Aaron Ramsey says the riches of the Saudi Pro League could not compete with his “priceless” return to Cardiff.
The Wales captain had the opportunity this summer to become the first British player to join Saudi Arabia’s lucrative league, ahead of Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson moving there last month.
But Ramsey put family first and returned to hometown club Cardiff, where he made his senior debut as a 16-year-old in April 2007 to break John Toshack’s record as the Bluebirds’ youngest-ever player.
That feeling putting this shirt back on
— Aaron Ramsey (@aaronramsey)
“There was an offer and there’s plenty of benefits to that offer over there,” said former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Ramsey, speaking about the Saudi Pro L…
France head coach Didier Deschamps was left searching for an explanation at the state of pitches at Euro 2016 following his side s final Group A game in Lille.
Both France and Switzerland had been forced to train away from Stade Pierre-Mauroy in the build-up to Sunday s game due to the wear and tear of the turf, brought on by torrential rain both before and during the competition.
The pitch was threadbare and cut up easily during the 0-0 draw between France and Switzerland, with ground staff out in full force during half-time to attempt to replace divots and ease some of the damage.
Tournament director Martin Kallen admitted last week that organisers aren t happy with the problems affecting the playing surface, particularly in Lille, Marseille and Paris s Saint-D…
Thomas Tuchel insists Bayern Munich do not see it as job done in the Champions League despite having secured top spot in their group with two matches remaining.
Bayern host Copenhagen on Wednesday knowing progress to the knockout stage is assured but they want to maintain their momentum, as well as extend their proud record of having won 17 consecutive group games.
“It’s still a Champions League game,” Tuchel told a press conference when asked if he would rotate his squad.
“We are on a roll and we are having results and we don’t want to interrupt this phase because the management of workload is not too difficult. We now have a longer break from Friday to Wednesday.
“We are discussing it. We’re certain of being top in the group but we don’t…
Manchester United are on the verge of signing Leny Yoro from Lille in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected journalist has reported that Yoro will travel to England for a medical.
Romano wrote on : “Leny Yoro’s camp, already in the process to review all the contracts from Manchester United.
“Medical tests also to follow — as Real Madrid are also informed of Yoro’s travel to England for Man United.
“United board want to be very fast with next formal steps.”
Yoro has been on the books of Lille since 2017 and came through the French club’s youth academy to establish himself in the first team. The 18-year-old central defender made 30 starts and two substitute appearances in Ligue 1 last …
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In a highly-anticipated Bundesliga clash, reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen head to the Allianz Arena on Saturday to take on Bayern Munich, with both sides looking to assert dominance in the title race.
Under new manager Vincent Kompany, Bayern Munich have enjoyed a flawless start to the campaign, sitting at the top of the table with 12 points from four matches. Meanwhile, Leverkusen, just three points behind in second place, have won three of their four games and will aim to close the gap on their title rivals with a statement victory.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich s blistering start to the 2024-25 season under Vincent Kompany has indeed silenced any early doubts about the former Burnley manager s ability to lead the Bavarians…
The 12-month delay to Euro 2020 has provided an easy angle for debate ahead of the finals this week.
Which teams might have benefited from the postponement? Italy are back in the groove, Spain were surely buoyed by a 6-0 win over Germany, and England continue to develop exciting young talents.
It works both ways, though, as Germany might have preferred the tournament to go ahead in 2020, prior to their heaviest competitive defeat and before Joachim Low confirmed his exit plans.
Meanwhile, neither situation necessarily suits the Netherlands.
The Oranje have a youthful, talented, newly settled side, but there is the suspicion they have already peaked.
Ronald Koeman, appointed in February 2018, had the Netherlands playing some thrilling, effective fo…
Caleb Porter says New England Revolution need to show they are fighters against Houston Dynamo as they look to build on their latest win.
The Revs beat Nashville SC 1-0 at the weekend to move off the foot of the Eastern Conference, snapping a five-match winless streak in the process.
They are just six points off a playoff spot with four games left to play, and Porter is hoping for more of the same mentality to come away with three points.
We talked a lot last week about just having a better mentality, not being quite as emotional, and just being more steady and having ice in our veins a little bit more, Porter said, as quoted in the Blazing Musket substack.
We are going to have to, at times, absorb. [Houston] are one of the best possession teams in the …
Theo Walcott emerged from the bench to score one goal and set up another as England earned a 3-2 victory over Sweden at Euro 2012.
Roy Hodgson introduced Andy Carroll to the Three Lions starting XI and that decision seemed to have paid dividends when the Liverpool striker sent England into a first-half lead with a powerful header.
Sweden, however, improved dramatically after the break and after Glen Johnson failed in his attempt to keep Olof Mellberg s finish out, the Olympiakos defender headed home a second to put Erik Hamren s team in front.
But Walcott made all the difference when England seemed to be crumbling, levelling the score with a 25-yard volley before laying on Danny Welbeck s outstanding winning goal.
Sweden s loss means they are eliminated …
Pep Guardiola s contract extension represents fantastic news for Manchester City fans following the club s record-breaking 2017-18 season.
City confirmed on Thursday that Guardiola had agreed new terms until 2021 the Catalan adding two years to a deal that had been due to expire at the end of next term.
The brilliance of Guardiola s side in the recently concluded Premier League campaign was clear for all to see, City sealing the title with five games remaining and reaching an unprecedented 100-point tally with victory over Southampton on the final day of the season.
Here, we look back at some of the key factors behind their dominant triumph.
7 Pep Guardiola has won the top-flight league title in seven of his nine seasons as a manager, with the only except…
The battle between Croatia and Spain in Gdansk is being tipped as one of the games of Euro 2012, for more than one reason.
Excluding the fact Croatia have lost just three of their previous 29 international matches and are set to meet defending champions Spain for the first time in a competitive fixture on Monday, this Group C fixture is serving up an interesting scenario.
Both nations are locked on four points having earned a draw and secured a victory in their opening two matches, with rivals Italy on two points and scheduled to play the Republic of Ireland in Poznan.
Spain require a draw against Croatia but should the game end a 2-2 draw, both sides would progress at the expense of Italy, irrespective of the result Cesare Prandelli s men achieve against Irelan…