Rudiger downplays Roma exit rumours

American businessman Stan Kroenke has increased his stake in Arsenal to just over 20 percent after purchasing 5,000 shares from fellow director Danny Fiszman, the Premier League club confirmed in an announcement to the London Stock Exchange here on Monday.

Board member Kroenke, whose purchase cost him some 42.5 million pounds (60.3 million dollars), with each share priced at 8,500 pounds, now has a 20.5 percent stake in Arsenal.

Fiszman s sale still leaves the diamond dealer with 16.1 percent of Arsenal s shares and he stressed he was not contemplating any further sale.

I am pleased that Stan Kroenke has made a further substantial commitment to the club by acquiring approximately a third of my holding, Fiszman said in the statement to the LSE.

Stan s l…

When Jose Mourinho arrived at Inter Milan amongst much pomp and fanfare in June last year he was set a definite target win the Champions League.

Inter were on a run of three straight titles, in no small part thanks to the match-fixing punishment that sent Juventus down to Serie B, and two of their best players into Inter s colours.

Back then, in the summer of 2006, Inter were known as the country s perennial underachievers and chokers.

But they romped to the 2007 title more by default as points penalties dealt out to AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio had robbed Inter of any meaningful challengers.

For a team that had gone 17 years without a title the goodwill afforded Mourinho s predecessor Roberto Mancini for landing that first scudetto in a generation did…

Spanish daily Marca understands that Manchester City are weighing up a January bid for Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero.

The Citizens boss Manuel Pellegrini obviously knows the player well from his time at La Rosaleda and he will attempt to lure him to Etihad.

Pellegrini wanted to take Caballero with him this summer, but the Argentine snubbed the move as he didn t want to play second fiddle to Joe Hart.

However, with the England number one no longer an automatic choice, the Malaga goalkeeper might be interested in a switch to Manchester.

Willy Caballero joined los Boquerones from Elche in January 2011 and has since largely impressed at La Rosaleda.

The 32-year-old made a total of 87 La Liga appearances, while also featuring in 11 Champions Leagu…

Departing Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has been described as a scourge on Spanish football by rivals Barcelona s vice-president.

Carles Vilarrubi launched a scathing attack on the Portuguese after Madrid president Florentino Perez announced on Monday that he would be leaving by mutual consent, despite having three years left on his contract. I said this three years ago through other means and now that he is no longer coach I can repeat what I thought then, that Mourinho would be a scourge on Spanish football. Now he no longer is, Vilarrubi declared on Radio Catalunya.Mourinho worked at Barcelona under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal but after he left in 2000 his relationship with the club became strained, and his behaviour in clashes against them for Inter and Real Madrid did …

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was full of praise for Paul Pogba s performance for France in Sunday s World Cup final.

Midfielder Pogba scored a fine second-half goal as Les Bleus defeated Croatia 4-2 in Moscow to clinch their second title.

And after a season in which Pogba s displays for Manchester United were often scrutinised, Ibrahimovic was quick to highlight his former Old Trafford team-mate s display.

Let them talk, but the game speaks for itself, Ibrahimovic posted on Twitter, tagging Pogba alongside a picture of him holding the World Cup trophy.

Let them talk but the game speaks for itself

— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official)

Pogba and Ibrahimovic were both signed by United boss Jose Mourinho prior to the 2016-17 season, though…

Starting with Saturday s guests, putting in what was another dominant display and picking up a 2-0 win over Sunderland last weekend, Portsmouth have continued on what has been a stellar purple patch. Reclaiming their spot in the play-offs and the mood around Fratton Park at a season-high, the South Coast outfit find themselves in the midst of an eight-match winning run across all competitions, a run that stems back to a 1-1 draw with Gillingham on New Year s Day. Now sat within touching distance of the automatic spots, Kenny Jackett s men also have a growing reputation for their form in the final third. Bagging at least a pair of goals in seven of their last eight victories, the one-time Millwall boss will be most impressed by his side s continued showings on the road. Portsmouth have w…

Looking at this weekend s results a score stood out for me. Its not the fact that Liverpool or Chelsea were beaten or the fact that Manchester United went to the top of the league. It was Stokes 2-1 victory over West Ham at the Britannia Stadium.

Fortress Britannia

It wasn t even the fact that Stoke beat West Ham. The result just illustrated how important home games are to clubs like Stoke. Since their promotion to the English top flight the Britannia Stadium has become a fortress that even the top teams hate to visit.

Their fans have provided such a intimidating atmosphere at the ground that opponents find it hard to cope. Stoke are with respect not the greatest team in the league but somehow at the Britannia they are suddenly helped by their twelfth man. And w…

Arsenal v Tottenham

The North London derby has been pretty easy to predict in recent years as Arsenal have generally been good and Tottenham generally haven’t. This season it isn’t so easy as both teams are looking good and occupy third and fourth place in the table.

Arsenal are playing their usual great stuff and a couple of weeks ago they won comfortably over Birmingham despite reaching their normal standards. Last week they threw away a lead at West Ham and they won’t want to repeat that. Tottenham are also playing great stuff but they inexplicably dropped three points last week at home to Stoke. What better way to bounce back for them than to win at Arsenal?

I think Arsenal will have just too much for Harry’s men.

SoccerNews predi…

Neymar scored a milestone goal as Brazil piled the pressure on Argentina in World Cup qualifying with a 3-0 win on Thursday.

The Barcelona star netted his 50th international goal, to go with efforts from Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho, in the comfortable win.

The result heaps the pressure on Argentina, whose winless run in qualifying extended to four matches.

Edgardo Bauza s men rarely threatened despite the return of Lionel Messi, who was well contained by Tite s Brazil.

It means under Tite, Brazil – who are top of CONMEBOL qualifying – have won five out of five.

Coutinho struck with a stunner and Neymar scored just before the break to have Brazil in control, with Paulinho putting the Superclasico to bed just prior to the hour-mark.