Ronald Koeman claimed it will make no difference to Lionel Messi s Barcelona future if Mauricio Pochettino takes over at Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi has been linked with a move away from Camp Nou ever since he expressed a desire to leave the club in August 2020, only to decide to stay until at least the end of this season when his contract expires, having been unable to force a transfer.
In a recent interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta the Argentina forward said he did not know what he was going to do but suggested he would like to play in the United States at some point.
With former Tottenham boss and compatriot Pochettino heavily tipped to become the new coach at PSG it has been suggested Messi and the Ligue 1 club could be a good fit, particularl…
Barcelona will win LaLiga, that much is essentially a given at this point. But their Copa del Rey semi-final elimination by Real Madrid provided another reminder of just how unremarkable the Blaugrana have become.
Of course, every team – even the best – can be forgiven for the occasional off day. With the amount of matches played by the modern footballer, you can t expect a team to be flawless all the time.
But even when Barca beat Madrid 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg, they were comfortably second best. They just got fortunate with an Eder Militao own goal.
That first leg was one of the least Barca-like performances you re ever likely to see from the Blaugrana, yielding possession to an incredible degree. Had it come on Ronald Koeman or Ernest…
Nice boss Patrick Vieira denied holding talks with Arsenal prior to Mikel Arteta s appointment as head coach.
Arteta officially began work at Emirates Stadium on Sunday after agreeing a three-and-a-half-year deal to succeed Unai Emery.
Arsenal head of football Raul Sanllehi said he and technical director Edu spoke to several top-class candidates, one of which was rumoured to be Vieira.
Former Gunners captain Vieira was linked with the role throughout the recruitment process but, in an interview with Canal Football Club, claimed there was no substance to the speculation.
Asked if he had been contacted, Vieira – who has also been linked to David Beckham s MLS franchise Inter Miami – said: No. It s flattering seeing your name everywhere but I am under co…
Ronald Koeman is happy for Lionel Messi to decide on his Barcelona future at the end of the season.
Messi asked to leave Barca in 2020 but ultimately stayed put, although he has made little effort to hide his displeasure with former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
The 33-year-old s contract runs out at the end of the season, and he is set to become the most highly sought-after free agent in history.
While Messi, who did not feature in a 1-1 draw with Eibar on Tuesday, is reportedly yet to fully decide on whether he will leave the club, head coach Koeman is not looking to hurry his captain.
Leo is fine. He was training on [December] 30 and 31, while the rest of the squad was resting, Koeman said ahead of Barca s clash with Huesca.
No dou…
According to fresh rumours from Spanish press, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is keen to reunite with Kingsley Coman, the player he worked with at Bayern Munich.
has learned that the Citizens are keeping a close watch on former Juventus star pondering a summer approach for the talented winger in 2017.
The France international joined Bundesliga champions on a two-year loan deal in 2015 forced by none other than Guardiola himself, who helped the youngster establish himself as a first-team regular at Bayer and earn a place at the Euro 2016.
Coman has lost his place in the team under Carlo Ancelotti and it is believed that Bayer Munich will not be paying Juventus the €21 million fee to buy out his contract.
In the meantime, Manchester City are monitori…
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…