Lionel Messi not winning a World Cup would be unfair – Ustari

Eric Choupo-Moting s contract extension with Bayern Munich will have no influence on a potential move for Tottenham talisman Harry Kane.

That was the message from Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic after Cameroon international Choupo-Moting signed a new deal until June 2024 on Friday.

The Bundesliga champions have been repeatedly linked with a move for Spurs striker Kane since losing the prolific Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona.

Sadio Mane arrived from Liverpool ahead of the 2022-23 season, but Choupo-Moting remains the Bavarian giants only out-and-out frontman.

The 33-year-old has scored 10 times in 17 league appearances this season, and Salihamidzic is keen to see Choupo-Moting continue to develop as he gave little away about a potential move f…

Juventus have signed defender Gleison Bremer from Torino for a reported €40million fee, plus add-ons.

Massimiliano Allegri s side lost Matthijs de Ligt to Bayern Munich on Tuesday but have swiftly acted to bring in Serie A s Defender of the Year from the 2021-22 season.

Bremer looked set to join Inter after announcing his intention to leave Torino, seeking Champions League experience to boost his World Cup squad hopes for Brazil in Qatar in November.

But the 25-year-old will still be playing his football in Turin next campaign after Juve confirmed Bremer s arrival on a five-year contract from their city rivals.

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Antonio Rudiger is contemplating a move away from Chelsea before this transfer window is out, according to .

The 27-year-old was named sat out his team s Premier League opener against Brighton and Hove Albion on the bench and he wasn t even named in the matchday squad in the second round against Liverpool on Sunday. When asked about it after that game, manager Frank Lampard simply replied that he had five centre-backs at his disposal and there was clearly no room for all of them.

Having arrived from AS Roma in 2017, Rudiger has made 115 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea since, 26 of which came in 2019/20. This term, however, the only games he has played so far were the two for Germany in the UEFA Nations League against Spain and Switzerland.

The defend…

Jurgen Klopp was hugely impressed with his back-up brigade after Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-1 in the Community Shield, as he hit out at the nature of judging players in pre-season.

Liverpool triumphed in a fiercely contested clash with the Premier League champions at the King Power Stadium on Saturday thanks to goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez.

The latter impressed with a 30-minute cameo from the bench, marking his debut in English football in style and outshining City s big-money striker – Erling Haaland – in the process.

Nunez stooped low to head in a left-wing cross in stoppage time to put Liverpool two goals ahead, shortly before Haaland inexplicably hit the crossbar at the other end after Adrian had kept out Phil …

Rafael Benitez says he wanted to stay at Newcastle United but could not agree on a shared vision with those at the top of the club .

After he was unable to stave off relegation from the Premier League in 2015-16, Benitez led the Magpies out of the Championship at the first attempt and subsequently re-established them as a top-flight club.

But Benitez had a difficult relationship with controversial owner Mike Ashley, regularly hinting in his comments to the media at disagreements over the club s perceived lack of transfer activity.

And in a letter to Newcastle fans posted on social media on Monday, the day after his contract expired, Benitez explained why he was unable to agree a new deal for the 2019-20 campaign.

I wanted to stay, but I didn t just want …

Luis Suarez concluded his mastery of the Club World Cup as Barcelona collected their third global crown with a 3-0 final victory over River Plate.

Suarez scored a semi-final hat-trick as Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao were brushed aside and – joined once more by his forward allies Lionel Messi and Neymar – the Uruguayan star netted a second-half brace.

Messi, who missed the semi through illness, opened the scoring as Luis Enrique s team recovered from an uncertain opening to establish the control and dominance that has already secured La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles during 2015.

Neymar had to settle for a pair of assists on his return from a groin problem as Barcelona s formidable array of attacking talents made them the first club to win three…

Jurgen Klopp allayed fears over the fitness of captain Jordan Henderson for Liverpool s Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Inter, a team he considers the best in Italy.

Henderson suffered a minor back issue playing against Cardiff City in the FA Cup, which ruled him out of the 2-0 win over Leicester City.

The skipper was back as the Reds defeated Burnley 1-0 on Sunday and took a knock on the knee against the Clarets.

However, Liverpool boss Klopp confirmed Henderson will be fit for a mouth-watering showdown with reigning Serie A champions Inter at San Siro on Wednesday.

Hendo is fine, he got a knock on his knee, today was the second day of recovery for a lot of players, Klopp said.

So, not the longest session for him, but apart from that …

Jose Mourinho hailed the ambition shown by Tammy Abraham after the forward joined Roma from Chelsea on Tuesday.

Abraham has signed a five-year contract with the Serie A club to fill the void left by Edin Dzeko s departure to Inter.

Roma paid €40million (£34.1m) to secure the services of a player who made his Chelsea debut in 2016 and has played six times for his country.

Mourinho believes leaving the Premier League behind for a new challenge shows Abraham has lofty aspirations.

That hug though  

— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN)

With Tammy, I prefer to say, wait and see , Mourinho said in a video posted on Roma s Twitter account.

I say that with total confidence. I ve known him since he was a boy. He s never played for …

Germany scored five goals in the first half of a game for the first time since crushing Brazil 7-1 at the 2014 World Cup during Tuesday s Euro 2020 qualifier against Estonia.

Joachim Low s side stunned world football when they beat tournament hosts Brazil at the Mineirao to secure a spot in the final five years ago, eventually going on to lift the trophy.

Things have not always been plain sailing since, as they disappointed as defending champions at last year s World Cup, but they look to be getting back to their best, with Tuesday s game evidence of that.

Marco Reus got Die Mannschaft off to a fine start with an easy finish in the 10th minute, and that was soon followed by a similarly straightforward goal courtesy of Serge Gnabry.

It was 3-0 with 20 minu…

Arkadiusz Milik scored his second goal in as many games and Mattia Perin saved a Luka Jovic penalty as Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina.

Milik made his first Juve start, with in-form ex-Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic dropping to the bench, and he opening the scoring early on at Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The Bianconeri faded after that promising start and Christian Kouame equalised with his first Serie A goal since September 2020.

Perin brilliantly denied Jovic after Leandro Paredes gave away a penalty on his debut and that ensured Juve remain unbeaten this season.

Juve were in front nine minutes in, when Juan Cuadrado s cross was met by a Filip Kostic volley that was chested in by Milik from close range.

The Viola deservedly equalis…