Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has picked Alexis Mac Allister as his favourite midfielder over Declan Rice, Enzo Fernandez and even Ryan Gravenberch, but hailed Rodri as the king of the position. Mac Allister, who moved to Anfield from Brighton in 2023, established himself as a starter first under Jurgen Klopp and then retained his place once Arne Slot took charge last season.
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Gerrard plays winner-stays-on game
In an exclusive interview with GOAL, Gerrard was asked to pick between several Premier League midfielders in a winner-stays-on game. At the start of the Q&A, the Liverpool icon picked Kobbie Mainoo over Leeds' Archie Gray, but in the next battle, he opted for Morgan Gibbs-White over the Manchester United star. In the third question, Chelsea's Moises Caicedo replaced the Forest midfielder, but from there onwards, Gerrard sided with Mac Allister.
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Rodri still midfield king in Gerrard's eyes
Gerrard picked Mac Aliister in his next five answers, as the Argentine got the nod over Caicedo, Bruno Guimaraes, Reds team-mate Gravenberch, compatriot Enzo Fernandez and Arsenal star Declan Rice. However, when Mac Allister was pitted against Manchester City talisman Rodri in the final round, the former England midfielder said, "Has to be Rodri, Ballon d'Or."
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Mac Allister off to bright start in new season
Mac Allister kicked off the new season with an assist in Liverpool's opening-day win over Bournemouth and has played a key role in their perfect start across all competitions. Arne Slot's side will be back in Premier League action away at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Manchester United have spent well, it would seem, this summer, but INEOS and Jason Wilcox remain attentive to further opportunities ahead of the September 1st transfer deadline.
Last weekend’s loss against Arsenal instilled a sense of newfound excitement; even in defeat, United looked more coherent, composed and confident, especially in attack. But there’s more work to be done, no doubt.
Manchester United's Matheus Cunha
While club captain Bruno Fernandes has his sights set on an illustrious revival this season, a few more signings are needed if the Red Devils want to strike a degree of balance that will drive them toward their objectives.
Man Utd closing on statement signing
With the frontline having been reshaped, Man United have turned to the lower levels of the field, with Amorim appearing to have a desire for a new midfielder.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba has been at the top of the list, but INEOS have been informed that they will have no joy in a formal bid for the 21-year-old this summer.
Brighton & Hove Albion's CarlosBalebain action with Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic
Though efforts for a new presence in the engine room continue, many of a Red Devil persuasion would argue that signing a new goalkeeper is of greater importance.
Well, according to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are closing in on an agreement for personal terms with Royal Antwerp for 23-year-old goalkeeper Senne Lammens, with talks also underway between the clubs.
Senne Lammens for Royal Antwerp.
Discussions are advancing, with a view toward a permanent deal in the region of €20m (£17m), and Romano felt it pertinent to remark that Manchester City are not in the race as they aim for their own signing between the sticks.
Why Man Utd need Senne Lammens
Lammens left Club Brugge at the end of his contract in June 2023 and relocated to the port city of Antwerp, where he has since featured 64 times, winning the 2023/24 Super Cup.
Senne Lammens in action for Royal Antwerp.
Though the Belgian, touted as Thibaut Courtois’ successor between the sticks for the Belgium national team, has yet to fully grow into his skin as a goalkeeper, he also has the properties required to rival the best of them across the continent, already showing a skill for shot-stopping that puts him in the top bracket.
Sofascore records that Lammens prevented a staggering 15.57 goals (xG) in the Belgian Pro League match last year, with a save percentage of 77%.
That’s highly impressive when you consider that Jordan Pickford’s 6.15 goals prevented led the Premier League charts for goalkeepers last season, suggesting that the Belgian has the potential to be the best shot-stopper, by a significant margin, in England if he can translate his form over to United.
Such stable hands could go a long way for Amorim’s side, with Andre Onana out of the running following his shambolic 2024/25 campaign and Altay Bayındır making a mistake that allowed Arsenal to secure victory at Old Trafford last week.
Lammens would rewrite the script, in that way proving to be as impactful as the aforementioned Fernandes for the Manchester club.
Fernandes has been Man United’s talisman for many years now, right since he joined from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 for a figure rising to £68m.
Last year, he posted 19 goals and 19 assists apiece across all competitions, also creating more chances than any other player in the Premier League. His influence knows no bounds, and the effect he has on his teammates is profound.
Most Chances Created in the Premier League (24/25)
#
Player
Chances
1.
Bruno Fernandes
91
2.
Mohamed Salah
88
3.
Cole Palmer
86
4.
Enzo Fernandez
75
5.
Bryan Mbeumo
70
Data via StatMuse
Lammens might be a young and unknown buck, but his incredible shot-stopping ability and “simply phenomenal” all-round game, as has been noted by talent scout Jacek Kulig, suggest he could be the man United have been searching for over the past several years.
Man United deserved more than defeat against Arsenal, and with a more reliable man between the sticks, they might just have achieved that, with such confidence feeding into the rest of the squad.
Whether Lammens would reach the same level as Fernandes, pound-for-pound, as it were, is absolutely uncertain. But he has the making of a first-class goalkeeper, and United could change everything by getting this one over the line and adding much to their goalkeeping department.
He's like Baleba: "Extraordinary" £35m star now wants to sign for Man Utd
Manchester United appear to have moved on from Carlos Baleba with a move for another star.
Bilal El Khannouss is talking to Belgian reporters in the press area of the Cegeka Arena, home of KRC Genk. While the attacking midfielder is discussing the details of a 0-0 draw with Ferencvaros, a journalist from Sporza can no longer contain himself.
Eddy Demarez had noticed when El Khannouss came back onto the pitch after the half-time interval that the front of his azure blue Adidas boots was about to give way. A single piece of tape was the only thing holding everything together – and yet, remarkably, it did the job. The boots survived the second half.
These are scenes you would normally see on an amateur pitch. Together with the crooked socks, the shirts that are just a little too tight and shorts that reek of tiger balm, the half-taped boots don't belong in a European tournament, so the journalist is incredibly curious. Why didn't El Khannouss change into a new pair? The response says much about this young man's character.
"I got kicked on the foot in the first half, which broke my boot," El Khannouss explains to Demarez. "During half-time, I put tape on it. We have to make do with what we have. I hope to have new shoes tomorrow." Making the most of what you have: it's all El Khannouss knows and it also helps explain why he's set to become Stuttgart's second-most expensive signing ever next summer…
Where it all began
Born in 2004, El Khannouss grew up in Strombeek-Bever and, at the age of five, his cousin took him to his first football club: Crossing Schaerbeek. He didn't play there for long, though.
"Soon after I arrived, my coach Ebrahim Bouazzati moved to Anderlecht and took his best players with him," he recalls in . "I was the last survivor of that group."
It was the football pitches of Brussels that made him the player he is today. In Josaphat Park, or under the Europe Bridge, where Ajax talent Rayane Bounida also spent his youth, he learned to understand the art of football. It shaped him, both as a human being and as a player.
"It was mainly five against five in a cage," he recalled in an interview with . "Up until I was 13, I also played indoor football at Futsal Besiktas Gent. Playing in those small spaces teaches you to run smarter. It definitely helped me."
And then there was a youth transfer that caused quite a stir in the Belgian newspapers. The Brussels-born player with a purple Anderlecht heart moved to Genk at the age of 15.
"What did Anderlecht have to say about that? A lot of things. Some youth coaches called me a traitor," El Khannouss revealed. "They said it with a smile, but you could feel that they meant it."
He had played for Anderlecht for 10 years, and alongside the likes of Rome Lavia. However, the sporting picture in Genk was much more appealing. The future prospects were simply better there, and so it proved.
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The big break
When he was still only 18, he made his debut for Genk's first team. A few months later, Bounida's Ajax came calling – along with a string of other top foreign clubs. However, El Khannouss decided to extend his contract with Genk.
It turned out to be the right choice. The following season saw his real breakthrough and the reward was a place in Morocco's 2022 World Cup squad. Once again, it was not a decision that went over well in the local press.
Until that point, El Khannouss had played for various Belgium teams at under-age level. "I am extremely grateful to Belgium for all the opportunities I have had here, but I knew from an early age that I would choose Morocco," he explained.
"My grandparents came to Belgium from Morocco and I feel that this is a way for me to give something back to them. They are no longer with us, but I am sure they are proud of me."
During Morocco's highly successful World Cup campaign – the team reached the semi-finals – he started in the third-place play-off against Croatia. He went head to head with his great idol, Luka Modric, and the 18-year-old impressed, thus becoming immensely popular., both in Morocco and back in Belgium.
These days, even during his pilgrimages to Mecca, he cannot escape his fame. "It's great to be recognised everywhere and feel the love from fans, but sometimes I do miss the anonymity. I've already learned to choose restaurants where few Moroccans go. The fans are literally everywhere!" he joked.
After the World Cup, El Khannouss continued to shine at Genk for another year and a half before making an inevitably transfer to a top league in 2024, with Leicester City agreeing to pay £22.5 million for the offensive midfielder, who was also courted by Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool.
Following the dismissal of Steve Cooper, he got to work with striking legend Ruud van Nistelrooy and was one of the few bright lights in an otherwise gloomy season at the King Power Stadium.
"I think you will see and hear a lot more from him," Van Nistelrooy insisted. "He can go very far. He has the potential to become a top player in the Champions League."
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How it's going
Although El Khannouss started the current campaign playing Championship football with Leicester, it was always unlikely that he'd do so for the entire season.
However, he only secured a transfer to Stuttgart on deadline day, as the German side looked to add to their attacking options following the lucrative sale of star striker Nick Woltemade to Newcastle.
El Khannouss was signed on a season-long loan but with an obligation to buy next summer for €25 million (£22m/$29m). It's already looking like a bit of a masterstroke by Stuttgart.
The 21-year-old has netted three times in his first six appearances in all competitions for his new side, much to the delight of coach Sebastian Hoeness.
"He has incredible quality – he has already demonstrated that in the Premier League, of course," Hoeness said. "But he has had a great start and is a very promising young man. We are very happy to have him with us."
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Biggest strengths
Thorsten Fink, who coached El Khannouss in Belgium, has already expressed similar sentiments to Van Nistelrooy. "I have worked with many players, and what I have seen is that this boy is very special," he told . "He can become one of the best footballers in Europe. I am convinced of that."
He's certainly got the talent to do so. El Khannouss has a fantastic first touch, is an elusive dribbler, can really pick a pass and has outstanding awareness, which is why his former coach at Genk once quipped that the attacking midfielder seems to have "eyes in the back of his head".
Pep Guardiola also liked what he saw when his Manchester City side faced Leicester last season, making a bee-line for El Khannouss as soon as the full-time whistle blew.
"He said he was impressed with my play," El Khannouss revealed afterwards. Once again, though, his human qualities and impressive work ethic quickly came to the fore.
"I have to show this level every week. Other than that, I just enjoy the game and the day. Because we have the best job in the world." Indeed, he understands very well indeed just how lucky he is to be a footballer and that's why he often thinks about society as a whole.
"I do my bit, without everyone always having to know about it," he told "God has given me a luxurious life. Sometimes I wake up and think: 'Sh*t, today I have to do this or that.' In Ivory Coast, I saw 70-year-old women walking barefoot up a mountain with heavy buckets filled with food on their heads just so their families could eat. Things like that break your heart."
Jordan Henderson’s call-up should have been a fairly quick indication that Thomas Tuchel is ready to hand out second chances in the England set-up before the World Cup. The former Chelsea boss is leading a new era and one which has already featured plenty of old faces as well as some fresh arrivals.
The latest to benefit from that is Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Prior to the arrival of Tuchel, the midfield star hadn’t been called up for England duty since 2018. That was as many as seven years ago now, but he’s seemingly done enough at AC Milan to earn another chance to impress for the Three Lions and make a claim for a World Cup place.
It feels unlikely that he’ll be the final shock inclusion under Tuchel, who has left England fans guessing at every turn. But who could be next to receive a much-welcomed return to the England squad ahead of the World Cup?
4
Fikayo Tomori
AC Milan
AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori.
Fikayo Tomori was always one that was overlooked by Gareth Southgate and mainly for reasons unknown. He played for one of Europe’s most historic clubs and, last season aside, started almost every week for AC Milan. Yet, it still wasn’t enough for Southgate, who chose to keep his selection in the Premier League for the most part.
Things are changing under Tuchel, however, and Tomori could be the next former Chelsea star back in the squad after Loftus-Cheek. The central defender’s last call-up came in 2019, but after earning his way back into Milan’s starting side, he deserves to get his place back in the Three Lions set-up at long last.
Tuchel has already shown willingness to call players outside the Premier League with the inclusion of AC Milan’s Loftus-Cheek alongside Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford, and should now turn towards Tomori.
3
Jack Grealish
Everton
It almost seems inevitable that Jack Grealish will get his England chance before the World Cup. The winger has so far been reborn under David Moyes at Everton – assisting four goals in just two games – and provides a different threat to the quicker, more direct wingers who already have a place under Tuchel.
Grealish was beginning to fall out of love with football at Manchester City. He was refined to a cameo role more often than not, if that, and desperately needed the move that Everton soon granted him.
With the World Cup around nine months away, the Toffees have so far unlocked the version of Grealish that the Premier League last saw at Aston Villa. He is the star of the show at the Hill Dickinson and is well on course to earn back the England place that he lost in 2023.
2
Jadon Sancho
Aston Villa
It goes without saying that Jadon Sancho still has a long way to go. He struggled on loan at Chelsea last season, so much so that they paid to get out of their obligation to buy the winger from Manchester United, and has shown all the signs of a player lacking the desire that he once had. But a lot can change in football.
It wasn’t so long ago that Sancho was the talk of European football, and he wasn’t the first player to struggle in a Manchester United shirt after a big-money move. A loan spell back to Borussia Dortmund in the 2023/24 campaign proved that he is still a player full of talent, but that talent must be on show at Aston Villa.
Rashford rediscovered his best form under Unai Emery in a similar move last season. Now, he has his England place back and is a Barcelona player. Sancho must use that example and get back to the type of form that would hand the Three Lions a major boost next summer.
1
Phil Foden
Man City
Recent injuries haven’t helped, but there’s no denying that Phil Foden is very much on the peripheral of Pep Guardiola’s current plans. The 25-year-old hasn’t started any of Manchester City’s opening three games and is in danger of taking up the role that Grealish just vacated at the Etihad.
From becoming the Premier League’s Player of the Year in 23/24, the midfielder has now lost his England place and faces a fight to win it back before the World Cup gets underway.
It would be Tuchel’s biggest call to leave Foden out of his side. The Man City man is one of the most talented players that the Three Lions have, but things need to change at the Etihad. His first task is to get back into Guardiola’s Man City side, who have lost two of their three opening games, and then prove why he should be starting every week.
When that comes, then he should naturally find a way back into Tuchel’s plans. For now, however, the England boss has simply thrown down the challenge for Foden to get back to his best.
Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate has revealed that he is "too afraid" to spend heavily on luxuries despite earning a reported £70,000-per-week at Anfield. The French defender is in the final year of his existing deal and has yet to agree to put pen to paper on a new Reds contract. Konate has attracted interest from Real Madrid, but he is yet to make a final decision on his future in the Premier League.
Konate owes his career to elder brothers
26-year-old Konate played youth football at Paris FC and Sochaux before making his senior debut towards the end of the 2016-17 season. His performance at Sochaux caught RB Leipzig's attention and the Bundesliga outfit quickly signed the defender that summer, in 2017. Four years later, Konate completed a dream move to the Premier League, as he signed for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.
Over the past few years, the France international has established himself as a regular first-team starter and has earned Arne Slot's trust since the Dutchman arrived in 2024. But Konate believes he owes his success as a professional footballer to his elder brothers, as he claimed that he would not have reached such heights in his career if it weren't for his family.
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Konate is 'afraid' to spend his money
Per Capology, Konate presently earns £70,000 per week, which is quite low compared to the wages of other first-team members.
Konate claimed that he has always been very scared of spending lavishly on himself, even though he makes good money in the Premier League, saying, via the Daily Mail: "I became the player I am today thanks to each one of them [my brothers]. From my first steps at Paris Universite Club twenty years ago to Liverpool, they have always been a fundamental help. I didn't spend anything at all on hedonistic and personal pleasures. No new car, no clothes, no shoes. Nothing. I was too afraid they'd tell me I'd changed.
"You have no idea how much footballers need [family]. Many people, more or less well-intentioned, roam around us. 95% of them come because I'm Konate, the football player, and not Ibrahima, the person. They want to take advantage of my fame, but they don't really care about me . As soon as someone wants to approach me, they filter them out."
Konate link with a move to Real Madrid
Konate has entered the final year of his Anfield contract and has yet to agree to sign a new long-term deal and commit his future to the Reds. With only months left in his existing terms, Real Madrid are thought to be monitoring the centre-back with a view to signing him as a free agent in 2026. The Spanish giants have reportedly turned their attention to the France international after their primary defensive target, William Saliba, agreed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.
The Frenchman is free to negotiate with clubs outside England from January 1 as he will enter the final six months of his contract at that point. The Reds ideally would want to lose yet another player on a free transfer or, for a negligible fee as was the case with Trent Alexander-Arnold fiasco at the end of last season. Konate, on the other hand, is yet to give his green light for a move to any club and he could, in fact, decide to stay back at Anfield beyond his current deal.
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Liverpool players under scrutiny after slump in form
After a perfect start to their title defence campaign, where they won seven matches in a row, Arne Slot's side experienced a sudden dip in form which saw them lose three consecutive games against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea just before the international break. The team's defence has come under scrutiny after they have leaked nine goals in seven Premier League outings, while the attackers have also been criticised following the loss at Stamford Bridge.
Despite enjoying superstar status at Merseyside, Mohamed Salah's work ethic has been questioned, while Cody Gakpo has been told to do more on the left flank to uplift the team's overall balance and performance. The Reds are now gearing up to face rivals Manchester United at Anfield next Sunday as the champions aim to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are already pressing ahead in their efforts for the January transfer window and could now have an avenue to landing a key target, according to a report.
Wolves look for stability after rocky Premier League start
Undoubtedly, Wolves have work to do under Vitor Pereira if they want to avoid being dragged into a scrap this campaign after a poor run of early-season results.
Three straight Premier League losses against Manchester City, Bournemouth and Everton have left the Old Gold rooted to the bottom of the table, albeit executive chairman Jeff Shi is confident that stability will come in the form of results sooner rather than later.
“Wolves need stability now – we need a coach to stay here and help us for a long time. Every coach needs time and the jigsaw to be made. We should give the coach enough time and the players he needs to prepare for the season.
“I feel the more important thing to define this season is the squad and the coach, the chemistry and the unity. If you have that foundation, you will have a strong season. If you don’t, maybe you have a doubt. Before Vitor came the team chemistry had some problems. This year that issue is gone. We have a strong team spirit and a very committed team structure.”
Tolu Arokodare’s late arrival from Genk has offered a much-needed forward option to work with alongside the likes of Jorgen Strand Larsen. However, missing out on Josh Brownhill despite talks with the former Burnley midfielder was an unfortunate turn of events.
Late on, Wolves also failed with a £30 million bid to sign Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney, but they may be about to complete a return swoop for another one of their targets during the summer window.
Wolves target Christos Mandas could be sold in January
According to Corriere dello Sport, Wolves target Christos Mandas is likely to be sold by Lazio in January after losing his spot as their number one goalkeeper to Ivan Provedel. During the window, the Old Gold submitted a bid worth over £17 millon for the Greece international, who kept six clean sheets in 20 appearances last term.
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Unhappy to become a deputy for the entirety of the campaign, Mandas is waiting for his chance, though may be forced into considering other options if Provedel remains in front of him for the foreseeable future.
Lazio are open to selling the 23-year-old for significant financial gain, opening up an opportunity for Wolves to pitch a vision of Premier League football to the Serie A star.
Maintaining a 74.3% save percentage in the Italian top-flight across 2024/25, it remains to be seen if Pereira can tempt the talented goalkeeper to the West Midlands once the January window opens.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been backed to keep playing "at least into his mid-40s" by former Premier League rival and England star Joe Cole, who claimed the Portugal legend is "defying medical science". At 40, Ronaldo is still scoring for fun at both club and international level. He has kicked off the 2025-26 campaign on a high, having scored five goals in six matches across all competitions for Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo determined to win a trophy with Al-Nassr
Since moving to Saudi Arabia as a free agent in January 2023, Ronaldo has broken multiple records individually, but has yet to realise his dream of winning a major trophy with Al-Nassr. This time, though, Ronaldo and his club look determined to win the league title and also return to the top tier of AFC competition. Al-Nassr made some key signings in the summer transfer window, bringing in established European stars such as Joao Felix, Kingsley Coman, and Inigo Martinez. The heavy spending has worked for the Saudi giants as they maintain a 100 per cent win record in the league after the first four matches. Ronaldo has also kicked off the season with four league goals in as many appearances.
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Cole hails Ronaldo for 'defying medical science'
Speaking to about his former Premier League rival, Cole said: "He's really just defying medical science. I remember saying, when he was 35, that ‘he'll play at least into his mid-40s’, and people thought I was mad. I'm like: ‘I'm telling you, he will. He's still scoring goals.’ It's ridiculous. I know the league he's playing in [gets criticised]. But if he wants to extend his career, he's not going to do it playing in the Premier League, or La Liga, or the Bundesliga. He's in the Saudi [Premier League], and he's banging in goals.
"Then, when he plays for Portugal, 85% of the teams he plays against, he's going to be able to play between the box and not have to exert himself physically to the level that he used to be able to. Put him in front of the goal, he will still score a goal. So, unfortunately for Ireland, I think this is going to be a convincing victory for Portugal. 4-0."
Ronaldo is not chasing 1,000 career goals
While many believe that Ronaldo is chasing the massive milestone of 1,000 career goals, the Al-Nassr star himself denied any such claim last season after scoring against rivals Al-Hilal. The 40-year-old had said: "Guys, let's enjoy the moment. I'm not chasing 1,000. If it happens, perfect. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. The moment is the most special thing not what is going to come you know. Enjoy the moment and it was a great win not because I scored of course. I'm happy to score two goals against Al-Hilal but the most important thing is to win the derby. We play against a fantastic team away, it's always difficult, we have to appreciate and we have to continue because nine games left with one more in the Champions League. Everything is possible, we have to continue and believe."
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CR7 determined to win the World Cup
Even in the twilight of his career, Ronaldo continues to remain a key player for Portugal. The Selecao will heavily bank on their captain to guide them to glory in North America next year. Before that, CR7 and Portugal will have to seal their qualification to the World Cup and are scheduled to face Ireland and Hungary on October 11 and 14 respectively.
Former Brazil goalkeeper and coach Emerson Leao has launched a scathing critique of Carlo Ancelotti's start as Selecao boss, warning the job is "much more difficult" than managing Spanish giants Real Madrid. Leao claims the Brazil national team is getting "worse and worse" and expressed his disappointment with the state of Brazilian coaching as the World Cup approaches.
Leao warns of 'arduous and difficult' task for Ancelotti
The Selecao legend also criticised the current generation of Brazilian coaches, stating he is "disappointed and sad" that their shortcomings led to the appointment of a foreigner, with Ancelotti enduring a mixed start to life since accepting the national team job. In their last outing, Brazil surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Japan in a friendly.
Leao, who was capped by his country and later managed the team, expressed serious reservations about Ancelotti's initial impact and his ability to communicate with the squad. He pointed to inconsistent early results as a sign of the challenges ahead. "One friendly went really well, the other was a disappointment. And he was there on the bench, struggling to communicate," Leao said to .
The former shot-stopper believes the immense pressure and unique environment of the Brazil national team will require a level of intense focus that may be unfamiliar to a club manager. "His work will be very arduous, very difficult," Leao predicted. "I think he's going to have a lot, not just a little, a lot of difficulty. And everyone who works with him – Brazilians, athletes, managers, coaches, assistants, players – has to cooperate. Because this process is going to get worse and worse."
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Why the Selecao job is 'much more difficult' than Real Madrid
While Ancelotti has managed Europe's biggest clubs, Leao was quick to dismiss comparisons between those roles and the task of leading Brazil, arguing the pressure is incomparable. "Ah, Real Madrid is a club. You own it, the club, and you're responsible for it. The national team, you have an entire nation either against you or for you. So, the national team is much more difficult," he said.
Leao also rejected the idea that Ancelotti being European gives him an advantage in managing players based on the continent. "I don't think it helps much, no," he added. "Because today, with the media, you can watch every game you want every week and get an individual opinion on each athlete." He suggested this focus on Europe comes at a cost, questioning Ancelotti's knowledge of domestic talent: "Why didn't he call up many people playing in Brazil? Because he doesn't know much."
'Disappointed and sad' – Leao laments state of Brazilian coaching
Leao’s criticism was not reserved solely for Ancelotti, as he turned his ire on the state of coaching within Brazil, viewing the Italian’s appointment as a symptom of a deeper problem. He questioned the lack of top-level domestic managers, a situation he finds deeply troubling.
"Now, all the clubs, at least the biggest ones, are being run by only foreigners. Where are they? Where's Brazil? Where are the Brazilian coaches?" he asked. "I am highly disappointed and sad with this generation of new coaches who allow something like this, not being able to show much more impact, much more directness, much more quality to be part of the Brazilian national team."
Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002, marking the nation's longest-ever title drought. The years since have been defined by immense pressure and disappointment, with the Selecao failing to reach another final. Their struggles include four quarter-final exits and the humiliating 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany in 2014.
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What next for Ancelotti's Brazil?
Leao's pointed comments add to the pressure on Ancelotti as he navigates a challenging period for the Selecao. The team are coming off an inconsistent World Cup qualification campaign where they finished a disappointing fifth, securing just eight wins from 18 matches and ending with a run of two losses in their final five games. The weight of a nation's expectation is immense, and legends like Leao publicly questioning the direction of the team will only intensify the scrutiny on the decorated Italian manager. Ancelotti's immediate task will be to silence the doubters and forge a cohesive unit capable of returning Brazil to the summit of international football, a challenge Leao believes is his most difficult yet.
Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall has been sublime so far this season, but he’s not the only “superstar” teenager at Spurs as one youngster vies to battle the Swede for a place in Thomas Frank’s starting eleven.
The 19-year-old is making his £8.5 million fee look like peanuts after an excellent first year and a half in north London.
Since joining from Djurgardens in February last year, with Tottenham beating Barcelona to Bergvall’s signature, the midfielder has worked his way into the first-team and made a grand total of 45 appearances in all competitions last term.
Bergvall suffered an ankle injury towards the end of 2024/2025 which prevented him from playing a role in the Europa League final, or in the semis, but the Scandinavian sensation is truly back with a bang.
Lucas Bergvall’s career at Tottenham so far
Stats
Appearances
51
Goals
2
Assists
6
Bookings
8
Minutes played
2,625
via Transfermarkt
He scored his first ever Premier League goal for Tottenham in a 3-0 London derby win away to West Ham, sending an expertly guided looping header over Mats Hermansen, and earned a Man of the Match award for his display.
Just a few days later, Bergvall played a key role in Luiz Junior’s own goal to hand Tottenham a 1-0 win over Villarreal in their Champions League opener, earning his second Player of the Match award in quick succession.
Barcelona are still reeling after missing out on the midfielder, according to Spanish news outelt AS, and it really isn’t difficult to see why.
Bergvall has been called Tottenham’s next potential superstar, leaving fellow highly-rated young midfielder Archie Gray with a mountain to climb as he looks to establish himself as a key player undder Frank.
The 19-year-old did extremely well in his debut season, and under very difficult circumstances. Ange Postecoglou thrust Gray into the centre of defence amid Spurs’ injury crisis last season, having been asked to play an unfamiliar and uncomfortable role during what was a very trying time.
The former Leeds United star earned due praise for this, but Bergvall’s form, combined with Tottenham’s extra senior options, has limited Gray’s playing time to just 89 minutes so far this term.
Archie Gray vying for Lucas Bergvall's spot at Tottenham
However, as per journalist Graeme Bailey, Gray is not one to back down from a challenge, and will battle Bergvall for a place in Spurs’ squad.
Sharing further insight, Bailey still refused to rule out the prospect of a temporary move away for Gray in January.
Archie Gray must get game time at Tottenham this season
To further his development, it is vital that Frank hands Gray the minutes he deserves.
After weathering the storm of Tottenham’s 2024/2025 season, he’s more than earned his place in the senior set-up, with his versatility also potentially very attractive to Spurs’ new boss.
It is still very early days, and injuries could still take their toll on the squad to hand Gray a route back into regular first-team action.
Ideally, he’d earn his place via a different route, but Frank will still welcome his players working hard to battle for a place in what is now a much stronger Lilywhites side in terms of depth compared to last year.
It's been a few months, but Jude Bellingham is back. After a delayed start to his season and an international break packed full of questions regarding where – and remarkably, if – he fits into England's World Cup plans, the Real Madrid man has showed in Sunday's Clasico that he remains the man for the biggest of occasions.
Bellingham has had a special relationship with Spain's biggest game ever since arriving at Santiago Bernabeu, and so it proved again on Sunday. Bellingham was everywhere, at the centre of everything Madrid did well as they battered Barcelona, even if the 2-1 scoreline told another story.
For a short time, it seemed that it wouldn't be Madrid's day as they had both a penalty and a Kylian Mbappe wondergoal overturned by VAR inside the opening 10 minutes, but Bellingham had other ideas. He received the ball just inside the Barcelona half, expertly turned away from Pedri and fed Mbappe, who had little to do other than look up, consider the angles, and smash into the bottom corner.
Barca and Fermin Lopez were gifted an equaliser by some sloppy play from Arda Guler, but Los Blancos never let up, and it was Bellingham who scored the second, ghosting into the box and side footing home into an empty net from an Eder Militao knockdown.
Everything after felt quite routine. Barca, without both Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski due to injury, lacked potency as Lamine Yamal failed to back-up his pre-match fighting words with a performance. Mbappe had a controversial penalty saved, though him netting would have given the scoreline a more accurate feeling.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Bernabeu…
AFP
WINNER: Jude Bellingham
There was a sense that Bellingham needed a big performance here, if only to reassert himself. The Englishman had been strangely forgotten in the Madrid consciousness, in part due to the excellent performances of Guler while Bellingham recovered from his summer shoulder surgery.
This, though, was a game that showed the levels between the two. Bellingham was asked to play as a right-sided No.10, though covered pretty much every blade of grass. Going forward, he was dynamic, while off the ball he harassed and harried Pedri, largely marking the Spaniard out of the game. He was good value for his goal, and on another day, might have had one or two more.
This is the Bellingham paradox of sorts. He can produce this kind of performance whenever asked, but hasn't done it enough since his remarkable debut season in Spain. It is easy to forget, though, that he won't turn 23 until June.
And with his England place apparently in doubt, this was the statement showing he needed to remind everyone back home of his ability. Thomas Tuchel better have been watching…
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LOSER: Lamine Yamal
Yamal is human after all. All eyes were on the Barcelona teenager ahead of kick-off in part due to him having claimed on social media that referees favour Madrid – something that didn't go down too well in the Spanish capital. Yamal then doubled down on that sentiment in the hours before the game with an Instagram story that referenced the kind of stick he regularly gets from Madridistas (tensions are no longer stoked in press conferences, it seems).
The issue is, these kinds of sentiments tend to need to be backed up by actual showings of impressive football, and Yamal failed to produce anything like his best. He has been fighting through injuries for a couple months now, and he subsequently looked a step off it in the biggest game of the season to date.
Yamal managed just two shots – neither of which were on target – and was rather limited as a creative force. In fairness, Madrid defended him well, too. Alvaro Carreras was on him from the first minute while and Dean Huijsen offered plenty of help. It is true, too, that Yamal was lacking in quality support without Lewandowski and Raphinha, but these are the kind of games you now expect the youngster to take over.
By the end of it all, he was left arguing with a furious Dani Carvajal, who claimed the teenager 'talks too much'. Maybe he's right. There will be other days for Yamal; this just wasn't a very good one.
AFP
WINNER: Xabi Alonso
Madrid have now played two big games this season, winning one and losing the other. In the first, a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Atletico Madrid, Xabi Alonso didn't really change anything. He went with his version of a 4-4-2, and didn't offer much to confront the entirely predictable, long-ball football that Diego Simeone would play. Real deserved to get hammered.
But here, Alonso adapted. Eduardo Camavinga was a surprising selection but was deployed to shut down Alejandro Balde's surges up the left, while Bellingham was given a little more positional freedom and Mbappe's instructions were clear: run straight forward very fast. The result was a Madrid drubbing in the first half.
And then, in the second, Alonso tightened things up. Realising Barca were tired and lacking in ideas, he instructed his side to bunker in. Los Blancos' shape was excellent, and Barca's only real chance came from a fluffed Jules Kounde run in behind – the kind of effort you'd image Alonso would be fine to surrender.
His credentials as a tactician could never truly be questioned, but this was Alonso's best day yet in the Madrid dugout.
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LOSER: Hansi Flick
As for the other bench… Well, technically, Hansi Flick wasn't there. That was occupied by Marcus Sorg, Barca's assistant manager who stepped in for the German after Flick was sent off against Girona last week.
Flick, could be seen high in the stands, watching from afar, and he must have hated what he saw. Barca were poor at both ends, and outworked in the middle. Their signature high line was repeatedly exploited by Madrid, and even if they did successfully catch Mbappe offside on a couple of situations, it proved to be an act of suicide for the first goal.
At the other end, their attack was non-existent. Ferran Torres is an agreeable back-up striker who can tag in against lesser opposition, but he looked lost here. Fermin, meanwhile, lacked muscle in midfield and conviction in attack despite netting the equaliser.
Flick can, and surely will, point to the injury issues that have plagued Barca as part of a reason for this loss, and there's a point to be made there. But he is also now five points behind his arch rivals in La Liga, meaning their title defence is already at real risk of failing.