Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde insists he is not worried about his future at the club.

A 3-1 LaLiga defeat at Levante last Saturday was followed by a 0-0 draw with Slavia Prague at Camp Nou in the Champions League, in which home fans made their frustrations clear with whistles from the stands.

Barca sit top of LaLiga after 11 matches but criticism is nonetheless mounting on Valverde, who appeared close to the sack at the end of last season but was given support by president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Valverde says he still feels he has the backing of the board and that he is not concerned about his position, especially since Barca had previously been on a seven-game winning run in all competitions.

I m not worried about my future, he told reporters on …

Daniel Farke refused to lament his lacklustre Leeds side after the chance of a club-record 10 successive league wins was ended with a 1-1 draw in a West Yorkshire derby with 10-man Huddersfield.

The promotion-chasing Whites had enjoyed a perfect league start to 2024, but had to come from behind to rescue a point.

Substitute Michal Helik, the Terriers’ unlikely top scorer, put the hosts ahead before captain Jonathan Hogg was sent off in first-half stoppage time.

Patrick Bamford, making his first start since February 10, levelled in the second half but Farke’s charges failed to find a winner with Crysencio Summerville hitting the post late on.

“I’m far away from punishing my players for their performance,” stressed Farke, whose side missed the cha…

Costa Rica international forward Joel Campbell has revealed he will return to parent club Arsenal this summer amid increasing speculation linking the player with a host of English Premier League clubs.

Campbell, 21, joined Arsenal from Costa Rican FPD side Deportivo Saprissa in August 2011 and has spent each of the past three seasons on loan away from North London, with Lorient (2011/12), Real Betis (2012/13) and Olympiacos (2013/14).

The 21-year-old ace, who tallied one goal and one assist in Costa Rica s impressive 3-1 win over Uruguay on Saturday, has improved in each of the past three seasons and is believed to be rated at around €10 million.

His improvements may be enough to keep him at the Emirates Stadium next term, with you…

Argentina great Daniel Passarella has urged Gonzalo Higuain to ignore the pressure of his €90million price tag.

Higuain became the world s most expensive striker when he signed for Juventus from Napoli last July in a Serie A-record deal.

The 29-year-old has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season to propel Juve towards an historic treble, although his form in the Champions League has come under scrutiny.

Higuain has not scored in the competition since this season s group stage and has only managed two goals in 24 appearances in the knockout phase in his career.

His ability to perform on the big occasion has been questioned throughout his career, especially since key misses for Argentina in the finals of the World Cup and Copa America, but Passar…

Erling Haaland is the name on everyone s lips.

He has starred for club and country, but Real Sociedad s Swedish forward Aleksandar Isak has also impressed.

Isak could be lured to Barcelona if Haaland is not available.

TOP STORY – ISAK WANTED AT CAMP NOU

Barcelona are lining up a move for Real Sociedad forward Alexander Isak if they are unable to sign in-demand Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, according to Diario AS.

Haaland is wanted by Barca and Europe s elite, with the Norwegian linked with Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.

With competition fierce, LaLiga outfit Barca are looking close to home and at Isak as an alternative.

RO…

Barcelona can take a big step towards a third successive La Liga title on Saturday when they welcome struggling Osasuna to the Nou Camp.

Pep Guardiola s men are eight points clear of Real Madrid on top of the league table with just six games to play, and they will no doubt have been stung by their 1-0 loss to Jose Mourinho s side in Wednesday s Copa del Rey final.

In a blow for the reigning champions, defender Adriano has been ruled out of action for four weeks after injuring a hamstring in the cup defeat.

Osasuna are sure to be fighting tooth and nail, having lost their past three matches to leave them sitting just two points outside the drop zone in 16th position.

Real Madrid kept their slim title chances alive thanks to a late penalty from Cristiano R…

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino once again insisted he is prepared to recall Carlos Tevez to the national team.

Tevez has been in the international wildness for more than three years, having not featured for Argentina since 2011.

The Juventus man starred in Serie A last season, scoring 19 goals as the Italian giants claimed their third consecutive title.

However, the 30-year-old was still overlooked by Martino s predecessor, Alejandro Sabella, for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

After revealing at his first press conference last month that the slate would be wiped clean in a new era for Argentina, Martino reiterated his willingness to link up with the former Boca Juniors player.

I have already said that the door is open for everyone, Martino told A…

Atletico Madrid centre-back Jose Gimenez insists he is unaware of any potential interest from rivals Real Madrid and is calm over his situation.

Gimenez moved to the Vicente Calderon ahead of the 2013-14 season and became a mainstay of Atletico s backline this term, making 27 La Liga appearances.

The 21-year-old s form has led to reports in the media that city rivals Madrid, who beat Atleti on a penalty shootout in the Champions League final last month, are readying a big-money move for the Uruguay defender.

However, Gimenez was keen not to increase the speculation and said he is just focused on recuperating after playing for Uruguay at the Copa America Centenario.

I know nothing [about interest from Madrid], Gimenez told Marca.

I am calm and ju…

Virgil van Dijk described the reverence Liverpool reserves for their greatest players as he revealed that Kenny Dalglish has been texting him before matches during the Reds Premier League title charge this season.

The 27-year-old defender has become a fans favourite at Anfield since his £75million move from Southampton in January 2017, shortly after which he exchanged telephone numbers with Dalglish.

Reds hero Dalglish, who has twice managed the club and is now a director, won six top-flight titles and three European Cups as a player with Liverpool and Van Dijk described the positive effect he has on Jurgen Klopp s high-flying squad.

Kenny Dalglish gave me his mobile number in the very beginning and told me to ring him at any time, Van Dijk told the club s offi…

Milan close in on Pulisic agreement

AC Milan are reportedly working hard to sign Christian Pulisic from Chelsea. The final conversation between the two clubs are expected to take place today, and the Rossoneri believe an agreement will be found.

Pulisic has told Chelsea that he wants to leave Stamford Bridge in search of a new club, having failed to impose himself on the plans of any of the coaches he s worked with there. The 24-year-old USA international appears keen on trying himself against the challenges of the Serie A, and Milan could thus find good balance in attack, with him and Rafael Leao attacking from the flanks.

UPDATE: According to multiple sources, Milan have now reached an agreement with Chelsea and Pulisic s transfer to San Siro is i…