The fall-out from the Frenchman’s move to the Spanish champions continues after Barca landed him in a cut-price deal

Atletico Madrid have demanded La Liga prevent Antoine Griezmann from playing for Barcelona next season, according to the Spanish top flight’s president Javier Tebas.

Griezmann confirmed he would be leaving Atleti at the end of last season, despite having only signed a five-year contract at Wanda Metropolitano in June 2018 after turning down a move to Barca.

After much speculation, Barca confirmed World Cup winner Griezmann’s signing on July 12 after paying the France forward’s €120 million (£107m/$134m) buy-out clause.

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However, Atleti have reported Barca to The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), who have subsequently opened an investigation into the transfer.

Atleti claim they are owed a further €80 million, on top of the €120 million already paid for Griezmann, who made his Barca debut in a friendly defeat to Chelsea in Japan on Tuesday.

Griezmann’s release clause originally stood at €200 million, but dropped to €120 million midway through this summer’s transfer window. Barca were aware of the drop in the clause and waited to formalise their transfer interest as a result.

And La Liga president Tebas has revealed Atleti have also requested that the organisation block Griezmann from playing for Barca until the issue is resolved.

“Atletico wrote to us asking if we could block Griezmann’s license in Barcelona,” Tebas told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.

“It is possible to do it. A mechanism has been put in place and the authorities will have to resolve the situation. I have no element of judgment.”

Griezmann has headlined a mass exodus from Atleti this close season, with Lucas Hernandez, Rodri, Filipe Luis, Juanfran among the first team regulars to have left.

Joao Felix was drafted in from Benfica as Griezmann’s replacement, with Marcos Llorente, Felipe, Hector Herrera, Renan Lodi, Ivan Saponjic and Kieran Tripper also coming in.

Speculation continues to circulate around Atletico’s planned move for James Rodriguez, with the Napoli target one of Zinedine Zidane’s unwanted men at Real Madrid.

It had been reported this week that the move was close to completion, further underlining the dramatic rebuild Diego Simeone is undertaking in the Spanish capital this year.

The Gunners will smash their transfer record to bring in the Ivory Coast international forward from Lille

Nicolas Pepe will arrive in England on Tuesday as his record-breaking move to Arsenal edges closer.

The Gunners have spent the past 48 hours locked in talks with Pepe’s representatives after agreeing a £72 million deal ($87m) with Lille for the 24-year-old attacker.

There are a few minor details still to be ironed out between both sides, but Pepe is scheduled to travel to England from France later today to put the finishing touches on his move and undergo his medical.

He will then sign a five-year deal which will see him earn around £150,000 per week, with Arsenal hopeful he will be fit enough to play some sort of part in their opening Premier League fixture of the season at Newcastle on August 11.

The Gunners are in action in France on Wednesday night when they take on Angers and they complete their pre-season campaign with a game against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday.

Arsenal will fly into Spain on the day of the game and it’s too early to say whether Unai Emery will consider handing Pepe some minutes against the Liga champions.

Speaking about the prospect of the Ivory Coast international arriving, Arsenal’s head coach said: “We are working, the club, and also thinking about how we can improve.

“There are different players on the table with the possibility that we can achieve their signature.

“Pepe is a very good player and also we are thinking only of players who can really, really improve this squad and also give us some different conditions to improve.

“We have been working for the last few weeks and before we start the season in the first match against Newcastle, our aim is to get the best team with the best players in our squad.”

Pepe scored 22 goals last season as well as contributing 11 assists as Lille finished second in Ligue 1 to qualify for the Champions League.

He predominantly plays on the right side of the attack, although he can operate on the left or as a striker.

Arsenal will pay Lille around £20m ($24m) up front, before paying off what remains of the fee in a series of instalments over the length of his five-year contract.

Speaking to talkSPORT on Monday, former Southampton defender Jose Fonte backed Pepe to be a major success at the Emirates Stadium.

Fonte, who played with Pepe last season at Lille, said: “He is incredible. If he can reach the same level, which I believe he will, that he did with Lille last season then Arsenal fans will be very happy.

“He is super quick, he has a left foot which is silky, one vs one he is second to none. He finishes really good, he takes penalties, he takes free-kicks.

“He is a very, very accomplished player and I think Arsenal fans will be in for a treat, for sure.”

Pepe will be Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer following the additions of Gabriel Martinelli, Dani Ceballos and William Saliba, who will spend the coming season back on loan at Saint-Etienne.

The Gunners will look to finally secure the signature of Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney once Pepe’s move has been confirmed.

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The Scottish side have rejected two bids for Tierney already this summer, but Arsenal are expected to return with a third offer in the coming days which they hope will see them given permission to open talks with the player.

Imagine a running shoe that maps the areas of the foot which produce
heat and sweat and then creates a unique ventilation pattern, specifically
catered to the wearer’s needs. That’s the promise of Puma’s latest
innovation, BioEvolution, presented last week at Milan Design Week,
. The unique fit is achieved thanks to a layer of biologically
active materials (i.e. living microbes) which consume material from those
warm, sweaty areas.

“The shoe is not unique by itself — it comes as a black canvas. It
evolves with you, when you start to wear it, and it becomes more and more
an expression of your body”, explains Puma’s Global Director of Innovation,
Charles Johnson, on the company’s website. The technology is still at an
experimental stage, with no commercial release planned for the moment.

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The project has been conducted under the creative curation of Innovation
by Design, the multidisciplinary design studio founded in 2014 as a spin-off
of the MIT Design Lab, with whom Puma has been working on biodesign research since 2017.

Pictures: courtesy of Innovation by Design/Puma

A former star of the Bundesliga title holders feels a raid should be launched to bring a striker back from Juventus, not to land a Barcelona schemer

Philippe Coutinho represents a “risk” that Bayern Munich do not need to take, says Stefan Effenberg, with Mario Mandzukic a more suitable option for a club looking to land the Champions League crown.

Various attacking options are reportedly being considered by the Bundesliga title holders ahead of the German transfer window swinging shut.

Added creativity is considered to be a top priority, with Bayern having snapped up Ivan Perisic from Inter but missed out on a number of other mooted targets.

A late bid to get more bodies on board is said to have led those at the Allianz Arena towards Barcelona, with the Liga giants eager to get Brazil international playmaker Coutinho off their books so that they can re-sign Neymar.

Bayern are one of few clubs that could finance a swoop for the South American, but Effenberg is not convinced that a move for the 27-year-old schemer should be made.

He told t-online: “Coutinho knows neither the Bundesliga nor coach [Niko] Kovac, he speaks no German and is at a top Spanish club but not a regular player. 

“He has completed just eight of 38 Primera Division games over 90 minutes, scoring five goals and assisting two. 

“Coutinho has great qualities, but a transfer for Bayern would be a risk. 

“Bayern needs someone who can help immediately, does not need any time to adjust, is not a risk. And there’s a better solution than Coutinho in my view.”

Former Bayern star Effenberg believes that the man that the Bavarians should be targeting is Juventus striker Mandzukic.

The Croatia international has previously spent two years with the club, netting 48 goals in just 88 appearances between 2012 and 2014, and could be the attacking spark alongside Robert Lewandowski that allows another challenge for European glory to be staged.

Effenberg added: “Mandzukic would be the second absolute top transfer [after Perisic], who would help to bring Bayern back to where they wants to go – in the top group of Europe. 

“Bayern would suddenly have another chance at winning the Champions League  and we would not have to talk about Leroy Sane or Timo Werner.

“He has great experience, knows the Bundesliga and coach Kovac very well. 

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“He is rarely or never injured. And he stands for mentality and a self-sacrificing game. That’s what I love about him, that has always impressed me. 

“Mandzukic is still hungry. He would be very helpful for two or three years.”

It could be that an exit door is opened for Mandzukic at Juve, with the Serie A champions having been unable to move Paulo Dybala on while still having Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain on their books.

The Real Madrid boss was unveiled on Tuesday following the announcement of Eden Hazard and Virgil van Dijk last week

Zinedine Zidane will feature on the cover of the FIFA 20 Ultimate Edition, EA Sports have revealed. 

It was also confirmed that the Real Madrid manager will appear in FIFA 20 Ultimate Team as an Icon.

The unveiling of the Frenchman comes after the announcement of Eden Hazard and Virgil van Dijk as cover stars for the standard version and champions edition of the game.

Zidane joins the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Didier Drogba, Ian Wright, and Ronald Koeman as an Icon player in the game.

On last year’s version of the Ultimate Edition, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar were pictured.

But another retired player in Ronaldo, former Real Madrid team-mate of Zidane, was the face of the Icon Edition for FIFA 18. 

The first edition of the game was released in 1993 and featured former Arsenal and England player David Platt , who went on to become a coach at Manchester City after he hung up his boots, on the cover.

Other Premier League stars such as David Ginola, David Beckham and Dennis Bergkamp later appeared on covers of the game throughout the 1990s.

Real Madrid players have often been selected to star, with Kaka, Gareth Bale and Portugal international Ronaldo having all headed the bill for the game.

In the latest version of FIFA, a new game mode called Volta has been announced which will allow users to play small-sided games, similar to previous versions of FIFA Street.

Zidane, who retired from his playing days in 2006, won a number of honours as a footballer, picking up Serie A, La Liga, World Cup and European Championship trophies.

He also won the Ballon d’Or in 1998.

However, the France international’s career ended in disgrace when he was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi in extra time of the World Cup final. 

France drew the match 1-1, Zidane having scored the opening goal in the seventh minute, and Italy eventually won on penalties. 

The talented midfielder then took up a career in coaching, leading Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles. 

Although he left Los Blancos at the end of 2017-18, Zidane then returned the following season after unsuccessful spells under Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari. 

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Microplastics have become a huge social problem. Particles that are invisible to the human eye are now present in abundance in the world’s oceans. Textiles and clothing made from synthetic fibre are among the major causes of environmental pollution. They release microfibres during wet processing at the manufacturing stage, in use and when washed. The amount of microfibres released can, however, be reduced, as experts in the field have already have solutions available – or are developing alternatives – for all stages of production, from the fibre itself to the finished article.

Textiles and apparel made from synthetic staple fibres are a well-known cause for the shedding of microplastics. In wet processes during manufacture, during the wear and care of fleecy jackets and their like, microscopic particles get into the washing water and from there into the environment. There continues to be much speculation about the microfibres that are actually flushed into the oceans, although the textile research institutes are working hard to get more reliable figures. Notwithstanding this, it remains within the power of every textiles manufacturer and every apparel producer, to grab the problem by the roots and to minimise the release of short man-made fibres at all stages of processing. Changes to the design of the textiles, the use of bio-degradable polymers and/or efficient filtering of the wash liquor can make a huge contribution to reducing the amount of microplastic that is released.

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A clean separation

But the apparel industry can also join the fight against the rise of microplastics at every stage of manufacturing. Beginning with the cutting stage, where laser technology stops the release of even the tiniest synthetic fibres at the edges, since they are melted during the process. As a result, the durability in use and during washing is improved. Where laser cutting is not possible, the work should be undertaken using knives on well-laminated textile layers and care taken to ensure accurate severance of each individual fibre in the composite textile. That way, subsequent trimming to separate or correct the cut-outs is no longer required; both are sources of unnecessary fibre dust.

Neatly sewn

Care in the way in which the sewing process is managed is also helpful in avoiding material loss. If the system of needle and thread is optimised to the material used in the manufacturing process, then this reduces the risk of individual fibres being ripped out of, say, a quilted material or a fleecy surface. And, then again, for sewing machines with a built-in edge trimmer, a dust-extraction system can help enormously. This removes the trimmed residue immediately from the sewing area and keeps to a minimum the number of fibres that escape and, amongst other things, fall onto the workpiece itself. As a result, it is not only the environment that is protected, but the health of the operator and the mechanical ‘inner workings’ of the sewing machine, too.

Thread-monitoring systems can make a further contribution: they more or less control every stroke of the needle, thus making corrections to the seam and the subsequent cutting work that this entails, redundant.

True to the adage ‘a stitch in time’, each individual stage of the textile and garment industry can help stem the rise of synthetic microfibres. And Texprocess is the place to find out all about ways of doing this. 

Source: Messe Frankfurt

Forever 21 is exploring options to restructure, according to
Bloomberg. The fast fashion retailer has been struggling with
declining sales due to competition with digitally native e-commerce
retailers and a reduction in mall traffic.

While Forever 21 does not release financial reports, the fast
fashion chain has displayed signs of struggles in recent years, having
closed several international locations. The brand currently operates
over 815 stores globally.

The company is reportedly in talks with private equity firm
Apollo Global Management, considering raising debtor-in-possession
funds to provide financing should it plan to file for bankruptcy.

CNBC reported that a company spokesperson said that Forever 21 is
“speaking with our lenders in the normal course of business and are in
compliance with all of our agreements and continue to operate as
usual.”

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William Fox & Sons, a boutique menswear brand, founded in London in 1913,
will be bringing back menswear for summer and fall 2019, with the
collection set to premiere on the brand’s website, williamfoxandsons.com.
The company is run by William Fox and his three sons. The brand specialized
in men’s clothing and sporting goods for decades. Nowadays, the product
line has expanded to footwear, bags, and women clothing.

A minimalist tone embodies the William Fox & Sons 2019 collection with
simple yet beautiful structured designs, unique pieces exuding modernity
and classic. The unique icon of a yellow fox with flashes of black sketches
is one of the key design elements, carrying the desire to be smart and
classic.

The collection also got the man-flower reboot off to a good start: graphic
floral motifs splattered with paintbrush strokes on shirts and grey marl
blazers. The heritage shop also produces brogue styles with a contrasting
rubber wedge sole that holds on to all the details of the classic brogue
shoe.

“Our philosophy is to give a touch of romance in people’s clothing,” said
Alexander Ye, chief designer at William Fox & Sons, in a statement. “Our
brand has never really been about fashion itself, and it has always been
about being your true self. I want to allow people to wear something chic
and relaxed, yet distinct. This is about wearing what you love and being at
your most confident state of mind.”

As the menswear market is one of the fastest growing sectors in the fashion
industry right now, William Fox & Son’s renewed focus on menswear will be a
revenue driver. As customers also like brands with a history, William Fox &
Son’s ability to withstand the test of time since the 1800s will be sure to
grab at consumers.

photo: via PR Newswire

The Australia international has also penned a new three-year contract with the Terriers, but his immediate ambition is to play in the Premier League

Brighton have signed Huddersfield Town midfielder Aaron Mooy on a one-year loan deal, as Graham Potter looks to strengthen his side ahead of the new Premier League season.

The 28-year-old has also signed a contract extension at Huddersfield, with his new deal running until 2022.

Australian international Mooy scored three goals in 29 Premier League appearances for the Terriers last season, also playing 90 minutes as Huddersfield were beaten by Derby County in their Championship opener on Monday.

“We are delighted to welcome Aaron to the club,” Potter told the club’s website. “He has played very well over the past two seasons in the Premier League, and will bring a different option and added competition to our midfield. 

“He’s been a talisman for Huddersfield in recent seasons with his performances on the field; and he’s proved to be an excellent professional both on and off the pitch. 

“I’m looking forward to working with him, and he is another good addition to our squad ahead of the new season.”

Mooy’s initial loan spell at Huddersfield in 2016-17, when he joined from parent club Manchester City, was hugely productive.

He established himself as former manager David Wagner’s key player in their promotion push, as they eventually beat Reading in the Championship Play-off final.

After two years in the Premier League he has now made more than 100 league appearances for the Terriers and, while his impact at top-flight level might not have lived up to some fans’ hopes, it was unlikely the club would be able to keep hold of him following relegation.

His new contract suggests a belief in Jan Siewert’s ability to take his side straight back up, but would also put the club in a stronger position should they have to sell in future.

He follows Adam Webster, Leandro Trossard, Neal Maupay and Matt Clarke as Brighton’s fifth signing of the summer window.

Mooy’s international midfield team-mate Massimo Luongo, meanwhile, has completed a switch of his own after joining Sheffield Wednesday from QPR.

The 26-year-old moves for an undisclosed fee after four years at Loftus Road, signing a reported three-year contract with the Owls.

Luongo has previously spent time with Swindon, Ipswich and Tottenham.

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At FashionUnited, careers in retail are always at the top of jobs
recruited by leading brands such as Moncler and Loewe. The flexibility of
positions in retail offer an It’s also an opportune
setting to develop skill sets in sales, marketing, merchandising and
styling while obtaining a degree or building one’s fashion career. The
hands-on experience gained working on the shop floor is extremely valuable
for the next step in a fashion professional’s career path. Here, we take a
more in-depth look at the vital role of the store manager and it’s core
responsibilities and potential career development.

Job description and responsibilities:

As a store manager in fashion and retail, you are the medium between the
shop floor staff and the senior manager. Retail staff will be looking to
you for leadership and you’re in charge of delegating daily tasks as well
as overseeing your team’s development and training. The senior executives
expect you to communicate and manage store changes to your staff while
executing strategies to achieve sales targets and delivering optimum
customer service. In this first-level management role, your
responsibilities include a wide scope of tasks from recruitment, training
staff, inventory management and store compliance for a specific retail
location.

A typical workday for a store manager in fashion and retail:

The day could start off with a morning huddle meeting with your team to
go over their goals for the day-to-day operations. In the video “A Day in
the Life of a Nike Store Manager,” the sports brand uses the meetings to
align the staff with a consistent message to ensure quality consumer
engagement. According to Joe Platt, the Nike Factory Store Manager or “Head
Coach,” no two days are the same and to him, there is nothing better than
to hit sales targets with his team.

“once the doors open, my focus is on how can we make
the customer experience the best out there whilst ensuring we are set up
ready for our peak trading hours from a store standard, staffing levels,
replenishment and delivery point of view.” Working as a store manager in
retail is never boring and when it comes to customer service skills, you’ll
become an expert and be able to train your team to be patient and
troubleshoot.

It’s also important to acknowledge that working as a store manager in
fashion and retail is not a typical nine-to-five job, but it’s own unique
lifestyle. For example, when others are going on holiday is usually when
the shop floor is the busiest or when the biggest sales happen. Managing
the integration of part-time seasonal staff with full-time employees could
be another challenge for a store manager. To succeed in this role, you must
be energetic, flexible, focused and very organized.

How to become a store manager:

To become a store manager in fashion retail, you can already get started
while obtaining your degree. Since in this field, work experience is highly
valued and your educational background is seen more as beneficial than
necessary if you plan to advance further in your career. The first step is
to gain entry-level work experience in the fashion retail field and build
your customer service, merchandising and management skills. Meanwhile, you
can choose to earn a fashion degree in a specific area of focus. Usually,
after three to five years as a sales staff or merchandiser, you should try
to get promoted to work under the direct supervision of a store manager so
that you’re able to gain hands-on experience learning the ins and outs of a
store’s operations and policies.

Team management skills are extremely important for a store manager as
well as being analytical, thinking on your feet and the ability to
problem-solve. Developing commercial awareness is also a vital requirement
whether it be from on the field experience or educational training.
Familiarity with new technologies or
mobile payment-is now in demand as the shop floor is constantly integrating
mobile shopping and retail trends are nowadays dictated largely by what is
seen on social media.

Next step in the career of a store manager:

The next step in a fashion and retail store manager’s career would be to
become the regional or country manager of a brand overseeing not just one
store, but a district or an entire market. Then, at the very top is the
position of the general manager who is responsible for a company’s overall
retail operations and will usually be based at the headquarters while
travelling frequently to check up on regional flagship stores.

Expected income:

A retail store manager’s expected annual income in the UK currently
averages out to £27,904 according to over 3,000 salaries submitted by
anonymous industry professionals on Glassdoor UK. The expected salary can
vary depending on the applicant’s educational degree, certifications and
number of years of experience in the industry.

to apply for store manager jobs in
fashion in the UK.

Photo: Pexels

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