Football
Xabi Alonso sends clear message to Trent with first Real Madrid move
Xabi Alonso has reportedly made his first key decision ahead of his anticipated appointment as Real Madrid’s new manager.
The former midfielder officially confirmed on Friday that he will step down as Bayer Leverkusen’s head coach at the end of the season, bringing to a close a successful tenure spanning over two and a half years.
During his time in charge, Alonso led Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title and an unbeaten treble, including the DFB-Pokal and German Supercup last season.
In the current campaign, Leverkusen are set to finish second in the Bundesliga and reached the Champions League last 16, further solidifying Alonso’s credentials. Now, he is widely expected to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabéu this summer.
Although no official announcement has been made regarding Ancelotti’s departure, The Athletic reports that the Italian has verbally decided to step down following Real Madrid’s painful Champions League quarter-final exit to Arsenal. He is now tipped to become Brazil’s head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Alonso is set to inherit a Real Madrid squad stacked with world-class talent, including Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Thibaut Courtois. The Spanish giants are also poised to add Trent Alexander-Arnold, who recently confirmed he will leave Liverpool when his contract expires next month.
According to ESPN, Real Madrid are prepared to pay Liverpool a “reasonable fee” to secure Alexander-Arnold’s early release so he can take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins on June 14 — before his contract officially ends.
The England international will likely compete with veteran Dani Carvajal for the right-back position. However, Carvajal is currently recovering from an ACL injury and turned 33 earlier this year, raising questions about his long-term availability.
In a major tactical reveal, Spanish outlet Marca reports that Alonso plans to implement a 3-4-3 formation at Real Madrid — a system he frequently used at Bayer Leverkusen. This shift could significantly benefit Alexander-Arnold, as the setup favors an attack-minded wing-back on the right.
The system would allow him to operate as a “highly offensive full-back that provides width,” lessening the emphasis on defensive responsibilities — traditionally seen as one of Alexander-Arnold’s weaknesses. In contrast, while Carvajal is known for his defensive strengths, Alonso’s tactical preference sends a clear message that offensive contribution will be highly valued in this role.
Furthermore, Alonso reportedly intends to deploy a “double pivot” in front of a three-man defense.
This opens the door for Alexander-Arnold to also feature in a hybrid midfield role — one he occasionally occupied at Liverpool — potentially allowing both him and Carvajal to coexist in the same starting XI at the Bernabéu.
Football
‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer
Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.
The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.
In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.
The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.
Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.
Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.
Football
Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider
Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.
In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.
The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.
With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.
Football
Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.
A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.
Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.
Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.
Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.
After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.
Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.
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