Danny Simpson has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, detailed how Manchester United helped to mould Cristiano Ronaldo into a global superstar. The Portuguese icon took his first tentative steps towards greatness while at Old Trafford, with often surprising work behind the scenes - which left the odd team-mate confused - helping to turn CR7 into the phenomenon that he is today.
Rangers’ chaotic hunt for a new head coach looks to be nearing its conclusion, with Danny Rohl now close to being named as the club’s next manager. The former Sheffield Wednesday boss has re-emerged as the leading candidate after Kevin Muscat’s move fell through, and the Rangers hierarchy are reportedly expected to finalise the appointment in the coming days.
Jurgen Klopp warns Germany against fixating on winning the 2026 World Cup, stressing that global competition is fiercer than ever and nations like France, Spain and England cannot be underestimated. He urges patience, pragmatic planning, and development of versatile players, including an Under 21 league to bridge youth-to-senior gaps, emphasising that consistent growth outweighs overreaction to setbacks or early exits.
Harry Kane has defended Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham after the youngster struggled in the 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich. The England captain urged patience and encouraged the 20-year-old to “keep working hard,” as questions grow over his adaptation to life at Dortmund following his high-profile transfer from Sunderland in the summer window.
Former Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann has urged the Bundesliga champions to reconsider a reported early contract extension for Harry Kane, labelling the idea "madness" despite the star striker's incredible form. The club legend warned that Kane's age and defensive workload pose a risk, and he fears Bayern could suffer a mid-season collapse.
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 the United Kingdom 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.
Wayne Rooney is backing Harry Maguire for a World Cup recall with England after seeing the Manchester United defender come through “bullying” that saw him become a “meme” at one stage. The commanding centre-half has not enjoyed the easiest of times at Old Trafford, but he was given plenty to smile about when netting a dramatic winner against Liverpool last time out.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has publicly defended coach Hansi Flick after he was sent off in the 2-1 win over Girona on Saturday, claiming he was “pushed to the limit” by referee Gil Manzano. The German received two yellow cards in quick succession and now risks missing the touchline for the upcoming El Clasico against Real Madrid.
Manchester City are set to remain without Rodri for at least two more games, with Pep Guardiola delivering another injury update on the Spain international midfielder. Having missed most of last season with knee ligament damage, Rodri has struggled to recover full match fitness in 2025-26. He currently finds himself back on the treatment table with a muscle complaint.
Cesc Fabregas showed just how much his side’s stunning win over Juventus meant to him as cameras captured the Como boss delivering a passionate post-match speech to his players on the pitch. The Arsenal and Chelsea icon, who has guided the Serie A underdogs to sixth place, was visibly emotional as he told his players that he is “f*cking proud” of them.
With the October international break now in the rearview mirror, club football returned in style over the weekend, with some huge clashes headlining Europe's biggest leagues. Manchester United plunged great rivals Liverpool into even deeper crisis in the Premier League, Bayern Munich got the better of Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker while there were changes of leader in both Serie A and Ligue 1.
Tempers flared as Real Madrid battled past Getafe 1-0 in a stormy La Liga clash marked by dismissals, accusations, and drama. Vinicius Jr’s fiery cameo and Jude Bellingham’s exchange with Jose Bordalas stole the spotlight as the Getafe coach accused both of “provoking” his team. However, with Kylian Mbappe’s winner Madrid sit top of La Liga before the looming El Clasico.
Former Borussia Dortmund keeper Jens Lehmann has heavily criticised coach Niko Kovac, claiming he 'doesn't understand football's complexity' after a 2-1 defeat to arch rivals Bayern Munich. Lehmann slammed the team's "anxious" and "fearful" five-man defence as the loss leaves Dortmund seven points adrift in the title race as they stand fourth on the table.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has come under fire following his comments around the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. The Dutchman criticised United’s style of play after full-time and even referenced Benjamin Sesko’s omission from the starting XI in a baffling pre-match claim. His remarks sparked outrage among rival fans, who branded the manager’s reaction as “f*cking pathetic”.
Real Madrid escaped Getafe with a hard-fought 1-0 win, thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s strike and Vinicius Jr provoking two red cards. Xabi Alonso praised his players’ resilience in a tense, scrappy game, while dismissing claims that Los Blancos are overly reliant on Mbappe ahead of a decisive week featuring Juventus in the Champions League and Barcelona in El Clasico.
Jurgen Klopp has dramatically left the door open to a second stint as Liverpool boss, with the charismatic German admitting: “It’s possible”. The Premier League and Champions League title winner is not missing coaching, though, as he fills a role with Red Bull, but is ruling nothing out and has hinted that a sensational return to Anfield could be made at some point.
Juventus suffered their first defeat of the season with a 2–0 loss to Como, triggering an uneasy situation at Turin. While the club are publicly backing Igor Tudor, reports suggest the hierarchy, led by general manager Damien Comolli, is quietly exploring contingency options. With tough away fixtures ahead against Real Madrid and Lazio, the next fortnight could define Tudor’s future as pressure mounts for Juventus to rediscover their identity and form.
Jamie Carragher has called on Liverpool to drop Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian superstar putting in another lacklustre performance as the Reds suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to old adversaries Manchester United. Salah has been a talismanic presence at Anfield down the years, but questions are now being asked of whether he should be one of the first names on the team sheet.
AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri fired back at pundit Christian Vieri over his tactical decisions in the 2-1 win against Fiorentina. Allegri defended his choice to start the Portuguese winger Rafael Leao over Santi Gimenez and clarified the penalty-taking order as the Rossoneri went top of Serie A for the first time in over a year, enjoying a one-point lead.
Real Madrid snatched a 1-0 win over Getafe in dramatic circumstances, but the home side were left furious after Allan Nyom’s red card and a controversial VAR decision turned the game. Kylian Mbappe scored the late winner as tempers flared, with Getafe players accusing officials of bias and claiming the match was “stolen”.
Lionel Messi proved his class once again when sending a heartfelt message to Argentina’s promising youngsters after seeing them suffer an agonising defeat to Morocco in the FIFA U20 World Cup final. The Albiceleste are the current holders of the global crown at senior level and had been hoping to capture another in the youth ranks. Messi has offered his support after seeing that dream crushed in dramatic fashion.
Nico Schlotterbeck has admitted he is in no rush to sign a new Borussia Dortmund contract, saying he will “see where it leads”, as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid monitor the defender’s situation. Dortmund want him tied down until 2030, but fresh doubts over his long-term plans have reopened transfer speculation.
Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne showed the true meaning of 'no pain, no gain' after Sunday’s clash against Tottenham. The Frenchman suffered a gruesome ankle gash following a crunching tackle from Kevin Danso, later unleashing an X-rated tirade at the fourth official. The 32-year-old later shared a graphic image of his injury on Instagram.
Few strikers have bridged eras and philosophies quite like Hernan Crespo, the Argentine who thrived under football’s finest minds. From Carlo Ancelotti’s calm mentorship at Parma and AC Milan to Jose Mourinho’s fiery motivation at Chelsea and Inter, Crespo experienced both tenderness and tenacity in leadership. Now a coach himself, he blends these lessons and teachings with empathy, pushing with passion, and inspiring with precision.
A drama erupted at San Siro as VAR once again took centre stage in AC Milan’s 2–1 win over Fiorentina. A late, controversial penalty awarded to Milan after Santiago Gimenez went down softly in the box ignited fury from Fiorentina’s camp. Sporting director Daniele Prade called the officiating “scandalous,” while manager Stefano Pioli accused VAR of “encouraging simulation,” reigniting the debate on fairness and football’s integrity.
Rafael Leao has detailed the supportive welcome he received from new teammate Luka Modric after his match-winning brace sent AC Milan to the top of Serie A. The Portuguese star, who ended a long goal drought at the San Siro against Fiorentina, is eager to learn from the former Real Madrid icon and propel the Rossoneri forward to make the most out of his career.
Barcelona came close to missing the Champions League after UEFA threatened sanctions over financial fair play breaches. President Joan Laporta confirmed the club narrowly avoided sporting punishment by negotiating a reduced fine. The move highlights how far Barca have come financially, though challenges remain as the club continues rebuilding its economic stability.
Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini claims that Antony has “matured significantly” since bringing his Manchester United nightmare to a close and securing a permanent transfer to Andalusia. The Brazil international forward became a big-money flop at Old Trafford, but has rediscovered a lost spark in Spanish football and bagged a brilliant brace against Villarreal in his latest outing.
The last time Manchester United won at Anfield, Great Britain was still in the European Union, Donald Trump was best known as the presenter of The Apprentice and Leicester City were top of the Premier League. Marcus Rashford had not yet played a first-team game, Arne Slot had not yet entered management and Ruben Amorim was seeing out his playing career in Qatar.
The highly-anticipated derby clash between arch-rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv had to be suspended after violent riots broke out among supporters that led to “endangerment of human lives”. Several members of local police forces suffered injuries after becoming caught up in chaotic scenes prior to the game in question getting underway, with a number of arrests being made.