San Lorenzo coach Edgardo Bauza stirred Club World Cup rivals Real Madrid, claiming Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bauza s men are on a collision course with the UEFA Champions League winners, with the two sides drawn in opposite semi-finals at the FIFA-sanctioned event in Morocco.
The Copa Libertadores holders will play either of ES Setif, Moghreb Tetouan or Auckland City for a spot in the December 20 final to be crowned the best club in the world but will likely battle star-studded Real for that honour.
And weighing into the constant Messi-Ronaldo debate, Bauza claimed his fellow Argentinian Messi had Ronaldo covered despite the latter hotly tipped to bag the Ballon d Or for the second year running on January 12.
For me, Messi is the o…
Lionel Messi could make his return from a fractured arm against Inter, but vice-president Javier Zanetti hopes his fellow Argentine is on the bench for the Champions League clash.
Barcelona captain Messi missed his team s 2-0 defeat of Inter two weeks ago, with Rafinha deputising and scoring against his old club in the Group B meeting.
Messi has travelled to Milan with the Barca squad but head coach Ernesto Valverde indicated he will not take any risks with his talisman.
And Zanetti, who played with Messi for Argentina, has his fingers crossed Barca opt to give the superstar more time to recover.
It is a pleasure to see Messi play but I hope he can hold a little more on the bench, Zanetti said to Marca. Knowing for sure he has a crazy desire to play.<…
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will decide on his future once this summer’s World Cup finals are over, according to ESPN.
The Belgium international has been frozen out at Liverpool having not appeared in the league since playing in the 2-1 win over Burnley on New Years’ Day.
His only outing since then came in the FA Cup fourth round a game which the Reds to West Bromwich Albion.
Since signing from Sunderland in the summer of 2013 the thirty year old has racked up almost two hundred appearances in all competitions and played every game as the Merseyside outfit finished second in the league behind Manchester City in 2014.
Despite him falling out of favour at club level he is likely to be part of his country’s squad for the World Cup and Ro…
that Romelu Lukaku could be set to stay at Everton beyond the summer, despite interest from teams around Europe.
The Belgium international is in the form of his life, having already notched twenty-eight goals in all competitions for club and country so far this season with his twenty-one in the Premier League making him the division’s top scorer.
Both French champions Paris Saint Germain and Chelsea – the club who brought the forward to England back in 2011 have been linked with a move to secure his services but the 24 year old has his eye on making history at Goodison Park.
Since moving to the Merseyside outfit initially on loan in the summer of 2013, the twenty-three year old has racked up one hundred and fifty-nine club appearances scoring eighty-thre…
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Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways in midweek, Manchester City will welcome Southampton to an empty Etihad on Wednesday evening.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, after watching their remarkable 21-match winning run come to an end over the weekend, Manchester City will be desperate to start rebuilding that record from scratch. With bitter rivals Manchester United landing a shock 2-0 victory at The Etihad, Pep Guardiola s men will be looking to prove that was just a minor blip. Still managing to hold onto a commanding 11-point buffer at the top of the Premier League table, The Sky Blues still appear to be cruising towards their third domestic crown in four years. With many around the blue half of Manchester still…
Eric Abidal has posted an image of his cousin in hospital as he again moved to reject claims that former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell illegally bought him a liver.
The former France defender required a transplant in 2012 after the discovery of a tumour on his liver, with his cousin Gerard reportedly having donated the organ.
Spanish press this week reported that Rosell, who was arrested in 2017 as part of a money-laundering investigation, purchased the liver.
On Wednesday, Barcelona rejected claims of any wrongdoing, while Abidal and the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, where he underwent the procedure, also denied the allegations.
Abidal, who is now the club s technical secretary, posted a picture on Twitter in tribute to his family member with the ac…
Bayer Leverkusen captain Simon Rolfes insists previous injuries played no part in his decision to retire at the end of the season.
The midfielder, who turns 33 next month, announced earlier this month his decision to call time on his playing career at the conclusion of the campaign, after 10 years at Leverkusen
Rolfes, capped 26 times by Germany, sustained a serious knee injury that ruled him out of contention for the 2010 World Cup, while he was troubled by an ankle complaint earlier this term.
However, the Leverkusen skipper stated that past injuries are not the reason for him hanging up his boots and that his decision is influenced by a desire to bow out at the top.
No, I would not say that [injuries are the reason for retiring]. I am fighting fi…
Kevin Strootman s expected move to Marseille seems to be edging closer after the midfielder was left out of Roma s squad for their Serie A match against Atalanta.
Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco has confirmed discussions are ongoing with Marseille over a move for Strootman, who joined from PSV in 2013.
And it seems the midfielder s switch to the Ligue 1 club is nearing completion, with Di Francesco omitting the Netherlands international out of his squad for Monday s clash at Stadio Olimpico.
Strootman, 28, would be the third star to leave Roma this transfer window, with Radja Nainggolan having joined Serie A rivals Inter and Alisson moving to Liverpool for a then world-record fee for a goalkeeper.
SQUAD LIST | | v Atalanta (h)
Here is our 24…
Nathan Ake has completed his lucrative £20 million move to Bournemouth from Chelsea.
The 22-year-old defender made only 17 appearances for the Blues in the five years he was part of the senior setup, and spent the first half of last season on loan at the Cherries.
Ake has already played twice for Netherlands, and could be in line for a place in the World Cup squad next year if the Dutch get there.
Signed for a fee in the region of £230,000 at the age of 16, Ake represents another player who Chelsea have made a huge profit on.
Indeed, only seven players have been sold for a higher fee from the Blues. Here, we look at their most lucrative sales.
OSCAR TO SHANGHAI SIPG £60M
Signed for just under £20 million back in July 2012, Oscar…
Four teams have the chance to win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League
Earlier this week I wrote an article on Bournemouth and their charge for promotion to the Premier League from the Championship.
The Cherries are now second in the league and the fight for the big money promotion is now tighter than ever.
Four
The finish line is close for the Championship’s top teams and it is now down to four teams for the automatic promotion places.
Middlesbrough went top of the table last night with a crucial 1-0 victory over rivals Norwich on Friday night, after Alexander Tettey scored an own goal.
Watford host Birmingham at Vicarage Road on Saturday and a win will move them above Borough. Bournemouth will go back to the top of th…