Schlupp set for Manchester move

Zinedine Zidane feels sorry for former Real Madrid coach Radomir Antic after he claimed Luka Modric did not deserve to win the Ballon d Or.

Antic told Goal that it made no sense for Modric, who lifted the Champions League with Madrid before inspiring Croatia to a first World Cup final last year, to claim the 2018 prize because he doesn t give goals or assists .

Zidane, though, insists Modric fully deserved to end Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi s 10-year dominance of football s top individual honour.

People can say what they want, he told a news conference. I feel sorry for people who say things like that.

He deserves the Ballon d Or, he earned it, with his skill and his attitude. If anybody thinks differently, then I m sorry.

Zidane was sp…

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has appointed a retired assistant police chief constable to lead an independent review into the body s handling of intelligence in relation to Dr Mark Bonar.

The Sunday Times claimed at the weekend that London-based Bonar was secretly filmed by an undercover athlete stating that footballers, cyclists and tennis players were among sportspeople he had treated with banned substances.

The newspaper acknowledged it had no independent evidence of the medic providing such treatment.

Bonar is said to have stressed he administered treatment to the athletes for medical reasons and not to enhance performance, while it has not been suggested the substances were illegal.

Posts on a Twitter page purported to be Bonar s personal account acc…

French striker Loic Remy is almost certain to leave Chelsea at the end of the current season, .

The 29-year-old never quite managed to prove his worth at Stamford Bridge and he was heavily linked with a January exit.

However, while he rejected a lucrative offer from China in the winter, he now seems prepared to move to Asia.

Remy was offered a four-year deal worth €7 million per campaign, but he demanded €9 million, which ultimately prevented the deal from being made.

Nevertheless, another Chinese club appear ready to match his wage demands, meaning that a summer move to China is a realistic possibility.

Loic Remy enjoyed successful spells with QPR and Newcastle United, and he had a good start to the stint at Stamford Bridge, scoring 7 goals…

How many times have you heard Donny van de Beek’s name over the past 24 hours? Probably, a ton. And that’s more than deserved for him, given how good he’s been for Ajax during the current 2018-19 season.

The talented playmaker might not shine as much as Dusan Tadic, Hakim Ziyech or David Neres. He doesn’t grab headlines in the rumour mill like Frenkie de Jong or Matthijs de Ligt, two of Ajax’s biggest transfer chips. But one thing is certain. The 22-year-old central midfielder has been one of the most important players for the Amsterdam-based side.

Over the past 24 hours, van de Beek has been linked with PSG and Real Madrid. He was linked with an AC Milan who were close to sign him two years ago last week. And let’s be honest he would be linked with a move t…

Mark Hughes believes Stoke City are starting to show more intelligence in managing games after they drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The visitors fell behind to James McArthur s looping header in the 11th minute at Selhurst Park, only for Peter Crouch to tap home an equaliser two minutes later.

Stoke failed to show the same sort of attacking threat that saw them beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Britannia Stadium the previous weekend, but Hughes was content with a point in a match he feels they could have lost earlier in the season.

It s about managing the games and making sure you take something out of the game, he said. 

In the past we ve been guilty of doing okay then getting to the last period of the game and conceding and that s taken the game awa…

England defender Gary Cahill said it would come as no surprise if his team went a long way at the FIFA World Cup.

Roy Hodgson s men are given little chance of progressing deep in Brazil, having drawn Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica in Group D.

Cahill, 28, said it was an open tournament with several teams capable of going deep at the showpiece event.

It’s so open, with so many good teams there. In that respect it s like the latter stages of the Champions League, with so many good teams out there, the Chelsea defender said.

If we went forward, would it surprise you? No. If Brazil did, would that surprise you? No.

A lot of teams could go a long way and it wouldn t surprise you – and we re certainly in that category.

Cahill said his move to Chelsea fro…

Pierluigi Collina has urged referees to add the correct amount of stoppage time at the end of games regardless of the circumstances.

​FIFA s head of refereeing discussed Sunday s clash between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield, in which only three minutes were added at the end of the hosts 7-0 win despite six goals having been scored in a second half that also saw 10 substitutions and a VAR delay.

The World Cup in Qatar had games elongated by added time that was supposed to be more reflective of actual time lost during the 90 minutes, but this trend has mostly not carried on into club football.

Last weekend in the Premier League, there were 10 matches, Collina told reporters. Four had additional time of 10 minutes or more [across the first half and se…

Portugal international Nani will play for La Liga side Valencia next season, Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim confirmed.

Valencia are yet to confirm the deal but will reportedly pay €8.5million to lure Nani to the Mestalla Stadium.

The 29-year-old former Manchester United winger on international duty at Euro 2016 spent just one season with Fener in the Turkish Super Lig.  

Nani will play for Valencia next season, Yildirim told AMK Sport.

Nani preparing for Portugal s Euro 2016 quarter-final against Poland on Thursday returned to his best form with Fener after falling out of favour at Old Trafford.

In 28 league appearances in 2015-16, Nani scored eight goals 12 in all competitions as Fener finished runners-up to rivals Besiktas in the Super L…

Wayne Rooney is understandably optimistic ahead of England s quarter-final clash with Italy on Sunday.

Following England’s disappointing showing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the team has appeared considerably more relaxed and determined at Euro 2012, and Rooney is sure they are ready to reach the semi-finals.

The Manchester United striker believes the squad are more organised and together than any previous national team selection he has been involved with.

Although he admits Italy will prove a massive test for England, he is confident the team are more than good enough to beat Cesare Prandelli s side.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Rooney said: We re more organised than ever. The lads have all been fighting for each other.

We want to do this…

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has hailed the impact Paulo Bento has had since his appointment as Portugal manager.

The former Sporting Lisbon boss was named as Portugal s head coach in September 2010, and has since gone on to win 60 percent of his 20 games in charge, including a 4-0 win over Iberian rivals Spain.

And Martinez feels that his colleague deserves all the credit possible for his good work, following the team s qualification for the Euro 2012 semi-finals.

I am really impressed with Portugal, Martinez told UEFA.com.

I am fascinated how Paulo Bento has found the perfect, winning formula for Portugal. He deserves huge credit, it was a very astute tactical change to free (Cristiano) Ronaldo and allow all the good play.

Martinez complim…