Football

Henderson: I'm the right man to lead Liverpool

The England international was hampered by numerous injuries, making just 17 Premier League appearances in his first season with the armband.

Henderson, 26, said his minimal contribution on the field meant he questioned himself as captain.

"I've never felt that I didn't want the captaincy but there were times last season when I was very down because I wasn't playing and I questioned my contribution as captain because of that," he said.

"I couldn't help on the pitch as I wanted to and so Milly [James Milner], as vice-captain, had to take the role on.

FIFA rejects Madrid, Atletico transfer ban appeals

World football's governing body initially imposed the punishment in January due to the capital clubs breaching rules in relation to the transfer of minors but suspended them later in the month, pending appeal.

Madrid and Atletico will now be unable to register new players until January 2018, with their respective initial fines of 360,000 Swiss francs and 900,000 Swiss francs remaining.

Messi has Barcelona contract for ever – Bartomeu

Contract negotiations are set to be opened with the 29-year-old in the near future, with Messi's current deal set to expire in June 2018.

Bartomeu is understandably keen to tie Barca's star man down to a longer deal, but he conceded the ball will be in Messi's court.

"[Messi] has all the years he wants [with Barcelona]," Bartomeu told ESPN FC.

"Lionel Messi is the best ever to play football in the history of the world and he plays with us.

Barcelona looking to extend Ter Stegen contract

The Spanish champions were busy before the transfer window closed last week, bringing in several high-quality players to improve the squad's depth.

Barca have since stated their next intentions are to extend the contracts of the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic in the coming months.

And now Bartomeu has added Ter Stegen to the list, despite the 24-year-old Germany international still with three years left on his deal at Camp Nou.

"[Ter Stegen] is a fundamental piece in the future of Barcelona," Bartomeu told RAC1.

World's best are shunning Premier League – Scholes

In an extract from his new book published in the Guardian, Scholes picked out Manchester City trio Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva as being the only Premier League players he would place among the game's elite, and said that La Liga had more quality on offer.

Scholes, who won the Premier League 11 times with Manchester United and now works as a pundit, said: "You hear about people saying English football's the best football there is around. I think Spain's by far the best league. Germany has better teams.

Unity the key for Lopetegui

Spain picked up an impressive 2-0 victory over Belgium on Thursday in Lopetegui's first match in charge since replacing Vicente del Bosque as coach.

It was confident display from the former world and European champions, with Lopetegui particularly pleased with the unity shown by his side.

And that is something the 50-year-old wants to build on as they begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against Liechtenstein on Monday.

"I am among those who think that if the group works, then the individuals are strengthened," he told Marca.

Rooney happy with deeper England role

There had been a lot of talk in the build-up to England's opening Group fixture about the Manchester United star being listed in Sam Allardyce's first squad as a midfielder rather than a striker and he consistently sat deeper in the 1-0 victory in Trnava.

And Rooney, who became the most-capped outfield player in England's history with his 116th appearance in the match, claims that he is happy with his position in Allardyce's side.

"That's where Sam wanted me to play, we worked on it through the week," he told ITV.

Messi reveals desire to play for boyhood club Newell's

 Messi left Newell's for Barca at the age of 13 and has gone on to become one of the greatest players of all time, winning the Ballon d'Or on five occasions.

The 29-year-old has previously indicated a desire to end his career in Catalonia, but he appeared drawn to a Newell's return during an interview with Telefe's Polemica en el Bar in his homeland.

"I would love to [return]," he said. "It is something I have kept an eye on because it was my dream as a child.

"Obviously my life started to change and went another way, but I have no regrets.

Manuel Neuer named Germany captain

The Bayern Munich goalkeeper assumes the armband with immediate effect, his first game leading the national team set to be Germany's opening match of World Cup qualifying against Norway on Sunday.

Schweinsteiger's illustrious international career came to an end on Wednesday as Germany beat Finland 2-0 in Monchengladbach, the midfielder winning his 121st and final cap.

Emotional Germany midfielder plays last international match

 Schweinsteiger, 32, was left in tears at a presentation before Germany's 2-0 friendly win over Finland.

The Manchester United midfielder made his Germany debut in June 2004 and ends his international career with 121 caps and 24 goals.

"It means so much that you're here today. It has been an honour to play for you," he told the crowd.

"I think you all saw how it affected me. I had just wanted to enjoy every moment, but I hadn't expected it to be so lovely."