AC Milan Not Distracted by Takeover Talks, Says Pioli

04 April 2022, Italy, Milan: Milan coach Stefano Pioli pictured prior to the start of the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC 1909 at San Siro Stadium. (dpa)
04 April 2022, Italy, Milan: Milan coach Stefano Pioli pictured prior to the start of the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC 1909 at San Siro Stadium. (dpa)
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AC Milan Not Distracted by Takeover Talks, Says Pioli

04 April 2022, Italy, Milan: Milan coach Stefano Pioli pictured prior to the start of the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC 1909 at San Siro Stadium. (dpa)
04 April 2022, Italy, Milan: Milan coach Stefano Pioli pictured prior to the start of the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC 1909 at San Siro Stadium. (dpa)

AC Milan will not be distracted by a potential takeover of the club and the players are focused squarely on Tuesday's Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, manager Stefano Pioli said.

Sources said on Friday that Bahrain-domiciled asset manager Investcorp had entered into exclusive talks to purchase Milan.

"We haven't talked about it and nothing will take away our concentration on the championship semi-final," Pioli told a news conference on Monday.

"The club is very close to us. I can say that Milan's present is very solid and the future could be even better."

Milan failed to take advantage of several chances in the first leg, which ended 0-0.

The neighbors are also vying for the Serie A title with leaders Milan two points ahead of Inter, who have played a game less. Pioli said the outcome of Tuesday's cup match would have no impact on the title race.

"We know what our path is regardless," Pioli said. "Clearly tomorrow is important because there is a final, we will do our best. But we will have to try to win all the games regardless of tomorrow night."

The manager added that defenders Davide Calabria and Alessio Romagnoli could return for Tuesday.

"Calabria and Romagnoli, let's see today, Calabria had some difficulties," Pioli said. "Romagnoli is a little better but today will be decisive. (Matteo) Gabbia came out tired but I think he will be there tomorrow."

The winner of Tuesday's contest will meet either Fiorentina or Juventus in the final.



US Rapper Snoop Dogg Tells Celtic to ‘Bring Ange Back’ 

Ange Postecoglou. (AFP)
Ange Postecoglou. (AFP)
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US Rapper Snoop Dogg Tells Celtic to ‘Bring Ange Back’ 

Ange Postecoglou. (AFP)
Ange Postecoglou. (AFP)

Ange Postecoglou has been linked with a return to the Celtic job since the departure of Brendan Rodgers and an unlikely voice has joined those calling for the Australian to come back to the Scottish Premiership side in US rapper Snoop Dogg.

Rodgers' exit came amid mounting pressure over results, including a shock Champions League qualifying defeat by Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty and a 3-1 league loss at leaders Hearts which left Celtic trailing in the title race.

The club's former boss Martin O'Neill was appointed interim manager and the Northern Irishman has since guided them to a 4-0 league win over Falkirk and a 3-1 victory over rivals Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.

Snoop Dogg, a hip-hop icon and long-time Celtic fan, said supporters would rather see Postecoglou at the helm, with the Australian manager available after being sacked by Nottingham Forest last month.

Postecoglou spent two seasons at Celtic between 2021-23, guiding them to two Scottish Premiership titles and a domestic treble in his second season before leaving for Tottenham Hotspur.

"I love sport, and in sport players leave, coaches leave, and you move on," Snoop Dogg told Scotland's Daily Record newspaper in an interview published on Sunday.

"You got to give Martin O'Neill big respect, he is coming back when we need him. I think you got to bring Ange back. The club are going to do what they are going to do, but the fans would love to see him back."

Snoop Dogg is well known for his love of sport and became an investor in Championship club Swansea City earlier this year.

The 54-year-old said he was keen on making a similar investment in Celtic, saying it was "something I have talked about in the past and if the opportunity was right, I would be down for it.

"Celtic is a huge club and fans want to see the best players playing in this great stadium. All the owners have got to do is ask," he added.


Error-prone Swiatek Goes Down to Rybakina in WTA Finals in Riyadh

 Tennis - WTA Finals - Riyadh - King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - November 3, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during her group stage match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina. (Reuters)
Tennis - WTA Finals - Riyadh - King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - November 3, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during her group stage match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina. (Reuters)
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Error-prone Swiatek Goes Down to Rybakina in WTA Finals in Riyadh

 Tennis - WTA Finals - Riyadh - King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - November 3, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during her group stage match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina. (Reuters)
Tennis - WTA Finals - Riyadh - King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - November 3, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during her group stage match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina. (Reuters)

An error-prone Iga Swiatek went down 3-6 6-1 6-0 to Elena Rybakina in the WTA Finals on Monday, as the world number six registered her second win in a row to rise to the top of their group in Riyadh.

World number two Swiatek made 36 unforced errors in the last two sets while Rybakina made 17, with the Kazakh player getting her first win over the six-time Grand Slam champion in their last five meetings to edge closer to the semi-finals.

"It was difficult to be down, but in the second set I pushed myself, the serve improved. Really happy that I stepped in and played better in each point," said Rybakina, who beat Amanda Anisimova in straight sets on Saturday.

Swiatek made a dominant start to win the first three games as she targeted Rybakina's body with her serves, while the sixth seed's backhand returns often hit the net. Swiatek looked in control as she took the first set 6-3.

However, the Pole's double fault and an unforced error gave an early break to Rybakina, who then held her serve with an ace to go 3-0 up in the second set.

Wimbledon champion Swiatek was left frustrated when she made three successive unforced errors as Rybakina broke again to go 5-1 up, sealing the set in her favor.

Swiatek continued to struggle, making 17 more unforced errors as Rybakina handed her a bagel in the third set.

Rybakina will face Madison Keys in her last match in the round-robin Group Serena Williams while Swiatek, who beat Keys on Saturday, takes on Anisimova. Americans Keys and Anisimova play each other later on Monday.


Saudi Arabia Advances to WAFF U-17 Championship Final in Jordan

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Saudi Arabia Advances to WAFF U-17 Championship Final in Jordan

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Saudi U-16 national football team advanced to the final of the 2025 West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U-17 Championship after defeating Jordan 4–3 on penalties in their match on Sunday evening, SPA reported.

The tournament is being held in Jordan and runs until November 4.

Saudi Arabia will face Lebanon in the final on Tuesday, after Lebanon secured its place with a 4–3 penalty shootout victory over Syria.