Heitinga seals Ajax return

John Heitinga is to return to Ajax after joining the Eredivisie giants on a free transfer from Hertha Berlin.

The defender, who started his professional career with the Amsterdam club, has signed a one-year contract with the option for a further 12 months.

Heitinga spent 18 years with Ajax before departing for Atletico Madrid in 2008, subsequently joining Everton for a five-year stint the following season.

Brief spells at Fulham and Hertha Berlin followed, but Heitinga, now 31, has opted for a return to where it all started.

The Netherlands international won two league titles and three KNVB Cups during his first stint with Ajax.

Inzaghi signs Inter extension

Simone Inzaghi has signed a contract extension with Inter, tying him to the club until June 2024. 

The 46-year-old took over from Antonio Conte in 2021 and impressed in his first season at the helm of the Nerazzurri, which followed the departures of key duo Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi.

And Inter confirmed on Tuesday that he had signed a new two-year deal.

Despite missing out on the Scudetto to local rivals Milan, Inzaghi did lead Inter to success in the Supercoppa Italiana and the Coppa Italia – requiring extra time to overcome Juventus on both occasions.

As Inter prepare for a bid to regain the Serie A title, the Nerazzurri have taken the decision to hand Inzaghi fresh terms.

Inter are hoping to build on Inzaghi s new deal by sealing a San…

Agent ´almost certain´ Ronaldo will retire at Real

Cristiano Ronaldo has no intention of leaving Real Madrid before the end of his career, according to his agent.

The agent of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo believes the player will remain at the club until he ends his playing days.

The Portugal attacker has long been linked with a return to Manchester United, having left Old Trafford for Madrid back in 2009.

However, Jorge Mendes is confident his client will see out his career at Santiago Bernabeu.

I m almost certain that, yes, he ll retire there at 38 or 39, because he has many years to give yet, he is quoted as saying by Marca.

You all know that he s the best example I can give of a professional, he s a person who takes great care of himself.

Real visit Cordoba in La Liga on Sat…

Ronaldo will retire at Real Madrid, says agent

Cristiano Ronaldo s agent Jorge Mendes expects the Portugal superstar to retire at Real Madrid, seemingly ending any hopes Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain have of pulling off an audacious transfer.

Ronaldo s future in the Spanish capital has been shrouded in doubt after he reportedly responded why not? when asked by Kicker if he could leave the club.

United with whom Ronaldo won three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League and Ligue 1 champions PSG have been heavily linked with the 30-year-old. 

However, Mendes appeared to pour cold water on a possible switch by stating Ronaldo Madrid s record goalscorer will see out his career with the Liga giants.

He is happy at Real Madrid. There is lots of speculation. Every single day, you…

October 24th: Tuesday’s Champions League Double – 3/1 Special, Tips & Predictions

With the Champions League group stages getting back underway on Tuesday, the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City will be looking to lay down their own respective markers.

Ahead of a bumper schedule from across Europe’s elite club competition, we have found a pair of Champions League betting markets that are worth keeping an eye out for.

17:45 Inter Milan vs Salzburg

While Inter Milan might have suffered Champions League final heartbreak at the hands of Manchester City back in June, the Italian heavyweights aren’t showing any signs of a hangover. Continuing to impress across all fronts since opening up the 2023/24 campaign and riding an extended wave of momentum, Tuesday’s hosts will be confident of making another statement here.

Picking up some …

Van Persie and Babel win Netherlands recalls

Robin van Persie has been recalled to the Netherlands squad for for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against France and Bulgaria, with Ryan Babel also back in the international fold after a six-year absence.

Van Persie s last outing for the Oranje came in October 2015, when he scored his 50th international goal in a 3-2 defeat to Czech Republic.

Babel s time out of the side goes back much further to a 3-0 friendly loss against Germany in November 2011.

The Besiktas winger expressed his frustration at being left out for Netherlands end-of-season friendlies against Morocco and Ivory Coast but has won the nod from head coach Dick Advocaat this time around.

There is no place for Virgil van Dijk – the centre-back currently out of first-team action at Sou…

VAR to be used in England v Germany

England s friendly clash with Germany at Wembley on Friday will see a video assistant referee (VAR) used in an official match for the first time in the United Kingdom.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) agreed to a two-year test of VAR in 2016, making goals, penalties, straight red cards and mistaken identity cases reviewable by match officials.

VARs and other officials do not have the power to insist that the referee consults video evidence of an incident, but they are able to recommend that a decision is looked at.

Wembley has seen VAR used once before, with a charity match in October playing the role of testing ground for the system.

Fittingly, England and Germany matches have a history of controversial incidents which would have been…

Bayern Munich v Werder Bremen: Rafinha wary of Pizarro threat

Rafinha has warned his Bayern Munich team-mates they cannot afford to give Claudio Pizarro any space in Saturday s Bundesliga clash with Werder Bremen.

The Peruvian attacker was deemed surplus to requirements at Bayern last season, but has shown in 2015-16 that he remains a force to be reckoned with.

Pizarro has claimed 12 goals and two assists in his last 11 appearances in all competitions and is the Bundesliga s top scorer in 2016 with nine goals, one more than Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski.

The 37-year-old will be looking to add to his tally at the weekend, but Rafinha is determined to keep his former team-mate quiet at the Allianz Arena.

Claudio s goal at the weekend goes to show yet again that goalscoring is his speciality. He s ruthless in the …

Mourinho to appear in court over tax claims

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is to appear in court to answer accusations of tax fraud in Madrid later on Friday.

The 54-year-old was summoned at the end of September over allegations he defrauded Spanish tax authorities of €3.3million between 2011 and 2012, while he was head coach of Real Madrid.

When the charges were announced in June, Mourinho s representatives issued a statement denying he had been contacted by prosecutors and insisting his taxes had been paid in full.

United altered their pre-match media duties earlier this week due to the court hearing, which is scheduled for 10am local time in Pozuelo de Alcarcon.

Addressing the impending court case at a media briefing on Thursday, Mourinho said: No [it has not been a distraction]. 

Indonesia want Mourinho as national team coach

Indonesia have set out on the ambitious task of appointing Jose Mourinho as their new national team coach, according to youth and sports minister Imam Nahrawi.

Indonesia ranked 185th in the world are banned by FIFA from competing in international fixtures, including qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup, due to the government s interference in the country s national league last year.

Nahrawi said he is keen to return enthusiasm in Indonesia s national team, starting with appointing an experienced foreign coach to take over the reins. 

This plan has been discussed with President Joko Widodo and the Chairman of the Indonesian Olympics Committee, Erick Thohir, even though this won’t be easy, Nahrawi said on Tuesday. 

Our national tea…