Football

Kylian Mbappe has attributed his recent improvement at Real Madrid to a mental transformation, following initial struggles after his high-profile transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. The French forward, who experienced inconsistent form in his early months at Madrid, has recently rediscovered his peak performance. "You always have to be calm and focus on your game and what you can improve," Mbappe stated at a press conference before Madrid's Champions League match with RB Salzburg. After missing crucial penalties against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao in late 2024, Mbappe acknowledged hitting "the bottom." However, he has since rebounded impressively, scoring eight goals in his last ten appearances across all competitions. "It was more of a mental thing... I knew I was good physically, good with the team, but I had to do more," Mbappe explained. "I didn't come to Madrid to play badly. […]

Marcus Rashford maintains hope of returning to Manchester United's first team despite his ongoing absence from the squad. The 27-year-old forward hasn't played since being taken off during United's Europa League win against Viktoria Plzen on December 12. Following that match, head coach Ruben Amorim questioned Rashford's training performances. Since then, Rashford's only inclusion in a matchday squad came as an unused substitute during the 3-0 home loss to Newcastle on December 30. After United's 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford on Sunday, Amorim's comment that "it's his choice" sparked speculation that Rashford had requested not to be considered for selection. However, club sources indicate this was a misinterpretation of Amorim's words, suggesting the former Sporting manager was simply stating that Rashford's future depends on his own actions. Sources close to Rashford emphasize that he remains committed to playing […]

Manchester United honored legendary striker Denis Law, who passed away at 84, before their Sunday match against Brighton with a moving ceremony at Old Trafford. Law, who netted 237 goals in 404 appearances during his remarkable tenure from 1962 to 1973, left an indelible mark on the club's history. His legacy was commemorated as flags flew at half-mast and players donned black armbands, while the traditional sound of bagpipes playing "Flower of Scotland" accompanied the teams onto the field. The stadium fell into a respectful silence as a poem was read, with notable United figures in attendance including Sir Alex Ferguson, Pat Crerand, Alex Stepney, and Brian Kidd. Stadium announcer Alan Keegan captured the sentiment with poetic words: "Beyond the goals the man stood tall, a heart of gold who inspired all. He's still the King of the Stretford End." […]

Former England international Dele Alli is poised to join Serie A side Como following successful completion of his medical examination. The 28-year-old midfielder has been training with the Italian club for the past month, during which time Como has prepared an 18-month contract offer. The proposed deal includes a performance-based extension option for an additional season. Alli has been unattached since departing Everton in June. Following his exit from the Merseyside club, he continued training under then-manager Sean Dyche before undertaking his trial period at Como. The former Tottenham and MK Dons midfielder's last competitive appearance came for Besiktas in February 2023 during a loan spell with the Turkish club. In a candid July 2023 interview with Gary Neville, Alli discussed personal challenges including childhood trauma of sexual abuse at age six and involvement in drug dealing at eight. He […]

Erling Haaland has extended his commitment to Manchester City through 2034, signing a new nine-and-a-half-year contract extension with the Premier League champions. The 24-year-old Norwegian striker, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, has demonstrated remarkable efficiency with 111 goals in 125 appearances. The announcement came on Friday, with Haaland expressing his desire for continued growth and success with the club. "Now I want to keep developing, keep working to get better and look to do my best to try and help us achieve more success going forward," Haaland stated in the club's official announcement. The contract will keep Haaland at Manchester City until he reaches 34. Thus far, he has secured both Premier League and Champions League titles with the team. City's outgoing director of football, Txiki Begiristain, highlighted the significance of the long-term agreement: "Everyone at the […]

AC Milan has named former Porto manager Sergio Conceicao as their new head coach on an 18-month contract, following Paulo Fonseca's dismissal. The 50-year-old Portuguese coach, who previously played for several Italian clubs including Lazio, Inter Milan, and Parma, arrives after a successful six-year tenure at Porto where he secured 11 trophies. Conceicao's debut match will present a unique scenario as he faces his son Francisco, who plays for Juventus, in the Italian Super Cup semi-final first leg on January 3. The appointment comes after Milan parted ways with Fonseca on Monday following a 1-1 draw against Roma. The coaching change occurs with Milan struggling in Serie A, currently sitting eighth in the table, 14 points behind joint leaders Atalanta and Napoli. Fonseca's brief tenure began in June when he replaced Stefano Pioli, who had led Milan to a second-place […]

AC Milan has terminated manager Paulo Fonseca's contract following a 1-1 home draw against Roma, ending his six-month tenure at the club. The decision comes with Milan sitting eighth in Serie A, 14 points behind joint leaders Atalanta and Napoli. Under Fonseca's leadership, Milan maintained a mixed record in the Champions League, winning four and losing two matches to sit in 12th position in the 36-team competition. Fonseca had taken over from Stefano Pioli, who had led the club to a second-place Serie A finish last season and their first league title in 11 years in 2022. "The club extends its gratitude to Paulo for his great professionalism and wishes him the very best in his future endeavours," Milan stated on their official website. Fonseca confirmed his departure to reporters outside San Siro, stating, "Yes, it's true. I'm out. That's […]