Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Paul Pogba often cut an unhappy figure at Old Trafford, especially in the past couple of seasons, but the 29-year-old Frenchman could barely contain the smiles as he explained his return to Juventus on Tuesday. "At Juve, I'm at home," he said at his 'welcome back' press conference, six years after […]

Bangkok (AFP) – After the rains came the red wave, as tens of thousands of jersey-wearing fans surged into Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium to witness Manchester United and Liverpool's pre-season clash on Tuesday night. The renovated stadium — boasting a newly laid pitch that was hastily covered to protect it during a downpour ahead of the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski arrived for his pre-season medical at a Munich hospital along with other Bayern stars on Tuesday, even as Barcelona continued to be linked to the Polish striker. At the end of May, Lewandowski said "it is certain that my story with Bayern has come to an end." Barcelona have expressed […]

Cairo (AFP) – Egypt has named Rui Vitoria, formerly of Portugal's Benfica, as the coach for its national team after Ehab Galal was sacked, according to a statement on Tuesday. "The Egyptian Football Association has reached a final deal with Portuguese Rui Vitoria to lead the Egyptian national team for the next four years," the […]

Cairo (AFP) – Egypt has named Rui Vitoria, formerly of Portugal's Benfica, as the coach for its national team after Ehab Galal was sacked, according to a statement on Tuesday. "The Egyptian Football Association has reached a final deal with Portuguese Rui Vitoria to lead the Egyptian national team for the next four years," the […]

Sydney (AFP) – Former Portugal and Manchester United winger Luis Nani has signed for Australian side Melbourne Victory in one of the A-League's biggest coups in years. The 35-year-old will join on a two-year deal from Italian club Venezia, following stints in the United States, Spain and Turkey since he left United in 2015. "We're […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England recorded the biggest win in European Championship history as Beth Mead's hat-trick inspired an 8-0 demolition of Norway that booked the hosts' quarter-final place on Monday. Sarina Wiegman's side scored six in the first half on route to smashing their own women's Euro record margin of victory set when […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Austria kept alive their hopes of reaching the Euro 2022 knockout stages with a 2-0 win against Northern Ireland that pushed their opponents to the brink of elimination on Monday. Goals from Katharina Schiechtl and Katharina Naschenweng ensured Austria bounced back from their defeat against England in the tournament opener. […]

Luxembourg (AFP) – Lawyers for the rump of the Super League, the short-lived rival to the Champions League, on Monday denounced the "monopolistic" aims of European football's governing body (UEFA) at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg (CJEU). The dispute over the alleged abuse of UEFA's dominant position is being heard by the CJEU […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are among 10 stars shortlisted for the 2022 African Player of the Year award, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Monday. Salah won the award in 2017 and 2018 and Mane in 2019. The 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace signed Mali midfielder Cheick Doucoure from Lens in a deal worth a reported £20 million ($23 million) on Monday. Doucoure agreed a five-year contract with the Premier League club after impressing for Lens in the French top-flight last season. The 22-year-old was one of Patrick Vieira's top transfer targets as […]

The Hague (AFP) – Defending European women's champions the Netherlands suffered a further blow when goalkeeper and captain Sari van Veenendaal was ruled out for the rest of the tournament. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said on Monday van Veenendaal was out of the tournament with a shoulder injury she suffered 22 minutes into her […]

Bangkok (AFP) – New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said Monday that Cristiano Ronaldo was "not for sale", despite the Portuguese superstar skipping the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. Ronaldo missed the start of training with the English Premier League giants last week due to a family issue. The 37-year-old did not make the […]

London (AFP) – Newly promoted Premier League side Nottingham Forest agreed to pay a joint club record fee of £17 million ($20 million) for Welsh international defender Neco Williams from Liverpool on Monday. The 21-year-old signed a four year contract with the two-time European Cup winners. He is their sixth signing since they gained promotion […]

Rome (AFP) – French World Cup winning midfielder Paul Pogba has returned to Serie A side Juventus on a free transfer, the Italian giants announced on their website on Monday. The 29-year-old enjoyed a highly successful first spell at Juventus (2012-16) before Manchester United swooped to sign him for a then record 105 million euros […]