Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Vinicius Junior will continue to play in his favoured left-wing role regardless of who may join Real Madrid in the future, with Kylian Mbappe heavily linked.
Vinicius has been one of Madrid s standout performers this season, recording 10 goals and five assists in just 18 appearances across all competitions so far – second only to Karim Benzema (15 and eight respectively) in both categories at the club.
Madrid were reportedly keen to sign Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe in the transfer window, but a move never materialised, although the 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and continues to be touted as a target.
However, Ancelotti has reassured Vinicius of his place in the side no matter who may arrive in …
Real Madrid beat LaLiga pacesetters Atletico Madrid 2-0 in the derby on Saturday to close to within three points of the leaders and cap a brilliant week.
Pressure was building on Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane before his side won at Sevilla last weekend and then progressed in the Champions League by seeing off Borussia Monchengladbach.
The Spanish champions therefore headed into the clash with Atleti in high spirits and quickly established another lead through Casemiro s header.
Atleti had won their prior seven LaLiga matches and were unbeaten this term, but their record against Madrid is rather less impressive and Jan Oblak s unfortunate second-half own goal ensured a ninth consecutive league meeting with their neighbours without victory.
Madrid had the vi…
United States are peaking heading into the Women s World Cup final against Japan, according to captain Abby Wambach and goalkeeper Hope Solo.
A repeat of the 2011 decider in Germany where the Japanese won on penalties is on the cards in Vancouver on Sunday.
Jill Ellis side were 2-0 winners over Germany in the semi-finals on Tuesday, before Japan edged England 2-1 in a thriller a day later.
New York-born forward Wambach, approaching her 249th international cap, said the most impressive aspect of the Americans campaign was their spread of performers.
Before the game Jill told us that big players rise for big moments and I think that s kind of been exemplary for not only own back line but Carli Lloyd thought out this tournament, Wambach said.
I…
With the top European seasons now finished attention turns to the European Championship and also the transfer market.
Although a lot of transfer deals will be delayed until after the Euros there is still likely to be some activity in the coming weeks.
There has been quite a bit of speculation about players currently plying their trade in Italy’s Serie A. Here is the five players who have caught my attention:
1) Edinson Cavani (Napoli)
Although Napoli finished outside the Champions League spot this season the Azzurri did win the Coppa Italia and it seems to have convinced the Uruguayan that his future lies in Naples. However, Cavani is hot property after firing home 32 goals in all competitions this season.
The 25 year-old is highly-rated and ha…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is keen to sign Lucas Moura, the Paris Saint-Germain winger s agent Wagner Ribeiro has claimed.
The 24-year-old has made an impressive start to the season, scoring four goals in six appearances under new head coach Unai Emery.
United reportedly rivalled PSG for Lucas signature in August 2012, and Ribeiro has claimed Real Madrid were also in the race, with Mourinho – then in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu – apparently a big fan of the winger.
And the representative says the former Chelsea boss is still an admirer of Lucas and wants to bring him to Old Trafford in what would be both his and United s second attempt to land the player.
Ribeiro said to ESPN Brazil: Who called Lucas Moura there [to Real Madrid]? It w…
Manchester City have confirmed that midfielder Marcos Lopes has joined Monaco.
Lopes joined City from Benfica in 2011, going on to make just five senior appearances.
And the 19-year-old, who scored three goals in 27 games on loan at Lille last term, has now secured a switch to the Stade Louis II.
Sorry I couldn t say proper bye to my teammates, Lopes posted on his official Twitter account.
I know Manchester City will win many titles, and I would like to thank everyone who worked with me from day one, especially Patrick Viera.
…
Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski suggested some of his goalscoring motivation went with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang s departure from Borussia Dortmund, but Augsburg striker Alfred Finnbogason wants to fill the void.
Lewandowski and Aubameyang have battled to be the Bundesliga s highest-scoring player over the past two seasons, with the Pole s 30 goals taking the crown in 2015-16 before his rival went one better with 31 in the previous campaign.
The duo looked set for another race to top the charts this term, with the Bayern striker s 18 giving him a five-goal advantage over Aubameyang, who sealed a €63.75million move to Arsenal on transfer deadline day.
Lewandowski admitted he would miss the challenge of trying to outscore the Gabon international, but Icelan…
Lincoln City became the first non-League side to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup since 1914 as Sean Raggett s 89th-minute sunk Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor.
Andre Gray passed up the Premier League side s best opportunity shortly after half-time but Sean Dyche s men were forced to endure a sustained spell on the back foot during the second period against the National League leaders.
They appeared to have weathered the storm as Ashley Westwood, Michael Keane and Scott Arfield all spurned presentable opportunities inside the final 10 minutes but 23-year-old centre-back Raggett, who was also on target in a more low-key round-one win over Altrincham in November, provided a magical sting in the tail in front of 3,000 disbelieving travelling supporters.
Lincoln shoul…
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes he is the right man for the club despite pressure building on him ahead of Saturday s trip to Everton.
United were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal at Old Trafford in the Premier League last weekend before Wednesday s humbling 2-1 reverse to Istanbul Basaksehir.
The nature of that performance in Turkey in particular has prompted further scrutiny over Solskjaer, who has overseen the worst start to a season at home of any United manager since 1972-73.
Impressive performances, such as victories over Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, have been undermined by embarrassing losses at home to Crystal Palace and Tottenham, and they have not scored in their previous two league matches.
Another defeat at Goodison Park, w…
Danny Rose says it is no secret he could be in line for an exit from Tottenham prior to next season.
Having struggled to nail down a regular starting spot ahead of Ben Davies in 2017-18, Rose reclaimed the left-back berth as his own last term, making 37 appearances across all competitions as Tottenham finished fourth in the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.
Rose started for England in their Nations League third-place play-off against Switzerland on Sunday, playing 70 minutes before making way for his former club-mate Kyle Walker.
The 28-year-old has two years left on his current deal at Tottenham, but reports have emerged linking him with a move away from the club.
Seven changes for the , with and Danny Rose among those coming int…