Hannover admit re-signing Mertesacker a tough task

Gareth Bale has described his protracted move from Tottenham to Real Madrid as a very stressful process.

The Welshman finally completed his switch for a reported world-record fee of €100million just 24 hours before the transfer deadline, despite having been strongly linked with the Spanish club for the entirety of the window.

But, though Bale has admitted the lengthy negotiations were frustrating, he insists his faith in Real s ability to get the deal over the line never wavered.

It was a long time and very stressful to say the least, he told BT Sport.

I knew their interest from the start and I was always confident the move would go through but obviously the chairman Daniel Levy had to do his business and do Tottenham well.

I understood that but at the s…

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In what is a crucial Copa Libertadores showdown late on Tuesday night, Penarol will welcome Rosario to Montevideo for their final Group G contest.

Starting with the hosts, while Penarol might have opened their Copa Libertadores adventure with back-to-back defeats, Diego Aguirre’s men have come roaring back in a sensational fashion. Last seen in Group G action putting in a stellar performance as they secured a 2-0 victory at home against Brazilian outfit Atletico-MG, the one-time Sao Paulo boss should find the mood in his camp at a real high. Knowing that a single point will be enough to book their knockout stage ticket late on Tuesday night, the Montevideo-based outfit are rightfully pencilled in as a standout contender here.…

Harry Arter has agreed a new three-year deal with AFC Bournemouth, the Premier League club have confirmed.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder is the second player in as many days to commit his future to the club, after goalkeeper Adam Federici signed a three-year contract of his own on Monday.

Arter, who has made over 200 appearances for Bournemouth since joining from Woking in 2010, helped the club maintain their Premier League status last season.

We re delighted to secure Harry s long-term future at the club,  said chief executive Neill Blake.

Harry has been on every step of the journey and he has been an important figure in our rise through the leagues.

He has made over 200 appearances for the club and has also become an international footb…

AC Milan will play host to Newcastle today (Tuesday) in the opening round of the Champions League campaign.

Having seen his former team lose 5-1 to City rivals Inter on Saturday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic turned up to show support as the Rossneri seek a way to recover from derby heartbreak.

AC Milan players train ahead of their Champions League opener against Newcastle United

Zlatan Ibrahimović also made an appearance at training this afternoon

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews)

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Adnan Januzaj will be desperate for a chance to impress in Belgium s pre-FIFA World Cup friendly against Luxembourg on Monday.

The Manchester United youngster ended speculation over his international future by pledging his allegiance to Belgium last month, and was duly named in Marc Wilmots provisional 24-man squad for the World Cup.

Januzaj s decision to declare for Belgium has been met with a mixed reaction from their existing squad.

Captain Vincent Kompany has welcomed his inclusion, but winger Kevin Mirallas went on record last month as saying the 19-year-old should not go to Brazil on the basis that he did not feature often enough for United in the second half of the domestic season.

Playmaker Januzaj started only 15 of United s 38 Premier League fixtures i…

Mauricio Pochettino has defended Chelsea’s medical department amid the spate of injuries that left him with only 15 available first-team players for last weekend’s draw with Bournemouth.

The manager was without 12 of his senior squad for the drab goalless encounter at the Vitality Stadium with Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke late additions to an already lengthy list of absentees.

It is the second time in 2023 that the club has been hit by an injury crisis after former manager Graham Potter was left without 10 first-team players in January.

The following injury update has been provided ahead of .

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

Pochettino included three players aged 19 or under who had no first-team experience on his bench last we…

Alexandre Pato is desperate for the opportunity to impress Brazil coach Tite as he seeks to feature at the World Cup finals.

The 28-year-old striker has not appeared for his country since October 2013 and appears hard pressed to force his way into selection contention ahead of the tournament in Russia, which starts in June.

Pato, though, netted 15 goals in 24 appearances to help Tianjin Quanjian finish third in the Chinese Super League, a return he hopes will bring him to the attention of the Selecao boss. 

Well, I ve worked all this year thinking [about the] Brazilian [national] team… which means extra physical work out of my house, and [the] gym at home too, he told Omnisport.

I always worked to go back to the Brazilian team and I think I [played] …

Barcelona breathed life into their title defence as Lionel Messi s hat-trick gave them a thrilling 4-3 El Clasico win at 10-man Real Madrid.

Barcelona s all-time leading scorer struck two second-half penalties as the Catalan giants came from behind twice to win a pulsating encounter at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

The second of those spot-kicks, scored with six minutes left after Xabi Alonso clumsily fouled Andres Iniesta, was hammered into the top-right corner as the defending champions closed to within one point of Real and Madrid s city rivals Atletico in the La Liga table.

Iniesta s early goal was cancelled out by a pair of Karim Benzema strikes, and although Messi levelled before half-time, a controversial Cristiano Ronaldo penalty put Real back in front.

Se…

Mauricio Pochettino felt his Tottenham players deserved more from what he described as their best performance of the season in a dramatic 2-1 defeat at Inter.

With five minutes remaining at San Siro in their Champions League Group B opener, Spurs led thanks to Christian Eriksen s heavily deflected strike.

Pochettino s side looked in little danger of dropping two points, let alone all three, until Inter captain Mauro Icardi lashed in a superb 85th-minute volley and, in a stunning finale, Matias Vecino headed in from a corner in stoppage time.

The defeat was Spurs third in succession the first time they have endured such a run since Pochettino took over in 2014 but the Argentine was not too disheartened by the overall display.

Nerves frayed 
Voice hoarse…

While flattered by links with Arsenal, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers dismissed rumours of a return to the Premier League as the former Liverpool boss insisted he is living his dream in Glasgow.

With uncertainty over Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, Rodgers has emerged as a possible replacement should the long-serving Frenchman leave the Emirates Stadium.

Rodgers – who also managed Swansea City – is no stranger to English football, having fallen agonisingly short of the 2013-14 Premier League title during his time at Anfield.

But the 45-year-old is in no rush to move back to the Premier League as he seeks to claim back-to-back Scottish Premiership crowns and a fifth trophy as Celtic boss.

It s nice people think you can manage clubs of that esteem, Rodgers t…