Ramos: I am not negotiating with anyone

Sergio Ramos has added to the intrigue surrounding his proposed move from Real Madrid to Manchester United by insisting that he is not currently in negotiations with any club.

Reports had suggested that the Old Trafford outfit were poised to part with around £32 million to bring the much-decorated Spanish defender to the Premier League as early as next week.

But when asked about his future while attending a wedding in Seville, the 29-year-old claimed that no talks of any sort were currently underway.

I am not negotiating with anyone, he said, before refusing to be drawn on whether he will be staying at Real Madrid.

His ambiguous response suggests that he is also not discussing a contract renewal at the Santiago Bernabeu and will therefore do little to d…

Napoli open Mazzarri talks

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that he has opened talks with Walter Mazzarri with a view to extending the coach s contract.

Speculation in Italy has suggested that Mazzarri could stand down from his position at the Serie club in the off-season, despite guiding the club to Coppa Italia glory with a 2-0 final win over Juventus.

However, De Laurentiis has looked to end speculation about the coach s future at the San Paolo and added that he is already making plans around the 50-year-old staying at the helm.

I am very satisfied, the Napoli chief told the club s website. We have already had a long talk, analysing the season that has just ended and laying the foundations for the preparations of the upcoming campaign.

We are in sync to tak…

Sampaoli slams Messi treatment

Sevilla head coach Jorge Sampaoli has waded into the debate over Lionel Messi s injury, arguing South American players are not given enough time to recover from their international duties.

The Argentina and Barcelona star was ruled out for up to three weeks following a recurrence of a groin injury during the Liga champions 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

The events prompted Argentina boss Edgardo Bauza to criticise Barcelona s handling of Messi this week, before later insisting he did not want a war with the club.

But his point was supported by compatriot Sampaoli, who has extensive experience of the demands of the international scene, having served for four years as head coach of Chile between 2012 and 2016.

I think players are being abused,…

Chelsea v Crystal Palace: Mourinho calm in bid for title glory

Jose Mourinho says the champagne is not on ice as Chelsea bid to secure the Premier League title in front of their own fans against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Chelsea have dominated domestically this season, losing just twice in the league, and another win would confirm a first top-flight crown since 2010.

A 3-1 come-from-behind victory at lowly Leicester City in midweek left Chelsea on the cusp of a fourth Premier League triumph and a third under Mourinho.

The Portuguese is understandably eager to ensure the task is finished at Stamford Bridge, but stressed it would be foolhardy to feel the job is already done.

It s easy. We need two or three points to be champions. Let s say three, to make sure we don t depend on goal difference, Mourinho said.

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West Ham ban supporter over Livermore incident

The West Ham supporter whose comments provoked an angry response from West Brom s Jake Livermore has been indefinitely banned from home and away matches.

After being substituted in the second half of West Ham s 2-1 win at London Stadium this month, Livermore appeared to react to a fan close to the visitors dugout and was led away.

According to West Brom, Livermore was provoked by a comment made about the death of his infant son in 2014.

And following the conclusion of an investigation, the Hammers have taken now action aimed at preventing the individual in question from attending the team s matches.

The Club have issued an indefinite ban to the supporter involved in a verbal altercation with Jake Livermore.

— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd)

Manchester City 5 Monaco 3: Guardiola´s side prevail in all-time classic

Manchester City claimed a remarkable 5-3 victory over Monaco in an all-time Champions League classic at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

The first competitive meeting between the two sides will live long in the memory after goals inside the final 13 minutes from John Stones – atoning for an earlier error – and Leroy Sane put City in command of the last-16 tie.

Sergio Aguero and Radamel Falcao had scored two apiece – the latter also missing a penalty – while Raheem Sterling and Kylian Mbappe also got in on the act.

Leonardo Jardim s side, who have scored over 100 goals in all competitions this season, will rue the moment Falcao squandered a chance to make it 3-1 from the spot, as City hit back.

It was Sterling who opened the scoring 26 minutes …

Premier League quartet want Maddison

James Maddison is having a meteoric rise! After spending 2017-18 at Norwich City, finishing in bottom half of the Championship, the Englishman joined Leicester City in the summer of 2018 and has had a brilliant first season in the top flight. He provided seven goals and seven assists for the Foxes and now the top echelon of Premier League is considering signing him.

Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all set to battle for the player, according to the Daily Star. The 22-year-old impressed at Leicester after a £20m move. Leicester feel under no obligation to sell but could be tempted to cash in should a massive offer arrive for Maddison, who is valued at £60m ($76m).

This could especially be the case if all or most of these four c…

Ex-Canada midfielder Kyle claims to have received death threats after blasting USA players

Former Canada international Kaylyn Kyle says she has received death threats after calling the United States disrespectful and disgraceful for their celebrations in their 13-0 mauling of Thailand.

Alex Morgan scored five times as USA recorded the biggest win in Women s World Cup history in Reims on Tuesday, but the manner of their one-sided victory drew flak on social media, with American players criticised for over-celebrating their rampant humiliation of inferior opposition.

Kyle was one of three Canadians appearing as pundits on TSN to have blasted the defending world champions.

I m all about passion and I think as a Canadian we would never think about doing something like that, said Kyle.

We ve played against the Americans before and you ve got…

Arsenal boss Arteta: I speak to Edu more than my own wife!

Mikel Arteta joked he has spoken to Arsenal s technical director Edu more than anyone else in the past year, including his wife.

Arteta returned to the Gunners to replace Unai Emery in December 2019 and a busy rebuilding of the first-team squad coupled with the issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic have led to a busy time for the Spaniard and fellow ex-Arsenal midfielder Edu.

With Monday representing the end of the transfer window, the two are set to be in contact a lot on a typically hectic day.

Arteta s close relationship with Edu is something he cherishes, and is clearly not lost on his spouse.

Probably in the last year or so I spoke probably to Edu more or less more than anybody else in my life! Arteta said ahead of Arsenal s Premier League clash…

Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham: Lampard and Mourinho cancel each other out at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea and Tottenham failed to fully capitalise on Liverpool s slip-up as Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho oversaw a tightly contested 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.

With Liverpool pegged back by Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, Spurs could have moved two points clear of the Reds at the top of the Premier League. Chelsea – playing the 1,000th game of the Roman Abramovich era – were also vying for pole position.

Yet despite a bright start in Sunday s London derby, with Timo Werner having a goal disallowed, neither side could make the breakthrough in what was an encounter short of clear chances.

Looking to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since September 2019, Tammy Abraham missed three presentable opportunities as Chelsea h…