Porto lead the way in the race for the signature of Liverpool s Marko Grujic this summer, according to James Pearce of .
The Serbia international has made only 16 appearances for the Merseysiders since his arrival from Red Star Belgrade in 2016, spending most of his time on loan spells. He played two years (2018-20) for Hertha Berlin, where coach Pal Dardai described him as the best midfielder he had seen at the club. At the end of his second season in Germany, Hertha simply couldn t afford a permanent deal and he returned to Anfield, only to move on to Porto for 2020-21.
Porto recently resolved the issues around boss Sergio Conceicao, who signed a three-year contract and immediately informed the club of his desire to keep Grujic in his ranks. Porto wanted another loan,…
Antoine Griezmann admitted Juventus were superior on all levels as the Atletico Madrid star bemoaned his team s Champions League last-16 elimination at the hands of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Atletico surrendered a 2-0 first-leg lead after Ronaldo s hat-trick saw Juventus win 3-0 in Turin on Tuesday to complete a stunning comeback.
Ronaldo s record-equalling eighth three-goal haul in the competition moved him level with Lionel Messi for Champions League hat-tricks as Juve overcame Atletico 3-2 on aggregate.
Atletico – losing finalists in 2014 and 2016 – struggled throughout and Griezmann lamented the side s performance away from home.
95 | 3-0 | The match ends at the Allianz Stadium.
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish)
We di…
David Silva wants a new contract at Manchester City and an answer to his Champions League prayers.
Silva joined City from Valencia in 2010 and has won every major honour in English football during his time at the Etihad Stadium, including Premier League titles in 2011-12 and 2013-14.
The Spain playmaker has been typically influential in Pep Guardiola s side winning nine of their opening 10 top-flight matches this term to set the early pace in the Premier League.
City face Napoli on Wednesday with three victories from as many Champions League matches – their best ever start to a campaign in Europe s top competition, where Silva and his colleagues have not always found the going so agreeable.
The 31-year-old a world and two-time European champion at int…
Sergio Aguero feels better and could be fit for Manchester City s Champions League quarter-final first leg with Tottenham, Pep Guardiola says.
City s top scorer has not featured since the 2-0 Premier League win at Fulham nine days ago, where he was on target during the first half but substituted with a muscular complaint before the hour.
Aguero s understudy Gabriel Jesus converted an early diving header to give Pep Guardiola s side a 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday.
The Brazil international could be required from kick-off once more at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although Aguero did take part in training with his team-mates at the Valley on Sunday as City remained in London to undertake their preparations.…
Inter midfielder Felipe Melo has no fear of going up against Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, taking confidence from previously beating a side including Lionel Messi.
Roberto Mancini s side top Serie A after 13 games, two points clear of second-placed Napoli, who they face at the San Paolo on Monday.
The former Galatasaray midfielder will approach the meeting with Higuain – who has scored nine top-flight goals so far this season by drawing upon his part in Brazil s victory over Messi s Argentina six years ago.
I ve already won a big match [Brazil against Argentina] September 6, 2009, Brazil won 3-1, Melo told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
I was playing with Gilberto Silva and it was unforgettable. We beat the best player in the world, Lionel Messi.
…
Villarreal have announced the signing of Alberto Moreno on a five-year deal.
Moreno was a free agent having been released by Liverpool at the end of his contract.
He made only two Premier League appearances last season after falling out of favour at Anfield.
And the former Sevilla defender is returning to LaLiga with Javier Calleja s side, who finished 14th in 2018-19.
The Andalusian footballer is a complete full-back with a great ability to get forward in attack, said a Villarreal statement on Tuesday.
As well as adding width to his team, Moreno is a great assister of goals.
Villarreal also confirmed former Italy defender Daniele Bonera has opted to retire at the age of 38.
After nearly 20 years as a professional footballer, I…
Claudio Ranieri said Roma are attached to an oxygen tank and we need all the doctors that are available as he thanked the club s supporters following Monday s victory against Empoli.
Back at boyhood club Roma for his second spell in charge until the end of the season, Ranieri s first match since replacing Eusebio Di Francesco ended in a 2-1 Serie A win at home to Empoli.
Stephan El Shaarawy and Patrik Schick scored for Roma, who bounced back from their demoralising 3-0 loss to bitter rivals Lazio and last week s Champions League elimination to Porto.
Roma consolidated fifth position – three points ahead of Torino and three behind Inter – with the win and Ranieri was thankful for the fans support.
The most important thing is Roma. Roma with their supp…
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has warned Tottenham that playing Saturday s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley will not give them an advantage.
Mauricio Pochettino s side have played all their home matches at England s national stadium this season, while work on the new White Hart Lane is completed.
Mourinho, though does not think Spurs will have any kind of edge this weekend and says he is not preparing for the match any differently than he did in the early rounds.
He told a news conference: I played one cup final in Roma s stadium against Roma [as Inter coach in 2010] and I won, and I played a cup final in my stadium [at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2013, as Real Madrid coach] and I lost, so I think, when you go to these big moments with big decisions, semi-finals,…
Gianni Infantino became the most powerful man in world football on Friday after winning a FIFA presidential race he appeared to enter out of necessity more than desire.
The suspension of UEFA president Michel Platini from all football-related activity due to a payment of two million Swiss (£1.3million) signed off by Infantino s predecessor Sepp Blatter at FIFA in 2011 left the European federation in urgent need of a candidate.
Platini had long been viewed as Blatter s heir apparent, but the suspension of both men – they saw their eight-year bans reduced to six this week – left world football in a state of flux.
Blatter s departure would no longer be stage-managed at the Zurich extraordinary conference in the way he envisaged.
Shorn of the star qualit…
Frank Lampard is a natural match for Chelsea in their search for a new head coach, according to former Manchester City team-mate Vincent Kompany.
Chelsea were granted permission by Championship side Derby County on Tuesday to begin talks with Lampard, who is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Juventus-bound Maurizio Sarri.
Kompany spent a season playing alongside Lampard in 2014-15 and insisted that, despite the Englishman having just a year of managerial experience with Derby behind him, he is the only real candidate for the top job at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking at his presentation as Anderlecht s new player-manager on Tuesday, Kompany told reporters: Sign him up. He is the man!
Not only is Frank a great guy but someone who I learned so much from at…