London (AFP) – Aston Villa manager Roberto di Matteo has said he expects Idrissa Gana to join Everton after the Premier League club triggered a £7.1 million ($9.4 million, 8.4 million euros) release clause in the Senegal midfielder's contract. The clause expires at the end of the transfer window but Everton are the only club […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Turkish champions Besiktas on Friday announced the signing of Brazilian full-back Adriano Correia from Barcelona in a three-year deal for a transfer fee of 600,000 euros ($670,000). Adriano had enjoyed six full seasons at Barcelona and his signing by Besiktas marks a major boost to their campaign for the Champions League in […]

Melbourne (AFP) – Spain's Atletico Madrid beat England's Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in their International Champions Cup pre-season match in Melbourne with their goalkeeper Jan Oblak pulling off two magical saves on Friday. Uruguayan defender Diego Godin scored the winner five minutes before halftime and the Atletico defence kept out Spurs in the second half. Skipper […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney believes new manager Jose Mourinho has restored a "winning mentality" at Old Trafford. Mourinho was brought in after the end of last season following the sacking of Louis van Gaal. United have failed to win the league since legendary manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, with David […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says he can’t wait to start working with his 90 million euro man Gonzalo Higuain but warned the striker not to come to Turin expecting his place in the side is assured. "It will not be easy for us to win the championship again," said Allegri, whose […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany's midfield general Bastian Schweinsteiger walks away from international football two years after his crowning moment at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Bloodied but unbowed, Schweinsteiger was magnificent at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium in the final, ensuring Germany controlled the midfield before Mario Goetze's extra-time winning goal against Argentina. After […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger on Friday announced his retirement from international duty with immediate effect. The 31-year-old Manchester United midfielder won his 120th cap in Germany's 2-0 defeat to France in the semi-finals of Euro 2016. He announced the news on his official Twitter account.

San Francisco (AFP) – Chuba Akpom scored a late winner as English giants Arsenal defeated the Major League Soccer All-Stars 2-1 in San Jose. England Under-21 striker Akpom pounced three minutes from time at the Avaya Stadium as the Premier League side snatched victory in an entertaining game. Akpom tapped in from close range after […]

La Liga President Javier Tebas has confirmed a major change in kickoff times for the upcoming 2016-17 season. The league is eliminating the 22:00 local time kickoff (4:00pm ET) on Saturday’s and introducing a new 13:00 local time Saturday match (7:00am ET). Heads of La Liga are open about the reason for the new Saturday […]

Arsenal's second and final friendly of their 2016 US summer tour will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, July 31. The Gunners' friendly against Chivas, which will be played at the StubHub Center in Carson, outside Los Angeles, will be shown live on FOX Sports 1 as well as streamed live in the […]

Major League Soccer has been touting a TV ratings increase this season on ESPN and FOX platforms as the league breaks for its annual MLS All-Star Game. The ratings have gone up, and that is good news for soccer in America. But a quick peek behind the ratings indicates the league got a boost from […]

London (AFP) – Former football stars Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs on Thursday unveiled their plan for a multimillion-pound development in Manchester city centre, including a 200-bed hotel, two skyscrapers and a synagogue. Neville, a former England full-back and Manchester United legend, said it would create 1,300 jobs and regenerate a historic part of the northwestern […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – The acting head of Argentina's FA, Armando Perez, will travel to Spain to try and convince star striker Lionel Messi to reconsider his international retirement, according to reports in Argentina on Thursday. "I spoke with Leo's father, we have agreed to meet next week," said Perez, in quotes published by Argentine […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain offered an olive branch to disgruntled Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri and well as fans of the club amid claims his controversial move to the Turin giants was motivated by money. Higuain, who hit a new Serie A record of 36 league goals last season, joined Juventus earlier this […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Gonzalo Higuain hit back at critics of his controversial move to Juventus as he prepares to justify his 90million-euro price tag by helping the Italian champions to as many titles as possible. "In life, you have to make the best decisions and I made mine by choosing Juventus," Higuain told a […]