Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has laughed off suggestions there is a rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
The Welshman became the most expensive player in the world when he joined Madrid from Tottenham in 2013, dethroning Ronaldo in the process, and there have been a number of reports since that the duo have a cold relationship.
Bale s agent Jonathan Barnett further fuelled speculation earlier this week when he stated the two are complete opposites, while also taking a dig at the Portugal international s activities off the pitch.
However, Benitez is adamant that there are no problems between his star attackers.
There is no problem between Cristiano and Bale, the Madrid coach told Onda Cero.
At Real Madrid, everything tends to ge…
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte insists he has no regrets on missing out on Romelu Lukaku in the close-season, thanks in part to the form of complete player Diego Costa.
Conte attempted to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge in the most recent transfer window, two years after Chelsea sold him to Everton on a permanent basis, but were unable to agree a fee with the Merseyside club.
The Belgium international returns to London on Saturday having scored 10 goals in 12 appearances for club and country this season, continuing to forge a reputation as one of the most feared centre forwards in the Premier League.
Conte remains a fan of Lukaku but says Costa s displays the striker has 11 goals in 15 games for Spain and Chelsea in 2016-17 means he has not been missed.
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Lionel Scaloni said he is upset Argentina s CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Brazil was suspended amid farcical scenes on Sunday after Brazilian health officials stormed the pitch.
The high-profile contest at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, which was set to see the likes of Neymar and Lionel Messi face off in a repeat of July s Copa America final, was halted just minutes after kick-off.
Local authorities entered the field in an attempt to remove four Argentina players that had apparently breached coronavirus regulations.
Those four players in question – Premier League quartet Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso and Emiliano Buendia – all ply their trade in England.
The United Kingdom is a red-listed country in Brazil, meaning …
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Mexico and Peru will face each other in a friendly international this weekend. The match will be played at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, USA and is scheduled to kick off at 2am UK time on Sunday.
Mexico
Mexico have become regulars at the FIFA World Cup finals. They have played in each edition since 1994, and unsurprisingly, they eased their way to Qatar this year as well. Gerardo Martino’s side ended up second in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Third Round with 28 points from 14 matches, level on points with winners Canada and three points clear of third-placed the USA.
El Tri will head into the match against Peru on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in Atla…
Liverpool favourites to sign Soldado
Spanish newspaper that Liverpool have moved to pole position to sign Valencia striker Roberto Soldado.
The Reds seem to have made the Spain international their number one target to replace wantaway forward Luis Suarez.
According to AS, they are preparing a €30 million bid for the highly rated forward that should see them pip Tottenham to the player s signature.
The mere fact Valencia officials have started the search for a new striker is enough to suggest they are ready to cash in on Soldado.
The 28-year-old has managed to prove his worth at the biggest stage, netting 59 goals in 101 La Liga appearances for los Che.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also closing in on Valencia full-back Aly Cissokho, who is …
Alan Pardew is adamant Newcastle United s players will be made to work hard during a mid-season trip to Abu Dhabi.
Having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Cardiff City earlier this month, Newcastle have 10 days without a game following Saturday s fixture at West Ham.
Pardew s squad will head to the Middle East for a training camp, with the manager confident the trip will reap rewards.
Our fans need to know we booked this before we went out of the cup, Pardew told the Shields Gazette.
We were thinking about doing a mini-break, like we did when we finished fifth (in the 2011-12 season).
We lost the first game when we came back, but we went on a terrific run afterwards. We d done so much work.
This would have been our prep for the fourth round, but unfo…
Arjen Robben described Jerome Boateng as one of the world s best centre-backs and said he trusted Bayern Munich s leadership to make the right decision over the defender s future.
Boateng has been the subject of reports suggesting he could join Manchester United, while Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel is also thought to be keen on signing the 29-year-old.
Robben, who has played alongside Boateng in six title-winning Bayern teams, indicated that he would be disappointed to see the World Cup winner leave the club.
For me Jerome is one of the best central defenders in the world, the Dutch winger said.
We ve had success with him a lot in the past and I know him very well.
Jerome is simply very important for this team. But we have enough…
According to a recent report from Express Star, Wolverhampton Wanderers are in talks with Portuguese sensation Joao Moutinho over extending his stay at the club. The 33 year old signed on a two year deal from French side Monaco back in 2018, and since then, he’s made over 50 appearances for the old gold black and has been dubbed one of the most naturally talented footballers to ever play for Wolves.
While the Europa League participants have certainly struggled in the early stages of the campaign, especially in the Premier League, Moutinho has served as one of the shining lights in Wolves’ memorable run all the way through to the FA Cup semi final, as well as the group stage of the Europa League.
Even at this stage in his career, he is viewed as a valuable member of …
Holland s injury-prone star wing Arjen Robben trained on his own after suffering a minor alarm over his hip, local media reported on Sunday, though there is apparently no concern over him failing to make the World Cup finals.
The 26-year-old who is coming off a superb season with German champions Bayern Munich having scored 23 goals and reaching the Champions League final came off early from Friday s training session because a hip was causing him minor problems.
However, Robben, a veteran of Euro 2004 and 2008 as well as the 2006 World Cup finals, trained separately from the rest of the Dutch squad on Saturday simply as a precaution and a Dutch Federation spokesman said there was no cause for alarm .
The Dutch two-time finalists in the 1970 s losing to West Germ…
Rangers beat Hibernian 3-1 at Easter Road on Sunday in the final game of the cinch Premiership’s weekend action.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five things we learned from the round of fixtures.
Depleted Rangers too strong for Hibs
Michael Beale had Connor Goldson, Alfredo Morelos, Glen Kamara and Scott Wright join the long list of Rangers absentees, while Rabbi Matondo was on the bench but unable to come on.
Malik Tillman, Ben Davies, Ryan Kent, Borna Barisic, Antonio Colak, Kemar Roofe, Tom Lawrence, Steven Davis and Filip Helander were also missing.
Yet Rangers still had too much for European-chasing Hibs as goals from skipper James Tavernier, Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell sealed the points before Paul Hanlon scored a consolation goal in added tim…