Ousmane Dembele is happy in Barcelona and wants to stay, amid reports linking him with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in his native France.
Dembele has had a mixed time in LaLiga since arriving at Barca for big money from Borussia Dortmund in 2017, but the 25-year-old has enjoyed a productive spell since Xavi took charge last season.
He has been involved in more goals than any other Blaugrana player since Xavi became head coach in November 2021, scoring eight and providing 20 assists.
That includes six goals and seven assists in 22 games this season (17 starts), and Dembele also provided two assists in his seven appearances for France as they finished as runners-up at the World Cup in Qatar.
However, despite stories suggesting PSG could be in line to bring…
Kevin De Bruyne is the most incredible playmaker in world football according to Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez.
The Manchester City midfielder dazzled with a goal and an assist in Belgium s 2-1 win over Wales in the Nations League on Thursday.
De Bruyne, who is the reigning Premier League Player of the Season, also had a first-half shot hit the post.
It s a message for all our fans, don t take for granted watching Kevin De Bruyne play, Martinez told reporters. For me he s the most incredible playmaker in world football at this present time.
His way of seeing the game, his way of seeing the time and space and then the execution in front of goal.
I thought his performance was magical today. But he s been doing that, I look back at Poland [1…
Xavi hopes the news he is stepping down as head coach will spark an improvement in Barcelona’s fortunes.
One of the club’s greatest ever players, the homegrown star returned to the Catalan giants as head coach in November 2021.
Xavi led Barca to last season’s LaLiga and Supercopa de Espana crowns, but things have gone somewhat awry this term.
Xavi Hernández: I want to announce that on June 30 I will no longer continue as the coach at Barça. I think the situation needs to change course, and as a culer, I cannot allow the current situation.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
The Blaugrana languish fourth in the standings – 11 points behind surprise leaders Girona – and the former Spain star announced on Saturday that he would be leaving o…
Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart has revealed he wanted to end his playing career on his own terms and could not imagine finishing it at any other club.
The 75-times capped England international this week announced his decision to retire at the end of the season, when he will be 37.
The former Manchester City player rejuvenated his career after moving from Tottenham in the summer of 2021, adding a clean sweep of Scottish domestic trophies to his full collection of English major honours.
And he wants the focus on his future to quickly switch to his attempts to continue that success as Celtic bid to rise to a strong title challenge from Rangers after losing top spot in the cinch Premiership last weekend.
Hart said: “I have loved every moment of being here, myse…
Nicola Sansone scored a late winner as Inter relinquished their grasp on the Scudetto and failed to return to the Serie A summit after a 2-1 defeat at Bologna on Wednesday.
Milan regained top spot in the league with late victory at Lazio on Sunday and Inter made a good response in their game in hand at Stadio Renato Dall Ara when Ivan Perisic struck after just three minutes.
Marko Arnautovic restored parity against his former side 25 minutes later, though, and Sansone profited from an Ionut Radu mistake with nine minutes remaining to seal an unlikely victory.
Defeat left Inter two points behind leaders Milan with four games left to play as the neighbours battle for the title.
2 53 Ivan Perisic has scored the earliest Inter’s goal in Serie A this season …
Luis Suarez sent a message of support to Lionel Messi and Neymar after the Paris Saint-Germain duo were booed by their own fans.
Mauricio Pochettino s team threw away a 2-0 aggregate lead to exit the Champions League at Real Madrid in midweek, prompting fury on their return to domestic action on Sunday.
Messi and Neymar were roundly jeered during PSG s 3-0 Ligue 1 win over Bordeaux, even when Neymar tapped home the team s second goal after a move which included a sublime defence-splitting pass from Messi.
Messi has not enjoyed his finest campaign since arriving in the French capital, scoring just two goals from 60 attempts (18 of them on target) in Ligue 1 this season, although he has hit the woodwork eight times in the league, more than any other player in the…
AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli hopes the recent appointment of senior advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic can provide the spark to help his side bridge the gap to Serie A’s top two ahead of their trip to bottom club Salernitana.
Pioli’s men go into the game five points behind second-placed Juventus but buoyed by the arrival of former hero Ibrahimovic, who is expected to be present in Salerno.
Pioli told a press conference: “He’s the same Zlatan. He is approaching a different role but he is curious and determined.
“I saw a motivated Ibra and it was an interesting day. He is an added value for me and the club, but he has great experience and he is a symbol of those who challenge the challengers.”
Pioli’s men still find themselves amid a mounting injury cr…
Best odds: 13/5
Bookmaker:
Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid are set to clash in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night, vying for a spot in the semi-finals.
Atletico hold a slender advantage after securing a 2-1 victory in the first leg at Wanda Metropolitano, setting the stage for an intriguing battle at Signal Iduna Park.
Borussia Dortmund
In the first half of their quarterfinal clash with Atletico, Borussia Dortmund found themselves largely outplayed, conceding goals to Rodrigo De Paul and Samuel Lino, which put the Spanish team two goals ahead. At halftime, Dortmund s prospects seemed bleak, but they showed significant improvement in the second period.
Sebastien Haller pulled one back for the home side i…
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker:
Looking to make an early Champions League statement on Wednesday night, Borussia Dortmund will travel to Belgium when they meet Club Brugge.
Club Brugge
Starting with the hosts, while Club Brugge might have opened up the new campaign with a real whimper, the reigning Pro League champions have come roaring back in an eye-catching fashion. Marking their return from September’s international break with a rampant performance as they stormed their way to a 3-0 victory away at Kortrijk, Nicky Hayen’s men are in the midst of an impressive flurry. Heading into the fortnight interval with another 3-0 romp against bitter local rivals Cercle Brugge on September 1st, Wednesday’s hosts have won all of their previous four Pro League appearance…
Eintracht Frankfurt are interested in signing Rasmus Kristensen from Leeds United in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected journalist has claimed that Kristensen is among the names on the shortlist of German club Eintracht.
Romano wrote on : Understand Eintracht Frankfurt are interested in former AS Roma fullback Rasmus Kristensen, now back to Leeds. He’s one of the names in the shortlist.”
Kristensen has been on the books of Leeds since the summer of 2022 when he joined from FC Red Bull Salzburg. The 27-year-old Denmark international right-back played for Leeds in the Premier League in 2022-23 season before leaving for AS Roma on a season-long loan deal in the summer of 2023. The full-back made 19 starts and 10 …