Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claimed on Friday he is not shown the same respect as his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger, ahead of their Premier League showdown on Saturday. Mourinho, 53, has regularly clashed with Wenger, 67, over the course of his two spells as Chelsea manager and his current […]

Madrid (AFP) – Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos were named among Real Madrid's injury-ravaged 20-man squad for the last ever derby at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon on Saturday. Real boss Zinedine Zidane will be without defender Pepe, the influential midfield duo of Casemiro and Toni Kroos, as well as striker Alvaro Morata. However, Zidane confirmed […]

Shanghai (AFP) – A Beijing conglomerate has won the rights to broadcast the English Premier League in China for three years, it said Friday, with reports putting the deal's value at $650 million. The contract would represent a huge uplift on the previous contract as Chinese money pours into football, including major investments in England, […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona boss Luis Enrique insists Lionel Messi will remain at the Catalan giants for many years to come, but was less explicit over his own future when quizzed on Friday. Barca boss Josep Maria Bartomeu claimed on Thursday that he remains confident Messi, 29, will end his career at the Camp Nou […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho refused to be drawn on the drinking controversy affecting his captain Wayne Rooney when asked to comment on the matter on Friday. Rooney, 31, apologised this week after being pictured looking the worse for wear as he mingled with guests at a wedding party at […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes "killer" striker Marcus Rashford will help Manchester United cope without suspended team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic when the Premier League giants meet at Old Trafford on Saturday. Teenage forward Rashford made a dramatic entrance into senior football in February, scoring twice in United's 3-2 win over Arsenal just after […]

Rome (AFP) – Gianni Infantino wants a radical shake-up to the Club World Cup, increasing the number of teams taking part in the annual event from seven to 32. The existing format brings together champions from each of the continental federations and is held in December with Japan the 2016 hosts. If Infantino's idea gains […]

Paris (AFP) – French league leaders Nice will look to shake off a first defeat of the season as chasing duo Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain attempt to crank up the pressure on Lucien Favre's side this weekend. A 1-0 loss at Caen before the international break saw Nice's lead at the top trimmed to three points, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich face a stern challenge to their place at the top of the table this weekend when Carlo Ancelotti's Bavarian giants play Borussia Dortmund away on Saturday. Bayern could be knocked from top spot even before kick-off if second-placed RB Leipzig pick up a point at Bayer Leverkusen on […]

Florence (Italy) (AFP) – New Inter Milan coach Stefano Pioli faces a baptism of fire in Sunday's derby against AC Milan, who are on a hot run of form as they seek their first Serie A title since 2011. Chinese-owned Inter wielded the axe when they sacked Frank de Boer after just 11 games, and […]

London (AFP) – Damaged and derided, Wayne Rooney embodies Manchester United's delicate current predicament as they prepare for Arsenal's visit to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday. Rooney has been splashed across Britain's newspapers this week after photographs emerged of him looking the worse for wear during a post-wedding party at the England […]

London (AFP) – As Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger prepare to resume their rivalry this weekend, AFP Sport recalls some of their most famous exchanges: "Wenger has a real problem with us and I think he is what you call in England a voyeur. He is someone who likes […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A two-week break from Premier League action has brought good news and bad for flagging champions Leicester City, who visit Watford on Saturday. A 2-1 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion sent Claudio Ranieri's men into the international break just two points above the relegation zone and with injury […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid host Real Madrid for the last time in La Liga at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday with the pain of a second Champions League final defeat in three years to their city rivals still fresh in the memory. However, both sides have been troubled by severe injury problems with Atletico's […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is crossing his fingers Harry Kane will be fit enough to feature in all three of his side's high-profile fixtures over the next week. The Premier League's only remaining unbeaten team host West Ham United in the Saturday evening fixture and go into battle in another London […]