GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave the comforts of Great Britain in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.
Ousmane Dembele's Ballon d'Or win was a surprise to his former coach Peter Bosz, who has revealed his battles with the star's lack of discipline during his time at Borussia Dortmund. The Paris Saint-Germain forward was described as "disorganised" and "often late," but the Dutch coach feels he has undergone a transformation since joining the French side.
Liverpool weren't the only European team to lose their 100 percent record this weekend. Over in Italy, Napoli slipped to second in the Serie A table after being beaten 2-1 by a Christian Pulisici-inspired AC Milan at San Siro.
Ousmane Dembele revealed that Lionel Messi's 'direct message' after Ballon d'Or win 'really struck' him as the Frenchman claimed that his former Barcelona colleagues and coach congratulated him. Dembele beat Blaugrana sensation Lamine Yamal to win the Golden Ball earlier this week after starring for PSG in the 2024-25 campaign, where the French giants won the treble.
Liam Rosenior was left "particularly angry" at a referee decision as he claimed that Marseille's Nayef Aguerd should have been sent off for a foul on Emanuel Emegha. Friday night at the Meinau turned into heartbreak for the hosts, who saw their 1-0 lead evaporate in a cruel late collapse in the Ligue 1 encounter against Marseille.
Roberto De Zerbi was delighted to banish Marseille's struggles on the road after they beat Strasbourg 2-1 away from home on Friday evening. The game seemed destined for a draw until Michael Murillo struck deep in stoppage time, giving Les Phocéens their first points on the road this season and ending a losing streak against Strasbourg that had lasted since 2022.
Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele bizarrely compared his achievement to a goal he scored against Tottenham for Barcelona back in 2018. The Paris Saint-Germain star was given the honour of being named the world's best player throughout last season and he feels his drive to claim the trophy resembles a particular goal from seven years ago.
Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia thinks Roberto de Zerbi has "something of Pep Guardiola" in him and hailed the Italian as a "beautiful and inspiring" coach. The manager has transformed the Ligue 1 outfit with his Midas touch, taking them into this season's Champions League while they currently sit top of the French top-flight after six games.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele was confirmed as the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner earlier this week and final voting figures revealed he finished more than 300 points clear of Barcelona's teenage superstar Lamine Yamal. The Frenchman's stellar campaign, which included a historic quadruple, made him only PSG's second ever recipient of the prestigious prize.
Paris Saint-Germain have been hit by injury news as captain Marquinhos is ruled out for several weeks. The Brazilian defender will miss this weekend’s Ligue 1 clash with Auxerre and next week’s Champions League showdown against Barcelona. PSG must rely on backups to steady the defence ahead of a crucial European test.
Daniel Levy has been defended from criticism from Tottenham fans by his former player Eric Dier following his removal from the chairman position. The Lewis family, who control the club, moved to sack Levy earlier this month, handing the reins to Peter Charrington as non-executive chairman. Insiders hailed the move as the dawn of a 'new era' for Spurs.
Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi urged Mason Greenwood to match the intensity of Raphinha after showing the Englishman footage of the Barcelona winger to highlight his consistency. The Italian stresses he wants to see Greenwood replicate the Brazilian's level in "every game" as the Ligue 1 side look to challenge Paris Saint-Germain to the title.
Marseille's historic 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week came at a cost, as head coach Roberto De Zerbi was sent off towards the end of the game. His actions have been swiftly punished by France's Disciplinary Committee. Reflecting on the red card shown to him, which has resulted in his ban for the game against Strasbourg, De Zerbi expressed his unhappiness while apologising for his mistakes.
Another Frenchman could lift the Ballon d'Or by following the Ousmane Dembele blueprint. Indeed, according to Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus, Michael Olise has the potential to become the first Ballon d'Or winner from Die Roten after 45 years. The 23-year-old has been exceptional since arriving from Crystal Palace in 2024 and is reportedly set to be offered a new deal.
Monaco coach Adi Hutter believes Paul Pogba is getting closer to full fitness and is progressing well with the training regimen put in place. The Austrian coach reported that Pogba is doing well both physically and mentally, but he will not rush him into the squad merely to bolster numbers, despite the club facing an injury crisis.
Multi-club ownership is under threat in France after a member of parliament presented a cross-party bill that could ban timeshare control of football clubs, potentially affecting Chelsea and Manchester City’s stakes in Ligue 1 teams. Coquerel warns the law is aimed at ensuring “sporting risk” and “equality of opportunity” while punishing non-compliance with heavy fines and competition bans.
Former Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton hailed ex-boss Jurgen Klopp for believing in him, giving him valuable playing time and opportunities to develop at Anfield. While he struggled for minutes under Arne Slot, Morton says appreciated the Dutchman’s honesty, which ultimately led to his move to Lyon in the summer transfer window.
Manchester City are reportedly considering a second raid on Paris Saint-Germain for another Champions League winner. The Premier League giants took advantage of a surprising situation in the French capital to lure Italy international goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to the Etihad Stadium during the summer of 2025. It is now being claimed that Warren Zaire-Emery is a “dream target” for Pep Guardiola.
Lyon are reportedly considering plotting a bid to sign Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi in an attempt to bolster their forwardline. Les Gones are struggling in attack following the late departure of Georges Mikautadze to Villarreal. Martin Satriano is not exactly someone Lyon are expecting big things from, which has prompted the Ligue 1 outfit to reconsider their options in attack.
Former Ballon d'Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin has offered words of advice to 2025 champion Ousmane Dembele, warning that the period after such recognition would be the most challenging. Papin congratulated the Paris Saint-Germain forward and insists he fully deserved the award, though he urged him to stay true to himself.
Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi has broken his silence on rape allegations as he insists he is being accused of a lie, describing how the claims have affected his family, tarnished his name, and forced him to change his life. The defender, who has consistently denied the charges, speaks candidly about the emotional toll and the precautions he has taken to protect himself and his loved ones.
Mason Greenwood's Marseille have been dealt a massive blow as Roberto De Zerbi was slapped with a ban after his red card against Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian boss saw red deep into stoppage time when his protests over a foul crossed the line. Initially shown a yellow card, De Zerbi’s refusal to let the matter drop and his decision to step onto the pitch pushed the referee to escalate matters. Moments later, the 46-year-old was walking down the tunnel, leaving the Velodrome in a frenzy.
Vitinha expressed his happiness at achieving a third-placed finish in the Ballon d'Or rankings and extended his congratulations to Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Ousmane Dembele, who pipped Barcelona rival Lamine Yamal to lift the prestigious award. Vitinha was one of the best midfielders in the world last season and achieved tremendous success with both club and country.
Former France captain Olivier Giroud has explained the key behind Ousmane Dembele’s Ballon d’Or success after admitting he never imagined his former France teammate would one day win the award. The Paris Saint-Germain forward capped off a remarkable season with 35 goals and a Champions League win, becoming the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday night.
La Liga president Javier Tebas believes that Lamine Yamal only missed out on the 2025 Ballon d'Or because of his age. The Barcelona superstar was pipped to the post by Paris Saint-Germain ace Ousmane Dembele, but Tebas believes it is only a matter of time before the teenager picks up the prize as the world's best footballer.
Marseille’s historic 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain was not without drama, as manager Roberto De Zerbi was sent off in stoppage time for his on-field confrontation with the referee. Pundit Daniel Riolo has since criticised the Italian, warning that his temper could end up costing the team following his latest fiery outburst.
Sunderland congratulated Ousmane Dembele on his Ballon d'Or success due to a unique connection with the Paris Saint-Germain superstar. The winger was crowned the world's best footballer at a glitzy awards ceremony on Monday night and the Black Cats took to Instagram to pay tribute to a player who has never kicked a ball for them.
Marseille's summer signing Nayef Aguerd reflected on his team's "frankly incredible" 1-0 win over rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the highly anticipated 'Le Classique' on Monday. The Moroccan centre-back revealed the key reasons that helped Les Olympiens register a remarkable victory over the reigning Ligue 1 holders, who were without the services of several stars.
Rennes went all out to honour Ousmane Dembele after his Ballon d'Or triumph, taking out a full-page advert in L'Equipe and running tributes across social media. The Paris Saint-Germain forward fired his side to a historic treble last season and became the club’s first Ballon d’Or winner, while his boyhood team proudly reminded the world of their role in shaping his journey.