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Raphael Varane: Former Manchester United, Real Madrid and France defender retires aged 31

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Raphael Varane: Former Manchester United, Real Madrid and France defender retires aged 31


Former Manchester United, Real Madrid and France defender Raphael Varane has retired from football at the age of 31.

Varane joined Italian side Como on a free transfer in July but suffered a knee injury on his debut against Sampdoria last month.

The centre-back says he will stay at the club in a non-playing role.

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“I hold myself to the highest standard, I want to go out strong, not just holding on to the game,” he wrote on Instagram. “It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct.”

Varane began his career at French side Lens but spent just one season in the first team before joining Real Madrid in 2011.

He enjoyed a glittering 10-year career in the Spanish capital, winning 18 trophies – including three La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.

The defender moved to Old Trafford in the summer 2021 for an initial £34m, going on to make 95 appearances in all competitions.

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He won the Carabao Cup in 2022 and his final appearance for the club was an FA Cup final victory over rivals Manchester City at Wembley in May.

Varane made his France debut in 2013 and earned 93 caps, winning the World Cup in 2018, the Nations League in 2021 and reaching the World Cup final again in 2022.

“I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it’s the moment to stop and hang my boots up with my final game winning a trophy at Wembley,” he said.

“I have no regrets, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have won more than I could have even dreamed of, but beyond the accolades and trophies, I am proud that no matter what, I have stuck to my principles of being sincere and have tried to leave everywhere better than I found it. I hope I have made you all proud.”

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Man City lay down marker in Champions League win over Barca

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Man City lay down marker in Champions League win over Barca


Former Manchester United goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain described City’s win as a “huge statement” to Europe’s elite.

“They didn’t just win by luck, they didn’t just rely on their goalkeeper to keep them in it, they fully deserved to win the game and win the game comfortably,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“That is going to give them so much confidence in any competition they are playing in this season.

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“It’s a huge statement, a brilliant performance, a brilliant result and one that will remain in their record books and will be talked about for a long, long time.”

From the start, City pressed Barcelona and put pressure on the defence and goalkeeper Cata Coll.

As well as Layzell’s aggression down the right, Lauren Hemp was a constant threat on the left, Khadija Shaw was through the centre and Yui Hasegawa was a strong foundation in midfield.

Barcelona, usually so composed and intimidating, were not allowed to settle and though they improved in the second half, they were caught out by Layzell’s well-timed pass for Shaw which confirmed City’s victory with just over 10 minutes to go.

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“But if you want to talk about winning competitions and tournaments, it needs to be sustained. It can’t be a one-off performance,” Chamberlain added.

“It’s got to be maintained. That’s the challenge that faces them now. Can you maintain this week in, week out?”



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Football gossip: Muani, Saliba, Osimhen, Costa, Chilwell, Zubimendi, Pogba

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Football gossip: Muani, Saliba, Osimhen, Costa, Chilwell, Zubimendi, Pogba


Manchester United prepare a move for Randal Kolo Muani, Real Madrid are targeting Arsenal’s William Saliba, while Chelsea remain interested in Victor Osimhen.

Manchester United have prepared a £58.6m offer for Paris St-Germain’s 25-year-old France forward Randal Kolo Muani. (Fichajes, via Teamtalk), external

Real Madrid want to sign Arsenal and France defender William Saliba as a “top priority” in 2025, with Los Blancos already in contact with the 23-year-old. (Le 10 Sport – in French), external

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Galatasaray will look to make Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen’s loan move from Napoli permanent, while Chelsea remain interested. However, the 25-year-old will cost £68m in January or £63m next summer. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian), external

Manchester City are considering Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, 25, as a replacement for Ederson, but the Portugal stopper will cost £63m. (Caught Offside), external

Manchester United have made Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell, 27, a top target for January. (Teamtalk, external)

Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi has reiterated his desire to stay at Real Sociedad despite speculation of interest from Manchester City. (Mirror), external

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Crystal Palace will step up their pursuit of Hammarby’s 18-year-old Ivorian forward Bazoumana Toure, who is also of interest to Manchester United and Celtic. (Give Me Sport) , external

Arsenal will still target a striker in the January transfer window, despite the promising start to the season made by Germany forward Kai Havertz, 25. (Football Insider), external

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, 33, is next in line for a new contract after the club secured the long-term future of France centre-back Ibrahima Konate, 25. (Teamtalk, external)

Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United are all interested in Aston Villa’s 23-year-old England youth midfielder Jacob Ramsey. (Give Me Sport), external

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Newcastle might sell England striker Callum Wilson, 32, in January to facilitate a move for a new forward. (Football Insider), external

Marseille are in advanced talks to sign France midfielder Paul Pogba, 31, who can play again from March after a four-year ban for a doping offence was reduced to 18 months. (Mirror), external

Pogba will have his Juventus contract terminated following his doping ban. (Fabrizio Romano), external



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Stephanie Zambra: Puskas Award runner-up announces retirement

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Stephanie Zambra: Puskas Award runner-up announces retirement


Former Republic of Ireland striker Stephanie Zambra has announced her retirement from football.

The 35-year-old won 58 Republic of Ireland caps and scored 14 international goals.

Under her maiden name Roche, she went viral in 2013 after scoring a superb goal for Peamount United against Wexford Youths.

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The goal, which saw her twice flick the ball before volleying it into the top corner, saw her finish second in the Puskas Award the following year behind Colombia’s James Rodriguez.

After featuring for a number of clubs in the Republic of Ireland, Zambra had stints with ASPTT Albi in France, Houston Dash in the USA, Sunderland and Fiorentina.

She returned home in 2020 with Peamount and signed for Shamrock Rovers in 2022.

Her final match will be Shamrock Rovers’ final league game of the season against Shelbourne on Saturday.

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“From kicking a ball around the streets of Shanganagh Cliffs to scoring goals for my country, I can truly say that football has given me enough memories to last a lifetime,” Zambra posted on social media.

“I hope that I’ve been able to inspire girls and show that dreams can come true with a bit of luck, lot of persistence and the self belief that you are good enough to become the best version of yourself.”



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Ben Doak: Scotland winger on Liverpool, Middlesbrough & making difference

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Ben Doak: Scotland winger on Liverpool, Middlesbrough & making difference


Doak was selected for the initial Euro 2024 squad and many felt his pace and creativity offered a point of difference in a group that ultimately proved to have a dearth of both at the finals in Germany.

Injury struck again at the worst possible moment and Doak was left to watch the action unfold back home.

“It was gutting, of course,” he said. “The injury wasn’t too serious, but I just came back a little bit too early.

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“Watching the games just kind of drove me on more to try and get in the squad. I’d like to think I would have made a bit of a difference.”

Scotland captain Andy Robertson – a club-mate at Liverpool – warned before of the Euros of heaping too much pressure on Doak’s shoulders at such a young age.

The player himself says he tries to block out any hype that exists around him.

“It’s all well and good when everyone’s bigging you up, but it can be the same people smacking you down when you don’t play well,” said Doak, who could make his first start against Croatia on Saturday.

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“I don’t take notice of the negatives or the positives. Early on, I fell into that and started putting pressure on myself because of what other people were saying.

“But that doesn’t help you, or your team. So it’s easier to just close your mind off to it and not look. Just relax, take it easy, and go and enjoy your football.”

Scotland’s long-standing problems in attack were laid bare in the Euros, with just one goal in three group matches.

Injuries to Tommy Conway and Lawrence Shankland have further dented Clarke’s attacking options for the games with Croatia in Zagreb and Portugal at Hampden.

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And while Doak has been deployed mostly wide in recent times, he believes he provides a different option through the middle.

“I’d be comfortable doing it,” he said. “I played number nine in the youth teams so I think I’d be able to do a job that gives us something different to what we’ve got.”



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Jurgen Klopp: Borussia Dortmund fans riled by Red Bull move

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Jurgen Klopp: Borussia Dortmund fans riled by Red Bull move


Jurgen Klopp’s reputation among supporters in Germany is taking a hit after his appointment as head of global soccer at Red Bull.

The Austrian energy drinks producer has landed a public relations coup by hiring one of the most respected figures in German and European football.

Beginning in January, Klopp will oversee all footballing developments within the company.

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In 2009, though, Red Bull caused controversy in German football when it took over fifth-division club SSV Markranstadt and turned it into RB Leipzig.

Currently, Red Bull owns Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, Brazilian club Red Bull Bragantino and recently acquired a stake in Leeds United. It is also financing RB Leipzig while not technically owning the Bundesliga club.

Klopp, who left Liverpool at the end of last season after “running out of energy”, has received a lot of criticism for joining the Austrians – especially among fans of his former club Borussia Dortmund.

German Football Association (DFB) laws state German clubs must operate on a ’50+1′ rule, meaning members – essentially fans – own the majority of shares and can influence decisions such as ticket prices.

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Rivals feel RB Leipzig exploited the system by having just 17 members with voting rights – most are directly linked to Red Bull – and got around a law stating teams must not be named after sponsors by officially calling the club RasenBallsport Leipzig, which translates as LawnBallsport Leipzig.

RB are often referred to as the “most hated club in Germany” and have faced regular protests by opposition fans, ranging from boycotting games to the arrest of 28 Borussia Dortmund fans for throwing cans and stones at rival supporters in 2017.

Borussia Dortmund have been critical of the rise of clubs such as Leipzig that have very little tradition and are accused of being used as marketing vehicles.

Klopp has also been critical of the multi-club model, saying in 2017: “I’m a football romantic and I like tradition in football and all that stuff. In Germany, only two clubs sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before the game – and that is Mainz and Dortmund.”

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Given Klopp’s history with Dortmund, where he worked from 2008 to 2015, supporters of the club were particularly upset on social media with their long-time hero.

“How much can one squander their reputation within a second?” one user posted on X after the news of Klopp’s appointment on Wednesday morning.

Another wrote: “I have something positive from the Klopp message for you: In Dortmund, it is now finally possible to emotionally close the Jurgen Klopp era. No more nostalgic moaning that is hindering the current sporting process.”

Others have accused him of being a “hypocrite” and “selling out”.

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Meanwhile, some made fun of Klopp’s statement in February when he announced he would leave Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season as he felt he was running out of energy, saying that he will not run out of energy anymore with enough Red Bull drinks.



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Why there is silence on Ten Hag's Man Utd future

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Why there is silence on Ten Hag's Man Utd future



A six-hour Manchester United board meeting concluded on Tuesday with Erik ten Hag still in position as the club’s manager. Why has there been no comment on his future from the club?



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