Shinji Kagawa is focused on performing for Japan at the FIFA World Cup rather than impressing new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal.
The arrival of the Dutchman could give Kagawa a new lease of life after a frustrating campaign under David Moyes, but the Japan international is concentrating on helping his country out of Group C in Brazil first and foremost.
Kagawa only made 14 starts in the Premier League last season but does not believe there is added pressure on him to impress his new boss in the World Cup.
,And the former Borussia Dortmund man and is confident he can rise to the occasion on the big stage in Brazil.
I m not using the World Cup as a place to showcase myself for (van Gaal), said the 25-year-old. I ll deal with that after this tournament is…
Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City in a club-record transfer.
The Midlands club saw off competition from Arsenal to sign the 24-year-old for a fee believed to be in the region of £35million with a further £5m of add-ons also included in the deal.
Reacting to the news, Villa manager Dean Smith told the club s official website: Emiliano has just completed an outstanding season in a Championship-winning Norwich side with 31 combined goals and assists and was named Player of the Season across the league.
He is equally capable as a wide attacker or as a number 10 and is a great addition to our attacking options. We are delighted to have made such an exciting signing so early in the summer and look forward to Emi joining up …
Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning have rejected reports they made an offer worth ¥1billion (€8.8m) for Inter defender Yuto Nagatomo.
The Japan international, 30, has been with Inter since 2011 and signed a new contract earlier this year to tie him to San Siro until June 2019.
Reports in Japan had suggested Jiangsu were looking to make Nagatomo their latest big-money signing following moves for the likes of Alex Teixeira and Ramires.
However, Jiangsu insist they are happy to stick with the high-profile players they have already brought in from overseas.
Contrary to Japanese media reports, Jiangsu Suning football club would like to clarify that no offer was made to Japan international Yuto Nagatomo regarding a move in the winter transfer window…
Palermo striker Abel Hernandez has revealed he is hoping to join a big European club in the summer transfer window.
The Uruguayan was expected to leave the Rosanero last summer after the club were relegated to Serie B, but he ultimately decided to stay on for another season.
But, having finally kick-started his career, the 23-year-old admits he is likely to leave Palermo at the end of the current campaign.
I dream of Newcastle, Real or Atletico for the future, Hernandez confessed to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
(In the summer) I decided to stay because I owed it to (Palermo owner) Maurizio Zamparini and the fans.
Hernandez joined Palermo from Penarol in January 2009 and he showed a lot of promise at the start of his career at Stadio Renzo Barbera.…
Cagliari coach Claudio Ranieri has called for his side to be calm when they take on AC Milan looking to kickstart their Serie A campaign.
Defeat at Atalanta on Sunday was a third in five league games for Ranieri’s side, who sit second bottom of the table.
Cagliari, promoted last season, have scored just one goal in September and have only two points on the board.
Vittoria dei padroni di casa.
— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio)
Ranieri, though, is confident results will follow if his side can produce the right mindset.
“The boys are working well, we must move forward with confidence, without fear of making mistakes and doing what we prepare,” Ranieri told reporters.
“We expected a tough start, the schedule is clear, we…
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In a showdown between two sides who find themselves battling it out at opposite ends of the Serie A table, Juventus will make the trip to Genoa on Friday night.
Genoa
Starting with the hosts, crashing back down to earth last weekend with another flat display, it appears that Genoa are freefalling their way out of Serie A this season. Last seen getting hit with a 1-0 loss away at Sampdoria, the Grifone find themselves sat down in 19th and two points adrift of breaking out of the relegation zone. Knowing that they face a tough end to the 2021/22 campaign as they face back-to-back meetings against Juventus and Napoli, Head Coach Alexander Blessin will be desperate for his side to pull off a miracle here. While Genoa might have managed to …
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has offered his sympathy to David Moyes after Manchester United sacked the Scot on Tuesday.
Moyes – appointed as the successor to the legendary Alex Ferguson in May last year – failed to last 12 months of his six-year deal, paying the price for United s dismal results.
The Premier League champions sit seventh in the table, a whopping 23 points behind table-toppers Liverpool, and their chances of UEFA Champions League football next season were finally ended after Sunday s 2-0 defeat at Everton.
The club s record in the cup competitions was also poor, leading to Moyes departure, and Ancelotti – preparing his team for Wednesday s Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich – is surprised by the decision to part com…
Paris Saint-Germain can pile the pressure on Ligue 1 leaders Marseille when they return to action on Friday against Metz.
The champions trip to the Stade Saint-Symphorien is the first game of the French top flight following the international break, with Marseille not in action until Sunday.
PSG and Marseille went head to head prior to the international fixtures, with goals from Lucas Moura and Edinson Cavani striking a blow for the defending champions against Marcelo Bielsa s pacesetting side.
Laurent Blanc s men can continue their fightback to regain top spot this week and could find themselves in first place by the time Marseille face Bordeaux at the Stade Velodrome.
PSG and Metz have not met since January 2008 a comfortable 3-0 win for the Parisians th…
Emerson Royal has completed his move from Barcelona to Tottenham, joining the Premier League club on a deal that runs until 2026.
The full-back arrives to strengthen Spurs’ squad in a deal worth £21.5million (€25m), according to the selling club.
Emerson will provide competition for Japhet Tanganga and Matt Doherty on the right side of the Tottenham defence, with Serge Aurier seemingly falling out of favour under Nuno Espirito Santo.
The Brazil international departs Camp Nou having made just three appearances since Barca exercised the option to bring in the player from Real Betis, where he had spent the past two-and-a-half years.
Emerson moved to Spain in a three-way deal in January 2019, both Betis and Barca each paying half of the …
David Villa joined an elite group of players to reach 400 goals after scoring twice in a milestone performance as New York City overcame Dallas 3-1 in MLS.
Spain s all-time leading scorer Villa netted his 400th and 401st career goals as the 36-year-old forward inspired New York to victory on Sunday.
Former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid star Villa became the sixth active player to score 400 goals, joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto o.
New York s unbeaten start to the season was ended by Portland Timbers last week but Patrick Vieira s men returned to winning ways at Yankee Stadium.
Welcome to the 400 Club,
— New York City FC (@NYCFC)
Jesus Medina put New York ahead after three minute…