Rafael van der Vaart has set his sights on a Real Betis exit during the close-season following a disappointing first season with the club.

Having left Hamburg for Spain ahead of the 2015-16 season, Van der Vaart made just two league starts for his new club as they finished 10th in La Liga.

The former Real Madrid, Tottenham and Hamburg man even described being at the lowest point of his career after not making the Betis squad for a Copa del Rey clash with Sevilla in January.

While injury hampered his ability to settle in during his early months at Estadio Benito Villamarin, Van der Vaart has grown increasingly frustrated at a lack of opportunities.

But, while the Dutchman insists he is not content to collect a salary for sitting on the sidelines, he conced…

Gareth Bale is eager for Zinedine Zidane to remain as head coach of Real Madrid beyond this season.

The former France international, who succeeded Rafael Benitez in January, stated last month that he was unsure over his long-term future at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bale, however, has described playing under Zidane as an honour and hopes he will be given the chance to continue in his role next season.

It s an incredible experience, he told UEFA media representatives. He was one of the best players in the world and to have him as a coach is an honour. He s now demonstrating that he is a great coach. I m really enjoying working with him and hopefully it continues.

Bale admits it has been a personally frustrating campaign due to some niggling injury concerns, …

Adelaide United booked their place in the A-League Finals with a 2-2 draw against 10-man Western Sydney Wanderers at Coopers Stadium thanks to Craig Goodwin s goal.

The hosts required only a point to make certain of a top-six finish and they were ahead inside 11 minutes when Ziggy Gordon turned Ryan Strain s shot into his own net.

However, Wanderers had lost only one of their last eight league meetings away at United and were back on level terms thanks to a Bruce Kamau shot that deflected in off Strain.

Carl Robinson s side had been eliminated from the top-six picture before kick-off yet they found themselves ahead against United through Graham Dorrans low drive with half an hour played.

A red card for Tass Mourdoukoutas six minutes later following a reck…

Jordan Siebatcheu came off the bench and headed the United States into the CONCACAF Nations League final after a 1-0 victory over Honduras in Denver on Thursday.

Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie provided the vital assist for Siebatcheu s 89th-minute winner which decided a game of few clear-cut chances.

It means Gregg Berhalter s USA have qualified for the first-ever CONCACAF Nations League decider, where they will face either Mexico or Costa Rica in Denver on Sunday.

USA had the first genuine chance of the game when Giovanni Reyna jinked past two defenders inside the box but dragged his 10th-minute shot wide at the far post.

Honduras forward Anthony Lozano had an audacious long-range shot saved by USA and Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen shortly…

Gabriel Jesus feels the pressure is on to score in every game at Manchester City.

Brazil international Jesus ended a 10-game drought for club and country with a superb brace as City returned to winning ways with a 4-1 win at Burnley on Tuesday.

A thigh injury to the club s all-time leading scorer Sergio Aguero has granted Jesus an extended run in Pep Guardiola s first XI – an opportunity the 22-year-old knows is weighted with a burden of expectation.

I know I can score every game but it s difficult – football is not like this, he told Amazon Prime.

I have Sergio with me. I have to learn with him because he is a legend of football and of the club.

I have to score when I play because Sergio scores every time. That is my ambition, to play and …

Paulo Dybala announced his return to the Juventus starting line-up with a match-winning brace as the Serie A champions triumphed 3-1 at Verona.

Dybala was handed a start by head coach Massimiliano Allegri for the first time in four Serie A matches – his impressive early season form having collapsed amid calls from Juve vice-president Pavel Nedved for the 24-year-old to make sacrifices in his private life .

The former Palermo favourite s impact was peripheral to begin with, as Blaise Matuidi netted a sixth-minute opener and Gonzalo Higuain regularly threatened more punishment for second-bottom Verona.

But ex-Juve defender Martin Caceres elevated an all-action showing by firing home a long-range equaliser before the hour and Allegri s men were facing reaching th…

Louis van Gaal insisted he has no regrets over turning down Tottenham after watching his Manchester United side suffer a damaging 3-0 Premier League defeat at White Hart Lane.

Van Gaal said he came very close to taking charge of Tottenham during the close season of 2014 before plumping for the vacant post at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman has rarely suggested a repeat of the success he enjoyed with Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich during the latest chapter of a decorated career, while Tottenham have gone from strength to strength under their eventual choice, Mauricio Pochettino.

This apparent gulf was emphatically underlined on Sunday, as second-half goals in the space of six breath-taking minutes from Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela maintained Tottenha…

Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti feels 2012 has been a year of growth for his side after a difficult 2011/12 campaign.

The Serie A giants sit second in the league with 34 points from 17 games after having to settle for sixth spot last term.

Argentine Zanetti is quite pleased with the progress they have made this season.

This has been a year of growth because it came after a difficult half season. In the first six months of the new season the team grew a lot, Zanetti told reporters.

We re a new group with a strong desire to become a leading contender again and fight for the top spots. We hope we can do it.

The defender spoke about the upcoming league clash against Genoa and said Inter were desperate to record victory.

Following Tuesd…

High-flying Tottenham will be hoping to put an end to Stoke City s seven-match unbeaten run when they clash at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Spurs climbed to fourth on Sunday with a narrow 1-0 win over a gallant Swansea City, and they can consolidate their spot among the Champions League places with three more points against Tony Pulis side.

But as their recent record indicates, Stoke will not be easy to break down as they have conceded just three goals in their past seven matches.

The defensive solidity and all-round discipline sees Pulis men sitting pretty in ninth spot, just five points behind third-placed Chelsea.

Though both sides are in contention for a Champions League spot, Spurs are expected to exact a more sustained challenge for a top-four bert…

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez thinks Fernando Torres is finally rediscovering his best form for the Premier League club.

The Spain international has scored six goals in his last five games for the Stamford Bridge side, and is looking confident again after a difficult period following his 50-million-pound transfer from Liverpool in 2011.

However, despite the 28-year-old s fine recent displays, Benitez believes the club need competition in forward positions and revealed that Torres may have to battle for his place in the starting 11.

Fernando is improving physically, he has more confidence and he is scoring goals, Benitez told reporters. He is getting closer to what he was at Liverpool, that is very clear.

His confidence is improving every day. I speak …