Julian Draxler believes Paris Saint-Germain must prove that they are among Europe s elite clubs after spending heavily in the latest transfer window.
PSG have been no stranger to massive transfer fees since Qatar Sports Investments bought the club in 2011, with the Parisians engaging in spending sprees which were previously unheard of in Ligue 1.
But they went a step further before the current campaign, buying Neymar from Barcelona in a world-record €222million deal which rocked the football world.
PSG also completed the loan signing of teenage star Kylian Mbappe from Monaco, a deal which will likely be made permanent next year for an estimated €180m.
Draxler, who himself arrived for the not-insignificant fee of €42m in January, now feels that the c…
Real Madrid have won more trophies than they have lost LaLiga matches since Zinedine Zidane took charge. They are the only team to win the modern Champions League two seasons in a row and are just six months on from their first league and European double since Alfredo Di Stefano was the world s best forward.
And yet, regardless of the boss s insistence to the contrary, they head into Saturday s derby with Atletico Madrid in crisis mode.
Zidane started the season – only his second full campaign in charge of a senior football team – as Madrid s greatest modern head coach. His successes in just under two years at the helm at the Santiago Bernabeu have been astonishing. He took command of a dressing room on the brink of revolution under Rafa Benitez and turned them into …
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AS Roma will play host to Udinese on Sunday evening at the Stadio Olimpico, within round 30 of the 2022/23 Serie A roller coaster. The match is obviously important to both sides, but the points on offer would mean a lot more to one than the other.
AS Roma
Roma are currently battling fiercely on two fronts, having narrowly lost the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals away to Feyenoord on Thursday. With captain Lorenzo Pellegrini wasting a penalty, several players leaving the game injured, and the only goal of the game conceded in a strange fashion, it could realistically be said they were unlucky. Be that as it may, they certainly stand a good chance to overturn the deficit next week in Rome.
Meanwhile, Roma have brok…
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini joked about Rafael Benitez s sacking from Real Madrid on Monday, offering a reminder he at least completed a full season at the Spanish giants.
The Chilean spent one term in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009-10, failing to win La Liga despite accumulating an impressive 96 points.
A trophy-less campaign resulted in his dismissal, while Benitez was removed less than halfway through the season, despite Madrid being just four points back from leaders Atletico Madrid.
Pellegrini made light of the Spaniard s situation but still offered words of support to his colleague.
At least I finished the year, the Chilean joked. I m sorry for Rafa Benitez. He s a manager I respect, but I m not surprised.
Former Mad…
87 wins in 114 games to seal World Cup, Euro glory – Del Bosque´s Spain successor has big shoes to f
Vicente del Bosque confirmed on Thursday his Spain career is over, leaving a daunting challenge for the candidates vying to take over one of world football s powerhouse teams.
The 65-year-old had already revealed ahead of Euro 2016 that he intended to leave his position after the tournament, but he refused to confirm as much after his side s disappointing round-of-16 defeat at the hands of Italy, fuelling speculation he could stay on after all.
There was no U-turn performed, though.
Without a doubt, I have no intention to remain as coach, but you have to be discreet. No matter what the result of the Euros, I had no doubt about what my future would be, Del Bosque told RNE.
With that, Del Bosque s eight-year reign came to an abrupt end.
Some will…
2010 World Cup winners are determined to reclaim their place at the pantheon of world’s best teams this summer.
La Roja will be keen to put Euro 2016 disappointment behind them as they keep flying high under the guidance of Vicente Del Bosque’s successor Julen Lopetegui. Spain are coming off from a dominant World Cup qualifying campaign during which they scored 36 goals and conceded only three.
Julen Lopetegui effect is clearly evident through the fact Spain scored a whopping tally of 60 goals in just 19 matches under the guidance of 51-year-old tactician. La Roja can be expected to go full throttle at the World Cup in Russia and can already be found at 25/1 betting odds to lift the trophy.
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Phil Jagielka has withdrawn from the England squad to face Malta and Slovenia with a thigh injury.
The Everton defender an unused substitute when England opened their World Cup qualifying Group F campaign with a 1-0 win in Slovakia last month has not been replaced by interim manager Gareth Southgate.
Everton also confirmed the 34-year-old will return to the club for assessment, but they do not believe the injury is a serious one.
Jagielka has earned 39 England caps since making his international debut in 2008.
His withdrawal leaves Gary Cahill, Michael Keane, Chris Smalling and John Stones as Southgate s options at centre-back.
There s been an update to the squad, with withdrawing due to injury. No replacement will be called up at this time.
Egypt take on Uganda on Saturday in need of a convincing victory to kick-start their bid for Africa Cup of Nations glory.
The Pharaohs have won the competition on each of their last three appearances in 2006, 2008 and 2010 and hold the overall record of seven titles.
But Egypt have not qualified for the three editions since and, after finally breaking that duck by reaching this tournament, drew their opening match 0-0 against Mali in Port-Gentil, also the venue for the meeting with Uganda.
The Mali match saw Egypt lose goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy to injury. With Sherif Ekramy already ruled out of the opener, 44-year-old Essam El Hadary became the oldest player in the history of the tournament and the veteran will be relied upon again here.
Uganda, meanwhi…
West Ham have formally rejected the offer amounting to a total of £90 million (£80m straight up and another £10m through add-ons) which they received from Manchester City for the services of Declan Rice, according to multiple sources.
The 24-year-old West Ham captain is being strongly pursued by Arsenal as well, and the Gunners, believed to be Rice s preferred destination at this points, have already had two bids turned down.
City have just lost their own captain Ilkay Gundogan has turned down their proposal of a new contract and has already completed a free transfer to Barcelona, and there s a real possibility of Bernardo Silva leaving for Saudi Arabia. Top-level midfield reinforcements are obviously of vital importance for the 2022/23 treble winners, but Premier Le…
Brazil cruised into the final of the Olympic Games with a 4-2 victory over Spain at the Orange Velodrome on Tuesday.
Salma Paralluelo netted two late consolations, but the damage was already done as Irena Paredes own goal, Gabi Portilho, Adriana and Kerolin denied the world champions a place in the gold-medal match.
Brazil were still without legend Marta after she lost her appeal over a two-game ban, but her team-mates ensured she would bow out of Olympics action with the chance to play for the top prize.
Spain were behind after just six minutes as Cata Coll s poor clearance struck the unfortunate Paredes on the side to send it cannoning over the line.
La Roja struggled to gain a foothold, and Brazil doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time than…