Ribéry out of WC playoffs

Spanish international defender Michel Salgado, who is to part company with Real Madrid after ten years, said Wednesday it was a privilege to have worked with some of the best players in the world during his past decade at the club.

I have to thank my partners because it was a privilege to work at their side, to share the dressing room with the best (players) in the world, he told a news conference.

I was to especially thank those who were close to me during these ten years: Raul, Iker, Guti and also Roberto Carlos, who is no longer with the team but who I shared many moments with, he is also the godfather of my daughter.

It is going to be really difficult to wear the jersey of another team, but now when I go home I still feel I can play football for a few ye…

South Africa s football stadiums are gearing up for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Both the Royal Bafokeng Stadium and the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will host African Cup of Nation matches for the first time in their history.

The two arenas were used to great success at the 2010 Football World Cup.

The Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg will stage five Group D matches, two of them including many people s favourites for the tournament Ivory Coast.

The stadium will also host one quarter-final while the opening match at the stadium, which features the Ivory Coast, takes place on January 22.

The Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth will stage five Group B matches, as well as one Group A match, a quarter-final, and the third-spot playo…

Borussia Dortmund defender Marc Bartra has compared Julian Weigl to his former Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets.

The 21-year-old Weigl joined Dortmund from 1860 Munich in 2015 and has since developed into a key figure at Signal Iduna Park.

Weigl s good performances even earned him his Germany debut and his style of play reminds Bartra of Busquets.

I already knew Weigl a bit when I joined Dortmund. He is very similar to Busquets, Bartra told Mundo Deportivo.

He dictates play from midfield and helps us a lot when we lose the ball, it looks like he always has everything under control.

He really reminds me of Busquets a lot, even if there is obviously still some distance between the two of them. Busi is the best in the world in his position. …

James Ward-Prowse has ended speculation over his future by signing a new five-year deal with Southampton.

Tottenham and Aston Villa had been linked with the Saints captain, who has made 323 appearances for the Premier League club after graduating from the academy.

The England international will not be on the move after committing his future to Ralph Hasenhuttl s side.

Ward-Prowse told the club s official website: I m over the moon. I think I m probably the happiest man in the world right now. To come to this decision, I think has been massive and is a big step forward.

To commit my future again to this football club is something I m incredibly proud of and a new chapter begins now for me.

It s probably the first time in my career that I ve had …

Brian Kidd hit out at former Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor after he claimed that the Premier League champions crack under pressure.

The Tottenham forward said that his former side lack self-control and become argumentative when things do not go their way, and that Spurs can take advantage of that mental fragility to beat them on Sunday at White Hart Lane.

However, City s assistant manager Kidd has pointed out that Adebayor has not been at the club to see the change from a side challenging for a top-four spot to one that has won the Premier League title.

With respect to Ade, he has not been around for the last couple of years and the boss has put silver on the sideboard in that time. So I hope they carry on fighting and arguing, Kidd said.

I…

Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli is concerned with his side s fitness, ahead of their Group B World Cup qualifier against Armenia.

The Azzurri have already secured their spot at Brazil 2014 with a healthy eight-point lead atop their table, while the Armenians remain in contention for the play-off spot along with Bulgaria, Denmark and the Czech Republic.

Prandelli flagged potential issues for the 2006 World Cup winners, though, as he felt they had lost their way after their 2-2 draw in Denmark on Friday.

I m quite worried because the concentration has been lost in the last few days, the Italian said.

I m concerned but I usually change my mind when I see the team working on the pitch, therefore I could be slightly less worried after today s training session.

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Juventus and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo remains unsure when he will retire, saying it could be as soon as next year or he could play into his 40s.

Ronaldo, 34, has continued to star after joining Juve last year, scoring 28 goals in 43 games in all competitions and helping the Italian giants win another Serie A title in 2018-19.

The five-time Ballon d Or winner is uncertain when he will stop playing, although the star forward said it may not be far away.

I don t think about that, Ronaldo told TVI on Tuesday.

Maybe I can leave my career next year … but I can also play up to 40 or 41.

I don t know. What I always say is to enjoy the moment. The gift is excellent and I have to continue to enjoy it.

Back on track and focused on the fi…

West Ham United have completed the signing of Lucas Perez from Arsenal, according to the Express.

The Hammers have been busy in the transfer market this summer signing a whole host of talent including Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson and now Perez has been confirmed ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

The twenty-nine-year old moved to the Emirates Stadium from Deportivo in the summer of 2016 and made twenty-one appearances in all competitions in his debut season in England, scoring seven goals – one of which came in the North London side’s victorious FA Cup campaign.

However, he was loaned back to Deportivo last season where he also scored seven times but was unable to save them from relegation to the second tier.

Perez c…

Hearts have handed Craig Gordon a one-year contract extension that will take him beyond his 42nd birthday.

The goalkeeper recently returned from a double leg break that deprived him of action for 12 months.

The 41-year-old Scotland international helped Hearts to a Scottish Cup win over Spartans last month and his comeback has been rewarded with a deal that ties him to Tynecastle until the summer of 2025.

Although Zander Clark has remained Hearts’ first-choice keeper through a run of nine unbeaten cinch Premiership games, the club were keen to tie Gordon up for another season.

Heart of Midlothian Football Club is delighted to confirm that Craig Gordon has signed a contract extension.

The hugely experienced goalkeeper has penned a one-year deal w…

Jordi Alba has agreed a new contract with Barcelona, keeping him at Camp Nou until 2020.

The Spanish full-back arrived at Barca from Valencia in 2012 and has made 71 top-flight appearances for the Catalan giants.

Alba s new deal, which will include a €150million release clause, will be signed in the coming days.

News of Alba s commitment to the club will come as a timely boost ahead of Saturday s UEFA Champions League final against Juventus.

Alba will be looking to add a Champions League winners medal to his collection of silverware, having already triumphed in La Liga (twice), Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana, as well as Euro 2012 with Spain.

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