Dribble Diaries

Manchester United have signed long-term midfield target Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. The Uruguayan has been a primary priority for the Red Devils all summer, but a transfer could not be made until they agreed to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli. United would allegedly pay an initial cost of €50 million for Ugarte, with PSG set to earn a further €10 million through add-ons. He signed a contract at Old Trafford until June 2029, but he was not registered in time to make his debut against Liverpool this weekend. "It is an incredible feeling to join a club of this magnitude; one that is admired all around the world," remarked Ugarte as he moved. "The project that the football leadership has discussed with me is very exciting; Manchester United is an ambitious club, and I am an ambitious player." "The passion of supporters is very important to me; I know how amazing United fans are, and I can't wait to visit Old Trafford." "I'm a person who...

Prepare for a magnificent weekend of European football with some tantalizing matchups scheduled for the next weekend. We've handpicked five must-see games. Newcastle vs. Tottenham Tottenham have not had a good run at St James' Park in recent seasons. The North Londoners have surrendered 10 goals in their last two trips to Tyneside, including a 6-1 defeat in April 2023 that left Spurs 5-0 down after 21 minutes. Ange Postecoglou's attempts to exorcise those demons resulted in a 4-0 loss last season, and Spurs will be anxious to stop their North East hoodoo. After solid, if unspectacular, beginnings to the season for both, a win this weekend would send a message about their European ambitions. Leverkusen vs. Leipzig The German champions began their Bundesliga title defence in familiar manner, with a late Leverkusen goal sealing a 3-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. Florian Wirtz's 101st-minute winner was the latest late-game heroics from a side that has become accus...

Real Madrid were denied a chance to narrow the gap on Barcelona at the top of La Liga after a 1-1 draw with a spirited Las Palmas. After Oli McBurnie set up a sweeping finish, Alberto Moliero gave the hosts a surprising lead after only five minutes. The visitors' finest reaction came midway through the half, when Fede Valverde's free kick was saved by Jasper Cillessen. Cillessen was forced back into action shortly before the break to save a shot from Antonio Rüdiger as Los Blancos sought for a leveller. Vinícius and Rodrygo sought to test the Amarillos' goalkeeper early in the second half but failed to score. Carlo Ancelotti's team nearly lost when Sandro Ramírez attempted a counterattack but shot over the crossbar. Álex Suárez touched the ball after substitute Arda Güler's touch in the penalty area, allowing Vinícius to score from the spot. Jaime Mata appeared to have stolen the victory for Las Palmas with a powerful shot in the dying moments, but his effort was in...

Arsenal has been drawn against Bolton in the third round of the Carabao Cup, which many feel to be an easy matchup. The Trotters now play in League One, three tiers below Mikel Arteta's side, therefore the Gunners are clear favourites to win the game. Arsenal won the FA Cup and the Community Shield after Arteta took over as manager. However, its fans have hoped for a major trophy such as the Premier League or the Champions League. For many fans, winning a trophy by the end of the season would represent considerable improvement, and the Carabao Cup provides the first opportunity to accomplish so. The competition ranks third in the list of domestic trophies that Arsenal can win, and some clubs do not prioritize it. Should Mikel Arteta and his teammates focus on winning? The Gunners have come close to winning the Premier League twice in a row but have fallen short, and it is easy to see why the Carabao Cup is not regarded as vital, but a trophy is a trophy, and if Arteta takes it ser...

Wolves are closing in on the acquisition of Andre from Fluminense, with the midfielder scheduled to have a medical at Molineux. Gary O'Neil's team has agreed to sign the Brazil international for €25 million (£21 million) plus add-ons, with Andre due to go to England to complete his move to the Premier League. The purchase is a record for Fluminense and will be viewed as a coup for Wolves, given interest in the 23-year-old from some of Europe's elite clubs. Manchester United and Liverpool have kept an eye on him, and Fulham has been heavily linked with a move for the midfielder in recent months. Personal terms have been agreed, and Andre will become Wolves' sixth signing of the summer window. His presence will be a welcome boost for O'Neil, given his team's openness in their 6-2 defeat to Chelsea last weekend. Following the sales of Max Kilman (£40 million) to West Ham United and Pedro Neto (£54 million) to Chelsea, O'Neil indicated that Wolves would not cond...

Interim England manager Lee Carsley says Ben White's standing with the national squad remains unchanged. The Arsenal defender is once again absent from the Three Lions squad, Carsley's first since taking over for Gareth Southgate on an interim basis. White requested not to be selected for Southgate's team in March, and he has not been with the group since leaving the 2022 World Cup camp in Qatar early due to a disagreement with Southgate's assistant Steve Holland. And Carsley, who will lead England against the Republic of Ireland and Finland next month, claims White was once again unavailable. "As far as I'm aware, he wasn't available for selection," Carsley told me. "Nothing has changed in my two weeks here, so that's where we are with it. "I saw in certain press reports suggesting he was open to it, but it hasn't gone any further. As far as I am aware, there has been no change. "He's always played well but he made himself ...

Victor Osimhen is becoming more likely to accept a recent €160 million contract offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, which still needs to negotiate an appropriate compensation with Napoli. Al-Ahli prepares an Osimhen bid for Napoli. According to Thursday evening developments, Al-Ahli is ready to offer Napoli a set fee of €68 million, according to transfer specialist Ben Jacobs. This is much lower, about 50% less than the €130 million release clause included into Osimhen's contract when he renegotiated his term with Napoli last year. Al-Ahli, who dispatched representatives to Italy this week with the goal of finalizing a deal, is likewise aiming to reach an agreement sooner rather than later. The Serie A transfer market closes later this week, but the Saudi window remains open until October 6. Chelsea has also expressed interest in Osimhen in the past week. Enzo Maresca's team was willing to offer the Nigerian about €10 million each season in salaries, which is roughly the ...

Borussia Dortmund has revealed that forward Youssoufa Moukoko will join French club Nice on a season-long loan. Moukoko faced enormous expectations when he joined the Dortmund club at the age of 15 four years ago. However, things haven't gone as planned for the teenager, who has been a source of frustration for the Schwarzgelben since then. After being told he is surplus to requirements by Nuri Şahin, the Germany international has moved to the Ligue 1 side for the rest of the season. Nice dropped their first game of the season to Auxerre last weekend.

Andrea Pirlo, Sampdoria's manager and former Juventus legend and leader, has been fired. Overnight, speculations surfaced that Sampdoria was evaluating Pirlo's future after the club failed to win its first three Serie B games. The decision has already been made, with Gianluca di Marzio announcing that the Italian has been fired following a string of unsatisfactory results. According to TMW, Pirlo left the club's training complex minutes after the decision was made. Marco Giampaolo has been cited as a possible contender in recent hours, as has Andrea Sottil, who managed Udinese in Serie A two seasons ago. It is unclear who will take over for Pirlo or whether an interim manager will be appointed. Pirlo had led the club to the promotion play-offs despite numerous injuries, but they had failed to return to Serie A.  

France has produced some outstanding midfielders throughout the years, and Real Madrid has been fortunate to have the services of a few of them. Even with today's team, the foundation of Los Blancos' midfield is primarily French, thanks to Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. That number, however, could have been higher, according to an update from The Overlap podcast. While N'Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot, and Warren Zaire-Emery, along with the Real Madrid stars, represent a distinct generation of French midfielders, Paul Pogba is one of his compatriots who deserves to be included on the list. A bout of insanity and a failing drug test, however, appear to have cost him the rest of his professional career. Pobga was close to Real Madrid. Former French player and Manchester United veteran Patrice Evra stated in a recent podcast that Pogba was close to signing for Real Madrid at one time in his career. "Paul (Pogba) wanted to move to Real Madrid." Florentino Perez...

The 2024/25 Champions League draw has been completed, and the new "Swiss model" format has altered the entire dynamic of the renowned competition. Here's what we learned from it. There are big games everywhere you look. One of the most common criticisms leveled at the previous Champions League system was how simple the group stage was, with the two "big clubs" usually progressing with little difficulty, with one or two significant exceptions in recent years. On the opposite end of the spectrum, supporters of the Super League desired to see just the largest and best games between the biggest teams. This new model strikes a balance between tiny clubs and blockbuster clashes. The league format features a rematch of the previous three finals, with Real Madrid facing Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, as well as a rematch of the 2022 showdown between Inter and Manchester City. There is also another matchup between Bayern Munich and Barcelona, with the German giants ast...

Who will win the new 2024-25 UEFA Champions League? The Champions League group stage has a fresh look following Thursday's 2024/25 season draw in Monte Carlo. Under an enlarged structure, the competition begins with 36 teams competing in a bracketed league. Here's who each side will face between September and January.

After months of speculation, Napoli have finally sealed the permanent purchase of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea for a sum of up to €45 million. The Belgian striker has signed a three-year contract at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, ending his dismal second tenure at Stamford Bridge. The 31-year-old returned the Blues in the summer of 2021 for a then-club record €115 million price, seven years after his first spell with the club ended. However, Lukaku played only 44 games (scoring 15 times), resulting in a season on loan at Inter, from whom Chelsea had purchased the striker, and he has now returned to Italy with Napoli, who will pay an initial €30 million and may owe an additional €15 million in bonuses. He spent last season on loan at Roma, scoring 21 goals in 47 games, and his return to Serie A reunites him with former Inter manager Antonio Conte. The 2022/23 Serie A winners will be hopeful that the signings of Conte and Lukaku will help them recover from last season's poor 10th place...

Liverpool have signed Federico Chiesa from Juventus for an initial fee of £10 million. The sum for the Italy international winger might increase by £2.5 million depending on add-ons, such as Liverpool winning the Premier League and the Champions League. The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Anfield, becoming Liverpool's first outfield signing under the new regime. "I'm thrilled to be a Liverpool player. When Richard Hughes phoned me and asked, 'Do you want to join Liverpool?' - and the coach called me - I answered yes right away because I know the history of this club and what it means to the fans," Chiesa stated. "So, I'm quite excited and can't wait to get started. "A fantasy has become a reality. When I hear the term Liverpool, I think of trophies, victories, and memorable evenings in the Champions League at Anfield. "It's very emotional for me." I can't wait to hear the anthem and all 60,000 fans singing ...

Barcelona has made a loan offer for a promising Liverpool midfielder. That is according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, who names Stefan Bajcetic as the player in issue. Over the last 24 hours, the brass at Camp Nou has been obliged to renew their search for reinforcements in the middle of the pitch. This comes after engine room sensation Marc Bernal suffered an ACL tear in his left knee, forcing him to miss a significant amount of time. Deco and co. have promptly gone about exploring market opportunities to fill the vacuum left by a player who started all three of Barcelona's La Liga games to begin the season. 🚨🔵🔴 EXCLUSIVE: Barcelona submits loan bid to Liverpool for young midfielder Stefan Bajcetic! More exclusive details: loan bid worth €4 million, no buy clause. After receiving a loan bid from RB Salzburg on Tuesday, Barça is now attempting to make it happen following Bernal's injury.   As previously said, this afternoon's quest brought the Blaugrana to Premier...

Atletico Madrid intends to sign another midfielder before the summer transfer market closes on Friday. They've been linked with several players, the most recent of which they were close to signing in January. Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Atleti has entered the competition to sign Sofyan Amrabat. The Moroccan pivot is set to depart Fiorentina soon, and while Fenerbahce are the favourite, Los Colchoneros are also interested. 💣🚨 Atlético Madrid has joined the race for Sofyan Amrabat. Fenerbahce stays in the lead, although Atleti is still interested.  Atleti were also interested in Amrabat during the winter transfer window earlier this year. They were unable to sign him at the time, and he was eventually loaned out to Manchester United. Amrabat would undoubtedly be an experienced addition to Atletico Madrid, and considering his aggressive style, he would be excellent for Diego Simeone. It remains to be seen whether he ends up at the Metropolitano, but it would almost certainly dep...

According to Italian media outlet Corriere della Sera (page 7), West Ham United is close to signing Tammy Abraham from AS Roma. The Hammers have offered a loan arrangement with a buyout clause worth roughly €22 million. Abraham did not play in Roma's recent defeat to Empoli, as manager Daniele De Rossi instead to rely on Eldor Shomurodov from the bench. AC Milan had indicated interest in Abraham, offering Alexis Saelemaekers in exchange, but West Ham's pursuit has gained traction. They feel they can reach a personal agreement with the player despite his high wage expectations. The 26-year-old has formerly represented Chelsea, Bristol City, Swansea City, and Aston Villa. Despite a recent injury setback, he remains a highly sought-after prospect. Given the availability of Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio on West Ham's roster, the choice to pursue Abraham may raise questions. However, the club sees Abraham as a long-term investment. The striker can take his time adjusting t...

Arsenal have agreed to transfer goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton for £25 million, according to Fabrizio Romano. Last season, the England international was a backup goalkeeper to David Raya. He made only 11 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal. It appeared that he would not accept another season as a deputy, and the Saints have now won the fight to sign him permanently from Arsenal. With the 25-year-old on his way to the south coast, Arsenal are ready to intensify their pursuit of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Arsenal plans to replace Ramsdale with Garcia. Ramsdale has been an effective shot-stopper for the Gunners. He now has a chance to earn guaranteed minutes and help Southampton avoid relegation. Arsenal is expected to find a replacement before Friday's transfer deadline, given they currently have no other senior shot-stoppers in the squad besides Raya. The team has verbally agreed on personal terms with Garcia, but a transfer may not be easy. The Gunners wi...

Espanyol held Atlético de Madrid to a 0-0 tie, preventing them from moving up to second place in LaLiga. Diego Simeone's team made a fast start, with Julián Alvarez attacking Joan García's goal in the first few minutes. Alexander Sørloth missed two chances in the first half, including a header and a scuffed shot, after Samuel Lino's attempt hit the post. Alex Kral assisted Álvaro Tejero's cross to Javi Puado at the far post, but the latter sliced the ball over Jan Oblak's crossbar from close range. Rodrigo Riquelme thought to have given the hosts the lead after the break when he prodded home, but VAR ruled it offside. Pablo Barrios and Antoine Griezmann both missed shots, but the Colchoneros remained in contention. Riquelme had another golden opportunity in the dying minutes after being set up by Griezmann, but he was unable to direct his shot on goal. Deep into additional time, the winger was denied another goal, this time for offside. Atleti are fourth after their...

Darwin Nunez of Liverpool has been granted a five-game international ban for his role in the chaos that erupted at the end of Uruguay's Copa America semi-final against Colombia last month. Following the final whistle, the striker seemed to confront fans in the Colombia section of the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina when a riot broke out near where the Uruguayans' families were seated. Uruguay had just been defeated 1-0 by Colombia, who played the entire second half with ten men, denying them a berth in the final. Nunez, who was recorded on film throwing a chair at Colombia supporters, has also been fined £15,000. Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur, who was involved in the incident, has received a four-game international ban and a £12,000 fine, while Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo, and Josema Gimenez have all been suspended for three matches. Uruguayan football administrators defended their players following the incident, claiming they were merely attempting to keep the...

It speaks something about the new Champions League that, as executives prepared to travel to Nyon for Thursday's draw, one of the most often asked questions was, "How does this actually work, then?" Many others are still wrapping their heads around it. They will not be alone. UEFA has had to issue a deluge of explainers for the expanded 36-team super-group stage. It implies that the draw will do more than merely determine who plays who in a series of relatively meaningless group games. It is the first phase in a three-year process that will transform our understanding of and interaction with football. This will not be the last time someone approaches one of the main events and wonders how it works. There's also the World Cup, which is expanding to 48 teams while simultaneously losing its feeling of self-contained elite competition. In between, there's the increased 32-team Club World Cup at the end of this season, assuming it even happens. It truly is a new era, c...

According to Bild, Bayern Munich wants the 'old' Joshua Kimmich back. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Kimmich was regarded as Bayern's midfield leader and one of the club's key players. On and off the pitch, Der Rekordmeister saw the German international as a symbol of perfection. However, when the 29-year-old originally refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, he was swiftly quarantined under Julian Nagelsmann. Then, under Thomas Tuchel, Kimmich's role at the club was further reduced, with the former Bayern Munich head coach pushing the midfielder into an unfavorable right-back position. Nonetheless, with big changes taking place at the Allianz Arena, returning the 29-year-old to his position as a leading midfielder is one of Max Eberl's top priorities. It is reported that the German international has spoken with Bayern's head of sport, Vincent Kompany, and the club's sporting director, Christoph Freund, all of whom agree that they want Joshua Kimmich b...

Real Madrid's transfer strategy has revolved around discovering and signing the greatest adolescents in the world, particularly from Latin America, and it looks that 17-year-old Argentine phenom Franco Mastantuono is the latest to be targeted. However, there have been no discussions between the two teams about him. According to sources in the Spanish city, the 17-year-old has reached an agreement with Real Madrid and has decided to move to the Santiago Bernabeu. Further sources suggested that Los Blancos had also made a €25 million approach for Mastantuono, but River Plate President Jorge Brito has dismissed that notion. "I can promise you that there were no negotiations with Real Madrid for Franco Mastantuono. Neither with Florentino Perez, nor with anyone. It was a meeting for different reasons. "The player is very calm and happy at River," Brito told ESPN, as reported by Diario AS. "We believe there is no reason to expedite this process. At 17 years old, he i...

According to Florian Plettenberg, Odilon Kossounou and Nordi Mukiele will have their medicals later today. According to recent reports, Bayer Leverkusen is aiming to unload Kossounou before the transfer season closes. However, while it appeared like the centre-back might be destined for a Premier League club, Atalanta soon arranged a deal with Die Werkself to secure his signing. This has left Xabi Alonso's team in need of a replacement for the outgoing 23-year-old. Nonetheless, the German champions had already picked Mukiele, a Paris Saint-Germain defender, as the best successor to Kossounou. According to the source, all parties have agreed on loan moves for the respective players, and deals for Kossounou and Mukiele should be completed soon. Kossounou is scheduled to have his physical with Atalanta later today before completing his move to the Serie A club, while Mukiele will also have his medical with Werkself, as the 26-year-old is ready to return to the Bundesliga.

Diego Simeone's news conference before Atletico Madrid's match against Espanyol on Wednesday conveyed the message that the club is not done in the transfer market. It appears that they will try to sign another center midfielder. According to El Chiringuito, Atletico have already contacted the agents of Getafe midfielder Luis Milla. The 29-year-old is eager on a move, and Atletico are set to approach Getafe today to discuss the conditions of the transaction. 💣🚨 BREAKING: Diego Simeone: "There could be one more arrival. "You will find out soon." Milla, whose career has been plagued by injuries in recent years, has been an important element of Los Azulones' midfield when healthy. Milla, a deep-lying player, stands out for his vision and ability to transfer the ball under pressure. With three years left on his contract, Getafe will undoubtedly be reluctant to lose one of their key players so close to the transfer season, especially given their struggles to add ...

Arsenal has opted not to sign Sporting CP attacker Viktor Gyokeres before the transfer deadline, according to Portuguese outlet Record (page 4). The Gunners have been connected with the Sweden international several times in recent months, but they have yet to make an approach for him. Sporting is only willing to consider bids of €100 million (£84.3 million) for Gyokeres. This is the release clause in the striker's contract. Arsenal has already stated that they are unwilling to pay such a hefty price during the current transfer window. Chelsea has also backed out of the race. Gyokeres remains totally committed to the reigning Portuguese champions and has no plans to leave before the transfer market ends on Friday evening. Arsenal are unlikely to recruit a new striker before deadline. The Gunners were expected to sign a marquee centre-forward at the start of the summer, but the club has shown no interest. With only two days remaining in the transfer window, it appears the club'...

Barcelona, the La Liga titans, were dealt a hammer blow in terms of personnel late on Tuesday. This comes as speculations suggest that teenager Marc Bernal would be out for an extended period of time. Bernal, for his part, was forced to leave Barcelona's La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano early this evening. As much came from an unlucky accident with Rayo's Isi Palazón in the game's final stages. The 17-year-old was assisted from the Vallecas pitch by the visitors' medical personnel, as he was unable to put any weight on his left leg as he made his way down the tunnel following the play. And now, in the aftermath of the game, Barcelona's worst start appears to have been verified.   According to Blaugrana source Toni Juanmartí of Diario Sport, Bernal has torn his ACL. 'The young Barça midfielder, the sensation of the season for Hansi Flick's side, has reportedly torn the cruciate ligaments in his left knee, according to sources close to the dressing room....

This season's Champions League is all about change. First, the format was changed, with the old group stage of the competition being replaced by the new league phase model. Then there was the slight modification to the legendary anthem. And now? UEFA has unveiled their new Champions League professional match ball. 🌠From the stars. Introducing the new UCL Pro Match Ball. Designed for nights under the lights. UCL | Stars of Europe | adidasfootball Adidas presented the official match ball for the 2024/25 Champions League. 🥶 What are your thoughts on this? Please let us know below.