London (AFP) – Fulham manager Marco Silva felt his first game in charge of the London club should have ended in victory after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Middlesbrough in English football's second-tier Championship on Sunday. Newly relegated from the Premier League, Fulham went ahead at their Craven Cottage ground through a […]

Paris (AFP) – Talsmanic Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz grabbed a last gasp goal as Lille fought back to a 3-3 draw at Metz as the French champions opened their title defence on Sunday. The surprise champions, who also beat Paris Saint-Germain in the French Super Cup last week, were trailing 3-1 before late goals from […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Kyogo Furuhashi marked his home debut for Celtic with a hat-trick as the Hoops hammered Dundee 6-0 in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday. The Japan international scored twice from close range in the first half and went off to applause from a crowd of 24,500 soon after completing his treble midway […]

Rome (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku will not play in Inter Milan's pre-season friendly at Parma on Sunday after widespread reports in Italy said the striker was set to rejoin Chelsea in a deal worth up to 115 million euros ($135 million). Belgium forward Lukaku was not in the Inter squad for the match at the Stadio […]

Rome (AFP) – Uruguay left-back Matias Vina has signed for Roma from Palmeiras in a deal worth an initial 13 million euros ($15.3 million), the Italian club announced on Sunday. In a statement, Roma said that Vina had signed a five-year contract and that the transfer agreement includes unspecified "performance-related clauses". Brazilian side Palmeiras also […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa have signed defender Axel Tuanzebe from Premier League rivals Manchester United on a season-long loan, the Birmingham club announced Sunday. "Aston Villa is delighted to announce the loan signing of Axel Tuanzebe from Manchester United," said a club statement. Tuanzebe had returned to Villa Park two years after helping the […]

Barcelona (AFP) – As Barcelona reeled from the reality that Lionel Messi really is leaving after 17 stellar years of trophy-laden success, former Barcelona and England star Gary Lineker was quick to salute the Argentinian's legacy. "So sad watching a clearly very emotional Lionel Messi having to say goodbye to @FCBarcelona," tweeted Lineker, who spent three […]

Barcelona (AFP) – An emotional Lionel Messi confirmed Sunday he is leaving Barcelona after 17 trophy-laden years, with Paris Saint Germain his likely next port of call for a career swansong. "I have still not come to terms with the reality of leaving this club now — I love this club," said a suited Messi, who […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi fought back tears Sunday as he began a press conference at which he confirmed he is leaving Barcelona, where he has played his entire career. The 34-year-old Argentinian superstar, six times a Ballon d'Or winner, has been out of contract since the end of June and Barca say they cannot […]

Barcelona (AFP) – A tearful Lionel Messi told a press conference in Barcelona on Sunday that joining French giants Paris St-Germain was a "possibility". Cash rich PSG are one of the few clubs able to afford the Argentinian who confirmed he is leaving the club where he has played his entire career. A move to […]

Rome (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku is set to sign for Chelsea from Inter Milan in a deal worth up to 115 million euros ($135 million), according to widespread reports in Italian media on Sunday. Chelsea have been pursuing Lukaku since it became clear the European champions would not be able to prise Erling Braut Haaland […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi will break his silence over his future on Sunday, three days after financially-strapped Barcelona announced they were unable to keep the superstar who is reportedly close to a move to Paris Saint-Germain. The Spanish giants said that the 34-year-old will hold a press conference at the Camp Nou at noon […]

Geneva (AFP) – Sepp Blatter, the former world football chief, faces his final hearing with a Swiss prosecutor on Monday in a fraud probe surrounding a 2011 FIFA payment to Michel Platini. Former FIFA president Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, 85, said he was optimistic ahead of the hearing and hoped that the long-running saga would finally […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain might be closing in on signing Lionel Messi but another Argentinian was their match-winner on Saturday as Mauro Icardi's goal secured a 2-1 victory against newly-promoted Troyes in their opening game of the new Ligue 1 season. Second-tier champions Troyes had gone in front inside eight minutes to the delight […]

Berlin (AFP) – Erling Braut Haaland hit a hat-trick as holders Borussia Dortmund eased past minnows Wehen Wiesbaden with a 3-0 win in the first round of the German Cup on Saturday. Since joining in January 2020, the Norway goal-machine has scored 60 times in the same number of Dortmund games, including seven goals in […]