Rennes (France) (AFP) – Former France international Yoann Gourcuff has extended his deal with Brittany outfit Rennes, coached by his father, for a further two seasons, the Ligue 1 club said on Tuesday. The 29-year-old former AC Milan midfielder, described as the new Zinedine Zidane on his arrival in Serie A in 2006, has been […]

Madrid (AFP) – Portuguese international winger Nani has reached an agreement to join La Liga side Valencia from Fenerbahce on a three-year deal, the Spanish club confirmed on Tuesday. The 29-year old left Manchester United in 2015 for the Turkish outfit following a loan spell at his former club Sporting Lisbon. During his successful seven […]

Lyon (AFP) – Wales boss Chris Coleman hailed Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale's mental strength ahead of the showdown between the Real Madrid stars when Wales face Portugal in the Euro 2016 semi-finals on Wednesday. Coleman said he has received glowing reports about the three-time world player of the year from Welsh legend Ryan Giggs […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – He is the big-name forward yet to score at Euro 2016, but Thomas Mueller says his main concern is helping Germany beat France in Thursday's Euro 2016 semi-final. Mueller, top scorer at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and who hit 32 goals for Bayern Munich last season, has yet […]

Marseille (AFP) – It was the match that had everything — spectacular goals, a brutal clash and a dramatic comeback, before finally, a nail-biting penalty shootout. For many, West Germany's 1982 World Cup semi-final against France in Seville remains the ultimate match, an engrossing duel providing new plot twists at every turn. And as the […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – Juventus striker Simone Zaza has pleaded for leniency from angry social media users after a crucial but comical penalty miss in a Euro 2016 quarter-final shootout with Germany. "What happened will stick with me for the rest of my life," Zaza said in a post on his Instagram account. "It was […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany are waiting on the fitness of captain Bastian Schweinsteiger for their Euro 2016 semi-final against France in two days' time, as the Manchester United star sat out Tuesday's training. Schweinsteiger strained his right knee in Saturday's quarter-final win over Italy, firing his spot-kick over the bar, as Germany won 6-5 […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona must pay 47 million euros ($52.2 million) to a real-estate firm for a cancelled land sale after a court ruling, the club said Tuesday, in the latest financial blow to the Spanish football giants. Barca received 35.4 million euros in 2005 after agreeing to sell 10,000 square metres (25 acres) of […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho ridiculed predecessor Louis van Gaal's reliance on having a philosophy and said on Tuesday his only aim as Manchester United manager will be to win. The 53-year-old self-anointed "Special One" — who replaced the sacked Van Gaal as United boss at the end of last season — was […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy's billionaire former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said Tuesday he was ready to sell AC Milan to a Chinese investor as long as 400 million euros are invested in the struggling Serie A giants over two years. "I gave up all claims to the price, I accepted what was offered to me, […]

Marcoussis (France) (AFP) – Portugal's veteran defender Pepe trained alone Tuesday as he battles to be fully fit for his country's Euro 2016 semi-final against Wales. While coach Fernando Santos took control of the main group of players, Pepe worked with Portugal's physiotherapist Antonio Gaspar. Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes, who is reported to be wanted […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho said the Manchester United job had come at just the right time in his life and he would be targeting legend Alex Ferguson's two Champions League trophies. The 53-year-old self anointed 'special one' — who replaced the sacked Louis van Gaal as united boss at the end of […]

Dinard (France) (AFP) – Wales talisman Gareth Bale played a full part as Chris Coleman's squad trained on Tuesday on the eve of their Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal in Lyon on Wednesday. Bale, 26, had trained separately on Monday, explaining that he felt "a bit stiff" following Friday's 3-1 quarter-final win over Belgium in […]

Evian (France) (AFP) – Germany face hosts France in the Euro 2016 semi-finals on Thursday in the midst of an injury crisis, but buoyed by memories of their flooring of Brazil at the same stage of the 2014 World Cup. The Marseille clash will be another test of Germany's mettle after their historic quarter-final defeat […]

Lyon (AFP) – Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale go head-to-head hoping to carry Portugal and Wales respectively to the Euro 2016 final on Wednesday. Here are five key factors in the often tricky relationship between the two most expensive players in football history: – Bale's first day – After prolonged transfer talks […]