Xavi hailed Barcelona for saving a season that could have been worse but wants improvements next term from the Blaugrana, who Ousmane Dembele could play his last game for on Sunday.
Blaugrana great Xavi was appointed in November as the successor to Ronald Koeman, with Barca languishing in ninth in LaLiga after an underwhelming start to their 2021-22 campaign.
However, Xavi has reinvigorated Barca as the Catalan giants have climbed up to second in the league, albeit 13 points behind champions Real Madrid with one game left to play.
Barca conclude their campaign at home to Villarreal, and with second place already secured Xavi praised the recovery his side has made, but urged them to improve to compete with Madrid next season.
We have saved a situation …
The Italian media outlet reports that Inter Milan have reached an agreement with Sampdoria forward Luis Muriel, who has agreed to move to Nerazzurri in the summer.
Although a deal is yet to be struck with his club Sampdoria, Muriel is widely expected to become an Inter Milan player as of next campaign.
On the other side, Sampdoria are still hopeful their star player will sign an extension that would see his release clause rise from €28 million to €35 million.
Muriel is contracted to Sampdoria until 2019 but it seems that Inter have managed to book the player before his renewal with Sampdoria was realised with an offer that is supposed to double his yearly earnings of €900,000.
The Colombia international joined Sampdoria in 2010 from Udinese and ha…
Having secured a berth at the 2018 World Cup, Brazil coach Tite has welcomed the attention Neymar receives from opponents, claiming it creates opportunities for other players to score.
The Selecao defeated Paraguay 3-0 in Sao Paulo on Tuesday, a result which, combined with Peru s 2-1 win over Uruguay, guaranteed the five-time champions a place at next year s finals in Russia.
After missing a penalty, Neymar netted the second at Arena Corinthians, Liverpool s Philippe Coutinho having opened the scoring and Marcelo supplying a late settler.
Speaking to the media after the match, the coach, who was appointed to replace Dunga in June, highlighted the role Barcelona striker Neymar plays in freeing up space for team-mates.
The collective empowers the indiv…
Turkish giants Besiktas have all but agreed to sign Austrian defender Sebastian Prodl from Werder Bremen, Bild can reveal.
The 27-year-old will be out of contract at the end of the season and he has decided to continue his career elsewhere despite being offered a new deal at Weserstadion.
Bild has learned that Prodl is on the verge of agreeing a three-year contract with Besiktas, and the player himself has confirmed he is in talks with the Turkish side.
“I have still not signed anything with Besiktas,” Prodl . “But there is a contract (offer), I will not hide.”
Sebastian Prodl proved to be a great signing for Werder Bremen, having developed into an important member of the squad shortly after arriving from Sturm Graz back in 2008.
The Aust…
Rangers are set to make a move for Liverpool full-back Jon Flanagan, according to the Mail Online.
The one-time England international will be released from his contract with the Liverpool once it expires this summer and is set to link up with former teammate Steven Gerrard, who was announced as the new manager at Ibrox in May.
Flanagan played fifty-one times for Liverpool in all competitions with his one and only goal for the club coming in a 5-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur back in December 2013.
Having struggled for game time at Anfield, he was shipped out on loan first with Burnley and latterly with Bolton Wanderers last season.
He made nine appearances for the Trotters and helped them retain their Championship status though he now looks set for a m…
Bayern Munich s top-of-the-table clash at Borussia Monchengladbach could not come at a better time for the Bavarian giants.
The defending Bundesliga champions are four points clear at the top and can extend that gap to seven with an away win and if other results go their way.
Pep Guardiola s men have won their last six matches in all competitions, scoring 24 goals in the process a run highlighted by a stunning 7-1 UEFA Champions League success at Roma on Tuesday.
Arjen Robben scored twice in the victory and felt the nature of the win was a glowing reflection of his side s quality.
I m still convinced Roma have a very good team they ve shown that this season, Robben said afterwards.
But we should pay a big compliment to us, to all the players, bu…
Jordan Henderson insists he has “no regrets” about moving to Saudi Arabia despite the public backlash.
The England midfielder was heavily criticised after his summer transfer from Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq and then was booed off the Wembley pitch by England fans during the friendly win over Australia on Friday night.
The midfielder had been a high-profile supporter of LGBTQ+ rights during his time at Anfield and last month apologised for any hurt he caused by moving to a country where homosexuality is illegal.
Jordan Henderson’s first tv interview since the move to Saudi Arabia. On ahead of England v Italy – live from 7pm.
— Kelly Somers (@KellySomers)
He says his beliefs have not changed and he can do good while playing there.
Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived at court in Madrid for a pre-trial hearing after being accused of tax evasion.
The Real Madrid forward, who denies the allegations, arrived for his appearance in Pozuelo de Alarcon the suburb where he lives on Monday, with court proceedings due to start at 11:30 local time (09.30 GMT).
Prosecutors allege the 32-year-old has evaded €14.7million in taxes relating to his image rights.
The four-time Ballon d Or winner is alleged to have created a business structure in 2010 to conceal his earnings, a charge also strenuously denied by his management company Gestifute.
If Ronaldo s case is sent to trial and he is ultimately found guilty, the Gestha union of experts at Spain s Inland Revenue has said he could face a fine of at leas…
Ajax captain Niklas Moisander is to join Serie A side Sampdoria at the end of the season.
The Finland international has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Stadio Luigi Ferraris that will come into effect from June 30.
Moisander first joined Ajax in June 2003 but failed to break in to the first team and subsequently had spells at FC Zwolle and AZ, winning the Eredivisie title with the latter in 2009.
The centre-back returned to the Amsterdam Arena in August 2012 and he collected a further two league medals and the KNVB Beker under the stewardship of Frank de Boer.
…
Portugal defender Pepe has become the oldest player to appear in a knockout-stage game at a World Cup or European Championships, surpassing the record held by Peter Shilton.
England goalkeeping great Shilton was 40 years and 292 days old when he represented the Three Lions in their third-place play-off loss to Italy at the 1990 World Cup.
At 41 years and 126 days old, Pepe claimed that record for himself when he started Portugal s Euro 2024 last-16 meeting with Slovenia in Frankfurt on Monday.
Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo are also the two oldest players to appear at the Euros, with the Selecao captain aged 39 years and 147 days when he stepped out versus Slovenia.
41 At 41 years and 126 days, Pepe becomes the oldest player to appear in a knockout stage matc…