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Massimiliano Allegri is determined to lead Juventus to another Coppa Italia success. Juve, the competition’s most successful side with 14 titles, are favourites to lift the trophy after holders Inter Milan and Serie A champions Napoli were both knocked out. Standing in Juve’s way of a quarter-final tie against Frosinone is Serie A’s bottom club […]

Barcelona boss Xavi maintains the club will not expect too much too soon from teenager Vitor Roque. The 18-year-old Brazil forward has been training with his new team-mates after arriving in Catalonia to complete a 40million euro (£35m) move from Athletico Paranaense, but has yet to be officially registered with LaLiga. Xavi, though, played down […]

Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso has had surgery to help resolve an on-going back problem, the club have announced. The 33-year-old Spain left-back has been restricted to just seven appearances for Barca this season, making four starts. A brief statement on the club’s official website said: “First-team player Marcos Alonso has successfully undergone a procedure to […]

Premier League clubs will lose key players to international duty over the next few weeks. The Asia Cup in Qatar runs from January 12 to February 10, while the Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11. Here the PA news agency looks at how those tournaments […]

Steven Naismith revealed he is hopeful of tying down Alan Forrest on a new contract after seeing the winger become “a big player” for Hearts. The 27-year-old joined from Livingston on a two-year deal in the summer of 2022. Naismith has been pleased with Forrest’s form recently and felt he was the best player on […]

What the papers say German team Borussia Dortmund have begun talks with Chelsea’s 21-year-old defender Ian Maatsen, the Standard reports, but Chelsea are not budging on their £30million asking fee. He has played 12 games for Chelsea in the Premier League this season. French club Lyon are interested in 26-year-old Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma, who […]

Liverpool and Luis Suarez grudgingly accepted the striker’s eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra on this day in 2012. The Uruguay international began his suspension immediately after the club reviewed the 115-page document from the independent disciplinary commission and decided not to appeal against the sanction and a £40,000 fine. However, […]

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was delighted to see an “emotional” Reo Hatate back on the pitch before the Japan midfielder departs for the Asian Cup. Hatate made his first appearance in 10 weeks when he came off the bench during Celtic’s 3-0 win over St Mirren. The 26-year-old’s latest lay-off because of a hamstring injury […]

David Moyes was frustrated at not being able to pick Mohammed Kudus for West Ham’s goalless draw against Brighton. Ghana forward Kudus, arguably West Ham’s best player this season, was unavailable due to his forthcoming participation at the Africa Cup of Nations. Yet Egypt’s Mohamed Salah was able to play for Liverpool against Newcastle 24 […]

Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood was sent off as nine-man Getafe slipped to a 2-0 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga. The hosts were reduced to 10 men five minutes before the break as Real Madrid loanee Juanmi Latasa was handed a second booking and matters were made even worse when Sergio Camello put […]