Chinese Super League leaders Guangzhou have reportedly smashed the nation s transfer record to land Fluminense midfielder Dario Conca.
Conca, two-time reigning player of the season in Brazil Serie A, has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Guangzhou worth US$10 million, according to reports from China.
His transfer eclipses that of former record-holder and new team-mate Cleo, who signed with Guangzhou earlier this year for US$4.65m.
This is a good offer for the club, and words cannot describe what it represents to Conca. It will allow him and his family financial security in just two and a half years, Fluminense coach Abel Braga said, according to Brazilian website Globoesporte.
This offer will put him in the top ten highest-paid players in the wo…
England boss Gareth Southgate says he will not speak to any interested parties until after Euro 2024 and called speculation linking him to Manchester United “completely disrespectful” to Erik ten Hag.
This summer could well prove the 53-year-old’s fourth and final tournament in charge of the national team with his Football Association contract expiring in December.
Southgate says contract talks are on the back burner with his full focus on glory in Germany, but the background noise dialled up this week following reports of Manchester United’s potential interest.
“I think there are two things from my point of view,” Southgate said.
“One is that I’m the England manager. I’ve got one job, basically, to try and deliver a European Championshi…
Francisco Silva believes Chile have earned the right to be considered a threat to Brazil at the FIFA World Cup.
Jorge Sampaoli s men could meet the World Cup hosts in the last 16, depending on how the teams finish in their respective pools.
Thus far Chile have lived up to their pre-tournament billing as dark horses, following up their opening victory against Australia with a superb 2-0 triumph over Spain, a result that signalled the end of the European s dismal World Cup defence.
Chile have one last group-stage game to come versus the Netherlands, and though they have already qualified Silva is refusing to rest on his laurels and has targeted top spot in Group B, while insisting he would not shy away from the challenge of facing Brazil, who knocked Chile out in t…
Germany coach Joachim Low has highlighted Algeria s strength as a collective unit ahead of Monday s last-16 fixture in Porto Alegre.
The three-time world champions go head-to-head with Algeria at the Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borba and are favourites to reach the quarter-finals for the eighth successive tournament.
And while there is a gulf in individual quality, Low is wary of underestimating a well-balanced Algerian team, who had five different goal scorers as they finished second in Group H behind Belgium.
We saw that Algeria not only has one important player, Low told reporters.
Some of them play in Spain, some in France, some played in youth national teams of France they are all skilled. You don t get the feeling that there is one player who stands out…
Rising Brazil star Gabriel Barbosa says a decision on his future will be announced soon , amid intense speculation over a move to Europe.
The 19-year-old has been linked with Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea in recent weeks, with reports in Spain suggesting the LaLiga champions have moved to tie up a deal after technical director Robert Fernandez flew out to watch him play.
The Santos forward, speaking after he scored in the 3-1 win over Ponte Preta on Saturday, has now suggested that news of his next move is imminent.
I played as if it was my last game here, he said. Soon you will know something.
The forward later posted a picture on Instagram, with the caption: My heart is Alvinegro and it will always beat for you. Santos are my life. I will love you …
Chelsea striker Diego Costa is looking forward to fighting for the Premier League title in 2016-17 and feels his team cannot be any worse than last season.
The defending champions endured a dismal campaign, finishing 10th in the top flight as they failed to lift a trophy or qualify for Europe.
New manager Antonio Conte, who replaced interim boss Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge, has been tasked with restoring Chelsea s fortunes in his first club role since guiding Juventus to the Serie A title in 2013-14.
And Costa, despite having been linked with a return to Atletico Madrid, insists Conte s impact is already being felt within the squad as they attempt to put the previous campaign firmly behind them.
I think we can t make it worse than last year, he sai…
Best odds: 1/1
Bookmaker:
It was business as usual for the defending Bundesliga champions when the season in the German top flight resumed last week after a two-month break as they left the capital with the three points won against Union Berlin in their pocket. Now they welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to the Allianz Arena where the two teams will face each other in front of the empty stands on Saturday evening, in the 27th round of the campaign.
Bayern Munich
Looking at their last six matches, the Bavarians appear to be on terrific form, if you can call it form given the length of the forced break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They won five of those and drew once, and it looks they re getting a firmer grip on their champions crown which, for a large part of the sea…
Louis van Gaal said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer parks the bus right in front of David de Gea as he criticised the Manchester United manager again.
Solskjaer signed a permanent three-year deal last month after overseeing an upturn in results at United, however, the Red Devils have struggled since.
United – sixth in the Premier League and two points adrift of the top four – have lost two of their past seven matches in all competitions following a 4-0 Champions League quarter-final exit to Barcelona.
Former United boss Van Gaal, who initially questioned Solskjaer s approach after replacing Jose Mourinho in December, insisted the club favourite is defensive in his tactics.
I can see how Ole had some impact in the beginning, because United were ninth in the tab…
Best odds: 23/20
Bookmaker:
Riga FC are set to welcome Malmo FF to the Skonto Stadium in Riga, Latvia, for the second leg of their clash in the first round of the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League. Malmo won the first leg by 1-o, courtesy of a 50th-minute strike by Antonio Colak.
Riga FC
Riga won the Latvian Higher League title in 2020, finishing three points above main rivals RFS, and earned their place in these qualifications thereby. It was their third consecutive domestic title. This term, however, they re sitting second with 32 points. RFS, of course, top the table with 34, with two games in hand on Riga to boot.
Having appointed Andris Riherts as the manager only last month, the reigning Latvian champions have won three and lost three o…
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard remains keen on signing Jacob Murphy from Newcastle United, according to . It has been reported that Rangers were among the clubs interested in securing the services of the 25-year-old winger in the summer transfer window when there was a chance that he could out on loan.
Newcastle have reportedly held early talks over a new contract for Murphy and do not want the 25-year-old to leave on a free transfer. However, Scottish Premiership giants Rangers remain interested in securing the services of the former England Under-21 international.
According to , Murphy has made one start and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Newcastle so far this season, scoring one goal in the process. During his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday du…