Inter CEO Marotta dismisses Messi talk, praises Conte after Nerazzurri finish second

Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta once again poured cold water over the possibility of signing Barcelona captain Lionel Messi, labelling the speculation as a pure dream .

Messi continues to be linked to Inter, with the Barca superstar reportedly unhappy at Camp Nou and prepared to leave the LaLiga giants once his contract expires in 2021.

There has been renewed talk that Inter could attempt to prise Messi to San Siro after a picture of the six-time Ballon d Or winner was projected onto the Duomo di Milano prior to Tuesday s 2-0 Serie A victory over Napoli.

However, Inter CEO Marotta dismissed the chance of Messi swapping Barca for the Italian club following Saturday s season-ending 2-0 triumph at Atalanta.

We have to be realistic, it s a dream. Thes…

Sweden´s Ibrahimovic announces return to national team

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said Friday he was returning to the national team after a short hiatus from his international career set doubts on his future playing for Sweden.

What I have always said, is that I am proud to play for the national team You can count on me to be there at the national team s next game, the Barcelona player told a webcast press conference.

Ibrahimovic explained his break was a result of Sweden failing to qualify for the World Cup by loosing to Denmark in an October 2009 game.

After the last game, when we didn t get into the World Cup, I felt my motivation disappear, he said.

So I decided to give up. I had no desire to play. I m a competitor, I play to win. After your career, you want to be remembered as someone who won, he sai…

Real legend Di Stefano hospitalized with heart problem

Real Madrid s iconic former striker Alfredo di Stefano has been hospitalized again because of a heart problem, the Spanish club said Saturday.

The 84-year-old was taken to Madrid s Sanitas-La Moraleja Hospital on Friday after suffering a low to moderate cardiorespiratory descompensation, it said in a statement posted on its website.

The medical staff decided to keep him at the hospital for optimum monitoring, given his history, the club added.

Di Stefano, who is Real s honorary president, spent nine days in the hospital this month after doctors discovered a respiratory infection during a checkup.

He was allowed to leave the hospital but received out-patient treatment.

A two-time European Player of the Year, the Argentine-born Di Stefano played f…

Premier League: Stoke City 4 Fulham 1

Mark Hughes Stoke City side sent his former club Fulham into the Championship with a 4-1 victory at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Felix Magath had never previously suffered relegation during his managerial career, but the German s impressive record came to an end as his men were swept aside by rampant Stoke in a one-sided Premier League clash.

Sunderland s victory at Manchester United ensures the London club s 13-season stay in the top flight is over and the manner in which they were beaten at Stoke will have been difficult to take for Fulham s supporters.

Peter Odemwingie opened the scoring with his sixth goal since his move from Cardiff City, whose relegation was also confirmed on Saturday.

Marko Arnautovic doubled Stoke s lead in a game that they dominate…

Juventus supremo Beppe Marotta pours fuel on Alexis Sanchez rumours

Juventus F.C. director general Beppe Marotta has talked up a potential move for in-form Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Chile international, 25, left Udine for Catalunya in a deal worth €26 million in 2011 but has been linked with a return to Italy in recent times.

The Bianconeri are believed to be leading the race for Sanchez, who will not be short of suitors after a fantastic 2013/14 campaign in which he tallied 19 goals and 10 assists in 34 La Liga appearances.

English Premier league runners-up Liverpool have entered for the race for the highly-rated Chilean, according to reports, with the Reds also keen on Bayer Leverkusen s Emre Can.

Reports in Italy have suggested Juve are prepared to submit a�…

Juventus need to rediscover ruthless streak – Bonucci

Leonardo Bonucci has urged Juventus to rediscover the ruthless streak needed to clinch a first treble in the club s history.

After a 1-1 draw with local rivals Torino on May 6 forced Juve to wait for a record sixth successive Serie A title, Massimiliano Allegri s side were unable to get the job done last Sunday as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Roma.

Their next chance to claim the title comes at home to relegation-threatened Crotone on Sunday, but before that they take on Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday.

Juve are also chasing glory in the Champions League, facing Real Madrid in the final on June 3, and Bonucci has called on his team-mates to do all they can to ensure they bring all three titles back to Turin.

We re all experienced guys,…

Hull draw up new deal for Davies

that Championship promotion hopefuls Hull City have offered Curtis Davies a new deal as they look to avoid losing him on a free transfer in the summer.

Bournemouth are among the clubs interested in wrapping up a deal for the thirty year old, who has been at the KC Stadium since the summer of 2013, when he signed from Birmingham City.

During his time with the club he has racked up one hundred and one appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals one of which coming in the 2014 FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal at Wembley.

Davies was capped three times by England’s U21s almost ten years ago but is yet to be recognized at senior level.

Steve Bruce’s side are currently second in the Championship following Friday evening’s goalless draw with Sh…

Milan defender Theo Hernandez tests positive for COVID-19

Milan have confirmed left-back Theo Hernandez has tested positive for COVID-19.

The 24-year-old played a crucial role in France s Nations League success, scoring a dramatic 90th-minute winner in the 3-2 semi-final victory over Belgium before assisting Kylian Mbappe s decisive strike in the 2-1 final triumph over Spain.

The showpiece contest against Luis Enrique s Spain was held in Milan, meaning Hernandez was able to stay in the city as he returned to his club side.

However, he is now set to miss the visit of Hellas Verona on Saturday as club action resumes.

Official Statement: Theo Hernández

Comunicato Ufficiale: Theo Hernández

— AC Milan (@acmilan)

Hernandez has enjoyed a fine start to the season with Milan, leading t…

Japan fans separated at China Asiad match

Japanese and Chinese spectators will be separated at an Asian Games football group match in Guangzhou Monday amid a simmering diplomatic row and a history of bitter rivalry between fans.

Cameras, banners and bottles containing any liquid will be also banned at the match to prevent any untoward situation as part of measures enforced by security authorities, the Japanese consulate-general in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou said on its website.

Please refrain from heckling opponent players and supporters, insulting the opposite country or cheering in any other unfriendly manner as it is dangerous, it added in a notice to Japanese visitors.

The warning comes as tensions between the Asian giants persist following Japan s arrest of a Chinese trawler captain fo…

SFA vow to do ´everything´ to avert ref strike

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) said Monday they would do everything possible to avoid a strike by referees that threatens to wipe out this weekend s fixture programme.

George Peat, president of the SFA Scottish football s governing body said the planned strike by the country s premier, category one officials to refuse appointments this weekend was a sad day for Scottish football .

Peat added: We will do everything we possibly can to broker a deal before the weekend because it s obviously important that officials are on duty on Saturday and Sunday.

If the strike goes ahead it will hit the Scottish Premier League (SPL) programme featuring Celtic s match against Inverness and leaders Rangers visit to Dundee United.

Officials are planning a walkout…