Barcelona s interim president Carlos Tusquets has clarified comments he made regarding Lionel Messi following criticism from head coach Ronald Koeman.
Tusquets appeared to suggest earlier this week that Barca should have sold Messi during the close season after the superstar forward handed in a transfer request.
The 69-year-old, who stepped in after Josep Maria Bartomeu and the board of directors resigned in late October, is quoted to have told RAC1: Economically speaking, I would ve sold Messi in the summer window.
Both in terms of what you save on the wage bill as well as the money you make, it would ve been desirable.
Others in the running to succeed Bartomeu as Barca s next president have also talked at length about the uncertain future of Messi, wh…
Sergio Ramos warned Atletico Madrid to expect to face a determined Real Madrid side when the city rivals clash in a Champions League final for the second time in three seasons.
Madrid reached the San Siro showpiece after securing a 1-0 win over Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.
Gareth Bale s deflected cross off Fernando in the 20th minute was the only goal of the tie, seeing Zinedine Zidane s men advance to Milan on May 28.
The Spanish giants will come up against Atletico in a repeat of the 2014 final, where a 4-1 extra-time win saw Madrid secure a record 10th European crown.
Reflecting on the City game, Ramos said: There are sometimes easier games and others harder, but the Champions Leagu…
Manchester City handed the initiative to fierce rivals Manchester United in the fight for Champions League football after being held to a 2-2 draw against Arsenal. It meant they finished the weekend two points ahead of United having played a game more, so victory for the Red Devils would see them leapfrog City with a game to play.
Manchester United are fifth in the Premier League table with 63 points from 36 games, and have won three of their last four games to narrow the deficit to the Sky Blues. They beat Norwich City on the weekend, but do have tough opposition next up which could hamper their chances. Seventh-placed West Ham United are next up for Manchester United, and have beaten the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham among othe…
ESPNsoccernet reports that Hamburg SV have agreed to sign Germany international defender Marcell Jansen from Bayern Munich.
The 22-year-old, who started Germany s first two Euro 2008 matches and appeared as a substitute in the final, will undergo a medical at the club on Thursday before signing a five year contract.
Hamburg chairman Bernd Hoffmann told the club s website, “With Marcell Jansen, together with the transfer of Alex Silva, we are continuing our path of securing highly ambitious players with great prospects,â€Â
Hamburg announced the arrival of Brazilian defender Silva from Sao Paulo on a five-year deal on Wednesday.
The 23-year old will replace Belgian defender Vincent Kompany who joined English Premier League side …
Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Donadoni appear the frontrunners to take over from Alan Curbishley as manager of West Ham, but the club insisted Sunday there were no clear favourites as they confirmed a four-man shortlist.
Former Italy international Zola and former Italy coach Donadoni have already impressed in talks with Hammers director Mike Lee, however he has not yet ruled out Slaven Bilic or Michael Laudrup.
Bilic, the coach of Croatia, has yet to have direct talks with the club while former Danish international Michael Laudrup, the coach of Spanish side Getafe in 2007-2008, will be interviewed on Monday.
Lee made it clear that West Ham would not wait until January for Bilic, though he did not rule out him staying as Croatia coach on a part-time basis for th…
Wayne Rooney wants to manage Everton following the conclusion of his playing career.
Rooney returned to boyhood side Everton last July after 13 years at Manchester United, where he won five Premier League titles, the 2007-08 Champions League and became the club s record scorer.
But Rooney has not been a guaranteed starter for the Toffees since the appointment of Sam Allardyce as Ronald Koeman s successor at Goodison Park.
And the 32-year-old is already planning the next move in a distinguished career that saw him captain England and hit a record 53 goals in 119 international appearances.
The main thing I want to have a go at is management, Rooney told the Telegraph.
I would love to stay at Everton in a coaching role or hopefully manager one day.…
Chelsea will be boosted by the return of Marcos Alonso for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona but Tiemoue Bakayoko is not expected to play, according to Antonio Conte.
Spanish defender Alonso sat out Chelsea s 4-0 rout of Hull City in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday, having missed back-to-back Premier League fixtures due to hamstring and ankle problems.
Struggling midfielder Bakayoko was also absent for the clash at Stamford Bridge amid his woes and head coach Conte all but ruled out the Frenchman for Tuesday s visit of LaLiga leaders Barca.
Bakayoko I don t think will be available for the Barcelona game, but Alonso is ready to play, Conte told reporters.
A special moment for our Chelsea mascots today!
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Luiz Felipe Scolari insists his future as Brazil coach is out of his hands following a dismal end to the side s FIFA World Cup campaign.
Scolari was bullish in his post-match media conference on Saturday after watching Brazil lose 3-0 to the Netherlands in the third-place play-off in Brasilia, claiming his team had played well throughout the tournament and were on the right track.
In charge of the national team for their last World Cup triumph in 2002, Scolari returned for a second spell at the helm in 2012.
After FIFA Confederations Cup victory last year had raised hopes among Brazilians, Scolari s men failed to deliver over the past month in front of their passionate support under the immense pressure of an expectant home nation.
The manner of Brazil s …
Roma midfielder Salih Ucan has pledged to help the club challenge for the Serie A title after completing his move from Fenerbahce.
The 20-year-old Turkey international moved to the Stadio Olimipico on an initial season-long loan earlier this month after spending two seasons with the Turkish champions.
Roma can extend the loan for another year, at no additional cost, and also sign the player permanently in the 2016-17 season for a fee of €11million.
Ucan is keen to show his worth as Rudi Garcia s side seek to improve on last season s second-place finish.
I put in some big performances at Fenerbahce. [Roma s director of football Walter] Sabatini wanted to sign me on the back of the success I had there, he said.
There are lots of great midfiel…
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has hailed Lionel Messi as the best player of all time after scoring one goal and setting up two others in the 3-0 Copa America quarter-final win over Ecuador.
Messi was the architect as La Albiceleste progressed to the Copa semi-finals where they will take on Colombia on Tuesday in Brasilia.
The six-time Ballon d Or winner set up Rodrigo De Paul for Argentina s 40th-minute opener, before assisting Lautaro Martinez s 85th minute sealer.
Messi grabbed a goal of his own in stoppage-time with a trademark free-kick which took him to 76 international goals in his 149th appearance for La Albiceleste.
Leo s game, I honestly don t know if he s going to get tired of being praised every day, Scaloni said at the post-game media c…