Ronald Koeman met with Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Tuesday evening as reports claimed the future of the head coach remained unresolved.

Dutchman Koeman guided Barca to a third-placed finish in LaLiga this term, meaning they finished outside of the top two for the first time since 2007-08, though the Blaugrana did succeed in winning the Copa del Rey.

They were inspired by Lionel Messi, who scored 30 league goals to win an eighth Pichichi trophy, though the 33-year-old is also the subject of speculation over his next move, with his contract at Barca up next month.

Laporta succeeded previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu in March, taking charge at Camp Nou for a second spell.

Koeman was appointed by Bartomeu last year, after Quique Setien s ill-fa…

The Brazilian Football Association (CBF) confirmed Lucas Paqueta will remain in Brazil’s Copa America squad despite being charged over alleged breaches of betting rules by the English Football Association (FA).

Last August, it was reported the FA had opened an investigation into suspicious betting activity surrounding Paqueta, who said he was cooperating with the FA’s probe in March.

The West Ham midfielder is accused of intentionally seeking to receive a card in four different Premier League fixtures, three in the 2022-23 season and one on the opening matchday of 2023-24, with the charges brought against him last Thursday.

Paqueta, who has until June 3 to respond to the charges, addressed the situation on social media saying, I deny the charges in their enti…

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel insists Timo Werner is getting stronger and stronger despite the Germany international s goalless run in the Premier League now stretching to 14 games. 

Werner arrived at Stamford Bridge with a reputation as a prolific goalscorer following his move from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. 

But the 24-year-old has scored just four times in 22 Premier League appearances, with his blank in Sunday s 2-1 win at Sheffield United stretching his barren run even further. 

While he did not get on the scoresheet, he was in the thick of the action as Chelsea made it three wins on the bounce under new boss Tuchel. 

His low cross was clinically dispatched by Mason Mount to put the Blues ahead shortly before the int…

In many ways, patience isn t a virtue we can truthfully say is embraced in modern football, whether that s with respect to managers or players.

When someone s level dips, people – or specifically social media trolls – are quick to brandish them frauds or finished like rabid animals sated by black-or-white so-called hot takes .

If there s one player on the planet who deserves that patience, it s surely Lionel Messi. But so accustomed has the world become to his usually incomparable excellence that any opportunity to humanise him with blinkered criticism was going to be gobbled up by those who are – bizarrely – so eager for him to fail.

While that s not to say Messi is above criticism, and there have certainly been times this season when questions were fair…

Pep Guardiola likened Manchester City s rivalry with Liverpool to an NBA playoffs series as he challenged his players to slam dunk their way into the FA Cup final.

City have a second treble in their sights this term, having previously completed a clean sweep of the three English domestic trophies in the 2018-19 season.

They can capture the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League this time, but Liverpool are a team who might deny them on all fronts, making Saturday s Wembley semi-final a tantalising prospect.

Guardiola said he had no regrets about City s disappointing record in FA Cup semi-finals during his reign. They have won only one of four matches at the last-four stage in this competition under his command, beating Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 on the way…

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Premier League club Tottenham are looking for a new central defender, and that Bundesliga outfit Bayer are willing to sell Hincapie for close to €40 million.

Hincapie has been on the books of Bayer since 2021 and is one of the best young defenders in the Bundesliga. The 22-year-old Ecuador international centre-back has made 14 starts and seven substitute appearances in the league this season. He has scored one goal and given one assist in those games.

Tottenham are fourth in the Premier League table at the moment with 60 points from 31 matches, level on points with Aston Villa, who are fifth and have played only 32 …

Manchester United advanced to an FA Cup final against Tottenham after holding out for a historic 2-1 victory over holders Chelsea at Leigh Sports Village.

In a rematch of last year’s final that they lost 1-0, Marc Skinner’s United went in front in the first minute through a Lucia Garcia header before doubling the advantage midway through the first half when Rachel Williams headed home.

Former United player Lauren James pulled a goal back just prior to the break and the visitors did most of the attacking thereafter but were unable to force extra time, with Mary Earps making a superb save to thwart James and substitute Catarina Macario hitting the bar.

THEY VE DONE IT have beaten Chelsea for the first time in their history!

THEY RE OFF TO WEMBLEY

…

Captain Darijo Srna was understandably overjoyed after Croatia secured automatic qualification for Euro 2016 on Tuesday, labelling his team-mates as national heroes.

A 1-0 win for Croatia against Malta combined with Italy s 2-1 victory over Norway saw the Balkan nation through to next year s tournament in France as runners-up to the Italians in Group H.

Croatia were two points adrift
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of Norway in the race for second place prior to kick-off but results went the way of Srna and Co.

Speaking afterwards via UEFA.com, Srna beamed: Today Croatian players are heroes who are doing everything they can for their country. Tonight, it s time to celebrate.

We are proud that we will listen to the Croatian anthem in France at EURO 2016.

We have a n…

Robert Lewandowski has paid tribute to great champion Iga Swiatek following his compatriot s US Open triumph.

Swiatek became the first Polish singles champion at Flushing Meadows after defeating Ons Jabeur in straight sets on Saturday.

It was the world number one s second grand slam success of a brilliant season, having won a further six WTA titles including the French Open in June.

The 21-year-old became the first woman to triumph at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows in the same campaign since Serena Williams in 2013.

Swiatek and Lewandowski are among the pre-eminent Polish sports stars of this generation and shared an embrace on Court Philippe Chatrier following the former s success in Paris.

Congratulations Iga! You’re a great champion and y…

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Inter Milan will be welcoming AS Roma to the Giuseppe Meazza stadium on Saturday afternoon in what is set to be the biggest clash in the eight round of the Serie A season. Both teams have great expectations from this campaign, and neither are exactly where they want to be at this stage.

Inter Milan

The Italian top flight has been very interesting this term, and while the neutral lovers of the game may relish it as such, it s not necessarily good news for the clubs usually considered as the top ones.

Be that as it may, the Nerazzurri are currently in seventh place with 12 points, two more than the Turin duo directly below, and five less than Napoli at the front of the pack. It ll be a long way back to the top, if it is to happ…