Lists

Adrien Rabiot’s strong criticism of Serie A’s decision to stage AC Milan’s clash with Como in Australia has sparked a fiery response from league CEO Luigi De Siervo. The executive hit back, urging the French midfielder to “respect the money he earns” and “just play football,” defending the move as necessary to promote Italian football globally.

Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich are drawing plaudits across Europe after a flawless start to the season. Former Germany star Matthias Sammer hailed the ex-Manchester City captain for his calm authority and leadership, saying Bayern have become “untouchable” under his guidance, echoing similar praise from Philipp Lahm recently, crediting Kompany for restoring stability and dominance at the club.

Stuttgart midfielder Chema Andres has drawn comparisons to Rodri following his impressive start in Germany, with rumours now stating that Real Madrid are considering re-signing him next summer. While the former Real Madrid youngster is "privileged" to be compared to the Manchester City midfielder, he is not particularly a big fan of the comparisons.

Borussia Dortmund have been keeping a close eye on Ecuadorian wonderkid Justin Lerma since striking a deal to sign the teenager back in 2024. The young sensation is set to join the Bundesliga giants next summer once he turns 18 in a €4 million deal and the club's current plan is to immediately thrust him into the senior team after being impressed by his performances in his homeland.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has vowed not to take any risks with Lionel Messi during the October international friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Messi is doubtful for the Venezuela clash, which will be played on Saturday, only a day before Inter Miami face Atlanta United in a crucial MLS fixture. He will link up with his Argentine team-mates after playing seven matches in 21 days.

Joao Felix’s Saudi Arabian adventure has started with fireworks and controversy over his decision. The 25-year-old former Benfica prodigy sparked debate over his career direction when he joined Al-Nassr in July while former team Benfica were chasing him. However, coach Jorge Jesus insists the move was the right call, claiming the Saudi league is “much stronger” than Portugal’s, and says Félix’s link-up with Cristiano Ronaldo can boost Portugal’s World Cup hopes.

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has taken a swipe at his former club’s training facilities after hailing the quality of those at his new club Palmeiras. Pereira spent 11 years in Manchester, which included a whole host of time away on loan, and has now revealed Man Utd’s training base wasn’t a patch on the offering at his new club in Brazil.

Adrien Rabiot didn't hold back while speaking about his AC Milan team-mate Rafael Leao, stating that "it would be a shame if he were to remain just a potentially great player" amid the Portuguese's middling performances for the Rossoneri. After spending more than a month on the sidelines due to an injury he picked up in August, Leao missed golden opportunities to help Milan clinch all three points against Juventus last weekend.

Former Paris Saint-Germain star Rafinha has explained why the era of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the French capital never worked. The trio played together at PSG for two years from 2021, when Messi joined the club from Barcelona on a free transfer, and lasted until 2023 when both the Argentine and Neymar left for Inter Miami and Al-Hilal respectively.

Fans have reacted furiously after Hashtag United announced the signing of two AI players, called Holly and Harvey. Hashtag are known for their unique blend of traditional football and esports, and claimed that while the technology for the duo's debut on the pitch may still be in development, the AI footballers will immediately begin creating content and representing the club.

Nottingham Forest star John Victor felt that his Brazil national team call-up was a "scam" as he initially did not believe that Carlo Ancelotti had included him in the Selecao squad for the October friendlies at the last moment after ex-Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson picked up a hamstring injury while playing for Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super Lig.

Orlando City reportedly attempted to sign Brazil and Tottenham forward Richarlison last summer, but their pursuit stalled after being quoted a transfer fee at $46.4 million, according to ESPN. The MLS club viewed the 28-year-old as a potential face of the franchise ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Richarlison remains under contract with Spurs until 2027.

FC Andorra owner Gerard Pique has been added to the official match report after calling a referee “a f*cking disgrace” following a 2-1 defeat to Leganes. The incident, part of a string of recent controversies, underscores mounting tensions within the club as they navigate disciplinary scrutiny and a challenging La Liga Hypermotion season.

Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas has been named the No. 1 player on Major League Soccer’s 2025 22 Under 22 list, which recognizes the league’s top young talent. The annual rankings, voted on by MLS coaches, general managers, sporting directors, MLS Season Pass broadcast talent and select media members, highlight a growing wave of homegrown players.

Rafael Leao’s inconsistent return for AC Milan has sparked tensions behind the scenes, including a fiery exchange with coach Massimiliano Allegri. The Portuguese winger was reportedly scolded in front of his team-mates following missed chances against Juventus, with his starting role now under threat as Milan’s boss demands greater intensity and maturity.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has sounded an alarming warning for England and Chelsea star Cole Palmer, saying his persistent injury issues are threatening his World Cup hopes. And, what’s more concerning, the German boss fears Palmer’s groin problem could become chronic and impact his career longer-term.

Florian Wirtz is putting in the hard yards as he is doing extra training for Germany in a bid to kickstart his Liverpool career after a slow start to life at Anfield. Since completing a whopping £116 million ($156m) transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, Wirtz has struggled to adjust to his new surroundings and has not had a single goal involvement in the Premier League.

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has been brutally told that he "will never be thought of as highly as Zinedine Zidane" by fans in France. Mbappe has won the World Cup with the national team at the age of 18 and then reached the final in the subsequent edition in 2022, where he emerged as the highest goal-scorer with eight in the tournament.

Manchester United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has massively eased the pressure on under-fire head coach Ruben Amorim, revealing he has three years to get things right at Old Trafford. The news comes in the wake of a hugely disappointing start to the Premier League season, with the 20-time title winners languishing in 10th place.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been backed to keep playing "at least into his mid-40s" by former Premier League rival and England star Joe Cole, who claimed the Portugal legend is "defying medical science". At 40, Ronaldo is still scoring for fun at both club and international level. He has kicked off the 2025-26 campaign on a high, having scored five goals in six matches across all competitions for Al-Nassr.

Portugal legend Pepe has heaped praise on his former manager Jose Mourinho following his return to management with Benfica. The pair worked together at Real Madrid in what was, at times, a fractious relationship. But Pepe is delighted to see Mourinho back in his homeland, after he took his place in the dugout at the Estadio da Luz.

Manchester United are set to appoint Ameesh Manek as their new director of football operations. Manek joins United from Brentford and his primary responsibility will be overseeing the daily operations at United's Carrington training ground. This encompasses areas such as travel, security, training facilities, staff management, and infrastructure for both the men's and women's teams.

Italian goalkeeper Lamberto Boranga became the country's oldest-ever football player at the age of 82 as he made his debut for seventh-tier USD Trevana. Boranga, who started his professional career more than six decades ago in 1961, briefly played with former Real Madrid and current Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, when the 66-year-old was plying his trade for Parma.

The atmosphere in Mexico’s camp is at an all-time high ahead of their October friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador, two South American sides already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Chivas and El Tri goalkeeper Raúl Rangel said that there’s a strong sense of unity and chemistry within Javier Aguirre’s squad as the team gears up.

The likes of Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer, who saw fitness concerns rule them out of the latest England squad, have been handed a World Cup warning by Thomas Tuchel. The Three Lions boss claims he is prepared to leave the most talented players at his disposal out of a bid for global glory in 2026 as “the team” is more important than any individual.

Jamie Gittens has been offered advice by Florent Malouda on how to win over Chelsea fans after making a slow start to life in the Premier League. The £55 million ($75m) winger, brought in from Borussia Dortmund in the summer to electrify Enzo Maresca’s frontline, has found himself under intense scrutiny as he struggles to find his feet in the English top flight. However, Malouda put his weight behind the forward and believes that it is just a matter of time before Gittens gets rolling.

Cremonese head coach Davide Nicola remains unwavering in his trust in "fighter" Jamie Vardy as the striker prepares for his first start since joining the Serie A club in the summer. He came off the bench as Inter claimed a dominant 4-1 victory last week, but his coach was positive about his impact and feels he makes the team more threatening even though he is yet to find the net across two substitute appearances.

William Saliba explained his decision to sign a new Arsenal contract and snub Real Madrid despite "lacking trophies" with the Gunners. The French defender could have chased the bright lights of Madrid. He could have swapped north London for the glamour of the Santiago Bernabeu. But when Los Blancos came knocking, Arsenal’s defensive powerhouse slammed the door shut; and he has no regrets.

Mario Balotelli has been his using his time away from the pitch to give back to the community, as the former Manchester City and Liverpool forward recently completed a six-month community service program in Brescia, Italy. Balotelli revealed that the experience of volunteering for children allowed him "to get to know myself better and improve as a person."