Luciano Spalletti has had to defend his decision to include Nicolo Fagioli in his preliminary squad for Euro 2024. The midfielder was banned for at least seven months after admitting to breaking betting rules. He played just two more games for Juventus before last season ended, yet Spalletti named him in his squad for the Euros despite leaving Manuel Locatelli …

Achieving success at the top levels requires a team to effortlessly combine individual brilliance with collective harmony. Atalanta has been a model of consistency under Gian Piero Gasperini when it comes to this balance. However, it remained unclear whether the current team had the requisite individual flair to complement their collective style. Players like Duvan Zapata, Josip Ilicic, and Papu …

Real Madrid know their attempt to become European champions for a record-extending 15th time “could go wrong” in Saturday’s Uefa Champions League final, manager Carlo Ancelotti has said. Ancelotti has won the Champions League twice at AC Milan and twice at Madrid, as well as twice as a player for the Italian club – but the wily 64-year-old says the …

Matt Ritchie has posted an emotional message on social media following the news that he would be leaving Newcastle United with his contract expiring in the summer. Ritchie spent eight years in the North East and played a key role in helping the club win promotion straight back to the Premier League and maintaining their top flight status for the …

May 31 – Vincent Kompany says Bayern Munich “already feels like home” after being unveiled as the manager of the German Bundesliga club. Bayern confirmed Kompany, 38, had been handed a three-year deal on Wednesday, replacing Thomas Tuchel. “My mentality is that I never haven’t ever worked for a top club in my head,” Kompany said in his first press …

Barcelona’s new manager Hansi Flick is expected to shake up the squad and tailor the team to his preferences. Reports have mentioned that he intends to revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation comprising a double pivot. But a structural overhaul is not the only change fans can expect, as some new faces will also be joining the coaching staff. Indeed, Flick …

Scottish Premiership teams have officially voted to ban artificial pitches. The move, however, has not been done with immediate effect. Instead, league officials will give teams with fake fields until the start of the 2026/27 season to implement real grass. The issue was recently determined by a vote from the 12 top-flight teams in the division. “The SPFL Board has …

May 31 – The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has set a new season’s attendance record, tallying a total of 5,151,522 supporters in stadia for the 2023/24 campaign. The number marked the highest figure across the SPFL era – with 25 SPFL member clubs reporting season-on-season attendance rises for league matches. Figures show that attendances in the Championship grew by …

There may not be much love for it, but the European Super League (ESL) is setting a start date for next year. The European Super League is launching in September 2025. It is an attempt to compete with the UEFA Champions League by bringing together the best teams in Europe in a new style. The decision comes after a landmark …

May 31 – With Chelsea Women entering a new era, and Sonia Bompastor replacing Emma Hayes who has already landed in the US for her new role as women’s national team manager, the club has unveiled a long-term strategic plan to develop the women’s team as a stand-alone entity to the men’s team and infrastructure. The strategic plan follows the …