Montevideo (AFP) – Luis Suarez returned from injury but Uruguay were forced to settle for a point in a 0-0 stalemate with Argentina in their World Cup qualifying duel on Thursday. Barcelona superstar Suarez was given the all-clear to play for the Uruguayans after making a quicker-than-expected recovery from an injury to his right knee […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain clinched a sensational deal to prise wonderkid Kylian Mbappe away from Monaco on Thursday in a move scheduled to become the second most expensive transfer in history. Less than a month after the world-record arrival of Brazilian icon Neymar in the French capital, and only hours before a record-breaking transfer […]

Santiago (AFP) – Paraguay reignited their hopes of World Cup qualification here Thursday with a 3-0 victory over Chile to complete a miserable day for Alexis Sanchez. Arturo Vidal scored a spectacular headed own goal while Victor Caceres and Richard Ortiz both netted to give Paraguay a vital win over the South American champions in […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish football's golden boy Marco Asensio will carry the expectation of a nation as La Roja seek revenge against bete noire Italy at a packed Santiago Bernabeu with World Cup qualification on the line on Saturday (1845GMT). Yet, despite his tender age of 21, there is little evidence Real Madrid's rising star […]

Paris (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps could not help showering his side with praise after their brilliant attack tore the Netherlands to shreds in a 4-0 win on Thursday. Thomas Lemar scored twice either side of goals by Antoine Griezmann and man of the moment Kylian Mbappe in the key 2018 World Cup qualifying […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany's top clubs had spent a record 600 million euros ($713mn) by the time the transfer window closed Thursday with Bayern Munich boss Uli Hoeness wary of the spiralling prices. Bayern set a new club and Bundesliga record when they signed French midfielder Corentin Tolisso from Lyon for 41.5mn euros in June. […]

London (AFP) – Premier League side Swansea City pulled off a significant coup on Thursday by announcing the signing of Euro 2016 winner Renato Sanches from Bayern Munich on a season-long loan. The 20-year-old Portugal midfielder will join his new team-mates in south Wales upon his return from international duty. Swansea manager Paul Clement worked […]

London (AFP) – Ivorian right-back Serge Aurier and Spain striker Fernando Llorente have joined Tottenham Hotspur from Paris Saint-Germain and Swansea City respectively, Spurs announced on Thursday. Spurs are reported to have paid PSG around £23 million ($29.6 million, 25 million euros) to sign 24-year-old Aurier, who won two Ligue 1 titles during his three […]

Paris (AFP) – Monaco star Thomas Lemar insists he is more than happy to stay with the French champions after playing a starring role in his country's thumping win over the Netherlands on Thursday. "I am a Monaco player and I am very happy there. Now I am going to go and have a good […]

London (AFP) – Much-travelled defender Ezequiel Schelotto will provide the experience struggling Premier League new boys Brighton and Hove Albion need, said manager Chris Hughton after he signed on Thursday from Sporting Lisbon. The 28-year-old right-back, an Argentina-born Italy international with one cap to his name, signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee with […]

Abuja (AFP) – Nigerian international goalkeeper Carl Ikeme felt able to crack a joke on transfer deadline day in England despite lying in hospital being treated for acute leukaemia. The 31-year-old — who plays for second tier English side Wolverhampton Wanderers — tweeted a picture of himself from hospital where he has been receiving treatment […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United defender Phil Jones has expressed bemusement over the two-game suspension given to him by UEFA for insulting a doping official after last season's Europa League final. Jones was also fined 5,000 euros ($6,020) for "insulting and abusive language towards the doping control officer" and a "lack of cooperation and respect" […]

Paris (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe scored the final goal as France cruised to a 4-0 win over 10-man Netherlands in a key 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday, while Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick propelled Portugal to victory elsewhere. Antoine Griezmann put the home side ahead inside 14 minutes at the Stade de France before Kevin Strootman's […]

London (AFP) – Much-travelled defender Ezequiel Schelotto will provide the experience struggling Premier League newboys Brighton need said their manager Chris Hughton after he signed on Thursday from Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon. The 28-year-old right-back — born in Argentina but a naturalised Italian who won one cap for the senior side — signed a three […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain clinched a sensational deal to prise wonderkid Kylian Mbappe away from Monaco on Thursday in a deal that is poised to become the second most expensive transfer in history. Less than a month after the world-record arrival of Brazilian icon Neymar in the French capital and only hours before a […]