Title challenge will still be difficult, says Guardiola

Real Madrid have claimed the mantle of the highest-earning club in world football after posting record revenues in their latest financial figures.

The European champions saw revenue rise 7.4 per cent in 2015-16 to €620 million, eclipsing the figures recorded by Barcelona and Manchester United.

Barca s total of €679m included player sales (thought to amount to approximately €67m), unlike that of Madrid, while United brought in €570m when their latest records were released in September.

Madrid have also wiped out €96m of debt but profit decreased by 22.5 per cent, from €55.9m to €43.3m.

A club statement read: The Real Madrid Board of Directors have agreed to call an Ordinary General Assembly for October 23, 2016.

The correspondi…

Real Sociedad coach Jagoba Arrasate described his team s latest loss as a hammer blow after they coughed up a lead with just five minutes left.

Arrasate conceded Sociedad had another bad game against Getafe on Monday but he thought their luck had turned when Pablo Hervias gave the home side the lead in the 82nd minute.

It was not to be, however, with Getafe s Abdoul Karim Yoda striking in the 90th and 94th minutes to steal victory for the visitors from Madrid, as Sociedad slumped to their fifth defeat of the 2014-15 La Liga season.

This is a hammer blow for us, because the truth is we ve had a bad game, but everything was still in our own hands by the 89th minute, Arrasate said.

They got their equaliser and that was difficult to take but the winner was …

The full-back wrote on Instagram: I m very proud and honoured to sign for Middlesbrough. I m so happy to be back to the Premier League. I m looking forward to this new chapter of my career.

I would like to thank every single person on this club and city [Cardiff] that welcomed me very well for almost three years. I had great moments in this city, happy memories, my second daughter was born here and it is with a lot of respect and admiration that I wrote this goodbye text. 

Thank you very much for all the people from the staff that were always wonderful and helped me out a lot during these years. And last and most important is my goodbye to our amazing supporters and fans, thank you so much for all the support over the years. I will never forget it!

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Asmir Begovic insists the Chelsea players have no hard feelings towards former manager Jose Mourinho and claims they took no additional joy from beating his Manchester United side.

Mourinho a Premier League winner with the Blues in 2005, 2006 and 2015 visited Stamford Bridge with United for the first time last week, but was humbled 4-0 in a devastating reverse.

There was plenty of attention on Mourinho s return after his relationship with the Chelsea players reportedly soured prior to his dismissal last season.

Begovic, though, is adamant his team-mates celebrated a fine result rather than the fact they got one over on their old boss.

It s difficult, he said at an Asmir Begovic Foundation event. We obviously felt a huge amount of joy from the result beca…

Pep Guardiola acknowledged his substitutions made for a nervous finish after seeing his Manchester City side ease up in a 3-1 win over Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.

City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to three points as Erling Haaland struck twice in the first 25 minutes, after John Stones fine volley had given the hosts an early lead.

With City cruising against their out-of-form opponents, Guardiola withdrew both goalscorers at the break, with Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Jack Grealish following after the interval.

Leicester then threatened an unlikely fightback after Kelechi Iheanacho tapped in for 3-1, with the Nigerian hitting the post late on and James Maddison missing a fine chance.

Asked if Leicester s late onslaught had cau…

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will try to be smart with their recruitment in the upcoming transfer window and insists he is motivated to get the Reds firing again.

Liverpool have endured a torrid season, sitting in eighth place in the Premier League with nine games remaining, with Champions League qualification looking unlikely, and out of all cup competitions.

Fans were further agitated by reports last week that the club had ended their pursuit of Jude Bellingham due to Borussia Dortmund s asking price.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Liverpool s trip to Leeds United on Monday, Klopp said people will just have to wait and see when it comes to their transfer plans.

There s really nothing to say. You have to wait until we finish our business and then you wi…

Chelsea defender David Luiz has revealed he turned down the opportunity to move to Barcelona during the transfer window.

The Catalan club were strongly linked with a move for the Brazil international throughout the close-season after he was reported to be considered surplus to requirements by returning boss Jose Mourinho.

However, Luiz has now claimed that he only wanted to stay at Stamford Bridge, despite receiving an offer from Gerardo Martino s side.

He told Gazeta Esportiva: There was an official proposal (from Barcelona), but I opted for Chelsea. It was better for me and better for everyone.

I am happy to be at a big club and be in the national team representing my country.

Luiz helped Chelsea win the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League in his first full se…

Scotland manager George Burley s wish was granted on Saturday as the Scottish Premier League agreed to postpone the start of next season until August 15.

Burley had pleaded for the kick-off of the 2009-10 campaign to be put back by a week to give him more time to prepare for the August 12 World Cup qualifier in Norway.

Following talks between SPL secretary Iain Blair and Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith on Thursday, the SPL board decided to give Burley s request the green light.

The board reached their decision despite no guarantee from the Scottish FA that they would move next season s Scottish Cup semi-finals from a weekend to a midweek date.

The SPL said in a statement: The SPL board today (Saturday) announced that next seaso…

Liverpool are ready to offer Adam Lallana a new contract following his impressive start to the season, .

The England international has started all five of the Reds’ games in all competitions so far this season, scoring two goals while he also netted the stoppage time winner as the Three Lions beat Slovakia in Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge.

Representatives of the Merseyside club are looking to begin negotiations with the midfielder before the end of the year, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the 2018/19 campaign.

In total, Lallana has played ninety-five times in all competitions since signing from Southampton in the summer of 2014, scoring fifteen goals.

He racked up two hundred and sixty-five appearances for the Saints …

Jefferson Montero hopes to spend more wonderful years at Swansea City after agreeing a new contract through to 2020.

The Ecuador international has signed a two-year extension at the Liberty Stadium, his previous deal having been due to expire in 2018.

The 27-year-old former Villarreal winger joined the Welsh club from Mexican side Morelia in 2014 and has made 57 Premier League appearances to date, scoring once.

I feel at home here, he told the club s website.

The people are really warm and lovely within the club as well as the fans. 

I m happy on the field and I think when you re happy on the pitch everything else goes hand in hand. I ll always be there for whatever is needed on the pitch. 

I ve just turned 27 and right now I m at a …