FOOTBALL

Ex-City adviser slams silence over 115-charge FFP case as “inexplicab

Manchester City
December 2025

A former Manchester City financial adviser has criticised the lack of clarity around the club’s 115 alleged FFP breaches, with City confirming in their 2024-25 accounts that the independent commission is still deliberating and the champions themselves remain unaware of when any verdict or sanctions will finally arrive. After a two-year league investigation and a completed 2024 hearing, the panel’s silence has fuelled confusion while City continue to operate as normal, posting record revenue of £694.1m and stating directors still view the club as a going concern able to meet obligations, despite the unresolved and potentially seismic case.

Rafinha Alcantara retires as injuries end stop-start elite career

Rafinha Alcantara
December 2025

Barcelona treble winner Rafinha has confirmed his retirement from professional football, drawing a line under a career shaped by immense technical talent but repeatedly disrupted by injuries, which limited his impact and curtailed the sustained rhythm required to fully match expectations around his famous footballing family. Emerging from La Masia and debuting for Barça in 2011, Rafinha spent nine uneven years at Camp Nou, punctuated by layoffs and loans, before a 2020 move to PSG. Despite flashes of class and major honours, he never escaped comparisons to brother Thiago, with fitness issues ultimately dictating his decision to walk away.

Leboeuf says PSG needed Mbappe exit to finally win Champions League

Kylian Mbappe
December 2025

Frank Leboeuf argued that PSG’s long-awaited Champions League title only became possible once Mbappe, Messi and Neymar had departed, insisting the previous superstar trio lacked collective balance, with three forwards and “eight other guys” leaving the club more like an all-star showcase than a cohesive team. Praising Luis Enrique’s decision to rebuild around work rate and tactical discipline, Leboeuf said removing untouchable stars allowed a true system to emerge, turning PSG into “the best team in the world” within months, and compared the dangers of overloaded frontlines to Real Madrid’s early-2000s Galacticos era.

Real Madrid loan Endrick to Lyon in search of minutes and World Cup push

Endrick
December 2025

Lyon have struck a deal with Real Madrid to take Brazilian forward Endrick on a straight six-month loan, giving the 19-year-old a leading attacking role in Ligue 1 after limited minutes in Spain, with no option or obligation to buy attached to the agreement. With only one La Liga and one Champions League appearance under Xabi Alonso, Endrick pushed for regular game time to strengthen his World Cup chances, accepting Lyon’s project as Madrid bank a €1m fee, retain him under contract until 2030 and hand him the No.9 shirt for his French audition.

Liverpool confirm leg fracture and surgery for record signing Isak

Alexander Isak
December 2025

Liverpool have confirmed that £125m striker Alexander Isak has undergone successful surgery after suffering an ankle injury with a fibula fracture while scoring in the 2-1 win over nine-man Tottenham, capping a disrupted debut season that had already yielded just two league goals. Injured as Van de Ven’s challenge trapped his leg in the act of finishing, Isak received lengthy on-pitch treatment before being helped off and later operated on, with the club stating his rehabilitation will continue at the AXA Training Centre and refusing to set any timetable for his return.

Manchester United plan major midfield reset amid uncertainty over key stars

Manchester United
December 2025

Manchester United are drawing up plans for a new long-term midfield partnership next summer, closely tracking Premier League talents including Anderson, Wharton, Baleba and Scott as doubts grow over the futures of Fernandes, Casemiro, Mainoo and Ugarte in Amorim’s evolving squad. With high earners Fernandes and Casemiro potentially sellable, Mainoo frustrated by minutes and Ugarte yet to win Amorim’s trust, United expect to fund at least one big midfield signing via outgoing deals, prioritising younger profiles on sensible wages after missing out on Declan Rice in 2023.

Salah rescues Egypt with stoppage-time winner in AFCON opener

Mohamed Salah
December 2025

Egypt needed late magic from Mohamed Salah to secure a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe, coming from behind after wasting a dominant first half before Marmoush equalised and Salah struck in stoppage time to avoid an embarrassing start to their AFCON campaign. Operating with more freedom than at Liverpool, Salah roamed centrally and from the right, repeatedly creating chances before his influence dipped, then reappeared at the death when he teed up Zizo, missed further openings and finally swivelled inside the box to smash home the decisive half-volley.

Amorim backs Yoro, Heaven and Sesko after costly Villa defeat

Ruben Amorim
December 2025

Manchester United missed the chance to close on the Champions League places with a 2-1 loss at Villa Park, as Morgan Rogers punished defensive gaps and a rusty Benjamin Sesko spurned big first-half chances in his first start since returning from a knee injury. Amorim defended Yoro and Heaven against criticism over their 1v1 defending and backed Sesko to improve with more minutes, while confirming Bruno Fernandes faces “a while” out with soft-tissue damage, leaving United short of experience and reliant on young defenders in a key festive stretch.

Keane and Neville slam Yoro after Villa defeat

Leny Yoro
December 2025

Leny Yoro’s display in United’s loss at Villa Park drew fierce criticism from Roy Keane and Gary Neville, with the 20-year-old defender blamed for giving Morgan Rogers too much space for both goals in a defeat that exposed United’s off-ball weaknesses. Keane accused Yoro and teammates like Diogo Dalot of failing to “roll their sleeves up”, saying United are one of the league’s worst sides out of possession, cut corners defensively and deserved to be punished for not doing the ugly work required at elite level.

Amorim warns of Man Utd “struggle” but rules out panic buys

Ruben Amorim
December 2025

Ruben Amorim admitted Manchester United are braced for a difficult festive period after losing captain Bruno Fernandes to a soft tissue hamstring problem during the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, with Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt and several AFCON-bound players already unavailable. Despite warning that United will “struggle”, Amorim insisted he will not beg for January reinforcements, saying the club must avoid panic buys, stick to their long-term recruitment plan and rely on youngsters and tactical flexibility to grind out results with a depleted squad.