Sir Jim Ratcliffe expects the Premier League to ratify his move to take charge of Manchester United’s football operations by “mid-February” as he spoke for the first time about his investment in the club ahead of Sunday’s game against Tottenham. Ratcliffe, 71, agreed to buy 25% of United from their American owners the Glazer family for £1.3 billion, after lengthy negotiations finally concluded with an announcement on Christmas Eve. –…
The winter transfer window is now open in Europe, and there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández disputed that his team’s performances are not as good as last season, although he acknowledged Real Madrid are in better form ahead of Sunday’s Spanish Supercopa final. Barça won the Supercopa and LaLiga last year but go into this weekend’s Clásico showdown in Saudi Arabia seven points behind Madrid, who are unbeaten in 20 matches, in the league table. – Stream Supercopa on ESPN+: Barca vs.…
After the recent round of domestic cup matches across Europe, league soccer returns with exciting performances and surprise results happening in the Premier League, Serie A, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1. On Saturday, we saw Chelsea edge Fulham 1-0 after Cole Palmer put away a penalty while Manchester City delivered a 3-2 comeback victory against Newcastle United. Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen beat Augsburg to retain their hold at the top of…
Scottish Premiership side Motherwell have gone viral following a video they released targeting Hollywood celebrities to invest in the club, a nod to the numerous American owners who have invested in a team over the years, either as an owner, minority owner, or having shares within the institution. In the video, Motherwell men’s and women’s players come out expressing what makes the club special, with right-back and Scotland international Stephen…
The dates for the next Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco remain up in the air amid a potential clash with the new-look Club World Cup, which is set for the mid-2025, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe said on Friday. The dates for the Cup of Nations were set for mid-year from the 2019 edition in Egypt, changed from the start of the year to avoid the…
Spare a thought for Jesse Lingard. The former Manchester United midfielder is still without a club more than six months after leaving Nottingham Forest as a free agent, and his efforts to tempt a new team into signing him — posting videos of energetic work-outs in the gym — was brutally mocked by another former United star, Paul Scholes, in a searing Instagram comment this week. But while Lingard can’t…
New Brazil coach Dorival Júnior has declared the national team has an “obligation” to win again. Dorival, 61, signed a contract on Thursday with the Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) through the 2026 World Cup. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) “I am here today representing the winningest team on the planet, the one that inspires many around the world,” Dorival said at his unveiling. “And it has an…
Dorival Junior has been officially appointed Brazil coach, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Wednesday. The 61-year-old confirmed on Sunday his decision to leave Sao Paulo and take charge of Brazil after the CBF sacked interim coach Fernando Diniz on Friday. “Dorival Junior is the new coach of the men’s national team. He will be presented at a news conference this Thursday at the CBF headquarters in Rio de…
When Bruno Fornaroli was 12, he made the 500-kilometer bus ride from his home in Salto to Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, to join Nacional — one of the biggest, most prestigious soccer clubs in the country. His parents didn’t want him to go, they said he was too young, but he was insistent; playing for Nacional, he told his father, was his dream. Soon after that ride to the capital began,…