The ball-boy kicked by Eden Hazard in 2013 is reportedly set to earn a major windfall by selling his viral business. Charlie Morgan was a ball-boy for local side Swansea City 13 years ago when he was involved in a notorious skirmish with Chelsea star Hazard. Hazard was sent off and later said: “The boy put his whole body on to the ball and I was just trying to kick…
Former Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has returned to the club to begin his coaching career with the reserve team in the Spanish fourth tier. Busquets, 38, will form part of manager Juliano Belletti’s staff this season while he completes his own coaching badges. Barça Athletic were in the second division as recently as 2018, but have since dropped two levels into the Segunda Federación. Belletti and Busquets’ task is to…
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has praised summer signings Jérémy Jacquet and Ronald Araújo for their impressive debuts against Como but admitted it will take time to develop a solid centre-back partnership. Both Jacquet and Araújo played 45 minutes of Liverpool’s final preseason clash on Sunday afternoon, with the former netting the Reds’ second goal in a 2-0 win. Making his first appearance since suffering a dislocated shoulder at Rennes…
CARDIFF, Wales — Martin Ødegaard has spoken glowingly of Bruno Guimarães and said he has already formed a connection with the Brazil international on the pitch. Guimarães joined the Gunners from Newcastle United in a deal worth up to £75 million ($101 million) and made his first start for the club in the Community Shield on Sunday. Ødegaard and Lewis-Skelly made up the rest of Arsenal’s midfield, and they overpowered…
Juventus have agreed a deal with Tottenham to sign Guglielmo Vicario on loan, sources have told ESPN. The Italian goalkeeper will move on a season-long loan with an option for Juventus to make the deal permanent for an £8.6 million ($12m) fee. Juventus had previously tracked Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa, who are chasing Parma’s Zion Suzuki. New Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that his first-choice goalkeeper…
Enzo Maresca has said that Jack Grealish will be given minutes for Manchester City this season if he “deserves” to play — but left the door open to an exit. With City 2-0 down, Grealish replaced Jérémy Doku at half-time in the Community Shield 3-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday, marking his first appearance for the club in more than a year. “Jack came on when we were already 2-0…
Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus remain “important” to Arsenal despite not being picked for their Community Shield squad, Mikel Arteta said. Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the traditional curtain-raiser on Sunday, before beginning their defence of the Premier League title against newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday night. But with only nine substitutes allowed on the bench in the Community Shield, Arteta couldn’t find a spot for Brazil duo Martinelli…
CARDIFF, Wales — Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has said his side’s defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield won’t alter their transfer plans this summer. Maresca had a debut to forget as City boss, with his side thrashed 3-0 in the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Riccardo Calafiori scored within 24 seconds and Kai Havertz doubled Arsenal’s lead in the first half, before Martin Odegaard effectively sealed the game in…
MUNICH — Bayern Munich did not give an update Sunday about the condition of Jamal Musiala, who collapsed the day before during a friendly game against RB Leipzig. The 23-year-old Musiala fell to the field shortly before the end of the match, causing alarm among his teammates before medical staff rushed to his side. They attended to the player before one of them eased the tension by giving a thumbs…
Taiwo Awoniyi is set to leave Nottingham Forest for Coventry City for a deal worth in the region of £17million ($23m), sources have told ESPN. Awoniyi, 29, is expected to join Coventry in the next couple of days and be ready to feature in their team for the Premier League opener against Arsenal on Friday. He joined Forest in 2022 for £17.2m ($23.2m) and was their record signing at the…