Real Madrid linked with Benfica midfielder Antonio Silva

Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn lauded the career of Franck Ribery as one of the greatest in football after the Frenchman announced his retirement.

On Friday, Ribery ended a 22-year career that saw him represent the likes of Metz, Galatasaray, Marseille, Fiorentina and Salernitana.

The 39-year-old spent the bulk of his career at Bayern, though, where he won nine Bundesliga titles in 12 years.

He also won six DFB-Pokal crowns, one Champions League, a European Super Cup and a Club World Cup during his time in Germany.

Speaking to Bayern s website as they paid tribute to a club great, Kahn – Ribery s former team-mate – said: One of the greatest careers in football – not just FC Bayern – is coming to an end with Franck Ribery.

I had the fortune…

Jorge Sampaoli has been sacked by Sevilla after a poor run of form left them just two points above the relegation zone in LaLiga.

A 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Getafe on Sunday proved the final straw for Sampaoli, who had only returned for his second spell in charge in October.

Sevilla have won just twice in their past seven LaLiga matches, losing four games in that run.

Sampaoli did steer Sevilla into the quarter-finals of the Europa League, but a different coach will now be in the dugout when they go head to head with Manchester United.

A Sevilla statement read: Sevilla have terminated the contract of coach Jorge Sampaoli after the team s defeat in Getafe, which has once again placed the team on the verge of relegation places.

The fact that…

Patson Daka’s second-half brace helped Leicester move six points clear at the top of the Championship with a comfortable 3-0 win against bottom-placed Rotherham.

After a goalless first period, Daka opened the scoring on the hour mark with a simple finish from close range before then converting from the penalty spot five minutes later after he was fouled by Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

Foxes substitute Cesare Casadei completed the scoring with a diving header in the 72nd minute as the home side secured a fifth straight league win to extend their lead at the top following Ipswich’s heavy defeat at Leeds in the early kick-off.

Rotherham remain rooted to the foot of the table, nine points from safety, having lost all matches under new boss Leam Richards…

Republic of Ireland international Matt Doherty has completed a return to Wolves on a free transfer.

The defender has signed a three-year deal with the Molineux outfit, after making more than 300 appearances during his first spell at the club.

Doherty left Wolves after a decade of service to sign for Tottenham in 2020 but departed Spurs in January on a free transfer and joined Atletico Madrid on a six-month deal.

Welcome home, !

— Wolves (@Wolves)

After the 31-year-old made only two appearances during his brief stint in Spain, he has now returned to England and will work under Julen Lopetegui.

Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “We’re really happy Matt’s back and he’s one the manager really wanted when he knew he…

Thomas Tuchel refused to condemn the formation of a European Super League and is adamant he trusts Chelsea to make the right decisions as he called for all parties to remain calm.

Chelsea were confirmed as one of 12 founder clubs of a new semi-closed competition on Sunday, with The Super League – as it has been dubbed – attracting widespread criticism.

UEFA, in a statement co-signed by the national associations of England, Spain, Italy and those countries respective top leagues, vowed to ban players and teams from other competitions if they become involved in the Super League.

It remains to be seen if UEFA and the domestic leagues have the power to stop the Super League, but Tuchel cut a relaxed figure amid the hysteria as he addressed the media on Monday ahe…

Bayern Munich are considering the possibility of going for Brighton and Hove Albion star Moises Caicedo this summer, according to Sky in Germany.

The Seagulls originally signed Caicedo from Ecuadorian side Independiente in January 2021, and sent him on loan to Beerschot six months later. He returned to the Amex last summer and played a huge role in what can only be described as a historic season for the club from the south coast of England as they secured a place in the Europa League.

The 21-year-old midfielder was of strong interest to Arsenal and Chelsea this January, but Brighton simply refused to sell such an important player in the middle of the season. Chelsea signed Enzo Fernandez from Benfica instead and Arsenal are believed to the favourites for West Ham captai…

Marcus Rashford has been challenged to finish the season with as many as 35 goals by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

Rashford hit the net for the 20th time this term as the Red Devils recovered from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 Premier League draw with Leeds United on Wednesday.

The England forward has scored 12 goals in 14 appearances since returning from the World Cup and has almost three times as many goals as United s next highest scorer Bruno Fernandes, who has seven to his name.

With Rashford on course to comfortably surpass the most prolific campaign of his career to date of 22 goals in 2019-20, Ten Hag urged him to keep aiming high.

[There is] much more to come and we have months to play, important months, Ten Hag told the club s websi…

Prediction: Italy to win 2-1

Best Odds:

Bookmaker: 

Italy and Switzerland will face each other in Euro 2020 this week. The Group A match is slated to kick off at 8pm UK time on Wednesday evening and will be held at Stadio Olympico in Rome. It promises to be an exciting game of football.

Italy

Italy are among the favourites to win the Euro 2020 finals, and they have started the campaign in style. Roberto Mancini’s side got the better of Turkey 3-0 in their opening Group A at Stadium Olympico in Rome. All three goals came in the second half.

The former world champions will head into the match against Switzerland with confidence. Italy will know that maximum points from the game will see him progress to the next round.

Team News:

Giova…

Tottenham returned to winning ways with a 3-1 home victory over Crystal Palace after a dazzling spell of three goals in 11 second-half minutes.

Ange Postecoglou’s team were heading for a second straight defeat when fit-again Eberechi Eze curled home for Oliver Glasner’s side with 59 minutes on the clock.

Substitute Brennan Johnson helped turn the match back in Spurs’ favour, though, with a brilliant assist for Timo Werner’s 77th-minute equaliser before Cristian Romero headed in a second soon after.

Captain Son Heung-min wrapped up the scoring two minutes from time after Johnson had sent him away to earn the hosts’ a much-needed win in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Spurs had two weeks to prepare for this fixture but were up again…

Yaya Toure is very positive about having opportunities in management despite seeing Patrick Vieira recently sacked by Crystal Palace.

Toure was disappointed to see his former Manchester City team-mate lose his role as manager of the Eagles, who replaced Vieira with 75-year-old Roy Hodgson until the end of the season.

Speaking at a Football Black List event, the former Barcelona and City midfielder paid tribute to Vieira, whose dismissal meant there are no black managers in the Premier League.

Patrick Vieira is a great person, and a great coach as well. I think it s a sad part of it, Toure said.

It s a concern because if you have 50 per cent of the black players playing Premier League, and maybe one or two per cent of managers or coaches are black, it s …