M´Vila unlikely to face England

Manchester United midfielder Memphis Depay admits he has been p***** off at being repeatedly left on the bench by Louis van Gaal this season.

The Netherlands international  signed from PSV ahead of the 2015-16 season endured a frustrating first campaign at Old Trafford, making just 16 Premier League starts.

Depay made a further 13 appearances from the bench, but he is determined to force his way into United s first-choice XI next season, likely under the leadership of Jose Mourinho who is expected to replace Van Gaal.

It s not been a bad year, but it s not been a good year, he told Unscriptd. It s been right there in the middle.

I have more expectations from myself and the fans as well, that s normal.

It s been new for me, this season, to pl…

Olympique de Marseille are having a difficult season. After reaching Europa League final and splashing a lot of money in the transfer market, things are not rosy for them this year. However, Marseille could still get into the fourth place which would get them into Champions League play-off this coming summer. If that happens, then Florian Thauvin could actually be on the go.

The 26-year-old Frenchman looks set to leave Marseille at the end of the season, as there is growing interest from AC Milan and Inter Milan. According to France Football, Thauvin is in talks with his current club over a summer departure and in that case Italy looks like a realistic destination.

The Milan clubs might not be the only ones trying to lure him away, as Napoli could be also in th…

Marco Polo Del Nero has returned to his full capacity as president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) following a second leave of absence.

Del Nero, who succeeded Jose Maria Marin in the role in April 2014, was indicted by United States officials in November last year as part of the probe into corruption within FIFA.

After returning from a month-long leave of absence in January, the 74-year-old again stepped aside and Antonio Carlos Nunes de Lima took temporary charge.

The CBF made no official announcement, but confirmed to Omnisport Del Nero who resigned as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee in November returned to the helm of the organisation and resumed his normal activities last Thursday.

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Manchester City s Kevin De Bruyne maintained his record of starting every Premier League game in 2017-18 despite fears over his fitness following a horror challenge from Crystal Palace s Jason Puncheon.

The Belgium playmaker was named in City s XI to host Watford on Tuesday, just three days after being carried from the Selhurst Park pitch on a stretcher having been felled by Puncheon s rash lunge.

De Bruyne was initially taken off with his leg in a brace but was later seen hobbling down the touchline with the support of City s medical staff.

In the aftermath of that 0-0 draw, Pep Guardiola urged the need for referees to protect the players, and the Catalan will have been relieved to be able to select De Bruyne in his side to face the Hornets at the Etihad Sta…

Turkish international Nuri Sahin says he felt very nervous ahead of his Borussia Dortmund comeback in a friendly match against Mainz.

Sahin capped his return to the club with a full 45 minutes on Sunday as Dortmund beat Mainz 5-4 on penalties in the final of the Winter Cup.

The 24-year-old departed the Bundesliga for Real Madrid in the summer of 2011, signing a six-year contract.

However, he returned to the German champions in January on an 18-month loan, with the option of a permanent deal after failing to secure regular first-team action at Liverpool, following his loan move from Madrid at the start of the season.

I was really nervous ahead of the match against Mainz, Sahin told Bild.

That s pretty unusual for me to be honest.

It rem…

The lawyer of Gianluigi Buffon has dismissed the suggestion that the Italy captain is guilty of illegal gambling.

According to a document produced by the country s financial law enforcement agency on Thursday, the Juventus goalkeeper made out 14 cheques, worth approximately 1.5 million euros, to a Parma betting shop over a nine-month period.

But Buffon s lawyer Marco Valerio Corini said that one of the payments Buffon made to the owner of the tobacconist was for 20 Rolex watches.

As a member of the Italian Football Federation, Buffon is forbidden from gambling on any games sanctioned by the FIGC, FIFA or UEFA, but Corini has stated that there is absolutely no evidence that his client placed bets of any variety.

The most significant bank transfer, dating…

Bournemouth have completed the signing of versatile midfielder Marcus Tavernier from Middlesbrough ahead of their Premier League return.

Tavernier follows Ryan Fredericks and Joe Rothwell in joining Bournemouth, who begin their campaign at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

The 23-year-old, who made 155 appearances for Boro, has signed a five-year deal at the Vitality Stadium for a reported upfront fee of £10million.

Bournemouth confirmed the transfer on their website on Monday and chief executive Neill Blake said: He was one of the standout performers in the Championship last season.

He has a great pedigree, tremendous energy and is a versatile young player who can play a number of different positions.

Marcus was attracting a great deal of inter…

Paris Saint-Germain s Champions League clash with Istanbul Basaksehir will resume on Wednesday after Tuesday s meeting was abandoned following allegations of racism against the fourth official. 

The game was initially stopped after 13 minutes at Parc des Princes, with both sets of players gathering on the sidelines for more than 10 minutes

Basaksehir substitute Demba Ba remonstrated with fourth official Sebastian Coltescu, saying: You never said this white guy . Why, when you mention a black guy, do you have to say this black guy ?

Basaksehir s players then walked down the tunnel, where they were followed by PSG s players and the match officials.

NO  

— Presnel Kimpembe (@kimpembe_3)

UEFA issued a statement during the delay stating b…

In a League Cup semi-final full of controversy, Branislav Ivanovic s header sent Chelsea to Wembley with a 2-1 aggregate win over Liverpool.

Branislav Ivanovic s thumping extra-time header sealed Chelsea s spot in the League Cup final after an incident-packed 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Neither side could be separated after 90 pulsating minutes in the semi-final second leg before Ivanovic leapt highest to meet Willian s free-kick in the 94th minute to wrap up a 2-1 aggregate win and a trip to Wembley in March.

However, the match was noteworthy for a series of flashpoints involving Diego Costa, including a stamping incident in each half on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel.

The Spain international was at the heart of more contentio…

Veteran striker Antonio Di Natale will bring the curtain down on an 11-year association with Udinese at the end of the season.

Antonio Di Natale has confirmed he will leave Udinese at the end of the season after 11 years with the Serie A outfit.

Since moving to the Stadio Friuli in 2004 the veteran striker has become one of Italy s top marksmen with 184 league goals for the club.

He became one of a select group in November when he notched up the 200th Serie A goal of his career, Di Natale firing Udinese into a lead against Chievo to reach the milestone in what was his 400th league appearance.

His domestic form has earned him 42 Italy caps and plenty of admirers around Europe  including Liverpool and Milan  but he has remained loyal to Udinese.

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