MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Manchester United strengthens its off-field team with the arrival of Michael Sansoni, a British engineer with over a decade at the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team and Lewis Hamilton’s right-hand man in his later years.

This move was strongly supported by Red Devils boss Jim Ratcliffe. United’s co-owner, a Mercedes shareholder, aims to transfer the methods that have transformed the German team into a precision machine to football.

His goal is to radically modernize the club’s data analysis system, implementing high-precision methodologies and predictive analytics, thus improving scouting and planning activities.

“I’m very fortunate to have had not one, but two dream jobs,” Sansoni wrote on social media. “After a phenomenal season in Formula 1, it’s a privilege to be part of the best football club in the world.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – Gianluigi Donnarumma has been excluded from PSG’s UEFA Super Cup squad. The news is confirmed: the European champion goalkeeper (with the national team in 2021 and with PSG in 2025) has not left Luis Enrique’s team for the match scheduled in Udine against Tottenham.

PSG arrives as holders of a Champions League victory, thanks in part to the amazing performance of their Italy captain, who is at odds with the club and is therefore out of the squad. Donnarumma, whose contract is expiring, risks a season of isolation at home in Paris, and his failure to be called up for tomorrow’s match is confirmation of this. However, there is new signing Lucas Chevalier, the French goalkeeper who is expected to replace Donnarumma.

This is the list of 20 for Udine: 2. Achraf Hakimi, 4. Lucas Beraldo, 5. Marquinhos, 7. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 8. Fabian Ruiz, 9. Gonçalo Ramos, 10. Ousmane Dembélé, 14. Désiré Doué, 17. Vitinha, 19. Lee Kang-In, 21. Lucas Hernandez, 25. Nuno Mendes, 29. Bradley Barcola, 30. Lucas Chevalier, 33. Warren Zaïre-Emery, 39. Matvey Safonov, 43. Noham Kamara, 49. Ibrahim Mbaye, 51. Willian Pacho, 89. Renato Marin.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “It was a football trip that had everything: a beautiful city, an incredible atmosphere, a picturesque stadium and the warmest of welcomes. If anyone is looking for somewhere in Europe to spend a few days in welcoming surroundings and watch some football, look no further than Palermo”. Manchester City wrote this on their official website, celebrating the Sicilian city, which hosted the friendly between the Rosanero and the Citizens.

“The standout moment came when the Ultras, sat to our right in Curva Nord, unfurled their huge tifo just before kick-off. It featured Noel and Liam Gallagher, dressed in Palermo gear, with the words PALERMO FOREVER in the club’s iconic pink hue. They had requested the stadium DJ play the Oasis song Live Forever as they revealed their artwork – intended to send a message to Manchester City fans that they were welcome in Palermo”, it’s written on Club official website.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Malta office of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is reducing some functions as the organization faces a severe funding shortage. While maintaining an operational presence in Malta, some support services—such as public relations—will now be managed by its regional office in Italy.

A spokesperson for UNHCR Malta said the new operational plan is still under review, but emphasized that core services for refugees and other persons of concern will continue. The reduction follows a global funding crisis affecting many humanitarian organizations, with UNHCR particularly hard hit. The agency has been operating in Malta since 2005, supporting asylum seekers and coordinating humanitarian initiatives. Globally, UNHCR requires $10.6 billion for 2025, but has so far raised only 23% of that amount.

The deficit has been exacerbated by severe cuts from the United States, historically the largest donor, which contributed 40% of funding last year. The budget squeeze has forced UNHCR to suspend or reduce programs worth $1.4 billion, including a 60% cut in emergency aid in countries such as Sudan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. The agency has warned that up to 11.6 million displaced people risk losing access to vital support if governments do not increase their contributions.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NAPLES (ITALPRESS) – Giacomo Raspadori is a new Atlético Madrid player. The Spanish club announced the news in a statement specifying that the striker arrives from Napoli, signing a five-year contract.

Raspadori has already passed a medical at the Vithas-Invictum High-Performance Sports Medicine Center at the Arturo Soria University Hospital in Madrid. He then went to the club’s offices at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, where he signed the agreement. The deal’s figures have not been disclosed, but it is rumored to be worth €26 million, including bonuses.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – The first step towards taking a La Liga match abroad for the first time has been taken. While Serie A is working to have Milan-Como played in Perth, Australia in February, Spain is looking to the United States. The Spanish Football Federation has given the green light for Villarreal-Barcelona, scheduled for December 20th for Matchday 17, to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Now the RFEF itself will request authorization from UEFA, and then FIFA will have the final decision.

For years, Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, has been trying to “emigrate” La Liga. After the agreement with Relevant, in the 2018-19 season he attempted to export the Girona-Barcelona match to the US, but was unsuccessful. The following season, his attempt to bring the Villarreal-Atlético Madrid match to the US also failed: the matter even ended up in court, with the then-RFEF, led by Rubiales, winning the case, having opposed it. Last year, Tebas came close with the Barcelona-Atlético Madrid match, but in the end it fell through. Who knows, maybe this time it’s finally the right one.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Commission has disbursed €48.7 million to Malta as the third payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the core of the NextGenerationEU programme.

The payment follows Malta’s successful completion of 11 milestones and 13 targets linked to 15 reforms and 9 investments in its national recovery and resilience plan.

According to the Ministry for European Funds, the funding will support several initiatives, including expanding free public transport, promoting sustainable mobility through electric vehicles for public sector use, and upgrading educational facilities via public school renovations.

Other projects include enhancing healthcare with additional medical equipment, launching a newborn hearing screening programme, modernising the judicial system with new equipment and digital tools, and strengthening the national strategy against money laundering.

With this payment, Malta has now received €215 million — about 66% of its total €328 million allocation under the plan. The European Commission said the funds will bolster economic growth, resilience, and the implementation of key reforms.

Minister for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi welcomed the payment, emphasising the government’s commitment to fully utilising all allocated funds to maximise benefits for Maltese and Gozitan families.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

NYON (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “UEFA has never denied any solidarity share to eligible Ukrainian clubs.” This is the response from Nyon following the Guardian’s report in recent days. In light of the €10.8 million paid over three years to the Russian Football Union for distribution to its clubs, five Ukrainian clubs—Chornomorets, Real Pharma, IFC Metalurg, Phoenix Mariupol, and Metalist—had approached UEFA president Ceferin at the end of July, complaining about the freezing of solidarity funds for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

“Inaccurate information,” he responded from Nyon. “When transferring amounts to the relevant national associations for internal distribution, UEFA must declare to its bank the final beneficiary of all payments, as required by the current provisions are issued by the competent authorities,”. “Despite UEFA’s considerable efforts to process these payments, the bank has been unable to process those intended for some clubs in Ukraine, and we continue to work with them and the authorities to remove obstacles and proceed with the payments. Solidarity distributions to clubs are an essential element in fostering a balanced growth of the competitive landscape, and UEFA is fully committed to ensuring that all payments reach their rightful recipients in its 55 member national associations.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The multinational Nexans has completed approximately half of the fiber optic cable for the second submarine power interconnection between Malta and Sicily. The fiber optic cable will be integrated into the high-voltage submarine cable for the second Malta-Sicily power line.

This milestone marks a significant step toward strengthening the island’s connection to the European electricity grid. The fiber optic cable, produced and tested in Norway, has now been shipped to the United States for the next stage of the production chain. The cable is being constructed on two continents: the fiber optic elements are being manufactured at a specialized facility in Norway, while the high-voltage components are being produced at the company’s facility in Charleston, South Carolina.

Maltese authorities emphasize the strategic importance of the project. Once operational, the interconnector will significantly strengthen the stability of Malta’s electricity supply and improve integration with the European grid. It is also expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 13 million tonnes, representing a major step in the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews