Zlatan Ibrahimovic s arrival at Milan last year was a godsend that helped transform the club, according to head coach Stefano Pioli.

The ex-Sweden international returned to San Siro for a second permanent spell with the Italian giants roughly a year ago, making his second debut as a substitute against Sampdoria on January 6.

He has been in sensational form since then, scoring 20 and assisting six goals in 24 Serie A matches in 2020, a tally bettered only by Ciro Immobile (34 goal involvements in 33 games) and Cristiano Ronaldo (38 in 29).

Ibrahimovic s haul includes a return of 10 goals in six league matches in the first half of this season, two of those strikes coming in Milan s 3-1 win over Napoli in November before he limped off with an injury that has kept h…

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez admits it came as a huge shock when Zinedine Zidane told him he will be stepping down as head coach.

Zidane confirmed on Thursday he is leaving the club, just five days on from winning his third Champions League in a row, citing the need for a change for him and the team.

The 45-year-old s future had come under scrutiny in the weeks leading up to the Champions League final against Liverpool, with Madrid having failed to defend their LaLiga title and crashed out of the Copa del Rey to Leganes.

However, Perez claims he had hoped to have Zidane at his side forever and was only informed of the former France star s plans on Wednesday.

Zidane since his appointment in 2016 

UEFA Champions League

UEFA Super Cup…

Belgium international Jan Vertonghen has returned to his home country by joining Anderlecht on a permanent deal from Benfica.

The former Tottenham defender, who has won a remarkable 139 caps for his country, has penned a two-year contract with Belgium s most successful club.

Vertonghen made 57 league appearances during his time in Portugal, having previously enjoyed an eight-year stint in the Premier League. 

Speaking to Anderlecht s website, Vertonghen revealed: There have been talks with Anderlecht in the past already, but suddenly everything fell into place. 

I ve been following the club s project for a while now and I m convinced that with my experience I can contribute something to this group.

Vertonghen is not the only former Spurs play…

Jamie Carragher has slammed Liverpool s timid withdrawal from the race to sign Jude Bellingham, claiming the Reds have betrayed their fans trust by failing to pursue him.

With Bellingham expected to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season and Liverpool s midfield in desperate need of a rebuild, Anfield has long been suggested as a potential destination for the England man.

However, reports this week said Liverpool were no longer targeting Bellingham, with Real Madrid and Manchester City reportedly the frontrunners for the £130million-rated midfielder.

While Jurgen Klopp was unwilling to discuss Bellingham directly at a press conference on Friday, he accepted Liverpool may have to step aside and do different stuff in the next transfer window.

The…

Alan Pardew has confirmed Newcastle United have received a bid for Yohan Cabaye, who was left out of Monday’s clash at Manchester City.

Media reports emerged in the hours leading up to kick off at the Etihad Stadium that suggested Arsenal have tabled an offer for the 27-year-old midfielder.

Pardew opted to leave Cabaye out of his matchday squad for his side’s opening Premier League game at City, fuelling speculation over the France international’s future at the club.

We want to focus on getting a result here. What I can confirm is that on the eve of the game we ve had a bid for the player we don t think is acceptable, Pardew told Sky Sports in his pre-match interview.

Therefore, I have to pick the team I think will get us a result.

I know it s the mai…

Michael Garcia has resigned from his position as independent chairman of the FIFA Investigatory Chamber, read his reasons in full below.

For the first two years after my July 2012 appointment as independent Chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee s Investigatory Chamber, I felt that the Ethics Committee was making real progress in advancing ethics enforcement at FIFA. In recent months, that changed.

On September 5, 2014, I and Cornel Borbely, the Deputy Chair of the Investigatory Chamber, sent a Report on the Inquiry into the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup Bidding Process (the Report ) to the FIFA Ethics Committee s Adjudicatory Chamber. The Report identified serious and wide-ranging issues with the bidding and selection process. (Mr. Borbely also filed separate reports from hi…

Yaya Toure made a stunning first Premier League appearance of the season with two goals in Manchester City s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The visitors, having won only one of their previous five top-flight games, showed six changes from the 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough and it was Toure s inclusion that set tongues wagging.

It took the Ivorian 39 minutes to recapture some of the old magic as a superb interchange with Nolito preceded his emphatic opener.

Alan Pardew s side refused to give in and almost levelled when Christian Benteke s header brought a fine stop from Claudio Bravo 10 minutes after the interval.

Sergio Aguero could have sealed it midway through the second half for City – who lost Vincent Kompany to injury – but his…

Marseille defender Rod Fanni has likened Nice s signing of Mario Balotelli to a game of Russian roulette.

Having underwhelmed at Liverpool after joining from AC Milan in 2014, Balotelli, who has developed a reputation for underperforming and troublesome off-field antics, was sent back to San Siro on loan for the 2015-16 season.

The 26-year-old scored once in 20 Serie A appearances and, with the Rossoneri opting not to retain him, he was allowed to join Nice on a free transfer.

Balotelli could make his debut for the club in the Cote d Azur derby against Marseille at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday, and opposition defender Fanni is unsure whether the move will be a success.

[Signing] Balotelli is Russian roulette. It s all good if he has his head in place…

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and head coach Marco Silva will not be punished further after the Football Association s appeal to lengthen their bans was rejected.

Mitrovic was banned for eight games for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during Fulham s 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final loss at Manchester United last month.

Silva was given a two-match ban after being sent off in the same game for improper conduct and using abusive and insulting language.

The FA argued the punishments, imposed by an independent regulatory commission, were clearly insufficient and deserved to be extended.

But the governing body confirmed on Friday its appeal had been rejected, meaning Silva is free to return to the touchline, while Mitrovic will be back for Fulham s final three gam…