Toure, Drogba, Mikel on African Footballer of the Year shortlist

Nantes president Waldemar Kita announced head coach Claudio Ranieri will leave the Ligue 1 club at the end of the season.

Ranieri was only appointed in June on a two-year deal but the Italian is set to depart after just one campaign with Nantes 10th in the table heading into the final match of the season.

The 66-year-old, who guided Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016, was linked to the vacant Italy post before Roberto Mancini was named coach on Monday.

We can t hide anything. We had a meeting with the sponsors, he thanked everyone, Kita said.

He has to be thanked for all the work he has done.

It has not always been easy, there are regrets, but this is life and there is no anger.

Nantes were challenging for European qual…

Competition: Premier League
Market: Sergio Aguero to be top goalscorer
Odds:

With Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero scoring all four goals in the Sky Blues’ 4-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur, the Argentine international is now level on goals with Chelsea’s Diego Costa (9), and the latter is currently sidelined with injury, so Aguero has a chance to pull clear in the scoring charts.

Behind Aguero Costa is Southampton’s summer signing Graziano Pelle with six goals in eight games but he’s played 181 more minutes than Aguero this campaign already. Manchester City have finally hit the ground running, and the results are starting to see them blowing teams away like they did in their title-winning campaign.

Aguero has always been a consistent g…

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has poked fun at Paul Pogba following the France international s arrival at Manchester United.

Pogba s protracted move to Old Trafford from Juventus was finally completed on Tuesday, becoming the world s most expensive player in the process at an initial £89million.

United face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 22 and Mikel is hoping to repeat a trick he performed on Pogba during the 2014 World Cup when Nigeria met France.

Mikel clearly enjoyed the moment but Pogba ended up having the last laugh on the day as his header set Les Bleus on their way to a 2-0 win in their round of 16 clash in Brasilia.

Pogba is suspended for United s Premier League opener at Bournemouth.

Welcome back to the looking forward to…

There is no doubt Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon d Or, according to former defender Fabio Cannavaro.

Ronaldo is favourite to win the Ballon d Or after helping Madrid to Champions League glory and Portugal to Euro 2016 triumph in 2015-16.

The 31-year-old a two-time winner of the Ballon d Or which has now separated from the FIFA World Player of the Year award scored 51 goals in all competitions for Madrid last season, while he netted three times as Portugal reigned supreme in France.

Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon d Or, without a doubt, Cannavaro told Marca.

Even if he hasn t scored these last few games, we shouldn t forget all he s done this year.

Carlo Ancelotti used to say that with Cristiano [Rona…

Napoli dropped rare points in their quest for the Serie A title as Luciano Spalletti s leaders were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Hellas Verona at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

With Spalletti managing his squad ahead of Tuesday s Champions League clash with Milan, fit-again striker Victor Osimhen began on the bench alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Napoli lacked inspiration in a low-key affair and went closest after the late introduction of their star duo, Osimhen rattling the crossbar with a terrific volley.

While Napoli s first Scudetto since 1990 appears a formality with their lead at the summit standing at 14 points, Spalletti will demand far better with their European dreams on the line next time out.

The moment stepped back onto the…

Sadio Mane has returned to the Bayern Munich squad after missing the Hoffenheim draw at the Allianz Arena on Saturday due to a bust-up with teammate Leroy Sane. The former Liverpool star should be available for selection as Bayern embark upon a difficult mission to overcome a three-goal deficit against Manchester City this week.

City boss Pep Guardiola, who worked at Bayern for three years, coached Sane at City and fought many battles against Mane s Liverpool, believes the conflict might actually make the Bavarians more dangerous.

“Sometimes you need the conflict to make the team better. It’s not a weak point for them. I know this club perfectly.”

Pep Guardiola says the bust up between Sadio Mané and Leroy Sané can galvanise the Bayern squad to make the…

Manchester United have announced the signing of Saidy Janko from Swiss Super League side FC Zurich for an undisclosed fee, according to the club s official website.

Janko, 17, is David Moyes third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Guillermo Varela from Peñarol and Marouane Fellaini from Everton.

Manchester United made a second signing ahead of the deadline by agreeing a deal with FC Zurich for teenager Saidy Janko, read a statement on .

Janko, a right-sided player, impressed United s scouts at the FIFA Blue Stars Tournament this summer, with Zurich winning the competition for the second consecutive year.

The English champions decided to complete the signing of the 17-year-old right-back following a successful trial at the�…

Fabio Capello said managing Russia is an entirely different challenge compared to his tenure as England boss.

The Italian, speaking after his side secured a 1-1 draw with Brazil at Chelsea s Stamford Bridge on Monday, returned to England for the first time since resigning as England manager in February 2012.

It is a very different job, it is the same in terms of managing but it is different because of two main things, Capello said.

The Russian Premier League takes a three-month break during the winter and the language is very difficult because I always have to speak through a translator as it is difficult to learn.

Russia sit first in their World Cup qualifying Group F, having won all four of their games, and Capello knows there can be no room for slip…

Sao Paulo defender Rodrigo Caio is weighing up his options ahead of the January transfer window, according to O Globo.

The 23-year-old defender is held in high regard by clubs from across Europe, and he could be the subject of serious proposals in the upcoming transfer window.

Paris Saint-Germain, Lazio, Napoli and Valencia are all keen, but Sao Paulo have made another attempt to keep hold of their prized asset.

Namely, the Brazil international has been offered a new and improved contract by his current employers as they hope to ward off interest in the defender’s services.

Caio now needs to think long and hard about his future plans as this is a unique opportunity for him to realise a big club move.

The centre-back was on the verge of joining …

Former Liverpool, Malaga and Villarreal defender Josemi has announced his retirement at the age of 36.

The full-back has called time on his playing career after 15 seasons at senior level, having been without a club since leaving Indian Super League side Atletico Kolkata in November last year.

The moment has come to say goodbye. To put a full stop on my career as a professional footballer, he posted via his official Twitter account.

The moment to hang up my boots and bid farewell to what has been my life since I ve been able to think.

Eight clubs, 351 official games and the odd title, but above all a million experiences that I will never be able to forget.

But yes, the moment to say goodybe has arrived, the time to keep my boots in the cupboar…