Ronaldo almost joined Arsenal

Conte certainly does not expect Madrid to play with a plan to force the draw in their clash with Gladbach, even though that would see Zidane s men through if Inter beat Shakhtar.

We are talking about the Champions League. We are not talking about a local pub tournament, Conte said, replying to a question floating that idea. It is worrying if we hear these kinds of things such as teams only playing for a draw.

The encounter will be the third time Inter and Shakhtar have faced each other in 2020, with the first of those resulting in a 5-0 win for Conte’s side in the Europa League semi-finals.

The Nerazzurri will inevitably be looking to Romelu Lukaku to provide the big threat to Shakhtar, with the former Manchester United striker having been directly involved i…

Yakin arrives in Russia with Spartak having finished sixth in the Russian Premier League, missing out on UEFA Europa League qualification.

The former Switzerland international left Basel at the end of last season, having guided the club to the Super League title in each of the last two campaigns.

He missed out on the double on both occasions, though, losing the Swiss Cup final in both 2013 and 2014.

As a player, Yakin won five Swiss Super League titles, as well as three Swiss Cups and a runners-up medal in the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1998 with Stuttgart.

Yakin joined Basel in October 2012, and led the club to the Europa League semi-finals at the end of his first season, before they were beaten by eventual winners Chelsea.

After exiting the UEFA Ch…

Napoli are lining up a move for Swansea City striker Michu, .

The Serie A side’s boss Rafael Benitez is keen to bring in another forward to share the workload with Gonzalo Higuain, and he has identified the Spain international as his top transfer target.

The Spain international made just fifteen starts in the Premier League last season after struggling with injury though the previous campaign, his first in English football, was a huge success.

In total, he has made sixty-seven appearances for the South Wales side in all competitions, scoring twenty-eight goals, one of which came in the 5-0 League Cup final victory over Bradford City at Wembley in February 2013.

The 28 year old has two years remaining on his current contract, so would command a fe…

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is about to join Real Madrid, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Italian journalist has reported on  Twitter that Kepa will leave Premier League club Chelsea and move to La Liga outfit Madrid on a season-long loan deal. Romano has added that it will be a straight loan with no option or obligation to make the deal permanent in the summer of 2024.

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1690641880931770368

Madrid are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper due to the injury to Thibaut Courtois. The former Chelsea star ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is likely to miss the majority of the season. Andriy Lunin is the only senior goalkeeper on the books of Madrid at the moment.

Los Blancos are aiming to win …

Pep Guardiola said he understands what Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is feeling as the Manchester City boss leapt to the defence of his Premier League counterpart.

Pressure is mounting on long-serving Arsenal boss Wenger, who oversaw Sunday s 3-0 loss to City in the EFL Cup final, with the club already seventh and 27 points adrift in the Premier League.

Wenger s contract expires at the end of next season but there are reports he could leave following the 2017-18 campaign, with Germany boss Joachim Low and Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim among the candidates.

As Arsenal prepare to face Premier League champions-elect City again on Thursday, Guardiola offered his support to the 68-year-old Frenchman, who has been in charge since 1996.

I always support my …

Inter must revive their faltering campaign quickly if they are to achieve their goal of returning to the Champions League next season, says Samir Handanovic.

Under Luciano Spalletti, the Nerazzurri made a stunning start to the 2017-18 Serie A campaign, Inter going unbeaten for 16 matches – including a victory over AC Milan and draws with Napoli and Juventus.

In mid-December Inter were considered part of a three-way tussle for the Scudetto with Napoli and Juve, however, they have since tumbled out of contention.

A run of eight games without a win saw them fall away and, although they have two victories in their last three matches, Inter now sit fifth in the table.

With the top four earning a place in the Champions League, Handanovic says now is the time …

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has insisted the best is yet to come from him after a stop-start career at the Emirates Stadium.

The 21-year-old suffered a horrific leg-break against Stoke City in February 2010 which threatened his career, but has since bounced back after a 10-month absence.

Ramsey was named Wales captain last season and represented Team GB at the London Olympics as he looked to make up for lost time.

And the former Cardiff City midfielder is looking to push on again this season and put his injury problems behind him once and for all.

The best is yet to come from me, Ramsey told the Daily Star.

I m delighted with how it has gone apart from my injury.

I missed about 10 months, which stalled my progress, but I still thin…

Swansea City first-team coach Alan Curtis says it is just a matter of time before forward Scott Sinclair completes a move to Manchester City.

English Premier League champions City have reportedly agreed terms with winger after deciding to release Adam Johnson and Swansea manager Michael Laudrup confirmed on Friday Sinclair had decided not to sign a new contract.

Curtis told Sky Sports: (Sinclair is) not really interested in signing a new contract and I think Man City have made a bid, so it s just a matter of time now before it happens and it s good for both parties.

He s been terrific for us, to be fair we ve had two seasons out of him and he was superb in the Championship and virtually his goals (27 in 2010/11) got us promotion.

And last year as well …

Erling Haaland could be used alongside Youssoufa Moukoko when he returns from injury in January, Borussia Dortmund interim head coach Edin Terzic has suggested.

Prolific striker Haaland had been in fine form for Dortmund prior to injuring his hamstring in training earlier this month, forcing him out of BVB s past six matches.

Dortmund s latest teen prodigy Moukoko has profited from Haaland s absence, though, forcing his way into the side at the age of just 16 and starting their most recent two matches.

He netted in Friday s 2-1 loss at Union Berlin to become the Bundesliga s youngest ever scorer, having already been the youngest player to appear in the competition after coming off the bench against Hertha Berlin the day after turning 16 last month.

The…

Mikel Arteta is convinced he has the fighting spirit in his Arsenal squad which will enable the embattled Gunners to turn their dismal domestic season around.

Arsenal have not won a game outside of the Europa League since November 1, when they defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

The FA Cup holders have lost five of their last seven Premier League matches and on Tuesday were dumped out of the EFL Cup by Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola s side winning 4-1 at Emirates Stadium.

It was the first time Arsenal have conceded four times at home in the competition since November 1998, when they lost 5-0 to London rivals Chelsea, who were also the last team before City to win four successive away games against the Gunners in all competitio…