Author: Yousif Roumani
Arsenal will be eager to bounce back to winning form this weekend, as they take on Liverpool at Anfield. Mikel Arteta’s men are currently occupying second place in the Premier League, but face pressure from a tightly packed chase group, with just six points separating them from Nottingham Forest in sixth. Having secured only one victory in their last five league outings, the Gunners’ trip to Merseyside carries significant weight as they seek to cement their position in next season’s UEFA Champions League. As Arteta focuses on finishing the season strongly, Andrea Berta is hard at work behind the scenes,…
Amid the summer sunshine at the University of Bradford Stadium on August 3, 2024, all eyes were on Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian maestro, currently at the helm of Olympique Marseille, was overseeing his team in a pre-season friendly against Sunderland. Yet, whispers of his potential departure from the French club have been gaining traction, fueling speculation of a return to pastures old—or perhaps new challenges in England’s top flight. Once the innovative mastermind behind Sassuolo, Benevento, and Shakhtar Donetsk, De Zerbi’s managerial acumen has been evident in his tenure at Marseille. However, the rumour mill suggests he might soon…
Alejandro Garnacho, the promising Manchester United winger, has dispelled speculation surrounding his future amid renewed interest from Chelsea. During the past January transfer window, Chelsea were reportedly leading the chase for the 20-year-old Argentine, even as Serie A titans Napoli had their £40 million bid thwarted. Garnacho’s standing at Old Trafford fluctuated under new manager Ruben Amorim, stirring rumours of a potential exit. Upon Amorim’s arrival in the winter, Garnacho faced challenges acclimatising to the tactical shifts and formations introduced by the Portuguese, finding himself omitted from the squad for the Manchester derby on December 15. Despite these hurdles, the…
Kylian Mbappe’s foray into football club ownership has shone an unflattering light on the perilous path of celebrity investments in the beautiful game. While the allure of a superstar’s cash might seem irresistible, Mbappe’s turbulent experience with Caen FC proves that not all that glitters is gold. Last summer in Paris, I met Georges, a dyed-in-the-wool supporter of Caen FC, buoyantly optimistic following Mbappe’s acquisition of 80% of the club. The whispers of a renaissance, perhaps even greater than their famed 1992 UEFA Cup tie against Real Zaragoza, were in the air. French financial analysts and publications like Le Monde…
Manchester United have been handed an important advantage ahead of their Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford. Three influential players from the Spanish side have been ruled out of the crucial encounter scheduled for Thursday evening. The Red Devils, who already boast a commanding three-goal lead from last week’s dominant display in Bilbao, will be buoyed by the news that Athletic will be missing the Williams brothers, Iñaki and Nico, as well as midfielder Oihan Sancet. Both Iñaki and Nico Williams have been pivotal to Athletic’s campaign, contributing ten goals between them during the tournament.…
Arsenal are poised for a defining evening as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in a crucial Champions League fixture. Trailing by a slim margin from the first encounter back in north London, the Gunners are eager to overturn the deficit and set their sights on a historic journey to the final. Triumphing in Europe’s elite competition would not only etch their name into the annals of history but also bolster their credentials in the summer transfer market. In anticipation of the upcoming transfer window, whispers of potential additions to the Arsenal squad are gathering momentum, with intriguing possibilities on…
In a surprising turn of events, Trent Alexander-Arnold has declared that he will be departing Liverpool at the conclusion of the current season, choosing to join Spanish giants Real Madrid on a free transfer. This decision, marking the end of his longstanding association with his boyhood club, sees him reunite with fellow England international Jude Bellingham. The Liverpool vice-captain, who has been a stalwart for the Reds since joining their academy at the age of six, took to social media to announce his departure. In a heartfelt message, he expressed the difficulty of the decision and his gratitude for the…
In a thrilling showdown at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s emerging star Cole Palmer has silenced his critics by delivering a standout performance, helping to secure a 3-1 victory over Liverpool, courtesy of a decisive stoppage-time penalty. Having gone 18 matches without finding the back of the net, Palmer’s goal brought not only three crucial points but also a wave of emotions. Post-match, the 22-year-old wasn’t shy in expressing his disdain for social media detractors, branding the platform as “full of idiots”. His candid remarks came during a live interview with Sky Sports, which later necessitated an apology from the broadcaster after…
Barcelona star Raphinha has lifted the lid on how Arsenal midfielder Jorginho persistently urged him to join the Italian national team, just as the Brazilian winger was weighing up one of the biggest decisions of his career. Speaking in a revealing chat with journalist Isabela Pagliari, Raphinha admitted he came tantalisingly close to pledging his international future to Italy in 2021, with Euro 2020—eventually won by the Azzurri—firmly in his sights. “I was close to accepting the call-up to the Italy national team,” he confessed. “I would have gone to the European Championships that they won in 2020. I was…
Manchester City have tabled a £55 million bid for Tottenham’s James Maddison as Pep Guardiola begins reshaping his midfield in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne’s impending departure, according to reports. The reigning champions have endured a below-par campaign by their high standards, falling well adrift of Liverpool, who sealed the Premier League crown last weekend. City, 18 points adrift with just a handful of games remaining, are already plotting a response. Central to Guardiola’s rebuild is the task of replacing De Bruyne, who announced last month that he will leave the club this summer after a glittering decade in…