Gareth Bale says he is not interested in speculation linking him with a move away from Real Madrid in the transfer window.
The Wales international was a second-half substitute on Saturday as Madrid claimed their second Champions League triumph in as many seasons with a 4-1 win over Juventus in Cardiff.
Bale has struggled for regular starts under Zinedine Zidane this season due to a string of injury problems, prompting reports that he could leave Santiago Bernabeu.
Manchester United have been credited with a strong interest this week, with Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann having confirmed that he will not join Jose Mourinho s side.
Bale, however, insists he is fully committed to Madrid and is revelling in a third winners medal in Europe s top compet…
Cristiano Ronaldo has been criticised by Fabio Capello for an unforgivable mistake as Juventus were eliminated from the Champions League by Porto.
The Old Lady were dumped out of Europe s elite competition on Tuesday as their 3-2 victory after extra-time in Turin saw Porto qualify for the quarter-finals on away goals with the tie level at 4-4 on aggregate.
On a rollercoaster night at Allianz Stadium, Juve were left with an uphill battle after Sergio Oliveira s 19th-minute penalty had Porto 3-1 up in the tie, before a brace from Federico Chiesa early in the second half initially spared the hosts.
That was enough to take the game to extra-time – Mehdi Taremi s sending off in the 54th minute seemingly giving Andrea Pirlo s men the edge – but an Oliveira free-kic…
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has opened an inquiry into the clash between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku in Inter s Coppa Italia win over Milan.
The former Manchester United team-mates were involved in a heated exchange in which Ibrahimovic appeared to tell the Belgian forward: Go do your voodoo s***, you little donkey .
It was suggested Ibrahimovic was referring to comments made in 2018 by Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, who said Lukaku had declined a contract extension because a voodoo message told him to move to Chelsea a transfer that never transpired.
Some accused Ibrahimovic of racially abusing Lukaku, with the Swede responding by stating on Twitter: In ZLATAN s world there is no place for RACISM. United midfield…
A Germany player has tested positive for coronavirus, with four others also forced into quarantine.
The player in question, who has not been named, is fully vaccinated and currently asymptomatic, according to a DFB statement issued on Tuesday.
All players and staff were PCR tested upon their arrival at Germany s training camp ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Armenia.
Only one player tested positive, but four others have been placed into isolation after being judged to be close contacts.
According to reports, Germany subsequently cancelled their training session on Tuesday, though the DFB statement did not confirm this.
The health authorities have ordered five Germany players to quarantine after one of them came back positi…
Market: Brighton win
Odds: 5/4 @
Looking to extend on their recent boost away in the Midlands this weekend, Brighton will make the trip to West Brom on Saturday afternoon.
Starting with the hosts, while West Brom might have managed to snatch a point against relegation scrappers Cardiff last weekend, the Baggies have struggled to find their best form with much stability. Failing to bounce back from what was a stunning 1-0 defeat away at rock-bottom Derby when signing off 2021, the ex-Barnsley boss has seen his side fail to win any of their last three Championship contests. Now dropping consecutive points against Cardiff, Derby and Barnsley, it should also be noted that Saturday s hosts have won just a pair of their last nine matchups, a run that stems back to Nov…
Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini feared that his dream move to Old Trafford might never happen.
The Belgium international joined the club on the final day of the transfer window from Everton in a deal believed to be in the region of £27.5million.
The move brought to and end new United boss David Moyes lengthy pursuit of midfield reinforcements, finally being concluded just before the window shut.
Fellaini admitted that at one stage, though, he feared the transfer may not be completed.
With Everton and the chairman, we never knew about the deal, he told the media at his first press conference as a United player on Friday.
Sometimes I thought there was no chance (of the transfer happening) but in the end I was so happy to join United.
I …
Vicente del Bosque has agreed to stay on as Spain coach beyond next year s FIFA World Cup.
Del Bosque s current deal expires after next year s tournament in Brazil and his future has been the subject of much speculation in recent times.
The 62-year-old masterminded Spain s World Cup triumph in South Africa three years ago and their UEFA European Championship success last year.
And the former Real Madrid coach is set to remain in the post until after the 2016 European Championship, having guided Spain to the top of Group I to ensure they will get the chance to be crowned world champions once again next year.
We are agreed, Del Bosque, who was appointed Spain coach in 2008, told Television Espanola.
We get on very well. I really think highly of the national t…
Thomas Muller admits he is wary of meeting Juventus in Wednesday s Champions League last-16 clash after their late comeback against Bayern Munich in the first leg in Turin.
Bayern appeared to be cruising to victory thanks to goals from Muller and Arjen Robben, but last year s finalists responded in the second half to seal a 2-2 draw and keep their hopes of the quarter-finals alive.
Juve have failed to win any of their last five Champions League games with the Bundesliga leaders and Pep Guardiola s side have been in formidable form in the competition at home, winning all of their last nine games at the Allianz Arena, scoring 36 goals and conceding just four.
But Muller has warned his team-mates to be on their guard against Massimiliano Allegri s side in a match�…
Newly promoted Crystal Palace have completed the signing of striker Marouane Chamakh from Arsenal.
The Morocco international joins on a one-year deal for an undisclosed fee after largely failing to establish himself in the first-team squad during a three-year spell at the Emirates.
Chamakh joined Arsenal from Bordeaux in 2010 after scoring 71 goals for the Aquitane club who he helped to the Ligue 1 title under Laurent Blanc in 2009.
However, Chamakh has since scored a mere 14 goals in just 67 appearances for Arsene Wenger s side.
The 29-year-old spent last season on loan at West Ham, but made only three appearances in that stint, with Andy Carroll cementing his place as the Upton Park club s first-choice striker.
Chamakh will now look to revive his career…
Competition: Premier League
Market: Tottenham to win against Newcastle
Odds:
Tottenham Hotspur travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United in the Premier League this afternoon, and will fancy their chances of beating the already-relegated Magpies to seal their runners-up spot in the table.
The Londoners are second in the Premier League table with 70 points from 37 games, and are two points clear of third-placed Arsenal. Spurs only realistically need a draw against Newcastle to keep Arsenal from leapfrogging them in the division due to their superior goal difference, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side will want the win.
Tottenham have been struggling for form of late, having dropped points in their last three games, culminating in them losing th…