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MANCHESTER — It was the football equivalent of a cry for help by Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. By selecting defensive midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as a center-forward in what resulted in a 2-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace, Amorim was making a desperate plea for somebody, somewhere, to end his team’s goal-scoring nightmare. United have now lost five of their last six Premier League home games, scoring just four goals…

Signed by Lecce for a modest €200,000 in July 2022, Patrick Dorgu moved to Italy without even having played a senior game for Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjælland. Acquired as a prospect for the future, he started off in Lecce’s under-19 ranks before being drafted into the first team the following summer — making his full debut in the opening league fixture of the 2023-24 season (a 2-1 home win…

Arsenal and Manchester City’s fiery rivalry is a natural byproduct of both teams’ desire to be the best, the north London club’s captain Martin Ødegaard said ahead of their Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Arsenal finished runners-up to City in 2022-23 and took the Premier League title race to the final day last season before once again finishing second behind Pep Guardiola’s side. Tempers flared during…

Neymar’s move to Santos is the biggest return to Brazilian football since Romário left Barcelona to join Flamengo exactly 30 years ago. The great Ronaldo did come back home to join Corinthians in 2009, but at that stage it was already understood that his best days were behind him, and that any star-studded displays would be an added bonus. This is not the case with Neymar — although he is…

Former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief Luis Rubiales will stand trial beginning on Monday for his unsolicited kiss of national team player Jenni Hermoso. Rubiales faces one count of sexual assault and one of coercion for his alleged actions in the aftermath of the kiss. The offences carry prison terms of one year and 18 months, respectively. Rubiales, 47, has denied the charges. Rubiales grabbed Hermoso and kissed her…

João Félix and Marco Asensio are candidates to strengthen Aston Villa’s attack in this transfer window, according to Monchi, the club’s president of football operations. Monchi also confirmed that Jhon Durán’s move to Al Nassr is expected to be completed on Friday, with the transfer set to reach almost €85 million ($88m). At Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, the Colombia forward is set to earn five times his wages…

Chivas Guadalajara coach Óscar García Junyent has apologized after being caught on camera kicking León’s recent signing James Rodríguez in Tuesday’s Liga MX game. The Disciplinary Commission of the Mexican Football Federation issued a 3-match ban to the coach on Thursday and the 51-year-old will miss the matches against Querétaro (Feb. 1), Tijuana (Feb. 9) and Toluca (Feb. 15). The Spanish manager was shown a red card in the 27th…

A record $15.6 million was spent on international women’s football transfers in 2024 according to the latest FIFA report, more than doubling the previous mark set in 2023. The research shared FIFA on Thursday showed that last year saw fees in the women’s game grow by more than 2.5 times, with 2023’s annual outlay summing to $6.1m. A total of 695 women’s clubs engaged in 2,284 international deals in 2024,…

Manchester City forward Chloe Kelly has released an emotional statement asking to be granted her wish to leave the club in search of first-team football. Kelly has only played a six times in the Women’s Super League for City this season, and with the Euros in the summer, she is desperate to remain in action. In a statement posted to Instagram, she said she is resigned to leaving City at…

The draw for the knockout playoff round of the new-look UEFA Champions League is upon us. And there is going to be a blockbuster knockout playoff round tie between Manchester City and Bayern Munich or Real Madrid. Here’s why. The draw for the knockout playoff round will take place on Friday, Jan. 31 at 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. GMT at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.…