Sevilla coach Unai Emery does not want Spain s football authorities to give Barcelona a second Lionel Messi  and allow the Copa del Rey final to be played at Camp Nou.

Emery s side booked their place in the decider – and a May date with Barca – after drawing their semi-final second leg with Celta Vigo 2-2 at Balaidos on Thursday.

The result handed Sevilla a 6-2 aggregate victory and a first Copa final appearance since they won the competition in 2010.

Now La Liga leaders Barcelona are all that stands between Emery and the famous trophy and he is keen to ensure a level playing field before kick-off.

I hope the final will not be like the past in the Nou Camp [this] year,  he told a press conference. I d rather play earlier in China than there.

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Sunderland have agreed a fee with AZ Alkmaar for striker Jozy Altidore, .

The 23 year old had posted confirmation of the deal on his personal website on Friday evening, though the article has since been removed.

Nevertheless, the deal is expected to be finalised in the next few days, with the United States international set to undergo a medical on Monday evening, ahead of signing a contract at the Stadium of Light.

His previous spell in England came in the 2009/10 campaign, when he scored just one goal in twenty-eight league appearances during a season-long loan with Hull City.

However, thirty-eight goals in sixty-seven Eredevise appearances since he arrived in Alkmaar has seen his reputation blossom, whilst international teammates Landon Donovan an…

Ander Herrera believes good weather could be crucial if Manchester United are to extend their perfect Premier League record with a win at Stoke City on Saturday.

A trip to the Potteries is regularly cited as one of the toughest tests in English football, but Premier League leaders United are high on confidence as they seek a fourth successive victory to start the campaign.

Spain international Herrera has his fingers crossed for a positive forecast as United bid to overturn a poor recent record at Stoke, where they have taken just two points in four Premier League visits since 2013.

The Premier League [season] is very long and every team can beat you, Herrera told MUTV.

Now we have to face Stoke  and we ve had four seasons without winning there. It s…

Michel Platini is to resign as UEFA president after the Court of Arbitration for Sport s decision not to overturn his ban from football activity.

Platini did have his ban which was related to a $2 million (£1.3m) disloyal payment made by then FIFA chief Sepp Blatter in 2011 reduced from six years to four by CAS three-man appeal panel.

CAS also reduced his fine from CHF 80,000 to CHF 60,000, but maintained he was right to be punished and had taken into account the absence of any repentance and the impact of the saga on FIFA s reputation.

Platini – who denies any wrongdoing had said prior to Friday s ruling he was optimistic of having his punishment annulled and a statement released by his lawyers stated he was deeply disappointed by the injustice of the deci…

The world will be watching Lionel Messi on Tuesday as he and his Argentina team-mates attempt to rescue their Russia 2018 campaign against Nigeria.

After two rounds of action in Group D, the 2014 runners-up are staring elimination in the face, having been held to a surprise 1-1 draw by debutants Iceland before capitulating to a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Croatia.

So much of the pre-tournament talk was whether in what could be his final World Cup Messi would finally experience international glory, as great rival Cristiano Ronaldo did with Portugal at Euro 2016.

But a torrid start means Messi s men have it all to do to simply make it to the first knockout stage La Albiceleste need to defeat Nigeria in St Petersburg and hope Iceland do not manage likewise against …

Chelsea have completed the signing of Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater, the Premier League champions have confirmed.

Drinkwater, who was instrumental to Leicester s remarkable title triumph in 2015-16, signed a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge, completing a reported £30million move.

The 27-year-old joins Antonio Conte s side having made 218 appearances for Leicester across all competitions, scoring 14 goals after signing for the club from Manchester United in 2012.

I m delighted to be a Chelsea player and can t wait to get started, Drinkwater said.

It has been a long journey to get here but I am very happy and am looking forward to helping the club win more trophies.

Drinkwater, who reportedly handed in a transfer request to force…

Veteran midfielder Mile Jedinak has retired from international football three months on from captaining Australia at a World Cup for the second time.

The Aston Villa man won 79 caps and scored 20 goals during a decade-long stint with the Socceroos.

He notably skippered the side to glory at the Asian Cup in 2015 and played a key part in qualifying the team for Russia 2018, where the 34-year-old notched twice from the penalty spot.

Jedinak s departure leaves new boss Graham Arnold with a vast leadership gap to address following Tim Cahill s earlier decision to call time on his international career.

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Chelsea star Eden Hazard labelled Mohamed Salah a top, top, top player , saying the Liverpool forward did not get the chances he deserved at Stamford Bridge.

Salah, who arrived at Liverpool from Roma in the off-season, has nine goals and two assists in 12 Premier League games this campaign.

The Egypt international, 25, is starring in his second spell in England, having struggled for game time across two seasons at Jose Mourinho s Chelsea in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Ahead of Saturday s meeting between Chelsea and Liverpool, Hazard was full of praise for Salah.

He is still my friend. We are still in contact together. He s a top, top, top player, the Belgium international told reporters.

He did not get his chance at Chelsea but we know, in the team, th…

Thomas Meunier says beating England to the bronze medal is now the minimum requirement for Belgium at the 2018 World Cup.

Roberto Martinez s side were beaten 1-0 by France in their semi-final in St Petersburg, with Samuel Umtiti s header the difference in a tight game.

It meant more disappointment for the so-called golden generation on the biggest stage, after they lost in the 2014 quarter-finals to Argentina and in the same stage of Euro 2016 to Wales.

This will be Belgium s second third-place match at the World Cup, their first ending in a 4-2 defeat to France in 1986, and Meunier wants them to go one better this time by overcoming an England team they beat 1-0 in the group stage.

We beat England in the group stage, so we can beat them now, the defende…

Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi scored twice in the final 10 minutes to secure a 2-1 victory over Watford and maintain Antonio Conte s unbeaten start as Chelsea manager.

Batshuayi pounced seven minutes after being introduced at Vicarage Road as Heurelho Gomes failed to hold an Eden Hazard shot, before Costa tucked home the winner.

The Spain international raced clear with three minutes to play and coolly fired underneath Gomes to seal all three points, and extend Conte s undefeated run against Walter Mazzarri to seven league games.

The Italian coaches fell out in 2011 after Conte was deemed to have copied Mazzarri s 3-5-2 formation for a Juventus clash with Napoli, and they have endured a frosty relationship ever since.

Etienne Capoue s second strike in a…