Milan (AFP) – Italian champions Juventus could be hit with a partial closure of their Allianz Stadium after racist chanting was heard aimed at Napoli's Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly during their game at the weekend, it was reported on Monday. Massimiliano Allegri's side won 3-1 to move six points clear of Carlo Ancelotti's southerners in […]

Milan (AFP) – Lazio stars Ciro Immobile and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have extended both their contracts with the Serie A club until 2023, the Roman outfit confirmed on Monday. Italian international Immobile — the top scorer in Serie A last season with 29 goals — and Serb Milinkovic-Savic will earn over three millions euros ($3.5 million) […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Under-fire Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes some of his misfiring squad "care more than others" as speculation mounts over whether the Portuguese coach's time in charge at Old Trafford is coming to an end. A third defeat in seven Premier League games at West Ham on Saturday saw United […]

Milan (AFP) – Former Genoa and Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi on Monday avoided a doping ban after testing positive for the banned substance dorzolamide. Italy's anti-doping prosecutor was seeking a one-year ban but the 31-year-old was given only a reprimand following Monday's hearing. The amount of dorzolamide found during the drug test was minimal, Rossi's […]

Sinsheim (Germany) (AFP) – Hoffenheim will be without centre back and club captain Kevin Vogt for their historic home Champions League clash against Manchester City on Tuesday. The 27-year-old sat out Saturday's 2-1 league defeat at home to RB Leipzig to rest a persistent thigh problem, which has not responded as hoped and he misses […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Under-fire Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes some of his misfiring squad are hurting more than others as speculation mounts over whether the Portuguese coach's time in charge at Old Trafford is coming to an end. A third defeat in seven Premier League games at West Ham on Saturday saw […]

Milan (AFP) – China's veteran Italian head coach Marcello Lippi has confirmed that he will more than likely retire when his contract with the Asian side expires early next year. The 70-year-old former Italy and Juventus coach expects to leave management after the Asian Cup in January. "I want to go home," he told Radio […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne returned to training earlier than expected on Monday following a knee injury he suffered in August. Pictures appeared on De Bruyne's and City's official Twitter accounts showing him taking part in a session with his teammates. The Belgium international tweeted: "Back in training!". The 27-year-old has […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said Monday that a younger wave of management will take over the Italian champions after the surprise exit of chief executive Giuseppe Marotta. CEO Marotta, 61, revealed that the club "made the decision" for him to step down after eight successful years in Turin. "The leadership will go […]

Paris (AFP) – Ivorian Gervinho caught the eye among the African stars in Europe for a second successive weekend as Egyptian Mohamed Salah struggled to replicate his form of last season. Former Arsenal winger Gervinho followed up an Italian Serie A wonder goal in the previous round by notching the winner for Parma against […]

London (AFP) – David Luiz was left puzzled by his treatment under former Chelsea coach Antonio Conte, according to new Stamford Bridge boss Maurizio Sarri. Luiz had been an central figure in Chelsea's title win in Conte's first season as boss, in 2016-17, but scarcely featured after the 3-0 loss at Roma on October 31 […]

Moscow (AFP) – CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, Russia's World Cup team captain, announced Monday he was retiring from international football after playing 111 times for his country. Akinfeev, 32, said after 15 years with the national side he had decided to give way to his younger colleagues and to focus completely on his club […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich host Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday with Niko Kovac needing to fix a leaking defence and lack of finishing after yielding top spot in the Bundesliga. The clash at Munich's Allianz Arena could well decide Group E after Bayern claimed a 2-0 win at Benfica in the […]

Sydney (AFP) – Socceroos' skipper Mile Jedinak will not lead Australia in its defence of the Asian Cup next year after calling an end to his international football career on Monday. The 34-year-old, who plays for English Championship side Aston Villa and led his team to two World Cups, announced his decision in a lengthy message […]

London (AFP) – Sergio Aguero could beat Alan Shearer's record of 260 goals to become the Premier League's greatest ever marksman, according to Manchester City teammate Bernardo Silva. The Argentine forward scored the 148th goal of his Premier League career for City in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Brighton, equalling Shearer's tally for Newcastle. The pair […]