Ernesto Valverde admits there is no single player who can replace Andres Iniesta in the Barcelona first team.
The 34-year-old will play his final match for the club on Sunday, when the LaLiga champions conclude their campaign against Real Sociedad at Camp Nou.
The Barca captain has won 32 major club trophies during his illustrious senior career, including the domestic double in 2017-18, and Valverde concedes it will require a certain reorganisation of the team to compensate for his absence.
Hopefully, we ll send Andres off with a victory, he told a news conference. I don t think we ll get anybody with the same characteristics as Andres. We have to be realistic and stay faithful to our style.
There are similar players to him, like Denis Suarez, [Carles] …
Manchester City fans are in need of some good news after Friday s loss to Wolves, and they might have thought they had it when Real Sociedad announced Martin Odegaard would be joining on loan.
The reigning Premier League champions threw away a 2-0 lead at Molineux as Wolves fought back against 10 men to win 3-2 and leave City 14 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
With City offering up a limp title defence, the club may be forced into action when the transfer window reopens next month – despite Pep Guardiola s insistence they will not be – and they have been linked with Norway international Odegaard.
The 21-year-old joined Sociedad from Real Madrid on an initial season-long loan back in July and he has shone for a side who are …
Former Germany goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand has joined Hoffenheim on a free transfer as he looks to relaunch his international career, the Bundesliga leaders announced on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old left his former club Valencia on December 4 by mutual consent after failing to make his mark in Spain and was announced as the new Hoffenheim goalkeeper in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
His contract begins from January 1, 2009 and lasts until June 2010 with the option of a year s extension.
The type of football Hoffenheim play convinced me, I watched their super football on the television and I thought I would fit in well here, said Hildebrand.
Since he joined Valencia on a free transfer in July 2007, Hildebrand has also dropped out of the Germa…
Reigning champions Celtic were held to a 2-2 draw by Kilmarnock on Wednesday, allowing newly promoted Hearts to climb to the top of the early Scottish Premiership table.
After suffering relegation in 2013-14, Hearts bounced straight back in style last season by romping to the Scottish Championship title.
And they have made a flying start to life back in the top flight, with their 2-0 home win over Motherwell making it a maximum return from three games so far.
Gavin Reilly s first goal for the club from the penalty spot put them ahead in the 32nd minute, and Billy King doubled their advantage after being fed by Prince Buaben midway through the second period.
Celtic, meanwhile, were left to rue a late penalty at Rugby Park.
Leigh Griffiths pu…
Brendan Rodgers has labelled Steven Gerrard a Liverpool legend after the midfielder announced his intention to leave at the end of the season.
Gerrard s contract will expire in June and the 34-year-old will seek a new challenge away from England, with a move to the MLS widely reported.
Since taking over at Anfield in 2012, Rodgers has been impressed with Gerrard s impact and paid tribute following the captain s announcement.
It is almost an impossible task to find the words to appropriately sum up Steven Gerrard and his importance to Liverpool, he told the club s official website.
This is an era where the word legend is vastly overused, but in his case it actually doesn t do him justice.
From a personal point of view I will always have grat…
Chelsea have apologised after young players were exposed to a dangerous and prolific child abuser who was able to offend unchallenged at the club during the 1970s.
An external review conducted by barrister Charles Geekie QC was published on Tuesday and details shocking grooming and abuse of boys aged 10 to 17 by Chelsea s former chief scout Eddie Heath.
Heath died in December 1983, aged 54, and the report states that, as far as investigators could determine, he was never investigated for, or charged with any, offences during his lifetime .
Evidence from 23 witnesses paints a grim picture of the historic abuse, and Chelsea s current board said in a statement: The board wishes to thank all the survivors and witnesses who came forward to assist the reviews and …
Liverpool have sent centre-back Nathaniel Phillips back to Stuttgart on loan for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
The 22-year-old was only recalled to Anfield on December 27 amid a defensive injury crisis for manager Jurgen Klopp.
Phillips made his Liverpool debut in the FA Cup win over Everton earlier this month, but it was confirmed on Monday he will now return to Stuttgart with Joel Matip (knee) and Dejan Lovren (hamstring) closing in on returns to fitness.
Stuttgart sit third in the Bundesliga II and Phillips made nine league appearances for them during his initial spell.
Nathaniel Phillips has returned to Stuttgart on loan until the end of the season.
Good luck, Nat!
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
…
What the papers say
Newcastle could look to sell striker Callum Wilson, who has scored seven goals for the Magpies in the Premier League this season, for just £18million before the January transfer window closes, the Standard reports. Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal have been alerted to the potential sale of the 31-year-old.
The Mirror says United manager Erik ten Hag is interested in Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and Ajax striker Brian Brobbey but is no longer in control of transfers.
Wolves have hit a hurdle in their pursuit of Chelsea striker Armando Broja as they try to come in line with Premier League spending rules, according to the Daily Mail.
Social media round-up
RB Leipzig are weighing up a loan offer containing an option to buy for Ars…
Cristiano Ronaldo s return to Manchester United was not just a shock to football fans.
Those inside the game seemed in disbelief, too, but United players past and present were ecstatic at the news.
News of Ronaldo s impending move from Juventus sparked an outpouring of joy on social media.
Among the first to react was a man who apparently played a role in bringing Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, former skipper Rio Ferdinand.
Big respect to the hierarchy for making this happen… is back home I’m BUZZZING!!!
See you soon my friend.
RF
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5)
He was not alone, as another former Red Devils legend, Edwin van der Sar, also weighed in.
How are you feeling fans? Always dreamt …
Fenerbahçe winger Milos Krasic is reportedly attracting interest from a number of clubs in the English Premier League, .
Krasic, 28, joined the Turkish Süper Lig giants from Juve in a deal worth €7 million in August 2012 after falling down in the pecking order at the Juventus Stadium.
Since 2010, Krasic has played for three clubs: CSKA Moscow, Juventus and Fenerbahçe, with all signs pointing to a new destination for the player in 2013-14.
The Serbia international has undergone a severe dip in form at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, having scored just one goal in 27 appearances for Fenerbahçe last season.
Subsequently, Krasic is once again being linked with a move ahead of the summer transfer window, with Sunderland reportedly one…