Police raid PSG,homes of Di Maria,Pastore

Police investigating suspected tax fraud have raided the headquarters of Paris Saint-Germain and the homes of Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore, a French official says.

The official said police on Tuesday entered the head offices of PSG at Parc des Princes and other offices in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside the French capital.

Anti-corruption police units also searched the homes of three Argentine players -- Di Maria, Pastore and Nantes forward Emiliano Sala.

The national financial prosecutor's office opened an investigation in December after so-called "Football Leaks" reports allegedly detailed tax arrangements by top players, coaches and clubs.

In a statement released to French media, PSG said: "Paris Saint-Germain communicated all the information and documents requested on two of its players.

"Paris Saint-Germain emphasised that all of the relative contractual documents of these two players have been concluded in perfectly regular conditions, as the club has demonstrated systematically and with the utmost rigor.

"The club will continue to answer, in perfect transparency, any new request from the competent authorities."

Di Maria, formerly of Real Madrid, was also the target of tax charges in Spain in December.

A day earlier, reports in France said PSG star Edinson Cavani was also suspected of attempting to avoid paying nearly €500,000 in taxes, though the Uruguayan told Mediapart he was "very shocked" by the allegations and "in full compliance with French tax law."

A new statement from Cavani's agent on Tuesday said: "Mr Edinson Cavani again denies, with the utmost firmness, the unfounded accusations against him."

Koke signs extension at Atletico until 2024

Koke has signed a five-year contract extension that will keep the midfielder at Atletico Madrid until June 2024, the club announced on Tuesday.

"Jose Resurreccion 'Koke' and Atletico Madrid have completed an agreement for the player to sign a contract extension until June 30, 2024," a club statement said.

Koke, whose previous deal ran to June 2019, said he was is thrilled to have pledged his future to his all-time club.

"Atletico is the club of my life and it's an honor to be a part of its future," the 25-year-old told the club's website.

Koke joined Atletico at the age of eight and made his first team debut in the 2011-12 campaign. He has won five titles with Atletico, including La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Europa League.

The Spain international scored four goals and set up eight more in 34 league starts to help Atletico finish third in La Liga in the 2016-17 campaign and qualify for next season's Champions League group stages.

"This is great news for all Atletico fans," Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero said. "He is one of the leaders of the team and has grown up with the values of this club.

"Despite his youth, he has vast experience and he is an example to all the children from our Academy. He is loved, respected and will make history in this club."

Conte wins Premier league manager of the season

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has been named Premier League manager of the year by the League Managers Association at their 25th annual awards dinner on Monday night.

Conte led the Blues, who finished 10th last campaign, to the Premier League title and this weekend's FA Cup final during his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea claimed a Premier League-record 30 victories under the stewardship of Conte, including 13 in a row from Oct. 1, to finish seven points ahead of second-placed Tottenham.

Griezman: 60% chance of Utd move

The France international continues to be linked with the Red Devils, and revealed his future will be finalised within the next two weeks.

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has admitted there is a "six out of 10" chance that he will join Manchester United this summer.

The France international has long been linked with the Old Trafford outfit, and Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho is keen to add the player to his squad.
And now Griezmann has revealed there is a real chance of him moving to the Europa League finalists, with his future set to be finalised in the next fortnight.

"My future will be decided within two weeks, " he told French television show, Quotidien .

He was then asked what the possibility of him joining United this summer would be out of 10, he replied "six".

Some reports have suggested Griezmann will only sign for United if they can secure Champions League football for next season.

Mourinho: No mistake next season

The Red Devils have had a mixed campaign under the Portuguese coach, but he is confident there will be a great improvement next term.

Jose Mourinho insists he will not make mistakes in his second season at Manchester United now that he knows the club better from the inside.

United could still end Mourinho's first campaign at Old Trafford with two major trophies if they can defeat Ajax in the Europa League final next Wednesday, having already won the EFL Cup.

But they have struggled in the Premier League and will finish sixth regardless of their result in Sunday's home match against Crystal Palace – meaning the Europa League represents their last chance to reach next season's Champions League.

Mourinho stressed that the first season at any new club is always difficult, but is more optimistic about 2017-18 after what he has learned this term.

"I try to analyse the realities before I arrived in the club, but you only know the reality when you are inside," Mourinho told Omnisport.
"The first season is hard. I enjoy the second because in the second I know I'm not making mistakes.

"You think you know the players, but you don't. You only know them when you have them in good moments and bad moments. The one I really enjoy to do is the transition from the first to the second season."

Herrera named Man Utd player of the season

Ander Herrera was named Manchester United's player of the season for 2016-17, ending David De Gea's run of three straight years winning the award.

Herrera, 27, edged Antonio Valencia and top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the prize after appearing in 31 Premier League games and providing six assists from midfield.

"It is very special for me to win this award because when you see the list of the winners you see how important it is," Herrera told MUTV on Thursday.

"Of course also I stopped the record of David [De Gea] and the trophy stays in Spain as well."
Herrera made his first appearance for Spain this season as a result of his fine performances for United.

Ecuador international Valencia was named the players' player of the season after a fine season a right-back in which he made 31 appearances and provided three assists.

Henrikh Mkhiatryan won goal of the season for his back-heeled volley against Sunderland in December.

Axel Tuanzebe took home the reserve team player of the year award.

Harry Kane one of a kind -Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino says Harry Kane is one of a kind after the striker's stunning performance in Tottenham's 6-1 win at Leicester City on Thursday.

Kane scored four goals for the first time in his career -- including a second-half hat trick, his fourth of the season -- to move ahead of Everton's Romelu Lukaku in the race for the Golden Boot.

The Spurs striker now has 26 goals, one more than he scored last season when he won the award, and two ahead of Lukaku.
Spurs play at relegated Hull City on the final day, while Everton visit Arsenal, who also have a contender for the Golden Boot in 23-goal man Alexis Sanchez.

"I think the most important thing is that he is more mature, a more experienced player. Then he's so professional. I think he's a striker that it is difficult to find another striker in the world like him," Pochettino told a postmatch news conference.
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"I hope yes he will have another opportunity against Hull to score more. I hope that he can win."

No Liverpool bid for Mbappe

Reports in Spain on Thursday claimed the new Ligue 1 champions had rejected a €75 million bid from Anfield for the 18-year-old, who has also been linked with Manchester United.

But the sources told TOTAL FUTBOL  that, as things stand, Liverpool have been monitoring Mbappe but are not preparing any bid.

They said the Anfield scouting department is continually tracking the progress of high-performing young talent across the game.
France international Mbappe, who has two years remaining on his contract, has played a pivotal role in Monaco's title and their run to the Champions League semifinals.

Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has said the teenager is not for sale for any price.

Liverpool will return to the Champions League if they beat relegated Middlesbrough at Anfield on Sunday, and manager Jurgen Klopp believes they will be in a financial position to compete with rivals in the summer window.
Asked at a news conference on Friday whether they would have the resources to recruit their top targets if Champions League qualification was achieved, Klopp replied: "Yes.

West Ham, Everton eye Iheanacho

Both West Ham United and Everton are considering a move for Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho.

Iheanacho has found first-team opportunities limited following the arrival of Gabriel Jesus in January and could fall further down the pecking order with coach Pep Guardiola keen to add Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez to his squad.
Sources have told Total Futbol  that Sergio Aguero is expected to stay at City despite speculation over his future.

Guardiola has spoken highly of Iheanacho's qualities, but the 20-year-old has played just 111 minutes in the Premier League since the turn of the year and reports have suggested City would consider selling for offers in excess of £20 million.

West Ham are prepared to meet that price, while Everton see him as a possible replacement for Romelu Lukaku if the Belgium international leaves.
Iheanacho, who has seven goals in all competitions this season, said in March that he was prepared to fight for his City future.

Cavani and Mbappe win top Ligue 1 awards

Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani has won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award, while Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe has been named Ligue 1's best young player of the season.

The awards were handed out on Monday night by the National Union of Professional Football Players (UNFP).
Cavani, 30, picked up the award for the first time in his career after scoring 35 Ligue 1 goals for PSG in as many appearances this season -- nine more goals than his nearest challenger, Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette.

PSG's former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who left for Manchester United last summer, had won the award in three of the past four years. Eden Hazard, Lacazette, Karim Benzema and Didier Drogba are also among the winners in previous seasons.


Mbappe, 18, was the recipient of the award handed out to Ligue 1's best young player of the season following a breakthrough campaign with Monaco, in which he has scored 14 goals and registered eight assists in 27 league appearances to put his club on the verge of winning the French title for the first time since 2000.

Mbappe's Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim, meanwhile, landed the Ligue 1 Coach of the Year award for his excellent work with the Principality club, while Danijel Subasic was named the top goalkeeper.

Pep: I'd have been sacked by Barça and Bayern

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he would have been sacked had he had his current season with previous clubs Barcelona or Bayern Munich.

Guardiola will finish the campaign without silverware and his City side face West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday needing to avoid defeat to keep Champions League qualification in their own hands.

The City boss says that the pressure to win does not compare to his time at his previous clubs in Spain and Germany, but added that he will be fired if he does not improve in his second season in England.

"I am not staying here because I am Pep or what I have done a long time ago, I know what the problem is," he told a news conference. "I am not going to be [wondering] all summer: 'Oh what will happen next season if I don't win some titles.'

"Pressure I had when I arrived in Barcelona, when I had nothing to defend [myself with]. At that club, if in six months you don't win, you are really out, like Barcelona or Bayern Munich, there you have to win by far. If not, they don't give you a second chance.

"Here they gave me a second chance and we will try to do it. In my situation at a big club, I'm sacked, I'm out, sure, definitely. At the clubs I worked at before I am not here, but here we have a second chance and we will try to do it better than this season."

Alexis and Aubameayang "Welcome" at PSG

The forward wants the soon-to-be deposed French champions to strengthen, although he says they are a "far superior" side to Monaco.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani has said that he would “welcome” Alexis Sanchez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the club if they were to arrive in the summer.

It is almost certain that PSG will be deposed as Ligue 1 champions, with Monaco needing only to avoid two record-breaking defeats to claim the crown, and as a result, a significant summer spend is forecast at Parc des Princes.
Among those linked to the club are Arsenal attacker Alexis and Borussia Dortmund forward Aubameyang, and Cavani, who has scored 49 goals this season, would love to see them arrive.

“If they sign, they are welcome." “We are here for the team. Good players are here for the team.”
Nevertheless, he believes that his side are much better than Monaco, regardless of summer additions.

“The final of the Coupe de la Ligue against Monaco was a good time,” he said of the 4-1 win in Lyon. “That day, we showed that we are far superior to them"

Monchi wants Totti as Roma's director

Roma's new sporting director Monchi hopes Francesco Totti will accept the offer of a director's role next season, saying he wants to learn everything about the club from the 40-year-old.

Monchi recently revealed that Totti would not be offered a playing contract when his current deal expires in the summer, although he said a six-year contract is awaiting his signature to move upstairs.

Totti has yet to comment on his future beyond the end of the season, and has so far not confirmed that he will be retiring.

Monchi says he is, therefore, respecting his club's captain decision in the hope that he will lend him a hand next year and not seek to play on elsewhere.

"The future potential that Francesco has got is huge and we hope to be able to tap into it because he knows Roma better than anybody, and I, who am a new arrival, would have a great teacher to get to know everything as quickly as possible," Monchi is quoted by Gazzetta dello Sport as telling beIN SPORTS USA. "We're waiting for him to decide.

Argentina yet to begin Sampaoli talks

The Argentina Football Association (AFA) has yet to negotiate with Sevilla over the release of their coach Jorge Sampaoli from his contract.

Sampaoli is tied to Sevilla until June 2018 but can leave this summer provided his €1.5 million release clause is met.

AFA president Claudio Tapia told ESPN FC last month that Sampaoli is the only candidate for the vacant Argentina coaching position but that officials would wait until the end of the season before starting negotiations.

Asked about his future, Sampaoli told his club's official website after Sunday's 4-1 defeat at Real Madrid: "I'm not going to acknowledge something that does not exist, it doesn't exist in an official manner, which is what matters.
"The rest has to do with contracts, clauses. If there are no talks between the club and AFA, it doesn't exist."

Sanchez injury didn't look so good - Wenger

Arsene Wenger says Alexis Sanchez's thigh injury doesn't "look too good" but hasn't ruled out the forward from being fit to play against Sunderland on Tuesday.

Sanchez managed to score Arsenal's third goal in Saturday's 4-1 at Stoke despite struggling with a knock, and was substituted straight after.

Wenger said Arsenal's leading scorer will have a fitness test later on Monday and that Sanchez's unique physical abilities could give him a chance to play.

"Yesterday it didn't look too good, but with him you never know," Wenger told a news conference. "He's so keen. Maybe it was just a kick. It could be a possibility that he recovers for tomorrow."

Centre-back Laurent Koscielny also has "a little problem" with his calf after the Stoke game, Wenger said, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Coutinho happy amid Barça interest

Philippe Coutinho has told ESPN Brasil he is "happy to know" that Barcelona are interested in signing him but for now he is focused on helping Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League.

Coutinho, 24, took his tally for the Premier League season to 12 goals and seven assists with a fine performance in Liverpool's 4-0 win against West Ham on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp's side now need only to beat relegated Middlesbrough on the final day of the season to confirm a top-four finish.
And Coutinho prefers to concentrate on that than speculation of a move to link up with Brazil teammate Neymar at Barca.

"Barcelona is one of the best teams in the world, so far, nothing has come to me, because if anything comes, it comes to my manager, what I have to do is focus on the pitch," Coutinho said.

"I have a contract with Liverpool, there are two games, there are a lot of chances for us to be in the Champions League next year.
"What I have to do is focus on football and those things are resolved by the business people.

"I'm happy to know that a great club has an interest, it's cool, for the recognition of my work, what I have to do is keep working hard.
"Liverpool is a great club and we have to put Liverpool back in the Champions League."

Neymar : This is my best Barça season

The Brazilian international's hat-trick against Las Palmas continued a stunning 2016-17 season for the forward, who feels his campaign has been great.

Neymar believes he has produced his best season in a Barcelona shirt after his hat-trick sealed an emphatic victory over Las Palmas.
The Brazil international's first away hat-trick for Barca secured a 4-1 victory on Sunday that ensured La Liga's title race will go down to the final day of the season.

Neymar has scored 19 goals and contributed a further 20 assists for his club in 2016-17 and thinks this has been the best of his four campaigns at Camp Nou.

"This is a great season for me," Neymar said to France Football .
"I even think I have had my best season since I arrived here. I do not know if I have reached a new level, it is hard to have that judgement when you are on the pitch.
"I have always had the same role from my arrival until today – it has not changed. I have always taken responsibility on this team and everyone knows their role."

Guardiola lauds City hero Zabaleta

The Argentine will bid an emotional farewell to the Etihad Stadium this summer, but he has been told his place in the club's history is secure.

Pep Guardiola has heralded outgoing full-back Pablo Zabaleta as one of the most important players in Manchester City history.

City announced late on Saturday that Zabaleta had informed the club he will leave when his contract expires next month, bringing down the curtain on a celebrated nine-year spell in Manchester.

Rashford can fill Zlatan's boot - Lingard

Jesse Lingard says Marcus Rashford can handle the pressure of firing Manchester United to success at home and abroad in the final weeks of the season.

The teenager has been handed the task of filling Zlatan Ibrahimovic's boots by manager Jose Mourinho after the Swedish striker suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Rashford's free kick against Celta Vigo on Thursday has given United a slender advantage heading into next week's Europa League semifinal second leg at Old Trafford.
And after important goals against Chelsea and Anderlecht last month, Lingard insists Rashford is proving he can shoulder the responsibility.

"He can handle the pressure," said Lingard. "He's been about long enough now to handle the pressure. He's scored major goals for United and again he's got the important goal. He's still going.

"He's going to fill out even more. His knowledge of the game, his game intelligence will continue to grow and he'll keep learning and go from there."

Spurs let title hope slip up their grasp

This might well be it for Tottenham Hotspur. By the time they next play, a week on Sunday against Manchester United, Chelsea might already be champions.

 One cannot say that they have blown the title race, given that their previous run of nine wins in nine cut a lead of 10 points to four, but their 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Friday means Chelsea can confirm their title win should they beat Middlesbrough on Sunday then West Brom next Friday.

Manuel Lanzini scored the only goal of an exciting, if often scrappy, derby at the London Stadium, which was unusually atmospheric for the visit of Spurs. At the end, manager Slaven Bilic roared in celebration and perhaps relief, while the fans sang "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" with a gusto rarely heard this season.

For West Ham, these three points dispelled any remote possibility that they might be relegated. So tight is the bottom half of the table that this win takes them into ninth, on 42 points, 10 clear of the bottom three. The relief was palpable.
West Ham had the better of the opening stages, two early chances falling to Lanzini, with a left-footed shot, and Sam Byram, whose back-post header was turned behind for a corner.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic second on sport rich list

Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic has entered the list of the richest sportsmen in the UK in second spot, behind 2016 leader Lewis Hamilton.

The Swedish striker is included in the list of top-earning athletes in Britain after joining United last July.
With a fortune of £110m, he overtakes team-mate Wayne Rooney, who is third on the list with £93m, as Britain's richest footballer.

Formula 1 world champion Hamilton has a wealth of £131m.
His fellow driver Jenson Button is fourth on the Sunday Times list, which is published on Sunday.
Five of the top 10 are from football - three players and two managers - with tennis player Sir Andy Murray, golfer Rory McIlroy and basketball player Luol Deng also included.

The Sunday Times sport rich list 2017
1. Lewis Hamilton, motor racing, 2017 wealth £131m, up £25m

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, football, 2017 wealth £110m

3. Wayne Rooney, football, 2017 wealth £93m, up £11m

4. Jenson Button, motor racing, 2017 wealth £86m, up £9m

5. Rory McIlroy, golf, 2017 wealth £82m, up £26m

Jordi Alba wants to stay amid Barça rumours

Jordi Alba admits finding himself on the bench at times this season has been a new experience for him but insists he wants to remain at Barcelona.

Alba has been a regular in the Barca side since signing from Valencia in 2012, but Luis Enrique's switch to a back three after the four-goal defeat to Paris Saint-Germain left him without a place in the team.

It led to speculation he could leave Camp Nou this summer, while Barca have also been heavily linked with a move for Atletico Madrid left-back Theo Hernandez.

"A player always wants to play as much as possible and this season I haven't played all the minutes I would have liked to," Alba told reporters after the Blaugrana 's derby win over Espanyol.

"But I'm not going to ask for explanations. It's clear I'd like to play more, but now I'm getting minutes [again]."
Alba was left on the bench for Champions League games against PSG and Juventus as well as important league matches against Sevilla and Valencia.
Admitting things have been difficult, he added: "Everything goes through your head when you are in a situation like that and for me it was new. I'm not used to it but it helped me mature and evaluate things more.
"The change of system had an influence but these are the coach's decisions. Whether I like it or not, I have to accept it.

Radamel Falcao wants to sign new Monaco deal

Radamel Falcao has told L'Equipe he hopes to extend his contract with Monaco, as he prepares for Wednesday's Champions League semifinal first leg with Juventus.
After a difficult two seasons in England, Falcao, 31, returned to Monaco last summer and has since flourished.

The Colombia international has found the back of the net 19 times in as many starts in Ligue 1 this term to help push the club to the brink of a first French title since 2000, while also netting crucial goals in the Champions League to take Monaco into the last four.

Falcao will have just a year left on his contract at the Stade Louis II come the end of the season, and though Monaco's policy is now to sign promising youngsters rather than established stars, as it was when he moved there from Atletico Madrid in 2013, the striker hopes to stay on.

"Of course I would like to," he replied when asked whether he wanted to extend his contract. "I feel really good here, my wife and daughters too, with the club and the city. We've adapted, we have a good social life and that enables my work to bear more fruit. I'm at peace here since the start of the season, and I hope to be able to continue living here."

De Gea not angling for Utd exit

David De Gea is not pushing to leave Manchester United this summer, sources have told ESPN FC, despite being linked with a transfer to Real Madrid.

Last week, Spanish newspaper Marca reported De Gea had agreed personal terms ahead of a move.
But sources have told ESPN FC that De Gea has not indicated he wants to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season.

He still has two years left on the contract he signed following the breakdown of his move to Real Madrid 2015. There is also an option to extend the deal for an extra year to 2020 should all parties agree.

There is an acceptance among senior figures at Old Trafford that Real offer a significant pull for a player who grew up in the Spanish capital.

However, they are buoyed by De Gea's decision to stay at United last summer and see no reason why he should not make the same choice this time around.
United effectively beat Real on two fronts last summer, firstly by convincing De Gea to stay and then signing Paul Pogba in a world-record deal.

There is also a hope Real could still make Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois their top target to replace Keylor Navas.
United are, however, drawing up a list of replacements just in case.
They employed a similar tactic in 2015 when they had both Navas and Jasper Cillessen, then at Ajax, lined up until the last minute.