Gregg Davies

BARCELONA - Lionel Messi netted a brilliant first-half hat-trick and added a late fourth to fire holders Barcelona past Arsenal into the last four of the Champions League on Tuesday.

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez says his relationship with chairman Dave Whelan was behind his decision to reject the advances of Aston Villa last summer.

Sven-Goran Eriksson supports the idea of introducing a winter break in English football but believes it would be unlikely that any change to the Premier League calendar would occur.

Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli – linked with Arsenal – will not be leaving the San Siro to join the Gunners or any other club during the January transfer window, according to the club’s president.

Rafael Benitez has taken a swipe at Liverpool’s directors three months after leaving Anfield.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit out at media reports that he criticised Chelsea's style of play in the Blues' 2-0 win over the Gunners on Sunday.

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has given his team-mates a scare ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League final in Rome, after requiring treatment to his ankle in training. The 24-year-old had strapping applied to his ankle during Tuesday evening's pre-match training session at the Stadio Olimpico

Javier Zanetti Javier Zanetti has told FourFourTwo that he was not originally supposed to shoot from the famous free-kick routine that fooled England at the 1998 World Cup.

Ronaldinho Ronaldinho has told FourFourTwo that Barcelona never doubted that they would eventually wear down 10-man Arsenal and win the 2006 Champions League Final

Everton striker Victor Anichebe says he feared he had broken his leg following Kevin Nolan's horrific challenge at St James' Park on Sunday.

Fulham are preparing for their first ever European final – but manager Roy Hodgson has admitted he's not going to enjoy the experience.

Lorient striker Kevin Gameiro has poured scorn on stories linking him with a summer move to Newcastle by insisting he will only join a club which can offer European football.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has slammed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's transfer policy, seemingly ending any remote possibility of him becoming the German giants' new manager. The Frenchman's name has been touted as a potential replacement for Jurgen Klinsmann, who was sacked this week following the reigning Bundesliga champions' 1-0 home defeat to Schalke last weekend.

Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba hit back at a Fenerbahce fan who waved a banana towards him and team-mate Emmanuel Eboue during the weekend's league encounter by highlighting some home truths about racism.

Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has revealed that several members of the Gunners' squad refuse to talk to defender William Gallas.

Big-spending Real Madrid have joined the race to sign in-demand Udinese midfielder Gaetano D’Agostino.

Nicklas Bendtner Wolfsburg striker Nicklas Bendtner believes a succession of injuries stifled his progression at Arsenal.

Manchester City have been told to stump up a massive £44 million if they want to steal Alexis Sanchez from under the noses of European champions Barcelona.

Manchester United will not be signing Ghana World Cup star Anthony Annan.

Brazilian legend Rivaldo says he does not regret his actions during the 2002 World Cup finals that saw Turkey midfielder Hakan Ünsal sent off.

Chelsea have completed their one and only signing of the winter transfer window by capturing Inter Milan winger Ricardo Quaresma on loan until the end of the season.

Former Liverpool and Ireland defender Steve Staunton is adamant Robbie Keane can forge a strong strike partnership with Jermain Defoe at Tottenham, despite the pair having failed to hit it off in the past.