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Transfer Talk: Rüdiger wants new deal as Saudi clubs circle

The winter transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for a while yet, but 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!

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October 28, 2024

Classy Casadó the real gem as Barça’s academy stars humble Real Madrid

If the football part of your brain is still wondering, “How do Barcelona do it?” then perhaps you’re thinking about their astonishing 4-0 win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday (stream a replay on ESPN+, U.S. only) — the second time the Catalans have logged this result at Los Blancos’ HQ in three seasons. Equally, it might be because you’re still stunned at watching Barça’s incessant production…

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October 28, 2024

Nigeria awarded qualifier win after airport chaos

Nigeria have been awarded a 3-0 victory over Libya, and three vital points, from their scheduled Africa Cup of Nations qualifier earlier this month which they refused to play after being stuck in a remote Libyan airport for half a day before the match. The disciplinary committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Saturday awarded the match to Nigeria 3-0, putting them on the brink of qualifying for…

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October 27, 2024

Simeone won’t rush Le Normand after brain trauma

Atlético Madrid cannot provide a timeline for defender Robin Le Normand’s return from a traumatic brain injury, manager Diego Simeone said on Saturday. “We still don’t have a clear idea about his return. The important thing is that he comes back well. That’s the only thing we care about,” Simeone told reporters on Saturday at a news conference ahead of his side’s visit to Real Betis in LaLiga. The 27-year-old…

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October 27, 2024

Ten Hag: ‘I deny, ignore’ 3-0 home loss to Spurs

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has said he has chosen to “deny” and “ignore” his team’s 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham because the red card shown to Bruno Fernandes during the game was subsequently rescinded. Spurs dominated United at Old Trafford on Sept. 29 as goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke served to increase the pressure on Ten Hag following his team’s stuttering start to the…

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October 26, 2024

Ange won’t rush Moore amid Neymar comparison

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou believes promising teenager Mikey Moore is ready to start a Premier League game but vowed not to rush the winger’s development. Moore made only his second senior start for Spurs in Thursday night’s 1-0 Europa League win over AZ Alkmaar. The 17-year-old switched to his favoured left-sided position in the second-half and tormented AZ full-back Seiya Maikuma, prompting James Maddison — Spurs captain for the evening…

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October 26, 2024

Williamson relishing England duty amid Arsenal run

England captain Leah Williamson has admitted it is “refreshing” to be back with the Lionesses ahead of their two friendlies against Germany and South Africa amid turbulence at Arsenal. Williamson returned to England duty on Monday as part of manager Sarina Wiegman’s 24-player squad following a testing period for Arsenal. Jonas Eidevall resigned as manager last week after the club were humbled 5-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League…

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October 25, 2024

Foden: Still trying to recover from ‘burnout’

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has admitted feeling burnt out at the end of last season has contributed to his slow start to the new campaign. The midfielder was on the scoresheet in City’s 5-0 win over Sparta Prague on Wednesday. It was only his fourth start of the season and Foden said he is still getting up to speed after last season’s marathon campaign which started in early August…

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October 25, 2024

Vinícius on Madrid future: Want to stay ‘forever’

Vinícius Júnior has made the declaration that he wants to stay at Real Madrid “forever” amid ongoing reports linking him with a move to Saudi Pro League. The Brazil forward, who is the favourite to lift the Ballon d’Or award on Oct. 28, has been the subject of interest from Saudi clubs. Sources told ESPN in August that Vinícius would wait until the end of this season before deciding whether…

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October 24, 2024

Madrid or Baku to host 2027 Champions League final

UEFA has confirmed that Madrid or Baku will stage the 2027 Champions League final after the capital cities of Spain and Azerbaijan stepped in to replace Milan as host of the showpiece fixture. Having stripped Milan of the hosting rights last month due to the Italian city’s failure to deliver assurances that the San Siro — home stadium of AC Milan and Inter Milan — would be in a fit…

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October 24, 2024

Spurs’ Ange: Out of love with football over VARApril 5, 2025
Ange Postecoglou has said he is “falling out of love with football” after admitting he made a mistake in celebrating Pape Matar Sarr’s disallowed goal against Tottenham, but not because he risked a fan backlash. Spurs lost 1-0 at Chelsea on Thursday but Sarr had a second-half strike ruled out by VAR. Postecoglou’s decision to… Read more: Spurs’ Ange: Out of love with football over VAR
Fenerbahce: Mourinho provoked before nose grabApril 5, 2025
Fenerbahce have come out in defence of their coach Jose Mourinho, claiming he was provoked by his Galatasaray counterpart Okan Buruk following Wednesday’s Turkish Cup game between the sides. Mourinho, whose team lost 2-1 in the quarterfinal, was seen grabbing the nose of Buruk following a scuffle that broke out between the players on the… Read more: Fenerbahce: Mourinho provoked before nose grab
Harry Kane is on a mission to finally end his long personal trophy droughtApril 4, 2025
Harry Kane is a man on a mission. Not just for Bayern Munich but also for himself. It’s simple: the England captain finally wants to win silverware of note. Despite winning goal-scoring trophies and featuring in five finals, Kane has never tasted victory in a major competition, a run of futility that has even made… Read more: Harry Kane is on a mission to finally end his long personal trophy drought
Tottenham’s Postecoglou on thin ice with his future more uncertain than everApril 4, 2025
LONDON — Ange Postecoglou is no stranger to risk, but on Thursday, he played his most dangerous game yet. Tottenham Hotspur were midway through another insipid Premier League performance when his 64th-minute double change — introducing Pape Matar Sarr and Brennan Johnson for Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert — elicited a brief but audible chant… Read more: Tottenham’s Postecoglou on thin ice with his future more uncertain than ever
City fans protest over ticket issues, miss 1st goalApril 3, 2025
Manchester City fans boycotted the opening of their Premier League fixture against Leicester City on Wednesday in protest at ticketing issues at the Etihad Stadium. Supporters gathered outside the stadium an hour before kick-off with a banner which read: “MCFC – For the love not the money.” Hundreds of fans also remained in the concourses… Read more: City fans protest over ticket issues, miss 1st goal
Carlo Ancelotti to go on trial for tax evasionApril 3, 2025
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told a Spanish court on Wednesday that he “never thought about committing fraud” as he gave evidence in a trial in which he’s accused of failing to pay over €1 million ($1.08m) in taxes. Prosecutors have accused the veteran coach of evading paying tax on his image rights income during… Read more: Carlo Ancelotti to go on trial for tax evasion
Anthony Elanga is proof of how Man United desperately need to improve transfer strategyApril 2, 2025
NOTTINGHAM, England — Anthony Elanga chose a muted celebration after his wonderful solo goal against Manchester United, but the smile that crept over his face gave away the quiet satisfaction of scoring against his former club. Who could blame him? Man United decided Elanga wasn’t good enough when he was allowed to move to Nottingham… Read more: Anthony Elanga is proof of how Man United desperately need to improve transfer strategy
Flick: No luck to Barcelona success this seasonApril 2, 2025
Hansi Flick has said there is no luck to Barcelona success this season but he knows it is trophies that matter as he prepares for Wednesday’s “final before the final” against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Barça and Atlético drew 4-4 in the first leg of their Copa semifinal in February and finally… Read more: Flick: No luck to Barcelona success this season
Isco on Antony: We need to crowdfund for himApril 1, 2025
Real Betis midfielder Isco has joked that crowdfunding will be needed to keep Manchester United’s loanee Antony at the club for at least next season. Antony has been a big hit in Spain since joining on loan from United after a difficult first half of the campaign at Old Trafford. However, the loan deal which… Read more: Isco on Antony: We need to crowdfund for him
Haaland’s nightmare game, Napoli back in Serie A title race, RB Leipzig chaos, moreApril 1, 2025
The international break has finished and this weekend brought us plenty to talk about as European club action returned with a bang! Manchester City advanced in the FA Cup despite a game to forget by Erling Haaland, and Napoli took a decisive step back into Serie A’s title race while simultaneously wrecking Milan’s aspirations of… Read more: Haaland’s nightmare game, Napoli back in Serie A title race, RB Leipzig chaos, more