Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described old foe Jose Mourinho as a good guy ahead of this weekend s Manchester derby.
United boss Mourinho has clashed with Guardiola numerous times over the years, with their previously intense rivalry dating back to when they coached Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Mourinho was widely assumed to have been annoyed by Barca s decision to appoint Guardiola over himself in 2008 and the pair had a number of fractious encounters during their time together in LaLiga.
A Clasico clash provided the nadir when Mourinho poked a finger into the eye of Guardiola s assistant Tito Vilanova during a touchline fracas.
But since they took charge at United and City the relationship between Mourinho and Guardiola appears more …
Borussia Dortmund defender Achraf Hakimi has admitted that his heart is still divided between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund as speculation over his future in the world of football continues.
The 21 year old is currently on loan with Dortmund from Real, and while Madrid may serve as his parent club in this instance, it certainly doesn’t seem as if the youngster is willing to commit his immediate – or long term – future to the club.
Dortmund have made several moves across the last two transfer windows that have showcased their intent both in domestic and European football, and it’s just a matter of time before we see them rise back up through the ranks of the elite within the Champions League and beyond.
Hakimi knows that he has a secure plac…
Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui insists he has no extra motivation to beat Real Madrid, despite his short-lived spell at the Santiago Bernabeu last year.
Lopetegui lasted four and a half months before being axed by Madrid last October following a heavy 5-1 loss to bitter rivals Barcelona.
The 53-year-old took just 14 points from a possible 30 during his time in the Spanish capital but has had far more joy at Sevilla since his appointment in June.
Sevilla are two points better off than Madrid ahead of Sunday s clash at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, but Lopetegui claims he is not out for revenge against his former side.
Julen Lopetegui: In the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, there are always great matches and there is always an incredible atmosphere .
— S…
Cristiano Ronaldo has ended a nine-year spell at Real Madrid by agreeing to join Juventus in a deal reported to be worth €105million.
Ronaldo indicated after Madrid won their fourth Champions League in five years that he was considering leaving the club.
And Serie A champions Juventus have swooped to sign the Portugal captain, reportedly paying Ronaldo €30m a year.
Real Madrid CF communicates that, in response to the will and request expressed by the player Cristiano Ronaldo, he has agreed to transfer to Juventus FC, Madrid said in a statement.
Today, Real Madrid wants to express its gratitude to a player who has proved to be the best in the world and who has marked one of the brightest times in the history of our club and world football.
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Sassuolo ant Torino are set to face each other at Sassuolo s in Reggio Emilia on Monday, in the last game of the 28th round of the Serie A season. It should be an interesting mid-table clash between two very decent teams, and neither will be playing under particular pressure.
Sassuolo
It will be exactly 10 years since Sassuolo earned promotion to the Serie A this summer, and it s more than safe to say that they ve established themselves completely as a necessary and enriching part of the Italian top flight over that decade. They even played in the Europa League in 2016/17.
As things stand, Alessio Dionisi s team are 12th in the Serie A table at this point, with 36 points. There s a big gap (17 points wide and spanning five tea…
Neymar is progressing well in his recovery from an adductor injury, according to Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The Brazil star has been out of action since suffering the blow in PSG s Coupe de France win away at Caen on February 10.
His timeline for a return put him on track to feature in the second leg of the Champions League last-16 clash with his former club Barcelona on March 10, PSG holding a commanding 4-1 lead in the tie.
And, following PSG s 1-0 victory over Bordeaux on Wednesday, Pochettino gave an optimistic update on Neymar s status.
He told a media conference: Tomorrow, we will evaluate the players and the fact that we can recover a few players, that would be a good thing for the match on Saturday [against Bre…
Borussia Dortmund are looming as a Champions League threat after taking command of Group A with an incredible 4-0 home win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Lucien Favre s Bundesliga leaders demonstrated impressive maturity to pile on three second-half goals and protect their unbeaten record in all competitions, while inflicting Diego Simeone s heaviest loss as Atleti coach.
The home side s defensive aptitude was scrutinised after Axel Witsel s heavily deflected 38th-minute opener and they convincingly passed the test with a dominant final 20 minutes, Raphael Guerreiro netting twice either side of a simple finish from fellow substitute Jadon Sancho.
The convincing result means Dortmund are now three points clear of Atleti, who remain five points ahead of the bot…
Liverpool kept themselves in the hunt for a top-four Premier League finish as they earned a 2-0 win over Southampton at Anfield.
Sadio Mane s 31st-minute header and a late Thiago Alcantara strike his first for the club proved the difference as the hosts ensured their slim hopes of clinching Champions League qualification remain alive.
The Saints, meanwhile, failed to make themselves mathematically safe from relegation as they suffered defeat, though with 10 points separating them from 18th-placed Fulham, it is highly unlikely they will be dragged into the mix.
Liverpool s last two outings 1-1 draws against Leeds United and Newcastle United were largely defined by a failure to take their opportunities, rather than any issues creating them.
And Jurgen K…
Hansi Flick acknowledged he remains in contact with Mario Gotze after rumours circulated the Germany World Cup winner could return to Bayern Munich.
Gotze spent three years at Bayern between 2013 and 2016, winning the Bundesliga in each season and the DFB-Pokal twice, before returning to Borussia Dortmund.
The attacking midfielder was released at the end of last season, though, after struggling to regain the form that saw him rise through the ranks at Signal Iduna Park.
Flick was assistant to Joachim Low when Gotze scored the winning goal for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final and German publication Bild suggested the Bayern boss is keen on bringing him back to bolster his midfield, an option that has proved attractive as there is no fee involved.
Asked …
Sergio Ramos moved level with Iker Casillas as Spain s most-capped player on 167 appearances after being named in their starting XI to face the Faroe Islands.
Ramos, 33, has been an ever-present since making his international debut in 2005 and featuring on Sunday leaves him on the brink of history.
The centre-back was a key player in Spain s greatest international triumphs, helping them to European Championship success in 2008 and 2012, as well as their first World Cup title in 2010.
Casillas had been out in front by himself ever since retiring from international football in 2016, but Ramos is now just a single appearance from setting a new outright record.
167 Sergio Ramos has played 167 international games for Spain equaling Iker Casillas as the player …