Kylian Mbappe has not been distracted by contract talks with Paris Saint-Germain even if his performance levels have dropped of late, according to the forward s father.
France international Mbappe is into the final 18 months of his deal at the Parc des Princes and has been strongly linked with a move to LaLiga giants Real Madrid.
PSG sporting director Leonardo revealed last week that discussions are going well with the 21-year-old over extending his stay in the French capital beyond the end of 2021-22.
While talks continue off the field, Mbappe has struggled to fire on all cylinders on it, ending a three-game scoring drought with his late strike against Montpellier on Saturday.
But, while acknowledging Mbappe has not been at his best this term, the player…
Eden Hazard made his Real Madrid debut as they claimed a nervy 3-2 victory over Levante in LaLiga thanks to two goals from Karim Benzema.
A brace from Benzema, plus a goal from Casemiro, ensured Madrid were firmly in control when 3-0 ahead at the break before a second-half fightback from the visitors.
Borja Mayoral, on loan at Levante from Madrid, pulled a goal back and the home team conceded again when Gonzalo Melero headed in from a corner, with Thibaut Courtois preserving their lead with a fine save in the closing minutes.
Hazard, who joined from Chelsea, was given a warm welcome when introduced on the hour, the Belgium forward having missed his new club s opening three games of the season with a muscle injury.
7 Levante’s Borja Mayoral has score…
Barcelona were at their ruthless best as Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi inspired a crushing 5-0 win over Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final, with Andres Iniesta capping what is expected to be his last final in Spanish football with a fine goal.
Spain and Barca icon Iniesta is reportedly set to depart for a Chinese Super League side at the end of the season and he rolled back the years with an excellent individual display, while Suarez and Messi led from the front in an emphatic triumph to give Ernesto Valverde his first trophy at the club.
It took less than a quarter of an hour for Barca to break the deadlock through Suarez, rounding off a route-one move.
They ultimately went into the break 3-0 up, as Messi fired home and then set up the lethal Suarez for his secon…
Antonio Conte accepts turning Tottenham into a successful team like his previous Chelsea and Inter sides will be the biggest challenge of his career.
Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo last month following a disappointing run of three defeats in four, culminating in a 3-0 home loss to a Manchester United side who had been embarrassed by Liverpool the previous weekend.
The Italian had been targeted in pre-season when Nuno – initially way down Spurs managerial shortlist – was appointed, with Daniel Levy having to wait to get his man.
Results have not improved spectacularly since Conte arrived. They scraped a 3-2 win over Vitesse Arnhem in the Europa Conference League before a 0-0 draw with Everton and then a 2-1 defeat of Leeds United.
Most recently, a…
Fernando Santos is dreaming of silverware as Portugal prepare to take on Estonia in their last friendly before Euro 2016 on Wednesday.
Portugal have become a force to be reckoned with in European football over the past three decades and have made it to the semi-finals of the competition in four of their six appearances.
They progressed to the final during the 2004 edition on home soil, with Greece eventually emerging victorious, but have yet to lift the trophy.
But Santos who led Greece to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 and the last 16 of the World Cup two years ago refuses to give up and hopes Portugal can go all the way this time around.
If we think of the generations of players we have had, it s about time [we win a European title], Santos told M…
Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Xabi Alonso can follow him into the dugout after announcing the end of a glittering playing career.
On Thursday, former Spain midfielder Alonso confirmed he would retire at the end of this season.
The 35-year-old helped his country to glory at the 2010 World Cup, as well as title successes at Euro 2008 and 2012, while he also enjoyed decorated spells with Liverpool and Real Madrid before joining Bayern in 2014.
Ancelotti will already have to do without club captain Philipp Lahm next term, who made the same announcement as Alonso last month, and he spoke similarly warm words of a man capped 114 times by Spain
I have to accept his decision. We re losing a quality midfielder, he told a news conference ahead of t…
Stuart Baxter has warned South Africa s Group D rivals his side are not intimidated, despite their poor recent record at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 1996 winners have made it through to the quarter-finals just once in the last eight editions of the tournament and failed to even qualify in 2017.
They begin their quest for a second AFCON crown against Ivory Coast at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on Monday, before taking on Namibia and a much-fancied Morocco side.
South Africa have not managed to make it past the group stage in four of their last five AFCON appearances but British coach Baxter, who is in his second spell in charge, is adamant his side will give everything they have to end their disappointing run.
trained well ahead of their opener again…
David de Gea does not listen to stupid things critics say about his performances for Manchester United and Spain.
The goalkeeper came under fire during the World Cup, making just one save for his country at Russia 2018 while a bad mistake allowed Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo to score in a 3-3 draw.
De Gea has rediscovered his form since returning to United for the 2018-19 campaign, although he has only kept one clean sheet in five Premier League matches so far.
And the 27-year-old, regarded as one of the finest keepers in the world, made it clear he is not bothered about opinions from outside his club.
Normally, I don t listen to people who speak about me and focus on my job to help the team and improve, De Gea told reporters.
I never list…
Market: Uruguay win
Odds: 8/11 @
Looking to open their Group H adventure with an early statement in Al Rayyan, Uruguay will meet South Korea on Thursday afternoon.
Starting with Uruguay, while they might have been struck by a shock 1-0 loss at the hands of Iran back in September, the South American giants have proven that was nothing more than just a minor blip. Last seen signing off their pre-World Cup preparations with an eye-catching 2-0 victory against Canada, Diego Alonso s men have their sights firmly set on clinching a route out of Group H this year. Booking their ticket to Qatar with break much of a sweat during their qualifying run, Uruguay are enjoying what has been an impressive flurry in 2022. Including a thumping 3-0 win away at Mexico earlier in th…
Marco Asensio s 82nd-minute free-kick earned Real Madrid a dramatic 2-2 draw against Valencia, staving off what would have been a shock defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Valencia debutant Geoffrey Kondogbia appeared to have snatched all three points for the visitors, but Asensio assured Madrid were not left empty-handed with his second goal of the match earning a share of the spoils.
The young attacker s first came after just 10 minutes, giving Madrid further reason to celebrate after they were presented with the LaLiga trophy following their triumphant 2016-17 campaign prior to kick-off.
Asensio came into the side due to Sergio Ramos suspension Cristiano Ronaldo was also banned and the defender s absence was evident when Carlos Soler darted between the makeshift…