Zenit´s Alves plays down Juve link

Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard wants to stay at Stamford Bridge, but will not make a final decision on his club future until after Euro 2016.

The 25-year-old endured a difficult season in 2015-16, making 25 Premier League starts and scoring only four goals having netted 14 in 38 during the 2014-15 campaign.

And recent speculation has suggested that he may be poised to end his four-year stint at the club, with former boss Jose Mourinho reportedly interested in taking him to Manchester United.

Hazard, however, appears keen to stay put and confirmed that he has already briefly talked to incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, with the two set to meet in person on June 13 when Belgium take on Italy in their Group E opener. 

We spoke together a lit…

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is eager to welcomed back Mauro Boselli after his season-long loan at former club Estudiantes.

The 27-year-old cost Wigan six million pounds in 2010 but scored only one goal for the club, against Swansea City in the Carling Cup, before spending time on loan at Genoa and then back at his old side.

The Argentina international joined Wigan after scoring 32 goals in 57 games in his first spell at Estudiantes, but has struggled to settle in England. The Spaniard feels that he will be able to adjust at the second attempt, however.

Martinez told the Wigan Evening Post: Mauro will be joining us next Monday, and we are all very excited about that.

He has just had a very challenging season at Estudiantes, where it was extremely diff…

Milan Skriniar understands Inter s decision to part company with Luciano Spalletti and believes his side will challenge to win Serie A under replacement Antonio Conte next season.

A fourth-place finish in 2018-19 was not enough to keep Spalletti in the job as Inter turned to former Juventus boss Conte.

The 49-year-old won three league titles in as many seasons with Juve, prior to experiencing mixed success with the Italy national side and Chelsea.

Skriniar admits Inter must improve on last season, when they held off AC Milan and Roma on the final day to claim a Champions League spot, and he hopes a change of coach brings a change in mentality.

Spalletti is a great person and a great coach, but the club made its decision, he told Sport Mediaset.  Now the…

Eden Hazard and Real Madrid are the perfect fit, according to Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez.

Hazard joined Madrid from Premier League side Chelsea on a five-year deal last week for a fee that could reportedly rise to €140million.

The Belgium star will lead Zinedine Zidane s squad overhaul as the LaLiga giants look to bounce back from their third-place finish in 2018-19.

And Martinez believes Hazard and Madrid fit perfectly together as Belgium prepare for Tuesday s Euro 2020 qualifier against Scotland.

 times thank you  

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils)

For Real Madrid, they are getting a phenomenal footballer and for Eden, there couldn t have been too many new chapters in his career, Martinez said.

He always sai…

Bayern Munich could wrap up the Bundesliga title this weekend, but will be relying on Wolfsburg failing to beat Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday.

The defending champions are 12 points clear at the summit with five matches left to play, so simply need to better Wolfsburg s result to be sure of retaining their crown.

Bayern host Hertha Berlin on Saturday on the back of a thumping 6-1 win over Porto in midweek, which sent them into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League as 7-4 aggregate victors.

And Guardiola s men will be confident of keeping their end of the bargain, having won their last 10 meetings with Hertha including an away game last March that saw them seal the 2013-14 title.

Wolfsburg, meanwhile, are on the road at Monchengladbach. Realis…

Zenit have completed the signing of Spanish midfielder Javi Garcia from Manchester City.

The 27-year-old moved to the Etihad Stadium from Benfica in August 2012 and made 71 appearances for the Premier League champions.

The close-season arrivals of Fernando and Frank Lampard pushed Garcia further down the City pecking order, and he has subsequently put pen to paper on a five-year deal with Zenit for an undisclosed transfer fee.

Spanish midfielder Javi Garcia has left City to join Zenit St Petersburg on a permanent basis, read a statement on City s official website.

Bringing an end to his two-year association with the club, the 27-year old links up with former Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Zenit also confirmed the deal via their official webs…

Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has spoken of his delight and relief after finally making his comeback from injury on Wednesday.

The Ghana-born midfielder suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing on loan at Wolverhampton last season, a similar injury to the one he suffered in his left knee in 2010.

But, with Wednesday s 20-minute cameo against Coventry City under his belt, Frimpong is delighted to have stepped back onto the Emirates Stadium pitch and is looking forward to the season.

It feels good to be back after so much hard work in the gym, and I m just pleased to be playing football again, Frimpong told Arsenal Player.

I m a footballer all I want to do is get out there and help my team, whether I am fit enough to p…

Gremio extended their unbeaten run and moved into second on Thursday, while Coritiba condemned lowly Palmeiras to yet another defeat.

Vanderlei Luxemburgo s Gremio ran out 3-1 winners at home to a Sport Recife side attempting to avoid relegation.

Defender Anderson Pico handed the hosts the lead on the stroke of half-time courtesy of his first goal since 2010.

Gremio doubled their advantage thanks to a 52nd minute effort from young striker Leandro before Marquinhos made it three five minutes later.

Hugo converted a penalty with 10 minutes remaining but it proved nothing more than a consolation goal as Gremio leapfrogged Atletico Mineiro into second.

In a fiercely contested encounter which saw 10 yellow cards distributed at the Estadio Palestra Ita…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thinks Edinson Cavani could forge a longer-term career at Manchester United, saying the striker has a few years left at the highest level.

Cavani arrived on the October 5 deadline day at the end of the previous transfer window, in which the Red Devils business again came under scrutiny.

With a move for long-standing target Jadon Sancho not coming to fruition and Donny van de Beek their only major signing, United agreed a flurry of deals in the final hours, bringing in Cavani on a free transfer alongside Alex Telles from Porto, Facundo Pellistri from Penarol and Amad Diallo from Atalanta the latter is due to arrive next month.

Despite the rushed nature of his move, Cavani has had a telling impact in England even though he has made seven of h…

Nantes secured their place in the Coupe de France final for a second successive season after Ludovic Blas sensational second-half strike secured a deserved 1-0 win against Lyon.

The holders sit 14th in Ligue 1 but have enjoyed another inspired cup run, with Wednesday s upset of Lyon now gifting them the opportunity to win back-to-back crowns.

Jean-Charles Castelletto almost gave Nantes the perfect start but his first-minute effort was saved expertly by Anthony Lopes.

The home side thought they had gone ahead when Samuel Moutoussamy capitalised on a Lyon defensive mistake, but his effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR check.

Antoine Kombouare s side would finally make their advantage pay in the second half, however, as Blas fired home a marvellous…