Paris (AFP) – Italy midfielder Marco Verratti has extended his contract with French champions Paris Saint-Germain until 2024, the club said Wednesday. Verratti, who turns 27 next week, has won six Ligue 1 titles with PSG since joining the club from Pescara in 2012. "I think I'm coming to the most important moment of my […]

London (AFP) – Wolves defender Willy Boly will be sidelined until next year after undergoing surgery on his fractured leg on Wednesday. Boly, 28, suffered the injury in training on Saturday and the Ivory Coast international is expected to be out for several months. Head of medical Phil Hayward told Wolves' website: "Willy had surgery […]

Brussels (AFP) – Former Netherlands boss Dick Advocaat will replace Jaap Stam as coach of Feyenoord until the end of the season, the Dutch club announced Wednesday. The vastly experienced Advocaat, 72, takes over from Stam who stepped down Monday following a 4-0 thrashing by fierce rivals Ajax that left the club languishing in 12th […]

Paris (AFP) – Norwegian star Ada Hegerberg on Wednesday became the leading goal scorer in the history of the Women's Champions League when a double strike for Lyon in the game against Hjorring of Denmark took her to 53 in the tournament. The 24-year-old had equalled the previous record of 51 held by Germany's Anja […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff suggested on Wednesday that Mats Hummels could still play for the country, even though coach Joachim Loew said he would not pick the defender again. Loew went to Munich in March to tell three Bayern players, defenders Hummels and Jerome Boateng and striker Thomas Mueller that he […]

Paris (AFP) – Samuel Eto'o is convinced that he is the best African footballer of all time and is now targeting more success as a coach, the Cameroon great told AFP in an exclusive interview. The 38-year-old is pondering his next step after hanging up his boots in early September, bringing the curtain down on […]

Paris (AFP) – Samuel Eto'o is up there with George Weah as an African great on the football field, but he says he has no plans to follow the Liberian into politics "for the moment". "Everyone wants me to go into politics, but there won't be 10 million Weahs," Eto'o said in an exclusive interview […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Rafa Benitez says his Chinese-language interpreter is always by his side and former Barcelona defender Sergi Barjuan joked that his translator was like his wife, because they were together so much. At training, matches and press conferences in China, the interpreters are always close by — but they get scant attention and […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal will offer counselling to Granit Xhaka after the Gunners captain found himself in trouble for swearing at his own fans, according to reports in the British press. Xhaka cupped his ears and gesticulated to towards Arsenal fans who booed him when he was substituted during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace […]

Berlin (AFP) – Holders Bayern Munich narrowly progressed to the round of 16 in the German Cup, scoring two late goals Tuesday to defeat second-tier Bochum 2-1. Bochum are floundering near the bottom of the second division but led Bayern 1-0 with less than 10 minutes to go, as the visitors struggled to break down […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi made it clear he is fit and back to his scintillating best by tearing apart Real Valladolid on Tuesday in a thumping 5-1 victory for Barcelona. Messi scored another spell-binding free-kick at Camp Nou after his sumptuous pass had already teed up Arturo Vidal for Barca's second. He then drove […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan moved to the top of Serie A with a 2-1 victory over Brescia on Tuesday as Mario Balotelli threatened throughout against his former side. Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku scored either side of half-time as Antonio Conte's team climbed above champions Juventus. An own goal from Milan Skriniar on 76 […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City cruised into the League Cup quarter-finals as Sergio Aguero's double added to struggling Southampton's misery in a 3-1 win on Tuesday. Pep Guardiola's League Cup holders were two up by half-time at the Etihad Stadium thanks to goals from Nicolas Otamendi and Aguero. Guardiola had made nine changes to the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Holders Bayern Munich narrowly progressed to the round of 16 of the German Cup, scoring two late goals Tuesday to defeat second-tier Bochum 2-1. Bochum are floundering near the bottom of the second division but led Bayern 1-0 with less than 10 minutes to go, as the visitors struggled to break down […]

Madrid (AFP) – Alvaro Morata scored his third goal in as many games but it was not enough for Atletico Madrid as they were hit by a stunning late equaliser on Tuesday in a 1-1 draw against Alaves. Morata came off the bench at Mendizorrotza and his smart finish looked like it would prove the […]