Ronaldinho launched a Barcelona academy for about 1,000 students in China on Friday as the world’s most populous nation pursues its grand ambitions in the world’s most popular sport. The Barcelona and Brazil great and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu met children and toured the site at the Mission Hills golf complex on Hainan island, … Read more
Dani Alves has spoken of his great dissatisfaction with former club Barcelona and revealed his strong feelings about the manner of his departure. The full-back, who won 23 titles in his eight seasons at Camp Nou, says he felt disrespected and upset at the way the club behaved towards him at the end of his … Read more
The Catalans edged out struggling Leganes in a laboured victory at Camp Nou, and it all seems to be fizzling out for this Blaugrana side. What will the optimists say now? Many fans came out with their chests pumping in the light of Barcelona’s brutal 4-0 defeat at Paris Saint-German and claimed their team would … Read more
Shanghai SIPG confirmed Wednesday the signing of former Real Madrid and Chelsea player Ricardo Carvalho, the official Xinhua news agency said, making him the latest foreigner to be tempted by the riches of China’s Super League. Carvalho’s signing had been finalised by the end of winter training, but the announcement was delayed as China’s new … Read more
When the season began, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Cristiano Ronaldo would become the first player to rack up 100 Champions League goals. Although it was Lionel Messi who had broken Raul’s record of 71 strikes in Europe’s premier cup competition in 2014, Ronaldo had stormed past his great rival by netting 16 times … Read more
Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande have announced plans to field a Chinese-only squad by 2020, official media said on Tuesday, in a surprise turnaround after years of success based on big-money foreign signings. Evergrande have won the Chinese Super League for the last six season, plus the AFC Champions League in 2013 and 2015, with the … Read more
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both scored as Barcelona Suarez turned in the opener for the visitors from Aleix Vidal’s drilled cross, before Neymar tapped in the second from close range. Barca turned on the style in the second half with four goals in the space of nine minutes, as Messi stroked in the third before … Read more
Marquinhos has challenged Paris Saint-Germain to play at a level they have never before achieved in order to beat Barcelona in the Champions League. After finishing second behind Arsenal in Group A, the Ligue 1 champions have been pitted against the Spaniards, who have knocked them out of the competition in two of the last … Read more
Willian has claimed that former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was keen to sign him for Manchester United last summer. The Brazilian moved to Stamford Bridge in 2013, shortly after Mourinho returned for a second spell in charge. He won the Premier League the following season and was then player of the year in 2015 as … Read more
Chelsea winger Willian has revealed that Manchester United made enquiries over signing him in the summer transfer window. The Brazil international has been rotated frequently in the 2016-17 season, with Pedro often picked in his place, as was the case in the 3-1 win over Arsenal. The 28-year-old was a key performer in Jose Mourinho’s … Read more
Ghanaian international Alfred Duncan was involved in Sassaulo’s 1-0 win over Genoa in the Italia Seria A. Duncan started the game and played the entire minutes as he helped his side to a vital win away from home. Sassaulo scored in the 26th minute of the match to win an important three points. The win … Read more
Barcelona have confirmed that Ronaldinho is returning to the club to take up a role as a club ambassador. The Brazilian is fondly remembered at Camp Nou after spending five seasons at the club as a player. He took the field 207 times for the Catalans between 2003 and 2008, scoring 94 goals and winning … Read more
Ghana striker Emmanuel Okyere Boateng won the Portuguese Cup with Moreirense on Sunday night. A late first half penalty from Cauê Cecilio da Silva was all they needed to beat 2013 winners Braga. Boateng, 20, came on as a 61st-minute substitute for Portuguese teammate Roberto Porfirio. He scored a brace in the semi-final last Thursday … Read more
Tianjin Quanjian are reportedly preparing a bid to sign former Brazil international striker Alexandre Pato from Villarreal. The 27-year-old has struggled for consistency since joining the Spanish club from Corinthians in July, managing just six goals in 24 appearances. Tianjin Quanjian coach Fabio Cannavaro is understood to be a fan of Pato, who is contracted … Read more
Corinthians have pulled out all the stops in an effort to get Didier Drogba to write the next chapter of his career in Brazil. The Ivorian frontman is currently a free agent after parting company with Montreal Impact at the end of the 2016 MLS season. Several options have been mooted for the former Chelsea … Read more
Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona cut Real Madrid’s La Liga lead to two points by thrashing Las Palmas. Suarez turned in an Andre Gomes cut-back for the only goal of the first half, but hosts Barca then scored three quick goals after the break. Lionel Messi tapped in and Suarez then steered a lovely … Read more
Striker Diego Costa has been left out of the Chelsea squad to face Leicester on Saturday after a dispute with a coach over his fitness. The Spain international has not trained for three days and has not travelled for the Premier League leaders’ match with the champions (17:30 GMT). The news comes amid reports he … Read more
Former Brazil and Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo has responded in “shock” to Michael Owen’s jibe about his weight. Owen took to Twitter after reuniting with his former Blancos team-mate to honour today’s dominant Ronaldo, Cristiano, after his recent Ballon d’Or win. The former Liverpool striker wrote: “I thought I was putting the pounds on until … Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo is in no doubt that he deserved to win FIFA’s inaugural The Best Men’s Player award for 2016. The 31-year-old beat Lionel Messi to the prize at Monday’s gala following what he considers to be the best year of his career, in which he won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and … Read more
Claudio Ranieri has been named FIFA Coach of the Year for 2016 after guiding Leicester City to their remarkable Premier League triumph. The Italian led the Foxes to their maiden top-flight crown in his first season in charge of the club last term, in one of the greatest shocks in sporting history. Leicester’s incredible consistency … Read more