Month: January 2024

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 2, 2024, 11:49 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Erik ten Hag wants to retain his influence in Manchester United‘s recruitment decisions once Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority investment in the club is ratified, a source has told ESPN. A team headed by Ratcliffe — chairman and CEO of INEOS — is set to

Graham Hunter, Spain writerJan 2, 2024, 06:00 AM ET Close Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based freelance writer for ESPN.com who specializes in La Liga and the Spanish national team. Open Extended Reactions I make no apologies for starting a column about the state of LaLiga by referencing Sir Alex Ferguson — a man who more

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 2, 2024, 09:08 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester United have cut short defender Sergio Reguilón‘s loan deal, a source has told ESPN. United have triggered a break clause in the agreement, meaning Reguilón will return to Tottenham. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The Spaniard arrived at Old Trafford

Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Jan 2, 2024, 08:04 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out signing a defender this month, backing Real Madrid‘s existing squad to cope in the absence of first-choice centre-back pairing Éder Militão and David Alaba. Militão has been out long-term since August with an ACL tear, while Alaba

Associated Press Jan 2, 2024, 07:18 AM ET Jenni Hermoso arrived at the Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid on Tuesday to testify against Luis Rubiales. Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images Jenni Hermoso, the Spain player kissed on the lips by her country’s football association’s president at the Women’s World Cup final in August, appeared

Adriana Garcia Jan 2, 2024, 04:43 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Jenni Hermoso has signed for Tigres Femenil after a year with rivals Pachuca. Getty Spain‘s Women’s World Cup star Jenni Hermoso has signed for Mexican champions Tigres Femenil after leaving rivals Pachuca. Hermoso, 33, confirmed her departure from Pachuca on Dec. 31 and revealed she

Open Extended Reactions Wayne Rooney has been fired as Birmingham City manager, sources have told ESPN, after a run of nine defeats in 15 games left the team on the brink of the EFL Championship relegation zone. Birmingham’s American owners, Knighthead Capital Management led by the company’s co-found Tom Wagner, removed Rooney from his post

Open Extended Reactions Wayne Rooney has been fired as Birmingham City manager, sources have told ESPN, after a run of nine defeats in 15 games left the team on the brink of the EFL Championship relegation zone. Birmingham’s American owners, Knighthead Capital Management led by the company’s co-found Tom Wagner, removed Rooney from his post

Chris Wright, Toe Poke writerJan 2, 2024, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester United’s move to sign Alexis Sánchez from Arsenal was arguably the worst of the lot in January. Marc Atkins/Offside/Getty Images The January transfer window might feel as if it has always been a fixture in the Premier League calendar, but in fact

Open Extended Reactions LIVERPOOL, England — Before jetting out to Ivory Coast for up to six weeks of Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt, Salah signed off with two goals and an assist as Liverpool beat Newcastle United 4-2 at Anfield, moving three points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The

ESPN News Services Jan 1, 2024, 07:33 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Jurgen Klopp’s joy at seeing Liverpool secure a big win in the Premier League turned into dismay when he briefly lost his wedding ring in the post-match celebrations on Monday. It needed the sharp eye of a TV cameraperson to locate the ring

Mohamed Salah‘s second-half brace made up for a missed penalty as Liverpool kicked off 2024 three points clear atop the Premier League standings with a 4-2 victory over Newcastle United at a rain-drenched Anfield on Monday. Jurgen Klopp’s team, who began the day level with Aston Villa on points, now have 45 from 20 games.

Open Extended Reactions It’s that time again when I chuck out 30 wishes for the new year. Wishes that, mostly, don’t come true, though sometimes we do get forward progress. Heck, this is my 11th year doing this, and you’ll see it’s more about hope than about predictions. But hey, we love this sport, right?

Jan 1, 2024, 12:29 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Ghana left out Arsenal‘s Thomas Partey and Brighton‘s Tariq Lamptey from their 27-man squad named on Monday for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in neighbouring Ivory Coast, which kicks off later this month. Partey’s omission comes as Ghana coach Chris Hughton said he had been

Wrexham scored three goals in the space of just four minutes of first half stoppage time as they secured a comeback 4-1 win over Barrow at the SToK Racecourse ground on Monday. Two goals from forward Steven Fletcher, either side of a superb free kick from Paul Mullin, gave Wrexham all three points in League Two.

Jan 1, 2024, 08:40 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Paris Saint-Germain have signed defender Lucas Beraldo from São Paulo, the French club announced on Monday. Beraldo, 20, was also linked with a move to Liverpool, but sources told ESPN that PSG agreed a €20 million ($22.1m) deal last week. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga,

Open Extended Reactions The January transfer window is now open for the Premier League (check out the official dates across the rest of Europe here) and clubs are attempting to bolster their squads and prevent their best players from being tempted away by rivals. And although the winter window is generally reserved for clubs who