World was in awe during the 2014 World Cup when a 23-year-old Monaco midfielder unassumingly lit the stage with impressive performances in a Colombia shirt.

Few would expect that he would go on to grab the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer in Brazil but that’s exactly what James Rodriguez did – before getting a call from Real Madrid to become the latest Galactico and realize his ‘life’s dream’ of moving to Santiago Bernabeu.

The Spanish super side Real Madrid love to pick the cream of the crop and their £63 million investment in the Colombian attacking midfielder was perceived as a strong statement in world football. Having become the third-most expensive player in Real Madrid’s history, James Rodriguez put on a white shirt with a brimming smile on his …

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed how positive advice from David Beckham helped convince him to join LA Galaxy.

The Swede had his contract cancelled by Manchester United to allow him the opportunity to move to MLS in the twilight stage of his glittering playing career.

His deal with the Galaxy sees him follow in the footsteps of Beckham, who swapped LaLiga for Los Angeles when he left Real Madrid in 2007.

Ibrahimovic played alongside the Englishman at Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 and sought the advice of his former team-mate before signing with his new team.

Obviously I played with David Beckham at PSG I got to know the person. He’s a fantastic guy, a great family guy and a fantastic footballer, he told the media.

He only had positive things…

Liverpool are interested in signing Federico Chiesa from Juventus, according to . The report has claimed that Liverpool are considering Chiesa as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah, who has interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League.

Chiesa has scored four goals in seven Serie A matches for Juventus so far this season. The 25-year-old Italy international winger made six starts and 15 substitute appearances in the league for the Bianconeri last season, scoring two goals and providing five assists in the process.

Liverpool are fourth in the Premier League table at the moment with 16 points from seven matches, two points behind leaders and defending champions Manchester City. Meanwhile, Juventus currently find themselves fourth in the Serie A table with 14 points f…

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says Cristiano Ronaldo has told him he wishes to stay at the club for the 2021-22 season.

Speculation has persisted in recent weeks that the Portugal star is pushing to leave Turin three years after his move from Real Madrid in a deal worth €112million.

A return to the Spanish capital was mooted until coach Carlo Ancelotti shot down the rumour, while possible moves to former club Manchester United, Premier League champions Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have also been suggested.

Ronaldo himself hit out at the media frenzy around his future in a social media post, condemning the coverage as frivolous and disrespectful .

Allegri has now stated the 36-year-old wants to see out the remaining year of his contract …

Quique Setien has no concerns about Barcelona failing to sign a striker in the January transfer window because Ousmane Dembele will be amazing when he returns from injury.

Barca director Guillermo Amor confirmed before Thursday s 5-0 Copa del Rey last-16 victory over Leganes that no back-up to Luis Suarez – ruled out until May with a knee injury – will be signed, negotiations for Valencia attacker Rodrigo Moreno having broken down.

Lionel Messi scored twice and was involved in the other three goals as Setien s side enjoyed serene progress to the quarter-finals, with Antoine Griezmann, Clement Lenglet and Arthur hitting the target.

Setien acknowledged the lack of a new signing leaves Barca s attack in a precarious position, though Dembele has been eased back i…

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc claimed his second Ligue 1 title with the capital club was more enjoyable than his first last season.

PSG defeated Montpellier 2-1 on Saturday to clinch their third French league championship in a row their second under Blanc after Carlo Ancelotti led them to the title in 2012-13.

While PSG wrapped up the title earlier in 2013-14, Blanc seemed to indicate that the pressure he came under in the first half of this term, when his side drew four of their opening six matches, made this season s success more satisfying.

We had to wait to the penultimate round of the season to win this title. But it s just as enjoyable even more so than last season, where everything was concluded a round earlier, the 49-year-old said, according t…

Ronald Koeman believes Barcelona have a unique opportunity for revenge as they prepare to host Bayern Munich in Tuesday s first round of Champions League matches.

The last time the two teams met, the visitors inflicted Barca s heaviest defeat since April 1951 in an 8-2 thrashing in the 2019-20 Champions League quarter-final.

Bayern have won also each of their last 17 openers in the competition since 2003-04, but Barca are unbeaten in their last 22 such fixtures – a run stretching back to 1997-98.

And Koeman is looking forward to the test against Julian Nagelsmann s side as the Catalan club prepare for their first Champions League campaign since 2003-04 without Lionel Messi, who departed for Paris Saint-Germain in August.

Tomorrow we have the first Ch…

Leicester City have no intention in parting company with defensive pair Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell in the summer, according to the Mirror.

The England teammates are both in demand after impressing at both international and club level, though the Foxes are not willing to let them go without a fight.

Maguire has been on Manchester United’s radar for some time, while Chilwell is being watched by a number sides at the top end of the Premier League.

Though the chances of the East Midlanders reaching the heights of the 2015/16 campaign are slim manager Brendan Rodgers, who replaced Claude Puel in the dugout last month, will be keen to build his team around his key men as he looks to challenge for the European places going forward.

Leicester welcome …

Italy coach Roberto Mancini reiterated his disappointment with the Italian system failing to produce young footballers, but only promised to give youngsters a chance after the clash with Argentina.

The Azzurri lifted Euro 2020 after a penalty shoot-out victory over England last July but failed to qualify for a second straight World Cup following play-off disappointment against North Macedonia in March.

That led to questions towards Mancini and Italian football over the lack of trust placed in younger players, with the more experienced campaigners such as Ciro Immobile and Giorgio Chiellini preferred.

Mancini subsequently suggested that Italy are suffering as Serie A coaches refuse to provide youthful members of their clubs the opportunities to develop.