Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez believes match-winner Jhon Duran can be “one of the best strikers in the world” after he scored a 30-yard screamer against Everton.
Duran completed Aston Villa’s comeback in a 3-2 win against Everton at Villa Park, having been two goals down to the visitors after 27 minutes.
The Colombian was subbed on after 69 minutes and scored just seven minutes later. All three of his goals this season have been winners from the bench, meaning he has now scored the most winners as a substitute in a Premier League season ever.
Having witnessed his decisive impact today, Martinez believes he can be one of the best in the game.
I have seen it from behind and I saw the ball moving it was unstoppable,” the Argentine told Sky Spo…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he cannot be tamed, while the evergreen Milan star insisted he is ageing better than Benjamin Button.
Ibrahimovic has shown no signs of slowing down this season, despite the 39-year-old s advancing years.
The former Manchester United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has scored 10 goals in six Serie A appearance in 2020-21 – a joint-high alongside Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Inter s Romelu Lukaku.
Ibrahimovic s exploits have helped unbeaten Milan top the table in pursuit of their first Scudetto since 2010-11, the ex-Sweden international s first spell at the club.
Asked who is less likely to be tamed, Zlatan or a lion, Ibrahimovic told UEFA.com: Zlatan, 100 per cent.
You can tame a lion, but you cann…
Former Netherlands star Wesley Sneijder has retired from football after arranging a business deal with Eredivisie side Utrecht.
The 35-year-old has been without a club since his 18-month deal with Qatari side Al-Gharafa ended in July.
He has signed a contract with Utrecht s business arm and will be able to watch the team play from a private box this season.
I have a lot of love for this city. Now that I ve quit playing, I want a nice place to share my experiences, he told the club s TV channel.
Sneijder began his senior playing days with Ajax in 2002 and went on to play for Real Madrid, Inter, Galatasaray and Nice in a storied career in Europe.
Gefeliciteerd met je fantastische carrière, !
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje)
He was a s…
Borja Valero appears to have confirmed he will leave Inter when his contract expires.
Antonio Conte was reportedly interested in handing the veteran midfielder a one-year contract extension at San Siro.
The 35-year-old s deal is due to expire at the end of August and he posted a farewell message to the club on his official Twitter account.
Valero wrote: It was an honour to wear these colours. Thanks for everything @Inter.
È stato un onore indossare questi colori. Grazie di tutto
— Borja Valero (@borjavalero20)
Valero joined Inter from Fiorentina in 2017 and made 100 appearances for the Nerazzurri, scoring five goals.
A return to Fiorentina could be in the offing for the Spaniard, while Genoa and Parma have also been credited…
Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Martin Odegaard for how he has started at Arsenal, calling the midfielder s effort phenomenal .
Odegaard joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid towards the end of the January transfer window.
He is yet to register a goal or an assist in eight outings for the Gunners, prompting former players like Martin Keown and Nigel Winterburn to criticise his start.
But Arteta has been highly impressed by the 22-year-old and is thrilled with how well he has settled, amid speculation over whether Arsenal will opt to pursue a permanent move.
I m really happy with him, said Arteta. I think he has settled really, really quickly into the team and with what we demand from the players.
His behaviour, his attitude and his work ra…
Antonio Conte was left fuming over a heated post-match exchange with Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli following Inter s Coppa Italia semi-final exit.
The Milan-based side were held to a tense 0-0 draw in the second leg at the Allianz Stadium as the Old Lady advanced to the final, 2-1 on aggregate, before ugly scenes allegedly erupted following the final whistle.
Media outlet RAI reported that Conte made an insulting gesture towards his former employer Agnelli at half-time, and the Juve chief retaliated by verbally abusing the Inter coach as the teams left the field.
Conte criticised his former club s behaviour in his post-match interview but stopped short of pointing any fingers.
Juventus should tell the truth, Conte told RAI.
I think the …
If Celtic fail to win away to Dundee United today (Sunday), Rangers will be crowned champions of Scotland for the first time since 2011. This is how the players and manager Steven Gerrard celebrated after their triumph over St. Mirren on Saturday.
https://twitter.com/empireofthekop/status/1368280927273639940
…
Bournemouth have signed winger Justin Kluivert from Italian club Roma for an undisclosed fee.
The 24-year-old, who was capped twice by the Netherlands in 2018, has agreed a “long-term contract” at Vitality Stadium.
He becomes the Premier League club’s first signing since the appointment of head coach Andoni Iraola following the sacking of Gary O’Neil.
Cherries chief executive Neill Blake said in a statement: “We are delighted to have made Justin our first signing ahead of the new season.
“He was coveted by a number of clubs across Europe and his arrival is a sign of his ambition which is matched by ours.
“Justin is an exciting and versatile attacking player who has an eye for goal. He is pacey, direct and boasts a high level of techn…
Gabriel Magalhaes scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a derby win at Chelsea
Gabriel capitalised on some terrible Blues defending from a Bukayo Saka corner in the second half to move Mikel Arteta s side two points clear of Manchester City.
The Gunners were good value for their third consecutive away win over their London rivals in the top flight, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang endured a miserable first game against his former club.
Chelsea have now suffered back-to-back top-flight defeats and this was their first loss at Stamford Bridge since going down 4-2 to Arsenal in April.
9 Gabriel Magalhães has scored nine goals from corner situations in the Premier League, the most of any player in the competit…
Jude Bellingham had a tongue-in-cheek comment for his doubters after another dazzling Champions League display earned the Borussia Dortmund midfielder plaudits from Pep Guardiola and Edin Terzic.
Bellingham was part of the BVB team beaten 2-1 by Manchester City on Wednesday to exit the quarter-finals 4-2 on aggregate.
But the England international was the game s outstanding player for 45 minutes in which he scored his first Champions League goal.
Denied a breakthrough strike in contentious circumstances in the first leg, Bellingham coolly picked out the top-right corner after 15 minutes at Signal Iduna Park.
The 17-year-old became the second-youngest scorer in a Champions League knockout tie, older only than Bojan for Barcelona in 2008.
It ultimat…