Blog (Page 255)

Barcelona manager Xavi has confirmed that Miralem Pjanic has agreed to leave the club in the coming days. Emirati side Sharjah, who signed former Barcelona man Paco Alcacer on a free transfer earlier this summer, are in talks with Pjanic and are now looking to bring him in. Xavi has previously stressed that he wanted to keep Pjanic around as part of his squad, but the Bosnia international has been an unused substitute during Barcelona’s four La Liga games so far this year. It is that lack of minutes which is behind Pjanic’s imminent exit, with Xavi confirming: “Pjanic could help us but he wantsRead More →

Manchester United midfielder Jackie Groenen is not pushing to leave the club in the final days of the summer transfer window, but has acknowledged that there is interest in her from other clubs. Paris Saint-Germain, who can offer Champions League football, have been particularly linked with the Netherlands international. A recent report in France claimed that Groenen has agreed a deal in principle with the European giants, but United have been unwilling to sell. Yet Groenen, who agreed to join United in 2019 shortly before a starring role at that summer’s World Cup and has been a fan favourite since day one in Manchester, remainsRead More →

Napoli and Liverpool collide on Wednesday as Group A gets underway in the 2022/23 Champions League. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds fell at the final hurdle last season and haven’t looked the same since, winning just two of their first six Premier League games this year. Napoli, on the other hand, are unbeaten in all competitions this year and have emerged as one of Serie A’s early pace-setters, with Luciano Spalletti’s side seeking a deep run in Europe this season. Here’s all you need to know about this one. Winger Hirving Lozano thankfully avoided a nasty head injury in the clash with Adam Marusic that saw himRead More →

“We live in a world and a profession where you win a game, you lose the next one and you’re deemed a failure.” Those are the words spoken by Scott Parker during his famous mashup with The Streets. Well, Brendan Rodgers and Leicester have lost five games in a row and a number of punters are starting to call them failures. Parker’s old side Bournemouth were the crisis club last week, but that mantle has been taken on by Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes who are spiralling at the bottom of the Premier League table. Here’s why the 2015/16 Premier League champions are in crisis this week.Read More →

Kylian Mbappe has refused to rule out a move to Real Madrid in future, admitting the club ‘feels like your house’. The French forward was widely expected to move to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer on a free transfer following the expiration of his old contract with Paris Saint-Germain, but he ended up putting pen to paper on an enormous three-year extension with the Ligue 1 giants. Mbappe’s decision came after a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, who involved himself in the transfer saga in the hope of convincing Mbappe to snub Real’s advances. “I never imagined I’m gonna talk with the president aboutRead More →

Kylian Mbappe has played down suggestions he does not see eye-to-eye with PSG teammate Neymar, but conceded that the pair’s relationship is ‘hot and cold’. The duo were embroiled in controversy earlier this season when Neymar refused to hand a penalty over to Mbappe, sparking rumours of a dressing room brawl and demands from the Frenchman that Neymar be sold immediately. Regardless of what has happened behind the scenes, the pair have shone on the pitch this season, both scoring seven Ligue 1 goals in just six games, and Mbappe and Neymar will now reignite their quest for Champions League glory against Juventus on Tuesday.Read More →

The Houston Dynamo have parted ways with head coach Paulo Nagamura, the club announced Monday. Nagamura only joined the club in January, leading the Dynamo to 12 points and just one defeat from their opening seven games of the 2022 MLS season. Since then, however, Houston have picked up just five wins and 17 points, sliding all the way to the bottom of the Western Conference. At the time of Nagamura’s departure, the Dynamo are enduring a run of nine defeats and just two wins from their last 13 matches. Nagamura managed an 8-16-5 record with the Dynamo in MLS play. A club source hasRead More →

Real Madrid begin their defence of the Champions League title they won last season with a trip to Scotland to face Celtic on Tuesday. Carlo Ancelotti’s side beat Liverpool in the final in Paris earlier this year and have made a great start to their La Liga campaign, winning each of their opening four games. Here’s the starting Real XI Ancelotti may deploy against Celtic. GK: Thibaut Courtois – Was pipped to the men’s Uefa Player of the Year award by teammate Benzema. His nomination spoke volumes to his progression to being one of the world’s top goalkeepers. RB: Dani Carvajal – Is the mostRead More →

Manchester United have confirmed their 25-man squad for the group stages of the Europa League. The Red Devils kick off their European campaign at home to Real Sociedad on Thursday, while they will also take on Moldovan side Sheriff and Cypriot outfit Omonoia. United are going in search of their second Europa League title – with which they would secure a place in pot one of next season’s Champions League – and Ten Hag has named his squad for the group stage. Despite his insistence on being sold to a Champions League side and sporadic reports suggesting he could even be omitted from United’s EuropaRead More →

Paul Pogba has decided to undergo surgery on his knee as he faces a battle to be fit for this winter’s World Cup. The midfielder tore his meniscus shortly after returning to Juventus this summer, though initially opted not to have it operated on and instead sought out alternative treatments. Pogba returned to training on grass on Monday, but it’s now being widely reported that he failed a fitness test and has now decided to finally undergo surgery – a setback likely to keep him out for around two months. France’s defence of the World Cup kicks off on November 22 against Australia, leaving PogbaRead More →