Lyon land Real Madrid striker Mariano

Mario Gotze could remain a bit-part player at Bayern Munich if he wishes to be a part of the squad under Carlo Ancelotti, club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has warned.

Gotze committed his immediate future to Bayern this week, in the face of intense speculation that Jurgen Klopp is hoping to reunite with the former Borussia Dortmund star at Liverpool.

The Germany playmaker has linked up with his international team-mates as the World Cup champions look to repeat the trick at Euro 2016.

However, Gotze, who made just 14 Bundesliga appearances under Pep Guardiola in an injury-hit 2015-16, may wish to rethink his stance at club level when the tournament is over, with Ancelotti not appearing to view him as a key player.

I had talks with him and Ancelotti, Rummen…

Chelsea defender John Terry is certain Jose Mourinho will be a success at Manchester United.

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea halfway through the 2015-16 campaign following a dreadful start to the defence of their Premier League title, but was appointed as Louis van Gaal s successor at Old Trafford last week.

Terry worked under Mourinho during his two spells at Stamford Bridge and he has confidence that his former boss will lead United back to the top.

Mourinho s appointment is fantastic news for Manchester United, Terry told Sky Sports.

It was unfortunate the way it ended at Chelsea this year but I wish him well because he s also a great man. He ll be great for Manchester United, I m sure.

I m sure that United s fans and players will be deligh…

Paris Saint-Germain retained the Ligue 1 title on Wednesday following Monaco s 1-1 draw with Guingamp before slumping to a rare home defeat.

Monaco needed all maximum points to keep the title race alive ahead of PSG s encounter with Rennes later in the day, but Claudio Ranieri s men were frustratingly held by a determined Guingamp side, who earned a share of the spoils late on.

The principality club looked to be on their way to victory when Dimitar Berbatov headed home Nabil Dirar s right-wing cross after 77 minutes.

But Ranieri s team were stunned just eight minutes later as the Coupe de France winners levelled, Fatih Atik finding the net from just inside the area with a fine volley past Danijel Subasic.

Monaco were given renewed hope when Mustapha Diallo was se…

Goals either side of half-time from Vincent Janssen and Georginio Wijnaldum ensured Austria rounded off their Euro 2016 preparations with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Netherlands on Saturday.
The boisterous home fans at Vienna s Ernst-Happel-Stadion did their best to rouse Austria by creating an atmosphere that belied the fact this was only a friendly, but the hosts defensive frailties let them down.
Marcel Koller s team looked dangerous going forward, but they lacked the ruthlessness of Netherlands whose performance made further mockery of their inexplicable failure to qualify for the European Championship.
AZ striker Janssen, the Eredivisie s top scorer in 2015-16, headed the visitors in front in the ninth minute after taking advantage of some lax marking from Sebastian Prodl an…

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has praised Nuri Sahin for taking a substantial pay cut to return to the club on loan.

The Turkey international left the Bundesliga giants in 2011 for Real Madrid but was unable to break into the first team and was loaned out to Liverpool last year.

Sahin also failed to find his feet at Anfield, and a move back to Signal Iduna Park was possible thanks to interest from all those involved.

I think we re all aware that the salary structure here is different from Real Madrid s, Zorc told the Bundesliga website.

However, Nuri accepted what we offered as for him it was all about wearing Borussia Dortmund s shirt again. There wouldn t have been a chance to sign him otherwise.

Zorc has refuted claims Do…

The extent of Filippo Carobbio s allegations against Juventus coach Antonio Conte has begun to circulate in the Italian media.

His deposition to investigators claims that the coach was aware of alleged match-fixing involving Siena s president Massimo Mezzaroma.

The midfielder was detained by police last December as part of the ongoing Scommessopoli investigations into the match-fixing of several Serie A and B matches in 2010-11.

He claimed in his testimony that Mezzaroma sent a messenger down to the locker room to ask the players about the possibility of losing so he could win money on a bet, something the coaching staff, then including Conte, were aware of.

Siena and Conte have moved to officially deny such allegations.

However, Carobbio s clai…

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire thinks their great belief and character will see them through Tuesday s decisive game with RB Leipzig and into the Champions League knockouts.

After losing 3-1 at home to Paris Saint-Germain on matchday five, United know a point in Germany will be enough to seal their place in the last 16, while they could still finish top of Group H if PSG do not beat Istanbul Basaksehir.

The Red Devils thrashed Leipzig 5-0 at Old Trafford but know they will face a stern test against Julian Nagelsmann s side, who drew 3-3 with European champions Bayern Munich last weekend.

United have been in exceptional form on their travels, winning a club-record eight in a row in the Premier League, including at West Ham on Saturday when they fought fro…

Pep Guardiola has vowed Manchester City s clash with Marseille will not be an opportunity for a breather ahead of the weekend s derby.

The City manager has made a point in recent weeks of stressing he will not rotate his squad, saying players will be picked on merit.

American goalkeeper Zack Steffen will make his Champions League debut against Marseille on Wednesday, an apparent indication the 25-year-old is pushing Ederson to start on a regular basis.

With the short trip to Manchester United ahead in the Premier League on Saturday, Guardiola wants his players drilled into a collective state of intense concentration.

I don t rotate the team, Guardiola said. I try to put the best players in the best condition for any game and decide the best for the tea…

Hulk is adamant that Brazil will not have revenge on their minds when they take on Mexico in the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.

The World Cup hosts face Miguel Herrera s side in their second game of the tournament in Fortaleza.

Brazil were denied a first Olympic gold medal in 2012 as Mexico sprung a surprise, winning 2-1 in the final in London.

That loss was avenged somewhat at the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 as Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 in the group stages of that competition.

This clash should have much more meaning, however, Hulk a goalscorer in the Olympic final but an injury doubt due to a thigh problem insists the loss at Wembley will not be on Brazil s mind.

In the Confederations Cup we tried to think only about winning the game and it will be the same …

Alexander Buttner has revealed he left Manchester United to have a better chance of silverware after agreeing a move to Dinamo Moscow.

The Russians confirmed the Dutch full-back had joined the club on on Monday, but details of the transfer and the player s contract have yet to be revealed.

The 25-year-old has already joined up with his new team-mates and will be present at Dinamo s training camp in Austria.

United will not compete in European football next season after finishing a lowly seventh in the Premier League last season.

And Buttner, who made only 28 appearances at United after joining from Vitesse in 2012, believes he has a better chance of success in the Russian capital.

I want to play in the Champions League and win trophies, Buttner …