Jeremy Menez has poured scorn on the notion that he is a bad boy as the France international prepares for life at new club Milan.
The 27-year-old signed for Milan from Paris Saint-Germain back in June after agreeing terms on a three-year deal.
Menez had previously experienced a stint in Serie A with Roma between 2008 and 2011, where he developed a somewhat unsavoury reputation.
However, he insists that is all behind him now as he looks to make a more positive impression on his return to the Italian top flight.
Am I a bad boy? The fact that I am a bad boy, excuse the term, is rubbish, he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
People have a false picture of me and I want to prove that I am a quiet person on and off the field.
I m not saying that I ha…
Jurgen Klopp is certain the goals will soon arrive for Darwin Nunez after his exceptional performance in Liverpool s Boxing Day win against Aston Villa.
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Bajcetic got on the scoresheet as Liverpool returned to Premier League action with a 3-1 victory at Villa Park, where Nunez gave a tireless display.
Nunez led all players on the pitch for shots (six), attempts on target (four), expected goals (1.15 xG) and touches in the opposition area (12), but the striker failed to convert any of his four big chances.
While some have criticised Nunez for his inconsistency in front of goal, Klopp has no concerns about the Uruguayan s progress.
It s incredible, what a game he played, Klopp told Amazon Prime Video after the win,…
Raphael Varane hopes to stay at Real Madrid for the remainder of his career.
The France international joined Madrid from Lens in June 2011 and has since developed into an important first-team member at the Santiago Bernabeu, making over 150 appearances in all competitions.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a number of Premier League sides in recent years, but he has made it clear he is not interested in a move elsewhere.
Right now, I would like to stay at Real Madrid until the end of my career, Varane told Le Figaro.
Things are going very fast in this industry, but why would I not want to retire at Madrid? There is no reason for me to leave.
I am feeling very well at Madrid. It is obviously very difficult to predict what the future looks lik…
Mouth-watering derbies await FC Halifax Town and Shildon if they can book their places in the FA Cup first round.
Monday s draw paired Halifax with Yorkshire neighbours and 2013 League Cup finalists Bradford City if they can overcome fellow non-league outfit Chorley.
Halifax reformed in 2008 and are currently riding high in the Conference Premier along with Gateshead, who could meet the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition.
Shildon will make the short trip north from County Durham if they can beat Norton United in a replay.
Non-league counterparts AFC Fylde face a long haul to take on Plymouth Argyle, while Exeter City are another League Two team who must guard against a potential upset when they travel to Warrington Town.
The chairman…
Libertad clinched the Apertura-Clausura double after edging Nacional Asuncion 1-0 on the final matchday.
Pedro Sarabia s Libertad held a two-point buffer on Cerro Porteno heading into the 22nd and final round of the 2014 Clausura campaign.
And Libertad preserved that lead thanks to Rodrigo Lopez at the Estadio Manuel Ferreira on Saturday.
Lopez s goal two minutes into the second half gave Libertad the Apertura-Clausura double for the second time since the format was introduced in 2008.
Cerro were 2-0 winners at Sol de America also on Saturday.
Jose Ortigoza s second-half brace ensured Cerro finished runners-up ahead of Guarani, who routed hosts 3 de Febrero 4-0 on Friday.
Guarani had four different goalscorers, with Federico Santander, Jor…
Boca Juniors and River Plate have agreed to prohibit away fans from attending both legs of the Copa Libertadores final.
Argentina president Mauricio Macri last week declared he wanted visiting supporters to be able to attend the Superclasico, with only home fans having been present for matches between the two arch-rivals in Buenos Aires since 2014.
The city s security minister Martin Ocampo subsequently stated 4,000 opposition spectators would be present at each leg.
However, Boca and River have reached an agreement contrary to that to avoid restricting the seats available to their followers.
Boca Juniors and River Plate have reached an agreement for the Copa Libertadores final to be played without the presence of away fans, read a statement released by …
Real Madrid could well end the season with a third consecutive Champions League crown, but it is a sign of the remarkable expectations they face that questions will likely still be asked of Zinedine Zidane and his side.
The Frenchman takes his charges to Barcelona on Sunday for what many would have assumed, back when the fixtures were confirmed, would be a titanic tussle for the title between the two great rivals.
Instead, Ernesto Valverde s team have already wrapped up LaLiga and are looking to complete an unbeaten top-flight campaign, having also won the Copa del Rey.
Madridistas will argue the Champions League is a bigger prize than a domestic double, but rumours over Zidane s future have intensified despite Los Blancos continuing to dominate in Europe, al…
Yaya Toure could be approaching the end of his time at Manchester City – a spell in which he wanted to help turn the club into a winning machine like Barcelona and Manchester United.
The 33-year-old midfielder is out of contract at the end of this season, having won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup over the six previous campaigns at the Etihad Stadium.
This does not amount to quite the period of dominance Toure envisaged but he believes City are on the right track under his former Barca boss Pep Guardiola.
I think we are moving forward because we have a great manager, he told the Times of India.
I believe in future we can be a perfect team. But step by step you have to do it. I think we are getting nearer to what the manager wa…
Bruno Fernandes is convinced the signing of Alex Telles is the key component behind Luke Shaw s dramatic improvement at Manchester United after the left-back won the club s Player of the Month award.
It was not so long ago that Shaw s United career appeared to be petering out to an underwhelming conclusion, particularly during Jose Mourinho s ill-fated reign.
In two-and-a-half years playing for the Portuguese coach, Shaw only made 33 Premier League appearances. While he did have injury and fitness problems, the manager s attitude seemingly did little to endear himself to the player.
Mourinho criticised Shaw publicly on several occasions, yet the left-back kept his head down and – to the surprise of very few – ultimately outlasted the Special One , kicking on …
Former Champions League and Serie A referee Paolo Tagliavento has been appointed team manager of Serie C club Ternana.
Tagliavento, who was born in Terni, retired from officiating in May after 14 years in Italy s top flight, during which time he spent a decade as a FIFA and UEFA referee.
He infamously disallowed a goal by Sulley Muntari in AC Milan s 1-1 draw with Juventus in February 2012 that proved to be a defining moment in the Scudetto race that year – a decision he described as his most obvious mistake .
The 45-year old, who previously worked as a hairdresser, oversaw 28 Champions League matches and 32 in the Europa League, but will remain in football with his hometown club.
La ha il suo Club Manager
— Ternana Official (@TernanaO…