Real Madrid s Dutch international midfielder Rafael van der Vaart will be sidelined for at least three weeks after he tore a muscle in his left thigh during a weekend match, the Spanish club said Monday.
The injury means the 27-year-old will miss Real s four remaining league matches but may be fit in time to play for Holland at the World Cup in South Africa in June.
The club made the announcement after van der Vaart, who was replaced by Raul after 15 minutes in Real s 2-1 away win over Real Zaragoza on Saturday, underwent a scan at a Madrid hospital.
Van der Vaart, product of the Ajax youth system, has scored 15 times for the Dutch national team during 75 appearances.
He joined Real in 2008 from German side Hamburg on a five-year contract.
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Patrick Vieira s international career appears to be over after he was omitted from the 30-man provisional World Cup squad announced by France coach Raymond Domenech on Tuesday.
Vieira, the former captain and a World Cup winner in 1998, joined Manchester City from Inter Milan in January in a bid to prove his fitness after struggling with injuries in recent seasons.
He will not be given a chance to add to his 107 caps in South Africa though, and Domenech revealed the decision not to choose him had been a difficult one.
We talked about this for a long time, said the France coach.
I had to judge him on the professional side. It is a very emotional decision.
Vieira said he accepted Domenech s choice but admitted to feeling aggrieved that he had not…
Winning the Champions League is the driving force behind Atletico Madrid, according to captain Diego Godin.
Atletico are in the hunt to win their second La Liga title in three seasons, with the Spanish capital club level alongside champions Barcelona atop the standings.
However, reigning supreme in Europe s illustrious competition is the goal for Atletico who will face PSV in the last 16 having finished runners-up to rivals Real Madrid in 2013-14.
Speaking at the AS Gala awards ceremony on Monday, Godin was asked what he wanted in the New Year and the Uruguay international said: To win titles.
The dream of all Atletico s is to win the Champions League and we re gonna fight for that.
Beyond the points and reaching our goals, the vibes are very po…
Valencia forward Pablo Piatti will be out of action for up to five weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury.
The Argentinian suffered the injury to the hamstring in his right leg in training on Friday and was sent for tests on Monday.
And Valencia have revealed that Piatta, signed from Almeria in 2011, is set for another spell on the sidelines after also suffering a thigh problem back in September.
A statement on the Valencia website read: Tests on Monday morning confirmed that the player (Piatti) has a hamstring injury in his right leg, with a recovery time of 4-5 weeks.
Piatti will now miss both legs of Valencia s UEFA Europa League last-32 tie with Dynamo Kiev, the first of which takes place on Thursday.
The 24-year-old have scored five goals in 18 app…
Dele Alli has been told by England manager Gareth Southgate he faces a battle to win back his place in the international squad.
Southgate dropped Alli from his group to face Czech Republic and Bulgaria in England s forthcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers, while also leaving out Alli s Tottenham team-mate Eric Dier and Manchester United s Jesse Lingard.
After playing in five of England s seven matches at the 2018 World Cup, Alli s season was hampered by injuries in 2018-19 and his problems coincided with Tottenham s dip in form in February.
The 23-year-old playmaker has played just 30 minutes of Premier League football this season, having recovered from a thigh injury, and Southgate said he has yet to return to his best form.
I think the last 12 months in par…
Market: Sporting Lisbon win to nil
Odds: 23/20 @
Making their final home appearance of the season in midweek, Sporting will be looking to make a return to winning ways when Vitoria come to town on Tuesday night.
Starting with the hosts, while Sporting Lisbon might have been disappointed to have seen league leaders Porto pick up a 2-0 win last time out, the Lions have continued to impress during the back end of the campaign. All but guaranteeing another year of European football for fans around the Estádio José Alvalade, Rúben Amorim s men have lost just a single Primeira Liga contest since returning from football s enforced break. Ending the 2019/2020 campaign with nine straight wins on home soil, there is no doubt that Amorim will be excited by his side s e…
(GSM) Roma have confirmed the signing of Adriano from Flamengo. The Brazilian striker has signed a three-year-contract and is ready to taken on his former club Internazionale.
Adriano left Inter over a year ago to return to his native country. With 19 goals he helped Flamengo win the Brazilian title and he deserved a transfer to Roma.
“I am very happy to be at Roma and to play with the Giallorossi jersey. I hope it all goes well,” he told Roma Channel after penning the deal.
“I am convinced we’ll have a great season. I’m happy with the warm welcome from the fans, as they were looking for me all over the city.
“I don’t like making promises, but I know what I must do on the pitch and I say it will go well.”
Adriano s contract will e…
(GSM) Fernando Torres insists he can have a major impact for Spain in Sunday s World Cup final against the Netherlands. Torres has not scored a goal in all five World Cup appearances since undergoing knee surgery in April.
In the Daily Express, the Liverpool ace expresses his hope of getting the chance to play against Holland in Johannesburg. Torres, though, maintains the decision is up to coach Vicente Del Bosque.
I still feel I have a big part to play at this World Cup, Torres told the Daily Express.
It is up to the coach, Vicente del Bosque, if he starts me, but I feel ready. I don t want to make excuses but I haven t been at my best in this World Cup because my fitness is not where it should be.
But every day I feel that little bit sharper in tra…
Gerrard not returning to England
MLS commissioner Don Garber has poured cold water on speculation linking Steven Gerrard with a January return to Liverpool.
The former England star decided to leave his boyhood club this summer and in turn joined Los Angeles Galaxy, but it was believed he would consider moving back to Anfield on loan during the close season in Major League Soccer.
However, that does not appear to be a realistic possibility, at least according to MLS chief Don Garber.
“I don’t think so,” Garber told reporters at the Soccerex convention in Manchester. “And I had not heard that was something that was being contemplated.”
Steven Gerrard, 35, has so far started seven matches for his new club, scoring one goal, helping his sid…
Clarence Seedorf has no interest in discussing his Milan future, insisting only the club s hierarchy can decide his fate.
The Dutchman witnessed his side win five straight league games for the first time since 2011 in a 3-0 victory over Serie A strugglers Livorno on Saturday.
Mario Balotelli marked his 50th Milan appearance with his 30th goal for the club thanks to a glancing header shortly before half-time, while Adel Taarabt s composed finish doubled the lead shortly after the break.
Substitute Giampaolo Pazzini wrapped up the points in the closing stages by coolly slotting past Francesco Bardi in the Livorno goal.
Milan s hopes of securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League have been boosted by their recent fruitful run, but that has failed to quell rumours that…