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Neymar has etched his name into the history books after playing a lively part in Paris Saint-Germain's dramatic 2-1 win over Atalanta in the Champions League quarter-finals. 

With his side 1-0 down heading into injury time, the former Barcelona star claimed the assist for Marquinhos' equaliser before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored a late winner for Thomas Tuchel's side. 

While it wasn't a perfect performance from Neymar, who missed a golden chance to open the scoring in the first five minutes, he was clearly determined to ensure PSG finally progressed to the final four of the competition. 

Against Atalanta, the 28-year-old completed 16 dribbles, a joint-record in a single Champions League match with only Lionel Messi and Javier Zanetti also achieving such a feat. 

It initially appeared that it wasn't going to be a memorable night for PSG nor Neymar, with Atalanta opening the scoring after 27 minutes via Mario Pasalic. 

Despite Neymar's impressive work with the ball at his feet, the attacker struggled to find an end product, missing two big chances in the first 45 minutes - as many wasted chances as in his past 11 Champions League games. 

The Brazilian would remain persistent, however, creating a game-high four chances before eventually teeing up Marquinhos in the 90th minute. Neymar would then find Kylian Mbappe just minutes later inside the Atalanta box with the Frenchman doing well to pick out Choupo-Moting for a tap-in. 

PSG's 2-1 win means the Ligue 1 champions now progress to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since the 1994-95 season when they did so under manager Luis Fernandez. 

Though Neymar certainly played his part in Wednesday night's victory, Mbappe proved a crucial addition off the bench for Tuchel's side with 56 per cent of PSG's shots coming in the 30 minutes he was on the pitch, with no player having more shots on target than the 21-year-old. 

Mbappe was under an injury cloud leading up to the quarter-final but managed to recover in time to make PSG's squad and ultimately play a decisive part in the game. 

PSG will now face either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals on August 18 with those two sides to meet in their quarter-final on Thursday. 

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has revealed the team never considered the possibility of being eliminated from the Champions League as they completed a stunning comeback to keep their dream of winning the competition alive.

The Ligue 1 champions overcame Serie A underdogs Atalanta 2-1 in Lisbon to qualify for the semi-finals, despite trailing by a single goal in the match until the 90th minute.

Mario Pasalic had put the Italians ahead in the first half, but Marquinhos prodded home a fortuitous equaliser as the hame hit stoppage time before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting became the hero three minutes later.

Neymar saluted his team-mates for their resilience in the contest and says there were no thoughts about going home from the competition.

"It's a great night but it was very difficult," Neymar told RMC Sport. "We knew that Atalanta were a great team, who played well all season and were the surprise team in this competition

"We never thought about elimination and we never thought of going home. No one is going to take my mind off the fact that I want to go to the final. 

"They were aggressive and we knew they would rush us if we had chances. We are happy for what we achieved. We had a great game. We will have to rest because it was mentally exhausting. 

"It was a great match, difficult, another awaits us. We will have to sort out some things to make another great match."

Ander Herrera, who was with Manchester United when they knocked PSG out of the Champions League last season, praised the role of Choupo-Moting in getting the Parisians through.

"Incredible. It's the whole team, everyone is there to help," he said to RMC Sport. "Choupo only played ten minutes and we can see what he brought as his contract is about to end.

"I played today but if I don't play the next game I will give it my all.

"We won four titles and if you are not a team you cannot make [this comeback].

"Atalanta didn't lose against the big guys in Italy but I think we played well, we did what we said. We created chances, we did everything to overthrow the game."

PSG now move into the semi-finals of the competition and will come up against either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid, who square off against each other on Thursday.

Kylian Mbappe and Neymar will stay at Paris Saint-Germain for the rest of their careers, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has claimed.

The attacking pair played crucial roles in PSG’s dramatic 2-1 Champions League win over Atalanta on Wednesday, despite Mbappe only being fit to play the last 30 minutes.

Neymar made up for some glaring missed opportunities with the last touch before Marquinhos’ equaliser, while Mbappe raced clear in the dying moments to create the winner for unlikely hero Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

Al-Khelaifi was clearly relieved to see his side get their Champions League monkey off their back, after successive quarter-final exits in recent seasons.

"Everyone said that Paris was not ready for the Champions League but we showed a great mentality, with great players," Al-Khelaifi told RMC Sport after the final whistle.

"Our goal is very big but we are not thinking today of the final, only the semi-final. It's very important to change mentality.

"You too, the media, everyone doubts PSG. The Champions League, we needed this victory to go further.

“Neymar and Kylian are some of the best players in the world but it was the team that had a great game, even though Ney was really good.

“In recent months he has changed in the team. They're both going to stay, they're never going to leave!"

The game fell on the 50th anniversary of PSG’s formation, an occasion they eventually managed to mark in style.

That they were able to conjure a comeback in the dying moments was commendable, given they had played only two competitive games since their last-16 victory over Borussia Dortmund in March.

Their record since lockdown now reads: three games played, three games won, two trophies lifted. A third could be just two more wins away.

“It's a very special evening with the anniversary of the club,” Al-Khelaifi said. 

“It was not easy with the end of the league season but we gave everything we had on the field.

“I am really very proud. This is the first time that we have reached the semi-finals since the takeover in 2011.

“We now have to think about the semi-final and not think about the final.”

PSG will play either Atletico Madrid or RB Leipzig in their semi-final at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz on Tuesday.

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel has said he was confident his side would find a winner against Atalanta on Wednesday as soon as they grabbed their late equaliser. 

PSG trailed 1-0 late in their Champions League quarter-final, with Mario Pasalic's first-half goal looking set to give the Italians a shock trip to the semi-final. 

However, Tuchel's men were able to turn the tide in a dramatic three-minute spell, with Marquinhos scoring a 90th-minute equaliser before substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting netted the winner three minutes later.

Speaking to RMC Sport after the game, Tuchel confessed that he was contemplating an early elimination but as soon as Marquinhos netted, the German knew his side would prevail. 

"I'm not going to say that we didn't think about elimination," Tuchel said. "After 85 minutes of play, we were realistic. But, that was not the general feeling. 

"I always had the impression that if we scored the first, we would add the second in stride.

"We had a very strong match and it is absolutely deserved. There is also luck, it is true, but on the whole it is deserved.

"In the second half, we had total control. I was afraid for the physical side towards the end, but we played with more confidence at that time.

"The players who came in from the bench, they were exceptional."

Like his manager, Marquinhos said that he also had faith that his team would be able to turn the tide and saluted Neymar's performance.

"We lost other years and this year, we saw the game, we dominated, we had the opportunities but we had to believe in it," Marquinhos told RMC Sport.

"Football is about motivation, faith. If you saw the match, you saw that they were aggressive. We had to cover the whole field and as soon as we had the ball, we had to attack quickly. [We had to make] sure that Neymar was free to do whatever he wanted."

After a rocky start, Neymar came up with a telling contribution late. The 28-year-old grabbed the assist on Marquinhos' goal before his pass sent Kylian Mbappe in, with the Frenchman crossing for Choupo-Moting to score the winner. 

While hurt and disappointed after a Champions League semi-final berth was snatched away at the death, Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini was in an upbeat mood, highlighting the fact that club president Antonio Percassi always targets 40 points to secure Serie A safety each season.

Atalanta have been the Cinderella story of Italian and European football this term, breaking records during their third-place finish in Serie A and memorable run to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Gasperini's Atalanta – competing in their first Champions League last-eight fixture – were moments away from an historic semi-final on Wednesday, however, Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain completed a stunning turnaround to prevail 2-1 in Lisbon.

Mario Pasalic's first-half strike looked to have settled the midweek contest, until Atalanta were left heartbroken – Marquinhos equalised in the 90th minute before substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting netted the winner in the third minute of stoppage time.

"We are very disappointed, as we felt that we were almost in the semi-final," Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia. "That would've been extraordinary, but it's extraordinary anyway. We want to improve next season – probably not in results, which will be difficult, but as a team.

"We finished third in Serie A for the second year running, but there are teams who were 10-12 points behind us who won't be in that position again. We will never start a season targeting the Scudetto, we aim to build and improve, then see how things go.

"Our objectives are always set as time goes on. In fact, the president always starts out by saying we need 40 points to secure safety in Serie A! We raised the bar, and we're very happy to be back in the Champions League, as that is already a success."

Gasperini, whose Atalanta scored a Serie A-high 98 goals in 2019-20, added: "The biggest regret is that we got so close and thought we really might achieve this extraordinary coup.

"The satisfaction remains that we had a great Champions League campaign, constantly improving against the best teams in Europe. I can only thank the lads for all they've done this season.

"It’s disappointing because we came so close. There are some of the best players in the world, [Kylian] Mbappe and Neymar, who at a certain point really sparked them into life.

"We could've conceded earlier, in a way that might've been better, as conceding in stoppages hurts more. We did all we possibly could, at the end of a very difficult and exhausting run of fixtures, so I can only thank the lads.

"The Champions League is a very special competition and I read a while back Jose Mourinho said it was the competition of details. Details make the difference when games are so balanced and can go one way or the other.

"Despite everything, we reached the 90th minute in the lead. We were certainly well-prepared on set plays, there was that Berat Djimsiti chance, and could've done better on a couple of counter-attacks, but again, these are all details."

Ralph Hasenhuttl has described the signing of Mohammed Salisu as ‘important’ as Saints strengthened their squad ahead of next season.

The 21-year-old centre back who was linked with a move to Real Madrid and Manchester United joined the Premier League outfit from Real Valladolid in a deal reported to be worth up to £10.9 million.

Salisu joined Valladolid from Ghanaian outfit African Talent Football Academy in 2017, and ever since, he has continued to grow.

In the 2019-20 La Liga season, he played in 32 matches as the White and Violets finished 13th in the log having garnered 42 points from 38 games.

The youngster will stay at St Mary’s Stadium until 2024 and his new manager is delighted to be welcoming the African, who he felts fits properly into his squad.

“This is an important signing for us, Mohammed is a player who fits our profile well,” said Hasenhuttl as reported by the Guardian.

 “He is young and has a great amount of potential, but he is also someone who has the qualities to come in and help the team as soon as he is up to speed with our way of playing.

“I like what I have seen of him so far in his games with Valladolid. He is strong defensively, he is calm with the ball – something that is important in our team – and he has good speed too.”

“I think he will fit in well with us and this will be a good place for him to develop his game further. We have some good centre-backs here and this will be another strong option for us.”

Salisu becomes Southampton’s second signing of the season following the arrival of Kyle Walker-Peter from Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.

To him, agreeing to join the English team was not a difficult one because they have a track record of developing young players.

“It is a very good feeling to be a Southampton player. I am very happy to be part of the club and I am looking forward to starting here,” said Salisu.

“Southampton is a club with a very rich history in developing young players, so it is a very good club for me to develop my skills and to learn a lot as a young player.

“I know that the team expects a lot from me and I’m going to try to give all I can to help the team.”

Timo Werner's departure does not mean RB Leipzig will be "outnumbered" against Atletico Madrid, with Julian Nagelsmann confident his squad still carries a sufficient goal threat.

Chelsea shelled out a reported £45million (€50m) to secure the signature of Werner, who opted to link up with his new team-mates in west London rather than remain with Leipzig for the rest of their Champions League campaign.

The Germany international scored 34 goals and supplied 12 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga side in 2019-20.

Leipzig consequently head into their quarter-final against Atletico on Thursday without their most potent attacking weapon, but Nagelsmann believes they can still do damage at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

"We don't have to play outnumbered, we will replace [Werner] with a capable player," Nagelsmann told a pre-match news conference.

"I can reveal that 11 will start the game, but I will not reveal who will play instead of him. We have quality.

"Timo would have started tomorrow, but we can replace him and we have the ability to get in front of their goal.

"We have players who didn't play when Werner was here and will now get their chance to show what they can do and score plenty."

Nagelsmann's attacking options could be further limited by Patrik Schick being on the way back from a knee injury, while Marcel Halstenberg has been dealing with a back problem.

"We'll see how they are doing. On Friday they were good; we'll see if they can start and play 90, or if they'll start on the bench," said Nagelsmann.

"If they can play 90 minutes, if they're at 100 per cent is a question for all my players, though, and we'll see that tomorrow."

Atleti have been regulars in the latter stages of the Champions League under Diego Simeone but Nagelsmann feels the fact remaining matches will be played as one-offs rather than over two legs makes up for Leipzig's inexperience in European competition.

"We'll look to play our game, we're focused on ourselves," said the Leipzig boss.

"We know that they have a lot of experience over two legs - but anything can happen in just one game as opposed to two legs. Atleti don't have experience in one-off games, just as we don't in this new Champions League format.

"They're physical, they have a really strong centre-back in the shape of [Jose] Gimenez and [Stefan] Savic next to him. We obviously want to look get down the sides and move the ball out wide and try and find gaps in their backline; we won't change our style.

"There's pressure and nerves. But we want to relax the players and not increase the pressure ahead. There's always tension. We've spoken through different scenarios - if we score, if they score.

"We're focused on the game, it'll be exciting and we want to make the first step and take the lead. We will be ready."

Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Bidvest Wits side in a PSL match which was played in Soweto, Johannesburg on Wednesday night.

Coach Ernst Middendorp surprisingly named Nkosingphile Ngcobo in the starting line-up as the 20-year-old sensation is filling the void left by George Maluleka, who recently left Amakhosi for Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ngcobo started alongside Willard Katsande in midfield with the latter making his return from an injury having missed Chiefs' defeat to AmaZulu FC in March, which was the log leaders' last competitive match.

On the other hand, coach Gavin Hunt was forced to make changes with Buhle Mkhwanazi (injury) and Sifiso Hlanti (suspension) missing following the Students' defeat to Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup clash last weekend.

They were replaced by debutant Keenan Phillips and Zitha Macheke in the starting line-up, while Brighton Mhlongo, who was criticized after making goalkeeping errors against Sundowns, was replaced by Ricardo Goss in goal.

Chiefs got off to a promising start with their leading marksman Samir Nurkovic looking lively as he placed his header wide of the target from close range, before forcing Goss into a magnificent finger-tipping save with pressure mounting on the away side's defence. 

Middendorp's men were dominating aerial battles with the Clever Boys missing their towering central defender Mkhwanazi and they were conceding many set-pieces and corner-kicks.

Nurkovic got the goal he had been searching for when he headed home Lebogang Manyama's corner-kick to make it 1-0 to Chiefs in the 36th minute with the latter registering his ninth assist of the season which is the most in the league.

The 28-year-old Nurkovic continued to torment the visitors' defence and he had a chance to double the Glamour Boys' lead after Wits were exposed at the back, but he placed his low shot wide of the target and Hunt's men survived a scare.

The Clever Boys came close to levelling matters just before the half-time break when Cole Alexander's goal-bound shot was blocked on the goal-line by Kgotso Moleko and Chiefs were leading 1-0 at the interval.

A lively second half followed with Hunt having introduced Bienvenu Eva Nga and the Cameroonian centre forward tried to make an immediate impact, but he was brilliantly denied by Daniel Akpeyi in Chiefs' goal.

The hosts were not prepared to sit back and defend their slender lead as they pushed forward in numbers and Castro burst into the box and unleashed a low shot which was well-saved by former South Africa under-23 international Goss.

The Clever Boys upped the tempo after the hour mark as they looked to restore parity and Middendorp decided to introduce defensive-minded Njabulo Blom as the home side then looked to contain Hunt's men.

Wits pushed forward in numbers, but they were left vulnerable at the back and they nearly conceded when Nurkovic's curling effort hit the crossbar with Goss well-beaten in the closing stages of the encounter.

Chiefs were then caught napping at the other end and they were punished by Alexander, who scored a late equalizing goal from close range to ensure that the match ended in a 1-1 draw on the night.

The draw saw Chiefs remain at the top of the league standings - four points above second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, while Wits moved up to fifth spot on the table.

Yanga SC have revealed they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) regarding the decision by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to clear their former player Bernard Morrison to play for their bitter rivals Simba SC.

The Ghanaian was sued by the 27-time league champions for breach of contract by signing for the newly crowned Tanzania Mainland Champions while, allegedly, still contracted to them.

However, on Thursday, August 12, the Federation ruled the striker is free to play for Wekundu wa Msimbazi but will have to refund the Jangwani Street-based side $25,000 to be fully cleared and be allowed to turn out for his new side.

"Yanga management is not satisfied with the ruling made by TFF regarding Bernard Morrison," Timu ya Wananchi said in a statement obtained by Goal.

"It is for this reason, the management has decided to appeal the same in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) immediately the ruling from TFF is made available to the club.

"The management is urging all the members and supporters to be calm and continue working hand in hand with the team's leadership regarding the development of the club.

"The club will continue working with the sponsors to ensure the club grows."

After getting signed by the Msimbazi-based side, the striker urged his former team to accept and move on after he signed for their rivals on Saturday.

The Ghanaian forward, who has been at loggerheads with the Yanga management, was unveiled as a Simba player on Saturday after he signed a two-year contract with the Mainland Premier League champions.

However, immediately after Simba made the transfer official, Yanga came out with a statement in which they claimed Morrison was still their player as he still has a running contract with them until 2022, and that his case will be discussed by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) on Monday.

"The leadership of Yanga have seen stories and rumours going round in social media which has unsettled our fans and the followers at large," read the statement from Yanga seen by Goal.

"Yanga is following keenly and closely the transfer revolving around Morrison to Simba and tough disciplinary action will be taken against those who violated the set rules."

Nigeria U15 coach Danladi Nasidi has died at the age of 68, the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed.

According to the country’s football ruling body, Nasidi passed on Wednesday morning and has been buried according to Islamic rites.

Born on January 1, 1952, Nasidi was among the elite class of coaches in the country to bag a Caf A coaching licence.

After a brief stint as handler of the Gabonese national team in 1986, he helped his former team Stationery Stores escape relegation in 1994 before taking charge of Niger Tornadoes for several years.

On the international scene, he was Ismaila Mabo’s first assistant coach to the 1999 Fifa Women’s World Cup – where the Super Falcons reached the quarter-final in the United States.

As handler of the Future Eagles, he led the team to a silver medal finish at the 2019 African Games in Algiers.

With condolences pouring in, chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee who doubled as boss of Niger State Football Association Yusuf Ahmed said the deceased served Nigeria passionately and diligently in every role he found himself.

“It is a very sad day for Nigeria football, because Nasidi has been playing a huge role in grassroots development programmes for our football,” said Ahmed.

“He was very passionate about youth football and has moulded our U15 boys into a solid and formidable unit over the years. We will surely miss him.

“He was someone who evinced passion for youth and development every time and everywhere you met him. I am crestfallen. When I started my journey into football administration, Nasidi was one of the coaches who spurred me into investing in grassroots development. His passion was infective.

“I never regretted our relationship and my foray into grassroots development. Late Danladi Nasidi was a good man inwardly and outwardly and while we loved him, God loved him more.

“On behalf of the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria football family, I pray to God to grant late Nasidi eternal rest and also grant all those he has left behind the fortitude to bear the big loss.”

Jadon Sancho has sent a message to Manchester United amid his ongoing transfer saga, insisting that he's happy at Borussia Dortmund and that he loves playing with his youthful team-mates.

Sancho played 45 minutes in Wednesday's friendly against Rheindorf Altach, with Dortmund emerging 6-0 winners over the Austrian side. 

Man Utd are in hot pursuit of the 20-year-old winger, who has emerged as one of Europe's top players since joining Dortmund from Man City in 2017.

Dortmund have continued to stonewall the Red Devils, with the club's sporting director Michael Zorc declaring on Monday that Sancho will stay with the Bundesliga runners-up.

“Jadon Sancho will play with us next season,” Zorc said. “The decision is final. I think that answers all the questions."

United, though, have not given up hope despite Dortmund sticking to their €120 million (£108m/$142m) asking price for the England star.

Sancho did appear to have a message for United on Wednesday, however, as he underlined his happiness at his current club.

"I love playing with this lot," Sancho told BVB-TV. "It is a special bunch. We've got some special young players coming up. I am really happy to share the pitch with them and guide them.

"I was once in their shoes, playing with the seniors. I am happy for them."

Despite being only 20, Sancho has said he is beginning to take on a leadership role in a squad that will utilise a number of teenagers, including 17-year-olds Gio Reyna and Jude Bellingham.

"I joined [Dortmund] when I was 17," Sancho said. "Some of the lads are the same age. I've been there and done that. I can guide them in what’s good and what isn’t. I can hopefully motivate them as well."

Bellingham paid tribute to Sancho on Tuesday in a Q&A on Dortmund's Twitter account, saying his fellow Englishman has helped him settle in after a €25m (£23m/$29m) off-season move from Birmingham.

"Jadon has been very helpful for me, not only is he great to play with but he always makes sure I understand what information the coaches are giving to us," Bellingham said.

Bellingham and Reyna both started in the friendly against Altach, with Reyna scoring the first goal. Erling Haaland netted a brace, with Thorgan Hazard, Emre Can and Julian Brandt also scoring.

Idrissa Gueye will start for Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Ebrima Colley’s Atalanta.

The French side must beat the Italians to reach the competition’s last four, and manager Thomas Tuchel will be relying on the combo of Gueye, Ander Herrera and Marquinhos to hold sway in the Parisians’ midfield.

Meanwhile, Cameroon international Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will be starting the encounter billed for Estadio da Luz as a substitute.

Gambia international midfielder Colley did not make Gian Piero Gasperini’s starting XI and he is expected to make a substitute appearance as the Goddess eye a place in the Champions League semis.

Gasperini made two changes from the Atalanta side which was beaten by Inter Milan in their final Serie A game of the season, with goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who suffered an injury last time out, and right wing-back Timothy Castagne dropping out.

Winners of this tie will tackle either RB Leipzig or Thomas Partey's Atletico Madrid for a place in the final that will be played on August 23 in Lisbon.

Arda Turan has said his former team-mate Lionel Messi is superior to Cristiano Ronado, hailing the Argentine's all-round game. 

The Barcelona and Juventus stars have defined their era of football, establishing themselves as the two best players in the world over the last decade-plus. 

Messi has taken home six Ballons d'Or while Ronaldo has five, with Luka Modric in 2018 the only player to have won the award other than Messi or Ronaldo since 2008.

Turan got an up-close look at Messi during his three seasons at Barcelona, whom he joined in 2015 after four seasons with Atletico Madrid. 

During his time in Catalonia, Turan teamed up with Messi to win La Liga once and the Copa del Rey twice. Having had the chance to play alongside the Argentine superstar, Turan has voiced his opinion that Messi's all-around game make him a better player than Ronaldo.

"Messi is present in every moment of football. He can dictate the game in every aspect," Turan told beIN Sports Turkey.

"There's nothing bad to say about Ronaldo but he's a goalscorer, albeit a very special one. Messi does everything in this game. He does things you can't even imagine to do. His intelligence, his vision, his passing are all much different. And every person I have talked to about this agrees with me.

"Except the people who are close to Ronaldo, his team-mates, who say it's Ronaldo as they answer politically. Ronaldo is my friend and it's not my place to question his quality. But I think Messi is better."

Turan recently returned to his childhood club Galatasaray after a spell with Istanbul Basaksehir. The 33-year-old admitted it was emotional for him to come back to a club he initially departed in 2011.

"Emotions are very deep," Turan said. "Now is not the time to comment and talk too much. It's time for me to get on the field and fight. I would like to thank Mr. Mustafa Cengiz and members of the board of directors.

"I hope everything will be good: the most beautiful days, successful days again both in Turkey and in Europe. I miss the fans very much. I am waiting for the day I will meet with them. I hope to see you as soon as possible."

Rennes president Nicolas Holveck has admitted he wishes the French club can be paired with Real Madrid during the 2020-21 season which will give teenage sensation Eduardo Camavinga the opportunity to play against them.

The 17-year-old has been one of the most-talked-about transfer subjects all summer with reported interest from Los Blancos, but Holveck has insisted no offer has been tabled for the player and believes Camavinga is committed to staying with the Red and Blacks.

The Brittany outfit is going to be among Europe’s elite for the first time in their history having finished in third place during the 2019-20 Ligue 1 campaign.

“The pursuit of Eduardo Camavinga started for a very long time. We already knew where we wanted to go,” Holveck said.

“I think that for him it is a huge satisfaction to play in this competition [Champions League], but what is certain is that he will spend the season with us.

“Which opponent I want in the group stage? Why not Real Madrid, whom I have never met?”

As much was Rennes want to keep their key players, Holveck has also acknowledged some recruitments need to be made if they are going to have a strong outing in the Champions League. Franco-Guinean and Amiens striker Serhou Guirassy, as well as Anglo-Nigerian and Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori, are some of the reported targets.

"The transfer window is not going to be oriented differently. We already had well-defined targets,” Holveck continued.

“We still have three positions [two central defenders and a striker] to fill. I said that 'in the event of qualification in the Champions League we could further expand the workforce. We could possibly recruit some additional staff and expand the workforce for the Champions League.

"Guirassy and Tomori? In any case, these are positions that must be filled. These are positions that we are looking to fill with Florian Maurice. We are looking to compose a well-balanced team.

“If Rennes is there, it is because there is a well-built and balanced team, with strong points everywhere, and we are going looking to improve that, and that will not be done with a big name for sure, but rather with very good players."

Diego Simeone says Atletico Madrid's famous victory over Liverpool will count for nothing when they face RB Leipzig for a place in the Champions League semi-finals.

The Spanish side knocked out the holders with a 4-2 aggregate victory after extra-time in the last round and have been handed a favourable tie against last-eight debutants Leipzig.

However, five months have passed since the second-leg triumph at Anfield and Simeone insists that match will have little relevance on what happens in Lisbon on Thursday.

"That win is not a reference. Many months have gone and the enthusiasm died down during our time in quarantine," he said at a news conference on Wednesday.

"The Liverpool game will remain a part of our history and was very important for Atletico de Madrid, but it was very long ago and another path begins tomorrow."

Leipzig, led by impressive young coach Julian Nagelsmann, finished third in the Bundesliga this term and saw off Tottenham 4-0 in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Nagelsmann said on Tuesday he is eager to avoid a touchline confrontation with fiery Simeone but the Atleti boss chose not to directly reply to those comments.

"I do not respond to opinions of colleagues. I have nothing to comment," he said. "Tomorrow we play a very important game, against a young coach who is doing a fantastic job.

"They play very well and try to get the ball forward. They're a great team and the numbers show it. They finished third in Germany and have won the same number of games as us.

"I have a lot of respect for them and know that it winning is not just important but the only thing that there is."

Influential attacker Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko are not part of Atleti's squad for the one-legged tie with Leipzig after returning positive coronavirus tests.

But while Simeone is ruing the loss of those players, he has his eyes firmly set on a third final appearance in six years with Atletico.

"Angel is important to us and being without Sime, who has fought hard to be back, also hurts," he said.

"We have lost two very important men from the heart of the squad, but we hope to have them later and we have to move on. We have to adapt to the circumstances."

Former Hearts of Oak captain Yaw Amankwah Mireku believes management need to up their game in handling contract negotiations with players.

Last week, the Phobians announced five first-team players had exited the club over their refusal to extend their expired deals.

Benjamin Agyare, Christopher Bonney, Bernard Arthur and Abubakar Troare were among the departed men but it is the exit of star forward Joseph Esso that has generated the most controversy.

''[Hearts] management can't be solely blamed for free players' exit," former Ghana international Mireku, who won the Caf Champions League with Hearts in 2000, the Caf Super Cup in 2001 and the Caf Confederation Cup in 2004, told Nkunim FM.

"Sometimes the players decide against extensions but professionally I think management should always start early negotiations with the players if they need them.

''Some of the players are ungrateful because players like [Vincent] Atinga, [Kwame] Kizito, [Patrick] Razak and co. [who similarly left the club under similar situations] were all from nowhere but Hearts of Oak gave them the platform but later they stood against extensions and left for free.

''But sometimes too when players from nowhere join a team, they are sometimes treated badly and when it's time for extension, the player also considers how he was received or treated to decide his future.

''So it's better for Hearts of Oak to check how they treat players, especially those from nowhere.''

Latest media speculations say Esso could be making a sensational return to the Accra-based side as some bigwigs at the club are unhappy by his departure.

Meanwhile, Razak, who left Hearts for Guinean outfit Horoya in 2018, has also been linked with an imminent return after a largely unsuccessful spell away.

He revealed he is open to re-joining the Phobians.

“I have not talk to Hearts of Oak but I don’t know whether they have contacted my management," the winger has told Bryt FM.

"For now, everything is up to my management because I am a player and can’t go into any negotiation. What I heard is that they are now going to sit down with me.

“I don’t have any problem with the club so if things go right I will happily join them."

Hearts have won the Ghana Premier League (GPL) on 19 occasions. 

Azam FC have continued with their transfer activities after unveiling Emmanuel Charles on Wednesday.

The former Mbao FC left-back was unveiled at Chamazi after passing medical and agreeing to pen a two-year contract.

The ‘Ice Cream Makers’ have confirmed the signing on their social media pages by stating: “We are pleased to add Charles into our playing unit after he passed his medical and agreed personal terms to play for us for the next two seasons.

“The arrival of Charles is aimed at strengthening our defence and his signing was recommended by our technical bench led by head coach Aristica Cioba.

“Charles enjoyed a good spell of action while turning for Mbao last season and was able to create three goals and score two goals, and we believe he arrives with the experience to help this great team achieve their targets for the new season.

“We will conclude our signings after we had two more foreign players.”

The arrivial of Charles brings to six the number of players already signed by Azam including former Gor Mahia keeper David Kissu Mapigano, Awesu Awesu, Ally Niyonzima, Ismail Aziz and Ayoub Lyanga.

On Tuesday, Azam were also boosted with news speedy winger Salum ‘Sure Boy’ Abubakar had committed to the club despite interest from Young Africans (Yanga SC).

“I am back now, I had an injury but am feeling better now, and I want to tell my fans, I have decided to stay at Azam, and will not leave so the fans should know, I have made the decision to stay,” Abubakar told reporters on Tuesday.

“I will maintain my style of play, I don’t have any problems because I have made the decision to stay, so I am committed to Azam and the fans should be ready to support us as we get ready to win trophies for them in the new campaign.”

The Chamazi-based club will be keen to make a good mark in the coming season after they ended the 2019-20 campaign without silverware.

The ‘Ice-Cream Makers’ did not enjoy as good a season as they had anticipated at the beginning of the campaign, as they managed to finish third in the league with 70 points, 18 fewer than winners Simba SC, and two behind second-placed Yanga SC. They managed to get 20 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats.

The team also failed to retain their FA Cup title to stand a chance of representing the country in the Caf Confederation Cup.