Thierry Henry has showered Lamine Yamal with praise, comparing the Barcelona teenager's "fearless" attitude and bold confidence to a young Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite the Blaugrana’s aggregate exit from the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid, the 18-year-old backed up his pre-match promises by scoring early at the Metropolitano to briefly ignite hopes of a historic comeback.
Frenkie de Jong has hit out at the officiating following Barcelona's painful Champions League exit, insisting the Catalan giants were the better side over two legs against Atletico Madrid. The Dutch midfielder believes "every detail" went against Hansi Flick's men as their European dreams were extinguished at the Metropolitano.
Antoine Griezmann has admitted that his own individual errors nearly cost Atletico Madrid dearly in their dramatic Champions League quarter-final second leg clash against Barcelona. Despite the Frenchman’s uncharacteristic lapses in possession, Diego Simeone’s side managed to edge the tie 3-2 on aggregate to secure their spot in the final four.
Diego Simeone expressed his deep emotion as Atletico Madrid overcame "Lamine Yamal's Barcelona" to secure their first Champions League semi-final berth since 2017. The Argentine tactician hailed his side’s enduring competitive spirit across his 14-year tenure and reserved special praise for the "genius" of departing forward Antoine Griezmann.
Jude Bellingham has opened up on the tactical challenges of sharing the pitch with superstars Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid. Ahead of a season-defining Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich, the England international admitted that finding a cohesive rhythm with two naturally left-sided attackers is not always straightforward.
Raphinha has launched a scathing attack on the match officials, claiming Barcelona were "robbed" during their Champions League exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid. Despite a spirited 2-1 victory at the Metropolitano, the Catalan giants fell 3-2 on aggregate as Eric Garcia’s late red card compounded a night of officiating controversy in Madrid.
Liverpool have emerged as one of only three elite clubs capable of triggering a secret release clause in Nico Schlotterbeck's new Borussia Dortmund contract. The German international recently committed his future to BVB until 2031, but the deal includes specific provisions that could see him head to Anfield or the Santiago Bernabeu as early as this summer.
Kylian Mbappe has suggested that football's current "era of excessive consumption" is making it impossible for elite players to maintain peak performance. The Real Madrid superstar expressed his deep gratitude for his career but admitted that expectations have become unrealistic at the top level.
Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are all considered to be Ballon d’Or-worthy talents, but who will be the next Englishman to win the prestigious Golden Ball? Former Three Lions midfielder Gareth Barry has delivered his verdict to GOAL, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid superstars eager to be recognised as the best player on the planet.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s contract extension at Borussia Dortmund includes a controversial “dream club” release clause that has sparked debate among fans. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus believes the clause is logical for an ambitious player and could even benefit Dortmund financially if Real Madrid or another giant comes calling.
From an individual perspective, Kylian Mbappe's free transfer to Real Madrid in 2024 has been a roaring success. The insatiable French forward has hit a staggering 83 goals across his first 97 appearances for Los Blancos, including 39 across all competitions in the current campaign - a total bettered only by Bayern Munich's Harry Kane among all the players in Europe's top five leagues.
Ivan Rakitic has leapt to the defence of Lamine Yamal amid growing scrutiny over the teenager’s behaviour and comments. The former Barcelona midfielder insists the young star should be allowed to express himself while continuing to develop on the biggest stage.
Paulo Fonseca has revealed that his recent public critique of Endrick was a deliberate tactic designed to spark a reaction from the Brazil international. The Real Madrid loanee responded emphatically during Lyon’s 2-0 Ligue 1 victory over Lorient, playing a pivotal role in both goals after being challenged by his manager to take more responsibility on the pitch.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has expressed his hope that Neymar will represent Brazil at the 2026 World Cup. The Spain international described the veteran forward as his "idol" and one of football’s most inspiring entertainers.
Manchester City have been offered transfer advice when it comes to Rodri, with it possible that he could be replaced by “the best holding midfielder in England”. Real Madrid continue to be linked with a Ballon d’Or-winning star at the Etihad Stadium, with Gareth Barry telling GOAL what he would like to see happen in the summer window of 2026.
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has appeared at a London court to formally enter a plea regarding fresh allegations of sexual assault. The 32-year-old, who now plays his club football in Spain, pleaded not guilty to the latest charges brought against him during a hearing on Monday, adding to a complex ongoing legal case that involves multiple alleged victims.
Former Manchester United and Juventus full-back Patrice Evra has claimed that Barcelona are "not capable" of overturning a 2-0 aggregate deficit in their Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid. The Blaugrana faithful have been talking up the prospect of a sensational 'Remontada' (Spanish for 'comeback') in the second leg at the Metropolitano, but Evra feels they are no longer the same European powerhouse he played against during his career.
Real Madrid are reportedly planning to sell a promising first-team star so that Endrick can be reintegrated into the squad after his loan spell at Lyon ends. The Brazil international has enjoyed a resurgence since joining the Ligue 1 club in January and will be given a second chance at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.
FC Barcelona looks set to suffer a setback in their bid to sign Victor Munoz. Of all teams, it is Real Madrid who appear to be throwing a spanner in the works.
Barcelona's frustration during and after Wednesday night's Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid was perfectly understandable. The Blaugrana had been the better side in the first leg of the quarter-final tie at Camp Nou - and that was in spite of the fact that they had played more than half the game with 10 men following Pau Cubarsi's straight red card just before the break.
Real Madrid are concerned about Kylian Mbappé. Just days before the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, the forward had to cut short a training session.
Two European heavyweights are tracking Borussia Dortmund’s Italian youth international Samuele Inacio, according to transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio.
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