Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news from across the footballing world, including Gianluigi Donnarumma's apparent rejection of a new contract, Sadio Mane's warm words for Erling Braut Haaland and Antoine's Griezmann's honest assessment of his relationship with Lionel Messi. Scroll down for more!
United target Donnarumma 'rejects new deal'
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AC Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has rejected the offer of a new contract with the club amid continued interest from Manchester United, according to Corriere dello Sport. The 20-year-old's contract expires at the end of next season but the offer of an additional two years beyond that was deemed "unacceptable" by his agent Mino Raiola. United are still believed to hold an interest in the young prospect despite recently tying down David de Gea to a new long-term deal.
Griezmann admits "difficult" Messi relationship
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Antoine Griezmann has revealed that he has found it "difficult" to foster a relationship with Lionel Messi following his mega-money move to Camp Nou this summer. The Frenchman told reporters: "He is not someone who talks a lot and neither am I. It's difficult. I have already given him some mate (tea) and we are going in the right direction. But he has been injured a lot so it is difficult to make this connection, to improve it. We are two good guys, nice people, and I'm here to help anyone on the team."
Bamford: 'Leeds taking things step by step'
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Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has said that he understands fans' worries after their promotion collapse last season but has vowed that the squad will take things "step by step" over the course of the season. Marcelo Bielsa's side currently sit second in the Championship after a strong start to the season - although 11 sides are separated by just five points in the top half of the table.
"There is probably a bit of worry about the fact that last year, we did not quite make it over the line with that shadow hanging over our heads," Bamford told the Yorkshire Evening Post. "There have been a few changes and we have brought in a few new faces. Everyone has fitted in the team and it is a great group of lads. When the atmosphere is good around the dressing room among the lads, that is the most important thing. The togetherness is what takes you through the bad spells and brings you out on the other side – I think we have got that.
"It is a grind and there will be ups and downs. It is very early on. We have got to play West Brom again later in the season at their own place and there are going to be obstacles to get over. It is taking it step by step."
Mane full of praise for Haaland
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Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane has spoken highly of Red Bull Salzburg youngster Erling Braut Haaland, who is emerging as one of the brightest prospects in Europe thanks to his form for the Austrian side this season. The 19-year-old has already scored four hat-tricks this season, including two in the Champions League, and managed to put one past Liverpool earlier this week.
"Yes, I have seen what he is doing. I watch the Austrian league, especially when Salzburg are playing. He is a really good player," Mane told reporters before the game, which ended in a thrilling 4-3 win for the Reds. "The league is a good league. I played there for two and a half years and met great people there in a great club."
Italian football coach sacked for Thunberg rant
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The assistant coach of fourth-tier Italian side US Grosseto 1912 has been sacked after describing 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg as "a whore". In the now-deleted post on Facebook, Tommaso Casalini had written: "This whore! A 16-year-old can take a pounding, she's at the right age."
In a later statement following his dismissal, Casalini said: "I would like to publicly apologise to everyone, starting with Greta Thunberg, for the post I wrote on Facebook last week, containing the phrase: 'This whoree! A 16-year-old can take a pounding, she's at the right age.' It was a post written in a moment of anger against the young Swedish activist, with absolutely the wrong language and with content that I regret. I have never thought or could never really think about those things, especially with regards to a minor.
"However, when one makes a mistake, it is right that one takes responsibility for that mistake, so I willingly accept the decision of U.S. Grosseto to remove me from my role as assistant coach of the Giovanissimi A, and I apologise to the club for the obvious embarrassment provoked by my gesture."
Trippier "didn't think twice" about Atletico switch
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Kieran Trippier has revealed that he 'jumped at the chance' to leave Tottenham Hotspur for Atletico Madrid over the summer. The 29-year-old ended a four-year stay with the North London side by signing for Diego Simeone's side and has gone on to start six of the capital club's seven league games so far this season.
"Obviously I was very excited when I first signed here," Trippier told BT Sport. "I know a lot about Atletico through watching them over the years. Obviously, the coaching staff; Cholo [Simeone], the way he sets his team up and you can just see from the outside that the players work so hard for the manger. And I wanted to be a part of this.
"I've always wanted to play abroad just to experience something different, and the time was now. It was a great opportunity for me to come to such a big club. Champions League football, the players that I've got here; it's just an amazing club and I've seen how close everybody is at Atletico and I'm happy to be a part of it. To be honest, when Atletico were interested, I didn't have to think twice. I spoke to a few people back at Tottenham about the opportunity to play in Spain, in La Liga, and to come to Atletico: I jumped straight at it."
Bayern 'eye Birmingham's Bellingham'
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Bayern Munich are plotting a move for Birmingham City youngster Jude Bellingham following his impressive start to the season, according to The Sun. The 16-year-old has broken into the first team this term and has scored twice in six Championship appearances.
L'Equipe score Gnabry 10/10
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Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry has become just the 11th player in history to receive a perfect 10/10 rating from French daily L'Equipe following his four-goal haul in the 7-2 thrashing of Spurs on Tuesday night. The paper awarded Harry Kane 3/10 and Dele Alli, Jan Vertonghen and Serge Aurier all scored 2/10.
