Amidst the Real Madrid–Kylian Mbappe saga, Lionel Messi is preparing to make his debut with Paris Saint-Germain, which is expected to take place on Sunday at 19:45 BST away at Reims.

The Argentine has been training for a couple of weeks with his new teammates, but the idea is to give him half an hour of playing time in the second half of PSG‘s upcoming match.null

Despite this being the coaching staff’s idea, Messi‘s desire to play and Mbappe‘s potential absence could force Mauricio Pochettino to shuffle his desk

After the game, Messi will board a flight to Buenos Aires to join Argentina for their upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Venezuela, Brazil and Bolivia.

Serie A, LaLiga and the Premier League refused to let their internationals travel to South America, while Ligue 1 protested against CONMEBOL’s congested schedule but let the players join their national teams.

UNITED CONFIRM RONALDO AGREEMENT

Manchester United is delighted to confirm that the club has reached agreement with Juventus for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and medical.Cristiano, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has so far won over 30 major trophies during his career, including five UEFA Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, seven league titles in England, Spain and Italy, and the European Championship for his native Portugal.null

In his first spell for Manchester United, he scored 118 goals in 292 games.

Everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester.

Fixtures for Round Three of this season’s Carabao Cup has been confirmed following the conclusion of Wednesday evening’s draw, live on Sky Sports.The draw, conducted by Kevin Phillips and Kevin Campbell, is listed in full below:

Please note, Round Three ties will be played during w/c 20 September 2021.

Friday 27 August 2021

Leicester, Celtic, Rangers and West Ham were among the 32 hopefuls who learned their group stage fates.

Leicester will face Napoli while Celtic will come up against Leverkusen, Real Betis and Ferencváros following the draw for the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League group stage in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday.All the draw reaction

2021/22 Europa League group stage draw

Group A: Lyon, Rangers, Sparta Praha, Brøndby
Group B: Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, Real Sociedad, Sturm Graz
Group C: Napoli, Leicester, Spartak Moskva, Legia Warszawa
Group D: Olympiacos, Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, Antwerp
Group E: Lazio, Lokomotiv Moskva, Marseille, Galatasaray
Group F: Braga, Crvena zvezda, Ludogorets, Midtjylland
Group G: Leverkusen, Celtic, Real Betis, Ferencváros
Group H: GNK Dinamo, Genk, West Ham, Rapid Wien

All the group stage fixtures

NOTE:Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno was named 2020/21 UEFA Europa League Player of the Season.

Match dates

Matchday 1: 16 September 
Matchday 2: 30 September 
Matchday 3: 21 October 
Matchday 4: 4 November 
Matchday 5: 25 November 
Matchday 6: 9 December2021/22 match and draw dates

How does the group stage work?

Teams in every group face each other home and away, with the same sides meeting on Matchdays 1 and 5, or Matchdays 2 and 6, or Matchdays 3 and 4.

The top three clubs will continue their European campaigns in the new year:

• Group winners progress to the round of 16.
• Group runners-up go into the new knockout round play-offs, where they will take on the third-placed UEFA Champions League teams for spots in the round of 16.
• Third-placed sides transfer to the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs.

How did the draw work?

The draw potsUEFA via Getty Images

Teams were divided into four pots based on their UEFA club coefficients. One team from each of the pots was then drawn into the eight groups, A–H. There were a few caveats: no team could play a club from their own association, and some sides from the same association were paired to ensure they play at different kick-off times (18:45 CET and 21:00 CET) for the benefit of TV audiences.

Getty Images

The former Blancos star has been linked with a move away from Juventus this summer

Cristiano Ronaldo has denied talk he could be set for a sensational return to Real Madrid, hitting out at “disrespectful” media reports linking him with a move away from Juventus.

Ronaldo is entering the final year of his Juve contract and has been recently linked with Madrid and Manchester City, among other clubs.

The transfer talk also prompted Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti to deny reports he could bring the Portugal star back to the Santiago Bernabeu.

What was said?

In a lengthy Instagram post, Ronaldo said: “Anyone who knows me is aware of how focused I am on my work. Less talk and more action, this has been my guiding motto since the start of my career. However, in view of everything that’s been said and written recently, I have to set out my position.

“More than the disrespect for me as a man and as a player, the frivolous way that my future is covered in the media is disrespectful to all the clubs involved in these rumours, as well as to their players and staff.

“My story at Real Madrid has been written. It’s been recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines. It’s in the Museum at the Bernabeu Stadium and it’s also in the minds of every fan of the club.

“And beyond what I achieved, I remember that in those nine years I had a relationship of deep affection and respect for ‘merengue aficion’, an affection and respect that I retain to this day, and that I will always cherish. I know that the true Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine.

“As well as this most recent episode in Spain, there have been frequent news and stories associating me with a number of clubs in many different leagues, with nobody ever being concerned about trying to find out the actual truth.

“I’m breaking my silence now to say that I can’t allow people to keep playing around with my name. I remain focused on my career and in my work, committed and prepared for all the challenges that I have to face. Everything else? Everything else is just talk.”

Ronaldo’s time at Juventus

The Portugal star has continued his sensational scoring form during his time in Italy, scoring 101 goals in 133 appearances.Article continues below

Double from ‘more complete’ Benzema means winning start for Ancelotti

But, after joining from Real Madrid in 2018, Ronaldo has not yet helped the club to continental success, as Juventus have not advanced past the Champions League quarter-finals in three seasons with the forward.

Ronado has still won his share of silverware with Juventus, lifting two Serie A titles and winning the Coppa Italia last season.

McClean arrives for an undisclosed fee from Stoke six years after originally leaving Wigan; He made 29 appearances for Stoke last season, scoring twice

Former Wigan winger James McClean has returned to the club after signing an initial one-year contract.

The 32-year-old is back at the DW Stadium six years after leaving the Latics and was presented to the fans ahead of Tuesday night’s home game against Wycombe.

McClean arrives for an undisclosed fee from Stoke and will add a wealth of experience to Leam Richardson’s team, having made over 300 appearances in the Premier League and Championship.

James McClean in action for Wigan in 2014

It is hoped the Republic of Ireland international might be available for Wigan’s League One trip to Charlton on Saturday.

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McClean made 29 appearances for Stoke last season, scoring twice.

He spent three years with the club having previously played for West Brom after joining from Wigan in 2015.

McClean arrives for an undisclosed fee from Stoke six years after originally leaving Wigan; He made 29 appearances for Stoke last season, scoring twice

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Former Wigan winger James McClean has returned to the club after signing an initial one-year contract.

The 32-year-old is back at the DW Stadium six years after leaving the Latics and was presented to the fans ahead of Tuesday night’s home game against Wycombe.

McClean arrives for an undisclosed fee from Stoke and will add a wealth of experience to Leam Richardson’s team, having made over 300 appearances in the Premier League and Championship.

It is hoped the Republic of Ireland international might be available for Wigan’s League One trip to Charlton on Saturday.

McClean made 29 appearances for Stoke last season, scoring twice.null

He spent three years with the club having previously played for West Brom after joining from Wigan in 2015.

Lyanco has made 53 appearances for Torino since joining the club in 2017; he is under contract until June 2024 but appears to have fallen out of favour under new head coach Ivan Juric; one source has told Sky Sports News a deal for the centre-back is close to being agreed for around £7.5m

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Watford are in talks to sign Torino defender Lyanco as they aim to further strengthen their squad on their return to the Premier League.

One source has told Sky Sports News a deal for the centre-back is close to being agreed for around £7.5m.

The 24-year-old Brazilian is under contract with Torino until June 2024 but appears to have fallen out of favour under new head coach Ivan Juric.

Lyanco has been linked with Real Betis throughout the summer, but so far a deal is yet to be agreed.

He has made 53 appearances for Torino since joining the club in 2017. He played 23 times in Serie A last season.

Chelsea’s £97.5m striker will train on Tuesday after a quarantine period; Romelu Lukaku, who re-joined Chelsea from Inter Milan, is expected to be involved against Arsenal on Sunday, Premier League

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Romelu Lukaku is expected to be be involved for Chelsea against Arsenal on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League.

Lukaku will train with his Chelsea team-mates for the first time on Tuesday after a quarantine period following his club-record £97.5m move from Inter Milan.

He returned to Chelsea this week, 10 years after he first signed for the club as a teenager from Anderlecht.

The striker struggled to make an impression during his first spell – failing to score in 15 appearances – and moved to Everton in 2014 before joining Inter, via Manchester United.

But after two outstanding years at Inter, scoring 24 goals in Serie A last season to help them to their first Italian title in 11 years, Lukaku said returning to Chelsea was the “chance of a lifetime”.

He had previously said he would remain at San Siro for the 2021/22 campaign but changed his mind and asked Inter to arrange to sell him to Chelsea after it became clear the club wanted to make his return a reality.