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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."

Lyon winger Malick Fofana faces several months on the sidelines after suffering a serious right ankle sprain during a 2-1 win over Strasbourg. The Belgian winger, who has attracted strong interest from Liverpool and Chelsea, will likely require surgery dealing a major blow to Paulo Fonseca’s side as they push for a top-four Ligue 1 finish.

Christian Pulisic has been told that he is not the captain the USMNT "want or need", with Alexi Lalas claiming Mauricio Pochettino's squad is lacking "bad boys" ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Lalas, never one to mince words, opined that while Pulisic may be the country’s biggest footballing name, leadership requires more than star power.

Two Premier League clubs are reportedly weighing up a controversial move for Mason Greenwood as the former Manchester United forward continues his dazzling form in France for Marseille. Greenwood left Old Trafford under a dark cloud in September 2023 after serious criminal allegations were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. He initially joined Getafe on loan before making a permanent switch to Ligue 1 giants Marseille last season.

Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has blasted Dani Carvajal over the fiery confrontation with Lamine Yamal in the wake of Real Madrid's victory in the Clasico on Sunday. Gaspart said Carvajal is “finished” and should not have provoked the 18-year-old at the end of the match, while the former chief also offered advice to Barca's young star.

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.

Los Angeles FC star Son Heung-min says he "can't wait" to return to Tottenham so he can bid a proper goodbye to supporters. The South Korean forward wants to step back into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and thank the supporters who shaped his Premier League legacy. His time in north London ended in the summer as LAFC sealed a £20 million ($27m) deal to lure him to California.

Lionel Messi has urged MLS chiefs to overhaul the league's transfer rules to continue the rapid growth of the competition and bring more of the world’s best players to the United States. The Inter Miami star wants wide-sweeping changes to the Roster Rules, which are often seen as archaic and cumbersome, and have been accused of holding back MLS teams from buying top-tier world talent.

Barcelona’s legal troubles have deepened after a Spanish court ordered the club to produce the original contracts tied to €8 million in payments made to former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. The directive comes amid growing scrutiny over missing documents, with investigators seeking clarity on whether the payments were legitimate or intended to influence officiating.

Lionel Messi has revealed the key criteria that will determine whether or not he lines up for defending champions Argentina at next year’s World Cup. The virtuoso forward is enjoying life in America with Inter Miami, but will turn 39 during next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and his inclusion in the Argentina squad is not guaranteed.

Ange Postecoglou has been urged to make a shock return to management at his former club by Chris Sutton after being brutally axed by Nottingham Forest. Celtic fans were left stunned after Brendan Rodgers sensationally quit his post after just nine games into the season. The Northern Irishman, who returned for a second spell at Celtic Park in June 2023, stepped down with immediate effect following Sunday's 3-1 defeat against Hearts, which sees them trailing the leaders by eight points in the Premiership table.

Borussia Dortmund are turning their eyes to South America once again as they look to secure the next generation of football talent. The Bundesliga giants have reportedly sent scouts to track 17-year-olds Kaua Prates from Cruzeiro and Juan Cruz Meza from River Plate, both emerging as standout prospects in Brazil and Argentina respectively.

'Give Erling Haaland the ball and he will score' had proved to be a pretty effective tactic for Manchester City over the previous two months, but Aston Villa have exposed its flaws. They found a way to blunt the Norwegian's edges on Sunday, ending Haaland's run of scoring in 12 matches in a row for club and country while also becoming the first team to keep a clean sheet against Pep Guardiola's side in nine games.

"The aim has to be winning the Premier League. I know people will be questioning me for saying it after last season, but it has to be that," Luke Shaw said to Sky Sports during Manchester United's pre-season tour of America. "We all have to have the same beliefs and ambitions, and that family feeling together, and we’ll strive for the same thing." That was not just a questionable declaration; it was borderline delusional after the worst campaign in the club's entire history.

Juventus are in advanced talks with ex-Italy and Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti to replace Igor Tudor, who was sacked after a dismal run of results. The Bianconeri view Spalletti as the ideal figure to lead their rebuild, with negotiations already underway following the club’s decision to appoint Massimo Brambilla as interim boss.

US Soccer generated $263.7 million in revenue during 2025, a 37-percent increase over 2024 and the highest in eight years, according to the federation's annual financial report. The 2017 totals were tied to the hosting of the 2016 Copa America. The 2025 figures point to the buzz for next year's World Cup, with a majority of matches in the U.S.

LAFC has been energized by Son, but clever transfer window additions could make the difference in MLS postseason

Celtic have announced Brendan Rodgers has left his role as manager with immediate effect. The 52-year-old has departed Celtic Park following Sunday's 3-1 defeat against Hearts which has left them eight points adrift of the Scottish Premiership leaders. He has been replaced on an interim basis by Martin O’Neill, who returns for a second spell after previously managing the club between 2000 and 2005.

Bayern Munich are preparing for the future beyond Harry Kane and have identified Hoffenheim’s in-form striker Fisnik Asllani as a potential long-term back-up. The 23-year-old Kosovo international, who has also attracted serious interest from Barcelona, has impressed with six goals in nine appearances this season, prompting Bayern to enquire about his release clause ahead of the summer.

Real Madrid may have gone five points clear in La Liga after edging Barcelona in El Clasico, but Vinicius Junior’s latest antics have somewhat overshadowed the triumph. The Brazilian winger’s furious reaction to being substituted by Xabi Alonso has sparked controversy, with former France international Christophe Dugarry slamming him for “whining all the time” and “insulting” his coach.

In-form forward Bryan Mbeumo has been Manchester United’s “best signing” of the season so far, according to club legend Wayne Rooney. The Cameroon international has received plenty of plaudits after inspiring the Red Devils to a remarkable upturn in form, with Ruben Amorim’s men having recorded three straight victories against Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton.

Grimsby Town have had another cheeky pop at Manchester United two months after their historic victory over the Red Devils in the Carabao Cup. The League Two side take on Brentford on Tuesday aiming to reach the quarter-finals and coach David Artell believes the Bees will make for much tougher opponents than United, who they knocked out in the second round back in August.

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim risked losing his job by sticking to his principles before the club’s upturn in form, according to ex-Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand. The Old Trafford club are in great spirits after securing consecutive Premier League victories against Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton, easing the pressure on the Portuguese manager.

Real Madrid have confirmed that captain Dani Carvajal will be sidelined for up to three months after sustaining a right knee injury during Sunday’s fiery Clasico against Barcelona. The 33-year-old defender, who was involved in a heated post-match confrontation with Lamine Yamal, will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage, the club announced on Monday.

Manchester United are ready to fast-track Rasmus Hojlund's eventual sale to Napoli and sell the Danish forward to the Serie A champions when the January transfer window opens. Hojlund, who joined United from Atalanta in 2023, has hit the ground running for Antonio Conte's side since moving on loan on transfer deadline day, scoring four goals in six matches in all competitions.

Bayern Munich are becoming increasingly confident of keeping hold of star man Harry Kane, with his wife Kate reportedly playing a pivotal role. The German giants are desperate for the England captain to shun a return to the Premier League after inspiring the club to a perfect start to the 2025-26 campaign, with Vincent Kompany’s men having won all 13 of their games this season.

The Colorado Rapids have announced that head coach Chris Armas will leave the club after the two sides mutually agreed to part ways. The decision comes after the Rapids narrowly missed the playoffs on the final day of the season. Armas had a 33W-36L-13D record across all competitions during his time with the club.

Manchester United are reportedly set to reject any January transfer requests from Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee, despite the duo’s growing frustration over a lack of minutes this season. With key players expected to miss several weeks due to the Africa Cup of Nations, manager Ruben Amorim views both Mainoo and Zirkzee as crucial squad members for the winter period.

Hirving “Chucky” Lozano could be nearing a return for San Diego FC after missing recent matches due to an internal issue. The Mexican international was left out of the squad for Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup Playoffs opener, marking his second consecutive absence. Head coach Mikey Varas indicated that Lozano may be available for the second game of the best-of-three series, provided his progress continues smoothly throughout the week.