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                        <title>Football News &amp; Updates | The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>Guardiola swerves Man City exit talk</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609174/guardiola-swerves-man-city-exit-talk</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609174/guardiola-swerves-man-city-exit-talk#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 26 12:59:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609174</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Citizens secured a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pep Guardiola said he would speak to Manchester City&#39;s hierarchy over his future after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth ended his team&#39;s hopes of winning the Premier League.

The result at the Vitality Stadium confirmed Arsenal as English champions after a 22-year wait.

City are four points behind their rivals with just one game remaining and cannot catch them.
Widespread reports on Monday said City boss Guardiola would stand down after Sunday&#39;s final Premier League game against Aston Villa.

The club have yet to respond publicly to the speculation.
&quot;Allow me to talk with my chairman,&quot; Guardiola told the BBC. &quot;I have one more year (of my) contract.

&quot;When I finish the season every time we talk about it. I never talk with anyone. First of all, I talk with my chairman and my bosses.&quot;

He added: &quot;I have from my experience when the boss or manager is anticipating he is leaving -- the players don&#39;t follow you any more. You have to lead. Now is the moment to talk to him.&quot;

The Catalan was again asked for clarity in his post-match press conference but instead chose to congratulate Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta, who previously worked under him at City.

Guardiola said his team had suffered from tiredness, three days after beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final to complete a domestic cup double.
&quot;I would have loved to have arrived in the last moment, you know... but today the fatigue was there,&quot; he added.

The departure of the City boss would bring to an end one of the most successful managerial reigns in English football history.
Since the 55-year-old&#39;s appointment in 2016, City have won 20 trophies including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Guardiola&#39;s former assistant Enzo Maresca is understood to have been lined up to replace him, having been out of work since leaving Chelsea at the start of the year.]]>
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			<title>Man City beat Chelsea to win FA Cup final</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608612/man-city-beat-chelsea-to-win-fa-cup-final</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608612/man-city-beat-chelsea-to-win-fa-cup-final#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 26 11:00:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608612</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Semenyo’s brilliant back-heel sealed a dramatic win over Chelsea at Wembley]]>
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				<![CDATA[Antoine Semenyo produced one of the great FA Cup final goals with an audacious back-flick that sealed Manchester City&#39;s 1-0 win against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.

Semenyo illuminated a largely scrappy final late in the second half as he improvised a sublime finish to caress Erling Haaland&#39;s cross into the net.

The Ghana winger&#39;s moment of magic was enough to clinch City&#39;s eighth FA Cup triumph and their second piece of silverware this season after the League Cup final win over Arsenal in March.

Semenyo joins Ricky Villa, Michael Owen, Roberto Di Matteo and Steven Gerrard among the ranks of iconic FA Cup final goalscorers.

Ironically, the 26-year-old -- an inspired signing from Bournemouth in the January window -- was born just a stone&#39;s throw from Chelsea&#39;s Stamford Bridge home in west London.

The third FA Cup success of Guardiola&#39;s reign ended City&#39;s run of two successive defeats in the final against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

Guardiola, who also lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2019, has now won 20 trophies in his glittering decade as City manager.

His attention will turn back to City&#39;s slender hopes of making it 21 pieces of silverware with a miracle in the Premier League title race.

City, on a 21-game unbeaten domestic run, will be five points behind leaders Arsenal if the Gunners beat relegated Burnley at home on Monday.

Guardiola&#39;s men can close the gap back to two points with a victory at Bournemouth in their penultimate match of the season on Tuesday.
But Arsenal would still guarantee their first English title since 2004 by winning at Palace on May 24.

Ahead of his 24th trip to Wembley with City, Guardiola joked that he was &quot;so disappointed&quot; he has not had a stand named after him at the home of English football.
Whether he will be back with City remain a matter of conjecture.

Uncertainty has swirled around Guardiola&#39;s future all season and, with just one year left on his contract, the 55-year-old is yet to give an indication if he plans to stay or go at the end of this term.

If it is about to be the end of an era, Semenyo ensured Guardiola will leave with at least one more golden memory.

Knockout blow

For Chelsea, the loss was the latest blow in another turbulent campaign.

Without a win in their last seven league games, they are languishing in ninth place with virtually no chance of qualifying for next season&#39;s Champions League.

Under interim boss Calum McFarlane, they produced a battling but ultimately impotent display that underlined why frustrated fans protested against owners BlueCo before kick-off and chanted &quot;we want our Chelsea back&quot;.

With Chelsea content to sit deep in their five-man defence, City dominated possession for long periods of the first half, but couldn&#39;t make the breakthrough.

It was a cagey and often flat occasion, in keeping with two teams who have underachieved this season.
Haaland fired wide from an acute angle after stealing possession on the edge of the Chelsea area.

Haaland threatened to prise open Chelsea&#39;s well-drilled rearguard late in the first half, surging onto Marc Guehi&#39;s pass for a stinging strike that Robert Sanchez saved at his near post.

Relying on only occasional counter-attacks, Chelsea felt aggrieved just before the interval when their penalty claim was rejected after Joao Pedro was bundled over by Abdukodir Khusanov.

Semenyo should have broken the deadlock immediately after the break, heading over from six yards after climbing to meet Nico O&#39;Reilly&#39;s cross.

Moises Caicedo&#39;s header was nodded off the line by Rodri after City keeper James Trafford fumbled a corner.
But City finally delivered the knockout blow in the 72nd minute.

Haaland made a clever run down the right-hand side of the Chelsea area and cut the ball back to Semenyo, who deftly back-heeled his supreme finish into the far corner from close range]]>
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			<title>Arsenal scent Premier League glory</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608300/arsenal-scent-premier-league-glory</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608300/arsenal-scent-premier-league-glory#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 26 13:05:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608300</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Gunners can move five points clear if they beat relegated Burnley]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Arsenal can move within touching distance of the Premier League crown before title rivals Manchester City next play as a gripping race enters its final stretch.

The Gunners will be fancied to beat relegated Burnley on Monday and move five points clear of second-placed City, who travel to Bournemouth the following day.

Tottenham and West Ham remain locked in a desperate battle to avoid relegation, while European places are still up for grabs.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the action:

Arsenal sense glory

Manchester City are on a 14-game unbeaten run in the Premier League but it may not be enough to overhaul Arsenal.
City appeared to have the upper hand after they beat the Gunners last month, but a 3-3 draw at Everton last week could ultimately prove fatal.

Pep Guardiola, whose team face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, admits all City can do is stay alive in the title race and hope the leaders slip up.

City are two points behind Arsenal with two games left but have a marginally better goal difference and have scored seven more goals.

Coach Mikel Arteta said Arsenal&#39;s 2-1 defeat at City had proved to be a &quot;reset moment&quot; for his team, who have won all three of their league matches since without conceding a goal.

&quot;We used that as fuel to be even more convinced and to understand that what we&#39;ve done up to now is fine, let&#39;s learn every bit of it,&quot; he said.
With the lessons learnt, Arsenal hope to move to the brink of their first Premier League title since 2004.

Spurs scrap

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi believes the battle to avoid the drop will go to the final day despite the club&#39;s recent uptick in form.

The north London side were on track for victory against Leeds earlier this week, but were left clinging on, grateful to goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky for a late wonder save in a 1-1 draw.

Tottenham are still favourites to stay up, with a priceless two-point advantage over 18th-placed West Ham.
But if West Ham beat Newcastle on Sunday, Tottenham would be back in the bottom three when they kick off at Chelsea on Tuesday.
Although Nuno Espirito Santo&#39;s side suffered the agony of a disallowed stoppage-time equaliser in last weekend&#39;s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal, Hammers midfielder Mateus Fernandes said they would take confidence from their performance.

&quot;We can do it,&quot; he said. &quot;There are still games to play and points to take and we need to believe until the end.&quot;
Champions League race

Aston Villa&#39;s home game against Liverpool on Friday will have a huge effect on the fortunes of a clutch of clubs that harbour Champions League ambitions.

Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have already qualified for Europe&#39;s elite club competition, with fourth-placed Liverpool and fifth-placed Villa on course to take the final two spots.

Both clubs are four points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth, with only six points available.

But the sixth-placed team will also qualify for the Champions League -- if Villa beat Freiburg in next week&#39;s Europa League final and finish fifth in the Premier League.

Bournemouth, seventh-placed Brighton and eighth-placed Brentford all harbour ambitions of playing in the Champions League for the first time.]]>
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			<title>Canadian football ready for World Cup</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608099/canadian-football-ready-for-world-cup</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608099/canadian-football-ready-for-world-cup#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 26 15:13:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608099</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[They will face Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12 in their World Cup opener]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Exactly 150 years after Carlton Cricket Club and Toronto Lacrosse Club took part in the first recorded organised football match in Canada in 1876, Canadian soccer is finally ready for its coming out party.

When Canada faces Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12 in the team&#39;s first ever World Cup match on home soil, it will be the latest stop on a decades-long journey of development that has seen football gain a solid foothold in a sporting landscape dominated by ice hockey.

Already the largest participatory sport in Canada with nearly one million registered players, the 2026 World Cup is set to deliver another jolt of momentum to the country&#39;s rapidly emerging football scene.

Canada will host 13 matches -- six in Toronto, seven in Vancouver -- with Canada also facing Qatar and Switzerland in Group B.
In two previous appearances at the World Cup -- the 1986 finals in Mexico and the 2022 tournament in Qatar -- Canada has compiled a perfect record of futility: played six and lost six.

Yet Canada&#39;s American coach Jesse Marsch insists that the tournament co-hosts aren&#39;t just making up the numbers at their own party.
&quot;We want to win the World Cup,&quot; Marsch said in an interview last year.

&quot;That may sound ridiculous, but why would we go into any tournament at any time and think, &#39;Yeah, let&#39;s see how we do, and maybe we get one win. Or can we score a goal?&#39;&quot;

Marsch said that kind of thinking was Canadian football&#39;s &quot;dialog in the past.&quot;
&nbsp;
&#39;Love of the team&#39;

But with a group of players which is often described as the best Canadian squad ever assembled, featuring the likes of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies and Juventus&#39;s Jonathan David, Marsch is adamant that there are grounds for optimism.

&quot;This team now, the standard of what we think we can be is growing,&quot; Marsch said.

&quot;We know that it&#39;ll be hard. I don&#39;t think our group is easy. It&#39;s possible we get knocked out of the group, like all these things are possible. But we believe in ourselves, we believe in our group and we believe in our players.&quot;
Marsch&#39;s confidence is backed by Canada&#39;s steady rise up the FIFA rankings.

In 2015, Canada&#39;s men&#39;s team were ranked 116th in the world. By 2025, the team had climbed as high as 26th.

The Canadians first signalled they were a force within CONCACAF during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, when they finished above both regional powerhouses Mexico and the United States to advance to Qatar.

While they were eliminated in the group stage in Doha with losses to Belgium and eventual semi-finalists Croatia and Morocco, they impressed on the world stage in 2024 at the Copa America, with a surprise run to the semi-finals where they were defeated by world champions Argentina.

Many of Canada&#39;s likely World Cup starting line-up have their roots in the country&#39;s immigrant diaspora.

Juventus star David was born in New York to Haitian parents before moving to Canada as a child. Bayern ace Davies was born to Liberian parents in a refugee camp in Ghana in 2000, before relocating to Canada at the age of five. Talented midfielder Ismael Kone, who plays in Italy&#39;s Serie A for Sassuolo, was born in Ivory Coast.

&quot;Obviously, there&#39;s attachments to different cultural things, but the love they have of being Canadian and playing for the Canadian national team is really strong,&quot; Marsch said.

&quot;I&#39;ve been incredibly impressed with their commitment and their love of the team, their love of their country, the belief they have in what they represent.&quot;

Just as soccer in the United States gained a valuable boost from the success of the men&#39;s team at the 1994 World Cup, Canadian officials are hoping that a prolonged campaign by Canada this year will also reap long-term rewards for the sport.

&quot;A long run in the tournament that&#39;s compelling will create viewership demand for soccer going forward, in all forms,&quot; Canada Soccer chief executive Kevin Blue said.]]>
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			<title>Enrique predicts more thrills</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605485/enrique-predicts-more-thrills</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605485/enrique-predicts-more-thrills#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 26 13:40:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605485</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PSG edge Bayern 5-4 in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal]]>
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				<![CDATA[Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique admitted his team will likely need to score several more goals away to Bayern Munich next week to be sure of reaching another Champions League final after a remarkable 5-4 victory in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday.

&quot;I just asked my staff how many goals they thought we would need next week and we all think we will need to score at least three,&quot; said the Spaniard, who masterminded PSG&#39;s 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in last season&#39;s final.
That allowed them to win the Champions League for the first time in their history and next Wednesday&#39;s semi-final second leg will be their first visit to the Allianz Arena since then.

&quot;Bayern will of course be in their stadium and will be even stronger with their fans behind them but going back there will bring back beautiful memories for us. We want to have the same mentality and will go out to try to win the game.&quot;
Tuesday&#39;s thriller was the highest scoring semi-final match in the modern Champions League era -- you have to go back to 1960 to find the last game as prolific at this stage of the European Cup.

That was a 6-3 win for Eintracht Frankfurt away to Rangers, before the Germans lost 7-3 in the final to Alfredo di Stefano&#39;s Real Madrid.

&quot;The intensity of the game throughout was exceptional,&quot; said Luis Enrique. &quot;We won it and we are very pleased, but at 5-2 we thought we could have had a better result. &quot;We desverved to win, but we also deserved to draw and lose!&quot;
&nbsp;
&#39;Football is like religion&#39;

A crazy first-half at the Parc des Princes saw Harry Kane give Bayern the lead with an early penalty, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Joao Neves strike for the hosts and Michael Olise then make it 2-2, only for an Ousmane Dembele penalty to put PSG back ahead at the interval.
Kvaratskhelia and Dembele then both scored for PSG before the hour mark, leaving them seemingly out of sight at 5-2, but Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz pulled goals back for Bayern.

That ensures it will be game on next week in Munich, and there is a strong chance this tie could become the most prolific ever in the Champions League.

The record for most goals in a two-legged tie in Europe&#39;s elite club competition is 13, including in last season&#39;s semi-final in which Inter beat Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate.
&quot;I was proud of how we reacted at 5-2. It was incredible how the players fought back,&quot; said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, who had to watch from the stands due to suspension, an experience he described as a &quot;catastrophe&quot;.

Asked about the attacking approach of the two teams, he added: &quot;Football is a bit like religion &ndash;- people believe what they believe, and there is not one style of play that is superior to another.

&quot;What happened today was a clash of two similar ideas -- normally in these situations you have one team that starts to sit back a bit but neither team wanted to do that and that is why the match was how it was,&quot; he said.

Bayern will hope to overturn their one-goal deficit next week as they look to reach a first Champions League final since 2020.
&quot;It can&#39;t come quick enough,&quot; Kompany said of the return leg.

&quot;There is not much in it and we just need to win the game. The weight of our stadium can make a difference. It is a legendary venue where Bayern have had so many great successes.&quot;&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Girona's Livakovic refuses to play</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2581805/gironas-livakovic-refuses-to-play</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2581805/gironas-livakovic-refuses-to-play#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 25 10:24:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2581805</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He made 71 appearances for Croatia]]>
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				<![CDATA[Girona manager Michel said on-loan goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has refused to play for the club because he wants to keep his options open for another move that will improve his chances of playing for Croatia at the World Cup next year.
Livakovic, who has made 71 appearances for 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia, joined the Spaniards on loan from Fenerbahce in September following the arrival of Ederson at the Turkish side.
The 30-year-old has played twice for Fenerbahce this season but has yet to feature for Girona, with Paulo Gazzaniga being Michel&#39;s preferred option between the sticks.
Under governing body FIFA&#39;s rules, a player can register with three clubs during a season but can only play for two.
&quot;Livakovic is a spectacular person, but he has a timeline with objectives different from Girona&#39;s,&quot; Michel said. &quot;He needs to play for the World Cup, not for Girona.&quot;
&quot;He told me this himself, he is a sincere person. He told me he didn&#39;t want to be here, that he wanted to play for another team because if he played with Girona, he wouldn&#39;t be able to play for another team.&quot;
Reuters has contacted Livakovic&#39;s management agency for comment.
Michel said Livakovic had refused to play in a 2-1 defeat by third-tier side Ourense in the Copa del Rey this month, with Gazzaniga having to play through illness.
&quot;He was supposed to play, and he told me he wouldn&#39;t,&quot; the Spanish manager added.
&quot;Gazzaniga played in Ourense with the flu and a fever of 38 degrees. Right now, I only have one goalkeeper available ... until the winter transfer window, I know we have a problem.&quot;
Girona, who finished third in the 2023-24 LaLiga season, are 18th in the standings with 12 points.]]>
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			<title>Salah's omission from Inter game is a consequence of his actions, says Becker</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2581297/salahs-omission-from-inter-game-is-a-consequence-of-his-actions-says-becker</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2581297/salahs-omission-from-inter-game-is-a-consequence-of-his-actions-says-becker#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 25 10:33:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2581297</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He was not included in the 19-man squad for the UCL clash]]>
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				<![CDATA[Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah&#39;s omission from Tuesday&#39;s Champions League game at Inter Milan is a consequence of his reaction to being left out of the side, teammate Alisson Becker said on Monday.
Salah, 33, was not included in the 19-man squad for the Inter clash after he said in a hard-hitting interview following Saturday&#39;s match with Leeds United that he had been &quot;thrown under the bus&quot; by the club.
&quot;Salah not being available is just a consequence of what he did and he is smart enough to know that. I didn&#39;t speak to Mo about that,&quot; the Brazilian goalkeeper told reporters.
&quot;We share good moments, happy moments so that creates a bond. We will have a conversation, but that is personal.&quot;
Salah, who has scored 250 goals, won two Premier League titles and a Champions League in eight years with Liverpool, was left on the bench in last month&#39;s 2-0 win at West Ham United.
He came on in the 1-1 home draw with Sunderland but was again an unused substitute at Leeds.
Ahead of the Inter fixture, Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he had no clue whether Salah had played his last game for the club, while Becker expressed hope for the Egyptian forward&#39;s return.
&quot;I hope he plays again for the club. That&#39;s a personal situation between Mo and the club,&quot; he said.
&quot;We, as his teammates and his friends, we hope the best thing happens for him, but as Liverpool FC players we want the best for the club as well. We want a win-win situation for everyone.&quot;
Salah, who has scored just five goals and appeared in 19 games in all competitions this season, had said he felt as if he had been made a scapegoat for Liverpool&#39;s poor start to the season.
The Premier League club is 10th in the current campaign, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal after 15 games.]]>
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			<title>Two sent off for Real in Celta defeat</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2581137/two-sent-off-for-real-in-celta-defeat</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2581137/two-sent-off-for-real-in-celta-defeat#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 25 10:04:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2581137</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Los Blancos suffered a 2-0 defeat at home]]>
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				<![CDATA[Real Madrid crashed to a damaging 2-0 home defeat by Celta Vigo on Sunday in La Liga, finishing the game with nine men after red cards for Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras.
Williot Swedberg struck twice in the second half for Celta, with Madrid&#39;s second league defeat of the season leaving rivals Barcelona four points clear at the top of La Liga.
Xabi Alonso&#39;s side, second, also lost defender Eder Militao to injury on a difficult night in the Spanish capital.
Madrid were playing their first match at home following six on the road across all competitions after hosting an NFL match at the Bernabeu, coinciding with a poor run of form, having now won just one of their last five league games.
&quot;(This was) tremendous... we read the game very well, we had some luck in the chances that we had, but we did well,&quot; Celta striker Borja Iglesias told Movistar.
&quot;With the team they have and their quality, it&#39;s hard to equal them, but we read it well, we had the ball, we played in their half, we played a great game.&quot;
With a juicy Champions League clash against Manchester City and Erling Haaland approaching on Wednesday, Alonso chose to rest centre-back Antonio Rudiger, starting with Carreras in the heart of defence.
Rudiger&#39;s break did not last long, with the German defender coming on midway through the first half after Militao pulled up injured.
Raul Asencio started at right-back, after Trent Alexander-Arnold was sidelined for two months with a thigh injury, continuing a tough start to life in the Spanish capital for the former Liverpool defender.
Celta Vigo goalkeeper Ionut Radu made a handful of good saves in the first half, keeping out a Jude Bellingham header and Arda Guler&#39;s drive from range.
Madrid were struggling to create serious danger as Celta set up in a tough-to-crack low defensive block, denying dangerous forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior space.
Guler missed Madrid&#39;s best chance of the first half, with the Turkish playmaker sending a shot wide on the swivel after Mbappe teed him up.
Radu also thwarted Vinicius after Aurelien Tchouameni chopped a ball in behind the defence for the Brazilian to run onto, a rare crack in Celta&#39;s armour.
Celta&#39;s Romanian goalkeeper turned away a fierce Fede Valverde effort from distance early in the second half, before Celta stunned the hosts.
Bryan Zaragoza crossed from the left for Swedberg, who produced a gorgeous flicked finish to beat Thibaut Courtois to send the Galicians ahead.

Losing heads
Madrid were wounded, literally in the case of Bellingham, with blood running down his face from a cut sustained in a tussle with Celta target man Iglesias.
Adding insult to injury Fran Garcia earned two yellow cards inside a minute, the second for a clumsy foul on Swedberg, to leave Los Blancos with 10 men for the final third of the match.
Mbappe sent a lob over Radu but down onto the roof of the net and substitute Gonzalo Garcia headed just wide as Madrid searched for an equaliser, which did not come.
Carreras was dismissed in stoppage time as Madrid lost their heads, for dissent as he protested a decision by referee Alejandro Quintero.
With Madrid down to nine and in disarray, Celta wrapped up their win as Swedberg rounded Courtois and ran the ball home.
Espanyol continued their superb start to the season with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano to climb up to fifth.
Roberto Fernandez netted a first-half penalty for Manolo Gonzalez&#39;s team at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella as they won a third straight league game.
Espanyol trail fourth-place Atletico Madrid by four points, having played one game fewer than Diego Simeone&#39;s team.
Rayo midfielder Unai Lopez was sent off after the break for a second yellow card, and the hosts spurned several opportunities to expand their lead.
Both teams finished the match with 10 men after Espanyol&#39;s English winger Tyrhys Dolan picked up a second yellow card in the final stages.
&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Eyes of football world on 2026 World Cup draw with Trump centre stage</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2580691/eyes-of-football-world-on-2026-world-cup-draw-with-trump-centre-stage</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2580691/eyes-of-football-world-on-2026-world-cup-draw-with-trump-centre-stage#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 25 11:44:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[FIFA’s star-studded ceremony at the Kennedy Center will map the road to the first 48-team finals]]>
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				<![CDATA[The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place in Washington on Friday, with Donald Trump set to play a prominent part in a star-studded ceremony that will map the path to glory for contenders at the first-ever 48-team finals.

The most logistically complex World Cup in history will be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, with 16 more teams added to the global showpiece, up from the 32 nations involved in Qatar in 2022.

The ceremony at the Kennedy Center starts at 1700 GMT and reaches far beyond football, with several of the biggest stars in the American sporting world participating while Trump takes centre stage.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump, visiting the White House several times.

Now the US president is expected to be the first ever recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize, which will be awarded during the draw ceremony, &quot;to recognize the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations&quot;, as Infantino put it.

The draw will be co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and American actor and comedian Kevin Hart, and feature performances by the Village People, Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli.

NFL legend Tom Brady, ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky and former NBA superstar Shaquille O&#39;Neal will be among the stars helping to conduct the draw.

Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece event of both his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.

But he has not hesitated to inject domestic politics into the preparations, threatening to move World Cup matches from Democratic-run cities if he deems conditions &quot;unsafe&quot;.

&quot;I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who&#39;s phenomenal, and I would say, let&#39;s move it to another location. And he would do that,&quot; Trump said recently.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will also be present at the ceremony.

Eleven of the 16 World Cup venues are in the United States, with three in Mexico and two in Canada.

The tournament will kick off at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and culminate at the MetLife Stadium outside New York City.

Argentina put title on line&nbsp;

The political element to the draw saw Iran vow to boycott the ceremony because the United States refused to grant visas to several members of its delegation, although Iranian head coach Amir Ghalenoei will be there in the end.

Lionel Messi&#39;s Argentina are the reigning champions after winning the World Cup for the third time in Qatar in 2022.

Messi will turn 39 during the tournament but this week told ESPN: &quot;I hope I can be there. I&#39;ve said before that I&#39;d love to be there.&quot;

Argentina are among the top seeds along with European champions Spain, record five-time winners Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium. The three host nations complete the first pot of seeds.

The decision to expand the tournament has also cleared the way for several first-time qualifiers, including Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao.

&#39;Natural evolution&#39;&nbsp;

If the expansion is to everyone&#39;s liking, FIFA&#39;s head of global football development Arsene Wenger insisted this week it was a &quot;natural evolution&quot; and that 48 teams is &quot;the right number&quot;.

Those teams will be split into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each advancing alongside the eight best third-placed sides to the last 32.

For the first time, the four highest-ranked nations will be kept apart, meaning Spain, Argentina, France and England cannot meet before the semi-finals, if all four top their groups.

Six finals berths are still to be decided in playoffs, the winners of which will be among the bottom seeds -- the favourites will therefore want to avoid the potential banana skin of Italy, World Cup winners as recently as 2006 but who failed to qualify for the last two tournaments.

Because of the complexity, teams will only learn the full details of their match venues and kick-off times on Saturday, a day after the draw.]]>
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			<title>Merino strikes to give Arsenal bruising draw at 10-man Chelsea</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2579989/merino-strikes-to-give-arsenal-bruising-draw-at-10-man-chelsea</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2579989/merino-strikes-to-give-arsenal-bruising-draw-at-10-man-chelsea#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 25 10:08:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Gunners remain five points clear of second-placed Manchester City]]>
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				<![CDATA[Mikel Merino rescued Arsenal as the Premier League leaders battled to a 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea in a bad-tempered London derby on Sunday.

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a crude foul on Merino late in the first half at Stamford Bridge.

Despite Caicedo&#39;s dismissal, Trevoh Chalobah headed Chelsea into a second half lead, but Merino&#39;s leveller ensured Arsenal emerged unscathed from a bruising encounter between the title rivals.

Arsenal are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who beat Newcastle on Saturday, and sit six points above third-placed Chelsea.

When the dust had settled on a contest of relentless intensity, Arsenal were left to rue a missed opportunity to extend their lead over Chelsea in the title race, while the Blues were relieved to avoid a damaging defeat.

&quot;I think we showed we are heading in the right direction. We were a much better team than them 11 v 11 but with 10 players, it is difficult. But we dealt with it outstandingly,&quot; Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta added: &quot;Two teams that play with a lot of intensity and aggression, you could sense it in every tackle.

&quot;We scored a brilliant goal. We had two or three big chances. It&#39;s been a massive week emotionally and physically.&quot;

Arsenal remain the favourites to win their first Premier League crown since 2004, but Chelsea&#39;s combative display suggested that they could emerge as the biggest threat to the Gunners&#39; title aspirations.

Arsenal are unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions, winning 14 of those matches, while Chelsea have gone seven matches without losing in all competitions.

Chelsea swept to a 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Arsenal enjoyed a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich 24 hours later.

The positivity from those results was quickly forgotten as a bitter battle broke out at the Bridge.

Maresca had played down his young side&#39;s title hopes, but they went toe-to-toe with Arsenal, who were without injured centre-back William Saliba.

War of attrition&nbsp;

A thunderous first half included a rash of bookings as both teams tried to impose themselves.

Bukayo Saka&#39;s stinging strike was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez at his near post.

Enzo Fernandez tested Arsenal keeper David Raya from the edge of the area as Chelsea began to exert pressure on the visitors&#39; reshuffled defence.

The war of attrition turned ugly in the 38th minute when Caicedo caught Merino on the ankle with a nasty foul that was upgraded from a booking to a dismissal after a VAR review.

It was the Blues&#39; sixth red card in all competitions this season.

The Ecuador midfielder&#39;s premature exit was followed by a dangerous Piero Hincapie elbow on Chalobah, provoking Chelsea cries for a red card that went unheeded.

Gabriel Martinelli nearly added to Chelsea&#39;s angst on the stroke of half-time with a fierce blast that forced a fine save from Sanchez.

Arsenal arrived as the best set-piece team in the league with 10 goals in 12 matches.

But Chelsea ranked second with eight and Chalobah grabbed their ninth in the 48th minute.

It was a goal straight from the Arsenal playbook as James curled a corner to the near post and Chalobah rose highest inside the six-yard box to glance his header into the far corner.

Arteta responded by sending on Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke, who was jeered and barraged with chants of &quot;Chelsea reject&quot; on his return to his former club.

The Arsenal changes reaped an instant reward as Merino snatched the 59th minute equaliser.

Saka danced past Marc Cucurella with a mesmerising run and cross, picking out Merino for a powerful close-range header that flashed past Sanchez.

It was Merino&#39;s fourth goal this season as Arteta once again used the Spain midfielder as a makeshift striker.

A frantic finale featured Sanchez making superb stops to deny Saka and Merino, but Arsenal could not land the knockout blow.]]>
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			<title>Bayern survive late Augsburg scare, Ten Hag's tough start continues</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564253/bayern-survive-late-augsburg-scare-ten-hags-tough-start-continues</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564253/bayern-survive-late-augsburg-scare-ten-hags-tough-start-continues#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 25 07:41:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Bayern held off their Bavarian rivals to seal a 3-2 victory]]>
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				<![CDATA[Bayern Munich survived a late Augsburg rally to seal a 3-2 victory on Saturday and make it two wins from two to start their Bundesliga title defence.

Harry Kane, on his 100th Bayern appearance, created the opener in the 28th minute, floating in a delightful, chipped cross for Serge Gnabry to head home.

Luis Diaz, who missed a sitter just two minutes in, made up for that mistake by adding Bayern&#39;s second, turning in Konrad Laimer&#39;s cutback from close range in first-half injury time.

Having put six goals past RB Leipzig a week ago, Bayern looked on track for another thumping win when Michael Olise wrong-footed the Augsburg defence to coolly score his side&#39;s third in the 48th minute.

The hosts pulled one back on 53 minutes, however, Kristijan Jakic finding the bottom corner with a controlled volley.

With 14 minutes still to play, Mert Komur threaded the ball into the far corner to give Augusburg belief of an unlikely comeback.

The match continued into the 10th minute of stoppage time but Bayern held off their Bavarian rivals.

Bayern also conceded two late goals against third-division Wehen Wiesbaden in the German Cup on Wednesday in a 3-2 win.

&quot;They (goals conceded) are extremely annoying, but on the other hand, we missed a lot of chances,&quot; captain Manuel Neuer told Sky.

&quot;We did that in Wiesbaden, and now again. We&#39;ll definitely put those away in the long run.&quot;

Bayer Leverkusen let a two-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 at 10-man Werder Bremen, denying new coach Erik ten Hag his first league win in charge.

Leverkusen were 3-1 ahead and a man up after Patrik Schick&#39;s Panenka penalty midway through the second half, his second goal of the game.

Bremen were reduced to 10 men after Niklas Stark was shown a second yellow for the foul which led to the spot-kick.

But Leverkusen let Bremen back into the match when goalkeeper Mark Flekken advanced out of his area and misjudged a long ball, allowing Isaac Schmidt the easiest of finishes.

Bremen continued to attack and snatched a point in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Karim Coulibaly volleying in after the ball bounced off the crossbar.

Coulibaly, 18, is Bremen&#39;s youngest ever goalscorer in the Bundesliga.

The result puts some early pressure on Ten Hag who is trying to weave together a team full of new recruits, while reviving his own reputation after a poor end to his Manchester United stint.

&quot;There were too many simple mistakes from us... we did dumb things and gave the game away,&quot; Tillman told DAZN.

Despite the disappointment, the draw kept Leverkusen&#39;s remarkable away run alive, with the club unbeaten on the road in the league since May 2023.

Elsewhere, new Eintracht Frankfurt winger Ritsu Doan scored a brace and added an assist as his side cruised to a 3-1 win at Hoffenheim.

Japan winger Doan, who arrived from Freiburg in the summer, netted Frankfurt&#39;s opener on 17 minutes with a superb curling effort from well outside the box.

Doan doubled up 10 minutes later, tapping in a Jean-Matteo Bahoya pass on the break, before laying on an excellent pass for Can Uzun to score Frankfurt&#39;s third.

Stuttgart beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 1-0 at home thanks to a late header from Chema Andres, just hours after striker Nick Woltemade&#39;s departure to Newcastle was made official.

The German Cup holders were sluggish but grabbed the three points when Andres headed in with 79 minutes played after some poor marking by the Gladbach defence.

RB Leipzig bounced back from last week&#39;s drubbing at the hands of Bayern, winning 2-0 at home against Heidenheim thanks to goals from Christoph Baumgartner and new striker Romulo Cardoso.]]>
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			<title>Manchester City target Real Madrid’s Rodrygo</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2560939/manchester-city-target-real-madrids-rodrygo</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2560939/manchester-city-target-real-madrids-rodrygo#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 25 05:08:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The deal, which is expected to cost around $109 million, will depend on Rodrygo's willingness to leave Madrid]]>
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				<![CDATA[Manchester City are weighing up a move for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo as they prepare for a possible reshuffle in attack, with the Brazilian identified as a leading candidate to replace Jack Grealish.

According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, City have placed Rodrygo high on their recruitment list, viewing him as a &ldquo;dream target&rdquo; for manager Pep Guardiola.

The Premier League champions are considering a proposal worth around $109 million&nbsp;for the 23-year-old.



🚨🔵 Manchester City are considering move for Rodrygo after imminent exits.

Grealish gone, McAtee and Savinho can leave&hellip; and #MCFC see Rodrygo as dream target, Guardiola big fan.

Real Madrid will let him leave if player wants - asking around &euro;100m.

🎥 https://t.co/tXq2QCVE8s pic.twitter.com/x2YScL0ehH
&mdash; Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 11, 2025



The interest comes after considerable changes to City&rsquo;s squad.

Grealish, signed in 2021 for a British record fee, has moved to Everton on a season-long loan after he was left out of City&#39;s playing squad for the summer&#39;s FIFA Club World Cup.

Meanwhile winger Savinho, who joined City from Ligue 1 side&nbsp;Troyes&nbsp;in June 2024, is attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur and could also be allowed to leave, as reported by BBC sport.

Rodrygo&rsquo;s position at Real Madrid remains uncertain.

Since joining Madrid in 2019, Rodrygo has won two UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga championships, contributing six goals and six assists in 30 league appearances during the 2024-25 campaign.

Known for his versatility across the forward line, he would add both depth and top-level experience to City&rsquo;s attack.

Whether a transfer materialises is expected to depend on Rodrygo&rsquo;s willingness to leave Madrid.]]>
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			<title>Tottenham to sign João Palhinha from Bayern Munich on loan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2559050/tottenham-to-sign-joao-palhinha-from-bayern-munich-on-loan</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Aug 25 07:20:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Portuguese midfielder featured 25 times for Bayern last season, with Spurs covering wages and €30m buy option]]>
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				<![CDATA[Tottenham Hotspur are on the verge of completing a the signing of&nbsp;Portuguese midfielder Jo&atilde;o Palhinha, who is set to join from Bayern Munich on a loan deal.

The 30-year-old&#39;s move to North London comes after personal terms were reportedly agreed, and the deal is expected to strengthen Spurs&#39; midfield options for the upcoming season.

Palhinha, who joined Bayern Munich from Fulham in the summer of 2024 for a fee of &euro;51 million, struggled to secure regular first-team football during his debut season in Germany.

Despite being a key figure at Fulham, the midfielder made only 25 appearances across all competitions for Bayern, prompting him to seek more playing time.

The loan agreement between Bayern Munich and Tottenham will include a &euro;30 million buy option for Spurs, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. Tottenham are also expected to cover 100% of the midfielder&#39;s wages during the loan spell.



🚨⚪️ Jo&atilde;o Palhinha to Tottenham, here we go! Final green light arrived right now from Bayern.

Exclusive detail: loan deal includes &euro;30m buy option clause for #THFC, not mandatory.

Salary covered by Spurs, Bayern said yes and Palhinha will now travel for medical tests. pic.twitter.com/UJpO8i6qvI
&mdash; Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 31, 2025



Sources close to the deal confirm that Bayern Munich have given the green light for the transfer, and Palhinha is now scheduled to undergo medical tests before making the move official.

The midfielder will return to the Premier League after one season in the Bundesliga, bringing valuable experience and energy to a Spurs squad that is looking to improve its depth in midfield.

The move will be a boost for Tottenham&#39;s manager, who is keen to bolster his options in central midfield, especially after some of the club&#39;s midfielders struggled with consistency last season.

Palhinha, who earned widespread praise for his performances with Fulham, is expected to fit seamlessly into the Premier League once again, providing both defensive stability and creativity.

As Spurs gear up for the upcoming season, the addition of the Portugal international could prove to be a significant factor in their pursuit of top-flight success.]]>
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			<title>Chelsea agree deal with Ajax for £37 million Jorrel Hato</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2558862/chelsea-agree-deal-with-ajax-for-37-million-jorrel-hato</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2558862/chelsea-agree-deal-with-ajax-for-37-million-jorrel-hato#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 25 08:11:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The signing takes Chelsea's summer spending past £250 million]]>
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				<![CDATA[Chelsea have secured an agreement with Ajax for the signing of 19-year-old defender Jorrel Hato for an initial fee of &pound;37 million.

The highly-rated prospect is set to sign a seven-year deal lasting until 2032, and will travel to London to undergo his medical, as reported by BBC sport.

Hato, who has played both as a left-back and central defender, made his debut for Ajax at just 16 years and 335 days old, making him the third-youngest player in club history to feature in an Eredivisie match.

Over the past two years, he has made 75 appearances for the club and earned a senior cap for the Netherlands in 2023. Chelsea sees him as a promising addition to their defensive options, providing competition and depth.



🚨🔵 Jorrel Hato has been authorized to travel to London for medical tests and then he will sign 7 year deal at Chelsea.

Fee worth &euro;43m plus sell-on clause. 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/HZX4NtVLWv
&mdash; Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 30, 2025



Ajax&rsquo;s decision to part ways with Hato comes amid financial pressures and the club&rsquo;s return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. The sale of Hato is part of a wider effort to raise funds.

Hato becomes Chelsea&rsquo;s eighth signing this summer, following a major overhaul of the squad.

The club has spent over &pound;250 million in the current transfer window, balanced by over &pound;150 million in player sales.

Chelsea&rsquo;s summer signings:


	
	Jamie Gittens - &pound;48m from Borussia Dortmund
	
	
	Joao Pedro - &pound;55m from Brighton
	
	
	Liam Delap - &pound;30m from Ipswich Town
	
	
	Mamadou Sarr - &pound;12m from Lyon
	
	
	Dario Essugo - &pound;18m from Sporting CP
	
	
	Estevao Willian - &pound;29m from Palmeiras
	
	
	Kendry Paez - &pound;17m from Independiente del Valle
	


While Chelsea&rsquo;s transfer business for this window is nearing completion, the club is still looking to offload some players.

Christopher Nkunku is expected to leave, and striker Nicolas Jackson could be sold if the right offer arrives.

A number of first-team players, including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja, and Lesley Ugochukwu, are training separately from the main squad.]]>
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			<title>Manchester City to re-sign goalkeeper James Trafford in £27m deal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2557825/manchester-city-to-re-sign-goalkeeper-james-trafford-in-27m-deal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2557825/manchester-city-to-re-sign-goalkeeper-james-trafford-in-27m-deal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 25 11:44:24 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2557825</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Trafford turned down Newcastle’s bid in favour of a return to City, where he’ll compete for the No. 1 shirt]]>
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				<![CDATA[Manchester City are set to re-sign goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley in a deal worth &pound;27 million, just two years after the 22-year-old left the Etihad Stadium to join the Clarets.

Trafford, a product of City&rsquo;s youth academy, joined Burnley in July 2023 in a transfer that included performance-based add-ons and was valued at up to &pound;19 million.

His standout performances last season were instrumental in Burnley&rsquo;s promotion to the Premier League under Scott Parker. He recorded 29 clean sheets in 45 Championship appearances and was named in the division&rsquo;s Team of the Year.

Although City included a buy-back clause in the original agreement, the club did not activate it directly. Instead, they exercised matching rights after Newcastle United submitted a &pound;27 million bid for the England youth international, according to The Athletic&#39;s David Ornstein.



🚨 Manchester City to sign James Trafford from Burnley. Sold at &pound;14m &amp; purchasing for &pound;27m so buy-back cost ~&pound;13m. Activated matching rights on #NUFC offer &amp; 22yo picked #MCFC - 5+1yr contract. Ederson staying, Ortega to go but nothing close @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/w3gJa6OJN2
&mdash; David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 25, 2025


He will become the fourth senior goalkeeper in Pep Guardiola&rsquo;s squad, joining Ederson, Stefan Ortega and Marcus Bettinelli. Trafford is expected to compete with Ederson, who has served as City&rsquo;s first-choice goalkeeper for eight years.

Ederson is in the final 12 months of his contract and has recently been linked with Turkish side Galatasaray, though no formal offers have been received. Meanwhile, Ortega&rsquo;s future at the club remains uncertain.

Trafford joined City&rsquo;s youth ranks in 2015 but never made a senior appearance for the club. He had loan spells with Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers before establishing himself at Burnley.

The goalkeeper is expected to sign a five-year contract with City, with an option to extend by a further year.]]>
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			<title>Mikel Arteta backs Arsenal's handling of Thomas Partey’s legal situation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2557051/mikel-arteta-backs-arsenals-handling-of-thomas-parteys-legal-situation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2557051/mikel-arteta-backs-arsenals-handling-of-thomas-parteys-legal-situation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 25 07:32:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2557051</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Arteta states he is &quot;100%&quot; confident club followed all legal processes in Thomas Partey's rape charges case]]>
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				<![CDATA[Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed confidence that the club followed the correct procedures when handling the situation with former midfielder Thomas Partey, who is currently under police investigation for multiple counts of rape.

Partey, 32, left Arsenal at the end of his contract on 30 June. Just days later, on 4 July, he was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The charges relate to offences reportedly committed in 2021 and 2022, involving three women. Two counts of rape involve one woman, while a second woman is linked to three counts of rape. The final charge pertains to sexual assault against a third woman, as reported by the BBC.

Partey, who denies the charges, has stated through his lawyer that he &ldquo;welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.&rdquo; The investigation into Partey began in February 2022 after a police report of rape was filed.

While Arsenal are currently in Singapore for their pre-season tour, Arteta was asked about the club&rsquo;s handling of the situation at a press conference ahead of their match against AC Milan on Wednesday.

&ldquo;The club was very clear in its statement,&rdquo; Arteta said, adding that due to the ongoing legal proceedings, he could not comment further on the case.

When pressed further about whether the club followed the correct processes, Arteta responded confidently, saying, &ldquo;100%, yes.&rdquo;







Partey is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates&#39; Court on 5 August to address the charges.

Partey, who joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for &pound;45 million in October 2020, made 35 Premier League appearances last season, scoring four goals as the Gunners finished second.

He also played 12 times in the Champions League, helping Arsenal reach the semi-finals before they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain, the eventual winners.]]>
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			<title>Morgan Gibbs-White set to complete £60m move to Tottenham</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2555308/morgan-gibbs-white-set-to-complete-60m-move-to-tottenham</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2555308/morgan-gibbs-white-set-to-complete-60m-move-to-tottenham#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 25 06:32:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2555308</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Morgan Gibbs-White is set for a £60m move to Tottenham, with a medical scheduled for Friday before finalising the deal]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Morgan Gibbs-White, the Nottingham Forest midfielder, is poised to complete a &pound;60 million move to Tottenham after a medical on July 11.

Spurs is set to trigger the 25-year-old&#39;s&nbsp;release clause, with reports&nbsp;confirming that the move will proceed rapidly in the coming 24 hours.

The English international, who has earned four caps for his country, had been linked with a switch to Manchester City this summer, but the Premier League side have since cooled their interest.

Gibbs-White enjoyed a solid season at Forest, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists in 34 Premier League appearances.



🚨⚪️ Morgan Gibbs-White has now been authorized for medical on Friday as new Tottenham player.

&pound;60m release clause triggered by #THFC and deal confirmed, one more after Kudus. pic.twitter.com/My08NTIasW
&mdash; Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 10, 2025



Tottenham&rsquo;s aggressive pursuit of the midfielder comes as Forest agrees to sell Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for &pound;55 million earlier this week.

Gibbs-White&rsquo;s move to Spurs will follow a wave of signings under the club&rsquo;s new head coach, Thomas Frank, who took the reins last month.

The north London club also secured the services of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham for &pound;55 million and are reportedly interested in Brentford&rsquo;s Yoane Wissa.

Gibbs-White joined Forest in August 2022 from Wolves for a then-record &pound;25 million deal. Over his three years at the City Ground, he has made 118 appearances, scoring 18 goals and providing 28 assists.

He made his England debut in a Nations League victory over the Republic of Ireland and was most recently seen as a substitute in a friendly loss to Senegal.

His upcoming move to Tottenham marks another significant step in his career, further strengthening Spurs&rsquo; midfield options.]]>
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			<title>Anthony Elanga set for Newcastle medical ahead of £55 million move</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2554744/anthony-elanga-set-for-newcastle-medical-ahead-of-55-million-move</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2554744/anthony-elanga-set-for-newcastle-medical-ahead-of-55-million-move#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 25 08:02:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2554744</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Elanga joined Forest from Manchester United for £15m, going on to make 82 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Newcastle United have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest to sign Swedish winger Anthony Elanga for &pound;55 million, with the deal expected to be finalised this week.

The 23-year-old, who made a significant impact at Forest last season, is set to bolster Newcastle&#39;s attacking options as the club prepares for a return to the UEFA Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season.

Veteran sports journalist Fabrizio Romano broke the news on X (formerly Twitter).



🚨💣 EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Elanga to Newcastle, here we go! Deal in place club to club with Nottingham Forest for &pound;55m.

Agreement also in place with player&rsquo;s camp on long term deal. 🤍🖤

Excellent addition for #NUFC. pic.twitter.com/3Y6J90hFbe
&mdash; Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 7, 2025



Elanga, who joined Forest from Manchester United in 2023 for a reported &pound;15 million, contributed six goals and 11 assists during the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.

His performances have caught the attention of Newcastle, whose only new signing so far this summer has been 18-year-old Spanish winger Antonio Cordero, who arrived on a free transfer from Malaga, as reported by BBC sport.

Having joined Manchester United as a 12-year-old, Elanga made 55 appearances for the club before moving to Forest, where he flourished under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The move reflects Newcastle&#39;s ambition to strengthen their squad ahead of a demanding season that includes Champions League football.

Elanga&rsquo;s ability to create chances, his high efficiency in front of goal, and his crossing ability make him a valuable addition to a squad already brimming with attacking talent.

According to Opta statistics, Elanga ranks highly among Premier League wingers in key attacking metrics, including goal-creating actions, shots on target, and crosses per 90 minutes.

His 6.65 crosses per 90 minutes far exceed the figures of Newcastle&rsquo;s current wingers, such as Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, and Anthony Gordon, whose averages fall below 5.

Newcastle will also schedule Elanga&#39;s medical for this week, as per Romano.



⚪️⚫️ Newcastle have already booked medical tests for Anthony Elanga.

It&rsquo;s all done and agreed as exclusively revealed last night. pic.twitter.com/LVoOw7jkpK
&mdash; Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 8, 2025



Newcastle&rsquo;s interest in Elanga is clear: they are looking for pace, creativity, and directness in the final third. Elanga&#39;s ability to play both wide and centrally further enhances his versatility, making him a potential game-changer in both domestic and European competitions.]]>
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			<title>FIFA President Gianni Infantino accepts Mohsin Naqvi's invite to visit Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2551817/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-accepts-mohsin-naqvis-invite-to-visit-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2551817/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-accepts-mohsin-naqvis-invite-to-visit-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 25 08:59:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2551817</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The meeting took place in Washington DC, where the two discussed Pakistan's development plans for football]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[FIFA President Gianni Infantino has accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan following a meeting with Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

The discussion, held in Washington DC, focused on Pakistan&rsquo;s sporting potential and the rising interest in football across the country.

Naqvi, who has also overseen recent efforts to revive football governance in Pakistan, described the meeting as &ldquo;excellent,&rdquo; noting that Infantino expressed enthusiasm about visiting the country in the near future.

&ldquo;We discussed the immense potential of sports in Pakistan &mdash; especially the growing popularity of football following cricket,&rdquo; Naqvi wrote in a post on X.



Washington DC : Had an excellent meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. We discussed the immense potential of sports in Pakistan &mdash; especially the growing popularity of football following cricket. Extended a warm invitation to visit Pakistan, which he graciously accepted&hellip; pic.twitter.com/DB8p6yJZF8
&mdash; Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) June 20, 2025


Infantino&rsquo;s visit is expected to reinforce FIFA&rsquo;s support for Pakistan&rsquo;s re-emergence on the international football stage, following a period of administrative turbulence.

FIFA formally lifted its suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) earlier this year after the PFF Congress unanimously approved constitutional reforms.

The suspension, imposed in February 2025, stemmed from the federation&rsquo;s earlier refusal to adopt electoral reforms aligned with FIFA governance standards. The matter was resolved on 2 March, when the Congress ratified the revised constitution in line with recommendations from both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

With the suspension lifted, Pakistan has regained eligibility to compete in international football competitions.

Shahid Khokhar, a member of the PFF Normalisation Committee, confirmed the development and praised the reforms as a necessary step toward institutional stability.

Infantino&rsquo;s upcoming visit is likely to spotlight ongoing efforts to grow football in Pakistan, a country long dominated by cricket but showing increasing grassroots enthusiasm for the world&rsquo;s most popular sport.

It also comes at a time when global football bodies are seeking to expand the game&rsquo;s reach across new and emerging markets.]]>
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