Rangers midfielder Ianis Hagi has joined LaLiga side Alaves on a season-long loan deal.

The Romania international has scored 16 goals in 99 appearances for Rangers but has only made four starts since returning from a serious knee injury in January.

The 24-year-old has made just two substitute appearances this season, coming on in the 89th minute against Servette at Ibrox and playing 33 minutes in the 2-1 Viaplay Cup win against Morton.

Hola,

— Ianis Hagi (@IanisHagi10)

A loan departure looked likely after he was left out of Michael Beale’s Champions League squad ahead of the play-off against PSV Eindhoven.

A club statement read: “Everyone at Rangers wishes Ianis well for his loan spell which provides him with a fantastic opportuni…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp may not be fully aware of Newcastle United s current shortcomings but has warned his side not to take their task lightly at St James Park lightly this weekend.

Klopp s men make the trip to the north east off the back of a convincing 6-1 rout of Southampton in the League Cup Daniel Sturridge scoring twice as Liverpool made it four straight wins in all competitions.

With confidence high on Merseyside amid steady progression in Klopp s short time at the club, they will be heavily fancied to win comfortably against a Newcastle side struggling in 19th.

Liverpool have scored 86 goals against Newcastle in the Premier League, more than any other team, and, even with the likely absence of Philippe Coutinho (hamstring), should have more than …

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri says he is in no rush to sign a contract extension after guiding the club to UEFA Champions League qualification.

Napoli made sure of second place in Serie A and an automatic Champions League berth with a 3-0 win at Bologna on Wednesday, as strikes from Marek Hamsik, Edinson Cavani and Blerim Dzemaili delivered all three points.

Mazzarri s deal with Napoli runs out at the end of the season, and it remains to be seen if will still be at the Stadio San Paolo in 2013/14.

There are no problems with President Aurelio De Laurentiis and we spoke again today, he said.

My decision is a personal one and I have to evaluate many things before deciding whether to continue with Napoli or not.

In order to win the title you need a …

Pepe Mel has been sacked as coach of Real Betis after a 1-0 loss at Getafe on Saturday left the club 15th in La Liga, five points outside the relegation zone.

The former West Brom manager has overseen a miserable run of results of late, with Betis having gone eight games without a win in all competitions, and the club s board chose to act on Sunday in an effort to stave off the threat of relegation.

A club statement read: The board of directors of Real Betis tonight decided [on] the dismissal of José Mel Pérez as first team coach. Real Betis appreciate the services rendered to our club by Mr Mel and wishes him well in [the] future.

The president of the organization, Juan Carlos Ollero, and sporting director, Eduardo Macia, will appear at a press conference fro…

Zinedine Zidane insisted he is not the best coach in the world after claiming back-to-back Champions League titles, though the Real Madrid boss did confirm he will remain at the club next season.

Zidane achieved what no other coach could in the Champions League era – consecutive trophies after titleholders Madrid beat 10-man Juventus 4-1 in Cardiff on Saturday.

It has been an incredible and seamless transition from player to coach for Zidane, who also guided Madrid to their first LaLiga crown since 2012 this season after replacing Rafael Benitez at the helm in January last year.

The 44-year-old Frenchman, however, remained humble post-match as he committed himself to Madrid in 2017-18.

I m not the best coach in the world, Zidane told Antenna 3.

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Market: Belgium to win to nil

Odds: 

Looking to carry on their impressive run of form before traveling to Russia for this summers World cup finals, England s group running mates Belgium will welcome fellow finalists Costa Rica to Stade Roi Baudouin on Monday.

For the hosts on Monday night, after an eye-catching run of form saw them go the whole of their qualifying campaign unbeaten, Roberto Martínez s men will travel to Russia filled with confidence. Carrying on their impressive run of form in their build-up, Belgium are coming off the back of a 3-0 win against Egypt and the hosts are now unbeaten in any competition since September 2016. Even more impressive for Martinez s side is their recent defensive record, Belgium have now kept clean sheets in their last …

Former Nice captain Nampalys Mendy has rejoined the Ligue 1 club on loan after spending one season with Leicester City.

The midfielder, signed as a replacement for N Golo Kante following Leicester s staggering Premier League title triumph, made only four league appearances all season as he struggled with injuries.

Although Mendy featured in a 4-1 EFL Cup win against Sheffield United earlier this month, he has been allowed to leave on a season-long loan after failing to be named in a Premier League squad since January.

Mendy had spoken of his desire to move to Bordeaux but, having spent three successful seasons at Nice between 2013 and 2016, opted to return to the club.

L ancien capitaine des Aiglons retrouve la maison ! Nampalys Mendy arrive en provenance…

Cristiano Ronaldo has not been affected by Juventus recent struggles, insists Portugal head coach Fernando Santos. 

The Bianconeri were eliminated from the Champions League in the last-16 stage by Porto a fortnight ago, going out on away goals after the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate after extra time at the Allianz Stadium.

Former Juve boss Fabio Capello singled out Ronaldo for criticism, while ex-president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli suggested the club should never have spent €100million to sign the forward in 2018.

Andrea Pirlo s side bounced back from that defeat with a 3-1 win over Cagliari in Serie A, but their hopes of securing a 10th consecutive Scudetto were left in tatters at the weekend following a shock 1-0 home loss to Benevento. 

Ronaldo, who …

Spain international Jordi Alba insists he wants to remain at Barcelona for the rest of his career.

Left-back Alba has spent six seasons at Camp Nou but has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham in the off-season.

However, the 29-year-old s sole intention is to continue his career at Barca.

Asked if Tottenham s reported interest was affecting him, Alba told a news conference: No, no, I m very good at Barca. If it were up to me, I would stay at Barcelona all my life.

But it does not depend on me but on what the club wants. It also depends on my performance, which this season has been very good, but I do not see myself outside of Barcelona.

1 Jordi Alba is the defender with the most passes attempted (1277), the most assists (six) and the sec…

With what promises to be another stacked midweek schedule throughout Wednesday, we have a host of eye-catching meetings from across Europe. So, for those of you looking to stick on a midweek accumulator, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Wednesday 12th May

BST 18:00 Livingston vs Rangers

Starting with Wednesday s guests, managing to wrap up the Scottish Premiership title with plenty of time to spare, Rangers have gained a string of admirers under Steven Gerrard this season. Ending Celtic s chance of landing 10 domestic crowns on the bounce, The Blues certainly laid down a real marker last time out. Putting on a clinical display in their Old Firm showdown earlier in the month, the former Liverpool icon saw his high-f…