Jadon Sancho scored for the second time in as many Bundesliga matches as Borussia Dortmund came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory against Cologne on Friday night.

Jadon Sancho starred as Borussia Dortmund made it two wins in two

Newly-promoted Cologne sprang a surprise when Dominick Drexler headed the hosts in front after 29 minutes at the RheinEnergieStadion.

Dortmund, who finished runners-up to Bayern Munich last season, trailed at the interval, and had to wait until the 70th minute before they were back on level terms.

England international Sancho, 19, picked up the ball from a short corner before unleashing a fierce left-footed strike.

Sancho celebrates his goal with Paco Alcacer in the win over Cologne

Substitute Achraf Hakimi was on hand to give Dortmund the lead with just four minutes remaining when he jumped highest to nod home his first Bundesliga goal since January.

Sancho then played a role in completing the comeback victory for Dortmund when he fed Paco Alcacer to score in the fourth minute of injury time.

Defending champions Bayern Munich, held by Hertha Berlin in the opening game, play at Schalke on Saturday.

Source – Sky Sports

The Portuguese midfielder has swapped the Bundesliga for Ligue 1.

Photo by Martin Rose

Renato Sanches has completed a reported €25 million (£22.6m/$27.8m) move from German champions Bayern Munich to French side Lille.

News of the transfer broke on Friday evening, with Bayern confirming the transfer via their official Twitter account.

The Portuguese midfielder, who has won two Bundesliga titles in his three years at the Allianz Arena, is the latest arrival in what has been a busy summer at Lille, following the likes of Yusuf Yazici, Victor Osimhen and Timothy Weah through the door.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “Renato Sanches asked us for the transfer because he wanted to join a club where he plays regularly.

“Unfortunately, we could not guarantee him this at Bayern. Match practice is also important for him because he wants to keep his place in the Portuguese national team for EURO 2020.

“I would like to thank Renato for his achievements and wish him all the best for his future on behalf of FC Bayern.”

First team football has been hard to come by for the 22-year-old since he arrived at Bayern from Benfica in July 2016.

Die Roten saw off interest from Manchester United to land the Amadora-born star, but a little over a year after his arrival he had been shipped out on loan to Welsh side Swansea City.

Despite becoming the first Portuguese player to win the Golden Boy award for best European player under the age of 21, he struggled for form in Germany and failed to register a single goal or assist in his first season.

His season-long loan at Swansea and foray into the Premier League did little to inspire confidence in a player who had reportedly struggled to settle into the German way of life and master the language.

The Swans were relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2017-18 season, while Sanches suffered an injury-plagued campaign that limited him to just 15 appearances in all competitions.

Since returning to Bayern in July last year, manager Niko Kovac gave the player further opportunities to live up to his sizeable price tag, but a regular place in the starting XI continued to evade him.

On the international front, Sanches was a European Championship winner with Portugal in 2016 and was named Young Player of the Tournament.

Source – Goal.com

The Brazilian icon has run out of patience with the Inter forward, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side reported to be left waiting on his decision.

Photo by Getty Images

Napoli legend Careca has lashed out at rumoured transfer target Mauri Icardi, saying the Argentine can ‘go to hell’ if he doesn’t want to sign.

The former Inter captain, widely expected to leave San Siro this summer, has been linked with Napoli with reports claiming the club wanted a decision from the forward this week.

Icardi, 26, has courted controversy during his time at Inter and is likely to see Romelu Lukaku establish himself as Antonio Conte’s first-choice centre-forward after taking over the number nine shirt.

“Are we really still waiting for his answer? If he doesn’t want to come, he can go to hell,” Careca told Il Mattino.

“Has he understood what Napoli are about, what the San Paolo is, who the Azzurri fans are?

“Does he realise that scoring goals with that shirt isn’t worth the world? If he doesn’t want to come, it’s better if he doesn’t.

“If I was at Napoli, I wouldn’t even waste another second on him.”

The 58-year-old Careca, who scored 30 goals in 64 games for Brazil, spent six years at Napoli between 1987 and 1993.

He scored in both legs of their UEFA Cup final win in 1989, before winning the Italian title and Supercoppa Italiana the following year.

A prolific scorer during his time in Serie A, Careca has faith in a man already plying his trade at Napoli to provide the killer touch for Carlo Ancelotti.

“Napoli already have a good number nine,” he said. “[Arkadiusz] Milik can reach 30 goals. He has good positioning, he finishes well and moves with substance.

“He has everything that’s needed in a centre-forward.”

The Poland international, 25, moved to Italy three years again after a productive season in the Eredivisie with Ajax.

His first two seasons with Napoli were inconsistent, dogged by injuries, but he enjoyed a productive campaign in 2018-19 with 17 goals in 35 Serie A appearances.

Napoli start their 2019-20 season with a trip to Fiorentina on Saturday evening, before an intriguing clash against Juventus and former manager Maurizio Sarri the following weekend.

Inter, meanwhile, will have to wait until Monday to get their new campaign up and running with a home fixture against Lecce.

Source – Goal.com

Liverpool have scrapped an existing proposal to expand Anfield and will now work on a new and “larger” planning application.

Liverpool are to allow existing plans to redevelop the Anfield Road end stand to lapse

The club have decided to allow an existing outline planning permission, which allows for around 4,000 further seats in the Anfield Road end stand, due to expire next month to lapse.

Liverpool will now focus on alternative options as they continue with their redevelopment of Anfield, after owners Fenway Sports Group spent £115m on the new Main Stand in 2016.

The European champions will now engage with the local community and other key stakeholders as they determine the details of the new approach.

Liverpool FC chief operating officer Andy Hughes said: “The progress that has been made during ongoing feasibility studies has resulted in us being in a position to allow the outline planning permission to lapse.

“We are committed to working with local residents, planning officials and others as we now focus on the detail behind any proposed redevelopment for Anfield Road.”

Source – Sky Sports

The Juventus superstar expected a Portugal international team-mate following in his footsteps at Sporting to have made a big-money transfer by now.

Photo by Getty/Goal

Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his surprise at seeing Bruno Fernandes still on the books at Sporting, with the Portugal international having been linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid.

A move to Old Trafford was mooted for much of the Premier League transfer window, with the Red Devils in the market for players of his ilk.

Fernandes, at 24 years of age, is considered to have plenty to potential to unlock alongside his current ability.

No deal was done with United before the deadline passed in England, but talk of a possible switch to Spain has emerged amid links to Real.

Former Blancos star Ronaldo, who is an international team-mate of Fernandes, believes a fellow countryman is ready for a step up in class.

The Juventus superstar told TVI of colleagues he holds in high regard: “In the national team you have [Joao] Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes, who nobody knows why he doesn’t leave.

“In the national team, you have a lot of talent, so I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Possibly this new generation will be the best at the talent level, but that’s not enough.

“They have to want to. I have spoken to him [Fernandes]. I’m a captain who wants to help and be helped.”

Fernandes formed part of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League-winning squad over the summer.

Ronaldo was also in that group, having previously helped his country to glory at the 2016 European Championship.

The countdown is now well and truly on to the defence of that crown next year.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner claims confidence is high in the Portuguese camp, adding: “The atmosphere in the national team is spectacular. The last few years have been the most enjoyable.

“The most responsible for this is Fernando Santos and the president of the FPF.”

Portugal have two Euro 2020 qualification contests to come in September.

The first of those will see them travel to Serbia, before staying out on the road to take in a meeting with Lithuania.

Ronaldo will be expected to lead the charge once more in those fixtures, but can expect to be ably assisted by the likes of Fernandes.

Source – Goal.com

Vincent Kompany will no longer act as a player-manager for Anderlecht on match days, with the Belgium international to focus on on-field matters as the captain.

Vincent Kompany will now captain Anderlecht on match days

The centre-back left Manchester City after 11 successful years at the Premier League in the summer to take up the reigns at his boyhood club on a three-year deal.

Kompany is yet to win a league match in the Belgian First Division A, suffering two draws and two defeats in his four fixtures in charge, and the 33-year-old has opted to focus on playing matters on matchday, according to Belgian publication HLN.

Anderlecht conceded four first-half goals in a 4-2 defeat against Kortrijk last weekend and Kompany’s sole focus going forward will now be to captain the side while head coach Simon Davies will be responsible for tactics off the field.

“Kompany must be more a player during the match,” said Davies, who was previously head of academy coaching at City before he joined Kompany’s coaching staff in the summer.

“He must be able to really lead the team on the field. Of course no one doubts that he can, but it is important that he is merely one of the players during the match.

Anderlecht head coach Simon Davies will now take charge of tactics during the game

“So, together with my staff, I will take on the tactics next to the field. Because you can plan some things in advance, surprising things always happen during a match. I take that on me.”

Anderlecht made a number of high-profile summer signings following Kompany’s arrival, including Samir Nasri, Nacer Chadli and Kemar Roofe from Leeds but they are undergoing their worst start to a league campaign in 21 years.

The club will look to secure their first league win at Genk on Friday and Welshman Davies believes the club will benefit from the new “clearer hierarchy”.

“Look, we are looking forward to it. To the players who fit best in our system and philosophy, but also to the right framework next to it,” he said.

“We all only get to know each other fully and find our way in this new situation. That is how we came to this decision. The team needs stability, let that be clear.

Kompany has played in all four of Anderlecht’s league games so far this season

“However, Vinnie loves the club so much that he always wants to give everything for Anderlecht. Every day.

“This should allow us to work more efficiently and more result-oriented. On competition days, Kompany will only concentrate on the match. The club can only reap the benefits of that clearer hierarchy. “

“I also want to emphasise that this is not really about me or ‘Vinnie’, but about Anderlecht and its fantastic supporters.”

Source – Sky Sports

The 30-year-old midfielder made his first foray into a top-five European league last season, but could have made such a move much sooner.

Photo by Stuart Franklin

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel has opened up on the numerous transfers in his career that nearly went through, including moves to Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

The Belgium international has been coveted by big European clubs for much of his career, but managed to avoid playing in the continent’s biggest leagues until last season.

Witsel began his career with Standard Liege in his native Belgium, before moving on to Benfica, Zenit and then Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian.

The midfielder, now 30, joined Dortmund last summer from Tianjin Quanjian, and helped his new side to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga.

Though Dortmund represented his first foray into a top-five European league, Witsel told Goal and DAZN that he nearly moved to Real Madrid back in 2012.

“I could have joined Real Madrid when Jose Mourinho was there,” Witsel said. “But then Real signed Luka Modric, so a transfer to Madrid made no sense to me.

“Shortly before the end of the transfer period Zenit called. I had good discussions with the people responsible and finally agreed. I am an open person and was not afraid of Russia.”

During his time in Russia, Witsel says that he very nearly moved to Juventus on a free transfer, before deciding at the last minute to re-sign with Zenit.

“My contract with Zenit expired and I wanted to move to Turin to Juventus,” Witsel recalls. “I had already passed the medical check and actually only had to sign the contract.

“I waited all day in the office and Zenit told me to come back. In retrospect, that was perhaps a twist of fate. Maybe it was just not the right time.”

The right time eventually did arrive last summer as he joined Dortmund, though Witsel says that he could have joined Man Utd or Paris Saint-Germain when he left China, but instead opted for an environment where he would likely be a guaranteed starter.

“First (Dortmund sporting director) Michael Zorc approached me, then (manager) Lucien Favre called me,” Witsel explained.

“I also had other offers, maybe I could have gone to Paris or Manchester, but I did not want to wait. And I had the feeling that I was the first choice for Dortmund. It is important to feel good when you go to a new club.

“So after the talks with Zorc, Favre and (CEO) Hans-Joachim Watzke, I decided to join BVB. Dortmund is a top club – and I really wanted to join a top European club.

“Maybe it was my last chance at 29 years old. It was the right decision.”

Source – Goal.com

The Reds manager used his unique piece of clothing to lighten the mood ahead of the Champions League final.

Getty/Goal

Jurgen Klopp has opened up on how he came to be wearing a pair of Cristiano Ronaldo underpants ahead of the Champions League final in May.

Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum recently revealed the Reds manager presented a meeting prior to the match in Ronaldo-branded underwear which helped ease tensions.

The club went on to lift the European title a year on from their prior final heartbreak, as they beat Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.

Speaking at the Bild Awards, where he was voted Coach of the Year, Klopp confirmed that he went out of his way to show off his apparel as a way to break the ice prior to the game, noting that he had inadvertently bought them a few years prior.

“That’s true…some years ago when I was buying underpants, I simply grabbed the Ronaldo shelf,” Klopp said.

“I still have them, but I have not worn them since the finals.

“During the final I deliberately wore it and during the session deliberately pulled them very far up to under the nipples. That was funny, looked funny.”

The German’s humorous approach clearly worked wonders and delivered a crowning moment for Klopp, who lifted his first major title at Anfield.

Now, with his side gunning for more success, he has added that he could retire once his time on Merseyside comes to an end.

“I hope for now that the next two or three years will continue in the same way and then I will decide,” he noted.

“Everything is possible. So I could stop completely, that is possible. Whether that is the case or not – I really do not know.

“I’m just saying that so you will not be surprised if it happens.”

Klopp is contracted at Liverpool until the end of the 2021-22 season, having joined them from Borussia Dortmund in 2015.

After seeing his former club fall short in the Bundesliga title race last season, the 52-year-old is hoping Dortmund can go one better in this campaign.

“I hope BVB! [It] would be stinking boring otherwise,” Klopp said.

“I think that the BVB [are] sensationally good, [and have] a very great team. It will not be easy for Bayern.

“But in the end Bayern have always shown that they can fight back.”

Liverpool themselves were edged out in the Premier League title race last season, losing out to Manchester City by one point, but Klopp’s side sit top this year so far after picking up two wins from two, against Norwich City and Southampton.

The Reds next face Arsenal on Saturday at Anfield, with both clubs looking to to keep their fine starts to the new campaign intact.

Source – Goal.com

Rocked by the surprise early exit of a national team featuring Mohamed Salah as hosts of the Africa Cup of Nations last month, Egyptian football is getting an emergency management team from FIFA.

Hosts Egypt were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations by South Africa in the round of 16 this summer. Getty

Football’s world body says it appointed a panel of four men and one woman to manage the Egypt football federation until fresh elections are held within one year.

Egypt’s round-of-16 loss against South Africa caused coach Javier Aguirre and his staff to be fired before federation president Hany Abo Rida and other board members resigned.

Abo Rida remains on FIFA’s ruling committee, where he has represented Africa for 10 years.

The Egypt federation is getting millions of dollars from FIFA for a project in Cairo to build a new headquarters and housing base for national teams.

Source – ESPN

The Portuguese attacker is uncertain when he will stop playing, but says it could be as soon as next year.

Photo by Marco Bertorello

Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo remains unsure when he will retire, saying it could be as soon as next year or he could play into his 40s.

Ronaldo, 34, has continued to star after joining the Old Lady last year, scoring 28 goals in 43 games in all competitions and helping the Italian giants win another Serie A title in 2018-19.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is uncertain when he will stop playing, although he intimated that it may not be far away.

“I don’t think about that,” Ronaldo told TVI on Tuesday.

“Maybe I can leave my career next year … but I can also play up to 40 or 41.

“I don’t know. What I always say is to enjoy the moment. The gift is excellent and I have to continue to enjoy it.”

Along with numerous individual honours, Ronaldo has won a record five Champions League titles (four with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United), three Premier League crowns, two La Liga trophies, and the one Serie A crown.

Ronaldo wants to make history and is seemingly motivated by setting records.

“Are there any soccer players who have more records than me?” he asked.

“I don’t think there are any footballers who have more records than me.”

His team-mate Sami Khedira likened the ex-Manchester United attacker’s standing in football to the role of superstars in other sports and the work ethic of legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

“Ronaldo is an example for all sportsmen, like LeBron James in basketball or Tom Brady in American football,” Khedira told Kicker .

“Or like [Gianluigi] Buffon. When the boys see Gigi pushing weights for 45 minutes, at 41, they understand his love for this sport and can only think, ‘I can do it too’.

“Older players are a great motivator for the younger ones.”

With Serie A having a later start to the season than Europe’s other strong leagues, Juventus begin their campaign to win a ninth straight Scudetto away to Parma on Saturday.

They face a tough opening to the season, with fixtures against Fiorentina (away) and Napoli (home) to follow after their opening weekend match.

Source – Goal.com