“I’m always last to find out:” Bendt Schuster

​Werder Bremen sporting director Rouven Schroder hopes he can convince Franco Di Santo to stay at the club.

The Argentine striker is one of four players to have scored six goals in the Bundesliga this season, more than he has achieved in each of the past two league campaigns.

Di Santo s form for Werder has sparked speculation regarding his future, despite insisting himself that he is happy and enjoying life in Bremen.

It s great that we have a player who is sought after, Schroder said. Everyone watches the games on TV.

He s a complete player.

For us it is certain, he will always play, meanwhile with other top clubs he could not, and quickly became the number 15 or 16 or not in the squad.

Di Santo, who joined on a free transfer from …

Luis Suarez 45 goals in 45 games / Image via fcbarcelona.com

Barcelona have gained a valuable lead in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

An action-packed encounter offered plenty of entertainment for the anticipating home crowd, who were eager to see whether their team will be able to bounce back from the Saturday’s El Clasico loss.

It did not start well for the Catalans though.

Despite displaying possession football in the opening stages of the match, Barcelona’s probes in the Atletico Madrid half of the field only met the brick wall of Rojiblancos defences.

The visitors kept their tight shape through the first half as Barcelona pounced through Lionel Messi and Neymar, who both …

Manchester City were confirmed as Premier League champions on Sunday for the second time in three seasons.

As had been the case in 2012, City secured the title on the final day of the campaign, albeit without the same level of tension that accompanied their maiden Premier League triumph.

Two years ago, a last-gasp goal from Sergio Aguero against QPR proved decisive as City edged out rivals Manchester United on goal difference.

Yet City were not reliant on late drama this time around, as they recorded a routine 2-0 victory over West Ham, ensuring the efforts of second-placed Liverpool proved immaterial.

Goals from Samir Nasri and captain Vincent Kompany were enough to see off a West Ham side with nothing but pride to play for.

Liverpool, who began the final …

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal expects to retain his star plays, despite the likelihood of no Champions League football at Old Trafford next season.

After finishing fourth in 2014-15, fifth-placed United are battling to claim the final Champions League qualification place, with under pressure boss Van Gaal and Co. four points adrift of Manchester City heading into the remaining six Premier League games.

Even if United do finish fourth, they could be forced to play in the Europa League if City and Liverpool triumph in Europe.

But Van Gaal, who is aware failure to qualify for the Champions League could cost him his job amid speculation Jose Mourinho is set to replace him at the season s end, does not fear a player exodus in Manchester.

There is …

Bayern Munich boss Jurgen Klinsmann s new coaching methods will have major implications not only for German football but for the global game, according to club president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Players returning to Bayern after their post-Euro 2008 vacations will find a radically transformed club, as Klinsmann rings in sweeping changes similar to those he implemented as Germany national team coach between 2004-06.

The new approach will be not only for the Bundesliga but for all the footballing world, Rummenigge said.

The 43-year-old Klinsmann stamped his authority at the beginning of the month, banning mobile phones and implementing eight-hour training sessions at the club s new performance centre.

Replete with buddhist statues, the centre designed by…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed Fred s star performance after Manchester United won 2-1 away to rivals Manchester City in the Premier League.

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial set up victory at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with Nicolas Otamendi s late reply proving only a consolation for the champions.

A fourth league defeat of the season leaves City 14 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, while United are a further eight points back despite securing successive wins.

Fred s form has improved in recent weeks after some strong criticism for much of his United career, and he shone against champions City, who had also reportedly been interested in signing him from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The 26-year-old s display was particularly noteworthy given he…

Rodrigo Bentancur has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo for his winning mentality and says it is a pleasure playing alongside the Portugal forward for Juventus even though he hates not scoring goals.

Ronaldo arrived at Allianz Stadium last year in a €112million deal and has marked his first campaign in Serie A with a title triumph.

The five-time Ballon d Or winner has scored or assisted 29 top-flight goals in 30 appearances, while also finding the net six times in nine Champions League outings.

But what has impressed Bentancur most of all is the 34-year-old s down-to-earth nature off the field, combined with his ambitious mindset.

Winning team!

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano)

When I heard about the signing, we all had the uncertainty of whe…

Andros Townsend believes Jermaine Jenas will become a key asset for QPR once he returns to full fitness.

Andros Townsend believes Jermaine Jenas will become a key asset for QPR once he returns to full fitness.

The duo both made the move to Loftus Road in the January transfer window from Tottenham.

Jenas has played just seven Premier League games since August 2011, but Townsend is confident the 30-year-old has not lost his top-flight talent.

Everybody knows what Jermaine can do – he s been a great player over the years wherever he has gone, Townsend told The Fulham Chronicle. We won t see the best of him until he s fully fit, but once he is, his experience will be a great asset for us in a difficult couple of months coming up.

Townsend beli…

Serie A giants Roma have moved to confirm they are watching River Plate defender German Pezzella.

The Giallorossi are looking to further reinforce their back line in the summer transfer window, and has been linked with a number of talented defenders.

Among those is River Plate youngster German Pezzella, who has caught the attention of the Giallorossi at the 2011 South American Championship in Peru.

Club scout Barend Krausz has revealed that Pezzella is one of the South American players Roma are showing interest in.

At this stage of the year we start to watch players in South America, Krausz explained to Sky Sports Italia.

But the most popular name on our list is German Pezzella.

German Pezzella arrived at River Plate as a youngster fro…

The FA Cup will be “forever diminished” if a deal is done with the Premier League over the sale of the competition’s overseas rights, according to a member of the Culture, Media and Sport parliamentary committee.

The PA news agency understands the Football Association is considering a long-term arrangement where the Premier League sells the international rights to the FA Cup bundled alongside its own rights, with a view to a collective deal netting more money for both parties.

Labour MP Clive Efford, who sits on the CMS committee which took evidence from the FA and the Premier League on football regulation in March, believes such a deal would place undue control over the FA Cup in the Premier League’s hands.

“The Premier League has shown its contempt fo…