Turin (Italy) (AFP) – New Torino boss Walter Mazzarri said Friday he was excited to be back coaching in Italy after just one season spent as manager of English club Watford. "I chose to come back to Italy because I think it's the ideal environment for me. When I entered the Filadelfia (Torino Stadium) I […]

Madrid (AFP) – Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has passed his medical at Real Madrid and is set to complete his 20 million euros ($24 million) transfer from Bilbao, Spanish media reported on Friday. The move had been thrown into doubt by a badly timed injury for the 23 year old, but Spanish sports media reported that […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Carlos Tevez looks poised to end his miserable 12-month spell in China with the Argentine former international in talks with his club Shanghai Shenhua to terminate his mammoth contract. It would allow the forward to seal a rumoured return to Boca Juniors, the club he left to join Shenhua in January 2017 […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains unrepentant over recent comments about penalty decisions against the Gunners after the FA asked the Frenchman to clarify his position. "I maintain what I said in the press conference — 100 per cent," Wenger said. "I try to serve this game with honesty and integrity and when […]

Madrid (AFP) – Diego Costa's return to Atletico Madrid began in typically explosive fashion on Wednesday night, and his second spell in La Liga has raised hopes that his new team might challenge runaway leaders Barcelona. Costa swept home his first Atletico goal since leaving the club for Chelsea in 2014 just five minutes into […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain play their first game in 2018 as they begin their quest to win the French Cup for the fourth year running with a trip to Rennes on Sunday. PSG may have missed out to Monaco for the Ligue 1 title last season but they won both domestic cups. Indeed, they […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino insists he isn't concerned about Tottenham missing out on a top four finish in the Premier League despite their damaging 1-1 draw against West Ham. Pochettino's side had to settle for a point in Thursday's London derby at Wembley after missing a host of chances as they failed to turn […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City's players do not appear to share manager Pep Guardiola's concern about a congested fixture list as they prepare to host Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. Guardiola is worried that City have more matches than they can cope with as they compete for […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has laughed off the suggestion that his decision to live in a city centre hotel shows a lack of commitment to his role as manager of Manchester United. The Portuguese coach was forced to confirm his continued desire to remain in charge at Old Trafford following reports that […]

Accra (AFP) – It took Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah just three years to transform from a Chelsea reject to being crowned African Player of the Year in Ghana Thursday. Salah failed to blossom after moving from Swiss outfit Basel to Stamford Bridge, leading to him being lent to Serie A sides Fiorentina and […]

London (AFP) – Son Heung-Min's stunning strike cancelled out Pedro Obiang's thunderbolt as Tottenham salvaged a 1-1 draw against London rivals West Ham on Thursday. Tottenham winger Son and West Ham midfielder Obiang staged their own goal of the season contest at Wembley with sublime efforts that will live long in the memory. Obiang put […]

Madrid (AFP) – Two penalties helped Real Madrid to a healthy 3-0 win in the first leg of their Copa Del Rey tie with second-tier Numancia on Thursday, while Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw as the La Liga giants rested their stars. Gareth Bale was one of a handful of Real first-team regulars […]

Piraeus (Greece) (AFP) – Greek champions Olympiakos released interim coach Takis Lemonis on Thursday with media reports expected to announce the hiring of Spanish coach Oscar Garcia. "Takis Lemonis took over the team in special circumstances and we thank him for his services," said Olympiakos who added that he will be offered another post at […]

Accra (AFP) – Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah was named African Player of the Year in Ghanaian capital Accra on Thursday, the first Egyptian to win the award since Mahmoud al Khatib in 1983. The 25-year-old has scored 23 goals in 29 matches in all competitions this season for the Premier League outfit after moving […]

New York (AFP) – Major League Soccer unveiled the complete match schedule for its 23rd season on Thursday, kicking off the 2018 campaign on March 3 and ending with the MLS Cup playoff final on December 8. The North American league will add Los Angeles FC as its 23rd club with the first of three […]