Lucas Torreira close to leaving Arsenal for Fiorentina

Hristo Stoichkov is reluctant to compare Lionel Messi s arrival in MLS with that of David Beckham, as he hailed the Argentine s spectacular impending impact.

Messi was officially unveiled as a new Inter Miami player on Sunday, having confirmed his intention to join the MLS side as a free agent in June, following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.

He will be joined by ex-Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets, while Jordi Alba could yet follow the duo to Florida.

Miami are part-owned by Beckham, who himself made the switch from Europe to MLS back in 2003, when he joined LA Galaxy from Real Madrid.

Former Barcelona star Stoichkov, who also spent time in MLS with Chicago Fire and D.C. United, does not believe the two transfers can be compared, however.

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CD Projekt RED has made it a habit out of crafting massive, highly detailed open world experiences, and as you’d expect, the developer doesn’t intend to buck the trend with its next game, The Witcher 4, which has now entered full production. In fact, if anything, you can expect it to be an even bigger and more ambitious title than the studio’s previous open world megatons.

Speaking in a recent interview with Eurogamer, CD Projekt RED’s vice president of technology Charles Tremblay touched on the same, explaining that the studio’s current tech foundations – after having adopted Unreal Engine 5 as its main production toolset – will enable it to ensure that its next project is “better, bigger, greater” than The Wi…

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Another international break is over, and with the main part of the World Cup qualifications now over, Liverpool and Arsenal are set to do battle at Anfield on Saturday in the 12th round of the Premier League season.

Liverpool

Things were going extremely well for Liverpool on all fronts until recently. They were unbeaten in any competiotion, very close to the top spot in the Premier League table, with a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, as well as in the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup, secure. However, they ve lately stumbled onto what could be described as a rough patch given their extremely high standards before.

The Merseysiders did win four of their last six matches in all competitions, nonetheless, sta…

Benfica holding midfielder Javi Garcia is being tracked by several clubs across Europe, according to his agent.

Garcia, 25, has been a regular for Benfica since he arrived at the Estadio da Luz from Real Madrid for a seven million-euro fee in 2009.

His performances this season have not gone unnoticed, with Manchester United and AC Milan both reportedly keeping tabs on him.

Garcia s agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, said no official offers have arrived, but confirmed interest from foreign clubs in his client.

There are not, and there have never been, any concrete offers, Manuel Garcia Quilon told O JOGO.

But I can tell you that there are several clubs following him very carefully, especially Premier League clubs. Then there is also one Bundesliga and…

Mikel Arteta insists title-chasing Arsenal are taking each game at a time as they head into their final seven matches of the Premier League season.

The Gunners went into the weekend leading Liverpool on goal difference and sitting a point ahead of Manchester City.

Arteta’s men, who drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Emirates on Tuesday, face Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Sunday.

“It is the only thing possible to look at one day and one game,” Arteta told a press conference on Friday.

“It is the only thing that is possible because it’s the only thing that maintains your focus and determines the tasks that you have to do on the day, which is the only thing that you can control.”

The title…

Sevilla have reached an agreement to sign Franco Vazquez from Palermo.

Italy international Vazquez will sign a five-year contract with Sevilla in a deal believed to be worth €15 million.

Following Ever Banega s move to Inter, Sevilla had been keen to add some more creativity to their squad and have made attacking midfielder Vazquez their fifth signing of the close-season.

The 27-year-old has already joined his new team-mates at their training camp in Orlando.

Acuerdo con la Us Palermo para el traspaso de

— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC)

Vazquez came through the ranks of Belgrano youth academy and joined Palermo in January 2012. He spent 2012-13 on loan at Rayo Vallecano, before returning to Sicily, where he has since develo…

Former Manchester United utility Phil Neville believes Paul Pogba is worth breaking the transfer record for as he nears a £100million return to Old Trafford.

France international and Juventus midfielder Pogba has been at the centre of the biggest transfer saga of the off-season, though it is reportedly set for a conclusion with United closing in on the powerful 23-year-old.

Pogba departed Manchester for Italian champions Juventus on a free transfer in 2012.

Neville, though, insists Pogba is just the player that manager Jose Mourinho needs to bolster United s midfield and Premier League title aspirations.

I think you are getting one of the best midfield players in the world, Neville told Sky Sports.

I think you are getting someone who is not goi…

While some get a slightly longer break, the Premier League returns this week for the majority.

Champions Liverpool get going against Marcelo Bielsa s Leeds United, back in the big time for the first time since 2004, while plenty of eyes will be on Frank Lampard s lavish new Chelsea side.

With the Manchester clubs, Aston Villa and Burnley not involved, this is an opening matchweek where you can afford to be a little more selective as you look for names to get you up and running.

If you need a little advice, then look no further this Opta-powered selection is sure to get you off to a flying start.

 History can be written in a matter of seconds 

The countdown to the 2020/21 season is on 

— Premier League (@premierleague)

HUGO L…

A FIFA task force has recommended that the 2022 Qatar World Cup be held in November and December.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup is set to be held in November and December following a recommendation from a FIFA task force.

Fears had been raised over the risks of playing the tournament in the country s summer months, when temperatures reach around 40 degrees centigrade.

But, following a six-month consultation process, the last two months of the year have been put forward as the proposed dates.

Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the head of the task force, said:  We are very pleased that, after careful consideration of the various opinions and detailed discussions with all stakeholders, we have identified what we believe to be the best solution for the 2…

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has indicated that he will deploy three forwards from the start of Sunday s Euro 2012 final against Italy.

The 61-year-old has shown variety in his selections during the tournament, utilising Cesc Fabregas as a false nine on several occasions and also opting for Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Torres as more traditional centre forwards.

And though the Barcelona midfielder made the starting XI for the group match against Italy, Del Bosque has now given a strong indication that the 25-year-old may start the final on the bench.

We will play with three strikers, but all the team have to help them, he said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday.

These three players will have the obligation to attack and to try to score a go…