Real Madrid in the NBA? Florentino Perez has asked for Eastern Conference spot

Champions League semifinalists Liverpool are said to be looking for midfield reinforcements for the next season.

Amid recent speculation that Jurgen Klopp could pounce on Napoli starlet Piotr Zielinski, now claims that Real Madrid out of favour playmaker Dani Ceballos has been given a green light to move to the Premier League.

The 21-year-old is reportedly told he can “join Liverpool this summer” after failing to impress Zinedine Zidane at Santiago Bernabeu.

Ceballos moved to Real Madrid last year from Real Betis in a move reportedly worth around £15 million but he struggled to make an impact at Los Blancos and ended up spending the majority of the 2017/18 season out of the first-team.

The 21-year-old Spanish international only made 10 La Liga appe…

New Valencia signing Nani says his Portugal team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo has backed him to thrive in LaLiga following their success at Euro 2016.

The 29-year-old has signed a three-year deal with Valencia following an €8.5million move from Fenerbahce, where he spent just one season after leaving Manchester United.

Nani started all seven matches and scored three goals as Portugal won Euro 2016, with his friend and international colleague Ronaldo backing him for success when he plays in Spain for the first time.

The winger was presented at in front of 12,000 excited Valencia fans at Mestalla on Thursday and is set to do battle with Real Madrid talisman Ronaldo over the course of the upcoming campaign.

A massive thanks

— Valencia CF English (@val…

Luis Enrique says he is unable to satisfy the demands of every player in the Barcelona squad as Aleix Vidal continues to struggle for minutes early in 2016-17.

Signed from Sevilla in June 2015, the 27-year-old was expected to succeed Dani Alves, who left for Juventus in the off-season, as Barca s first-choice right-back.

However, Vidal has found himself out of favour so far this term, with midfielder Sergi Roberto instead used in a wide defensive role, while Arsenal s Hector Bellerin has been linked with a switch to Catalonia as a potential long-term solution to the problem position. 

Speaking ahead of the champions crunch match at home to title rivals Atletico Madrid in LaLiga on Wednesday, Luis Enrique offered a reminder that Vidal and other fringe players li…

Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels re-iterated his desire to remain in Germany, though he is flattered by interest from rival clubs.

Hummels was highly sought-after during the transfer window, with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona reportedly keen on his services.

The World Cup-winning defender with Germany stayed put, and he was subsequently handed the captain s armband after Sebastian Kehl stood down.

However, talk of a transfer abroad refuses to subside as United reportedly prepare a January move for the 25-year-old.

Hummels, though, is in no rush to end his six-year stay in Dortmund.

It s nice to hear that big clubs like that are interested in you, Hummels told Bundesliga Magazin International.

I take that as a complim…

​Jackson Martinez has praised the new additions to Colombia s squad ahead of their friendly with Canada in New Jersey on Tuesday.

Head coach Jose Pekerman handed first caps to four players in the 3-0 victory over El Salvador on Saturday, and Martinez has been impressed with the way they have settled into life on the international scene.

Jeison Murillo, Edwin Cardona, Yimmi Chara and Pedro Franco all featured during the victory, which saw two goals from Carlos Bacca add gloss after Radamel Falcao had opened the scoring with his first international strike in 11 months.

Canada provide the second game in quick succession for Pekerman s side and Martinez expects the newcomers to be involved again after impressing against El Salvador.

The new players have ea…

Barcelona star Javier Mascherano has named Claude Makelele as his footballing hero.

The midfielder, who has often helped out in defence since arriving at Camp Nou from Liverpool in 2010, believes the former Chelsea and Real Madrid player is among the best he has seen play in the holding role.

My hero always was Makelele, he told Barcelona s website. When I was young I always tried to copy him because, as a holding midfielder, he was one of the biggest players in that position.

I always watched him and tried to learn from him. Also I had the chance to play against him when I was at Liverpool and he was at Chelsea. As a holding midfielder, he was the best I have seen.

When asked who the best coach he had played under was, the Argentina international was…

Atletico in new bid for Capoue

Spanish daily that Atletico Madrid have submitted a new proposal for Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue.

Los Colchoneros have increased their bid to €9 million, having previously had a €7 million offer rejected by the Ligue 1 side.

Some ten days ago it looked as though the midfielder was set for a Premier League move, as Cardiff had a €12 million bid accepted for the highly rated footballer.

However, Capoue himself rejected a proposal from the Bluebirds, hoping to make a switch to Vicente Calderon instead.

As a result, Atletico have reignited their interest in the player and they certainly hope their latest proposal will prove sufficient.

Etienne Capoue, 25, has spent his entire career at Toulouse and…

Bayern Munich midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg admits that he plans to leave Alianz Arena in search of first team football.

The 19-year-old midfielder has shown a great deal of promise of late and he already amassed 14 Bundesliga appearances for the German giants.

Hojbjerg has also nailed down a regular starting berth in Denmark national team, but it appears he is growing frustrated by the fierce competition for places at Alianz Arena.

The youngster admits he is grateful to the club for his development, but the Dane aims to leave the Bavarians in order to secure regular playing time.

I think the time has come for me to go, Hojbjerg told Kicker. I have learnt everything here, Bayern are the best school around, but I feel ready now to take the leap.

…

Pep Guardiola has usurped Jose Mourinho as the quickest Premier League boss to reach 100 victories in the competition.

Goals from Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne secured a 2-0 win for City over Sheffield United on Sunday, though it was not without controversy.

VAR harshly disallowed a would-be opener from Lys Mousset, while referee Chris Kavanagh seemed to inadvertently block John Fleck in the lead up to Aguero s 52nd-minute strike.

The triumph brought up a century of Premier League wins for Guardiola in his 134th top-flight match in charge of City.

wins for Pep!

The quickest manager to reach the landmark! 

— Manchester City (@ManCity)

When asked about the accomplishment in his post-match news conference, Guardi…

Atletico Madrid have demanded LaLiga prevent Antoine Griezmann from playing for Barcelona next season, according to the Spanish top flight s president Javier Tebas.

Griezmann confirmed he would be leaving Atleti at the end of last season, despite having only signed a five-year contract at Wanda Metropolitano in June 2018 after turning down a move to Barca.

After much speculation, Barca confirmed Griezmann s signing on July 12 after paying the France forward s €120million buy-out clause.

However, Atleti have reported Barca to The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), who have subsequently opened an investigation into the transfer.

is having fun

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

Atleti claim they are owed a further €80million, …