Roma coach Jose Mourinho suggested Nicolo Zaniolo is "unfortunately" likely to remain at the club after the winger reportedly failed to agree terms on a move to Bournemouth.
The Italy international had been strongly linked with several teams since the start of January, with Tottenham initially appearing to be his most likely destination.
But after Spurs signed Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal, their need for additional reinforcements out wide reduced, with Bournemouth subsequently emerging as frontrunners.
Mourinho confirmed last Sunday that Zaniolo asked to leave, and media reports this week indicated Roma and Bournemouth reached an agreement on a deal worth an initial £26.3million (€30m).
Zaniolo's seeming reluctance to join the Cherries has Mourinho now expecting the player to stay, though he did not hide his frustration regarding the player's hesitance despite being open about wanting out.
"Unfortunately, it seems that I'm right. Unfortunately, what I said after Spezia [that he expects Zaniolo to still be at Roma on February 1] seems it's coming true," Mourinho told reporters ahead of Sunday's trip to leaders Napoli, which Zaniolo will miss.
Mourinho was then asked why he perceived it to be an unfortunate situation.
"Because the player has been saying he wants to go for a month," the Portuguese coach replied.
"After Spezia, I gave Monday off, while Tuesday was an optional training session. All the players who didn't play in La Spezia trained, many players who did play came anyway. These are the players coaches want.
"Even those who don't play must think that the team might need him. I want these players.
"If a player always tells everyone he doesn't want to wear the Roma shirt, I have to say 'unfortunately'.
"The ideal situation is that the player is happy. I said that I expected him to stay, but today I add 'unfortunately'.
"Today I say again that Zaniolo won't be available, that we focus on the match and that my focus is on the players who will be there. It's not the case with Zaniolo."
Bournemouth revealing themselves as a potential destination for Zaniolo struck many as surprising considering their stature in the game – only getting promoted back to the Premier League last season – and the player's own reputation, given he was once deemed Italy's next great hope.
But Mourinho did not seem particularly shocked as he looked to explain the financial might of England's top tier.
"Everything happens because of TV rights. A clear picture is the English Championship play-off final. You have more money on the table even than the Champions League final.
"That says it all: it's a completely different economic power. The Premier League, an economic view, is stronger than Serie A. Maybe Juventus could compete [with Premier League clubs], but the others can't."
Argentina's training facility named after Messi
Argentina have honoured Lionel Messi's World Cup heroics by naming their training facility after their talismanic captain.
Casa de Ezeiza, in Buenos Aires, houses Argentina's national team set-up, but it will now be known as Lionel Andres Messi.
Chiqui Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), confirmed the news on Saturday, tweeting: "We lived a historic day in our Casa de Ezeiza, which from today will be renamed Lionel Andres Messi, in homage to the best player in the world.
"I want to thank all the managers, players and employees of @afa for having been with us."
Messi dragged Argentina to glory in Qatar last year, emulating the success of the late Diego Maradona as La Albiceleste claimed their third world title, and first since 1986.
"This recognition is one of the nicest I've ever received," Messi posted on Instagram. "A great honour, thank you very much!!!"
Messi scored the 800th goal of his stellar career in Argentina's 2-0 friendly win over Panama on Thursday. The 35-year-old's next goal on the international stage will be his 100th for his country.
Balogun keeping all options open after starring on loan at Reims
Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun is keeping all options open with regards to his future after starring on loan at Reims.
Balogun has scored 18 goals in 29 appearances for the French side, making him the highest-scoring player aged 21 or under across Europe's top five leagues this season.
The Arsenal academy product has made just two Premier League appearances for his parent club, who already have strikers Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah on their books.
He still has two years to run on his contract at Emirates Stadium, but Balogun is unsure where he will be playing his football in the 2023-24 campaign.
"Contractually I have to go back. The loan was for one year so that was always the agreement," he told Ligue 1's website. "I'm not sure what's going to happen in the future.
"A lot could happen in football, a lot could change, and it just depends on the conversations we have between me and the club in the summer, and we'll see what happens."
Balogun has 17 goals in Ligue 1 this season and is the only player to have scored against Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Lens, Monaco and Rennes, who make up the top five.
Asked if he would be interested in staying on at Reims for another year, Balogun said: "Yeah. I mean there's no door that's closed.
"Of course I have had a good year here and to a lot of people it makes sense for me to come back here. I don't know what the future will bring.
"But I would definitely advise young players to come out here. It's a really, really tough league, a league that will help you to improve.
"You get to play in crazy atmospheres. If you're ready to take yourself out of your comfort zone, I would advise any young player, I would advise any young player to come here."
Ibrahimovic: Conte being made to pay by Spurs for being himself
Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Antonio Conte is being made to pay by Tottenham for "being himself".
Conte is widely expected to be sacked in the coming days following his outburst after Spurs let a two-goal lead slip in last weekend's 3-3 Premier League draw at Southampton.
The Italian accused his players of being "selfish" and playing with "no heart", with that draw following swiftly on from Tottenham's FA Cup and Champions League exits.
But Ibrahimovic, who has never previously played under Conte, has defended the multi-title-winning coach for speaking his mind in public.
"Every single person works in his own way. Somebody tries to be an actor, pretend. Somebody is being himself, somebody is trying to be perfect," he told Sky Sports.
"I believe in being yourself, and sometimes you pay for it because that's not what the people want to hear.
"I prefer to be myself and express myself like I think and the way I want. We all work in our own way."
Conte has spent the past week in Italy, and his future is likely to be decided by the middle of next week at the latest when Tottenham's international players return to training.
Milan veteran Ibrahimovic is himself away on international duty with Sweden and was introduced as a second-half substitute in Friday's 3-0 Euro 2024 qualifying loss to Belgium.
Sweden's oldest player at the age of 41 years and five months, Ibrahimovic has no plans to call time on his career just yet.
"I want to continue playing football," said Ibrahimovic, who has played four times for Milan since returning from a long-term injury lay-off last month.
"If I feel good, this is my priority, and I feel very good at Milan. If they want me to keep me then I'm happy. I'm available."
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