Peter McVitie

UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has unleashed a furious tirade against Real Madrid's stars following the shock dismissal of Xabi Alonso. The undefeated fighter did not hold back in his assessment of the situation at the Bernabeu, branding the squad "spoiled brats" and insisting that the club should have cleared out the dressing room rather than sacking one of the world's best tactical minds.

Barcelona fans were left confused on Tuesday after the club announced the return of Joao Cancelo only to immediately wipe all evidence from their social media channels. The Portuguese full-back had been pictured signing a contract to seal his loan move from Al-Hilal, but a delay in paperwork led to a hasty retreat by the club's media team as they wait for the final green light.

Tottenham’s nightmare season has gone from bad to worse with the confirmation that midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has undergone surgery on a hamstring injury and is set to miss at least three months of action. The news comes as a devastating blow to under-fire manager Thomas Frank, who is already grappling with a squad depleted by sales and injuries, whilst facing open revolt from a fanbase furious at the club's perceived lack of ambition and slide down the Premier League table.

Hugo Ekitike has etched his name into Liverpool history alongside King Kenny Dalglish after a goalscoring return to action. The French forward came off the bench against Barnsley to complete a unique scoring set in his debut season. He has now found the net in five different competitions this term, a feat only achieved once before by the legendary Scot back in the 1977-78 campaign.

Barcelona have confirmed the return of Portuguese star Joao Cancelo, who has rejoined the Catalan giants on a loan deal until the end of the season from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. The versatile full-back, who impressed during the 2023-24 campaign, was unveiled on Tuesday alongside president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, where it was revealed he will wear the No. 2 shirt for his second spell at the club.

World Cup winner N'Golo Kante has emerged as the subject of a bold transfer approach from Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce as he enters the final six months of his contract in Saudi Arabia. The former Chelsea midfielder has reportedly stalled on signing a new deal with Al-Ittihad, opening the door for a sensational European return, though his current club remain desperate to retain his services beyond the summer.

Xabi Alonso has broken his silence following his abrupt departure from Real Madrid, issuing a dignified statement that addresses his time in the dugout. The Basque tactician was relieved of his duties just a day after a painful Super Cup defeat to Barcelona, but he refused to show bitterness, instead sending a clear message of gratitude to his squad and the Bernabeu faithful.

Manchester United are set to confirm a revamped coaching team to support new interim boss Michael Carrick, with former Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate’s long-time assistant Steve Holland joining the staff at Old Trafford.

Josh Cavallo, the first openly gay active professional male footballer, has launched a scathing attack on his former club Adelaide United. The 26-year-old alleges that "internal homophobia", not footballing reasons, was the true cause behind his lack of playing time and eventual departure from the A-League side. In a deeply personal statement, he also revealed that teammates mocked his relationship.

Arsenal legend Robert Pires has heaped huge praise on Declan Rice, insisting the midfielder belongs in the "same circle" as club icons Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira. With the Gunners currently sitting six points clear at the top of the table and chasing their first Premier League title in over two decades, the Invincible believes Rice is the vital piece of the puzzle needed to finally end the long wait for silverware.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has moved to quell fears surrounding Rio Ngumoha after the teenage sensation was forced off during the FA Cup victory over Barnsley. The 17-year-old winger produced another dazzling display at Anfield before limping off in the second half, but the Dutch boss insists the issue is nothing more sinister than fatigue as the youngster adapts to senior football.

Liverpool’s passage to the fourth round of the FA Cup was marred by a moment of controversial flair from Dominik Szoboszlai, who has been fiercely criticised by Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane for a "disrespectful" piece of skill inside his own penalty area. The Hungarian’s casual backheel gifted the visitors a route back into the game, sparking anger from the opposition dugout and earning a stern rebuke from his own manager, Arne Slot.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has refused to criticise his players despite suffering a shock elimination from the Coupe de France at the hands of local rivals Paris FC on Monday night. The Spaniard insisted the 1-0 defeat was "unfair" given his side's dominance, though the result has officially ended the capital club's hopes of securing a historic back-to-back treble this season.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has issued a public apology to Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior and club president Florentino Perez following a heated touchline altercation during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, admitting his behaviour "was not appropriate" while stopping short of asking for forgiveness.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has formally opened disciplinary proceedings following a series of ugly incidents that marred the quarter-final stages of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Officials have confirmed that investigations are underway regarding "unacceptable behaviour" from players and staff during the high-profile clashes involving the hosts, Cameroon, Algeria and Nigeria.

Eddie Howe has taken aim at a rule change allowing Manchester City’s £65 million signing Antoine Semenyo to face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. The forward played for Bournemouth earlier in the tournament, but new regulations have scrapped ‘cup-tied’ rules. It leaves Howe rueing his luck as he battles a severe defensive injury crisis ahead of the semi-final first leg at St James' Park.

The toxic atmosphere engulfing Manchester United reached a new nadir on Sunday as director of football Jason Wilcox was subjected to a barrage of boos and abuse from furious supporters upon his arrival at Old Trafford, foreshadowing a disastrous afternoon that saw the Red Devils crash out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the first time in over a decade.

Manchester City are pushing to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi immediately, opting not to wait for his contract to expire in the summer. Pep Guardiola’s side have opened talks and are ready to meet the £35 million valuation to fend off heavy interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid. The champions are moving quickly to capitalise on the defender’s situation following a chaotic weekend for the Eagles.