Seven-year partnership with financial services giant marks historic first for women’s football

Financial services company Visa has become the first ever sponsor of UEFA women’s football after the sport’s European governing body unbundled the inventory from men’s soccer.

As part of the landmark seven-year partnership, which runs through 2025, the global payments technology firm will support women’s football across all levels of the game.

Visa will become a main partner of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the UEFA Women’s European Championship, as well as the Women’s Under-19 and Under-17 tournaments, and the Women’s European Futsal Championship.

Visa will also support UEFA’s marketing platform, Together #WePlayStrong, which was set up in order to encourage more girls and women to take up the sport.

The partnership will see Visa lift the campaign through jointly branded content designed to alter the image of the women’s game.

The move to revolutionise UEFA’s traditional sports sponsorship model is a highly significant one, with the change allowing women’s soccer to grow more rapidly thanks to the increase in commercial opportunities available to further develop the game.

UEFA’s director of marketing, Guy-Laurent Epstein, said: “This will not only help to inspire current fans of women’s football but also ensure future generations take an interest in the sport. We are pleased Visa shares our vision for a vibrant women’s game – a vision that has taken a significant step forward with the signing of our partnership agreement.”

Charlotte Hogg, chief executive of Visa Europe, added: “It is an exciting time for women’s football. Twenty one million women and girls participate in the beautiful game across Europe and at Visa we want to celebrate every single one of them.

“We want to inspire, enable and leave a legacy to girls and young women to follow their dreams. With UEFA, we plan to bring women’s football to the forefront because at Visa we believe in acceptance everywhere, from the pitch to the boardroom.”

UEFA’s head of women’s football Nadine Kessler said: “The women’s game has always had tremendous value for football and the wider society, but today marks yet another milestone for women’s football and what it can offer.

“It proves that women’s football has truly taken on a new dimension within the commercial landscape. Visa’s commitment and excitement embodies the new heights we have reached with our sport.”

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The England international is set to remain at Liverpool for the foreseeable future after signing a new deal, and his boss has backed the deal

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Jurgen Klopp is thrilled Joe Gomez has agreed a new long-term contract at Liverpool, calling it a “smart decision” from both the player and the club’s hierarchy.

Gomez has steadily established himself as a first-team regular at Anfield since arriving from Charlton Athletic in 2015, nailing down a place in Klopp’s starting XI this term.

The 21-year-old made his England debut last year and has impressed for the Three Lions, though injury robbed him of a place in their World Cup squad.

He sustained another injury in last week’s win over Burnley, suffering a lower-leg fracture, meaning he is again set for a spell on the sidelines.

Although Klopp sympathises with Gomez’s injury problems, he has no doubts the contract extension – which was announced on Monday – will benefit both the player and the club, with reports suggesting he agreed a six-year deal.

“Since I’m here, the development is incredible, it was only a bit delayed because he was injured when I came in playing for England Under-21s,” Klopp told reporters on Monday ahead of the Champions League clash with Napoli.

“It was a really serious injury and it took a while until he was back, and then as it is with young players, you need a bit of time to find all your natural strength and football skills again.

“Last year he was brilliant and this year outstanding. The future is bright for him. This injury is pretty much useless in the moment but we know how it is with a broken bone. He needs a bit of patience but then everything will be fine and he can go again.

“I am really happy he made that decision, it is brilliant for us but I also think is brilliant for him. This is the right club. He loves being here so it is a smart decision on both sides.”

Gomez’s defensive colleague Virgil van Dijk has been similarly impressed with the young England international and is convinced the new contract is a just reward.

“It’s well deserved,” Van Dijk added. “I knew a few weeks ago.

“He’s a great player, he has been showing that for us and for England. He can only get better and I’m delighted for him.”

The exciting young midfielder has exceeded expectations since his arrival from Lorient in July

Arsenal head of recruitment Sven Mislintat believes the signing of Matteo Guendouzi in July showed the world that the club have become ‘the old Arsenal again’.

Guendouzi, 19, arrived at the Emirates for an undisclosed fee in July, with many expecting the France youth international to play the majority of his football with the U23s this season.

However, the classy midfielder impressed newly appointed manager Unai Emery with his performances in pre-season and has played a huge part in Arsenal’s season so far, making 19 appearances to date.

Former Dortmund scout Mislintat says he first spotted Guendouzi playing for Lorient in Ligue 1 and believes his signing has shown the world that Arsenal are a team that give young players ‘a real chance’.

“I saw him (Guendouzi) play in Lorient when the club was still in Ligue 1,” Mislintat told Die Zeit .

“I like this club, you always find interesting players there.

“Guendouzi attracted attention with his long hair and his personality but my interest is also the weakness of a player. Can you stop them?

“Matteo ran inexpedient over the whole field but for me one thing was clear: It’s just a matter of time to break with that habit.

“For us, the transfer of this 18-year-old boy was an important signal to show the world: We are the old Arsenal again, who give young players a real chance.”

Mislintat took up his role with Arsenal in November 2017 and was responsible for the signings of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bernd Leno and Lucas Torreira among others.

Emery’s side are currently fifth in the Premier League table on 31 points but are unbeaten in their last 20 matches, having not lost since their first two games against Manchester City and Chelsea.

In the absence of fellow Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, Guendouzi played all 90 minutes of the Gunners’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Wednesday and was involved in a controversial incident with Red Devils’ midfielder Marouane Fellaini , who appeared to pull the Frenchman’s hair.

Next up for Emery’s men is a home match against Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

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Gregg Berhalter’s first camp as U.S. national team coach sees him call in veteran Michael Bradley and a collection of young prospects to start 2019

Gregg Berhalter’s first training camp in charge of the U.S. national team will feature a squad that includes many new faces, and some the new coach is very familiar with.

Recent Manchester City signing Zack Steffen and veteran midfielder Michael Bradley headline the 27-man roster for the USMNT’s upcoming January training camp in Chula Vista, California. The squad, made up exclusively of MLS players, will train ahead of friendlies against Panama and Costa Rica.

Steffen, Wil Trapp and Gyasi Zardes are all part of the squad, having all played for Berhalter with the Columbus Crew. Steffen is coming off a big December that saw him complete a $10 million (£8m) transfer to Manchester City that will see him join the Premier League giants in the summer of 2019. He was also named U.S. Soccer male player of the year and MLS goalkeeper of the year.

Bradley is back with the national team for the second time since the team’s failed attempt to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The 31-year-old Toronto FC midfielder is far and away the most experienced player on the squad, with nearly 100 more caps than Zardes, the second-most capped player on the team.

Berhalter has called in several new faces, including U.S. Under-20 national team standout Mark McKenzie and his Philadelphia Union teammate Auston Trusty. MLS rookie of the year Corey Baird is also part of the group of 12 uncapped players called in, a group that also includes San Jose fullback Nick Lima and arguably the biggest surprise of the squad, 20-year-old Chicago Fire midfielder Djordje Mihailovic.

The USMNT will convene in California on January 6 and train in Chula Vista before shifting to Phoenix, Arizona ahead of a friendly against Panama on January 27. The U.S. team will then travel back to California to take on Costa Rica in San Jose on February 2.

GOALKEEPERS: Alex Bono (Toronto FC), Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Tyler Miller (LAFC), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew).

DEFENDERS: Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas), Greg Garza (FC Cincinnati), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union), Keegan Rosenberry (Colorado Rapids), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union), Walker Zimmerman (LAFC).

MIDFIELDERS: Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Russell Canouse (D.C. United), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew).

FORWARDS: Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers), Christian Ramirez (LAFC), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew).

The Germany international could return on Thursday, with the Gunners in Europa League action

Mesut Ozil has returned to full training and is in line to make his Arsenal return in Thursday’s Europa League clash with Qarabag at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal confirmed on Wednesday that the former Germany international is back in contention for Unai Emery’s side after recovering from a back injury which has kept him out since last month’s Premier League win over Bournemouth.

Ozil missed matches against Vorskla, Tottenham, Manchester United and Huddersfield Town after sustaining the problem – Arsenal picking up three wins and a draw to extend their unbeaten run to 21 matches in all competitions.

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But the 30-year-old is now available to return, along with Aaron Ramsey (ankle), who was absent from Saturday’s late 1-0 win over Huddersfield.

Ramsey has been in fine form thus far this season, and played a key role in the club’s recent north London derby win over Tottenham.

The Wales international laid on two assists against Spurs, though it remains to be seen if he will be able to earn himself a new contract at the club, with his deal set to expire at the end of the season.

Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring), who came off in the second half of the clash with Huddersfield, remains a doubt and will be assessed ahead of the clash with Qarabag, who are bottom of a Group E table where Arsenal are already confirmed as pool winners.

Given that the game is seen as something of a dead rubber, Unai Emery may choose to blood a number of young players.

Bukayo Saka, Charlie Gilmour, Tyreece John-Jules and Joe Willock are all included in the Gunners’ squad, and Emery has history of playing youth in the competition.

The Gunners beat Vorskla 3-0 last time out, having fielded the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock, Emile Smith-Rowe and Eddie Nketiah.

Indeed, both Smith-Rowe and Willock were on the scoresheet, along with Aaron Ramsey, while Charlie Gilmour, Zechariah Medley and Saka all came off the bench.

Mohamed Salah’s superb effort earned Liverpool a 1-0 win over Napoli to claim second in Group C, drawing effusive praise from Jurgen Klopp.

Jurgen Klopp said an “outstanding” Liverpool team performance stifled Napoli to earn a 1-0 win that secured a place in the Champions League knockout rounds.

Mohamed Salah’s wonderful first-half goal put Liverpool on track at Anfield on Tuesday but they needed a terrific 92nd-minute save from Alisson to deny Arkadiusz Milik and clinch second spot in Group C behind winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool had numerous chances to wrap up the points with Sadio Mane particularly wasteful in front of goal, but last season’s beaten finalists are safely through to the next phase of the competition, much to Klopp’s delight.

“I’m not sure if a manager has ever been more proud of a team than I am at the moment,” Klopp said to BT Sport.

“I said to the boys before the game the only good thing from the first game against Napoli [a 1-0 reverse] that they would have no clue who we are, because it was our ugly brothers, it was not us.

“In the Champions League you usually cannot surprise a team, I don’t know if they were surprised, but we had the opportunity to show more than we did at Napoli, and together with the crowd, it was just outstanding.

“The boys played an outstanding game. You could watch all the Napoli games and you would not find a team that caused them the problems that we did tonight. How we pressed them, they had to change their game completely, they had no real key for us in the build up.

“We defended not with size, just big passion. We were strong, took the ball on good runs, Mo scored an unbelievable goal and Alisson made a save, I have no idea how he can make a save like this, it’s just amazing.

“We could have scored more, that’s obvious. But it makes no difference, 1-0, stay focused, stay compact. It was wild after 65 minutes – counter, counter, counter, everybody lost the ball in the wrong moment. We were cool after that.

“We deserved to win and it’s just brilliant. My respect for Napoli couldn’t be bigger, how strong they are.”

Carlo Ancelotti previously said Napoli would be “a*******” if they did not qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds having established a strong position in the group.

But having seen his side fail to break down Liverpool at Anfield, three-time Champions League winner Ancelotti could not pick faults in Napoli’s overall Group C performance.

“We have to accept it, even if this is very disappointing, as we did everything we could,” Ancelotti said to Sky Sport Italia.

“Over the six games, we perhaps did more than anyone expected and came very close to qualification, so there are no regrets.

“We lacked a little sharpness when building our forward play, as Liverpool pressed us very high and in the second half it was more disorganised from both sides.

“It’s true that Liverpool had chances on the counter, but that’s because we needed to score and so were a little more unbalanced.

“Having a few difficulties against the side that lost the Champions League Final last season is hardly that surprising.

“You can try to look back over regrets, like Angel Di Maria scoring in the last minute [to earn PSG a 2-2 draw on matchday three], but I don’t think there ought to be regrets.

“We did all we could, we were a little unlucky and now hope to rediscover that luck in the Europa League.”

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The Brazilian failed to hold down a regular spot in the Blancos starting XI, with the Portuguese preferring Mesut Ozil to him in the lineup

Former Brazil star Kaka claims that Jose Mourinho is partly responsible for his disappointing spell at Real Madrid.

The Ballon d’Or winner joined Madrid from AC Milan in 2009, becoming the second most expensive player ever, but saw injury problems blight his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. When he regained fitness, Mourinho had taken over as head coach and often left Kaka out of the starting XI.

Kaka believes a combination of the two factors ruined his chance of becoming a star for Real, with Mourinho preferring Mesut Ozil to him in attacking midfield.

“The problem in Madrid was continuity,” Kaka told SporTV. “First, it was because of the injuries. The first year I had a hip problem. I pushed to reach the World Cup and then I had an adductor injury.

“After the Cup I have a knee operation and I’m out for six months. And when I return I have Mourinho. My problem in Madrid was continuity. 

“First for the physical issue and then for the choice of the coach. I spent three years trying to convince Mourinho that he could give me opportunities. But it was his choice, it was beyond my reach.”

Despite the disagreements between the two during their time in Madrid, Kaka says that he has forgiven Mourinho and understands why he left him out of the lineup.

“There is no problem between us,” he continued. “I was in Manchester for a sponsorship gig and I stayed at the hotel where Mourinho lived and we talked for two hours. 

“At some point we had a misunderstanding because I believed that I had to play and he believed that I did not. But they were respectful disagreements. 

“I never rebelled and told him ‘I’m leaving here’, nor did I go before the press to complain. I told him: ‘It’s your choice, but I think you could have other options because I think I should have a chance to play. Now, you must choose.’ 

“He had no arguments. He told me he was not going to play because the position was for Ozil. I thought I could contribute.

“Mourinho is really what you see in the cameras. He has his explosive moments, but he’s a very smart guy. What people see at press conferences is all prepared and planned and knows exactly what they are going to say. The problem I had with him was because of his choices. I thought he was wrong. But the team worked. We won a ;eague and we reached the Champions League semi-finals.”

The caretaker manager has made United a more attacking prospect after replacing Jose Mourinho as he looks to get the club playing attractively again

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists Manchester United vibrant attacking approach since he replaced Jose Mourinho is “the way Man United are supposed to play”.

The Norwegian has led the club to four straight wins since being appointed caretaker manager until the end of the season following Mourinho’s sacking, and the Red Devils have netted 14 goals along the way thanks to a more expressive style of play.

But Solskjaer, who played 366 times for the Red Devils alongside thrilling forwards such as Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke under Sir Alex Ferguson, says his players will continue to be asked to assert themselves on the pitch as he looks to thrill the fans in a way not seen under recent managers.

“Pace and power. Man United, that’s what we are! When you have players like we have with the pace of Paul [Pogba], Anthony [Martial], Alexis [Sanchez], Romelu [Lukaku], [Marcus] Rashford… that’s how we played with Andy, Yorkie, with Giggsy and Becks down the sides, you attack quickly when you can,” Solskjaer told reporters.

“And that’s my philosophy as well. If you look at my Molde team, in the years I’ve had them that’s always been how I like to play football: get the ball into their half as quick as you can, if you score fantastic, if not then you’ve got to have patient build-up play.

“No one had to tell me I had loads of talented players, I could see that from outside.

“We didn’t speak too much [with the board] about what’s been going on, to be honest. It was about what you can do to come back to the way we used to play, the way Man United are supposed to play.

“That’s exciting football, and I think we are looking a little bit like we want to see them.”

United host Championship strugglers Reading in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, and Solskjaer has promised changes, including a recall for the returning Sanchez, from whom he is hoping to see improved performances in the weeks to come.

“He’s a quality player and he’ll get the chances to get the best out of himself,” he added of the Chilean. “Of course it’s up to them to get the performances. He’s done fantastic in training, he’s working really hard to get back to his fitness, he’ll get his chances and it’s up to him to take them.

“I’m sure that we will see a lot of Alexis because he is a quality player.”

Following Saturday’s cup fixture, United will head off for a warm-weather training camp in Dubai before their league clash with Tottenham at Wembley on January 13, and Solskjaer says it will be a good opportunity to increase fitness levels.

“We can get fitter and we have to do that through training sessions here, but Dubai is a good chance because that is the first time we get a week of work together. The ones who have not been in the squad, they’ll obviously work on their fitness.

“I still have pictures in my mind: every January, [Sir Alex] with a stopwatch and timing us on all them runs. And that stood us in good stead towards the end of the season, so it is a time too to really work hard. Even though we’ve got plenty of games, we need to work.”

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The Los Blancos man, a key figure under Santiago Solari so far, is expected to be sidelined for three weeks minimum, with a longer period out possible

Real Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente looks set to be out for at least three weeks after he suffered a strain of the adductor muscle in his left groin, the club has confirmed.

Llorente enjoyed a rise to prominence towards the end of 2018 under new manager Santiago Solari, starting their last three La Liga games as well as their Club World Cup wins over Kashima Antlers and Al Ain.

But the 23-year-old will be forced into a likely month-long lay-off, give or take a week, after struggling with the injury during the mid-season break.

Madrid confirmed the injury is a “grade two” problem, meaning Llorente could miss between three and six weeks of football.

He looks likely to at least be out for games against Villarreal, Real Sociedad, Leganes, Real Betis and Sevilla, but a six-week layoff could also see him ruled out of contests with Espanyol, Deportivo Alaves and Atletico Madrid, with any further time out likely to see him miss the Champions League last 16 tie against Ajax in mid-February.

A native to the capital, the Spaniard signed up with Los Blancos as a teenager, and came through the ranks at their Castilla youth academy set-up.

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He made his senior debut for Real Madrid B in 2014, before stepping up for his first appearance with the main team in a 3-0 win over Levante in late 2015.

However, with little in the way of regular game-time, he was subsequently loaned out to Alaves in August 2016 on a one-year deal, where he famously helped the club to a 2-1 win over Barcelona during the subsequent campaign.

Good form saw him recalled into Madrid contention for the 2017-18 season, where he won the Champions League title under Zinedine Zidane after making one appearance during their European odyssey.

Llorente scored his first competitive goal last month in the Club World Cup final against Al Ain, in which he also picked up the Man of the Match award for his performance.

At international level, Llorente has received no senior caps or call-ups, but has played nine times for the nation’s under-21 team, having made his first appearance against Estonia in 2016.

Old Arsenal team-mates Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira will square off at Stade Louis II, with the hosts seeking a first home win of the season

Wednesday’s Cote d’Azur derby between Monaco and Nice will be no ordinary affair. In the dugouts of the respective clubs will be coaches Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, long-time team-mates for Arsenal and France, and fellow ‘Invincibles’.

Life back in France has not started too smoothly for either, with Henry’s Monaco still in the relegation zone, partly due to incredible injury problems for the duration of the season, and Vieira’s Nice having struggled to eighth but now troubled by boardroom issues.

Monaco picked up a good draw against Marseille away from home on Sunday, while Nice come into this fixture off the back of a 1-0 win over Bordeaux.

In the United States (US), the game can be streamed on beIN SPORTS CONNECT.

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on BT Sport 3 and livestreamed on BT Sport Live.

Thierry Henry will be without 16 players for the match. New signings Cesc Fabregas, Naldo, Fode Ballo-Toure and William Vainqueur are all ineligible.

An astonishing 12 members of his squad remain laid up through injury, including Jean-Eudes Aholou, Nacer Chadli and Stevan Jovetic.

In addition to these issues, Radamel Falcao has had a virus and is a doubt. Djibril Sidibe may be fit to return, though.

Possible Monaco starting XI: Benaglio; Glik, Jemerson, B. Badiashile; Sidibe, Ait-Bennasser, Tielemans, Henrichs; Lopes, Sylla, Golovin

Nice will have to do without centre-back Christophe Herelle, who has a one-match suspension to serve.

Meanwhile, midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou is missing due to injury along with striker Myziane Maolida.

Mario Balotelli continues to be frozen out and has not been named in the squad.

Possible Nice starting XI: Benitez; Atal, Jallet, Dante, Sarr; Tameze, Cyprien; Sylvestre, Walter, Saint-Maximin ; Sacko

Thierry Henry’s Monaco are priced as 13/10 favourites by bet365. A draw is priced at 11/5 while Nice can be backed at 23/10.

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The reunion between Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira was initially scheduled for before Christmas, yet security concerns over the ‘gilet jaune’ protests saw that encounter pushed back.

If anything, it has done a favour to Monaco, whose fitness concerns are not quite what they were before the winter break, with star man Rony Lopes now back in the fold after a long period on the sidelines.

It has been a turgid season for the men from the principality thus far, and they go into the midweek fixture in the relegation zone and seeking a first home Ligue 1 victory of the season.

While signs of improvement have been evident, most notably thanks to a positive January transfer campaign to date, Henry will have to cope without his new arrivals, who are not eligible for this fixture as they were not on the club’s books when the original match was pencilled in.

Cesc Fabregas and Fode Ballo-Toure both gave fine displays in Marseille at the weekend and will be missed.

Henry, meanwhile, is looking forward to locking horns with an old colleague.

“He is a friend of mine and he is a guy that I admire,” he said.

“Not only for the player, but also for the man, and the game will not change that.

“But it is Monaco versus Nice which is the most important thing, and for a little bit, we are not going to like each other.”

Vieira, meanwhile, has organised his Nice side impressively this season so that they do not concede many goals. However, they have problems going the other way.

He is also looking forward to the midweek encounter.

“It will be our first time facing each other as coaches,” he said. “It will be a moving moment. We shared a lot of things together, but all of this will be forgotten.

“It’s strange to be like that, facing each other on a bench. We began our careers here, he in Monaco and me in Cannes, it is a situation that excites us both. I never imagined for a second that we would end up on the benches like that in such a derby.”