Casillas would sacrifice La Liga for Champions League

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas says he would be happy to give Barcelona the La Liga crown if it ensured his club won their 10th Champions League.

A number of supporters and pundits have written off Jose Mourinho s side in the race for the La Liga title, after a poor start to the season has seen them fall 11 points behind Barcelona.

But goalkeeper Casillas admitted that he would give their fierce rivals a landslide victory in the Spanish top flight if they were assured of European football s biggest prize.

I do not have to think about it. If you told me now that we would finish 25 points behind Barcelona in La Liga that is obviously not ideal as the domestic competition is very important, he told Spanish TV station La Sexta.

But if you tell me that …

San Lorenzo doubtful on Coloccini move

San Lorenzo chairman Matias Lammens says they are relying on Fabricio Coloccini to force a move from Newcastle United to the Argentine club.

The Newcastle skipper s father revealed earlier this month that the defender has requested to be released from his contract in order to return to Argentina, with his wife reportedly ill.

And with manager Pardew determined to resolve what he has deemed a crisis for the club, it appears the chances of a January exit for the 30-year-old are dwindling.

San Lorenzo can t pay a fee for Coloccini. We don t want to build up fans hope, we are dependent on Fabricio s persistence to leave the club, Lammens said.

San Lorenzo s position didn t change. We will see the contract we can make for him, according to club s economy. W…

Messi: Neymar now a more complete player

Lionel Messi believes Barcelona team-mate Neymar has developed into a more complete player since their meeting in the Club World Cup final in 2011.

The Brazilian was regarded as an unproven teenager when his Santos team took on Pep Guardiola s Barca four years ago, losing 4-0.

However, Neymar has since established himself as one of the world s top players following his move to Camp Nou, recognised by his inclusion  alongside Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo  on the shortlist for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d Or.

And four-time Ballon d Or winner Messi has been impressed by his team-mate s progress.

A lot of time s gone by since then and I ve witnessed his enormous growth, both as a footballer and as a person, Messi told FIFA.com.

Back then he was already…

Liverpool need Merseyside derby win to please fans – Toure

Liverpool must defeat Merseyside rivals Everton on Sunday to appease the club s fans, according to defender Kolo Toure. 

Toure and Co. were booed off the field after being held to a 1-1 draw against Swiss side Sion in the Europa League on Thursday.

Liverpool have drawn their opening two group games, while also languishing in ninth in the Premier League table following a difficult start to the 2015-16 season.

Toure knows the fans are frustrated but said victory away to Everton could see them get back to winning ways.

I don t think we under-estimated Sion, Toure told the Liverpool Echo. It was just that we didn t have that killer instinct. When play against a team like that you need to get the second goal to kill them mentally.

Now we need to fo…

Arsenal to offer Gladbach Xhaka for Zakaria

Arsenal are set to offer Granit Xhaka for Borussia s Monchengladbach s Denis Zakaria, according to .

The now former Arsenal captain hasn t played for his club since the incident which happened during his substitution in the game the Gunners drew 2-2 at home against Crystal Palace in October. As he walked off the pitch, a chorus of boos and whistles rang around the Emirates stadium, and he responded with some ugly gestures of his own.

He later offered what seemed as a half-hearted apology, but he also revealed that the moment was a culmination of a period during which he had received some serious abuse. Be that as it may, he s been stripped of the captaincy since and the issue obviously hasn t been resolved yet. A January departure seems likely with Newcastle willing to …

Prediction: Leicester City vs Everton

Prediction: Leicester to Win to Nil

Odds:

Bookmaker:

Everton boss Marco Silva has a huge test to try and save his job as he takes his side to the King Power Stadium to play on Leicester City on Sunday evening.

The Blues have been terrible so far this season and currently sit 17th in the table and are in for a severe test against Brendan Rodgers high-flying Foxes.

Leicester City

With Silva under severe pressure at Goodison Park, the story could not be more different under Rodgers in the East Midlands. The Northern-Irishman has done a brilliant job so far and has them sitting third in the Premier League table. Leicester, apart from Liverpool, have arguably been the best side in the top-flight this season. Having scored the third most amount of g…

Man Utd boss Rangnick compares scrapping festive football to ´abolishing the Queen´

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has dismissed the idea of scrapping football over the festive period in England, comparing the idea to abolishing the Queen .

COVID-19 outbreaks among several Premier League clubs has forced the postponement of a number of fixtures, but Rangnick does not believe that introducing a winter break over Christmas is in keeping with the country s traditions. 

The German did, however, question some of English football s practices, including the existence of two domestic cup competitions the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

I ve watched Premier League football for the last 40 years so when it was also the First Division and I know what kind of tradition it is to play football over Christmas and on Boxing Day, the 27th, the 30th an…

Newcastle and West Ham want Antonín Barak of Hellas Verona

Newcastle United and West Ham United are interested in signing Hellas Verona midfielder Antonín Barak, according to a report in . It has been reported by the Italian news outlet that West Ham looked at the midfielder in the summer transfer window and remain keen on the Czech Republic international.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have recently purchased Newcastle from Mike Ashley. The Premier League club now have wealthiest owners in the world of football.

Newcastle are reportedly ready to pay over €25 million for Barak and have already sent officials to compile reports on the 26-year-old. Barak spent the 2020-21 season on loan at Hellas from Udinese before making the move permanent in the summer of 2021. The attacking midfielder has scored four goals a…

Football rumours: Tottenham take pursuit of Brennan Johnson to deadline day

What the papers say

Tottenham head into transfer deadline with their pursuit of Wales forward Brennan Johnson, 22, from Nottingham Forest continuing, according to the Evening Standard. The Daily Telegraph reports Chelsea’s England midfielder Conor Gallagher, 23, could also be a late target for Spurs.

Fulham have emerged as suitors for Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg according to the Evening Standard. With Joao Palhinha a possible deadline day departure, Fulham are also being linked with a move for Manchester United’s Scott McTominay.

Wolves are looking to strengthen their striking options with the Daily Mail reporting they are interested in Scotland forward Che Adams from Southampton. Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho is another option for a move to Molineu…

Randal Kolo Muani joins Paris St Germain on five-year deal

Paris St Germain have signed Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt on a five-year contract.

The deal has reportedly cost PSG 90 million euros to bring the 24-year-old France forward back to his native Paris.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: “We are delighted to welcome Randal Kolo Muani — a proud Parisien and Frenchman – to Paris Saint-Germain; to his city and his home.

Le Paris Saint-Germain est heureux d’annoncer la signature de Randal Kolo Muani. L’attaquant français, qui portera le numéro 23, s’est engagé pour 5 ans avec le Club.

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside)

“We have worked incredibly hard to get this transfer over the line.

“Randal is a fantastic French international player and is com…