Denis Suarez has agreed a move back to boyhood club Celta Vigo on a four-year deal from Barcelona.

Denis Suarez managed only six substitute appearances for Arsenal during his loan spell at the club from Barcelona last season

The Galician club will pay Barca 12.9m euros (£11.5m) for the 25-year-old, plus a further 3.1 million euros depending on performances.

Suarez came through Celta’s academy, playing for the reserves before moving to Manchester City at the age of 17 where he failed to make a single competitive appearance for the Premier League side.

He returned to Spain in 2013 to join Barcelona’s reserve team before going out on loan to Sevilla and Villarreal and then finally breaking into Barcelona’s first team in 2016, making a total of 16 La Liga starts for the Catalans over two campaigns.

But after not starting a league game for the La Liga side last term, Suarez went out on loan to Arsenal in January.

However, his second spell in England was overshadowed by injuries as he failed to break into the starting line-up, making just six substitute appearances for Unai Emery’s side.

Source – Goal.com

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah curled in a free kick, his second goal of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, to set them on the way to a 2-0 win over Uganda on Sunday as they topped their group while their opponents joined them in the last 16.

Egypt players celebrate after scoring in their Africa Cup of Nations group-stage match against Uganda. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images

Ahmed Elmohamady was also on target as Egypt, who had already qualified, completed Group A with a 100 percent record in their three games and no goals conceded, while Uganda still qualified for the knockout stages for only the second time and the first since 1978.

The Cranes, who have four points, were given a helping hand by Democratic Republic of Congo, who thumped Zimbabwe 4-0 to finish third with three while Zimbabwe finished last with one.

Uganda were the better side for long periods but the game at Cairo stadium was effectively settled in a nine-minute spell before half-time when Salah and then Ahmed Elmohamady scored.

“The key was the timing, the moment of the first goal and the second were psychologically very important,” said Egypt coach Javier Aguirre. “This is a game where you have to score more than the other team.

“The pressure is a lot. We tried to play… people want us to win, win, win. So far, we have nine points and we have to improve a lot of things.”

Egypt broke the deadlock when they won a free kick 25 metres out and Liverpool’s Salah curled his effort over the wall and into the bottom corner to send the stadium into raptures.

Mahmoud Trezeguet set up the second goal when he charged down the left and, although his cross evaded Salah, Elmohamady collected the ball and drove it into the net.

Until then little went right for Salah as his teammates attempts to find him with through balls invariably failed.

Uganda strung together some delightful passing moves, with Farouk Miya at the centre of most of them, and troubled the hosts with their pace down the flanks.

Allan Kyambadde, in particular, was a constant menace and almost caught out Mohamed El Shenawy with a dipping shot which the Egypt goalkeeper managed to tip over.

El Shenawy also had to make a double save from Lamula Abdu, first blocking the Ugandan’s shot from a difficult angle and then saving his header from the rebound.

Uganda continued to press in the second half without success.

Miya had a dangerous effort deflected over by a defender, then curled a free kick onto the roof of the net while Egypt defender Ayman Ashraf nearly turned Khalid Aucho’s low cross into his own net.

“We are disappointed about the result because we missed a lot of chances,” said Uganda coach Sebastien Desabre. “Unfortunately, in football the most important thing is to score and we didn’t have success in that aspect.

“But we deserved to qualify and for me, that’s the most important thing.”

Source – ESPN

The Premier League champions racked up an astonishing 198 points across two record-breaking seasons to claim back-to-back titles.

Photo by Getty Images

Pep Guardiola says he will not leave the “beautiful” Premier League to return to former clubs Barcelona or Bayern Munich as the conditions for managing at Manchester City are too good.

City romped to a second title in two seasons under Guardiola last term, pipping Liverpool to the championship on the final day with a points tally of 98, two fewer than they managed in their record-breaking season in 2017-18.

Critics had wondered whether the former Barca boss, who turned his old team into the best club side in the world en route to winning three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues between 2008-12, would be able to replicate that success outside of Spain.

He won three Bundesliga titles in three seasons with Bayern but fell short of adding a third European title to his CV, crashing out at the semi-final stage three years on the trot.

But, despite going out in the Champions League last eight in his last two seasons at City, he has turned them into arguably the best team the Premier League has seen in its 27-year history.

“What I like more is that I have proved that people who said we can’t play the same way in Germany or in the Premier League were wrong,” he said in an interview with Catalunya newspaper Ara.  

“With Silva, Bernardo Silva, Sterling or Aguero, all of them less than one metre 20! We have done it. We don’t concede many goals and we dominate positionally. We have the same ideas that we had when we trained the Barca youth team in the third division.

“I have everything here [at City], sincerely, everything I need. Working at home [in Spain], it is hard because the emotions are so intense and the press conferences harder.

“Here, in Manchester, I have Txiki (Begiristain, City’s director of football], who is the most important person of my career because he trusted me when I was no one. I have Ferran [Soriano, City’s CEO) also, and you sometimes ask yourself, ‘how can he be that cold?’ But, at the same time, he manages with a brutal precision.

“When I win I am good, when I lose I am bad. That is the same everywhere, but in this club we are three or four people deciding in the sporting area, there isn’t the noise of 18 board members.

City have racked up an astonishing 198 points in two seasons, setting the two highest points tallies in the history of the 38-game top-flight season in England.

“I have everything I desire to do my job,” he said. “I won’t go back to Barcelona or Germany. Where can I have facilities that good to play in such a beautiful league like the Premier League?”

Source – Goal.com

Spain will be looking for revenge when they meet Germany in a repeat of the 2017 European Under-21 Championship final on Sunday.

Germany beat Spain in the 2017 Euro Under-21 Championship final

Germany won their second title with a narrow 1-0 victory in Krakow two years ago; Spain will be targeting a record-equalling fifth trophy in Udine.

The holders reached the final after coming from 2-1 down to beat Romania 4-2 in their semi-final.

Meanwhile, Spain cruised past France 4-1.

SC Freiburg forward Luca Waldschmidt will be looking to set a new tournament goal-scoring record for the defending champions.

The 23-year-old has already scored seven goals, including a hat-trick in the group-stage victory over Norway, and number eight would see him overtake Swede Marcus Berg’s record, achieved in 2009.

Head coach Stefan Kuntz insists, however, there is more to his team than Waldschmidt.

“He had a great performance, but I don’t want to single out one of my players,” said Kuntz after the semi-finals in Bologna.

“It’s the group that’s important, even those who didn’t play a minute are also important for the team spirit.”

Spain, who have their own star in Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, began their campaign with defeat by Italy.

“This team is getting better with every match,” said coach Luis de la Fuente. “I have a team that is growing, which is capable of overcoming difficult moments.

“The defeat against Italy made us stronger. I don’t think my players are yet at their maximum.”

Source – BBC News

Luis Suárez missed in the shootout as fifteen-times Copa América champions Uruguay suffered a galling quarter-final exit on Saturday to Peru, losing 5-4 on penalties after they had three goals ruled out in a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes. 

Luis Suárez agonises after losing against Peru in a penalty kick shootout. Photograph: Eraldo Peres/AP

Suárez spurned the first penalty in the shootout as his shot bounced off the chest of the Peru goalkeeper, Pedro Gallese, completing a frustrating evening for Uruguay’s all-time top scorer, who also had an effort ruled out for offside.

Every other player converted their spot-kicks and Edison Flores sealed unfancied Peru’s place in the last four by blasting past Fernando Muslera.

Peru will face neighbours Chile in the last four, with tournament hosts Brazil meeting arch rivals Argentina in the other semi-final clash.

“I am very proud. I am speechless,” Peru striker Paolo Guerrero told reporters after scoring in the shootout. “Lots of people said we don’t have the desire, some people tried to destabilise the squad but we showed what we are capable of on the pitch, we showed we have fighting spirit and courage.

“People said before Uruguay were the favourites but being favourites means nothing in football, especially in South America.”

Uruguay dominated the play during the game but Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Edinson Cavani and then Suárez all had goals chalked off for offside which were each verified by VAR checks.

They became the third team in this tournament to lose a quarter-final tie on penalties after a goalless draw after Paraguay were beaten by Brazil and Chile beat Colombia on spot-kicks.

There is no extra time in Copa América quarter-finals in the event of a draw, although 30 minutes will be added on in the semi-finals and final if necessary.

Uruguay defender Diego Godín lamented his side’s inability to convert their chances.
“We were just missing a goal, we kept looking for it but it didn’t come and if we had scored it would have been a different game,” he said.

“We played well, but unfortunately we’ve been knocked out. We couldn’t score and they struck their penalties better than we did.”

Uruguay won the Copa América for a record 15th time in 2011 but they have underachieved in their last three appearances, losing to Chile in the last eight in 2015 and exiting in the group stage in 2016.

Source – The Guardian

Goals from Sofia Jakobsson and Stina Blackstenius helped Sweden stun Germany 2-1 to reach the Women’s World Cup semi-finals.

Sofia Jakobsson’s strike helped Sweden into their fourth World Cup semi-finals

After enjoying an early spell of possession, midfielder Lina Magull put the Germans in front in the 16th minute with an acrobatic volley through the legs of Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.

weden equalised six minutes later when winger Jakobsson latched onto a long ball straight down the middle from Linda Sembrant, and slotted home past goalkeeper Almuth Schult.

German coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg threw on midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan, who had not played since breaking a toe in their tournament opener against China, at the start of the second half but it was Sweden who took a shock lead.

Schult did well to turn away a powerful header by Fridolina Rolfo but the rebound fell kindly for striker Blackstenius, who fired home from point blank range to get her second goal in as many matches.

Marozsan missed a glorious chance to force the game into extra time when she headed wide with the goal gaping in the 80th minute but Sweden held their nerve to reach their fourth World Cup semi-finals.

Source – Sky Sports

Cameroon and Ghana, two of the most successful teams in Africa Cup of Nations history, cancelled each other out in a forgettable 0-0 draw in their Group F match on Saturday.

Cameroon moved top of their group with Saturday’s draw with Ghana. Backpage Pix

Ghana nearly snatched the points in the 88th minute when Kwabena Owusu intercepted a wayward pass, charged forward and fired a ferocious shot against the bar.

Apart from that, the two sides served up a feast of misplaced passes, poor first touches and wayward finishing on another searing evening at the Ismailia stadium, while there were some unusual decisions from the referee.

Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah was one of the few players to distinguish himself, making three key interventions to prevent a Cameroon goal.

Holders Cameroon top the group with four points from two games, while Ghana have two points after drawing both their matches.

Source – ESPN

The Reds’ owner is delighted with his club’s Champions League trophy, but says next year they’ll try to end a 30-year drought in the league.

Liverpool owner John Henry has said the club’s attention will be firmly on winning the Premier League next season, as the league title is what he believes the fans want.

The Reds earned their sixth European triumph last season, downing fellow English club Tottenham by a 2-0 scoreline in the final in Madrid.

It completed a memorable season for the Reds, which saw them defeat the champions of Spain, France and Germany during the competition and rack up 97 points domestically.

However that Premier League haul, despite being the third-highest ever, saw them fall one point short of Manchester City in the title hunt.

And while Henry admitted the Champions League trophy is what mattered most to him, he claims the club will concentrate on winning England’s top-flight next season, and ending a 30-year drought.

He would not be drawn on transfer speculation though, stating his belief that the return of key players from injury would give his team a boost.

“To me winning in Europe is bigger than winning in England but I think it’s true the fans want it,” the American tycoon told PA.

“I know we’re going to be focused on winning the Premier League next year.

“We need to get healthy. We need AOC [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain] back, we need a healthy [Adam] Lallana.

“It’s not up to me, but I would guess we’ll see more of Divock [Origi] next year. I think he brings something special, he comes with power and speed and brings in scoring.

“I feel really good about next year.”

Henry is in London to watch the baseball team he also owns, the Boston Red Sox, play the New York Yankees in the first regular season baseball game played in the UK.

Despite Premier League disappointment, Henry was fulsome in his praise of Jurgen Klopp’s men for their 2018-19 efforts, believing Champions League success was a reward for their hard work.

“Our guys gave their all from the first day of the season to the last,” he continued.

“It’s a long season, they played up to their capabilities and just gave it so much effort.

“It didn’t matter who the opponent was, they out-ran every opponent and I felt they deserved to walk away with a trophy.

“We walked away with the biggest one so I’m very happy.”

Source – Goal.com

The loanee is desperate not to return to west London after not enjoying his time leading the line during his short time at the club.

Photo by Getty Images

Alvaro Morata has been assured that Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid want to keep hold of him amid concerns the striker might be forced to return to Chelsea this summer.

The Blues are discussing a deal to offload their star with the La Liga runners-up after loaning their failed £58 million ($74m) signing in January as he pushed to leave the club.

Chelsea can recall Morata, which gives them leverage in talks; but Atletico have a non-obligatory purchase option at £48.5m after the Spanish club already paid £4.4m in loan fees.

Atleti may hope that Chelsea allows them to continue their 18-month loan with leveraging their ability to recall, as Morata is desperate to avoid a return to Chelsea. He revealed earlier in the month that he wants the move to become permanent as soon as possible.

“I want to stay at Atletico but, contractually, Chelsea can call me back,” Morata told Goal in early June. “We will see what happens in the negotiations between them, but the two clubs already know what I want.

“I only ask, please, as I said to Atletico, do everything possible to do it as soon as possible. Because I just want to be here.”

Atleti will have money to sign both Benfica‘s £112m prospect Joao Felix and Morata after selling the likes of Antoine Griezmann in a deal involving Barcelonaat around £107m and Rodri for £63m to Manchester City.

At Chelsea, meanwhile, Frank Lampard is in talks with the Blues board over a £4m move away from Derby County to the club where he established legendary status.

His backroom staff is being picked during the talks as pre-season is set to begin on Wednesday for the group of Chelsea players who didn’t make any end of season international appearances.

After the £88m sale of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid and with the transfer ban hanging over the club, Lampard will have to look to his loanees to strengthen his side’s goalscoring potential.

Michy Batshuayi, who spent the second half of the season at Crystal Palace, and Aston VIlla’s Tammy Abraham are front runners to return as a deal to turn Mateo Kovacic’s loan from Real Madrid into a £40.3m deal will be imminently announced.

Source – Goal.com