Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said any issue with Mesut Ozil is not racism-related, but claimed comments from the Arsenal star s agent are untrue and getting on his nerves .
There has been significant fallout since Ozil announced his retirement from international football earlier this month after he released a three-part statement, addressing criticism he received following a meeting with Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ozil has Turkish roots and has subsequently accused sponsors, German media and German Football Federation (DFB) president Reinhard Grindel for scapegoating him after the country s shock group-stage exit at the 2018 World Cup.
The 29-year-old playmaker, who earned 92 caps with Germany, alleged the treatment of him was …
Market: Over 1.5 goals
Odds: 4/11 @
Looking to extend on their remarkable European charge, Waterford will welcome Sligo Rovers to town on Friday night.
Starting with the hosts, while Waterford might have only made their Premier Division return this season, the Blues have embarked on a remarkable top-flight romp. However, despite being left disappointed earlier in the week as they slumped to a 3-0 drumming at the hands of Derry City, Keith Long’s men should still find the mood in their camp at a continued high. Signing off May with a 2-1 victory against Bohemians, some around the Regional Sports Centre are dreaming of the chance to mount a genuine European charge. Opening Friday’s showdown showdown sat just three points adrift of breaking into the top-three, …
Oleksandr Zinchenko expects true warrior Gabriel Jesus to return much strong than before after his injury but has backed Eddie Nketiah to step up for Arsenal in the meantime.
Mikel Arteta s side will resume their Premier League campaign five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table after impressing before the World Cup break.
Arsenal host West Ham on Monday, but they will do so without Jesus after the Brazil forward underwent knee surgery following an injury in Qatar.
Zinchenko, who joined Arsenal with Jesus from Manchester City in the last transfer window, vowed his team-mate will return stronger as he encouraged the Gunners to step up in his absence.
He s one of the leaders in our team. He s a true warrior, the Ukraine international told…
Barcelona travel to the Spanish capital to take on Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday, and for the first time in a long time, they do so with somewhat justified optimism.
As Bob Dylan said, the times, they are-a-changin’ .
That will perhaps be one of the many songs we will hear blaring out at Camp Nou after Barcelona signed a deal with music streaming giant Spotify for naming rights to the iconic stadium from next season.
This is a club that until 2006 thought it uncouth to even have a shirt sponsor, and when they eventually did, it was a philanthropic deal with UNICEF.
Eventually, the increasing need for vast sums of money in order to stay relevant at football s top table led to the Blaugrana signing a deal with Qatar Airways, though their financial sit…
Bayer Leverkusen hope versatile midfielder Stefan Reinartz can return for the start of next season after surgery on an Achilles injury.
The Germany international has not played for Leverkusen since March s UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, having suffered with constant injury woes over the past few months.
However, the 25-year-old has successfully undergone surgery in Switzerland to release a trapped nerve that was found to be the root of his problems.
Reinartz has featured 22 times in all competitions for Leverkusen this term and, while he will miss the final rounds of the Bundesliga, the club are hopeful he will be available for selection next season.
A club statement read: Stefan Reinartz underwent a successful operation on his damaged cal…
In search of an immediate boost on Saturday evening, Real Madrid put in a rampant performance as they cruised their way to a 3-0 romp against Girona.
Heading into the half-time interval with a deserved 2-0 lead as the red-hot Joselu and Aurelien Tchouameni bagged a quickfire brace midway through the first-half, Carlo Ancelotti’s side largely didn’t have to get out of second gear here.
Essentially wrapping up all three points as the remarkable Jude Bellingham bagged his sixth La Liga strike of the season on the 71st minute, Los Blancos certainly came roaring back following last weekend’s infamous 3-1 drumming at the hands of Atletico.
While Girona might have been smelling the chance to spring a famous upset here following a stunning start to the 2023/24 cam…
Erik ten Hag has credited Casemiro for raising the limits at Manchester United since his August arrival from Real Madrid.
Casemiro has forged a fruitful midfield partnership with Christian Eriksen since swapping the Santiago Bernabeu – where he won five Champions League titles – for Old Trafford.
With United just one point adrift of the Premier League s top four ahead of Saturday s trip to Wolves, Ten Hag believes the Brazil international s presence has had a huge impact on his team.
Asked about Madrid s decision to part company with Casemiro, Ten Hag said: I m happy they sold him, he s a magnificent player.
Our analysis was that we needed someone in the [number] six position. We had lot of discussions about it in this room, but we needed the right …
Avram Grant believes Antonio Conte arrived at Chelsea at the perfect time, while insisting Jose Mourinho is no genius.
Conte took over at Stamford Bridge ahead of this season and has helped the club to an eight-point lead atop the Premier League table.
The Italian is at the helm after a poor 2015-16 campaign for Chelsea, who parted ways with Mourinho during that season.
Grant, in charge at the club in 2007-08, said the timing was ideal for former Juventus coach Conte.
Conte came at the right time. The players were ready for the change and wanted the change, the Ghana boss said via The Guardian.
With a lot of respect to Jose, I didn t like that the media said he was the king of the world and a genius — he was not — and he s not so useless li…
Reconnecting with Johan Cruyff s Barcelona philosophies must be the number one priority for whoever the Catalan giants pick as a replacement for Luis Enrique, says Joan Laporta.
Barca are in the market for a new coach following Luis Enrique s decision to leave the club at the end of the season, with Jorge Sampaoli, Ernesto Valverde and Ronald Koeman heavily linked with the role.
Cruyff revolutionised Barca when the former player returned as manager, the Dutchman switching to a more positive, possession style game that has been maintained through the likes of Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova.
He was also instrumental in changing attitudes at the club s training ground La Masia which has gone on to produce world-class players like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta…
Gary Cahill believes Chelsea s perfect start to the Premier League season proves they have learned lessons from last term.
The west London club have won both their opening two top-flight fixtures of the campaign, beating newly promoted duo Burnley and Leicester City.
Chelsea finished third in the Premier League last season despite taking maximum points from their four fixtures against the two teams who ended above them Manchester City and Liverpool.
Jose Mourinho s side were uncharacteristically wasteful in several so-called lesser games in 2013-14, with dropped points against teams from the lower reaches of the division costing them dear.
But Cahill feels that in beating Burnley 3-1 and Leicester 2-0 in the space of five days at the start of this term, C…