Man Utd ´didn´t need´ to sign Sancho, claims former striker Yorke

Dwight Yorke has claimed Manchester United did not need to sign Jadon Sancho due to the emergence of Mason Greenwood at the time.

Sancho joined from Borussia Dortmund in a big-money move in the last transfer window, though the winger s arrival was somewhat overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo s sensational return to Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old has struggled for form since the transfer and was dropped by England after disappointing in his initial showings for United.

However, Sancho – who has accumulated 744 minutes across all competitions for his new club – finally found the net against Villarreal on Tuesday after previously going 14 appearances and 10 shots without finding the net.

His Champions League strike was his first goal for the club, having f…

Paulo Bernardo keen to eclipse friend Jota when making his own history at Celtic

Paulo Bernardo believes he can follow in the footsteps of friend Jota and create his own history at Celtic.

The on-loan Benfica midfielder made his first start for the club in Saturday’s goalless draw against Hibernian after playing the bulk of the midweek Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid following an early hamstring injury to Reo Hatate.

With the Japan midfielder likely to missing for the next two months, Bernardo has a chance to make his mark.

The 21-year-old watched on as Jota became a Celtic fans’ favourite, firstly on loan from Benfica and then after making a permanent deal to Glasgow before sealing a big-money move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s cinch Premiership encounter with St Mirren, the Portugal…

Italy, Argentina to contest ´Finalissima´ following Euros and Copa successes

Italy and Argentina will face off in what has been dubbed a Finalissima in June following their respective successes in Euro 2020 and the Copa America.

It was a momentous year for the Azzurri and Albiceleste, as they both put troubling periods behind them in emphatic fashion.

Italy recovered spectacularly from failing to qualify for Russia 2018, while Lionel Messi finally got himself an international honour to shout about.

Argentina s success ended a 28-year period without a major international title, a spell that saw them lose four Copa America finals and one World Cup final.

Italy had not won a European Championship title in 53 years, which is the longest-ever gap between two successes in the tournament by a single nation.

En route to their triu…

Barca go 31 LaLiga games unbeaten to tie club record

Barcelona equalled a club record with their 2-0 win at Eibar on Saturday.

Back-to-back LaLiga draws against Espanyol and Getafe have seen the leaders falter over recent weeks but goals by Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba saw off a robust challenge from Eibar, who had Fabian Orellana sent off midway through the second half.

In a run going back to last season, Barca are now 31 games unbeaten in Spain s top flight – a streak to match the club-best run established by Pep Guardiola s domestic and European champions in 2010-11.

Ernesto Valverde s men can set a new record when they host neighbours Girona next weekend, on the other side of an eagerly anticipated Champions League showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Avoiding defeat in the all-Catalan clash would …

Ajax star Klaassen handed Netherlands recall

Davy Klaassen has been recalled to the Netherlands squad for their three upcoming internationals.

MIdfielder Klaassen has not played for his country since October 2017 but has been included for a friendly against Spain before Nations League matches versus Bosnia-Herzegovina and Poland, after impressing on his return to Ajax.

He rejoined the Amsterdam giants, with whom he began his career, after spells away at Everton and Werder Bremen.

Krasnodar midfielder Tonny Vilhena and Crystal Palace left-back Patrick van Aanholt have also been included by coach Frank de Boer, who is awaiting a first win since replacing Ronald Koeman.

Marseille midfielder Kevin Strootman and Atalanta s Marten de Roon are among the players absent.

Spain visit the Johan Cr…

Guardiola signs City deal: Pep´s style of football is addictive says Begiristain

Pep Guardiola is constantly evolving his methods and plays a style of football that is addictive to watch, according to Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain.

City announced on Thursday that the Catalan coach has agreed a new contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

Guardiola is into his fifth season at City already his longest reign at any club and has won two Premier League titles, three EFL Cups and the FA Cup.

The Champions League has so far eluded the 49-year-old but Begiristain, who also worked with Guardiola at Barcelona, insists his compatriot has defied all expectations.

He has taken the club to the top level, the maximum you can get. We wanted to play this attractive football and …

Mourinho would have ´no problem´ returning to ´iconic´ Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho would have no problem returning to Real Madrid as coach, stoking the rumours linking him as a potential successor to Santiago Solari.

It has been a turbulent season for both Mourinho and Madrid, with the Portuguese losing his job at Manchester United in December, while Los Blancos have underwhelmed under two coaches.

Solari took charge of Madrid in October last year and, although he has overseen a moderate improvement from the end of Julen Lopetegui s brief spell, in no way have they caught the imagination of supporters.

Consecutive Clasico defeats to Barcelona in Madrid s last two outings have seen many people write off Solari s chances of retaining the job next season.

FT: 0-1
 Rakitic 26

— Real Madrid C.F.  (@realmadriden…

Chelsea sack Tuchel: Opta stats on impressive stint at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea s dismissal of Thomas Tuchel has caught the footballing world by surprise, with his exit coming just a week after the close of the transfer window and a lavish spending spree.

The Blues are on the hunt for a new manager yet again, Todd Boehly swinging the axe in the same sort of fashion that predecessor Roman Abramovich would have – although Boehly s approach seems far more fierce.

Defeats to Leeds United, Southampton and Dinamo Zagreb were certainly disappointing for the Blues but, with just six games gone in the Premier League and one game down in the Champions League, there was plenty of time to turn things around.

The hunt for Tuchel s successor will be a difficult one, particularly given the strong record the German has boasted during his time at S…

Van Dijk confident Salah will ´turn disappointment into success´ after Egypt fail to make World Cup

Virgil van Dijk has backed Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah to turn disappointment into success after Egypt failed to qualify for this year s World Cup.

Salah, who had lasers directed at him from the crowd as he lined up his spot-kick, blazed over in the penalty shoot-out on Tuesday as it was Senegal – spearheaded by fellow Liverpool star Sadio Mane – who booked their spot in Qatar following a 1-1 aggregate draw across two legs.

It was the second time this year that Salah and Egypt have suffered shoot-out agony against Senegal, who triumphed in the same way in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Salah has been one of the standout players in European football this season, yet will not get the chance to show his quality on the biggest international stage.

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Real set James price

Rodriguez spent the last two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich, at the end of which the Bundesliga title holders decided not to trigger the option to buy, set at €42 million. However, the Spanish giants are hoping they will be able to get close to that amount for the attacking midfielder who seems to have fallen short of the promise announced by his fantastic performances in the 2014 World Cup.