Manchester City have announced the signing of Brazilian full-back Danilo from Real Madrid on a five-year deal.

Zebre may be competing in the top tier of European club rugby this season but even if they beat Connacht this weekend to record their first victory in the Champions Cup, their heroics will go largely unnoticed in their home town of Parma.

Pep Guardiola could be poised to manage in the Premier League next season after Bayern Munich announced yesterday that he would stand down as their head coach at the end of the current campaign.

Chelsea have completed the loan signing of Radamel Falcao with Blues boss Jose Mourinho hoping to bring out the real form of the Colombian after his mediocre year at Manchester United.

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos insists he is in no rush to sign a new contract at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid have hit out at Uefa president Michel Platini for suggesting the Ballon d’Or should go to a member of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad rather than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bobby Charlton is sure Louis van Gaal is the perfect man to right the wrongs of last year’s woeful season for Manchester United.

Louis van Gaal has been named as the next manager of Manchester United.

An emotional Cristiano Ronaldo had to fight back the tears last night after ending four years of Lionel Messi domination to win the Fifa Ballon d’Or and the right to be called the best player on the planet once again.

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or at an awards ceremony in Zurich, ending Lionel Messi’s four-year reign as holder of the crown.

Manager Jose Mourinho is fearful of an end to his stranglehold over Arsene Wenger unless Chelsea can overcome continual failings in Monday’s clash at Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Schalke 0 Chelsea 3

Gary Cahill has acknowledged Chelsea must improve swiftly after a less than ideal beginning to Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Ramires is suspended when Chelsea take on Basle in their Champions League Group E opener tomorrow night.

Bayern 2 Chelsea 2 (5-4 on pens)

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Samuel Eto’o on a one-year deal.

Jose Mourinho has reiterated Juan Mata’s importance to Chelsea despite the Spain playmaker having had a limited role at the start of the self-proclaimed Special One’s second term as boss at Stamford Bridge.

Born on New Year's Eve 1941, we chart Ferguson's rise from apprentice toolmaker to the world's greatest football manager.

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Rafael Benitez focused only on the immediate future and not his past with Liverpool as he prepared to take his Chelsea side to Anfield in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.

For the first time in 13 years, we have a Madrid derby that really counts

The prospect of Ireland hosting games at a radically reshaped Euro 2020 will be raised tonight in discussions between FAI chief executive John Delaney and Uefa President Michel Platini.

There are so many imponderables before Chelsea’s encounter with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Roberto Di Matteo last night insisted Frank Lampard’s Chelsea future was “very strong”, despite renewed speculation over whether the midfielder’s glittering Stamford Bridge career might be drawing to a close.

Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0

Here is a potted history of the man who captained Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ in the ‘90s and managed one of the greatest Barcelona sides ever.

Chelsea captain John Terry will be able to lift the Champions League trophy and collect his medal should the Blues beat Bayern Munich, UEFA today confirmed.

Spanish media hailed Barcelona’s Lionel Messi on Wednesday as “a living legend” and “eternal” after the Argentinian became the club’s highest goalscorer of all time.

Barcelona have been fined €110,000 for “various offences” during the European Super Cup in Monaco this summer.

BARCELONA vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes the club’s €29m acquisition of Cesc Fabregas was “a very good deal” for the European champions — because the Spain midfielder is worth double that amount.

THOSE who think Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona legacy is confined to the annals of history should think again.

Gerard Houllier will become only the second foreign manager in Aston Villa's history when named as Martin O'Neill's successor.

GERRARD HOULLIER is poised to become the 25th manager in Aston Villa’s 126-year history when his appointment as Martin O’Neill’s successor is announced today.

Gerrard Houllier is poised to become the 25th manager in Aston Villa’s 126-year history when his appointment as Martin O’Neill’s successor is announced in the next 24 hours.

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has defended his reign at Anfield by pointing out his side’s performances in the league are better than many of his recent predecessors.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has defended his reign at Anfield by pointing out his side’s performances in the league are better than many of his recent predecessors.

Rafael Benitez admits it is his dream to one day coach the Spanish national team but has reiterated his immediate future lies at Liverpool.

NEIL LENNON will take inspiration from Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola as he begins life as the Celtic boss.

STEVE BRUCE will return to Manchester United today eternally grateful for the biggest lesson Alex Ferguson ever taught him.

Sebastien Puygrenier would like to continue playing in England when his loan spell at Bolton ends in June.

Alex Ferguson has ruled defensive duo Gary Neville and Wes Brown out of tonight’s Barclays Premier League clash with Fulham – and virtually dashed any hope Anderson had of making next week’s Carling Cup Final.

Nemanja Vidic feels Manchester United can land a major psychological blow by winning their game in hand against Fulham tonight.

LOUIS VAN GAAL is one of the great men of Dutch football, but he has never quite earned the recognition that his success deserved.

Man Utd 1 Wigan 0