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Austin FC have announced sweeping changes ahead of the World Cup break, confirming the departures of head coach Nico Estevez and sporting director Rodolfo Borrell after a difficult start to the MLS season. The club made the announcement on Monday following another disappointing result, a 2-1 home defeat against Sporting Kansas City. Despite earning three points, Sporting KC remain bottom of the Western Conference after winning only two of their opening 12 matches. The loss came shortly after Austin FC suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat to San Diego FC, the heaviest loss in club history. ‎ ‎Austin FC part ways with Nico Estevez and Rodolfo Borrell after disappointing MLS results and poor Western Conference form. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ Austin FC confirmed that a search for both a new sporting director and head coach is already underway. The club has appointed Excel Sports Management’s executive search division, Excel Search & Advisory, to oversee the recruitment process d...

‎Tension appears to be growing around Liverpool after Mohamed Salah publicly called for the club to return to its famous “heavy metal football” identity. ‎ ‎The comments, made after Liverpool’s 4-2 loss against Aston Villa, triggered strong reactions from former Reds defender Jamie Carragher and ex-Manchester United captain Gary Neville. ‎ Mohamed Salah’s “heavy metal football” statement sparks criticism from Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville. ‎Getty Images Sport (2) ‎ ‎Carragher Compares Salah Situation to Ronaldo Exit ‎ ‎Carragher believes Salah’s latest public comments are another example of the forward creating controversy during a crucial period for Liverpool. ‎ ‎The former defender compared the situation to Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive departure from Manchester United and accused Salah of putting personal frustration ahead of the club. ‎ ‎"I'm not surprised," Carragher said. "I told everybody, Something else will come before the end of the season. H...

Real Madrid have secured the future of Antonio Rudiger after the defender formally accepted the club’s renewal proposal. The agreement guarantees that the experienced centre-back will remain part of the squad for another season in Madrid. ‎ ‎Antonio Rudiger commits to Real Madrid with a new contract after overcoming injuries and rejecting outside interest. ‎Getty Images Sport  German Defender Chooses Continuity at Bernabeu Rudiger had reportedly hoped to extend his stay for two additional years, but the club maintained its established policy of offering shorter contracts to senior players. In the end, the defender accepted a one-year extension, prioritising his role within the team over the duration of the deal. The 31-year-old’s decision brings an end to speculation surrounding a potential departure and reinforces his commitment to Los Blancos. Since joining from Chelsea, he has developed into one of the most important players in the defensive setup. Supporters have em...

‎Yan Diomande has confirmed his intention to continue at RB Leipzig following an exceptional debut campaign that has drawn interest from Liverpool and other clubs across Europe. ‎ ‎The teenage winger has become one of the Bundesliga’s brightest young stars after a breakthrough season at the Red Bull Arena. Despite reports linking him with a future move to the Premier League, the 19-year-old says he remains fully committed to Leipzig. ‎ ‎Yan Diomande says he is staying at RB Leipzig after a breakout season and Rookie of the Season success. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎Diomande still has a long-term agreement with the German side after signing a contract until 2030 when he arrived last summer. The opportunity to continue developing while competing in the Champions League has played a major role in his decision to stay. ‎ ‎Asked whether he expects to remain with Leipzig next season, Diomande answered: “Yes.” ‎ ‎The forward later expanded on his current mindset, saying: “I'm not t...

‎Endrick’s memorable loan spell with Olympique Lyonnais is officially over, with the Brazilian forward now expected to rejoin Real Madrid ahead of next season. ‎ ‎The teenager arrived in Ligue 1 in January on a temporary agreement with no purchase clause attached. While Lyon were eager to explore the possibility of keeping him beyond the summer, club officials have acknowledged that such a move is unlikely. ‎ ‎Endrick will return to Real Madrid after Lyon confirmed the end of the Brazilian teenager’s successful loan spell in France. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎Speaking after Lyon’s final match of the campaign against Lens, recruitment chief Matthieu Louis-Jean confirmed the situation surrounding the young forward’s future. ‎ ‎"Yes, we would like to keep him, but for the moment, that seems very unlikely," he admitted. "It makes you want to extend his contract. Is it possible? That's another matter. It's been a very good loan for Endrick; he's had a gre...

‎Cole Palmer may have already given incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso a strong indication of which player he rates most highly within the squad. ‎ ‎During a light-hearted challenge with team-mate Joao Pedro, Palmer was asked to choose his ideal five-a-side team from Chelsea’s current group of players. ‎ ‎Cole Palmer hailed Romeo Lavia as “the best ever” while naming his dream Chelsea five-a-side team. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎The attacking midfielder quickly settled on his defensive options, naming club captain Reece James alongside Tosin Adarabioyo. ‎ ‎Explaining his decision, Palmer said: ‎“"I would choose Reece at the back, with Tosin because Tosin just kicks everyone. You don't want to play against him in five-a-side. He just kicks everyone. ‎ ‎"So two at the back. Joao up front, Caicedo and... Let me do that again.” ‎ ‎Palmer initially selected Moises Caicedo in midfield before changing his mind and rebuilding the team around Romeo Lavia instead. ‎ ‎Speak...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will make history with the introduction of its first-ever halftime show, and FIFA has selected Shakira, Madonna, and BTS as the headline performers for the occasion. Scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the event is intended to merge elite football with large-scale live entertainment while supporting educational opportunities for children through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. ‎ The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will feature a halftime show led by Shakira, Madonna and BTS at MetLife Stadium. ‎Getty Images Entertainment  The announcement was delivered through a creative social media presentation featuring characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets. FIFA also confirmed that Chris Martin will oversee the halftime production. Each performer enters the tournament period with major projects already underway. Shakira recently unveiled “Dai Dai,” the official tournament song recorded alongside Burna Boy. Madonna is prepar...

‎Antony’s resurgence in Spanish football showed no signs of slowing down after the Real Betis winger reached another impressive milestone in La Liga. The Brazilian scored in Betis’ 2-2 draw against Real Sociedad, drawing level with Kylian Mbappe for one of the league’s standout attacking statistics this season. ‎ ‎The former Manchester United winger has become increasingly dangerous from long range since moving to Spain. His strike at Anoeta was his fifth goal from outside the box in La Liga this season, putting him alongside Mbappe at the top of that category. ‎ ‎Antony continued his Real Betis resurgence by equaling Kylian Mbappe’s La Liga outside-the-box goal tally. ‎Getty Images Sport (2) ‎ ‎The achievement reflects the growing confidence Antony has displayed under Manuel Pellegrini after struggling to consistently impress in the Premier League. His influence in the Betis attack has continued to grow as the season progresses. ‎ ‎Speaking after the match, Antony highligh...

Rio Ferdinand has made a striking prediction ahead of the Champions League final, backing Arsenal to defeat Paris Saint-Germain despite acknowledging the French champions’ superior overall quality. Arsenal are on the verge of history as they prepare for a major showdown against PSG in the final. Following Bukayo Saka’s decisive impact against Atletico Madrid in the semi-final, Mikel Arteta’s side now have the chance to complete a remarkable league and European double. ‎ ‎Rio Ferdinand predicts Arsenal will beat PSG in the Champions League final, citing set-pieces as the key advantage. ‎Getty (2) ‎ Speaking on his Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, the former Manchester United and England defender expressed strong belief in Arsenal’s chances: "I said Arsenal would win the league this year and I think Arsenal will win the league," Ferdinand said. "And I now think that Arsenal are going to win the Champions League, guys." However, Ferdinand also made it cl...

‎Barcelona secured the La Liga title with a commanding 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico, but much of the post-match attention shifted to Lamine Yamal after his sharp social media response reignited tensions with Jude Bellingham. ‎ ‎Lamine Yamal responds to Jude Bellingham after Barcelona’s 2-0 Clasico win secures La Liga title in a heated rivalry moment. ‎Getty Images Sport (2) ‎ ‎Shortly after the match, Yamal shared a video on his Instagram story showing himself celebrating Ferran Torres’ decisive goal from the stands. Alongside the clip, the 18-year-old added the caption “talk is cheap”, followed by several laughing emojis. ‎ ‎The phrase was not random, but a direct reference to earlier remarks made during the season’s heated exchanges between the two sides. Barcelona teammate Gavi further amplified the moment by reposting the story and adding a “talking” emoji, underlining the shared sentiment within the squad. ‎The tension between Yamal and Bellingham began a...

Memphis Depay has enjoyed a career filled with high-profile moves, major clubs, and international recognition, yet questions remain over whether the Dutch forward could have achieved even more at the highest level of European football. The former PSV Eindhoven star currently plays for Sport Club Corinthians Paulista in Brazil after previous spells with Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Olympique Lyonnais and Atletico Madrid. Although he has earned 108 appearances for the Netherlands national football team, he never truly became a dominant figure for Europe’s elite clubs. ‎ ‎Memphis Depay’s former coaches explain why the Dutch forward struggled to consistently shine at Europe’s top clubs. ‎Getty Images Sport (2) Memphis’ rise began in the Eredivisie, where his performances for PSV and Golden Boot-winning campaign convinced United to invest £25 million ($34m) in the attacker in 2015. Supporters at Old Trafford believed the talented winger could become one of the Premier League...

‎Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Jérémy Doku has all the qualities needed to become one of football’s elite wingers after the Belgian’s recent burst of goalscoring form. ‎ ‎Doku has found the net in three successive matches, giving Manchester City an important attacking edge as they continue their pursuit of Arsenal in the closing weeks of the Premier League season. ‎ ‎Jeremy Doku’s recent scoring form has convinced Pep Guardiola he can become one of football’s elite wingers. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎After City defeated Brentford 3-0, Guardiola was questioned about whether Doku could eventually match the standards set by Vinícius Júnior and Lamine Yamal. ‎ ‎"Yeah, for sure," said Guardiola. "And always accept being pushed. Always accept that. And that is so nice. We are really pleased. Now he is winning games. But he has always been really, really good." ‎ ‎The Spanish coach also humorously remarked that managers are often praised when play...

‎Marcus Rashford delivered a defining Clasico performance for FC Barcelona, scoring a brilliant free-kick in a 2-0 win over Real Madrid that secured the La Liga title. ‎ ‎The Manchester United loanee etched his name into Barcelona history, becoming the first English player in 41 years to win Spain’s top flight and the first Blaugrana player to score a direct free-kick in El Clasico since Lionel Messi in 2012. ‎ ‎Rashford’s Clasico heroics secure La Liga for Barcelona, but the Man Utd loanee admits uncertainty over his future. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎Historic Clasico Moment ‎ ‎Rashford’s goal came after a moment of hesitation, as he later explained that he initially considered crossing the ball instead of shooting. ‎ ‎"No, I wasn't going to shoot," he told reporters in the mixed zone. "I wasn't going to shoot... because when I put the ball down I didn't see the angles. I didn't feel confident it was going to be a goal, so I was going to cross. ...

‎Marcus Rashford’s impressive loan spell at Barcelona has triggered serious discussions about a permanent transfer after the forward helped guide the club to a Liga title. The Manchester United loanee has become a key figure in the Catalan side’s success, with his performances drawing strong reactions from former manager Ronald Koeman. ‎Koeman insists Barcelona must sign Rashford permanently after title win, calling £30m fee too cheap to ignore. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎Barcelona Urged to Act on £30m Option ‎ ‎Despite Rashford’s success, Barcelona have yet to activate the £30 million (€35m) purchase clause in his loan agreement. Reports suggest the club is attempting to negotiate a reduced fee, but Koeman believes hesitation could prove costly. ‎ ‎The former Barcelona manager argues that Rashford’s impact and adaptation to Spanish football make him an essential long-term signing. ‎ ‎“If Barcelona lets him return to Manchester United after this loan, I think they will reg...

Robert Lewandowski has admitted he could consider a move to a “lower league” if he leaves FC Barcelona this summer, as uncertainty grows around his future at the club. The Polish striker, who recently celebrated winning his second consecutive La Liga title with Barcelona, is approaching the final stages of his current contract. Reports have linked him with a potential move to Major League Soccer (MLS), with clubs such as the Chicago Fire mentioned as possible destinations. ‎ ‎Lewandowski considers lower-league or MLS move as Barcelona contract nears end and future decisions remain open. ‎Getty Images Sport  Lower League Possibility on the Table During Barcelona’s title celebrations following their win over Real Madrid, Lewandowski acknowledged that a new chapter in a less demanding competition could be possible. Speaking to Polish television channel Eleven Sports, he explained: "There could be an option in a lower league. I'm almost 38, but I feel good physically, ...

‎João Cancelo etched his name into football history after FC Barcelona defeated Real Madrid CF 2-0 to clinch the La Liga title in dramatic fashion. ‎ ‎The Portuguese defender achieved a milestone no other footballer has managed before, as Barcelona celebrated another league triumph at the Camp Nou. ‎ João Cancelo becomes the first footballer to win league titles in four of Europe’s top five leagues after Barcelona’s La Liga triumph. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎Barcelona Clinch Historic El Clasico Title Victory ‎ ‎Barcelona wrapped up the Spanish league crown with victory over their fiercest rivals in Sunday night’s El Clasico. The result marked a historic moment for the Catalan giants, who secured La Liga directly against Real Madrid for the first time. ‎ ‎Heading into the 35th match of the season, Barcelona only needed to avoid defeat, holding an 11-point advantage over Alvaro Arbeloa’s side. However, Hansi Flick’s team ensured there would be no tension by delivering another...

Arsenal have been identified as a possible destination for Kylian Mbappé as uncertainty continues to grow around the forward’s future at Real Madrid. Former Arsenal and France midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes the north London club could benefit if tensions inside the Spanish giants continue to escalate. ‎ ‎Emmanuel Petit says Arsenal could be the perfect destination for Kylian Mbappe amid growing unrest at Real Madrid. ‎Getty Images Sport   Petit Believes Arsenal Suit Mbappe Perfectly Petit suggested that Arsenal’s current system under Mikel Arteta would be an ideal match for Mbappe, particularly on the left side of attack. According to the former midfielder, the French superstar could fit seamlessly into the Gunners’ tactical set-up if his time in Spain comes to an unexpected end. Speaking to BOYLE Sports, Petit said: “Arsenal would love Kylian Mbappe and he’d be perfect on their left wing. The only reason I think Mbappe will stay at Real Madrid is because if he leav...

Lionel Messi has offered a measured verdict on the leading contenders for the 2026 World Cup, admitting that several nations appear better prepared than reigning champions Argentina ahead of the competition in North America. ‎ ‎Lionel Messi says Portugal, France, Spain and Brazil look stronger than Argentina ahead of the 2026 World Cup as the Inter Miami star assesses the favourites. ‎Getty Images (2) ‎ The Argentina national football team captain believes the defending world champions are not entering the tournament as the clear favourites despite their triumph in Qatar. Instead, the Inter Miami CF star pointed to four countries he feels are currently in stronger shape. During an interview with Argentine journalist Pollo Alvarez, Messi stressed that Argentina must remain realistic about its standing among football’s elite. “We have to realise that ahead of us there are other favourites, who are arriving in better shape,” he explained. One of the standout teams mentioned by...

‎Former MLS forward Bradley Wright-Phillips has advised Cristiano Ronaldo against making a move to Major League Soccer, suggesting the Portuguese icon may not enjoy the same success that Lionel Messi has experienced with Inter Miami CF. ‎ ‎Bradley Wright-Phillips warns Cristiano Ronaldo against joining MLS, claiming Lionel Messi still has the “magic” needed to dominate the league. ‎Getty Images Sport (2) ‎Ronaldo, who currently represents Al-Nassr FC in the Saudi Pro League, has regularly been linked with a future switch to the United States before ending his playing career. However, Wright-Phillips believes the demands of MLS, combined with the pressure placed on global superstars, could create difficulties for the 41-year-old forward. ‎ ‎The former New York Red Bulls striker argued that Messi still possesses the ability to influence matches at the highest level, something he is uncertain Ronaldo can consistently produce in MLS. ‎ ‎Speaking through Covers.com soccer bettin...