Heitinga flattered by German interest

Jose Callejon believes playing regular football with Napoli has been instrumental in his ascension to the Spain national squad.

The attacking midfielder has been called up by Vicente del Bosque for Saturday s Euro 2016 qualifier with Belarus and the subsequent friendly with world champions Germany three days later.

Callejon s maiden inclusion in Spain s squad comes as reward for the superb form he has displayed this season, which has seen him surge to the top of the Serie A scoring charts with eight goals in 10 appearances.

And the 27-year-old feels he has made significant progress after joining Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013.

Since I have been at Napoli, I ve had the chance to play consistently that I wanted, gained experience and I ve been able to mat…

Napoli are readying January bid for Wolfsburg midfielder Ivan Perisic, .

The Nerazzurri are in the market for attacking reinforcements following the season-ending injury to Lorenzo Insigne and the Croatia star appears to be one of the first names on their hit-list.

Napoli have been closely monitoring the winger s performances this season and they are widely expected to come forward with an official bid in January.

Ivan Perisic joined Wolfsburg from Borussia Dortmund in January 2013 and quickly developed into a key player for the Wolves.

He has since made a total of 51 Bundesliga appearances and scored 15 goals in the process, while netting two times in three matches for Croatia at the 2014 World Cup.

Perisic, 25, has had a key role to play in W…

Malaga attacking midfielder Isco has won the prestigious Golden Boy prize, which is awarded to Europe s best under-21 player by Tuttosport.

The 20-year-old was selected by a panel of 30 journalists working for the most influential publications from 20 nations around the continent.

The Spanish midfielder became the 10th player to receive the award after seeing off the 39 other nominees who were initially selected.

I m overjoyed. It is a wonderful thing. I see the past winners and it almost makes me shiver, names of the highest prestige, like (Lionel) Messi, Isco told Tuttosport.

This Golden Boy will be an incentive for me to become a real star of international football, like those who have gone before me.

Isco accumulated 137 votes to win the p…

Charlie Austin scored and was sent off as QPR beat Burnley 2-0 in a crucial match at the bottom of the Premier League on Saturday.

The former Burnley striker fired home his eighth goal of the season in the 74th minute to help lift the hosts out of the relegation zone, but saw red just two minutes later.

Leroy Fer gave the home side the advantage early in the second half, before the in-form Austin sealed the victory.

Sean Dyche s men piled on the pressure in an attempt to salvage a point, but QPR defended stoically, with Robert Green and Richard Dunne in inspired form.

Harry Redknapp s side are now unbeaten in four at Loftus Road as they ended Burnley s four-match unbeaten streak, with the visitors remaining in the relegation zone.

Ju…

Aston Villa has shown a keen interest in the Serbian and Valencia striker Nikola Zigic.

According to the Spanish club an offer has been made by Aston VillaÂ’s boss Martin OÂ’Neill.

Valencia are keen to let him go for a paltry 5 million after having paid 16 million to lure him from fellow Spanish club Racing Santander in 2007.

The twenty seven year old striker is one of the tallest strikers playing soccer in the world today, standing 202cm (6ft 7½in).

Zigic has represented his country twenty times and has been voted SerbiaÂ’s player of the year on three occasions, in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

Portsmouth were unsuccessful in trying to buy him during the transfer window in January 2008.

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Son Heung-min has been backed to rediscover his best form by incoming South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who believes a difficult situation at Tottenham has hampered the attacker.

Son has endured a poor season with Spurs, scoring just five Premier League goals after sharing the Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah last term, and his troubles have carried onto the international stage.

The forward wore a protective mask at last year s World Cup after suffering a fractured eye socket ahead of the tournament, where he failed to net in four appearances.

Son produced another ineffective performance as Spurs exited the Champions League against Milan on Wednesday, leaving the future of boss Antonio Conte in serious doubt.

His new international coach, however, retains …

Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award and Real Madrid are in contention for the Team of the Year gong.

Ronaldo claimed the Ballon d Or for a fifth time last month and is among the six nominees for the prestigious Laureus award, which he has never won.

Madrid could also be recognised for a stellar 2017 at a ceremony in Monaco on February 27 after winning the UEFA Champions League, LaLiga and FIFA Club World Cup.

Prolific forward Ronaldo faces competition from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Lewis Hamilton, Mo Farah and Chris Froome.

Ladies Gentlemen, your 2018 Laureus World Sports Awards Nominees!

Well done to all of you and see you in Monaco!

— Laureus (@LaureusSport)

Federer, also…

Zinedine Zidane accepted his fate will be decided by February s Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain after Real Madrid were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Leganes.

Marco Asensio s late goal had earned Madrid a 1-0 advantage in last week s opening leg of the quarter-final, putting Zidane s side in full control of the tie heading back to the Santiago Bernabeu.

But despite Zidane recalling Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema  although Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were rested  Leganes sealed a 2-1 victory and progressed on away goals.

Javier Eraso s 25-yard screamer pulled the visitors level on aggregate and, after Benzema s goal early in the second half, Eraso s corner was thumped home by a tremendous Gabriel Pires header.

1 Leganes are th…

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is hinting at a return to international duty after a break of almost four months.

The Al Ain player said he needed time to heal after a backlash from local fans following an unsatisfactory performance during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations but ruled out assertions that he was surprised by the treatment.

The decision to return is now left to me, the 26-year-old told Accra-based Peace FM.

Very, very soon, I will make that announcement. In my letter, I stated that my action was indefinite, so it can be any time. I will communicate that soon.

The former Sunderland player said he was psychologically affected by his performance at the AFCON and that taking a break meant he would return stronger.

I am not upset. It was due…

Despite choosing China s Super League over the MLS, Didier Drogba still believes the North American competition is ahead in terms of quality.

The 34-year-old former Chelsea striker reflected on his decision to join Shanghai Shenhua during a press conference in Miami to promote the World Soccer Masters game on Saturday.

No, I don t think China is ahead of MLS, Drogba said. I think (my decision) was a personal choice.

I ve played many games here with Chelsea over the years and I ve seen the evolution (of American soccer). When we came here in 2004, the stadiums were busy but not really. In 2010 it was amazing. The footballing has improved a lot in America.

So it wasn t about the (quality), it was a personal choice and my decision.

Pointing to …