Looking for Soccer News?

U.S. men's national team defender Antonee Robinson has returned to training with Wigan Athletic, having been inactive since January.

The 22-year-old was found to have an irregular heart rhythm as he underwent a medical before an ultimately aborted transfer to AC Milan and was put at rest since then.

Robinson has since undergone further tests from Wigan’s staff and an independent cardiologist and has now been given the all-clear to return to the professional game without the need for further medical intervention.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the last few months, with a special thanks to club doctor Jonathan Tobin, the club’s medical staff and all of the team involved at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital,” he told the Latics’ official website.

“I can’t wait to get back to doing what I love. It has been a challenging time but I have good people around me.

“I am glad to be able to get back to training with the lads and to have the opportunity to play for Wigan Athletic again.”

The left-back began his career with Everton but failed to make an appearance for the Goodison Park side before moving to Wigan, where he spent the 2018-19 season on loan, last summer.

Robinson, who was born in Milton Keynes but has turned out on seven occasions for the USA, the country his father hails from, featured on 30 occasions for Paul Cook’s side this season, scoring a single goal against Millwall. 

Wigan face a nervous end to their Championship season as they lie 20th in the standings, just a single place above the relegation zone. Indeed, Hull City, who are locked on 41 points with them, are only behind them due to an inferior goal difference.

Play will resume in England’s second-tier following the coronavirus outbreak on Saturday, June 20, with nine matches of the campaign to be played over the course of 32 days.

Wigan’s quest for survival restarts with a trip to Huddersfield before home encounters against Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, who are one of their rivals in the relegation dogfight.

Hellas Verona midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has expressed fulfilment with his achievements while representing Ghana at various levels. 

Nearing the twilight of his career, the 29-year-old first represented the West Africans at youth level where he helped them win the 2009 Africa U20 Cup of Nations and Fifa U20 World Cup. 

He also played for Ghana's senior team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, four years after helping the team reach the Afcon final in Angola. 

He has, however, been in the international wilderness for over three years. 

“I need to concentrate on playing games now due to my long spell out [because of a recent injury] . It’s everyone’s dream to represent their country," Badu told Citi Sports.

“But to be frank I’ve played for the Black Stars for close to 10 years. I’ve won both the U20 Afcon and World Cup.

“I’ve played five Afcons, twice as a finalist and three times as a semi-finalist, and also played at the Fifa World Cup.

“I’ve played 86 times for my country and scored 11 goals, one of which was nominated for the Puskas Award.

“So if I don’t get a call up to the national team again, I’m still very proud of myself."

Badu is currently on loan at Hellas from Udinese, who secured his services in 2010.

"I think I need a challenge elsewhere before i can call time on my career," said the former Bursaspor man. 

“I've been here [in Italy] for long and played in the Champions League and Europa League with Udinese.

“I have also managed to help the club achieve third and fourth places on the league log.

“It's not easy to be able to do that in Serie A.

“I have also had a spell in Turkey which was good even though I had injuries and had to come back.

“For now I just want to concentrate on my game and on helping Hellas Verona.

“When that’s done and all parties sit and the offer is good, why not? I’ll accept the challenge.”

Badu played for Berekum Arsenal and Asante Kotoko in Ghana before moving abroad.

Call of Duty: Warzone has quickly become one of the top-played games in the weeks since its release, with over 60 million players to date.

This free-to-play title features dynamic and frantic battle royale and Plunder gameplay with up to 150 players on the largest Call of Duty battleground ever.

Warzone now has solos, duos, trios, quads and plunder quads all at once. That still leaves plenty of choice for those who can't settle on just one battlefield buddy.

Download Call Of Duty: Warzone

The game features two main factions of the Operators: the Coalition and the Allegiance. Both factions include a variety of Operators to choose from. The Coalition is a multinational alliance that consists of operators from SAS, Warcom and Demon Dogs, while the Allegiance is made up of the remnants of the Russian Forces in Urzikstan, foreign mercenaries and rogue NATO soldiers.

And while the Operators are getting famous among the gamers, Goal.com has teamed up with Call of Duty to make the "Coalition vs Allegiance" ultimate team. The concept consists on choosing 11 characters from both the Coalition and Allegiance who are featuring in Warzone.

We'll then analyze the specific traits of each character and potential Footballers who fit the mould and resemble well with the character. The audience will be involved by voting for their favorite Operator-Footballer combo to make it feature in the Ultimate team.

For our new poll, we are going to be looking at Golem from the Coalition faction and Grinch from the Allegiance one.

Golem - Hamdallah : Hamdallah is a truly masterful finisher. His expertise in this area saw him score 57 goals with al Nasr during 2019. His positional sense, ability to read the play and movement are his main strengths. Golem is known to be one of the best snipers in Call of Duty. His flair allows him to find the best position in the battle field and take up the right position to create an advantage over his opponents.

Grinch - Gomis : Gomis is known among fans as the "Lion" and he fits his name to perfection. He is clinical in front of goal, and the ways in which he scores goals show that he’s not just a threat in the six-yard box. Grinch would also befit the "Lion" nickname. A bold operator who is merciless with his opponents and always ready to make sacrifices.

Who should feature is the Coalition vs Allegiance utlimate team? vote below

Marcus Rashford has changed his attitude to become a "proper leader" for Manchester United, according to Louis Saha.

England striker Rashford was enjoying the most productive season of his career, with 14 goals and four assists in 22 Premier League appearances, prior to suffering a back injury in January.

It was feared he would miss the rest of the season and Euro 2020 but, with the football calendar having been largely suspended for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rashford is now fully fit to play as United prepare to return to action against Tottenham on June 19.

The 22-year-old has also spent the pause in the season championing charitable causes and engaging with fans on social media, with his most significant work seeing him help FareShare provide three million meals to vulnerable people in the United Kingdom.

Former Red Devils forward Saha thinks there has been a shift in the application of United's younger stars, with Rashford showing the qualities of a future captain.

"Yes, I think the attitude, the drive, the actual consistency, all those things are leadership qualities," Saha told Stats Perform News.

"You said that sometimes it's really hard for a striker to lead and, if you do, you need that. You need those three: consistency, drive, and, of course, talent.

"What is very important is having that dedication to actually look around and grab someone who needs to be grabbed and shout at them. All those things are essential.

"They don't have that platform as much as I had when I was playing. I had Roy Keane, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Rio [Ferdinand], Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, [Paul] Scholes, [Ryan] Giggs, all those players. You could rely on those guys.

"There are definitely four or five players who are very important to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. I would say that, based on [his] record, he is not young anymore, almost because he started really young.

"He's one of the starters for England. And Rashford, as much as we can compare to Anthony [Martial] has done the same.

"The attitude... I'm not saying they had a bad attitude; they had the attitude that was in line with what Manchester United needed at the time.

"Maybe this attitude was okay when you had leaders around like proper players who win trophies and all that, and it was fine. Maybe I was like this at the time, but I had players to do what I can't do. I had to actually evolve and be a leader.

"When I spoke to Scott McTominay, he was young as well, he had to do it. All those players who made that improvement process for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were very important, and I think for Rashford, the introduction of [Harry] Maguire was important to give that kind of confidence aspect.

"That's why you give the platform for Rashford to make the difference all the time because he can do it because his work rate is amazing and that thing he maybe missed in one year because maybe he thought 'I've got my position, I'm respected, I've got my status so I don't need to do this or that'.

"Those things can be a bad sign for those playing behind you. Now you can see he is a proper leader."

Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere has stated the club do not intend to offload Youcef Atal.

The Algeria international has put in some strong performances at left-back which has caught the eye of some suitors.

Chelsea have long been admirers of him as coach Frank Lampard looks to strengthen the left-back position at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan are also rumoured to be in the race to sign him. However, the words of the Nice president could hinder such a move.

"We will not [sign] big names. Our goal is to recruit players who join the project over several years, elements that will help us grow, to be recurrently in the top five," Rivere told Nice-Matin.

"Here, we want to keep our best players.

"There will be departures for sure. We want to build a competitive team, with character. Our needs for specific positions have been identified.

"We want to keep Youcef Atal, and we will keep him."

Atal joined Nice in 2018 and has made 44 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing two assists.

The just-concluded season was a disappointment for him as he battled with a knee problem that required surgery and kept him out since December. He made just 13 Ligue 1 appearances with a goal and two assists.

His goal was in a 2-1 win over Dijon while his assists came in an away win at Rennes and a home draw with Bordeaux.

Patrick Vieira's men finished in fifth spot, eight points short of Europa League qualification.

Born in the Algerian city of Boghni, Atal has represented the Desert Foxes since 2017, making his debut in a 2-1 friendly win over Guinea.

He has earned 18 caps and scored once which came in a 4-1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier victory over Togo.

Atal played four times at the tournament proper in Egypt, providing assists in victories against Kenya and Guinea.

The 24-year-old was an unused substitute in the final, with Algeria seeing off Senegal 1-0 thanks to Baghdad Bounedjah's early strike.

It was the North African nation's second continental title after their maiden triumph in 1990.

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has undergone groin surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the Bundesliga season.

The Spain international has been troubled by injury recently and his contribution has been limited as Bayern have closed in on what would be an eighth successive league title.

Now the club have confirmed Thiago faces a spell out of action as he recovers from his setback.

Head coach Hansi Flick said in a news conference on Friday: "Thiago has had a groin operation. He will be out for three weeks. We decided between us to get it done now. It's possible he will be back for the cup final."

Flick's uncertainty over Thiago's availability for the DFB-Pokal final against Bayer Leverkusen makes sense given that match is scheduled for July 4.

Thiago would be on the point of returning to action by that stage if Bayern's expectation of a three-week absence proves accurate, but he would be lacking match fitness.

The 29-year-old appears certain to miss the league title run-in.

The Bundesliga season finishes on June 27, with Bayern facing Borussia Monchengladbach this Saturday.

Following the completion of the domestic campaign Flick's men will then turn their attention to the Champions League, in which they hold a 3-0 advantage over Chelsea after one leg in the last 16.

Thiago has been a key figure for Bayern this season, featuring in 24 Bundesliga fixtures and scoring three goals.

He featured for 29 minutes of the 2-1 DFB-Pokal semi-final victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, however the recurrence of the injury means he is now a serious doubt for the showpiece game.

Coming off the bench, Thiago looked like a player who has had injury troubles of late, as he appeared very rusty. After his introduction, he lost the ball in dangerous places on a few occasions, and one of those almost led to a goal.

Bayern held on however, as they scored their 128th and 129th goals of the 2019-20 season from just 43 matches in all competitions.

Ivan Perisic and Robert Lewandowski were on target as Bayern reached a third successive DFB-Pokal final, while matching their own goals record set in 1972-73.

Aaron Ramsey has informed Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri that he feels most at home in a No.8 midfield berth, while also singing the praises of “one of the best in history” Cristiano Ronaldo and “unbelievable player” Paulo Dybala.

The Wales international is approaching the end of what has been an eventful debut campaign in Turin. Having been snapped up from Arsenal as a free agent, the 29-year-old has made 24 appearances and recorded four goals in a season disrupted by injury and the coronavirus pandemic.

Ramsey is starting to feel at home in Italian surroundings and believes there is more to come from him if moved out of the playmaking No.10 post that he has often been asked to fill.

Asked by The Athletic whether he feels confident operating a little deeper, the Welshman said: “That’s the position I came here to play and that’s where I feel most comfortable on the pitch. I’ve said it many times over the years. That’s my position. That’s where I play the best football.”

If Ramsey is able to nail down a regular role for Juve then he will get the chance to continue providing ammunition for fearsome frontman Ronaldo – with the Portuguese continuing to set the standards for those around him.

“He’s one of the best players in history and there’s no questioning his commitment to the game and to what he needs to do for himself,” Ramsey said of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. “He’s first into the gym doing all his bits and bobs and then he wants to win every single match on the pitch. All the players do but there’s a real determination every single time.

“He just goes out there and produces week-in, week-out and scores so many goals. So many important goals as well. Hopefully, it can help us achieve our targets this year.”

Juve, who are readying themselves for the completion of another title bid in 2020, will also be looking to the likes of Argentina international Dybala for inspiration over the coming weeks.

Ramsey is a big fan of the South American, saying of a forward that has returned to favour with the Bianconeri after almost being edged through the exits in 2019: “I can just confirm that Dybala is an unbelievable player. He’s very gifted — a team player — and some of the things he’s done in training and some of the games this season has been quite breathtaking.”

Premier League football will return on June 17 after a stretch of three months without a ball being kicked due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Diehard fans will be all too aware that the return of action also means a return of Fantasy Premier League, so it's time to get your team in order before the big restart.

The basic premise remains the same, but a few changes are being implemented for the restart, which take into consideration the extraordinary circumstances in which the season is being finished.

So, how will Fantasy Premier League work when the games kick off again? Goal brings you everything you need to know.

Contents

Unlimited free transfers

FPL managers will be able to make unlimited free transfers without using their wildcard up until the deadline of the first gameweek of the restart.

That means you will be free to totally overhaul your team to optimise it for the final gameweeks of the season, so you can figure out which players are fit and best for the restart period.

As well as that, there will be no price changes on players until after the first gameweek deadline passes.

Who are the top scoring players on FPL?

To help you pick which players you should have in your team, here are the top 10 players on FPL based on current points totals.

Return to top

Gameweek changes

For the remainder of the 2019-20 season, the gameweeks will be understood as 'Gameweek 30+', 'Gameweek 31+' and so on.

Gameweek 30+ will be a double gameweek. It will incorporate two postponed matches from Gameweek 28 (Manchester City vs Arsenal and Aston Villa vs Sheffield United) with the full spread from Gameweek 30.

When are the gameweek deadlines?

Gameweek deadlines are usually set for one hour before the kick-off time of the first fixture of a gameweek. You can see each of the remaining nine gameweek deadlines above.

Return to top

New H2H leagues can be created

Old Head-to-Head leagues have concluded, but new leagues can be created for the final nine gameweeks from GW30+ to GW38+. Classic leagues, however, will continue as normal.

Create a new H2H league on FPL here.

Return to top

Unused chips remain available

FPL organisers have confirmed that any unused chips and Wildcards will remain available until the end of the season.

The Free Hit, Triple Captain and Bench Boost chips will be available for use in GW30+, which is as mentioned a double gameweek.

Wildcards, Free Hit & FPL chips explained

Return to top

Former Chelsea striker Bertrand Traore has described fans of Lyon as "very demanding".

The 24-year-old Burkinabe joined the French outfit in 2017 after four years as a youth and senior player at Stamford Bridge.

Traore has scored 33 goals and contributed 17 assists in 125 competitive outings for Lyon.

"The supporters are very demanding at Lyon as in all the clubs where I have played: Ajax, Chelsea, Vitesse," he told Sidwaya Sport.

"They want their club to win and are unhappy when they are not. And it makes sense in the end.

"I was whistled at times, I know, like other players on the team for that matter. This is life, these are the vagaries of the job. You do with it and you continue to do your job as well as possible.

"In any case, we cannot please everyone even if it feels good for anyone to hear encouragement from their audience rather than whistles. I know where I come from and what I want.

"My goal is always to give the best of myself on a football field, to honour the jersey I wear."

Traore says he has had good and bad times at Lyon, and often had to play different roles which affected his output. He is also disappointed he hasn't been able to win any trophies since arriving at the Groupama Stadium.

"There was good and not so good, for sure. I have often played on a wing, but I have always said it, I feel more comfortable in the axial position," the former Ajax player continued.

"This is also where I made my best matches and had my best statistics with Lyon when we played with Memphis [Depay] or [Nabil} Fekir in an axial position in a diamond pattern.

But it's not just positioning on a field that matters. There is also the animation around, the principle of play, the tactical choices.

"What also upsets me is that I haven't won a trophy yet, because we're playing for that, and Lyon fans deserve to win something for so many years without it. I hope this will change soon for the club."

Traore struggled for form in the abruptly-ended Ligue 1 season, scoring just one goal in 1,251 minutes on the pitch.

This has led to talks of a departure from Lyon, with Newcastle United and La Liga trio Valencia, Sevilla and Real Betis reported to be in interested in him.

The 24-year-old did not comment on the speculation, but did stress he is keen to continue progressing with his career.

"I don't really like to comment on transfer rumours. We know that the transfer window makes people talk and that there are often rumours that come out sometimes just, sometimes completely false," Traore said.

"Lyon is one of the biggest clubs in France, with beautiful infrastructures, and great ambitions even if the season has been very difficult for the club.

"You do not leave a club of this standing overnight without thinking, unless they no longer want you.

"I am 24 years old, I have two years of contract left and I am not on the street. Me, what I want is to continue to grow, to progress, to play football and to cross levels in a sporting project that suits me and in which I am a stakeholder."

Quess Corp has assured that all contractual obligations with East Bengal players will be met.

The Bengaluru-based business service-providing company Quess Corp had stated their intention to end their association with the Kolkata giants East Bengal on May 31, 2020. 

Quess East Bengal FC, a Joint Venture formed between East Bengal and their investors. Quess had 70 per cent stake in the new entity while East Bengal had 30 per cent.

In the company's response to reports that players have been denied their salaries due the contractual situation between the company and the club, Quess Corp stated, “It has come to our notice that there are untoward allegations, most of them unverified, doing the rounds on how players of the football club have been denied their salaries as an outcome of the termination of the agreement between Quess Corp and EBFC.

"We would like to clarify that we are a responsible corporate and our obligations to all will be met. We have been working closely with our representatives in Kolkata to ensure that this transition happens smoothly and with minimal discomfort. The formalities pertaining to the termination of the JV agreement between Quess, QEBFC and EBFC is underway and is expected to be completed soon. While Quess will do everything to protect the value of its shareholders, we will uphold the future of the game and its supporters.”

It was initially a three-year partnership but Quess decided to make an exit after just two years. East Bengal finished second on the league table last season with 23 points from 16 matches and the title was won by their arch-rivals, Mohun Bagan. 

Rwanda international Emery Mvuyekure has confirmed that Orlando Pirates are interested in his services.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper is a free agent after leaving Kenyan Premier League club Tusker FC.

Mvuyekure has disclosed that he is among the three goalkeepers on the Pirates radar after impressing in the preliminary round of selection.

“My manager is handling the process, he is the one who sent the videos to Orlando Pirates," Mvuyekure told Times Sport.

"First, we were seven prospects, now only three – including me – remain on the shortlist.”

The Pirates technical team is said to be analyzing the performance of the three players – using their videos.

The club would then decide on who to invite for final trials and contract negotiations as the Buccaneers look to strengthen their squad ahead of next season.

Mvuyekure is keen to play in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) which is one of the richest leagues on the African continent.

“Playing in the South Africa Premier League would be a great step in my career," he added.

“The last two seasons with Tusker were a great experience, I gave everything for the team.

"There is a possibility of extending the contract, but I first want to pursue the Orlando Pirates chance and see how it goes.”

Pirates currently have Wayne Sandilands, Siyabonga Mpontshane and Joris Delle in their goalkeeping department.

Mvuyekure will be hoping to emulate Olivier Kwizera, who played for Free State Stars in the PSL between 2016 and 2019.

The well-travelled player previously played for La Jeunesse, Police and AS Kigali in Rwanda, before leaving his home country for former Kenyan champions Tusker, who had signed him on a two-year deal.

Mvuyekure received his first call-up to the Rwanda senior national team at the age of 20 in 2010 and he played for Amavubi for the next four years.

He made his return to the national team last year when he was called up ahead of Rwanda's clash with Ivory Coast.

This was a Group H clash against Ivory Coast in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March 2019.

It was also the experienced shot-stopper's first call-up to the Amavubi squad since 2014.

Lionel Messi is eager to be back playing for Barcelona again this weekend after admitting the suspension of football "has made me think".

La Liga was halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Barca two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table after 27 games.

Spain's top flight returned on Thursday behind closed doors as Sevilla defeated Real Betis 2-0, with the leaders set to resume their campaign at Real Mallorca on Saturday.

Messi has described football as "a gift" and is happy at the prospect of playing once more after three months of uncertainty.

"Being away from the game has made me think," he said in an Adidas video.

"I feel like any other player. I just want to play. And to play our game is a gift. To be supported by so many, even more so.

"To be able to inspire others, and be inspired. And maybe the greatest gift of all: to create joy for others.

"So, now the game has returned, I'm ready for its gift again."

Messi is the top scorer in La Liga this season, with 19 goals from 22 appearances, five clear of nearest challenger Karim Benzema.

The 32-year-old also has the most assists, with 12, four ahead of Real Sociedad forward Portu.

The Argentina star is bidding to win his 11th league title with Barca and his 25th club trophy in total.

He has been backed to get the Blaugrana over that line, with Clement Lenglet among those expecting big things from a refreshed superstar.

The French defender has told Mundo Deportivo: “He [Messi] is ready for what is to come.
 
“For players like Messi, Antoine [Griezmann], Busi [Sergio Busquets]… who play all the time - as well as with their national teams - and travel a lot, the lockdown was a good thing. They've been able to rest."

Quique Setien’s side have 11 domestic games left to take in this season, while the 2019-20 Champions League campaign will also be played to a finish at some point – with Barca’s last-16 tie with Napoli in that competition currently locked at 1-1.

Sergio Ramos and Real Madrid are yet to discuss a new contract for Los Blancos' captain, but his agent insists there is no reason for anyone to panic.

Ramos joined Madrid in 2005 from Sevilla and has gone on to become a club icon, amassing almost 650 appearances and winning a host of titles.

Now 34, the Spain international is approaching the twilight of his career, but having played 25 of Madrid's 27 La Liga games prior to the coronavirus hiatus, he is still seen as a key player for Zinedine Zidane.

Ramos' deal expires in just over a year, during the summer of 2021, suggesting his long-term future could potentially lie elsewhere if Madrid opt not to extend their association.

But Ramos' agent – his brother Rene – is convinced both parties want the centre-back to retire at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"Football goes around a lot but there are very good intentions on both sides," the agent told Radio Marca.

"Hopefully he will retire at Real Madrid, it is his ream and I understand that it will be the desire of the club too.

"As of today, we have not spoken about anything but there is no need to be alarmed. The moment the club considers it, we will begin to speak."

Rene was recently quoted as saying his brother would stretch out his career as long as he could in order to play in Madrid's redeveloped Santiago Bernabeu.

He told Onda Cero: "The chewing gum will be stretched as long as we can.

"Playing at the new Bernabeu would be the perfect retirement for him. Physically, he's fine and he's climbing the walls [ahead of La Liga Santander returning]."

Rene has, however, suggested that some did not grasp the meaning of his comments.

"My words were misinterpreted," he added. "What I wanted to say is that he will play until he and the club consider that he is fit to play for Real Madrid."

Ramos and Madrid will resume their 2019-20 La Liga season on Sunday away to Eibar, with Zidane’s side sat two points adrift of Clasico rivals Barcelona in the Spanish top-flight table.

Toni Kroos is reading little into the speculation suggesting that Kylian Mbappe, Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz are transfer targets for Real Madrid, claiming “80 per cent” of rumours prove to be false.

The Blancos are expected to bolster their ranks again when the next window opens.

Zinedine Zidane will be given more money to spend, with the very best talent on the market always of interest to La Liga giants. Raids on Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have been mooted for a trio of exciting young performers with plenty of potential.

Kroos is aware of the gossip but, as a seasoned professional, is turning a deaf ear and will wait with the rest of the world to discover who Real are actually able to add to their star-studded squad.

The World Cup winner told DAZN and Goal: “I don't know what the club wants and what financial expenses are possible.

“The players mentioned are interesting for many clubs because they are young and of good quality, but I've heard so many names in my six years in Madrid that could come and go and 80 per cent of the time things have turned out differently.”

One player who will definitely be on the move in the coming weeks is Kroos’ fellow countryman Mario Gotze. The man who netted the winning goal for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final is to be released by Borussia Dortmund at the end of his contract.

Gozte, who is still just 28 years of age, has suffered a rather humbling fall from grace.

Kroos is reluctant to speculate on what the future could now hold for a player he knows well, saying: “I haven't seen him play at all lately. This is not only because he is used little, but because I watch so little Bundesliga. Therefore I cannot speculate on where he could fit right now.”

Rather than be drawn into debates regarding possible movement in the transfer market, Kroos is eager to keep his focus locked on the present in Madrid.

Zidane’s side are about to return to La Liga action sat two points adrift of Clasico rivals Barcelona in the table, with major silverware still very much in the Blancos’ sights – as they are also waiting on the resumption of Champions League competition and the second leg of a last-16 showdown with Manchester City.

“At Real Madrid there should always be at least one title if we want to speak about a successful season,” said Kroos, who has won a solitary Liga crown and three Champions Leagues during his time in Spain. “Without a title, the season is not automatically bad, but last year was simply not a good one.”

Uganda Cranes forward Farouk Miya believes the current coronavirus pandemic came in as a blessing in disguise.

The 22-year-old joined Turkish side Konyaspor in August 2019 and had an immediate impact, scoring five goals in the 20 games played before sustaining a muscle strain in February this year. The Covid-19 led to the suspension of games and the youngster explains how the absence of games has helped him recover.

"We all did not see this [Covid-19] coming, of course, it affected not just my rhythm but my teammates as well," Miya said as quoted by Football256.

"But for me, as you know I have been nursing a muscle injury so this period has helped me recuperate and since the league resumes this Sunday, I can say I am almost there." 

In the Turkish top-tier, Konyaspor are 14th on the table with 26 points, just a point above the relegation zone. With eight games to go, Konyaspor are targeting maximum points from the remaining matches once the league resumes on June 14, to avoid the axe.

The forward has been a key player for Uganda in recent times and is aiming at helping them once again qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after making it to the last two editions.

"For the Cranes, the target is to qualify for Afcon and am sure all the other players are ready," Miya added. 

On the road to Cameroon, the Johnathan McKinstry-led side were placed in Group B alongside Burkina Faso, Malawi and South Sudan.

Cranes started their campaign with a goalless draw away to Burkina Faso, before defeating Malawi 2-0. They are leading the chase with four points, same with the Stallions.

The West Africa nation defeated South Sudan away 2-1 to add on to the point collected against Uganda.

The Flames of Malawi had started their campaign with a 1-0 vs South Sudan before falling away to Cranes in their second match.

The two top teams will qualify for Africa's elite competition scheduled for next year. South Sudan are the underdogs in the group as compared to other teams who have made several appearances in the competition.

The 2019 edition was held in Egypt where Algeria defeated Senegal by a solitary goal to be crowned.

Real Madrid star Toni Kroos has admitted that his side’s chances of winning the Primera Division hinge on Barcelona slipping up in the closing sprint to the finishing line.

Although Madrid won the most recent Clasico to move to the top of the standings, they immediately ceded that advantage to the Catalans as they suffered a 2-1 loss to Real Betis before the league shut down for three months due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Now the sides are preparing to go back into action, with the two giants slated to recommence on Sunday after the Seville derby – won 2-0 by Sevilla over Betis – marked La Liga’s return on Thursday.

Kroos is aware, however, that if Real are to win their first domestic league crown since 2017, they will need favours from elsewhere.

“We can only hope that Barcelona leave something behind,” he told DAZN and Goal. “We still lack a little bit of consistency, otherwise we would have gone into the coronavirus break as the league leaders. But that’s now happened.”

The World Cup winner believes that there will be an element of luck during this unusual period, which will see Madrid play their 11 league matches in only 35 days.

“It will depend on who has fewer injuries,” the 30-year-old said. “You’ll need every player. The deal that deals best with this unfamiliar situation will ultimately also become the champions.

“The games will show the physical condition of the teams because you can’t simulate that in training, you can only prepare yourself as best you can,” he said. “In the first game, we’ll see where we are.”

Madrid will play their home matches, which in common with all the fixtures in La Liga at present, will be behind closed doors, at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano as the Bernabeu is enjoying a summer facelift. Kroos does not foresee this as a problem, however.

“In my opinion it’s a smart decision,” he said. “Our second team plays there and the stadium is on our training ground. The dimensions of the field are roughly the same as those at the Santiago Bernabeu. If fans can’t come, you don’t have to play in a stadium for 80,000 spectators, especially since you can continue to work there undisturbed.”

Kroos will hope to feature at the Alfredo Di Stefano against Eibar on Sunday as Madrid’s quest to chase down Barca begins. 

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has confirmed that the government has green-lighted PSL teams to return to the training pitches.

The current season has been suspended indefinitely since mid-March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last month, Safa and PSL formed a six-member task team which was given 14 days to come up with possible solutions that will see the resumption of the campaign.

Safa president Danny Jordaan and PSL chairman Irvin Khoza then discussed how football can resume in the country in their meeting with Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize and Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula.

This has since been approved according to a statement that was released by Safa on Friday.

The 16 PSL and 16 National First Division (NFD) clubs must do and submit Covid-19 tests as one of the key regulations that have to be met. 

"According to Government Gazette promulgated by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture on 11 June 2020 under the Disaster Management Act of 2002, football can resume training after complying with the regulations."

"These regulations entail among others that all teams need to test for Covid-19 and chronic medical conditions (As stipulated in the Football return to training protocol adopted by the Safa Joint Liaison Committee (JLC) and results must be sent to the Compliance Officer."

"Disinfection of the training venue is mandatory, so is the daily screening of COVID-19 symptoms for all those involved."

"All teams are encouraged to undertake strict hand and respiratory hygiene and have a consulting Doctor at all times as stipulated in the return to football protocol adopted by JLC."

"There should be continuous education about Covid-19 and the Federation must appoint a compliance officer in writing," a statement read.

The PSL season was halted with Kaizer Chiefs sitting at the top of the league standings - four points above second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand.

While Ajax Cape Town looked set to win the NFD title when the season was suspended as they are placed at the top of the NFD standings - seven points above second-placed Moroka Swallows.

The Nedbank Cup semi-finals are also expected to take place when football resumptions.

Nantes have confirmed the signing of midfielder Pedro Chirivella, who will depart Liverpool after seven years at Anfield.

Chirivella has signed a three-year deal with the French club, where he will wear the No. 5.

The news comes as Chirivella nears the expiration of his contract at Anfield, as he heads to Ligue 1 on a free transfer.

He was offered a new five-year deal by Liverpool, Goal confirmed in May, but the 23-year-old opted to join Nantes in search of first-team football.

Chirivella departs on good terms, though, having impressed in recent appearances in cup competitions as he sealed a return to the club's first team this season. 

The midfielder, who also drew interest from Rangers in recent weeks, came off the bench in September's Carabao Cup clash with MK Dons to make his first senior appearance for Liverpool in nearly three-and-a-half years.

However, his return to the senior side wasn't without controversy, as it later emerged that the 23-year-old midfielder was not eligible to feature in the tie as he did not have international clearance, leading to a fine for Liverpool.

He went on to make four additional cup competitions throughout the 2019-20 season, doubling his career total of appearances for the senior team, having played five times in 2015-16.

Chirivella made his Premier League debut during that 2015-16 campaign in what would prove to be his only league appearance for the Reds.

The midfielder also featured in one Europa League match, as he made his senior debut under Brendan Rodgers against Bourdeaux in 2015. 

Throughout his time with the Reds, Chirivella departed the club for three loan spells, joining Willem II, Go Ahead Eagles and Extremadura.

It was with Willem II that he made his most profound impact, as he appeared in a total of 35 matches for the Eredivisie side.

This season, Chirivella has primarily featured for Liverpool's U-23s, scoring one goal while providing two assists in 12 games.

The Spanish midfielder represented his country up to a U-17 level and originally came up through Valencia's academy prior to joining Liverpool in 2013.

He'll join a Nantes team that finished the Ligue 1 season in 13th, as the French league opted to end the 2019-20 campaign in April due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Arjen Robben has hinted he could make a return to football but has ruled out playing for Bayern Munich again.

The 36-year-old retired from the game at the end of last season, having enjoyed an illustrious career that took him from boyhood club Groningen to PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern.

The Netherlands icon has been training with the Bavarian giants this week to maintain his fitness levels, but he says there is no chance of him playing for the club again.

"I have to disappoint you. My comeback at Bayern is a hundred percent impossible," he told Sport1.

Asked if he could start playing again, he said: "You never know. I don't want to say yes or no now.

"For me and my family, the move to Holland is due at the end of the month. We'll see everything else. In any case, I will always stay connected to Bayern.

"I train two to three times a week with head of fitness Dr. Holger Broich and I would like to continue doing so. We do runs, sprints and also work with the ball. I really enjoy it and I want to stay fit. I am very grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to do this training. In the past few months, however, I have always been seen at Bayern's training centre.

"My fitness levels are very good. Staying fit after retirement is very important to me. I also wanted to run a marathon this year, which unfortunately did not work due to the coronavirus crisis. As far as I can tell, I haven't put on weight yet. So everything is fine with me.

"I feel very good at the moment. I also notice clearly that pressure has dropped from me.

"There are days when I train very intensively in my free time. If it starts to hurt in the body, I give myself a break and only train again when I am free of pain. This is definitely a difference from my playing career."

Robben was asked if he had any advice for 19-year-old compatriot Joshua Zirkzee, who has impressed for the Bayern first-team this term, scoring three times in seven Bundesliga appearances.

"He and all the other talents at Bayern should never be satisfied with themselves," Robben said. "Joshua has to want to improve every day, set a new goal every day and never be fed up.

"It is also important that he reflects on his performance again and again. The fact that he was always in the squad recently shows that Hansi Flick is satisfied with his development, but it will be very important that he plays regularly. I wish Joshua only the very best for the future."

Manchester United and Real Madrid were both interested in signing Rayan Cherki before he committed to a professional contract with Lyon, president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed.

Cherki is considered one of the great rising stars in Ligue 1, and although he featured only on 12 occasions last season, he netted three goals to become the club’s youngest ever scorer and set up two more, catching the eye with his flair and confidence.

Even before he debuted for Lyon against Dijon last autumn, though, his talent had caused ripples across Europe and Aulas claims that two of the biggest clubs in the world were seeking to sign the 16-year-old prodigy.

“He’s undoubtedly a player who will go to the highest level,” Aulas told Telefoot. “That’s why we did everything we could to sign him. 

“The two clubs that were interested when we won his faith were Real Madrid and Manchester United.

“We want him to succeed with Lyon. We want to support him and that’s why we’re trying to move his career on. In years to come, we want him to become not only a leader for our attack, but a leader from the academy.”

Meanwhile, OL are faced the prospect of losing another of their youth products this summer, with Houssem Aouar linked with a potential move to Manchester City or Juventus.

Aulas, however, has given an update on the creative midfielder’s status and says there is nothing to report as yet.

“For the moment, we’ve not had any proposals or even a request for any information on him, but I know that many clubs could be interested in him,” he said.

“In any case, our preference is to keep him and we will do everything to achieve that. The second option is that it’s up to him where he wants to play. When players have left in the past, we’ve always favoured the place and the club where they wanted to go.”

Lyon face a summer of uncertainty, with Memphis Depay’s contract up next summer, while their only route into Europe next season is by winning the Champions League following a seventh placed finish in the aborted Ligue 1 campaign.

They hold a 1-0 advantage over Juventus after the first leg of their last-16 tie in the European competition.