Former Man City man haunts Arsenal with crucial Atlético equaliser 💪

Former Man City man haunts Arsenal with crucial Atlético equaliser 💪: Former Man City man haunts Arsenal with crucial Atlético equaliser 💪

Julián Alvarez beat Arsenal to two titles while he was a Manchester City player and has been linked with a summer move to the Emirates in recent weeks. 

So, of course, he equalised for Atlético tonight in their Champions League semi-final first leg. 

After Viktor Gyökeres had given the Gunners a half-time lead with a rocket from the spot, the Argentinian matched him with an equally brilliant penalty, giving David Raya no chance. 

Like last night when Alphonso Davies was punished for a controversial handball, Ben White was the fall guy here in what is sure to be a talking point for days to come. 

The goal also saw Alvarez make Champions League history for the club he signed for in 2024 and reach 25 goals in the competition faster than any Argentinian player - even Lionel Messi!

Has one of Pep Guardiola's former players kickstarted a comeback victory against Mikel Arteta's side? It writes itself!

Manchester City and Hugo Viana exploring £60M transfer for AC Milan’s Rafael Leao

Manchester City and Hugo Viana exploring £60M transfer for AC Milan’s Rafael Leao: Manchester City and Hugo Viana exploring £60M transfer for AC Milan’s Rafael Leao

• Rafael Leao is under contract at AC Milan till the end of the 2027-28 campaign
• AC Milan facing financial constraints and could sell a series of star players this summer
• Leao could be sold for £60M as clubs across Premier League stake a claim for winger

Manchester City could explore a summer move for AC Milan star Rafael Leao this summer but will face competition for his signature, as per a new report.

Leao is one of Europe’s most entertaining and talented wingers, with nine goals in the Serie A this season. AC Milan are third in the Italian top-flight at present – behind Napoli and Inter Milan, the latter close to being crowned champions.

With Portugal heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Leao is expected to play a leading role for his nation alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva.

Eli Junior Kroupi gives Manchester City green light ahead of £80M transfer talks

Report: Man City could sign Leao as AC Milan eye exodus

The marquee tournament will offer the 26-year-old the perfect opportunity to intensify existing interest from major European clubs as AC Milan grapple with financial difficulties ahead of the summer transfer window.

So far, Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid have kept an eye on Leao, while Barcelona were interested but are vying to establish more economical options. 

AC Milan are understood to be open to offers for a number of their top players and they look to balance the books with the strict financial guidelines of the Italian top-flight, according to the Daily Mail.

Do Man City want to shore up their attack?

By age, the talented winger – who is valued at £60 million at San Siro – is set to enter his prime years but has only two years left on his contract – which could drop his price significantly.

Milan have recognised that they may have to sell to help strengthen other areas of their squad. For City, Portuguese sporting director Hugo Viana could have a soft spot for Leao but it remains to be seen whether that connection could lure the winger to the Etihad Stadium. 

Manchester City could also see Pep Guardiola leave as manager this summer despite his contract running until 2027, though the Catalan has maintained publicly that he remains under contract and it now appears that he is almost certain to complete a decade in England.

Hugo Viana meets with Manchester City target’s agent for €80M transfer

Who else is interested in signing Rafael Leao?

Across Manchester, United interim coach Michael Carrick is on the brink of securing UEFA Champions League football at Old Trafford for the 2026-27 campaign and a move for Leao would be easier to cough up funds for with that additional cash boost.

Liverpool will be the hungriest for a winger following the news that Mohamed Salah will leave the club at the end of the season after over 430 appearances for the club. 

And Real Madrid, who have Vinicius Jr. on the left wing, are still hopeful to freshen up a team that has underachieved this season under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa – and could bolster their options at the top of the pitch.

Leao can play out wide or centrally and utilises an unforgiving talent with the ball at his feet. The Portugal international is quick, can dribble with little error and shoot from practically any angle with a high rate of success. The race is on, and will certainly heat up with a standout summer across the Atlantic.

🔝Julián makes history: beats Messi’s Champions record

🔝Julián makes history: beats Messi’s Champions record: 🔝Julián makes history: beats Messi’s Champions record

The Spider keeps making history at Atlético Madrid, and with today’s equalizer against Arsenal, he set a new record.

Julián Álvarez became the Argentine who needed the fewest matches to score 25 goals in the Champions League. 

Without a doubt, he was Atleti’s most decisive player tonight and gives plenty of hope to the world champions in their goal of defending the title in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Leeds United Submit €10m Bid For Goalkeeper’s Signing: Is He The Tactical Upgrade That Farke Needs?

Leeds United Submit €10m Bid For Goalkeeper’s Signing: Is He The Tactical Upgrade That Farke Needs?: Leeds United Submit €10m Bid For Goalkeeper’s Signing: Is He The Tactical Upgrade That Farke Needs?

Leeds United have put down a significant €10m bid for Shakhtar Donetsk keeper Dmytro Riznyk, as Daniel Farke looks to refresh his choices between the posts. According to reports from Ukrainian outlet Pasichnyk 2.0 via Football 24, the West Yorkshire club recently made a formal move to land the 27-year-old international. Since joining Shakhtar from Vorskla Poltava in early 2023, Riznyk has put up some incredible numbers, keeping 15 clean sheets in just 22 league games this season.

Leeds United target Dmytro Riznyk to beef up options in goal

Although Leeds currently sit 15th in the Premier League after a solid six-match unbeaten run, the squad is facing a bit of a depth crisis. With both Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier seeing their contracts run out this June, there is a massive gap to fill, and Riznyk looks like the man for the job.

While Meslier used to be the clear number one, his recent time on the bench suggests Farke is ready for a change. Hence, Leeds see the Ukrainian keeper as a perfect profile, especially given his impressive record of only conceding 0.59 goals per 90 minutes. Despite the player never having played outside his home country, the pull of the Premier League and a contract running until 2027 make this a huge story for the summer window.

Is Dmytro Riznyk the tactical upgrade Farke needs?

VILLACH, AUSTRIA – JULY 20: Goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk of Shakhtar Donetsk during the friendly match between Ipswich Town and Shakhtar Donetsk at Sportzentrum Landskron on July 20, 2024 in Villach, Austria. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

This move shows Leeds United are finally trying to move past the inconsistency that has hurt them in the past, where defensive mistakes often ruined their good work up front. Riznyk brings something different than Meslier; he’s much more assertive in his box and stays remarkably calm when teams press him high up the pitch. His biggest strength is his pure shot-stopping; he even has a perfect penalty-save record this season, which would be a massive psychological boost in tight Premier League games.

That said, some critics worry that his lack of experience in Europe’s top-five leagues might make his first few months in England a bit rocky. If Leeds get this deal over the line, they’ll have a keeper with elite distribution, though he’ll need to work on his aerial game to handle the physical side of English set-pieces.

Farke clearly wants a proactive keeper who can start attacks quickly, and Riznyk is a good option for that role than the older options at Elland Road right now. Spending €10m on a player valued at €7m is a statement of intent, but success will come down to whether his stats in Ukraine can hold up in a faster, more aggressive league. At the end of the day, bringing in a reliable pair of hands like Riznyk is key if Leeds United want to keep their current momentum going.

Gravina: Italy don’t deserve World Cup spot, but ‘I don’t think I failed’ as FIGC President

Gravina: Italy don’t deserve World Cup spot, but ‘I don’t think I failed’ as FIGC President: Gravina: Italy don’t deserve World Cup spot, but ‘I don’t think I failed’ as FIGC President

Outgoing head of the Italian football association Gabriele Gravina says that calls for Italy to replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup are ‘shameful’, that the Azzurri supporters are ‘the only ones who deserve to go’, but insists ‘I don’t think I failed’ in the role of FIGC President.

Gravina tendered his resignation from the FIGC shortly after Italy’s failure to overcome Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final at the end of March, which cost the Nazionale a place at the final tournament for a third time in a row.

An election to appoint Gravina’s successor will take place on June 22. Giovanni Malagò and Giancarlo Abete are the two leading candidates to take over the role.

Gravina had an opportunity to discuss his departure from the FIGC, his tenure as the head of the Italian FA and the suggestions that Italy could still feature at the 2026 World Cup in an interview on ‘Otto e mezzo’ on La7.

Gravina insists that he was not ‘pressured’ into stepping down from his role as FIGC President in any way following Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Gravina on FIGC tenure and Italy at the 2026 World Cup proposal: ‘I don’t think I failed, fans the only ones who deserve to go’

ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: Gianluigi Buffon, Italy new head coach Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina pose during the press conference at Hotel Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“I wasn’t forced to resign, absolutely not. It was my personal choice. I made a commitment to Italian football fans that we would get to the World Cup and unfortunately I wasn’t able to keep true to this commitment,” said Gravina (via La Gazzetta dello Sport).

He continued: “It was right to resign, a gesture of love and responsibility.

“I’m not one to be pressured, I reason with my head and with calmness. This was an act of responsibility for the federation. There was institutional hysteria happening all over the place, it was good to not leave the FIGC over-exposed.”

Despite the fact that Italy’s senior men’s side failed to qualify for the World Cup twice during Gravina’s FIGC Presidency, he doesn’t believe that his entire tenure should be classed as a failure.

He was keen to point out that there is more than one national team that the FIGC oversees and claimed that certain complaints from supporters relate to issues that the FIGC has no control over.

“I don’t think I failed,” Gravina insisted. “If we’re talking about small incidents, then of course, I failed, but if we want to talk about the activity in all its forms and all the projects we carried out, our federation is among the most appreciated in Europe and in the world.

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: (L-R) Italy Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi, President of CONI Luciano Buonfiglio and President of FIGC Gabriele Gravina look on prior the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

“Italians attribute responsibilities to the FIGC that the FIGC does not have. There is confusion about roles. We’ve not gone to the World Cup three times and the pattern is always the same, looking for a scapegoat. Everyone is convinced that the national team players depend on the FIGC, but there are leagues, competitions and certain rules and laws that have to be respected.

“We’re evaluating the work that the federation does based off one single national team, but there are many, male and female.”

Gravina also stands by the fact that he feels Gravina was the right man to take over as head coach of the Italy national team following the departure of Luciano Spalletti as CT last summer.

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy looks on prior to the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

“For me, he was absolutely the right man for the job. He was the best and at that moment we needed someone who would help the guys rediscover the values that the shirt holds. But unfortunately, the sporting side of it was missing.”

And on the recent suggestions that Italy could potentially replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup, Gravina said: “It seems to me to be a fanciful and shameful idea. We’re negotiating for the passion of the Italian fans, who are the only ones who deserve to go to the World Cup.”

He's just like him! Meet Liverpool's next Steven Gerrard

He's just like him! Meet Liverpool's next Steven Gerrard: He's just like him! Meet Liverpool's next Steven Gerrard

A new Liverpool wonderkid very much looks like the next Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool’s former number eight perfectly embodied what it meant to wear the shirt.

He was a leader, a fighter, and someone capable of moments of genuine brilliance. Few midfielders have ever blended strength, skill, and emotion in quite the same way, which is why he became such an iconic figure at Anfield.

What made him truly special was his ability to impact every part of the game. He could win tackles, dictate play, surge forward with purpose, and lift those around him when it mattered most.

Time and again, he seemed to carry the team through difficult spells almost on his own. His leadership spoke for itself, but it was his spectacular moments that really captured the imagination.

There was a unique excitement whenever he struck the ball from distance. His technique was clean yet powerful, turning long-range efforts into something that looked almost natural even though they were superhuman. Whether it was a thunderous drive or a curling effort from well outside the box, he had a remarkable ability to score from range.

And those goals came at crucial moments. Whether in crucial league fixtures or unforgettable European nights, or cup finals.

When you're a midfielder in Liverpool's academy you're always going to earn comparisons to the great man.

How many have there been over the years who were dubbed the next Gerrard?

Jordan Lussey, Jay Spearing, Adam Phillips, Herbie Kane, Jordan Rossiter, and there are probably a few names we are forgetting as well.

The truth is, no one will live up to Gerrard's legacy. He is Liverpool's greatest ever player.

But sometimes a player comes along and makes himself look a little bit like Gerrard and give us hope that he could be the next one to breakthrough at Anfield.

Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold, both scousers, both tremendously talented were a bit like that.

Now there's another one.

Let's us introduce you to Ollie O'Connor. A 17-year-old academy star who has pretty much played everywhere across the midfield over the course of his Liverpool academy career so far.

He's a free-kick specialist capable of scoring goals from long-range and right now he's making a name for himself as a right-back at U18 level for Liverpool.

Sounds familiar?

It's a path that Gerrard took at first-team level as well. When he was breaking through during his early career he spent a lot of time playing as a right-back because that was an easier route into getting regular minutes.

O'Connor is showing very similar versatility traits. And he's admitted this speaking to Liverpool's official website.

"I feel like the more positions you have, the better, because you've got more chance of being named in a squad because of the fact you can play multiple positions," O'Connor said.

"My defending wasn't really the best and I feel like I've learned a lot at right-back in defending. I feel like that's really helped me."

WATCH: Lamine Yamal injures himself scoring Barcelona opener against Celta Vigo

WATCH: Lamine Yamal injures himself scoring Barcelona opener against Celta Vigo: WATCH: Lamine Yamal injures himself scoring Barcelona opener against Celta Vigo

Barcelona are looking to restore their nine-point lead over Real Madrid in the La Liga title race, and they are on course to do so after taking a first half lead in their clash with Celta Vigo at the Spotify Camp Nou.

It’s been a tough opening 40 minutes for the Catalans. Celta have done very well to nullify them, and to make matters worse, Joao Cancelo was forced off after a collision that did damage to his thigh area.

Lamine Yamal scores – then goes off injured

However, they have now managed to forge ahead, but it’s not come without sacrifice. Lamine Yamal did brilliantly to draw a foul inside the penalty area, and although he scored the spot-kick from 12 yards, he injured himself in the process – this has led to him being replaced by Roony Bardghji.

The last thing Barcelona needed were more injury problems, especially to key players like Cancelo and Lamine Yamal. The latter’s blow, which appears to be related to his hamstring, does give an opportunity to Bardghji, whose future has been the topic of much speculation in recent weeks after he spoke out about his lack of playing time this season.