Jude Bellingham’s red card epitomized a frustrating afternoon for Real Madrid as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Osasuna. Madrid had an early opportunity to take the lead, with Kylian Mbappe finding space and delivering a cross to Vinicius Junior. However, the Brazilian missed a golden chance, heading wide from just two yards out. Mbappe took matters into his own hands and opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Federico Valverde’s brilliant assist cut the ball back across the box, and the French forward made no mistake from close range. It seemed like a straightforward win for Madrid,…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
An independent tribunal has ruled that the Premier League’s previous version of the Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules is “void and unenforceable,” siding with Manchester City in a legal dispute that could have significant implications for clubs throughout the division. The APT rules were introduced in 2021 to prevent clubs from entering inflated sponsorship deals with related parties. Under these regulations, any deal involving a team, player, or manager and a connected entity had to be assessed for “fair market value” to ensure owners were not awarding themselves excessive contracts to circumvent spending restrictions. Manchester City, which had been blocked…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed that Kai Havertz suffered his season-ending hamstring injury while attempting to block a shot during a training session. Havertz’s finishing, work rate, and suitability for the centre-forward role have been questioned this season, but his availability has been one of his key strengths. The German has featured in all but two of Arsenal’s 38 matches across all competitions, scoring a team-high 15 goals before joining his teammates for a warm-weather training break in Dubai. It was during the seemingly routine task of blocking a shot—something Havertz had done 22 times this season without issue—that he…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has expressed confidence that the club will win the Premier League title by 2028. United’s last league title came in the 2012/13 season under Sir Alex Ferguson, and they have since struggled to reclaim the crown, with no top-flight title in over a decade. Currently, Amorim’s side sits 13th in the Premier League after 24 games, with an away match against Tottenham Hotspur looming on Sunday. When asked about the possibility of United winning the Premier League by 2028, Amorim said (via Fabrizio Romano): “Yes, we talk about that. Our focus is on winning the…
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim expressed sympathy for his Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou ahead of their clash on Sunday but emphasized that the pressure he faces at United is greater, given the club’s illustrious history. Both teams are enduring disappointing domestic campaigns, with United and Spurs languishing in 13th and 14th place, respectively, as they approach the final third of the season. When asked about his thoughts on Postecoglou, Amorim responded: “Of course, especially because he is a good guy. He’s a very good coach. He wants to play football the right way, and for me, that’s a good…
Brighton & Hove Albion cruised to a commanding 3-0 win over Chelsea on Friday night at the AMEX Stadium. “Can we play you every week?” sang the home fans, clearly relishing their side’s dominant performance. The hosts thoroughly deserved the victory, six days after securing a 2-1 FA Cup win against the same opponents on the same pitch. Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring with a stunning goal. Bart Verbruggen launched a long ball forward that seemed to hang in the air, but Mitoma’s first touch was nothing short of sublime. As the ball dropped over his shoulder, he controlled it…
The Premier League is set to maintain its profit and sustainability rules (PSR) for the upcoming season, instead of revising its financial controls. PSR is intended to limit losses, with spending restrictions based on the revenue a club generates. This system has previously restricted teams like Manchester United and Newcastle United from making new signings. Under the new rules, clubs would have more flexibility when it comes to transfer spending. On Thursday, clubs gathered for the Premier League Stakeholders meeting, but no agreement was reached on all aspects, and there was no vote on whether to implement the changes. Some…
Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez revealed that he was unaware of any transfer interest from other clubs during the January window, emphasizing that his focus has always been on staying at Barcelona. Lopez has had to fight for a spot in Barcelona’s first team. Just in 2023, the energetic Spaniard was playing in the third division on loan at Linares. In the summer of that year, Xavi Hernandez included Lopez in the pre-season squad, and his impressive performances earned him a competitive debut. Since then, he has made a strong case for a regular spot. Part of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning squad,…
Liverpool FC is facing a difficult period as key defender Joe Gomez is set for a lengthy absence due to a hamstring injury. The 27-year-old England international suffered the injury just 11 minutes into Liverpool’s unexpected FA Cup loss to Plymouth. This comes at a crucial time for the club, who recently dropped points in a 1-1 Premier League draw against Everton, allowing rivals Arsenal to narrow the gap in the title race. The full extent of Gomez’s injury is still being assessed, with further tests scheduled to determine the damage. According to The Mirror, the club is concerned about…
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has been ruled out until after the international break in March due to a hamstring injury. According to the UK Telegraph, Jackson underwent a scan on Wednesday that confirmed the extent of the damage. The Senegal international will not be available until at least April 2, when Chelsea face Tottenham. With Marc Guiu also sidelined, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will be without a natural striker for the foreseeable future. The club had initially hoped Jackson’s injury, sustained during the win over West Ham United, wouldn’t keep him out for long. However, the latest scan revealed…