Everton, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan want Marcus Thuram

Lionel Messi should never have been allowed to leave Barcelona for another European club, according to former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

The relationship between Messi and Bartomeu reportedly became toxic during the latter s final months in charge at Camp Nou, and Joan Laporta s election win in March 2021 appeared to point to a brighter future for the team.

However, in August there was the bombshell announcement that Messi would be released as the club could not afford to retain him, with their finances having been hit badly during the pandemic.

An agreed contract had to be discarded and Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain, who have no such money worries under their Qatari owners.

There ended Messi s 20-year career at Barcelona, during which he be…

Jurgen Klopp should be mentioned in the same breath as Liverpool icon Bill Shankly after the club s stunning Champions League comeback, according to Craig Johnston.

Klopp oversaw an unforgettable night at Anfield, where last season s runners-up Liverpool sensationally overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit in a 4-0 victory over Barcelona en route to the final.

Braces from Divock Origi and substitute Georginio Wijnaldum saw Liverpool complete the great escape as their incredible season reached new heights on Merseyside.

Liverpool are one point behind leaders Manchester City heading into the final match of the Premier League season, despite boasting 94 points and just one defeat in 37 games.

Klopp has endeared himself to the city and club and former midfielder …

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hailed his side’s “terrific performance” after a 2-2 Champions League draw with Atletico Madrid.

Celtic twice took the lead in the first half through Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma, who netted shortly after Antoine Griezmann had netted the rebound from his own penalty.

Celtic played with pace, purpose and confidence in the first half and both goals came after excellent moves, but they could not keep up the tempo after the break and Alvaro Morata levelled eight minutes into the second half.

Rodgers said: “I thought it was a terrific performance, especially the first 45 minutes – the quality of our football, the speed in our pressing and in our game, everything we would want.

“We were unfortunate with the penalty. …

A man who sent racist abuse to Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been banned from every stadium in the United Kingdom for three years.

Toney revealed in October he had received the abusive message on Instagram, posting screenshots and saying it made him feel angry , as Brentford called for police to act.

It has led to 24-year-old Antonio Neill, from Blyth in Northumberland, being handed a four-month sentence suspended for two years, plus the football banning order.

Northumbria Police said the latter sanction, handed down on Monday, was the first such order of its kind issued under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

Neill pleaded guilty in January to sending an offensive message after officers pursued him over what they considered a hate cri…

Lionel Messi has been impressed by Cristiano Ronaldo s start to life back at Manchester United and retains fond memories of their beautiful rivalry in LaLiga.

Portugal international Ronaldo has scored nine times in 13 appearances for United since making a sensational return to the club at the end of August.

That is a goal tally bettered by only six other players from clubs in Europe s top five leagues over the same period, with Bayern Munich s Robert Lewandowski (17) leading the way.

Despite Ronaldo s form and ability to bail out his side with late goals, United have endured a poor campaign and sacked manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday.

But with less than half of the campaign played, Messi does not believe a Ronaldo-inspired United can be entirely ru…

Former Spain and Barcelona coach Luis Enrique wants to work in England but has seemingly ruled out replacing Antonio Conte at Tottenham.

Luis Enrique parted ways with Spain after the 2022 World Cup, which saw La Roja knocked out by Morocco at the last-16 stage.

He was replaced by Luis de la Fuente, who stepped up from the Under-21s, leaving Luis Enrique back on the market.

Links to high-profile jobs have been frequent ever since, but the club he appears to have been associated with the most is Spurs, who dismissed Conte on Sunday after a week of intense speculation suggesting his time was over.

While Luis Enrique was not directly asked about Spurs during his first major interview of the year, he did express a desire to work in the Premier League.

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In what is a heavyweight battle on Friday night, Belgium and Italy will meet in Munich with a spot in the semi-final of this summer’s European Championships up for grabs.

Belgium

Starting with Belgium, putting in what was a professional display as they opened up their knockout run last week, The Red Devils managed to land a 1-0 victory as they dumped out defending champions Portugal. Looking to go one step further this summer after crashing out at the quarter-final stage back in 2016, Head Coach Roberto Martinez still finds his side ranked number one in the FIFA standings and they have enjoyed an eye-catching run at this year’s delayed tournament. Including that comeback victory against Denmark on June 17th, the one-time Wigan boss…

Graham Arnold was officially appointed Socceroos coach for after the World Cup and, if an Australian was wanted, he was undoubtedly the standout candidate.

The Sydney FC coach will replace Dutchman Bert van Marwijk after the showpiece event in Russia.

Arnold has long been linked with the job, one he held for almost a year in 2006 and 2007.

While the former Socceroo polarises opinion, he was the best local option for Football Federation Australia (FFA).

Under Arnold, the Sky Blues won the premiership-championship double last season and the 2017 FFA Cup.

82 Graham Arnold has managed his sides to 82 clean sheets, more than any other manager in history (Merrick, 75). Regime.

— OptaJason (@OptaJason)

They are on track to do the dou…

Jurgen Klopp lauded Diogo Jota once again as Liverpool turn their attention back to the Premier League and Sunday s clash with Crystal Palace.

Jota scored twice in a 2-0 win for the Reds at Arsenal on Thursday in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.

Once more shorn of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, who are on international duty with Senegal and Egypt respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool progressed with relative ease to set up a final against Chelsea next month.

It is the first time the Reds have made a cup final since 2019, when they won the Champions League by defeating Tottenham in Madrid.

Liverpool spent £41million to sign Jota from Wolves in September 2020 and he has gone on to score 27 goals in 57 appearances across all competi…

Cristiano Ronaldo has been  a joy to watch in recent years, according to Pep Guardiola and the Spaniard believes football will never see the like of the Manchester United star s talents again.

The duo will face off once more in the Manchester derby on Sunday, having built a rivalry during their days in La Liga as Real Madrid forward and Barcelona coach respectively.

Manchester City boss Guardiola tried to coax Ronaldo to join his side from Juventus in the close season, before United swept in to seal a homecoming for the Portugal superstar.

But even after missing out on his services, Guardiola has nothing but praise for the evergreen attacker s skills, citing him and Lionel Messi as generational powerhouses.

One of the greatest in the last 15 years alon…