Injured Gera hopes for new contract

Milan midfielder Michael Essien has tipped Chelsea to be a force in European football for the next decade.

The Ghanaian played at Stamford Bridge from 2005 to 2014 before making a permanent switch to Milan, having spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Real Madrid.

And, after working with coach Jose Mourinho at both Chelsea and Real, Essien is confident his former club now have all the ingredients to build on a promising start to the season.

I think they ll do well as always, he told FIFA.com. Jose has rebuilt the team in his own image now and they ll fight for everything this season.

They have the ability to win things and that’s what they ll be doing. Chelsea have become a football force in Europe in the last 10 years and I can see that carrying on for…

Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs says the club are on the hunt for winners to improve the spine of the team and return to the top of English football.

United rebounded from a disappointing 2013-14, in which they finished seventh, to return to the UEFA Champions League in Louis van Gaal s first season as manager last term.

However, it was another trophyless season at Old Trafford and the gap to Premier League champions Chelsea was 17 points.

The likes of Sergio Ramos, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin have all been linked with United and Giggs is aware of the need to add star quality.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, he said: If there are players available who are winners, who are proven, then, yeah, let s go and get them.

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Besiktas have terminated the contract of Ricardo Quaresma after a meeting with the player on Wednesday.

The termination was reportedly amicable, making the 29-year-old available for a free transfer.

It is understood the Turkish club have paid the winger for the remaining four months of his deal, which was due to expire early next year.

Quaresma had struggled to adjust to life at Besiktas and was reportedly willing to sue the club in October, telling the media he felt the club did not want him.

He was brought to the side by former coach Bernd Schuster from Inter Milan in 2010.

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Massimiliano Allegri was angry with the way Juventus squandered a lead and defended his decision to keep Dusan Vlahovic on the bench in a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina.

Arkadiusz Milik marked his first Juve start by scoring his second goal in as many games at Stadio Artemio Franchi, but that proved to be a false dawn.

Christian Kouame equalised with a goal on the break after Weston McKennie passed when he should have tried his luck at the other end.

Mattia Perin saved Luka Jovic s penalty late in the first half after Leandro Paredes was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area on his Bianconeri debut.

Allegri withdrew Angel Di Maria at half-time as a precaution and opted to send on Moise Kean rather than in-form ex-Fiorentina striker Vlahovic as Juve m…

A Fabricio Coloccini header gained Newcastle United a 1-1 draw in their final pre-season friendly versus Braga at St James Park on Saturday.

An Alan penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the Portuguese side the lead at the break but the Newcastle captain headed home from a corner on the hour mark for Alan Pardew s men.

Prior to the game, captains of both teams paid their respect to former Newcastle manager Bobby Robson, in honour of National Sir Bobby Robson Day, while latest signing Loic Remy was unveiled to fans.

The first chance of the game arrived after 19 minutes when Papiss Cisse attempted to curl an effort past Eduardo, but the goalkeeper was equal to it.

Shola Ameobi and Jonas Gutierrez threatened for the hosts with good link-up play that ultimately c…

Bastian Schweinsteiger insists he has no personal problems with Jose Mourinho and reiterated his desire to force his way into Manchester United s first-team plans.

The German midfielder joined from Bayern Munich in July 2015, but has fallen out of favour under new manager Mourinho and has been training with the reserves.

Mourinho s treatment of Schweinsteiger has drawn criticism in some quarters, particularly Bayern s executive chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

However, the 32-year-old is adamant that there is no rift with the Portuguese and he remains determined to play a part at Old Trafford this season.

Speaking ahead of Germany s friendly with Finland, which marks Schweinsteiger s international farewell, he said: My absolute dream would be to play for M…

France star Antoine Griezmann has shown he is the boss since Euro 2016, according to team-mate Kylian Mbappe.

Didier Deschamps men, runners-up at their home European Championship two years ago, enter the World Cup in Russia as one of the favourites.

That is in part thanks to Griezmann, the Atletico Madrid forward having top-scored at Euro 2016 with six goals.

Mbappe, another one of France s attacking talents, said Griezmann had already shown he could lead his nation at a major tournament.

I think that he is the boss since the Euro already, he said Wednesday.

When you end the European Championship the best goal-scorer in your own country, you show the world that you have the shoulders to handle the pressure.

On the agenda in training tod…

Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde hinted the LaLiga champions could make some sales before the transfer window closes.

It has been a busy off-season for Barca, who have signed Frenkie de Jong, Antoine Griezmann, Junior Firpo, Neto and Emerson.

De Jong s arrival from Ajax has increased Barca s midfield numbers, leading to speculation over the futures of Arturo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic and Philippe Coutinho.

Speaking after Barca s 2-1 win over Arsenal in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Sunday, Valverde – whose team have also been linked to former star Neymar – said: There are quite a few players in midfield.

 GOOOOOAAALLL!
 And it s a cracking finish from in the final minute! FCB 2-1 ARS 

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

We ll see if some…

AS Roma are interested in signing Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid in the summer transfer window, according to . The Italian club are on the hunt for a centre-forward at the end of the season as a potential replacement for Tammy Abraham, and former Juventus, Real Madrid and Chelsea striker Morata is on their radar.

Morata has made 18 starts and 11 substitute appearances in La Liga for Atletico so far this season, scoring 10 goals and providing two assists in the process. The 30-year-old Spaniard has made four starts and one substitute appearance in the UEFA Champions League for Atleti so far this campaign.

AS Roma are third in the Serie A table at the moment with 56 points from 30 matches, five points above fifth-placed and former Italian champions Inter Milan. Meanwh…

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has insisted the club will not sell former Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic during the January transfer window.

Bojan, 24, joined the Potters on a four-year deal last summer, but has recently been linked with a move to Liverpool.

However, according to Hughes, the former Spain Under-21 international is not for sale this month.

He s done exceptionally well. We knew it would take a little bit of time for him to get to grips with the Premier League and he s done that, said Hughes.

He s playing well. He s a talented football player and I think he s proving that in the Premier League.

At this stage of his career that he s had disappointments such as being sent out on loan by Barcelona, the disappointments he ha…