Peter McVitie

Real Madrid have suffered a massive blow ahead of the Spanish Super Cup as Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of the entire tournament with a knee injury. The French superstar will not travel to Saudi Arabia as the club adopts a 'zero risk' policy, though there is a major boost for Xabi Alonso with Trent Alexander-Arnold returning to the squad after injury.

Gerard Pique was subjected to a ruthless prank by fans in Ceuta this weekend, with the Barcelona legend forced to endure Shakira’s brutal 'diss track' blasting from a passing car moments after watching his FC Andorra side slump to a painful defeat.

Bayern Munich wonderkid Lennart Karl caused a stir this weekend by admitting his ultimate career dream is to join Real Madrid, despite currently developing at the Allianz Arena. While such comments often irritate the Bavarian faithful, club legend Lothar Matthaus has surprisingly defended the 17-year-old, drawing parallels with Robert Lewandowski and Florian Wirtz while revealing his own failed move to the Bernabeu.

Explosive details regarding the final weeks of Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United have emerged, with reports revealing that the Portuguese coach and defender Lisandro Martinez "squared up" to one another during a heated training ground confrontation in December. The Argentine World Cup winner reportedly confronted his manager in an "intense" manner over a lack of playing time, though the incident ultimately earned him the captain's armband.

Liam Rosenior has been confirmed as the new manager of Chelsea, bringing an emotional end to his successful tenure at Strasbourg. The 41-year-old described the move to Stamford Bridge as an "honour" he simply could not refuse, citing the allure of the Club World Cup champions and a desperate desire to return home to his family.

Victor Osimhen marred Nigeria's commanding 4-0 victory over Mozambique with a shocking display of petulance that stunned spectators. The striker squared up to team-mate Ademola Lookman mid-game before demanding to be subbed off and storming onto the team bus alone, leaving his colleagues to celebrate reaching the Africa Cup Of Nations quarter-finals without him.

Owen Hargreaves has called on Manchester United to reinstate Marcus Rashford to the first-team fold following the dramatic sacking of Ruben Amorim, insisting the exiled forward is a "special player" who was unfairly burdened with the club's struggles before being forced out to Barcelona.

Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has issued a furious ultimatum to the club's hierarchy, vowing to cancel his season tickets if they appoint Enzo Maresca as the next permanent manager. The 'Class of 92' icon believes the "City-fication" of the club's boardroom has already gone too far and insists he cannot stomach a former rival coach taking charge at Old Trafford following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.

Brazilian sensation Endrick has opened up about the heart-to-heart conversation with Carlo Ancelotti that led to his January loan move to Lyon. The teenager revealed the Brazil head coach urged him to seek regular minutes elsewhere to aid his development ahead of the 2026 World Cup, while he also explained why the Portuguese connection in France made the Ligue 1 giants the perfect destination.

Wrexham have officially confirmed the return of club legend Paul Mullin after his season-long loan spell at Wigan Athletic was cut short. The 31-year-old striker, who became a global icon during the club’s rise under Hollywood ownership, is available for selection immediately as Phil Parkinson looks to bolster his attacking options for the crucial run-in.

Real Madrid have devised a fresh strategy to lure Rodri away from Manchester City, with the Spanish giants looking to capitalise on the midfielder's stalling contract talks. Los Blancos view the Ballon d'Or winner as the ultimate target to complete their midfield evolution at the Santiago Bernabeu, and startling reports from Spain suggest a blockbuster transfer offensive could be launched.

Real Madrid have been offered the chance to sign Crystal Palace sensation Adam Wharton, but Los Blancos will face fierce competition for his signature. Premier League giants Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all tracking the midfielder, who will reportedly cost at least €70 million and is demanding a huge salary to leave Selhurst Park.

Ruben Amorim was fighting a losing battle with his own emotions long before the official announcement of his sacking by Manchester United on Monday morning. According to body language expert Darren Stanton, the Portuguese tactician exhibited clear signs of feeling "thrown under the bus" by the club hierarchy during his final, explosive press conference.

Declan Rice has launched a passionate defence of teammate Viktor Gyokeres, insisting the Arsenal striker remains "one of the best in the world" despite a dry spell in front of goal. The England midfielder believes critics are overlooking the £64 million signing's immense tactical contribution, sending a stark warning to Premier League rivals that the goals will soon flow once again.

Chelsea have fuelled speculation regarding a potential reintegration for Mykhailo Mudryk after publicly celebrating the winger’s 25th birthday on social media. The public acknowledgement stands in stark contrast to the club’s treatment of Raheem Sterling just weeks earlier, suggesting that the Ukrainian may still have a future at Stamford Bridge under the incoming management.

Thiago Silva has completed a sensational return to European football, signing a short-term deal with Porto at the age of 41. The Brazilian icon, who recently departed Fluminense following a mutual termination of his contract, touched down in the Invicta city on Sunday to finalise a move that sees him reunite with the club where his career almost ended tragically two decades ago.

Manchester United have officially parted ways with Ruben Amorim following a chaotic 24 hours at Old Trafford, bringing an abrupt end to the Portuguese coach’s tenure. The decision was confirmed on Monday morning after the manager launched a blistering public attack on the club’s hierarchy, a move that supporters on social media have largely agreed made his position at the helm completely untenable.

The managerial merry-go-round at Stamford Bridge is spinning again, with Liam Rosenior set to arrive in London to finalise his appointment as Chelsea’s new head coach following Enzo Maresca’s exit. However, BlueCo have wasted no time lining up a replacement for the Strasbourg dugout, with former Wolves boss Gary O'Neil emerging as the shock contender to swap the Premier League for Ligue 1.