Football World

                          Fifa world rankings Rank           Team           Points.              +/- position 1                 Brazil           1661                       +1 2                Argentina      1603                        -1 3                Germany       1464.                        0 4                 Chile            1403                         0 5               Colombia       1348                        +2 6                 France          1294                         0 7                 Belgium       1281                         -2 8                 Portugal       1259                          0 9               Switzerland    1212                         +2 10                  Spain         1204                          0

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak, left, with CFG chief executive Ferran Soriano, has previously talked of the group's ambition to add to its stable of clubs Manchester City's owners have bought Uruguayan side Atletico Torque. The club play in the Second Division of the Uruguayan league and have had two top-six finishes in two years. The City Football Group already owns clubs in Australia, Japan and the United States and the purchase of Atletico Torque is seen as a way of increasing scouting in South America. Advertisement City have also entered a collaboration agreement with Atletico Venezuela of the Primera Division of Venezuela. CFG chief executive Ferran Soriano said: "We are pleased to take this next step in our football development operations. "The investment in CA Torque enables our organization to build on existing connectivity in Uruguay and helps to expand the options for identifying and developing local and South American talent. "This m

Mario Balotelli has scored 11 goals in 18 Ligue 1 games this season Mario Balotelli scored one goal and set up another as Nice beat Bordeaux to move four points behind Ligue 1 leaders Monaco. The former Liverpool and Manchester City striker equalised from the penalty spot after Gaetan Laborde had given Bordeaux the lead. The penalty was awarded after Arnaud Souquet was fouled by Jeremy Toulalan. Balotelli then set up Valentin Eysseric to hit the winner for third-placed Nice

Luis Enrique believes Neymar's return of 100 goals in less than four seasons shows he made the right decision in joining Barcelona. The transfer deal that saw the Brazilian join from Santos in 2013 has seen Barca, Neymar and his family face charges of tax fraud and corruption.   "They are numbers at the reach of a beast of a player," said Luis Enrique. "He is one of the best players in the world at unbalancing defences and at the time his signing was a great decision. "It was right for him and of course the club." Despite signing a new five-year contract in October, Neymar is still linked with a move away from the Nou Camp. Reports in England on Sunday claimed Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly willing to smash the world transfer record in another attempt to lure him to the Premier League next season. Luis Enrique, though, hopes the 25-year-old remains at Barca long after he steps down as coach at the end of the campaign. Highlights of Barcel

Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City set for James Rodriguez transfer scrap The talented Colombia international forward is just fifth in the Real Madrid pecking order and wants more regular football The 25-year-old has become a peripheral figure in the Spaniards' star-studded squad James Rodriguez will spark a four-way transfer battle when he quits Real Madrid this summer. Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal will go all-out to sign the £50million forward. The 25-year-old Colombia star has become a peripheral figure at the Bernabeu under manager Zinedine Zidane.

Chelsea 1-2 Crystal Palace: Antonio Conte reflective after defeat Chelsea's surprise defeat by Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge makes the title race "more interesting", says Blues boss Antonio Conte. The Premier League leaders suffered only their second home defeat of the season as Palace boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 win. Tottenham's win at Burnley means they are seven points behind Chelsea. "For (the media) it's a good result, because it makes this more interesting in the championship," Conte said. "But I always said the league finishes when you have the mathematical certainty that you won. Otherwise you must fight, you must play every game to try to win."

Wenger future 'not completely sorted out yet' Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has reiterated his desire to manage next season as he believes "retirement is dying" for people of his age. Wenger, has been criticised by some fans after Arsenal slipped to sixth in the Premier League following four defeats in their past five games. A 10-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League added to the pressure on the Frenchman