Lists

Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has shared a striking anecdote about Cristiano Ronaldo’s obsessive attention to detail during his brief time at Juventus. The Portuguese superstar, Marotta revealed, would even analyse bottles of water with club doctors to optimise his performance. His relentless focus on health and intelligence sets him apart, explaining why Ronaldo continues to excel at 40 with Al-Nassr.

Steven Gerrard has fired a stern warning to full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Liverpool legend revealed his own transfer links to Real Madrid when Jose Mourinho was managing the Spanish giants. Alexander-Arnold rejected a new contract from the Reds and parted ways with the club this summer to join Los Blancos for a meagre fee of £10 million ($13m).

Liverpool have confirmed that fans have successfully raised more than £225,000 in Diogo Jota's memory, with the club also revealing their plans to create a permanent memorial sculpture at Anfield. Jota tragically lost his life in a road traffic accident on July 3, 2025. He passed away, alongside his brother Andre Silva, while travelling to return to the United Kingdom for pre-season training.

Ronald Koeman has outlined his plans for the Netherlands’ upcoming World Cup qualifier against minnows Malta. The former Barcelona head coach confirmed that Memphis Depay, the Oranje’s all-time leading scorer, will not be in contention to start after arriving late to the national team’s training camp. The ex-Manchester United forward reported that his passport was stolen while in Brazil, causing a delay in his travel.

Columbus Crew captain Darlington Nagbe has announced he will retire at the end of the 2025 season, concluding an illustrious 15-year MLS career. The 35-year-old midfielder is among the most decorated players in league history, with four MLS Cup titles and the fifth-most regular-season appearances (444). He also has 25 USMNT caps.

Chelsea fans have accused Arsenal of sabotaging the Blues' renovations after news emerged of their Emirates Stadium expansion plans that would see the Gunners play at Wembley while the works are ongoing. Arsenal could be making a shock move to the national stadium, with a brief relocation to the home of English football being considered as part of plans to increase the capacity of their current home.

USMNT defender Alex Freeman faced Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Hero Kanu in a lighthearted cross-sport juggling challenge at the University of Texas athletic complex. The showdown highlighted the surprising footwork of the German-born football player against the refined technique of the rising American soccer prospect.

Embattled Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was dealt a crushing insult by LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari on Tuesday, when he gleefully compared her tenure to that of Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. Badenoch and Amorim both took on their respective roles in November 2024, and have presided over some of the worst results in the history of two of the UK's most successful institutions.

Senior executives at Manchester United are convinced that the squad is behind embattled head coach Ruben Amorim. CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox have held informal discussions with members of the senior leadership team, including Bruno Fernandes. Those conversations have left the hierarchy at Old Trafford convinced there is genuine support for Amorim.

Antoine Semenyo could be set for a reunion with Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, with the ex-Bournemouth chief considering signing the Ghanaian for the second time. Semenyo has displayed terrific form at the start of the 2025-26 season as he has scored six league goals and is just behind Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race.

West Ham have been told that they missed their chance to sign Jose Mourinho as their head coach, but they have signed the next best option in Nuno Espirito Santo, who has replaced Graham Potter at the helm. The Hammers made a disastrous start to the 2025-26 campaign as they lost four out of their first five Premier League matches and were languishing in 19th position.

Crystal Palace hero Jean-Philippe Mateta has hinted he could leave the club in the near future as he wants to compete for the "Champions League and the biggest trophies". Mateta has displayed sublime form for Palace in recent years, having scored 30 Premier League goals in the last two seasons. The Frenchman also played a key role in the Eagles winning the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in the final.

Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale believes MLS would be more appealing if salaries for international stars matched what they could earn in Europe. He added that the league’s infrastructure and life in major North American cities are otherwise major selling points. Bale had a brief but successful stint with Los Angeles FC, lifting the MLS Cup in 2022.

After a heartbreaking loss in the Champions League final against Arsenal last season, Barcelona have made it their mission to regain the European crown as they kicked off the new campaign with a thumping 7-1 win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati contributed with an assist while Alexia Putellas scored the opening goal of the match.

Adrien Rabiot has branded Serie A’s plan to stage AC Milan’s league clash with Como in Australia as “completely crazy” and “truly absurd.” UEFA has “reluctantly” approved the move amid global regulatory loopholes, but the Frenchman slammed the idea of flying across continents for domestic matches, calling it “beyond reason.”

Barcelona have reportedly come under investigation for allegedly avoiding taxes linked to the signing of Brazilian winger Malcom in 2018. The club are accused of paying €10 million to intermediaries for “non-existent” services, with police also probing former president Josep Maria Bartomeu and several ex-executives for financial misconduct.

Luka Modric has been hailed as "an inspiration" and "a true example for everyone" by his AC Milan midfield partner Adrien Rabiot. The Croatian midfielder, who joined as a free agent after spending 13 years at Real Madrid, has had a phenomenal start to life at the San Siro, with the Rossoneri emerging as early contenders to win the Serie A this season.

Joao Palhinha has hit out at Bayern Munich for denying him the chances he “deserved,” describing his time in Germany as one of frustration and lost rhythm. The Portugal international, now thriving on loan at Tottenham, says he feels “happy and trusted” again as he enjoys a fresh chapter in familiar Premier League surroundings.

Former Juventus and Netherlands winger Eljero Elia explained after he survived a terrifying car crash on the A4 motorway in Netherlands after wrecking his €300,000 Lamborghini. The 38-year-old’s luxury car collided with two others near Leiden, leaving the vehicles badly damaged. Fortunately, no one suffered serious injuries as police launched an investigation into the incident.

Kylian Mbappe’s mother, Fayza Lamari, has opened up on the emotional cost of her son’s fame, revealing how life in Paris “no longer felt human” under the relentless spotlight. Speaking candidly about the pressures that came with superstardom, she reflected on the loneliness, media obsession and the moment she realised her son had “slipped away” during his Paris Saint-Germain years.

Barcelona sporting director Deco has suggested they will not sign a new striker to replace Robert Lewandowski, calling it “a mistake” to be obsessed with a No.9. Amid ongoing links to Erling Haaland and Serhou Guirassy, Deco insisted that Barca should focus on renewal and internal stability instead of pursuing high-profile transfers.

Kingsley Coman has once again been called up by France boss Didier Deschamps for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches this month after the winger left Bayern Munich in the summer to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. The 29-year-old has defended the coach's decision to keep him in the squad, claiming he is just as good as he was when called up as an injury replacement in September.

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has hailed Vincent Kompany as the "perfect coach" for the reigning Bundesliga champions and explained why the team has enjoyed a terrific start to the 2025-26 season. The Bavarian giants have been in impeccable form, winning 10 games out of 10 and scoring goals for fun despite early fears that the squad didn't have enough depth.

Borussia Dortmund are set to offer Nico Schlotterbeck a huge new contract that could triple his wages as they look to secure his long-term future amid renewed Bayern Munich interest. The German defender, seen as a future captain and leader of the club, remains calm about his decision despite Dortmund’s push to extend his deal until 2030.

Real Madrid are preparing two key bargain signings for 2026 as part of a long-term squad rejuvenation plan. The Spanish giants are monitoring Stuttgart midfielder Chema Andres, viewed as a potential successor to Aurelien Tchouameni, while also finalising plans to bring back Nico Paz from Como. Both moves could cost under €20 million combined.

Barcelona have created a detailed recovery plan to ensure Lamine Yamal is fully fit for the upcoming Clasico against Real Madrid. The 18-year-old winger has been battling a groin injury but continues to train individually under strict supervision. The club aim to gradually reintroduce him to the team by limiting his playing time in the build up to the showdown against Madrid.

Villarreal have unveiled plans to fly fans to Miami for their La Liga clash against Barcelona, offering free travel for supporters attending the December 20 fixture. CEO Fernando Roig Negueroles defended the controversial move, insisting the game is “about image and the future, not business,” as UEFA reluctantly approved Spain’s first-ever domestic match staged abroad.

Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is hoping he is not the man between the posts when the Catalan giants take on Real Madrid in the highly-anticipated Clasico later this month. Instead, the veteran shot stopper hopes that the injured Joan Garcia is fit in time for the trip to the Santiago Bernabeu as he talked up the world-class potential of the summer signing.

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has revealed that his name has been spelled incorrectly since his early days at Sao Paulo and he never changed it out of superstition. The Brazilian explained how a one-time printing error led to a career-long identity that stuck with him across Real Madrid, Brazil and Manchester United.