Paris Saint-Germain defender Maxwell has fond memories of his spell at Barcelona, and feels he learned plenty at Camp Nou.

The left-back joined Barca from Inter Milan in 2009, before leaving the club for PSG back in January, but he remains a keen admirer of the Catalan powerhouse.

I had a fantastic time at Barcelona and I still keep a close eye on how they do. Everybody enjoys the way they play, Maxwell told La Xarxa.

Playing for (Pep) Guardiola s Barcelona was a like a football masterclass for me. I really learned a lot. I played with players who were always on top of their game and still looking to improve, with a very complete coach.

The coach always managed to motivate the team. My time at Barca was a spectacular experience for me.

The Br…

David Moyes insists that he is not concerned about reports suggesting Marouane Fellaini could be on the verge of an Everton exit.

The versatile midfielder has been regarded by Chelsea as a long-term replacement for Frank Lampard, who will leave Stamford Bridge when his contract expires in the summer.

Reports have suggested that a fee upwards of 25 million pounds will be required to avoid negotiations with Everton, but Moyes believes there is no need to panic about the 25-year-old s future and is hopeful the Belgian will stay at Goodison Park beyond the end of the current campaign.

I m not concerned (about Fellaini), Moyes said on Friday.

I m quite cool with it, I think that s what they say nowadays. I m quite comfortable.

Hopefully Marouane w…

Nani is embracing the daunting challenge of facing Real Madrid on Wednesday as Valencia bid to continue their LaLiga recovery.

Los Che have won three, drawn two and lost only two of their last seven league games, beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home last time out, with Nani opening the scoring, to sit seven points clear of the relegation zone.

The visit of the title-chasing league leaders to Mestalla represents a major threat to the tentative progress being made under Voro, who replaced Cesare Prandelli as head coach in December.

Portugal forward Nani, though, is undeterred by the scale of the task at hand.

To tell the truth, I am looking forward to this game, he told Omnisport.

It is something to enjoy. You play against a big team. It is a team …

FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin Al Hussein has called for the immediate publication of Michael Garcia s report into alleged corruption within world football s governing body.

Garcia stated that his investigation into the decisions to award the World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022 showed serious and wide-ranging issues in the bidding process.

The 54-year-old resigned in protest 12 months ago after accusing FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert of publishing an incomplete and erroneous version of his findings.

Ali, who confirmed his candidacy to succeed Sepp Blatter in October, has urged FIFA to adopt some basic norms, like publishing the Garcia report immediately, because even those who are running for the position of FIFA presi…

Megan Rapinoe warmed up for Sunday s Women s World Cup final by blasting FIFA over this weekend s scheduling and the growing gender gap in prize money.

The 34-year-old will bid to claim her second World Cup winners medal when USA face Netherlands in Lyon, on the same day the Copa America and Gold Cup finals also take place.

That has irked Rapinoe, who also took aim at FIFA over the gulf in prize money available for the women s and men s World Cups.

While FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Friday announced plans to double prize money for the 2023 Women s World Cup from $30million to $60million, the pot for the men s tournament is increasing from $400million in 2018 to $440m at Qatar 2022, meaning the disparity will actually grow by a further $10m.

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N Golo Kante says he rebuffed interest from Paris Saint-Germain because he is happy at Chelsea.

Ligue 1 champions PSG have long been linked with the France international and reportedly tried to sign him following his impressive displays at the 2018 World Cup.

The move never materialised and Kante, considered one of the Premier League s best midfielders, is now in his fourth season at Stamford Bridge.

He signed a new five-year contract with the club in November 2018 and has no plans to leave.

Sometimes you don t really know where you want to go, but you know what you already have, Kante told Canal+ when asked about PSG s interest.

I knew I was at Chelsea and I felt good at Chelsea. On top of that, it was a footballing decision.

I felt g…

Josip Brekalo is set to leave Wolfsburg in January, according to Fabrizio Romano, and the talks with Monza over his proposed move to Italy are advancing on every level; between the two clubs, as well as between the Serie A side and the player s camp.

Having earned promotion to the Italian top flight at the end of last season, Monza are obviously doing whatever it takes to preserve that status for as long as possible. At the moment, they re doing very well in that aspect, sitting in 14th place with nine points and three teams set between them and Cremonese, who top the relegation zone.

Brekalo, 24, is an attacking player who likes playing on the left flank, but he can do a good job on the right too, as well as through the middle if need be. With 33 caps as a Croatia inte…

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is set to be sidelined for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury.

Manager Brendan Rodgers revealed Vardy initially sustained the injury in the EFL Cup clash against Liverpool, in which the Foxes were eliminated on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

The 34-year-old was rested for the 6-3 defeat against Manchester City as a result, but played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 Premier League clash with the Reds, where he aggravated the problem.

It comes as a huge blow to Leicester, with Vardy – their top scorer in the Premier League on nine goals – set to miss the next four games. As it stands, he would be back in contention to face Liverpool again in February.

[Vardy] wasn t sure whether it was [a challenge from Jo…

Kevin De Bruyne insists the Manchester City players know the Premier League title race is not over, despite being in the driving seat with just one game left.

The Citizens beat Tottenham 2-0 on Tuesday in their game in hand over leaders Arsenal, leapfrogging them to the top of the table.

City will host West Ham on the final weekend and as long as Pep Guardiola’s side match Arsenal’s result against Everton, they will win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.

De Bruyne has played down suggestions that City celebrated like they had already won the title following the victory.

We were happy, obviously, because it gets in the place that we wanted to be on Sunday, he told Sky Sports. I didn t feel like there were any extra celebrations.…

Lianne Sanderson believes Chelsea will get over the line in the Women s Super League (WSL) title race this weekend.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes previously declared the WSL title race as done following her side s 4-3 defeat to Liverpool in early May, but two wins since and a loss for title rivals Manchester CIty against Arsenal mean her team head into the final game top and with a superior goal difference.

Chelsea s goal difference of +47 to City s +45 could prove crucial as Hayes side take on Manchester United this weekend looking to clinch the title.

City, meanwhile, travel to take on Aston Villa looking to overturn the goal difference deficit, but Sanderson feels Chelsea will get the job done.

Obviously it s great for the neutral. For the fans, it s fan…