Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi s agent has hinted his client would jump at the opportunity to play for Real Madrid.
Argentina international Otamendi s stock is still high in Spain after an impressive season at Valencia in 2014-15 before he joined City for a reported £31.5million.
The 29-year-old has not always convinced at the Etihad Stadium, however, as part of a City backline regularly lacking the calming presence of injury-prone captain Vincent Kompany, and his representative Martin Sendoa told Radio Continental Otamendi would be interested in a move back to LaLiga.
Sendoa said: Nico is happy at Manchester City. But who wouldn t like to play at Real Madrid? It s the biggest club in the world.
Sendoa also touted Otamendi as a possible …
Chelsea have announced the signing of defender Matt Miazga from New York Red Bulls on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
The 20-year-old arrives at Stamford Bridge having made 38 appearances for the Red Bulls, making his debut at the age of 18.
Miazga helped the MLS outfit to two Supporters Shields as they topped the regular-season standings in 2013 and 2015.
The centre-back represents Chelsea s second new arrival in as many days, after Brazil international Alexandre Pato joined on loan from Corinthians until the end of the season.
Miazga told the Chelsea s official website: I am very happy to sign for Chelsea, a world-famous club with a reputation for major success.
I am delighted to be in the Premier League, the best league in the world, and can…
Rodrygo Goes is making waves at Real Madrid but could have been shining at Liverpool were it not for his former Santos coach Elano.
Madrid paid out a reported €45million to seal Rodrygo s signature in June 2018, by which time he had only made 13 appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro, though he remained at Santos for another year.
The 18-year-old has made a quick impact at the Santiago Bernabeu, with his hat-trick in the 6-0 Champions League thrashing of Galatasaray on Wednesday moving him onto five goals in six appearances for Los Blancos.
Premier League giants Liverpool held an interest in Rodrygo before Madrid made a formal approach, but Elano felt their bid was insufficient.
There was a time when there was very strong interest from Liverpool fo…
Stuttgart have appointed Markus Weinzierl as their new head coach, two days after sacking Tayfun Korkut.
Weinzierl, who has previously been in charge at Jahn Regensburg and Augsburg, has been out of a role since his dismissal as Schalke coach in June 2017 and has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club.
He replaces Korkut, who was dismissed after a run of just one win in seven matches at the start of the Bundesliga season.
A 3-1 loss to fellow strugglers Hannover on Saturday saw them drop to the foot of the table, and they have just five points and a goal difference of minus seven.
Weinzierl told the club s official website: I m really looking forward to the task. Stuttgart is a big club that is currently in a difficult situation.
Malky Mackay was delighted to repay Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor’s faith by keeping the Staggies in the top flight following the craziest game of his managerial career.
County were 3-0 down on aggregate with 20 minutes left of their cinch Premiership play-off final second leg against Partick Thistle but ended up sealing a sudden-death penalty shoot-out victory three hours after kick-off in Dingwall.
Simon Murray netted 80 seconds after Yan Dhanda’s penalty to transform the complexion of the game and George Harmon put County 3-1 ahead on the day at the start of nine minutes of stoppage time.
There was VAR drama throughout the 90 minutes and chances at either end in extra time before both sides missed penalties in the shoot-out and sudden death. Josh Sims…
Premier League giants Chelsea and Arsenal appear close to strengthening their defences.
After conceding more league goals than any other side that finished in the top eight in 2019-20, the two clubs have been linked to defensive reinforcements.
It seems both are close to making additions.
TOP STORY – CHELSEA CLOSE TO SIGNING SILVA
Chelsea are close to signing Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Thiago Silva on a one-year deal, according to Sky Sports.
Silva, 35, confirmed after Sunday s Champions League final loss to Bayern Munich that he had played his last game for the Ligue 1 giants.
The Brazil defender has been linked to Chelsea and Fiorentina, but looks set to join the former.
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Chelsea s ri…
Vincent Tan has moved to defend his record as Cardiff City owner and believes it is unfair that he has been portrayed as a villain .
The Malaysian businessman has attracted controversy since taking over the Welsh club in 2010, angering supporters by changing the club s traditional club colours of blue to red, before ousting popular manager Malky Mackay earlier this season.
Tan, however, believes he retains the backing of the vast majority of the Cardiff supporters and feels he has been unfairly treated by the British media, who he dubbed a little bit racist .
In an interview with BBC Sport, he said: Do you think that Malky Mackay would have got us promoted without my investment? Without me giving him money? After we got promoted the fans were all very supportive, every…
Barcelona reached the knockout phase of the Champions League and secured top spot in Group D in the process with a straightforward 3-0 victory at Panathinaikos on Wednesday.
Pedro Rodriguez scored in each half, either side of a Lionel Messi goal that bore all the hallmarks of the Catalans feted patient approach play.
It was Barcelona s first away win in this season s competition and puts the 2009 champions four points clear of second-placed FC Copenhagen in the group with one match to play, while Panathinaikos are eliminated.
The Greek champions, who visit Copenhagen in their final group game, cannot even hope for the consolation of a place in the Europa League because they are four points behind third-placed Rubin Kazan.
Barca quickly settled into their…
Atletico agree deal for Augusto Fernandez
Atletico Madrid are set to announce Augusto Fernandez as the first signing of the January transfer window, .
Los Colchoneros were on the lookout for Tiago Mendes replacement and they appear to have found their man.
Just as , Atletico Madrid have agreed a deal for Celta Vigo captain Augusto Fernandez, with the official confirmation expected during the day.
The Sky Blues accepted a €6.5 million offer for their prized asset, with the Argentine set to sign a deal until June 2019.
Augusto Fernandez will be earning €1.8 million per campaign at Vicente Calderon, while his former club Velez Sarsfied are entitled to 50% of the transfer fee.
The 29-year-old has been at Celta Vigo since August 2012, and …
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has urged his team-mates to remain calm as they approach Wednesday s Champions League quarter-final second leg at Atletico Madrid in stuttering form.
A second-half brace from Luis Suarez allowed Barca to edge a bad-tempered first-leg 2-1 after Atleti goalscorer Fernando Torres was sent off for two bookings in quick succession.
That victory now stands within a slump of one point from a possible nine in La Liga, with Saturday s 1-0 reverse at Real Sociedad following a Clasico loss to Real Madrid and 2-2 draw with Villarreal.
Atleti are now only three points behind Barca at the top of the table, but first have designs on ending their reign as European champions before attempting to topple them as kings of Spain.
The Catala…