Quaresma talks up January exit
Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma has revealed his desire to leave Besiktas in the January transfer window.
Quaresma, 29, has fallen out with club chiefs at the end of last season and wasn’t even registered for Turkish Super Lig this season.
The Portugal international, who has just over six months left on his deal, is hoping to have his contract rescinded and is adamant that he will be leaving the club in January.
“I want to leave in January. Right now, I don’t want to say anything more about it,” Quaresma .
The experienced winger is heavily tipped for a return to Porto, but has so far refused to confirm speculations linking him with his former club.
During his first spell with the Dragons, Quaresma…
South Africa coach Gordon Igesund has questioned his side s ability to handle the pressure of the Africa Cup of Nations.
After creating precious little in their opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde the smallest country in the competition with a population of only half a million Igesund was far from happy and made few excuses for Bafana Bafana s underwhelming performance.
Not too many of my players came to the party in the first half, which was a total waste of time. We weren t much better in the second, the 55-year-old told the BBC.
Too many balls were played over the top at 100 miles per hour, which is something we don t want to do. Some of the players seemed to freeze when the whistle blew and lost their nerve. Perhaps for some of them the occasion was a bit too…
Brendan Rodgers would likely still be manager of Liverpool had Luis Suarez not been sold to Barcelona, according to former Uruguay international Gus Poyet.
Liverpool finished just two points behind champions Manchester City in 2013-14, with Suarez scoring 31 goals en route to winning the Premier League and PFA player of the year awards.
Suarez subsequently left Anfield to join Barcelona and lifted the treble with the Catalans in 2014-15, while Liverpool have since replaced Rogders with Jurgen Klopp following disappointing results in the past year.
Poyet has hailed his compatriot for making football history alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar at Barca and believes his departure ultimately spelled the end for Rodgers time in charge at Anfield.
Luis left Urug…
Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez wants Cristiano Ronaldo to increase his legend at the club for many more years after he was honoured at the Santiago Bernabeu this week.
Ronaldo moved beyond 500 career goals for club and country as he scored twice in the Champions League win over Malmo, taking him level with Madrid s record goalscorer Raul on 323, according to official UEFA statistics.
Madrid, however, credit Ronaldo with a goal against Real Sociedad in 2010 which was officially awarded to Pepe, and the Portugal captain was given a special presentation in the Spanish capital on Friday to mark the milestone.
Ronaldo admitted after the Malmo victory that he cannot guarantee he will stay at the club in the future but Benitez is eager to see him add to his goal tal…
Gareth Bale ribbed Aaron Ramsey over his fitness record after the Juventus man fired Wales to the Euro 2020 finals with a brace in the 2-0 win over Hungary.
Needing victory to progress as automatic qualifiers from Group E at Hungary s expense, Ramsey marked his first start of an injury-ruined campaign with a headed opener from Bale s 15th-minute cross.
The former Arsenal favourite was on the mark again early in the second half as Wales made it back-to-back European Championship qualifications.
It’s about time he contributed, isn t it? Bale told Sky Sports.
Obviously he s a world-class player, you like to have him back. He showed again what a great player he is, scoring the goals that helped us through.
YEEEESSSSSS | 2-0 |
WOOOOOO…
Florian Thauvin dreams of playing in Spain and would feel comfortable in Germany, but insists he is in no hurry to leave Marseille.
After a move to Newcastle United in 2015 failed to work out, Thauvin has rediscovered his best form since returning to Marseille permanently.
The 25-year-old has scored 22 goals in Ligue 1 this season and another four in his team s run to the Europa League final, where they will take on Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
While admitting he has an admiration for two of Europe s other top leagues, Thauvin stressed he remains happy at Marseille and has no imminent plans to depart.
I m hungry for titles, that s what remains at the end of your career. There is a big game to play on Wednesday, Thauvin told L Equipe.
As for oth…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk, Thiago and Curtis Jones are all out of their coronavirus-enforced isolation ahead of the trip to Leicester City.
The Reds called upon Thiago but were without the other three for the 3-1 victory over Newcastle on December 16 after the club announced the trio were isolating following suspected positive COVID-19 tests.
Thiago then returned a positive test before Liverpool s 2-2 draw at Tottenham three days later, with all four also missing the Reds victory on penalties against Leicester in the EFL Cup, prior to the postponement of their Boxing Day clash with Leeds United due to a coronavirus outbreak in Marcelo Biela s camp.
The boys who had to isolate are back Fab, Virg, Curtis and Thiago, K…
Manchester United youngster Tahith Chong has returned to the club after sustaining a groin injury on loan duty with Birmingham City that will rule him out for up to five months.
The 21-year-old has impressed during his third spell away from Old Trafford, having previously spent time with Werder Bremen and Club Brugge last season.
Chong had been a regular for Birmingham in the Championship, starting 13 of their 16 matches and assisting a couple of goals from midfield.
However, the former Netherlands Under-21s international has had his loan at St. Andrew s Trillion Trophy Stadium cut short by an injury sustained in training.
A statement on United s official website on Wednesday read: Tahith has undergone surgery to repair a ruptured thigh tendon.
…
Chelsea and Manchester United made early moves on what looks set to be a busy transfer deadline day.
The Blues completed the signing of Manchester City forward Cole Palmer on a seven-year contract.
The PA news agency understands the club will pay an initial £40million for the 21-year-old academy graduate with an additional £2.5m in possible add-ons.
Palmer is a Blue!
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
“I’m excited to get started and it feels great to sign,” Palmer told his new club’s website.
“I’ve joined Chelsea because the project here sounds good and because of the platform I will have to try to showcase my talents. It is a young and hungry squad and, hopefully, we can do something special here.”
It takes spending in …
Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 8/11 @
In what could prove to be an action-packed affair from the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Sunday afternoon, RB Leipzig will make the trip to Union Berlin.
Starting with the hosts, making real history last season as they claimed a famous top-four finish, Union Berlin are certainly riding a remarkable wave of momentum. Opening the 2023/24 campaign with a thumping 4-1 victory at home against Mainz, Urs Fischer’s men have quickly established themselves as one of Germany’s elite. Last seen putting in another heavyweight performance as they claimed another 4-1 romp away at Darmstadt, the Irons Ones will be looking to make another statement this weekend. Signing off their pre-season by hitting Italian giants Atalanta for …