Riyad Mahrez has hit out at completely untrue reports claiming he went on strike after Leicester City blocked a deadline-day move to Manchester City.

The Algeria international won the PFA Players  Player of the Year award after leading the Foxes to a shock Premier League title triumph in 2015-16.

But Mahrez has been open about his desire to move on from the club, putting in a public transfer request at the end of last season.

A transfer for Mahrez failed to materialise, although he was linked with Roma, and he subsequently started the new campaign with Leicester.

Riyad Mahrez has today returned to training with the squad:

— Leicester City (@LCFC)

Premier League leaders City moved for Mahrez in the January transfer window but Leicest…

Lukasz Piszczek scored once and had a hand in two more to help Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 Bundesliga victory over Wolfsburg at Signal Iduna Park as they returned to winning ways after a disappointing week.

Jeffrey Bruma inexplicably headed the ball into his own net in the 20th minute, with Polish wing-back Piszczek adding his name to the scoresheet early in the second half, before Ousmane Dembele put the match to bed on the hour mark.

Dortmund have endured a difficult few days ahead of Saturday s encounter as they followed up a shock domestic loss to bottom club Darmstadt last week with a Champions League defeat to Benfica.

To make matters even worse, Dortmund were handed a partial stadium closure following the incidents during the match against RB Leipzi…

Dominik Szoboszlai’s agent has said that Arsenal want to sign the RB Salzburg in the January transfer window. Matyas Esterhazy has been quoted as saying by that “Arsenal’s interest is real”, adding that Italian giants AC Milan are also interested in the 20-year-old midfielder.

Szoboszlai has been on the books of Salzburg since 2018 and has established himself as an important player in the team. The Hungary international midfielder has made five starts and one substitute appearance in the Austrian Bundesliga so far this season, scoring one goal in the process, according to . The youngster has also scored two goals in three Champions League matches so far this campaign, according to .

Both Arsenal and Wolves are aiming to finish in the top four of the Premier Lea…

Sergio Ramos said Eden Hazard s arrival at Real Madrid could herald a new era for the club, while insisting the recent speculation over his own future had not affected his morale.

Hazard completed his transfer from Chelsea on Friday in a deal that could be worth €140million and Ramos indicated he feels the Belgium international can help Madrid to challenge for LaLiga in 2019-20.

Zinedine Zidane s men lost three of their last four LaLiga games of the 2018-19 season as they finished third, 19 points behind winners Barcelona, but Madrid supporters will hope the marquee signing of Hazard finally fills the gap left by Cristiano Ronaldo when he left Santiago Bernabeu before the season commenced.

Ramos expressed his satisfaction at the 28-year-old s arrival, telling r…

There was huge adversity in the early stages of Yeferson Soteldo s career.

He grew up in the underprivileged neighbourhood of El Muertico in the city of Acarigua, where he claims an early grave was the likely alternative to a career in professional football, and although he gained a spot in the academy of Caracas – Venezuela s most successful club – he was thrown out aged 14 for indiscipline .

Furthermore, there were huge question marks over his physical capability to make it as a pro – now 23, he only stands at five feet and two inches tall.

But Venezuela s most-decorated coach Noel Sanvicente gave him a second chance at Zamora and put him on the path to Saturday s Copa Libertadores final between Santos and Palmeiras at the iconic Maracana in Rio de Janeir…

Granit Xhaka says Arsenal are bound for glory under Mikel Arteta and can even achieve something significant this season.

Arteta replaced Unai Emery in December 2019 and finished the season as an FA Cup winner, though the Gunners only finished eighth in the Premier League.

Prior to a 2-1 loss to Wolves on Tuesday, which they finished with nine men after red cards for David Luiz and Bernd Leno, Arsenal had gone seven Premier League games unbeaten.

That came after a run of seven top-flight matches without a win, but Xhaka is confident Arteta has them on the path to success.

We had the run without wins but even during that time, I think we have played without any self-doubt, Xhaka told The Guardian.

Our mistakes, like the red cards – my own includ…

Barcelona s Gerard Pique hopes Manchester United will reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Real Madrid.

The Spain international played for United from 2004 until 2008, and he is hopeful his former team can beat Barca s arch-rivals in the round of 16, with the first leg of the tie scheduled to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

I would like Manchester United to make it to the next round, Pique told reporters.

I would like them to progress because of my time at the club. However, Madrid have been in good form in recent weeks. It promises to be an interesting tie.

The centre-back then went on to discuss Barcelona s 6-1 Liga win over Getafe on Sunday, and hailed his side s strength in depth.

We have a …

Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte has announced his departure from the club in a video on social media.

Laporte has reportedly agreed to join Al-Nassr after five-and-a-half-years in England.

The Spain international will become the latest high-profile player to sign for a Saudi Pro League club, with ex-City team-mate Riyad Mahrez among them after making the move to Al-Ahli last month.

Dear Cityzens, today I wanted to share a story with you…

It has lasted for five and a half unforgettable years. Plenty of memories that I will keep forever close to my heart.

— Aymeric Laporte (@Laporte)

“Dear Cityzens, today I wanted to share a story with you,” Laporte said in a video on Twitter that went on to show a highlights reel of his t…

Goals from Peter Crouch and Jon Walters helped Stoke City into the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday as Mark Hughes men ran out 2-1 winners against Doncaster Rovers.

Hughes made nine changes from Stoke s League Cup defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday and Crouch and Walters made the most of their opportunities to score either side of Nathan Tyson s equaliser for the League One side.

Crouch making just his fourth start of the season at the Keepmoat Stadium  opened the scoring early on with a smart finish from close range only for journeyman striker Tyson to level before the half-hour.

Darren Ferguson a former Manchester United team-mate of Hughes saw his side gain confidence and go close through Conor Grant after the break. 

The hosts were giv…

Play-offs for major competitions have often brought heartache for Ukraine but Mykhailo Fomenko says past results count for little going into the first leg of their Euro 2016 qualifiier against Slovenia on Saturday.

The nations meet at the Arena Lviv this weekend after finishing third in their respective pools, with Fomenko seeking to end Ukraine s usual difficulties in play-off ties.

Ukraine have failed to negotiate two-legged knock-out fixtures ahead the World Cups in 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014, while Saturday s opponents added to that unwanted record in qualifying for Euro 2000.

 A 3-2 play-off success secured Srekco Kanatec s Slovenia side a spot at the competition in Belgium and the Netherlands, with next week s second leg faling exactly 16 years a…