Los Angeles (AFP) – Josef Martinez produced his Major League Soccer-record sixth career hat trick Saturday to lead Atlanta United to a 3-1 victory over Wayne Rooney and DC United. With a league-leading 22 goals in 22 appearances this season, Venezuelan-born Martinez is on pace to break the MLS season scoring record of 27 goals […]

Chicago (AFP) – Joe Hart is desperate to leave Manchester City and reignite his career after being marginalised by Pep Guardiola. The former England goalkeeper was axed by the Spaniard following his appointment two years ago and despite loan spells at Torino and West Ham United, the 31 year-old has failed to secure a permanent […]

Praia Grande (Brazil) (AFP) – Brazil star Neymar admits that after his nation's quarter-finals defeat to Belgium at the World Cup he couldn't look at a ball and didn't want to see any of the remaining matches. "I didn't want to see a ball, or to see any more football played," Neymar told AFP in […]

Klagenfurt (Austria) (AFP) – German champions Bayern Munich hit three second-half goals as they beat French titlists Paris Saint-Germain, 3-1, on Saturday in a friendly in Klagenfurt, Austria. PSG were without their World Cup winners, but they did start Adrien Rabiot, who refused to serve as a reserve for the French squad. Bayern were without […]

Chicago (AFP) – Pep Guardiola’s start to his pre-season campaign ended in defeat as Borussia Dortmund captain Mario Gotze’s first half penalty was enough to see off the Premier League champions Manchester City 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Guardiola was able to call on the likes of new signing Riyad Mahrez and German Leroy […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool's world-record signing of Alisson could trigger a reshuffle of goalkeepers at top clubs across Europe, with several others seemingly set for a move on the merry-go-round. Liverpool signed Brazil international Alisson from Roma on Thursday in a deal valued at 72.5 million euros — a record for a goalkeeper — beating […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany's long-serving team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt quit on Friday after 23 years in the job, becoming the first casualty of the country's World Cup flop. "I have decided to retire as team doctor. I have informed the Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff and coach Joachim Loew," the 75-year-old told DPA news agency. […]

Lausanne (AFP) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday overturned a European ban imposed on AC Milan for violating UEFA's financial fair play rules, calling the punishment "not proportionate." UEFA banned Milan from playing in next season's Europa League citing the club's failure to meet the "break-even requirement," which bars clubs from taking […]

London (AFP) – Erik Lamela became the latest Tottenham star to sign a new contract as the Argentine playmaker agreed a four-year deal with the north London club on Friday. Lamela's new terms will keep him at Tottenham until 2022 as he followed in the footsteps of Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, who have also […]

Madrid (AFP) – The 18-year-old Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr was officially unveiled by Real Madrid on Friday after completing his blockbuster transfer from Rio's Flamengo. Madrid signed the player two years ago for 45 million euros ($52.68M), in a deal that would become official after his 18th birthday on July 12, 2018. Vinicius was accompanied […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa will receive "significant investment" from Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and American tycoon Wes Edens as the Championship club try to secure their financial status after missing out on promotion to the Premier League. Villa owner Tony Xia spent the close-season searching for fresh investment to plug a reported £40 million […]

London (AFP) – Huddersfield signed former France Under-21 striker Adama Diakhaby from Monaco for an undisclosed fee on Friday. Diakhaby has agreed a three-year contract with the Premier League club after completing a medical earlier this week. The 22-year-old joined Monaco from Rennes last season, but made just 10 Ligue 1 starts. He netted three […]

Lausanne (AFP) – The world's top sports court on Friday overturned a European ban imposed on AC Milan for violating UEFA's financial fair play rules, calling the punishment "not proportionate." UEFA banned Milan from playing in next season's Europa League citing the club's failure to meet the "break-even requirement," which bars clubs from taking on […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on Friday ripped into bosses at Germany's football federation, calling them "amateurs" over their handling of the squad's disastrous World Cup campaign. "For me, there is a lack of clear professional handling in a crisis situation," he said. "At the same time, I'm not surprised given that […]

London (AFP) – Son Heung-min has signed a new five-year contract with Tottenham that will keep the South Korea forward at the Premier League club until 2023. Son has emerged as one of Tottenham's key players under manager Mauricio Pochettino. He played in 53 of their 55 matches last season, scoring 20 goals in all […]