Spain international Bojan Krkic has committed his long-term future to Stoke City by signing a four-and-a-half-year contract, the Premier League club said.
Signed by current Stoke manager Mark Hughes to help instil a more eye-catching brand of football at the Britannia Stadium, the 25-year-old has been in good form this campaign.
“Mark Hughes convinced me to come to Stoke, he has helped me and showed his trust in me from the beginning, he followed closely the recovery process from my injury and there is no doubt I have signed an extension of my contract thanks to him,” Bojan told the club’s website.
Nagelsmann, 28, gets Hoffenheim job
Julian Nagelsmann, who has yet to pass his final coaching exams, became the youngest head coach in the Bundesliga yesterday after the 28-year-old replaced Huub Stevens at struggling Hoffenheim.
Nagelsmann, a youth coach at Hoffenheim, had agreed in October last year to take over next season.
But the unexpected resignation of Dutchman Stevens, who was supposed to have been in charge until the end of the current season, over health reasons on Wednesday paved the way for Nagelsmann to take over earlier than scheduled.
Nagelsmann faces an uphill task to preserve Hoffenheim's Bundesliga status as they are second from bottom.
Payet signs new West Ham contract
Dimitri Payet has signed a new long-term deal at West Ham, the Barclays Premier League club announced yesterday.
The 28-year-old French playmaker was only seven months into a five-year deal having joined from Marseille for £10.75 million in the summer, but had been a reported £38 million target for an unnamed Chinese club.
Such has been Payet’s impact for the Irons, the east London club moved to ensure he will not be easily lured elsewhere.
Nasri wants to end career at Man. City
Samir Nasri hopes to end his career at Manchester City despite the club replacing the injury-plagued midfielder with young striker Kelechi Iheanacho in their Champions League squad for the knock-out rounds earlier this month.
Nasri was initially expected to miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury he picked up in October but the former Arsenal player said last month that he hoped to return to action by the end of March.
“There are so many exciting things happening here. You never know what will happen in football, but it would be a pleasure to finish my career at City,” Nasri told the club’s website yesterday.
Zidane hails Ronaldo as world’s best
Cristiano Ronaldo (picture) is the best player in the world, according to his Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.
The Frenchman – a three-time winner of FIFA’s World Player of the Year prize himself – put the Portuguese ahead of Barcelona star Lionel Messi as the greatest player on the planet in an interview with Mexican newspaper Record.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is the best,” Zidane said.
“People can say what they like about Cristiano Ronaldo, but in his heart he’s a good person.
“Messi is the rival and that rivalry is great for the footballing spectacle, it’s what the fans want to see.”
We deserved more than a draw – Neville
Gary Neville felt his Valencia side deserved more than a 1-1 draw against Barcelona and praised his second string for playing “with dignity” following a rocky week for the England coach.
Already angry at losing to Barca 7-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, Valencia supporters called for Neville’s head on Sunday after a 1-0 defeat at Real Betis left the team without a win in nine league matches.
“The positive thing is the performance of some of the youngest players,” Valencia coach Neville said in his post-match press conference.
“And I think we deserved to win. These haven’t been the best circumstances after the last week, but the players have played with dignity.”
Sunderland sack Adam Johnson
Sunderland have sacked winger Adam Johnson after he pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.
The Black Cats announced yesterday evening that the 28-year-old former England international's contract had been terminated, a day after he had admitted one count of grooming and another of sexual activity with a child at Bradford Crown Court.
A statement said: “In light of Adam Johnson’s guilty pleas, the club has today terminated his contract with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment.”