Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona have sacked Eric Abidal as sporting director, the club announced in a statement on Tuesday, a day after dismissing coach Quique Setien. "FC Barcelona and Eric Abidal have reached an agreement for the ending of the contract that united them," the club said on its website. Like Setien, Abidal has paid […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Lorient on Tuesday announced the arrival of Chelsea defensive midfielder Trevoh Chalobah on a one-season loan without an option to buy. Chalobah, who is 21, is a product of the Chelsea youth system. He was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, but has captained England at every level from under-16 to under-20. […]

London (AFP) – Former England number one goalkeeper Joe Hart will compete to be number two choice to Hugo Lloris after signing for Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer on Tuesday. The 33-year-old signed a two-year contract with Spurs with the club reportedly agreeing to pay him £50,000 ($66,000) a week, the same as his […]

Cologne (Germany) (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku did his bit but there will be no reunion between the Belgian and Manchester United in the Europa League final. Lukaku's Inter Milan will be in Friday's final in Cologne after he and strike partner Lautaro Martinez took their combined tally for the season to 54 goals, each scoring […]

London (AFP) – David de Gea says he has faith in his abilities despite a torrent of criticism in recent months and questions over whether he should remain Manchester United's first choice goalkeeper. The 29-year-old Spanish international's position has come under increasing pressure due to the form shown by Dean Henderson on loan at Premier […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich, who face Lyon in a Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, have fired a coach from their youth academy amid a police investigation into allegations of racism. The coach, who was not named, has had his contract terminated "by mutual agreement", the German league and cup champions said in a […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Corentin Tolisso says treble-chasing Bayern Munich should be wary of his former club Lyon in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final as the "greedy" Bavarians look to build on their demolition of Barcelona. "From a German point of view, perhaps Lyon's the least known team. But against Manchester City, we all saw what this […]

Lisbon (AFP) – In Houssem Aouar, Lyon have a player who is both a symbol of their success at bringing through gifted young talent and a reason why the French side can hope to pull off another Champions League sensation when they meet Bayern Munich in the semi-finals in Lisbon on Wednesday. Moussa Dembele stole […]

San Sebastian (Spain) (AFP) – Spanish midfielder David Silva has agreed a two-year contract with Real Sociedad following his departure from Manchester City, the La Liga club announced on Monday. Silva, 34, spent a decade with City and made his final appearance as a substitute in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Lyon in the Champions League […]

Düsseldorf (Germany) (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku extended his record Europa League goalscoring run as he struck for the 10th successive outing in Inter Milan's 5-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in Monday's semi-final. Belgium forward Lukaku scored twice late in the second half as Inter qualified for a first European final since winning the 2010 Champions […]

Düsseldorf (Germany) (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez both scored twice as Inter Milan stormed into a first European final in 10 years with a 5-0 thrashing of Shakhtar Donetsk in Dusseldorf. Danilo D'Ambrosio was also on target for Antonio Conte's men, who will face Sevilla in Friday's final in Cologne. The Italian giants […]

Pretoria (AFP) – Kaizer Chiefs became favourites to win the South African Premiership after closest rivals Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Cape Town City in Pretoria Monday. Surprise Ralani scored twice and Kermit Erasmus once for City while Mozambican Edmilson Dove conceded an own-goal and Keletso Makgalwa netted in stoppage time for […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona have sacked Quique Setien as coach, the club confirmed on Monday, with Ronald Koeman the frontrunner to be his replacement. "The new coach will be announced in the coming days as part of a wide ranging restructuring of the first team," Barca said on Twitter. Setien was only appointed in January […]

Rome (AFP) – US billionaire Dan Friedkin on Monday promised to turn Roma into "one of the greatest names in world football" after completing his 591 million euros ($700 million) purchase of the Italian club. Friedkin, 54, takes over the Serie A side after nine-years under the ownership of fellow American James Pallotta, 62. "We […]

Lisbon (AFP) – RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann plans to subdue Paris Saint-Germain's counter-attacking game, inspired by Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and pull off another upset in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final. Nagelsmann, 33, is the youngest coach to reach the last four of the Champions League and will attempt to repeat Leipzig's surprise quarter-final win […]