Gareth Bale could be set for a return to English football when his Real Madrid contract expires next month, according to his agent Jonathan Barnett, who has confirmed the winger s imminent exit from the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 32-year-old already looked set to leave Los Blancos at the end of his deal, with Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti saying last month that Bale wanted to finish on a high note with the club.
While Madrid wrapped up their 35th league title recently, Bale s role in that success was virtually none-existent, with the former Tottenham man making just seven appearances all season in all competitions, totalling just 290 minutes of action.
Bale has won four Champions League titles during his nine-year spell in the Spanish capital, scoring three goals in f…
Sergino Dest scored his first goals for Barcelona on a landmark outing for Lionel Messi as the Catalans thrashed Real Sociedad 6-1 to move back to within four points of LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid.
The United States international netted in each half after Antoine Griezmann had broken the deadlock against his former club on Sunday.
Messi marked a club-record 768th appearance in all competitions with Barca s fourth and sixth goals either side of a superb fifth from Ousmane Dembele, capping a resounding victory for Ronald Koeman s men on the road, with Ander Barrenetxea grabbing the hosts consolation.
Barca s most impressive league win of the season lifted them back into second place behind Atleti, who earlier beat Deportivo Alaves, and means they head into…
It has been a long time since Paraguay last conquered South American football, and they start their 2021 Copa America campaign looking to arrest a slump against Bolivia.
Paraguay are two-time winners of the Copa America, though not since 1979 have La Albirroja hoisted the trophy aloft.
Since then, their best performance has been reaching the 2011 final, which they lost against Uruguay. Paraguay did make it to the 2019 quarter-final, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Brazil on penalties.
There are familiar faces in the squad – captain Gustavo Gomez, Newcastle United s Miguel Almiron and Angel Romero.
Juan Carlos Osorio oversaw Paraguay s run to the last eight two years ago, but former Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao boss Eduardo …
Phil Foden turned 21 on Friday, the day before he will play for Manchester City in arguably the biggest game in his boyhood club s history.
For all Foden s understated public persona and the unfussy way he goes about his business on the field, such a high-stakes landmark has felt inevitable since he emerged as a precocious and remarkably fully formed talent four years ago.
I don t have words. I would like to have the right words to describe what I saw, Pep Guardiola told reporters after Foden sparkled in an International Champions Cup friendly against Manchester United in Houston, Texas.
You are lucky guys, believe me, you are the guys who saw his first game in the first team at Manchester City. I ve not seen something like I saw today for a long time. His per…
Best Odds: 8/15
Bookmaker:
Getting their Group F campaign underway on Tuesday night, Portugal will meet the Czech Republic at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.
Portugal
Starting with Portugal, while the Navigators might have been frustrated out in Qatar 18 months ago as they eventually had to settle for a quarter-final finish, they have continued to shine under the guidance of Roberto Martinez. With some tipping the former European champions as a real dark horse contender this summer, the former Belgium boss will be calling on his squad to make an early statement on Tuesday night. Signing off their pre-EURO 24 preparations with a routine 3-0 romp at home against Ireland, Portugal also enjoyed a remarkable qualifying romp last year. Winning all of their 10 Group J …
Manchester City s 6-1 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford, 10 years and one day ago, was probably the worst defeat ever endured by Alex Ferguson.
In the club s modern history, even in the post-Fergie wilderness, there had never quite been an occasion to match it, even accounting for Tottenham s victory by the same scoreline last year.
There has now.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the hero of Barcelona 1999, knew a thing or two about creating spectacles as a player. As a manager, he still has the knack.
Manchester United 0, Liverpool 5. Has there ever been a more abject, visceral demolition of the 20-time English champions in the Premier League era? Has it ever looked this bad?
A goal down after five minutes and a missed Bruno Fernandes sitter…
Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri feels the magnitude of Napoli s absentee list was overstated as he declared himself content with his side s 1-1 draw on Thursday.
Third-placed Napoli were without nearly an entire team of players due to coronavirus, suspension and international call-ups for Thursday s contest at the Allianz Stadium.
Despite being without the likes of Victor Osimhen, Hirving Lozano, Fabian Ruiz and Kalidou Koulibaly, Napoli led at half-time through a low Dries Mertens drive.
Federico Chiesa hit back for the hosts early in the second half, though, with his first home league goal since last March on what was his 50th start for Juventus.
The Bianconeri pushed for a winner but it remained all square, meaning the sides played out a leagu…
Joe Rankin-Costello’s first goal of the season earned Blackburn a 1-0 home victory over Cardiff.
The midfielder’s second-half strike – Rovers’ only on-target attempt of the afternoon – condemned the Bluebirds to a third straight defeat on the road.
It also meant the Welsh club are now without a win on their last nine trips to Ewood Park, stretching back to December 2012 when Craig Bellamy was on target for the visitors in a 4-1 triumph.
During the early stages, Blackburn dominated possession without penetrating the visitors’ backline while Josh Bowler shot just wide from the edge of the box following Ike Ugbo’s lay-off at the other end.
After Joe Ralls also called home keeper Leo Wahlstedt into action from 20 yards, the Blackburn faithful ur…
Mauricio Pochettino puts Chelsea’s ill-discipline down to the close-season change of rules with the Blues leading the Premier League for yellow cards this season.
Chelsea have amassed 47 yellow and three red cards, following the dismissal of Malo Gusto against Aston Villa in September and both Reece James and Conor Gallagher being sent off in their last two games.
Pochettino highlighted how the FA’s new rules in targeting petulance such as kicking the ball away or dissent is the reason behind his team’s poor record.
Preparing for tomorrow’s challenge.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Manchester United on Wednesday, Pochettino said: “Today we were talking in the meeting and we showed the clips of the …
Ange Postecoglou will hope fit-again Giovani Lo Celso can provide the creative spark for Tottenham when Bournemouth visit on Sunday.
Spurs’ selection issues have increased after Dejan Kulusevski received his fifth caution of the season in Thursday’s 4-2 loss at Brighton and will sit out the New Year’s Eve clash.
Kulusevski had stepped up in the absence of chief creator James Maddison, but Postecoglou is pleased to have Lo Celso to call upon again after a recent muscle injury.
Straight back to it on Sunday
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
“Gio dropped out the team because he was injured. It wasn’t by decision,” he said.
“He was going well when he got injured. We’re going to have to make another adjustment there (in …