Mpira

Harry Maguire has admitted he doesn't want to become a bit-part player at Manchester United after being brought in from the cold by Erik ten Hag for Saturday's 3-1 FA Cup win against Reading. Maguire started only for only the third time in 2023, and the first since a Carabao Cup win against League One Charlton, and admits it's been a new experience for someone who was one of the first names on Gareth Southgate's team sheet at the World Cup. 'I'm 29 and haven't really been in this position in my career before,' said the United captain candidly. 'I don't want to get used to it but it is part and parcel of football. I’m pushing, training well, and when chance comes, I need to take it. 'It was two-and-a-half weeks since my last start but I've felt I have looked after myself. I've been working hard in training. The lads who have been playing have been doing well. I have to be ready when my chance comes. 'We’re all going to be needed fo...

Tottenham emerging talent manager Chris Perkins has left the club and is in talks over taking up a similar role with north London rivals Arsenal. Perkins was brought into Tottenham from Everton just over a year ago and is well revered in the game after making a name for himself as head of academy recruitment at Derby County where a high percentage of first team players came from the club's youth set-up. Tottenham managing director of football Fabio Paratici and former technical director Steve Hitchen had identified Perkins as the man to help identify the best young talent from the 17 to 21 age bracket who could be brought into the club's academy. Just 18 months later Everton were keen to take him back and made initial soundings as they became aware he was willing to leave. However, Sportsmail understands that Perkins has rejected the chance of going back to Merseyside and instead is ready to take up a role at Arsenal to head up academy recruitment and will start next month. Eve...

One of the people who got the most hurt and trolled for Ronaldo's decision to play in Saudi Arabia is Piers Morgan. Just months before his big decision, the Portuguese star gave Morgan an interview and said his next destination wouldn't be about money. Morgan was convinced he would play for one of Europe's top teams but he was wrong. So much trolling has spawned from that interview that Morgan wanted to defend himself somehow. However, the famous presenter always seems to take swipes at Leo Messi when he wants to praise Ronaldo. Proving he may have an inferiority complex that he has never been able to shake. During an interview with Tatler, this is what Morgan said: "Thanks to the fall-out from our interview, Ronaldo signed the biggest transfer deal in football history, and is now the world's highest-paid athlete, at the age of 37. He's also doing what he's done throughout his career, and which for me gives him the edge over Messi, and that's challenge ...

Pablo Zabaleta proved it's not just fans that get sucked in by transfer news when he commented on Manchester City's takeover in 2008. The retired right-back has revealed the Citizens squad were convinced the club were signing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Zabaleta was City's last signing before Sheikh Mansour purchased the side where he immediately flexed his financial muscle. Brazilian forward Robinho was instantly snared from Real Madrid – despite the winger pining for a Chelsea move. Dimitar Berbatov and Franck Ribery were also reported targets for City, who were managed by Mark Hughes at the time. Robinho's arrival at the Etihad caused shockwaves around the dressing room, with Zabaleta declaring players 'were s******* themselves' that they would soon be replaced. He previously told La Nacion: “I was seduced by going to England. “And I thought, 'I am a couple of years older, I have another experience, and there will be time to go back to Spain or go...

Erik ten Hag said he is “not Harry Potter” as the Manchester United manager explained Marcus Rashford's rejuvenation is mainly down to improved confidence rather than managerial wizardry. The 25-year-old's heartbreaking penalty shootout miss in England's European Championship final defeat by Italy in July 2021 was followed by his most challenging campaign to date. Post-tournament shoulder surgery meant Rashford did not feature for United until mid-October, when an initial flurry of goals quickly dried up amid widespread criticism of the forward. But the forward managed to press reset over the summer, with a priceless pre-season under new boss Ten Hag allowing him to return to his best and earn an England recall. Rashford impressed during the winter run to the World Cup quarter-finals and is on a streak of 10 goals in as many games, but United's manager is not taking all the credit for the transformation. “I'm not Harry Potter!” Ten Hag said. “It's just confidenc...

The line-ups of Girona vs Barcelona have been announced. Girona XI: Gazzaniga, Bernardo, Miguel, Arnau, Castellanos, Aleix Garcia, Juanpe, Riquelme, Romeu, Yan Couto, Herrera Barcelona   XI: Ter Stegen, Araujo, Sergio, Dembele, Fati, Alonso, De Jong, Raphinha, Kounde, Eric, Gavi

Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez are loving life in Saudi Arabia, with the pair seen as royalty in Riyadh. The 37-year-old moved to the country earlier this month after signing a stunning £175m-a-year deal with Saudi Pro League side El-Nassr. British magazine Tatler, have given an insight into Ronaldo's lavish life in Saudi Arabia, which includes quotes from Piers Morgan who has revealed that the Portuguese star is 'loving' life in the Middle East. Morgan hosted the explosive tell-all interview which led to Ronaldo's acrimonious departure from Manchester United in November. He has denied claims from Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, that the interview has 'ended' Ronaldo's career due to his move to Saudi Arabia. He told Tatler: 'Thanks to the fall-out from our interview, Ronaldo signed the biggest transfer deal in football history, and is now the world’s highest-paid athlete, at the age of 37,’ he told me this week. ‘He’s also doing ...

Barcelona have confirmed Marcos Alonso will be staying at the club next season. The 32-year-old joined La Blaugrana on a free transfer from Chelsea last summer following a prolonged transfer negotiation with the Premier League side. However, due to Barcelona’s ongoing financial issues, the club were only able to ratify a one-year contract for the La Roja international, on his return to Spanish football. Xavi has consistently stated his confidence in securing an extension for the veteran defender as the club hierarchy continue to try and balance the books. The club have now updated fans over Alonso’s future, with the positive news of an extension until the end of the 2023/24 campaign, with a new buyout clause of €50m. Alonso has been primarily used in European and cup action by Xavi this season, with just five La Liga starts, but his experience is highly valued at the club, within their developing young squad. Images via Barcelona CF

Mikel Arteta's surprise title challengers are flying. Arsenal sit five points clear of Man City with a game in hand after Sunday's dramatic 3-2 win against Man United. The Spaniard - who spent more than three years as Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad between 2016-2019 - is showing why he's always been so highly-rated as a coach. Understandably, with Arsenal's success and Arteta's experience under the City boss, there have been several parallels made between the sides over recent months regarding the way they play. 'It's Arsenal's title to throw away now,' Paul Merson said earlier this month after the Gunners dispatched Tottenham 2-0 to go eight points clear in the Premier League. 'That first half performance was like watching Man City. If you had been living in New Zealand and hadn't seen football for four years and they were in light blue - you'd have thought that was Man City.' Guardiola and Arteta enjoyed an immensely positi...

Atletico Madrid are out of the Copa del Rey and the general sentiment is one of frustration. They played well, but in their view Real Madrid benefitted significantly from the referee. The key incident in question was a potential second yellow card that was not shown to Dani Ceballos, which was then compared with the fact that Stefan Savic was shown a second yellow. Speaking to Marca after the match, Atletico manager Diego Simeone hinted at his fury by saying that nobody cared about it. “I asked him with respect. It already happened in San Sebastian and I asked him if he had something against Morata. He told me that Alvaro exaggerates his falls, but that he ate the one that forced him to come off. Nobody cares that Ceballos could have seen a second yellow. We are sad about the result but proud of how we competed.” “In the end, it is the players who play and Real Madrid were superior in front of goal again,” Simeone did admit. The refereeing performance continued to dominate his press co...

Real Madrid managed to overturn a 1-0 deficit in typical Real Madrid fashion in the Madrid derby, knocking out Atletico and making their way to the Copa del Rey semi-finals. There is a distinct sense that Carlo Ancelotti is fed up of having to go the long way round to victories though. Los Blancos struggled in the first half and were opened up by a lovely Atleti move, converted by Morata. The game changed in the second half though, as Real Madrid were able to get a foothold in the game. Ancelotti told Marca the bench was proving crucial. “The commitment on the part of everyone and the bench is giving a lot, it is good to have players who can contribute. Today has been very competitive again, they have been better in the first half and I think that the second has been very good by Madrid. We were on track in extra time.” Ferland Mendy hobbled off the pitch in the second half, with Eduardo Camavinga switching to left-back, while Dani Ceballos came on in midfield. Many credited that with ...

Real Madrid came out on top of Atletico Madrid 3-1 after extra time on Thursday night, sealing their passage through to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. It seemed only natural that it would come served with a hefty side of controversy though. The decisive play in the eyes of many from the Rojiblanco side of Madrid came in the second half. After Dani Ceballos had come off the bench and already picked up a yellow card, he committed a foul on Thomas Lemar on the edge of the box, but did not see a second yellow. This was much to the indignation of captain Koke Resurreccion, who was seen protesting the referee after the incident but also after the final whistle. They will compare that with the treatment of Stefan Savic, who was booked for verbals with Vinicius Junior. Barely two minutes later, Savic slid in on Eduardo Camavinga, but did not take the ball and was duly dismissed nine minutes into extra time. Several Atletico Madrid players complained about the incident afterwards, feeling...

The agent of Inter Milan fullback Denzel Dumfries is in London. Dumfries' representatives have supposedly flown to England to hold talks with those interested, says La Gazzetta dello Sport. Inter have set a price tag of £44million, although reports suggest a £35million bid could be enough. The Serie A side could have to sell to help balance the books and the player's deal expires in the summer of 2025. Dumfries has featured 23 times for Inter this season, scoring two goals and assisting three. Chelsea are looking for a wing-back to rival Reece James. The Blues have made an attempt to bring in Lyon's Malo Gusto but he looks set to stay at the club.

Cristiano Ronaldo was taunted with chants for his rival Lionel Messi by opposition fans ahead of Al-Nassr's Saudi Super Cup semi-final defeat to Al-Ittihad. The 37-year-old superstar failed to score his first goal for the Saudi side again, after also blanking on his official debut on the weekend. Ronaldo was a peripheral figure in Al-Nassr's defeat and footage has emerged of the Al-Ittihad fans chanting: 'Messi, Messi, Messi'. The former Manchester United star almost opened his account for Al-Nassr with a powerful close-range header but he was denied by a smart save. Ronaldo has managed just one shot on target across both appearances for Al-Nassr. And now, the Portuguese star, who has been treated like royalty since making his sensational move to the Middle East, has to contend with chants about his rival. It comes after Ronaldo and Messi met for what may have been the last time at the iconic King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh last week. Messi's touring PSG side faced a Sa...

Karim Benzema sealed an extra-time comeback victory after Rodrygo's brilliant solo goal as Real Madrid settled Madrid Derby and went to Copa del Rey semi-final. 2022/2023 Copa del Rey 3  -  1 Rodrygo (79') Benzema (104') Vinicius (120') Morata (19') Atletico did not let the occasion or the home fans get to them in the first half after they produced a very professional display.  Neither side came flying out of the blocks but it was clear that the visitors were willing to take more risks in the final third, and it paid off for them. Alvaro Morata finished off a well-worked move to give Atletico the lead in the 19th minute.  Real completely dominated the second half, having 70 per cent of possession and taking 14 shots. Despite this, they didn't look like scoring for the most part before a moment of brilliance from Rodrygo. The substitute dribbled past four players before scoring past Oblak to equalise.  Antoine Griezmann had a great chance to score late on but fai...