Ronaldo must ´stay patient´ to reignite Man Utd career, says Rooney

Cristiano Ronaldo must stay patient and take his opportunities when they arise if he is to reignite his career, according to former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney.

Portugal international Ronaldo has endured a difficult time of things in his second season back at Old Trafford, having started just one of United s seven Premier League games.

The five-time Ballon d Or winner led the scoring charts for United in the previous campaign with 24 goals, but his only goal in nine outings this term was a penalty against Sheriff.

That came in the Europa League, a competition Ronaldo – the Champions League s all-time record scorer – is now having to use to prove himself to manager Erik ten Hag.

Rooney, who played alongside Ronaldo between 2004 and 2009, s…

Leicester appoint Enzo Maresca as new manager on three-year deal

Leicester have announced the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager on a deal running to 2026.

The 43-year-old Italian arrives at the King Power Stadium having previously been working as part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City.

Maresca succeeds Dean Smith, who failed to prevent Leicester being relegated from the Premier League after taking charge for the final eight games of the 2022-23 season following Brendan Rodgers’ exit.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Enzo Maresca as our new First Team Manager

— Leicester City (@LCFC)

Maresca told Leicester’s official website: “I’m very excited because of the club (I’m joining) and because we have a big season ahead of us.

“At the beginnin…

Russia to invite Blatter and Platini to World Cup 2018

Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini will be invited to the World Cup final in Russia, the country s sports minister has said.

Both men were handed eight-year bans from footballing activities in December following a £1.3million payment made from Blatter to Platini in 2011, which was deemed a breach of conflict of interest regulations by FIFA s ethics committee.

Blatter and Platini are appealing the sanctions and, according to Vitaly Mutko, would be at perfect liberty to attend the World Cup 2018 

Formally, the suspension prohibits them from any position in football, he told R-Sport.  But on the other hand, how
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is it that an outstanding player like Michel Platini can t go to the football?

We will invite them,…

Prediction: Manchester United vs Newcastle

Best Odds: 23/20

Bookmaker:

In what is a heavyweight EFL Cup showdown on Wednesday night, Manchester United will welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford for a repeat of last season’s final.

Manchester United

Starting with the hosts, putting in a nightmare performance in the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon, United find themselves in the midst of an extended rut. Eventually blown away at Old Trafford and hit with a routine 3-0 drumming, Erik ten Hag certainly finds some mounting pressure on his shoulders. Struggling to find any kind of stability since opening up the new campaign, the Reds already find themselves sat eight points adrift of breaking into the top-four. Likewise, still knowing that they face a real uphill battle in their bid to punch a Champions Lea…

September 22nd: Sunday’s European Accumulator – 8/1

With the opening round of Champions League fixtures getting underway in midweek, it return of Europe’s domestic elite will steal centre stage this weekend.

Watching Manchester City and Arsenal met at the Etihad for what promises to be a heavyweight showdown, we have plenty of eye-catching battles from across the continent.

For those of you looking to stick on a Sunday acca, we have taken a look at some of the most appealing European betting tips.

Sunday, September 22nd
BST 16:30 Manchester City vs Arsenal 

Although Manchester City might have relinquished their maiden European crown last season, Pep Guardiola’s men only shattered more domestic records. Becoming the first club in Premier League history to claim fourth consecutive top-flight titles,…

Karim Benzema calls time on glittering 14-year Real Madrid career

Real Madrid’s most decorated player Karim Benzema is to leave the club after 14 years.

France striker Benzema, 35, won 25 trophies during his time in Madrid and scored 353 goals in 647 appearances to become Real’s second all-time top scorer after Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Real Madrid and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to end his brilliant and unforgettable period as a player for our club,” read a club statement from the Spanish giants.

Comunicado Oficial: Benzema..

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid)

“Real Madrid would like to show its gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends.

“Karim Benzema’s career at Real Madrid has been a shining example of conduct and professionalism, and he has rep…

Austin FC v Real Salt Lake: Wolff looking for solutions to lack of goals

Josh Wolff remains optimistic that Austin FC can improve on their play in the final third when they face Real Salt Lake in MLS on Saturday.

Wolff is under some pressure with Austin failing to win any of their last four league matches, scoring just two goals in that run.

They still have an outside chance of making the playoffs, currently sitting 11th in the Western Conference, but the head coach knows that will not happen if they do not score.

The main thing is you ve got to go out and win the next game, Wolff told reporters.

We ve got to have the same ideas that we ve had and the same performances that we ve had, we ve just got to take our opportunities.

I keep echoing that we ve been one of the better-performing teams at both ends, but it s al…

Sheffield United linked with Paul Dummett

Sheffield United are interested in signing Paul Dummett in the summer transfer window, according to . Dummett is a free agent at the moment after leaving Newcastle United at the end of last season, and the Blades are keen on securing the services of the 32-year-old defender.

TEAMtalk has reported that there are a number of clubs who are keen on Dummett. Sheffield United plan to move in first and convince him to put pen to paper on their contract. The Blades will play in the Championship next season after getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of the last campaign.

Dummett came through the Newcastle academy and was on the books of the Magpies from 2010 until the summer of 2024. The Welshman, who can operate as a centre-back or as a left-back, has made 151 a…

CAF suspend Tunisia president, threaten 2017 AFCON expulsion

After trouble in their Africa Cup of Nations defeat to Equatorial Guinea, CAF has threatened to ban Tunisia from the 2017 tournament.

Tunisia could be expelled from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, while the country s football federation president Wadie Jary has been issued with a ban pending a letter of apology  over suggestions of bias.

The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) aimed the accusations in the direction of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following their controversial 2-1 AFCON quarter-final defeat to hosts Equatorial Guinea last Saturday.

Equatorial Guinea were staring down the barrel of defeat until Mauritian official Seechurn Rajindraparsad awarded a penalty in second-half stoppage time when Hamza Mathlouthi was penalised som…

Who are the bookies’ favourites as we reach the knockout stage of EURO 2020?

With all eyes focused on what was a rollercoaster final round of group fixtures on Wednesday night, the 16 final nations finally took shape after a pair of 2-2 draws in Budapest and Munich.

24 hours after Scotland once again missed out on the chance to book their first-ever spot in the knockout stage of a major tournament, Hungary found themselves suffering a similar heartbreak on foreign soil.

Watching the heavyweight trio of France, Germany and Portugal all eventually claw their way out of the group of death in midweek, we have also seen the likes of Italy and Holland shock many across the continent.

On a list that doesn t include either the defending champions or the team that sits number one in the FIFA rankings, we have taken a look at the three leading pic…