I'm not afraid of Yamal, says Adeyemi

New Barcelona signing, Karim Adeyemi, insists he is not afraid of competing with Lamine Yamal for a starting spot in Hansi Flick's attack, reports goal.com.

The former Borussia Dortmund forward also revealed how a quick phone call from Flick was all it took to seal his dream move to Spain.

Adeyemi has declared that he is ready to fight for his place in Flick's starting lineup, insisting he feels no fear about competing with Yamal. 

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo during Barca's pre-season training camp at Saint George's Park, the German forward opened up about settling into his new surroundings.

Adeyemi completed his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to bolster the Catalan giants' attacking options ahead of the new campaign. 

Rather than being intimidated by the competition in Barcelona's frontline, the 24-year-old expressed total confidence in his own abilities

When asked if he was worried about battling superstar teenager Yamal for playing time on the wing, Adeyemi offered a direct and fearless response. The versatile attacker made it clear that his focus remains entirely on his own performances on the pitch.

"No. I'm not afraid of any player." Adeyemi firmly stated during the interview. "I know that if I give my best, I'll have a chance to play."

Adeyemi also revealed that Flick required zero persuasion to bring him to the Camp Nou. The pair built a strong professional relationship during their shared time with the German national team, making the transfer a seamless decision for the forward.

"Convince is the wrong word," he added. "He simply called me and asked if I wanted to come. I told him, of course, because it's the biggest club in the world and these opportunities only come once. He didn't have to convince me. I've trusted him for a long time, and I have a lot of respect for him.

"I hope he sees things in me that I can contribute to the team on the pitch. He knows me very well from the national team, and we're very close."

Joshua could fight until 2029, says Hearn

Former IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO World heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, is expected to continue boxing for longer than was initially thought

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Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, revealed 11 months ago that 2026 would likely be AJ's final year in the sport, but a lot has changed in that time, as the former Olympic champion could still fight until 2029.

After knocking out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul last December, Joshua was due to return to the ring in February to face kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven.

However, those plans were put on hold after Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and left him with minor injuries.

After a period of mourning and recuperation, Joshua signed to fight long-time rival Tyson Fury, providing both men winning their respective tune-up bouts.

Fury boxes rugged Polish veteran Mariusz Wach on Friday in Thailand, while Joshua takes on little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga one day later in Saudi Arabia.

Should the pair come out unscathed, organisers have tentatively pencilled in the much-anticipated domestic dust-up for November.

Every indication, therefore, points to the Fury fight being Joshua's final bow.

But according to Matchroom founder Barry Hearn, that won't be the case.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn said: "[Anthony Joshua] is in an amazing place at the moment. 

"Obviously I’ve seen him since 2012, we got very close. He’s like a member of our family really.

"I don’t think I’ve seen him so motivated for the long term.

"As I say, some of that has been fuelled by that tragic accident, but he’s now talking about the next three years in the ring.

"It was a year ago we were talking about potentially two fights and then go off to a happy retirement. 

"He’s very motivated, he feels good about himself, but boxing is a funny sport. 

"It takes one decent punch from a big lad to knock out anyone in the world."

If Joshua continues boxing for another three years, that would take his retirement age up to 39 years old.

Jesus reunites with Ronaldo as new Portugal coach

Jorge Jesus has been named Portugal's new head coach on a four-year contract to run through to the 2030 World Cup with the nation co-hosting the tournament.

Portugal were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the last 16 of this summer's tournament, and former boss Roberto Martinez had already announced he would be stepping down from the role he had held since January 2023.

Portuguese Jesus, 71, has worked with national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo during his one-year deal as Al Nassr head coach, and the pair lifted the Saudi Pro League title last season.

Following Portugal's exit on Monday, Ronaldo who finished the ongoing World Cup with three goals, confirmed that the 2026 Mundial would be his sixth and final, although he has made no official comment about retiring fully from international football.

Speaking on Friday, Jesus said the 41-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner, whose contract at Al Nassr runs until 2027, is a "symbol of Portuguese football".

He added: "As long as he's playing and is in a condition to be selected, I will pick him, within certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best for the national team.

"I haven't spoken with [Ronaldo] yet. [He] is never going to be a problem for the national team. Not for the national team, nor for me.

"I had great pleasure working with him this past year, [it's] easy to work with him."

Jesus' first game in charge will be Portugal's Nations League opening Group D game against against Wales on September 24.

Portugal are co-hosting the World Cup in four years with Spain and Morocco.

Jesus, who won a domestic treble with Saudi club Al Hilal in the 2023-24 season, lifted three league titles during his first spell as manager of Portuguese side Benfica in 2010, 2014 and 2015.

The Portuguese also enjoyed success in Brazil during his one year with Flamengo, winning five major trophies including the Brazilian title and the Copa Libertadores in 2019.

World Cup: Meet Iraq player, Iqbal, set to make history for Pakistan

 A former Manchester United prospect will make men's World Cup history if he steps on to the pitch for Iraq on Tuesday - but not for the country he is representing.

The moment will instead be monumental for fans in Pakistan, a nation of more than 240 million people – the fifth largest population in the world – whose football team have never reached a World Cup.

In fact, they have won just one qualifying game in their entire history.

Placed 198th in the FIFA world rankings, the South Asian country sits among the 15 worst-performing nations in the sport, and its people have never been able to cheer on anyone who represents them on the biggest stage.

Until now.

Utrecht's former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal, representing Iraq, is poised to become the first player of Pakistani heritage to play in a men's World Cup.

He says he was "surprised" when he found out about the honour - but his heritage is something he is proud of.

"To be honest, I didn't even know it myself," he told BBC Sport. "I followed the account that posted it [that he was the first player of Pakistani heritage to play at a men's World Cup] and sent it to my dad straight away. I think we were both surprised. When I tried to qualify for the World Cup with Iraq, I didn't think of anything like this.

"My dad is Pakistani. He's my father, the man I respect the most in my life, who helped me so much in my career.

"I play for Iraq, grew up in England, but my dad was born in Pakistan. My grandad was a first-generation there, so I have a lot of respect for that side of my family."

Iqbal was born and raised in Manchester. He is Pakistani through his father and Iraqi through his mother. The talented midfielder says he takes pride in representing both nations and shows this when he takes to the pitch by wearing both countries' flags on his boots.

Asked why he chose to play in boots that showcase his heritage, the 23-year-old reiterated his "respect" for both sides of his family's background.

"I wear the Iraqi flag on my left side and the Pakistani flag on my right side," he said. "I think that's because I respect both sides.

"When people ask me what I feel more connected to, I can't answer. For me, they're both equal. It's about respect and something I carry with a lot of pride."

Wimbledon 2026: Williams sisters bag doubles wildcard

 American superstars Serena Williams and Venus Williams will return to Wimbledon action together after they were handed a wildcard to compete in the women's doubles.

Neither sister is included on the list of singles wildcards, although there is one remaining spot still to be given.

Serena, 44, made her comeback at Queen's last week, four years after playing what many expected to be the final match of her career at the 2022 US Open.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, whose tally in that count includes seven Wimbledon titles, is playing doubles in Berlin this week with Karolina Muchova and will continue her comeback on the Grand Slam stage alongside Venus at the All England Club.

Five-time Wimbledon singles champion Venus, 45, has lost all seven of her singles matches this season, but won a doubles match alongside Britain's Katie Boulter at the Madrid Open in April.

Former British number one, Dan Evans, has not been given a wildcard for the men's singles main draw in what will be the final tournament of the 36-year-old's career.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who is also retiring at the end of the season, has been handed a place, along with Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov.

French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska has been rewarded for her Roland Garros run with a wildcard for the women's singles.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon 2026 begins on Monday, June 29.

French Open: Zverev set to break Grand Slam title jinx

 Title favourite Alexander Zverev is one win away from elusive maiden Grand Slam title after holding his nerve to beat Jakub Mensik in the 2026 French Open semi-finals.

The second seed is through to his fourth major final and his second at Roland Garros, having lost to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in 2024.

Taken to a fourth set for only the second time in the tournament, Zverev kept his composure to win 7-5 6-2 3-6 6-3 against first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist and 26th seed Mensik.

Zverev, who has been the front-runner to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires since world number one Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic suffered shock exits in the first week, will face either 10th seed Flavio Cobolli or Matteo Arnaldi in Sunday's final.

Should he win, the 29-year-old will be the seventh oldest first-time Grand Slam men's singles champion in the Open era and the first German man to win a major since Michael Stich won Wimbledon in 1991.

2025/26 EPL MATCHDAY 37 FIXTURES

FRIDAY, MAY 15:

Aston Villa vs Liverpool 8:00pm

SUN, May 17:

Man Utd    vs Nottm Forest 12:30pm

Brentford vs C'Palace 3:00pm

Wolves     vs Fulham   3:00pm

Leeds Utd  vs Brighton  3:00pm

Everton   vs Sunderland  3:00pm

Newcastle vs West Ham 5:30pm

MON:

Arsenal  vs Burnley  8:00pm

TUE:

Bournemouth vs Man City 7:30pm

Chelsea  vs Tottenham      8:15pm