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Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has adapted some interesting training methods designed to prevent his players from arguing with referees, Marquinhos has revealed. The Spanish coach intentionally blows the whistle with "bad calls" to provoke his players, according to the club captain, who heaped praise on his manager.

Vinicius Junior was named on the bench for Real Madrid's Champions League opener against Marseille on Tuesday, with Rodrygo starting in his place on the left wing. After the game, head coach Xabi Alonso made it clear that the squad must get used to his rotational policy and sit out a game every now and then, but reassured that Vinicius remains just as important to the cause.

In the third episode of The Black Stars Podcast, we examine how diaspora players impact Ghana's football ambitions and the broader issues of identity, preparation and infrastructure that influence their decisions.

Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia shed light on the departure of Adrien Rabiot, who joined Serie A giants AC Milan, following the Frenchman's brawl with ex-teammate Jonathan Rowe. Benatia expressed his regret over the midfielder's exit, revealing that he tried to build the bridges again, but also pointed fingers at the player's family for complicating things further.

Paris Saint-Germain are planning to make an ambitious contract offer to Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas, with the French giants reportedly prepared to trigger her release clause ahead of transfer deadline. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner’s current deal with Barca runs until June 2026, with the option of an additional season, but PSG are ready to exceed her existing salary.

Lamine Yamal will not be available for the Champions League opener against Newcastle on Thursday, much to the dismay of head coach Hansi Flick. A war of words broke out between the German and the Spanish FA after he criticised the Spanish national team for not looking after Yamal. However, on the bright side, Frenkie de Jong has been named in the matchday squad.

Italian club Crotone have been placed under judicial administration after investigators uncovered mafia infiltration linked to the notorious ’Ndrangheta syndicate. The probe revealed “suffocating control” over aspects of the club’s operations, particularly security and ticketing. While the court stresses no complicity from management, administrators will oversee the club for 12 months.

Inter head coach Cristian Chivu has urged the fans to stop "throwing stones" at goalkeeper Yann Sommer after his disastrous performance did little to prevent his side from losing to Juventus over the weekend. Chivu remains confident in the Swiss international's experience and abilities, adding that Sommer will retain his place in the starting lineup against Ajax in the Champions League opener.

Samuel Umtiti has officially retired at just 31, bringing an end to a career that promised so much but was derailed by chronic knee injuries. The 2018 World Cup winner enjoyed highs with Lyon, Barcelona and France, but is now ready to take on a new challenge. Umtiti revealed his "ultimate goal" is to move into coaching, saying he has already started preparing for life on the touchline.

Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Marseille was memorable for 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono, who made his Champions League debut and drew high praise from Federico Valverde. The midfielder called the Argentine wonderkid his 'little brother' and predicted he would score plenty of goals in the famous white shirt after joining from River Plate in the summer.

A 10-man Real Madrid came from behind to beat Marseille 2-1 in their Champions League opener at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it wasn’t a perfect night for everyone. Youngster Arda Guler was at fault for Marseille’s early opener. After the match, coach Xabi Alonso addressed the mistake, but also made it clear that the Turkish talent has his full backing.

Real Madrid’s appeal against Dean Huijsen’s red card against Real Sociedad has been rejected, with the 20-year-old defender handed a one-match ban. The decision leaves Xabi Alonso short of defensive options as Antonio Rudiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold are both sidelined. Madrid will now turn to the Appeals Committee in a last-ditch effort to clear Huijsen for Saturday’s clash with Espanyol.

Ally McCoist has explained why Eberechi Eze had a poor Champions League debut as he blamed another Arsenal player for preventing the former Crystal Palace star from realising his full potential. A gritty Athletic Club side at San Mames pushed Mikel Arteta’s men to their limits before late goals from substitutes Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli sealed a hard-fought 2-0 win.

Edin Terzic has pulled up his socks after a long sabbatical and has revealed that he is ready to continue his career as head coach. The German-Croatian coach, who last managed Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund, explained in detail how he used time away from football management to further elevate his skillset as a coach and shared his learnings.

Gianluigi Donnarumma says moving to Manchester City was his "only option" despite being linked with Manchester United this summer. The goalkeeper went from being a vital player at Paris Saint-Germain to a Luis Enrique outcast in a matter of months. Now he is with Pep Guardiola's team, the Italian feels he has been at the Etihad for "many years" already.

Alexia Putellas has reportedly made a decision on her future after Paris Saint-Germain expressed their desire to trigger the €1.1m release clause in her Barcelona contract. Not only were they prepared to meet the buyout, but reports suggested they were also lining up a salary package far greater than what she currently earns in Catalunya.

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has been directly linked to the Barcagate scandal after police uncovered WhatsApp messages showing he monitored a paid social media campaign designed to attack rivals and even Pep Guardiola. Investigators allege Bartomeu concealed contracts, manipulated polls, and used fake accounts to boost his image before the 2021 elections.

Bayern Munich are reportedly hoping to exploit a transfer precedent set by Chelsea with loanee Nicolas Jackson. The striker secured a deadline day season-long loan move to the German giants with a conditional obligation to buy for £54 million. But it seems the Bundesliga champions are exploring ways to snap up the Senegal international for a smaller fee.

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones was honoured at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium after he completed his sport directorship degree in a bid to start a new career. Jones only retired last year after so much time spent battling injury setbacks, walking away from playing with just five senior appearances in his final four seasons. Now, instead of marshalling defences, he's plotting moves from the boardroom.

Jose Mourinho has been told to "accept" that "his career is over" as the former Chelsea & Manchester United boss nears a surprise return to Benfica. The 62-year-old tactician, coming off an ill-fated stint at Fenerbahce, is reportedly in advanced talks to take charge at the Portuguese giants once again. However, some fans aren't buying the comeback story.

Liverpool have ended a 417-match unbroken run of naming a homegrown player in their starting XI for a European fixture. The Reds face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Arne Slot has not named a single English player in his team. There are four homegrown players on the bench, however.

Benfica announced their decision to part ways with Bruno Lage with immediate effect after their shock defeat to Azerbaijani side Qarabag in the Champions League opener on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, Lage, while speaking to reporters, wished Jose Mourinho "best of luck". Mourinho has been linked with the Benfica role and it is understood that he is keen on taking over at the Estadio da Luz.

Pep Guardiola has crushed talk that Abdukodir Khusanov could be Manchester City’s permanent right-back solution, despite the youngster’s heroic display in Sunday’s derby demolition of Manchester United. The Catalan manager admitted the Uzbekistan international has the tools to cover the role, but warned the brutal intensity of City’s fixture calendar makes it impossible for the 21-year-old to handle the job on a full-time basis.

Russell Martin has been warned that there is an "obvious" replacement for him at Rangers: Sean Dyche. The SPFL giants have yet to win this season, recording four draws and one defeat from five games, and speculation continues to rage about a potential change in the Ibrox dugout. Kris Boyd believes Dyche is the ideal candidate.

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has delivered a fiery warning to Barcelona ahead of their Champions League opener, insisting the Spanish heavyweights won’t find life easy at St James’ Park. The Magpies icon, speaking ahead of Thursday night’s clash, believes his old club are more than capable of denting Barca’s campaign and snatching vital points on home soil.

Marc Skinner insists Manchester United have the "boots they need" for their Champions League qualifying second leg clash with Brann. The Red Devils lost 1-0 in Norway, having mislaid the players' footwear. Staff were dispatched to a local sports shop to buy boots and shinpads ahead of the fixture but Skinner insists that his side are "ready" for the return leg.

Bruno Guimaraes has called for Newcastle to avoid the heartbreak of losing key players like Alexander Isak in the future, following the £125 million sale of the Swedish striker to Liverpool this summer. Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s Champions League clash with Barcelona, the Brazilian star and Magpies captain made it clear that the dressing room does not want to see any more prized assets depart St James' Park.

Gianluigi Donnarumma joked about not taking his mother to the Etihad Stadium for the Champions League opener against Napoli on Thursday. The Manchester City goalkeeper, who arrived at the end of the summer transfer window, revealed that his family members are big supporters of the current Serie A champions. However, he remains determined on helping his new team kick-off their continental campaign with a win.

Cristiano Ronaldo may have sat this one out, but Al-Nassr showed they are far more than just a one-man show. On opening night of the AFC Champions League, the Saudi powerhouse dismantled Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol with a ruthless 5-0 win at Al Awwal Park. The absence of their talismanic forward barely registered, as Jorge Jesus’ side showcased their attacking firepower with five different players getting on the scoresheet.