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Amid mounting speculation linking Barcelona with a blockbuster summer move for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, the club's hierarchy has moved quickly to cool the rumours. As the Blaugrana navigate a pivotal stretch of their campaign by balancing Champions League ambitions with a steep domestic hill to climb, the message from the boardroom is one of absolute focus on the present. While the prospect of the Argentine World Cup winner arriving at Camp Nou has captivated fans, the club insist all transfer talks are firmly on hold.

They say you should never meet your heroes, but Brazilian teenage prodigy Dell probably wouldn't agree. The Bahia and Brazil Under-17s striker has idolised Erling Haaland since he was a child, so imagine the excitement he got when, one day in training, he received a video message from the Manchester City hitman.

Lionel Messi was tackled to the turf by a pitch-invading fan during Inter Miami’s chaotic friendly clash with Independiente del Valle. The MLS Cup winners had been due to face Ecuadorian opponents on February 13, but the contest had to be rearranged. It eventually took place in Puerto Rico on February 26, with Argentine GOAT Messi among the stars on show.

The 27-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Amakhosi from Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad, arriving at Naturena earlier this season with high expectations on his shoulders. However, he has yet to deliver the kind of performances many anticipated when he made the move to the Glamour Boys. It remains to be seen whether he will be trusted to feature in Saturday’s Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates.

After seven months on the sidelines since joining the Soweto giants before the start of the 2025/26 season, the attacking midfielder finally made his debut, much to the delight of fans who had eagerly awaited his appearance. Living up to expectations, he has now reflected on this milestone, stressing that his first outing for the Glamour Boys is just the start.

Arsenal couldn't really afford to lose or draw Sunday's north London derby with Tottenham. Their collapse at Wolves four days prior meant that the Premier League title race was now split evenly between themselves and Manchester City - if either side won all of their remaining fixtures, including their crunch meeting at the Etihad Stadium in April, they would be crowned champions.

If Xavier Vilajoana is elected Barcelona president in mid-March, he will go all out for a major signing in the summer transfer window. "We've already made some contact, and I think he's a player who would be a great fit, pending his contractual situation: it's Harry Kane," Vilajoana said in an interview with ESPN this week.

The shocking amount Manchester United are set to pay Ruben Amorim and his coaching team has been revealed. The Portuguese was relieved of his managerial duties at Old Trafford on January 5. He took in just 63 games at the helm, over the course of 14 months, with that ill-fated tenure set to cost the Red Devils close to £16 million ($22m).

Cavan Sullivan scored two and added two assists as the Philadelphia Union breezed past Trinidadian side Defence Force FC, 7-0 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The American has now assisted in two of his last three games and contributed to five of the Union's goals in a comprehensive 12-0 aggregate win to secure qualification to the next round of the tournament.

Pep Guardiola has been tipped for a shock new role at Manchester City, with the club's owners told to keep him at the club for "as long as humanly possible". Reports have suggested the former Barcelona boss could leave the club at the end of the season.

Mexican-American defender Richard Ledezma revealed it was a personal dream of his to represent Mexico after scoring his first international goal for the national team in a 4-0 exhibition win over Iceland. Despite previously receiving a cap from the USMNT, the 25-year-old was quick to point out his Mexico pride after recently completing a one-time switch.

Former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard is reportedly in "advanced talks" over a transfer to Brazilian side Corinthians. The 33-year-old is set for a new challenge after leaving FC Seoul at the end of last year and now looks to be heading to South America. If the transfer goes ahead it would see Lingard link up with former Manchester United team-mate Memphis Depay.

Benfica have issued a further statement in the wake of their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, and the storm that followed their first leg, after Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian made the allegation during the game in Portugal and the club have now insisted that he did not admit to his team-mates that he had said what he is accused of.

Spanish club Almeria are dreaming of tempting Cristiano Ronaldo to their team after seeing the Portugal superstar purchase a stake in the club. Ronaldo has acquired a 25% share which had already led to suggestions the 41-year-old could head back to Spain from Al-Nassr. Manager Rubi has made it clear there would be a warm welcome waiting for Ronaldo if he wanted to make the shock switch.

Major League Soccer’s 2026 campaign is off to a historic start, translating packed stadiums into a significant spike in national and international viewership. After posting the highest Opening Weekend attendance in league history, MLS reported record viewership across linear television and streaming platforms — a 59 percent increase compared to the same point last season.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry insists Tottenham has never been a "tricky game" since they moved into their new stadium, and insists interim manager Igor Tudor faces a "massive job" to avoid relegation from the Premier League. Spurs are just four points clear of 18th-placed West Ham following a 4-1 defeat to the Gunners last time out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Former England star Stuart Pearce has named his "first name on the teamsheet" for this summer's World Cup, and has snubbed both Declan Rice and Harry Kane. The Arsenal and Bayern Munich stars are almost certain to be heavily involved in the Three Lions' bid to end 60 years of hurt, but Pearce has instead picked a Manchester City star as the most important in the squad.

Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Maheta Molango has warned Chelsea that Cole Palmer is facing "burnout". The Blues star is set to feature heavily in the Blues' run-in as the club attempt to qualify for the Champions League, and is also likely to travel to World Cup 2026 in North America, Mexico and Canada with England in the summer.

A decade into Gianni Infantino’s presidency, FIFA has expanded globally while becoming more polarizing, shaped by growth, controversy and constant change.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has claimed that superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer bothered about hitting his ambitious 1,000 goal target. The 41-year-old is closing in on the extraordinary number and has previously said he will not retire until he makes the milestone. Yet Martinez feels that the forward's stance has now changed as he heads towards the end of his career.

Former Chelsea and England striker Carlton Cole has explained how he angered the Blues' then-manager Jose Mourinho by his lack of professionalism, that included frequent visits to nightclubs. Speaking on the Beast Mode On Podcast, the West Ham legend also revealed how Roman Abramovich once stopped him joining Tottenham, as he "doesn't do business with Spurs".

The 27-year-old has battled to live up to expectations since arriving at Amakhosi, but he now has a golden opportunity to silence his critics on the grand stage. With the Glamour Boys’ forwards struggling to find the back of the net, the spotlight will firmly be on them to deliver when it matters most. A clash between two traditional giants offers the perfect platform for redemption and a chance to rise to the occasion.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has claimed that Manchester City have "impunity" as he criticised the Premier League for their ongoing handling of their financial charges. The club have 115 charges against them but there is no end in sight to the investigation that is ongoing. Tebas says it's a "damaging" situations that "makes the institution weaker."

After a disappointing campaign in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, South Africa's focus is on the 2026 global football showpiece. Already, preparations have started in earnest as the football association has revealed the team's training base. The Belgian tactician has given reasons why the chosen training base will be the best for his players.

Former West Ham striker Michail Antonio has decided on his next club and is set to complete a surprise transfer in the coming days. The attacker had been training with Championship side Charlton Athletic but is now set to head abroad for his new challenge. Antonio has not played competitively since sustaining a serious leg fracture in a near-fatal car crash.

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke insists the club "drink proper pints" instead of cocktails after Pep Guardiola urged his Manchester City players to sip on caipirinhas and daiquiris after closing the gap on league leaders Arsenal. The two sides are set to go head-to-head this weekend in a vital clash at both ends of the Premier League table at Elland Road.

Lionesses newcomer Poppy Pattinson has revealed that she was on a flight watching Love Island when Sarina Wiegman phoned to give the defender her first senior England call-up. The London City Lionesses star could make her senior international debut next month, as the reigning European champions prepare for World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland.

Second-placed Buccaneers are determined to topple Mamelodi Sundowns from the summit of the Premier Soccer League standings, while Amakhosi are equally motivated to climb up from fourth spot. The stakes are high in this match, with both giants sensing an opportunity to shift the balance at the top. A defender from the Sea Robbers believes the occasion carries a special intensity beyond just the bragging rights.

Kylian Mbappe finds himself at a crucial juncture with Real Madrid due to a persistent left knee sprain that has plagued him since December. While the club initially allowed the French forward to manage his own playing time based on his pain tolerance, the situation severely escalated prior to the Benfica match. This alarm has finally prompted Mbappe to step away from the pitch to seek a lasting cure.