سجل فريق أتلتيكو مدريد هدفًا قاتلًا في شباك فريق برشلونة، في مباراتهما الجارية حاليًا في بطولة الدوري الإسباني، موسم 2024/25.
ويستضيف ملعب “مونتجويك” مباراة الفريقين في الجولة الثامنة عشر من الليجا، 2024/25 (لمتابعة اللقاء من هنا).
ونجح أتلتيكو مدريد في تسجيل الهدف الثاني في الوقت القاتل من عمر المباراة، أمام نظيره برشلونة.
جاء الهدف عن طريق اللاعب ألكسندر سورلوث بعد هجمة مرتدة سريعة، قادمها رودريجو دي بول، ليمرر الكرة ناحية زميله الذي هز شباك إيناكي بينيا. هدف سولورث القاتل في مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد
وتشير النتيجة في الوقت الحالي إلى تقدم أتلتيكو مدريد بهدفين مقابل هدف، في الوقت القاتل.
Pep Guardiola hit back at Mikel Arteta after the Arsenal boss claimed to have inside "information" about Manchester City.
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Man City fought back to draw 2-2 against ArsenalCity players complained about Arsenal's "dark arts"Arteta and Guardiola get involved in a war of wordsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The blockbuster Premier League encounter between City and Arsenal ended in a 2-2 draw, thanks to a late equaliser from John Stones. However, the Gunners faced flak for parking the bus in the second half in their attempt to defend a slender one-goal lead after Leandro Trossard was given his marching orders before half-time.
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During the match, Rodri picked up a season-ending ACL injury and Stones went on to accuse Arsenal of using "dirty" tactics and practising the 'dark arts'. Arteta, who had previously worked as Guardiola's assistant at City, responded by suggesting the same tactics are used at the Etihad: "I've been there [at City] before. I was there for four years. I have all the information, so I know."
WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID
Guardiola, in turn, has demanded more clarity from Arteta – especially as City find themselves embroiled in a legal lawsuit over 115 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.
"Next time, Mikel has to be more clear," said Guardiola. "He has to be clear next time about exactly what he means that he was here for four years and he knows exactly what happened here.
"Because it could be related to the process with 115 charges, he may know information about that, maybe. I don't know. Next time, he has to say [it more] clearly. Instead of having clouds there, [he needs] to be more precise."
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However, Arteta claimed that his personal relationship with Guardiola remains unaffected despite the ongoing war of words. Arteta added: "I love him. I respect him and admire him. I admire his team and everything he does. One thing is our professional, another is my personal relationships. If that has to be damaged because we play against each other, then I wouldn't talk to him any more! That's not a relationship I consider both of us to have. Sport will never get in my way for a personal relationship, for sure."
Among the bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah held on to the No. 2 spot, marginally behind Trent Boult
PTI06-Aug-2020
Virat Kohli congratulates Rohit Sharma with a broad grin•AFP
India captain Virat Kohli (871 points) and his deputy Rohit Sharma (855) continued to retain the top two positions in the ICC ODI rankings for batsmen, with Pakistan’s Babar Azam currently placed third. Among the bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah (719) held on to the No. 2 spot, marginally behind New Zealand’s Trent Boult (722).There were movements for three Irishmen, who played a key role during their impressive chase of 329 against England on Tuesday. Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie, who struck 113, jumped four places to 42nd, while his deputy Paul Stirling climbed one spot to 26th after a 128-ball 142.Rookie Curtis Campher’s impressive first series, which saw him score half-centuries both times he batted – 59 not out and 68 in the first and second matches – helped him make an entry into the batsmen’s list at the 191st position.In the bowling chart, Ireland fast bowler Craig Young’s six wickets in the series lifted him 40 places to a career-best 89th position, while Mark Adair (up six places to 138th) and Josh Little (up 38 places to 146th) also made significant moves after Ireland’s stunning seven-wicket win that helped pull one back after conceding the three-match series to England.England’s ODI captain Eoin Morgan, who also scored a century in the final match, gained one place to be ranked 22nd, while Jonny Bairstow moved up a slot to 13th position, thanks to his bruising 41-ball 82 in the second ODI.Among the England bowlers, legspinner Adil Rashid advanced from 29th to 25th with five wickets in the series, while left-arm pacer David Willey’s eight wickets, including a haul of 5 for 30 in the opening match, not only won him the Player-of-the-Series award but also lifted him six places to the 51st position.England’s series win got them 20 points in the World Cup Super League, which will see 13 teams vie for direct qualifying places in the next World Cup in India in 2023. Ireland are on ten points.India and seven other top teams from the league will make it directly to the ten-team World Cup with the remaining two sides to be determined through a Qualifier.
Antoine Griezmann has seemingly questioned Didier Deschamps' France tactics while opening up on his disappointing Euro 2024 campaign.
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Griezmann struggled to hit his top level at Euro 2024
France only scored one goal from open play
Atletico Madrid man questions tactical changes by Deschamps
WHAT HAPPENED?
France were dumped out of the Euro 2024 semi-finals by eventual champions Spain. Their progress to the last four was deceptive considering Didier Deschamps' side only scored one goal from open play during the tournament. Atletico Madrid star Griezmann himself had a poor summer and has now appeared to question whether France's struggles were due to the tactical and positional changes made by the head coach.
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WHAT GRIEZMANN SAID
Speaking to Telefoot, Griezmann said: "There were a lot of changes to position, tactical changes, that we had to deal with. If I had managed to score those two goals against the Netherlands (0-0, in the group stages), I would have played another Euros. I didn’t have my best competition. I tried to adapt. There was a lot of frustration, a lot of anger because I never felt at the heart of the game as I like. There was this desire to do well, I think we had the team and the group to go all the way."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Expectations for France are extremely high following their recent success under Deschamps. The 2018 World Cup winners made another final four years later, narrowly missing out to Argentina. But with the squad changing and a new crop of young stars coming through, Deschamps is trying to integrate new players in different positions, which could be contributing to their struggles, particularly in the final third.
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WHAT NEXT FOR FRANCE?
Following their 3-1 loss to Italy in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, Les Bleus will go again at home to Belgium on Monday night. Deschamps will be hoping to see a reaction following a poor performance against the Italians.
After 255 days, over 6,000 hours and more than 360,000 minutes later, Jurrien Timber is back in action for Arsenal.
This was not how the Dutchman's debut campaign was supposed to go. After his £38m move from Ajax, great things were hoped of for a young versatile defender who was set to add so much to this Arsenal team.
Timber had starred in pre-season, whether it was at right-back or at left-back, notably handed a 7/10 match rating by the Evening Standard for a stand-out display in the club's Community Shield victory.
However, on his Premier League debut, the defender sustained a horrific injury that would rule him out until now, the back end of April.
The 22-year-old was fielded on the left-hand side of defence on that occasion and having looked comfortable against Nottingham Forest, was forced to be withdrawn after just 50 minutes. The prognosis wasn't great; an ACL injury.
He has been back on the grass at Colney for the last month or so and was handed his first minutes back in Arsenal colours for the U21s on Monday evening.
How Jurrien Timber played for Arsenal U21s
Having not seen much of the Netherlands international in action for their new club before his injury, there was a sense of intrigue among supporters as Timber was named among the starting XI to face Blackburn U21s on Monday night.
The final score ended 2-2 with TImber more than catching the eye. Fielded as an inverted left-back, the position Mikel Arteta no doubt has high hopes for him in, he shone immediately.
The clock hadn't even reached ten minutes before the 2023 signing made his mark in emphatic fashion.
Timber picked up the ball to the left-hand side of the penalty area before spinning the defender and unleashing a tremendous strike from the edge of the box into the far corner. It was proper postage stamp.
Arteta will no doubt have been delighted to see him make such an impact, with Arsenal youth expert, Jeorge Bird, describing the player's performance in more detail.
He said on social media: "Timber started the game excellently and immediately gave the U21s an extra dimension as an inverted left-back. He also provided an attacking threat and scored a superb goal. Didn’t have too much to do defensively. Seemed to inevitably tire as the half wore on."
So, when will we see him back in the senior side? It's been suggested that Arsenal want him in the squad for the Bournemouth game on 4th May.
What Timber's return means for Arsenal
The Gunners haven't had too many weaknesses this season. Indeed, they've scored goals in abundance, notably knocking six past West Ham and Sheffield United, and five past Burnley just a few months ago.
They also boast statistically the best defence in Europe. No side in the continent's top five leagues has a better expected goals against (xGA) tally than Arsenal in 2023/24 with their record of 26.57 sitting top of the tree. For context, unbeaten Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen sit in second with a record of 27.09.
While that is incredibly impressive, it's made all the more striking when you consider the problems they've had at left-back in Timber's absence.
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber
Takehiro Tomiyasu has had his own demons with injury while Jakub Kiwior has endured a topsy-turvy campaign. At one stage in 2024 he looked like first choice on the left, that was until Oleksandr Zinchenko replaced him at half-time in the first leg of their Champions League tie with Bayern Munich.
Zinchenko may well have been the no.1 pick for that role last season but his performances this term mean that he could well be running scared now Timber is back in action.
The Ukrainian offers Arsenal a great deal in the build-up phases of play. There are few better players on the planet capable of playing the inverted role as well as he. However, that should not detract from the fact that the £32m man is a liability at the back.
One Arsenal writer, Oli Price Bates, even went as far as to describe him as "appalling" after his mistakes against Aston Villa cost Arsenal dearly.
As the Athletic's James McNicholas put it so well after that game; 'In a season in which Arteta has worked so hard to eliminate on-field jeopardy, Zinchenko is beginning to feel like a relic of last season’s more chaotic team.'
Timber, therefore, could be the man to restore calm to the left side of Arsenal's backline. The likes of Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel all bring that to the team in abundance but their Dutch summer signing is the missing puzzle piece. Providing Arsenal can remain in the title race he could well still have a decisive say on where the Premier League trophy ends up come May.
Arteta could unleash Zinchenko in new role to revive his Arsenal career
Zinchenko was a big underperformer in Arsenal’s last match.
Whilst there's still plenty of time for more drama to take place in the Championship this weekend, Leeds United are currently on course to miss out on automatic promotion in a failure that will reportedly have transfer consequences if they then fail to go up through the play-offs.
Leeds transfer news
Promotion will be the key to Leeds' summer transfer business. Reach the Premier League and attracting players of a certain calibre will be far simpler than pitching the project centred around first earning promotion. Meanwhile, if they do fail to go up, then keeping hold of players will become that much harder, especially when it comes to the likes of Crysencio Summerville.
49ers could drop Meslier by signing "outstanding" EFL star for Leeds
The Whites are reportedly interested in signing a goalkeeper from the Championship.
ByDan Emery May 2, 2024
The winger has already been linked with Liverpool and rejecting the Reds would arguably be almost impossible at a Championship club. Losing Summerville, in particular, would deal Daniel Farke a significant blow too. The Dutchman has managed 20 goals and 10 assists for a stunning 30 goal involvements in all competitions this season. Take those away and where Leeds would be is anyone's guess. And yet, he may not be the only player heading for the exit door.
According to ABC via Estadio Deportivo, Marc Roca has agreed to turn his loan permanent at Real Betis if Leeds fail to gain promotion to the Premier League this season. The midfielder endured a debut campaign to forget at Elland Road last year and was among those to leave on loan following the Whites' relegation. Now, if they fail to go up, he could have already played his final game for the club.
Given the success that both parties have had apart this season, a summer departure for Roca shouldn't be seen as a major blow, especially when considering that it would see Leeds clear a reported £35,000-a-week from their current wage bill.
"Interesting" Roca's exit is best for both parties
Chalked down as a transfer to forget, Roca's potential exit suits all parties involved, with the midfielder recently speaking positively about his time at Real Betis, saying in an interview with PTV Sevilla: “We’ll see (about my future). It’s true that we’re in contact with the club. We’ll see how everything evolves. It’s up to my agent to reach an agreement, and then Betis will have to talk to Leeds. We’ll see how the negotiations progress, but I’m very comfortable and very happy.”
With that said, Leeds could at least make back some of the £10m transfer fee that they initially paid out to reinvest into Daniel Farke's squad and turn any potential promotion failure into the beginning of a Championship title charge. Described as "interesting" by former Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, Roca just never found his feet at Leeds amid a squad on course for Premier League heartbreak last season.
Since leaving Elland Road, he has made 22 starts in a Real Betis side looking to qualify for European football in La Liga this season to put his nightmare spell in Yorkshire behind him, whilst those at Leeds set their sights on returning to the top flight.
Pakistan saw a collapse of 6 for 26 as left-arm quick Sushant Mishra took 3 for 28
The Report by Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom04-Feb-2020Having been deflated with a collapse of 6 for 26, Pakistan Under-19 could pose no challenge to the India Under-19 opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Divyaansh Saxena, who shared an unbeaten stand of 176 to lead the defending champions to a thumping ten-wicket win in the first semi-final of the Under-19 World Cup in Potchefstroom. India’s victory took them to their third straight final and closer to a fifth Under-19 World Cup title; they will play the winner of New Zealand and Bangladesh in the final on February 9. Jaiswal reached his first hundred in the tournament with a six to seal India’s win while Saxena remained unbeaten on 59.Pakistan, who opted to bat, seemed on course for a respectable total as their opener Haider Ali and captain Rohail Nazir put on a half-century stand for the third wicket. The duo helped Pakistan recover from 34 for 2 in the ninth over, but Haider fell soon after reaching his fifty while trying to cut part-timer Jaiswal. At 96 for 3 in the 26th over, Haider’s wicket pegged Pakistan’s progress significantly, as Nazir saw four more wickets fall in front of him. India’s two quicks Sushant Mishra and Kartik Tyagi did most of the damage – sharing five wickets between them – while legspinner Ravi Bishnoi finished with two from his 10 overs.Pakistan’s collapse began in the 35th over, with the score at 146 for 4, and it took a spectacular effort from Saxena at deep square leg to trigger the slide. Mohammad Haris’ sweep off left-arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar seemed destined for a one-bounce four, but Saxena ran across and dived full length to complete the catch just inches from the ground. That effort pushed the other India players to raise their game, and Tyagi delivered a yorker three overs later to bowl Irfan Khan. Only five balls later, Bishnoi trapped Abbas Afridi lbw with a contentious decision as Pakistan slumped to 163 for 7. Nazir was dismissed for 62 three overs later and by the 44th over, they were bowled out for 172.India’s chase started with caution, with Saxena and Jaiswal scoring at under four per over for the first 15 overs. They played out the new ball under overcast conditions with a strong crosswind blowing across the ground, offering no chance for Pakistan to come back into the game via an early wicket.After Jaiswal got his fifty off 66 balls in the 22nd over, he started using his feet against the spinners to hit over long-on or pull the pacers behind square. Saxena stroked the ball along the ground for the most of his innings, letting Jaiswal be the aggressor. Saxena reached his fifty in the 30th over by driving to deep cover off 83 balls and the asking rate had now come down to two runs per over. Saxena hit six fours while Jaiswal struck eight fours and four sixes, including one that brought up his hundred and India’s victory. After sealing the chase, Jaiswal raised both arms in the air, looked upwards and kissed the chain around his neck.Nazir praised India’s bowlers for their effort but said that Pakistan’s batsmen failed to live up to their potential.”It’s hard, but cricket is all about the game. One team wins, and we didn’t play good cricket today. India were better in the field and with their bowling. They outclassed us,” Nazir said in the post-match press conference. “When me and Haider were batting, we were going really nice. But after Haider’s wicket, we didn’t build partnerships.”That’s the reason why our batting line-up could not get the big runs. With the batting, our shot selection was poor in the crucial time. Three middle-order wickets fell cheaply in crunch situations. Because there weren’t enough runs on the board, our bowlers could not penetrate either.”The game had the best attendance of all the matches in the tournament thus far, with Pakistan supporters twice as many as India’s. Chants, both of the friendly and not-so-friendly kind, rang through the JB Marks Oval from both sides, the Pakistani voices diminishing as the game progressed. India have now pulled level with Pakistan as far as the sides’ Under-19 World Cup head-to-head record goes. Jaiswal is leading this edition’s run-scoring charts, having earned his fourth 50-plus score in five games. India’s victory was also the first ten-wicket win in the history of Under-19 World Cup (non-Plate) knockouts.
Italy's breakout star from Euro 2024 has all the tools to be an instant hit for the Premier League title-chasers
Not much was expected from Italy heading into Euro 2024 and, for the most part, they pretty much matched expectations, limping through the group stages before being well beaten by Switzerland in the round of 16. But while the Azzurri did not offer a great deal to get excited about as a collective, the emergence of one young defender did ensure they remained in the conversation during the early stages of the tournament.
Just six days after his first-ever senior international start in a friendly victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina, Riccardo Calafiori was given the nod by Luciano Spalletti for his side's European Championship opener against Albania. By full-time, he was all anyone was talking about.
With his Paolo Maldini-esque locks dancing in the wind, the 22-year-old showed no signs of nerves, helping Italy recover from an early error to secure a 2-1 victory. Operating as a left-sided centre-back alongside Alessandro Bastoni, the duo provided some much-needed hope for the post Giorgio Chiellini-Leonardo Bonucci era, with Calafiori dominating in the air and on the ground while scarcely misplacing a pass and driving his side forward from the back.
He was understandably delighted at full-time, telling reporters: "It’s been a very nice week for me. I learnt I could be a starter two days ago. Spalletti asked me if I was ready. I said yes, obviously. I thought about positive things, about the emotions I could feel on the pitch and it was a great thing. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I’m very happy."
This display set the tone for a positive Euros on a personal level, with Calafiori having now completed a dream Premier League move to Arsenal. This good fortune is pretty remarkable, considering all of the road blocks the youngster had to navigate during the early part of his career.
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Unconventional route to the top
For instance, back in October 2018, when Calafiori was building a reputation as one of Italian football's brightest prospects, he suffered a knee injury that left his career hanging in the balance. Later that day, Edin Dzeko would pay tribute to the teenager after notching his maiden Champions League hat-trick against Viktoria Plzen, holding up a shirt with his young club-mate's name on.
Calafiori would later open up on the mental toll the injury took at a crucial stage of his development. "The journey was definitely the hardest thing I faced, I had a knee that was three times the size of the other one, I had a fever and I felt insecure," he told .
After a painful spell of rehabilitation, he managed to return to the field and was handed his first-team debut by Paulo Fonseca in December 2020. However, his Roma career would essentially be ended by the arrival of Jose Mourinho at the beginning of the 2021-22 season. During that campaign, he was handed just nine appearances, primarily in the Europa League, before being shafted out on loan to Genoa in January.
Calafiori bravely took the decision to leave his boyhood club the following summer, signing for Basel. There, he got the first-team football he craved, but it was far from a vintage season for the Swiss giants, who finished a lowly fifth in the league and fell in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
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Finding a home
That did not stop Bologna moving to bring Calafiori back to Serie A last summer, though. That decision would prove to be an inspired one by all parties, too.
Right from the outset, highly-rated boss Thiago Motta outlined a clear plan for Calafiori. Having been primarily used as a left-back up to that point, Motta was keen to move him into the heart of defence, with the switch unlocking the player's full potential.
"Everything started from the freedom that the coach gave me, Motta immediately saw me as a centre-back," Calafiori has said. "I learned so much from him. This is his philosophy, that you must attack the space no matter who goes, play without fear and express yourself."
Calafiori's displays were key in Bologna's best season in modern history, with Motta leading them to a fifth-placed finish – enough for Champions League football. And if people were not paying attention to the defender yet, they certainly would be after the Euros.
Following that outstanding competitive debut against Albania, Italy legend Gianluca Zambrotta was among those to praise Calafiori. "He played an extraordinary game, like the whole team in the first 60 minutes," he said on . "He played with personality, without fear… He showed some beautiful things yesterday."
Yes, he may have scored an unfortunate own goal against Spain in the following game, but by the time Italy had exited the competition, Calafiori's reputation had exploded, with Arsenal, Chelsea and a string of top European clubs said to be interested.
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Surprising signing
The Gunners have won the race, though, with the North Londoners having paid £42m ($49m) including add-ons for Calafiori's services. On the surface, it might seem odd that Arsenal have opted to strengthen in defence as a priority this summer.
Last season, they comfortably boasted the best defensive record in the Premier League, with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes forming a rock-solid, centre-back partnership . Despite this, it's clear that greater strength in depth is required if the Gunners are finally to topple Manchester City this season. Any injury to one of the aforementioned pair would likely necessitate Ben White moving into the middle, something Arteta would likely want to avoid considering how effective the former Brighton man combined with Bukayo Saka down the right in 2023-24.
But Calafiori shouldn't just be seen as a secondary option. He might even be able to displace Gabriel as the left-sided centre-back if he starts strongly. Let us not forgot that Arteta dropped the Brazilian at the beginning of last season, though his form over the past nine months means his manager probably trusts him fully moving forward.
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Novel approach
Because of this, Calafiori being deployed in Arsenal's problem position of left-back seems to make more sense. Last season, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko all had fleeting spells in the role after Jurrien Timber ruptured his ACL on the opening day. This contrasted sharply with the metronomic consistency of White on the opposite side.
It would be little surprise to see Arteta call upon Calafiori to fix this conundrum this season, even with Timber back in the mix. Over the past few seasons, the Gunners boss has become increasingly enamoured by players with traditionally centre-back profiles playing on the flanks of his defence.
White was his guinea pig for this theory; the hulking Englishman had only made a smattering of right-back appearances before claiming the position permanently during the 2022-23 season. Tomiyasu and Kiwior have since undergone similar transformations.
Like many aspects of Arteta's approach, parallels can be seen in Pep Guardiola's City side. Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake have each transitioned into full-backs under the Spaniard's tutelage. At times, Guardiola has even been able to field four, de-facto central defenders across his backline. This was an extremely deliberate choice, as the City boss explained in the wake of their 2023 Champions League final triumph.
"With four central defenders we defend properly in our box," he said. "It’s the biggest step. Now we enjoy defending, and even if we make mistakes, I have the feeling that we are defenders."
Like everything with Arteta and Guardiola tactically, the shift towards these 'defend-first' players at full-back is all about control – or "dominance", as the Arsenal boss is keen to described it as. Not only are Arsenal and City's 'full-backs' fearsome in the air and defensively intelligent – which make it harder for the opposition to attack effectively – they also take care of the ball, helping their sides enjoy the lions share of possession.
They're all still capable of overlapping and carrying it forward when required, with White, Gvardiol and Ake providing 22 goal contributions between them last season. But Arteta and Guardiola clearly see them differently to a properly attacking full-back who always looks to get beyond the wide forward in front of them.
Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have “agreed” terms over a new off-field Old Trafford move, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Ratcliffe making his mark at Man Utd
It has been a busy start to 2024 for Ratcliffe and INEOS after taking control of sporting decisions in Manchester from the Glazers. The co-owner, alongside Sir Dave Brailsford, has already brought in Omar Berrada as CEO from rivals Manchester City, whereas Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth is wanted as sporting director.
On the manager front, a plethora of names have been linked to possibly replace Erik ten Hag, including Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, England boss Gareth Southgate, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil.
Man Utd could move to sign £80m star with same agent as Mainoo
This claim comes from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
ByCharlie Smith Mar 28, 2024
Ratcliffe has also addressed his likely transfer policy, hinting that he wouldn’t be splashing the cash. When asked about Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, he said:
“He’s a great footballer (Bellingham) but it’s not where our focus is. The solution isn’t spending a lot of money on a couple of great players. They’ve done that, if you look at the last 10 years. The first thing we need to do is get the right people in the right boxes, managing and organising the club. We must make sure we get recruitment right, such a vital part of running a football club is getting recruitment right, finding new players.”
On the idea of signing Mbappe, who is on course to join Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain over the summer, Ratcliffe then added:
“I’d rather find the next Mbappe, rather than spend a fortune to buy success. It’s not that clever to buy Mbappe, anybody could figure that one out.”
The Red Devils and Ratcliffe will be gearing up for the transfer window, and to do that, it looks as if they are on course to land a new technical director.
Wilcox to join Man Utd
Southampton’s Jason Wilcox was linked with a move to Manchester last month, and now there has been a significant development over a deal.
There were a number of updates from Romano on Monday, who said that the 53-year-old had resigned at St Mary’s and is set to join Man Utd.
The transfer expert later posted that Wilcox has also “agreed terms” with the Red Devils over an Old Trafford move.
It looks as if Ratcliffe’s team behind the scenes is being bolstered with the arrival of Wilcox, with the former Man City head of academy highly rated.
For example, Saints manager Russell Martin praised Wilcox when he heard of the rumours of a move to Man Utd last month.
“I’d like to think he would have a chat with us if anything was in it. He’s so honest, he’s so open, he’s been such a big driver of the culture here, he’s enabled us to do the work that we want to do.
“He’s supported me incredibly well and the staff so I’ve got nothing but praise on the impact he’s had on us and what he’s allowed us to do.”
Many people say that football is a game played with 11 on each team, but some would argue that the home crowd in any stadium have the power to act as a 12th man. There are some quite incredible atmospheres and experiences to be had in stadiums all over the planet, as fans gather to get a release from the stresses of the real world and cheer on their beloved sides.
However, we aren't all lucky enough to experience some of the biggest grounds on the planet, with some of the biggest stadiums scattered on different continents.
So, we have compiled a list of the top 10 biggest football stadiums in the world in 2024 based on their capacity…
Rank
Stadium name
Country
Capacity
1
Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
North Korea
150,000
2
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Australia
100,024
3
Camp Nou
Spain
99,354
4
The Rose Bowl
United States
95,542
5
FNB Stadium
South Africa
94,736
6
New Administrative Capital Stadium
Egypt
93,940
7
Wembley Stadium
England
90,000
8
Estadio Azteca
Mexico
87,525
9
Bukit Jalil National Stadium
Malaysia
87,411
10
Borg El-Arab Stadium
Egypt
86,000
10 Borg El-Arab Stadium, Egypt Capacity – 86,000
Despite domestic football being of a relatively low level in Egypt, their national side has produced some wonderful players over the years, including Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
And, to be fair, Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations record isn't too shabby, as the most successful side in the competition with seven titles to their name.
So, it comes as no surprise that one of the biggest stadiums in the world is found in one of African football's most successful countries.
9 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Malaysia Capacity – 87,411
It's a slight surprise to find the ninth-biggest stadium in Malaysia, though it isn't just a football stadium, as it's been used for a whole host of other sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games.
On a football level, Malaysia have never qualified for the World Cup and are currently the 132nd-ranked side in the world by FIFA.
Nevertheless, the Bukit Jalil National Stadium's facilities include a retractable roof and seats, a running track and LED lighting, making it quite the arena.
8 Estadio Azteca, Mexico Capacity – 87,525
To Mexico now, with the Estadio Azteca.
Having officially opened all the way back in 1966, it has plenty of history behind it. It's hosted two FIFA World Cup tournaments as well as plenty of top-flight fixtures in Mexico.
And it's about to head into the limelight once again in 2026 as it hosts games at the upcoming World Cup.
One interesting fact about this stadium is that it once held a staggering 119,853 people for a match between Mexico and Brazil in July 1968 when the stadium allowed standing.
7 Wembley Stadium, England Capacity – 90,000
The most familiar stadium on the list for any of us residing in England is Wembley Stadium, the home of the England national team.
Despite only opening in its current form in 2007, it has already held many key events and iconic matches over the years. Indeed, domestic cup finals and all EFL play-off finals are all held at Wembley, as well as the Euro 2020 final and several Champions League finals – including this year's showpiece in June.
Wembley has 66 executive suites, an iconic arch that holds the record for the longest single-span roof structure in the world, two partially retractable roof structures, and 2,618 toilets – more than any other stadium in the world.
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ByCharlie Smith Oct 21, 2025 6 New Administrative Capital Stadium, Egypt Capacity – 93,940
The New Administrative Capital Stadium is set to become Egypt's new national stadium, replacing Cairo International Stadium in this role, as well as being a multi-purpose arena.
Interestingly, it isn't entirely built with a focus on football. It has a training ground and two indoor halls – one of them being a 15,000-capacity arena – an Olympic-size swimming pool, as well as other buildings, amid the focus of the country's possible bids for the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup.
5 FNB Stadium, South Africa Capacity – 94,736
FNB Stadium, also known as Soccer City, is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This iconic stadium, with its distinctive calabash-shaped design, is not only a marvel of modern architecture but also a testament to South Africa's rich heritage and its passion for football.
It played a pivotal role in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosting the opening match and the memorable final where Spain claimed their first World Cup title. With a seating capacity of around 94,736, it is the largest stadium in Africa, serving as a venue for major football matches, including local derbies, international competitions, and concerts.
4 Rose Bowl, USA Capacity – 95,542
The Rose Bowl, known for its picturesque setting with the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop, has become a revered site in the sports and entertainment world. Opened in October 1922, this historic venue is primarily known for hosting the Rose Bowl Game, an annual college American football contest held on New Year's Day, part of the Tournament of Roses since 1916.
With a seating capacity of over 95,000, it is one of the most famous sporting venues in the United States.
It has hosted numerous significant football matches, including games during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The stadium was the site of the World Cup final that year, where Brazil claimed victory over Italy in a match decided by a penalty shootout, as well as being a key venue for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.
3 Camp Nou, Spain Capacity – 99,354
Camp Nou, located in Barcelona, Spain, is more than just a stadium. It is a symbol of cultural and sporting excellence that resonates with football fans around the world.
Officially inaugurated in 1957, it is the largest stadium in Europe with a seating capacity that exceeds 99,000, making it a formidable fortress for its home team, FC Barcelona.
Currently under reconstruction, it is known for its immense scale and electrifying atmosphere. It will top 100,000 seats once it has been fully refurbished.
It has been the stage for countless historic moments in football history, including memorable FC Barcelona victories, El Clásico battles against Real Madrid and significant international fixtures.
2 Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia Capacity – 100,024
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), is a bit like Wembley Stadium: a versatile and iconic sports stadium, but it's located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
While it is primarily revered as a cricket venue, it has adapted over time to accommodate a wide range of sports, including football. It has showcased international friendlies, World Cup qualifiers, and other significant events involving the Australian football team, the Socceroos.
1 Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, North Korea Capacity – 150,000
The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, situated in Pyongyang, North Korea, is the world's largest football stadium by capacity, with its seating capacity often reported to be around 150,000.
This colossal structure is primarily known for hosting football matches, including international games and domestic fixtures, alongside a variety of other events such as athletic competitions, mass games and political gatherings.
Constructed and opened in 1989, the stadium's name commemorates the international workers' holiday, May Day, highlighting its importance not just as a sports venue, but as a site for significant national events. Its distinctive design features a petal-shaped roof, resembling a magnolia blossom.