Reports in France claim former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has rejected an opportunity to take the vacant Lyon job.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas contacted the former Manchester United manager about the role after Sylvinho was dismissed from his position on Monday evening.

But Mourinho turned down the chance to take it on, according to French radio station RMC.

The Portuguese wants to find a job in England rather than moving to France, as his family are still based there following his time at Old Trafford and Chelsea.

Mourinho is reportedly monitoring Tottenham’s situation as he looks for a route back into management.

He has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United last December, less than a year into a new contract that was due to run until 2020.

According to the Daily Mail, Spurs are among the clubs that appeal to the Portuguese manager.

Real Madrid, coached by Zinedine Zidane, are another and Mourinho remains in contact and on good terms with club president Florentino Perez.

Mourinho, 56, is prepared to bide his time and wait for the ideal opportunity. He has been working predominantly as a TV pundit and joined Sky ahead of the season.

He said: ‘I have to be patient and wait for the right opportunity and the right opportunity is one that is at the same size and the same level that I am as a manager. I have to wait for the exact right one.’

Rodrigo De Paul hit the woodwork with a scorching strike, as Argentina fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Emre Can’s Germany.

Gnabry and Havertz gave Germany a commanding first-half lead and it could have been worse for Argentina had the hosts possessed more of a killer edge.

Of two countries seeking so hard for new found glory, it was Germany who looked more complete in Dortmund.

The friendly match was played in Dortmund, with the Seleccion starting Inter striker Lautaro Martinez and Juventus forward Paulo Dybala together.

It was Udinese creative midfielder De Paul who made a good impression with his long-range screamer rattling the frame of the goal.

De Paul, certainly not a household name, was quite bizarrely occupying a central midfield spot despite playing at left wing for Udinese.

Even so, he did provide thrust to central midfield. He also had one of Argentina’s best chances of the first half when his shot from outside the area cannoned off the right post of Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The Barcelona goalkeeper was beaten unlike a short while later when De Paul attempted an effort from similar distance and scuffed his shot.

However, Dybala made way for Lucas Alario on the hour mark and it changed the game, as within five minutes Alario had nodded in Marcos Acuna’s cross.

De Paul tested Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and with five minutes to go, Alario laid it off for Lucas Ocampos, with a deflection off Emre Can.

Photo Credit: Twitter @dfb.de/en

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has reportedly been contacted by MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.

The former Arsenal striker has played just 100 minutes of action in the Premier League this season after losing his spot to Tammy Abraham, and more recently Michy Batshuayi.

Abraham has been Frank Lampard’s first-choice striker this season, and tops the Premier League goalscoring charts with eight strikes.

Now, Sportsnet650 claims the World Cup winner, 33, is being lined up for a move on the other side of the Atlantic after losing his place in Chelsea’s starting XI.

The reports add that the Whitecaps reached out to the French star, but were told he has a preferred shortlist of destinations that doesn’t include Vancouver.

Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi has revealed that he almost left the Nou Camp in 2014 after he and his father were charged with tax fraud.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was alleged to have used tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to conceal earnings from image rights, and as such defrauded Spain of €4.1 million between 2007 and 2009.

Messi was eventually found guilty and sentenced to 21 months in prison and a €2m fine before his prison time was amended to a €252,000 (£223,000/$288,000) fine in July 2017.

His father, Jorge, was similarly sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment and a fine of €1.5m, though his prison sentence was reduced on appeal.

And Messi has now admitted that, when the charges were originally made, he wanted to leave Spain and spoke to a number of clubs regarding a move away from Camp Nou, though he did not receive any concrete offers, report Goal.

“I had it in my mind to leave at that time, not to leave Barcelona but to leave Spain,” he told RAC1.

“I felt that I was being mistreated and did not want to be here anymore.

“I had the door opened by many clubs but I never had an official offer because everyone knew of my previous desire to continue in Barcelona. The feeling I had went beyond what I felt for this club.

“There was a time when I ended up tired by a lot of circumstances, it has happened several times, especially in 2013 and 2014, with the problems with the treasury and everything that came out. It was difficult for me and my family, many people did not know what I was going through and I heard a sector of the press helped to make this happen.”

Speculation regarding Messi’s future continues, with the recent revelation that he has a clause in his current contract that would allow him to leave the Spanish champions for free at the end of the season should he so wish.

The 32-year-old, though, insists that he wants to see out the remainder of his career with the Blaugrana, for whom he has worn the captain’s armband for the past two seasons.

“Obviously I will stay if you love me. I am delighted and my idea is to stay here – nothing has changed that at all. It is increasingly clear that I will end my career here. It is my idea and that of my family, first for how I am and what I feel for the club and the city.

“I would not like to change the friendships of the children or their social circle, I would not like this to break. I had to live with it and I do not want it to happen to them.”

Callum Hudson-Odoi has revealed what Raheem Sterling told him to do in order to improve his goal-scoring ability.

In March this year, the Chelsea winger broke a 64-year-old record to become the youngest player to make his England debut in a competitive match when he came on during the Three Lions’ 5-0 win against Czech Republic.

The youngster replaced Raheem Sterling after 70 minutes to earn his first international cap at the age of 18 years 135 days, breaking the record set by former Manchester United forward Duncan Edwards.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has told Hudson-Odoi to look to England star Sterling for an example of how to become the complete player through diligence and dedication.

He, however, agrees with Lampard that Sterling is his perfect role model. And the 18-year-old knows the Manchester City winger is always a phone call or Whatsapp message away should he need any tips.

Hudson-Odoi said: “Raheem is one of the best wingers in the world right now. For the manager to make that comment, it’s absolutely correct.

“If I can be like him, get the goals he’s getting and play the way he’s playing for the team, it would be amazing.

“When I have the opportunity, I do speak to Raheem. I ask him, ‘How do you get all the goals you are getting? How do you work for the team? How do you impact in big games?’

“He’ll tell me what are the best movements to get in the box when the ball is coming in, what’s the best position to pick up to get the ball.

“He tells you everything you need to know in the modern game of football.

“For a person like that to help you, it’s an amazing feeling. He’s in a different team so he doesn’t have to do that. But he does because he wants everyone to do well.”

Ryan Giggs has confirmed his desire to hold talks with Red Bull Leipzig to voice his concerns over the lack of match action for Ethan Ampadu, saying: “It’s a concern because Ethan is at the age now where he needs to play.”

The 19-year-old midfield sensation has not kicked a ball yet for the fifth-placed Bundesliga outfit this season.

In contrast, Ampadu played 75 minutes in Wales’ Euro 2020 qualifying 2-1 win over Azerbaijan last month and is primed to start in Slovakia on Thursday night.

Giggs has revealed his worry over Ampadu’s progress during his season-long loan and the effect it has on turning out for his country, report The Sun.

And the Wales boss has revealed he will travel to Germany after the international break to express his fears over Ampadu.

Giggs said: “It’s a concern because Ethan is at the age now where he needs to play.

“I’m going to go and see Ethan after this camp because obviously the Red Bull model is an interesting one. But I will have a conversation about his progress.

“He had a big growth spurt so he had a few problems injury-wise, nothing serious but little aches and pains.

“The last few camps he’s looked so much better in training but it’s very difficult for him to play 90 minutes and back-to-back games because he’s not had the minutes under his belt. He’s such a talent it’s hard to ignore.”

Giggs has a good relationship with Chelsea boss Frank Lampard from when he was Derby manager last season.

The pair had dialogue over the progress of Liverpool’s Harry Wilson, then on loan at the Rams and now at Bournemouth, and Tom Lawrence.

Giggs added: “I had a number of conversations last year with Frank when he was at Derby, because Harry Wilson and Tom Lawrence were there.

“I am in touch with Ethan quite regularly, but I’ve not felt the need to speak to anyone at Chelsea yet.

“You’ve seen the likes of Jadon Sancho who have done well abroad so we’ve seen it work. It’s a good thing but they have got to play.”