Ronald Koeman admits it was a relief to see speculation over his future as Barcelona head coach ended this week.
On Thursday, Barca president Joan Laporta confirmed Koeman would remain in charge of the first team for the 2021-22 season.
A hero as a player at Camp Nou, Koeman could only secure third place in LaLiga last season as Atletico Madrid won the title, his Copa del Rey success doing little to quieten the doubters.
Laporta had seemed keen to appoint a replacement before next season, with former club captain Xavi reportedly among the favourites for the role, but he announced his support for Koeman following a reflection period .
Koeman said the discussions and doubts over his position had been intense , but that he was now focused on steering Barca b…
Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr is poised to extend his contract with the club until 2030, the PA news agency understands.
The 21-year-old Senegal international has made 33 appearances for Spurs in all competitions since signing from French club Metz in 2021.
He claimed his second goal for the Premier League side during Sunday’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth before leaving the field in tears due to a hamstring problem.
That injury had cast doubt on his participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast, which Senegal begin against Gambia on January 15, but following the match Sarr expressed a confidence that he will be fine to compete in the tournament.
After completing his transfer to north London in the summer of 2021, Sarr was initially…
Bayern Munich will attempt to end Freiburg s unbeaten start to the season on Saturday, with Julian Nagelsmann believing coaching counterpart Christian Streich could take charge of any team in Europe.
Freiburg are the sole remaining unbeaten team in the Bundesliga and trail leaders Bayern by just three points going into their meeting at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern have lost only one of their last 36 matches against Freiburg, but Nagelsmann is understandably wary of a team and a coach for whom he has great respect.
A very likeable club that I have been following intensively for many years, Nagelsmann said of Freiburg.
I have often played against Freiburg in the youth ranks and you can take a better look behind the scenes there.
Overall, it is a ver…
North Macedonia have already pulled off perhaps the greatest shock in World Cup qualifying history, so they are entering Tuesday s play-off against Cristiano Ronaldo s Portugal with no fear.
An incredible qualification campaign – in which they won away in Germany in Group J – continued for North Macedonia when they defeated Italy in last week s play-off semi-final.
That set up yet another away trip against an elite side, with the relative minnows now visiting Portugal for a place at Qatar 2022.
As Selecao talisman Ronaldo, now 37, is potentially bidding to play at his last World Cup – although he insists he will make that call – there is far more pressure on the hosts than on North Macedonia.
Coach Blagoja Milevski explained: I don t think anyone …
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has vowed he will not call quits on his career until he has won something with this Milan side .
The Sweden international celebrated Scudetto success in 2011 with Milan and lifted the Supercoppa Italiana the following season, but Stefano Pioli s side are yet to lift a trophy since the striker returned in 2019.
The Rossoneri sit second in Serie A this campaign, having been displaced by Napoli – who required a last-gasp winner to defeat Lazio on Sunday – following a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to strugglers Udinese.
Pioli s team are also still in contention for the Coppa Italia as they face neighbours Inter across a two-legged semi-final tie, the first leg of which comes on Tuesday.
Ibrahimovic, who has been sidelined with an …
Marcus Stewart is determined to “live in the moment” as he prepares for the fund-raising March of the Day to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease.
The ex-footballer was diagnosed with the illness in January 2022 and has spoken openly about the effect on his life.
A fans’ favourite at his former clubs such as Bristol City, Huddersfield, Ipswich and Sunderland, the 51-year-old refuses to dwell on the future too much.
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He told the PA news agency: “I don’t really think about it. We all sit down to ponde…
Middlesbrough have rejected an offer from Aston Villa for Morgan Rogers, the PA news agency understands.
Villa have turned to Rogers to boost their attacking options but the bid has been turned down.
Rogers, 21, only joined Boro six months ago but has impressed under boss Michael Carrick.
Unai Emery is looking to increase his forward options as Villa aim to maintain a surprise title challenge with the club third in the Premier League.
Jhon Duran could leave this month while Ollie Watkins is Emery’s only other frontline striker.
Rogers, who was born just outside Birmingham in Halesowen, started his career at West Brom – making one substitute appearance – and joined Manchester City in 2019.
He did not play a senior game for City and ha…
Thomas Frank said Ivan Toney’s future will be at Brentford after the striker was handed an eight-month ban for gambling offences.
The 27-year-old was found by the Football Association to have committed 232 breaches of its betting rules between 2017 and 2021.
It means Brentford’s top scorer will now not play again until January 2024, with the suspension also prohibiting him from working with his team-mates at the club’s training ground until September.
The FA indicated on Thursday it will apply to FIFA to have the ban extended worldwide, thereby ruling out the possibility of Toney being loaned abroad for the duration.
He has scored 20 of Brentford’s 54 Premier League goals this season as well as having made his debut for Gareth Southgate’s Englan…
Jose Mourinho declared Cristiano Ronaldo s move back to Manchester United is perfect business .
In a remarkable turnaround on Friday, United confirmed they had agreed to sign Ronaldo – who left Old Trafford in 2009 – from Juventus.
The 36-year-old is reportedly completing a medical in Lisbon this weekend, with personal terms and a visa to be finalised.
Mourinho, who is now at Roma after an ill-fated spell at Tottenham, managed his compatriot Ronaldo at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and later went on to coach United as well.
Ronaldo had one of his best goalscoring seasons in 2011-12 under Mourinho s tutelage, scoring 60 times across 55 appearances in all competitions.
The forward averaged 1.1 goals per appearance, or one every 81.7 minutes.…
Luis Suarez is set to give an answer to Nacional as the Uruguay great considers rejoining the club where he began his celebrated career.
After 16 years away from the Montevideo club, former Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker Suarez has been offered the chance to return to Nacional.
A free agent after leaving Atletico, Suarez has also been linked in media reports with German club Borussia Dortmund, and there may be interest from within Major League Soccer.
However, Nacional are hoping the prospect of a move back to the club where his goalscoring prowess first came to the fore will appeal to the 35-year-old player.
Nacional president Jose Fuentes told Uruguayan broadcaster Sport 890 on Friday: I am waiting as we had agreed that in two or th…