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Inter top of Serie A after sweeping aside Cagliari

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Inter Milan moved provisionally top of Serie A on Saturday with a 3-0 win at Cagliari which put the champions ahead of Atalanta on goal difference.

Second-half goals from Alessandro Bastoni, Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu decided an engaging match in Sardinia to give Inter their fifth straight win in Italy’s top flight.

Atalanta can reclaim top spot later on Saturday when they face fourth-placed Lazio in Rome, looking for a club record-extending 12th league win on the bounce without injured star striker Mateo Retegui.

Cagliari are just inside the relegation zone after a fourth consecutive defeat for Davide Nicola’s side.

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“The most important thing is that Inter win. If I get a goal too, then that’s a bonus,” said Martinez, who broke an eight-match scoring drought with his 71st-minute strike.

“We work hard every day to win trophies and anyone who sets foot on the pitch will give their all for the team. We’ve just got to keep going and make 2025 like this year.”

Inter could have won by a more convincing scoreline at the Unipol Domus stadium had captain Martinez not wasted great chances in each half before prodding home Nicolo Barella’s cross.

Argentina striker Martinez hadn’t scored since November 3 and looked to be having another bad day in front of goal when he somehow failed to push home Calhanoglu’s cross midway through the first half.

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He then flashed a low drive just past the post eight minutes after the break, moments after Bastoni gave Inter the lead with a brilliant looping header.

But he did net his seventh goal this season in all competitions and seven minutes later Calhanoglu made absolutely sure of the points from the penalty spot.

Next up, Inter travel to play the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, where Simone Inzaghi’s side take on Atalanta on Thursday.

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Transfer: Neymar in shock return to Barcelona after Santos move

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Neymar Jr., a former forward for Paris Saint-Germain, may be returning to his old team, Barcelona.

This follows his brief stay at Santos, the club he frequented as a youngster.

The Brazilian confirmed his transfer from Al-Hilal, a Saudi Pro League team, to Santos on Monday.

Al-Hilal will terminate his contract, and he will sign a brief six-month contract with his Santos.

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June 2025 was the expiration date of his initial contract with Al-Hilal.

Neymar will also be a free agent after his six-month stay with his hometown team.

Fichajes.net reports sources close to the Brazilian as saying that he is keen on returning to Europe in 2025.

The former PSG superstar wants to prepare himself to lead Brazil in the 2026 World Cup.

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After Santos, Barcelona has emerged as one of Neymar’s top destinations, the report claims.

When Neymar Jr. relocated from Santos to Barcelona in 2013, his journey into European football officially began.

In 186 appearances across all competitions, the Selecao great helped the Catalan team score 105 goals and dish out 76 assists.

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Transfer: Marseille move to sign Iheanacho on loan

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Olympic Marseille, a Ligue 1 team, is interested in loaning Sevilla forward Kelechi Iheanacho for the rest of the season.

After the Nigerian failed to make an impression after joining on a free transfer last summer, Sevilla is willing to let him go this month.

This week, the Rojiblancos acquired Jerome Akor Adams, a fellow countryman, from Montpellier, a French team.

Despite having other offers on the table, Iheanacho is reportedly leaning toward a move to Marseille, according to French publications.

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According to reports, Sevilla and the striker have contacted Marseille.

Before the winter transfer window closes, the 28-year-old is anticipated to make a decision regarding his future.

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Former Belgium player Radja Nainggolan arrested for alleged cocaine smuggling

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Former Belgian footballer, Radja Nainggolan has reportedly been arrested for alleged involvement in cocaine smuggling.

According to a report by Corriere della Sera, the former AS Roma midfielder was allegedly part of a smuggling operation transporting cocaine from South America to Antwerp.

The Brussels public prosecutor’s office confirmed Nainggolan’s arrest as part of a large-scale raid on 30,000 houses in Antwerp and Brussels on Monday, January 27, 2025.

“The federal judicial police of Brussels carried out thirty house searches on Monday morning in the context of a case from the Organized Crime department of the Brussels public prosecutor’s office. The searches mainly took place in the province of Antwerp and in Brussels.”

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“The investigation concerns suspected activities related to the importation of cocaine from South America to Europe via the port of Antwerp, as well as its distribution in Belgium. We can confirm that the footballer RN (Radja Nainggolan) has been taken into custody in connection with this case,” the statement read as quoted by UK outlet, Daily Mail.

“Given that interrogations are ongoing, and in compliance with the principle of presumption of innocence, no further comment will be made at this stage.”

Nainggolan, 36, currently plays for Lokeren-Temse, a lower-tier club in Belgium. He rose to prominence during his time in Italy, representing clubs such as Inter Milan, AS Roma, and Cagliari.

The former midfielder announced his retirement from international football in 2018 after being omitted from Belgium’s squad for the FIFA World Cup that year.

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