Abidal pledges France support

Fiorentina are closely monitoring Nacional de Montevideo midfielder Matias Vecino, .

Despite signing no less than 18 players in the summer transfer window, Viola chiefs continue to follow talented players all over the world and they seem to have unearthed a new gem.

Il Corriere dello Sport suggests that Fiorentina are keen on Nacional de Montevideo playmaker Matias Vecino.

Vecino, 21, has been showing a lot of potential of late and it is believed he would fit perfectly into Vincenzo Montela’s 3-5-1-1 formation.

The youngster can successfully operate as both attacking midfielder and second striker and he is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in South America.

Vecino was one of the key players in Uruguay Under-20 side that won a silver meda…

These days, high-profile transfers rarely go through without some or all of the party’s involved becoming upset, angry or frustrated. Looking on it is always difficult to see who is in the wrong. Invariably, the player involved gets the blame.

The probable transfer of England international midfield player Gareth Barry from Aston Villa to Liverpool took another twist yesterday when Aston Villa manager Martin O Neill said that Gareth Barry can leave for Liverpool if the Anfield club meet their valuation of him.

It is reported that Liverpool had a second bid of £13million turned down two weeks ago and believed that Villa will only sell for £18million.

If Liverpool meet our valuation, he will have his express wish to leave Villa Pa…

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri hailed Angel Di Maria as extraordinary after the new arrival impressed in the Bianconeri s 2-2 friendly draw with Barcelona.

Allegri also warned the Blaugrana are back and ready to compete for silverware after rebuilding their side during a busy transfer window under Xavi.

A brace each for Ousmane Dembele and Moise Kean saw Barca and Juve share an entertaining draw in Dallas, with Di Maria impressing, particularly in the first half.

After the match, Allegri said the Argentine – who won five Ligue 1 titles during a seven-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain before heading to Turin on a free transfer earlier this month – was a top signing for Juve.

Di Maria is an extraordinary player. He is a champion, and it is a ple…

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,”

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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