Barcelona coach Xavi welcomed the “great news” that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is fit to return for Sunday’s must-win LaLiga clash against Granada.
Germany international Ter Stegen last played for Barcelona on November 12 after undergoing surgery on a lower back injury.
His replacement Inaki Pena has kept just two clean sheets in 10 league appearances, with Xavi’s side having fallen eight points behind leaders Real Madrid heading into this weekend’s fixtures.
Xavi: Ter Stegen is fundamental, he is one of the four captains. We are very happy he is back
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
“(Ter Stegen’s return) is very important, he’s a fundamental for us,” Xavi said at a press conference.
“I’m happy with Inaki, he…
(GSM) Manchester United legend Denis Law believes that striker Dimitar Berbatov has failed to live up to the reputation he made for himself at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Bulgarian international, who has found the net just 26 times in two seasons, has had his performances widely criticised since his £30.75 million move to Old Trafford in August 2008.
I don t want to knock him. He hasn t come up to the standard he set at Spurs, but when he was there he looked an extremely good player, Law told the Manchester Evening News.
He s always had that laid-back style, even when he was at Tottenham, and that s what the fans admired him for but now he gets criticised for it.
Law, who scored 237 goals in 404 United appearances, said he hoped Berbatov did not turn out…
Eder s long wait for an international goal came to an end as Portugal won Tuesday s friendly in Stade de Geneve 1-0 to consign Antonio Conte to his first defeat at Italy coach.
Portugal had to contend without talismanic captain Cristiano Ronaldo who is reported to have been allowed to go on holiday rather than play in Switzerland against Conte s side, but Eder s first goal for his country ensured they came out on top.
The Braga striker had failed to find the back of the net in 17 appearances for Portugal since making his debut back in 2012, but he converted an exquisite cross from Ricardo Quaresma meaning Italy were beaten for the first time since losing to Uruguay in the World Cup almost a year ago.
Leonardo Bonucci hit the post just before Eder stru…
Spanish midfielder Borja Valero has reportedly agreed a new contract at Artemio Franchi, according to Corriere Fiorentino.
The Spaniard s current deal runs until June 2016, but the club chiefs were determined to reward the player for his new status at the club.
Corriere Fiorentino understands that Valero has signed a two-year extension until June 2018 with the Italian giants.
The 29-year-old developed into a key player for Viola shortly after arriving from Villarreal in the summer of 2012 and he is now widely tipped to return into international reckoning.
Valero has made a total of 59 Serie A appearances for Fiorentina, scoring 6 goals and producing no less than 18 assists in the process.
The experienced midfielder has so far earned just one Spai…
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola denied having any issue with Leroy Sane, despite the 22-year-old starting the new season on the bench.
Sane was named PFA Young Player of the Year for 2017-18 after contributing 10 goals and 15 assists in City s Premier League title-winning campaign, but it was not enough to earn a place in Joachim Low s Germany team for the World Cup.
The promising 22-year-old was expected to shine this term given the additional time off compared to many of his team-mates, but Guardiola was critical of his lack of defensive effort during pre-season.
However, the City manager assured he has no lingering issues with Sane who he feels is getting back to his previous levels and he is simply out of the line-up due to the excellent displays from le…
Frank Lampard refused to rule out more attacking signings for Chelsea in the transfer window as the Premier League club reportedly edge closer to acquiring Kai Havertz.
The Blues will be bolstered by the arrivals of forwards Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner for the 2020-21 campaign, but their business is unlikely to end there and reports suggest Germany international Havertz wants a Stamford Bridge switch too.
Bayer Leverkusen are believed to be holding out for around £90million for the 21-year-old, who scored 12 times and provided six assists in 30 Bundesliga appearances in 2019-20.
I m not talking about Kai Havertz, Lampard told a news conference ahead of the Blues Premier League clash with Liverpool on Wednesday, when a win would seal a top-four spot for Chelse…
(GSM) PSG have signed midfielder Mathieu Bodmer from rivals Olympique Lyon.
The 27-year-old, who becomes the capital outfit s first signing, is a versatile player who can play right through the spine of a side with the midfield being his most favoured position.
The Frenchman will join up with his new team-mates on Saturday morning and is keen to start training.
Bodmer told his new club s official website: I remember very good atmospheres at the Parc des Princes. My dream is to step out on this pitch in the Paris jersey.
I await this moment impatiently, and I also look forward to joining training with my new team-mates.
Bodmer won the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 2008 with Les Gones, as well as the Trophee des Champions in 2007.
…
Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart is to retire at the end of the season.
The former England and Manchester City player will be 37 when his three-year contract expires in the summer.
Hart made his first-team debut for Shrewsbury in April 2004 and won 75 caps for England.
Joe Hart announces that he will be retiring from playing football at the end of this season.
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— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC)
He followed Sir Kenny Dalglish and Andrei Kanchelskis in claiming winners’ medals in the three major trophies in England and Scotland when Celtic won the Scottish Cup last season.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said on the club’s official website: “Joe has enjoyed a phenomenal career and I know will be huge miss to the…
PSG coach Laurent Blanc said his side s inexperience in the UEFA Champions League ultimately cost them a semi-final spot on Tuesday.
The Ligue 1 powerhouses were overhauled by Chelsea 2-0 in the quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge, seeing Jose Mourinho s men through on away goals after the aggregate score finished 3-3.
Blanc s PSG had only one recent trip to the European last eight in 2012-13 season, and he lamented their lack of experience in the continental competition compared to 2011-12 champions Chelsea.
Over the two matches there was very little between the two sides – ultimately, though, I think Chelsea s experience of playing at this level of the competition made the very small difference, Blanc said post-match.
We played with three forwards and…
West Ham United defender George McCartney is hoping to sign a new contract with the club, .
The Northern Ireland international is in his second spell with the club having re-signed from Sunderland, initially on loan in the summer of 2011.
In total, he has made 125 league appearances for the Hammers, and is keen to add to that tally beyond the summer, when his current deal is due to expire.
The 32 year old began his career with Sunderland, making his debut in 2000 and moved to West Ham in 2006 before returning to the Stadium of Light two years later whilst he has also had two loan spells with Leeds United.
Sam Allardyce’s side lost to Crystal Palace at the weekend, but they can ensure their Premier League status for next season with victory over Wes…