Xabi Alonso has admitted that Real Madrid face a major challenge to reach the level of Paris Saint-Germain after a humbling 4-0 defeat in the Club World Cup semi-final. The new Los Blancos boss described the loss as 'painful' and a clear wake-up call, vowing that the team must now begin a new era with 'fresh minds' and stronger unity ahead of next season.
Brazilian football icon Neymar Jr. has turned heads in Santos training, not just for his presence on the field, but after unveiling a striking new hairstyle that had fans buzzing online. Off the pitch, Neymar is celebrating the birth of his fourth child, daughter Mel, who arrived on July 5.
Alejandro Garnacho’s future at Manchester United continues to hang in the balance after the winger was pictured training alone, while the rest of the squad reported for pre-season at Carrington. The 20-year-old Argentine remains on the periphery of first-team plans under manager Ruben Amorim following a fallout that has diminished his standing at the club.
Paris Saint-Germain delivered a blistering first-half performance to seize control of their Club World Cup semi-final clash against Real Madrid, racing into a 3-0 lead within the opening 30 minutes at MetLife Stadium on Wednesday evening. Luis Enrique's side came out firing in front of a packed crowd, exposing a disorganised Madrid backline to score three unanswered goals in what was the most chaotic opening half of the Xabi Alonso era.
Despite enduring an intense summer campaign in the United States for the expanded Club World Cup, Chelsea have not been granted any scheduling leniency by the Premier League. The Blues are set to kick off their 2025-26 league season at home against Crystal Palace on Sunday, August 17, just over a month after completing their Club World Cup final in New Jersey.
Arsenal’s preparations for the 2025-26 season are underway, and one of the most eye-catching developments at London Colney this week has been the presence of 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman in first-team training. The highly rated youngster was involved in the senior squad’s pre-season fitness and technical sessions on Wednesday, joining a host of established stars on the pitch including Bukayo Saka.
Joao Felix and Ben Chilwell are among several Chelsea unwanted players who have reported back to Cobham this week as part of pre-season preparations, as revealed by The Athletic. With the Blues’ first-team staff currently in the United States for the Club World Cup, the group of returning players underwent routine medical checks and physical evaluations on Monday, followed by their first full training session on Tuesday.
The Chelsea star stole the show with a brace while further goals from Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone helped the defending champions seal an emphatic win
Arsenal's hopes of finalising a move for Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres remain in limbo but there is an optimism in both camps that a deal could be thrashed out in the next couple of days. The Gunners, who have identified the Swedish striker as their top summer priority, believed they had made considerable progress over the weekend. However, the two sides find themselves in a deadlock over the payment structure of the transfer.
Chelsea legend Thiago Silva, who returned to Fluminense this summer after four remarkable years in London, was recognised in heartfelt fashion by his former club following the Club World Cup semi-final clash. The Premier League outfit progressed to the final riding on the brilliance of Joao Pedro who dazzled with a pair of exceptional goals, one in each half, to seal the victory.