Berbatov: "What have Messi and Cristiano done to be finalists for The Best?"

 The former Manchester United player thinks that while both players are living legends, neither deserves to be up for the award: "Sadly, today's football is a business".

Former Manchester United and Tottenham player Dimitar Berbatov, who is now an ambassador for Betfair, feel that Robert Lewandowski would be the rightful winner of this year's The Best award which will be presented tomorrow night. He added that he has doubts that Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo fully deserve to be on the podium with the Polish striker on this occasion as neither have enjoyed a particularly memorable year out on the pitch.

"I'm surprised that Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are among the finalists. I'm not sure that either of them should occupy those places. But unfortunately, football is a business and behind the scenes there is the work being done by agents, the press... there's a lot more going on than just the camaras and what we see," Berbatov said: "The Best for 2020 should go to Lewandowski and if doesn't win it wold be hugely unfair".

As for the other candidates for the award, Berbatov added. "I'm not too sure who should be up there with Lewandowski. As always, everyone has their own ideas about which players are the best,or who should win... This year it doesn't really matter, as whoever comes second ir third, Lewandowski is who deserves to win.

"United shouldn't forget that Real Sociedad are top of LaLiga"

Berbatov also gave his thoughts on the Europa League Last 32 tie between Manchester United and Real Sociedad - a tie, he warns, which will be much tougher than many in England might imagine. "They shouldn't forget that right now, La Real are leaders in LaLiga or the reason why they are top of the table. They play very good football. That should serve as a warning for United. And besides, United tend to struggle against Spanish sides," Berbatov said. "It might be hard to believe, but those things can affect your mental state. I bet that when they found out they'd drawn Real Sociedad, more than one person in Old Trafford thought 'Oh my god! not another Spanish team... we are in for a rough ride'. But at the end of the day, that's who they have drawn and so they need to confront it seriously. La Real are a very good side. I've said it loads of times, Europa League games are not like Champions League games - sometimes they are more difficult and this particular tie isn't going to be an exception. Also, Real Sociedad have David Silva so it will be even tougher. I'm not saying that David is the reason why La Real are where they are, but he helps them to play that fluid style of football with his vision. We've seen the player he is over may years at City. I'm in no doubt that this will be a very complicated tie".

Barcelona's five underperforming players

 Barcelona have lost 16 points in the 10 games they have played in LaLiga Santander this season, which is almost unthinkable for a team of the Blaugrana's size. Ronald Koeman's side have lost four times and there could be many reasons as to why the club have experienced some hiccups this year.

The end of a cycle at the club, a new coach and Lionel Messi not being at his best could all be factors behind Barcelona's demise, but one factor that stands out the most are the poor performances of several players that either are or were expected to be around the starting XI.

Players like Philippe Coutinho, Frenkie de Jong, Clement Lenglet, Miralem Pjanic and Francisco Trincao are not living up to the expectations that were created about them when they arrived at the Camp Nou.

Some of those players arrived last summer, while others have been around for much longer. These named and shamed players cost the club a total of 350 million euros.

Coutinho's confidence is deflating

At the start of the season, Coutinho returned hungry, seemingly as if Bayern Munich had changed him. His physical condition had improved, he had a new lease of life and looked sharp in the opening matches of the season, even getting himself on the scoresheet.

However, similarly to what happened three years ago, over time he has faded into background. From being a main part of the team to becoming a passenger, as we saw against Cadiz in a poor first half for the Brazilian.

De Jong and his false starts

The Dutch international has already started to tire. He arrived as a key player for the midfield, with his education at Ajax meaning that he already has already has Barcelona's DNA in his blood.

However, Barcelona have been waiting for a year and a half to see the true De Jong, and so far he has only impressed three times in that period. A very uninspiring return from a player who cost the club 75 million euros and was set to lead the new-look Barcelona side in the heart of their midfield.

Pjanic: Very little contribution so far

Pjanic is another player that has cost the club a lot of money, and a 60 million euro signing has to contribute more than just good sideway passing. Much more was expected of him, despite the fact that he is still in his adaptation period.

Barcelona urgently need a midfielder who will command, given that De Jong is not delivering. This is a golden opportunity for Pjanic, but he is simply not taking his chance.

Trincao: An explosive signing

The Portuguese winger arrived for 30 million euros and had a couple of good performances in pre-season that aroused a lot of hope amongst Barcelona fans.

While Ansu Fati, Ousmane Dembele and Pedri have had good performances, Trincao still hasn't woken up.

Napoli's Stadio San Paolo officially becomes the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

 Napoli's San Paolo stadium will be renamed in tribute to club legend Diego Maradona following his death last month.

The Municipality of Naples officially confirmed the name change on Friday as the city continues to mourn the Argentine's passing at the age of 60.

Maradona spent seven seasons with the club between 1984 and 1991, lifting them to unprecedented success, including two Serie A titles, an Italian Cup win and a UEFA Cup triumph in 1989.

              

'With a resolution approved today, the stadium was named after Diego Armando Maradona,' the Naples municipality said in a statement.

'The resolution was proposed by Mayor Luigi de Magistris, by the Councillor for Toponymy Alessandre Clemente and signed by the entire city council, which met is Palazzo San Giacomo.

'Shortly before the executive committee meeting, the advisory commission for city toponymy had approved the proposal of the Mayor, the Councillor for Toponymy and the city council, naming the San Paolo stadium after Diego Armanda Maradona with the name Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.' 

The team will next play at their newly-named stadium against Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League next Thursday.

Though matches remain behind closed doors in Naples, fans gathered in their thousands to pay tribute to their club icon prior to last week's Europa League game against Rijeka, lighting flares all around the stadium.

Banners to 'The King' were also hung inside the stadium, while scores of items, including shirts, scarves, pictures and candles were left at a shrine outside.

But the decision to ditch Saint Paul in favour of the 1986 World Cup winner hasn't gone down well with everyone.

A group of priests from Naples wrote to the city's archbishop Crescenzio Sepe this week protesting against the decision to rename.

'I would be the right compromise the save the faith and honour the champion.'

                  --Written by MOULIK Porel

Lionel Messi's emotional tribute to Maradona

 Barcelona will have to pay a €3,000 (£2,700) fine after Lionel Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona by celebrating in a Newell's Old Boys shirt on Sunday.

Messi celebrated his powerful strike from outside of the box against Osasuna by taking off Barcelona's blue-and-burgundy strip to reveal the red-and-black of Newell's.

Maradona, who died last week at the age of 60, played for Newell's at the end of his glittering career and Messi wore the same shirt at the start of his, making it a fitting tribute.

Messi also blew a kiss with both hands to the sky as he looked upward.

But the touching tribute was against the rules of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, who are now poised to fine the club for Messi's celebration.

After the game, Messi posted a photo of his tribute alongside an older image of Maradona in the same shirt, adding the message "Farewell, Diego" in Spanish.

'It was a great moment,' said Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman.

'First, for the goal that Leo scored and then for the gesture he had for the death of Diego Maradona. He had surely been thinking of what he would do. For me, it was a great moment in every way.'

In an interview with Argentine television TyC in 2013, Messi said that when he was a young boy he went to the stadium for Maradona's debut for Newell's back in 1993.

Messi had kept his head bowed during the minute of silence before kick-off at the empty Nou Camp for Maradona, who died of a heart attack at age 60. He also played for Barcelona from 1982-84.

Messi's was one of many tributes to Maradona from across the world of football over the weekend.

Napoli used a special fourth kit in honour of their former star during their win over Roma.

The strip, inspired by Argentina's kit, paid homage to Maradona, who led Napoli to two Serie A titles and a UEFA Cup during an illustrious seven-year stay between 1984-1991.

Before the two sides faced off in the aptly named Copa Diego Armando Maradona, both sets of players wore special shirts for a minute's applause around a flag of the 1986 World Cup winner.

After scoring a free-kick the Boca players went over to Maradona's daughter Dalma, who was sat in the stands and applauded her.

Maradona's daughter was overcome with emotion and was shown crying in her father's box at the Bombonera at the gesture.