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Diego Simeone described Koke as an exemplary captain after the midfielder made a record-breaking 554th Atletico Madrid appearance in Saturday s 2-0 win at Sevilla.

Koke – who came through Atleti s youth ranks – surpassed fellow Colchoneros great Adelardo Rodriguez in the club s all-time appearance chart in a routine victory at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

The 30-year-old marked the occasion with an assist, teeing up Marcos Llorente to score a fine opener before Alvaro Morata lobbed Yassine Bounou to score his fourth league goal of the campaign after the break.

Koke has been a key player throughout Simeone s long reign in Madrid, and the Argentine struggled find the words to describe his captain s influence after the win.

It is difficult, in a short tim…

Brazilian international striker Adriano on Wednesday declared himself very moved after completing his transfer from Flamengo to Italian heavyweights Roma.

I m very moved to have been welcomed in this manner. I feel like I m in Rio, he said at a press conference during his presentation.

Addressing the club s fans, he added: I m sure you ll have a great season, right from the start, and I know you can go far. I m aware of my responsibilities but I m really very happy to be here in Rome.

Roma, runners-up in Serie A last season, revealed earlier in the day that Adriano has signed a three-year contract tying him to the club until June 2013 and worth five million euros gross per year plus bonuses.

Adriano, 28, did not win a place in Brazil s World Cup squad …

Ghana marksman Asamoah Gyan is confident he will be fit for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, despite injuring his hamstring last Friday.

The Al Ain striker has been ruled out for three weeks, but told the BBC that he could recover in time to be fit for the continental showpiece.

The doctors have told me to undergo some treatment and rest for three weeks for me to fully recover, Gyan said. If things go according to plan I will be fit before the Africa Cup of Nations starts.”

Having suffered a similar injury before the last two Cup of Nation tournaments, Gyan, 26, is upbeat over his participation in the 28th edition of the tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, which starts on January 21.

I had similar injuries before the 2008 and 2010 Africa Cup of…

Napoli still have work to do to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages after Union Berlin ended 12 consecutive defeats by securing a 1-1 draw at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Chelsea loanee David Datro Fofana cancelled out Matteo Politano’s earlier strike as Union, bottom of Group C, picked up their first Champions League point.

Serie A champions Napoli, who knew a win would leave them needing one point from their final two games to guarantee a last-16 spot, had two chances to go in front after 15 minutes.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia did well to beat his marker before playing in Piotr Zielinski who was denied from close range by Union keeper Frederik Ronnow.

Matteo the man making the difference so far

— Official SSC Napoli (@…

Sheffield United have launched an investigation into an alleged racist incident in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth at Bramall Lane.

United will now work with South Yorkshire Police to identify the culprit and are threatening “the strongest possible action”.

Details of the incident have not yet been released but a statement from the Blades read: “Sheffield United is disappointed to learn of an alleged racist incident in Saturday’s Premier League fixture against AFC Bournemouth.

Sheffield United is disappointed to learn of an alleged racist incident in Saturday’s Premier League fixture against AFC Bournemouth. The Club take a zero-tolerance approach to racism and stands firmly against all forms of discrimination. An investigation is now underway, i…

West Brom boss Tony Pulis has pointed the finger at Belgium over the thigh injury Nacer Chadli sustained in training on Thursday.

Chadli has been ruled out indefinitely after suffering the setback on his return to the club from a busy international break.

The 28-year-old completed all 180 minutes of Belgium s friendlies against Mexico and Japan despite having only appeared twice in the Premier League this season.

Pulis suggested the former Tottenham man had been overworked by his international coach Roberto Martinez.

We are disappointed he played the two 90 minutes and has ended up getting an injury yesterday in training, Pulis said in his pre-match press conference.

That is going to keep him out for the foreseeable future.

Catch me if y…

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe were unleashed together for the first time but Paris Saint-Germain had to settle for a 1-1 Champions League draw at Club Brugge.

Mauricio Pochettino started with his formidable attacking trio at Jan Breydel Stadion on Wednesday, with Mbappe teeing up Ander Herrera for the opener after a mazy run on the left flank.

Many may have expected Brugge to crumble, however, they responded through Hans Vanaken s fifth goal in eight games in the competition.

Mbappe was forced off in the second half with a slight foot problem as PSG, despite their embarrassment of attacking riches, failed to kick-off their Group A campaign with a win.

4 Ander Herrera has scored 4 goals in his last 4 games in all competitions, twice as many as …

Netherlands began their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with a resounding 4-0 win over Belarus in Rotterdam on Thursday, with Memphis Depay playing a crucial role.

The hosts were always firm favourites and they had little difficulty living up to the expectations, as Depay led the way with two goals and a pair of assists to give Netherlands a fine start to life in Group C.

Belarus looked doomed inside the first minute when Depay punished a defensive error to become the youngest player to reach 14 Netherlands goals since Patrick Kluivert, and he went on to set up Georginio Wijnaldum for their second in the 21st minute.

Netherlands showed no sign of letting their control slip after the break and Depay extended the lead from the penalty spot following the interval, bef…

Alex Morgan has been left out of the United States Paris Olympics squad ahead of the games in July.

Morgan, who has scored 123 goals in 224 appearances for her country, has appeared at every Olympics for Team USA since Beijing 2008 and won gold at London 2012.

The two-time World Cup winner has not scored in her past eight games for San Diego Wave after recently recovering from an ankle injury.

Today, I m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent my country on the Olympic stage, posted Morgan on social media. This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I take immense pride an time I put on the crest.

In less than a month I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country.