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Manchester United have been warned off a stunning transfer swoop for Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. The Brazil international has been making headlines again of late and former Red Devils defender Paul Parker considers the South American to be a “rage baiter”. He is not convinced that Jarrod Bowen should be taken to Old Trafford either, but would like to see a deal done for Aston Villa playmaker Morgan Rogers.

Jamie Vardy has long been established as one of the most unique characters in English football history, but new revelations from a former teammate have shed light on the sheer scale of his unconventional lifestyle. The Leicester City legend has never made a secret of his affinity for energy drinks. However, current Strasbourg defender Ben Chilwell has now detailed just how extreme the striker's habits became during their shared time at the King Power Stadium.

Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen has found himself at the centre of a social media storm after sharing offensive content to the Asian community. The 20-year-old Spain international sparked immediate backlash after reposting an image on his Instagram that featured derogatory comments. The controversial post, which has since been scrubbed from his profile, included a picture of an Asian person accompanied by captions that Chinese netizens slammed as racist.

It was the most hotly-anticipated north London derby since their Champions League showdown of 2022. Arsenal, off the back of two hugely disappointing draws at Brentford and Wolves, suddenly had reason to fear entering the den of rivals Tottenham. Spurs, in theory, were about to be buoyed by a 'new manager bounce' brought about by the appointment of Igor Tudor as head coach, who replaced the unpopular Thomas Frank.

Roberto Martinez maintains that Cristiano Ronaldo should be considered football’s GOAT regardless of whether he leads Portugal to World Cup glory or not. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is yet to get his hands on the most prestigious of international prizes, but will get another shot at that title in 2026. Martinez sees the evergreen frontman being under no pressure to deliver.

Kylian Mbappe has emerged victorious in his lengthy legal dispute with Paris Saint-Germain after the Ligue 1 champions officially decided not to appeal a court ruling ordering them to pay their former star €61 million. The Real Madrid forward had been locked in a bitter stalemate with his former employers over unpaid wages and various contractual bonuses that were withheld during his final months at the Parc des Princes. The conclusion of the case marks the end of a saga that shadowed Mbappe’s blockbuster move to the Spanish capital last summer.

AC Milan bypassed the traditional glitz of social media teasers and marketing campaigns by springing a major surprise on the San Siro faithful during Sunday’s Serie A clash against Parma. With 73,000 fans watching on, the Rossoneri opted for an unconventional reveal of their brand-new 2025-26 fourth kit, which was hidden until the very moment the players emerged from the tunnel. Led by USMNT talisman Christian Pulisic, the squad stepped out under the floodlights sporting a bold new look that caught the supporters completely off guard.

Arne Slot has delivered a brutally honest verdict on the role that teen sensation Rio Ngumoha has to play in Liverpool’s first-team squad. The exciting 17-year-old forward has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2025-26, recording his first senior goal, and many are calling for the youngster to see more game time as fellow wingers Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo struggle to find a spark.

Benfica boss Jose Mourinho has remained tight-lipped regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding Gianluca Prestianni’s alleged racial abuse of Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior. As the Eagles prepare for a pivotal Champions League second-leg showdown at the Bernabeu, 'the Special One' insists his squad's focus remains entirely on their professional duties on the pitch.

The suspicion was that the Premier League title race was about to take a very dramatic turn after Manchester City drew to within two points of an increasingly nervy Arsenal on Saturday. However, the Gunners responded in the best possible fashion by routing north London rivals Tottenham the following day to keep their bid for a first championship success since 2004 very much on track.

Real Madrid find themselves at the centre of a brewing storm regarding the management of teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono. Despite arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu with a massive reputation and a €45 million price tag last summer, the 18-year-old has suddenly become a forgotten man in the Spanish capital. The situation reached a boiling point following Los Blancos' disappointing 2-1 defeat to Osasuna. head coach Alvaro Arbeloa opted not to use the youngster even as his side chased an equaliser in the dying stages of the match.

Neymar has endured a so-called “disaster” with Santos that could leave his World Cup dreams with Brazil hanging by a thread. The Samba superstar has returned to action in his homeland, having recovered from a knee operation, but failed to sparkle early in 2026. He needs to convince Selecao boss Carlo Ancelotti that he is deserving of an international recall.

Legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has given an insight into why Andre Onana flopped so badly at the club. Van der Sar, who won four Premier League titles and reached three Champions League finals with the Red Devils, knew the Cameroon international well from his time as Ajax's CEO and fully expected him to be a success at Old Trafford.

Dick Advocaat has resigned from his role as head coach of Curacao with immediate effect. The 78-year-old veteran had led the Caribbean nation to a fairytale qualification for the 2026 World Cup, but he will not be in the dugout when the tournament kicks off in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer. The legendary Dutch tactician has made the difficult decision to step away from the game to focus on his family during a challenging period.

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.

The magic of the Clasico travelled across the Atlantic at the weekend as Los Angeles played host to a star-studded exhibition between Barca and Real Madrid Legends. While the competitive fires may have dimmed since their professional heydays, the technical quality on display at the BMO Stadium proved that class is indeed permanent. In a contest that balanced high-level nostalgia with genuine entertainment, the two Spanish giants fought out a 1-1 draw in front of a captivated American audience.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta claims that Lionel Messi refused to greet him when both men attended the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony. Argentine icon Messi was, on the back of his World Cup triumph with Argentina, the star of the show that night as he collected a record-extending eighth Golden Ball. He had no desire to meet up with a familiar face from Camp Nou.

Jamie Redknapp has launched a scathing attack on his former club Tottenham, branding them a "horrendous" outfit that has undergone a "personality bypass" following their humiliating 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Arsenal. The north London derby was less of a contest and more of a coronation for the Gunners, as Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres both bagged braces to leave Spurs languishing just four points above the Premier League trapdoor.

Ex-USMNT and MLS star Tab Ramos has told GOAL that a stunning transfer which unites Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at Inter Miami could happen, but has explained why said switch could become a “mess”. A remarkable switch to the United States for Portuguese icon CR7 has been mooted on the back of strike action that he recently took in the Saudi Pro League.

Mexican football has been plunged into a state of uncertainty following the news that several high-profile fixtures have been postponed due to a major security crisis. The decision to call off the matches came swiftly after the Mexican army killed the leader of one of the country's most powerful drug cartels in a town situated just two hours from Guadalajara, a key host city for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The death of the high-ranking figure has sparked immediate concerns over public safety across multiple states.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot pulled no punches after his side snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest, admitting that his team delivered their poorest showing of the season. Despite Alexis Mac Allister’s 97th-minute heroics, the Dutchman was visibly frustrated by a performance that was labelled a "horror show" by former Reds captain Jamie Carragher.

Sam Cox, a star of the hit Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso, has been sacked as head coach of National League side Wealdstone after just eight months at the helm. The 35-year-old, who plays fictional West Ham star Armando on the small screen, was handed the reins at Grosvenor Vale in June 2025. He has been unable to steer the Stones away from relegation danger.

Endrick’s highly anticipated loan spell at Lyon hit a major stumbling block this weekend. After arriving from Real Madrid with immense expectations, the Brazilian prodigy initially took Ligue 1 by storm. However, Sunday's lacklustre display against Strasbourg caused some concern, leaving manager Paulo Fonseca thoroughly unimpressed as he searches for immediate tactical solutions to unlock the teenager.

Hansi Flick has responded to Lamine Yamal’s angry reaction to being substituted during Barcelona’s victory over Levante. There were only two minutes of the 90 remaining when the teenage wonderkid saw his number held up, but he was still disappointed at having to trudge towards the touchline. His manager claims to have no issue with a show of petulance from the 18-year-old.

Arsenal forward Olivia Smith was stretchered from the field and taken to hospital when suffering a worrying head injury during the Gunners’ Women’s FA Cup clash with Bristol City. The Canadian star was rushed away for medical checks, having received lengthy treatment on the field. A full diagnosis is yet to be delivered, but Arsenal are “hopeful” that the knock is not too serious.

Raheem Sterling has made his first competitive appearance in nine months, having left Chelsea and completed a shock move to Eredivisie outfit Feyenoord. The 31-year-old forward is pleased to be back on the pitch and will take things slowly for the remainder of the season. That means no thought has been given to a potential England recall in this World Cup year.

Wolves have shared appalling racist abuse aimed at striker Tolu Arokodare online after the club's defeat to Crystal Palace. Arokodare missed a penalty as his team were beaten 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon, and Wolves have published screenshots of the abuse he received on social media, with the 25-year-old also issuing his own statement.

England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is set to undergo surgery after sustaining a horror injury in AC Milan's Serie A clash with Parma. The former Chelsea ace has sustained a fracture of the alveolar bone that forms and supports the sockets of the teeth, a serious injury that could lead to a lengthy lay-off.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, as two major names returned from injury