Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata believes Lionel Messi can rightly be considered the greatest player ever and is therefore hopeful he does not join rivals Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola s City were widely considered the favourites to sign Messi earlier this year when the superstar forward handed in a transfer request at Barcelona.
The Argentina international remained in place at Camp Nou but is out of contract in June and has again been linked with City, as well as Paris Saint-Germain and Inter.
And Mata is worried about the prospect of Messi, who has seven goals in 13 appearances in all competitions this season, ending up at United s cross-city rivals next year.
I hope not! I hope not for the betterment of my club, Mata, speaking in his role as an…
Paris Saint-Germain have denied slanderous misrepresentations levelled at the club by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, who suggested the Ligue 1 champions enjoy tax privileges.
Speaking at Lyon s presentation of new signing Maciej Rybus, Aulas was critical of PSG s treatment of coach Laurent Blanc, who is reportedly close to being replaced by Unai Emery despite guiding the team to a second successive domestic treble in 2015-16.
The OL chief also indicated the club from the capital are subject to different taxation to other French sides due to their Qatari ownership.
I read in the press that PSG were considering ending their contract with the coach. I m shocked, said Aulas.
When we talk about compensation for coaches who just won three titles, and when…
Lazio are set to make a move for Chelsea flop Baba Rahman, .
The defender moved to Stamford Bridge from Bundesliga side FC Ausburg last August on a five year deal for a fee of around £22m but failed to make an real impact on the first team, racking up just fifteen league appearances, with a handful of other outings coming in Europe and domestic cups.
With Antonio Conte set to that charge after this summer’s European Championships, a number of the Blues’ fringe players look set to move on and Rahman could be one of the first out the door with Lazio readying a bid.
A senior international, Rahman has been capped eighteen times for Ghana and played every minute of their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with his side eventually losing in the final to the …
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger insists Germany will win both their forthcoming World Cup 2010 qualifying matches without key injured veterans Torsten Frings and Michael Ballack.
It is important to win these two matches, said Bayern Munich s Schweinsteiger with Germany set to face minnows Liechtenstein in Vaduz on Saturday and Finland in Helsinki next Wednesday.
We know that we have a lot of potential and quality in the side.
We are young and we are hungry.
Of course, Ballack and Frings are two important players, but we are owed a victory.
Defensive midfielder Frings, with 77 caps for his country, was forced to pull out of both games after breaking his nose playing in an exhibition game of basketball for his club Werder Bremen at the week…
Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery is hoping to play a role in next Wednesday s opening Champions League clash against Steaua Bucharest on his way back from ankle surgery.
Ribery tore ankle ligaments playing for France against Italy during Euro 2008 last June, but resumed full training with the Bayern squad on Monday and is hoping to be on the bench next week in Bucharest.
Having originally targeted the Champions League visit of Lyon to Munich on September 30 as his first game back, Ribery is now hoping to play some part in next Wednesday s clash with Steaua.
I hope I ll at least be part of the squad, he said.
The 25-year-old then wants to play a full role in Bayern s Champions League clash with Lyon at Munich s Allianz Arena.
Ribery sai…
Phil Foden s progress in Manchester City s first team sets a vital example to the next generation of youngsters battling to make the grade for the Premier League champions, says youth team coach Gareth Taylor.
Foden made 26 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola s treble winners in 2018-19, scoring seven goals – including his first in the Premier League, which secured a vital 1-0 win over Tottenham during the title run-in.
Breaking into City s lavishly assembled squad has proved a tall task for the club s leading young stars over recent years, with Jadon Sancho, Brahim Diaz and Rabbi Matondo all deciding to seek high-profile opportunities elsewhere.
The significance of boyhood City fan Foden seemingly lasting the course is not lost on Taylor.
Serie A leaders Napoli are set to sign free agent Hrvoje Milic over the next 24 hours, Sky Sport Italia reports.
The Croatia international left-back has already agreed personal terms with Partenopei but the signing has been hit with a delay over the past couple of days as a possible Europa League departure could deem his arrival redundant.
The club hierarchy has however decided to go ahead with a deal for Milic in order to reinforce the Napoli backline and help Maurizio Sarri mount a title-winning challenge this season in Italy.
Maurizio Sarri has lost Faouzi Ghoulam to injury during 2017 whereas the club also lost out-of-favour Nikola Maksimovic who joined Spartak Moscow on a half-season loan and Napoli boss is in urgent need of a defender to fit in his complex…
Real agree deal for Danilo
Spanish daily newspaper that Real Madrid have agreed to sign Brazilian defender Danilo from FC Porto.
Los Blancos reportedly had a €20 million proposal accepted, allowing them to secure the first signing ahead of the new season.
Danilo was also on the radar of Barcelona, Juventus and few other top sides, but Real Madrid were the first club to make their interest concrete.
FC Porto initially requested €40 million for their prized possession, but were forced to lower the asking price due to the fact the player s contract was due to expire in June 2016.
Danilo, 23, is expected to provide competition for Daniel Carvajal on the right flank at Santiago Bernabeu, meaning that Alvaro Arbeloa is likely to leave at the end o…
Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer denied the Bundesliga champions are interested in signing Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado.
The Colombia international was impressive at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil and has been linked with several of Europe s biggest clubs, including Manchester United.
But Bayern have no interest in Cuadrado, 26, with Sammer ruling out a move for the 31-time international.
It s not true, Sammer told Sport 1.
The rumours of our interest in the Colombian are not true at all.
Since moving to Fiorentina in mid-2012, Cuadrado has been a regular and helped Vincenzo Montella s men finish fourth in the Serie A last season.
…
Market: RB Bragantino win
Odds: 3/5 @
Only looking to widen their buffer at the top of the table in midweek, RB Bragantino will welcome Cuiaba to the Estádio Nabi Abi Chedid on Wednesday night.
Starting with the hosts, despite being disappointed to have only picked up a point against Ceará when opening July, Bragantino made an immediate return to winning ways over the weekend. Making a host of improvements from last season and many across Brazil tipping them as the leading contender in the title chase, The Red Bulls find themselves holding a two-point buffer at the top of the table and the mood in their camp should be at a real high. Last seen picking up a deserved 2-1 victory against São Paulo on the road, Head Coach Maurício Barbieri is yet to see his side…