Weston McKennie has told GOAL what leadership means to him, as a captaincy candidate with Juventus and the USMNT, while discussing the kind of characters that he likes to work alongside. The all-action midfielder is enjoying a productive 2026, with a new contract being signed in Turin, and is counting down the days to a home World Cup on American soil.
Manchester United’s decision to sell Scott McTominay in 2024 remains a “big surprise”, with the all-action midfielder thriving in Italy with Napoli. The history books have been rewritten there, with former Scotland international Gary McAllister telling GOAL why a break from tradition by the Red Devils has generated some uncomfortable questions at Old Trafford.
GOAL Exclusive: The American midfielder discusses adversity, gratitude, and why this year’s challenges have prepared him to fight for a World Cup spot.
An icon of the noughties era, Reebok are finally set to make a return to the football pitch after a 16-year absence. Evoking the days of prime Ryan Giggs and Thierry Henry, a Juventus star will be the face of the brand's comeback in the beautiful game and will wear their brand new boots.
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.
Sandro Tonali has been told that he “deserves to play for a big team”, with the Newcastle midfielder reported to be attracting admiring glances from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. The Italy international has been at St James’ Park since 2023, with Giuseppe Rossi telling GOAL why big-money bids for a proven Premier League performer could be tabled during the summer transfer window of 2026.
Paul Pogba is looking to rebuild his career at Monaco, with the World Cup winner being brutally informed that he has “only had three good years in his entire career”. That is the opinion of Radja Nainggolan, who once lined up against the Frenchman in Serie A. Pogba has endured a tough time of late, with the ex-Manchester United and Juventus midfielder serving a doping ban.
USMNT star Weston McKennie was bizarrely slapped by his own manager after seeing Juventus score a goal in their 4-0 victory over Pisa. The United States international midfielder played the full 90 minutes of that contest, having lined up at wing-back, but may have been left sporting a sore head afterwards after being clipped on the cheek by Luciano Spalletti.
Christian Pulisic has seen a USMNT-themed “myth” debunked by AC Milan legend Andriy Shevchenko. The United States international has faced accusations of already turning his attention towards a home World Cup this summer, but Shevchenko has refuted those claims and backed Pulisic to rediscover his best form at club level during the 2025-26 run-in.
Cesc Fabregas is convinced that Como goalkeeper Jean Butez is ready to make his France debut following a series of impressive performances. Following a gritty 2-1 victory away at Cagliari, the Spanish tactician heaped praise on his shot-stopper, describing his work ethic in remarkable terms as the Lariani continued their unlikely charge towards a potential Champions League spot.
The Gazzetta dello Sport claimed earlier this week that Arsenal have expressed an interest in signing Inter prospect Francesco Pio Esposito. However, the Nerazzurri's CEO, Beppe Marotta, moved quickly to quell the transfer talk by insisting that there had not been any contact between the two clubs. "Arsenal did not ask for Pio," the Italian told Sport Mediaset before Inter's Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against Como on Tuesday. "But also Inter are not a selling club. We don't make player trading our main activity.
Guglielmo Vicario could be heading for the exit door at Tottenham as speculation intensifies regarding a cut-price return to Serie A. The 29-year-old goalkeeper, who has been a mainstay in north London since his arrival from Empoli in 2023, is reportedly open to the move following a disastrous run of form for the Premier League side. Spurs find themselves embroiled in an unlikely survival scrap, sitting just one point above the relegation zone after a series of damaging results.
Napoli are moving quickly to secure the long-term future of Scott McTominay as interest from the Premier League continues to loom over the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Scotland international has been a revelation in Italy since his arrival from Manchester United in the summer of 2024, becoming a vital cog in Antonio Conte’s tactical setup and a firm fan favourite among the Partenopei faithful.
Juventus icon Gianluigi Buffon has hit out at the "insane" limitations of VAR after Pierre Kalulu was controversially sent off in the Derby d'Italia defeat to Inter last month. The former goalkeeper questioned the current officiating standards in Serie A following the high-profile blunder as he expressed his frustration with the process.
Gift Orban may only be 23 years of age, but he has already spent time in five different European countries while scoring at a rate of a goal every other game. A move to an elite club likely awaits for a player who went through plenty of hardship as a child, with Orban easily one of the continent's biggest Hidden Gems...
Pierluigi Collina has delivered a blunt assessment of the current state of VAR, comparing the technology’s recent struggles to a crumbling relationship. As football prepares for a suite of radical changes to how the game is policed, the man who once struck fear into the world’s best players suggests that the initial love affair with technology has hit a rocky patch.
AC Milan are actively working to secure the long-term future of their star winger Rafael Leao with a lucrative new contract extension. While internal negotiations are progressing very positively regarding a significant salary increase to €6 million, a massive €175m release clause remains a critical hurdle to overcome before officially finalising the highly anticipated deal.
The pressure is mounting on Alvaro Arbeloa at the Bernabeu, and reports in Italy suggest that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is already looking at alternatives. Los Blancos have endured a difficult period following the departure of Xabi Alonso, and despite Arbeloa stepping into the breach, the hierarchy is reportedly unconvinced by the current trajectory. Consequently, the Spanish giants are said to be weighing up a move for AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri to take the reins for the 2026-27 campaign.
Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has issued a firm hands-off warning to Arsenal regarding the future of rising star Pio Esposito. The Nerazzurri chief moved quickly to dismiss growing speculation that the Premier League leaders had made an approach for the highly-rated forward. The 19-year-old has emerged as one of the most talked-about talents in Italian football, inevitably drawing glances from the recruitment departments of Europe’s elite clubs.
Juventus are moving quickly to tie Luciano Spalletti to a long-term deal, despite their recent Champions League exit against Galatasaray. Following recent player renewals, the Bianconeri board wants to lock down the former Italy manager until 2028. This extension aims to provide a clear technical project and stability as the club focuses entirely on domestic success and future sustainability.
Bournemouth's Spanish full-back Alex Jimenez has opened up on his bitter departure from AC Milan, revealing deep frustration with the club's management. The 20-year-old expressed anger over what he perceived as a lack of faith in his abilities from the Italian club's officials, explaining why he felt forced to leave despite his lingering, continuous love for the Rossoneri.
Napoli have received a massive boost as Belgian maestro Kevin De Bruyne officially returned to first-team training at Castel Volturno on Monday. Following a four-month recovery period, the veteran playmaker is finally back on the grass, signalling the end of a frustrating spell on the sidelines that began in October.
The summer transfer window is still months away, but AC Milan already find themselves entangled in a high-stakes legal battle over one of South America's brightest prospects. The Rossoneri thought they had secured the services of Corinthians' rising star, Andre, in a deal worth approximately €15 million plus an additional €2m in performance-related bonuses. However, what seemed like a straightforward piece of business has quickly devolved into a standoff that could require intervention from FIFA.
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