Griezmann snubs Barcelona to stay at Atletico Madrid

Antoine Griezmann has rebuffed Barcelona s advances and announced he will remain at Atletico Madrid beyond the World Cup.

The 27-year-old France star ended months of speculation by confirming on Thursday his decision to remain with the club he joined from Real Sociedad in 2014.

Griezmann looked likely to be swayed by ongoing interest from Barca, with the LaLiga champions president Josep Maria Bartomeu in May revealing he had spoken with the player s agent.

Lionel Messi also voiced public support for the move, but the two-goal hero of Atleti s Europa League final win over Marseille insists he is going nowhere.

Griezmann took the unprecedented step of announcing his decision during an extensive documentary aired on Movistar+.

Explaining the proce…

West Ham United enquire about Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne

West Ham United are interested in signing Lorenzo Insigne from Napoli in the January transfer window, according to . It has been reported by the Italian news outlet that West Ham are among the clubs who have enquired about the availability of the Italy international winger.

Insigne has been on the books of Napoli since 2006 and is a huge figure at the club. The 30-year-old, who won Euro 2020 with Italy in the summer of 2021, has played over 300 games in Serie A for the Neapolitan club. However, the winger is out of contract at Napoli at the end of the season, and no new deal is in place.

West Ham are aiming to finish in the top four of the Premier League table this season and are also playing in the Europa League. The winger remains at the top of his game and has a fair…

Both teams to score at Dynamo Dresden vs Greuther Fürth 4/6 for Tuesday’s Bundesliga II matchup

Market: Both teams to score

Odds: 

In what really is a must-win encounter for Dynamo Dresden s safety ambitions, the relegation scrappers will welcome Greuther Fürth to the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion on Tuesday evening.

Starting with the hosts, putting in what was a shocking display over the weekend and mounting a stunning second half charge to claim a 3-2 win away at Wehen Wiesbaden, Dynamo Dresden are desperate to build off of that result. Holding two games in hand after returning to action later than their Bundesliga II counterparts, Markus Kauczinski s men find themselves sat six points adrift of safety. However, continuing to show some glaring issues at the back since returning from the enforced break, Dresden also have a worrying reputation for their performan…

Burnley 1-1 Manchester United: Red Devils drop out of top four

Manchester United slipped out of the Premier League s top four after being held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley at Turf Moor on Tuesday. 

An immediate recovery from their shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Middlesbrough appeared to be on the cards for United when Paul Pogba rifled home early on.

The Red Devils were kept at bay for the rest of the first half by the officiating and the exploits of Nick Pope, setting the stage for Jay Rodriguez s equaliser.

United were unable to find a winner in the closing stages, meaning they fell to fifth with West Ham replacing them in the Champions League qualification places.

After Raphael Varane saw what would have been his first United goal disallowed for Harry Maguire straying offside, Pogba fired Luke Shaw s cutback into…

Arteta hails outgoing David Luiz and pledges to work with Willian

Mikel Arteta paid a glowing tribute to David Luiz after the Brazil defender s departure from Arsenal at the end of this season was confirmed.

The 34-year-old moved across London to join the Gunners from Chelsea in August 2019.

He has played 73 times in all competitions, scoring on four occasions and contributing to 18 clean sheets.

Arsenal have won 32 of the 69 games he has started during that time – a win percentage of 46.4 per cent – but Arteta and David Luiz mutually agreed to a parting of the ways when his contract expires at the end of his season.

David and I, we discussed it on a few occasions and the other day we made the final decision on that, he said ahead of Wednesday s trip to Crystal Palace, which will be Roy Hodgson s final home game in…

Prediction: AC Milan vs Newcastle

Best Odds: 8/15

Bookmaker:

Making their first Champions League appearance in almost two decades, Newcastle will travel to the San Siro on Tuesday evening when they meet AC Milan.

AC Milan

Starting with the hosts, marking their return from September’s international break with a woeful performance at the San Siro, AC Milan will be desperate to claim an immediate response here. Eventually slumping to an infamous 5-1 drumming at the hands of bitter local rivals Inter, the Italian heavyweights also saw their 100% start to the 2023/24 campaign come to an abrupt end. However, gaining a string of plaudits last season as they reached the Champions League semi-finals, Stefano Pioli’s men will be excited to get their new European adventure underway here. Including cla…

Barcelona exercise option on Emerson after impressive Betis spell

Barcelona have exercised their option to bring Emerson back to the club following two seasons at Real Betis.

Emerson was party to a three-way deal in January 2019, which saw Betis and Barca each pay half of the €12million fee that was sent to Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro.

At the time it was reported that right-back Emerson would stay with Betis for two-and-a-half years with the view to aiding his adaptation to Spanish football.

It was also claimed upon the completion of the complicated deal that Barca would have to reimburse Betis their initial outlay of €6m plus an additional amount in relation to his value at the time, while the Verdiblancos will be owed a percentage of any future sale.

Barca are said to be paying Betis €9m for the right to fi…

Man Utd outcast Van de Beek seals Everton loan switch

Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek has completed a loan switch to fellow Premier League side Everton.

Van de Beek has once again struggled for playing time this season, failing to start a single league game, and will now spend the remainder of 2021-22 at Goodison Park, becoming Frank Lampard s first signing.

The deal, which was confirmed by the two clubs on Monday, does not contain an option for Everton to purchase the midfielder at the end of the season.

Crystal Palace were also reportedly interested in signing Van de Beek on loan, while a number of clubs from abroad – namely Valencia – were said to be keen.

Van de Beek will be hoping to kick-start his career during his four months on Merseyside, having been restricted to just 19 starts sin…

Mbappe reminds me of Brazil star Ronaldo – Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has heaped praise on Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, saying the forward reminds him of the great Brazil striker Ronaldo.

Mbappe has scored seven goals in his past four matches for the Ligue 1 champion after a 2018-19 season in which he netted 39 times in all competitions for his club.

Manager Mourinho is a huge fan of the 20-year-old, already a World Cup winner and one of the brightest talents in football.

The only player that comes to my mind and with who I can compare him is Ronaldo, Mourinho told Telefoot.

I think they [Mbappe and Ronaldo] are players with unique qualities. If you play against him, he s scary.

Mbappe netted on Friday for PSG in a 2-1 defeat at Dijon.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL !

A fantastic as…

Essien completes Milan move; Swansea sign David Ngog from Bolton

Chelsea F.C. midfielder Michael Essien has completed his move to Serie A side AC Milan, according to the club s official website, .

The Ghana international, 31, joined Chelsea from French giants Olympique Lyonnais for a then-club record fee of £24.4 million in August 2005.

Essien tallied 17 goals and 12 assists in 168 English Premier League appearances since making his debut for the Blues against Arsenal on 21 August 2005.

The 31-year-old midfield enforcer won nine trophies  FA Community Shield (2009), FA Cup (2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12), League Cup (2006-07), Premier League (2005–06, 2009–10) and UEFA Champions League (2011–12)  during his eight-year stint at Stamford Bridge.

He was named Chelsea Player of …