The Italian football manager Delio Rossi has categorised managers in the game and says Max Allegri is similar to Carlo Ancelotti. Italy has produced some of the greatest managers in world football, and the top four teams in Serie A last season were managed by indigenous coaches. This is good news for the competition, and it also shows that Italian …

It’s hard to tell what Man United need to do to fix themselves just now, but it would be a start to sign some high-character players who will stand up to be counted. The current squad is riddled with players who down-tool when the going gets tough and you can see them refusing to take responsibility as they hope someone …

Madrid (AFP) – Osasuna stunned Champions League qualifiers Sevilla 2-1 in the opening match of the new Liga season on Friday. Argentine striker Ezequiel ‘Chimy’ Avila gave Osasuna a ninth-minute lead. However, the advantage lasted just two minutes before Rafa Mir made the most of a fine pass from another Argentine, Papu Gomez to equalise. Sevilla finished last season in …

Berlin (AFP) – Eighteen-year-old Englishman Jamie Bynoe-Gittens scored one and created another as Borussia Dortmund came back to defeat Freiburg 3-1 on Friday with all their goals coming in the last 13 minutes of the game. With the game drifting towards defeat, Dortmund were again able to rely on their young brigade, with Bynoe-Gittens and 17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko scoring two …

Adrien Rabiot’s personal demands are holding up his move from Juventus to Manchester United. The midfielder is the subject of serious transfer interest from United, and the English club has already agreed on a fee with Juve. The Bianconeri has been desperate to offload him in this transfer window because it is the last they can get a fee for …

Most football fans who don’t support one of the “elite” teams will accept that their best players will eventually look to move on and test themselves at a higher level. It can be handled in different ways, and clubs who embrace their role as developing players before selling them for a huge profit can take huge pride in what they …

Paris (AFP) – Lille moved to the top of the fledgling Ligue 1 table after Ismaily’s second half equaliser secured a draw from a tough contest at Nantes on Friday.  Lille went into the game on the back of an impressive 4-1 win over Auxerre in last week’s opening round but they were on the back foot when Moses Simon struck …

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona managed to register new signings Robert Lewandowski, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen and Raphinha on Friday in time for their Liga opener against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. However, French defender Jules Kounde remains unregistered with La Liga. Barcelona have spent 153 million euros on transfer fees alone to strengthen their squad, with Lewandowski the most notable new …

There’s no doubt that Eddie Howe is building a strong team that’s going to be competitive in most games, but finding someone with the magic to unlock a tight game could be the difference between achieving something special or just being a side that pushes for the top ten. There’s been plenty of talk about Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta. He …

Berlin (AFP) – Eighteen-year-old Englishman Jamie Bynoe-Gittens scored one and created another as Borussia Dortmund came back to defeat Freiburg 3-1 on Friday with all their goals coming in the last 13 minutes of the game. With the game drifting towards defeat, Dortmund were again able to rely on their young brigade, with Bynoe-Gittens and 17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko scoring two …