For a particular generation of AC Milan fans, those who grew up in the early 2000s, one name stands out above any other. Andriy Shevchenko combined technical skill with a ruthlessness in front of goal that made him one of the best strikers the game has ever seen, a Ballon d'Or winner and a worthy entrant into GOAL's Hall of Fame...
Victor Osimhen claims that Napoli “treated me like a dog” prior to severing ties with the Serie A champions in 2024. Despite being a prolific presence for the Italian outfit, helping them to a domestic title in 2023, the Nigeria international striker was brutally mocked by his own club in a racist social media video that ultimately paved the way for him heading out of Naples.
Alvaro Morata has broken his silence following a brief but nightmarish display in Como’s 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina. The Spanish striker, introduced from the bench to chase the game, received two yellow cards in under a minute during stoppage time, leaving manager Cesc Fabregas fuming. After the Como boss suggested Morata should "change careers" if he can't handle provocation, the forward has hit back on social media and admitted his error.
The fallout from Inter's chaotic win against Juventus has taken a sinister turn. Referee Federico La Penna has been forced to involve the police after receiving sickening death threats targeting his wife and young daughters following the controversial dismissal of Pierre Kalulu. The official is also facing a lengthy suspension for the error as the Italian football authorities look to temper frustrations as the fallout continues.
Igor Tudor to Tottenham was the managerial move that nobody saw coming. After Thomas Frank's inevitable dismissal last week, all of the UK's leading bookmakers promptly published lists of the frontrunners in the race to succeed the Dane as head coach. Tudor's name didn't feature on any of them. He wasn't even considered a rank outsider for the role - he was a non-runner.
Inter star Alessandro Bastoni has been branded a “cheat” after contributing significantly to Juventus rival Pierre Kalulu being shown a “clearly wrong” red card during a dramatic Serie A encounter at San Siro. The Bianconeri finished that game with 10 men and on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline, with the head of officiating in Italy offering an apology to the Turin-based giants.
GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones 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.
Though the Premier League took a week off to allow for the FA Cup, there were still plenty of storylines to follow within England, while title races around the rest of Europe continue to take plenty of twists and turns.
Weston McKennie has transformed from a transfer-listed outcast into an indispensable pillar of the Juventus midfield, but his long-term future in Turin now hangs by a thread. While the 27-year-old Texan has voiced his desire to remain with the Bianconeri, negotiations have hit a significant roadblock. His representatives are playing hardball, demanding a salary that reflects his status as one of Serie A's most consistent performers, leading to a high-stakes standoff at the Allianz Stadium.
The fallout from Saturday's explosive Derby d'Italia continues to dominate the headlines as former Inter president Massimo Moratti has hit back at Juventus for their reaction to a controversial refereeing decision. During Inter’s 3-2 victory, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu was shown a second yellow card after Alessandro Bastoni went down under light contact, a moment that sparked fury from the Turin giants. Addressing the uproar, Moratti suggested that the Bianconeri's sense of injustice was perhaps a little misplaced given the broader context of Italian football history.
Cesc Fabregas launched a stunning rant towards Como striker Alvaro Morata on Saturday after the Spaniard picked up two yellow cards in two minutes to see his marching orders in his side's 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina. Morata had been introduced as a second-half substitute but lost his cool to pick up two rapid bookings as his side searched for an equaliser, leading to harsh criticism from Fabregas, who suggested the striker should "change careers".
AC Milan are ready to trigger an extension option in Luka Modric’s contract, but the Ballon d’Or winner will not make a decision on his future until the end of the season. The iconic Croatian midfielder is now 40 years of age and wants to mull over his options carefully. USMNT star Christian Pulisic is taking a similar stance, as he delays committing to fresh terms at San Siro.
Manchester United are “leading the way” when it comes to a possible transfer for Scott McTominay, according to reports in Italy, as the Scotland international “dreams” of a return to the Premier League. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a productive spell in Italy with Serie A champions Napoli, but is open to the idea of retracing steps to English football in 2026.
Robinho Jr only turned 18 in December, but he has already broken into the senior team at Santos, where he is now rubbing shoulders with Brazil's all-time record goal-scorer, Neymar. The teenager is already attracting transfer interest from a host of top European clubs, partly because of his ability, but also due to the footballing legacy of his father.
Antonio Conte has launched a furious tirade against the standard of refereeing and his own team's "absurd" injury crisis following Napoli's elimination from the Coppa Italia. The Partenopei boss watched his side crash out on penalties to Como, before claiming that mounting fitness issues have made a Serie A title charge "ridiculous" to even consider.
Weston McKennie has shone in recent weeks with Juventus, earning the club’s Player of the Month award. Despite uncertainty surrounding his future with his contract set to expire after the World Cup, Juventus director Marco Ottolini confirmed the club is already working to keep the USMNT midfielder in Turin for the long term.
The world of football is increasingly influenced by money. Investors from the private equity sector in particular are playing an ever greater role in this. Takeovers of clubs such as AC Milan, Chelsea and Olympique Lyon show that investors see international football as an interesting growth market.
GOAL's Rebel United series focuses on players who prefer to swim against the tide, players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic – an icon who not only disrupted the system, but also subjugated it...
Former Chelsea star Alvaro Morata admits that his relationship with his influencer wife Alice Campello is over, insisting the two "don't understand each other". The Como striker, on loan from AC Milan, had attempted to rekindle the romance, but it appears that his efforts have failed. Morata also had some strong words as he responded to rumours of infidelity.
We still have a title race in England! Manchester City's hopes of winning the Premier League looked to be over after they fell behind to another stunning free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai at Anfield on Sunday, but Pep Guardiola's men produce a sensational fightback to defeat Liverpool 2-1 and close the game to leaders Arsenal to just six points.
GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones 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.
USMNT star Tim Weah admits that he was a “broken player” when joining Marseille in 2025, with “getting up in the morning” proving difficult during a testing spell at Serie A giants Juventus. The United States international, who is the son of Ballon d’Or-winning AC Milan legend George, feels that he has finally found a home in France where he can put down roots.
Ex-Manchester United stars Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund were the heroes as Napoli came from behind to beat Genoa 3-2 in the final minute of their Serie A clash on Saturday evening. However, head coach Antonio Conte also provided a worrying injury update on his talismanic midfielder after he was hauled off at half-time.
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