Sports

Kylian Mbappe has not asked to leave Paris Saint-Germain and will be involved in Sunday’s trip to Reims, head coach Mauricio Pochettino said.

Mbappe has been heavily linked with a blockbuster move to Real Madrid during this transfer window.

According to widespread reports, Madrid have offered €170million plus €10million in add-ons to sign the 22-year-old, who is in the final year of his contract with PSG.

Mbappe, who has scored 133 times in 174 games for the French giants, trained on Saturday ahead of the clash with Reims.

Pochettino also revealed that Lionel Messi and Neymar would play a part at Stade Auguste-Delaune.

They will certainly all be in the squad, so we will see if they are in the starting 11 tomorrow, the head coach said.

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Former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos has been unveiled as the new manager of Turkish Super Lig outfit Sivasspor.

Carlos, who will replace Riza Calimbay in the role, was briefly caretaker manager of Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011 before being appointed as the club s assistant coach in 2012.
The 40-year-old who won the 2002 FIFA World Cup and spent 11 years at Real Madrid in a glittering playing career – was announced to the Sivasspor faithful at the club s home stadium in front of a reported crowd of more than 5,000 fans.
Carlos said: I m delighted to be here. I want to thank the fans for giving me a great reception.
We have a very good team and great technical staff who believe in what we want to achieve.
We need the stadium to be full every game, w…

PSG lead chase for Biglia

Italian daily newspaper that Paris Saint-Germain are in pole position to sign Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia.

Following a slow start to his career at Stadio Olimpico, the 29-year-old has seriously raised his game of late and appears to have caught the eye of Europe s top clubs.

According to Il Tempo, Paris Saint-Germain are seriously considering a summer bid for his services, but they could face stiff competition from Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Lazio are believed to be holding out for at least €25 million, although they would probably consider any serious proposal.

Lucas Biglia has amassed 45 Serie A appearances for the Biancocelesti, while featuring in all seven matches at the 2014 World Cup as Argentin…

Barcelona are interested in signing Chelsea s N Golo Kante, according to Sky Sports.

The La Liga champions have already lost two midfielders this summer Andres Iniesta and Paulinho, while Andre Gomes failed to make an impact at the club since his arrival from Valencia in 2016 and is now a target for both Arsenal and Juventus. He also failed to make the Portugal World Cup squad.

Barca are, therefore, in search of quality midfield reinforcements, and Kante, who won back-to-back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea, certainly falls in that bracket. Apart from being a hugely important part of both teams, his role in the France team at the World Cup has been equally significant. A win in the final of the tournament would add the biggest trophy in football to…

Wellington Phoenix confirmed they would fly to Sydney on Wednesday to complete the A-League season after reaching an agreement to train while in self-isolation.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) officials are planning for the rest of the A-League campaign to go ahead behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wellington must self-isolate for 14 days when they arrive due to travel measures put in place by the Australian government.

The club confirmed on Tuesday they would leave for Sydney after reaching an agreement with Australian state-based health officials to be able to train within the self-isolation window .

The decision to travel to Sydney in an attempt to complete this season was made as a club, Phoenix general manager David Dome said …

Amid the turmoil, France coach Raymond Domenech was told Thursday that he would keep his job and lead Les Bleus to the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer.

But a day after apparent cheating helped France beat the Republic of Ireland in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all playoff, the general feeling is that Domenech has squirmed his way out of another potential catastophe.

Only a blatant handball by his captain Thierry Henry, which led to the equaliser that gave France a 2-1 aggregate win over the Irish, got France and Domenech out of jail late on Wednesday night.

Just as many knives as plaudits came out for France and Domenech after what must be one of the most controversial results in the history of French football.

As a distraught Ireland launche…

Instant hero

La Liga

El Classico turned out to be just that as the Barcelona and Real Madrid played an entertaining game full of skill at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona took the points and returned to the top of the table after substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the only goal of the game just five minutes after coming on for Thierry Henry in the second half.

Real Madrid had their chances but couldn’t take them even when Barca were reduced to ten men on the hour when Busquets was sent off. The numbers were evened out in injury time when a very frustrated Diarra was dismissed for a ridiculous tackle.

Sevilla and Valencia both failed to fully capitalise on Real’s defeat by both being held to draws at home. Sevilla needed a brace from Luis Fabiano …

Gianfranco Zola believes Diego Costa has been exceptional for Chelsea and feels his play is just like that of club icon Didier Drogba.

The Spain international has 10 Premier League goals this season, putting him joint-top of the charts along with Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero.

Chelsea legend Zola   who played at Stamford Bridge between 1996 and 2003 has been delighted to watch Costa s progress since he signed for the club from Atletico Madrid in 2014.

He is certainly one of them, Zola told Omnisport when asked if Costa was the league s best striker.

He is very similar to what Drogba was before. He is very tall, very strong, so you can give him high balls and he will handle them.

But also he is very skilled with the ball at his feet…

La Domenica Sportiva is reporting that Premier League leaders are considering a summer bid for Juventus hotshot Claudio Marchisio.

The Blues are in the market for midfield reinforcements and it appears that manager Antonio Conte hopes to get reunited with his compatriot.

The duo worked together with great success in Turin and Conte now aims to bring Marchisio to Stamford Bridge.

The 31-year-old has more than three years left on his current contract having signed a five-year deal in July 2015, but he is no longer an undisputed starter at Juventus, having made just nine league appearances this season. 

Conte hopes that will be ready to negotiate the sale in the summer transfer window, while he also needs to persuade the player to join him in London.…

There were mixed feelings from the German camp after Monday s dramatic 3-3 draw against England in the UEFA Nations League, with manager Hansi Flick calling it a good test .

Germany led 2-0 after a 52nd minute penalty from Ilkay Gundogan and a goal from Kai Havertz in the 67th, but that advantage was wiped out in just over 15 minutes.

Luke Shaw struck in the 72nd, Mason Mount equalised three minutes later, and a penalty to Harry Kane put the English up 3-2 in the 83rd.

Ultimately, an 87th-minute leveller from Havertz saw the two sides share the points, and it gave Flick some mixed emotions.

The first half was balanced, in the second we deservedly led 2-0 – then we made individual mistakes, he said. It must not happen that we give up a lead like that. <…