Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo was asked earlier this season to sum up Zinedine Zidane in a word and the one he picked was "winner". At a Real Madrid media day on Tuesday, half a dozen players were rolled out to answer questions ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool, and one journalist made […]

Liverpool (AFP) – At just 19 years of age, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold faces a daunting task of stopping five-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo in Saturday's Champions League final in Kiev. But the fresh-faced right-back isn't overawed by the prospect and believes he can even expose Ronaldo's own weaknesses. A whirlwind season for […]

Kiev (AFP) – Before Real Madrid try to get their hands on a third straight Champions League crown this week, Lyon have the chance to achieve the same feat in the women's showpiece. The dominant French club face Germany's Wolfsburg in Kiev on Thursday at the leafy Valeriy Lobanovskiy stadium, a short walk across the […]

Milan (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri's departure as Napoli coach was confirmed Wednesday by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis hours after Carlo Ancelotti agreed to take over. "I'd like to thank Maurizio Sarri for his valuable contribution to the Napoli cause," De Laurentiis said in a brief Twitter message. "He brought joy and prestige to Naples […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis welcomed Unai Emery as his club's manager on Wednesday by claiming the Gunners' job is the "most attractive" in world football. Emery is Arsenal's first new boss in 22 years after replacing Arsene Wenger following the Frenchman's departure at the end of the season. The 46-year-old, who […]

Milan (AFP) – Dutch left-back Mitchell Dijks has signed a five-year contract with Serie A club Bologna from Ajax, the Italian club confirmed on Wednesday. The 25-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with Norwich City, before returning to the Netherlands this season. "He has signed a contract until June 30 2023," […]

Berlin (AFP) – Three former top officials of Germany's football federation said Wednesday they have been charged with tax fraud in relation to a scandal over alleged vote-buying to host the 2006 World Cup. Former German Football Association (DFB) presidents Theo Zwanziger and Wolfgang Niersbach, as well as ex DFB general secretary Horst R. Schmidt, […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot "has made a huge mistake" in refusing to be a World Cup standby player, France manager Didier Deschamps said on Wednesday as his squad assembled at their Clairefontaine training centre. Rabiot was omitted from the main 23-man squad and then emailed Deschamps saying he would not "be […]

Milan (AFP) – New Italy coach Roberto Mancini has unveiled his backroom staff as his 28-man squad meet for the first time on Wednesday evening for a training camp at Coverciano, outside Florence ahead of three upcoming friendlies. Mancini — who left Zenit Saint Petersburg to take charge of Italy — was appointed last week […]

London (AFP) – Everton forward Wayne Rooney will break from his family holiday to travel to Washington this week to meet bosses at Major League Soccer side DC United, his spokesman confirmed on Wednesday. Rooney has reportedly agreed "in principle" to a $17 million (£13 million) deal with the MLS club that would see the […]

London (AFP) – Unai Emery has warned Arsenal's under-performing stars he won't be afraid to wield the axe as he prepares for the challenge of creating a "new future" for the troubled Premier League side. Emery was unveiled as Arsenal's first new manager in 22 years on Wednesday as the Spaniard faced the media at […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool great Ian Rush says Mohamed Salah has outshone Champions League final opponent Cristiano Ronaldo during an incredible record-breaking season. The Egyptian forward goes into Saturday's showpiece against defending champions Real Madrid in Kiev needing an unlikely four goals to beat Rush's Liverpool goals record for a single season. Salah currently has […]

London (AFP) – Ruben Loftus-Cheek says England's young squad boast "frightening" talent that could take them all the way to World Cup glory in Russia. The 22-year-old, part of the third-youngest Three Lions squad to head to a World Cup, is backing captain Harry Kane's belief that they can win the tournament. "I think it […]

Milan (AFP) – Carlo Ancelotti has reached agreement to take over as Napoli coach ending Maurizio Sarri's three-year reign at the Serie A club, according to reports in Italy on Wednesday. Italian Ancelotti — who was sacked by Bayern Munich last September — hammered out a deal Wednesday after a series of meetings with Napoli […]

London (AFP) – Unai Emery was appointed as Arsenal's first new manager in 22 years on Wednesday. Here are three things the Spaniard must deal with to ensure a smooth transition from the Arsene Wenger era: Solve the Ozil conundrum Mesut Ozil's diffident personality and alarming habit of drifting to the periphery of matches proved […]