Napoli coach Antonio Conte admitted he is still trying to find the right tactical measures to bring the best out of midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay. In the 2-1 win over Sporting CP, Conte tested a three man midfield in the second half following the substitution of McTominay, and he believes the system can offer him multiple solutions.
Gus Poyet, in an exclusive chat with GOAL, has brutally explained why there is little chance of Harry Kane ending up at Manchester United if the England captain decides to return to the Premier League from Bayern Munich. There are said to be clauses in the prolific striker’s contract that could allow him to head home in 2026, but Old Trafford is not expected to be his next destination.
Former Juventus forward Fernando Llorente has hailed Kenan Yildiz as Serie A’s most exciting talent, comparing him to club icon Alessandro Del Piero while claiming the Turkish wonderkid’s creativity would have helped him score “even more goals.” With praise coming from former stars, team-mates and Juve coach Igor Tudor, the 20-year-old forward is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s hottest prospects.
Liverpool are anxiously awaiting scan results to determine the severity of Alisson Becker’s hamstring injury after the Brazilian goalkeeper limped off during the Champions League defeat to Galatasaray. Head coach Arne Slot has confirmed that Alisson will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea, sparking fears of a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Former striker Fernando Llorente has praised Antonio Conte as an "extraordinary" coach but revealed his one major regret from his time working with the Italian at Juventus. Llorente spent two years at the Bianconeri and won back-to-back Serie A titles, but it was their failure to deliver in the Champions League that haunts the Spaniard as he reflects on playing under Conte.
Liverpool, along with every other Premier League club, could be set for a mega pay-day if Manchester City are found guilty in their long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) case. At least 115 charges have been hanging over the Etihad Stadium since February 2023. A final ruling, following an independent hearing, is expected at some point in the near future, with several potential outcomes still being speculated on.
Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed that "there is no problem" between him and his Napoli head coach Antonio Conte. The former Manchester City midfielder expressed his anger after being taken off in the 72nd minute of Napoli's 2-1 loss to AC Milan over the weekend, prompting Conte to fire a warning and stating that "if he was upset about something else he's got the wrong person."
Pep Guardiola was left furious after Manchester City were denied victory in Monaco as a controversial late penalty decision cost his side two Champions League points. The Catalan tactician refused to comment directly on the incident but took a swipe at 'Spanish referees' following another night of refereeing drama in Europe, which resulted in Eric Dier scoring a late penalty equaliser.
Alisha Lehmann has detailed how she is living “the dream” after completing a transfer from Juventus to Como Women. The Swiss forward made her way to Italy in the summer of 2024, bringing a productive stint in WSL to a close. The ex-West Ham and Aston Villa forward became a Serie A title winner during her time in Turin. She is, however, now fully embracing a new challenge with a team that matches her personality and ambition on and off the field.
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has offered advice to Florian Wirtz after the £116 million summer signing’s sluggish start at Anfield. The German playmaker is yet to score or assist in the Premier League and the Champions League, but Dalglish believes building chemistry with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike could unlock his potential in Arne Slot’s system.
Barcelona forward Ferran Torres says his side failed to "maintain" control of their Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain as a last-minute goal saw the Spanish giants suffer their first defeat of the season. Torres, who scored the opening goal, warned his side should not overreact to the result as he stressed they must find a way to keep up their intensity throughout matches.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has been told - in an exclusive interview carried out by GOAL - that he would have “no chance” of winning the Ballon d’Or at Liverpool, as Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer is offered advice on how he could push himself into contention for the most prestigious of individual honours. Those words have been delivered by Blues legend Gus Poyet, who continues to keep a close eye on European football.
Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee could be on the move this January, with Serie A side Como reportedly exploring a deal for the Dutchman. Manager Cesc Fabregas’ ambitious project is said to view Zirkzee as an ideal attacking addition, and United are open to either a loan or permanent transfer midway through the current Premier League season.
Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain came together ahead of their Champions League clash to honour the memory of Luis Enrique’s late daughter, Xana. Both clubs pledged support to the Xana Foundation through jersey auctions and charitable donations. For Enrique, who lost his daughter, this acts reflected the enduring spirit of his family and the broader football community.
Wayne Rooney claims that under-fire Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim would be “absolutely slaughtered” if he made selection calls similar to those which saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool suffer a disappointing Champions League defeat at Galatasaray. The Reds have now come unstuck in their last two fixtures, with the odd question being asked of why a Dutch tactician at Anfield is tinkering so much.
Manchester United could revisit their interest in Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in January, despite signing Senne Lammens earlier this year. With Ruben Amorim under pressure after a poor start to the campaign, the club are expected to explore reinforcements — and former Red Devils scout Mick Brown believes Martinez remains firmly on their radar.
Juventus coach Igor Tudor expressed his fury after his side conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Croatian coach blamed missed chances and nerves for the draw but came to the defence of his centre-backs amid criticism for their sloppiness in recent matches.
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has come to the defence of Jobe Bellingham following the young midfielder's struggles at the club in the ongoing campaign. Bellingham was substituted in the 69th minute of Wednesday's Champions League clash against Athletic Club, with Kovac shielding the ex-Sunderland starboy's underwhelming form by stating that he was "nervous" starting his first game in while.
Inter have been hit with a major blow as star striker Marcus Thuram will be sidelined for over a month due to a thigh injury. The French forward had initially downplayed the problem after Inter’s 3-0 Champions League win over Slavia Prague but recent scans portray a lengthy absence. Now, with a congested fixture schedule looming, manager Cristian Chivu faces the daunting task of reshaping his attack.
Manchester City stand accused by La Liga president Javier Tebas of “losing money and cheating” for 10 years. The Premier League heavyweights currently find themselves at the centre of a long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga, with serious questions being asked of whether rules were breached. Tebas is less than impressed with goings on in England, while he has also taken aim at Champions League title holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Wrexham's Hollywood owners have been warned that their valuation of the club may be significantly lower than they estimate. A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac value the club at $472m (£350m) but it could in fact be far lower according to a football finance expert. Reynolds and Mac have invested heavily in a team that has scaled the football pyramid since their 2021 purchase.
Inaki Pena was "left with a bitter taste" after spending the latter half of the 2024-25 season on the bench, with Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick opting to play Wojciech Szczesny as the first-choice goalkeeper. Pena also revealed that the Catalans pressured him to delay his departure amid difficulty in registering summer signing Joan Garcia and the long-term absence of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona legend Xavi would be “tempted” by the project at Manchester United if Ruben Amorim were to be removed from his post at Old Trafford and an official approach was made, claims Gaizka Mendieta. The Red Devils continue to see more change in their dugout mooted, with speculation rife regarding who could be handed the reins if the decision is taken to move in a different direction.
Jamie Carragher has hailed Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as “one of the best pieces of business” the club has done under Mikel Arteta, calling him a “real upgrade” on Aaron Ramsdale. The Spaniard’s stunning save in the first half proved crucial as Arsenal beat Olympiacos 2-0 on Wednesday to continue their perfect Champions League start with two wins in two.
Welcome to Wrexham showed the pain and glory of British lower league football to the world but it would never have existed without Sunderland Till I Die. Rob McElhenney watched the documentary on the recommendation of his actor friend Humphrey Ker and was immediately hooked. After finishing the series he instantly decided he wanted to invest in a lower league club and soon his ambitious project with Ryan Reynolds was born.
Manchester United have been told to avoid Oliver Glasner as a potential successor for Ruben Amorim. United are under pressure to sack Amorim, who has struggled since replacing Erik ten Hag at the Old Trafford last November, and replace him with the Austrian. Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson, though, believes the Premier League powerhouse should avoid the Crystal Palace boss.
Benjamin Sesko has been sent a warning about life at Manchester United by Slovenia national team head coach Matjaz Kek, as the striker is off to a slow start at his new club. Since completing a big-money transfer from RB Leipzig to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window, the Slovenia international has managed to score just one goal in his opening seven games.
The Premier League are set to vote on scrapping the divisive Profit and Sustainability Rules and bringing in a new system that will be more aligned with the UEFA financial regulations. The PSR was introduced by the Premier League ahead of the 2015/16 season in a bid to prevent clubs from overspending on transfers, however, time and again, the rules have faced criticism.
Ex-Liverpool star Vladimir Smicer believes that Steven Gerrard should return to management as head coach of Wrexham or Birmingham. Gerrard, who has managerial experience with Rangers and Aston Villa, has been out of work since leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq at the turn of the year. And Smicer has mapped out Gerrard's career plan that'll see him take over Liverpool one day.
Premier League chief Richard Masters dropped a huge hint over the future of the 3pm blackout. The rule has been in place for the last 60 years and the Football Association has consistently policed the blackout as it is viewed as essential to protect attendances in the Football League. However, in recent years, there have been several rumours of a push to abolish the system.