Messi returns to Argentina training as MLS names Inter Miami superstar in All-Star roster

Mats Hummels Borussia Dortmund future does not depend on the UEFA Champions League, but he wants the team to stop wasting their potential.

Captain Mats Hummels has urged Bundesliga strugglers Borussia Dortmund to stop wasting their potential.

Dortmund have provided the most consistent challenge to the domestic dominance of Bayern Munich in recent seasons.

However, Jurgen Klopp s men have failed to reach their usually lofty standards in the 2014-15 term and they headed into the mid-season break languishing in the relegation zone.

Centre-back Hummels believes that Dortmund were scarcely outplayed in the first half of the campaign and their problems were mental.

The Germany international is now desperate for the side to start living up to their bil…

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has claimed his side s Champions League defeat against Barcelona in 2014-15 was one of his finest moments in charge of the Allianz Arena outfit.

The Bavarians took on their coach s former team in the semi-finals last term, with Barcelona eventually progressing to the final 5-3 on aggregate, despite a 3-2 defeat in Munich.

Guardiola was not too bothered by Bayern s failure to win the Champions League, though, as he was proud of his side s performance regardless of the eventual outcome and feels European success is a matter of time.

One of the best moments of my career as Bayern coach was the semi-final defeat against Barcelona, Guardiola said at a news conference.

The fans were all applauding us. They are not stupid. The…

Diego Godin and Filipe Luis were on target as Atletico Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano to move top of LaLiga.

Atletico bounced back from a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League with Godin and Filipe Luis scoring either side of half-time.

That loss was the heaviest of Diego Simeone s seven-year spell at Atletico, but his side have now taken 14 points from a possible 18 to climb to the summit.

Last season s champions Barcelona, though, can reclaim top spot on Sunday if they avoid defeat at home to Real Madrid in the first Clasico of 2018-19.

93 | 2-0 | FULL-TIME! Our team earns the three points on Fan Club Celebration Day! This is for you, !

— Atlético de Madrid (@atlet…

Slaven Bilic says his sacking by West Ham was a logical move that he expected to happen after a poor start to the Premier League season.

The Hammers parted company with the Croatian on Monday after another disappointing weekend at the London Stadium, West Ham beaten 4-1 by Liverpool on Saturday.

After 11 matches the club sit in the bottom three on just nine points, something that forced the hands of joint owners David Sullivan and David Gold.

The West Ham chairmen admitted getting rid of Bilic had been done with heavy hearts , before stating a desire to appoint a replacement who can inject fresh ideas with David Moyes the frontrunner to come in.

Rather than having any resentment towards his former employers, Bilic said he understood why he had been sacke…

Arsene Wenger has questioned Gary Neville s assertion that his transfer policy in the aftermath of Arsenal s last Premier League title can either be described as naive or arrogant .

Speaking ahead of Arsenal s 0-0 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, Sky Sports pundit Neville was scathing in his assessment of the profile of players Wenger signed between 2004 and 2009.

I can t think of a word to describe that bunch I could but it wouldn’t be usable on television, said the former Manchester United defender.

They re certainly not what I would call what you want to win you a league, the powerful characters, the strength you need running through your team. 

I just cannot get my head around why he would not sign players of power to assis…

Sergio Aguero is Manchester City s all-time leading goalscorer after beating Eric Brook s club record that stood unchallenged for 79 years.

The Argentina international s strike against Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday moved him on to 178 in City colours, a landmark he has reached in an impressive 264 games.

Since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2011, the 29-year-old has firmly established himself as a crowd favourite on the back of countless superb displays and one goal in particular.

Aguero has won two Premier League titles and as many EFL Cups during his time at the Etihad Stadium. As he and boss Pep Guardiola eye further honours this season, we look back at 10 of the most memorable moments in his record haul.

Swansea City (H): August 15,…

Gareth Bale sets scene for all Madrid final / Image via skysports.com

With only one goal standing between the two sides, Real Madrid emerged victorious from their UEFA Champions League semi-final two-legged tie with Manchester City.

Gareth Bale appeared to be scorer of the sole goal at the Wednesday’s match at Santiago Bernaberu, but his deflected shot has been accredited as an own goal by Manchester City’s Fernando. Welshman’s goal drought has thus been extended to 12 Champions League, with former Tottenham man going close to 11 months in the competition.

Setting the scene for the showpiece event in Milano, Real Madrid have nevertheless booked their place in the final match where they will have to face their local rivals – Atletico Madrid.

Champ…

Kylian Mbappe seems set to leave Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe s future with the Ligue 1 giants is a constant talking point with the star forward coming out of contract in 2022.

And it seems the 21-year-old wants an exit.

TOP STORY – MBAPPE WANTS PSG EXIT

Mbappe wants to leave PSG next year, according to OKdiario.

The report says the France international wants a smooth transfer to Real Madrid, otherwise he will make a move for free in 2022.

Mbappe has helped PSG win three straight Ligue 1 titles since his arrival, initially on loan, from Monaco in 2017.

PSG have won 64 of 81 Ligue 1 games with Mbappe from 2017-18 onwards, while recording 22 victories in 30 without him.

In that period they have averaged 2.9 goals …

Joachim Low may have been left embarrassed by footage of his touchline behaviour on Sunday, but Germany forward Lukas Podolski has laughed off questions on the issue, insisting: This is not a topic for the team.

There was much amusement on social media when clips emerged of Low apparently placing a hand down the front of his trousers before raising it to his nose, during his side s opening Euro 2016 fixture against Ukraine.

However, while Low s actions may have entertained many, Podolski insists the incident has not been discussed by Germany s players.

This is not a topic for the team, he said. I think 80 per cent of you, and also me, sometimes scratch their balls. So it s all good.

Having beaten Ukraine 2-0, Germany s next assignment is a clash wit…

Juventus have confirmed the signing of Dani Alves from Barcelona on a free transfer.

Alves arrived in Turin on Sunday and underwent his medical with the club on Monday morning.

UFFICIALE è bianconero!

— JuventusFC (@juventusfc)

Barcelona recently already announced that the Brazil international would be allowed to leave on a free despite a contract until June 2017, with Paris Saint-Germain and Juve keen to sign the right-back.

Alves has opted to snub a move to PSG, though, and will continue his career with the Serie A champions having signed a two-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months thereafter.

The 33-year-old started his professional career with Bahia and also wore the jersey of Sevilla before joining Barcelona in J…