Abidal to return to training following illness

Bastian Schweinsteiger is being heavily linked with a move to the MLS

According to MLS commissioner Don Garber, former-Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger would be a welcome addition to the league he runs.

Talking about Schweinsteiger Garber told Kicker: Of course we follow Bastian s situation,

He s an old acquaintance in the United States, for example through the 2014 World Cup, when he played against the U.S. team. He also played against the MLS All-Stars with Bayern in 2014.

We would welcome Bastian with open arms. He would be a leader for our many young players.

Unlikely to play for United

Schweinsteiger is currently out-of-favour at Manchester United. The 32-year-old has struggled to make any impact at the Red Devils sin…

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery feels Antoine Griezmann needs to perform at the highest level over a longer period of time before he can be described as a world-class player.

Griezmann has developed into one of the game s brightest talents since joining Atletico Madrid in 2014 and is among the favourites to win the Ballon d Or following an impressive Euro 2016 campaign with France.

Nevertheless, Ribery feels his compatriot still has work to do before he can match the very best.

Griezmann did a great job last season, Ribery told Sport Bild.

But you have to consistently show performances like that if you want to be world class. People are so quick to say someone is a fantastic player and deserves to win the Ballon d Or after just one good year. I disag…

The Vancouver Whitecaps found another gear in the second half of Wednesday s home game against the Los Angeles Galaxy, finding the back of the net three times after the break in the 3-0 win.

It was all Galaxy in the first half, controlling 71 per cent of the possession while not allowing a single shot on target, but that all changed after what must have been an inspired half-time team talk in the Vancouver dressing room.

While Los Angeles still had the bulk of the possession in the second half (64 per cent), it was the Whitecaps generating the chances, with six shots on target to the Galaxy s two.

It took a corner to produce the opening goal, with an initial sharp header from close range being saved by Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, before Ryan Gauld was able t…

Serie A s runaway leaders Inter Milan permitted experienced Brazilian striker Mancini to move on loan to bitter city rivals AC Milan on Monday with an option to buy him outright.

The 29-year-old has failed to break into the Inter first team since arriving from AS Roma in the summer of 2008 and has appeared only seven times for the Italian champions this season all as a substitute at the end of the matches.

Mancini, who was also strongly courted by French giants Marseille, came to Inter on the back of several impressive seasons at Roma where they had twice finished runners-up behind Inter in the title race and reached the last eight of the Champions League on two occasions.

Mancini will join several compatriots at AC who are second in the league table eight point…

The Spanish Football Federation has confirmed Barcelona will face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final in their own stadium, the Camp Nou, on May 30.

Both sides had hoped for the competition s showpiece to be held at The Santiago Bernabeu, home to Real Madrid, after they booked their places in the final earlier this month.

However, Barca s own ground will host the match that will bring the curtain down on the Spanish domestic season – and could see Luis Enrique s side complete a league and cup double.

Barca won their only previous Copa del Rey final at Camp Nou in 1963, and are looking for a first cup success since 2012 – when they met Bilbao in the final.

For the Basque side, who have won the tournament 23 times, it is a third final in six y…

Barcelona star Luis Suarez insists his contract renewal with the LaLiga giants is on track.

The Uruguayan has a deal until mid-2019, but reports suggest he will extend his stay by two or three seasons.

Suarez, 29, said he was excited to continue his career with Barca, the club he joined in 2014.

I look forward to helping my team with goals, he told a news conference while on international duty with Uruguay on Tuesday.

The contract renewal with Barcelona is on track.

I want to continue at the club, winning titles.

Suarez has already won two LaLiga crowns, two Copa del Reys and a Champions League with Barca.

…

Rhyan Grant scored his first international goal as Australia sealed a 10th consecutive World Cup qualifying win with a 1-0 victory over Vietnam.

The defender nodded home in the 43rd minute after Ajdin Hrustic s searching cross picked him out at the back post.

It maintained the Socceroos perfect qualifying record on the road to Qatar 2022.

Grant was an unlikely match-winner, opening his account on the occasion of his 14th cap with what proved to be the visitors only shot on target at an empty My Dinh Stadium.

43 GOAALLLL!!!! heads home his first international goal and we lead in Hanoi!!

 0-1  

— Socceroos (@Socceroos)

Despite appearing a little shot-shy on this outing, Graham Arnold s men have scored 32 goals in their …

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has clarified his stance on the Germany job.

Klopp ruled himself out of contention for the international role last week after incumbent Joachim Low announced he would depart after Euro 2020.

That remains the case, with Klopp committed to Liverpool.

But after seeing some of the reaction to his comments, the 53-year-old stressed he was not ruling himself out forever and that it was simply a question of timing.

The important thing is: I didn t say that I didn t want to become a national coach, but that I couldn t – that is a huge difference, Klopp said to Sport Bild. 

It would without question be a great honour [to take on the legacy left by Low].

But this is my sixth year in Liverpool and there is a very cle…

Adem Ljajic has yet to decide whether he wishes to remain at Fiorentina, the club s sporting director Daniele Prade has revealed.

The 21-year-old is reportedly on the radar of a number of Europe s top sides, having starred at the Stadio Artemio Franchi since his arrival from Partizan Belgrade in January 2010.

But Prade is keen for a quick resolution to the matter, and has explained that a new contract is on the table for the Serbia international.

We are working on a renewal with Ljajic, but he has to prove that he wants to stay. If not, the doors are open, he said.

We are a strong club and we expect the player to tell us what he wants to do.

And the club s head coach Vincenzo Montella has admitted that the player has appeared distracted by the uncertainty…

Leeds United manager Brian McDermott has issued a hands-off warning to clubs interested in signing striker Ross McCormack.

The Scotland international is reportedly a transfer target of several clubs, with Middlesbrough and Blackpool said to have tabled bids for the player.

But the 26-year-old – who is contracted at Elland Road until 2015 – will be going nowhere according to McDermott.

McDermott said after United s 2-1 League Cup win over Chesterfield on Wednesday: Ross wants to stay. I want him to stay. He s staying.

There s been a couple of offers for him knocked back.

He loves it at Leeds. He loves the fans. He s not for sale.

McCormack scored in Leeds 2-1 Championship win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

The former Rangers and …