Ruben Amorim's tenure as Man United boss has been marked by his insistence on a three-at-the-back system, which has enraged club legend Paul Scholes. Amorim is respected for his success with a 3-4-3 formation at Sporting, but Scholes has blasted the Portuguese for his refusal to play in a style more suited to the ‘Man United way.’
Aurelio De Laurentiis has launched a passionate defence of Jose Mourinho following Napoli's Champions League defeat to Benfica. The Napoli president slammed critics who believe the Portuguese tactician is 'finished', claiming that European football culture seeks to 'bury' winners out of envy, whereas they would be celebrated as icons in the United States.
Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United from boyhood club Everton in August 2004 for a fee of £27 million ($36m), a world-record sum for a teenager at the time. The transfer was controversial among Toffees fans, and the former England striker has revealed details of the intimidation campaign directed at his family and his then wife-to-be Coleen and also how he's helping his son take first steps in his football career.
Aurelio De Laurentiis has reignited the rivalry with former manager Luciano Spalletti, now at Juventus. The Napoli president claimed the recent Serie A title under Antonio Conte was 'the real Scudetto' compared to the 'obvious' victory secured by his predecessor, insisting the cinematic drama of last season's 'blockbuster' battle made it superior to the dominance of the 2023 campaign.
Cristian Romero’s Tottenham future has been thrown back into doubt after Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez revealed he held talks with the Spurs captain about a potential summer move to Spain. The World Cup-winning defender ultimately signed a new long-term contract, but Alvarez’s admission has reignited speculation. With Atletico still admiring Romero, his commitment could again be tested next summer,
Como have been dealt a massive injury blow with Alvaro Morata ruled out for a significant period. The Spanish striker, who arrived in the summer following a drawn-out transfer saga involving Galatasaray and AC Milan, faces a frustrating spell on the sidelines after sustaining a serious thigh injury against Inter.
GOAL's Front Three have created the ultimate 26-man World Cup squad, based on teams that have qualified for the 2026 edition in North America. The options for each position are literally endless, with so many world-class superstars vying for a spot. Find out who makes the cut, and who gets left at home, by watching the video above! ⬆️
Wrexham spent big in the summer of 2025, but former Red Dragons boss Dean Saunders has told GOAL why Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac will likely make more funds available in the January transfer window. The ambitious Welsh outfit are looking competitive in the Championship, with collective sights locked on winning promotion to the Premier League.
Hansi Flick has delivered a crushing blow to Marc-Andre ter Stegen's hopes of reclaiming his starting spot at Barcelona. The German coach publicly confirmed Joan Garcia's status as the undisputed number one, leaving the club legend facing a January exit if he wants to keep his World Cup dream alive.
Former Manchester United star Paul Ince has urged Kobbie Mainoo to leave Old Trafford in January and has warned that the 20-year-old risks missing out on England’s 2026 World Cup squad if he continues to languish on the bench. The Carrington product was once considered one of United’s brightest prospects, but has endured a bewildering fall down the pecking order under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Michail Antonio is reportedly training with Championship side Leicester as he seeks to make a sensational return to professional football. The 35-year-old forward has been without a club since being released by West Ham in the summer of 2025. No fresh terms were offered there on the back of Antonio suffering a near-fatal car crash in December 2024. He is not ready to hang up his boots just yet.
Julian Alvarez has addressed the growing speculation linking him with a shock move to Barcelona. The Atletico Madrid forward, currently midway through his second season at the Metropolitano, insisted he remains "very calm" about his future and focused on winning titles under Diego Simeone, despite reports suggesting the Catalan giants are monitoring his situation.
Liverpool have been told that Mohamed Salah is irreplaceable and that there is "no way" reported target Antoine Semenyo, who continues to impress at Bournemouth, is as good as their current No.11. Ex-Reds striker Dean Saunders has been discussing an unfortunate Anfield saga with GOAL after seeing Salah aim an explosive blast at the reigning Premier League champions.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly instructed his squad to report for training on Christmas Day, despite not being scheduled to play on Boxing Day this year. The Gunners return to Premier League action on December 27 when they host Brighton at the Emirates Stadium, but Arteta is adamant that the preparations must continue without interruption.
Bayern Munich's long-term plan to replace Manuel Neuer may be advancing faster than anticipated. Reports from Germany suggest summer signing Jonas Urbig has 'surprised' club chiefs with his training levels, putting immediate pressure on the veteran No. 1 to maintain his high standards, with the younger goalkeeper expected to receive more playing time this season.
Arne Slot gave little away in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool's clash with Brighton in the Premier League, repelling multiple questions related to Mohamed Salah's situation at the club. The Reds boss confirmed he would be holding showdown talks with the Egyptian on December 12, and couldn't help but laugh when a reporter repeatedly asked what the forward needs to do to be reintegrated into the squad.
Marcus Rashford may have fired another shot at Manchester United, with the England international claiming that the "environment" that he now forms part of at Barcelona "pushes us to be the best". That could be considered a nod towards those at Old Trafford not providing players with a platform on which they feel comfortable and capable of unlocking full potential.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has offered a staunch defence of under-fire Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, insisting he has "seen this movie" of crisis talk many times before. Despite the champions suffering back-to-back defeats and facing intense scrutiny over their form, the league chief believes the Basque coach has the "Madrid DNA" required to survive the storm and turn the season around.
William Saliba has been forced to "modify his running" after the ankle injury as Mikel Arteta revealed a potential comeback date for the Arsenal defender. The Frenchman has missed the club’s last four matches after completing 90 minutes in the 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in late November, and what was initially described as a “minor” setback has evolved into a more serious situation.
Dietmar Hamann has delivered a brutal verdict on Mohamed Salah's future, claiming the winger has played his final game for Liverpool. The former Reds midfielder branded Salah's recent form as "rubbish" and accused him of destroying his legacy with selfish behaviour, while Oliver Kahn suggested that social media has made superstars like the Egyptian "untouchable" and bigger than their clubs.
Bernardo Silva has warned Manchester City stars that they face being "killed", in a sporting sense, if they fail to win trophies in 2025-26. Under Pep Guardiola, the Blues have grown accustomed to collecting major silverware. They missed out on the grandest of prizes last season and are aware that more tough decisions will be made if they come up short again.
Bayern Munich sensation Lennart Karl has been hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime talent by Dietmar Hamann, who claims the 17-year-old is currently outshining superstars Harry Kane and Michael Olise. The Liverpool legend believes Karl's explosion onto the scene is so significant that even Jamal Musiala faces a genuine fight to regain his starting spot in the side upon his return from injury.
Manchester United are reportedly eyeing Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki following his sensational Premier League start, with Chelsea also keeping a tab on the £15 million ($20m) star. Ruben Amorim has urged the board to sign at least one midfielder in the summer of 2026 after missing out on Brighton's Carlos Baleba. They are also monitoring the likes of Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson.
Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano has reportedly issued a final ultimatum to the club regarding his contract extension. The French international is entering the final six months of his deal and has made it clear that European giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are ready to meet his financial requests if the Bundesliga leaders fail to match his expectations before January.
Manchester City have announced that head coach Pep Guardiola will skip pre-match press duties ahead of a Premier League clash with Crystal Palace due to a "personal matter". Guardiola was due to face the assembled media on Friday, but his place in that hot-seat will be filled by assistant manager Kolo Toure - with the Blues’ talismanic boss set to be back in the dugout at Selhurst Park.
Denzel Dumfries has put elite European clubs on high alert after making a significant change to his representation. The Inter wing-back has parted ways with super-agent Jorge Mendes, a move that coincides with the activation of a tempting release clause in his contract next summer. Barcelona and Manchester City are monitoring the situation closely as the Dutchman eyes his next move.
Jamie Carragher has blasted Liverpool’s "disconnected" online fans that are struggling to see the bigger picture when it comes to Mohamed Salah’s explosive outburst against the club. In the opinion of an Anfield legend, "those who dedicate their life to supporting the team" will always side with a title-winning manager during any dispute with a disgruntled player - regardless of the status that said performer enjoys.
Bayern Munich are reportedly ready to open contract talks with Michael Olise in a bid to ward off serious interest from the Premier League and Paris Saint-Germain. The German giants fear a mammoth offer could arrive for the French winger this summer and are desperate to secure his long-term future at the Allianz Arena with improved terms.
Tottenham have reportedly transfer listed Yves Bissouma following a second laughing gas scandal in just over a year, with the club now determined to move on from a player they once believed would anchor their midfield in the long term. The 29-year-old is out of contract next summer, and now faces an increasingly uncertain future after slipping further out of favour under head coach Thomas Frank.
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
