Former Bayern Munich midfielder Dietmar Hamann has declared Robert Lewandowski did the club a huge favour by making it clear he wanted to join Barcelona.

The Poland international this month completed a €50million move to the Catalan giants, bringing an end to his trophy-laden stint in Germany.

Bayern were initially adamant that Lewandowski would not be allowed to leave, despite being in the final year of his contract, but the prolific striker was determined to move to Barca.

The 34-year-old eventually got his wish and Hamann believes Lewandowski helped the Bundesliga champions get a great deal when they sold him due to the way he went about his business with a distasteful approach.

I think they are happy that he has gone. This whirlwind of signings …

Prediction: Colombia win

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The Copa America has reached the business end of the tournament now, as just eight teams remain in the quest to become the South America champions. A series of nations will consider themselves to be in with a pretty good chance of getting all the way through to the final, but of course, the quarter-finals are probably going to upset the status quo in more ways than one. The game we re going to be looking at today is Colombia vs Chile, which has the potential to be an absolute barnburner.

Colombia

Colombia seem to hold the distinction of being a popular second team for many international football fans, but unfortunately for them, that wasn t enough to lift them past England in last year s 2018 FIFA World C…

Jose Mourinho s second spell in charge of Chelsea ended ignominiously on Thursday, with the Portuguese sacked just eight months after winning the Premier League title.

The 52-year-old has managed just four wins from 16 matches in the league so far this season, leaving the reigning champions only one point clear of the relegation zone.

The decision leaves owner Roman Abramovich again seeking to replace the most successful manager in the club s history.

Be it a short-term solution or long-term successor, the new man will be required to steer the team to safety and attempt to prolong the club s Champions League campaign, with Paris Saint-Germain awaiting in the round of 16 next year.

So who are the candidates to take over Stamford Bridge? 

Juande Ra…

Fabian Delph of Manchester City has joined up with his likely future teammates at Everton for pre-season training at their camp in Switzerland, with his move from the Etihad to Goodison Park being in the final stage, according to Sky Sports.

The two clubs reportedly agreed on a £9 million fee for the former Aston Villa captain.

Brought in initially to play in his favored position in midfield for City, Delph made most of his appearances for the Premier League champions on the left defensive flank, covering for the frequently injured Benjamin Mendy. However, last season Oleksandr Zinchenko moved ahead of him in the pecking order, condemning him to no more than 11 league appearances, and with Pep Guardiola determined to keep faith with Mendy, Delph has become surplus to …

Borussia Dortmund have signed Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee of €25million.

The Germany international midfielder has agreed a five-year contract with Lucien Favre s side and will complete his move once the two clubs finalise the details of the transfer.

Although Julian Brandt has played in the Bundesliga for a long time and has a lot of experience both nationally and internationally, he is still a very young professional with potential for development at the age of 23, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said via the club s official website.

He can be used in several attacking positions and will enrich our play with his creativity.

BRANDT

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow)

Brandt had been linked with a …

Ligue 1 high-flyers Marseille have terminated the contract of experienced defender Rod Fanni, La Provence has learned.

The 36-year-old made 28 league appearances last term, but he wasn’t in Rudi Garcia’s plans for the 2017/2018 campaign.

Even though his deal was due to expire in June 2018, Marseille decided to release the player from his contract after several weeks of negotiations with his agents.

This was Fanni’s second spell at Stade Velodrome, as he had initially joined the club from Rennes in January 2011.

Operating as a right-back and centre-back, the defender amassed a total of 158 Ligue 1 appearances during his two stints.

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Two nations who are desperate to book an automatic route to this year s World Cup finals, Australia will welcome Japan to the Accor Stadium in Sydney on Thursday morning.

Australia

Starting with the hosts, while Australia might have already at least guaranteed themselves a spot in the fourth-round of this year s qualifying adventure, they are seeking some kind of stability. Last seen on February 1st when throwing away the lead twice and having to settle for a late 2-2 draw away at Oman, Head Coach Graham Arnold has seen his side pick up a single point in three of their last four outings. Marking their return to action on Thursday morning sat three points adrift of breaking into the top-two, the Socceroos should at least be boosted by t…

Leicester City are unbeaten and seemingly ready to rattle Manchester United when the Premier League resumes on Saturday.

Their Old Trafford record might be poor but a strong start to the new season and an in-form Jamie Vardy make the Foxes a fearsome prospect.

Harry Maguire will be tasked with stopping his former team-mate and delivering a clean sheet which would steady Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s side following a three-game winless streak.

History, according to the Opta data, is in United s favour, but this Leicester side is on the rise.

LEICESTER OFF THE LEASH

Brendan Rodgers took over at King Power Stadium two days after Claude Puel s dismissal in February 2019 and is proving an inspired choice as manager.

Four games into the ne…

Real Madrid announced the arrival of Chelsea forward Eden Hazard on Friday to bring an end to the long-running transfer saga and potentially spell the end of Gareth Bale s time at the club.

Los Blancos have handed over a reported initial fee of €100million for the 28-year-old, who outlined his intention to leave the London club after scoring a brace in the Europa League final win over Arsenal.

The Belgium international joined Chelsea from Lille in 2012 and swiftly adapted, before becoming undoubtedly one of the English top-flight’s best players.

Hazard will be remembered as one of the club s true icons alongside John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, such is the impact he has had in his seven years.

And his arrival at the Bernabeu could push B…

Frank Lampard understands Fikayo Tomori s desire to play more regularly amid speculation the centre-back could be set to follow Danny Drinkwater in sealing a move away from the club. 

Tomori made 15 Premier League starts in the 2019-20 season but the arrival of Thiago Silva has pushed him further down the first-team pecking order. 

The England international has featured only once in the top flight this campaign – coming on as substitute in the home defeat to Liverpool back in September – and Chelsea are seemingly ready to sanction a temporary move to allow him to get more regular first-team minutes elsewhere. 

Serie A leaders Milan have been strongly linked with the 23-year-old, media reports suggesting the Italian club are pushing to com…