Michael Owen opens up on his Twitter spat with Alan Shearer, saying that the Newcastle legend uses him as a scapegoat for Newcastle’s relegation in 2009. ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol thinks Sadio Mane’s temper tantrum is “the reason Liverpool are so good.” Shaka Hislop’s famous power rankings are back, and of course the FC crew
Clubs
Mark Ogden evaluates the current squad depth, who are the leaders within the team and what United are missing. ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe joins the panel to talk how Spanish football will respond to the tragic death of Luis Enrique’s 9-year-old daughter, Xana. Spain coach Robert Moreno said he is prepared to adopt a policy
The Premier League transfer window has closed, but the rest of Europe remains open for business until Monday. Plus, it’s never too late to look forward to January! Click here to view the latest transfers and keep up to date with the newest gossip below. All the major completed transfers | European transfer review Barca rule
Matteo Guendouzi has always been looking forward. Even when he was 16 and one of the most promising talents in the Paris Saint-Germain academy, the midfielder was never satisfied with what he had already achieved — he wanted to progress even more. That meant leaving PSG for Lorient in 2014 to have a clearer path
The Premier League transfer window has closed, but the rest of Europe remains open for business until Monday. Plus, it’s never too late to look forward to January! Click here to view the latest transfers and keep up to date with the newest gossip below. All the major completed transfers | European transfer review Barca rule
ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol recaps Juventus’ extraordinary 4-3 win over Napoli in Turin. Kalidou Koulibaly scored a calamitous own goal in injury time as Napoli lost 4-3 at Juventus. To watch Serie A, sign up for ESPN+. ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti reacts to the news that Juventus’ talisman Giorgio Chiellini has a torn ACL and
Cafu won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and 2002. The son of Cafu, Brazil’s World Cup winning captain, died on Wednesday night aged 30 after suffering a heart attack. Danilo was playing football on his sister’s birthday in the Alphaville neighbourhood, north west of Sao Paulo, when the incident happened. Danilo was taken
The FC crew debate if Spain has enough star power in their front three to win the European Championship. Sergio Ramos and Spain were too much for Romania, securing a 2-1 win to extend their Group F lead. To watch more Euro Qualifying, sign up to ESPN+. European Qualifying: Paco Alcácer (47′) Romania 0-2 Spain.
Mark Ogden evaluates the current squad depth, who are the leaders within the team and what United are missing. Steve Nicol explains how much blame should be placed on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after winning only one league game in the last nine. Out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has said manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will
ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol thinks Sadio Mane’s temper tantrum is “the reason Liverpool are so good.” Jurgen Klopp confirmed Sadio Mane was “upset with a situation in a game” following the forward’s angry reaction during Liverpool’s 3-0 victory at Burnley, but that “everything is fine.” The Senegal international was atypically furious while making his way
Now that the summer transfer window is finally shut, ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop gives his picks for the best five. Olivier Giroud is keen to play in MLS before the end of his career, the France international revealed in an interview on French television on Wednesday. “MLS, for my family, my children who speak English,
As Barcelona’s stuttering start continued with a 2-2 draw at Osasuna, Steve Nicol is still baffled they’re struggling even without Lionel Messi. Barcelona midfielder Rafinha Alcantara has returned to Celta Vigo on a season-long loan, the two clubs announced on Monday afternoon. “Rafinha Alcantara returns, subject to a medical, to the Celeste club on loan,
Gab Marcotti is here to recap another busy, dramatic weekend in soccer. Welcome to Monday Musings. Jump to: North London derby lessons | Juve, Napoli show flaws | Barca drop points | Lukaku abused | Man United’s transition | Bale back for Real? | Dortmund’s wake-up call | Salah, Mane drama? | Super Simeone and
Former french international Frank Leboeuf joins ESPN FC to give his thoughts on the Neymar transfer saga that continues to drag on between Barcelona and PSG. Neymar was all smiles as he arrived in Miami on Monday to join Brazil’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against Colombia and Peru. The Brazilian forward landed in Brazil
ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol recaps Juventus’ extraordinary 4-3 win over Napoli in Turin. ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti reacts to the news that Juventus’ talisman Giorgio Chiellini has a torn ACL and will be out until at least February Emre Can has said he is extremely shocked after Juventus did not include him in their Champions League
Christoph Metzelder won La Liga with Real Madrid and the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund. Former Germany international Christoph Metzelder is under investigation on suspicion of spreading child pornography, Hamburg public prosecutors told ESPN FC on Wednesday. Metzelder’s property in Dusseldorf was searched on Tuesday and his electronic devices were seized for further inspection. Hamburg public prosecutors
Jadon Sancho has spoken out about the detrimental impact of racism in football, following the abuse given to Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan. Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has withdrawn from the England squad for this month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo with a back issue, the FA said on Tuesday. Wan-Bissaka, 21,
Stewart Robson joins Alexis Nunes to explain why he expects this season’s Champions League to be won by another Premier League giant. Manchester City made it back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season with a comfortable 4-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at The Etihad. Kevin De Bruyne opened up the
ESPN FC’s Alejandro Moreno speaks of Virgil Van Dijk’s importance to Liverpool, after the Dutch star-man was awarded UEFA player of the year. ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol thinks Sadio Mane’s temper tantrum is “the reason Liverpool are so good.” There is no change at the top of Shaka’s top 10, but a pair of Italian
Neymar’s desire to return to Barcelona came agonizingly close to being realized only for the move to collapse in the final days of the transfer window. It was a modern transfer saga, the unprecedented football tale that will be remembered for a very long time, the telenovela that made headlines all around the world for