Tammy Abraham is glad he did not take the easy option by staying at Chelsea and is grateful for the trust put in him by Jose Mourinho since making the switch to Roma.
The 24-year-old joined Roma in a €40million (£34m) deal two months ago after struggling for playing time upon Thomas Tuchel s arrival at Stamford Bridge in January.
He has two goals and two assists from his first seven games with the Serie A side and has been hailed for embracing life in a new country, instantly making him a fan favourite.
Abraham had been on Chelsea s books since 2004, but he made just 82 appearances between his senior debut in May 2016 and his departure this August.
And after three separate spells out on loan, the England international was persuaded to leave west London…
Eden Hazard is determined to end his Chelsea career by guiding the Blues to Europa League glory against Arsenal on Wednesday.
The Belgium international is widely expected to move to LaLiga giants Real Madrid during the close season in a deal that could be worth €130million.
Hazard, who earlier this month confirmed he had decided his future and informed the club, could therefore make his final appearance for Maurizio Sarri s side against Arsenal in Baku.
And the 28-year-old has every intention of bowing out in style, telling reporters: When you play a final it does not matter whether it is the Champions League, Europa League or EFL Cup; you just want to win.
It is a European competition so for me, for the club, for the manager, for the fans, it is some…
Zlatko Dalic is set to rest players at risk of suspension when Croatia face familiar foes Iceland in a game his counterpart Heimir Hallgrimsson expects will be a typically uncompromising affair.
Croatia and Iceland are well acquainted with one another after meeting in a qualifying play-off for the 2014 World Cup, a tie won 2-0 on aggregate by the Balkan team to deny the minnows their first appearance at the tournament.
They were drawn in the same qualifying group for this year s event, and both progressed, although it was Iceland who finished two points above Croatia in top spot.
Dalic s side have already secured passage to the round of 16 courtesy of victories over Nigeria and Argentina, meaning he can afford to protect the six players at risk of suspension fo…
Michel Platini has suggested the draw for the 1998 FIFA World Cup was manufactured to enable hosts France to play defending champions Brazil in the final.
Three-time Ballon d Or winner Platini was joint-head of the organising committee for the tournament, held in France for the second time as they chased their first title.
Zinedine Zidane ultimately inspired Les Bleus to victory in the final, defeating Brazil 3-0 in a showdown that Platini now suggests was planned from the outset.
The group stage draw ensured the sides could not meet before the Stade de France showpiece as long as they topped their groups, setting up a dream clash.
When we organised the schedule, we used a little trickery, he told France Bleu. If we finished first in the group [Grou…
Should Kompany leave Etihad? / Image via eagle.co.ug
Belgium defender Vincent Kompany’s future at Manchester City has been placed under serious doubt with the 30-year-old struggling to return to fitness and prove himself to new manager Pep Guardiola.
As the Premier League preseason hots up it remains to be seen whether former Barcelona and Bayern Munich tactician can afford to wait on the experienced centre back as he intends to make Manchester City Premier League title contenders once again.
Manchester City are made firm favourites to win the Premier League with , but Guardiola is aware of the challenge that lies ahead. The Catalan will need to have all of his men fit and ready to fight against Manchester United and Chelsea who are expected to be a huge compe…
Erling Haaland s hat-trick was enough to see Manchester City end their pre-season tour of the United States with a 4-2 win over Chelsea in Ohio.
Haaland scored twice in the first five minutes before Oscar Bobb added City s third in the second half, with the Norweigan completing his treble soon after.
Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke took the shine off an otherwise impressive display from Pep Guardiola s side ahead of their Community Shield fixture against Manchester United next week.
A frantic start to proceedings saw Levi Colwill bring down Haaland in the box, and despite having to retake his spot kick, Haaland made no mistake with his second attempt.
City s lead was doubled a minute later when Moises Caicedo s loose pass was cut out by Haaland, who …
Liverpool star Sadio Mane revealed his parents told him his pursuit of a football career was a waste of time , right up until he signed his first contract.
Mane, 26, has developed into one of the key parts of a dangerous Liverpool attack, alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
But the Senegal international said his parents never believed a career in football was a possibility, urging him to instead try to become a teacher.
I was born in a village where there had never been a footballer who d made it in the major championships, Mane told Bleacher Report.
I remember that when I was little, my parents felt that I should study to become a teacher. They thought football was a waste of time and I d never succeed at it.
I always said: This is th…
Cristiano Ronaldo remains as motivated as ever to add to his legend after the Real Madrid star was named the best player in LaLiga for the 2015-16 season by Marca.
The 31-year-old won the Spanish newspaper s Alfredo Di Stefano award on Monday to celebrate his new five-year contract with the European champions.
And, having also won Euro 2016 with Portugal, Ronaldo still has the desire to get better.
[The 2015-16 season] was filled with many emotions with the Champions League and the European Championship, he said.
Today has also been a very special day with my contract renewal and a prize from Marca, what else I can ask for?
I m very happy. This motivates me to keep working and get better in the next few years.
Ronaldo also assessed w…
Raphael Varane is excited by the prospect of Manchester United making a new start under Erik ten Hag, with the 2018 World Cup winner hoping to enjoy a more successful second season at Old Trafford.
Four-time European champion Varane left Real Madrid to join United last August, but he endured a frustrating campaign as the Red Devils struggled to a sixth-placed finish after replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Ralf Rangnick.
Varane made 29 appearances in all competitions during his first season with United, only contributing to six clean sheets as the side finished with their lowest Premier League points tally yet (58).
But the appointment of former Ajax coach Ten Hag has raised hopes United can improve next term, and Varane has spoken of the squad s eagerness to …
Arsenal had to spend a club-record £105million to land England midfielder Rice from London rivals West Ham.
The Gunners smashed their biggest-ever spend by over £32million as manager Mikel Arteta hopes Rice can prove a missing part of the jigsaw, with the aim to take Arsenal from runners-up to Premier League champions this season.
Rice, 24, left West Ham having lifted the Europa Conference League trophy in his final game as captain and – having established himself as a key player at the London Stadium – it will be interesting to see if he can continue to impress at the very top level.
Moussa Diaby – Aston Villa
Unai Emery turned Villa’s season around when he was appointed as Steven Gerrard’s replacement October.
Villa went from relegation can…