Sports

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was delighted to see Cristiano Ronaldo return and believes his star team-mate will only get better.

Ronaldo made his return from a knee injury and needed just six minutes to score in Madrid s 5-2 LaLiga win over Osasuna on Saturday. Modric, who also got on the scoresheet, praised the Portugal captain and is thrilled to see him back in Zinedine Zidane s team.

The fact that he s back means a lot to us, the Croatia star told the club s website. He s a great player and his presence and leadership out on the pitch are very important. I m sure that with every game he plays, he ll get stronger.

Today he got his name on the scoresheet and played very well. In my eyes, Cristiano is the best player in the world, although I don t like …

Ilkay Gundogan has ended speculation over his future by signing a new four-year deal with Manchester City.

The midfielder has recommitted until 2023 in a boost to the Premier League champions a day out from their season opener away to West Ham.

There were fears Germany international Gundogan would leave on a free in 2020 after entering the final 12 months of his previous contract.

Talks over an extension broke down during the second half of last season but Gundogan expressed a willingness to reopen negotiations at the end of City s treble-winning campaign and an agreement has now been reached.

FOUR MORE YEARS

br

— Manchester City (@ManCity)

I have hugely enjoyed the last three years here at City and everyone at the club ha…

Much-criticised Mauro Icardi missed a penalty as Samir Handanovic s calamitous own-goal ensured that Inter s poor form under Frank de Boer continued with a 2-1 home defeat to Cagliari in Serie A.

Icardi had been blasted in the run-up to Sunday s encounter following comments made in his autobiography regarding Inter s support, with the club s largest ultras faction Curva Nord demanding the striker be stripped of the captaincy.

Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti confirmed before kick-off at San Siro that the armband may well be taken from the Argentine, who did not help his cause with a terrible attempt from 12 yards out midway through the first-half.

Joao Mario s first Inter goal had appeared to cancel out that miss 10 minutes after the interval, with Handanovic …

Rennes star Eduardo Camavinga admitted it is nice when a big club is interested amid ongoing links with LaLiga champions Real Madrid.

Camavinga has been tipped to make the move from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes to Madrid, who are long-time admirers of the France sensation.

Ligue 1 holders Paris Saint-Germain, Serie A champions Juventus and Manchester United have also been linked to the 18-year-old midfielder.

Of course it is nice when a big club is interested in you, Camavinga told Canal as speculation mounts over his future. [But] me, I keep a cool head.

I am at Stade Rennais. We will wait until the end of the season.

We will meet around the table and we will weigh the pros and cons [then].

90+4 : C est terminé. Les Rouge et Noir concèdent…

France coach Didier Deschamps praised Kingsley Coman s performance in a comfortable 4-1 win over Albania in Euro 2020 qualifying on Saturday.

Coman struck twice at the Stade de France to go with goals from Olivier Giroud and Jonathan Ikone, while Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty as the hosts cruised to victory in Group H.

The goals were the Bayern Munich attacker s first at international level since March 2016 and Deschamps hailed the 23-year-old.

It s been a while since he s with us. He was there before the Euros [in 2016] and before, younger, he said, via L Equipe.

His match is more like what he has been doing for a year with Bayern Munich. He is more attracted to the goal and decisive.

He always had this ability to destabilise the opponent…

Barcelona are in disarray – out of Champions League and out of money.

Funds are limited at Camp Nou and it is forcing the embattled LaLiga giants to make some tough decisions.

Frenkie de Jong and Marc-Andre ter Stegen could be sold.

TOP STORY – DE JONG AND TER STEGEN TO LEAVE CAMP NOU?

Barcelona are willing to sell Frenkie de Jong and Marc-Andre ter Stegen due to the club s finances, according to Diario AS.

Eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage, Barca are in the midst of a financial crisis, having been forced to part with superstar captain Lionel Messi at the start of the season.

Barca head coach Xavi faces a rebuilding job but needs to raise funds, and star midfielder De Jong and goalkeeper Ter Stegen co…

Manchester United are reportedly open to the idea of signing Christian Pulisic on loan from Chelsea. ESPN claim they ve been informed so by their sources.

With the likes of Antony, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford currently in their ranks, United appear well-stocked in the winger department. That, at first glance, might cause questions about the reason for a move for Pulisic who also plays out wide, or as a No. 10 where Bruno Fernandes is the indisputable first choice. With Cristiano Ronaldo gone following the termination of his contract, it s expected for the 20-time English champions to move for a centre-forward, rather than a wide attacker.

On the other hand, there is always the possibility of reinstating Rashford as a full-time striker, which would in turn open up a…

England are doing their best to make it business as usual as they prepare to face Spain in the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday.

Defender Jess Carter insists there will be no additional nerves ahead of a game she never envisaged being a part of, while head coach Sarina Wiegman is preoccupied by a selection dilemma.

Here, the PA news agency looks at all the latest news heading into Sunday’s big one:

More the merrier for Carter

England defender Jess Carter admits every extra minute is a bonus as she prepares to feature in Sunday’s World Cup final.

The 25-year-old has been one of the lynchpins of her side’s run to within 90 minutes of a first women’s World Cup win but says she did not expect to get this far.

“When I didn’t p…

What the papers say

Manchester United are interested in Paris St Germain’s Marco Verratti to bolster the Devils’ midfield, the Mirror reports. Saudi Pro League team Al-Ahli are also reported to be interested in the 30-year-old alongside a number of European clubs.

After losing their first two games of the Premier League season Everton are hoping they will land the signature of Scottish forward Che Adams. The 27-year-old could move to the club from Southampton for a fee worth around £15million, the Telegraph says.

The Sun says Nottingham Forest are willing to pay the same amount for Brazilian Matheus Nascimento from Botafogo, but he may stay with the club with the goal to help them win the Brazilian Serie A.

Social media round-up

Aymeric Laporte on the brin…

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes said it is a goal of his to retire at the Catalan club.

The Spain international is currently under contract until June 2014 at Camp Nou, and although he is currently is no rush to sign an extension, he would fancy ending his career with the side he has won two Champions League titles with.

Since I signed the last contract I have not spoken about it. I signed the last one in June 2009 and have not been concerned since, the 30-year-old told reporters.

It is not the time for me to be worrying about it, there is still time. I m focused on winning games. My dream is to retire here… time will tell.

Despite his apparent desire to stay with Barca until he hangs up his boots, Valdes refused to rule out the possibility of ex…