Villarreal have completed the signing of Víctor Ruiz from Valencia on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell last season.
The 26-year-old former Spain Under-21 centre-back has signed a four-year contract to link up with Marcelino s side once again
Ruiz made 25 appearances for Villarreal last season and did enough to earn a long contract with Valencia s La Liga rivals.
The defender joined Valencia from Napoli in August 2011 after a frustrating spell in Italy, in which he made only six Serie A appearances.
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CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb urged FIFA to reintroduce a World Cup hosting rotation around the confederations, as the campaign to have the United States host in 2026 gathered pace.
Webb, who is also a FIFA vice-president, believes his confederation deserves to host their fourth World Cup soon with the USA having last welcomed football s premier event to its shores in 1994.
FIFA announced on Friday that the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup will begin this year over 11 years before the tournament will be held with the final vote to be held in May 2017.
The USA is believed to have just missed out on hosting the 2022 showpiece to Qatar, with widespread allegations of corruption relating to the vote in 2010.
But with FIFA pledging a clean process from…
Jose Mourinho has defended Paul Pogba s sluggish start to his second spell at Old Trafford, stating the world-record fee paid for him by Manchester United is not a big deal in relative terms.
Pogba left United for Juventus in 2012 but returned in August in a transfer costing an initial £89million, making him the most expensive player in the world.
After impressing on his debut against Southampton last month, the France international came under fire for disappointing displays in defeats to rivals Manchester City and Feyenoord.
United this week reported a club-record £515.3m revenue for the last financial year, and the Portuguese suggested such financial muscle makes other clubs paying £40m for a player more surprising.
I think there are clubs that paid…
Lionel Messi has been named UEFA Player of the Year following a final vote during the UEFA Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday.
The mercurial Barcelona forward secured the award for the second time, having previously been crowned the continent s best player back in 2011.
Last year s winner Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi s team-mate Luis Suarez were also in the running for the gong, but it was Argentina captain Messi who claimed yet another honour.
Messi was at his brilliant best yet again as Barca won the UEFA Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey in Luis Enrique s first season at the helm.
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According to former Wales’ striker Craig Bellamy, it is only a matter of time before Real Madrid sign Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
Talking to Sky’s the Debate, Bellamy said: He is the real deal and I have always felt that Real Madrid have been looking for him to be their No 1 for a number of years,
And it is just a matter of time before they get him. His footwork is brilliant, he anticipates as well, he can read forwards and if you watch, he makes a lot of his saves with his feet. He is incredible.
He asks the forward so many questions when you are gunning down on him and he is a real top goalkeeper.
Is Bellamy correct in his opinion? Is it only a matter of time before David de Gea joins Real Madrid?
De Gea is the best goalk…
Manchester United have triggered a clause in Juan Mata s contract, extending his stay at Old Trafford by an extra year until June 2019.
Mata s deal was due to expire at end of the season, but the Red Devils have opted to activate their option to prolong his stay by a further 12 months.
And United boss Jose Mourinho, who sold Mata to United from Chelsea in January 2014, talked up the attacking midfielder s importance to his plans.
Mata is very important. When I arrived one-and-a-half years ago, [they said], Mata is in trouble, in trouble, in trouble , and now he s getting an extension of one more year, Mourinho told a news conference ahead of Wednesday s trip to Wembley to face Tottenham.
An important player for me; important player for the club; importa…
Lionel Messi is again being linked with a move to Inter.
Messi, 33, sensationally requested to leave Barcelona during the close season, but ended up staying with the LaLiga giants.
However, the six-time Ballon d Or winner is widely expected to leave Camp Nou when his contract expires at season s end.
TOP STORY – MESSI S BEST OFFER IS FROM INTER
Messi does not want to renew at Barcelona and his best offer is from Inter, according to OK Diario.
The Argentina star has spent his entire professional career at Barcelona, winning 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues among numerous other trophies.
Messi was linked to Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter during the close season.
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According to Sport, Antoine Griezmann has reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to play at the Parc Des Princes from next season.
The French forward has informed current club Atletico Madrid about his wish to leave the Spanish capital this summer. Last year, he was very close to joining Barcelona but he rejected their offer in the end and opted to stay where he was. He has been linked with a move to the Camp Nou again, but this time it was Barcelona who reportedly had second thoughts about signing him.
And now, it appears that PSG, who already snatched Neymar from Barcelona for a world-record fee back in 2017, are ready to take advantage of the Catalans indecision and snatch their long-term target as well.
In turn, Atletico are interested in signing Edin…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not expecting Marcus Rashford to return to action for Manchester United until after the next international break.
The England forward underwent an operation on a long-standing shoulder issue in July and has yet to feature for United this season.
Rashford was back in training at Carrington last month and was thought to be close to a return to the matchday squad, but Solskjaer will not rush back the 23-year-old.
Asked for a fitness update on Rashford and Alex Telles, who has been ruled out since injuring his ankle in pre-season, Solskjaer told MUTV: Yeah, it s going well.
They ve worked really hard, both of them. Alex is a bit further on than Marcus. I don t think we ll see Marcus until after the international break.
Unit…
David Moyes believes Jesse Lingard can push for an England recall after an impressive debut for West Ham on Wednesday.
Lingard, who joined West Ham on loan from Manchester United last month, marked his debut with a brace in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
He became just the second player to score twice on his Premier League debut for the club, after Trevor Sinclair against Everton in January 1998.
A 24-time England international, Lingard last played for his country in mid-2019, but Moyes believes the form he showed against Villa could lead to a recall.
I think he s still getting used to us and we re getting used to him, but we re thrilled because he made a difference to the team, the West Ham manager told BT Sport.
If he keeps up that form, it won t…