Portuguese midfielder Deco has announced his retirement from football at the age of 35 and has blamed a string of injuries for his decision.
The Brazilian-born star enjoyed a glittering 17-year career with significant spells at Barcelona, Chelsea and Porto, before returning to his homeland to finish his career with Fluminense.
Deco won an array of trophies during his career in two Champions League titles, the UEFA Cup and eight league titles in four countries, while also helping his adopted country Portugal to the Euro 2004 final on home soil.
With a lot of sadness and hurt I am announcing the end of my professional career, Deco said on Monday.
I ve been really happy during this time and I wanted to help Fluminense more but my body won t allow that.
My musc…
Playmaker James Rodriguez will stay at Real Madrid despite being linked with a move, according to his father.
James, struggling for game time at the LaLiga leaders, is reportedly wanted by Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United.
But his agent, Jorge Mendes, and now his dad Wilson have said James will remain at Santiago Bernabeu.
He has a commitment to Real Madrid and he has a contract, Wilson Rodriguez told Colombian media.
He is going to stay.
James has made just eight league appearances for Madrid this season, with four of those starts.
He arrived at the Spanish giants from Monaco in July 2014 in a reported €80million move.
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Market: Austin FC win
Odds: 19/20 @
Looking to extend one their US Open Cup adventure in the early hours of Thursday, Austin will welcome a struggling Chicago to the Q2 Stadium.
Starting with the hosts, last seen over the weekend putting in another eye-catching display on home soil, Austin are enjoying what has been a stellar run of form since opening May. Eventually claiming a 1-0 victory against Toronto, Josh Wolff’s side are tipped as a runaway pick to claim another play-off spot this season. Securing back-to-back MLS wins and extending on their US Open Cup adventure on May 10th thanks to a routine 2-0 win at home against New Mexico, Los Verdes should be smelling the chance to make another statement here. Losing just one of their last six domestic appearanc…
Hertha BSC manager Jos Luhukay has revealed the club will decide the long-term future of Pierre-Michel Lasogga after the striker returns from his loan at Hamburger SV, understands.
Lasogga, who joined Hertha on an initial three-year deal from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2010, has scored nine goals in nine appearances across all competitions while on loan at the Imtech Arena, including a brace in today s 5-3 defeat to Leverkusen.
The Germany youth international s form in front of goal has caught the eye of a number of European clubs in recent weeks.
Perennial UEFA Champions League side Schalke 04 have been linked with a summer swoop for Lasogga, while Hamburg are also keen to ink Lasogga to a permanent deal, and understandably so.
Passionate Manchester United supporter Rory McIlroy will have the perfect partner at this year s BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am, when he tees it up with Red Devils great Ryan Giggs.
World number three McIlroy is a proud member of United s legion of followers around the world, while Giggs is one of the many current and former professional footballers who enjoy a round of golf to unwind away from the spotlight.
For fans of both sports, it will certainly be a pairing to watch out for at Wentworth in May, with the pro-am due to take place a day before the European Tour event begins in earnest.
There are few bigger Man United legends in the history of the club than Giggsy, so to be able to tee it up alongside him for the pro-am at the BMW PGA Championship is going to …
Ross Barkley believes he is ready for an England call-up thanks to the guidance of Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.
After a miserable 2017-18 campaign beset by injuries, Barkley has found his feet at Stamford Bridge, making nine appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
He is expected to start for the sixth time under Sarri in Thursday s Europa League clash with Vidi as the Premier League side look to make it two wins out of two in the competition.
And Barkley hopes to take to the pitch buoyed by a return to the England set-up, with Gareth Southgate set to name his latest squad earlier in the day.
I believe I am [ready to play for England], he told a media conference. I have played a big role in the side and I feel like my performances have showed that …
Although the Europa Conference League final between Fiorentina and West Ham might steal most of the midweek headlines, neutrals still have plenty of other eye-catching fixtures on the schedule.
With a string of intriguing affairs from both Europe and South America, we have taken a look at a couple of intriguing affairs that can offer great value for your Wednesday flutter.
Ahead of what could be a thrilling night of action from across the footballing globe, we have created your ultimate Wednesday double.
20:00 Levante vs Albacete
While Levante might have lost their La Liga status last season, the Frogs have their sights firmly set on clinching an immediate top-flight return this month. Making a major statement last weekend as they eventually cruised th…
Tottenham Hotspur a lining up a shock £3m move for Sunderland’s John O’Shea, .
New Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is on the lookout for a replacement for captain Michael Dawson, who is free to leave White Hart Lane this summer, and has identified the Republic of Ireland international as the man to fill the void.
The former Manchester United man has just one year remaining on his contract with the Black Cats, who themselves are reshaping their squad for the new season.
They recently had a bid for Swansea City defender Ashley Williams rejected, and are now deciding whether or not to return with an improved offer.
Since moving to the Stadium of Light in the summer of 2011, O’Shea has made one-hundred-and-eleven appearances in all competitions, sc…
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is not short on admirers, but one person who is less than convinced by his coaching philosophy is compatriot Jorge Sampaoli.
Former Chile coach Sampaoli was at Camp Nou to watch Simeone s side take on Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Atletico lost 2-1 to Barca in the first leg of the quarter-final tie, and Sampaoli said he had a different outlook on the game than Simeone, despite the results he has achieved, having led the Spanish capital club to La Liga glory in 2013-14.
I don t believe in the same kind of football as he does and I think we have very different outlooks on this sport, he told AS.
That said, you cannot deny how good Atletico are. The level of commitment the players show towards him is prai…
Romelu Lukaku dedicated his inspirational performance in Belgium s win over Russia to Christian Eriksen after his Inter team-mate collapsed during Denmark s Euro 2020 game against Finland.
Denmark captain Eriksen required emergency treatment on the field after he fell to the turf late in the first half of the Group B match at Parken Stadium on Saturday.
The midfielder was awake in hospital and undergoing tests following such traumatic scenes in Copenhagen, with his team-mates having formed a protective barrier around him while efforts were made to resuscitate him.
Lukaku shed tears for Eriksen as he watched the game before scoring twice in Belgium s 3-0 win over Russia later in the day.
The striker shouted I love you Chris into a television camera after…