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Real Madrid extends lead at top spot as Mbappe nets hat-trick
LALIGA

Real Madrid extends lead at top spot as Mbappe nets hat-trick

VALLADOLID, SPAIN - JANUARY 25: (L-R) Selim Amallah of Real Valladolid, Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Valladolid v Real Madrid at the Estadio Nuevo Jose Zorrilla on January 25, 2025 in Valladolid Spain (Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images) Kylian Mbappe bagged a hat-trick as Real Madrid easily beat bottom-club Real Valladolid 3-0 on Saturday to extend their lead on top of the LaLiga standings. Real opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Mbappe played a neat one-two with Jude Bellingham, bursting into the box to collect the Englishman’s pass to beat the offside trap before gleefully firing in past goalkeeper Karl Hein. He extended their lead in a quick counter in the 56th minute and wrapped the win from the penalty spot ...
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to complete $72m move to PSG
TRANSFERS

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to complete $72m move to PSG

NAPLES, ITALY - JANUARY 08: SSC Napoli Player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia attends the morning training session at SSC Napoli Training Center on January 08, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by SSC NAPOLI/SSC NAPOLI via Getty Images) Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is set to finalize a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, where he will sign a five-year contract this month. Liverpool emerged as an interested party last week but PSG was always the firm favorite to land the Georgia international, with talks between Napoli and the French champions progressing positively. French outlet RMC Sport reports that PSG will pay a total transfer fee in excess of $72million for Kvaratskhelia, who made it clear to Napoli manager Antonio Conte last week that he wanted to leave the club. The Athletic reported last week...
Barcelona needs to pay €6.5m to sign Marcus Rashford
TRANSFERS

Barcelona needs to pay €6.5m to sign Marcus Rashford

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Old Trafford on December 7, 2024 in Manchester, England. Barcelona are said to be eyeing a move for Marcus Rashford, who looks set to leave Manchester United this month. A deal would be difficult, but not impossible, given that the Catalans are back within La Liga’s 1:1 rule. It would be a loan deal that Barcelona would want, and according to Sport, they would need to assume 100% of Rashford’s wages for the remainder of the season, as this is the condition set by Man United. As such, they would be required to free up €6.5m in salary space. Raising these funds is possible, given that there are at least four players (Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, Ansu Fati and Frenki...
Didier Deschamps set to leave France
NEWS

Didier Deschamps set to leave France

Lyon , France - September 9: head coach Didier Deschamps of France gestures during the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 League A - Group 2 match between France and Belgium at Groupama-Stadion on September 9, 2024 in Lyon , France. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) Didier Deschamps, France's longest serving national team coach, will not seek to renew his contract which expires in 2026, the French soccer federation (FFF) told Reuters. Deschamps' deal runs until after the next World Cup, for which Les Bleus have yet to qualify. The 56-year-old took over from fellow 1998 World Cup winner Laurent Blanc in 2012 and led Les Bleus to the World Cup title in 2018, two years after reaching the European Championship final on home soil. The former France captain, one of only three p...
Madrid’s Vinicius Jr red card: matches to miss
LALIGA

Madrid’s Vinicius Jr red card: matches to miss

VALENCIA, SPAIN - JANUARY 03: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid see the red card during the Spanish league, La Liga EA Sports, football match played between Valencia CF and Real Madrid at Mestalla stadium on January 3, 2025, in Valencia, Spain. (Photo By Ivan Terron/Europa Press via Getty Images) Real Madrid could be without the services of Vinicius Junior for their next four matches following the red card that he received in Friday night's chaotic La Liga clash with Valencia at Mestalla. The Brazil international was sent off in the latter stages of what proved to be a 2-1 victory for Carlo Ancelotti's side, with the forward handed a red card following an altercation with Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. Vinicius showed his anger towards the referee before leaving the field, a...
Arsenal move closer to top as Gabriel converts chances
PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal move closer to top as Gabriel converts chances

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on December 21, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) This was almost the perfect way for Mikel Arteta to celebrate five years as Arsenal manager. Another two goals for Gabriel Jesus — his first in the Premier League since January — followed up his match-winning performance against the same opponents a few days ago as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and substitute Declan Rice’s first Premier League goal of the season rounded off another victory over Crystal Palace. Only the sight of Bukayo Saka limping off during the first half with a suspected hamstring injury could dampen the en...
Nistelrooy aims to lift Leicester’s spirits
PREMIER LEAGUE

Nistelrooy aims to lift Leicester’s spirits

Leicester City Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy during the Leicester City Training Session at Seagrave Training Complex on December 02, 2024 in Leicester, England. Newly-appointed manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is aiming to bring a sense of positivity to Leicester City and quickly make an impression on the Premier League club's players, as he looks to ensure that they remain in the English top flight. The former Manchester United striker was appointed on Friday to replace Steve Cooper and will need to hit the ground running, with the 16th-placed club hovering just point above the relegation zone after three straight league defeats. Asked if the players needed to be picked up, Van Nistelrooy told reporters: "That is what needed to be done. Sunday was the first time that I was here. Was it yeste...
Liverpool’s Focus Turns to Man City
PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool’s Focus Turns to Man City

Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid runs with the ball under pressure from Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 27, 2024 in Liverpool, England. Following Wednesday night’s demolition of Real Madrid, a game more lopsided than the final 2-0 scoreline, Liverpool are officially through to the knockout rounds of the new look Champions League with three games to spare. There’s still plenty to play for with the top eight getting a pass to the Round of 16 and a second leg at home once they get there, but there’s only one club that can say they’re through after five league phase matchdays and that side is Liverpool. For the players, though, the first thoughts f...
Castrovilli to have another knee operation
SERIE A

Castrovilli to have another knee operation

The Lazio player Gaetano Castrovilli during the Lazio-Empoli match at the Stadio Olimpico. Rome (Italy), October 06th, 2024. Lazio and Italy midfielder Gaetano Castrovilli will be forced to have a new operation on his left knee, confirmed club medics. The former Fiorentina man has barely set foot on the pitch since that initial devastating injury in 2022. That was not just a normal anterior cruciate ligament lesion, as he also damaged the collateral medial ligament and the external meniscus at the same time. Castrovilli injury nightmare Just as he seemed ready to make a full recovery, problems were discovered during a medical test for a potential transfer to AFC Bournemouth in August 2023. That required yet another surgical intervention that kept him out for six months, after which he ra...
Report: Real Madrid want to sign £125m Arsenal target as long-term Luka Modric replacement
TRANSFERS

Report: Real Madrid want to sign £125m Arsenal target as long-term Luka Modric replacement

Arsenal and Real Madrid could end up on a collision course on more than one deal when the January and summer windows roll around. The Gunners are pushing to win the Premier League title while Madrid are looking to retain La Liga and make a big fist of things in the Champions League again. However, Arsenal and Madrid have already crossed paths in terms of transfer rumours, with Madrid said to be keen on star defender, William Saliba. Arsenal are thought to be relaxed on Madrid’s interest in Saliba. But according to reports from Spain, the Spanish champions could also end up scuppering Arsenal’s hopes of signing one of their top targets. Real Madrid looking to sign Florian Wirtz ahead of Arsenal According to a report from AS, Madrid are keeping an eye on German star Florian Wirtz as they lo...
Barcelona continues to monitor €18m Arsenal player to reinforce pivot positon
TRANSFERS

Barcelona continues to monitor €18m Arsenal player to reinforce pivot positon

FC Barcelona has dominated the free-agent market in recent years. Driven partly by financial constraints and partly by the remarkable opportunities available, the club has managed to secure several high-profile signings in recent seasons. Players like Andreas Christensen, Ilkay Gundogan, and Inigo Martinez have made a significant impact at Barcelona. Franck Kessie even generated a profit for the club from his sale after just one season with the team. The jury is still out on Eric Garcia, while there have also been some misses, such as Marcos Alonso. The Catalans are once again targeting the free-agent market and have been linked with several high-profile players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the season. One notable name that emerged last month is Thomas Partey. Now, as hi...
Lamine Yamal tips €15m Barcelona teammate to win Pichichi
LALIGA

Lamine Yamal tips €15m Barcelona teammate to win Pichichi

FC Barcelona have had an excellent start to life under Hansi Flick. The German coach has revitalized the team and made them play a brand of football that is exciting. After a couple of seasons of pragmatism under Xavi, this feels like a breath of fresh air. Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 match between FC Barcelona and BSC Young Boys at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, Spain, on October 2, 2024. (Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Flick has managed to recapture the best of Robert Lewandowski, the 36-year-old Polish striker. He now has 12 goals from 11 games across all competitions, which puts him ahead of Manchester City star Erling Haaland on the European level. Lewandowski has been ...
Leroy Sané to stay at Bayern Munich at all costs
BUNDESLIGA

Leroy Sané to stay at Bayern Munich at all costs

Leroy Sané’s contract at Bayern Munich is set to expire in June of 2025, but the club wants to keep him in Munich at all costs, but is it for the right reasons? Sané has had inconsistent seasons at Bayern Munich for the last couple of years, and it is no secret that the club is constantly monitoring his situation. However, according to a new report (via Matteo Moretto, captured by @iMiaSanMia), Bayern wants to avoid letting him go, no matter what. Since the German international’s contract is set to expire next year, chances are that, if he leaves, he will be leaving on a free transfer. The club wants to avoid this at all costs, and renew his contract at the earliest. However, this has not stopped interested clubs from monitoring his situation, including FC Barcelona. Hansi Flick would lo...
Arsenal have golden chance to show Arteta progress in PSG litmus test
Champions League

Arsenal have golden chance to show Arteta progress in PSG litmus test

Rooming with Ronaldinho, playing with Jay-Jay Okocha and making his Champions League debut aged just 18, it is no wonder Mikel Arteta has such fond memories of his time at Paris Saint-Germain.Arteta was just a teenager back then, sent out on loan by Barcelona to gain first-team experience, but his 18 months in the French capital had a profound effect. LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, applauds the fans at full-time following the team's victory in the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City FC at Emirates Stadium on September 28, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) The first seeds about one day becoming a manager were planted thanks to the way head coach Luis Fernandez trusted him and Arteta a...
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