Sheffield United 0-2 Newcastle United: Saint-Maximin and Shelvey on target

Patrick Vieira said Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa deserves to be part of France s Euro 2012 campaign.

Despite sustaining a broken leg in 2010, the French midfielder has produced some eye-catching performances for the Magpies, particularly his stunning solo goal against Bolton Wanderers on Monday.

The 25-year-old has made just eight international appearances for France but Vieira believes that manager Laurent Blanc should include him in his squad for this year s Euro 2012 campaign.

(Hatem) Ben Arfa deserves to go to the European Championship, he told The Mirror.

“He has very strong claims to go, and you ve got to say well done to him for coming back to his best after his injuries.”

Ben Arfa s manager, Alan Pardew, echoed Vieira s wor…

Troubled Brazilian striker Adriano plans to sue former club Corinthians after claims he was held prisoner at a training camp.

Adriano was released by Corinthians in March following an injury-plagued stint and has publicly stated his desire to return to Flamengo, who are considering signing the free agent.

In an interview on Brazilian television, Adriano criticised Corinthians strict training regime.

I will take (legal) action (against Corinthians), Adriano told Globo TV.

I was in prison for one week. At no time did I agree to stay there. It was a punishment. I felt so humiliated.

Adriano joined Italian side Roma in 2010 but was sacked just seven months into his three-year contract before arriving at Corinthians.

I really did not take…

Erik ten Hag says there can be no excuse for Manchester United s unacceptable second-half display after they let a two-goal lead slip in Saturday s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Jadon Sancho s third goal of pre-season and a Matty Cash own goal put United in a commanding position at half-time in the friendly at Optus Stadium in Perth.

But the Red Devils were unable to see out a fourth win in four outings, as Leon Bailey pulled one back and Calum Chambers headed in a 93rd-minute leveller.

While disappointed his side dropped off after the break, Ten Hag is glad it happened in a friendly rather than in a competitive contest.

I said in the dressing room, a drop of focus is unacceptable, but I m happy because now I can tell them it cannot happen [again], he sai…

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has had successful surgery on his ankle in Amsterdam, the club confirmed in a statement on Monday.

Initial indications are that the procedure was successful, United said after the Portuguese star went under the knife in an op which could see the 23-year-old miss the start of the new season.

Cristiano will begin his convalescence under the direction of club medical staff and an estimation of his return to full fitness will be possible following review by the specialist in one month, United said in their statement.

Earlier, Johan Kortenray, press spokesman at the Amsterdam hospital where the striker is being treated, indicated that Ronaldo would likely be allowed to go home on Tuesday.

The operation, carried o…

Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde opened the door for Arturo Vidal s departure in January, acknowledging the LaLiga champions have a lot of midfielders.

Vidal has been linked with a move to Serie A outfit Inter as the Barcelona midfielder struggles for regular game time at Camp Nou.

The 32-year-old Chilean has made 14 appearances across all competitions this season, though only four have been starts.

Speaking ahead of Saturday s match against Real Mallorca, Valverde told reporters: Vidal is our player. We are happy with him. There are so many rumours. We will see tomorrow if he plays or not.

And when the January transfer window arrives, we will see what happens.

Ernesto Valverde on

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

There s …

Newcastle United have not approached Derby County about manager Steve McClaren replacing Alan Pardew, according to the Championship club.

Derby sit third in the second-tier Championship after 24 rounds, three points behind leaders Bournemouth and two adrift of second-placed Ipswich Town, with McClaren having led the East Midlands outfit to 42 wins from 70 games since joining the club in September 2013.

McClaren s side have led the Championship at the end of six rounds this season.

That form, which could see Derby return to the Premier League for the first time since 2007-08, has prompted speculation McClaren might be snapped up by higher-profile clubs, with Newcastle looking for a new manager after Pardew moved to Crystal Palace on Friday.

But Derby chief…

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded his third Ballon d Or after a stunning 2014 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Portugal captain Ronaldo has been honoured following a year in which he broke the record for UEFA Champions League goals in a single season, scoring 17 in the 2013-14 edition as Real finally captured La Decima.

The former Manchester United man also shared the European Golden Shoe with Luis Suarez for his 31 La Liga goals last term despite being often hampered by injuries. 

Although Ronaldo could not help Portugal beyond the group stage of the World Cup, his 61 goals for club and country in 2014 served as a clear demonstration of why he is worthy of football s biggest individual prize for a second successive year.

He said when accepti…

Real Madrid have reportedly identified Napoli s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Borussia Dortmund s Jude Bellingham and Manchester City s Joao Cancelo as their three primary targets in a €300million plan.

The Spanish giants have been pursuing 19-year-old Bellingham for months, while 22-year-old Kvaratskhelia has emerged as one of world football s breakout prospects during his first Serie A season.

Cancelo s future with City is also up in the air after Pep Guardiola allowed him to be loaned to Bayern Munich, with the German club hesitant to make the move permanent.

They could be three of the biggest names to move in the upcoming transfer window, and Madrid are said to want to bring them all to LaLiga instead of resuming the chase for Paris Saint-Germain s Kylian Mbappe.<…

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Christophe Galtier confirmed Kylian Mbappe s absence from their Ligue 1 opener was precautionary, with the star striker set to return next week.

The France international sat out the first game of PSG s title defence just under a week on from missing their Trophee des Champions triumph over Nantes.

Mbappe s absence was not particularly felt on Saturday, as a Lionel Messi double and a superb four-goal-involvement performance from Neymar helped PSG to a 5-0 rout of Clermont Foot.

But speaking to Canal+ afterwards, Galtier has assuaged fears the 23-year-old could be a long-term absentee, acknowledging he could have risked him had it been a high-stakes game.

Asked if Mbappe could be back next weekend, Galtier said: Yes, I think s…

Competition: Champions League

Market: Chelsea to beat Barcelona

Odds:

The Champions League is back this week for yet another massive round of games that will surely only bring more exciting actions as Europe s top teams lock horns once again. With this in mind, there is a heavyweight clash on Tuesday as Premier League side Chelsea host La Liga s Barcelona.

Chelsea were fairly good in the campaign in the group-stages but their inability to win their final game saw the London side finish in second-place. After six games they won three, drew two and lost once, scoring 16 and conceding eight. In their last five they won twice, drew twice and lost once which saw them onto 11 points. Roma were able to pip Chelsea to first as they were unable to defea…