Hector Bellerin has been rewarded for an impressive breakthrough season at Arsenal with a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium.
The 20-year-old full-back, plucked from Barcelona s La Masia academy in 2011, was drafted into Arsene Wenger s first-team squad last term amid a defensive crisis at the back which had robbed the manager of regular right-back Mathieu Debuchy.
Bellerin impressed immediately, with his pace a useful tool both in defence and attack, and made 20 Premier League appearances, scoring two goals.
He also played the full 90 minutes of Arsenal s 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.
With France international Debuchy fit again for the coming season, Bellerin will once again face a fight to impose himself on Wenger s thoughts…
Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco plans to start Edin Dzeko in Wednesday s clash with Sampdoria, despite reports of a transfer bid from Chelsea.
The Premier League champions are said to be keen on a double swoop for Roma duo Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri in a deal that will reportedly cost at least £45million.
Despite the uncertainty over the Bosnia-Herzegovina striker s future, Di Francesco plans to use him in the Serie A meeting at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
As things stand, he will start, although we ll have to make some observations about his mental state, he told a news conference.
I wanted to leave him in peace, at least until today. I ll talk to him but at the moment I m counting on him. After that, we ll decide together.
It s right for a R…
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski feels it would be better for the Bundesliga if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stayed at Borussia Dortmund.
The Gabon international has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid over the past few months and Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke admitted this week they would consider offers in the region of €80 million.
Nevertheless, Lewandowski has urged his former team-mate to stay in the Bundesliga.
I have heard that he is feeling very well in Dortmund, Lewandowski told Sport Bild.
I obviously do not know exactly what he is thinking and BVB have a decision to make as well. Do they want to hold on to him or make a lot of money
But of course, it would be better for the Bundesliga if he were to stay put.
Kylian Mbappe will remain at Paris Saint-Germain next season, the Ligue 1 champions have insisted after the forward s recent comments fuelled speculation over his future at the club.
Speaking after being named Ligue 1 s Best Player and Best Young Player of the Year on Sunday, Mbappe said: It is maybe the moment to have more responsibilities, maybe at PSG, with pleasure, or elsewhere for a new project. In any case, thanks everyone.
The World Cup-winning star has been linked with a switch to Real Madrid, but PSG moved to quash those rumours in a statement released on Twitter.
Strong links united PSG and Kylian Mbappe for two years. And our story will continue next season, the statement read.
We have the same ambition, we want to make history in�…
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has paid tribute to Ryan Mason after the Hull City midfielder was forced to retire from football due to injury.
Mason suffered a skull fracture during a collision with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill in a match last January and the former Tottenham player, who has not played since, confirmed his retirement on Tuesday.
Cech has worn protective headwear during games ever since he sustained a similar injury after colliding with Stephen Hunt during a Premier League match between Chelsea and Reading in 2006.
The veteran goalkeeper has supported Mason throughout his attempt to return to the pitch and Cech paid tribute to the 26-year-old via social media.
Yesterday was a sad day for one incredible young man, Cech wrote on Twitter. R…
England cannot just focus on Robert Lewandowski in Wednesday s World Cup qualifier with Poland, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has warned his players.
Lewandowski scored three times across Poland s victories over Albania and San Marino last week to make it 72 goals for his country in 124 caps.
Picking up from where he left off in 2020-21, when setting a new record for the most goals ever scored in a single Bundesliga campaign (41), the prolific striker has been in fine form this term.
He has scored in all six matches he has played for club and country, and netted 10 times in total to strengthen his status as arguably the finest striker on the planet.
The Bayern Munich man was injured when Poland lost 2-1 at Wembley in March but is fit and firing for th…
Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes could sign a new contract with the club worth more than £250,000 per week, according to . It has been reported by the British tabloid that Fernandes has been in talks with Premier League giants United over a new deal for months, and he is now close to putting pen to paper.
As per the new terms, the 27-year-old Portugal international forward will see his weekly salary go up by almost £100,000 per week. The new contract for Fernandes could be announced in the next few weeks.
Fernandes joined United from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 and has been arguably the club’s best player since then. The former Udinese and Sampdoria player has scored in 55 Premier League appearances for United so far in his career.
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Ben Davies believes England would be weaker without Harry Kane ahead of Wales crunch match with the Three Lions, while Joe Allen defended the performances of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
The Golden Boot winner in Russia four years ago, Kane is yet to register a shot on target across England s 6-2 win over Iran and goalless draw with the United States.
With the Three Lions all but assured of a place in the knockout stage, Gareth Southgate may rest his captain for their final Group B match.
Davies saluted his Tottenham team-mate but even with his potential absence, the defender is well aware of the Dragons task.
Harry s a world-class player and one of the best in the world, so he s going to make any team better with him in there, he said.
That do…
Harry Kane has compared the hype and noise around his injury to similar fitness furores involving David Beckham and Wayne Rooney at other major tournaments.
Kane sustained a foot injury in England s World Cup opener against Iran, only to recover in time to lead the Three Lions out again against the United States.
The Tottenham striker struggled to impact that goalless draw, however, and there have been calls for him to be left out for the final group game against Wales on Tuesday.
But Kane insists he feels good , suggesting speculation over the severity of his injury is an overreaction.
I was an England fan before I was an England player. I know [about] when Rooney got injured [during Euro 2004], when Beckham had the injury [ahead of the World Cup in 200…
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed not to celebrate if he scores in the Champions League round-of-16 tie against Manchester United.
The Portugal international enjoyed a six-year spell with the English Premier League leaders before leaving them for Real in 2009.
Ronaldo, who will return to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving United in the second leg on March 5, still has warm feelings for his former club.
I will not celebrate my goal if I manage to score at Manchester United, Ronaldo told AS.
The 27-year-old recently expressed his gratitude towards United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, insisting he has played a key role in his development.
(Ferguson is) a fantastic person – a human person. He taught me many things, Ronaldo t…