Lucas Digne asks to leave Barcelona

Barcelona defender Lucas Digne could leave Camp Nou this summer if an offer that would be of interest for both the player and the club arrives.

Spanish media report that Digne has been disillusioned with his first-team status at Barcelona and claim that full-back is not ready to spend another season at the club acting as a Jordi Alba substitution.

Digne made only eight La Liga starts during the 2017/18 campaign and is looking for a more prominent role which would require a change of clubs this summer.

The French international has reportedly asked for a permission to leave Camp Nou and Barcelona will not stand in his way if a right offer arrives this summer.

The 24-year-old defender joined Barcelona in 2016 from AS Roma for a transfer fee of €16.5 milli…

Guardiola took me to another level – Alaba

David Alaba admits former boss Pep Guardiola had a huge impact on his career during their time together at Bayern Munich. 

Guardiola spent three hugely successful years at the Bundesliga giants, during which time Bayern were the dominant force in domestic football in Germany. 

They won the league title in all three of his seasons at the helm, as well as picking up the DFB-Pokal twice, but the Champions League eluded the Spaniard during his spell in Bavaria. 

Still, Alaba was full of praise for his old head coach, someone he believes is right up there with the best in the world. 

First of all, he meant a lot to me, the Bayern defender said. He took me to another level. 

Under him, I knew I could play a lot of positions. He is …

City stun Chelsea with 4-2 Premiership win

Wayne Bridge got his revenge on John Terry as Manchester City dented nine-man Chelsea s title challenge with a stunning 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

After snubbing Terry s offer of a handshake during the pre-match greeting between the teams, Bridge who this week quit England duty as a result of Terry s alleged affair with his ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel played his part as City handed Chelsea their first home defeat in 38 games since Arsenal won at the Bridge in November 2008.

Frank Lampard put the Premier League leaders ahead in the 42nd minute but Carlos Tevez equalised in first half stoppage-time following mistakes from Terry and goalkeeper Hilario.

Craig Bellamy struck for the visitors in the 51st minute with a shot from a tight angle that Hila…

Rooney injury worries United ahead of Milan clash

Manchester United could go into their last 16 second leg Champions League tie against AC Milan at Old Trafford on Wednesday without star striker Wayne Rooney.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was angry the in-form Rooney, who has scored 29 goals already this season including two in the first leg against Milan played for England in last week s friendly win over Egypt at Wembley.

It was his second appearance in four days on the much criticised pitch after he came off the bench to lead United to victory in the League Cup final against Aston Villa and did little for his longstanding knee problem.

Rooney was absent from the 1-0 win at Wolves on Saturday that returned the reigning champions to the top of the Premier League table and Ferguson confirmed he could miss th…

Barca could miss out on Nolito; Bayern midfielder set for January exit

Barca could miss out on Nolito

La Liga champions Barcelona look set to miss out on top target Nolito, .

It is no secret that coach Luis Enrique has made signing the 29-year-old the priority in the January transfer window, but the deal is starting to look unlikely.

Namely, having splashed out over €50 million on the likes of Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, the club management cannot afford Nolito s €18 million release clause at the moment.

Having been obliged to reduce the club s huge debt, the Catalans will not have money to spend in the winter transfer window.

As a result, they have proposed to sign Nolito on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy for €9 million, but it is clear that Celta will not agree to such an arrangement…

La Liga Review: Atletico up to second as strugglers triumph

Atletico Madrid are up to second in La Liga after Koke s early goal secured a hard-fought 1-0 win at Real Betis.

Koke pounced after Fernando Torres seventh-minute shot was saved and the 2013-14 champions sit four points behind leaders Barcelona and two ahead of city rivals Real Madrid, who were humiliated 4-0 at home in El Clasico on Saturday.

Antoine Griezmann was particularly culpable as Atletico missed a host of chances to secure a more comfortable victory, but Betis could not find a response in the face of a brave defensive effort led by Diego Godin.

Levante and Granada claimed their second wins of the season to ease their relegation fears.

All of Levante s goals in a 3-0 win at Sporting Gijon came before half-time, with a brace from Deyverson coming …

Rumour Has It: Barca eyeing midfield duo, Phillips on Man City´s radar

Are Barcelona set to make a splash in 2022?

After losing Lionel Messi on a free transfer due to their crippling debt, Barca are busy planning for next season.

Franck Kessie and Youri Tielemans are believed to be on the radar at Camp Nou.

 

TOP STORY – BARCA EYEING PAIR

Barcelona are targeting Milan star Franck Kessie and Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, according to reports.

Kessie is out of contract at the end of the season and he is yet to re-sign at Milan amid links with Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Mundo Deportivo claims LaLiga giants Barca are considering a move for the Ivory Coast international, as well as Tielemans – who is reportedly wanted by the likes of Manchester United and Liv…

Tite accuses Tunisia of attempting to kick Neymar out of World Cup

Tite has slammed Dylan Bronn s challenge on Neymar during Brazil s win over Tunisia, claiming it was a move to take a player out of the World Cup .

The Selecao completed their preparations for Qatar with a commanding 5-1 victory in Paris, with Neymar among the goals as his penalty took him to 75 at international level.

But the Paris Saint-Germain forward was subjected to a heavy challenge in the 42nd minute by Tunisia defender Bronn, who was sent off.

And while Tite welcomed the competitive nature of the friendly with Jalel Kadri s side, who were unbeaten in seven games, the Brazil coach was far from pleased with the treatment of his talisman.

We were in an atmosphere where most of the fans were from Tunisia, he said. At some points, I tried to locate ou…

All still to play for, says Bruce

Hull City manager Steve Bruce is not resting on his laurels despite Saturday s 2-0 Premier League win at Sunderland.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men as early as the third minute when Wes Brown was dismissed for a professional foul on Shane Long just outside the area.

Long and new strike partner Nikica Jelavic duly punished Sunderland by each scoring a header to bring their opponents back down to earth with a bump following their 3-0 derby success over Newcastle United last week.

It was a sweet return to the Stadium of Light for Bruce, who was sacked as Sunderland manager in November 2011, but he insisted there was still a lot of work for his side to do if they are to avoid relegation back to the Championship.

We re four points off the bottom three but we are ten…

Dozens questioned in Turkey over match-fixing

Turkish police were on Thursday questioning 45 suspects, among them footballers from the country s top league, in connection with a match-fixing probe, officials and media reports said.

The Turkish Football Federation confirmed that an investigation was under way, but said it was not related to a Europe-wide match-fixing scandal involving Turkey that broke out last year.

Istanbul police chief Huseyin Capkin said 46 suspects were detained Wednesday in 26 provinces and that the probe is targeting (a total of) 53 people.

One suspect, a player from first-division club Sivasspor, was released after questioning late Wednesday, Anatolia news agency reported.

Among those who remained in police custody Thursday were two former internationals Arif Erdem, now a co…