- EUR
- 4,9744
-
Ronaldo wins fifth Ballon d'Or
Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Lionel Messi's 5 Ballon d'Or awards after retaining football's most prestigious individual prize for the second year running.
The 32-year-old was named France Football's player of the year for the 4th time in 5 years after a brilliant 2016-2017 in which he won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid.
Ronaldo also became the all-time leading scorer in Europe's top 5 leagues when he reached 366 goals in May to overtake Jimmy Greaves.
His 2 goals in Madrid's Champions League Final victory over Juventus also took the Portugal star past 600 career goals, while Messi only reached the 500 mark for FC Barcelona 6 weeks earlier.
Messi finished second to Ronaldo in the vote, with Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar completing the top 3.
The Ballon d'Or is voted for by a jury of 173 journalists from around the world and presented by France Football, having ended its 6-year partnership with FIFA, which ran from 2009 to 2015.
Ronaldo and Messi jointly hold the record for the most Ballons d'Or, having won 5 each and dominated the top two places in the standings since 2008.
The last player to beat either of them to the award was Ricardo Kaka in 2007 and since then the pair have thrived on a rivalry that has defined a generation.
-
-
Atletico set club-record unbeaten run in La Liga
Atletico Madrid went unbeaten for a club-record 19th consecutive La Liga match with Sunday's narrow 1-0 win at Real Betis.
Saul Niguez's first half goal sealed a slice of history as Diego Simeone's side bounced back from their Champions League group stages exit.
Undefeated in all 15 of their top flight matches this term, Atleti have not suffered a league loss since they were edged 1-0 at home by Villarreal on 25 April.
Since then, they have racked up an impressive 12 victories and 7 draws.
Their latest win, achieved without the injured Antoine Griezmann, was secured with just 26% of possession and saw Atleti move back ahead of rivals Real Madrid in third.
-
-
-
Betis legend Joaquin pens extension
Real Betis veteran Joaquin has signed a new contract that runs until 2020.
The club icon, who returned to the La Liga club in 2015, will be 38 by the time his new deal comes to an end.
Joaquin rose through the youth ranks at Betis before moving on in 2006 to enjoy spells with Valencia, Malaga and Fiorentina.
The former Spain international will now have the chance to add a sizeable amount to his 355 club appearances.
-
Sevilla to appoint Montella
FC Sevilla have chosen Vincenzo Montella to succeed Eduardo Berizzo as head coach on a one-and-a-half-year deal, after reaching a "principle agreement" with the Italian.
Montella has been out of a job for just over a month after he was sacked by AC Milan on 27 November, with the Serie A giants enduring an underwhelming start to the season despite spending a reported €196 million in the transfer market.
The former Italy international left Milan 7th in Serie A, though they have since slipped even further down the table to 11th since Gennaro Gattuso took over.
Although Sevilla have not won any of their last 4 games in all competitions, Montella joins them in a strong position, with Berizzo getting sacked despite the club sitting fifth in La Liga and having booked passage to the knockout phase of the Champions League, where they will meet Manchester United.
The dismissal of Berizzo - who had only recently returned from prostate cancer surgery - came about due to a string of poor performances and unsatisfactory results, while he is also reported to have had a strained relationship with members of the first-team squad.
Montella is still technically on gardening leave and contracted to Milan, but providing his severance negotiations with the Serie A giants go to plan, the 43-year-old will sign his contract on Friday and take charge of first-team operations a day later.
The move will see Montella link up with striker Luis Muriel - who became Sevilla's record signing in pre-season - once again, having worked together at Sampdoria.
Montella's first match in charge will be in the Copa del Rey at Cadiz on 3 January, before making his La Liga bow 3 days later at home to bitter local rivals Real Betis.
-
Filipe Luis suffers injured hamstring
Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis has undergone a scan on an injured right hamstring that revealed a grade 1 tear.
The full-back did not take part in training on Friday after complaining of discomfort and was sent for medical examinations.
Atleti did not say if Filipe Luis will miss any action, but reports in Spain suggest he is a doubt for the midweek Copa del Rey clash against Lleida Esportiu and next weekend's La Liga contest against Getafe.
Diego Simeone's men are second in La Liga after 17 matches, 9 points adrift of runaway leaders FC Barcelona.
-
-
-
-
Struggling Malaga sack Michel
Relegation-threatened Malaga have sacked head coach Michel after a run of 4 straight La Liga defeats without scoring left them 5 points adrift of safety.
Michel arrived at La Rosaleda in March 2017 with the club in the midst of a fight against the drop, but helped them recover to an 11th place finish.
However, it has been another season of struggle for Malaga, who have just 3 wins and 11 points from 19 La Liga matches.
A 1-0 defeat to Getafe on Friday proved the final straw, with Michel's dismissal announced on the club's official website.
Michel has previously coached Getafe and FC Sevilla, before spells at Olympiacos and Olympique Marseille.
-
-
-
Arrizabalaga pens new Bilbao deal
Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper and reported Real Madrid target Kepa Arrizabalaga has signed a new contract at San Mames running until June 2025.
The 23-year-old's release clause has been set at €80 million - up from a rumoured €20 million under the one-cap Spain international's previous terms.
Earlier this month, Bilbao coach Jose Angel Ziganda claimed he was in the dark over speculation Arrizabalaga had undergone a medical at Madrid, insisting the player had not been given permission to do so.
Despite suggestions the Spanish and European champions were set to test Bilbao's resolve, their head coach Zinedine Zidane maintained they had no interest in entering the January market - something Arrizabalaga's renewal with the Basque side makes more likely.
Arrizabalaga has impressed as Bilbao's first-choice goalkeeper since returning from a loan stint with Real Valladolid at the start of last season.
-
Diego Costa out for 10 days
Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has been ruled out for 10 days after picking up a hamstring injury in Saturday’s draw with Girona.
The Spain international is set to miss the midweek Copa del Rey return match against FC Sevilla while also sitting out the forthcoming La Liga match against Las Palmas.
Tests were carried out on the 29-year-old after he was forced off during the clash with Girona, having scored 3 goals in 5 appearances for Atleti.
Costa has already sat out one match since his debut after he was dismissed in the 2-0 win at home to Getafe earlier this month.
-
-
Malaga complete Ideye signing
Malaga have completed the loan signing of Nigerian international striker Brown Ideye until the end of the season, it has been confirmed.
The 29-year-old returns to Europe after an unhappy year in China with Tianjin TEDA following previous stints with Neuchatel Xamax, Sochaux, Dynamo Kiev, West Bromwich Albion and Olympiacos.
Ideye netted only 4 goals in 14 appearances in the Chinese Super League and joins the Andalucian outfit, who are currently at the foot of La Liga.
Villarreal sign Javi Fuego
Villarreal have completed the signing of Espanyol holding midfielder Javi Fuego for a deal thought to be worth €1 million, say reports.
The 34-year-old joins the Yellow Submarine having started 17 La Liga matches for the Catalan side this campaign and having made just shy of 300 appearances in the division throughout his career.
Cadena Cope reports the fee to be in the region of €1 million, if not slightly under, and has been fuelled by the injury problems to Villarreal captain Bruno Soriano.
Fuego spent 3 campaigns at Valencia before joining Espanyol in 2015 while he has also played for Sporting Gijon, Levante, Recreativo Huelva and Rayo Vallecano.
Layun joins Sevilla on loan
FC Sevilla have completed the loan signing of FC Porto defender Miguel Layun until the end of the campaign, it has been confirmed.
The Mexican international had fallen out of favour at the Portuguese giants, making only 2 starts for the Portuguese league leaders this season.
He had long been linked with a move to Real Betis, who now must switch attention to other targets after being trumped by their city rivals.
The 29-year-old had also been linked with a move to Deportivo Alaves, while Celta Vigo and Deportivo La Coruna had reportedly previously held an interest.
Layun spent 12 months in England with Watford before moving to Porto in 2016 and is said to be available on an affordable permanent transfer or as a loan deal.
-
-
Raspunde cu citat
