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Amad Diallo hailed Manchester United team-mate Bryan Mbeumo as a "good lad" after the pair swapped shirts following their Africa Cup of Nations clash between Ivory Coast and Cameroon. The former scored a brilliant goal as the two African heavyweights played out a 1-1 draw on Sunday as both nations inched closer to the knockout stages of the competition.

Kylian Mbappe’s ownership era at Caen has taken a bold new turn after the French club appointed former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Gael Clichy as head coach. The 40-year-old steps into his first senior managerial role amid supporter unrest, with the club banking on his elite pedigree to spark a revival as they struggle in the third tier of French football.

The two Amakhosi players have been under stern scrutiny for struggling to show up for some games in big moments when it matters the most for the Soweto giants. But they appear to have little backing from their representative who, however, has been seen fighting in the corner of a Buccaneers star who has been finding it difficult at the ongoing AFCON tournament.

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal are "actively looking" to make signings in the January transfer window as they continue to struggle with injuries. The Gunners spent £267 million ($360m) on players this summer, but they may dip back into the market next month as Ben White, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, and more, are all currently sidelined.

Ruben Amorim has praised Bruno Fernandes for his exemplary attitude while he is out injured. The Manchester United captain suffered a soft tissue injury against Aston Villa, ruling him out for the busy festive period. He still attended United's 1-0 win over Newcastle and Amorim said he continues to take a deep interest in the team, watching training sessions after doing his recovery work.

Paul Pogba has thanked former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo while accepting his Best Comeback Award at a special ceremony. The French midfielder was banned for four years after testing positive for high testosterone levels while playing for Juventus in September 2023 but after his suspension was reduced to 18 months, he made his return to football at Monaco after 811 days out of the sport.

Rasmus Hojlund’s revival in Italy has gathered pace after another decisive display for Napoli, prompting Antonio Conte to explain why the striker is now thriving following his Manchester United exit. The Napoli boss praised the Dane’s growing understanding of the role, while stressing that his side are still chasing the elite standard set by Serie A’s top contenders.

A lot of leagues and competitions take the festive period off but there was no break for players in England, Italy and Portugal over the weekend, while the action at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco resumed on December 26. The Premier League's top two, Arsenal and Manchester City, both picked up hard-fought wins on Saturday but Aston Villa remain very much in the title race after a massive win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

In an attempt to end Young Africans SC's dominance, the Wekundu wa Msimbazi appointed the experienced South African tactician. Barker made his name with the Winelands club, a team he mentored from a second-tier side into the Premier Soccer League. In order to boost their technical bench, the Tanzanian heavyweights are reported to be in talks with the football analyst who is expected to be incorporated into Barker's technical bench.

Gary Lineker believes that struggling Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres needs to take a leaf out of in-form Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin's book. The Gunners hoped the Sweden international would be the final piece of the jigsaw in their bid to end their decades-long Premier League title drought. But as the former Sporting CP star underwhelms, ex-England international Lineker has pinpointed a way the forward can improve in front of goal.

Nicolas Jackson’s future is once again under the spotlight after his agent dropped a telling hint about the striker’s next move, with doubts growing over a permanent stay at Bayern Munich. The Senegal international’s loan spell in Germany appears to be nearing its natural end, opening the door to a new destination as interest builds elsewhere in Europe.

With South Africa up for what is a do-or-die clash against Zimbabwe, Broos has revealed the chances of two stars in the squad playing are incredibly limited. South Africa need at least a draw in order to keep their AFCON dream alive, and that means the usual tried and tested will likely get deployed. With eyes keen to see who Broos will line up for the Warriors game, the Belgian has already pointed out the players that are unlikely to play.

Liverpool have been told to plough ahead with a bold move for Arsenal star Jurrien Timber as Arne Slot seeks to address his side's issues in defence. The Reds won the Premier League title last season but this term they are finding their defence much more difficult. The Merseyside outfit have shipped 26 goals in just 18 league games and now they're being urged to strengthen their backline.

The Buccaneers playmaker arrived in Morocco with expectations high on him to step in for Themba Zwane who did not make it to the continental football showpiece. But he is yet to reproduce the form that earned him a place in the national team squad doing duty in North Africa. This comes after the coach’s attempts to identify Zwane’s replacement in Patrick Maswanganyi have so far failed.

Barcelona midfielder Gavi is refusing to let a brutal injury spell derail his biggest ambitions, with the teenager targeting a February return and keeping his World Cup 2026 dream firmly alive. Recovering step by step from knee surgery, the Barca No.6 insists everything is on track as he watches a flying team from the sidelines and vows to come back stronger.

Everton are reportedly eyeing a double January swoop for out-of-favour Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee. While a move for the pair will be difficult and potentially expensive, the Toffees are hoping that Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish could be part of the club's sales pitch to bring them to Hill Dickinson Stadium next month.

The regional rivals are clashing in a high-stakes encounter, each hoping to win and seal a place in the Round of 16. The stakes are even higher for the Warriors, as they need a straight victory to reach the knockout stage, while for Bafana, at least a draw will be enough for them to progress. With just a point needed for the 1996 Champions, coach Hugo Broos is confident his charges will get the job done despite the pressure on their shoulders.

Antoine Semenyo's agents are reportedly due in Manchester to finalise a potential move to Manchester City. The Bournemouth star's entourage are expected to move ahead with contract terms over his £65 million ($87.5m) release clause, which runs until January 10. The player himself is said to be keen to wrap up his future at the start of next month, but whether a deal gets done remains to be seen.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea rebuild has hit another uncomfortable bump after surrendering a dominant position against Aston Villa, and a former Premier League stalwart believes the problem is now clear. With the Blues once again failing to manage a game they controlled, Maresca has been warned he must rein in his midfield leaders if Chelsea are to arrest a worrying slide.

Manchester United star Amad Diallo scored a stunning goal but his Ivory Coast side were held to a 1-1 draw with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. The United wing-back, who lined up against club team-mate Bryan Mbeumo, scored his second goal of the competition for the tournament holders but their lead was short-lived when Junior Tchamadeu's deflected effort came just six minutes later.

John Terry is set to part with some of the most emotionally charged items of his storied Chelsea career, including the infamous “tear-stained” shirt from the 2008 Champions League final defeat to Manchester United. The former Blues captain will auction the memorabilia at a charity sale, with proceeds supporting causes close to his heart through his foundation.

The January transfer window is fast approaching, and clubs will once again be scrambling to strengthen for the second half of the season. In the 2025 winter market, £1.2 billion ($1.4bn) was spent across Europe's top leagues and the English Championship, the highest mark in seven years, with Manchester City accounting for £191 million ($256m) of that amount alone.

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has revealed what his relationship with Vinicius Junior was like on and off the pitch. Speculation is continuing to mount that the Brazil international will leave Los Blancos in 2026 after a difficult year or so at the Spanish giants. Amid such rumours, ex-midfielder Kroos has given a very strong character reference of the 25-year-old, while also giving his take on Endrick's Lyon loan.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF will open preparations for the 2026 season with an ambitious preseason tour of South America, facing opponents in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador as they gear up to defend their MLS Cup title. The Herons will begin their tour with a visit to Estadio Alejandro Villanueva on Jan. 24, where they'll face Alianza Lima.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has been told to resign by a former Spurs player in an explosive social media rant. The Danish coach has found himself under pressure in his first season at Spurs, with the club currently on a worrying run of form which has conjured just two top-flight victories in their last nine fixtures. Following their win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, Spurs will now end 2025 in 11th.

Lamine Yamal has expressed his desire to build and follow his own unique path as his young career develops. Speaking after winning the Best Forward award at the Globe Soccer Awards, the 18-year-old played down comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo and stated that since the great Portuguese earnt his name in football by being unlike anyone else, he hopes to do the same thing as he comes ever closer to reaching the very top of the game.

An almost perfect 2025 for Ousmane Dembele was completed on Sunday, as the Paris Saint-Germain forward was crowned 'Best Male Player' at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai. This was the latest in a series of personal accolades for the Ballon d'Or winner, who inspired PSG to winning the Champions League for the first time ever last season. Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal also picked up a pair of awards on the night.

Antoine Semenyo wants his Bournemouth future resolved by the opening day of the January transfer window as Cherries are bracing for a late twist in the transfer saga. The Ghanaian winger is in the midst of a transfer tug of war with a number of Premier League sides hoping to lure the Bournemouth ace away from the Vitality Stadium next month.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including big goals in Italy and England.