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Zlatan Ibrahimovic says it is  unthinkable that Euro 2016 would take place without him.

The Sweden striker will have to help his country negotiate the play-offs if they are to secure a place in France after they could only manage a third-place finish in their pool.

Paris-Saint Germain star Ibrahimovic is confident the Swedes can still progress and suggested the tournament would be weaker without his presence.

He told Voetbal International:  I don t want to miss the European Championship. It s unthinkable for me to see this tournament going on without me. We didn t go in the standard way, so we will find another one.

The draw for the play-offs takes place on Sunday with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark, Hungary, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia and…

Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti said the Serie A champions have serious financial problems amid ongoing uncertainty over their ownership.

Atalanta s 1-1 draw with Sassuolo last week meant Inter were crowned champions of Italy for the first time since Jose Mourinho s treble-winning side in 2009-10, ending Juventus run of nine consecutive Scudetti.

Despite leading Inter to glory, head coach Antonio Conte s future remains uncertain due to the Nerazzurri s financial situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic as owners Suning Holdings Group reportedly consider selling the team.

Reports of a possible sale first emerged in the middle of the season and rumours regarding the Chinese owners – who acquired a majority stake in 2016 – persist amid the COVID-19 crisi…

Another Premier League season has come to an end and Sergio Aguero added another top-flight record to his collection.

Manchester City s all-time leading goalscorer was already the top-scoring overseas player in Premier League history and his farewell brace from the bench in a celebratory 5-0 win over Everton made him the top one-club scorer in the division with 184.

Impressive, yes, but those are conventionally impressive numbers.

For the final time in 2020-21, Stats Perform takes a look through the more unusual figures to have emerged over the course of an action-packed round of games.

The year of the penalty

Anwar Al Ghazi s second-half penalty ultimately proved decisive as Aston Villa beat Chelsea 2-1 and it was also a landmark goal …

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be playing back at Old Trafford again in 2021-22 after Manchester United confirmed they have reached an agreement with Juventus for the transfer of the Portugal great.

While personal terms, a medical and visa are still to be sorted out for Ronaldo, it would take something remarkable to stop him from joining now after a deal reportedly worth up to €23million (£19.7m) was agreed with Juve on Friday.

For a short while it looked as though Ronaldo – who had asked to leave the Bianconeri – was heading to Manchester City after they missed out on the signing of Harry Kane.

But apparent interventions from Ronaldo s former United manager Alex Ferguson and old team-mate Rio Ferdinand may have swung the race in the Red Devils favour.

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Celtic appear close to securing the services of Brendan Rodgers for a second time after pushing the boat out to bring their former manager back as Ange Postecoglou’s successor.

The Hoops have been on the hunt for a new boss since the Australian sealed his move to Tottenham last Tuesday.

After being linked with Manchester City assistant Enzo Maresca, Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen and West Ham manager David Moyes, among others, the Celtic board have now homed in on Rodgers, with whom they met in Majorca last weekend to initiate discussions.

The Northern Irishman left Celtic to take over at Leicester almost four and a half years ago, but he now appears set for a return to the club at which he won all seven domestic trophies available to him while laying the found…

Manchester United are interested in signing Rodrygo from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that United are looking for a new striker and think that the 23-year-old would be a good fit. Madrid, who are aiming to win La Liga and the UEFA Champions League are willing to sell the Brazil international for €120 million.

Rodrygo has been on the books of Madrid since 2019 when he joined from Santos. The 23-year-old is a very versatile player who can play across the front-line and has established himself as an important player for Los Blancos. He has scored 13 goals and given eight assists in 41 matches in all competitions for Madrid this season.

Madrid are at the top of the La Liga table at the moment with 72 points from 29 match…

Real Madrid are interested in signing Jamal Musiala from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has noted that Musiala, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or a winger, is under contract at Bayern until the summer of 2026 and is valued at €100 million.

Musiala has been on the books of Bayern since 2019 and has established himself as one of the best and most important players for the German club. The 21-year-old Germany international has made 20 starts and three substitute appearances in the Bundesliga this season, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists in the process. He has also scored two goals and given one assist in eight UEFA Champions League games for Thomas Tuchel’s side this campaign.

Bayern are second in the Bundes…

Liverpool face Rangers in a battle of Britain and Barcelona will attempt to apply more pressure on Inter boss Simone Inzaghi with a Champions League victory on Tuesday.

An army of Gers fans will travel south of the border to descend on Merseyside for a Group A clash that will give them another opportunity to secure a first point, with the Reds in second spot behind Napoli.

Barca moved top of La Liga last weekend and Xavi s side will start their third Group C game level on points with out-of-sorts Inter after losing 2-0 to leaders Bayern Munich last month.

Bayern will be expected to maintain their 100 per cent record at the expense of Viktoria Plzen, and Serie A table-toppers Napoli travel to Ajax looking to continue their brilliant start to the season.

Ah…

England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will miss Euro 2016 after being ruled out for up to eight weeks with a knee injury, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

The 22-year-old sustained the injury in training this week and will need up to two months of rehabilitation, ruling him out of the UEFA showpiece, which is due to get underway on June 10.

Wenger said: There s no chance [of him making the Euros]. I ve not spoken to [England boss] Roy [Hodgson] yet because I was only informed yesterday.

I had a conversation with Alex and our medical team and they told me he will not be back until the beginning of July.

It s bad news because you want a guy of 22 years of age to go to the European Championship.

It s very sad. He s an impact playe…

The target is clear for Inter Miami this season, and that is to win MLS Cup, so says goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Miami clinched their place in the playoffs thanks to a 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati, with Luis Suarez on target.

The Herons have taken 56 points in MLS this season, and are eight points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference.

And with Lionel Messi still yet to return to full fitness, Miami are setting their sights on MLS Cup glory.

Callender said: Of course, our goals are set super high and our standards are set super high.

We want to win – we want to win the Eastern Conference, we want to win MLS Cup.

The Chicago Fire are next up for Miami, and Gerardo Martino wants to see his team replicate the level they displayed again…