Football

Manchester City has included injured midfielder Rodri in their Champions League knockout phase squad, signaling optimism about his potential return this season. The Spanish international, who suffered an ACL tear against Arsenal on September 22, has targeted an April comeback, coinciding with the Champions League quarterfinals which begin April 8. In meeting UEFA's Thursday midnight deadline for updated squad lists, City made strategic choices within the three-player limit for midseason transfers. The club opted to exclude recent Palmeiras signing Vitor Reis, while incorporating new arrivals Nico Gonzalez, Omar Marmoush, and Abdukodir Khusanov. The inclusion of Rodri, who scored the winning goal in the 2023 final against Inter Milan, comes as City faces a challenging path in the competition. Their immediate hurdle is a two-leg knockout playoff against Real Madrid, scheduled for next Tuesday and February 19. The victor will advance […]

Arsenal have been charged by the Football Association following their players' confrontational response to referee Michael Oliver during their 1-0 victory over Wolves. The incident occurred when Oliver showed Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card in the 43rd minute of the first half. The 18-year-old midfielder was dismissed for what the referee deemed serious foul play after bringing down Matt Doherty just outside the Wolves penalty area during a counter-attack. The decision, which was supported by VAR official Darren England, sparked immediate controversy. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration, while the team's players surrounded the referee to protest the decision. While Arsenal successfully appealed the red card, resulting in Lewis-Skelly's three-match ban being overturned, the club now faces FA charges for allegedly failing to ensure their players "did not behave in an improper manner." The Gunners have been given […]

Steven Gerrard has departed from his position as manager of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq through mutual agreement, despite recently signing a contract extension until 2027. The 44-year-old former Liverpool and England midfielder joined the club in July 2023, but the team's performance this season has been disappointing, with only five victories in 17 league matches. This poor run of form has left the club precariously positioned just five points above the relegation zone in 12th place of the 16-team league. Reflecting on his departure, Gerrard maintained a positive outlook: "Football is unpredictable and sometimes things don't go the way we want. However, I leave with great respect for the club and the country. I have no doubt that the work being done will bring success in the future and I wish the team the very best for the rest of […]

Brazilian football star Neymar is in negotiations to rejoin Santos, his boyhood club, following the mutual termination of his contract with Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal. The 32-year-old Brazilian national team player is anticipated to secure a short-term agreement with the club where he first emerged as a professional. Sources close to Neymar indicate that ending his Al-Hilal contract was the crucial development that enabled this potential return. His time in Saudi Arabia was plagued by injuries, with only seven appearances following his £77.6m transfer in August 2023. His final game came as a substitute in November. Al-Hilal released a brief statement acknowledging Neymar's contribution: "The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided at Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career." While Chicago Fire tried to bring Neymar to Major League Soccer, holding […]

Kylian Mbappe scored his first hat-trick for Real Madrid, leading the LaLiga champions to a comfortable 3-0 victory over bottom-placed Real Valladolid on Saturday. The French forward opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a clever one-two with Jude Bellingham, beating the offside trap and firing past goalkeeper Karl Hein. He doubled the lead in the 56th minute with a precise left-channel counter-attack, curling a low strike inside the far post. Mbappe completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Mario Martin's red card for a dangerous tackle on Bellingham in added time. The victory extended Real Madrid's lead at the top of LaLiga to 49 points, four ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 with Villarreal earlier that day. Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao follow, level on 39 points with a game in hand. "Happy for the hat-trick […]

Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has agreed to a loan move to AC Milan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy included in the deal. The 34-year-old right-back, who has made 316 appearances for City, will travel to Italy for a medical after expressing his desire to explore opportunities abroad. Walker previously spoke with manager Pep Guardiola about potentially moving, preferring an Italian destination over earlier links to the Saudi Pro League. Walker's transfer comes after a distinguished career at Manchester City, where he has been part of all six Premier League title wins since joining from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m. Named joint captain in 2023, he was part of a five-player leadership group elected by his teammates. The move will occur during an active transfer window for Manchester City, which has already spent approximately […]

Manchester City have signed Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt for 70m euros (£59m), agreeing to a contract until June 2029. Marmoush, 25, has impressed with 15 goals in 17 Bundesliga games this season, second only to Harry Kane's 16 for Bayern Munich. "Manchester City is one of the biggest clubs in the world," Marmoush said, expressing his excitement about joining the team. The versatile player, who can play as a striker, number 10, and winger, described himself as fast, good with the ball, and always wanting to win. City's director of football Txiki Begiristain praised Marmoush's "outstanding pace and awareness" and his versatility. Marmoush's career began with Wadi Degla in Egypt before moving to VfL Wolfsburg in 2020. He had loan spells at FC St Pauli and VfB Stuttgart before joining Frankfurt, where he scored 37 goals and […]

Kylian Mbappe has attributed his recent improvement at Real Madrid to a mental transformation, following initial struggles after his high-profile transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. The French forward, who experienced inconsistent form in his early months at Madrid, has recently rediscovered his peak performance. "You always have to be calm and focus on your game and what you can improve," Mbappe stated at a press conference before Madrid's Champions League match with RB Salzburg. After missing crucial penalties against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao in late 2024, Mbappe acknowledged hitting "the bottom." However, he has since rebounded impressively, scoring eight goals in his last ten appearances across all competitions. "It was more of a mental thing... I knew I was good physically, good with the team, but I had to do more," Mbappe explained. "I didn't come to Madrid to play badly. […]