Looking for Soccer News?

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today announced that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be used for the first time in the AFC Champions League (ACL), starting from the quarterfinal stage onwards.

This, after last month's announcement that Malaysia will be hosting the remaining matches of Group G and H of the competition this season, as well as the subsequent Round of 16, quarterfinal and semi-final matches.

While it has not been confirmed which specific venue the matches are going to be but with Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) being in Group G, Sultan Ibrahim Larkin is likely to be one of the venues to be used.

VAR is already widely used throughout the major football competitions in the world from the 2018 World Cup in Russia to the UEFA Champions League competition which Bayern Munich won only earlier this morning.

The VAR system that AFC will use for the ACL will only be limited to four game-changing decisions or incidents - goal or no goal, penalty kicks, direct red cards and mistaken identity decisions.

Thus far within the Asian continent, VAR has only been used in the 2019 Asian Cup and the 2020 AFC U23 Championship competitions, making the ACL the third competition to get a technological advancement.

In Malaysia, VAR has yet to be implemented for a variety of reasons. The high cost incurred is one of the major reason for the technology not to be used within the domestic calendar of M-League football.

But the decision to play the knockout matches in Malaysia meant that VAR will be used for the first time in the country, albeit not in a competition organised by Malaysian Football League (MFL).

Yet, it will be a valuable opportunity for the league organiser as well as Football Association of Malaysia's refereeing department to get a closer look at how it is implemented to prepare for the eventuality of VAR becoming part of Malaysian football.

Mamelodi Sundowns have struggled to win matches since the return of competitive football this month, and Pitso Mosimane believes this is because three of his key players in Themba Zwane, Gaston Sirino and Sibusiso Vilakazi aren't at their best. 

Giving his assessment of the team's 2-2 draw at Maritzburg United, Mosimane said Sundowns wouldn't be struggling if the abovementioned players were not struggling. 

But could the coach have handled the rotation policy better when he had the chance? 

Over the last three to four seasons, Mosimane has been using the same squad for both domestic and continental competitions - and these players have become accustomed to playing so many games in the short space of time. 

Players such as Aubrey Ngoma, Anthony Laffor and Phakamani Mahlambi were continuously overlooked for the better part of the current season. 

And it's only now that Mosimane needs a bigger squad to complete the season that a few of them are getting back into the setup - and this because the pressure is mounting to get positive results.

It may not be too late as these players have been training with the rest of the squad for years but their lack of match fitness could hinder Sundowns' chances of lifting a third successive league trophy. 

By the time these players get their groove and those who've lost form regain their confidence, the season may be over, and it may be the case of preparing for next season for the majority of them. 

Playing catch up to Kaizer Chiefs means there's more pressure on Sundowns to always be at their best - and if their key players, who have contributed immensely to them fighting for the title, can't regain their form then this could hurt add more woes to their title-chasing chances. 

Mosimane only gave a handful of his fringe players an opportunity to play in the Shell Helix Cup in October 2019, and they didn't give him much to work on - and he continued to use his tried and tested. 

However, had he perhaps used a few of them in less-fancied games then things might have turned out differently. 

The quality and depth at Mosimane's disposal are unmatched but the reliance on certain players has made it extremely tough during this period.  

It's no secret that almost all the teams are struggling and coaches find themselves having to make changes week in and week out to manage the workload on players and those who were not in the team are gradually being introduced - but only for the sake of keeping the teams where they are on the log and not necessarily for winning matches.

Zwane, Sirino and Vilakazi have scored and assisted for Sundowns this season, and at this stage of the season, very few players can match them, let alone carry the team as much as they have done over the years in the remaining five matches of the season.

It is, for this reason, it's been difficult for Mosimane to drop both Lebohang Maboe and Denis Onyango because no one appears to be on their level - even with the experience of the likes of Kennedy Mweene and Reyaad Pieterse in the goalkeeping department.   

Midfielder Deo Kanda has confirmed his exit from Mainland Premier League champions Simba SC.

Kanda was on loan at Wekundu wa Msimbazi from Tout Puissant Mazembe and despite his midfield command that saw the team win a treble, his stay was not extended.

The Democratic Republic of Congo star scored eight goals for the giants who are preparing for the league start on September 6 and participation in the Champions League.

“I want to thank all players of Simba, officials, fans, the technical bench, and boss Mohamed Dewji for being part of my Simba journey,” Kanda said in a tweet.

“I consistently played with heart and I wish you all the best. I love you all.”

The arrival of Bernard Morrison is understood to have forced Simba SC not to renew Kanda’s contract. Other players who are set to depart are South Sudan’s international Sharaf Shaiboub, Brazilian star Tairone Santos, Yusuf Mlipili and Shiza Kichuya.

Meanwhile, Namungo have emerged as the front runners to secure Kichuya’s signature. The 2020 FA Cup finalists hope to get the Tanzanian in order to help them mount a meaningful challenge in the Caf Confederation Cup next season.

Kichuya, who was signed again by Simba in January, is expected to join the Lindi side on loan first before the deal is made permanent in the subsequent season.

Competition at Simba did not allow the Tanzanian to feature regularly for the eventual league winners and he has now reportedly moved to Namungo to resuscitate his career.

He is expected to replace Idd Kipwagile.

Kichuya attended the Namungo against Azam FC friendly match on Sunday further fuelling rumours that the move is complete and is only awaiting the formal announcement.

Coach Thierry Hiritimana has already signed Stephen Sey and Abdulhamin Humud and both featured in the Sunday tie against Azam at Chamazi Sports Complex.

The Tanzanian transfer window is expected to be closed at the end of August and clubs are in the race to conclude their business of strengthening the squads since the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) stated the window is not going to be extended.

TFF and the Premier League Board (TPLB) have already released the fixtures of the upcoming season which will start in September.

William Saliba has been billed as a mix of Raphael Varane and Virgil van Dijk as the talented teenager prepares to begin his spell at Arsenal.

The Gunners put a £27 million (€30m/$35m) deal for the youngster in place during the summer of 2019. He was allowed to spend another year on loan at Saint Etienne, with his development benefitting from an extended stint in his native France.

Saliba is now in north London and ready to show a Premier League audience why he is generating so much hype. Many are tipping him to make an immediate impact with the Gunners, who have been crying out for a reliable option at the heart of their defence.

Saliba’s former youth coach, Jean-Luc Vannuchi, expects the 19-year-old to thrive in England as he blends the skills of established stars at Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Vannuchi told The Telegraph: "A mix of the two styles. With Varane because of his speed and power, and with Van Dijk it is the interceptions, the positioning on the pitch."

Vannuchi is in no doubt that the Gunners will find value in the big money agreement that put in place for Saliba, with the hot prospect expected to reach the very top of the game.

"My first impression was that this was the biggest man of his generation," Vannuchi added on his experiences with the centre-half. "The difference between him and the other players was massive.

"When he took the ball and ran into midfield, no one could stop him. He was like a monster compared to the others. When he played with Saint-Etienne it looked normal for him, even though he was so young."

Saliba's good reputation could be a double-edged sword, however, with former Arsenal defender Martin Keown saying the player is already under pressure to perform.

Keown said in The Independent: “It is one of those where I would have been happier if Arsenal had paid more money and brought him in straight at the start of last season.

“There have long-been questions over the Arsenal defence and Saliba was expensive, but he is also young and has not played that many professional games. It can’t be expected that he will walk straight into Arsenal, right into the team and be on it from the off.”

Arsenal are currently readying themselves for the 2020-21 campaign, with Mikel Arteta’s side having secured themselves European football by winning the FA Cup last season.

That success also means that they will be involved in the traditional curtain-raiser to the new campaign, with a Community Shield outing against Premier League champions Liverpool at Wembley on Saturday.

Former Gor Mahia defender Jacques Tuyisenge has parted ways with Angolan giants Petro Atletico.

The Rwandan has confirmed he will not be part of Os Tricolores for the 2020/21 Girabola campaign.

"I feel very grateful to have had an opportunity to be part of the Petro de Luanda family," Tuyisenge posted on his official Facebook page on Monday, August 24.

"It has been a great experience with you all. Thank you for giving me the chance to fulfil my potential here. I wish you the best in this continuing journey."

The striker left K'Ogalo for Angola in 2019, after helping the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side win three league titles during his three-year stint.

Despite his exit, the Rwandan international affirmed K'Ogalo will remain part of his history as he leaves to join Angolan side Petro Atletico. Tuyisenge arrived at Gor Mahia in January 2016 and became a regular goalscorer for the Kenya giants.

He managed to score 50 goals for the team and was one of the best strikers in the division.  

Tuyisenge has already been linked to the Tanzania Mainland League where, reportedly, champions Simba SC, their bitter rivals Yanga SC and Azam FC are interested in his services.

Coincidentally, his former team Gor Mahia are hunting the services of his teammate in the national team, Patrick Sibomana.

K'Ogalo recently lost Boniface Omondi to Wazito FC and are desperate to replace him in preparation for the 2020/21 season which includes continental and domestic assignments. The Rwandan international is seen as the player who can help improve the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side.

"Sibomana has accepted to join Gor Mahia but he just needs some assurances, most of which are financial," a source close to the club told Goal.

"He has experience of playing in continental games, he is also talented and competitive. We all know Gor Mahia will be playing in the [Caf] Champions League and a player like him is needed to bolster the squad.

"If everything goes according to plan, he will be confirmed before the end of August or early September."

Sibomana was among the 14 players released by Young Africans SC (Yanga SC) after the end of the 2019/20 season.

The 24-year-old had scored six goals in the Tanzania Mainland League in favour of the 27-time league champions, but his contract was not extended as Timu ya Wananchi felt they needed a better player in the offensive position.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has explained his decision to hand Siphelele Ntshangase his first start of the season. 

Ntshangase had not been in Middendorp's plans for the campaign until he recently signed a new one-year deal and the German mentor feels the midfielder deserved some respect from the technical team.  

"He's a player who's in the bubble with Kaizer Chiefs and he deserved respect," Middendorp told the media.  

"And, despite you not believing it, he gets my full respect every second of working with him," he said. 

The 61-year-old said he is aware of stories that there are players he doesn't get along with within the Amakhosi squad but he feels he needed Ntshangase more against Stellenbosch because he's a ball-player, especially because some of his regulars were not available for selection. 

Lebogang Manyama was nursing an injury and couldn't start alongside Willard Katsande in central midfield as this has been the case this season. 

And he was happy with Ntshangase's performance on the night, considering that this was his first start in over a year. 

"I know stories are there that I don't like this one or I don't like that one, but we tried to have a ball-player, in particular, because some players were not available," continued Middendorp.  

"He didn't play for a long time. I was definitely not unhappy with him. He's a player, a ball receiver more or less on the same level where we had Willard Katsande."

Ntshangase could only last for the first 45 minutes on the pitch as he was replaced at half-time and according to Middendorp, the decision to take him off was more tactical than anything. 

"We were 1-0 down. So, we had to bring in somebody probably a little bit higher up and closer to the forwards, and that was the reason for taking Dumisani Zuma into the team, for more attacking forward spaces between the lines," he added.

"Siphelele is more a ball receiver with passing out of a deeper position, which, considering that he hasn't played for a long time, was definitely an acceptable performance, there's no doubt," concluded Middendorp. 

Thiago Alcantara will have an offer from Liverpool on the table, says Dietmar Hamann, with the Spanish midfielder considered to have snubbed fresh terms at Bayern Munich for a reason.

The 29-year-old has been given the chance to stay at on the Allianz Arena. He has, however, knocked back efforts to tie him down on fresh terms beyond the summer of 2021.

With no deal agreed, it could be that a successful Champions League final appearance against Paris Saint-Germain proves to be Thiago’s last for Bayern.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for the former Barcelona star, with Jurgen Klopp in the market for another creative influence. Hamann believes a transfer is destined to go through once a suitable fee has been agreed between buyers and sellers.

Hamann, who represented Bayern and Liverpool in his playing days, told talkSPORT: “It looks like he has been offered a contract in Munich that he turned down.

“He must have shown an interest of staying otherwise they wouldn’t have offered him a new contract, but at the last minute he turned round and said he might want to do something else.

“I’d be very surprised if he turned down a contract with Bayern Munich if he hasn’t got anything else. I’m sure he has got an offer from Liverpool, it’s probably about the transfer fee now.

“I never felt he was a defensive or a holding midfielder, but he has been absolutely magnificent. The way he pulled things together [against PSG], and he’s a brilliant footballer.

“He can give a new and different dimension to Liverpool’s midfield. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t end up at Liverpool.”

Questions have been asked of whether Liverpool need to be bringing in Thiago, given the midfield options that Klopp already has at his disposal.

Georginio Wijnaldum has, however, entered the final 12 months of his contract at Anfield and the general consensus is that greater squad depth will help the Reds to maintain the standards they have set while collecting domestic, continental and global crowns over the course of the last 18 months, including ending a 30-year wait for the English top-flight title.

Fabio Capello has blasted Juventus for “repeating the same mistakes”, with Bayern Munich’s Champions League final match-winner Kingsley Coman another of those to have slipped the net in Turin.

The France international helped his current employers to conquer the continent as they edged out Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon on Sunday.

Coman’s well-directed header saw him reward the faith of Bayern boss Hansi Flick, who had started the 24-year-old winger ahead of Croatia international Ivan Perisic.

Juventus’ star-studded squad were among those watching on from afar as European football’s biggest prize headed back to the Allianz Arena, with the Bianconeri having been dumped out at the quarter-final stage.

They will be reflecting on what could have been, with Coman a player who once graced their books.

He was snapped up from Paris Saint-Germain in 2014, but spent just one full season in Turin – taking in 22 appearances in total – before joining Bayern on loan in the 2015-16 campaign.

That move was eventually made permanent and Coman has added to his enviable medal collection on a regular basis while in Germany.

He is not the first young talent to have been passed on by Juve before hitting his peak, with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry another notable entry on that list, and Capello believes questions need to be asked of the Serie A giants and their transfer philosophy.

A man who spent two years in charge of the Bianconeri between 2004 and 2006 told Sky Sport Italia: “Coman is considered good enough to start in a Champions League final for Bayern Munich.

“Evidently, Juventus keep repeating the same mistakes. Henry arrived so young at Juventus, they let him go and then he flourished at Arsenal.

“Coman is following a similar path now in Munich. When you see quality, you must have the patience to wait. You cannot expect a young player to immediately be a protagonist at the highest level.”

Juve’s European failings in 2020 ended up costing Maurizio Sarri his job, with the Bianconeri hoping that club legend Andrea Pirlo – in his first managerial post – can push the club back into contention for the most prestigious of prizes.

Barely a day after outgoing Dan Birikwalira attacked Vipers SC of their ‘greed and ungratefulness’ the club has confirmed the departure of 13 players.

Birikwalira is among the stars Vipers have let go as they restructure for the upcoming season. To the left-back, the Venoms have always been less appreciative for their players given the manner of their departures.

“Left-back Dan Birikwalira who impressed when Vipers won the 2014/15 league title, is on his way out, having seen the recent loan with Kyetume United hampered by injury,” Vipers confirmed.

“The big problem is that there are dishonest people who pretend to be loyal at the club,” Birikwalira said on Sunday. “The irony is that the players who have done good things for Vipers are the ones who are always released with bad motives.

“I have done so many good things for Vipers ever since I was at school, winning trophies but the way we leave is always harsh because even the club cannot appreciate us, I won’t regret saying it and I won’t lie. We don’t admire to come back as it is elsewhere with former players at a club, that’s the truth.”

Brian Nkuubi is also exiting the Kitende club after playing for them in the last five seasons.

“With no offer of an extension to his [Nkuubi] contract following the arrival of David Bagoole from Busoga United, Vipers can now confirm the midfielder’s exit from the club,” the club’s statement read.

“The 26-year-old is unlikely to be short of offers now that he is a free agent due to his experience with almost eight seasons under his belt since making debut with Kira Young in 2012.”

Goalkeeper Derrick Ochan has also left the Premier League champions despite the fact he had two years remaining on his contract.

Last season loanees Janjali Joseph, Dickens Okwir, Ibrahim Kiyemba, Duncan Seninde, and Farouk Musisi have also left after mutually terminating their active contracts.

Tom Masiko, Steven Mukwala and Tito Okello, Fred Atuhwera, Baden Mujahid have left after the expiration of their contracts.

“The Venoms will also see out Brian Kalumba on loan to a yet to be confirmed club and its possible others will follow later as negotiations for their destinations continue,” the club’s statement added.

“The club wishes all the departing players the best of luck at their next destinations and thank them for what they have done at Kitende.”

Vipers have already signed Disan Galiwango from Express FC, Ibrahim Orit formerly of Mbarara City, ex-Bright Stars Jamil Kalisa, and David Bagoole from Busoga United.

Neymar "seemed tense" during the Champions League final, according to Laurent Fournier, who says the attacker was the "most disappointing" player for Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon. 

Thomas Tuchel's men stood on the cusp of European glory after a thrilling run to this season's final.

Neymar scored in both legs of PSG's last 16 triumph over Borussia Dortmund, which took place before the coronavirus pandemic brought the season grinding to a halt.

The Brazilian picked up from where he left off when the Champions League resumed on August 7, inspiring wins against Atalanta and RB Leipzig in a revised straight knockout format which saw the quarter and semi-finals take place in Portugal.

He had the chances to have a similar impact in the showpiece event at Benfica's Estadio da Luz, but failed to make the most of several clear openings in the final third as Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer produced a man of the match display between the sticks.

Bayern ultimately secured a sixth European title by beating PSG 1-0 on Sunday, with Kingsley Coman grabbing the only goal of the game in the 59th minute.

Neymar was inconsolable after the final whistle, and Fournier believes the weight of expectation on club football's biggest stage ultimately ended up taking its toll on the world's most expensive footballer.

The former PSG boss, who had two spells at Parc Des Princes as a player, told Le Parisien: "We are expecting more players like these two [Neymar and Kylian Mbappe] or even [Angel] Di Maria. I expected a very high level from them.

"It was the moment, the perfect match for them, but I had the impression that they lacked freshness. In the match, Neymar was the most disappointing. He was not the same as against Atalanta or Leipzig.

"It showed on his face. After his free-kick against Leipzig, he was laughing. Facing Munich, he was not. From the beginning, he seemed tense.

"It's normal to be tense when playing a final, I've known that, but it's amazing of him, maybe he put too much pressure on himself. We may have put too much on him."

Fournier went on to bemoan Marco Verratti's injury-enforced absence as he highlighted Bayern's dominance in the middle of the park.

"I thought that [Leandro] Paredes and [Ander] Herrera were going to bring more to the middle, so that they could launch Neymar and Mbappe. I was wrong, it was an illusion," said the Frenchman.

"They didn't get the ball high enough to be aggressive. Undoubtedly Verratti would have contributed more with his creativity. His absence was terrible. The physical impact is important in midfield and we were dominated. We lost the battle in the middle."

Fournier added on PSG's failure to rise to the occasion after reaching the Champions League final for the first time in their history: "Am I disappointed? Yes, because I really believed in it. I was really confident before the game. The quarterfinal and semi-final performances were promising, but in the end, it was only Atalanta and Leipzig.

"Against Bayern, the opponent is different. We were perhaps not ready. We were not used to facing a more aggressive and more skillful team. PSG did not hurt them enough."

Kenya international Joash Onyango has revealed he was left in shock with the turnout of Simba SC who graced the Simba Day friendly against Vital’O on Saturday.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi played a friendly against the Burundian side and went ahead to win 6-0 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Onyango, who signed for Simba from Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia has now admitted Tanzania football fans love attending matches as compared to their Kenyan counterparts.

“The main difference I have seen today [Saturday] for Simba is the big number of supporters in comparison with Kenyan clubs,” Onyango, who made his debut during the friendly, is quoted saying by Daily News.

“Let me take this opportunity to thank all Simba fans for the warm reception they gave me upon arrival at this great club. I thank them a lot.”

With the absence of Pascal Wawa (Ivory Coast) and Louis Miquissone (Mozambique) – Onyango was handed his debut by coach Sven Vandenbroeck and did not disappoint as Simba managed to keep a clean sheet.

Simba’s new signing from rivals Yanga SC Bernard Morrison opened the floodgate of goals for the giants as they added the rest courtesy of captain John Bocco, Clatous Chama, Ibrahim Ajibu, Chris Mugalu, and Charles Ilanfya.

Last season, the Msimbazi-based side won a treble: they opened the season with a Community Shield win before securing the league title and then beat Namungo FC 2-1 to lift the FA Cup.

Simba will now open their season with a clash against Namungo in the Shield Cup before they start their title defence with a clash against promoted side Ihefu FC on September 6.

They will also take part in the Caf Champions League for the third season in a row while Namungo will take part in the Confederation Cup.

Mamelodi Sundowns are six points behind Kaizer Chiefs after this weekend's results but the gap could be reduced to just three points provided they win against Golden Arrows. 

They face an Arrows side that is winless since the return of football, and that alone could prove tricky for Pitso Mosimane's men. 

But Sundowns, themselves, are winless and they are under pressure to get positive results and keep Amakhosi on their toes in the title race.   

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on SuperSport 4. 

Squads & Team News

The Brazilians have had to rotate their starting XI for the past four games due to injuries and suspensions. 

Mosimane is again set to make another change to his usual starting line-up after Ricardo Nascimento was red-carded in the previous game against Maritzburg United. 

The lanky centre-back will miss this encounter against Steve Komphela's men as well as the crunch match against Kaizer Chiefs on Thursday. 

In Nascimento's absence, Mosimane is likely to bring back Wayne Arendse or as his last resort, move Ricardo Coetzee to a more defensive role after playing him as a central midfielder in the past. 

It will be interesting to see if the technical team will keep the core of the team that did the job against the Team of Choice with Andile Jali and Hlompho Kekana in midfield alongside Tiyani Mabunda. 

It's upfront where things are likely to stay the same. Themba Zwane started on the bench against Maritzburg United, and Mosimane admitted his top goalscorer isn't at his best. 

However, with Sphelele Mkhulise, Gaston Sirino and Keletso Makgalwa in fine form, chances are that Zwane will again start on the bench and come on as a second-half substitute.   

Abafana Bes'thende haven't reported any suspensions ahead of this clash but they will be without Edmore Sibanda who got injured in the team's 2-1 loss to Black Leopards.  

This means Maximilian Mbaeva is most likely to start ahead of Nkosingiphile Gumede in goal after coming on as a substitute in Sibanda's place. 

Players such as Gladwin Shitolo and Knox Mutizwa will be expected to use their experience to match Sundowns on the day.

Mutizwa is chasing the Golden Boot award and he would want to score against Denis Onyango and put the pressure on the likes of Peter Shalulile, Gabadinho Mhango and Bradley Grobler who are also vying for the same accolade.  

Match Preview

This will be the 36th meeting across all competitions between the two sides since 2004.  

Sundowns have won 20 of the last 35 games to Arrows' nine while the other nine matches ended in draws. 

The Tshwane giants have scored 51 times against Arrows and conceded just 29 goals.

A win for Arrows will see them move into the Top 8 bracket as they are currently placed 10th on the log with 33 points from 26 league matches.

Sundowns, on the other hand, are second on the standings with 47 points from 25 games. 

Paul Pogba staying at Manchester United is “tremendous news” for the Red Devils, claims Mark Bosnich, with the former goalkeeper of the opinion that the World Cup winner would be almost impossible to replace.

Speculation regarding a move away from Old Trafford for the France international midfielder has raged for some time.

Despite United having made Pogba their £89 million (€99m/$117m) club-record signing when returning him to England from Juventus in 2016, questions of his form and future have never been far away.

The 27-year-old has hinted at leaving at times, with admissions on his part that a new challenge may be just what he needs. United have, however, always maintained that they have no intention of parting with Pogba.

Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, has now come out and stated that no move will be made in the current transfer window, with many clubs struggling for funds amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Bosnich considers that to be a positive for the Red Devils, with it difficult to see how they could benefit from offloading a prized asset who could yet strike up a formidable partnership with Bruno Fernandes in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s engine room.

The former United goalkeeper told Sky Sports of Pogba staying put: “I think it’s tremendous news.

“I’ve said it for a long time now. I know this is a divisive subject and there are quite a lot who have the opposite opinion to what I am saying, but I had this discussion with a Manchester United support in Sydney the other day and he was on the other side.

“I just pointed out that, first and foremost, if you wanted to replace him, who would you replace him with? How much is it going to cost you? If you are to sell him, how much are you going to take a hit on it?

“The gentleman in question was saying that they aren’t going to win anything with him. They have already won two trophies with him and he’s been very successful with Juventus, in terms of what he’s won, and we all know he’s won a World Cup.

“The partnership that we have seen with Bruno Fernandes, which has been successful already, augurs well for the future. I think he is the future and I think it’s a really good move, not just for him but for Manchester United, to keep him at the club.”

Pogba has made 164 appearances for United to date, registering 32 goals and 33 assists across those outings while helping the Red Devils to Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League success in 2016-17.

Neymar congratulated the wrong team after Paris Saint-Germain's loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

PSG failed to add an elusive piece of silverware to their collection after being beaten 1-0 by Bayern at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Sunday.

Thomas Tuchel's men created the clearer openings in a tense first half, but Manuel Neuer kept out efforts from Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to ensure that the teams went in level at the interval.

Bayern dominated possession throughout the 90 minutes, and eventually found a way through PSG's stubborn rearguard in the 59th minute as Kingsley Coman headed home a beautifully flighted Joshua Kimmich cross.

Hansi Flick's side held on a for a victory which saw them complete the treble, emulating the achievements of Jupp Heynckes' class of 2012-13.

Neymar was overcome with emotion after the final whistle, and although David Alaba sportingly attempted to console his opponent, the Brazilian's tears flowed as the reality of the defeat began to sink in.

The world's most expensive player eventually composed himself enough to send out a tweet congratulating Bayern on their victory, but was left red-faced after forgetting to type the final letter of the team's name.

Neymar ended up paying tribute to Bayer Leverkusen by mistake, as he stated: “Losing is part of the sport, we try everything, we fight until the end. Thank you for the support and affection of each one of you and CONGRATULATIONS to BAYER.”

Leverkusen issued a swift response to the PSG star via their official Twitter account, which reads: "Obrigado @neymarjr. I’m not sure why you congratulate me if I'm on vacation playing FIFA, but thanks.”

Tuchel jumped to the defence of Neymar and Mbappe after their off-night in front of goal, as he told RMC Sport post-match: "We've lacked efficiency. We want Kylian and Neymar to score all the time. I'm proud because Ney had another amazing game. He showed his abilities, his mentality.

"For Kiki, it’s difficult. It was a miracle that he was with us [after injury].

"It was a real fight! We gave our all, we left our hearts on the field. We couldn’t control the outcome. It was a goal that made the difference between two super strong teams. I'm very proud of the way we played, of our mentality. That's all a coach can ask of his players.

“I'm disappointed, but not too disappointed. It's a close score. I'm convinced that if we score first, we win the game 1-0.”

Luis Figo famously left Barcelona for Real Madrid in 2000, but the Portuguese says it would be “impossible” for Lionel Messi to complete a similar switch 20 years on.

Speculation is building when it comes to a move away from Camp Nou for a superstar of the modern era.

Barca’s struggles in 2019-20, which saw them surrender the Liga title to Real and crash out of the Champions League on the back of a humbling 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, are seeing serious questions asked in Catalunya.

Many of those are focused on Messi and the future of a six-time Ballon d’Or winner in his current surroundings.

The mercurial Argentine is yet to commit to a contract extension beyond the summer of 2020 , with talks over fresh terms said to have been shelved.

Amid the uncertainty, it has been suggested that the likes of Paris Saint-Germain , Inter and Manchester City could launch audacious bids to prise Messi from Barca’s clutches.

Figo cannot see anyone generating the funds required to do a deal , with the financial implications of a coronavirus pandemic hitting even the richest clubs hard - and he certainly cannot see Messi following his lead by crossing the Clasico divide and taking on a new challenge at Santiago Bernabeu.

“It'll be impossible for any club to pay up Messi's release clause this year,” Figo said at a Banco Santander event in Lisbon. “There's not much movement in the transfer market at the moment. I think it's very difficult or even impossible for any club to be able pay Messi's contract.

“For me, I think it's impossible we'll see anything similar to what happened with me 20 years ago.”

Messi is yet to discuss his future in public, but is said to have held talks with new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman.

The South American superstar has previously aired his frustration when it comes to matters on and off the field at Camp Nou, with concerns raised as to the direction in which the club are heading.

He must be convinced that Barcelona remain the right club for him, according to former team-mate Deco.

Deco told Mundo Deportivo : "We are talking about the best player in the history of the club and his family is linked to the city. It's not easy, but it is also clear that he wants to keep winning. We cannot imagine a Barca without Leo, but it can happen."

Ivan Perisic spoke about his future after winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich, highlighting the fact that he still has two years left to run on his contract at Inter.

Perisic joined Inter from Wolfsburg back in 2015, and has since racked up 163 appearances for the club across all competitions.

45 of those outings came during the 2018-19 campaign, but he was sent out on loan to Bayern last summer following Antonio Conte's arrival at San Siro.

Despite the fact Perisic has found himself in and out of Hansi Flick's line up at Allianz Arena amid a string of niggling injuries, he has been able to make a sizeable contribution to their latest campaign.

The 31-year-old has recorded eight goals and ten assists in all competitions, with his strike in a Champions League quarter-final clash with Barca helping Bayern earn a famous 8-2 victory.

He also started the German outfit's semi-final win over Lyon, and although he was left on the bench for Sunday's final in Lisbon, he insisted post-match that he is quite content in his current surroundings.

Bayern have yet to decide whether to take up the option to sign Perisic on a permanent deal, and he is expecting to be sent back to Inter after becoming a Champions League winner.

Asked what his next move will be after the Bundesliga champions' 1-0 triumph against Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon, the Croatia international told Sky Sports: "It's a pity I haven't done something like this with Inter in recent years, but now I'm happy. I still have two years on my contract with the Nerazzurri, let's see what happens. We have to meet."

Kingsley Coman's 59th-minute header proved to be the difference between PSG and Bayern, with the final ultimately failing to live up to expectations in terms of goalmouth action.

Both clubs had been in prolific form during their respective runs to the showpiece event, but defence prevailed over attack on a night which saw Flick's side complete the treble.

The result might have been different had Kylian Mbappe and Neymar made the most of clear chances in the first half, but Manuel Neuer was in inspired form to keep a talismanic pair at bay.

PSG boss Thomas Tuchel hailed the Germany shot-stopper for his performance after the final whistle, telling reporters: "He took the goalkeeping game to a new level. Unfortunately for us."

Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed has confirmed the Ministry will soon roll out a sports resumption calendar.

Contact and non-contact sports in the country have been halted since mid-March when they were suspended due to the emergence of the global coronavirus pandemic.

But the assurance of Mohamed, in a virtual meeting with sports stakeholders, provided insight that the government will roll out a calendar, programme and guidelines for resumption.

“Due to the nature of pandemic, it was important to take a delicate and very diligent process that satisfied the Ministry of Health [MOH] and the World Health Organisation [WHO] directives including public participation,” Mohamed said during the virtual Monday meeting.

“It is my hope we will be able to complete the exercise as soon as possible and roll out a sports calendar.”

The Minister was speaking as she received the guidelines from a panel she had constituted to come up with a roadmap for resumption.

The report was presented by the panel’s chair Hassan Noor Hassan who led other members including Pius Meto, Rose Wachuka, Walter Ongeti, Gerald Gitonga, Agnes Oluoch, Naim Bilal, Elias Makori, Wycliffe Makanga, Doreen Odhiambo, Japhpter Rugut, Rose Wasike, Barnabas Korir, Francis Mutuku, Christine Mangwana, Kweya Obed, James Ochola and Sylvia Kamau in drafting the protocols.

“I am thankful for the committee members for the hard work that they put in to ensure the guidelines were ready in time,” Noor told the virtual meeting.

“We have lost a lot of time in the year and as you can see the school year has also been lost and we hopefully don’t want to see the same happening to sports.

“We really want to keep sports in the country alive.”

One of the guidelines proposed by the panel was the testing of all sportspeople before the resumption of their respective disciplines. This proposal, however, was slightly contested as the stakeholders asked the government to reduce testing charges or waive it altogether.

The stakeholders have been given a week to read the guidelines report and channel back their feedback before the ministry works on them and give a tentative date when sports will resume.

When the date shall be finally announced, it will give Football Kenya Federation (FKF) time to give a roadmap to the resumption of the leagues.

The fate of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) that was cancelled by FKF and disputed by its managers remains unknown as the matter is at the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) now.

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has bragged that his club will remain a force despite losing players to other teams in each and every transfer window.

The Kakamega-based club has recently conceded losing midfielder Peter Thiong’o to rivals AFC Leopards after the two clubs tussled over the player since the transfer window opened on August 10.

Shimanyula has now told Goal that the team will never be affected and went further to give a list of players they have lost to teams in the top-flight including Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia.

“We have always been feeding KPL clubs with players, not a single club in KPL has not signed a player from Homeboyz,” Shimanyula told Goal on Monday. “But as always the team still remains a force.

“We have lost Harun [Shakava] and Charles [Momanyi] to Gor Mahia before but it did not affect us, we still went ahead to finish second on the table in the last campaign, and actually had the season been played to the end, we should have won the title.

“We have an academy which is very strong, not even AFC Leopards or Gor Mahia have an academy like the one we have, we don’t fear losing players, we lose and promote from the academy and they just fit in very well.”

Shimanyula continued: “In fact this window, I don’t think we will sign any player, we don’t need to because we already have players to be promoted from the academy, we are not like AFC Leopards, who are waiting for free agents to sign…no, we are a team with proper structures.”

According to Shimanyula, some of the players who have left Homeboyz in the last four transfer windows to various clubs in the top-flight include Estone Esiye (KCB), Sostenus Idah (Bandari), Luke Namanda (Tusker) Gabriel Andika (KCB) and Sunday Mutuku (Sidama Coffee, Ethiopia).

Others are Daniel Sakari (Kariobangi Sharks), Edwin Lavatsa (Gor Mahia), Festo Omukoto (Western Stima), Festus Okiring, and Daniel Waweru (Ulinzi Stars), Japhar Owiti (AFC Leopards) and Faraj Owiti (Tusker).

On Sunday, Shimanyula maintained Homeboyz will continue to dominate rivals AFC Leopards even if they end up signing Thiong’o.

“Homeboyz cannot panic just because we have lost Thiong’o, this is a club which has an academy and we don’t care about losing players because we nurture our own, it will not affect our performances next season, just watch this space, because we will remain the team to beat,” Shimanyula told Goal.

“We will also beat AFC Leopards home and away [with Thiong’o], we have beaten them before and the history will continue, it will not change, we will beat them and this time if they don’t watch out, we will hit them 10-0.”

“Thiong’o is not a big loss for us because he was even warming the bench here, and used to come in the second period, I want you to go check his record [with Homeboyz], and tell me what he did that will be missed?”

In the last seven matches between the two sides, Homeboyz have managed four wins and suffered one defeat with the other two ending in draws.

Bayern Munich "have got to keep" Thiago Alcantara after his Champions League final masterclass, according to Owen Hargreaves, who says "Liverpool fans will being saying yes please" to a transfer for the midfielder.

Thiago has expressed a desire to undertake a new challenge away from the Bundesliga after turning down the chance to extend his current contract at Allianz Arena.

Bayern are prepared to cash in on the 31-year-old before he becomes a free agent in 2021, but only if their €30 million (£27m/$35m) asking price is met during the summer transfer window.

Liverpool are reportedly leading the race for Thiago's signature, with speculation over his future set to increase now that the 2019-20 campaign is officially over.

The Spaniard may have taken in his final appearance for Bayern in Sunday's Champions League final, which Hansi Flick's side won 1-0 against Paris Saint-Germain thanks to a Kingsley Coman header.

Thiago produced another stellar performance in the middle of the park to ensure that the German outfit triumphed in Lisbon, and Hargreaves thinks his old club should be doing everything possible to try and retain the playmaker's services.

"They have got to keep Thiago, he is so important and he was fantastic. Liverpool fans would have been watching that saying yes please," the ex-Bayern star told BT Sport post-match.

Hargreaves added on the difference between Bayern and PSG on Europe's biggest stage: "They have win 21 wins in a row, it wasn't the game we expected but Flick has found the big decisions at the right moments.

"[Manuel] Neuer and Thiago were outstanding. Bayern have more depth. If [Kylian] Mbappe and Neymar don't step up, who does? No one. But that is not the case at Bayern.

"He [Flick] has gone in and turned this team into a machine, everybody is blown away. The football has blown everyone away. He has brought everyone together."

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand also reserved praise for Flick, who stuck to his usual high-defensive line despite the threat of PSG's three-pronged attack made up of Mbappe, Neymar and Angel Di Maria

"Flick deserves huge credit, to play him, sometimes we have seen people like Pep change their tactics, but he said no, we are here because of how we played and we are not going to change our way," said Ferdinand, who was also covering the game as a pundit for BT Sport.