Lewandowski scoops Germany´s footballer of the year prize for second year running

Milan have denied any issues in ongoing negotiations with Rafael Leao regarding a new contract following reports on Tuesday.

It was reported in Italy that discussions between the Portugal international and the club on a new deal had broken down.

Leao s deal at San Siro is due to expire in 2024 and it was claimed the player s entourage wanted to significantly reduce his release clause.

Milan have denied that any breakdown has occurred, though, and insist discussions will continue.

With regard to the article published today by the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport titled: Leao Milan total break , Milan would like to clarify that the negotiation with Rafael Leao has not suffered any interruption, a club statement read.

The journalistic narrative of…

Germany captain Michael Ballack was rated almost certain to start Sunday s Euro 2008 final against Spain despite straining his right calf in training, German media reported from Vienna as the countdown to the match reached fever pitch.

The 31-year-old Chelsea midfielder damaged his calf in Germany s final training session on Friday at their Euro 2008 base in Tenero, Switzerland, and has been receiving treatment for the injury.

Although the team flew to Vienna on Saturday afternoon for the final at the Ernst Happel Stadium, Ballack stayed behind at the team hotel for treatment.

A German football Federation statement said Saturday night that Ballack s participation in the final is still to be decided. The decision on whether to play him will be taken just befor…

Erling Haaland has been ruled out until January with a torn hamstring that head coach Lucien Favre has suggested could have been avoided had the striker not been overused.

The Norway international was left out of Dortmund s squad for Wednesday s 1-1 Champions League draw with Lazio as a result of the injury he sustained in training.

He has featured 14 times for Dortmund in all competitions this term, starting 13 of those games and scoring 17 times.

However, BVB will now have to make do without the 20-year-old for the remainder of 2020 in a major blow for Favre.

He won t play before the beginning of January. He may have played too much, Favre told Sky Germany. At first we thought it wouldn t be that bad. But he can t play now.

Love playing in the…

Barcelona News reports that Mehmet Aurelio arrived in Spain to complete a medical before signing a three year contract with Real Betis. The 30 year old arrived on a free transfer from Fenerbache.

“I am going to give everything for Betis. I’m very satisfied and happy to be in Seville”, the former Fenerbahçe defensive midfielder said, while posing with the Betis Centenary flag at the airport

Brazilian-born Aurelio, was one of Turkey’s key figures in their impressive run to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 in Austria-Switzerland. Betis beat out Deportivo La Coruña and Villarreal for his services.

[Source: Barcelona News]

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Competition: Serie A

Market: Inter Milan to beat Roma

Odds:

Serie A returns this weekend for another round of huge matches in Italy s top league. The table has remained incredibly tight this season as only a few points separate a number of teams at both the top and the bottom. The players will be desperate to get back to the pitch and take all three points, and with this in mind, Inter Milan host Roma on Sunday.

Inter Milan have been struggling in recent weeks and this is threatening to see all their good work in the early part of the season come to nothing. After 20 games they have won 12, drawn six and lost twice, scoring 35 goals and conceding 15 times. In their last five they have not won a single game, drawing three times and losing twice,…

Chelsea forward Pedro has revealed he has spoken to Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu about returning to the club.

Pedro signed for Chelsea in August 2015 having previously spent his entire career at Barca but struggled to make a big impact last season, scoring eight goals in all competitions in his maiden campaign at Stamford Bridge.

The Spain international says he has spoken with Bartomeu and several of his friends Camp Nou and is keen on ending his playing career at Barca. 

Hopefully [I can return to Barcelona], I know it s difficult, I spoke with the president when we saw each other at the Cup final and I also spoke with all the people who love me there, he said to beIN Sports.

It s complicated, but I ve always said I would like to re…

Manchester City coach Angelo Gregucci has revealed that the Premier League champions are preparing to lure Uruguay international striker Edinson Cavani from S.S.C. Napoli to the Etihad Stadium in the summer, .

Cavani, 25, has been linked with Manchester City on several occasions over the past few months.

The Uruguay international s scintillating form and terrific goal-scoring record in Serie A this season is only pouring fuel on the speculation linking him with a move away from the Naples-based club.

In all competitions (Coppa Italia, Italian Super Cup, Serie A, UFEA Europa League), the 25-year-old striker has scored 27 goals in 27 appearances for Napoli in 2012-13.

As expected, Cavani is the top goal-scorer in Serie A with 18 goals, and two …

Rafael van der Vaart says Hamburg must improve if they are to remain in the European places come the end of the season.

Rafael van der Vaart says Hamburg must improve if they are to remain in the European places come the end of the season.

Thorsten Fink s side have been in fine form of late, climbing to sixth place on the Bundesliga table.

But the Dutchman believes they must keep up the pace if they are to stay there.

Of course I look at the table, Van der Vaart told Kicker.

Each of us looks at the table and it gives us a good feeling. We need to improve though if we want to get to Europe, we must grow mentally.

Sporting director Frank Arnesen also believes that the current side is the best he has seen during his two years at the clu…

Arkadiusz Milik scored a first-half hat-trick as Napoli eased into the last-16 of the Champions League with a 4-0 home win over Genk.

With the Belgian side already consigned to finishing bottom in Group E, all the pressure was on Carlo Ancelotti s men at Stadio San Paolo on Tuesday.

Yet any concerns for the hosts disappeared once Milik opened the scoring after just 125 seconds, capitalising on an error by teenage goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt, before adding two more before the break.

Dries Mertens netted Napoli s fourth from the penalty spot but Liverpool s win away in Salzburg means the Serie A side finish second in the group, behind last season s winners.

Vandevoordt became the youngest goalkeeper to start a Champions League game but the 17-year-old ma…

Arsenal have confirmed Kieran Tierney dislocated his shoulder in Monday s 3-1 win over West Ham, as a lengthy absence beckons.

Scotland international Tierney signed from Celtic in August for a reported £25million to bolster the left side of their defence, but his impact has been minimal due to injuries.

He joined the club during rehabilitation for a pelvic injury, limiting him to 11 appearances across all competitions.

The 22-year-old started each of Arsenal s two most recent matches, but he lasted only 29 minutes at West Ham after falling awkwardly in his own penalty area.

After receiving medical attention, Tierney gingerly walked off the pitch using his jersey as a makeshift sling. Arsenal announced the nature of his injury in a short bulletin on Wedn…