Manchester United could allow Cristiano Ronaldo to leave the club in January with manager Erik ten Hag unwilling to stand in his way any longer if the Portuguese veteran doesn t want to remain at Old Trafford, according to James Ducker of The Telegraph, providing a suitable offer for his services arrives.
Ronaldo was keen to leave United during the summer, but it appears Jorge Mendes, his representative, had trouble identifying a club that would be willing to take him on, and which would be deemed an acceptable destination by the player himself.
Having won everything there is to win in club football on multiple occasions while at Real Madrid, including five Ballon d Ors, and spent three years with Juventus, the 37-year-old returned to Manchester United last year to try …
Maddy Cusack’s family have said they “welcome” the sacking of Sheffield United Women’s head coach Jonathan Morgan.
The Blades announced on Friday that Morgan’s contract had been terminated “due to new information that has come to light within the last few days with regards to Mr Morgan’s conduct before arriving at Bramall Lane.”
His dismissal is not related to the Football Association investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of former Sheffield United player Cusack.
On Friday afternoon, we learnt on social media of the departure of Jonathan Morgan.
We as a family welcome this development.
— themaddycusackfoundation (@MC8_Foundation)
Cusack died aged 27 in September last year. A week after her death, he…
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is to launch an investigation following allegations that the joint bid from Netherlands and Belgium for the 2018 World Cup was corrupt.
Along with a joint bid from Spain and Portugal as well as England, the Dutch-Belgian campaign was beaten by Russia who will host the competition, despite allegations that the result was pre-determined.
Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter said recently: In 2010 we had a discussion of the World Cup and we went to a double decision. For the World Cups it was agreed that we go to Russia because it s never been in Russia, eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America. And so we will have the World Cup in the two biggest political powers.
Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant has allege…
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Barcelona, the reigning La Liga champions, will be aiming to get back on the winning track in Spain s top flight as they host Athletic Bilbao at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday night.
Barcelona currently occupy the third position in the La Liga table, having collected 21 points from their first nine matches of the season, while Bilbao sit fifth with 19 points from their initial nine games in the 2023/24 campaign.
Barcelona
Barcelona have done relatively well in La Liga this season, winning six and drawing three of their nine matches to accumulate 21 points, placing them in the third position in the league. They are currently trailing the league leaders, their arch-rivals Real Madrid, by three points.
In the Ch…
Recent upheaval might have leant a touch of anti-climax to Bayern Munich s latest title win but 2020-21 has shown their total dominance of the Bundesliga does not look likely to end anytime soon.
A thrilling quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain saw Bayern s reign as European champions end as they were eliminated on away goals.
The aftermath of that dramatic Champions League showdown saw speculation mount over Hansi Flick s future and the Bavarian giants were in the unusual position of naming the coach of their nearest rivals, RB Leipzig s Julian Nagelsmann, as their next boss before domestic glory had been rubber stamped.
However, familiar celebrations can now begin after rivals Borussia Dortmund beat second-placed RB Leipzig 3-2, with the prints of som…
Ansu Fati s fabulous first-half double fired LaLiga champions Barcelona to victory in their Camp Nou farewell with a 3-0 win over Real Mallorca.
The Blaugrana signed off from their famous stadium in style, with Gavi also netting in a comfortable win over their 10-men visitors on Sunday.
In what was their final home game at their iconic ground before a temporary move to facilitate a lengthy renovation, Xavi s side ensured they bade it a fitting goodbye.
After losses against Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid, it also marked an impressive return to form.
Barca needed less than a minute to carve open their visitors, with Fati tucking away a Gavi cutback following a neat Robert Lewandowski ball into the box.
Matters soon worsened for Mallorca, when Ama…
It took 28 years, but Argentina finally ended a long wait for a major international trophy when they triumphed at the 2021 Copa America.
Lionel Messi starred throughout that tournament in Brazil, which was played partly behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, scoring four goals and laying on five more, though it was Angel Di Maria who proved Argentina s hero in the final, scoring the winner against the Selecao.
That triumph marked Messi s first piece of silverware on the international stage, while Argentina won a trophy for the first time since 1993.
It paved the way for Argentina to go from continental champions to world champions less than 18 months later, as Messi inspired them to glory in Qatar.
And now the world champions will look to cemen…
David Luiz has signed a five-year contract with Chelsea which will keep him at the Premier League club until 2017.
The Brazil international moved to Stamford Bridge in January 2011 in a 21-million-pound deal from Portuguese side Benfica.
Having been linked with a switch to Barcelona in the off-season, the 25-year-old who won both the Champions League and the FA Cup with Chelsea last season has ended speculation regarding his future by committing his long-term future with Roberto Di Matteo s side.
I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea, Luiz told the club s official website.
It is a great club and I look forward to winning more trophies here. I want to play for a long time at the top level which is what playing for Chelsea means.
…
Karim Benzema has agreed a four-year contract extension at Real Madrid that will keep him with the Spanish and European champions until 2021.
The 29-year-old striker is suffering with a hamstring injury and is not included in Madrid s squad to face Real Betis on Wednesday.
He will sign his new deal in a ceremony at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday.
Benzema joins team-mates Isco, Marcelo and Dani Carvajal in sealing fresh terms with Madrid over recent weeks, while head coach Zinedine Zidane told reporters on Tuesday that his own renewal was already done .
Working hard back soon
— Karim Benzema (@Benzema)
After joining from Lyon in 2009, Benzema has scored 182 goals across 371 appearances for Madrid but has not featured for Franc…
Real Madrid started their Champions League title defence with a hard-fought 3-1 home win over Stuttgart on Tuesday, with late goals from Antonio Rudiger and Endrick guiding them to victory.
Last season s Bundesliga runners-up Stuttgart were arguably the better side for long periods at a sold-out Santiago Bernabeu stadium, threatening a huge upset of the 15-time European champions.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a string of critical saves to keep Madrid level, keeping out Jamie Leweling and Angelo Stiller before half-time.
Dani Carvajal also diverted a Deniz Undav shot against his own crossbar as Los Blancos rode their luck, but Kylian Mbappe drew first blood shortly after the restart, finishing from close range after Rodrygo led a quick counter…