Joao Felix has become by far Benfica s biggest ever sale after completing a €126million move to Atletico Madrid, continuing the Portuguese champions strong record of raking in massive transfer fees.

What makes the 19-year-old attacking midfielder s move even more remarkable is the fact he has spent just one full season in the first team.

It was certainly a successful campaign, however, as the teenager scored 15 goals and set up another seven in 26 league appearances, earning his first senior Portugal cap in the Nations League Finals.

A fine dribbler, good finisher and blessed with outstanding technical ability, Joao Felix has huge expectations to match at Atletico, given he is likely to be Antoine Griezmann s replacement.

Benfica will be delighted to re…

Germany head coach Hansi Flick was pleased with his team’s 4-1 win in Armenia as they brought a successful World Cup qualification campaign to an end on Sunday.

Goals from Kai Havertz, Jonas Hofmann and a brace from Ilkay Gundogan saw the Germans home in Yerevan. The victory means that Flick has won all of his first seven games in charge of Die Mannschaft, scoring 31 times and conceding just twice.

It is also their joint-longest winning run this century (also seven in 2017). The last time Germany had a longer winning run was across 1979 and 1980, when they managed 12 in a row.

They finish their World Cup qualifying campaign top of Group J having won nine of their ten games, a comfortable nine points ahead of North Macedonia in second.

We won 4-1 and a…

Newcastle United are interested in signing Marcos Rojo from Manchester United in the January transfer window, according to . It has been reported that the Magpies are looking to do a loan deal for the 30-year-old defender when the transfer window opens in January.

Steve Bruce reportedly wants to sign a central defender for Newcastle who can also provide cover at left-back. The Magpies’ boss is claimed to have made the Argentina international as one of his top targets. However, Newcastle are not the only club who are interested in the 30-year-old. Sheffield United are also claimed to want the defender.

Rojo has been on the books of United since 2014, but the defender has struggled in recent times. The versatile defender spent the second half of last season on loan at A…

According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona star Lionel Messi wants to work on a rolling contract with the club. 

His current deal is set to expire in 2021, meaning that the next six to twelve months could be crucial as he begins to discuss his options with the Spanish giants. It’s always seemed obvious to suggest that Messi will round out his career with Barca, but there have been a few instances over the years in which it seemed likely that he could go elsewhere. 

Regardless of whether or not this rolling contract idea indicates that he wants to stay or leave the Nou Camp in the next few years, it’s certainly worth them discussing it now because as we know, sagas such as these have a tendency to drag on for quite some time. The main focus, tho…

Manchester United have made another improved bid for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, the PA news agency understands.

With Mount’s contract at Stamford Bridge set to expire next summer, United have made the England international one of their transfer targets.

After an initial bid was rebuffed last week, United returned with an offer of £45million plus £5million in add-ons.

It is understood that was also rejected. United’s latest proposal, believed to be in the region of £55m, has now been received by Chelsea, but is yet to be considered.

Chelsea are reportedly holding out for a higher fee, closer to £65m, but there is a limit as to how far United are willing to go, given the player is soon out of contract and they also need to strengthen in other a…

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The FIFA World Cup has officially concluded its group stage as the knockouts get underway this weekend. A whole host of countries are expected to shine with the lights on bright but, in reality, this is where pressure and quality collide in the most extraordinary of ways. Today, we re going to take a look at what should be a fascinating clash of styles between underdogs Japan and Croatia.

Japan

Japan have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament thus far with wins over Germany and Spain, which very few could ve predicted in the lead-up to Qatar. They ve got talent to go alongside their heart and tenacity which, in a lot of ways, has actually made them favourites for this one. They won t give up with…

Willian has confirmed he is leaving Chelsea after the expiration of his contract, with the Brazil international seemingly edging closer to joining Arsenal.

The playmaker joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, going on to make 234 Premier League appearances for the Blues.

However, after winning two league titles, one FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the Europa League, Willian is leaving Stamford Bridge after failing to agree to a new deal.

In an open letter to Chelsea s fans on Sunday, Willian penned an emotional goodbye to the club.

They were seven wonderful years, he wrote. In August 2013 when I received the offer from Chelsea, I was convinced that this was where I had to play.

There were so many happy times, some sad, there were trophies and it …

Barcelona set up an El Clasico clash with Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana final after beating Real Betis 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the King Fahd International Stadium on Thursday.

Goals from Robert Lewandowski and Nabil Fekir sent the game to extra time in Riyadh, before a wonderstrike from Ansu Fati was cancelled out by Loren Moron s cheeky backheel to force a penalty shoot-out.

Juanmi and William Carvalho saw their spot-kicks saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, allowing Pedri to clinch progress to the final.

Barca will now face Madrid on Sunday for the first time in the competition since it changed to a four-team format in 2019-20.

WE RE HEADED TO THE SPANISH SUPER CUP FINAL!

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

Xavi s sid…

Republic of Ireland midfielder Denise O’Sullivan is less than a week away from making her World Cup debut in front of more than 80,000 people – but confesses it was perhaps the fanfare-filled Knocknaheeny farewell in front of far fewer that will ultimately prove the more intimidating atmosphere.

O’Sullivan’s name will go down in history as one of the 23 women who were chosen to represent the Girls in Green at their maiden World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where they will take on the Matildas in their July 20th tournament opener at Sydney’s sold-out Stadium Australia.

When the North Carolina Courage captain steps onto the pitch in front of that cauldron of Aussie support she will particularly feel the absence of a few familiar faces in the crowd.

T…

Keita Balde of AS Monaco says he would like to test himself in the Premier League at some point in the future.

Balde went through the ranks in the youth setup at Barcelona before joining Lazio s U-19 side in 2011. Two years later, he was promoted to the first team at the club from the Italian capital, and moved to Monaco in 2017. He spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Inter Milan, but this term he scored eight goals and laid on four assists in 21 appearances in all competitions for Monaco. He is primarily a left-winger, but he can also play on the right flank, as well as just behind a striker. He is a 24-time capped Senegal international, with four goals for his country to his name so far.

After playing in the Italian and French top flight, the 25-year-old spoke exclusi…