These six years [at Barca] have been wonderful [for Suarez]. His colleagues have received him with enthusiasm we hope he adapts as soon as possible.
We all know him – he s a great reference for the team. Given the option that Alvaro had of being able to leave, the best way to continue improving was to look for someone who could improve on Alvaro s scoring contribution, and when the option of Suarez appeared, what was I going to say? His numbers speak for themselves.
We were lucky that when we had a very good [Radamel] Falcao, a very good [Diego] Costa or a very good [Antoine] Griezmann, we came close to fighting for everything. Let s hope that with Luis Suarez it will be like that and we can overcome what we did last season.
Atletico finished third in LaL…
Barcelona appear unlikely to sign Everton striker Richarlison despite being linked with an £85million (€100m) move for the Brazil international.
According to Sky Sports, the Spanish giants have targeted Richarlison to bolster their attack, with injured frontman Luis Suarez set to miss the rest of the season.
The British broadcaster claimed Everton turned down a bumper bid for Barcelona, whose sporting director Eric Abidal is said to be a great admirer of the former Watford player.
However, Omnisport understands such a deal is considered within Everton s ranks as being unlikely to happen.
Richarlison signed a new five-year contract with the Premier League outfit in December, with the 22-year-old lined up to play a big part in the Merseyside club s futur…
Market: Orlando City win
Odds: 7/10 @
Looking to secure back-to-back MLS victories in the early hours of Wednesday, Orlando will welcome a struggling Toronto to the Exploria Stadium.
Starting with the hosts, making a welcomed return to winning ways over the weekend as they breezed their way to a 3-1 romp against Chicago, Orlando should find the mood in their camp at a continued high. Tipped as a leading contender to claim another play-off ticket in the Eastern Conference, the Lions should be smelling the chance to secure back-to-back MLS victories here. Suffering just a single loss from any of their last 10 straight domestic appearances a run that stems all the way back to May 9th Oscar Pareja’s men have continued to gain a reputation for their rugged performa…
What the papers say
Liverpool are yet to receive a bid for Thiago Alcantara despite interest from several foreign clubs. The Times says clubs in Saudi Arabia are among those keen on the Spanish midfielder, 32.
Southampton full-back Tino Livramento, 20, would prefer a move to Newcastle over a return to Chelsea, according to the Daily Mail.
Israel midfielder Oscar Gloukh, 19, is attracting interest from several top clubs, according to the Guardian. Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham are among those keen on the Red Bull Salzburg teenager.
AC Milan have joined the race to sign Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, reports the Metro. The England winger, 22, has decided to leave Chelsea during the summer.
Social media round-up
Arsenal are …
Germany can end Argentina s FIFA World Cup campaign for a third time in a row when they meet in Sunday s final at the iconic Maracana.
Argentina may have beaten them 3-2 in a classic 1986 final in Mexico but since then Germany have had the wood over the South American side.
They initially exacted revenge in the 1990 World Cup final, defeating a nine-man Argentina 1-0, and have gone on to add victories against them in the quarter-finals of both the 2006 and 2010 showpiece.
But while Germany were completely emphatic in their 4-0 win against Argentina in Cape Town four years ago, they could only end the tournament in third, just like they did in their own country in 2006.
And their 2002 final defeat to Brazil means Joachim Low s side will be desperate to end…
Dunga has been appointed as Brazil coach for a second time following the resignation of Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The 50-year-old was sacked by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) after Brazil were knocked out of the 2010 World Cup at the quarter-final stage, but has been given another opportunity to lead his country.
Dunga, captain of the Brazil side that won the World Cup in the United States 20 years ago, was unveiled a press conference on Tuesday.
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Marcelino has ceased to be the coach of Villarreal , according to a statement on the club s official website.
The news comes after Marcelino led Villarreal to a fourth-place finish in La Liga last season to clinch the club s return to the Champions League after an eight-year exile, and also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Marcelino joined the club in January 2013, securing promotion to La Liga later that season with a second-place finish in Segunda Division, helping him to earn a two-year contract later that year.
Villarreal finished sixth in 2013-14 and qualified for the Europa League, and Marcelino repeated that feat the following season.
A statement on the club s official website said: Marcelino Garcia Toral has ceased to be the coach of Villar…
Sean Dyche is confident Burnley will learn from Monday s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in their first game back in the Premier League.
The newly promoted Lancashire club were always likely to be up against it against a Chelsea side who are many experts favourites for the title after a period of expensive close-season recruitment that saw the likes of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas arrive at Stamford Bridge.
And it was that pairing that made the difference at Turf Moor, Costa cancelling out Scott Arfield s14th-minute opener, before Fabregas showcased his quality by laying on goals for Andre Schurrle and Branislav Ivanovic.
Despite the defeat, Dyche was in philosophical mood and was quick to praise his players for the belief they demonstrated in Burnley s first Premier Leag…
Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo remains optimistic Diego Costa will rejoin the club, although he admits prising the Spain striker from Chelsea will be complicated.
Costa is still in his native Brazil having been told he has no future at Stamford Bridge and has been widely linked with a move back to Atletico, with whom he won LaLiga in 2014 before joining Chelsea.
Atletico s pursuit is muddied by the fact they cannot field new signings until January 1, 2018 due to a FIFA transfer embargo, meaning Costa will have to play the first half of the season elsewhere before switching to the capital.
Nevertheless, Cerezo remains unbowed and is still hopeful a deal can be struck.
He told Cadena Ser: He has a contract with another club, it’s a complicate…
David Dein cautiously avoided sharing his opinion on Arsene Wenger s future as he reflected fondly on Arsenal s Invincibles side of 2003-04 on Wednesday, joking that he would like to see that squad back at Emirates Stadium.
Wenger weathered a storm of criticism to agree a new two-year deal in May, despite the team failing to qualify for the Champions League.
But of the Premier League s established heavyweights, the Gunners have been deemed 2017-18 s early crisis club, a chaotic end to the transfer window having been followed by a thumping 4-0 loss away to direct rivals Liverpool prior to the international break.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was allowed to move to Anfield and Wenger failed to complete a late swoop for Monaco s Thomas Lemar, with the expected sale …