Kylian Mbappe insisted Paris Saint-Germain s Champions League elimination to Bayern Munich will not affect his future as the striker focuses on the Ligue 1 title.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry s second-half strikes at Allianz Arena on Wednesday secured a 2-0 victory for Bayern and a 3-0 aggregate triumph in the last-16 clash.
Defeat marked a second straight Champions League elimination in the first knockout round for PSG, who have repeatedly had to battle interest from Real Madrid to keep Mbappe in the French capital.
The France international previously refuted suggestions a European crown will dictate his future and reiterated that message after another miserable PSG outing on the continental stage.
When asked by reporters whether the elimina…
Mario Balotelli s agent has described reports the striker is bound for Besiktas as made up .
The Italian spent the 2015-16 campaign on loan at AC Milan from Liverpool, but scored just once in 20 Serie A appearances.
Silvio Berlusconi, who owns the San Siro club, confirmed last month the 25-year-old would not be retained, prompting speculation over his future.
It was reported recently that Balotelli could be heading to the Turkish Super Lig, with Mino Raiola quoted as the source of those claims but he has rubbished such talk.
They made it up out of the blue that there was interest from Besiktas in Balotelli, Raiola told Marca.
A journalist called me, pretending to be the president of the Turkish club. Mario has to return to Liverpool and speak w…
Competition: Championships
Market: Aston Villa to be promoted
Odds:
Aston Villa have been lining up new recruits for the new season, while discussing which players will be exiting this summer.
And with a new manager installed, a backroom staff devised and a clear vision under the new owner, the Villans are confident they can get back into the Premier League at the first time of asking in 2015/16.
The Claret and Blues suffered relegation to the Championship in 2015/16 after finishing bottom in the Premier League. They ended the tumultuous season with just 17 points from 38 games, losing 27 of their matches.
However, a lot of change has since occurred and they are expecting to challenge in the automatic promotion spots in 2016/17. The likes of …
Steven Gerrard has hailed Roy Hodgson s positive influence on the England dressing room as they prepare for co-hosts Ukraine on Tuesday.
Under Fabio Capello, the Three Lions were widely criticised for their performances in the 2010 World Cup, but the Italian has since resigned from his post after clashing with the FA over the issue of John Terry s captaincy.
And Gerrard, who was recently installed the Chelsea defender s successor, feels that England have a far better team spirit at Euro 2012 under Hodgson, the former Real Madrid coach s replacement.
I think together as a team at times it feels like we are unbreakable, he told reporters.
There is a lot of belief and confidence in the dressing room very different from South Africa.
England took…
Fabio Capello heads into England s first World Cup qualifier against Andorra on Saturday with his reputation on the line.
After five friendlies gave Capello a crash course in the trials and tribulations of life as an England manager, now the serious business begins on the road to the 2010 World Cup.
When Capello took charge last year, his impressive CV was presented by the FA as proof that the Italian was worth every bit of his six million pounds a year contract.
But, as Capello is already discovering, even domestic and European titles at Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus don t provide a guarantee of success with international football s great underachievers.
The jeers that cascaded down from the Wembley stands after last month s friendly draw again…
Pep Guardiola had high praise for Phil Foden and Benjamin Mendy after both players impressed in Manchester City s Champions League victory over Dinamo Zagreb.
Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick as City, who were already sure to progress from Group C, came from a goal down to win 4-1 in Croatia and complete an unbeaten group-stage campaign, but Foden was the standout performer on his 50th appearance for the club.
When it was put to Guardiola in a news conference that Foden s display was something else for a 19-year-old, the City manager smiled and replied: As always.
Guardiola added: I think when he s close to the box he s more dangerous than when he s away from the box. I think he still has to learn a little bit when he plays a little bit away [from the bo…
Sergio Aguero has confirmed he still plans to return to boyhood club Independiente before retiring as he prepares to make his Argentina comeback at the Copa America.
Aguero has not been selected by his country since their underwhelming performance at last year s World Cup, despite scoring twice as Jorge Sampaoli s side exited in the last 16.
Sampaoli was subsequently replaced by Lionel Scaloni, who recalled Manchester City striker Aguero in his Copa America squad instead of Inter s Mauro Icardi.
Aguero has regularly spoken of a desire to return to his homeland before hanging up his boots and he reiterated his plan at a news conference on Thursday.
I always try [to get back to Argentina], he told reporters, having left Independiente as a teenager in 2006…
Portuguese giants Benfica have completed the purchase of midfielder Luis Miguel Afonso Fernandes “Pizzi”, .
The Eagles had bought 50 percent stake in the player from Atletico Madrid for €6 million in July 2013, and have now decided to acquire the remaining half.
According to A Bola, Benfica paid just under €6 million in the latest transaction to ensure they are the sole owners of Pizzi.
The 25-year-old has yet to prove he has what it takes to succeed at Estadio da Luz, although he did impress during loan spells with Deportivo La Coruna and Espanyol.
Pizzi scored a total of 11 goals during the two years in Spanish La Liga, before returning to Benfica last summer.
He has since struggled for playing time under Jorge Jesus, starting mere 4 l…
Reading will provide Bradford City with a sterner FA Cup test than Sunderland, according to striker James Hanson.
League One Bradford have defied the odds to dump out Millwall, Chelsea and Sunderland and stand one game away from a return to Wembley, having also reached the League Cup final in 2013.
While Reading may not have generated the same media attention after beating fellow Championship trio Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City and Derby County to reach the quarter-finals, Hanson expects them to be fired up when they arrive at Valley Parade on Saturday.
It d be a brilliant achievement [reaching an FA Cup semi-final] from me and the lads, but we know it s going to be a tough game, probably tougher than Sunderland in some respects because they are only one…
Leeds United closed their Elland Road stadium until further notice on Friday following a security threat.
A threat was made on Thursday, reportedly on social media, leading to action being taken by the Premier League club.
A statement from Leeds read: Leeds United s offices, ticket office, Foundation offices and club shop at Elland Road will be closed until further notice on the advice of the police.
We apologise for any inconvenience and we will inform the public when normal service resumes.
A West Yorkshire Police statement added: Police were called to attend at Elland Road football stadium following reports of a security threat to the premises.
Investigations are currently ongoing to establish the credibility of that threat. The report was r…