Belgium boss and former Everton manager Roberto Martinez heaped praise on Romelu Lukaku by claiming he can become the best striker in the world.
Lukaku has flourished since he was lured to Everton by then-manager Martinez in a club-record deal in 2014, and tops the Premier League s goalscoring charts with 21 this season.
The 23-year-old Belgium international has refused to sign a new deal at Goodison Park amid interest from some of Europe s biggest clubs.
Martinez who is back working with Lukaku in the national team believes the sky is the limit for the ex-Chelsea striker.
When you work with Rom, you understand he lives for the games. It s all about football in his life. He always wants to do more in training, Martinez told BBC s Football Focus.
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Steve Sidwell has revealed his disappointment at being released by Fulham following the club s relegation from the Premier League.
The 31-year-old appeared in every league game for the London club last season, scoring seven goals, but was unable to prevent them dropping to the second tier.
Sidwell, who joined Fulham from Aston Villa in January 2011, will now continue his career elsewhere as Fulham rebuild their squad.
It saddens me to say my time at Fulham has come to an end, he wrote on social networking site Twitter. I have enjoyed every moment in the 3 and half years I ve spent here.
I ve been so proud every time I pulled the jersey on and I wore it with pride, gave 100 percent every time and will always look back with great memories of my time at Fulham FC.
Timo Werner scored a double as Germany became the first team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup thanks to a 4-0 win over North Macedonia in Monday s Group J clash.
Hansi Flick s side – who have now won all five games under their new head coach – seized the early initiative at the Tose Proeski Arena, with Timo Werner denied by the woodwork as the visitors registered 15 first-half shots.
However, Kai Havertz broke the deadlock after 50 minutes before Werner added a quickfire double to put the game out of the hosts reach.
Jamal Musiala then added a late fourth and, with Armenia dropping points against Romania, Germany claimed an unassailable eight-point lead at the summit to quality for Qatar 2022.
Job done 0-4
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN)
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Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has signed a new two-year contract with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Choupo-Moting, 32, joined Bayern in October 2020 after spending two seasons with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, initially signing a one-year deal.
The striker made 32 appearances in all competitions in his maiden season with the club – only 13 of which were starts – and scored nine goals.
Choupo-Moting, who will play under new head coach Julien Nagelsmann next term after Hansi Flick left to take the Germany job, said: I am proud to be here. FC Bayern is a very special club; the number one club in Germany and also one of the best clubs in the world.
— CHAMPIONS (@FCBayernEN)
My first year here was great. On the…
Neil Warnock guided Aberdeen into the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-finals in what proved to be his final match as manager as the Dons beat Kilmarnock 3-1 at Pittodrie.
Warnock had faced questions about his future ahead of the game after failing to net a win in six cinch Premiership matches to leave the Dons third-bottom of the league.
It turned out his mind was made up regardless of the quarter-final outcome as he left on a high after Jamie McGrath’s double saw the 75-year-old record a second win in eight matches, having overseen a win over Bonnyrigg Rose in the previous round.
Interim manager Neil Warnock has stepped aside following today’s Scottish Cup Quarter Final victory at Pittodrie.
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC)
The Dons announced so…
In-form superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo showcase their talents on Monday night as league leaders Real Madrid travel to defending champions Barcelona bidding to beat their bitter rivals at Camp Nou after four consecutive losses in the Clasico.
Real are one point ahead of title holders Barcelona at the league summit and there has been immense hype for the first Clasico of the campaign with Real coach Jose Mourinho poised to renew his rivalry with Barcelona, who were eliminated by his Inter Milan side in last season s Champions League semi-finals.
It will be a first Clasico for Mourinho, who worked as a translator at Barcelona under former coach Bobby Robson, and the Portuguese will hope to fare better than his predecessors Juande Ramos and Manuel Pellegrini,…
Andrea Pirlo hailed former Juventus team-mate Paul Pogba as the best young prospect he has seen throughout his career.
The pair featured alongside one another under Antonio Conte as Juve claimed three successive Scudetti between 2013 and 2015, before Pirlo left for New York City last year.
Pogba departed Manchester United in 2012 after refusing to sign a new contract and was snapped up by the Turin giants.
The young Frenchman immediately impressed the World Cup-winning midfielder, who feels he is continuing to improve as he develops physically.
Pogba is the best youngster I have seen. We understood he was a great player from his first training session, Pirlo told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
He was skinny but his legs allowed him to be everywhere. N…
Marseille have completed the signing of Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher until the end of the season.
The Scotland striker emerged as a surprise target for the Ligue 1 club on transfer deadline day and his move to the Stade Velodrome was confirmed on Monday.
It means Fletcher has likely played his last match for the Premier League strugglers, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
A Sunderland statement read: Sunderland AFC have confirmed that striker Steven Fletcher has joined French side Olympique Marseille until the end of the season, when his contract with Sunderland expires.
The 28-year-old Scotland international could make his debut for Michel s side in [Tuesday s] Ligue 1 game at Montpellier.
Fletcher joined Sunderlan…
ADO Den Haag have appointed Alan Pardew as their new head coach on a deal until the end of the season.
Englishman Pardew has been out of work since leaving West Brom in April 2018 but will be tasked with guiding ADO away from relegation danger in the Eredivisie.
He told the club s official website: In the search for a new challenge, I am pleased that I came across ADO Den Haag.
It is a warm club where everything starts with enthusiasm and passion. The team is going through a difficult period but we will do everything we can to turn the tide.
We must do that together, the players, the staff and the fans. Together we will try to make a comeback. I can t wait to get started.
We ve got some news!
Alan Pardew is onze nieuwe hoofdtrainer. De …
According to , Manchester City are set to launch a £50million bid in January for Leicester and England full-back Ben Chilwell. The youngster has impressed in the last season and a half. His form this season has earned the 21-year-old five international caps for England. His displays for England have also been very steady indeed.
Been highly-rated for a good while
Chilwell has been highly-rated for a while now, but it is only in the last few seasons he has become a regular in the Leicester starting line-up. Liverpool were linked with a move for Chilwell when he was just a teenager, but nothing came of the story and he has thrived in the Midlands.
Leicester secured the young full-back on a new five-year deal back in October. However, we all know that contract means very…