Alvaro Arbeloa
January 2026
Arbeloa says he told Bellingham to “stop running” in training, praising his work rate and leadership while urging him to manage output and conserve energy. Arbeloa frames Bellingham as a long-term cornerstone, highlighting his intensity 48 hours after a match and suggesting smarter energy management for longevity and performance balance.
Xabi Alonso
January 2026
A report says Liverpool have made a first approach to Alonso as they consider future managerial options, with Slot still in charge but under scrutiny during an inconsistent title defence. The claim is that Liverpool sounded out Alonso’s interest, with the coach currently available after leaving Real Madrid. Despite a short spell in Madrid, his reputation remains strong from his Leverkusen success, and the report suggests Liverpool view him as a near-future option, possibly for 2026-27.
Morgan Gibbs-White
January 2026
Collymore argues Gibbs-White should be in England’s World Cup plans despite stiff competition for attacking midfield spots, claiming he offers a different profile and proven Premier League output. Gibbs-White has six caps and has featured under Tuchel but was omitted from the latest squad and has not played in the last three matches. Collymore believes squad balance and Tuchel’s striker choices could squeeze midfield places, so Gibbs-White must be protected.
Real Madrid
January 2026
Madrid won 2-0 after a flat first half, with Mbappe scoring a second-half penalty and Asencio adding a headed goal from a corner to secure the points. Arbeloa changed the flow by introducing Arda Guler for more midfield invention, increasing tempo and chance creation. Mbappe won and converted a penalty, then Madrid capitalised on a set piece, managing the game despite a few Levante counters.
Jude Bellingham
January 2026
Bellingham angrily denied reports suggesting he did not support Alonso during his Real Madrid tenure. He posted directly to rebut “sources” and media narratives amid wider claims of dressing-room issues, including reported Alonso disputes with Mbappe and Florentino Perez.
Jude Bellingham
January 2026
Gordon Strachan defended Jude Bellingham and said both Xabi Alonso and Thomas Tuchel need to protect him amid ongoing criticism around his behaviour for England. The midfielder has become a focal point for scrutiny at international level. Strachan echoed Ian Wright’s stance that controversy is being manufactured around Bellingham, and argued leadership from club and country must shield him while keeping standards high. The message is that the noise should not be allowed to define him.
Kylian Mbappé
January 2026
Kylian Mbappé has been diagnosed with a left knee sprain and is expected to miss at least three weeks, hitting Real Madrid as they return from the winter break. He has been a near ever-present this season with 27 goals across La Liga and the Champions League.
How: Mbappé had been managing the issue for weeks but an MRI confirmed a ligament lesion requiring rest and treatment. Real Madrid confirmed the diagnosis and will monitor his progress, with the decision to stop now aimed at avoiding a more serious long-term problem.
Erling Haaland
December 2025
Manchester City overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat Real Madrid 2-1 away, with Nico O’Reilly’s close-range finish and an Erling Haaland penalty cancelling out Rodrygo’s opener and pushing City up to fourth in the Champions League league-phase standings. Madrid briefly thought they had an early penalty before VAR ruled Matheus Nunes’ foul outside the box, and after Rodrygo’s breakaway strike, City exploited Madrid’s defensive lapses, with Haaland punishing Antonio Rüdiger’s foul while the hosts were later denied by misses from Jude Bellingham and Endrick.
Phil Foden (England)
November 2025
Phil Foden has been warned he is the attacking midfielder most vulnerable to missing England’s World Cup squad, with Jude Bellingham backed to travel after returning to the team and impressing, even as his visible frustration at being substituted in Albania drew fresh scrutiny. Tuchel has hesitated to start Foden, Bellingham and Harry Kane together, fearing three central playmakers crowd the same spaces. Foden has provided flashes and an assist for Eberechi Eze but has mostly come from the bench, raising questions over how long he will tolerate a rotation role.