Bayern Munich defender Rafinha has extended his contract with the Bundesliga club until 2017.
The 28-year-old s deal at the Allianz Arena had been due to expire at the end of this season.
However, the Brazilian, who joined Bayern from Italian side Genoa in June 2011 has opted to continue his stay with the Bavarians for a further three years.
I am very proud, Rafinha told FCB.tv.
It s very important for me, my career and my family that I can continue to play for one of the best clubs in the world.
Rafinha has made over 70 appearances for in his two years at Bayern, and won the first major honours of his career in their treble winning campaign last season.
The right-back is in line to add another medal to his collection after he helped Bayern secure t…
Nigeria will offer Carl Ikeme a coaching role after the goalkeeper announced his retirement from football.
Former Wolves keeper Ikeme said on Friday he was hanging up his boots on the advice of medical experts after spending the last 12 months battling acute leukaemia.
The 32-year-old is in remission but opted not to attempt to prolong a playing career that saw him make 274 domestic career appearances in all competitions.
Ikeme did not confirm his future plans but he will be given the chance to work with the Super Eagles.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) general secretary Mohammed Sanusi said in a statement: The NFF will find the resources to send Carl Ikeme on a coaching course, and afterwards absorb him into the technical crew of the Super Eagles.
Leganes are on the verge of completing a loan deal for Real Madrid s Andriy Lunin, according to .
With the arrival of Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea and departure of Keylor Navas being an unlikely scenario despite reported interest from Manchester City, Los Blancos find themselves in a situation where they have a surplus in goalkeeping requirements. Under the circumstances, it s only logical that they send the youngest man in the department Lunin, out on loan to gain some valuable experience.
Having previously played for FC Dnipro and Zorya Lugansk, the 19-year-old shot stopper amassed a total of 61 appearances in all competitions over two seasons, before moving to Madrid this summer. He is, however, yet to have his debut for the Champions League holders.
The 6 3…
An exquisite finish by Nani helped send Manchester United back to the top of the English Premier League table after a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford here on Saturday.
Following a drab first half, Ryan Giggs opened the scoring from the penalty spot but United looked set for a frustrating afternoon after Ledley King powered in a 70th minute equaliser.
But Nani s wonderful finish made it 2-1 10 minutes from time before Giggs sealed the points with his second goal from the penalty spot.
United are two points clear of nearest challengers Chelsea, who play host to Stoke on Sunday, with two games remaining while Tottenham still have work to do if they are to qualify for next season s Champions League.
Just as the sudden return of Wayne Rooney fr…
West Ham have sacked manager Gianfranco Zola, the Premier League club confirmed on Tuesday.
Zola was widely expected to leave Upton Park following a turbulent campaign which saw the club s co-owner David Sullivan strongly criticise the Italian and his players following a series of disappointing results.
Former Chelsea star Zola just managed to keep his side in the top-flight, but they finished only one place above the relegation zone and he has paid the price for his faltering relationship with the club s owners.
West Ham United confirm that they have terminated the contract of Gianfranco Zola, a statement on the club s website read.
The Board of Directors would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him well for the future. The Club will now …
that Palermo and Leeds United are showing interest in Norwich striker Kyle Lafferty.
The 28-year-old impressed to score 7 goals in the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, thus helping Northern Ireland secure their place at the tournament finals.
However, he has experienced some tough times on club level having made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League this season.
The latest reports suggest that former club Palermo may be prepared to offer Lafferty an escape route from Carrow Road as they continue to struggle up front.
With Paulo Dybala joining Juventus and Uros Djurdjevic suffering a difficult injury earlier this term, the Rosanero lack cover for Alberto Gilardino and could try to lure Lafferty back to Stadio Renzo Barbera.
Meanwhile…
Belgrano defeated Boca Juniors 3-2 on Sunday, continuing the Argentine heavyweights terrible run in the Primera Division.
Boca have not won a league title in Argentina since 2011, suffering one of their least successful periods in recent history – and they are without a league win since November.
Belgrano recovered from conceding the opener at La Bombonera on Sunday to score the next three goals and while Luciano Acosta struck for Boca in second-half stoppage time, the visitors held on to win.
Cesar Pereyra was the key man for Belgrano, setting up Emiliano Rigoni for the visitors first goal and then scoring himself in the 90th minute to make it 3-1.
Boca took the lead in just the seventh minute when defender Juan Forlin ran onto Juan Sanchez Mino s centring hea…
Liverpool fell to their second defeat since being crowned Premier League champions as Arsenal prevailed 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Sadio Mane gave the Reds a much-deserved lead as he got on the end of an Andrew Robertson centre and struck clinically. Virgil van Dijk was surprisingly the provider for Arsenal s equaliser as he put the ball on a plate for Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman then turned provider as he picked off an equally as poor pass from Alisson and passed to Reiss Nelson who scored just before half-time. Despite the Reds having opportunities to draw level, the best of the opportunities falling to van Dijk and Takumi Minamino, Jurgen Klopp s men weren t quite able to find another goal, giving Arsenal a morale-boosting victory.
Mane net…
Barcelona players reportedly want Patrick Kluivert to take charge of the LaLiga giants.
Quique Setien is under growing pressure at the helm of Barcelona after giving up the league title to rivals Real Madrid.
Amid uncertainty over Setien, it seems Kluivert would be a popular appointment.
TOP STORY – BARCELONA PLAYERS WANT KLUIVERT AS COACH
Barcelona s dressing room want Kluivert as head coach, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The club s former striker returned to Barcelona last year, becoming the academy director.
The report says Kluivert is seen by players as Barcelona s answer to Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, who starred at the Santiago Bernabeu during his playing career.
Kluivert, 44, has limited experience as a h…
French defender Damien Perrinelle has returned to Clermont Foot after a gap of four seasons. The centre back arrives at the Ligue 2 club from US Boulogne and has signed a new three year contract with Clermont.
Suresnes born Perrinelle started off his career with SC Amiens and then spent a season at Creteil before joining Clermont in 2005. He made twenty five appearances for the Auvergne based outfit before moving to Boulogne.
Perrinelle becomes Clermont s fourth signing of the summer window after Cedric Lubas, Romain Alessandrini and Fabien.
Boulogne were in Ligue 1 for the 2009/10 season. They finished nineteenth and were unable to prevent relegation to the second tier of French football. Perrinelle was the scorer of the famous goal in the 2007-08 season that…