Manchester United defenders Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof both have muscle injuries and will be out for at least a month.

Winger has excelled for Vitória de Guimarães and hopes to follow in Diogo Jota’s footsteps after his first call-up for Portugal “I can see a bit of myself in Diogo Jota’s style,” Jota Silva says. “He is a great player.” The Vitória de Guimarães winger speaks with humility and deference. He cites Cristiano Ronaldo “as an example” for his generation of Portuguese footballers and there is a sense that after a slow start it is all beginning to come together for Jota. The 24-year-old was last week called into Portugal’s squad for the first time for friendlies against Sweden on Thursday and Slovenia five days later. Jota has 15 goal contributions (nine goals and six assists) in 25 league games, helping Vitória to fifth in the Primeira Liga. Next month, the club have a Taça de Portugal semi-final against Porto, offering another potential route into Europe. Continue reading...

The Manchester City playmaker controlled the game from tight spaces to offer mouthwatering encouragement to England At times during the opening hour of this game it might have seemed to a casual observer that Phil Foden had walked on to the pitch with a handler in tow; perhaps some tolerant elderly relative, there to stand close but not really that close, to chase dutifully, prepared to let him show off his twinkly footwork, like some weary Sunday morning dad scrolling his phone in the park. In the event this turned out to be Victor Lindelöf, Manchester United’s stand-in left-back, who did his best to track and chase and non-specifically hinder Manchester City’s outstanding attacker in what was ultimately a neck-crickingly one-sided 3-1 victory. This was a thankless security detail. Even with United’s deep-set midfield filling the spaces, Lindelöf simply didn’t have the physical capacity to stop this full-bore, mid-season version of Foden, who is just a different style of human, his feet moving too quickly, the tendons set to a different level of twang. Continue reading...

Ronaldo, who earns about £170m a year, fined less than £6,500Punishment is for gesture to opposition fans after Al-Nassr win Cristiano Ronaldo will serve a one-game suspension on Thursday after the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (Saff) disciplined him for an offensive gesture at opposition fans. Ronaldo must miss Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League game against Al-Hazm over his conduct after a 3-2 win over Al-Shabab. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had reportedly been subjected to persistent chants of “Messi” when he marked Al-Nassr’s victory by cupping an ear and thrusting one of his hands towards his pelvis. Continue reading...

For the third time in less than a year the forward is at the centre of controversy over behaviour involving his 'pelvic area’ Cristiano Ronaldo is supposed to be an ambassador for a modern and international Saudi Arabia and is not paid a reported annual salary of around £180m to produce articles that include words such as “crotch” or “genitals”. Yet it is remarkable how easy it seems to be to annoy this five-time Ballon D’Or winner. All you have to do is chant “Messi, Messi”. Incredibly for a player who has played for the biggest clubs in the biggest games and won almost everything, it looks as if it gets under his skin. Ronaldo’s will to win, desire for the highest standards and work rate has been exemplary in Saudi Arabia so far and he is top scorer of the league and joint top in terms of assists. The competitive streak is deep but seems to be so wide that it is sensitive to suggestions that his main competitor exists. Continue reading...

Cristiano Ronaldo faced a flurry of criticism after appearing to make an obscene gesture at the end of Al-Nassr’s 3-2 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League. The Portugal forward opened the scoring with a 21st-minute penalty but Al-Nassr needed a late goal from Talisca, who struck twice, to settle the game with four minutes left. After the final whistle, chants of 'Messi' could be heard in the stadium, referencing Ronaldo’s long-term football rival, and social media videos captured Ronaldo cupping his ear before repeatedly pumping his hand forward in front of his pelvic area. The action appeared to be directed at Al-Shabab supporters. Cristiano Ronaldo in obscene gesture storm after Al-Nassr victory Continue reading...

Videos show action apparently aimed at Al-Shabab fansSaudi FA reported to have opened an investigation Cristiano Ronaldo faced a flurry of criticism after appearing to make an obscene gesture following the end of Al-Nassr’s 3-2 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday. The Portugal forward opened the scoring with a 21st-minute penalty but Al-Nassr needed a late goal from Talisca, who struck twice, to settle the game with four minutes left. After the final whistle, social media videos captured Ronaldo cupping his ear before repeatedly pumping his hand forward in front of his pelvic area. The action appeared to be directed at Al-Shabab supporters. Continue reading...