London (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has set his sights on emulating Thierry Henry as Arsenal's club record signing prepares to make his debut against Everton on Saturday. Aubameyang joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in a £56 million ($79 million, 63 million euros) switch on Wednesday and is in line for his first appearance at the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez is poised to make his home debut as Manchester United aim to bounce back from a damaging defeat at Tottenham Hotspur when struggling Huddersfield Town visit Old Trafford on Saturday. United fell 15 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City with a 2-0 defeat at Spurs on Wednesday that […]

Milan (AFP) – Captain Mauro Icardi is in doubt as Inter Milan look to get their faltering Serie A challenge back on track Saturday at home against Crotone. Inter's top scorer Icardi — with 18 goals in 22 Serie A games — suffered a strain to the adductor muscles in his right thigh. And his […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have revealed the frustration in the squad at being targeted by overly aggressive tackles in recent matches. City’s players are nursing their bumps and bruises ahead of Saturday's trip to Burnley after suffering from the gruelling physical approach of opposition sides. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luis Suarez headed in the only goal as defending champions Barcelona edged Valencia 1-0 in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at a half-full Camp Nou on Thursday. Barcelona, the record 29-time winners of the tournament, are attempting to become the first team to lift the cup four years in a […]

Paris (AFP) – The French referee who kicked out at a player during a Ligue 1 game was Thursday handed a three-month ban by disciplinary chiefs with a further three months suspended. Tony Chapron, 45, kicked Diego Carlos of Nantes towards the end of the match against Paris Saint-Germain on January 14 after being knocked […]

Rome (AFP) – Chelesa manager Antonio Conte is eager to return to Italy and could fill the vacant position as national coach, newly-appointed Italian FA commissioner Roberto Fabbricini said Thursday. Conte left the job for Chelsea after Euro 2016, but replacement Gian Piero Ventura was sacked after Italy lost to Sweden in the World Cup […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI) on Thursday stepped in to appoint a team including former AC Milan star Alessandro "Billy" Costacurta to oversee the crisis-ridden Italian football federation (FIGC). CONI secretary general Roberto Fabbricini was appointed commissioner and will be assisted by deputies ex-Italy defender Costacurta and legal expert Angelo Clarizia. The trio […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy's Serie A hit a five-year low for spending during a frugal January transfer window which closed Wednesday night with ten-times less cash splashed than in the English Premier League. Muted big-name transfers such as Argentine midfielder Javier Pastore to Inter Milan from Paris Saint-Germain never materialised with Italian clubs spending an […]

London (AFP) – Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief executive Stewart Regan stepped down on Thursday following criticism over the delay in finding a new Scotland manager. Last week Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill turned down an offer to take charge, instead agreeing a new deal to remain in his current role until 2024. "I have […]

London (AFP) – German playmaker Mesut Ozil ended speculation over his future at Arsenal by agreeing a new three-year deal with the Premier League giants on Thursday. "3 more years with @Arsenal! It's been one of the most important decisions of my footballing career and that's why I had to think hard and talk with everyone […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI) on Thursday appointed Roberto Fabbricini as commissioner to oversee the crisis-ridden Italian football federation (FIGC). CONI secretary general Fabbricini will be assisted by former AC Milan star Alessandro "Billy" Costacurta and legal expert Angelo Clarizia. The trio were appointed after the FIGC election failed to produce a new […]

Milan (AFP) – Senegalese striker Khouma Babacar said on Thursday that he had taken the painful decision to leave Fiorentina after 11 years to pursue his dream of playing for Senegal in the World Cup. Babacar completed a loan move from Fiorentina, a team he joined as a 13-year-old in 2008, to Serie A rivals […]

London (AFP) – Olivier Giroud pinpointed a return to Champions League football as a key factor in his decision to join Chelsea from Arsenal on the final day of the January transfer window. Giroud was a helpless spectator as Chelsea crashed to a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday to harm their chances of qualifying […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund coach Peter Stoeger says now that the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transfer saga is finally over his side can refocus on their football as they prepare to face resurgent Cologne on Friday. "It became a topic behind which no one could hide," Stoeger explained. "It's good that it's over, because the topic […]