All posts by h716a5.icu

Real Madrid have been warned they must be cautious about signing a big name like Kylian Mbappe as the forward's arrival will not guarantee success.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Madrid expected to sign MbappeWould be monumental transferClub warned to learn from 'mistakes'WHAT HAPPENED?

The Spanish giants are said to be closing in on a deal to land the French forward after he informed Paris Saint-Germain that he will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season. His signing could mark a new Galactico era for Madrid, recreating the time they signed Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham together. However, ex-Madrid star Ivan Helguera has warned they could end up failing to live up to their potential.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT HELGUERA SAID

Helguera said at a La Liga and DAZN event: "It could be, what happens is that you have to see the mistakes that were made , there were many figures and very good players… but nothing was won. In Madrid it is important to win every year. It is wonderful to have all those players, but you have to know how to balance with a good squad. For Mbappe to come to Real Madrid would be an impressive signing and upwards it would be difficult to beat."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Mbappe would be joining a a squad that already boasts the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, as well as veteran stars Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Despite the quality at Carlo Ancelotti's disposal, the Santiago Bernabeu side failed to win La Liga or the Champions League last season.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MADRID?

The capital club are expected to seal the Spanish league title this season, and may also go on to claim their 15th European crown, while they work out a deal to bring Mbappe to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window.

[ad_pod ]

West Ham United confirmed the signing of centre-back Issa Diop from Toulouse on June 19, 2018.

According to the BBC, the Hammers splashed out a then-club record £22m to bring the 22-year-old to the London Stadium.

Such a hefty fee for a young defender, with no Premier League experience behind him, represented a big gamble on the part of Irons boss Manuel Pellegrini. 

Check out the video below to find out why West Ham’s potential sale of Marko Arnautovic sets such a dangerous precedent…

Diop quickly earned the Chilean coach’s trust, as he started the Hammers’ third league game of the season, against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The France under-21 international has played every minute of league football since, as per Transfermarkt.

All of Diop’s 21 Premier League appearances so far this term have been starts, demonstrating just how quickly he became an integral part of the Hammers’ rearguard. The numbers back up Pellegrini’s decision to invest so much faith in the young defender, too.

According to WhoScored’s stats, the 6’4” centre-back has made an average of 2.2 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 4.5 clearances per match. Those are impressive numbers, especially for a youngster in his first year in England.

However, his pass accuracy rating of 87% is truly the standout statistic. Such composure and tidiness on the ball is a rare commodity in a centre-back, and flags Diop up as a very modern defender. 

Diop looks set to have a bright future in the game, but if he keeps his current rate of progression up, West Ham could find it hard to ensure his future lies in east London unless they make big strides forward themselves.

What looked like a big fee in the summer can be regarded as a positive bargain now.

The training center, located 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta, is expected to be the hub of U.S. soccer's growth for the 2026 World Cup.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

U.S. soccer unveiled plans for training centerSet on 200 acres of land near AtlantaWill replace current California locationGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. soccer picked a Fayette County, Georgia location for their new hub of the sport. It is expected to be the home of all 27 of the U.S.'s national teams, including senior men's and women's, as well as youth setups, U.S. soccer announced in a press release.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The location was selected out of nine possible sites for a new hub. Atlanta was highlighted for its favourable climate and proximity to a major airport — making it easier to travel for US National Team players who are based in Europe.

Getty ImagesWHAT AUSTON TRUSTY SAID

USMNT and Sheffield midfielder Auston Trusty told GOAL: "I'll miss California. The Cali vibes are definitely nice. A lot of USMNT team guys now are overseas, so it's just a shorter flight, and a lot easier to get to, straight to the east coast.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT JT BASTON SAID

U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Baston, who led the search for the site, also shared his views.

"With major tournaments coming to our shores, the investments by our professional leagues, and growth of our membership, this is a once-in-a-generation moment for soccer in the United States,” said Batson. “Fayetteville and the broader Atlanta region come not only with a passion for soccer but also with a distinctive vibrancy that make it perfectly suited to connect with and inspire current and future athletes of all backgrounds, increasing participation in the sport and further growing the game at this critical moment.

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has reportedly splashed out £180,000 on a custom Mercedes van after crashing his £700,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

England international involved in concerning collisionRed Devils forward suffered no injuriesIs now planning to be driven to training sessionsWHAT HAPPENED?

The 25-year-old England international is not short on wheels as he was spotted arriving at training on Monday in a £560,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Blue Shadow – the day after he wrecked his other Roller when heading home from a 1-0 Premier League win over Burnley. United were quick to calm any fears after that incident, posting: “Marcus is fine. It was an accidental collision.” Police forces are no longer investigating the crash.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Rashford has now spent big on another motor, and he will not be driving this one himself. According to , the United academy graduate will be escorted to Carrington in his luxury Mercedes Vito Maybach by a personal chauffeur.

DID YOU KNOW?

That news will come as some relief to Erik ten Hag and the United coaching team, with concerns immediately raised after learning that Rashford – who left the team’s training base at around midnight after helping to down Burnley at Turf Moor – had collided with a traffic light on Saturday evening.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Rashford will now be travelling to training in style, with there plenty to keep him occupied during the journey. His new Mercedes is said to include a 40 inch TV, a PlayStation, USB charging ports, a wireless iPhone charging station and a galaxy ceiling that features hundreds of twinkling stars.

CBS' Europa League viewers were temporarily left without commentary after pundits were forced to evacuate the studio midway through Thursday's games.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

CBS GOLAZO Show pundits evacuate studioFire alarm forces all personnel outsideShow goes on, crew produce outside via cell phone videoWHAT HAPPENED?

CBS Sports have been covering European football this season, including the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League. However, their coverage of the latter two competitions was put to a halt Thursday when a fire alarm forced commentary teams to leave the building, meaning listeners were without the GOLAZO Show for over 20 minutes. The crew then moved their set outside in the cold with microphones and cell phones for viewing, with lead host Nico Cantor posting on social media about the incident.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

This is not the first time CBS GOLAZO Show has had a slight hiccup when presenting European football. Back in May, the U.S. broadcaster cut away from Real Madrid against Manchester City in last season's Champions League in favor of Donald Trump coverage. It is rare for CBS, which offers live sports programming and news as part of its TV schedule, to do something like this, but it can happen.

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

CBS paid a reported $250 million (£198m) to obtain Champions League coverage, with the likes of Kate Abdo, Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry, and Micah Richards fronting analysis. Thursday, however, sported Cantor alongside ex-USMNT star Charlie Davies and U.S. soccer analyst Chris Wittyngham.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CBS?

CBS will be back covering European football in just under two weeks' time, hopefully without any other issues. Until then, they'll go back to their weekly coverage of Serie A and South American football.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pinpointed areas his side must improve after a "difficult" win over Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Liverpool win 3-0 over Southampton Klopp praises two goalscoring youngstersBut highlights "pressing" as key issueGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Following a string of injuries to his first team, Klopp has been left with only the bare minimum for the Reds. The Liverpool manager started youngsters James McConnell, Conor Bradley, Bobby Clark, and Jarell Quansah, substituting Kaide Gordon and Trey Nyoni in the second half. The German was particularly impressed by scorers Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns as Liverpool went on to a comfortable 3-0 win. He also talked about having to play defender Joe Gomez in midfield for the first time ever due to a lack of options in an already tightly-packed schedule.

AdvertisementWHAT KLOPP SAID

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said when speaking to BBC Sport: "It was a special week for all of us. I do the job for a little while and you don’t have weeks like that too often. This was a tough game in a horribly difficult situation for us. We have to accept it and see who we can line up. Today the solution was Joe Gomez playing six for the first time in his life. We were all over the place in the first 15 minutes, the pressing was horrendous. We had problems and Southampton used that. Caoimhin [Kelleher] saved us a lot with top saves.

"After 15 minutes the high press got a lot better, the midfield press we tried to sort at half-time. Football is not easy and if you’ve got momentum you’ve got to keep it. We got it back and scored two wonderful goals in the second half. Danns you could see that second goal coming, he has that nose. We saw it in the final. He had that luck and he was there to score that goal. It was a wonderful game to watch."

Getty THE BIGGER PICTURE

The win on the night meant that the Merseyside club moved one step closer to their dream of winning the quadruple, having already won the Carabao Cup despite a slew of injuries to the squad that has seen players like Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic having been out for some duration on and off this season.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Klopp will have to rally his troops yet again for another quick turnaround as they travel to City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday, March 2.

Andy Dibble, Wrexham's promotion hero in 2002-2003, has admitted that receiving a message from co-owner Ryan Reynolds "brought a tear to my eye".

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Dibble helped Wrexham to 2003 promotionSon Christian left in JanuaryReynolds' message made ex-pro cryWHAT HAPPENED?

The former Wales international goalkeeper led the Red Dragons to promotion 21 years ago, but his family's connection to the club remained until earlier this year. His son and fellow shot-stopper Christian joined Wrexham in 2017 and went on to make 61 league appearances, despite mostly being second choice to Rob Lainton between the sticks.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

As a result, Dibble elected to start a new challenge at the start of the year, leaving Wrexham by mutual consent before joining National League side Kidderminster Harriers in the January window. And Dibble Senior revealed that his son's efforts hadn't gone unnoticed by those upstairs. Deadpool star Reynolds even went out of his way to contact the former Wrexham great, which he admitted made him emotional.

WHAT DIBBLE SAID

Dibble told : "When Christian left Wrexham, Ryan sent me a private message on Twitter. It was fantastic and it made me feel so proud. Ryan was really kind, he thanked me for Christian's service to Wrexham and talked about him as a goalkeeper but more than anything, he said how proud I should be for bringing up a special son. It brought a bit of a tear to my eye really. I didn't expect somebody with his fame to message me but it meant so much to me, it was really special."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

As well as representing Wrexham, Dibble Senior also turned out for the likes of Manchester City, Luton, Stockport and Cardiff.

Arsenal are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2016-17, with Jorginho explaining why the competition’s famous anthem means so much.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

North London giants back in the big timeWaited a long time to grace such a stagePlayers loving every minute of European actionWHAT HAPPENED?

The Gunners finally forced their way back into the Premier League’s top four last season – as they spent much of the campaign challenging for the title – and are now gracing the grandest of European stages for the first time in over six years.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT THEY SAID

Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka struggled to keep smiles from their faces when hearing “the Champiooooooons” ring out around Emirates Stadium ahead of a meeting with PSV on September 1, with Jorginho telling the club’s of why that tune still matters to experienced international performers: “It’s iconic, it’s so remarkable. It was stuck in our heads when we were kids so you just kind of go back to your childhood when you listen to it. It seems so far away when you’re a kid to play in, and that’s why I think it’s really special. I was in Brazil as a little kid watching every single game of the Champions League, watching Barcelona, Milan and Arsenal with the ball, and the music. It’s a competition the whole world stops to watch, so to be here now, we are living our dreams. I could see a lot of excitement for the PSV game and I could feel the emotional side of it as well. They were excited to hear the music, and even in training when we trained for the first time with the Champions League ball. They couldn’t wait any more. It was nice to see the boys achieving these dreams in their lives. It’s always amazing to see and I’m really pleased that I was there with them.”

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Jorginho has previously graced the Champions League with Napoli and Chelsea, claiming the ultimate prize while at Stamford Bridge in 2021. He added on fulfilling a boyhood dream: “When you hold that trophy, so, so many things are going through your head. It’s impossible to explain, it’s just an amazing feeling. That’s living your actual dream, going back to when you were a child and watching your idols playing and winning.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Arsenal will be back in European action on Tuesday when taking in a trip to Sevilla, with a positive response being demanded to their surprise 2-1 defeat to Lens in their last Group B fixture – having opened their quest for continental glory with a crushing 4-0 victory over PSV.

Harry Kane has broken two more Bundesliga records after opening the scoring for Bayern Munich against FC Koln on Friday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Kane has been in tremendous formScored again on FridaySets two more recordsWHAT HAPPENED?

Kane scored a tap-in on 20 minutes, after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting saw his effort cleared off the line. It gave Bayern a 1-0 lead and ensured that Kane has become both the first Bundesliga player to score 18 goals in the first 12 games of a season, and the first Englishman to score 18 goals in a single Bundesliga season.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Kane's form has been simply electric since his move from Tottenham to Bayern in the summer. In 12 games he has scored 18 times, and has also netted four times in four games in the Champions League. Such incredible form has seen Bayern establish a lead at the top of the table, although they are only set to move four points clear of Bayer Leverkusen, who face Werder Bremen this weekend.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kane is currently on a goalscoring rate of 1.5 goals per game. As a result, he is on track to score a staggering 51 goals, in the Bundesliga alone, this season. He has already outstripped last season's Golden Boot winner.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Kane is likely to keep smashing records as the England international continues to hit the back of the net. Bayern face Copenhagen in the Champions League in midweek.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has revealed that the Welsh side have suffered a double injury blow with Eoghan O’Connell and Ryan Barnett ruled out.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Wrexham duo ruled outUnavailable for eight weeksWelsh side beat Notts CountyWHAT HAPPENED?

Centre-back O'Connell and midfielder Barnett were both absent as Wrexham picked up three points by beating Notts County 2-0 in League Two on Saturday.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The pair have been important figures for the League Two team but have already had spells out of the team this season.

The Red Dragons will have to do without the two players for almost two months, the coach has confirmed.

WHAT THEY SAID

"To come through and finish October with a win is great for us," he said. "We need to patch a few people up. Eoghan O’Connell looks to be out for eight weeks, Barny (Ryan Barnett) looks to be out for eight weeks.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Wrexham's next match is against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup on November 4.