Parshva Shah

Paul Pogba's return to action has been among the most anticipated events in European football this season, with the French midfielder signing a two-year deal with Monaco as a free agent after serving an 18-month doping ban. Monaco boss Sebastien Pocognoli has hinted that his return to the squad was close, with a new report now revealing when Pogba could realistically make his debut for the Ligue 1 giants.

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany heaped praise on Lennart Karl on Tuesday, explaining his diminutive stature makes it difficult for defenders to get close to him. Kompany also acknowledged Karl's "relaxed attitude" as one of the keys to his dramatic rise. The 17-year-old has made 10 appearances for the Bavarian giants this season and has scored in back-to-back games, setting up a few records.

Juventus legends Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Capello have been vocal in their endorsements of Luciano Spalletti to take over as head coach following the sacking of Igor Tudor. The ex-Italy and Napoli coach is reportedly in talks to with the Serie A side, who are in a desperate scramble to salvage their season amid the eight-game winless run that resulted in the Croatian's dismissal.

Borussia Monchengladbach star Jens Carstop has apologised for his dangerous tackle on Luis Diaz that saw him sent off in the first half of his side's 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Saturday. Carstop admitted his foul looked "really stupid" as he paved the way for another defeat for the Bundesliga bottom-dwellers.

Vinicius Junior's disappointment at being substituted during Sunday's 2-1 Clasico win over rivals Barcelona drew a rather unpleasant reaction from the Brazilian, which has caused further controversy in the aftermath of the game. However, his former team-mate Toni Kroos believes "nobody can judge or imagine" the emotions the forward felt in the moment, although he urged the Real Madrid star to "keep his anger to himself a little more."

Lennart Karl is the crown jewel of Bayern Munich, having broken through the Bundesliga heavyweights' youth academy. The 17-year-old has been enjoying a purple patch with the Bavarians, with head coach Vincent Kompany offering regular minutes to the talented youngster. Now, recent reports from Germany reveal that the club already has plans in place to secure Karl's long-term future.

Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho cited the likes of Scott McTominay and Raphael Varane as proof of his "history" of working with young players and developing them into great sportsmen. The Special One, in a press conference on Friday, claimed that Benfica "will surely add one or two players who can help strengthen the squad", before adding that "if there's someone who likes to promote young players, I'm one of them."

Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to renew their rivalry ahead of Sunday's monumental El Clasico clash at the Santiago Bernabeu. Ronald Araujo, expected to start for the Catalans in defence, was lavish in his praise for Vinicius Junior and credited the Brazilian for bringing "the best out of me". The duo's matchup has been one of the themes of Madrid and Barca's encounters over the past few seasons.

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany announced the decision to rest first-choice veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for the upcoming Bundesliga clash. The decision to drop him from the starting lineup means that 22-year-old understudy Jonas Urbig will get an opportunity to show he can be counted upon despite Neuer still going strong.

Bayern Munich are hoping Vincent Kompany's recent contract extension will play a pivotal role in helping them reach an agreement with Dayot Upamecano. The pressure is mounting at the club as contract negotiations could potentially stall over disagreements for salary and release clause, with the French centre-back free to enter pre-contractual talks with Europe's biggest clubs in a few months.

Thibaut Courtois has come to the defence of his Real Madrid team-mate Vinicius Junior, stating that "it's not always easy when an entire stadium is after" the Brazilian. The Belgian goalkeeper believes that the opponents keep trying to take the Brazilian out of the game, but he has been "improving" by taking a leaf out of the books of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.

Legendary former Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller has labelled Harry Kane as a striker who is more than just a goal machine, hailing the Englishman for his leadership and innate ability to feel a "sense of responsibility." The duo shared the dressing room between 2023 and 2025, before Muller began a new chapter with MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps.

Real Madrid are believed to be open to the possibility of letting young starlet Endrick leave on loan in the January transfer window amid the striker's lack of playing time under new head coach Xabi Alonso. Having spent the past few months on the sidelines due to an injury, the Brazilian wonderkid has been named in Madrid's matchday squads in recent times but is yet to make his first appearance this season.

Juventus talisman Kenan Yildiz wants to "build my own story" at the Allianz Stadium despite drawing comparisons to club legend Alessandro Del Piero. Yildiz, who first put on the iconic No. 10 jersey at Juve while still being just 19 years old, wants to carve out his own legacy in Turin while seeking inspiration from one of his idols in Del Piero, who scored a club-record 290 goals in 705 games.

Thomas Muller ended his 25-year association with Bayern Munich by joining Major League Soccer outfit Vancouver Whitecaps as a free agent over the summer. However, things could have played out a whole lot differently. Indeed, Bayern's all-time record-appearance holder admitted that he could have "imagined a future with Barcelona" had his former coach Hansi Flick called him.

Ricky-Jade Jones, one of the fastest players in the world, is inching closer to making his debut for Bundesliga outfit St. Pauli. The 22-year-old spent six years at Peterborough United, before making a free transfer from the League One outfit over the summer. Jones suffered an unfortunate injury during the pre-season, which forced him to miss the first two months of the ongoing campaign.

Barcelona Femeni captain Alexia Putellas created Women's Champions League history on Wednesday as her goal against Roma saw her leapfrog former striker Jenni Hermoso and three-time Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmati. Putellas will now be eyeing further history with the dominant Catalan outfit just a month after he she received a mouth-watering offer from Paris Saint-Germain Feminines.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has set his sights on achieving "what every Brazilian dreams of: winning the World Cup after 24 years." The Italian manager spoke about next year's tournament and explained the reasons behind accepting such a high-profile international job. Ancelotti spent four years at Real Madrid before calling curtains on his chapter in Spain at the end of last season.