Kerzhakov extends Zenit stay

Barcelona pair Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay are facing a spell on the sidelines after returning from international duty with the Netherlands carrying injuries.

De Jong left the field at half-time during last week s Nations League win over Poland, while Depay hobbled off later in the same game.

Neither player featured in Sunday s win against Belgium after being given permission to return to club side Barcelona early.

Barca confirmed on their official website on Monday that both players remain injured and are not being considered for selection against Real Mallorca next weekend.

MEDICAL NEWS has an elongation of the semitendinosus muscle in his left thigh. has an injury to the biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh.

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarc…

AC Milan are working on the transfer of Ruben Lofus-Cheek from Chelsea, according to Fabrizio Romano. The negotiations between the clubs appear to be going very well, and the midfielder is keen on moving to San Siro.

Chelsea have spent vast amounts of money on players in several sections of the squad in the last two transfer windows, and Loftus-Cheek has found himself playing much less than he d like to. The 27-year-old sat out five of the last seven Premier League games completely, remaining on the bench through four and missing out on the matchday squad completely for one.

Milan are reportedly looking to rebuild their midfield section and they see Loftus-Cheek, whose contract at Stamford Bridge runs until the summer of 2024 (Chelsea have an option to extend it by a ye…

Italy defender Andrea Barzagli is set to extend his contract with Juventus, the player s agent has revealed.

The 32-year-old still has over a year left on his current deal, but he is set to be rewarded for his impressive displays with a new contract.

Barzagli s official representative has admitted that the two sides are very close to reaching an agreement on the contract extension.

Barzagli is very close to signing a contract extension, agent Claudio Orlandini confessed to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

We are having meetings with Juventus and there are no problems whatsoever. We expect the signature to take place in the next few months.

Andrea Barzagli needed a while to realise his full potential, having spent his early career playing for lower div…

Serie B club Bari have announced plans to seek bankruptcy as their financial struggles continue.

The Stadio San Nicola outfit have finished in mid-table in both seasons since returning to the Italian second tier in 2011, but now face an uncertain future.

And a statement on the club s website on Monday confirmed they were exploring all avenues to safeguard football in the city.

The general meeting of AS Bari Spa was held where the majority shareholder Salvatore Matarrese Spa announced the impossibility to write off losses and to provide new finance, it read.

In social discussion, it emerged the common desire to protect the prestige and history of AS Bari.

The majority shareholder urged, therefore to establish any initiative to ensure the integrity
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“I won more Premierships alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me and two for them.,”, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho exclaimed seconds before storming out of the press conference that followed his team’s gut-wrenching 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham.

“Respect, respect, respect man,” Mourinho added as he

The Portuguese tactician is demanding respect from the members of the media and the general public who had him barraged with criticism at the beginning of the 2018/19 campaign. But does he offer any respect in return respect to the legacy of a club such as Manchester United whose supporters do not deserve such lethargic Red Devils.

Manchester United are sitting in 13th place in the Premier league table after three rounds. …

Manchester City midfielder Douglas Luiz has re-joined LaLiga side Girona on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old Brazilian spent 2017-18 with the Catalan club, making 15 league appearances but only starting once, after joining City from Vasco da Gama.

He impressed Pep Guardiola during pre-season, with the City boss keen to include Douglas Luiz in his first-team plans followed the failed attempt to bring in Jorginho from Napoli.

However, the youngster was denied a work permit and will now continue his development in LaLiga – hoping for more opportunities to impress under Girona boss Eusebio Sacristan than he enjoyed under predecessor Pablo Machin.

Douglas Luiz has today joined on a season-long loan.

Best of luck, Douglas!

— Manchester…

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In what could be an enjoyable affair from the Estadio Metropolitano on Sunday evening, Atletico Madrid will welcome Real Sociedad to the capital.

Atletico Madrid

Starting with the hosts, while Atletico Madrid might have been disappointed by their second-half collapse away at Espanyol earlier in the week, Diego Simeone’s side have continued to impress many since returning from the World Cup’s winter break. Despite being last seen eventually playing out a 3-3 draw outside of the capital, Los Colchoneros have lost just a pair of domestic appearances since way back on January 26th. Cruising their way to another Champions League ticket in 2023, the former Spanish champions are now simply hoping to sign off their campaign with a flurry. …

Lionel Messi broke yet another record with his delightful goal for Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Benfica

His first-half goal made him the only player to have scored against 40 different opponents in UEFA s flagship club competition.

The 35-year-old started off an intricate one-touch move before receiving the ball from Neymar and stroking home a delightful left-footed strike into the left-hand corner.

Out of the 40 teams he has found the net against, Messi has scored more times against Arsenal (nine) than any other club, while the former Barcelona star has also scored six goals against his current team, PSG.

The goal was his 127th in the competition, meaning only Cristiano Ronaldo (141) has scored more. His first in the…

Steve Clarke wants his West Brom side to forget about their controversial 2-2 draw against Chelsea when they host Aston Villa on Monday.

Clarke s men were denied three points due to a late penalty at Stamford Bridge in their last outing a decision referee s chief Mike Riley later apologised for.

Despite this setback, the head coach is eager for his side to move on and focus on their West Midlands derby at The Hawthorns.

If we can use the frustration to kick on and get the points against Villa then fine, he said, but the players are all experienced enough to know that you can t dwell on the previous game, you have to look forward to the next one.

Chelsea s gone and we have to move on. The next game isn t a small game either it s massive.

The sides are sep…

South Korea stars Park Ji-Sung and Lee Chung-Yong are preparing for key roles at opposite ends of the Premier League when the new season gets underway on Saturday.

Both Manchester United winger Park and Bolton midfielder Lee should feature regularly as their teams go in search of contrasting goals over the next nine months.

For Park, the season will be a disappointment if United have failed to regain the Premier League title they surrendered to Chelsea in May, while a long run in the Champions League is also expected from Sir Alex Ferguson s side.

Park returns to United after becoming the first Asian to score in three consecutive World Cups following his goal against Greece in South Africa.

Inevitably South Korea captain Park was one of his country s bes…