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 […]

London (AFP) – The one thing people would not have expected of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, who takes his side to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, is inconsistency. Yet they veered between inspired and insipid in the lead-up to the international break, following up a superb 3-1 Champions League victory over […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the international break will not affect his side's momentum as they look to consolidate their position at the top of the Premier League. The Reds, who are a point clear of second-place Chelsea, travel to Southampton on Saturday on the back of seven wins in their […]

London (AFP) – The next chapter in one of the Premier League's most volatile managerial rivalries will be written this weekend when Arsene Wenger's Arsenal visit Jose Mourinho's Manchester United. Sparks often fly when the pair are obliged to share a touchline, typified by a notorious shoving match during a Chelsea-Arsenal fixture at Stamford Bridge […]