Anderson joins Internacional; Lennon delighted with Everton move

Manchester United midfielder Anderson has joined Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Internacional on a four-year deal.

The former Grêmio starlet, who joined United from Porto for £26 million in 2007, will move to  Porto Alegre on a free transfer after falling out of favour at Old Trafford.

Thank you so much to Manchester United It is truly the best club in the world, I love it so much and have enjoyed every year I have spent there,” wrote Anderson on Instagram

Thank you to all the team who work at United and especially all the boys, I have made some amazing friends, all of whom are great players and will continue to do great things.

And one massive thank you to all of the fans, for your continuous love.. The best.

While at…

El Salvador v Argentina: Messi set for Roca reunion

Lionel Messi is set to be reunited with a familiar face when Argentina face El Salvador in a friendly at Landover s FedEx Field on Saturday.

El Salvador coach Albert Roca is a Spaniard who spent five years at Barcelona as an assistant to Frank Rijkaard.

During his time at Camp Nou, between 2003 and 2008, Roca was able to witness Messi s emergence and development into one of the world s leading players.

Roca is quoted by ESPN Brasil as saying:  I was lucky to be three or four years with him when he began to come to the first team.

Practically we are talking about the best player of all history.

It will be a dream to see him again. Even if having to face him is never pleasant.

Messi was briefly considered a doubt for the game against E…

Balotelli was ´a rotten apple´ – Berlusconi

Club president Silvio Berlusconi labelled former Milan striker Mario Balotelli a rotten apple on Monday.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Berlusconi claimed he had advised against signing Balotelli in February 2013.

Balotelli joined Liverpool before the 2014-15 season and has failed to score in the Premier League for the Anfield-based outfit, while Berlusconi is convinced Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi will find it easier to rebuild the Serie A club without the Italy international.

I remember that he [Balotelli] had been bought against my advice, Berlusconi said.

Berlusconi reckons Milan are on their way back to becoming the kings of Europe, adding that players like Balotelli would have held the seven-time Champions League-winners back.

Prediction: England vs Italy

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker:

In what is set to be a heavyweight EURO 24 qualifying showdown from Wembley on Tuesday night, England will welcome Italy to Wembley.

England

Starting with the hosts, marking their return to international duties last week with a 1-0 victory against Australia in a friendly matchup, England will be desperate to lay down a heavyweight marker on Tuesday night. Opening up their showdown at Wembley holding a three-point buffer at the top of the Group C table, Gareth Southgate’s side find themselves within touching distance of punching their ticket to next year’s European Championships. mustering 13 points from their five qualifying contests and yet to suffer a single defeat, the Three Lions are tipped as a genuine contender out in German…

Paraguay 1-4 Brazil: Vinicius stars in Selecao´s statement win

Vinicius Junior played a starring role as Brazil kick-started their Copa America campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over 10-man Paraguay, who were eliminated from the competition.

The Real Madrid forward scored twice for the Selecao, who opened the tournament with a drab goalless draw against Costa Rica on Monday, while Savinho and Lucas Paqueta were also on target at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Dorival Junior s side subsequently closed in on a quarter-final spot by moving onto four points in Group D – two behind leaders Colombia, who they will join in the last eight with a draw when the nations meet in their final group outing on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Omar Alderete s wonderful long-range strike proved academic for Paraguay, as La Albirroja bowed out…

Dortmund-Chelsea sees two potential Premier League staples do battle in Bellingham and Fernandez

Borussia Dortmund host Chelsea for the first leg of a Champions League tie that sees two of the world s best prospects go head-to-head.

Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez have a combined age of just 41. Between them, the pair have already stacked up 278 senior club appearances.

Bellingham has played 161 times for Dortmund and Birmingham City, while Fernandez has racked up 117 appearances across spells at Defensa y Justicia, River Plate, Benfica and now Chelsea.

As good as the duo have been for their clubs, they elevated themselves into the must buy category for Europe s elite sides with their performances at last year s World Cup.

Fernandez was named the tournament s best young player as he played a key role in Argentina claiming their third world crown, …

Abate pens new Milan deal

Ignazio Abate has committed his future to Milan by penning a new four-year deal with the club.

The Italy defender has risen through the ranks at San Siro and his latest contract runs through to June 2019, by which time he will be 32.

Abate broke his way into the first team at Milan in the 2009-10 season, having had temporary spells with the likes of Napoli, Piacenza and Torino earlier in his career.

The full-back has subsequently become a mainstay in Milan s first team and only injuries prevented him from adding to his 23 Serie A appearances last term.

Abate was also part of a Milan side that won the Serie A title under the stewardship of Massimiliano Allegri in the 2010-11 season.

Tiki-taka is not easy to play – Turan

Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan insists the club s tiki-taka style of play is not as easy to implement as it looks.

The Spanish giants are renowned for their possession-based style of football, introduced in the late 1980s by Johan Cruyff, with Pep Guardiola taking it to further extremes.

Guardiola took over at Barcelona in 2008 and won 14 trophies across four seasons as he revolutionised the way the game is played. 

Under current coach Luis Enrique, Barcelona have continued to play in a similar way, and Turan explained just how hard it is to continuously implement. 

From the outside, it s like chess, which looks easy to play, he said.  But just like tiki-taka, it s not.

Everyone has a duty, a position, and everyone is fulfilling their …

Lyon confirm Ben Arfa interest

Ligue 1 giants Lyon have moved to confirm they are interested in Nice forward Hatem Ben Arfa amidst speculation linking the 29-year-old with a return to Stade Gerland.

The France international came through the youth ranks at Lyon’s famous academy, but decided to join Marseille in search of first team football in August 2008.

Following a disappointing spell in England, Ben Arfa managed to kick-start his career at Nice, and he is now back on the radar of top European sides.

While PSG and few other top clubs have been showing interest in his services, his former club Lyon appear to be keen as well.

Former les Gones striker Bernard Lacombe, now acting as an advisor to club chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, admits they wouldn’t mind seeing Ben Arfa back at Stad…

Benitez confirms reported Chelsea target Digne wants to leave Everton

Rafael Benitez has confirmed Lucas Digne wants to leave Everton.

Left-back Digne, who signed from Barcelona for a reported £18million in August 2018, has not featured for the Toffees since a 4-1 home defeat to Merseyside rivals – and Benitez s former club – Liverpool on December 1.

That loss was one of eight for Everton from their last 12 Premier League games. They have won just one of their fixtures in that run, beating Arsenal 2-1 thanks to a late Demarai Gray stunner.

Everton, who were limited in the off-season transfer window partly due to the Premier League s profit and sustainability rules, have been active already this month, signing right-back Nathan Patterson from Rangers for a fee believed to be £11m plus add-ons, and bringing in left-back Vitali…