Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has reiterated that Barcelona ace Lionel Messi is unlikely to feature at the Olympics in Rio.
The 28-year-old guided his country to gold in Beijing in 2008 and suggested last year that he would be open to competing in Brazil.
However, Martino has made it clear that he has no intention of risking Messi s health after what promises to be an intense season with Barca.
Messi won t go to the Olympic Games because there are a lot of competitions for the national team this year, Martino told Radio La Red.
We have the Copa America, the Olympics and after that a number of World Cup qualifiers.
I want to win the Olympics very much, but not at any price, nor for throwing the players on to the pitch for them to die there…
Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer has praised his side s attitude in recent comeback wins as they look to extend their streak against the New England Revolution.
The Sounders are on a four-match unbeaten streak, having come from behind to salvage points in each of the last three and scored stoppage-time winners in the last two.
They are now up to ninth in the Western Conference and are closing in on the teams above them after a slow start to the season.
Despite their impressive run, Schmetzer stressed there was still a lot of room for improvement.
There s a combination of a couple of things, Schmetzer explained. There were some sloppy, uncharacteristic, untimely giveaways and the group defending was not good, we weren t compact enough.
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Thiago Motta believes that togetherness is the key to enjoying a successful first season in charge of Juventus.
The former Bologna manager arrived in Turin for his first day of pre-season on Monday.
Juventus finished third in Serie A last season but were 23 points behind Scudetto winners, Inter.
However, they did secure a return to the Champions League after serving a one-season suspension from UEFA after breaking financial fair play regulations.
Now, Motta is setting his sights on getting Juve back to the top.
I ve found myself in a really wonderful place to work, Motta told Juventus official channels in his first interview. It goes without saying at such a historic club that, together, we can do a great job.
s first day in
Watc…
Brazil superstar Neymar said he wants to face Lionel Messi s Argentina in the Copa America final after the defending champions edged Peru.
Neymar provided the assist for Lucas Paqueta s 35th-minute winner as Brazil saw off 2019 runners-up Peru 1-0 in Monday s semi-final.
Brazil will meet the winner of the Argentina-Colombia semi in Saturday s decider at the iconic Maracana and Neymar is eyeing a blockbuster showdown with La Albiceleste.
South American rivals Brazil and Argentina have not met in a Copa final since 2007, when the Selecao won 3-0.
I want Argentina, I m rooting for Argentina, Neymar – a former Barcelona team-mate of Messi – said post-match in Rio de Janeiro.
I have friends there, then in the final it will be Brazil [laughs].
According to the Daily Telegraph, Chelsea are considering the possibility of allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on a free transfer this summer, despite there being 12 months more on his contract.
Having spent four years at Arsenal, the Gabonese striker left London in January 2022 and joined Barcelona, only to return to the UK capital and sign a two-year deal with Chelsea the following summer. Now, however, it seems he s deemed surplus to requirements again and as Chelsea seek to cut down on their overcrowded squad, he could be on his way back to Barcelona. Apparently, the Catalan club are exploring his return to the Camp Nou to add a decent cover option for Robert Lewandowski upfront.
Since signing for Chelsea, the 33-year-old has scored just three goals and provided on…
Jurgen Klopp has hailed his recruitment team at Liverpool for Diogo Jota s impact, believing the club signed the forward at exactly the right time.
Jota arrived at Anfield from Wolves in September 2020 for a fee reported to be in the region of £41million, potentially rising to £45m.
Some eyebrows were raised at the time at the size of the fee for a player who had scored 16 goals in 48 games in all competitions in the 2019-20 season.
However, Jota has thrived at Liverpool under Klopp, scoring 13 in 30 appearances in his first season on Merseyside and 17 in 30 this term.
In the Premier League, the Portugal international has 12 in 2021-22, trailing only team-mate Mohamed Salah s 16 after his brace in Thursday s 2-0 win against Leicester City.
A…
Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Spanish champions Barcelona recovered from an early shock to beat Alaves 2-1 in LaLiga on Sunday.
Teenager Samu Omorodion stunned Barca when he struck after just 18 seconds at the Olympic Stadium following a mistake by Ilkay Gundogan.
Samu then missed a gilt-edged chance to double the lead but the hosts hit back with a Lewandowski header in the 52nd minute and then won it when the Pole added a penalty 12 minutes from time.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Robert Lewandowski!
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Barca remain third in the table, four points adrift of leaders Girona and two behind Real Madrid.
Fourth-placed Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat Villarreal 3-1 with goals from Axel Witsel, Antoine Griezm…
Kepa Arrizabalaga has vowed to seize the chance of a fresh start at Chelsea after the appointment of Graham Potter.
The Spanish goalkeeper was dislodged as Chelsea s first choice by Edouard Mendy when the Senegal international joined from Rennes in September 2020, and he has played a bit-part in the first team ever since.
Kepa played just 15 games last season, including two appearances as a substitute, but posted an impressive save percentage of 80.8, with Mendy managing just 70.8 per cent in his 49 games.
Mendy began this season as Thomas Tuchel s preferred choice between the sticks, but the sacking of the German head coach and subsequent appointment of Potter may mean there is a clean slate.
Now Kepa is hoping there is a chance for him to assert hims…
Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Morgan Sanson from Olympique Lyon, according to . The Birmingham club will be paying £14 million as the fixed part of the fee for the midfielder s services, with add-ons potentially raising the total amount to £15.5m.
The 26-year-old joined Marseille from Montpellier in January 2017, and has since made a total of 157 appearances for the French club in all competitions, scoring 25 goals and providing 22 assists. Primarily a central midfielder, he can also play further up as a No.10 if need be.
Villa have sent three players on loan this month Lovre Kalinic to Hajduk Split, Tyreik Wright to Walsall and Conor Hourihane to Swansea, and should this deal be completed, Sanson will be their first signing of the current transfer window. …
Arsenal have a pretty strong chance of completing a deal for United States goalkeeper Matt Turner, according to New England Revolution coach and sporting director Bruce Arena.
Turner was voted MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021 after helping the Revs to Supporters Shield success, though his side fell short in the playoffs with defeat to New York City in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
The 27-year-old joined the Revs as a free agent in 2016 after going undrafted and has been a regular for the past four seasons, racking up 97 MLS appearances over that time, including 28 last year when recording five clean sheets.
Arsenal have recently been linked with the USA international, who has been capped 13 times by his country, and Revs chief Arena has confirmed talks ar…