London (AFP) – Arsenal's Hector Bellerin insisted Friday he was happy to see out his existing contract with the Gunners amid reports linking him with a move to Premier League leaders Manchester City or Spanish giants Barcelona. The 21-year-old Spain full-back, battling to be fit for the North London derby at home to Tottenham Hotspur […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid, one of the world's richest clubs, have returned 20.3 million euros to Madrid city council after the EU said it constituted "illegal" state aid, city officials said Friday. In a statement, the city council said it would inform the European Commission it had received the sum, which is equvalent to […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted nothing has changed in his stormy relationship with Yaya Toure although he welcomed the Ivory Coast international's apology for controversial statements issued by the player's agent. The City manager was talking on Friday just hours after Toure issued an apology over his dispute with […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has apologised on behalf of his agent for controversial comments which led to his exclusion from the Premier League team. Manager Pep Guardiola has refused to pick Toure since Dimitri Seluk claimed the midfielder had been "humiliated" by his omission from the club's Champions League squad. […]

London (AFP) – A bitter feud ignited by greed and sustained by jealousy will once again leave families divided when Arsenal and Tottenham stage the latest chapter of the north London derby on Sunday. To the unsuspecting outsider, Arsenal and Tottenham's annual showdowns might appear tame in comparison with the scenes of violence and mayhem […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russian Premier League joint leaders Zenit St Petersburg face a tough game at Terek Grozny on Sunday as they look to maintain their unbeaten run after making progress in the Europa League. Zenit, the Premier League's only unbeaten side, sit second, level on points with Spartak Moscow, who top the table having […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic on Friday warned his players against Saudi Arabia's "specialists in provocation" in a home World Cup qualifier this month that could potentially decide his own future. The Franco-Bosnian, whose position as head coach has been plunged into doubt after a disappointing 2018 qualifying campaign, has named a full-strength […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas said he hoped to break Guangzhou Evergrande's stranglehold on the Chinese Super League as he was unveiled as Shanghai SIPG's new coach on Friday, replacing the axed Sven-Goran Eriksson. The well-regarded Portuguese manager, nicknamed 'AVB', appeared in front of media in Shanghai shortly after big-spending SIPG announced […]

London (AFP) – It is almost 20 years since Gary Mabbutt played in a North London derby, but the former Tottenham Hotspur captain's feelings about the rivalry burn as intensely as ever. "When the fixtures came out, you always looked to see when the games were," Mabbutt told AFP this week, ahead of Tottenham's trip […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is parting company with Shanghai SIPG, the Chinese club said on Friday, despite taking them to a third-place finish in this year's Chinese Super League (CSL). The decision was taken following "friendly discussions", the club said on a verified social media account, thanking the Swede for his […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona face a huge task to bounce back from defeat at the hands of old boss Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in midweek when the Spanish champions travel to high-flying Sevilla on Sunday. Barca trail La Liga leaders Real Madrid by two points with Sevilla, who have won their last seven home games, […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta believes Antonio Conte's decision to rebuild the team's back line has laid the foundations for their push towards the top of the Premier League table. Conte's side face Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday hoping to extend a run of four successive league wins since the head coach […]

Paris (AFP) – With one of the most prolific strike-rates in Europe and Radamel Falcao back fit and on form, Monaco are looking to close the gap on local rivals Nice at the top of Ligue 1. The principality side are second in the table, six points adrift of their Cote d'Azur neighbours before hosting […]

Berlin (AFP) – Unbeaten Hoffenheim, whose coach Julian Nagelsmann, 29, is the youngest in Bundesliga history, are targeting a first win over leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday to underline their title challenge. Hoffenheim are third in Germany's top flight and have already beaten the likes of Schalke, Bayer Leverkusen and Hertha Berlin en route. "There's […]

Glasgow (AFP) – The Scottish season may only be three months old but already talk is turning to Celtic completing a rare domestic clean sweep. Celtic are the runaway leaders in the Scottish Premiership where they top the table by a massive nine points from rivals Rangers — with a game in hand — thanks […]