Luis Suarez has admitted that he feared he might not be good enough to play for Barcelona.

The Uruguay star moved to Camp Nou from Liverpool in 2014, and was instrumental in Barca s treble win last season after forming a devastating front three with Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Suarez has improved again this season, scoring 43 goals already as Barca remain on course to make history by retaining the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey trophies.

However, the 29-year-old, told Helden TV:  I dreamed of playing for Barcelona, but even I didn t believe I was good enough to be Barca s number nine.

You always dream of playing with the best and now I m doing just that, with [Lionel] Messi, Neymar, [Andres] Iniesta, [Sergio] Busquets and so on.

Suarez…

Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross believes manager Mark Hughes gave the club new impetus when he arrived last year.

The Welshman took over from compatriot Tony Pulis at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season and has helped equal the club s record Premier League points total of 47 with a game to spare.

Shawcross was crowned the club s player of the season on Tuesday and hailed the impact of the former Manchester City boss.

Since the manager arrived, his style of play has given the squad a new impetus and most of the lads, including myself, have improved throughout the year and that has shown throughout this season, he said.

Despite being recognised as the club s outstanding performer for the current campaign, Shawcross insists he is not expecting a late call-up to E…

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong says the Netherlands are determined to win Euro 2012.

The 27-year-old was part of the Netherlands team which lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, and believes Bert van Marwijk s men have the talent to ensure victory in Poland and Ukraine.

We know the strength of the team. We must have a soul and a purpose. We need to win this title, the midfielder told Eredivisie Live.

Fresh from lifting the English Premier League title with City, De Jong claims he is now focused on achieving further success at international level.

I now feel better within the camp, but my focus is now on the Dutch national team, he said.

Meanwhile, versatile AC Milan player Urby Emanuelson expressed his disappointment at …

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has made a decision on his future and told the club what he plans to do at the end of the season.

The Belgium international has long been linked with a transfer to Real Madrid, having not extended his contract at Stamford Bridge, which expires in 2020.

The Blues reportedly want €130million for the forward, who came off the bench in Sunday s 0-0 draw with Leicester City for what could be his final appearance in the Premier League.

Hazard later told reporters that he informed Chelsea of his intentions a couple of weeks ago and is still waiting for the situation to develop.

I have made my decision, but it is not just about me, he said.  We have a [Europa League] final to play and then I will see.

I wanted [to have the…

Having shown plenty of potential in the warm-up games and did their best to prepare in the best possible way for the adverse weather conditions in Manaus, England seem ready to kick off their World Cup campaign with a strong performance against Italy.

The Three Lions will have an added incentive to defeat their rivals after the Euro 2012 quarter-final loss and with the Azzurri largely struggling at the moment, there should be value in backing Roy Hodgson s side, especially with Betfair enhancing the price to 6/1 for all new customers.

Simply using promo code ZSK192 and place your first bet on England to beat Italy at the regular price. If the Three Lions go on to win their opening fixture, you will be paid out immediately at standard odds, while the additional winnings…

Market: Over 1.5 goals

Odds: 4/9 @

Hoping to find a route into the top-half of the La Liga table on Saturday evening, Celta Vigo will make the trip to the RCDE Stadium when they meet Espanyol.

Starting with the hosts, while Espanyol might have claimed a much-needed boost last month, Diego Martínez s men have failed to keep up that momentum since opening 2023. Last seen putting in a downbeat display away at defending champions Real Madrid as they were hit with a routine 3-1 loss, the Periquitos are firmly looking over their shoulder at the drop zone. Now suffering back-to-back La Liga defeats, the Catalonia-based outfit holding just a one-point buffer from slipping into the bottom-three. Mustering just a pair of wins from their last seven domestic contests, Mart…

There is no doubt Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon d Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Co., according to Real Madrid team-mate Lucas Vazquez.

Ronaldo is coming off a successful season for both club and country, helping European giants Madrid to Champions League glory and guiding Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016.

And Vazquez is confident the 31-year-old will claim a fourth Ballon d Or, having finished second to Barcelona rival Messi in 2015.

Right now I don t think there s any doubt. Cristiano Ronaldo deserves it more than anyone else and I hope he wins it again, said Vazquez.

Playing alongside him makes everything easier. You often send him a bad pass but he ll score anyway. It s incredible what he s doing.

In 2015-16, Ro…

Former referee Jack Taylor OBE has died aged 82 at his home in Shropshire.

The Englishman awarded the first penalty in a World Cup final when he refereed Germany s 2-1 win over the Netherlands in 1974.

Described by the Football League as perhaps the finest English referee of all time, Taylor officiated in more than 1,000 matches, including more than 100 internationals and was also inducted into FIFA s Hall of Fame.

He went on to work for the Football League after retiring from refereeing.

Taylor, who also refereed cup finals in Europe, South America, South Africa and China, served on the Football League s referees committee and assisted its commercial department with its sponsor management.

Football League chairman Greg Clarke paid tribute to Tay…

Mikel Arteta insists the first-team squad remains united despite Arsenal s struggles this season, with the club needing fighters to help turn their situation around.

There was so much positivity at Arsenal ahead of the 2020-21 campaign after Arteta s early work in charge, including winning the FA Cup in August.

However, the Gunners have won just four games in the Premier League so far this term and, after Saturday s loss away at Everton, worryingly sit 15th in the table.

Stories have suggested there is unrest within the dressing room amid poor results, as well as the decision taken to ostracise Mesut Ozil and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Tuesday s EFL Cup quarter-final against Manchester City could provide a welcome distraction from their league woes, …

Hope Solo has expressed her sadness after the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) terminated the star goalkeeper s contract.

Solo has been suspended for six months and had her national team contract ripped up after making controversial comments about Sweden s players at the Rio Olympics.

The 35-year-old labelled her opponents a bunch of cowards after they defeated the USA on penalties following what she perceived to be a defensive performance in the quarter-finals of the women s football tournament in Brazil.

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) deemed Solo s remarks unacceptable and claimed it took into account her past conduct in determining the punishment the 202-cap veteran was also suspended for 30 days in 2015 for misconduct.

In a statement…