Sports

Lionel Messi is a Paris Saint-Germain player. Even though we ve had a few days to let that sink in, it still seems such a perplexing scenario.

Messi has signed a two-year deal at the Parc des Princes and will form probably the most-feared front three in world football alongside Kylian Mbappe and his old friend Neymar.

Barcelona s dire financial situation meant they could not bring their greatest ever player back under LaLiga s salary restrictions, meaning they begin their 2021-22 campaign on Sunday against Real Sociedad with a gaping void in their team.

This will be the first season since 2003-04 that Barca haven t been able to call upon the Argentina superstar, and his absence is sure to leave a lingering sense of astonishment that won t clear for a while, part…

After another busy off-season at Bayer Leverkusen, many would have tipped a slow start with a new face in the dugout.

With Peter Bosz relieved of his duties, Simon Rolfes and Leverkusen turned to Gerardo Seoane on the back of three consecutive Swiss Super League titles at the helm of Young Boys.

Star winger Leon Bailey also headlined the departures at BayArena, a year on from Kai Havertz s big-money move to Chelsea. Factor in major international tournaments prior to the 2021-22 campaign – Euro 2020, the Copa America and the Olympic Games – and it made for a challenging pre-season.

But Leverkusen have hit the ground running in the Bundesliga – a 4-0 rout of Borussia Monchengladbach and wins over Augsburg (4-1), Stuttgart (3-1) and Mainz (1-0) helping Die W…

Dani Alves insists things are going to change at Barcelona under Xavi, highlighting the way the Blaugrana had reinvented themselves in the past.

Barcelona sit a distant second in LaLiga, but despite watching rivals Real Madrid win their 35th title, can all but secure Champions League qualification by beating fifth-placed Real Betis on Saturday.

Alves announced his return to Camp Nou last November after originally departing in 2016, but had to wait until January to be eligible to play. Since then, the 38-year-old has made 10 league appearances, chipping in with one goal and two assists as Xavi looks to revive Barca s fortunes after the ill-fated tenure of predecessor Ronald Koeman.

As Barca close in on Champions League qualification, the Brazilian, who won 23 maj…

Roberto Martinez said it is difficult for me to talk about rumours after addressing speculation he could replace Ronald Koeman as Barcelona boss.

Martinez saw his Belgium side defeated 2-1 by Italy in Sunday s Nations League third-place play-off, having lost to the Azzurri by the same scoreline in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.

Speaking after Sunday s game, Martinez was asked about links to Barca, with Koeman s position under threat after an indifferent start in LaLiga this season and back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Bayern Munich and Benfica in the Champions League.

It s difficult for me to talk about rumours. I ve been working with this team for five years and am fully concentrated on this role, Martinez told reporters post-match.

We came to the Nations …

Oliver Bierhoff says Germany will be itching for revenge against Netherlands in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Die Mannschaft endured a miserable 2018, with their World C
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up defence ending at the group stages, while they were relegated from League A of the inaugural Nations League.

The latter disappointment included a 3-0 loss to the Dutch in October before the return match finished in dramatic circumstances as late goals from Quincy Promes and Virgil van Dijk earned Ronald Koeman s men a 2-2 draw and a semi-final berth.

In a coincidental twist, Germany will have a quick chance to avenge those losses against their rivals after being drawn alongside Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Estonia and Belarus in Group C of qualifying for Euro 2020, much to the delight of …

Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has conceded his side have serious problems in attack ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifiers that start later this month.

The Azzurri are the defending European champions, having beaten England on penalties at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final.

Mancini s men have been drawn in Group C with England again in qualifying, alongside Malta, Ukraine and North Macedonia – who they lost to in the World Cup play-offs.

Italy will be desperate to make up for the disappointment of not reaching Qatar 2022 and begin their latest campaign at home to England on March 23 before travelling to Malta three days later.

Speaking to Il Messaggero ahead of the international break, however, Mancini acknowledged concern over his side s attacking option…

Nicolo Barella has ended speculation surrounding his future by signing a new deal with Inter.

The Italy midfielder, whose existing contract was due to expire in June 2026, has put pen to paper on fresh terms, keeping him with the Nerazzurri until 2029.

Barella had been linked with a move away from San Siro, with Premier League sides Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United reportedly interested in securing his services.

The 27-year-old has made 235 appearances for Inter since arriving from Cagliari on an initial loan deal in July 2019, helping the club win two Serie A and Coppa Italia titles, and the 2019-20 Europa League and 2022-23 Champions League finals.

Nicolò Inter

— Inter(@Inter_en)

Today, I am extremely happy and mo…

Didier Deschamps was not impressed with France s first-half performance against Moldova, insisting Euro 2020 qualification did not justify a below-par showing in their 2-1 win.

France booked their place at next year s finals before playing on Thursday, as Turkey drew at home to Iceland to ensure the visitors could not catch either their opponents or the world champions.

But rather than celebrate in style, France started sloppily in a Group H qualifier packed with decisive errors in Paris.

Clement Lenglet handed Moldova s Vadim Rata the opener, but Raphael Varane profited from Alexei Koselev s mistake, before Olivier Giroud sealed victory from the penalty spot.

With France still battling for seeding in the Euros draw, head coach Deschamps was concerned by …

Paul the octopus, the oracle of the World Cup in South Africa, has become an official ambassador for England s bid to host the tournament in 2018, organisers said Friday.

Paul, who was hatched in England but has spent the last two years in an aquarium in western Germany, joins footballers David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and singers Noel Gallagher and Sting in backing the bid.

Paul has spent the last two years of his life in Germany, but he is definitely a proud Englishman and is therefore delighted to put his support behind England 2018, said Nicola Hamilton, manager at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre in southern England, where Paul was born.

We have had a number of football approaches from around the world but Paul was only eve…

Lucas Hernandez will miss France s Euro 2024 campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during Paris Saint-Germain s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund will take a slender lead to the Parc des Princes for next week s semi-final second leg after Niclas Fullkrug s strike powered them past PSG in Wednesday s first leg in Germany.

Hernandez sustained a knee injury while chasing after Fullkrug in the build-up to the goal and was substituted after a brief attempt to play on.

On Thursday, PSG announced an MRI scan had revealed an ACL tear in his left knee, which will require surgery in the coming days.

Lucas, you ll come back even stronger. We re all with you.

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)

He…