Chelsea sign former Fulham goalkeeper Bettinelli

According to multiple sources, Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri was very close to joining Sevilla on loan for the rest of the season on Saturday. He had already accepted the move, but at the eleventh hour, Everton expressed an interest as well and now the two clubs are both working on finding an agreement with the 20-time English champions.

However, the final decision is still expected to be made by the 20-year-old himself, and the promise of regular game-time is certain to play a crucial role in the matter.

Mejbri, who represents Tunisia at senior international level despite wearing the colours of France before, has made a total of nine appearances for United this season. Four of those were starts, two in the Carabao Cup, one in the Champions League and one…

Cristiano Ronaldo said he believed his former Manchester United colleague Wayne Rooney was joking when he said he would be pleased if Portugal failed to qualify for the World Cup.

I am sure he was joking, the Portuguese forward told a news conference on Friday.

He is a good friend of mine and he knows Portugal are a top team. He played a few times against us and never won. But I am sure he was joking as he has friends here (in the Portugal squad), Ronaldo said.

Earlier on Friday, British newspapers quoted Rooney as saying it would be nice to see Portugal not qualify as they had knocked out England in their last two appearances in major tournaments, the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2004.

When we didn t qualify for Euro 2008, we (the United players) got a lo…

Santa Fe held off a late charge by Medellin to claim the Colombian Primera A Clausura championship on Sunday.

Andres Mosquera s header in the 89th minute saw Medellin equalise at 1-1 in the second leg of the final but the visitors were unable to reel in Santa Fe, who triumphed 3-2 on aggregate to notch their first title since the 2012 Apertura.

Luis Carlos Arias 30-yard drive for Santa Fe in the first minute after half-time would prove the difference at the Estadio Nemesio Camacho.

Medellin s best chance to level the final at 3-3 on aggregate came in stoppage time but Santa Fe goalkeeper Camilo Vargas saved Christian Marrugo s header.

Having won the first leg in Medellin 2-1 on Wednesday, Santa Fe started their home leg in prime position to clinch the Cl…

Fiorentina general manager Claudio Mencucci has revealed that star striker Adem Ljajic is on the verge of signing a new contract at the club.

The talented footballer looked to be heading for Artemio Franchi exit when he clashed with coach Delio Rossi in May 2012, but has since proved his worth to the club.

Despite starting the season as a substitute, the Serbia international played his way into the first team plans of Vicenzo Montella and has been in excellent form of late.

This has convinced club chiefs to offer him a contract extension, with the official agreement just a matter of time according to Claudio Mencucci.

“Our objective is to strengthen the squad, not to change it. We have an excellent rapport with Ljajic’s agent and there are no problem…

Sepp Blatter will discover if his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a FIFA-imposed sanction was successful on Monday.

FIFA banned its former president for six years on allegations of corruption, prompting the Swiss to take his case to the highest sporting authority in a bid to have it overturned.

Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini were suspended from all football-related activity by FIFA in December 2015 when the adjudicatory chamber of its Ethics Committee ruled a payment of two million Swiss francs, authorised by the Swiss to the former France captain, constituted multiple infringements of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

The FIFA Appeal Committee upheld the Ethics Committee s findings, although it reduced the initial eight-year suspen…

Conditions and context conspired to rob Volgograd of a fitting end to its World Cup hosting duties on Thursday, as the final match to be played in the city saw Japan advance to the round of 16 despite losing to eliminated Poland. 

A temperature of 36°C upon kick-off precluded either team from forcing the issue, despite Japan needing to win to guarantee progression to the knockout stages.

The fact that a tie against one of two equally daunting opponents in the shape of England or Belgium appeared to await them, and the small matter that they would not learn which until later in the evening, may also have contributed to a lacklustre showing from the Samurai Blue.

Perhaps seeking to guarantee fresher legs in the next round, head coach Akira Nishino made six chang…

West Ham United are interested in signing Ivan Toney from Brentford in the summer of 2021, according to . It has been reported that the Hammers are monitoring the former Peterborough United striker, who is emerging as an option for the London club.

The Hammers sold Sebastien Haller to Ajax in the January transfer window, but they did not bring in a replacement striker. The London club reportedly wanted to take their time to sign a striker instead of rushing into making a decision.

Toney joined Brentford in the Championship from League One outfit Peterborough in the summer of 2020. The 24-year-old former Newcastle United striker has been superb for the Bees in the second tier of English football. According to , the striker has scored 22 goals and provided seven assists i…

Along with picking up the Community Shield thanks to a penalties victory over Liverpool earlier in the month, Manchester City have really set down an early marker in England s top-tier. Putting five past West Ham in last weekends Premier League opener, the mood in Pep Guardiola s camp is on a high and the defending champions have their sights firmly set on lifting their third consecutive domestic crown. One man who really caught the eye at the London Stadium last weekend and has continued to shine over the summer is England international, Raheem Sterling. Bagging a hat-trick against the Hammers last time out, the PFA Young Player of the Year has now registered six goals in his last four matches across all competitions. As for Tottenham, although Mauricio Pochettino s men may have battle…

(GSM) After several years in which it looked liked the old Ronaldinho would never come back, the Brazilian appears to have returned to shape and says to feel happy at AC Milan.

In an interview with French sportspaper l Equipe, Ronaldinho said to feel loved and respected at the Italian outfit.

It is a special moment in my life and in my career. We know that we have to work hard to win the Scudetto , but this team can reach the final destination in the three competitions, he added.

Ronaldinho went on to comment on the relationship with manager Leonardo: It it normal that when someone gets affection, he responds.

The 29-year-old midfielder joined Milan in 2008 after five seasons at Barcelona. In Spain, the player was particularly successful until 2006 but…

South Africa will look to extend their unbeaten run when they meet Central African Republic on Saturday.

Gordon Igesund s men have avoided defeat over 90 minutes in their last seven outings, though they exited the Africa Cup of Nations at the hands of Mali on penalties during that time.

Despite that good run, the 2010 World Cup hosts have not had things all their own way as they bid to qualify for the 2014 tournament via CAF qualification round two Group A.
They currently sit in second place, two points adrift of leaders Ethopia, having won one game and drawn the other two.
That solitary victory came against their next opponents, whom they brushed aside 2-0 at the Cape Town Stadium in March of this year.
Central African Republic, meanwhile, have not won since kicking the…