Milan (AFP) – Sweden footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic has fuelled speculation that he is set to return to Italy, where he has played for AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus, by saying in an interview: "see you soon in Italy". The 38-year-old striker confirmed his departure from Los Angeles Galaxy last month following the club's elimination […]

Cartagena (Colombia) (AFP) – Australia will face Lionel Messi and Argentina in next year's Copa America after being drawn alongside the tournament co-hosts on Tuesday. The Socceroos, one of two guest teams invited to the South American football championship, will also face Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay and Chile in Group A. In Group B, Asian champions […]

Burnley (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gabriel Jesus scored twice as Manchester City showed no signs of giving up their Premier League title without a fight as a 4-1 victory at Burnley cut the gap on unbeaten leaders Liverpool to eight points. Pep Guardiola's men have struggled to match the blistering standards they set in back-to-back […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes he has the backing of Manchester United fans ahead of a huge week for the Norwegian if he is to maintain the faith of his superiors at the club. United welcome former manager Jose Mourinho back to Old Trafford on Wednesday with the Portuguese having taken […]

Burnley (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gabriel Jesus scored twice as Manchester City showed no signs of giving up on their Premier League title defence easily with a 4-1 victory at Burnley to cut the gap on leaders Liverpool back to eight points. Pep Guardiola's men have struggled to match the blistering standards they set in […]

Angers (France) (AFP) – Nigeria international Josh Maja scored a hat-trick as Bordeaux hammered Nimes 6-0 to go third in Ligue 1 as Andre Villas-Boas' second-placed Marseille moved within two points of leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory at Angers. London-born Maja, 20, who joined the French club from Sunderland in January, […]

Angers (France) (AFP) – Andre Villas-Boas' Marseille moved within two points of Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory at Angers. Midfielder Dimitri Payet was involved in both goals setting up Morgan Sanson for the opener before converting from the penalty spot as Marseille extended their unbeaten run to five. Villas-Boas […]

London (AFP) – Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo has branded his side's December schedule "absurd" and hit out at the decisions of the Football Association and Premier League. The Molineux club are playing eight games this month, seven of them in the league, culminating in matches against Manchester City and Liverpool within 48 hours. Wolves […]

London (AFP) – Freddie Ljungberg intends to tap into the knowledge of Arsene Wenger and Sven-Goran Eriksson as he prepares for his second game in charge of Arsenal. The 42-year-old interim manager took over from Unai Emery at the Emirates last week after the Spaniard was sacked, with Arsenal languishing in mid-table in the Premier […]

Dakar (AFP) – While fans in Africa reacted with indignation after Sadio Mane finished fourth in the Ballon d'Or voting, another striker who played for Senegal and Liverpool, took a slightly more balanced view. Mane, who won the Champions League, finished behind Argentine winner Lionel Messi of Barcelona, Dutch team-mate Virgil van Dijk and Portuguese […]

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard expects to find out "very soon" whether Chelsea will be free to make any January signings, with the club waiting to learn the outcome of their FIFA transfer ban appeal. Chelsea's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was heard last month, with the Blues contesting FIFA's two-window […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Virgil van Dijk would have been a worthy winner of the Ballon d'Or but understands why Lionel Messi lifted it for a sixth time. The Dutch captain came second to the Argentina forward despite playing a huge role as Liverpool won the Champions League last season, overcoming […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho says his time at Manchester United is "a closed chapter" and he is only interested in beating them when he takes his in-form side to Old Trafford on Wednesday. It is the new Tottenham manager's first return to the touchline at United's home ground since his sacking by the club […]

London (AFP) – UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has accused British Prime Minister Boris Johnson of fuelling racism and insists European football's governing body is working hard to tackle the problem plaguing the game. A number of high-profile incidents in recent weeks, including racist abuse hurled at England players in Bulgaria and chants aimed at Romelu […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says the Premier League leaders are going into every game believing they can win after racking up 13 victories in 14 games. Jurgen Klopp's unbeaten side have dropped just two points this season and established an eight-point advantage over second-placed Leicester. But even the pressure of maintaining their […]