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Former Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz believes a move to Lyon could be the best step for Endrick if the Brazilian leaves the club in January, saying regular minutes matter more than staying on the bench at the Bernabeu. Mariano, who made the same move in 2017 after struggling for game time, says there is "life beyond" Madrid.

• Endrick’s season stalled at Real Madrid

  Los Blancos signed Endrick from Palmeiras in 2022 in a deal worth up to €60 million. His first year under Carlo Ancelotti showed promise, with seven goals in 37 appearances, but injuries halted his progress heading into this season. A hamstring injury kept him out of the Club World Cup and the start of the new campaign. By the time he returned, new manager Xabi Alonso had settled on other attacking options, leaving Endrick with just one brief appearance against Valencia earlier this month, where he played just 11 minutes. The lack of consistent minutes has raised concerns about his development, especially with the World Cup coming next year.

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  Mariano advises Endrick to embrace a move abroad

  Speaking to , Mariano sees parallels between their situations and says leaving Madrid does not mean giving up on a future at the club.

  “If Endrick ends up leaving, or a player who isn’t getting much playing time has to go abroad to play, I would tell him to enjoy it a lot, to appreciate that if he’s going to be a starter on the team, that’s the best thing that can happen to him,” Diaz said.

  He stressed that regular starts give players a real chance to prove their ability. 

  "You have to try to prove yourself when they give you that confidence, because it’s not the same when you play a few minutes every three games. You can’t prove your worth in a few minutes. But if they trust you and you’re a starter, that’s when you can prove a lot of things. In this case, if he [Endrick] leaves, he could also return to Madrid," the 32-year-old added.

• Endrick stands at same career crossroads Mariano faced

  The Dominican Republic international knows what it feels like to wait for chances at Madrid. The forward broke into the senior team during the 2016-17 season, scoring five goals in 14 appearances, but spent most of his time behind the famous 'BBC' trio of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Los Blancos went on to win the Champions League and enjoy their most successful campaign in decades, but Mariano’s role was limited.

  "It was one of the best teams I’ve ever played for because it wasn’t just the starters, but also what the press called ‘Plan B’. It was a bit curious, but the truth is that Plan B was like Plan A."

  At the end of that season, Diaz moved to Lyon to play regularly, a decision he now sees as crucial in his development. However, he returned a year later after Cristiano Ronaldo's shocking move to Juventus. 

  "As it was Madrid, I wasn’t going to say no,” Mariano recalled. "But they told me that this time it would be different, and that was one of the reasons I wanted to return."

  Injuries derailed his progress, and he was again playing a bench role until his exit in 2023.

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  Brazilian forward sees Lyon as the right move for development

  Several clubs have shown interest in Endrick, including Manchester United, who saw him as a replacement option after Benjamin Sesko’s injury. But the 19-year-old prefers Lyon, viewing the French club as a place where he can earn minutes, regain confidence and stay in contention for the 2026 World Cup with Brazil. Madrid had initially wanted to loan him within La Liga to help him adapt more smoothly and keep him close to home as he approaches Spanish citizenship in six months. However, Endrick pushed for a move abroad, prioritising consistent game time over location.

  Ancelotti, now the Brazil national team coach, is yet to call up the young forward in any of the international breaks. However, the former Madrid coach has also urged him to play regularly if he wants to remain in the national-team picture.

  "He has to think with his entourage about what’s best. Talk to the club, to see what’s best for him. Endrick is very young, this won’t be his last World Cup," he said. "He could play in the 2026 World Cup, because he has the quality for it, but he could also be in the 2030 World Cup, or the 2034 World Cup, and maybe even the 2038 World Cup (laughs). I believe it’s important for him to get back to playing and show his qualities.”

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has revealed that captain Marc Guehi will likely withdraw from the England squad ahead of November's international window. The centre-back suffered bruising of the bone in his foot in the Eagles' 3-1 victory against AZ Alkmaar in the Conference League on Thursday and is currently having to walk with crutches.

• Injury suffered against AZ

  The defender played all 90 minutes of Palace's victory in midweek and did not have to come off despite picking up the knock. Glasner would have been hopeful that his captain would be fit in time to face rivals Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, but the Austrian revealed Guehi is unable to walk unassisted and was unavailable for selection.

  It marks a bitter blow for both Palace and England boss Thomas Tuchel to whom Guehi has become a key player at the heart of defence. The former Chelsea man is adept on both the left and right side of central defence and had been forming nice partnerships with both Manchester City’s John Stones and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa in recent games.

  Guehi was the pick of the defenders in the last international break, providing his team-mates with two assists in the Three Lions’ rampant 3-0 defeat of Wales. With games against Serbia and Albania coming on Thursday and Sunday next week, it appears the Palace skipper will not be ready to play any part.

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  Glasner reveals extent of problem

  Speaking before Palace’s game against the Seagulls in the Premier League on Sunday, Glasner explained Guehi’s absence from the Eagles’ squad. "He can't even walk at the moment so the last two days he was on crutches," the coach said. "That's why he can't play. I don't know how this develops over the next couple of days. At the moment, it looks like he can't play for England as well."

  Per Sami Mokbel, the defender underwent scans on Friday to assess the injury he sustained against the Dutch side the previous night. The medical staff at the south London club found that he had suffered bruising of the bone and therefore would not be fit enough to make the squad for their weekend fixture.

  The injury has provided teenager Jaydee Canvot a chance to make a first Premier League start and demonstrate he is more than capable of filling into one of the three spots available in Glasner’s defence. Maxence Lacroix and USMNT star Chris Richards have been superb for the Eagles alongside captain Guehi, but will have to use all their experience to shepherd the 19-year-old Frenchman through a tough game afternoon at Selhurst Park.

• Guehi chased by European giants

  Guehi’s absence will provide Glasner with a chance to look at how his side could shape up if and when the captain decides to leave the Eagles. Guehi had been set to move to Liverpool before the start of the season and saw a deadline day move to Anfield collapse.

  The England international’s contract at the club expires in June 2026 and has been tipped with a move to a host of the biggest clubs in Europe. The Reds will be back in for his signature, but face competition from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

  However, recent reports suggest that the defender might be pricing himself out of a move to Los Blancos. The salary and signing-on demands from the centre-half are proving slightly too steep for the Spanish giants and could look elsewhere for further defensive depth.

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  England to experiment?

  With World Cup qualification already sewn up, Tuchel may look to experiment with his squad. The German has brought in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott to the squad and the Cherries midfielder could make his Three Lions debut.

  Elsewhere, Jude Bellingham returns to the squad and will add to the England boss’ midfield headache. The Madrid superstar had been out of the squad following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, but amid a return to La Liga and top form, finds himself back amongst the group.

To say that Arsenal are unrecognisable as a club today from the one Mikel Arteta took charge of over five years ago would be an understatement.

The Spaniard has helped to completely overhaul the club from top to bottom and has signed some incredible players in the process.

One of his very best additions to the squad has undoubtedly been Declan Rice, who was once again incredible in the Champions League this week.

And now, it looks like another of Arteta’s signings is transforming into a Rice-type player this season.

Rice's best European nights for Arsenal

Since joining the club for £105m in the summer of 2023, Rice has made 26 appearances for Arsenal in the Champions League, in which he has scored four goals, provided four assists and averaged 2.12 points per game.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

It would be fair to say that across those 26 games, he has been pretty incredible for the North Londoners, but when it comes to picking out his best European nights in red and white, there are three that stick out, the first of which is the home game against Paris Saint-Germain in the league phase last season.

It was a game the Gunners comfortably won 2-0, and one in which the former West Ham United captain totally bossed the Parisians’ smaller and, at the time, out-of-form midfield.

The Englishman didn’t pick up a goal or assist in that game, but he did do that in his second-best Champions League display for the club, which came on Wednesday this week.

Arteta started his record signing in the left eight against Atlético Madrid, and as fans have now come to expect, he was cool, calm and composed on the ball and a physical monster off of it.

Moreover, he provided the assist for Gabriel Magalhães’ opener, and then it was his corner that eventually led to Viktor Gyokeres’ second goal, and the team’s fourth.

However, while the 26-year-old was great against Atleti, he was out of this world against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season.

The midfield machine put in an extraordinary shift at the Bernabéu, but it was the home leg where he was utterly sublime, stopping everything in the middle of the park and then scoring those two world-class free-kicks.

In short, while he cost a lot of money, Rice has been worth every penny for Arsenal, and now another of Arteta’s signings is starting to embody some of his best traits.

Arsenal's new Rice-type star

Due to Arteta’s brilliant signings and Hale End’s production of talent, there is no shortage of incredible players in Arsenal’s squad, but the player who is becoming something of a Rice-type star is Riccardo Calafiori.

Now, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t mean they are the same type of player, as that would be a silly thing to suggest.

However, there are some increasingly obvious similarities between the pair, with the first being their mentality.

Like the Englishman, since coming back from his string of injuries that kept him out for most of last season, the former Bologna star has played like a man possessed.

Not only is he someone who can and does bound forward with the ball at his feet, but he’s also more than happy to get into a physical duel with an opponent to try and keep the ball or win it. As The Telegraph’s Sam Dean aptly put it, he plays like a “wild horse on the loose.”

On top of that, he is also a sensational striker of the ball, and while he isn’t delivering set-pieces, it has been on show in the goals he has scored over the last year, and even those that have been disallowed, like that unreal volley against Fulham last weekend.

Moreover, like the former West Ham man, the Italian international seems to have limitless energy, and this season has been allowed the freedom to roam here, there and everywhere on the pitch.

This “positionless” approach in games, as one analyst puts it, makes him a nightmare for opponents to defend against and could help him snuff out counters before they have a chance to get out of their half at times.

Finally, the Rome-born titan is also one of the best in his position in the league, as according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of full-backs for expected goals, shots, goal-creating actions, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 17% for tackles in the attacking third and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Calafiori has been unreal for Arsenal this season, and as he has got better, he has become more and more of a Rice-type player.

Gyokeres can help Arsenal's "unbelievable" star reach Mesut Ozil's level

Gyokeres could play a key role in helping the incredible Arsenal star reach the levels of Ozil this season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Oct 23, 2025

A Paul Skenes card that is out in the wild waiting to be ripped has caused pandemonium among avid collectors and casual observers of the hobby alike. Every rookie player in their first game wears an "MLB Debut" patch on their jersey that is then put in a 1-of-1 card commemorating their debut. It's rookie card of all rookie cards.

Skenes, who made his pitching debut this past season and ran away with the Rookie of the Year award, is already the most sought-after player in this drop, but the Pittsburgh Pirates upped the ante on Friday when they announced they would give away season tickets behind home plate for to anyone who found the card and donated it to the Pirates so it can be enjoyed by the entire fanbase.

Then, Skenes's girlfriend—LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne—said that she would host the person who gives the card up in her suite.

After that, Seth Meyers, the host of and a noted Pittsburgh fan, said he would give away VIP tickets to a taping of his show if someone just let him at the card.

Waiting to see who rips the grail and what decision they make as far as keeping the card versus giving it up will be an exciting chapter in hobbyist baseball card trading.

Lamine Yamal is ignoring his latest comparisons to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, with the teenage wonderkid pointing out that the Argentine GOAT has “scored 1000s of goals” that are similar to the strike he recorded against Club Brugge. Yamal delivered another moment of magic in that Champions League contest, but is reluctant to liken himself to an all-time great.

• Barcelona No.10: Yamal does iconic jersey justice

  Yamal’s dancing feet were on full display as he illuminated a continental clash in Belgium. He was unable to inspire Barca to victory, as an entertaining encounter finished 3-3, but he did register the most impressive goal of the game.

  The 18-year-old was able to glide past defenders on the edge of the box, play a quick one-two with Fermin Lopez, and roll the ball into the bottom corner. Said effort conjured up memories of Messi dancing his way past opponents while donning Barcelona’s iconic No.10 jersey.

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• Messi comparisons: Why Yamal is avoiding that debate

  Yamal has been compared to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner since stepping out of the fabled La Masia academy system. He is also left-footed, but has always sought to distance himself from a debate that he is not yet worthy of dominating.

  He told reporters when discussing his latest Messi-esque effort for Barca: “I can't compare myself with Messi. He's scored thousands of goals like that. I have to make my own way and hope to score many more goals like that. I try to do the best I can. The move went really quick and Fermín's left me with the ball with a nice flick. I have controlled it and finished it.”

• Ballon d'Or winner: Yamal tipped to reach the top

  Yamal has previously said of building his own legacy in world football, rather than claiming a share of Messi’s: “I’ve always tried to forge my own path. Of course, Messi is the greatest player in history for me, without a doubt. He’s left-footed, and so am I. He played for Barcelona, and I play for Barcelona. He played as a right winger, and so do I. We definitely have a lot in common, and that’s okay. I just want to carve my own path.

  “He wrote his legendary story, and I hope to have a successful career like his. But more importantly, I want to play football my way, to write my own story, and to make people remember the name Lamine Yamal.”

  He is expected to become an icon in his own right, with former Barcelona midfielder Emmanuel Petit suggesting that the youngster could go on to eclipse Messi’s record-breaking haul of Golden Balls.

  The Frenchman told : “I think the Ballon d’Or is his main reason for wanting the number 10, he is already thinking about it, he is a tremendous footballer. I can’t name a player that has been as impressive as him at his age, every time he touches the ball something happens. You’d think he was 28 and in his prime.

  “He dribbles past players like it’s the PlayStation and he makes defenders look like cones, he has such a high ceiling, he could become even better than Messi. Messi won eight Ballons d’Or, Yamal will have motivation to go even further, he’s a joy to watch.”

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  Injury frustration: Yamal recovered from untimely knock

  Yamal has seen his 2025-26 campaign disrupted by injury, with an untimely knock being picked up while on international duty with Spain. He sat out seven games for club and country as a result, but appears to be fit and firing at present.

  He has claimed that a lot of “lies” were told during his enforced spell on the sidelines, with Barca managing his fitness carefully, with full focus now locked on delivering match-altering goals and assists.

  Defending Liga champions Barcelona need him to do that on a regular basis, as they chase down Clasico rivals Real Madrid in another battle for domestic supremacy in Spain, with Hansi Flick’s side set to reach another international break after travelling to Celta Vigo on Sunday.

For some, a shirt number may seem arbitrary, although it is hard to ignore the status and significance of the number seven at Manchester United, having become synonymous with the club’s brightest and best.

From Eric Cantona, to David Beckham, to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Red Devils enjoyed a glittering 17-year period in the Premier League in which that shirt had a rightful home, with all three wearing it with distinction.

In the 16 years since Ronaldo’s exit for Real Madrid, however, the No.7 has become something of a poisoned chalice, a cursed offering for a string of new signings who have all flattered to deceive.

Its current incumbent, Mason Mount, has notably scored just five goals during an injury-hit two-year spell at Old Trafford, with questions likely to be asked over whether the Englishman was worthy of such an honour in the first place.

Talented, but undoubtedly unreliable due to his repeated stints on the treatment table, Mount could well benefit from relieving that burden and pressure on himself, with Ruben Amorim perhaps already having the perfect successor lined up.

Man Utd's post-Ronaldo number seven curse

Have United ever truly recovered from the summer of 2009? Out went Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, with Sir Alex Ferguson securing Gabriel Obertan, Antonio Valencia and an ageing Michael Owen as their replacements.

That significant drop in quality perhaps epitomises the malaise that has set in during the much-maligned Glazer regime, with initial success post-Ronaldo having quickly been extinguished in the years following Ferguson’s retirement.

To have gone from the Portuguese sensation to that man Owen as the club’s new no.7 remains a real headscratcher, with the former England international – that Manchester derby goal aside – proving something of a forgotten figure at Old Trafford.

The mantle was subsequently passed on to Valencia for 2012/13, although the Ecuadorian swiftly relinquished such status, while the next recipient – Angel Di Maria – lasted just a solitary season before departing the club for Paris Saint-Germain.

Memphis Depay, meanwhile, scored just seven times in 53 games before being shown the door by Jose Mourinho, while Alexis Sanchez could only fire home five times in 45 games, during his miserable £400k-per-week stint at the club.

Fellow South American star Edinson Cavani enjoyed a promising first campaign as the no.7 with 17 goals in all competitions, before the decision was made to hand the returning Ronaldo the honour instead, for the 2021/22 campaign.

The Portuguese goal machine’s homecoming ultimately proved short-lived, amid his explosive exit under Erik ten Hag, with Mount later taking on the honour following his 2023 summer arrival from Chelsea.

All in all, the jersey has been an albatross around the neck for a succession of high-profile figures, with United now needing to look inwards to find a rightful holder again.

Why Bruno Fernandes should be the new number seven

The man who scored the opener against Sunderland last time out, Mount has shown flashes that he can be a go-to figure under Amorim, with the Portuguese coach lauding him as a “proper footballer” amid his arrival at the club just under a year ago.

As already explained, however, the 26-year-old unfortunately can’t be trusted to stay injury-free, making just 53 appearances in all competitions since joining on a £55m deal.

Whether Mount stays or goes next summer, it would be wise for United to consider re-housing the number seven, with ever-reliable skipper, Bruno Fernandes, surely deserving and worthy of such an honour.

Described as a “genius” in the past by Ten Hag, Fernandes has been central to anything and everything good about the club over the past five years or so, recently reaching a milestone of 100 goals from his now 298 appearances.

With a further 86 assists to add into the equation, the 31-year-old has for so long been United’s chief provider and goal-getter, a fact emphasised only last season, as he ended the campaign with 38 goal involvements across all fronts.

Despite flirting with an exit both last summer and during the most recent window – amid interest from Saudi Arabia – the Red Devils skipper has remained intently loyal to the club, seemingly relishing his talismanic status as the central figure in the side.

Right from the off, the ex-Sporting CP man has been a game-changer for United, even while those around him might have suffered, with comparisons to that man Cantona having flooded in amid his early impact at Old Trafford.

While the silverware has unfortunately not followed in the degree that it did after the Frenchman’s entrance in 1992, Fernandes is a similarly heroic figure, carrying the responsibility on his back time and again.

Like Cantona, he certainly isn’t perfect – having notably seen red on three occasions in 2024/25 – but the at-times combustible playmaker more than makes up for that with his repeated genius.

Two penalties might have been missed this season, but Fernandes is never one to shy away from the pressure and the limelight, showing all the attributes of a player worthy of joining the likes of Cantona and Ronaldo as the next number seven.

It would perhaps be a brutal act to snatch that status away from Mount, although few could argue against Fernandes being rewarded for such fine service with a richly deserved promotion.

Man Utd's "insane" talent is being given the Mainoo treatment by Amorim

It isn’t just Kobbie Mainoo who is being given the cold shoulder by Man Utd by Ruben Amorim.

By
Robbie Walls

Oct 11, 2025

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips won't feature in his starting lineup for their upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Swansea City, despite the midfielder returning to action in the same competition against Huddersfield Town in September. Phillips is hoping to get more game time after featuring for just seven minutes for the Cityzens in the 2025-26 campaign.

• Phillips' Man City nightmare continues

  Phillips’ time at the Etihad Stadium has been incredibly underwhelming. After arriving from Leeds United in 2022 for £45 million ($61m), he managed just 12 appearances in his debut season. Guardiola then sent him out on loan, first to West Ham United, where he endured a nightmare spell marked by a costly penalty and a red card in his first few outings, and later to Ipswich Town, where he ended up suffering relegation and appeared in 19 matches for the Tractor Boys. His exile left many assuming his City career was finished for good.

  The midfielder was told to find a new club but his massive salary and existing contract, which runs until 2028, proved to be a hindrance as he was unable to secure a move away this summer. On September 24, Phillips appeared for City for the first time in 645 days as he came on as a substitute in the final seven minutes of their 2-0 win over Huddersfield in a Carabao Cup third-round clash. 

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  Guardiola reveals plans for Phillips

  Ahead of another Carabao Cup fixture against Swansea on Wednesday, Guardiola confirmed that the 29-year-old midfielder won't feature in his starting lineup, although he might be part of the travelling squad.

  Speaking to reporters, the Spaniard said: "For a start no but maybe he will travel with us. He is a player for the team, the squad. He is coming back, he trains with us, we treat him like another player. The decision of whether he plays or not belongs to me. He is always an unbelievable guy. It is a joy to have him in the locker room."

• Man City's injury concerns

  City will continue to miss their key midfielder and former Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who suffered a thigh injury after recovering from ACL. Star striker Erling Haaland also picked up a knock against Aston Villa last weekend as he painfully collided with the post.

  Providing an update on his squad and the injury problems, Guardiola said: "Khusa [Abdukodir Khusanov] is ready to play a few minutes tomorrow and Rodri is still not. So [it] is getting better, training with us partially. But, of course, after what happened two times with the muscular injuries we are going to see how he is this week. Erling, I didn’t see him today but it was a knock and day by day is better. But now we train this afternoon and will know more exactly how he feels."

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  Guardiola likely to rotate squad

  While Haaland might not have suffered a serious injury after his late collision against Unai Emery's side, the City boss could still opt to make personnel changes for the League Cup in midweek. City travel to Swansea on Wednesday as they look to book their spot in the quarter-finals. 

  Both Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki featured from the bench at Villa Park at the weekend, the former coming on in the 84th minute and the latter replacing fellow summer signing Tijjani Reijnders in the 76th minute. The duo have scored just one league goal between them this season, owing to an injury-hit start to the campaign, and City need the pair to start pulling their weight in front of goal to ease the scoring burden on Haaland.

  After the Swansea clash, City will play Bournemouth and Liverpool in two crucial Premier League fixtures, while they will also face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League before the international break. The Cityzens are currently sixth in the Premier League after the Aston Villa loss and are now six points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

On the latest edition of The Wayne Rooney Show, Wayne Rooney said, “I am not seeing anything which is giving me any confidence, there needs to be big changes in my opinion.”

Manchester United felt they had secured a coup when taking Ruben Amorim away from Sporting Lisbon midway through the 2024/25 campaign. The Portuguese tactician was flying high in his homeland and had been strongly linked with Liverpool before they appointed Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

But Amorim has floundered across his months in the Old Trafford hot seat, with United finding themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League after six matches, having finished 15th last term after losing to Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Amorim has come under heavy flak for his rigid belief in his 3-4-3 formation, willing to die on that hill in spite of a general weariness over its ineffectiveness in the English game.

INEOS are hesitant to dismiss the 40-year-old from his duties and will hold out hope that United put in a big performance at home against Sunderland on Saturday, but if they fail to kick on, a tough decision will need to be made, with Sir Gareth Southgate emerging as a contender for the managerial spot at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man United consider appointing Southgate

One thing’s for certain, Man United’s potential appointment of Southgate would be met with more than a measure of doubt.

The former Three Lions boss might have achieved more success than any other England Men’s boss since the World Cup was lifted in 1966, but he’s also been out of club management since being relegated from the Premier League with Middlesbrough in 2009.

But he’d come in cheap, and with a reputation for being a strong communicator and an “unbelievable” character, as was said by Jude Bellingham upon the manager’s resignation from his England post after the 2024 European Championship.

But concerns over his tactical grasp persisted throughout his tenure, and the current question mark over Amorim’s own system points toward a necessity for a clear, fluent brand of football going forward.

INEOS need to appoint a proven trophy-winning manager with a deep understanding of the game and a vision which suggests this viewpoint could be effectively applied in the Premier League.

As it happens, former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez is on the market, and he’s even showing an interest in making the move to the Premier League and joining the Red Devils, should Amorim be dismissed.

Man United could strike gold with Xavi

Xavi has been out of work since the start of 2024, when he left Barcelona. The legendary footballing figure is, however, open to new work, and Fabrizio Romano believes he is interested in taking the Manchester United job, should a vacancy materialise.

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that Xavi is open to taking on the job at Old Trafford even without the allure of European football. It is worth noting the mentality on show here, with Amorim having wanted to remain with Sporting Lisbon for the duration of the 2024/25 campaign, instead of switching allegiances mid-season.

As a player, the iconic Spaniard was very much the definitive midfield maestro, and he has willed his managerial career into shape through the application of his own playing-day virtues.

His time as Barcelona manager was somewhat turbulent, but he did win the La Liga title in 2022/23, his first full season as boss, and played an important part in guiding the Spanish giants away from the pit they were sinking into. In February 2024, he left isolated and frustrated, but with his head held high.

If Man United can provide him with the assurances that he can have things his way, there is no reason why his erudite footballing brain. Already, the 45-year-old is enamoured by the idea, having said in the past that he “would love to work in the Premier League”.

Perhaps, then, the words from the horse’s mouth lend credence to Romano’s claim. With Amorim skating on thin ice, it feels like United could score themselves a significant upgrade, especially with Xavi employing a more conventional 4-3-3 formation.

That said, Xavi’s managerial outlook might be conventional at the surface level, but there is a depth and mastery of the technical side of the game that could be exactly what United need as they look to return to the top.

Barcelona are a team defined by their passing, and Xavi, as a player and as a manager, has been an embodiment of that style.

When La Blaugrana lifted the league title under their legendary figure’s wing in 2022/23, they played with a gusto and command that was so very ‘Barcelona’.

So impressive was he that, before the trophy had even been lifted and with everything in the balance, club president Joan Laporta had said, “We have the best manager in the world”.

Here is a tactician who knows his stuff, with credentials of the highest order and a hunger to join Man United and make things right.

Amorim had a good thing going before taking the United job, to be sure, but it’s clear that he is a young coach whose experience was restricted to the Portuguese scene, and his stubbornness in keeping his same tactical outlook despite the glaring deficiencies had made for sustained grim viewing.

If the opportunity to appoint Xavi presents itself, United’s officials must pounce.

Ten Hag sold Man Utd talent for just £10m, now he's outperforming Bruno

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one player to depart Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 29, 2025

The San Francisco Giants (32-24) host the Houston Astros (34-36)  tonight at Oracle Park in one of seven games on a shortened Monday night slate.

Here are a couple of plus-money player props to target in tonight’s matchup.

MLB Best Bets Today

Yordan Alvarez over 1.5 total bases (+115) at DraftKings

I love this prop in plus money for Yordan Alvarez who has been blistering the ball lately. 

Alvarez’s 116.8 max exit velocity ranks sixth in MLB, and he’s hitting .433 with four home runs, 11 RBI, and a 1.495 OPS in June.  

Another fun fact about Alvarez? Despite being a lefty himself, Alvarez hits lefties even better than righties. That should spell success for Alvarez vs. lefty Kyle Harrison, whose 34.9% hard-hit rate is the fifth-highest among qualified starters and whose max exit velocity allowed is in the bottom 6% of the league. 

Spencer Arighetti over 5.5 K (+115) at DraftKings

Spencer Arighetti’s ERA is not impressive, but his strikeout rate is. Arighetti is striking batters out at nearly 11 per nine innings this season.

Arrighetti was lifted from his last start due to being hit in the calf by a comebacker, but he is expected to be at full strength tonight.   

The Astros just used Ryan Pressly, Rafael Montero, and Bryan Abreu on consecutive days (Saturday and Sunday vs. the Angels), and manager Joe Espada will need his rookie to go as deep as possible into this game.  

Arrighetti has exceeded this prop in five of his 10 starts this year.  

Respected transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared a transfer update out of Arsenal this week, and it’s a potentially exciting one for supporters.

Mikel Arteta makes Andrea Berta claim before Ipswich

Mikel Arteta will be assisted by new sporting director Andrea Berta this summer, with the former Atlético Madrid chief officially joining late last month in a serious boost for the north Londoners.

Arsenal refuse to rule out signing £163k-per-week ex-Man City forward

The Gunners are set for a key decision.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 18, 2025

Berta arrives at Arsenal with a glowing reputation after 12 very productive years at Atlético, with some reports suggesting that the Italian has already made a firm head start on the club’s transfer plans.

Berta is said to have held discussions with Nico Williams’ camp recently, as Arsenal look to tempt the Spain winger with a move to the Premier League, while GiveMeSport report that the 53-year-old could spend up to £300 million on as many as seven major signings.

“Yeah, those things were already discussed with him,” said Arteta on Berta’s transfer goals, speaking before Arsenal’s clash against Ipswich.

“But yes, I hope that he has many more ideas, plans, surprises, positive ones and use his experience, his creativity, his intuition as well to help us make the right goals.

“I think it’s an opportunity. Somebody else comes in with different ideas, different methods, different ways of working and other priorities as well in the way that they work. And I think this makes us better.”

Arsenal are in desperate need of a prolific centre-forward in particular, with long-term injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz exposing their lack of depth up front and forcing Arteta to rely on Mikel Merino as an emergency striker.

Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Newcastle striker Alexander Isak are just some of the high-profile names to be linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium, but they are all attracting interest from several sides and there is no guarantee that Arsenal can win the race for any of them.

Fabrizio Romano says striker "will arrive" at Arsenal this summer

However, in an update which eases the worries of supporters somewhat, Romano has now moved to confirm that a striker “will arrive” at Arsenal this summer.

“What I can tell you today is that Arteta will be backed in the market,” said the journalist on his YouTube channel.

“Arteta will have a lot of power in the market – together with Andrea they will plan for the strategy. (Martin) Zubimendi is a top target, the new striker will arrive, Arsenal will also do more on the market.

“So Arsenal are working hard on Zubimendi, on the striker, on the winger probably, and more. Arsenal will be busy in the market and Arteta will be backed – but he really deserved that.”

Of the centre-forwards rumoured to be on Arsenal’s agenda, Sesko could be the most prudent option.

The Slovenian has already bettered his goal tally from last season and could leave for just £62 million, which is the current value of his release clause, and Arsenal attempted to sign Sesko last summer, so he clearly has an admirer in Arteta.