London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta hopes the return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fires an Arsenal revival after the Gabon striker marked his first start this season with a hat-trick in the 6-0 League Cup second round win at West Bromwich Albion. Aubameyang missed Arsenal's shock defeat at Brentford in their Premier League opener after he contracted […]

It was just before 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning in April 1987. I entered the ‘Maroons Soccer Club,' officially known as the ‘Italo-American Soccer Club – Maroons,' through the back door. A handful of older men sipping on their morning cappuccinos greeted me. Some looked inquisitively at this stranger while most nodded a polite […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo admits it was vital to the club's ambitions to keep Harry Kane as he labelled the England striker "one of the best players in the world". Kane ended his long-running transfer saga on Wednesday when he announced he was staying at Tottenham "this summer" after accepting that […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on Wednesday he plans to leave the English champions when his current contract ends in 2023 and hopes to eventually take charge of a national team. "After seven years in this team, I think I'll take a break," said 50-year-old Guardiola. "I'll need to […]

London (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a hat-trick to lift the gloom around troubled Arsenal in a 6-0 rout of West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup second round on Wednesday. Beaten by Brentford and Chelsea in their first two Premier League games, Arsenal arrived at the Hawthorns in turmoil after their worst ever start […]

Berlin (AFP) – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored four goals Wednesday as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich thrashed fifth-tier minnows Bremer 12-0 in the first round of the German Cup. The original tie was postponed at the start of August after an outbreak of Covid-19 in the Bremer squad, but Bayern showed their hosts little mercy. Bremer […]

Paris (AFP) – Serie A announced on Wednesday that it would support clubs that decide not to release players for World Cup duty who would have to quarantine on their return, as FIFA chief Gianni Infantino pleaded with the British government to allow exemptions for players. In a short statement, Serie A added that it […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Success-starved Kaizer Chiefs are among seven clubs sharing first place two rounds into the South African Premiership season after defeating Baroka 2-1 in Johannesburg on Wednesday. A close-range tap-in from Zimbabwean Khama Billiat and a looping header by Daniel Cardoso earned the most popular club in the country maximum points after drawing […]

London (AFP) – Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou does not know if Japanese international Kyogo Furuhashi has been affected by the racist abuse he received but he is "good to go" for Thursday's Europa League play-off second leg meeting with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. Furuhashi was targeted in a song by fans from Celtic's bitter rivals […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain have rejected a 160 million-euro ($188m) offer from Real Madrid for Kylian Mbappe but the French club's sporting director Leonardo on Wednesday admitted that they will not be able to keep the World Cup winner "if he wants to leave". "Our position has always been the same, to keep Kylian […]

Paris (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday he wanted the Premier League and La Liga as well as national federations to "show solidarity" in light of the player release dispute for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. On Tuesday, the English top-flight said it would stop individuals from featuring for countries on the […]

London (AFP) – Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is self-isolating due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club and will miss the Scottish champions' Europa League play-off second leg on Thursday with Armenian side Alaskhert according to Sky Sports. The outbreak comes days before Rangers face bitter rivals Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain turned down Real Madrid's bid to prise away Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday, with sporting director Leonardo saying the offer of around 160 million euros ($188 million) was "not enough" for a player they wanted "to keep". "Our position has always been to keep Kylian, to renew his contract" which expires […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid have signed Brazil striker Matheus Cunha on a five-year-deal from Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin, both outfits confirmed Wednesday. The transfer fee is reportedly around 30 million euros ($35 million) for the 22-year-old who scored 13 goals in 40 games for Hertha in the last 18 months since joining from their […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane ended speculation over a potential move to Manchester City by announcing on Wednesday he will remain at Tottenham this season. The 28-year-old is the second top goalscorer in Tottenham's history with 221, but is yet to win a major trophy at club or international level. Kane had made clear his […]