The Chinese Super League has burst onto the global conscience after the country s transfer record was broken four times in the space of a fortnight which saw the Far East threaten to match European football s considerable muscle.
CSL clubs outspent those from any league in the world in the early weeks of 2016, culminating in the record-breaking €50million transfer of Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Alex Teixeira to Jiangsu Suning.
Elkeson s move from Guangzhou Evergrande to Shanghai SIPG, Jiangsu Suning signing Chelsea s Ramires and Jackson Martinez arriving in Guangzhou as Elkeson s replacement had all set the record before Teixeira was signed, despite interest from Premier League giants Liverpool.
Well-known names of European football including Fredy Guarin, Gervin…
Juan Esnaider has been appointed Getafe coach until the end of the season.
The Liga strugglers parted company with Fran Escriba on Monday with the club mired in relegation trouble.
Esnaider a former Real Madrid and Juventus striker who won three caps for Argentina previously served as Getafe assistant under Michel during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.
The 43-year-old s last coaching role came at Cordoba in 2013.
Getafe s 2-0 loss to Villarreal on Sunday left them second from bottom in La Liga, with just two points taken from a possible 36 since their last win against Espanyol on January 17.
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Espanyol will demand corrective measures from organisers of Friday s friendly between Morocco and Chile following incidents during and after the match at RCDE Stadium.
Fans forced their way into the stadium and there was a pitch invasion after Morocco s 2-0 victory at the home of Espanyol.
The LaLiga club will be seeking answers to ensure there will be no repeat of the scenes.
A club statement said: RCD Espanyol de Barcelona regret the incidents that occurred this Friday at the RCDE Stadium, during the international friendly match between Morocco and Chile.
As with other events promoted by third parties, in accordance with the contract for the use of the facility and appealing to the responsibility of this third party in all matters related to the even…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola maintains he has no desire to stage a Premier League reunion with Lionel Messi.
The five-time Ballon d Or winner first established himself as the shining light of world football under Guardiola s guidance at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, while the presence of former Camp Nou figures Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano on the board at the Etihad Stadium has contributed to City regularly being linked with Messi s signature.
The latest round of speculation surrounding the 29-year-old s future this week centred on a potential audacious swoop from Manchester United, but, speaking ahead of City s Premier League trip to Burnley, Guardiola echoed the thoughts of his counterpart Jose Mourinho by stating it would be fitting for Messi to c…
With a stacked schedule across the Championship on this Bank Holiday weekend, we have a host of eye-catching affairs from up and down the country. So, For those of you looking to stick on an acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Saturday April 15th
BST 12:30 Luton Town vs Nottingham Forest
Starting with Friday s hosts, putting in another eye-catching display last weekend and securing a routine 2-0 win at home against Birmingham, Nottingham Forest really find themselves enjoying quite the purple patch. Despite opening the 2021/22 campaign at the heart of a real relegation scrap, the one-time European champions are certainly enjoying life under Steve Cooper. Skyrocketing their way up the Championship table and now…
Premier League Fantasy Picks: Gundogan hard to resist as Bamford and Rashford show striking away for
Manchester City are five points clear at the top of the Premier League after their demolition of defending champions Liverpool last time out.
With Guardiola getting the better of one managerial rival already this term in Jurgen Klopp, City s focus now switches to a clash with Jose Mourinho s Tottenham.
Key to City s superb form has been Ilkay Gundogan, who has scored nine goals this season in the league, three more than his previous best of six from 2018-19.
Given he scored twice at Anfield – while also missing a penalty – it would seem a smart decision for fantasy football managers to back Gundogan again this weekend, though which other players should make the cut?
15 Manchester City s current run of 15 consecutive wins in all competitions is the…
Carlo Ancelotti is confident Real Madrid can cope with their current injury problems ahead of Sunday’s trip to Cadiz.
Madrid are on a run of seven LaLiga matches without defeat and will be out to go top of the table with a win before current leaders Girona play on Monday.
Los Blancos will be without a host of leading players due to injury, with the likes of Vinicius Jr, Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao and Aurelien Tchouameni all unavailable.
¡Nuestros convocados para el partido !
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid)
But boss Ancelotti says there is no cause for concern as he has complete faith in his squad.
He said on the Madrid website: “We’ve had injuries that have hampered us, but the squad is solid.
“We’ve always b…
Robert Lewandowski says it would be a dream to play with Lionel Messi amid speculation the Argentina star could return to Barcelona.
The Poland striker will face Messi at the World Cup in Qatar in Group C, though rumours persist the pair could play on the same team as the seven-time Ballon d Or winner eyes a return to Camp Nou.
Blaugrana president Joan Laporta reiterated the Paris Saint-Germain forward always has his home at Barca, who were unable to keep Messi in August 2021 due to well-documented financial struggles.
While Lewandowski claimed to have no knowledge surrounding the speculation, the former Bayern Munich striker would love to combine with Messi if the opportunity arises.
Messi is absolutely brilliant with the amazing passes he plays to the …
Frank Lampard hailed the performances of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic after Chelsea battled to a 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
The Blues were kept at bay by a disciplined defensive display from Steve Bruce s side at Stamford Bridge before Hudson-Odoi set up Marcos Alonso to fire home the winner with 73 minutes played.
Hudson-Odoi had been Chelsea s most dangerous attacking player during a largely lifeless first 45 minutes and created five goalscoring chances in total the most by a Chelsea teenager since Romelu Lukaku in May 2012 before he was substituted in stoppage time to a rapturous reception from the home fans.
I thought he was good, really good, in terms of product on the wing and taking people on, Lampard said of the 18-year-old, who has assi…
Jack Grealish strode clear with Dani Carvajal in his dust in the 87th minute. The England star sauntered past Thibaut Courtois with a clever shimmy before passing the ball towards the empty Real Madrid goal.
Manchester City were going 2-0 up at the Santiago Bernabeu, 6-3 up on aggregate. They were going to Paris and a second successive Champions League final, with their season-defining rivalry with Liverpool heading into another engrossing chapter.
Only, that s not quite how it turned out.
Grealish didn t get his goal. Ferland Mendy s desperate lunge into his own net blocked the ball on the line – his clearance even failed to go in off the lurking Phil Foden, who was well-positioned to nudge home.
Of course, City were still going through with their lead…