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Mic'd Up: The former Canadian national team player backed Vancouver for MLS success, but says Miami might have found a groove

Bruno Fernandes' importance to Manchester United has been laid bare in two statistics revealed by Opta. The Red Devils' captain has been at the heart of his team's recent revival which has seen them overcome a rocky start to the season by winning their last three matches to climb up to sixth in the Premier League table, level on points with Manchester City and above champions Liverpool.

Max Dowman made Arsenal history in their Carabao Cup clash with fellow Premier League side Brighton. Mikel Arteta made wholesale changes for their meeting with the Seagulls as the Gunners look to secure their place in the next round of the competition as the likes of Kepa, Ben White and Piero Hincapie come into the side. However, it's Dowman's inclusion that will go down in the record books.

Scotland international Scott McTominay has moved to quell talk of him moving away from Napoli and returning to the Premier League or making a remarkable switch to Catalan giants Barcelona. McTominay has impressed in Naples since joining from Manchester United for £30 million ($39.6m) last summer, landing the Serie A title in his first season and becoming a cult hero.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr has made a grovelling apology for his behaviour after being substituted during the 2-1 Clasico victory over arch-rivals Barcelona. The Brazil international stormed off the pitch, headed straight down the tunnel and was heard saying he was going to "leave the team" after being taken off, but has now apologised to everyone except boss Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer sent out an impatient update on his injury status as he celebrated a landmark achievement for the Blues. Palmer has not appeared for the Premier League giants since their 2-1 defeat against Manchester United at home on September 20 as he deals with a groin problem, and any hopes Chelsea fans had that he might have been back in training have been dashed.

Football's lawmakers will discuss giving VAR the power to review second yellow cards at a meeting in January. The International Football Association Board's (IFAB) advisory group has confirmed the proposal will be submitted, which would expand VAR's remit beyond its current limitation of only reviewing straight red cards. The move is based on the idea that second yellow cards are often match-changing decisions which should be subject to review.

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Santi Canizares has criticised Barcelona’s handling of Lamine Yamal’s injury, warning that the club could risk worsening the youngster's condition. The 18-year-old has been struggling with groin pain for several weeks and was nowhere near his best during Barca’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in El Clasico.

Brazilian wonderkid Endrick is pursuing a January loan move away from Real Madrid and talks have already begun with a club outside of Spain. The 19-year-old hasn't made a competitive appearance this season and wants regular playing time to secure his place in Brazil's squad for the World Cup. Endrick has struggled with injury, but has also been overlooked by boss Xabi Alonso and a temporary move away from the Bernabeu is seemingly edging closer.

Real Madrid have announced plans to seek “substantial damages” from UEFA after Spain’s regional court dismissed appeals by UEFA, La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over the Super League case. The ruling marks another legal victory for Florentino Perez’s club, confirming UEFA breached European Union competition law by abusing its dominant position.

Despite Mexico’s recent struggles on the field, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) remains confident in Javier Aguirre’s leadership as El Tri prepares for the 2026 World Cup. The veteran coach, who took over to stabilize a team in transition, has faced mounting criticism following a series of underwhelming results.

Vinicius Jr’s Real Madrid future is in serious doubt after a public fallout with Xabi Alonso during El Clasico and growing frustration over his stalled contract talks. The Brazilian is reportedly eyeing a move to Paris Saint-Germain, drawn by Luis Enrique’s playing style and leadership, as relations in Madrid reach breaking point despite his recent public apology.

Alan Pulido, the 34-year-old forward who has featured in only five matches for Chivas during the Apertura 2025, will not be renewed by the Red and Whites’ front office, according to reports. The former Sporting Kansas City striker is expected to seek a new club in Liga MX. He has yet to score in seven appearances this year.

Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric couldn’t hide his frustration after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by AC Milan, insisting his team “were three times better" than their opponents. Ademola Lookman’s first goal since his summer transfer standoff rescued a point for La Dea, with Juric hailing the Nigerian as “a spectacle” following a strong display in Bergamo.

Manchester United icon Dimitar Berbatov is backing summer signing Benjamin Sesko to succeed at Old Trafford, but insists the striker must find more confidence on the pitch. It has been a tough start to life in the north of England for the Slovenian, but there have been signs of the quality that commanded a £74 million ($98m) fee to sign him from RB Leipzig.

Dimitar Berbatov has thrown his weight behind Liverpool's struggling star Florian Wirtz and insisted that the German will emerge as an "unbelievable" player for the Reds. The 22-year-old, who was hailed as one of Europe’s brightest playmakers at Bayer Leverkusen, endured another difficult weekend in the Premier League as he was subbed off late during Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat at Brentford, extending a run of sub-par performances.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has been handed a one-match suspension after being sent off in the closing moments of Los Blancos' heated 2-1 win over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Ukrainian was the only player dismissed following a brawl sparked by Vinicius Junior’s celebration late in the Clasico.

Barcelona’s injury crisis has deepened with Pedri ruled out after suffering a hamstring tear in the aftermath of El Clasico. The midfielder, who has been a near ever-present under Hansi Flick, will miss several key fixtures as the Catalan giants face a mounting list of absentees, including Raphinha, Gavi, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, piling further pressure on the German coach ahead of a crucial run of games.

Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa says he will step up as a leader during the club's time of need as the Reds continue to struggle under Arne Slot this season. The Premier League champions have lost four games in a row to put their title defence in serious doubt, with captain Virgil van Dijk admitting he held a players' meeting after the loss to Manchester United a few weeks ago.

Eden Hazard has become the latest former player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, joining a star-studded line-up of the competition's greats. The Belgian, a two-time Premier League champion with Chelsea across seven seasons with the club, also received a special message from former manager Jose Mourinho, who called him "one of the most amazing players" he has ever worked with.

Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White has hailed Ruben Amorim for masterminding an "incredible" Manchester United resurgence ahead of a crucial Premier League showdown at City Ground. At the end of September, United were being written off as a sinking ship. A humiliating 3-1 loss to Brentford left Amorim’s side stranded in 14th place and seemingly spiralling toward another season of disappointment. But after a sensational October, the narrative has flipped on its head.

Kevin De Bruyne has undergone successful surgery in Antwerp after suffering a serious hamstring injury during Napoli’s clash against Inter last weekend. The Belgian midfielder, who was forced off just moments after scoring, is now expected to be sidelined for around four months, ruling him out for the rest of 2025 and leaving Napoli short in midfield depth.

Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich contract reportedly includes a €65 million release clause that can only be activated within a specific window — keeping Premier League clubs on alert. The England captain’s prolific form in Germany has strengthened Bayern’s stance, though speculation over a potential return to England refuses to go away.

Scott McTominay might be in line for a reunion with Marcus Rashford, as Barcelona have reportedly placed the former Manchester United star on a three-man transfer shortlist. The Scotsman has emerged as one of Europe’s most in-demand midfielders since leaving Old Trafford to take on a new challenge at Napoli in 2024, with top clubs now lining up for his signature.

Antonio Conte was left fuming after Napoli’s 1-0 win over Lecce, hitting back at 'absurd' claims that Kevin De Bruyne’s long-term injury could somehow help his team. The Italian coach was frustrated by recent talk in the media, saying he has had enough of theories about injuries to veteran players like De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.

Vinicius Junior has issued a public apology to Real Madrid for his reaction after being substituted in the 2-1 win over Barcelona at the weekend. The Los Blancos star was hooked with fifteen minutes to go in El Clasico, prompting a furious reaction from the Brazilian, who appeared to ignore Xabi Alonso before heading straight down the tunnel. The 25-year-old has now shared his apologies for the moment, but gave no mention to his boss.

Luciano Spalletti is set to return to club management with Juventus after reaching an agreement to replace the sacked Igor Tudor. The 66-year-old, who guided Napoli to the Scudetto in 2023, will sign a deal until June 2026, with an automatic extension triggered by Champions League qualification. His official unveiling is expected after Juve’s clash with Udinese.

Nantes boss Luis Castro has jokingly put his side's name in the hat of potential destinations for Vinicius Junior should the Real Madrid star opt to leave the club in the summer. The Brazilian winger has been under the eye of the media in recent weeks, with reports suggesting he is unhappy at the Santiago Bernabeu. And after Vinicius' fiery reaction to being substituted by Xabi Alonso during El Clasico, Castro humoured the idea of signing the forward.

Vincent Kompany’s new Bayern Munich contract runs until 2029 without a release clause but with a Champions League bonus. The Belgian, who led Bayern to the Bundesliga title in his first season, has been rewarded for his rapid success as the club look to secure their long-term future under the 39-year-old tactician.