Alejandro Garnacho appears to have aimed a pointed dig at parent club Chelsea after making his debut for Aston Villa during their pre-season tour in Jakarta. The Argentine winger, who completed a loan move to Villa Park this summer, suggested he is finally finding happiness again away from west London.
The MLS All-Star Game showcased Charlotte’s soccer growth. With a $1.3 billion Bank of America Stadium overhaul underway, the Queen City wants to build on it.
Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho was left in awe of Moise Kean’s physical prowess following a pulsating 2-2 pre-season draw against Fiorentina. The Portuguese tactician admitted his young defenders struggled to cope with the sheer strength of the former Juventus striker during the encounter in Austria.
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has hailed new manager Enzo Maresca as the "perfect" successor to Pep Guardiola as the Premier League champions begin a new era. The Italian coach has big shoes to fill after the legendary Catalan departed the Etihad Stadium following a trophy-laden decade in charge of the club.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has offered a surprisingly blunt assessment of Karim Adeyemi's first appearance in a Blaugrana shirt following a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City. The German tactician admitted the debut was underwhelming but remains confident that the former Borussia Dortmund man has significantly more to offer.
Tottenham secured a dramatic 2-1 pre-season victory over London rivals Chelsea at Accor Stadium despite playing almost the entire second half with ten men. Richarlison poked home a last-minute winner after Xabi Alonso's side had dominated the contest following Kevin Danso's controversial sending off.
Marcus Rashford has been left out of Manchester United's pre-season squad to face Atletico Madrid in Stockholm as he completes a mandatory rest period following the World Cup. The forward is taking his three-week post-tournament break after representing England in North America, keeping him sidelined from early friendly preparations.
Inter manager Cristian Chivu has hailed new signing John Stones for his "charisma" and quality ahead of a prestigious pre-season clash against Manchester City. The Romanian coach insists the England defender will elevate the squad's standards while confirming that the Italian giants remain attentive to further opportunities in the transfer market.
Son Heung-Min scored twice, and the MLS All-Stars overcame some rocky defending to beat the Liga MX All-Stars 4-3 in a chaotic back-and-forth contest. The LAFC man was dominant in his 35 minutes of action, but Dean Smith's side struggled as they rotated and required some late heroics in defense to see off a Liga MX outfit that improved as the game wore on.
Mathys Tel stole the limelight in Australia with a spectacular long-range strike as Tottenham Hotspur continued their pre-season preparations. Despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Sydney FC, Roberto De Zerbi's side triumphed 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out to secure their third victory of the summer.
Mateus Fernandes' absence from Tottenham's clash with Sydney FC has been explained after rumours the £85m summer signing had suffered an injury. The Portuguese midfielder, who recently completed a high-profile move from London rivals West Ham, had featured in both of Spurs' opening pre-season fixtures before being sidelined for the clash at Allianz Stadium.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed he is recovering after being admitted to hospital for a heart procedure. The 64-year-old was forced to cancel his planned trip to England to join the club’s pre-season training camp following the detection of an arrhythmia.
Joao Pedro scored a dramatic late hat-trick as Xabi Alonso kicked off his Chelsea tenure with a chaotic 6-4 pre-season victory over Western Sydney Wanderers. The Blues showed incredible attacking flair in a 10-goal thriller, but defensive vulnerabilities left the new manager with plenty to ponder.
Chelsea starlet Jesse Derry marked a memorable start to his loan spell with Sporting CP by scoring a sensational goal in a 2–0 pre-season victory over AS Monaco. The 19-year-old winger, who has joined the Portuguese side on a season-long loan, capped the moment by mimicking Cole Palmer's iconic 'cold' celebration.
Mason Mount has lavished praise on Manchester United's new signing Andrey Santos, describing the Brazilian youngster as a "brilliant" addition to the squad. The former Chelsea captain has taken his fellow ex-Blues star under his wing after the pair impressed during a dominant pre-season display against Rosenborg in Norway.
Manchester United fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of JJ Gabriel, the 15-year-old sensation dubbed 'Kid Messi' within the club's Carrington academy. While the teenager travelled with the senior squad for their recent friendly in Norway, Michael Carrick opted to keep the youngster on the bench, leaving supporters wondering exactly when the starlet will finally pull on the famous red shirt for his competitive debut.
Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds has described the club's upcoming pre-season friendly against Liverpool at Yankee Stadium as a "punch me moment" as the Welsh side’s incredible rise reaches new heights in New York. The Hollywood star is preparing to watch his Championship outfit take on the Premier League giants in one of the world's most iconic sporting venues.
Lionel Messi will once again be the notable absentee from the MLS All-Star Game this week in Charlotte, but the Inter Miami superstar is set to avoid the disciplinary action that followed his withdrawal last year. Despite being named to the roster for the showpiece event against the Liga MX All-Stars, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has been granted special leave alongside international team-mate Rodrigo De Paul.
Andoni Iraola has provided a definitive update on when Liverpool fans can expect to see big-money summer signing Jeremy Jacquet in action for the first time, speaking in the aftermath of a bittersweet afternoon in Nashville. While the Reds secured a 4-2 pre-season victory over Sunderland, their United States tour took a concerning turn after the win was marred by a significant injury blow to defensive mainstay Joe Gomez.
Ruben Amorim has warned that his AC Milan revolution will take time after admitting his players are still struggling to grasp his tactical demands. Speaking after a cagey pre-season draw against Celtic in Glasgow, the former Manchester United boss highlighted a significant learning curve for his new squad.
Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel was left waiting for his senior debut despite being named in the squad for a 5-0 pre-season win over Rosenborg. The highly rated teenager responded with a brief social media message that has only added to the intrigue surrounding his rapid rise.
Manchester United have signaled their intent to fast-track one of the most exciting talents in English football by naming 15-year-old winger JJ Gabriel in the senior squad for Friday's friendly against Rosenborg. The teenager, who has been a revelation at youth level, joins Michael Carrick’s 25-man traveling party for the clash in Trondheim as the Red Devils continue their pre-season preparations.
Ange Postecoglou's opening game in charge of Al-Nassr ended in embarrassment after the Saudi champions were beaten by Benfica's B team in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Lisbon. The result offered an early test for the Australian coach as he begins building his squad for the new campaign, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing the pre-season opener.
Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been given an immediate glimpse of why the club sanctioned a massive £85 million summer move for Mateus Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder marked his first appearance in a Spurs shirt with a goal of incredible quality during a pre-season clash on Wednesday.
Manchester United are preparing to unleash one of their most exciting youth prospects in years during their upcoming pre-season clash with Rosenborg. Teenage sensation JJ Gabriel looks set to finally make his senior bow as the club manages his transition into the professional environment.
