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Lionel Messi names Champions League sensation as ‘already one of the world’s best’

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Lionel Messi has singled out a standout performer from this season’s UEFA Champions League, declaring the young talent already among the best footballers in the world.

The battle for European glory is down to four clubs—Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Inter Milan—all of whom have secured their spots in the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament.

For Messi, it’s been particularly exciting to watch two of his former clubs, PSG and Barcelona, thrive with their exciting, attacking football.

Barcelona, under the leadership of Hansi Flick, have been in dominant form, brushing aside Borussia Dortmund to book a high-stakes clash with Inter Milan in the next round.

While much of the spotlight has been on Raphinha—who has scored 12 goals and contributed seven assists in the Champions League this season—Messi has taken the time to highlight the extraordinary rise of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal.

Yamal has been a revelation throughout the campaign, amassing an impressive 14 goals and 22 assists across all competitions. The Argentine legend praised the teenager’s composure, maturity, and consistently high performances on the pitch, stating that Yamal is already performing at the highest level.

“What Lamine Yamal is showing is very impressive, not only what he’s doing but what he’s already done, being a Euro champion with Spain,” Messi said in an interview with Simplemente Fútbol.

“He’s only 17 years old, he’s still early in his growth process and will continue to grow as a player and bring new things to his game, just as I did. He has incredible qualities and is already one of the best players in the world.”

Yamal’s class was once again on display over the weekend when he played a key role in Barcelona’s stunning comeback against Celta Vigo.

After the team fell 3-1 behind thanks to a Borja Iglesias hat-trick, Yamal delivered a sublime cross for Raphinha to level the score.

Raphinha then sealed the win with a last-minute goal, pushing Barcelona seven points clear of Real Madrid in the La Liga title race with six matches remaining.

Barcelona now face a busy schedule, with a midweek clash against Mallorca followed by Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against rivals Real Madrid.

After that, all eyes will shift back to the Champions League for their semi-final showdown with Inter Milan.

Yamal is expected to be central to Barcelona’s plans as they seek a return to European dominance, and his performances have already drawn the attention of opponents.

Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni admitted his team is unsure how to contain the teenage sensation, especially after struggling against him during their last meeting at the Euros.

“Individually, we’re not as strong as the other three semi-finalists, but as a team we can beat any of them,” Bastoni told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I don’t know [how we plan for Lamine Yamal]. The last time I faced him, in the Euros, we [Italy] didn’t do so well against him. Barcelona are a team with a very clear identity and we have to defend as a team against them.”

As Barcelona’s European journey continues, all eyes will be on Yamal, who is quickly establishing himself as one of the brightest young stars in world football.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘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.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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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.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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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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