Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos said Spain needs football to boost the economy and to distract fans as LaLiga eyes a June return following the coronavirus outbreak.
LaLiga has been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has wreaked havoc globally – killing more than 283,500 people and bringing sport to a standstill.
A mid-June resumption has been touted for the 2019-20 campaign in Spain, where Barca topped the table ahead of Madrid through 27 matches.
Ramos is raring to go, telling Movistar: Getting going needs time, the country needs football as an economic support and the people need it as a distraction.
I m dying to compete again, for LaLiga Santander to be normal again, we have to be disciplined so that we can eliminate this vir…
Real Betis are interested in signing Rodrigo from Leeds United in the summer of 2021, according to . It has been reported by the Spanish news outlet that Rodrigo wants to leave Premier League club Leeds at the end of the season, and that La Liga outfit Betis are keen on securing the services of the Spain international, who can operate as a striker or as a winger.
Rodrigo joined Leeds from Valencia in the summer of 2020. The 30-year-old is not having the best of seasons, although he has been used out wide or as a creative midfielder instead of as a striker. According to , the former Benfica striker has made 12 starts and eight substitute appearances in the Premier League for Marcelo Bielsa’s side so far this campaign, scoring three goals and providing one assist in the process…
Juventus boss Antonio Conte has refuted suggestions he could leave his post in order to replace Cesare Prandelli as Italy coach.
Reports in the Italian media have claimed that Prandelli, who has led his country since leaving Fiorentina in 2010, is set to announce his intention to retire after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
But former Italy international Conte, capped 20 times for his country, has quickly moved to quash speculation that he could be lined up as a replacement.
I think someone wants to get me out of Juventus, he joked at a UEFA-organised forum for coaches in Switzerland.
For me, the national team is guided by the right man but I do not know what will happen after the World Cup in Brazil.
Conte has overseen two Serie A title victories in his two seas…
Spain forward David Villa is convinced England have the perfect players to win the World Cup.
Villa, who signed for Barcelona from Valencia at the end of the season for 40million euros, has earmarked Fabio Capello s squad as one of the favourites to lift the trophy in South Africa and drew a parallel between England and his own country before they won Euro 2008.
Going into the European Championships two years ago, Spain were regarded as perennial underachievers.
But they finally fulfilled their potential with a series of fine performances to win their first international trophy for 44 years.
Vicente del Bosque s side are now widely hailed as the best in the world and Villa believes England, who last won the World Cup 44 years ago, have enough talent in t…
Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be given the chance to play first-team football before the season is out
Chelsea and their boss Antonio Conte have been linked with signing every Tom, Dick and Harry in January.
However, so far the only transfer action that has happened at Stamford Bridge is the departures of Brazilian playmaker Oscar and John Obi Mikel to the Chinese Super League.
No doubt the Blues will be looking to strengthen their squad options this month.
There could be another viable option for the league leaders, though, using youngsters they already own. It’s a revolutionary idea I know, but it may just work.
A very capable youngster
Chelsea have been criticised in the past for stockpiling players, espec…
Michael Keane said he is flattered by interest from some of the Premier League s biggest clubs but insists he is happy at Burnley.
Keane has flourished since leaving Manchester United for Burnley in 2015, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City reportedly eyeing the defender.
The 24-year-old Englishman who was sold by former United manager Louis van Gaal has also been linked with a return to Old Trafford.
It s flattering to see, but I m focused on Burnley, Keane said. We ve got nine games left in the season and we need to make sure we remain in the league.
But to see things like that can only mean you re playing well.
Keane added: I always thought, personally, that I was going to make it at United. A few changes in managers didn t help, s…
Teenage striker Folarin Balogun has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.
The 19-year-old, who has been at the Premier League club since he was aged only nine, has scored twice in six first-team appearances for Mikel Arteta s side this season.
New York-born Balogun, on target against Molde and Dundalk in the Europa League, also has eight goals in 18 PL2 and EFL Trophy games in the 2020-21 campaign.
Gunners boss Arteta believes he has a bright future.
My home. My heart
See you soon Gunners
— Balogun (@fbalogun67)
He said: We have been extremely impressed with Flo this season. He has continually shown his natural ability in many training sessions with us and we have been equally impressed with his early integration into th…
Napoli head coach Gennaro Gattuso joked that he can only mark Lionel Messi in his dreams or on PlayStation as he looked ahead to the upcoming Champions League showdown with Barcelona.
Saturday saw Napoli end their 2019-20 coronavirus-hit Serie A season with a 3-1 victory at home to Lazio – Fabian Luiz, Lorenzo Insigne and Matteo Politano fuelling the win.
Attention now turns to the second leg of Napoli s Champions League last-16 tie against LaLiga giants Barcelona, scheduled for August 8 at Camp Nou following February s 1-1 draw.
Asked about six-time Ballon d Or winner Messi post-match, former Milan midfielder Gattuso told reporters: I can mark Messi only in my dreams.
Or if I set Napoli vs Barcelona on my son s PlayStation, trying to catch him there w…
Spanish giants Real Madrid have turned their attention towards signing Brazilian Thiago Silva as coach Jose Mourinho hunts down a world class centre back, according to sports daily Marca on Sunday.
However, it appears that their interest in signing his Brazilian teammate Maicon from Mourinho s old club Inter Milan has cooled because of the money being demanded by the European champions.
Inter would have lowered their price for Maicon, the only Brazilian to make the World Cup All-Star team, from 35 to 30 million euros, according to the report. However, Real are not prepared to pay more than 28 million euros and now consider Silva a good alternative.
The 25-year-old Silva, who arrived at Milan in 2009 from Fluminese, is under contract until 2013 and has a price ta…
Veteran midfielder Guti said Sunday that he is closing a glorious stage in his career as he parts ways with Real Madrid after 15 seasons with the Spanish giants.
I believe you have to be aware that there are stages that close and in this case for me it is a very glorious stage at Real Madrid which is coming to an end, the 33-year-old told a news conference at the club s Bernabeu stadium.
Guti, who had another year on his contract, said he was considering an offer from Turkish side Besiktas, where he would be coached by German s Bernd Schuster, who managed Real between 2007 and 2008.
I have a good offer from them, an interesting one, now we will see, he said.
I think you have to make room for younger players and know that football is like that.
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