Signing Messi 'impossible' for Chelsea

Chelsea assistant coach Steven Holland believes it is "impossible" for the club to sign Barcelona star Lionel Messi due to Financial Fair Play restrictions. Messi's future has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he hinted back in November that he could leave Camp Nou, amid reported tensions with boss Luis Enrique and the Barcelona hierarchy. The Argentine superstar is reportedly unhappy at Barcelona, but Blues assistant coach Steve Holland is adamant that Uefa's Financial Fair Play regulations prevent any deal. The Argentina superstar appeared to fan the flames this week by following Chelsea on Instagram, but Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has since reiterated the club's desire to keep their all-time record goalscorer. Last month Jose Mourinho played down any talk of a potential transfer, insistiing that Chelsea are incapable of meeting the €250 million release clause in the 27-year-old's contract as a result of Uefa's Financial Fair Play regulations.

Yaya Toure is African Player of the Year 2014

Manchester City's Yaya Toure has been named the African Player of the Year 2014 by the Confederation of African Football at an awards ceremony held in Lagos on Thursday evening.  The Ivoirian has been named the best player from the continent for a fourth straight time after beating local favourite Enyeama and Aubameyang at a ceremony in Lagos. The Ivoirian won the title for a fourth straight time beating off competition from local favourite Vincent Enyeama and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the title. However, it was the Ivoirian Toure who was called up to the podium again winning the award for a record fourth time after previous sucesses  in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Toure told media that he felt 'lucky' to win it considering the size of the competition. In the ceremony, Nigeria produced the African Women Player award, Africa Youth Player of the Year as well as the National Team of the Year. In the other awards given on the evening, Firmin Ndombe Mubele won the award for best African player based on the continent.  Two Nigerians, Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa also made it into CAF Team of the Year.

Barcelona 5-0 Elche: Messi, Neymar and Suarez all on target in Blaugrana romp

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all found the back of the net as Barcelona destroyed Elche 5-0 in the first-leg of their last-16 Copa del Rey tie. The breakthrough came on 34 minutes when Neymar side-footed home from close range and they turned on the style as Suarez and a Messi penalty made it 3-0 at half-time. Jordi Alba made it four early in the second half before Neymar added his second in the 59th minute to complete the scoring. The victory eases the pressure on coach Luis Enrique, who came in for criticism after dropping Messi to the bench as the Catalans were beaten 1-0 by Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday. The Brazilian wasn't do be denied, though and finished off a neat passing move by passing the ball into the back of the net from a matter of yards out. Suarez was the man to assist - squaring for the Brazilian to break the deadlock and open his Copa account for the season. Barca started brightly on Tuesday night as the Argentine, swiftly restored to the starting XI, jinked through the Elche defence and fired straight at Przemyslaw Tyton after 10 minutes. Dani Alves then went close with a long-range effort after Titon elected to punch Messi's inswinging free-kick, while Neymar dinked his team-mate's lofted pass wide of the visiting goal before the half-hour mark.