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Bayer Leverkusen have pulled off a surprise managerial appointment by naming former Toulouse boss Carles Martinez Novell as their new head coach on a two-year contract. The 42-year-old replaces the departing Kasper Hjulmand at the BayArena after the Bundesliga side saw moves for Andoni Iraola and Filipe Luis fall through.

Brazil forward Endrick has opened up about his testing spell at Real Madrid, revealing how Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold sustained him through regular phone calls. The teenage striker credited their unwavering support for rebuilding his confidence ahead of a transformative six-month loan spell with French outfit Lyon, even though he struggles to understand the pair.

Antony has opened up on the advice he received from Cristiano Ronaldo during their time at Manchester United and revealed how Erik ten Hag played a decisive role in bringing him to Old Trafford. The Brazilian also reflected on the pressure of English football and the challenges that eventually led him to seek a fresh start in Spain.

Former England midfielder Nicky Butt has warned Jude Bellingham that manager Thomas Tuchel will ruthlessly ignore player reputations at the upcoming World Cup. Butt believes the Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers possesses the ultimate X-factor and could completely outshine established superstars like Bellingham and Harry Kane on the global stage.

Breel Embolo's World Cup travel uncertainty has finally come to an end after the Switzerland striker received approval to enter the United States. The 29-year-old missed the squad's departure to their training camp in San Diego earlier this week, but is now set to link up with his team-mates ahead of the tournament.

Eintracht Frankfurt forward Can Uzun is attracting attention at home and abroad after breaking through. According to Bild, Galatasaray is leading the chase to secure the highly rated youngster.

Marquinhos has revealed the words he shared with Gabriel Magalhaes after the Arsenal defender's costly penalty miss in the Champions League final. The PSG captain put celebrations on hold to console his Brazil team-mate, insisting one moment should not overshadow an outstanding campaign.

Former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin has agreed a deal to join Major League Soccer outfit Charlotte FC following a brief stint in Ligue 1. The French attacker is set to move to North Carolina as a Designated Player, cutting short his successful comeback in his homeland with Lens.

Schalke are moving to secure the futures of Loris Karius and Edin Dzeko after the experienced duo played key roles in the club's return to the Bundesliga. The goalkeeper is reportedly close to agreeing fresh terms, while the striker has been offered a new deal but will delay a decision until after his international commitments with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada has refused to entirely rule out a summer departure for club captain Bruno Fernandes. While the Red Devils are determined to retain their influential playmaker, the Portuguese midfielder's mixed messages regarding his long-term future have sparked fresh speculation over his career at Old Trafford.

Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran has been handed a prison sentence of two years and six months following a trial over illegal betting charges. The dramatic court ruling comes at a critical moment for the Istanbul heavyweights, arriving just days before the club's upcoming Extraordinary Elective General Assembly this weekend.

Domenico Tedesco has been without a club in Germany for almost four years. Yet the coach is never short of new offers. Abroad, the 40-year-old enjoys a very different reputation to the one he has at home.

In the fierce battle for the Real Madrid presidency, outsider Enrique Riquelme has hit back at denials from Manchester City and Erling Haaland's camp with an unprecedented challenge.

Florentino Perez has dismissed speculation linking Real Madrid with Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, while hinting that a €150 million signing will be unveiled next week. The club president used a television appearance to underline Los Blancos' financial strength as he faces growing pressure in the race for the presidency.

Jordi Alba has credited Unai Emery with changing the course of his career after the Aston Villa boss converted him from a winger into a left-back at Valencia. The former Barcelona and Spain star admitted he initially resisted the move but believes it ultimately helped him reach the highest level of the game.

Because the overall financial package for Hertha's young talent Kennet Eichhorn was too big for the club, Bayern Munich's supervisory board reportedly stepped in and blocked the move, leaving the sport directorial team disappointed.

The World Cup is now less than a week away, with teams currently making their final preparations for the tournament in North America. The stage is set for a whole host of players to make themselves national heroes, including some of the most exciting youngsters in the game today.

The 2026 World Cup is almost here. After years of build-up, dramatic qualifiers and numerous good - and bad - news stories surrounding FIFA's flagship finals, players and coaches from around the world are completing their last preparations while descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for the biggest international football tournament to ever have been staged.

"Who else?!" Those were the words of Jude Bellingham as he careened away in celebration after his quite remarkable bicycle kick had drawn England level in the 95th minute of their Euro 2024 round-of-16 game against Slovakia. The Three Lions had been terrible up to that point, but Bellingham’s heroic moment had kept them alive, continuing a season where he had been the difference-maker for Real Madrid again and again.

A quick scroll through the Spain squad to face England in a crucial Women's World Cup qualifier on Friday and there is one team represented more than any other: Barcelona. Eleven of the 25 names selected by Sonia Bermudez are based in Catalunya, with La Roja able to tap into that familiarity in a very impactful way over the years. But a lot is going to change at Barca this summer.

Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Leicester City’s highly-rated teenager Jeremy Monga ahead of rival Premier League suitors. The top-flight champions have made the 16-year-old winger a priority summer target as they look to aggressively bolster their ranks with the finest young domestic talent available in the country.

Real Madrid are reportedly stepping up their interest in Josko Gvardiol as Florentino Perez looks to strengthen a defence hit by injuries and uncertainty. The Manchester City defender is said to favour a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, although the Premier League side are expected to fight to keep one of their key players.

Despite Max Eberl's recent impressive signings for FC Bayern Munich, his position is under serious threat. According to the Bild podcast "Bayern-Insider", the sporting director could be sacked in August.

The Real Madrid presidential race is turning nasty. Incumbent Florentino Pérez and challenger Enrique Riquelme are now engaged in a bragging match over ever more outlandish transfer pledges, and reports suggest they may be resorting to dirty tricks.

Incumbent Florentino Pérez is flexing his muscles ahead of the Real Madrid presidential elections. Speaking on the TV programme *Horizonte*, he announced a record-breaking bid for a world-class star.

Mexico recovered from an early scare in Toluca to overwhelm Serbia, with Alvaro Fidalgo and Brian Gutierrez among the standouts as El Tri wrapped up their World Cup preparations in style.

BVB would like to retain Serhou Guirassy, yet an enticing offer could arrive at any moment. Latest news and rumours surrounding Borussia Dortmund.

FC Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in a defensive gem from Cologne. The club sees a loan player as capable of filling a squad role, though a departure remains a possibility. Latest news and rumours about the Bavarians.

With Mexico’s World Cup opener against South Africa looming, El Tri’s friendly vs Serbia gives Javier Aguirre one last chance to settle his XI, sharpen the attack and answer key questions around Alvaro Fidalgo, Alexis Vega, Roberto Alvarado, and Guillermo Ochoa.