Manchester United´s Lukaku reveals Serie A ´dream´

According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa is set to make the jump back over to Brazil in order to join Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo. The proposed deal is believed to be worth around £25 million, with Costa joining a handful of players that have made the move back down to South America. 

The controversial forward has done a solid enough job at Atletico since arriving from Chelsea, but his personality and general attitude always seems to be a much bigger source of intrigue for the masses than his actual playing ability. 

Whether or not this marks the end of his time in European football remains to be seen, but considering how much noise he likes to make with pretty much every step he takes in the game, you’d have to …

Karim Benzema has been given the green light to join Arsenal at the end of the season, according to the Express.

The North London club have long been linked with the former Lyon man and with the European Champions suffering a stuttering start to this campaign, his time at the Bernabeu could finally be over.

Should he make the switch to the Emirates Stadium, it would see him link up with fellow France internationals Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud though the latter could himself be on his way after continuing speculation surrounding his future.

Benzema moved to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2009 and has so far racked up three hundred and seventy-eight appearances in all competitions, scoring one hundred and eighty-two times.

During that…

Pep Guardiola claimed this season s Champions League will be more difficult than ever for Manchester City to win.

City are in their 10th consecutive season in the competition and have never got further than a semi-final appearance in 2015-16 when Manuel Pellegrini was charge.

Guardiola, who twice won the Champions League as Barcelona head coach, was appointed City manager with a remit to bring European silverware to the club.

Under the Catalan they have consistently reached the knockout phase, but have never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage.

And ahead of their Group C clash with Olympiacos on Tuesday, Guardiola acknowledged the quest to become European champions seems to become more of a challenge with each passing season.

It’s tough…

Mohamed Elyounoussi s first-half double was not enough for Celtic as they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Lille in Thursday s Europa League Group H clash at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Celtic attacker Elyounoussi went some way to easing the growing pressure on boss Neil Lennon with his brace in the space of four minutes against the in-form hosts, who are now unbeaten in 10 games this season.

Scott Bain kept out Jonathan David s penalty and Sven Botman hit the crossbar before the interval in what was looking like being a frustrating day for Lille.

But a first victory away at French opposition in nine attempts since 1966 ultimately eluded Lennon s men as Zeki Celik and Jonathan Ikone struck in the second half to snatch a point for the Ligue 1 club.

A s…

Ninety minutes was not enough to separate Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana final on Sunday.

Madrid emerged victorious in a penalty shoot-out in Jeddah after extra time finished with the two sides still locked at 0-0.

It marked the fifth straight time a single-game final between the city rivals has gone to the additional 30 minutes.

Here we look back at an incredible run of all-Madrid marathons.

2013 Copa del Rey final: Real Madrid 1-2 Atletico Madrid

The third trophy won by Diego Simeone with Atletico, the Rojiblancos beat their rivals in their own backyard in a dramatic final at the Santiago Bernabeu that saw then Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabi sent off.

Ronaldo had put Madrid ah…

Aliou Cisse vowed Senegal will leave our mark at the World Cup as they look to extend their perfect opening-game record at the tournament when they face the Netherlands.

The reigning African champions have won their previous two openers – a shock 1-0 win over France in 2002 and a 2-1 victory against Poland in 2018.

Senegal reached the quarter-finals 20 years ago, but they were eliminated in the group stage in the most recent edition and Cisse is hoping for a different outcome this time.

The aim is to get out of this group. Once we get out of this group, we know that it will be a knockout tournament, he told reporters.

We will leave our mark. People are already looking ahead to the last 16, the quarter-finals, but we will be taking it a game at a time…

Liverpool s shock home defeat to Burnley was sort of emblematic of the odd times football, and indeed wider society, continues to live through.

The Reds had not suffered defeat in a Premier League fixture at Anfield since April 2017 – a staggering run of 68 home matches – prior to Ashley Barnes penalty securing a famous three points for the Clarets.

It leaves Jurgen Klopp s defending champions six points adrift of the top at a time when rivals Manchester City and Manchester United – who beat the Reds in the FA Cup on Sunday – are absolutely flying.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic means this season has been another strange one, with congested schedules, hastily rearranged fixtures and empty stadia becoming the norm.

It has meant that the domina…

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted he was unconcerned about Anthony Martial s form.

Martial went without a shot at goal as United were held to a 1-1 draw by West Brom in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Frenchman has scored just four league goals in 19 games this season, but Solskjaer backed the forward, who was racially abused on social media after the draw.

I know Anthony is working hard to get back to where he was. He ll score goals, his work and his attitude is very good, he told a news conference.

Form is sometimes temporary but class is permanent and the kid s got class.

United are held at The Hawthorns.

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

And we know that when he works hard, we re go…

Burton claimed a first win in nine Sky Bet League One games as Bobby Kamwa’s early goal sealed a 1-0 victory over play-off hopefuls Blackpool.

Kamwa’s strike came almost a year after his last goal, in the final game of 2022, and gave Albion something to build on.

Goalkeeper Max Crocombe picked him out on the left wing and some superb chest control allowed him to cut inside and swing in a cross that evaded Burton forward Bez Lubala before nestling in the far corner of the net.

Jordan Rhodes squandered a good chance for the visitors, firing over from 12 yards and ex-Blackpool man Lubala saw a long-range effort deflected wide.

Sam Hughes almost doubled Albion’s advantage two minutes into the second half, his header from Joe Powell’s corner deflecting…

Manchester City s Alex Greenwood has penned a three-year contract extension, fixing her future ahead of next year s World Cup.

The 29-year-old, who signed for City in 2020, has agreed to extend her stay at the club until June 2026.

Greenwood, a member of England s Euro-winning squad under Sarina Wiegman earlier this year, has made 80 appearances for City.

Feeling settled at a club for me is so important, she told the club s official website. I just love being here.

I have a really good relationship with Gareth, and the way he wants us to play marries up exactly with how I want to. It s the perfect match for me.

We just want to keep winning football matches and trophies, which is what we expect of ourselves here. It s an exciting time to be at…