Former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso says both teams should be described as mentality monsters ahead of Saturday s Champions League final.
Alonso played for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, before moving to Madrid where he also spent five seasons, winning the Champions League with both clubs.
The English and Spanish giants meet at the Stade de France at the weekend in a repeat of the 2018 final, which Madrid won 3-1 in Kyiv.
Speaking to BT Sport, Alonso expressed his admiration for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp and his ability to get the most from his team.
Jurgen, I have played many times against him, he said. He is intense, he is very passionate and I think that one of his best qualities is that he is able to get the best from his playe…
Fenerbahce are interested in signing Ansu Fati from Barcelona in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the Turkish giants will try to secure a loan deal for Fati in the middle of the season.
Fichajes has reported that Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho wanted to sign Fati in the summer of 2024. Fenerbahce sporting director, Mario Branco, is planning to contact the player s representative in the coming weeks to negotiate the loan.
Fati has been on the books of Barcelona since 2012 and has come through the Spanish club’s youth system. The 21-year-old Spain international winger spent last season on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion. The winger has made one substitute appearance in La Liga and has played twice as a substitute in the UEFA C…
Basham said on Instagram: “Had my two surgery’s done now and I can’t thank the surgeons enough for the fast response to me, the first surgery was for cleaning up the wound I suffered and dislocation, the second surgery was to repair the ligaments and to fit a plate on my bone where the fracture was.
“I’m in a cast now and it feels a lot more comfortable.
“Will be in London still for another few days but then be going home to recover in the right way.
“Trying to stay positive everyday with great family and friends around me. Still overwhelmed by the support I have received thank you.”
Basham is in his 10th year with the Blades, having joined from Blackpool in 2014, and has made eight Premier League appearances this season.
The Blade…
Scotland’s Euro 2024 place was secured on Sunday night by Norway’s defeat to Spain as Steve Clarke’s side continue to impress.
Having also reached the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 finals, Clarke has re-established Scotland’s men’s team on the international stage and here, the PA news agency looks at their major tournament record.
Back in the big time
Steve Clarke reacts to our EURO 2024 qualification.
Read more below
— Schottland (Q) (@ScotlandNT)
Clarke said after Spain’s win in Oslo on Sunday: “To qualify for successive Euros after more than 20 years is phenomenal.”
Scotland reached four out of five major tournaments from the 1990 to 1998 World Cups. That included the 1992 and 1996 European Championships – their only a…
Liverpool’s LGBGT+ fans group Kop Outs are “appalled and concerned” club captain Jordan Henderson is considering a move to Saudi Arabia side Al Ettifaq.
The England midfielder is understood to be a target for the team now managed by Steven Gerrard, the man Henderson assumed the armband from at Anfield, with reports suggesting the 33-year-old is close to accepting an eye-watering £700,000-plus-a-week offer.
Henderson has been a significant supporter of both the group and LGBGT+ issues – he is a Rainbow Laces ambassador – and so suggestions he is ready to move to Saudi Arabia, whose human rights record has long been criticised, has prompted an angry response from Kop Outs.
Kop Outs have valued the allyship shown by
We are appalled and concerned …
Phil Foden wants to continue enjoying working with Pep Guardiola, and will not think too much about the Spaniard potentially leaving Manchester City.
Foden was named Premier League Player of the Year after helping City land a record-breaking fourth successive top-flight title, scoring two goals in their crucial victory over West Ham on the final day.
Guardiola, whose contract is set to expire at the end of next season, hinted he may depart the Etihad Stadium, suggesting he was closer to leaving the club than staying.
Foden has gone from strength to strength since coming through the City ranks and being handed his debut by the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss during the 2017-18 season.
And the England international is focused on continuing to embrac…
Russia journey to Slovakia while the Republic of Ireland are in Andorra in Euro 2012 qualifying on Friday, with Group B s fate still up in the air.
Russia top the group on 17 points, with Ireland two points behind in second while Armenia and Slovakia are locked on 14 points in third and fourth place respectively.
Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss has the hardest job out of any of the four managers to secure either top place in the group or a playoff berth, with his side having by far the worst goal difference at -2.
Armenia take on Macedonia on Friday in the group s other game, but with things as they stand there is every chance it could come down to Tuesday s final matches to settle things, with Russia hosting Andorra, Ireland welcoming Armenia and Slovakia away to…
Frenkie de Jong might be open to leaving Barcelona at the end of the season, according to . The report has claimed that Barcelona are willing to pay De Jong his deferred wages of €18 million on the condition that he leaves in the summer of 2025.
De Jong has always maintained that he wants to stay at Barcelona, but there is now a chance that he could be on his way out of Camp Nou at the end of the season. The 27-year-old has been on the books of Barcelona since 2019 when he joined from Ajax. The Netherlands international has been an important player for Barca over the years and is one of the first names on the teamsheet when he is fit and available.
The Dutchman, who is injured at the moment, scored two goals in 20 La Liga matches last season. He found the back of the …
Marta will play in her sixth Olympics after she was named in Brazil s squad for the Paris Games by coach Arthur Elias, who described her as the greatest athlete of all time .
The Selecao s all-time leading scorer with 118 goals, the 38-year-old will appear at her final tournament with her country, having announced in April she will retire from international duty at the end of the year.
Marta has already made Olympics history. In Tokyo, she became the first player male or female to score at five successive Games, while she was part of the side that won silver medals in 2004 and 2008.
And Elias welcomed the inclusion of the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, who has scored four times for Orlando Pride in the NWSL this season.
Marta s Brazilian Flair
Abdallah Sima scored twice as Brest maintained their perfect Champions League start by thrashing Salzburg 4-0 at the Red Bull Arena, completing an Austrian double.
Brest kicked off their first-ever European campaign with a 2-1 home win over Sturm Graz two weeks ago, and they built on that victory with a clinical counterattacking performance in Salzburg on Tuesday.
Brest had one shot on target in the opening half, and it was all they required to take the lead. The visitors cleared their lines from a Salzburg attack and Ludovic Ajorque s pass found Sima, who held off his marker to slip his finish past the goalkeeper.
Salzburg had spurned chances in the opening half with Amar Dedic and Karim Konate both shooting wide, and in the second half they were completely open…