Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to receive the Portuguese Personality of the year 2008 award, becoming the first recipient in 20 years to ignore the honor all-together.

We are not going to hand over the award as [Ronaldo] hasn t replied in any way to the invitation to receive it, said organisation president Belen Rodrigo.

It is a shame not having received even a few words of gratitude from his part. Previous winners always received it with great pride. Ronaldo doesn t value the award with which he represents his country, she added.

In the past, the award has been received by well known personalities as Luis Figo and European Commission President Jose Barroso.

…

Liverpool are set to benefit financially from the proposed sale of Blackpool midfielder Tom Ince, .

It has been revealed that the Reds inserted a sell on clause of 50% when they sold their former youth player to the Tangerines two years ago.

That means that the Merseyside club will receive around £4million should the 21 year olds transfer to Cardiff City, who have had an £8million bid accepted by Blackpool, go through.

However, the Bluebirds fierce rivals Swansea City have tabled a similar offer, and are able to offer the added bonus of European football following their League Cup triumph back in February.

Either way Liverpool, who were themselves were linked with a move for Ince back in January, will be rewarded.

The England under 21 yea…

Carlo Ancelotti feels coaching Barcelona is not an option due to his loyalties to Real Madrid, who he labelled the best club in the world.

Ancelotti has won a LaLiga title and a pair of Champions League trophies with Madrid across two spells, though there are rumours his time at the club could be coming to an end, with Brazil and Chelsea said to be keen on the 63-year-old.

Despite all the talk of the next destination in Ancelotti s hugely successful managerial career, he ruled out ever joining Madrid s Clasico rivals.

For me, coaching Barcelona is impossible, Ancelotti told reporters at his pre-match press conference ahead of Madrid s LaLiga meeting with Villarreal on Saturday.

After 1,272 games [as a coach], I don t have to prove anything.

I…

Stoke City have not received any offers for defender Ryan Shawcross from Tottenham Hospur, according to manager Tony Pulis.

The English player has been linked to the London club, but Pulis has played down the speculation

The 21-year-old centre-back, who signed permanently at the Britannia Stadium from Manchester United in January 2008 following an impressive loan spell, was in stellar form last season helping the Potters to secure a 12th-placed finish after the clubs return to top flight last season.

Shawcross form has led to reports suggesting Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is interested in his services, but Pulis has quelled the rumours.

He told The Sentinel: No one has rung me up. I get on well with Harry and I would be very surprised if it is in the paper…

Harry Kane and Dele Alli scored second-half goals to earn Tottenham a 2-1 comeback win at home to Brighton and Hove Albion in Thursday s Premier League clash.

Jose Mourinho s men lost 2-0 against Chelsea on Sunday and were again below par as they fell behind to Brighton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before fighting back.

Adam Webster profited from some slack defending to give Brighton a first-half lead, 13 minutes after Kane had a strike marginally ruled out for offside.

The England striker equalised early in the second half to continue his fine Boxing Day record, however, and compatriot Alli produced a deft winner 18 minutes from time to revive Tottenham s top-four aspirations.

8 Dele Alli has been directly involved in eight goals in eight appearanc…

Former Manchester United winger Nani scored his ninth goal of the MLS season as Orlando City missed the chance to close the gap at the top after a 1-1 draw at Cincinnati on Saturday.

Cincinnati, who were winless in their past seven games coming in, opened the scoring in the 42nd minute from Brazilian attacker Brenner.

Nani levelled moments after being brought into the game as a 55th-minute substitute, driving forward and firing in a low left-foot pinpoint shot.

The result means back-to-back draws for Orlando who are second in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind leaders New England.

Capitão was always going to pounce on that chance   |

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC)

Third-placed New York City blew an early two-goal lead t…

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has played down the significance of a blunder which saw a bar at the home of arch-rivals Sunderland decorated in his club’s colours ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup derby.

The Wearside club have launched an investigation into how the Black Cats Bar at the Stadium of Light, which will host corporate hospitality for travelling fans, was decked out in black and white and Magpies slogans, sparking fury from home supporters.

But as “disgusted and hurt” Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus vowed to address the issue, Newcastle head coach Howe waved away suggestions the 6,000 visiting supporters had been handed a head-start in the run-up to the eagerly-anticipated third-round fixture.

He said: “No, I don’t feel that. Look, these things…

that Ligue 1 giants Rennes are closing in on Valencia forward Pablo Piatti.

Los Bretons have expressed their interest in the Argentine a couple of weeks ago and they have managed to reach an agreement with Valencia over a €3 million transfer fee.

All that s left is to try and persuade the player to move to Stade de la Route de Lorient, which is something new boss Philippe Montanier has been trying to do over the last couple of days.

Even if the winger is not too keen on moving to France, the fact Valencia no longer count on him could see him accept an offer from Brittany.

Pablo Piatti, 24, joined Valencia in the summer of 2011, following three impressive seasons at Almeria, but he has utterly failed to prove his prove his worth at Mestalla.

Th…

Garry Monk anticipates a tough challenge as he takes his Swansea City side to West Ham hoping to turn around a poor run away from home.

The Welsh side head to east London on Sunday having failed to win their last five Premier League games on the road, since opening their campaign with a memorable 2-1 triumph at Manchester United.

Luckily for Monk, Swansea s strong home form has enabled them to keep pace with the top six, and they are only two points behind fifth-placed West Ham after 14 matches.

However, with West Ham having gone unbeaten in five on home soil including four wins Monk has credited the new-found vibrancy found at Upton Park under Sam Allardyce.

They have done incredibly well, Monk said. They have been up there since the start of the season…

Sergio Romero has vowed to honour his contract at Manchester United, despite making only seven league appearances for the club in three years, and indicated an extension may be on the table.

The Argentine goalkeeper is in the process of recovering from a knee injury in the hope of being fit to play for his country at the World Cup in Russia and took time out from his rehabilitation to ponder his future at domestic level.

The 31-year-old signed a contract in July 2017 that would keep him at United until 2021, but told TyC Sports that manager Jose Mourinho wants to keep him at the club even longer.

I m staying at Manchester United for now, said Romero. Mourinho worked hard for my renewal. I can t let go of his hand.

If United wants to sell me, if they …