Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has announced his decision to retire from international duty with the Ivory Coast.
The 36-year-old, regarded as one of his country s finest talents, scored 63 goals a national record in 104 appearances, the last of which came against Greece in the World Cup.
Drogba made his international debut versus South Africa in September 2002 and went on to feature in three World Cups.
He also helped his the Ivory Coast reach the Africa Cup of Nations on two occasions, but suffered defeats in the final to Egypt in 2006 and Zambia in 2012.
It is with much sadness that I have decided to retire from international football, Drogba wrote in a statement posted on his official Twitter account.
These past 12 years in the national team …
Manchester City and Manchester United are set to battle it out for the signature of Bayern Munich s star defender David Alaba.
Alaba s Bayern contract expires in June 2021 and both Manchester clubs have made approaches for the 75-cap Austria international.
Pep Guardiola coached the 28-year-old during his time in the Bundesliga, but City may face further competition for the two-time Champions League winner.
TOP STORY – UNITED AND CITY SET FOR TUG-OF-WAR OVER ALABA
Manchester City and Manchester United have each made formal contact with Alaba s agent Pini Zahavi, reports Spanish media outlet AS.
Bayern s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has accepted the European champions can do nothing to keep Alaba, despite trying everything to…
The future of Mason Mount has been a subject of much speculation over the last few months, following the news that the talks between him and Chelsea about a new contract came to a halt. Liverpool and Newcastle were said to be keeping a close eye on the situation as they plan for the summer rebuild of their midfield section.
However, more recent have revealed that Bayern Munich are interested in taking the 24-year-old to Germany in the wake of appointing former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel as head coach, and now, according to , Mount is open to the idea of reuniting with Tuchel at the Allianz Arena.
Following numerous stellar signings over the last two transfer windows, Mount is one of the lowest-paid players at Stamford Bridge and he s obviously concerned about his statu…
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists he is 100 per cent certain that Mohamed Salah will still be at the club next season.
The Egypt international has enjoyed a spectacular first term at Anfield, scoring 39 goals in all competitions, and his form has led to speculation of interest from Real Madrid.
Klopp told Bild this week that he had no fears over the possibility of losing Salah and he has again stressed the forward is committed to the club.
It s not a situation I d even think about, said the German. Mo Salah came in not a full year ago, to make the next step in his career, and he did it. He had different options and wanted to come here.
Again, in the German interview, he asked me and I said yeah, I m confident . I don t think, I know he will be here…
Former Arsenal star Ian Wright has suggested Arsene Wenger was forced to announce his decision to leave the club.
The Gunners released a statement on Friday in which Wenger stated his intention to step down at the end of the season, despite having a year remaining on his contract.
The Frenchman has resisted repeated calls for him to resign from disgruntled sections of the club s fanbase in recent years, Wenger ignoring their dissatisfaction to sign a two-year extension in May 2017.
And Wright, who won the Premier League title under Wenger in 1997-98, suspects the 68-year-old s hand has been forced amid concerns about the team s form behind the scenes at Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger is a man of principle, honesty and integrity – that is why I am …
West Ham United are holding out for £15m for Enner Valencia,.
The Ecuador international is wanted by sides in both Serie A and the Premier League though the Hammers will not budge on their valuation.
Lazio are in negotiations with the East London club, who are about to move into the Olympic Stadium, though they face stiff competition from Swansea City.
Valencia moved to West Ham from Mexican outfit Pachucha for £12m in the summer of 2014, and has since racked up fifty-six appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring ten goals.
Internationally, he has been capped twenty-nine times for his country, scoring sixteen goals three of which came at the 2014 World Cup finals.
Various offers have come in for the twenty-six year old includ…
Retiring midfielder Thiago Motta hopes to one day coach Paris Saint-Germain s first team as he looks to a future in the dugout.
The former Barcelona and Inter star will play at the Parc des Princes for the last time on Saturday when PSG host Rennes, before the 35-year-old steps into a role with the club s youth team.
But Motta has loftier ambitions as a head coach and is already planning a route to the top at the Ligue 1 champions.
I think it s easier [to start in the youth system], because I m new as a coach, he told L Equipe. I want to give them something. They too will give me a lot.
My goal is to one day coach the PSG first team. I will go step by step, but I will not hide that I have it in a corner of my head, even if it is still a long way off jus…
Morocco will hope to put their latest selection blow behind them when they host Central African Republic in a friendly on Thursday.
Head coach Badou Zaki has named a strong squad for this week s clash as Morocco continue preparations ahead of their hosting of next year s Africa Cup of Nations.
However, one player he will be without is Bayer Leverkusen winger Karim Bellarabi who has instead accepted a call-up from world champions Germany for their Euro 2016 qualification double-header against Poland and the Republic of Ireland.
In-form Bellarabi, who has scored three goals in seven Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen this season, would have provided Zaki with an injection of quality prior to their home Cup of Nations campaign.
However, the 24-year-old ha…
AC Milan are keen on signing Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic on loan when the transfer window reopens, .
The Serbia international, who played in last night’s abandoned European qualifier against Albania in Belgrade yesterday evening, moved to Manchester in the summer of 2012 and has so far racked up fifty-one appearances for the club in all competitions, with his only goal coming in a 7-0 rout over Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium last November.
However, he has not played under Manuel Pellegrini since the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal with captain Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichellis ahead of him in the pecking order.
Milan, currently managed by former striker Filippo Inzaghi, currently sit in fifth place in Serie A after taking eleven poi…
Heinz Fuchsbichler has signed a contract to continue at the helm of Austrian Bundesliga side SCR Altach until the summer of 2009.
Fuchsbichler joined the club as sporting director in November 2007, before taking caretaker charge of the first team in January. Altach sit eighth in the ten-club Bundesliga.
ÂÂ
…