Antoine Griezmann apologised to Atletico Madrid fans for the damage he may have done when initially leaving the club for Barcelona in 2019.
Griezmann joined Barca in 2019 when the Catalans triggered his €120million release clause, ending a long courtship by the Blaugrana.
Barca had been heavily linked with Griezmann in 2018, but the player opted to remain with Atletico, making his announcement in a documentary called La Decision .
Although Griezmann stayed then, many Atletico fans were frustrated by his conduct, with the documentary – echoing his NBA hero LeBron James The Decision – seen by some as an unnecessary sideshow that stoked speculation.
The France forward ended up joining Barca the following year, but his spell at Camp Nou was generally un…
Eden Hazard should make it clear to Chelsea if he wants to leave the club, according to former star Michael Ballack.
Hazard has made no secret of his interest in playing for Real Madrid and, with his contract having only 18 months to run, Chelsea could be forced into a sale this year if they are unable to extend his deal.
However, speaking to France Football this week, the Belgium star claimed there are conditions that could see him commit his future to Stamford Bridge, even though he admitted he would still consider any Madrid approach.
Ballack, who won two FA Cups, the Premier League and the EFL Cup in a four-year spell with Chelsea, believes Hazard would be in a strong bargaining position if he tells the club of his true ambitions and has urged him to make up …
Chris Wood retuned to haunt Newcastle with a stunning hat-trick as Nottingham Forest handed new boss Nuno Espirito Santo the first Premier League victory of his reign.
Wood, who joined Forest from the Magpies in January, produced two fine second-half finishes to secure a 3-1 comeback success at St James’ Park.
Newcastle went ahead through Alexander Isak’s 23rd-minute penalty but slipped to a sixth defeat in seven games in all competitions after Wood tapped home Anthony Elanga’s cross just before the break and went on to complete his treble in style.
Happy Chris-tmas
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC)
Forest remain two points above the relegation zone after 18th-placed Luton pulled off a 3-2 success at bottom club Sheffield United thanks to two …
Pep Guardiola says revenge for last season’s semi-final heartache fuelled treble-chasing Manchester City as they sealed a place in the Champions League final in style against Real Madrid.
A June 10 clash with Inter Milan in Istanbul beckons after a spectacular display of skill, strength and nous at a rocking Etihad Stadium against the reigning champions on Wednesday.
City drew 1-1 with Champions League kings Madrid last week and ran out 4-0 victors as Bernardo Silva’s brace was complemented by an own goal from Eder Militao and substitute Julian Alvarez’s effort in a stunning last-four display.
The 5-1 aggregate triumph felt particularly sweet after City’s 2021 final loss to Chelsea was compounded by last year’s agonising semi-final exit to Madrid.
…
Spurs appoint Mourinho: Jose replacing Pochettino at the ´perfect time´, says ex-Tottenham midfielde
Jose Mourinho is replacing Mauricio Pochettino as Tottenham head coach at the perfect time , according to former midfielder Jamie O Hara.
Ex-Manchester United boss Mourinho was appointed by Tottenham on Wednesday, around 12 hours on from Pochettino s five-and-a-half-year tenure being brought to an end.
The Argentinian was sacked on the back of a poor run of form that has left the club 14th in the Premier League, which O Hara believes is an indication that change was needed.
I think it was the right time to go, he told Omnisport. We ve been struggling, the form hasn t been great. I think we ve got 24 points from 25 games. We ve not been good in the league.
The form hasn t been good. The Champions League final overshadowed a lot last season in terms of …
Flamengo and LDU Quito sensationally advanced to the Copa Libertadores last 16 at the expense of Penarol on a dramatic final day in Group D.
On matchday six, Flamengo drew 0-0 with Penarol and LDU Quito scored four goals in the final 25 minutes in their 4-0 rout of lowly San Jose on Wednesday.
The results left all three teams on 10 points but Flamengo (+6) and LDU Quito (+4) pipped Penarol (+2) on goal difference.
Neither Penarol nor Brazilian visitors Flamengo could find a goal in Montevideo, where both teams finished with 10 men.
There weren t any goals tonight between , but there were plenty of fireworks as secured a spot in the Round of 16!!
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@TheLibertadores)
Flamengo s Para was sent off for a second ye…
David Moyes admitted he would be interested in any player he believes could improve West Ham, though he stopped short of confirming reported interest in Ross Barkley.
England international Barkley has been linked with a January loan move to the Hammers, who missed out on Gedson Fernandes after he joined rivals Tottenham on Wednesday.
Midfield is an area of need for West Ham given Jack Wilshere continues to be beset by injury problems and Barkley is thought to be of interest to Moyes.
Former Everton boss Moyes handed a 17-year-old Barkley his Premier League debut back in 2011 and was asked about the two linking up again at London Stadium.
One thing I won t do is not talk about players at other clubs, Moyes said at a news conference.
Anything whic…
Swansea City manager Graham Potter has revealed that three players, namely Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routlege and Luciano Narsingh, are free to leave the club, according to Sky Sports.
Dyer, 31, has been with Swansea since 2009, and in that time he made a total of 310 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 34 goals. Before that was a Southampton player, and he also had loan spells with Burnley and Sheffield United.
Like Dyer, Routlege has also been a faithful servant to the Swans for a number of years. Having passed through four different clubs (not counting loans), he arrived to the Liberty Stadium in 2011. The 33-year-old has put on their shirt 236 times and scored 22 times for them.
Narsingh, 28, has only been with the club for the last two seasons, d…
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Two sides who are seeking a crucial Championship boost on Saturday afternoon, Millwall will welcome Preston to the Den.
Starting with the hosts, while Millwall might have opened up the 2023/24 campaign with their sights set on mounting another play-off charge, the Lions have struggled to find any kind of stability. Still battling it out in the bottom-half of the Championship standings and almost in second-tier limbo, Joe Edwards’ men have also lost all of their last three straight appearances across all competitions. Last seen putting in a nightmare display as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of leading relegation contenders QPR, the one-time Chelsea coach will also have a real headache over his side’s continued is…
Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has no doubts that veteran striker Fabio Quagliarella can maintain his fitness until Euro 2020.
Sampdoria striker Quagliarella – the top scorer in Serie A this season with 21 goals – became the oldest goalscorer in Italy s history when he netted in their Euro 2020 qualifier against Liechtenstein on Tuesday.
Aged 36 years and 54 days old, the Sampdoria forward scored a 35th-minute penalty, putting Mancini s side 3-0 up.
The veteran added a second spot-kick in first-half stoppage time as Italy extended their lead on route to a comprehensive 6-0 victory in Parma.
The game saw Quagliarella make his first competitive international start since a World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in October 2009 and Mancini is convinced he…