´I don´t disrespect anyone´ – Messi defends himself after incurring the wrath of Canelo

Luciano Spalletti says Roma are keen to sign Tottenham defender Federico Fazio, but has made it clear the transfer is not a done deal just yet.

Roma want to add depth to their defence and have earmarked Fazio as the ideal addition.

The 29-year-old joined Tottenham from Sevilla in 2014, but he has failed to live up to expectations at the Premier League side and is no longer needed in London.

Fazio spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla and Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino recently announced that the centre-back is not part of his plans for 2016-17.

The deal is not official yet, but we are keen to bring Fazio to Rome, Spalletti told reporters.

Signing him would give us some extra options in defence.

He has important cha…

Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm has admitted he would like to play for Manchester United.

The 29-year-old Dutchman has been linked with a move to Old Trafford after a number of impressive performances at the Liberty Stadium since moving from Utrecht in 2011.

But, while Vorm holds ambitions to play at a higher level, he is in no rush to leave Swansea just yet.

We would obviously all like to play for Manchester United, but I am still young for a goalkeeper and I have many good years ahead of me, he told The South Wales Evening Post.

It s my ambition to ply my trade in English football for as long as possible.

There have been many rumours and stories about me in the last few years, but I have never been in a position to turn down an offer and I love life at Swa…

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has called for his side to be more aggressive as they bid to seal top spot in CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C by beating Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.

Herrera s men were held to a 0-0 draw by Guatemala on Monday but are still all-but assured of their place in the quarter-finals.

The six-time champions are second with four points, two points adrift of group leaders Trinidad. Guatemala  who face Cuba in their last group game are three points behind Mexico and would require victory over Cuba and a nine-goal swing in their favour in order to leapfrog Mexico and progress automatically.

Mexico will be guaranteed of qualification as one of the two best third-placed teams should Canada and El Salvador  who have inferior goal differences both …

Riyad Mahrez has penned a new four-year deal at Leicester City, .

The midfielder, who was last season named PFA Player of the Year after playing a key role in the Foxes’ surprise Premier League title triumph has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal this summer.

However, he has committed his immediate future to the East Midlands’ outfit in a deal that will see his wages rocket to £100,000 per week.

The twenty-five year old moved to the King Power Stadium from Le Harve in January 2014 and has since racked up ninety-two appearances in all competitions, scoring twenty-six goals.

The last of those strikes came from the penalty spot against Hull City in this season’s Premier League opener, though Claudio Ranieri’s side went on to lose the g…

Erling Haaland has revealed he felt sorry for Robert Lewandowski after Bayern Munich attempted to sign the Norway international from Borussia Dortmund.

Haaland joined Manchester City from Dortmund in July after being linked with the majority of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Bayern played down reports they wanted the striker as a successor to Poland captain Lewandowski, who got his wish to join Barcelona.

Speaking in the documentary Haaland: The Big Decision, City s prolific frontman stated that he felt uncomfortable over talk that he could join Bayern while Lewandowski was still with the Bundesliga champions.

If I try to imagine how Lewandowski thinks I don t know how many goals and titles he has for the club, he stated.

Then I do actually …

Carlo Ancelotti believes the biggest unknown surrounding Real Madrid s potential defence of the Champions League is the prospective physical condition of his players when they return from the World Cup.

Madrid begin their quest for a 15th European Cup on Tuesday when they visit Scottish champions Celtic.

The group stage is condensed this season because of the World Cup, moved from its usual Northern Hemisphere summer slot to November because of the extreme heat in Qatar.

Teams involved in the group stage will play six games in under two months, with the battle for a place in the last 16 coming to a close on November 2.

On top of domestic commitments, that makes for a crowded fixture list. Yet Ancelotti is less concerned with the effects of the schedule th…

Barcelona s Lionel Messi will be hoping to add to his tally of five Champions League goal this season when his side host AC Milan this evening in the Champions League

Spanish giants Barcelona head into this evenings Champions League knockout stage clash with AC Milan 2-0 down from the first leg at the San Siro.

The Catalan side were heavy favourites to progress into the quarter-finals and they are now teetering on the brink of going out the competition.

Surprise

The first leg came as a surprise to most people, including probably everybody connected with AC Milan.

AC Milan’s form has dramatically improved in recent months and the performance was an example of how much it’s improved.

Even with the improvement in form I doubt that even t…

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has brushed aside his side s Premier League title decline by insisting that finishing second will still be an achievement.

Liverpool entertain Sunderland at Anfield on Tuesday with their hopes of winning the championship for the first time since 1990 in tatters after last Saturday s 2-0 reverse at Middlesbrough.

Having topped the table going into 2009, Benitez s side now trail leaders and favourites Manchester United by seven points after winning just two of the last seven games.

They have also played one game more than Sir Alex Ferguson s defending champions and are down to third in the table.

Yet Benitez has tried to put a brave face on Liverpool s domestic capitulation by claiming that finishing second will not be a disa…

Ajax director of football Marc Overmars says there has been no contact from Manchester United regarding a possible move for goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.

The Netherlands international has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, with Real Madrid target David de Gea still out of Louis van Gaal s first-team picture.

A questionable performance from Sergio Romero during United s 2-1 defeat to Swansea City on Sunday added to talk of a late bid from United for Cillessen.

However, Overmars says there is no dialogue between the clubs ahead of Tuesday s deadline day in England.

There is no contact with Manchester United, he told De Telegraaf.

I have heard nothing from Manchester United.

Three-time Eredivisie winner Cille…

Tottenham defender Eric Dier has signed a new contract with the Premier League club that will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2020.

Dier moved to Tottenham from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon ahead of the 2013-14 campaign and made 28 league appearances in his maiden season.

The England Under-21 international endeared himself to the Spurs faithful from the off by scoring a last-minute winner in a 1-0 victory at West Ham on his Premier League debut.

Speaking about his new deal, Dier told the club s official website: I loved every minute of my first season and to now sign a new deal for another five years, I m happy and looking forward to the future.

I believe in myself and my quality but I didn t really know what to expect and I didn t think I d play th…