Paris (AFP) – Brazilian superstar Neymar looks set to return for Paris Saint-Germain against Dijon on Wednesday after coach Unai Emery included him in the Ligue 1 leaders' squad on Tuesday. Neymar missed Sunday's 1-0 win at Nantes due to a rib injury but Spaniard Emery believes he should be recovered in time. "Neymar trained […]

Berlin (AFP) – German football league chief Christian Seifert said on Tuesday the gap between rich and poor must grow to help Bundesliga clubs in Europe. "From now on the Bundesliga's ambition must be to remain competitive with the best leagues in the world," said Seifert. "The Bundesliga can only keep this promise if, over […]

Paris (AFP) – Marseille jumped into second place in Ligue 1 on Tuesday as late goals from substitutes Clinton N'Jie and Dimitri Payet sealed a 2-0 home victory over Strasbourg. Valere Germain saw a 72nd-minute penalty saved by Strasbourg goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja, but N'Jie pounced to slam in with 11 minutes to play. Payet finished […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has ended takeover talks with prospective buyer Amanda Staveley, according to reports. Ashley put the Premier League club up for sale in October and had been engaged through his representatives with Staveley's PCP Capital Partners in a bid to thrash out a deal for the club he […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger called Mike Dean a "disgrace" and accused the referee of dishonesty after barging into the official's dressing room for a furious rant following Arsenal's controversial clash with West Bromwich Albion. Arsenal manager Wenger was frustrated by Dean's decision to give West Brom a late penalty when the official adjudged Calum […]

Nantes (France) (AFP) – Nantes defender Diego Carlos admitted on Tuesday that he was left flummoxed after being kicked and then sent off by referee Tony Chapron in Sunday's game against Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian accidentally bumped into the backtracking official as PSG counter-attacked in injury-time of the Ligue 1 leaders' 1-0 win, with footage […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez described his time at Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua as a "holiday", after returning to boyhood club Boca Juniors for a third spell last week. The 33-year-old was widely criticised in China as he struggled for form after Shenhua reportedly made him the world's highest-paid player on a […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan president Li Yonghong has blasted Italian media reports claiming Italian prosecutors had opened an investigation into whether the deal to sell the club last year was inflated for money-laundering purposes. Yonghong also threatened legal action against Italian dailies La Stampa and Il Secolo XIX, the two papers that published the […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho believes Paul Pogba is becoming a commanding figure in Manchester United's side after the midfielder extended his personal unbeaten record in the Premier League to 35 matches. The Frenchman joined United for a then world-record £89.3 million ($118.2 million, 100.6 million euros) from Juventus in 2016. But he took time […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United's bid to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal hinges on Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving the other way, the Armenian player's agent said Tuesday as Antonio Conte distanced Chelsea from a potential deal. Chile international Sanchez, who appears to have played his last game for Arsenal, had been strongly linked with a move […]

Lisbon (AFP) – A Portuguese league match between FC Porto and Estoril was halted at half-time and fans were evacuated onto the pitch after cracks appeared in a stand on Monday night. Estoril was leading 1-0 at half-time when security officials ordered spectators off one of the stands at the Antonio Coimbra da Mota stadium. […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho remains relaxed about his chances of signing Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez despite reported late interest from Chelsea. The United manager was speaking at the end of a Monday of high drama in the pursuit of the Chilean, who looks likely to leave the Emirates in […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho said Monday it would be "great" if Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez became a Manchester United player as Manchester City's interest in the Chilean reportedly came to an end. Sanchez, 29, looks to have played his last game for Arsenal, with manager Arsene Wenger saying on Sunday that his move could be […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United took time off from their pursuit of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez to coast to a comfortable 3-0 victory against Stoke at Old Trafford on Monday. Antonio Valencia and Anthony Martial in the first half, and Romelu Lukaku after the break, were on the scoresheet as Jose Mourinho finally […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United appeared to be closing in on Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez on Monday as long-time suitors and local rivals Manchester City reportedly ended their attempts to sign the Chile star. Sanchez, 29, looks to have played his last game for Arsenal, with manager Arsene Wenger saying on Sunday that his move […]