Verdi wants Bologna stay amid Napoli links

A government inquiry into the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) has been ordered regarding the handling of an investigation into alleged doping activities by a British doctor, who is claimed to have said he prescribed performance-enhancing drugs to 150 sportspeople, including Premier League footballers.

The Sunday Times has said that London-based doctor Mark Bonar was secretly filmed stating that footballers, cyclists and tennis players were among athletes he had treated with banned substances.

There is no suggestion that any Premier League clubs were aware of any alleged wrongdoing, while the newspaper acknowledged it had no independent evidence of Bonar treating the players.

The British government has called for an urgent inquiry into the actions of UKA…

Simone Inzaghi believes the video assistant referee (VAR) system has cost Lazio seven points in Serie A after they were denied a penalty upon review in a 0-0 draw against Inter.

Official Gianluca Rocchi initially awarded Lazio a 61st-minute penalty when Milan Skriniar s block of a Ciro Immobile cross ricocheted against his arm.

However, following a VAR referral, Rocchi overturned the decision and Inzaghi s side missed out on a chance to score a potentially decisive goal.

After the system worked in the favour of Fiorentina and Torino in previous Lazio matches, the frustrated coach feels it is not applied consistently, though he acknowledged the right decision was reached this time around.

With the two points form today, we would ve had an extra seven po…

A delighted Sergio Busquets conceded Barcelona were lucky to come away with a dramatic 1-0 win at Valencia on Sunday.

The midfielder scrambled in a 94th-minute winner from close range to see Barca to their victory at the Mestalla.

Busquets, who netted after Neymar s header was kept out by Diego Alves, said Luis Enrique s men were lucky to get their late chance.

We were very fortunate to get that chance in the last minute. It makes us feel delighted after a very hard struggle, Busquets told television reporters.

We knew it was going to be difficult and it certainly was, but we kept fighting until the end.

The goal was Busquets first in La Liga since September 2013, when he struck against Real Sociedad.

Barca s win lifted them to within …

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey believes the club s chances of winning the title next season depend on keeping Robin van Persie at the club.

The Premier League Golden Boot winner only has one year remaining on his contract with the Gunners, and discussions regarding a new 130,000-pound-a-week deal have reportedly hit a brick wall.

Some of Europe s top sides, including Manchester City and Barcelona, are said to be very interested in luring the Dutchman away from the Emirates Stadium, and have the finances available to meet Van Persie s wage demands.

It s important we keep Robin if we seriously want to be title contenders, Ramsey said.

He has proven this season what his value is to the team with the goals he has scored. It s important to keep those sort …

Cesc Fabregas will get the chance to test his belief that Arsenal can revolutionise European football when his side take on Juventus and Real Madrid in the Emirates Cup this weekend.

Fabregas believes Arsene Wenger s side have the potential to match the legendary Ajax team of the 1970s, who won three successive European Cups with a breath-taking style unlike anything that had gone before.

Johan Cruyff, Piet Keizer, Ruud Krol and company were pioneers of a brand of total football that is still spoken of in hushed tones to this day.

Few teams could hope to come close to that standard but Fabregas is convinced Arsenal are within touching distance of emulating the Dutch club.

Arsene Wenger s side, who play Juventus in the four-team pre-season tournament …

Rumoured Milan, Napoli and Bologna target Zlatan Ibrahimovic would increase the appeal of Serie A, according to Mino Raiola, though his agent insisted a return to Italy is not a foregone conclusion.

Ibrahimovic is a free agent after leaving LA Galaxy following two seasons in MLS, and the former Juventus, Inter and Milan striker hinted he was heading back to Serie A when he said see you soon in Italy earlier this week.

However, Ibrahimovic s agent stressed his client could still join a club in another country

It s not been said that he will necessarily return to Italy, Raiola told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Which of the three interested clubs will he choose? Who knows, we re all free men.

Could he retire? I m not going to exclude anything but it i…

Verdict: Real Madrid win and both teams to score

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Simply looking to end their season on a high, Real Madrid will welcome Real Betis to the Bernabeu for their last fixture of the 2018/2019 La Liga campaign.

Real Madrid

Starting with the hosts, coming off the back of another worrying display in their 3-1 loss away at Real Sociedad last weekend, it has been an incredibly inconsistent season for Real Madrid. Having to settle for a third-place finish behind both Barcelona and Atletico, Los Blancos look set to end their campaign 18 points adrift of the La Liga champions. Despite picking up just one victory in their last four appearances, Zinedine Zidane s side have arguably saved their best performances for the Spanish capital. Sunda…

Liverpool have announced that their net debt has increased by 21.8 million pounds to 87.2 million pounds for the 2011-12 financial year.

Liverpool have announced that their net debt has increased by 21.8 million pounds to 87.2 million pounds for the 2011-12 financial year.

The figures account for the period between August 1 2011 to May 31 2012 to coincide with the English football season and include 9.5 million pounds in exceptional payments related to stadium project costs, general restructuring costs the departure of senior employees, according to a statement on the club s website.

The club say that turnover increased during the equivalent 12-month period due to a rise in the amount of domestic fixtures played Liverpool reached the FA Cup final and won the L…

FA Cup runners-up Hull City are closing in on the signing of Norwich City midfielder Robert Snodgrass, .

The 26 year old scored six goals in thirty league appearances last season, but was unable to help the Canaries avoid relegation to the Championship after three seasons back in the top-flight.

He moved to Carrow Road in the summer of 2012 having spent four years with Leeds United, while he began his career in his native Scotland with Livingston.

Hull, who are preparing for a first ever season in Europe, have already secured the services of midfielder Jake Livermore on a permanent basis from Tottenham Hotspur this summer, while they have also been strongly linked with a move for his old Spurs teammate Michael Dawson.

Norwich, who begin next season …

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, who spent the best part of his playing career as an Arsenal attacker, believes Chelsea have the quality to knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League.

That s quite a statement, one that might come back to haunt the 54-year-old severely next month.

“I think Chelsea are a dangerous football team. I do expect them to beat Real Madrid over two legs.

Paul Merson says he thinks Chelsea will beat Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

— Football Daily (@footballdaily)

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