Gelson Martins has agreed a five-year deal at Atletico Madrid, arriving at the Wanda Metropolitano on a free transfer after opting to walk away from crisis club Sporting CP.
The Portugal international was one of nine players to rescind their contracts after Sporting s turbulent end to the 2017-18 season, which descended into chaos after the club s then president Bruno de Carvalho publicly criticised players on social media following a Europa League defeat to Atletico.
In response, a group of radical supporters interrupted training, smashed up the changing rooms and attacked players, which led to the likes of Gelson tearing up his deal, which had four years left to run.
Earlier this week, Sporting insisted the club would not give up hope of keeping hold of Ge…
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With all eyes falling on Abidjan this weekend, host nation Ivory Coast will meet Nigeria on Sunday night for the 2024 AFCON Final.
Nigeria
Starting with Nigeria, after watching a host of African heavyweights crash out at the group stage last month, the Super Eagles have really been fancying their chance of making history this year. Eventually edging their way past South Africa on Wednesday night after what was a remarkable showdown in Bouake, Jose Peseiro’s men have received plenty of praise over the past few weeks. Although the three-time AFCON champions might have opened their adventure with a 1-1 stalemate against Equatorial Guinea on January 14th, Nigeria have come roaring back. Including a quarter-final statement as they lande…
Marko Grujic has confirmed that he has spoken with Liverpool about a possible switch from Red Star Belgrade to the Premier League.
The midfielder has been a big factor in his current side s Super Liga title push and reports on Merseyside have suggested that Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is keen to land the Serbia Under-21 international in a £5million deal.
Grujic admitted that a move away from Red Star is a possibility but the 19-year-old, who scored in Belgrade s 7-2 demolition of Cukaricki on Sunday, wants to see out the remainder of the season.
I ll try to respect the club, the fans and the general public, but again I think that for myself I have to choose the best environment where I get the chance to play and where I work with good coaches in good conditio…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suggested players should cut out social media use to minimise the impact of would-be online abusers.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita were all sent racist comments after Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
The club condemned the abuse as abhorrent and utterly unacceptable and called on platforms to introduce the strongest possible preventative measures .
Rangers, managed by former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, joined Swansea City and Birmingham City this week in boycotting social media as part of a challenge to companies to do more to prevent abuse.
Klopp is not active on social media but believes the best way to deprive abusers of the foru…
World Cup and Euro winning defender Laurent Blanc quit as Bordeaux coach on Sunday after informing his players of his decision, one of them revealed under condition of anonymity.
The 44-year-old, who guided Bordeaux to the 2009 league title but saw this season end trophyless whilst blowing a large lead in the league, is favoured to replace Raymond Domenech as coach of the French national team when he steps down after France s World Cup finals campaign is over.
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Two-time NBA all-star Luol Deng believes Arsenal are a player away from becoming dominant in the Premier League.
Miami Heat forward Deng represented the United Kingdom at the 2012 Olympic Games, having spent part of his youth in the country after fleeing what is now South Sudan, and is well known as an Arsenal fan.
Arsene Wenger s side have made an inconsistent start to the new season, taking four points from their first three league games, and Deng feels the club need to dip back into the transfer market in order to challenge for the Premier League title.
I m hearing mixed reviews. I really think we [Arsenal] have a great team, I really do, Deng told Omnisport.
I think we re a player away from really being dominant. I think each game we go in with the …
Barcelona may have suffered disappointment in La Liga, but the Spanish giants kept their Champions League dream alive on Saturday evening. The Blaugrana got the better of Napoli over two legs in the Round of 16 to book their place in the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club competition.
The first leg in Naples had ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning that Barcelona needed just a goalless draw to go through. The way the Catalan outfit play meant that they were always going to score, and they did just that at Camp Nou on Saturday evening. In fact, they found the back of the net as many as three times.
Clement Lenglet put Barca 1-0 up after just 10 minutes, and Lionel Messi doubled the advantage midway through the second half. The Argentina superstar earned a penalty in first…
Arsenal s four-match winning streak came to an end after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Brighton and Hove Albion.
The spoils were shared during a generally low-key contest at the Amex Stadium, where both sides could only muster four shots on target between them.
Nevertheless, the point was enough for the two teams to extend their respective unbeaten runs to five matches in all competitions.
Although, Brighton missed the chance to move joint-top of the Premier League, they recorded their eighth home top-flight clean sheet of 2021; a tally only bettered by Manchester City and Chelsea.
The hosts defence was tested inside the opening minute as Bukayo Saka embarked on a strong individual run before drilling straight at Robert Sanchez.
Opposite numbe…
(GSM) Stoke City striker Tuncay ?anl? admits he might have to leave the club in January if he is unable to break into the first-team by then.
Tuncay has made just two substitute appearances for Stoke in the Premier League this season and has confirmed that he will be looking to leave the club if the situation is not resolved.
The striker moved to Stoke for £5 million from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2009, but he has failed to impress Tony Pulis and has now voiced his discontent.
I will stay to January and try to get myself into the team, Tuncay is quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror. But if I cannot, then I will ask the club to let me go. I have to think about my career and about Turkey.
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Jurgen Klopp did not expect Manchester United s Marouane Fellaini to receive a retrospective ban for appearing to catch Liverpool midfielder Emre Can with an elbow during last week s Europa League tie.
Fellaini and Can clashed during the final moments of the Anfield match, where Liverpool claimed a dominant 2-0 win that they will defend in the second leg of the last-16 tie at Old Trafford on Thursday.
UEFA confirmed on Monday that Fellaini would avoid punishment as the match officials did not mention the incident in their reports.
Speaking at his pre-match news conference, Klopp took the opportunity to make light of a touchline ban he received from UEFA for reacting angrily towards the fourth official when his Borussia Dortmund side lost a Champions League match …