Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan travels for Fenerbahce clash

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been named in Manchester United’s 21-man travelling squad for the Europa League game away to Fenerbahce on Thursday.
Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mkhitaryan has not played for United since the derby defeat against Manchester City on Sept. 10.
Manager Jose Mourinho had said on Friday that the player was training and “needs time to become the top player we know he can be” before leaving him out of the matchday squad against Burnley on Saturday.
Mkhitaryan will now hope to be selected in the 18-man matchday squad against Fenerbahce, with a place either in the starting XI or among the substitutes.
Phil Jones is also among the travelling party after returning to training following knee ligament damage, but Memphis Depay and Michael Carrick are notable absentees. Carrick’s exclusion could be a sign that he is being rested ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game against Swansea City, with Ander Herrera suspended.

Frank de Boer thanks Inter Milan fans with message following sacking

Frank de Boer has left a message of thanks to Inter Milan’s fans for the support they gave him during his ill-fated spell as the club’s coach.
De Boer was relieved of his duties by Inter on Tuesday after less than three months in the role, during which his side lost seven out of 14 games in all competitions.
The Dutchman wrote a message on Instagram regretting the club’s decision to dismiss him so hastily but thanking supporters for their backing during his time in charge.
“It’s a pity it has ended this way,” De Boer wrote. “More time was needed to carry this project forward. I want to thank all the fans for all of the support that you have given me these months. Forza Inter.”
According to twin brother Ronald de Boer, Frank made a mistake in going to Inter.
“We thought that Inter were really a great club and suited to Frank, but it was an error of judgment,” he told Bureau Sport. “Of course I’m disappointed, as is Frank. He had the will and

I wasn’t angry with Guardiola over Barcelona benching – Aguero

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero believes he is improving as a player under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage this season, and says he was not angry after being left on the bench in Barcelona a fortnight ago.
Aguero was named as a substitute for tactical reasons at Camp Nou but started against the same opposition on Tuesday and played a starring role as City won 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola has often spoke of Aguero’s need to improve in various different areas of his game but praised the striker’s performance against the Catalans as “awesome”.
It had been reported that the forward took exception to the manager’s decision to leave him out of the starting line-up at Camp Nou a fortnight ago, but he says he never had any issues.
“No, I’m never angry,” he said. “I respect every manager’s decision. He said it was a tactical thing and I obviously respect that. When I went onto the pitch I tried to give my best and then train hard to be ready for the next game. But no one was in a bad mood.”
And Aguero himself was also pleased with his work after Tuesday’s victory, and he says he is on

I did nothing wrong at 2014 World Cup – Kevin-Prince Boateng

Spain-based attacker Kevin-Prince Boateng says he was not guilty of any wrongdoing at the 2014 World Cup and wants to return to the Ghana national team.
Boateng was expelled from the Black Stars’ camp at the last World Cup ahead of their final group stage match against Portugal.
The attacker was alleged to have used abusive language toward then coach Kwesi Appiah and was indefinitely banned from the national team by Ghana’s FA.
Boateng insists that he did nothing wrong and was the victim of persecution by the administrators.

Arsenal star Alexis accused of tax evasion during Barcelona spell

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez is alleged to have evaded taxes worth over €980,000 during the years of 2012 and 2013.
Spanish newspaper El Periodico report that Alexis, the 27-year-old Chile international, faces criminal proceedings after failing to pay taxes for his image rights throughout 2012 and 2013, when he played for Barcelona.
Alexis is alleged to have transferred his image rights to a company named Numidia Trading, of which he owned 99 per cent, though he failed to declare his ownership.

Cameroun’s coach gives Rohr tips on how to beat Algeria

Cameroun’s Belgian coach, Hugo Broos, has given Gernot Rohr tips on how the Super Eagles could exploit the weaknesses he noticed in the Algerian team when both teams met in Algiers.
Algeria forced Cameroun into a 1-1 draw at home in their first World Cup 2018 qualifiers, a result which Broos felt could have been better for his side if they had exploited the weakness he noticed in the defence of Algeria.
The Belgian coach lamented his team’s inability to convert the numerous chances they had in the game as the Algerians were naive defensively, with the lack of pace of central defenders, Liasinne Camaduro and Carl Medjani, also mentioned by the manager.

Per Mertesacker keen to extend deal with Arsenal

Per Mertesacker is eager to sign a new deal with Arsenal amid suggestions he could return to the Bundesliga at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old’s contract is due to expire in June 2017 and his former clubs Werder Bremen and Hannover are keeping a close eye on his situation.
But Mertesacker is set to disappoint his suitors as he wants to stay at Emirates Stadium.
“A renewal with Arsenal is my absolute priority,” the German told Spox.
“But we have not made an appointment yet to discuss a new deal.“Arsenal are my top priority and everything else is just speculation.” Mertesacker, who arrived at the club in 2011, has nothing but praise for French boss Arsene Wenger.

NFF lectures World Cup-bound Falconets on mental challenge

Head of the NFF Psychology Unit, Dr. Robinson Okosun, at the weekend lectured the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup–bound Falconets on the importance of developing their mental toughness and confidence level in order to excel under intense pressure and provocation.
With barely two weeks to the commencement of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea, Okosun talked about the prerequisite attitudes ranging from positive self-talk to rapid re-focusing skills needed for the players to unleash their winning attitudes at the championship.

Bartomeu hopeful of Guardiola’s return, Messi contract extension

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola addresses the media during a press conference at the City Football Academy in Manchester, northern England, on October 31, 2016, ahead of their UEFA Champions League group C football match against Barcelona on November 1. AFP/Oli Scarff

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is confident of keeping hold of Lionel Messi, with the LaLiga champions set to open negations over a new contract in the “next couple of months”.
Messi’s current deal is set to expire in June 2018 and Bartomeu has already said the Barca star has a contract forever at Camp Nou. Bartomeu, though, is confident of warding off interest from the lucrative Premier League.
“This is a decision for Leo Messi or for any player to change club,” Bartomeu told the Telegraph. “Right now Leo Messi has a contract to the end of the Russian World Cup [in 2018] and we are very happy with him. Very happy. He’s the best player in the world, by far.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future but of course we will always try to explain to him that he is at the best club in the world and this is the best place for him to live and he is living the best experience of his life with us.

Phelps trying to be Michael Jordan of ex-swimmers

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 05: Madame Tussaud's, Washington DC, in partnership with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation unveils Michael Phelps' wax double at Banneker Pool on August 5, 2016 in Washington, DC.Larry French/Getty

Michael Phelps has been dismissed before. Despite retiring as the most decorated Olympian of all time, the 31-year-old swimmer had to overcome the stigma of a DUI before earning his final round of medals.
His biggest challenge, however, still potentially lies ahead. Can Phelps, the supremely talented swimmer, remake himself into Phelps, the savvy businessman?
Many have attempted the transition, yet few have succeeded. Indeed, for every Michael Jordan or Tony Hawk, who build billion-dollar empires with their namesakes, many more make poor investments or simply blow through their fortunes post-retirement. (Think Antoine Walker or Derrick Coleman, to name a few.)
“For me this is my first time really out of the pool and in business world,” Phelps told Yahoo Finance prior to an appearance at Intuit’s QuickBooks Connect 2016 conference in San Jose, Calif., last week.
“It’s a fun, challenging road being able to switch from competitive swimming to now on land and trying to do that. It’s a new chapter, but it’s something I’m looking forward to. Hopefully, I’ll be

Mark Clattenburg to referee Arsenal against Tottenham despite recent criticism

Mark Clattenburg controversially sent off Ander Herrera during Manchester United's draw with Burnley.Mark Clattenburg controversially sent off Ander Herrera during Manchester United's draw with Burnley.

Mark Clattenburg will referee Sunday’s North London derby despite criticism of his performance in last weekend’s 0-0 draw between Manchester United and Burnley.
Clattenburg has been put in charge of the meeting between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium for his first Premier League appointment since sending off Jose Mourinho and Ander Herrera at Old Trafford.

Ogenyi Onazi pays tribute to ‘legendary’ Miroslav Klose

Super Eagles’ midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has paid his respect to Miroslav Klose who hangs his boots as Germany’s all-time topscorer after he announcing his retirement from football to end his 29-year old career.
Klose who recorded 71 goals in 137 appearnces for the ‎Die Mannschaft and also owns the record