Challenge CupVue d'ensemble

Marcus Rashford has received a major vote of confidence from within the Barcelona dressing room as his loan spell from Manchester United nears its conclusion. Frenkie de Jong has publicly called for the club to secure the forward on a permanent basis following a season that saw the Englishman play a pivotal role in the Blaugrana's title success.

Albanian international Marash Kumbulla has provided a fascinating insight into the challenge of defending against the world's best attackers. Currently on loan at Mallorca from Roma, the centre-back has experienced the unique difficulty of facing both Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Marash Kumbulla has opened up on his time working under Jose Mourinho at Roma, revealing the defensive “smart” tricks he learned from the Portuguese coach. The defender also explained how Mourinho’s mood changed dramatically after defeats, while recalling the support he received during a serious injury lay-off.

A bidding war for Nicolo Tresoldi is looming: according to Sky, Atlético Madrid are now also in the running to sign the German Under-21 international striker.