Arsenal forward Theo Walcott labeled new team mate Sead Kolasinac an "absolute tank", saying the defender is well equipped to become an instant success in the Premier League. The 24-year-old Kolasinac, who joined Arsenal on a free transfer from Schalke 04, came on as a substitute for the injured Per Mertesacker and scored his first goal for the club as they beat Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday.

Egyptian winger Amr Warda is close to signing a loan deal with Feirense, Portuguese newspaper Record reported on Monday. Warda joined Greek side PAOK from Panetolikos in January after signing a three-and-a-half year contract with the club. He produced many fine displays with PAOK during the second half of last season before falling out of favour at the start of this season.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu insisted no player is bigger than the Catalan giants on Monday in the wake of Neymar s world record 222 million euro ($264 million) move to Paris Saint-Germain. Bartomeu and his board are under pressure to wisely reinvest the huge sum, which more than doubled the previous record for a transfer fee, before the transfer window closes on August 31.

Arsenal s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny said on Sunday he would remain at the Emirates Stadium next season, ending speculations surrounding his future with the Gunners. "I will stay at Arsenal," Elneny told BeIN sports on Sunday.

Arsenal s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny said on Sunday he would remain at the Emirates Stadium next season, ending speculations surrounding his future with the Gunners. "I will stay at Arsenal," Elneny told BeIN sports on Sunday. The Egyptian international helped his side win the Community Shield following a 4-1 win over Chelsea on penalties on Sunday.

Tunisian giants Esperance were crowned Arab champions after beating Jordanian side Al-Faisaly 3-2 in a thrilling affair in the final at the Alexandria Stadium on Sunday. In a game that witnessed all regular-time goals come in the second half, Esperance went two-nil up - thanks to a brace from Saad Bguir in the 47th and 54th minutes respectively. Al-Faisaly did not throw in the towel though despite going two goals down, with Akram Zuway and Khalil Beniateyah taking their side to extra-time. But eventually Esperance were to emerge winners following a debatable goal from Chamseddine Daoudi in the first half of extra time that ultimately proved the winner. The match witnessed some ugly scenes as the Jordanians remonstrated in an inappropriate manner against Egyptian referee Ibrahim Nour El-Din – who curiously opted against brandishing any red cards – following the goal.

Zamalek coach Tarek Yehia has confirmed that the team will face Port Said side Masry in the semifinal of the Egypt Cup with a squad free of injuries and players ready to achieve victory, the club s official website said on Thursday. "We are preparing well for the Masry game. The team s players are doing their best in training to be prepare for the game," Yehia said.

Spain s La Liga on Thursday rejected payment of a record-breaking release clause that would allow Neymar to leave Barcelona for Paris St Germain, a source from the national soccer league said. A group of lawyers representing Neymar visited La Liga in Madrid on Thursday to try to settle the transfer and pay the 222 million-euro ($263 million) break fee.

Barcelona confirmed Neymar s wish to leave the Catalan giants on Wednesday, but insisted the Brazilian s 222 million euro ($260 million) buyout clause must be paid as his potential world record move to Paris Saint-Germain moved a step closer. "Neymar Jr, accompanied by his father and representative, communicated to FC Barcelona this morning his decision to leave the club," Barca said in a statement.

Tunisian side ES Sahel have officially lodged an offer to sign Zamalek s Ivorian striker Razak Cisse for one season on loan, the Cairo giants announced on Wednesday. "ES Sahel offered $250,000 to sign Cisse on loan for the next season," Zamalek revealed in a statement via its official website.

Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry has expressed the club s determination to win the Arab Club Championship, which is currently underway in Cairo, despite the "tough" challenge posed by Jordan s Al-Faisaly. "We have objectives to accomplish in this tournament. We intended to start with the performance we deliver and we are in the tournament to win," the 57-year-old tactician told a press conference on Tuesday.

Brazil s Neymar triggered a guessing game on his return from China on Tuesday, posting a video on social media apparently from Dubai but leaving his final destination -- Paris or Barcelona -- a mystery. As speculation mounts of an imminent record-busting transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar s video appeared to be from the first class lounge at Dubai airport.

Egypt s Ahly have been drawn to face Jordan s Al-Faisaly in the Arab Club Championship semi-finals on 2 August, while Tunisian side Esperance will face Morocco s FUS Rabat on 3 August. "Ahly will face Al-Faisaly at Alexandria s Borg El-Arab stadium with 25,000 fans attendance," Arab Football Association member Mohamed Raouraoua said at a press conference after the draw.

Cristiano Ronaldo has told a Spanish judge that he has never tried to avoid taxes. The Real Madrid player, who is from Portugal, was questioned Monday to determine whether he committed tax fraud. Ronaldo spent more than 90 minutes answering the questions of investigating judge Monica Gomez.

RB Leipzig manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has warned clubs interested in Naby Keita that there is no chance the Guinea midfielder will be sold this season. Keita was the subject of two recent rejected bids from Liverpool and Leipzig have confirmed they turned down an offer of £67 million ($87 million) from an unnamed club. The 22-year-old has become a hot property since scoring eight goals in 31 appearances last season to help Leipzig qualify for the Champions League.

Two people have been killed and several injured in a stampede at South Africa s FNB Stadium during a soccer match between Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, Johannesburg city officials said on Saturday.

A beleaguered Zamalek side continued their poor displays, this time succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to Lebanese Al-Ahd to almost wave the Arab Championship goodbye on Wednesday. Zamalek entered the game on the back of a row between club chairman Mortada Mansour and first-team manager Augusto Inacio, who castigated the former in the pre-match press conference a day before the game. And with the outspoken Mansour quick to hit back at the Portuguese manager, threatening to complain him to FIFA, Zamalek were tasked with putting their problems behind their backs and claim their first win in the competition.

Fifty-metre butterfly specialist Farida Osman will make her third appearance at the ongoing FINA World Championships on Friday when she starts her mission to make history in the world tournament. The 23-year-old has made frustrating appearances in her two previous courses in the tournament so far, failing to reach the women s 100m butterfly semi-final after coming in 17th place with a time of 58.67 seconds on Sunday.

Egyptian giants Ahly recovered from an opening defeat to secure an easy 2-0 victory over 10-man Al-Wahda of UAE on Tuesday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Arab Championship semis. The Red Devils produced a vivid attacking display amid little resistance from Al-Wahda, who played with 10 men for the last half an hour after Khalil Al Hammadi was sent off for a second bookable offence. Midfielder Amr Barakat, who has made a few appearances since joining last January, scored his first goal for Ahly in the first half to put them ahead and summer arrival Islam Mohareb marked his debut with a goal late in the game to ensure the win.

Twelve-times grand slam champion Novak Djokovic will miss the rest of the tennis season to recover from an elbow injury, the Serbian said on Wednesday. The 30-year-old posted a video statement on Facebook in which he said he had decided to rest the injury which caused him to retire during his Wimbledon quarter-final against Czech Tomas Berdych earlier this month.

Real Madrid have reached agreement to sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for a world record 180 million euros ($210m, £160m), Spanish media reported on Tuesday. Sports daily Marca, citing sources close to the negotiations, said the teenage striker is expected to joining Real "in the next few days" on a six-year deal.