Julio Baptista has announced his retirement at the age of 37, declaring his intention to begin a new life after his playing career.

The former Brazil international started out at Sao Paulo before heading to Spain, where he played for Sevilla – scoring 20 goals in the 2003-04 LaLiga season – and Real Madrid.

Baptista helped Arsenal win the League Cup during a loan stint in 2006-07, including an astonishing four-goal haul against Liverpool in a 6-3 quarter-final win at Anfield.

There were also spells with Roma and Malaga, as well as a return to his homeland with Cruzeiro in 2013, prior to joining Orlando City in MLS.

Last at CFR Cluj, Baptista made just two appearances for the Romanian club in 2018 and, via Twitter, confirmed on Thursday he is ha…

Hector Bellerin has attempted to call time on crazy rumours linking him with a move away from Arsenal as he prepares for Unai Emery s first season in charge.

Bellerin, 23, joined the Gunners in 2011 as a teenager having come through Barcelona s famed La Masia academy.

After a loan spell at Watford he broke into the Arsene Wenger s first team in 2014, making 20 Premier League appearances as a 19-year-old.

He has persistently been linked with a return to Barca in subsequent years, and the arrival of Stephan Lichtsteiner earlier in the transfer window has led to further speculation involving Juventus and Manchester United.

However, speaking to reporters in Singapore at the launch of Arsenal s third kit on Friday, the Spain international looked to end the tra…

Jordan Henderson joked that he is ready to put a call in to Steven Gerrard as Liverpool eye a favour from Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season.

After coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 in their penultimate fixture of the campaign, Jurgen Klopp s side remain in with a shout of clinching the title on Sunday.

But, for that to happen, they must first win their Anfield clash with Wolves and then hope that Manchester City drop points at home to Villa.

Pep Guardiola s men came out on top in a similarly tight race in 2018-19, and Henderson says he is ready to call on his former Anfield teammate Steven Gerrard now the manager of Villa as he looks for a different outcome.

He told Sky Sports: It s hard. We ve had this before when they pl…

Sergio Romero still feels he is living the dream at Manchester United despite acknowledging frustration over being a permanent back-up.

Romero, 32, joined United from Sampdoria in 2015, allowing him to link up once again with his former AZ coach Louis van Gaal.

Although the Dutchman did not last at United, Romero has continued to be a valuable asset to the club, with predecessor Jose Mourinho and his successor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keeping him on as the back-up to David de Gea.

Throughout Romero s time at United he has had to contend with being second choice, though under Mourinho the Argentina international featured prominently in the victorious Europa League campaign of 2016-17, even playing the final.

Although he has not played a Premier League game sin…

Atletico Madrid failed to capitalise on LaLiga s top three all dropping points on Saturday, as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to in-form Espanyol.

Diego Simeone s men were looking to make the most of third-place Sevilla losing and Barcelona and Real Madrid drawing in El Clasico, but they could not get the better of Espanyol s stubborn defence and ultimately had goalkeeper Jan Oblak to thank following a couple of essential saves.

The two sides played out a turgid first half in which the only real goal-scoring opportunity fell to the visitors, with Oblak thwarting Gerard Moreno just before the break.

Atletico initially failed to produce much of an improvement after the restart and were again indebted to Oblak just before the hour mark, as he kept former A…

Mauricio Pochettino hailed Arsenal boss Unai Emery after Tottenham were drawn against their north-London rivals in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

A double from Son Heung-min and a late effort from Fernando Llorente secured Tottenham s passage to the last eight on Wednesday, as they saw off West Ham at London Stadium.

Tottenham s reward is a trip to Emirates Stadium in the week commencing December 17, and Pochettino, who faced Emery during his days as Espanyol boss, did not hold back in praising the Gunners manager despite the bitter rivalry between the two clubs.

I have great respect for him and his coaching staff, Pochettino, whose side will also take on Arsenal in the league on December 2, told a news conference.

It will be a good game. Unai Emery is a…

Ernesto Valverde accepts it will not be enough to challenge for just one trophy in his first season at Barcelona.

The Catalans endured a rocky start to the 53-year-old s reign at Camp Nou as they lost 5-1 over two legs to Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana, but they have since won seven out of seven matches in all competitions.

Valverde s predecessor, Luis Enrique, won the treble in his first season in charge – as did Pep Guardiola in 2008-09 – meaning the pressure is on Valverde to deliver.

The former Athletic Bilbao boss is not looking beyond Wednesday s Champions League trip to Sporting CP but is well aware of what is expected between now and next May.

To be honest, I ll be happy just winning tomorrow. I don t look any further than that, he …

Patrick Kluivert hopes Barcelona will retain his compatriot Frenkie de Jong, amid reported interest from Manchester United.

Despite his own reported intentions to stay in LaLiga, De Jong has been linked to a reunion with Erik ten Hag his former boss at Ajax – with Barcelona attempting to break even on an €85million package.

The 25-year-old has struggled to find a role that best suits him since arriving at Camp Nou in 2019, with Sergio Busquets still starting as Barcelona s deepest midfielder.

Kluivert believes De Jong would flourish in Busquets role but it would be hard to supplant the veteran, but despite this and Barcelona s recent financial troubles, they should try to keep him.

I hope that they will keep him, Kluivert told Cadena Ser. If they sel…

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp feels there were other factors at play aside from James Milner s saved penalty after Southampton left Anfield with a 0-0 draw.

The hosts were frustrated by a deep-lying and well-manned Southampton defence but looked set to grab the breakthrough when Jack Stephens was penalised for handball inside the box after 64 minutes.

But Milner s usual reliability deserted him as he could not quite pick out the bottom left corner and Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster saved brilliantly.

Former England international Milner last failed from the spot in the Premier League in November 2009 and had netted seven from seven this term.

The experienced player shouldered responsibility for a setback that left Liverpool s Champions League qualification…

Ivan Toney has been left out of Brentford s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace due to ongoing transfer speculation surrounding the striker, Bees boss Thomas Frank confirmed.

The England forward is linked with a move away from the Brentford Community Stadium, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all reportedly interested, as are Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.

Frank initially stated Toney, who missed the first half of last season through suspension, would be available for Brentford s first game of this campaign during his pre-match press conference.

However, the Dane believes the Bees have demonstrated their ability to cope without his services.

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— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC)

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