Andrea Pirlo said he has not received reassurances over his Juventus future, rather confirmation from the president that the project has just started in Turin following the club s Champions League last-16 exit at the hands of Porto.
Juve crashed out of the Champions League in the round-of-16 stage for the second consecutive season – the Serie A titleholders bowing out 4-4 on away goals despite beating 10-man Porto 3-2 after extra time on Tuesday.
Federico Chiesa scored a second-half brace for Juve and Adrien Rabiot headed home after Sergio Oliveira s second goal to set up a grandstand finish, but the Italian giants fell short.
For the first time in the European Cup/Champions League, Juventus have been eliminated in the last 16 for two consecutive seasons as pre…
Arsenal new boy Lucas Torreira has revealed that he is a fan of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti.
Torreira completed his £26million move from Sampdoria to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, after featuring heavily in Uruguay s run to the World Cup quarter-finals.
Speaking to Arsenal media, Torreira said: I try to look up to the best players and steal something from all of them.
It is true that I really like Verratti. I spent two years in his former club Pescara and supporters compared me to him. I went on checking his style and I liked it.
It s time
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal)
Torreira began his career in his native Uruguay before joining Pescara s youth system in 2013.
The equally diminutive Verratti also came through…
With three of the four nations having reached the semi-finals or better in the past three Asian Cups, Group B is set to be a competitive one.
With three of the four nations having reached the semi-finals or better in the past three Asian Cups, Group B is set to be a competitive one with North Korea the notable minnows. Saudi Arabia are the only proven side with three Asian championships to their name, while China are two-time semi-finalists and Uzbekistan were in the last four in 2011.
The favourites Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia
Ranked 74th in the FIFA standings, the Uzbeks are the out-and-out favourites to win the group. The fourth highest-ranked nation in Asia, Uzbekistan led by coach Mirjalol Qosimov have shown gradual improvement in the continental tournament ove…
Ivan Rakitic has reiterated that he has no plans to leave Barcelona on transfer deadline day despite a host of Premier League clubs reportedly vying for his signature.
The World Cup finalist has been linked with a January switch to Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United despite having a contract at Camp Nou until 2021.
Rakitic has been a regular since swapping Sevilla for Barca in 2014 and has featured in all but one of their LaLiga matches this year.
That has not stopped talk of a move to England, but the Croatia international insists he is solely focused on life in Barcelona.
Since I ve been here I do not know how many times I ve left and I m back, Rakitic said after scoring in Barca s Copa del Rey drubbing of Sevilla, the 6-1 win overturning a 2-0 fir…
Porto s Otavio was left frustrated after the Portuguese giants were held to a 1-1 draw by Schalke in their opening Champions League match.
Otavio scored from the spot with 15 minutes remaining in Tuesday s Group D clash at Veltins-Arena, cancelling out Breel Embolo s early effort.
Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann was on top form throughout, pulling off a superb penalty save in the first half before denying Felipe from close range after the interval.
Fahrmann also kept out a stinging strike from Otavio late on, and the winger said he would not think twice about giving up his goal – his first in the Champions League – it meant Porto had claimed the win.
I would trade my goal for a victory. We deserved victory. We fought for it, the 23-year-old said.
FC Porto striker Adrian Lopez returned to Deportivo La Coruna on Friday, sealing his season-long deal with the Spanish outfit.
The 29-year-old forward spent five years playing for Deportivo La Coruna at the beginning of his professional career before joining Atletico Madrid in 2011. Teverga-born footballer joined FC Porto in 2014 but never quite manage to break into the first team in Portugal.
Lopez spent last two years playing for Villarreal on loan and is now once again back in La Liga with Deportivo La Coruna confirming a loan deal has been struck with an option to buy at the end of the season.
Deportivo La Coruna claim the arrival of Adrian Lopez does not mean the club will end interest in Arsenal forward Lucas Perez, with the club president Timo Fernandez c…
Tony Popovic has left Perth Glory amid reports he is set to take charge of a club in Greece.
Popovic, 47, took over at Perth in mid-2018 and helped the A-League club win the premiership in his first season.
But after two seasons at the helm, the former Australia and Crystal Palace defender is leaving, with reports suggesting he will become coach of second-tier Greek club Xanthi.
I d just like to thank the players, staff, members and fans and everyone involved with the club, as well as the owner, Tony Sage, for giving me the opportunity, Popovic said in a statement.
I had a wonderful two years, winning the Premiers Plate being a fantastic highlight, along with playing in front of a sell-out crowd at Optus Stadium in the Grand Final and being a part of th…
Paris Saint-Germain s poor start to their Ligue 1 campaign continued as they fell to a 1-0 home defeat against Marseille in a foul-tempered Classique in which five players, including Neymar, were sent off late on.
Having been without seven first-team stars for Thursday s loss to Lens, Thomas Tuchel was able to welcome four of his regulars back into the fold on Sunday, yet it was Andre Villas-Boas side – who lost 4-0 in the corresponding fixture last season – that claimed the points at Parc des Princes, where a limited number of fans were allowed in attendance.
Florian Thauvin s 31st-minute volley settled the encounter, which ended in ridiculous scenes as referee Jerome Brisard dished out red cards like confetti following a stoppage-time brawl.
Neymar, who…
Tomas Chory s winner 18 minutes from time secured Viktoria Plzen a place in the Europa League, as they beat Roma 2-1 to pip CSKA Moscow to third place in Group G.
Although CSKA claimed a remarkable 3-0 win away to Real Madrid, the Czech club just needed to get the same number of points as the Russians due to their superior head-to-head record and they showed admirable character to progress.
Roma, who were already sure of second spot, looked every inch a side with nothing on the line during the first half, as they offered precious little going forward and just about survived falling behind – Jan Kovarik looking particularly lively for the hosts.
Kovarik opened the scoring just after the hour and, although Cengiz Under pegged them back, Chory got what proved to b…
Lyon sporting director Juninho said it is possible that star captain Memphis Depay will join Barcelona before the transfer window shuts.
Depay has been tipped to reunite with former Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman at LaLiga giants Barca ahead of Monday s transfer deadline.
The Lyon forward remains in Ligue 1, though Juninho conceded a departure from Groupama Stadium is still possible.
He has 12 months left on his contract, so… He has got an agreement with Barcelona, we don t hide that, Juninho told Telefoot Chaine.
It is possible that Memphis signs for Barcelona tomorrow [Monday], but it is not certain. He is the most likely to go. If he stays he will help us.
We pressed hard but it ends as a draw. 1-1
— OL English (@OL_Engli…