Football Blog (Page 49)

[ad_1] Mesut Ozil, one of the game’s great contemporary playmakers, has officially announced his retirement. The German developed an irrefutable reputation during his spell at Real Madrid before he dipped his toe in the Premier League pond when he joined Arsenal to much fanfare in 2013. Ozil was a vintage creator who combined grace, elegance, and ingenuity. His languid profile meant he frustrated just as much as he inspired, but his moments of sheer brilliance often made up for his apparent lethargy. His time at the top eventually run its course as the number ten as a concept died a slow death with greater emphasisRead More →

[ad_1] 90min rounds up the latest Barcelona transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world… Lionel Messi is seriously considering a return to Barcelona once his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of the season. The 35-year-old was recently booed by PSG’s supporters during the Ligue 1 defeat to Rennes amid growing tensions in the French capital. (Foot Mercato) Barcelona could look to terminate the contract of Jordi Alba and a number of other players in a bid to cut costs ahead of the summer transfer window. (Sport) Abde Ezzalzouli’s loan spell at Osasuna could help to facilitate a permanent move away from Barcelona.Read More →

[ad_1] Ibrahima Konate can’t understand the criticism of France appointing Kylian Mbappe as their new captain. The 24-year-old was named as Hugo Lloris’ successor on Tuesday, who retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup, ahead of Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann. Many had thought Griezmann, who has 117 caps to his name, would be the one to take over from Lloris, but he will instead support Mbappe as France’s new vice-captain after Raphael Varane also stepped back from the international picture. Didier Deschamps had previously quashed rumours that Mbappe had already been named skipper, but the decision was confirmed to France’s playing squadRead More →

[ad_1] Argentina believe they have done enough to beat Spain in the race to secure Alejandro Garnacho’s international allegiances. The Manchester United winger was born in Madrid, though is eligible to play for the reigning world champions as his mother is Argentina. Garnacho’s first international appearance came for Spain’s Under-18s side back in 2021, though has since scored four goals in five games for Argentina’s Under-20s. He received his first call-up to the Argentina senior setup in 2022 but did not play a minute for La Albiceleste. Garnacho was in line to make his debut this month, but had to withdraw from Lionel Scaloni’s squadRead More →

[ad_1] Nobody appoints a new manager with the plan to eventually sack them but, as we know, it nearly always ends that way. As with all marriages, first there is the honeymoon period. That’s the wonderful time when there is a new manager bounce, players are receptive to the fresh voice, everything is rosy and even when it’s not it’s definitely, definitely going to be. Then it comes routine and both parties become a little less forgiving of each other. Occasionally, as we are seeing with Antonio Conte and Tottenham now, it might start getting nasty too. Eventually, all that is usually left to sortRead More →

[ad_1] Out of the UEFA Champions League, out of the FA Cup, and sitting in sixth in the Premier League. It’s fair to say that the 2022/23 season hasn’t gone to plan for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who came within a wisker of winning the quadruple last season. So, how do the Reds find a way back to the top of European football? That’s the question we at 90min enlisted Liverpool legend Emile Heskey to answer on our YouTube channel. “It’s just been a rollercoaster season, with ups and downs. You want something to just go steadily up. “Injuries have been an issues, as has notRead More →

[ad_1] Managerial prodigy Will Still has admitted he would ‘love’ to return to England and ‘dreams’ of taking charge of a team in the Premier League. 30-year-old Still, who led Reims to a 17-game unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 that ended only recently, was born to English parents in Belgium and started his career in their homeland as a youth coach at Preston North End after initially studying in the city. Still recently set the record straight about his reputation as a ‘Football Manager geek’, while his achievements in France and his English heritage have prompted speculation about a possible move to the Premier LeagueRead More →

[ad_1] Jude Bellingham is the most talked about young footballer in the world right now, and for good reason: he’s a superstar in the making. The 19-year-old has been in brilliant form for Borussia Dortmund this season, helping to guide them to the top of the Bundesliga table ahead of the international break. Because to his sustained good form, and his general prodigal brilliance, Bellingham has been heavily linked with a move to some of Europe’s top clubs – Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool among those keen to agree a deal. But 90min has revealed that BVB will stand firm in their valuation ofRead More →

[ad_1] Leicester legend Emile Heskey has praised the ‘massive strides’ that the Foxes women’s team has made over the last few years as a result of the right backing and support from the club. Heskey is a technical coach in the Leicester Women first-team setup and was also appointed head of women’s football development at the club in the autumn of 2021. The ex-England striker initially became involved with Leicester Women in May 2020, shortly before the team was formally taken over by the men’s club. There had previously been an informal link between them but the women had been run as an independent entityRead More →

[ad_1] Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz has laughed off speculation that he has spoken with Barcelona about a future move to Camp Nou. The 19-year-old, who has recently made his return from a serious knee injury, is widely heralded as one of the best young players on the planet and repeatedly sees himself linked with a number of the game’s top sides. Indeed, recently it’s Barcelona who have been touted as suitors, with Sky Germany claiming that the Blaugrana had reached out to Wirtz’s father, who is also his agent, to discuss a move in the near future. Asked if there was any truth toRead More →