The top stories making Thursday’s back pages in the UK…
The Sun: Raheem Sterling claims he was right to quit Liverpool for Manchester City.
Also: Antonio Valencia is facing five months out following foot surgery.
And: Sepp Blatter is still refusing to accept he is finished despite being hospitalised.
Daily Mirror: Raheem Sterling insists his decision to quit Liverpool has been proved right.
Also: Daniel Sturridge has stepped up his training programme – and that could put him in contention to face Manchester City.
And: Chelsea will not sack Jose Mourinho , according to Carlo Ancelotti.
Plus: Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t be where he is today if it wasn’t for his first captain at Manchester United, Roy Keane. That’s the view of Keane himself, who jokingly claimed he “made” the Real Madrid star.
Daily Star: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is prepared to spend big in the January transfer window.
Also: Manchester City want Carlo Ancelotti to become their next boss if Pep Guardiola snubs them.
And: Raheem Sterling today insisted he was right to quit Liverpool.
Plus: Phil Jones declined to describe his Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney as England’s best striker.
Daily Mail: Paris Saint-Germain will battle it out with Spanish giants Real Madrid next summer to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea.
Daily Express: Raheem Sterling insists he was right to swap Liverpool for Manchester City.
Also: Cesc Fabregas insists Jose Mourinho has the full backing of his squad despite Chelsea’s dismal start to their Premier League title defence.
Metro: Arsenal have been sending an official to watch Borussia Monchengladbach’s Granit Xhaka ahead of a potential transfer, reports say.
Also: Yacine Brahimi is on Manchester United’s transfer wishlist, according to reports.
And: Liverpool have made an offer to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, according to reports.
Daily Telegraph: Gerard Pique insists Barcelona would not win the Premier League if they were a part of it. Not in their first season, anyway.
Also: Cesc Fabregas insists he has been made a scapegoat for Chelsea’s struggles but has hit back at his critics and backed Jose Mourinho to revive their season.
The Times: Raheem Sterling is not seeking vindication because he believed his actions were right all along. In a refreshingly open interview yesterday, the England winger cited stubbornness as his foremost characteristic, though honesty cannot have been too far behind.
Also: Memphis Depay has admitted that he has put on five kilograms since joining Manchester United.
The Guardian: Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out an imminent return to Chelsea, insisting his former club will not be dismissing their current manager José Mourinho.
Also: Sepp Blatter is in hospital after suffering what has been described as a “small emotional breakdown”.
