The Real deal: Messi left in Ronaldo shadow

Having already watched Cristiano Ronaldo pick up the Ballon d'Or this year, as well as Copa del Rey and Champions League winners' medals, now Lionel Messi has yet another reason to envy the Real Madrid attacker.

According to global sports marketing research group Repucom, it is the Portugal star, not the Barcelona man, who is the most marketable footballer in the world.

The former Manchester United winger has over 82 million Facebook likes, 26m Twitter followers and is "an endorser's dream", all of which means Messi must settle for second place behind Ronaldo - and not for the first time this season!

Thursday, May 29, 2014 11:30

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Yaya flirts with spurned PSG boss Blanc

Paris Saint-Germain had a curious Monday, with target Eden Hazard playing down a return to France while, simultaneously, another Premier League superstar opened the door to a move.

Chelsea attacker Hazard, singled out as a player of interest to PSG by manager Laurent Blanc, all but dismissed speculation that he could move to Paris, saying he takes no notice of transfer gossip.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, though, was less dismissive and openly welcome a move to the Ligue 1 champions.

"How can you not be interested in a club like that?" the Ivorian mused to France Football. "It'd be an honour to be part of such a club one day... if I can be of use."

So while PSG may have been spurned by Hazard, they can at least take solace from Toure's revelation that he would love to move to the Parc des Princes.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 11:00

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De Rossi not afraid of 'monsters' Messi & Ronaldo

Daniele De Rossi is well known for his fearless leadership in the Roma and Italy midfields and insists not even the prospect of facing two "monsters" at the World Cup will keep him up at night.

The 30-year-old has never faced Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the tournament finals, but that could change this summer in Brazil. "Maybe I will have the chance to take on these monsters this year!" he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Monday, 26 May 2014 12:00

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Real Madrid claim La Decima

Real Madrid finally claimed La Decima with a 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid in Lisbon.

Diego Simeone’s men came within a whisker of denying their city rivals Champions League glory with Real needing a 93rd minute header from Sergio Ramos to take the game into extra-time.

Los Blancos then ran away with the game in the second period with Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo sealing a 4-1 victory and a 10th European Cup.

Sunday, 25 May 2014 10:34

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Youthful Pochettino emerges as Spurs' No.1 target

With Tim Sherwood has been a dead man walking practically since he took over at Tottenham, the north London club have been actively seeking a new manager throughout much of 2014 and may finally have found their man.

After talks with the legendary Louis van Gaal, who moved to Manchester United, and rumored interest in Napoli boss Rafa Benitez, it is perhaps a surprising candidate who has become the frontrunner for the White Hart Lane hot-seat: Mauricio Pochettino.

Spurs are set to officially announce the Argentine's appointment this week after he beat off all other, more experienced competition. The north Londoners had sounded out Benitez, as well as Ajax's Frank de Boer, but were most impressed by Pochettino, who will be handed a £3million-a-year deal.

Tuesday, 27 May 2014 11:00

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Ronaldo back in Lisbon for Decima dream

Saturday night marks Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Lisbon for Real Madrid's Champions League showdown against Atletico Madrid.

The Portuguese superstar's career trajectory has seemingly been waiting for this moment as Madrid home in on their 10th European Cup triumph and the Estadio da Luz can expect to see the 28-year-old at the peak of his powers.

He is considered 100 per cent fit for the final meaning it is just a matter of whether one of football's ultimate big-game players turns up on the night.

Saturday, 24 May 2014 12:10

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Injured Suarez in race to be fit for World Cup

Uruguay face an anxious wait after Luis Suarez underwent surgery on his knee on Thursday. The Liverpool forward now faces a race against time to return to full fitness before La Celeste kick off their campaign in Brazil.

Placed in England's group, there will be plenty of Three Lions fans hoping the 27-year-old returns at slightly below par. Nobody wants to see one of the world's best players miss a World Cup but...you know.

Still, Suarez has until June 14 to prove his fitness to Oscar Tabarez and join the likes of Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan at the head of Uruguay's attack.

Friday, 23 May 2014 12:46

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Eto'o hits back at 'puppet' Mourinho

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been on the receiving end of another verbal blow from Samuel Eto'o, as the Cameroon international attacked suggestions he was too old for top-level football andlabelled the Portuguese coach a "puppet".

In an outburst that suggests Eto'o is unlikely to be extending his stay at Stamford Bridge, the 33-year-old insisted he was still physically fit and eyeing appearances at another two World Cups despite Mourinho's disparaging claims to the contrary.

Eto'o's latest stinging comment comes after he dubbed the former Real Madrid manager a "fool" for decrying his age - and even suggesting he is older than he claims to be - as the pair continue to slug it out in public.

Thursday, 22 May 2014 16:50

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Birthday snub upsets Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure turned 31 a week ago on Tuesday - news, apparently, to Manchester City, who were told in no uncertain terms by the Ivorian midfielder's agent just how unhappy he was that the club had not recognised the big day.

Toure initially made light of the situation on Twitter, joking that a card from the club "must have got lost in the post", but later added that he stood by everything that Dimitri Seluk had said and promised to clarify his future after the World Cup.

Let's hope Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi had paid a little more attention to detail to keep his star man happy as the Elephants head to the World Cup in Brazil.

Wednesday, 21 May 2014 12:00

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Van Gaal and Enrique start their rescue missions

Monday saw big changes at the top of two of Europe's biggest clubs as Manchester United appointed Louis van Gaal their new manager and Barcelona replaced Tata Martino with Luis Enrique.

Both new men have a significant amount of work to do. United endured their worst season of the Premier League era under David Moyes, who was sacked just 10 months into a six-year contract in April.

Barcelona, meanwhile, lost legendary former manager Tito Vilanova to throat cancer, unpopular president Sandro Rosell to the Neymar contract scandal and both La Liga and the Champions League to Atletico Madrid.

For United, Van Gaal is a proven winner with his own distinctive philosophy who has shown a talent for developing young players and playing expansive, attacking football.

Barcelona hope Enrique, another former La Masia graduate, can provide a return to the dominant passing style refined under Pep Guardiola and Vilanova and the unprecedented level of success which it brought about.

Only time will tell if either man has the right tools for the job, but there promises to be plenty of drama along the way.

Tuesday, 20 May 2014 12:18

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