Spain´s LaLiga plans to play regular-season game in U.S.

LaLiga has struck a 15-year deal with multinational media, sports and entertainment company Relevent that will bring a Spanish top-flight match to the United States for the first time.

Thursday s announcement sees LaLiga partner with Relevent, the company behind the International Champions Cup, in a move that aims to promote the division in the U.S. and Canada.

The idea of major European leagues being hosted in other parts of the world is not a new phenomenon, with the Premier League discussing in 2008 potentially having an international round,  but that never came to fruition.

With LaLiga North America set up as a new organisation, Relevent say the agreement will boost Spanish soccer s growth in the USA and Canada through consumer-related activities, including …

Fresh controversy in Turkey as Istanbulspor leave pitch in apparent protest

Turkish side Istanbulspor left the pitch in an apparent protest at a decision not to award them a penalty – just eight days after referee Halil Umut Meler was punched in the face.

Domestic football in Turkey resumed on Tuesday after KE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca attacked Meler in his side’s match with Caykur Rizespor. Koca resigned from his role and was handed a permanent ban by the Turkish Football Federation.

But, following a week-long suspension, the Super Lig was back in the spotlight after Istanbulspor chairman Ecmel Faik Sarialioglu appeared to instruct his team to stop playing.

The match against İstanbulspor in the 17th Week of Trendyol Süper Lig is stopped in the 73rd minute as the players of the opposing team abandon the pitch.

— Tr…

´He´s just top level´ – Havertz lauds new Bayern boss Tuchel

Kai Havertz hailed the impact Thomas Tuchel had on his career, with the new Bayern Munich boss having coached the Germany international at Chelsea.

Tuchel, who was announced as Bayern s coach following the shock sacking of Julian Nagelsmann last week, took charge of the Blues between January 2021 and September last year.

The German guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021, with Havertz scoring the first-half winner in a 1-0 victory over fellow Premier League side Manchester City.

Speaking to The Guardian on Tuchel s influence, he said: Tuchel gave me a different idea of football.

Every detail counts, every centimetre, how you touch the ball, how you control, where you pass, which foot, movement, creating spaces: he s just top level.

To…

Arsenal v Tottenham: How Emery´s tactical change could finally get Aubameyang firing against ´big si

Arsenal suffered another humbling defeat to Liverpool at Anfield last week, but they have every reason to feel confident ahead of the visit of Tottenham on Sunday.

The Gunners have not lost the north London derby at Emirates Stadium since surrendering a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 in November 2010, in Spurs only away league victory against their fierce rivals in the last 26 attempts.

Spurs were beaten 4-2 in this fixture last season, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring two of his three goals against the big six in England s top flight.

The striker s record might sound in desperate need of improvement, but there are signs Unai Emery is cultivating a new system at Arsenal that could play right into the strengths of their Gabon star.

7 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has s…

Rossi thanks Manchester United

I don t think many clubs would have given me the opportunity to train with them like United have, he said. It s something I ll always remember. It s a really unique gesture.

That statement came from Giuseppe Rossi, who has thanked Manchester United Football Club for giving him a place to train as he attempts to land himself a new club. Rossi spent three years on the books at Old Trafford between 2004 and 2007, before making the move over to Villarreal in Spain which proved to be the most successful spell of his career. However, injuries have taken their toll on the United States-born Italian over the years, and despite appearing regularly for the national team between 2008 and 2014, he’s currently on the outside looking in following a few poor years.

Rossi has been …

´God knows what will happen´ – Williams unsure on long-term Athletic future

Nico Williams remains happy at Athletic Bilbao for now but is unsure what his long-term future holds, saying: God knows what will happen.

Williams reportedly attracted interest from Barcelona and Arsenal during the recent transfer window, having enjoyed a terrific campaign as Spain won Euro 2024.

The winger played six of La Roja s seven games in Germany, scoring twice and laying on one assist.

Only fellow Spain wideman Lamine Yamal (19) bettered his 13 chances created at the tournament, while he ranked second for successful dribbles (13) to Dani Olmo (14).

Williams has three years remaining on his contract with Athletic but that deal contains a €55million release clause, yet no club activated it before the window closed on Friday.

Speaking to …

Vinicius wants to stay at Real Madrid

“There’s no choice, I want to stay at Madrid”. 

Those were the since words from Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior who has dismissed reports linking him with a move away from Real Madrid. A report from AS claimed that Paris Saint-Germain would be coming in for him once again, to the point where they would feature him in a deal alongside Kylian Mbappe. 

Vinicius was asked about the potential deal after Real’s surprising cup loss during the week, but of course, he probably wasn’t going to discuss it one way or the other regardless of what the result was as it wasn’t the right environment for that sort of discussion. 

PSG seem to be prioritising him as one of their primary targets which is what many expected to happen. With Madrid being so hot and col…

Guardiola wants Arteta to stay but concedes Man City assistant´s ´professional desires´ may change

Pep Guardiola has conceded he is uncertain if Mikel Arteta will remain as his assistant for much longer amid reports of Arsenal s interest.

Former Gunners midfielder Arteta joined Guardiola s backroom staff in 2016 and has become highly thought of as an assistant coach as Manchester City have stormed to domestic dominance.

Arteta, who spent five years at Arsenal after signing from Everton in 2011, was linked with taking over from Arsene Wenger in 2018, only for Unai Emery to be appointed instead.

Despite a run to the Europa League final last season, ex-Paris Saint-Germain coach Emery has failed to impress, with reports suggesting he is on the brink of dismissal following a poor start to the campaign.

Arteta has again being referenced as a front runner for…

Bitesize Prediction: Derby County vs Bradford City – 09/01/24

Market: Derby County win

Odds: 7/10 @

Looking to extend on their recent purple patch when they turn their attention back to EFL Trophy duties, Derby will welcome Bradford to Pride Park on Tuesday night.

Starting with the hosts, managing to make an immediate return to winning ways over the weekend, it is no secret that Derby have their sights set on securing a Championship return in 2024. Last seen storming their way to a routine 3-1 romp against Fleetwood, Paul Warne’s men have won four of their previous five appearances. Likewise, it should also be noted, the Rams have suffered just a single loss from any of their last 10 showdowns across all competitions a run that stems back to November 14th. Signing off 2023 with an action-packed 3-2 victory against Oxford…

Ibrahimovic adds quality and personality to Milan – Capello

Zlatan Ibrahimovic s arrival at Milan boosts the quality and personality in the squad, according to Fabio Capello.

Milan brought Ibrahimovic back for a second stint – the Swede having won Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana with the Rossoneri in 2011 – on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with MLS side LA Galaxy.

Stefano Pioli s side went into the mid-season break in 11th following a 5-0 loss to Atalanta that represented the club s worst league defeat in 21 years.

The wisdom of offering the 38-year-old a six-month deal with the option for another year was questioned by some, but Capello, who led Milan to four Scudetti and Champions League success during a defining five-year spell at San Siro in the 1990s, has no doubt the move is a posi…