I love him – Griezmann will leave with Simeone´s blessing

Diego Simeone has thanked Antoine Griezmann for giving five wonderful years of his career to Atletico Madrid and says the departing striker will leave with his full blessing.

Griezmann confirmed on Tuesday that he intends to leave the Wanda Metropolitano at the end of the season, despite only agreeing a new five-year contract last year.

The France international s announcement came amid strong rumours that Barcelona are ready to trigger his release clause.

Griezmann is set to depart the club he joined from Real Sociedad in 2014, having reached double figures for LaLiga goals in all five of his seasons in the Spanish capital, scoring 94 times in total.

133 Antoine Griezmann is Atlético de Madrid s all-time fifth-highest goalscorer in all competitions (133…

Montella replaces Pioli at Fiorentina

Vincenzo Montella has been appointed Fiorentina head coach for the second time after Stefano Pioli s resignation on Tuesday.

Pioli said he felt he had been forced to leave due to a lack of faith from the club s management and they have moved quickly to replace him, bringing in Montella on a deal until June 2021.

The 44-year-old – who was sacked by LaLiga side Sevilla in April 2018 – managed La Viola between 2012 and 2015, guiding them to three successive fourth-place finishes in Serie A.

He then went on to coach rivals Sampdoria and AC Milan before moving to Spain in December 2017.

Fiorentina, who have won only one match in all competitions since a 7-1 Coppa Italia thrashing of Roma on January 30, sit 10th in the Serie A table with seven games to go…

Sydney FC appoint Corica as Arnold´s successor

Sydney FC have replaced incoming Australia head coach Graham Arnold with Steve Corica, the A-League side announced on Wednesday.

Corica, 45, succeeds Socceroos-bound Arnold, having served as his assistant coach during the past four seasons.

Arnold – who guided Sydney to two premierships and a championship – vacated his position at the end of the 2017-18 campaign after agreeing to become Australia head coach following the World Cup in Russia.

Sydney have now turned to Hall of Famer and former captain Corica – a member of the double-winning team in 2010.

CONFIRMED | We ve appointed club Legend Steve Corica as our new Head Coach

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC)

I m ecstatic and honoured to be the new head coach of Sydney FC, it s a great…