Lyon manager Bruno Genesio has confirmed that Rachid Ghezzal has been demoted to the reserves two days after the club rejected a bid from West Ham.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season with Les Gones in 2015-16, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists as Lyon finished a distant second behind runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.
Club president Jean-Michel Aulas claimed on Wednesday that Slaven Bilic s side had a bid of £6.9million rejected for the Algerian international, whose contract expires next June, with Genesio confirming that Ghezzal would not feature in Lyon s Ligue 1 curtain-raiser against Nancy on Sunday.
Rachid Ghezzal will play with the CFA [reserve team] this weekend, Genesio told a news conference on Friday.
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Mano Menezes has named his 21-man squad for Brazil s international friendly doubleheader with Argentina.
Brazil will play two friendly matches with Alejandro Sabella s side, the first taking place in Goiania on September 19, before travelling to Argentina for a game in Resistencia on October 3.
Luis Fabiano has received his first call-up since the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with the Sao Paulo man in imperious form so far this season, scoring 10 goals in 12 Brazil Serie A games in 2012.
Elsewhere, Neymar, Leandro Damiao and Wellington Nem make up an exciting forward line, while Atletico Mineiro s young midfielder Bernard has been given his debut call-up.
Brazil squad: Cassio (Corinthians), Jefferson (Botafogo), Carlinhos (Fluminense), Marcos Rocha (Atletico Min…
Sheffield United have announced the appointment of former Scotland defender David Weir as their new manager.
The 43-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the League One outfit, succeeding interim boss Chris Morgan who will revert to a first-team coaching role in the hot seat.
And Weir, who has coached at Everton since retiring from playing in 2012, has expressed delight at being handed the chance to take charge of the Yorkshire club.
My first thoughts about the job are of excitement, I understand how privileged I am to be named manager of a fantastic football club like Sheffield United, he told the club s official website.
I realise what a great opportunity is in front of me now and my message to the supporters is that I will work hard and give everything to be successful…
Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City s 4-1 Premier League victory against Liverpool as one of the best in his time at the club.
City thrashed Liverpool on Saturday to, at least temporarily, close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points.
Having gone down to an early Mohamed Salah finish, City – shorn of Erling Haaland – levelled before half-time when Julian Alvarez converted Jack Grealish s cross to complete a flowing move.
City completed the comeback in emphatic style with a commanding second-half performance – goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Grealish wrapping up a memorable day at the Etihad Stadium and leaving Guardiola to revel in his side s performance.
From minute one to minute 93, it was a perfect performanc…
Putting in what was arguably a season-best display on Sunday afternoon, Newcastle fired themselves into the top-four as they claimed a deserved 2-0 victory against Manchester United at St. James Park.
Marking their return from the international break with a real statement on home soil, Eddie Howe’s side caused the Premier League giants a string of issues on either side of the half-time break.
With ex-Arsenal starlet Joe Willock opening the scoring on the 65th minute as he headed home from inside the six-yard box, the Magpies will know that Sunday’s victory in the north east could prove pivotal in their bid to claim a famous Champions League ticket.
With England international Callum Wilson sending the St. James’ support into overdrive as he wrapped up all t…
Besiktas will not take part in next week s rescheduled Turkish Cup semi-final second leg against Fenerbahce.
The initial match was abandoned after Besiktas head coach Senol Gunes was struck on the head by an object thrown from the stands at Fener s Ulker Stadium.
Gunes required hospital treatment and received five stitches after the incident in the 57th minute, which prompted the match to be halted at 0-0 and 2-2 on aggregate.
The Turkish Football Federation announced on Wednesday the rest of the game would be completed behind closed doors on May 3.
But in a statement released on Thursday, Besiktas announced they would be boycotting the match.
As a club who adhere to fair play at all times, Besiktas have decided not to take part in game schedule…
Liverpool failed to win in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, as Jurgen Klopp’s side were held to by Newcastle United away from home.
The defending English champions headed into the match at St. James’ Park on the back of a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at Anfield in the league. It followed a 7-0 hammering of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in London and a 2-1 victory over title challengers Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
Newcastle are an unpredictable side who can blow hot and cold, and despite being the home team on Wednesday evening, the Magpies were to Liverpool. However, Steve Bruce’s side played out a goalless draw with the Reds, who are rated at 13/10 by to win the Premier League title this season.
Here are the three things we learned fr…
Pablo Maffeo will leave Manchester City for Stuttgart in a reported €9million move at the end of the LaLiga season.
The 20-year-old full-back currently on loan at Girona has signed five-year contract with Stuttgart, who also announced the arrivals of Marc-Oliver Kempf and David Kopacz from Bundesliga rivals Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund respectively, as well as Dinamo Zagreb defender Borna Sosa, on Monday.
Maffeo made just three appearances for City between a trio of separate loan spells at Girona, who he helped achieve promotion to LaLiga in 2016-17 and top-flight safety this term.
His next step takes him to Stuttgart, who will participate in the Europa League next season if Bayern Munich overcome Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB-Pokal final on Saturday.
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Manuel Pellegrini s expected move to West Ham took a step closer after Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune confirmed he has left his role as head coach.
The former Manchester City boss has been heavily linked with a move to London Stadium in recent days, with the Hammers searching for a new boss after David Moyes short-term contract came to an end.
And the Chilean is seemingly free to take the reins, with Hebei announcing his departure following a 2-1 victory over Chongqing Lifan on Saturday.
Pellegrini won the Premier League and two League Cup medals during his three-year stint at City, before making way for Pep Guardiola in 2016.
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Borussia Dortmund will be hoping the DFB-Pokal provides some welcome relief from their Bundesliga woes.
Dortmund travel to 2.Bundesliga club St Pauli in the second round on Tuesday amid a six-game winless streak in Germany s top flight that has left them languishing just a point above the relegation play-off spot.
Jurgen Klopp s side tasted defeat for the fourth game in succession after slumping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Hannover 96 on Saturday.
Dortmund are at a loss to explain their worrying league slump but the 2012 champions finalists last season will be looking to the UEFA Champions League for inspiration, having won all three group games to date.
It s becoming difficult to find an explanation [for our poor form], said Dortmund captain Mats Hummels…