for the player in the January transfer window.
The 23-year-old arrived from Italian outfit Spezia in the last window but has not been able to nail down a regular starting role under Mikel Arteta during his time in North London.
Kiwior has made only five starts in all competitions over the last 11 months, with two of those coming in the Carabao Cup.
According to 90min, Kiwior is keen to play more regularly, and The Gunners are open to granting the defender a loan to move away from the Emirates Stadium in January.
The report adds that with the possibility of the defender becoming available in the New Year, AC Milan have emerged as one of the frontrunners to secure the 23-year-old’s services and are preparing to open discussion with Arsenal over a potential move.
It is understood that the Rossoneri are keen on a loan move for Kiwior, with the option to purchase him outright next summer.
The Serie A giants are also believed to be happy to agree with an obligation to buy the player next summer if it will help get the deal done.
AC Milan are expected to be active in the upcoming transfer market as they try to bolster their defensive line, with the likes of centre-backs Malick Thiaw and Pierre Kalulu currently sidelined through injury.
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Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Serie A clash between Inter Milan and Udinese, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
After disposing of last season’s Scudetto winners, Inter Milan will continue their quest for this term’s Serie A title on Saturday, when they host Udinese.
Having crushed Napoli down south, Inter return to their San Siro stronghold topping the table by two points from old foes Juventus; meanwhile, the visitors are Italy’s draw specialists....Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Match preview
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Already most pundits’ favourites for the Scudetto, Inter rubber-stamped their status as the team to beat last weekend, as they dismantled reigning champions Napoli in their own backyard, with a little help from Hakan Calhanoglu’s stunning opener just before half time.
After the Turkey international struck sweetly to become the first Inter midfielder with more than five goals at this stage of a Serie A season since Lothar Matthaus in 1990, Simone Inzaghi’s side seized the momentum, and further finishes from Nicolo Barella and Marcus Thuram secured a superb 3-0 success at Stadio Maradona.
As a result, they moved back to the top of the Serie A standings, leaving Napoli 11 points behind – arch-rivals Milan trail by six.
Now boasting a goal difference of +26 (33 scored and just seven conceded) – equalling the club’s best record after 14 games, set some 90 years ago – the Nerazzurri have proved themselves a well-oiled machine that could take some stopping in Italy and beyond.
Indeed, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez (13 goals) has scored more times in Serie A this season than Saturday’s opponents Udinese (12), and his side have still lost just once in all competitions, having also confirmed their place in the Champions League’s last 16.
With a win this weekend, the second-city club would reach 38 points after their first 15 matches for just the fourth time this century, and recent history suggests that victory is theirs for the taking: Inter have lost only one of their last 11 league meetings with Udinese, winning each of the last five at San Siro.
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Udinese’s lone win during that sequence did come as recently as last season, when they triumphed 3-1 on home turf, but the Fruilani are up against the odds on this occasion – not only due to their hosts’ might, but also because of their own failings.
Last week, Gabriele Cioffi’s side let victory slip through their fingers, as they led 2-0 and then 3-2 against lowly Hellas Verona but still contrived to miss out on maximum points once again.
Substitute striker Lorenzo Lucca left the bench after seven minutes and bagged a brace for the Bianconeri, but conceding deep into stoppage time left them with just one Serie A win all season.
A meagre total of 12 points from their first 14 games means Udinese have recorded their lowest tally at this stage of a season since 1994, and a relegation battle could be in prospect if they cannot hold on to such leads more frequently.
Since Cioffi replaced Andrea Sottil in the dugout, his team have at least edged their way out of the drop zone, but they still await a first league victory in Udine this season, having also drawn no fewer than nine times home and away.
Inter Milan Serie A form:
Inter Milan form (all competitions):
Udinese Serie A form:
Udinese form (all competitions):
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Team News
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Inter’s fitness woes deepened last time out, as injuries to Dutch duo Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries left Simone Inzaghi somewhat short-handed at the back.
Carlos Augusto was required to deputise in the back three at Stadio Maradona, as Benjamin Pavard (knee) is still out of action. The latter’s defensive colleague Alessandro Bastoni (calf) should return to the squad, though, after missing each of Inter’s three games since last month’s international break.
Starting up front, summer signing Marcus Thuram has been directly involved in 11 Serie A strikes already this season (five goals and six assists) – the most of any new Nerazzurri player since Champions League hero Diego Milito recorded 13 in his first 15 appearances back in 2009.
A brace against Verona last Sunday took Lorenzo Lucca on to four league goals this term, so the ex-Ajax striker is set to start for Udinese in Milan; fellow forwards Florian Thauvin and Isaac Success should overcome minor injuries to feature on the bench.
Slovenian centre-back Jaka Bijol has been ruled out until January after having surgery on a foot fracture, while long-term absentees Gerard Deulofeu, Enzo Ebosse and Brenner remain unavailable too.
Meanwhile, in midfield, captain Roberto Pereyra plays a more advanced role, and Serbia international Lazar Samardzic comes up against the club he was within a whisker of joining earlier this year.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:Sommer; Darmian, Acerbi, Augusto; Cuadrado, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Udinese possible starting lineup:Silvestri; Ferreira, Kabasele, Perez; Ebosele, Samardzic, Walace, Payero, Zemura; Pereyra; Lucca
We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Udinese
With defensive injuries mounting up, Inter boss Simone Inzaghi will be keen to take care of business against Serie A strugglers Udinese without taking too much of a toll on his squad. The Nerazzurri can take a stranglehold of the game by scoring at least once in the first half, then cruise towards win number 12 of their league campaign.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data
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