Real Madrid have beaten Manchester City in the race to sign Spanish midfielder Isco, it has been confirmed.
The 21-year-old has penned a five-year deal at Real after joining from Malaga for a reported fee of €27 million.
Isco – who recently starred for Spain in their Under-21 European Championships win and who has also been capped at senior level was widely expected to sign for Real after club chairman Florentino Perez revealed the two parties had reached an agreement on Wednesday.
But official confirmation came on Thursday as Real posted a short story on their official website confirming their capture of Isco.
Isco s move to the Spanish capital is a blow to Manchester City, who were hoping that former Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini would be able to attract h…
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie was hit hardest by Alex Ferguson s retirement, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Ferguson retired in May 2013, less than a year after bringing Van Persie to the Premier League giants from rivals Arsenal.
QPR defender Ferdinand, still at United at the time, said the Netherlands international who struggled for fitness under David Moyes last season and has scored just once this term was the most affected by Ferguson s departure.
It took the wind out of everyone s sails. It gave us an extra push to go and win and be successful in that last season, Ferdinand told MUTV.
Everyone was really appreciative for what he d done for our careers.
The person it hit more than anyone was Robin. He d come the year before, tast…
David Beckham says a return to the English Premier League is unlikely as he weighs up a number of offers to continue his playing career.
Beckham announced earlier this month that he would leave MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the season after five years in the United States.
The decision triggered a wave of interest, with clubs in Australia, Brazil and Russia all clamouring to secure the former England captain s services.
But it appears Beckham may be headed to France, where Ligue 2 side Monaco have emerged as surprise favourites to sign the title winner with Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan.
The ambitious principality club are expected to begin negotiations with Beckham on Saturday following the MLS Cup final between Galaxy and Hous…
Dubai-based businessman Sulaiman Al Fahim has been cleared to complete his purchase of Portsmouth after passing the Premier League s fit and proper persons test, the club confirmed on Tuesday.
Al Fahim, 32, struck a deal to buy the club from current owner Alexandre Gaydamak in May before entering a period of legal and financial due diligence.
An official statement from the club said: The Premier League can confirm that Mr Al Fahim has submitted all the documentation required to satisfy our fit and proper persons test.
Based on the information provided the League has found no reason why Mr Al Fahim would be liable to be disqualified as a Director of a Premier League club.
Accordingly we have advised Portsmouth FC that his appointment may proceed.
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Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 3/5 @
Two sides who have their sights set on clinching a top-four finish this season, Borussia Dortmund will host Hoffenheim on Friday night.
Starting with the hosts, managing to make an immediate return to winning ways last weekend, Borussia Dortmund know that stability is key for them this season. Picking up a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Hertha Berlin last time out, Head Coach Edin Terzić couldn t have asked for a better response from his side. Suffering a remarkable last-gasp collapse against Werder Bremen on August 20th as they were eventually hit with a 3-2 defeat on home soil, the one-time West Ham coach is desperate to prove that was just a minor blip. However, opening the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign with back-to-bac…
Alfonso Ramos from Spain today (Saturday, 24 May) won the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2008 in Berlin and with it, the title of FIFA Interactive World Player 2008. With a high-spirited, energetic crowd of fans cheering him on at the Sony Center, Ramos s FC Barcelona defeated Michael Robeiro s (USA) FC Barcelona side 3:1. Dominik Posch from Austria secured the third place with a 2:1 victory over Andrea Casagrande Buffo from Brazil.
The FIFA Interactive World Cup champion received the brand new competition trophy as well as USD 20,000 in prize money from FIFA Marketing Director Thierry Weil and former Ghanaian international and first African player in the German Bundesliga Anthony Baffoe. Former German international Fredi Bobic and Kevin-Prince Boateng of English club Tottenham Hotspur al…
The venue for a football World Cup qualifier between North and South Korea has been moved from Pyongyang after the North refused to let the South play its national anthem and fly its flag at the game.
The sport s world governing body FIFA announced late Wednesday that the venue for the September 10 game has been changed to Shanghai with the agreement of both national football associations.
It gave no reason but a qualifier in March was also switched from Pyongyang to Shanghai because of the flag and anthem dispute. It ended in a goalless draw.
The second inter-Korean fixture was held in Seoul on June 22, at which the communist North was allowed to play its own anthem and display its flag. The game again ended 0-0.
FIFA regulations authorise visiting …
Watford have completed the signing of Netherlands international defender Daryl Janmaat from Newcastle United on a four-year deal.
The financial terms of the transfer were not disclosed, with Watford reported to have agreed a fee in the region of £7.5million for the 27-year-old right-back.
Janmaat has been capped 27 times by his country and joined Newcastle from Feyenoord in July 2014.
He made 77 appearances for the club across all competitions but was part of the side that was relegated from the top flight under Rafael Benitez last term.
OFFICIAL: are delighted to announce the signing of Dutch international, Daryl Janmaat!
— Watford FC (@WatfordFC)
Janmaat s signing follows Watford s double swoop to secure the services of Sunderland …
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez took a step closer to his senior return, playing a half in a friendly on Sunday.
Gomez, 19, has been sidelined since October 2015 after an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The England youth international returned to training last month and on Sunday played the second half of a 5-0 win over League Two side Accrington Stanley.
Gomez s return would be a boost for Jurgen Klopp s side, who are top of the Premier League but have conceded 14 goals – the most of any of the top seven.
A strong line-up featured against Accrington, including Loris Karius, James Milner, Joel Matip, Emre Can and Alberto Moreno.
Liverpool visit Southampton on Saturday in their first game after the international break.
…
Making the trip to rural Germany on Tuesday night looking to claim their first piece of silverware since opening the 2021/22 campaign last week, Bayern Munich managed to make more Super Cup history.
With Borussia Dortmund backed by a noisy home support at Signal Iduna Park, the defending Bundesliga champions secured what was a lively 3-1 win on the road as they lifted their ninth DFB crown.
With Bayern s Polish superstar helping himself to a brace and Thomas Muller also getting in on the act, new Bavarians boss Julian Nagelsmann also got his hands on his first title since making the move to Munich over the summer.
A squad that is looking to write themselves into Bundesliga folk law this season, we have taken a look at the major talking points from Tuesday s Supe…