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One goal, one week, then a hamstring He had barely unpacked. A new shirt, a new league, a debut goal to announce himself, and Emmanuel Emegha looked like a signing Chelsea had got exactly right. Seven days later the mood has flipped. The Dutch striker will not board the plane for the Blues’ pre-season tour…

Football : Belgium move ahead with Van Bommel as Italy hit Guardiola wall On one side, a job gets done. On the other, another delay. Belgium unveiled Mark Van Bommel on Friday as Rudi Garcia’s successor, while Italy are still hunting for the coach who will kick off their new project. Pep Guardiola, sounded out…

Rodri, the heir Real Madrid finally stopped resisting Two years. That is how long the hole in the middle of Real Madrid’s midfield has been staring back at everyone at the Bernabeu. Toni Kroos walked away, and nobody replaced what he did. Not Cucurella, not Dumfries, not Konate, not even Bernardo Silva, all of them…

Forty million euros, and a bet on a winger who took the long way round Forty million euros. That is what Arsenal have decided Christos Tzolis is worth, and the number says as much about the club as it does about the player. The Gunners confirmed the deal on Thursday, ending weeks of noise around…

Transfer talk : Aston Villa have never forgotten Alejandro Garnacho Sometimes a deal only gets done at the second attempt. Aston Villa had already tried to lure Alejandro Garnacho before his move to Chelsea. Twelve months on, the club have come back for more and finally landed the Argentine winger on loan, proof his name…

France : with Zidane, Les Bleus start a new chapter Fourteen years is a lifetime in international football. By finally moving on from Didier Deschamps, the French Football Federation is not just changing the face in the dugout. It is preparing to kick off a new era with Zinedine Zidane, whose appointment should be made…