Milan's New Signings Help the Rossoneri Beat Roma 3-1 to Reach Italian Cup Semifinals

Soccer Football - Coppa Italia - Quarter Final - AC Milan v AS Roma - San Siro, Milan, Italy - February 5, 2025 AC Milan's Joao Felix celebrates with Rafael Leao after the match REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo
Soccer Football - Coppa Italia - Quarter Final - AC Milan v AS Roma - San Siro, Milan, Italy - February 5, 2025 AC Milan's Joao Felix celebrates with Rafael Leao after the match REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo
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Milan's New Signings Help the Rossoneri Beat Roma 3-1 to Reach Italian Cup Semifinals

Soccer Football - Coppa Italia - Quarter Final - AC Milan v AS Roma - San Siro, Milan, Italy - February 5, 2025 AC Milan's Joao Felix celebrates with Rafael Leao after the match REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo
Soccer Football - Coppa Italia - Quarter Final - AC Milan v AS Roma - San Siro, Milan, Italy - February 5, 2025 AC Milan's Joao Felix celebrates with Rafael Leao after the match REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

AC Milan’s new signings had an immediate impact Wednesday as they helped send the Rossoneri into the Italian Cup semifinals.
Milan beat Roma 3-1, with debutants João Félix and Santiago Giménez combining for their new team’s third goal. The Rossoneri will face either city rival Inter Milan or Lazio in a two-legged semifinal in April, The Associated Press reported.
Inter hosts Lazio in their quarterfinal on Feb. 25.
Milan had a busy final day of the transfer window as it brought in Félix, Giménez, Riccardo Sottil and Warren Bondo on Monday — to add to Kyle Walker, who it had signed last month.
Walker, who had already made his debut in Sunday’s Milan derby, was the only one of the new signings to start.
Former Roma forward Tammy Abraham scored twice in the first half — both set up by precise balls from Theo Hernández — but halftime substitute Artem Dovbyk pulled one back for the visitors in the 54th minute.
Milan coach Sérgio Conceição rang the changes shortly afterward, bringing on Félix and Giménez for Abraham and Christian Pulisic.
It took the duo less than 15 minutes to make their mark when Giménez threaded a delightful ball through for Félix to chip the goalkeeper.
Félix was signed on loan from Chelsea, while Milan paid Feyenoord a reported 30 million euros ($31 million) plus bonuses for Giménez — who could face his old club next week in the Champions League.
Bologna beat Atalanta on Tuesday to reach the semifinals for the first time in 26 years. It will face either holder Juventus or Empoli, who play their quarterfinal on Feb. 26.



Vonn Dominates Opening Downhill as Oldest World Cup Winner

United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025.  (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
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Vonn Dominates Opening Downhill as Oldest World Cup Winner

United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025.  (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

American great Lindsey Vonn dominated the opening women's downhill of the season on Friday to become the oldest winner of an Alpine skiing World Cup race in a sensational boost for her 2026 Olympic comeback bid.

The 2010 Olympic downhill champion took the 83rd World Cup win of her career - and first since a downhill in Are, Sweden, in March 2018 - by 0.98 of a second in the Swiss resort of St Moritz.

The 41-year-old was fastest by an astonishing 1.16 seconds ahead of Mirjam Puchner of Austria. Even wilder was that Vonn trailed by 0.61 after the first two time checks.

Vonn then was faster than anyone through the next speed checks, touching 119 kph (74 mph), and posted the fastest time splits for the bottom half of the sunbathed Corviglia course.

She skied through the finish area and bumped against the inflated safety barrier, lay down in the snow and raised her arms on seeing her time.

Vonn got up, punched the air with her right fist and shrieked with joy before putting her hands to her left cheek in a sleeping gesture.

She was the No. 16 starter with all the pre-race favorites having completed their runs.

Vonn now races with a titanium knee on her comeback, which started last season after five years of retirement.

The Olympic champion is targeting another gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Games in February.


Liverpool Boss Slot to Hold Talks with Unhappy Salah

(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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Liverpool Boss Slot to Hold Talks with Unhappy Salah

(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he would speak to Mohamed Salah on Friday morning before deciding on the forward's availability for this weekend's match against Brighton.

Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" and said he had no relationship with the Dutch manager after he was left on the bench for last week's 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he did not start.

The 33-year-old did not travel for Tuesday's Champions League match at Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, posting a picture on social media of himself alone in a gym at the club's training ground.

"I will have a conversation with Mo this morning, the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow," Slot told his pre-match press conference, according to AFP.

"I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. You can keep on trying but there is not much more to say about it.

"After the Sunderland game (a 1-1 draw earlier this month in which Salah was a substitute) there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me."

Slot batted away further questions from reporters about the forward but said: "I have no reasons not wanting him to stay, and that is a little bit of an answer to your question."

Salah is due to join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after the Brighton game at Anfield.

The forward, third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his spell on Merseyside.

But he has scored just four goals in 13 Premier League appearances this season.

Liverpool, who swept to a 20th English league title last season, are 10th in the table after a poor run of results.


Messi to Unveil 21-meter Statue of Himself on India 'GOAT' Tour

(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates his team's fourth goal during the Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference final football match between Inter Miami and New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 29, 2025. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates his team's fourth goal during the Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference final football match between Inter Miami and New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 29, 2025. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
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Messi to Unveil 21-meter Statue of Himself on India 'GOAT' Tour

(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates his team's fourth goal during the Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference final football match between Inter Miami and New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 29, 2025. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates his team's fourth goal during the Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference final football match between Inter Miami and New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 29, 2025. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

Lionel Messi will unveil a 21-meter (70-foot) statue of himself in India on Saturday as he embarks on a three-day tour of the country that has sparked a fan frenzy.

The iron sculpture in Kolkata, which shows Messi holding aloft the World Cup, is part of a so-called GOAT Tour that will take in four Indian cities and a possible meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami superstar will unveil the monument virtually rather than in person for security reasons, AFP said.

A "Hola Messi" fan zone has also been set up in Kolkata where on display is a life-sized replica of Messi sat on a throne.

The hall also recreates his Miami home, complete with mannequins of his family members.

Football fan Samir Nandy said it would be "a dream come true" to catch a glimpse of his idol.

"Legends are not made by success alone. It is his resilience that made me believe in him," Nandy, 64, said in Kolkata.

"The statue is a fitting tribute to him."

Monti Paul, the statue's main sculptor, told AFP the structure was built inside 40 days.

"It's a matter of pride to build the sculpture of Messi. It's the tallest statue I have made," he said.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner will also meet Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly during his whirlwind trip to Kolkata.

Ahead of his arrival, Messi said it was an honor to visit India and interact with the fans.

"India is a very special country and I have good memories from my time there 14 years ago -- the fans were fantastic," Messi said in a statement.

"India is a passionate football nation and I look forward to meeting a new generation of fans while sharing the love I have for this beautiful game."

After Kolkata, where Messi will play a short friendly match, he will head to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

In Hyderabad he will attend a concert in his honor and play another friendly.

He is reportedly scheduled to meet Modi in the capital.

Messi won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker will spearhead Argentina's defense of the World Cup in June-July in North America.