Raphinha played a crucial role in Barcelona’s thrilling 4-3 El Clasico win over Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday, but the Brazilian winger made headlines for an unusual reason—he declined the Man of the Match award despite his standout performance.

The former Leeds United star scored twice, showcasing his relentless energy and sharp finishing, particularly with his second goal, which came after pressing and dispossessing Lucas Vázquez.

Although he was instrumental in the victory, Raphinha didn’t feel he was the game’s best performer. Speaking after the final whistle, he admitted to feeling underwhelmed by his own display. “I didn’t play well today.

I don’t deserve the Man of the Match award. I would have given it to someone else,” he said, reflecting critically despite his obvious contributions.

Raphinha’s form this season has been nothing short of spectacular. With 34 goals and 25 assists in just 54 appearances, he’s been a driving force behind Barcelona’s success across multiple competitions.

His efforts helped the Catalan club lift the Copa del Rey last month after defeating Real Madrid in the final, and now the team sits seven points clear at the top of La Liga.

Head coach Hansi Flick, in his first season with the club, praised the team’s resilience in the El Clasico clash after they came back from 2-0 down to seal a vital victory.

However, he emphasized the need for defensive improvements. “I’m going to have to check my heart after a match like that,” Flick joked. “It’s great to win, but we need to be stronger at the back. When we press high, it works, but individual errors can still cost us.”

Barcelona’s comeback against Real Madrid has put them on the brink of securing a domestic double. While Flick acknowledged their strong position, he cautioned that the title race isn’t over yet.

“We’re in a good spot, but anything can happen. We still need three more points, and every team we face will be trying to stop us,” he said.

The club had hoped to complete a treble this season, but that dream ended in the Champions League semi-finals. Barcelona were eliminated by Inter Milan in a dramatic 7-6 aggregate result. Inter will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the final, after the French side knocked out Arsenal in their own semi-final clash.

Even with Champions League disappointment, Barcelona’s campaign under Flick has been a major success. With Raphinha in top form and key victories in crucial matches, the team looks poised to close the season with silverware—and possibly even more to come in the future.

A former Chelsea star and Premier League winner has suggested that Arsenal could be the ideal destination for Christopher Nkunku if the forward decides to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

The French international has endured a difficult spell in west London since his £52 million switch from RB Leipzig in 2023, having scored only six Premier League goals for Chelsea.

Despite arriving with high expectations after being named Bundesliga Player of the Season and topping the league’s scoring charts in 2022-23, Nkunku’s time at Chelsea has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency.

Although his performances in European competitions have been more promising—scoring 11 goals in the Europa Conference League—his impact in domestic football has fallen short.

Reports suggest Chelsea were open to letting Nkunku leave during the January transfer window, with Manchester United and Bayern Munich expressing interest.

As the club prepares to invest in a new striker to lead their line, both Nkunku and current first-choice forward Nicolas Jackson could be moved on this summer.

Florent Malouda, a Champions League winner with Chelsea, believes Arsenal or Bayern Munich could provide Nkunku with a fresh start. Speaking to Racing Tipster, Malouda expressed his admiration for Nkunku as both a player and a person.

He acknowledged the forward’s struggles and emphasized the mental side of adapting to the Premier League. Malouda compared Nkunku’s situation to that of Jadon Sancho, noting that sometimes players change clubs to escape rather than address deeper issues.

Malouda added that while Nkunku is familiar with the Bundesliga, moving to Bayern would still bring competition for places. He believes Nkunku has room to grow but has looked mentally defeated in recent months.

Nonetheless, he sees potential in a move to a club like Arsenal, where the style of play and environment might better suit the Frenchman as he works toward regaining top form ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

Chelsea, aware they will likely incur a financial loss, are hoping to recoup around £35 million from a potential Nkunku sale. Former Blues defender Frank Leboeuf recently told Metro that both the player and club would benefit from a clean break.

He believes that, while Chelsea were excited about Nkunku’s arrival, the move has not worked out, and it may be time for both parties to move on.

Leboeuf also pointed out that Nkunku has never looked settled at Chelsea, perhaps due to an ill-fitting role or the pressure of transitioning from a close-knit club like Leipzig to a team where immediate results are demanded.

Drawing comparisons to Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah, both of whom revived their careers after leaving Chelsea, Leboeuf remains optimistic that Nkunku can bounce back elsewhere if given the right platform.

Carlo Ancelotti is set to step down as Real Madrid manager at the end of the current season, bringing his illustrious tenure in Spain to a close as he prepares to take on a historic new role.

The veteran Italian coach will become the first foreign manager to lead Brazil’s national football team, officially beginning his duties on May 26. This move marks a significant chapter in both Ancelotti’s career and Brazil’s storied football legacy.

After months of discussions, Real Madrid has agreed to release Ancelotti from his contract a year early. The decision follows cordial negotiations between Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and representatives of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

Initially, there was uncertainty surrounding whether Ancelotti would remain for the revamped FIFA Club World Cup this summer. However, it has now been confirmed that he will oversee his final three matches with Los Blancos, with his farewell set for May 25 against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu.

In a statement, the CBF expressed gratitude to Real Madrid for their cooperation, highlighting the respectful and professional manner in which the transition was handled.

Special acknowledgment was also given to Diego Fernandes for his key role in facilitating discussions with Ancelotti and Real Madrid.

The CBF welcomed Ancelotti warmly, expressing high hopes for a new era of success under his leadership.

Ancelotti departs Madrid following a challenging final season. Although mathematically still in the race for La Liga, a recent 4-3 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico has left Real trailing by seven points. With only a handful of games remaining, Barcelona needs just one more victory to secure the title.

Real Madrid has already exited the UEFA Champions League, having been eliminated by Arsenal, and fell short in the Copa del Rey final, losing to arch-rivals Barcelona.

Despite this season’s shortcomings, Ancelotti leaves behind a monumental legacy. Across an illustrious career, he has won league titles in Italy, England, France, Germany, and Spain.

His managerial honors include Champions League triumphs with both AC Milan and Real Madrid—five titles in total, making him the most successful manager in the competition’s history.

He has also claimed domestic trophies with Juventus, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich.

Ancelotti will replace Dorival Junior, who was dismissed in March, and steps into his new role during Brazil’s qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.

His debut on the Brazil bench is scheduled for June 6 in a high-stakes qualifier against Ecuador. Brazil, captained by Manchester United’s Casemiro, will be counting on Ancelotti’s experience to guide them back to glory.

The national team has struggled in recent years, last reaching a World Cup final in 2002 and winning only one of the past six Copa America tournaments.

As Ancelotti prepares to write the next chapter of his legendary career, all eyes will be on how he reshapes the Brazilian squad in pursuit of their long-awaited return to the summit of international football.