Chelsea boss Antonio Conte insists Nemanja Matic is going nowhere and believes the Serbia international can become one of the best midfielders in the world.

Matic was a star performer as Chelsea romped to the Premier League title in 2014-15 but struggled last term as a shambolic title defence cost Jose Mourinho his job at Stamford Bridge midway through last season.

Although the 27-year-old was not alone as a key player losing his way for Chelsea, his fall from grace was as pronounced as any and he regularly found himself behind the unheralded Jon Obi Mikel in the pecking order under interim manager Guus Hiddink.

Conte s move to bring in N Golo Kante from Leicester City threw Matic s future into doubt but, amid speculation the manager s former club Juventus are ey…

Enrique Cerezo has dismissed suggestions Atletico Madrid are keen to re-sign Chelsea striker Diego Costa ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.

The Spain international, 27, departed the Vicente Calderon in 2014 and helped Chelsea to a Premier League and League Cup double in his first season.

Costa struggled for form and fitness as Chelsea s title defence f
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ell apart last season, though, and he has been heavily linked with an Atleti return throughout the close season.

However, president Cerezo says Atleti who reinforced their forward options with the signing of Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla in this window are not planning a move for Costa.

There was never a Diego Costa transfer saga, Cerezo told Marca.

Diego has a contract with Chelsea and is par…

Stephan El Shaarawy is settled at Milan after he insisted he would snub offers from any team in favour of staying at San Siro.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed last month that the 20-year-old attacker rejected a huge offer to remain with the Serie A club amid reported speculation of interest from the likes of Chelsea.

And El Shaarawy, who scored 19 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions, is happy with the decision he made and reiterated his commitment to Milan, who he supported as a child growing up.

He told Tuttosport: I ve always been convinced of my decisions, so I never thought about changing team.

I have been a Milan fan since childhood, so being here is a dream come true.

I would never have left, not even faced with an offer from Re…

Antonio Rudiger has given his backing to under-fire Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as the Italian s future at Stamford Bridge remains unclear.

Conte marked his debut season in charge by winning the Premier League in 2016-17 but Chelsea s title defence fell well short, with a fifth-placed finish seeing them miss out on the Champions League.

The capital club did still secure silverware by lifting the FA Cup, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final, but that has not stopped speculation over Conte s position.

Former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri has long been linked with Chelsea, while media speculation has suggested Laurent Blanc is also a strong candidate to take charge.

I think everyone knows [Conte] is a very good coach, tactically very good, Rudig…

Gabriel Jesus is relishing the opportunity to captain Brazil in their World Cup warm-up fixture against Croatia, with superstar team-mate Neymar set to return.

Manchester City striker Jesus, 21, will wear the captain s armband when Brazil face Croatia in an international friendly at Anfield on Sunday.

Brazil head coach Tite has rotated the captaincy since taking over in 2016 and Jesus is the latest player set to lead the South American giants.

Speaking ahead of the clash on Merseyside – where Neymar will play a part in his return from foot surgery – Jesus told reporters: I was surprised that I was selected to be the captain, but I accepted it normally. A lot of responsibility.

The 21-year-old, who helped record-breaking City win the Premier League in…

Kevin De Bruyne admits he will need to hold himself back as he eases himself into action following a long lay-off.

De Bruyne made his first appearance in five months with an impressive substitute cameo in Manchester City’s 5-0 FA Cup third-round demolition of Championship Huddersfield on Sunday.

The Belgium playmaker was given the last 33 minutes of a one-sided tie at the Etihad Stadium and wasted no time as he set up his side’s fifth goal for another player returning from injury, Jeremy Doku.

Guess who’s back?!

— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne)

De Bruyne had a hamstring operation in August after being troubled further by a problem that had affected him in the latter stages of last season’s treble-winning campaign.

“I worked…

Switzerland stepped into the World Cup finals in South Africa and made German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld s dream come true on Wednesday with a tense 0-0 draw against Israel in Basel.

After finishing bottom of their group at home in the Euro 2008 finals, renewed Swiss hopes of a second World Cup in succession almost suffered an equally ignominous fate just after Hitzfeld took over the helm a year ago.

Switzerland slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat against lowly Luxembourg in Zurich, but ultimately recovered to win Group 2 by one point with 21 points, having beaten their closest challengers Greece twice.

It s another success for me and a dream being fulfilled, it s a present that Switzerland has given me, Hitzfeld said.

The 60-year-old German, who has been trying t…

Atletico Nacional have moved four points clear at the top of Colombia s Primera A with a 2-1 win over Deportes Quindio.

Fernando Uribe and Wilder Guisao scored just either side of half-time to give Nacional a two-goal lead in front of their home crowd and although Quindio struck in the 59th minute through goalkeeper Julian Viafara, the hosts held on for their fifth straight league victory.

Nacional are top of the Primera A standings, four points clear of Millonarios, who were denied victory when Boyaca Chico struck in second-half injury time to claim a 1-1 draw.

In Medellin, Nacional hit the front in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when Uribe found space on the edge of the area and slotted the ball past Viafara.

It was 2-0 in the 54th minute when Gui…

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted the club will not sell Javier El Chicharito Hernandez when the transfer window reopens in the summer, despite reported interest from Serie A leaders Juventus and Spanish giants Real Madrid, .

Hernandez, 24, has bagged 16 goals and five assists in all competitions for United this season.

However, the Mexico international has not been a regular starter for the Red Devils, and remains behind the likes of Danny Welbeck, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney on United s depth chart.

Hernandez has started just six Premier League matches this term, while Rooney, Van Persie and Welbeck have started 17, 27 and 11 respectively.

The Mexican striker has scored in 53.5% of his league appearances in 2012-13,…

Jordan Pickford says the approaching anniversary of England s shock defeat to Iceland is not affecting Gareth Southgate s squad ahead of a showdown with Belgium.

Wednesday marks two years to the day that the Three Lions were sensationally dumped out of Euro 2016 in the second round by the major tournament debutants.

Under Southgate, there is a far greater sense of optimism surrounding this youthful England side, who squeezed past Tunisia 2-1 in their Group G opener before swatting aside Panama 6-1 on Sunday to secure a place in the last 16.

A win against Belgium in Kaliningrad on Thursday will see England advance as group winners and Pickford who was not part of the 23 that failed in France says those who were involved will be stronger for that desperate disappoi…