Valencia have completed the signing of Bordeaux defender Lucas Orban on a five-year deal.
The 25-year-old favours playing at full-back, but can also be utilised in central defence and will add versatility to Valencia s backline.
Orban brings an end to his short stay in Ligue 1 after he moved to Bordeaux in August 2013 and will remain in Spain until at least 2019.
The Spanish side confirmed in a statement: Valencia Football Club and Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux have reached an agreement for the transfer of Argentina international Lucas Orban until June 30, 2019.
Orban, who has one cap for Argentina, started his career at River Plate before moving to Tigre, initially on loan, in 2011.
A switch to Bordeaux followed 12 months ago and he ma…
FIFA World Cup-winning Italy coach Marcello Lippi has visited the current crop of players before they head to this year s event in Brazil.
The 66-year-old led his nation to the title in 2006, claiming a 5-3 victory on penalties in a fiery final against France.
Lippi left the position following that triumph, but returned to guide Italy to the finals in South Africa four years later.
However, his second stint at the helm of the national side was not as fruitful as the first, as Italy crashed out in the group stage of the 2010 tournament.
Lippi was subsequently replaced by Cesare Prandelli, who welcomed his predecessor to Coverciano for a training session on Thursday.
The duo appeared deep in conversation throughout, and Prandelli will now be hoping to emulate…
Ricardo Carvalho hopes to watch Portugal add the Confederations Cup to their trophy cabinet after defying his advancing years to win the European Championship last season.
Then 38, Carvalho became the oldest player in the history of the UEFA event in France last year, and helped his team claim their first piece of major international silverware thanks to a dramatic extra-time triumph over the hosts in the showpiece in Paris.
Now 39 and playing for Shanghai SIPG, the former Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Monaco defender is not among the squad picked by head coach Fernando Santos for the World Cup warm-up event in Russia, where Portugal face Mexico in their opening game in Kazan on Sunday, but he will be watching his countrymen with keen interest.
I was proud o…
Neymar insists he could handle the rigours of representing Brazil at the Copa America Centenario and Rio Olympics this year, despite Barcelona coach Luis Enrique s concerns over the physical impact.
Brazil coach Dunga met the Barca boss to discuss the forward s availability for the two international competitions, with the Copa taking place in the United States in June before the Games get underway in August.
Luis Enrique has expressed worries over the possibility of Neymar as well as Barca team-mates Rafinha and Dani Alves being called up for both squads and potentially hampering preparations for the next club season.
However, the former Santos forward says he is young enough to cope with the demands of featuring in the Copa and in Rio, where he hopes to help Bra…