Pep Guardiola said AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a major threat to Barcelona s hopes of retaining their Champions League crown.
Guardiola may have endured a fractious relationship with the Swede during his time at the Camp Nou but that has not changed his views on the talented marksman.
Ibrahimovic joined Barca from Inter as part of a transfer totalling an estimated 69.6 million euros but he lasted one season before returning to Italy, initially on loan before completing a permanent switch to San Siro last summer.
The 30-year-old disclosed the full extent of the breakdown of his working relationship with Guardiola in his autobiography last year.
But the Barca coach remains reluctant to be drawn on his falling out with Ibrahimovic and instead pra…
Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has refused to rule out a return to Real Madrid amid speculation about his future at Emirates Stadium.
The Germany international left Madrid for Arsenal in 2013 and has since developed into a key figure for the Premier League side.
His contract with Arsenal is due to expire in June 2018, though, and talks over a renewal have not borne fruit, fuelling speculation he could be on the move.
A return to Madrid? I am very happy to be playing for a big club like Arsenal, who have some amazing fans who show me a lot of affection, Ozil told Marca.
I am enjoying myself in London, but you never know in football We will see what happens.
Madrid are a huge club and I played with some fantastic players there. And the Madrid fans ar…
Mikel Arteta is confident Gabriel Jesus will not miss much of the new season as he offered a positive early prognosis on the Arsenal forward’s knee surgery.
The Brazil international went under the knife on Wednesday after experiencing irritation following a more serious operation to treat an injury suffered at the World Cup.
Jesus spent three months on the sidelines recovering during last season as the Gunners ultimately fell short in their Premier League title tilt.
Having been absent for Wednesday night’s Emirates Cup clash with Monaco, Jesus will also miss the start of the new campaign – including Sunday’s Community Shield clash with former club Manchester City.
— Gabriel Jesus (@gabrieljesus9)
Speaking ahead of the game at…
Portugal s Pedro Proenco has been selected to referee Sunday s Euro 2012 final between Italy and Spain in Kiev.
Proenca took charge of last month s Champions League final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich and has already refereed four matches in Poland and Ukraine during the European Championships, including Italy s quarter-final victory over England.
The 41-year-old has also taken control of a match involving Spain at Euro 2012, when Vicente del Bosque s side smashed Ireland 4-0.
Proenca will be assisted by countrymen Bertino Miranda and Ricardo Santos, with Manuel de Sousa and Duarte Gomes as the goal-line officials.
Turkey s Cuneyt Cakir has been named as the fourth official.
The Portuguese was promoted to UEFA s elite category at the start of…
Tim Cahill has ended his eight-year association with Everton by signing for Major League Soccer franchise New York Red Bulls.
The Australian international was heavily linked with a move to Chinese Super League side Guizhou Renhe after he was spotted at the club s FA Cup match in July but has joined the American side for a fee believed to be one million pounds, pending an international clearance.
Cahill becomes the third designated player in New York alongside captain Thierry Henry and former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez and links up with Hans Backe s men atop of the Eastern Conference.
The Red Bulls are still searching for their first MLS title and the 32-year-old is keen to end that drought.
I am very happy to start a new chapter of my career with…
Melbourne City head coach John van t Schip has resigned with immediate effect so he can return home to be with his ill father in Netherlands.
With his father in palliative care, former Netherlands international Van t Schip made the tough decision to walk away from the A-League title hopefuls on Tuesday.
Van t Schip leaves Melbourne for a second time, after departing Melbourne Heart for Guadalajara in 2012, having guided City to their maiden trophy in 2016-17 the FFA Cup last year.
The 53-year-old a 41-cap international and four-time Eredivisie winner with Ajax has also turned City into genuine contenders this season, fourth in the standings after 13 rounds as assistant coach Michael Valkanis takes the reins on an interim basis until a replacement is found.
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels midfielder Aaron Ramsey can be similar to Chelsea great Frank Lampard if he stays fit.
Ramsey, 26, has made just eight Premier League starts this season, with niggling injuries holding him back.
The Wales international scored 26 goals across two campaigns in 2013-14 and 2014-15, but has been unable to match those tallies since.
Wenger said he had envisioned Ramsey being Arsenal s Lampard, who starred with his goal-scoring exploits from midfield.
In my head Ramsey was going to be a player between 10 and 15 goals a year, he said.
He is a Frank Lampard type. He is [about] getting in the box and he has a huge capacity to run. Physically, he has a combination of stamina, power and his capacity to repeat high intens…
A team not so long ago considered an unstoppable force meets one now deemed an immovable object when Liverpool host Tottenham on Wednesday, a battle of the Premier League top two in a race that feels like it will be a case of survival of the fittest.
The Reds have won the previous four league meetings between the teams, all by a solitary goal. However, that was then – now they are stretched by injuries amid a demanding schedule that is only getting busier in the coming weeks.
This is also the first time Spurs have visited Anfield during Jose Mourinho s reign. The Portuguese has had his successes at the ground in previous roles, though a 3-1 defeat on Merseyside ended his Manchester United tenure.
If there were any concerns that Tottenham were appoin…
The Spanish Football Federation has announced an intention to take legal action over comments made about its president Luis Rubiales by World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso.
Hermoso was quoted in a statement issued by Futpro, the players’ union representing her, as stating “in no case did I seek to raise (lift) the president” during a a podium embrace after the World Cup final between Spain and England in Sydney.
The Federation says it has analysed four images of Hermoso and Rubiales embracing, claiming they show it was Hermoso’s force that lifted him.
Hermoso had accused the Federation of a “manipulative, hostile and controlling culture” as the World Cup-winning squad refused to play while Rubiales remains in post.
A total of 81 players signed a le…
Olympique Lyonnais striker Lisandro Lopez has put a host of clubs around Europe on alert after casting doubts over his future at the club.
Tottenham and Monaco are both thought to be admirers of the Argentina international and his announcement may also attract other potential suitors from Europe s top leagues consider him.
Lopez is Lyon s second-top goalscorer this season with 10 goals in Ligue 1, but he has also had a number of public altercations with manager Remi Garde in recent weeks and has admitted he is considering his future at the club.
I don’t think it is possible for me to continue here, he told Metro.
Before the end of the season I’m going to meet with the president and the coach and we’ll see.
The striker arrived at Stade de …