Former Manchester City star Scott Sinclair has been labelled as a "piece of sh*t" by ex-partner and Coronation Street actor Helen Flanagan after the 36-year-old missed their son's nativity to attend the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Flanagan took to social media to slam the footballer, whom she has since unfollowed on Instagram, for his insensitivity.

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was forced off during the 2-0 win over Brighton after suffering an ankle injury, prompting concerns over his availability during the hectic Christmas schedule. The Hungary international has been one of the Reds' leading performers in an otherwise disappointing Premier League title defence so far and there are doubts over his availability for Saturday's trip to Tottenham.

United Kingdom prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned Roman Abramovich "the clock is ticking" for the former Chelsea owner to donate £2.5 billion ($3.35bn) of the sale of the Blues to Ukraine. The Russian oligarch pledged to give the proceeds of the transaction to the people of Ukraine back in 2022, having been forced to sell the club after being sanctioned following Vladimir Putin's invasion earlier that year.

Former Wolves starlet Ethan McLeod has tragically died in a car crash at the age of just 21. The youngster was travelling back from a National League North game with current side Macclesfield Town at Bedford Town when his car collided with a barrier on the M11 motorway. Macclesfield have confirmed McLeod's passing and offered their condolences to his family and friends.

Bruno Fernandes has shed light on his relationship with "very serious" Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, who has converted him into a holding midfielder since replacing Erik ten Hag at the helm. Five goals and seven assists in 16 Premier League appearances this season underline Fernandes' enduring influence, helped by the building of "boundaries" between him and Amorim.

Manchester City have offered an update on the club's 115 FFP charges amid talk a verdict could be returned imminently. The Cityzens are still yet to discover if they will face sanctions after being slapped with the charges for allegedly breaching financial rules during a nine year period between 2009 and 2018. A hearing concluded over a year ago but a verdict is still yet to be announced.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has shared his thoughts on whether the Portugal national team is better off without veteran talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. The legendary forward turned 40 back in February but is aiming to play a key role for his team at World Cup 2026. There have been suggestions that Portugal may be stronger without their ageing superstar, who only scored once in five games at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Ruben Amorim has been told he only has two players who rank above "average" at Manchester United. Their chaotic 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on Monday night felt like a microcosm of Amorim’s reign so far. There was attacking intent and moments of genuine quality, but also defensive fragility, lapses in concentration and an inability to manage key moments. United led three times, looked to have landed the knockout blow late on, and still contrived to let victory slip away.

Barcelona are preparing to open fresh contract talks with Hansi Flick just months after his last renewal, as club president Joan Laporta looks to lock down the German tactician for the long term following a strong start to the campaign.

How to get tickets to witness Barca and Madrid’s legendary rivalry in the flesh on October 26

Barcelona wonderkid Sama Nomoko has been ruled out for 12 months after a devastating injury blow. The 17-year-old winger suffered the setback during a UEFA Youth League match against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Estadi Johan Cruyff last week.

New Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ciria has vowed to do "whatever it takes" to bring club legend Lionel Messi back to Camp Nou. The club are due to hold presidential elections in 2026, with Ciria having thrown his hat into the ring alongside current chief Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Xavi Vilajoana. Ciria claims Barcelona "need" Messi back but stopped short of clarifying what kind of role the Argentina star could take up.

Barcelona star Raphinha's wife has been left furious after seeing her husband overlooked once again. The forward is a notable omission from The Best FIFA XI that has just been announced and was also previously excluded from the FifPro World XI. The decision to overlook the Brazilian once again comes as a real surprise after he played a key role for Barcelona last season as Hansi Flick's side won La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup titles.

Hansi Flick has explained his shock decision to hand Marc-Andre ter Stegen a first start in months, insisting the veteran goalkeeper deserved the "opportunity" to step back between the sticks. The Barcelona boss hailed the German’s attitude after a morale-boosting victory, though he was quick to clarify the keeper’s immediate status in the pecking order.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is reportedly 'open' to joining MLS side the Chicago Fire on a free transfer at the end of the season. The 37-year-old has held positive talks with the club about a potential move after his contract with Hansi Flick's side expires. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami have also been credited with interest in Lewandowski but may now miss out on the goalscoring great.

Despite a stellar season with Barcelona, Brazil star Raphinha was not included in the FIFA Men's World XI team announced in Doha. He was on the 11-player shortlist for the main award after an impressive season that saw him score 18 goals and provide 10 assists in La Liga, but didn’t make it into the team for one of the most prestigious awards of the season.

Enzo Maresca has been urged to stay "quiet" if he wants to avoid being sacked after appearing to criticise the Chelsea board following Saturday's 2-0 victory over Everton. The Italian head coach described the build-up to the Premier League fixture as his "worst 48 hours" at the club, raising plenty of questions over who the comment was aimed at.

Sports presenter Laura Woods has revealed how she was left terrified and anxious after being targeted by a 'relentless' stalker. She suffered for three years before the perpetrator was eventually handed a 14-month jail term and a restraining order banning her from going near Woods' home. Woods has opened up on her ordeal in a candid interview and explained the impact it has had on her life.

GOAL has complete guide to Champions League top scorers in 2025-26 with the prestigious Golden Boot on the line.

Aurelio De Laurentiis has launched a passionate defence of Jose Mourinho following Napoli's Champions League defeat to Benfica. The Napoli president slammed critics who believe the Portuguese tactician is 'finished', claiming that European football culture seeks to 'bury' winners out of envy, whereas they would be celebrated as icons in the United States.

Bernardo Silva has warned Manchester City stars that they face being "killed", in a sporting sense, if they fail to win trophies in 2025-26. Under Pep Guardiola, the Blues have grown accustomed to collecting major silverware. They missed out on the grandest of prizes last season and are aware that more tough decisions will be made if they come up short again.

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has hit out at the refereeing decision that cost his side dearly against Liverpool in the Champions League. The Argentine striker labelled the late penalty award for holding as an "injustice" and insisted that football would become unplayable if every shirt pull resulted in a spot-kick, while also reaffirming his desire to win everything this season.

Bayern Munich legends Oliver Kahn and Dietmar Hamann have delivered a damning verdict on Xabi Alonso’s tumultuous start at Real Madrid. Kahn argues the Spaniard’s tactical obsession clashes with the club’s DNA, while Hamann claims the squad are now 'untrainable' after Vinicius Jr was allowed to undermine the manager’s authority.

Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham has been defended by Ruud Gullit, who claims the 22-year-old is the best player Los Blancos have, and that he is the 'victim' of a lack of industry by his team-mates. Bellingham cut a frustrated figure at full-time as Real were defeated 2-1 at home by Manchester City in the Champions League, but former Ballon d'Or winner Gullit has hit back at renewed criticism of the Englishman's attitude.

Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah has been tipped to make a shock return to Serie A as Reds legend opens up on 'solution' to the Egyptian's transfer saga. After slamming the club and manager Arne Slot publicly for keeping him out of Liverpool's starting lineup following their clash against Leeds, Salah returned to action against Brighton last weekend.

English defender Archie Brown faces a humiliating exit from Fenerbahce just months after his high-profile summer switch to the Turkish giants. The 22-year-old famously snubbed a move to AC Milan to join Jose Mourinho’s revolution in Istanbul, but with the Portuguese manager having already departed and new head coach Domenico Tedesco swinging the axe, Brown’s Turkish adventure appears to be over before it truly began.

Manchester United have been advised to explore a transfer move for USMNT star Christian Pulisic, with the AC Milan talisman being told that he could become one of the most famous American players ever if he moved to Old Trafford. Ex-Red Devils defender Paul Parker has explained to GOAL why a raid on San Siro for a Premier League-proven forward makes sense.

Anyone that manages to carve out a career for themselves in professional football is ridiculously talented. The standard at the highest level is just so high that it is simply impossible to 'fake it 'til you make it'. However, not everyone is as prodigiously gifted as Lionel Messi or Lamine Yamal. Your average player will require some time to get to grips with the rigours of the elite game.

Mason Greenwood faces the prospect of losing one of his most trusted allies at Marseille this January, with reports from Italy suggesting Juventus are ready to launch a move for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The Serie A giants, now managed by Luciano Spalletti, have identified the Danish international as the ideal midfielder to dictate play in Turin, leaving Roberto De Zerbi fighting to keep his squad intact.

AC Milan are reportedly weighing up a January swoop for struggling West Ham United striker Niclas Fullkrug as sporting director Igli Tare looks to provide manager Massimiliano Allegri with a physical focal point in attack. The German international has failed to settle in London since joining from Borussia Dortmund and is understood to be keen on an immediate exit, though a return to the Bundesliga remains an option.

The USMNT Transfer Notebook tracks American player movements, with the latest developments for those in the U.S. national team pool.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.