Juan Mata has signed a new two-year contract, with the option for a further season, at Manchester United.
Mata s previous deal was due to expire at the end of June, but after protracted negotiations United confirmed on Wednesday they have struck an agreement to keep the Spaniard at Old Trafford.
It is a real honour to continue to represent this amazing club and our incredible fans. I have been at Manchester United for five years and I am proud to call Old Trafford my home, said Mata.
I am looking forward to working with Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] and his fantastic coaching staff; the vision that they have for the club is truly exciting and I am so happy that I will be a part of that.
The 31-year-old joined United in January 2014 after losing his spot in C…
Italy head coach Roberto Mancini joked that Premier League teams from England are dominating in Europe, despite the country voting to leave the European Union.
Liverpool and Tottenham are set to contest the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1, while Arsenal will face London rivals Chelsea in the Europa League showpiece on May 29 in Baku.
It is the first time in history all four clubs in the Champions League/European Cup and Europa League/UEFA Cup finals will be representatives from the same nation.
Asked about four English teams in the two European finals, former Manchester City manager Mancini replied with a smile: What does it mean? They want to leave Europe and they are playing the European finals.
English teams are strong, they have a lot of e…
Louis van Gaal said it is harder for him to buy quality players for Manchester United than it is for Claudio Ranieri at Leicester City, ahead of their clash on Sunday.
Van Gaal, who has overseen a mixed campaign for United, said the expectations of selling clubs when United are interested in a player is a lot different to when a club of Leicester s relative stature come knocking.
The Dutchman has experience himself of winning league titles with lesser teams, as he did in Holland with AZ Alkmaar in 2009 and he said he found it easier to sign quality players for his side then than he does at United, where he has spent well over £100million in his two seasons at the club.
As a club of AZ or a smaller club like Leicester, it is more easy to buy players. It s not so…
Brazil and Argentina will renew one of the most iconic rivalries in world football when they meet in the Copa America semi-finals on Tuesday.
A place in the showpiece will be on the line when they do battle at the Mineirao, the site of Brazil s 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany when they last hosted a major international tournament – the 2014 World Cup.
The Selecao will be keen to vanquish the darkest moment in their recent history by triumphing, while Argentina are hoping Lionel Messi can finally end their 26-year wait for silverware by leading them to glory in Brazil.
We recount some of the greatest and most controversial meetings between the South American powerhouses.
Argentina 1 Brazil 3 1982 World Cup second group stage
Te…
Verdict: Home win
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Failing to display a strong performance in Slovenia, Universitatea Craiova needs a miracle at Ion Oblemenco Stadium to turn around the 2-0 defeat at Maribor. The second leg will be played in front of 30, 000 fans who expect their favourites to produce a miracle in the Conference League quarter-finals qualification round.
Universitatea Craiova
With qualification in the next round of the Conference League looking unlikely, Universitatea Craiova needs a miracle at Ion Oblemenco Stadium. Although the hosts missed the target in Slovenia, U Craiova needs pinpoint precision to mount a historic comeback. While not seen as a heavyweight of Romanian football anymore, Universitatea Craiova s former glory days are long for…
Alessia Russo admits she has found being the subject of transfer talk “tough” and is glad to be in camp with England focusing on this summer’s World Cup.
It was announced two weeks ago that Russo would be leaving Manchester United on the completion of her contract at the end of June, something she described at the time as the “hardest decision I’ve ever had to make”.
The 24-year-old has been linked with Arsenal, who had a world-record bid for her rejected in January.
Asked how much of a distraction transfer speculation had been, Russo said: “Towards the end of the season it was tough and then the summer has been tough.
“But that’s football, that’s the state of the women’s game. I just turned it off, took a break on holiday and comple…
Bundesliga hotshots RB Leipzig are said to be interested in signing Bayer Munich midfielder Sebastian Rudy.
is claiming that Ralf Ragnick is personally pushing for a deal to sign the player he worked with at Hoffenheim.
Ragnick was the one who signed Rudy from Stuttgart back in 2010 and is now hoping to reunite himself with his former player at RB Leipzig. The latest reports have it that Ragnick has already made initial contact with Rudy’s representatives.
Should a summer deal go through it would see RB Leipzig completely change their transfer policy which saw far had them only approach players under 24 years of age and those who would require a yearly salary less than €4 million Rudy is currently earning at Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga champions a…
Aitor Karanka believes he and Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson saved the club from tumbling into League One.
The former Real Madrid defender took charge of Boro in 2013 his first senior management job and guided the Teesside outfit into the Premier League in just his third season.
However, having been relegated from the top tier in 2009, Karanka insists Boro were headed further down the English league pyramid prior to his arrival.
Boro are now gearing up for the visit of Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday Karanka s 150th game in charge of the club.
It s been almost three years and some of it feels like it s gone really quick, some really slow, said the Spaniard.
Three years ago, I was in this room with one job, with one thing to do, a…
Jordan Pickford is undoubtedly the number one goalkeeper for England, according to former Three Lions star David Seaman.
Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope are embroiled in a battle for a place between the posts for Gareth Southgate s side, with the Everton keeper the long-term favourite.
Former Sunderland man Pickford was the first-choice starter as England made the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and when the Three Lions lost on penalties in the final at Euro 2020 to Italy three years later.
Questions have persisted as to the credentials of Pickford, with suggestions his distribution is inferior to his competitors, while he has been battling Premier League relegation with Everton at club level.
Ramsdale has been fighting at the other end of the league…
Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after he was forced off with an injury in their Group D opener with Tunisia.
The Sevilla player started for Kasper Hjulmand s side in Tuesday s goalless draw in Al Rayyan, but exited the game during first-half injury time to be replaced by Mikkel Damsgaard.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that the 31-year-old has suffered a knee injury which not only curtails his immediate involvement but spells the end of his tournament, in a blow to Denmark s hopes.
“We will miss him, both on and off the pitch, Hjulmand said after the news was revealed in a brief statement.
Other players are ready, and we have a strong squad for the next matches.
A 72-cap veteran, Delaney wa…