Jean-Clair Todibo seems to be set to return to Barcelona from his loan at Benfica in January.
Having arrived to the Camp Nou in January 2019 under some rather controversial circumstances, the defender spent the second half of last season on loan with Schalke 04. This summer he was reportedly a target for Everton and Fulham, but a move to the Premier League obviously wasn t meant to be as he ended up signing for Benfica in a temporary deal which was supposed to last until the end of the 2021/22 season.
However, recent comments from Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus suggest the loan is about to get cut rather short.
Todibo just recovered from an Achilles tendon problem and has returned to training, and it was expected he would be included in the squad to face Standar…
Tottenham s Emmanuel Adebayor will be out to avenge his 2009 Wembley loss when Spurs take on Chelsea in Sunday s FA Cup semi-final.
Adebayor was a part of the Arsenal team that was beaten by Chelsea in the semi-final three years ago, his only Wembley appearance to date.
The Togolese striker is relishing the prospect of banishing those memories and creating new history with his Tottenham team-mates.
My only appearance at Wembley so far was that 2-1 loss so my memories are not good, Adebayor said.
But this is a new game and we want to win. Football is all about winning medals and they are the moments in life that you can look back on with pride.
Tottenham haven t won a trophy since 2008 and so it would be great to win silverware again. We are tw…
Carlo Ancelotti has urged Real Madrid not to pass up the chance to edge closer to the LaLiga title with an El Clasico victory over arch-rivals Barcelona.
The sides meet at the Bernabeu on Sunday with leaders Madrid eight points clear of second-placed Barca and acutely aware of just how significant a win could be with just seven games of the season remaining.
Ancelotti told a press conference: “If we manage to win it, we’ll be within touching distance of LaLiga.
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)
“We’re playing against highly competitive opposition who have played brilliantly in recent games. It will be a hard-fought and evenly-matched Clasico, as they always are.
“It’s a great opportunity to move closer to the LaLiga tit…
Pep Guardiola says the EFL Cup is as important to him as any of the four trophies that Manchester City are seeking this season.
The runaway Premier League leaders 15 points clear of Manchester United take on Bristol City on Tuesday in the first contest of a two-legged affair.
Lee Johnson s Robins stunned Jose Mourinho s United in the last round, although City appear an altogether different proposition, having gone unbeaten in domestic competition so far this season.
Their latest triumph was a 4-1 win over Burnley in the FA Cup third round on Saturday and Guardiola says City must begin hoarding silverware if they are to earn a lasting reputation to match their stellar form this term.
Quizzed on the competition s standing in his thoughts, Guardiola said: So…
James Rodriguez is still adapting to life in the Bundesliga, but Jupp Heynckes is satisfied with the midfielder s performances at Bayern Munich.
The Colombia international has started 10 league games since moving to the Allianz Arena from Real Madrid on a two-season loan deal, scoring twice and supplying three assists.
James this week suggested he would be keen to stay at Bayern for many years , and Heynckes is willing to be patient to get the best out of the 2014 World Cup s top goalscorer.
I have said already several times a new player needs some time to integrate, Heynckes told a news conference ahead of Wednesday s visit of Cologne. If you come from abroad many things play a role: the weather, the food, the new team, the other football.
James plays …
Noel Whelan believes that Theo Walcott is better off at Southampton than at Everton.
The former Leeds United striker, who now works as a pundit for BBC Radio Leeds, does not believe that Walcott could make the most of chances he got at the Toffees.
The 31-year-old ex-Arsenal forward returned to his former club Southampton on summer transfer deadline day on a loan deal from Everton.
Walcott was clearly not in Ancelotti’s plans. He was given an opportunity to shine when he first came in but he did not do it. Let’s be honest, he has not done it at Everton since he got there. It was not a good move for player or club.
I think he will be better off at Southampton because the strength in depth now at Everton is fantastic. He is not going to get opportuni…
Riyad Mahrez has been left out of Leicester City s squad for the visit of Swansea City, with Claude Puel telling the Algerian to clear his head following the collapse of his prospective move to Manchester City.
Mahrez emerged as a late target for Pep Guardiola s league leaders in January following an injury to Leroy Sane, with the two clubs entering negotiations as the deadline approached.
However, Leicester held firm and are said to have demanded £95million for the 26-year-old, leaving City to concede defeat in their pursuit.
As a result, Mahrez is now reported to have missed training four days in a row having not turned up on Friday, with Puel refusing to confirm whether he has permission or not.
20+ Riyad Mahrez (31 goals, 21 assists) is one of only t…
Market: Atalanta win
Odds: 4/5 @
With it all coming down to their final Group F meeting, Atalanta will welcome a struggling Villarreal to the Gewiss Stadium on Wednesday night.
Starting with the hosts, picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend with an action-packed 3-2 win against Napoli on the road, Atalanta should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Continuing to impress on either side of November s international break, Head Coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be smelling the chance to enjoy a famous night at the Gewiss Stadium here. Knowing that a victory on Wednesday night would book their spot in the knockout stage of this year s Champions League, La Dea are enjoying an extended 10-match unbeaten run across all formats, a run that stems all the …
Amad Diallo is targeting Premier League and Champions League success after completing his move to Manchester United.
United agreed a deal with Serie A side Atalanta for 18-year-old winger Diallo back in October and he arrived at the club on Wednesday.
He has signed a contract until June 2025 with the option for an extra year and has lofty ambitions at Old Trafford.
I m a little bit too anxious to say this given it s just the start [of my time here] but my dream is to win the Premier League and the Champions League with Manchester United. That is my aim and goal, Diallo said in a club interview.
I m over the moon to be here. I m so excited to start here at Manchester United. It s a dream come true and I can t wait to start and play with the guys.
Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar insists he will not be intimidated by Robin van Persie when Manchester United visit on Saturday.
When asked if he will be swapping shirts at half time, Vlaar told The Guardian: Never, never. I don t think of that before I go into a game.
It s not about changing your shirt with another player. I want the points – that s the most important thing.
We all know who we re playing against. But I m not afraid of anyone.
Vlaar suffered a string of serious injuries during his seven years at Feyenoord, effectively missing two years of his career due to knee problems, but he is remaining positive after maintaining his fitness since then.
The first time it happened was on September 16, 2007 and that season was gone, he said…