Newcastle are the bookies’ favourites to win the Championship but relegated clubs have a very poor record of bouncing straight back – Simon Hopper analyses the best ante-post bets ahead of the new season.

Roma club captain Francesco Totti has signed a new five-year contract with the capital-based club.

The 32-year-old was restricted by injuries last season and is known to have knee problems so the length of the contract extension, which will take him past his 37th birthday, comes as a surprise.

“I want to thank (club president) Rosella (Sensi) for having believed in me once again and for extending my contract with Roma for five years,” he said at a ceremony at the Town Hall in Rome called to celebrate his 178 Serie A goals for the club.

His mark of 178 goals is a single-club record for a player in Italy.

“This will give me the chance to beat some more records,” he added.

Newcastle are the bookies’ favourites to win the Championship but relegated clubs have a very poor record of bouncing straight back – Simon Hopper analyses the best ante-post bets ahead of the new season.

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