February 3 – In an interview with Catlan publication Sport, sporting director Eric Abidal says the club had begun considering Valverde s future after the 0-0 draw with Real Madrid on December 18. He adds that he and his colleagues identified many players weren t satisfied nor working hard and there was also an internal communication problem .

February 4 – Messi hits back at Abidal, calling on him to name individuals rather than tar every player with the same brush. Writing on Instagram and highlighting a section of Abidal s quotes, Messi says: I honestly don t like to do these things, but I think everyone has to be responsible for their tasks and take care of their decisions. The players [are responsible for] what happens on the pitch and we are also the first to recognis…

Real Madrid defender Sergio Reguilon is a target for Sevilla despite the club s sporting director Monchi conceding it will be difficult to outbid rival clubs.

The 23-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2019-20 campaign on loan with Sevilla, which culminated in Europa League success with victory over Inter in last month s final.

His form earned Reguilon a first senior cap for Spain last week, while Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked with the left-back.

Reguilon previously admitted to feeling loved at Sevilla and hinted he would like to stay on, but Monchi says the LaLiga club will struggle to financially outmuscle other interested sides.

Regarding the issue of Reguilon, I already said it, we would love to have him here but…

Rangers moved within two points of Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic with a 1-0 win at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Tuesday.

SPL top scorer Kenny Miller reportedly on the verge of a move to Turkish club Bursaspor was left out of the Rangers team by Walter Smith, with James Beattie and Kylie Lafferty starting up front in his absence.

Visitors Inverness came closest to taking the lead early on at Ibrox through striker Richie Foran, who saw his header tipped on to the bar by Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Lafferty twice came close at the other end, before he was involved in the opener on the stroke of half-time.

The Northern Ireland international a three million-pound signing from Burnley in 2008 saw his shot blocked, but the loose ball…

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that former goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will come out of retirement to sign with Arsenal for the rest of the season.

The 41-year-old German joins as a free agent after retiring in 2010 following two seasons with Bundesliga club Stuttgart.

Lehmann made 199 appearances for Arsenal between 2003 and 2008, winning the Premier League title in 2004 and the FA Cup in 2005.

The move comes after injuries sidelined regular goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski, meaning Lehmann will be used as back-up for first-choice Manuel Almunia.

Italian youngster Vito Mannone is out on loan at Hull City and also injured.

He will sign for us for the rest of the season because we have Wojciech out for six weeks, we have Manuel out for s…

A host of new signings could make Bundesliga debuts this weekend, with a familiar face at Borussia Dortmund set to command the most attention.

In the first round of fixtures since the transfer window closed, Dortmund appear likely to hand a second debut to Japan playmaker Shinji Kagawa, who rejoined the club from Manchester United at the end of last month, when they play host to Freiburg.

Kagawa was a hugely popular figure at Signal Iduna Park during his first spell with Jurgen Klopp s side, which featured back-to-back Bundesliga title triumphs in 2011 and 2012.

While question marks remain over Kagawa s match sharpness due to his lack of action this term, he may well be utilised from the start against Freiburg, particularly after Marco Reus suffered ankle ligamen…

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti believes reluctant coach Leonardo could be set to leave the San Siro.

Leonardo, 41, took over from the sacked Rafael Benitez at Inter in December 2010, guiding the club to second place in Serie A.

But the Brazilian, who also spent the 2009/10 season in charge of AC Milan, is not believed to harbour ambitions of a long-term career as a head coach.

He has been strongly linked with the vacant director of football position at Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain, where he spent a successful season as a player in 1996/97.

Leonardo has a great opportunity, Moratti told the Inter website. We ll try to find a solution which suits him and the club.

After an unhappy spell at AC Milan, where Leonardo clashed with club own…

Gianni Infantino spent his 46th birthday inaugurating the headquarters of FIFA s newest member association South Sudan, but the celebrations off the pitch were not matched on it as the hosts fell to a 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying defeat to Benin.

New FIFA president Infantino was making his first trip to a member nation since being elected last month and is set to visit Ethiopia, Djibouti and Gabon over the coming days.

And he witnessed Benin clinch three points that left them top of Group C, West Brom forward Stephane Sessegnon and Steve Mounie scoring the goals for the visitors in Juba.

President Infantino attended Qualifier today which ended South Sudan 1-2 Benin. Great support from the fans.

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia)

FI…

Brazil legend Cafu has urged Neymar to stay at Barcelona as he feels the Camp Nou side are the ideal club for his compatriot.

Neymar has been in scintillating form for La Liga leaders Barca this season but talks over a contract extension remain on-going.

The Brazil captain has subsequently been linked with fierce rivals Real Madrid, and more recently Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Cafu a two-time World Cup winner with Brazil believes Barca is the perfect club for Neymar at this stage of his career.

I hope that he can continue at Barcelona, Cafu told Laureus.com.

Barcelona are a team that supports him, a team that provide him with structure to help him continue to shine.

Neymar was beaten to the 2015 FIFA Ballon d Or by …

Gary Cahill has been sent off for Chelsea just 14 minutes into their Premier League title defence.

The Blues captain was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Burnley midfielder Steven Defour in their opener at Stamford Bridge after he had lost possession with a heavy touch.

It is the third consecutive match in which the Blues have received a red card, having had Victor Moses sent off in May s FA Cup final and Pedro removed in last week s Community Shield, both matches against Arsenal.

However, it is the first red card Chelsea have received in league action for 40 matches.

1 Chelsea had gone 40 successive Premier League matches without a red card (since May 2015) before Gary Cahill s dismissal today. Off.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)

…

Competition: Dutch Eredivisie
Market: PSV to win against Breda
Odds:

PSV Eindhoven travel to the Rat Verlegh Stadion to face NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday afternoon, and are big favourites to pick up all three points with how the two sides have started the new season. PSV could go top with a win this weekend, while Breda risk dropping to the foot of the table if they come unstuck.

As for the hosts, Stijn Vreven’s NAC Breda side find themselves just one place above the relegation zone after suffering defeat to Vitesse in their first game of the campaign. Breda lost 4-1 on the day and could well struggle to keep a side like PSV quiet as a result. Defeat could even see them end the weekend 18th.

Phillip Cocu’s PSV Eindhoven side are cu…