Benfica have announced the signing of Luis Farina from Racing Club on a five-year contract.

The Argentine forward made 16 appearances for Racing last season, impressing with four goals as they finished fifth in the Argentinian Premier Division.

Farina joins compatriot Lisandro Lopez in the Portuguese capital, and is Benfica manager s Jorge Jesus sixth major signing ahead of the new season.

A statement on the club s official website confirmed details of the 22-year-old s move.

Offensive midfielder Luis Farina is the new player of Benfica. He signed this morning a deal for the next 5 years, it read.

Luis Farina is 22 years old, and played for Racing Club since 2009-10.

The Argentinian likes to play on the left side of attack, but also in the centre.

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Northampton Town sacked Aidy Boothroyd after losing against Wycombe Wanderers, while Oxford United failed to reclaim top spot on Saturday.

Northampton dropped to the bottom of League Two after the 4-1 home defeat and Torquay United s 1-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge.

Jo Kuffour and Kortney Hause scored in the first 14 minutes for Wycombe, and although Izale McLeod pulled a goal back just after half-time, Wycombe responded strongly to finish with a flurry.

Stuart Lewis and Dean Morgan netted late goals as Wycombe sealed their first league success in more than two months – prompting Northampton to act and dismiss manager Boothroyd.

A short statement on the club s official website read: Aidy Boothroyd has left Northampton Town Football Club.

The decision …

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has welcomed the findings of Tuesday s verdicts in the Hillsborough inquest.

The deaths of 96 fans at the 1988-89 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough were ruled unlawful killings as a jury found the South Yorkshire police chief superintendent in command at the match, David Duckenfield, was responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence due to a breach of his duty of care.

Benitez managed Liverpool from 2004 through to 2010, winning the Champions League in 2005, and the Newcastle United boss said he was relieved for the families who have fought for justice for so long.

After so many years fighting for justice I am really pleased to see the verdict today, which confirms what we have be…

Younes Kaboul believes Tim Sherwood s White Hart Lane history is behind his great start to life as Tottenham head coach.

Sherwood replaced Andre Villas-Boas in December following five years on the coaching staff at White Hart Lane and has collected seven wins from his 12 games in charge in all competitions as Tottenham continue their challenge for a UEFA Champions League place next season.

Having worked closely with the first time throughout his time at Tottenham, Kaboul feels the 45-year-old is the perfect man to lead the club.

Tottenham have been linked with a move for a more experienced head coach at the end of the season, with Louis van Gaal reported to be a candidate, but defender Kaboul would rather Sherwood was given a chance.

He deserves it, the Frenchma…

Verdict: Both teams to score No

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2015 Gold Cup champions Mexico and 2011 Copa America winners Uruguay will contest one of the most interesting matches in the opening round of the 2016 Copa America Centenario, with both sides heading into the game in great spirits after impressing in final warm-up fixtures.

Mexico

Mexico have enjoyed a fair amount of success on international stage of late, but while they have won three of last four CONCACAF Gold Cup trophies, El Tri weren’t as impressive in other competitions. Mexico did well to make it to the Last 16 stage at each of last six World Cup finals, but they cannot seem to make the next step and reach the final phase of the highly rated competition. After finishing as runners up on th…

Lars Bender has agreed a two-year extension to his Bayer Leverkusen contract and will remain with the club until 2019.

The midfielder arrived at the BayArena in 2009 and has since made 151 appearances in all competitions, while also having his form recognised with a call-up to the Germany national team.

The 24-year-old has started seven Bundesliga matches this season under Sami Hyypia, helping Leverkusen into third place in the table, just a point behind leaders Bayern Munich.

His deal was due to expire at the end of the 2016-17 season, but he has committed his long-term future to the club after being impressed with the improvements they have made.

Bayer Leverkusen has evolved in recent years into something very positive, he told the club s official website.

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Former Inter striker Diego Milito says Jose Mourinho needs an enemy to attack as the coach thrives on conflict.

New Manchester United manager Mourinho will go head-to-head with old foe Pep Guardiola, now in charge of Manchester City, in the Premier League next season, and took aim at predecessor Louis van Gaal and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger this week as he got to work at Old Trafford.

Milito, who fired Inter to Champions League glory in 2010 under the leadership of Mourinho, believes the Portuguese is deliberately antagonistic towards his opponents.

Sometimes he invents [enemies] himself on purpose, the retired forward said. Guardiola included, just go and ask Pep.

Mourinho is a great leader of groups, we are talking about a coach of the highest leve…

Midfielder Carlos Carbonero has been drafted into the Colombia squad ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman was in need of a replacement after Aldo Leao Ramirez was ruled out of the World Cup, having failed to overcome a knee ligament strain.

And Pekerman has decided to call upon 23-year-old Carbonero, who scored six goals during his loan spell at River Plate as they won Argentina s Primera Division for the first time since 2008.

Carbonero s selection in the 23-man squad ends the Estudiantes-owned player s three-year international hiatus, having not appeared for Colombia since earning his first cap in 2011.

Colombia kick-off their World Cup campaign against Greece on June 14.

The South American nation will also face Ivo…

Eddie Howe has cautioned against overreacting to the three-game losing streak that has stalled Bournemouth s early season momentum.

The Cherries slipped back to eighth in the Premier League following a narrow home defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

Jefferson Lerma s remarkable own goal put them on the back foot and they were left with a third successive 2-1 loss after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang responded to Joshua King s equaliser.

Bournemouth are now without a point since their unbeaten October, having been edged by an inconsistent Manchester United and lowly Newcastle United before the international break.

It s important the confidence levels aren t affected by those defeats, Howe said.

We took Manchester United to the limit and gave everything …

Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 15 points but Pep Guardiola left the 3-0 win over West Brom with injury fears over David Silva. 

Fernandinho collected his third goal of the season on the end of Kevin De Bruyne s inch-perfect pass in the 19th minute but City s other playmaker – the ever-influential Silva – hobbled off late in the first half with an apparent hip problem.

De Bruyne crowned another sublime individual performance by crafting and finishing City s second and 100th of the season in all competitions, with Sergio Aguero adding his 24th of the collective haul as closest challengers Manchester United slumped to a 2-0 loss at Tottenham.

Their tilts for cups at home and in Europe could endure significant repercus…