Europe

Everton midfielder James Rodriguez faces an uncertain future at the Premier League club, with manager Rafa Benitez saying on Friday that the Colombian international was part of his plans until Aug. 31 when the transer window closes.

Rodriguez missed Everton's opening 3-1 home win over Southampton last weekend as he was isolating due to COVID-19 regulations, with Benitez stating that he hoped to find the "best solution" for the team and the player.

British media have linked the 30-year-old with a switch to Italian side AC Milan.

Christian Pulisic will have to sit out for Chelsea’s London Derby against Arsenal on Sunday due to a positive Covid test. For those asking themselves, “is Christian Pulisic vaccinated?” the answer is yes. Pulisic posted to his Instagram story on Friday that he was feeling well and had no symptoms.

Over the course of the last five FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups, Russia has won the competition twice and finished third twice. Over that same period, the United States has won one single game. 

On Thursday, the 2021 Beach Soccer World Cup kicked off with Russia, the host of the tournament, welcoming Team USA to the 5,000-seat Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium in Moscow.

Offensive reinforcements are arriving at the Emirates Stadium in North London, and they couldn't come at a better time. Just a few days after a lackluster opening day defeat to Brentford, Arsenal has signed attacker Martin Ødegaard on a permanent transfer worth nearly $50 million.

The Norwegian had a successful loan spell at the club last season, joining on loan from Real Madrid in January 2021 and making 14 appearances during the second half of the campaign.

ROME - José Mourinho was never going to walk into a new job quietly, with all eyes on the new AS Roma coach on the eve of the Serie A campaign after a close season full of fireworks.

The final enduring image of Mourinho's first and trophy-laden spell in Italy, was of distraught Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi being consoled by the Portuguese after hearing of his coach's decision to leave for Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a host of clubs this summer but he seems set to stay put at Juventus, tasked with an even more important role in revitalizing the Italian giants.

Be it a return to boyhood club Sporting Lisbon, a move Ronaldo's own mother suggested was a possibility, or another shot at the English Premier League with Manchester United, the 36-year-old has been subject to much transfer talk.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raúl Jiménez said doctors told him it was a "miracle" he survived the skull fracture he sustained during a Premier League game in November.