Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata says that if Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is calling him, he will only be getting his old phone.

Morata has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season as he struggles to establish himself as a first-team regular at Santiago Bernabeu.

But the striker, who became the first Spanish player to score a hat-trick for Mad
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rid in eight years with his treble in Wednesday s 4-2 LaLiga win at Leganes, insists he is only focused on the 2016-17 season.

Morata stressed he has not heard about reported interest from Chelsea and will not allow himself to get distracted ahead of a key period of matches against the likes of Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

If Conte is continuing to c…

According to a recent report from Corriere dello Sport, Juventus are going to be joining Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and Liverpool in the race to try and sign Ferran Torres from Valencia. The teenager currently has an £86 million buyout clause attached to his name, but the deal itself will not actually be expiring until 2021. 

The European giants are all likely going to be tussling it out for his signature long into the January window and beyond, and it really does come down to two things for Torres – where he’d be happiest and how much all of the teams in question are offering. 

Juve are always pretty calculated in regards to big transfers such as this one, and they aren’t going to dive head first into any sort of deal without first ding their extensive res…

Jozy Altidore has signed a new Toronto contract running until the end of the 2022 season, the club announced on Thursday. 

The 29-year-old United States international joined Toronto from Sunderland in January 2015, returning to MLS after nearly seven years abroad.

He has starred as a designated player for Toronto, contributing 60 goals and 20 assists in 114 appearances across all competitions and leading the side to an MLS Cup win in 2017. 

This is my family, this club and this city, Altidore said in a release. The fans, from the first day, they accepted me, they gave me the right to show what I m all about, and they took me in. We ve built something great together, and I m really eager to see what s to come.

Toronto took me in, made me a man. They…

According to a recent report from Calciomercato, Manchester City have entered the race to try and sign Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez. The belief is that the youngster has been on the radar of City for a little while now, but they’ve only recently taken the steps necessary to make their ambitions known. 

Barcelona are also in the running to sign the 22 year old who, notably, is starting to make his presence felt on the international stage with Argentina. 

Martinez is at the sort of age now where he’s going to start living up to his potential sooner rather than later. Many believed he would do so with Inter Milan given how desperately they want to challenge at the top of the Serie A table, but with such big clubs making their interest public, it’s going …

Matthijs de Ligt believes he and his Ajax team-mates can thrive under the pressure of being favourites domestically and in the Champions League.

Ajax beat Tottenham 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, thanks to Donny van de Beek s first-half strike.

Before the second leg, Ajax – who lead the Eredivisie on goal difference – could clinch their first piece of silverware this season when they face Willem II in the KNVB Beker final on Sunday.

Ajax are overwhelming favourites to claim what would be their 19th trophy in the competition, and given they are in pole position in the Eredivisie and their Champions League tie, De Ligt acknowledged that there is now added expectation on Erik tan Hag s side.

However, the 19-year-ol…

Kylian Mbappe revealed he would only leave Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid as the forward claimed there have been no new contract discussions for two months.

Mbappe, who joined from Monaco in 2017, has become unsettled at the Parc des Princes with less than a year left on his contract and Madrid attempted to secure his services last transfer window.

Los Blancos are reported to have made three bids for the France international, the last one said to be worth up to €200 million.

However, Madris s advances were turned down and with the arrival of Lionel Messi, Mauricio Pochettino and the PSG board were seemingly confident of keeping Mbappe for the final year of his deal.

RMC released part of an interview – which will be published in full on Tuesday …

Gabriel Jesus wants Brazil to again prove they can win without Neymar after it was confirmed their talisman would miss the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.

Selecao number 10 Neymar is struggling with a groin strain, missing Paris Saint-Germain s past three matches in all competitions – including a Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig.

Brazil are just as reliant on the 28-year-old as his club, with their remarkable semi-final collapse against Germany at a home World Cup in 2014 coming after he was injured in the last eight.

But Tite s men were also without Neymar for last year s Copa America, a competition they won, and Jesus does not believe his side can go looking for excuses.

Obviously we talk about the importance of Neymar with his club …

Gareth Southgate is worried and demanded clarity after expressing concerns England could fall foul to refereeing decisions after a pre-World Cup briefing.

FIFA referees committee chairman Pierluigi Collina used an example clip of Kalvin Phillips blocking an opponent at a free-kick to help create space for Harry Maguire to score in last year s 5-0 win over Albania.

The video was used to brief referees, competing nations and the media, on how to spot foul play from set-piece situations and seemingly worked against England in Monday s 6-2 thrashing of Iran.

Maguire appeared to be dragged down by Iran s Rouzbeh Cheshmi in the opening stages, with the referee nor the VAR intervening, before John Stones conceded a late penalty for similar on Mehdi Taremi.

South…

Uruguay appointed former Inter Miami boss Diego Alonso as head coach of the CONMEBOL nation, it was announced on Tuesday.

Former Uruguay international Alonso replaces Oscar Tabarez after the legendary coach was sacked last month following a 15-year tenure.

Uruguay parted with Tabarez amid the country s woes after four consecutive defeats in 2022 World Cup qualifying left them seventh in the 10-team standings, but just one point adrift of fourth-placed Colombia and the final automatic qualification berth.

The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) made no further comment upon confirming Alonso as the new coach.

 ¡Bienvenido, Diego Alonso!

— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay)

River Plate s Marcelo Gallardo was reportedly the AUF s number one…

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna admitted his sickness-ravaged promotion chasers did not do enough to take all three points as they were held to a goalless draw by struggling QPR.

The Tractor Boys lost the chance to pull away from the chasing pack in the Championship and have now gone four games without a victory and failed to score at home in a league game for the first time since October 2022.

The result saw Ipswich fall eight points behind leaders Leicester, with the gap to third-placed Southampton just three points, while QPR stayed in the drop zone.

McKenna said: “I didn’t think it was a very good match or general performance or general atmosphere.

“It was a really difficult build up to the match right up to the two minutes before kick off when N…