BREAKING NEWS: Verratti pens new five-year PSG contract

Marco Verratti has committed himself to Paris Saint-Germain until 2024, the Ligue 1 champions have confirmed.

Verratti joined PSG from Italian club Pescara in 2012 and has been a fixture in the side ever since, despite suffering numerous injuries over that period.

A technical and hard-working midfielder, the 26-year-old has frequently been a reported target for Barcelona.

But he is in it for the long-haul at PSG, with his new contract set to keep him in the French capital until he is 31.

The Italy international has started eight of PSG s 11 Ligue 1 matches this term and will likely be key for the remainder of the campaign as Thomas Tuchel s men look to win the club s seventh league title in the past eight seasons.

Brazilian striker reveals Lyon offer

Atletico Mineiro striker Fred has moved to reveal that he was offered a chance to return to Lyon last summer.

The 33-year-old had enjoyed a successful spell with les Gones a while back, bagging 34 goals in 88 league appearances for the club and winning three Ligue 1 trophies in the process.

Fred has been plying his trade in native Brazil since leaving Lyon in 2009, notching goals for fun at Fluminense before signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with Atletico Mineiro last summer.

However, he now reveals that Lyon expressed a desire to bring him back to France during the summer transfer window, but he didn’t want to pull out of the deal with Atletico Mineiro.

“I was really happy to receive such a proposal. This is not common for a player at my age,” Fr…

Rumour Has It: Chelsea, Real Madrid and Man City prepare bids for Croatia talent Josko Gvardiol

Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City are reportedly the three leading candidates to land prized RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol after his excellent World Cup for Croatia.

Gvardiol, 20, has emerged as one of the top young centre-backs in the world after breaking into Leipzig s starting XI last season, and with 19 senior caps for Croatia under his belt already, he is well established on the international stage.

Having been signed from Dinamo Zagreb for €16million in 2020, that deal has proven to be a bargain, but it remains to be seen if Leipzig feel it is good business to part ways with their young star with four more years remaining on his contract.

TOP STORY EUROPE S TOP CLUBS CIRCLE CROATIA S ROCK IN DEFENSE

Gvardiol may feel his future does…

Manchester United 2 Reading 0: Sanchez hurt as Solskjaer´s side ease through

Manchester United made it five wins from five under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with an unconvincing 2-0 victory over Reading in the FA Cup third round.

First-half goals from Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku were enough for the home side at Old Trafford, although the nine changes made to the team that won at Newcastle United left them looking largely disjointed.

Reading, who sit 23rd in the Championship, enjoyed 60 per cent of the possession and had 13 shots to United s eight, although a comeback never truly looked likely.

The downside was the fact Alexis Sanchez had to go off 64 minutes in, having apparently hurt the hamstring that kept him sidelined throughout December.

Mata dispatched a cool penalty his first FA Cup goal since the victorious final of May 2016 afte…

Pochettino not ´obsessed´ with ending Tottenham trophy wait

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino insists he is not obsessed with ending the club s long wait to win a trophy.

Spurs have developed into one of the Premier League s most consistently excellent teams since Pochettino took charge in 2014, although silverware continues to prove elusive.

The last trophy the London club won was the EFL Cup back in 2008 and a failure to claim honours has been one of the main criticisms of the Argentine s period in charge.

But Pochettino, who won the Argentine Primera Division and Copa del Rey as a player, has denied that he believes securing silverware is essential.

No, I don t feel that, he told a news conference on Tuesday. Of course we want to win. I know how you feel after winning. Our intention and desire is to win…

Mason Greenwood leaves Manchester United for Getafe on loan

Mason Greenwood will spend the rest of the season on loan at Spanish side Getafe as the forward recommences his career away from Manchester United.

The 21-year-old was suspended by the Old Trafford club on January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.

Greenwood faced charges including attempted rape and assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February that the case had been discontinued.

Casillas to end career at Porto after signing new deal

Iker Casillas said he hopes to end his career at Porto after signing a new two-year contract that will keep him at the club until the age of 40.

The Spain great is in his fourth season at Estadio do Dragao, where he has won the Primeira Liga and Portuguese Super Cup since his arrival from Real Madrid in July 2015.

The 37-year-old picked out the 1-0 victory over Benfica at Estadio da Luz in April 2018 as his most memorable moment in a Porto shirt as he thanked the club for exceeding the expectations he had for the latter part of his playing days.

Today is a very special day, he told the club s official website after Wednesday s contract announcement. I feel at home in this club.

When they gave me the chance to renew, I did not hesitate. My commitment is…

El Clasico´s guard of honour – Looking back on a ´broken tradition´

Barcelona s 4-2 win at Deportivo La Coruna last weekend confirmed the long-foreseen news that they are Spanish champions and, according to tradition, are due to be welcomed on to the pitch in their next league game by a guard of honour or pasillo. Fittingly, next up is El Clasico at Camp Nou.

While Deportivo s decision to give Barca a pasillo  for their Copa del Rey triumph was seen as a mark of respect and awe, for Real Madrid it would likely be perceived the ultimate ignominy. After all, there is a fine line between showing respect and being humiliated, and for some that line runs right through a guard of honour.

Given Zinedine Zidane s recent comments, Madrid forming a one looks unlikely, yet it has still been the hot topic ahead of Sunday s clash, which has stran…

Erik ten Hag not worried about job as Manchester United look to turn around form

Under-fire Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag does not fear for his job as his absentee-hit, confidence-sapped side prepare to travel to bitter rivals Liverpool.

The afterglow of a promising first season in the dugout has long since disappeared, with the Dutchman’s position under intense scrutiny after a wretched start to his second campaign.

United’s Carabao Cup defence ended last month and Tuesday’s lifeless 1-0 home loss to Bayern Munich in their Champions League group finale saw them eliminated from Europe with a whimper.

Now comes the unenviable task of travelling to Premier League leaders Liverpool, who start the weekend 10 points ahead of their misfiring sixth-placed rivals.

All the key information for Sunday s trip to Anfield ||

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Solskjaer confident he can deliver success at Man Utd

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted the Red Devils are going places amid uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer s position at the helm of United has come into question after overseeing the club s worst start to a season at home of any manager since 1972-73, though the Premier League giants finally won at Old Trafford in the top flight for the first time since July after edging West Brom last week.

United are in the midst of a three-game winning streak, having beaten Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League, and West Brom and Everton in the Premier League.

Solskjaer s United can move within five points of leaders Liverpool if they beat Southampton on Sunday and the Norwegian boss is bullish over his future amid ongoing specul…