Roma have confirmed the arrival of Steven N Zonzi from Sevilla, with the France international signing a four-year deal with the Serie A club.

The World Cup winner was strongly linked with a move away for the best part of two years and appears to have finally got his wish, linking up again with Monchi, Sevilla s former sporting director, in the Italian capital.

Monchi was the man who originally brought N Zonzi to Spain from Stoke City, and after departing England he developed into one of LaLiga s best midfielders.

But, despite turning 30 in December, N Zonzi still has designs on developing as a player after Roma spent an initial €26.65million to sign him, though the final fee could rise by a further €4m depending on performance-related clauses.

N Zo…

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Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways this weekend, Wales will welcome Mexico to Cardiff for a friendly showdown on Saturday night.

Wales

Starting with the hosts, despite picking up what was a shock lead out in Belgium earlier in the week, The Dragons could not open their World Cup qualifying campaign with a stunning victory on foreign soil. Eventually overpowered by the European heavyweights and hit with a 3-1 defeat, caretaker manager Robert Page will be looking for his temporary squad to bounce immediately back this weekend. Still with their sights firmly set on reaching their first World Cup Finals since 1958, The Reds have gained plenty of plaudits for their improvements over the past two years. In fact, their defea…

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has been released from hospital following the head injury he suffered during Sunday s 3-1 FA Cup semi-final loss to Chelsea, Stats Perform News understands.

Bailly clashed heads with fellow centre-back Harry Maguire late in the first half at Wembley, shortly after a collision with Chelsea s Kurt Zouma.

Maguire was able to carry on with a bandaged head but Bailly was helped to the touchline after lengthy treatment and carried down the tunnel on a stretcher.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer later said the 26-year-old had gone to hospital for routine checks and protocols , which it would now appear produced no adverse findings.

Football Association and Premier League guidance states players who are suspected to have…

Manchester City became the first team in Champions League history to lead an away knockout game by four goals at half-time after a blistering opening 45 minutes against Sporting CP. 

Riyad Mahrez got City on their way after seven minutes on Tuesday before Bernardo Silva doubled their advantage with a sublime half-volley 10 minutes later. 

Phil Foden added a third shortly after the half-hour mark as City s dominance continued. 

Silva then netted his second shortly before the interval as Pep Guardiola s side wrote their names into the record books once again.

Man City are having fun in Lisbon so far this evening.

Only against Leicester City on Boxing Day in the Premier League (2.43) have they posted a higher xG in the first half of a match in 2…

While it will not be the main item on the agenda, it is fair to say that Manchester United s centre-back strength will be under the microscope in Wednesday s Europa League final against Villarreal.

Of course, any apparent issues at the back will be drowned out – at least initially – if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer guides United to their first piece of silverware during his tenure.

However, as the game approaches, it is at the heart of their defence where United s biggest problem lies, with Harry Maguire unlikely to be fit for the game.

Love him or loathe him, there is little doubt Maguire has been United s best – and certainly most present – centre-back since he joined the club in 2019, with the defeat to his former club Leicester City earlier this month the firs…

Sven-Goran Eriksson paid an affectionate tribute to Sinisa Mihajlovic as Italian football mourned an adopted son, saying his former Lazio star was a fabulous player who it was impossible to dislike.

Mihajlovic was part of Eriksson s Lazio team that won the 1999-2000 Serie A title, with his set-piece prowess, fierce tackling and combative attitude making Mihajlovic a standout figure in that era.

His death was announced by his family on Friday, with Mihajlovic succumbing to leukaemia at the age of 53.

As well as playing spells in Italy with Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter, Mihajlovic was a European Cup winner in 1991 with Red Star Belgrade and a long-time Yugoslavia international.

His free-kicks were among the best in the game, and he later took to coachin…

Gianluigi Buffon has hailed Juventus supporters for the  infinite affection they have shown him as the goalkeeper prepares for the curtain to come down on his career with the Turin club.

Buffon re-joined Juve two years ago having spent 2018-19 at Paris Saint-Germain, but over the course of his second spell he has been second choice to Wojciech Szczesny.

The 43-year-old, who won 176 caps for Italy between 1997 and 2018, recently announced he will leave the Bianconeri at the end of the season but has not yet decided if he will continue playing or retire.

The veteran keeper could make his final appearance for Juventus in Sunday s Serie A clash with Bologna, with Andrea Pirlo s side battling to finish in the top four and secure Champions League football next season…

Simone Inzaghi bemoaned Inter s 2-1 loss to fierce rivals Milan and admitted his players learned a tough lesson as the Scudetto title race was blown wide open.

Inter were heading seven points clear at the top of Serie A with a game in hand after Ivan Perisic s first-half volley put them in control of Saturday s Derby della Madonnina.

The Nerazzurri continued to dominate for large parts of the match and would have been further ahead if not for Mike Maignan, who pulled off four big saves in the first half.

However, Inter were punished for failing to kill off the contest when Olivier Giroud scored a quickfire double at San Siro in his first taste of this famous fixture.

Giroud slid in at the back post to level up the game on 75 minutes and added a second thr…

Mesut Ozil captaining Arsenal is a miracle , according to Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness.

With Laurent Koscielny out through injury, Ozil was named in a group of co-captains by new Arsenal head coach Unai Emery, though he was substituted in Saturday s Premier League loss at Chelsea.

The midfielder quit international football in the wake of Germany s shock World Cup exit at the group stage, suggesting he faced discrimination over his Turkish heritage.

Ozil, along with Germany team-mate Ilkay Gundogan, was strongly criticised before the World Cup after being photographed with Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Feeling proud to be captain today. Good win and another fantastic support here in Singapore

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil10…

Barcelona keen on Rakitic

that Barcelona are keeping close tabs on Sevilla captain Ivan Rakitic.

The Catalans are hoping to sign a long-term replacement for veteran midfielder Xavi Hernandez and the Croatian is reportedly one of the first names on their hit-list.

Barcelona scouts have watched the 25-year-old in action on several occasions this season and they are convinced he would be a great signing for the club.

Rakitic is currently in the process of negotiating a new deal with Sevilla as his current contract is due to expire in June 2015, but his wage demands are proving to be obstacle to any agreement.

The Croatia international also want his release clause to be lowered from €40m to €25m, which is enough to suggest he is hoping for a big…