Barcelona presidential candidate Xavier Vilajoana has cast doubt upon the future of Marcus Rashford at the club, claiming that the Catalan giants should consider in-house alternatives before paying €30million (£26m/$35.3m) to sign the England international permanently from Manchester United. Rashford has registered 10 goals and 13 assists in a strong loan spell, but Vilajoana suggested Mallorca's Jan Virgili on a buy-back clause as a possible alternative.

Real Madrid are reportedly lining up a move for Borussia Dortmund and Germany centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck in the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old's current contract expires in 2027 and Los Blancos are keen to improve their options in central defence. Schlotterbeck is valued at around €50 million and is also courting interest from Barcelona.

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has spoken of his desire to bring Lionel Messi back to the club to give him a proper farewell. The Argentine legend left Camp Nou in sad circumstances back in 2021, with the Catalan giants unable to agree a new contract due to financial constraints. He left for Paris Saint-Germain and currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

Manchester City have been tipped to edge out Arsenal in the Premier League title race due to a key difference between their two squads. The Gunners have handed momentum to City by failing to beat Brentford and Wolves in their last two matches and there is a growing expectation that Pep Guardiola's side will outlast Arsenal and finish on top, as they did in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

USMNT captain Tyler Adams returned to the Bournemouth starting XI Saturday afternoon, playing his first match since December after spending two months out with a knee injury. The midfielder managed 66 solid minutes in a central role as Andoni Iraola's side battled to a tough away draw with surging West Ham. He could be on track to make the U.S. squad for a duo of March friendlies.

Tammy Abraham has backed Aston Villa to remain in the Premier League title race and challenge leaders Arsenal, claiming Villa are still in with a chance and must "keep pushing" to hunt down the Gunners and Manchester City. Abraham's 88th-minute equaliser earned Unai Emery's side a 1-1 draw at home to Leeds United on Saturday and left the Villans seven points off the top before the top two return to action later in the weekend.

Honest Ahanor is just 17 years old - and yet on Sunday he started his fifth successive game for Atalanta, against Como. Unfortunately, Ahanor's afternoon came to an abrupt end - and quite literally by his own hand. Just eight minutes into the game at Sinigaglia, the defender was involved in an innocuous, off-the-ball clash with Maxi Perrone, who shamelessly collapsed to the ground as if Ahanor had struck him in the face.

Another transfer window and another highly-rated prospect is on their way to Chelsea. The club's youth policy has struck again, with the west Londoners landing 17-year-old full-back Yisa Alao from financially troubled Sheffield Wednesday. Despite his very limited experience at senior level, the teenager provoked a transfer tug-of-war between three Premier League giants, but it is the Blues who have emerged victorious.

Kazakhstan isn't a nation known for its love of football. That doesn't mean it's non-existent, however, and with a new teenage sensation emerging as one of the country's best players already, the nation sandwiched between Europe and Asia could be on the verge of a golden generation.

Vinicius Junior is said to have found Jose Mourinho’s response to the racism allegations that he levelled against Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni “repulsive”. Former Real Madrid manager Mourinho spoke with Brazil international Vinicius during an unscheduled break in play at Estadio da Luz. The Portuguese refused to condemn his player afterwards, leading to widespread criticism of the so-called ‘Special One’.

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has criticised Benfica manager Jose Mourinho for bringing Eusebio’s name into the Vinicius Junior racism row that has been sparked on the back of an eventful Champions League clash at Estadio da Luz. Ex-Real Madrid coach Mourinho has sought to defend his player, Gianluca Prestianni, and Portuguese supporters.

Real Madrid legend Keylor Navas has condemned the alleged racist abuse directed at Vinicius Jr during the midweek Champions League clash clash with Benfica. The veteran goalkeeper called for "strong punishment" against Gianluca Prestianni if the accusations prove to be correct to ensure such incidents never happen again.

Michel Platini is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers of all time. Playmaker, assister, goal-scorer: Platini was a complete player, capable of leaving an indelible mark on world football between the late 1970s and mid-1980s. He was the perfect No.10, embodying the true essence of the shirt number both then and now.

Modernising the role of a full-back 30 years ago, Roberto Carlos undoubtedly set the benchmark. A tactical genius and a physical specimen, the Real Madrid and Brazil legend won countless trophies at club and international level, contributing bucket loads of goals and assists. No one in the past, present or future can ever claim to be his equal - he was that good.

One of the best midfielders of his era, perhaps the greatest crosser of a football ever and a free-kick taker to rival the best the game has ever produced, David Beckham was a special player to say the least. And yet due to his off-field impact, one of the sport's great champions of the past 30 years is generally forgotten when it comes to referencing the true legends of the game.

Teddy Sheringham. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. "Football, bloody hell!" The 1999 Champions League final is one of the greatest dramas in the history of Bayern Munich. The German giants led for a long time in Barcelona before Manchester United snatched the trophy they thought was theirs in stoppage time. But according to one member of the Bayern team, he actually won that final. "Actually, I'm a Champions League winner," claims the latest member of GOAL's Rebel United, Mario Basler.

In 1969, at the age of 23, George Best wanted to focus solely on the essentials. Just football, just his job. So he turned his back on his two other great passions, alcohol and women. His sobering conclusion: "It was the worst 20 minutes of my life." A Manchester United legend, that quote sums up Bet's rebellious attitude towards football, and life in general.

Rebel United introduces players who prefer to swim against the tide, such as Barcelona and Spain legend Gerard Pique, who has achieved great significance beyond the pitch thanks to his Catalan pride and innovative spirit...

Robin Roefs' story reads like a fairy tale. The 22-year-old goalkeeper is only in his second season as a first-choice shot-stopper, and yet he is already considered one of the better No.1s in the Premier League. A place in the Netherlands' starting line-up at the World Cup is now not out of the question for the latest of GOAL's Hidden Gems.

On September 15, 2018, N'Golo Kante walked off the Stamford Bridge pitch, satisfied. As was often the case, the Frenchman had just covered every blade of grass over the course of the 90 minutes. And, as was so often the case, he was not one of the major speaking points at full-time. Not right away, at least.

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.