Dirk Kuyt has called time on his Netherlands career after a decade representing the national team.

The Fenerbahce forward has proven a fine servant to Netherlands cause, earning 104 caps and scoring 24 goals.

Kuyt made his Netherlands debut under the stewardship of Marco van Basten in a 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein in September 2004 and last featured as recently as their 2-0 friendly defeat to Italy a month ago.

The 34-year-old explained that he made the decision after discussions with current coach Guus Hiddink, who could not promise Kuyt a prominent role in the team.

I want to be important in the Dutch team but the coach explained to me that he no longer has a role for me I d like, he said.

I can look back with enormous pride on 10 wonderful…

FIFPro has withdrawn its complaint against FIFA and the current football transfer system after the two organisations signed a landmark agreement to enhance the game.

In 2015, the union that represents players launched legal action with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of overseeing a transfer market that thwarts a level playing field among clubs and had been tricking football fans.

They also argued the current system failed to promote financial solidarity.

However, the complaint has now been dropped after FIFA agreed to set up a task force to study and conduct a broader review of the transfer system.

The promise is part of a six-year co-operation to strengthen relationships and improve the governance of professional football.

Today marks…

Robin van Persie says he could still be playing for Manchester United if Alex Ferguson was still manager at Old Trafford.

The Netherlands international, 33, returns to his former club for the first time since leaving the club for Fenerbahce in July 2015 when the two teams meet in the Europa League on Thursday.

Van Persie scored 58 goals for United across three seasons and won the Premier League in his first season – and sole year under Ferguson – at the club.

The striker went on to play under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal before being sold and he thinks the situation could have been different if Ferguson did not ride off into the sunset in 2013.

We will never know, he told reporters when asked what would have happened had Ferguson stayed.

I…

Manchester United have allowed talented youngster Facundo Pellistri to re-join LaLiga side Deportivo Alaves on loan for the 2021-22 season.

Pellistri, 19, joined United from Penarol in his native Uruguay last October before moving to Alaves in January for the second half of 2020-21 in search of first-team football.

He featured 12 times in Spain s top flight, five appearances coming as a starter, with Alaves ultimately finishing 16th and avoiding relegation.

Pellistri returned to Old Trafford for pre-season and enjoyed a fairly prominent role with many of United s attacking players yet to return from international duty.

He scored a lovely goal that turned out to be the winner in the 2-1 friendly victory over Wayne Rooney s Derby County, before teeing up …

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez should be able to leave hospital by early next week after suffering a fractured skull against Arsenal on Sunday, his club have confirmed.

Jimenez was involved in a sickening clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz in Wolves 2-1 victory over the Gunners.

The fifth-minute incident left Jimenez requiring medical attention on the pitch for about 10 minutes before he could be safely carried away on a stretcher.

While David Luiz suffered only a cut to his head, Wolves revealed the next morning that Jimenez sustained a fractured skull and underwent surgery.

Wolves are not setting a timeframe for his rehabilitation – at least not publicly – though they confirmed on Thursday the Mexican should be home by early next week at …

Lazio coach Edy Reja believes that Saturday s Serie A clash with Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico is effectively a final for both sides.

Napoli hold Italy s third and final Champions League place, but Lazio are just three points ahead of their opponents, with whom they drew 0-0 earlier in the season.

As a result, Reja feels that it is impossible to overstate the importance of the encounter for the two teams.

This is a final for both us and them, he told Lazio Style Radio.

Our destiny will be largely decided on Saturday.

However, we must also pay attention to Roma and Inter, who are both drawing closer.

Reja, a former Napoli coach, has fond memories of his time at the San Paolo.

On the Partenopei bench, I reached Serie A for the…

Borussia Moenchengladbach have confirmed interest in signing Manchester City forward John Guidetti.

The Swedish striker largely impressed while on loan at Feyenoord last season and he has since seen his name linked with top European clubs.

The player is aware he will not get enough playing time at Etihad Stadium and is, therefore, looking to leave the Citizens this summer.

German media recently revealed that Borussia Moenchengladbach could make a move on the 20-year-old, and a German club official has now confirmed those reports.

“Guidetti is a very interesting option for us,” Luuk Balkestein, Borussia M’gladbach head scout .

The highly rated Swede joined Manchester City from Brommapojkarna in 2008, but has yet to make a competitive appeara…

According to a recent report from over in Portugal, Manchester City are one of the many top European clubs believed to be interested in signing Bruno Fernandes. The 24 year old midfielder, who has been with Sporting Lisbon since back in 2017, is easily one of the most exciting young players in world football today. He has scored a massive 28 goals from the middle of the park throughout the course of the season, and as you can imagine, that’s the kind of thing that peaks the interest of the masses.

He is also a major target for Manchester United, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, all of whom have been vocal about their interest in him. Of course, when a side with the stature of City come into the mix, it’s very difficult to ignore that.

The Premier League champions,…

Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley hailed his team for achieving their dream Saturday by winning the MLS Cup.

Jozy Altidore and Victor Vazquez scored in the second half as Toronto overcame the Seattle Sounders 2-0 in the decider at BMO Field.

It came a year after the Sounders denied Toronto a first MLS Cup crown by winning the trophy on penalties.

Bradley, who joined Toronto in 2014, said finally securing the trophy was a dream come true.

This has been the dream for four years, since the day I got here. And for the last year, the dream has become an obsession, the midfielder told ESPN.

And for this group of guys to work every single day, having to remember last year, to get back here, to play that game, in this atmosphere, with that on the line,…

Philippe Coutinho is determined to achieve big things at Barcelona after being given a second chance at Camp Nou under Ronald Koeman.

The attacking midfielder scored his first goal since returning to LaLiga, netting the equaliser in Sunday s tough 1-1 home draw against Europa League winners Sevilla on Sunday.

Coutinho joined Barca from Liverpool in a reported €160million deal in January 2018 but struggled to assert himself in the first-team picture and was shipped out on loan to Bayern Munich last term.

At Bayern, Coutinho was part of the team that won a Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League treble under Hansi Flick but the Bavarians opted not to make the move permanent.

Coutinho s future was shrouded in doubt, with Arsenal and Tottenham having be…