In-form Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis is content at Swansea City and intends to remain at the club next season.
The former Lyon man has scored four of his five Premier League goals in the last six outings, having become the focal point up front for Garry Monk since Wilfried Bony s departure to Manchester City.
A brace in Saturday s 3-1 win against Hull City continued the upturn in form for a player who was heavily linked with leaving the Liberty Stadium in January.
Asked whether he regretted departing Lyon for the Welsh club, Gomis told L Equipe: No, I do not regret it. In Swansea, there is a culture and a philosophy of play that I like, and for which I signed.
I did not make a mistake. I see myself here next year, although in football you…
The Netherlands begin life under coach Louis van Gaal for the second time as qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup begins in earnest.
One of the traditional powerhouses of world football despite their small population, the Netherlands reached the final of 2010 World Cup in South Africa, losing 1-0 to Spain in extra-time.
Previously admired for their focus on skill and technique, they lost friends with an overtly physical approach to that tournament, as bad tackles and high challenges marred the final in Johannesburg.
After a storm of criticism, the Netherlands reverted to type in more ways than one for this year s European Championships.
Considered one of the pre-tournament favourites for Euro 2012 after qualifying in style, Van Marwijk s team surprisin…
=(Picture)=Diego Maradona milked the adulation of the home fans beforehand but it was Lionel Messi who stole the show, capping a virtuoso performance with a goal as Argentina beat France 2-0 at Marseille s Stade Velodrome on Wednesday.
Having reminisced earlier in the week about how he almost joined Marseille from Napoli in 1989, Maradona was given a rapturous reception from the French fans, who were far less cordial towards their own handler Raymond Domenech, architect of their first-round exit at Euro 2008.
And the majority of the sellout 60,000 crowd will have recognised that the French were deservedly beaten as the albiceleste won with an opener four minutes before half-time from Jonas Gutierrez and then a Messi special eight minutes before the end.
Despite …
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Two sides looking to extend on their Carabao Cup adventure on Tuesday night, Premier League outfit Bournemouth will make the trip to Norwich.
Starting with the hosts, while Norwich might have opened the 2022/23 campaign with a trio of sluggish displays, it does appear that the Championship returners have bounced back. Once again losing their Premier League status last season, Dean Smith s side were last seen over the weekend putting in a routine display at Carrow Road. Eventually picking up a 2-0 victory at home against Millwall, the ex-Aston Villa boss has seen his side claim back-to-back second-tier wins. Finding a way to build off of their much-needed 2-1 victory against Huddersfield on August 16th. With their sights set on…
Sarina Wiegman has declared it is time for England to get back to business after naming her first Lionesses squad since steering the team to victory at the European Championships.
England tackle Austria and Luxembourg as the European champions look to seal qualification for next year s World Cup, with further glory targeted after clinching a maiden honour last month.
The Lionesses are still riding the high from the success against Germany at Wembley, with focus on the women s game increasing significantly, but, while that triumph is fresh in the memory, Wiegman has called upon the squad to focus.
It only feels like yesterday since we were celebrating at Wembley, but we have to get straight back to business, she said in a press conference.
We have a big …
Scott McTominay believes Jose Mourinho has made him a better person in his breakthrough season at Manchester United.
The Scotland international made his United debut in the final weeks of 2016-17, but he has established himself as a first team player this campaign, tallying 20 appearances in all competitions.
And McTominay paid tribute to Mourinho for his instruction, particularly the Portuguese s pointer that the midfielder would need to make sure he was liked by his team-mates.
Jose Mourinho has been absolutely incredible to me this year, McTominay told the club s official website.
He s helped me so much in terms of what I can do, from being more humble, to being better on the training pitch and just being a better person in general.
When …
Galatasaray have confirmed the signing of Ryan Babel on a free transfer.
Babel, who spent the second half of 2018-19 at Fulham, has signed for the Turkish giants on a three-year contract.
The Netherlands international, 32, scored five Premier League goals in 16 appearances for the Cottagers, though that was not enough to keep the club in the top flight.
And Babel has now returned to Turkey, having spent two separate spells in the country before with Kasimpasa and Besiktas respectively.
— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray)
I think my adventure should continue like this, former Liverpool forward Babel told Galatasaray s official website.
I am very happy and grateful to be here. I hope I can add extra things to our team. I h…
Djibril Cisse has returned to training with his first club Auxerre in hope of regaining his fitness and finding a new team.
The former France international, 35, called time on his career in October 2015 following a number of injuries, but he has now reversed that decision and is working with the Ligue 2 side.
While with Auxerre, Cisse won the Coupe de France in 2003, before moving on to Liverpool and claiming the Champions League.
The club announced his return on their official website, stating: It is with great pleasure that the club allows its former player to get back into shape at the academy of AJ Auxerre.
…
Ecuador international Enner Valencia has broken his silence in the row over alleged unpaid child maintenance to protect the image of my family and myself .
The Everton striker, on loan from West Ham, was accused of failing to pay a significant sum to his former partner, Sinthyia Pinargote Chumo, for the upkeep of their daughter.
Valencia was chased by police after he left the pitch on a stretcher during Ecuador s 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Chile last week, although the warrant for his arrest has since been withdrawn.
The 26-year-old has now released a statement via his official Twitter and Instagram accounts in order to offer his side of events.
His message reads: In relation to the events of the past few days, regarding the alleged breach of my …
Brazilian defender Felipe Lopes hopes to return to action with Wolfsburg after revealing he had a mini-stroke in July.
The 27-year-old suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) while at home watching Brazil take on Netherlands in the World Cup but was initially unaware of what the problem was.
Lopes, who has been with the Bundesliga club since 2012, contacted Wolfsburg s physio Michele Putaro and he was able to alert an emergency physician before the player was admitted to a local hospital.
The former Nacional man is hopeful of returning to action, having revealed the initial symptoms of the problem.
I felt dizzy and knew something wasn t right, he told Bild.
One can perhaps say that Michele has saved my life. I had no idea what was wrong with…