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Azmoun left out of Iran's World Cup squad despite vice-presidential plea for recall
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has omitted striker Sardar Azmoun — 57 goals in 91 caps — from the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with local media reporting he was expelled for perceived disloyalty to the government. Mehdi Taremi and Alireza Jahanbakhsh lead the attack instead.
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Fenerbahce rule out Leao signing after meeting as United's Champions League spot offers edge
Fenerbahce presidential candidate Hakan Safi has confirmed the Turkish club will not pursue Rafael Leao after a brief meeting last week convinced him the AC Milan forward is not the right fit. Leao has publicly stated his desire to leave Milan for a new league, with Manchester United among his suitors.
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Davide Ancelotti appointed Lille manager ahead of Champions League return
Davide Ancelotti, 36, has signed a two-year contract to become Lille's new head coach, his first managerial role in Europe. The son of Carlo Ancelotti will lead the Ligue 1 club in next season's Champions League after replacing Bruno Génésio.
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Four Arsenal players enter final contract year ahead of a pivotal summer window
Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Christian Norgaard all have contracts expiring in 2027, leaving Arsenal to decide whether to sell, extend or let the deals run down before next season.
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Fernandes admits United trophy haul has fallen short but vows to chase Premier League glory
Bruno Fernandes has acknowledged winning only an FA Cup and a Carabao Cup in six and a half years at Manchester United, but says Champions League football next season has strengthened his resolve to stay and deliver more silverware.
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Ineos-owned Nice survive relegation, securing £18.2m and sparing Ratcliffe a costly blow
OGC Nice beat St. Etienne 4-1 on aggregate in a Ligue 1 playoff to preserve their top-flight status, earning £18.2m in prize money and relieving pressure on Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos group.
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Real Madrid president rules out Tchouameni sale, leaving United to pursue alternatives
Manchester United's hopes of signing Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni this summer have effectively been ended after club president Florentino Perez confirmed the Frenchman will stay at the Bernabeu. United must now look elsewhere for a Casemiro replacement.
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UK police launch dedicated online abuse investigation team to protect England World Cup players
A specialist UK Football Policing Unit investigation team will monitor and prosecute online hate directed at England players during the World Cup, with offenders facing potential jail time and lifetime football bans.
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England squad flies to Florida as Tuchel begins World Cup preparation in earnest
An initial group of England players departed from Birmingham on Monday for a pre-tournament camp in Palm Beach, Florida, ahead of their Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June. Thomas Tuchel, appointed in November 2024, has set winning the tournament as his explicit mandate.
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Liverpool hold £70m Quansah buy-back clause as Konate exit deepens defensive crisis
Liverpool negotiated a £70m buy-back clause when they sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in summer 2025, with that figure dropping to £52m if activated in 2027. The option is gaining relevance following Ibrahima Konate's confirmed departure on a free transfer.
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Leah Williamson ruled out of England's World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine
England captain Leah Williamson has been sidelined with a hamstring injury ahead of crucial Women's World Cup qualifiers against Spain on June 5 and Ukraine on June 9. Goalkeeper Khiara Keating is also absent with concussion, with Grace Fisk and Sophie Baggaley called up as replacements.
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Met Police investigating six stabbings after Arsenal's Champions League parade in London
Six people were stabbed and 24 arrested during Arsenal's Champions League victory parade in London on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed. More than 500 officers were deployed across the event alongside specialist search and drone teams.
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Liverpool in talks with Iraola as journalists debate whether he is the right fit
Liverpool are in advanced talks with Andoni Iraola to become their next manager following Arne Slot's sacking. The former Bournemouth head coach guided the Cherries to Europa League qualification, but opinions are divided on whether he can handle the scale of Anfield.
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Reece James shares Club World Cup heat insights with Tuchel ahead of 2026 World Cup
Reece James has revealed that England manager Thomas Tuchel has consulted him on his experience captaining Chelsea to Club World Cup glory in the United States last summer, with the extreme American heat a key concern for England's World Cup preparations.
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Saliba faces World Cup doubt after aggravating injury in Champions League final defeat
Arsenal defender William Saliba is reportedly facing a race to be fit for the World Cup after aggravating an injury during Saturday's Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in Budapest.
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Owen names Iraola as Liverpool's best managerial option in testy on-air exchange
Michael Owen backed Andoni Iraola as the frontrunner to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool during a pointed exchange at Chester races on Saturday, taking a swipe at his interviewer's football knowledge in the process.
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Lineker calls PSG's Champions League final win a victory for positive football over Arsenal's defensive approach
Gary Lineker has criticised Arsenal's defensive setup after their Champions League final penalty defeat to PSG in Budapest, saying the result was 'a victory for positive football over negative football' despite acknowledging Arteta's side had little choice.
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McTominay reveals surprise Ferguson phone call after Napoli title and Scotland's World Cup qualification
Scott McTominay has described receiving an unexpected call from Sir Alex Ferguson during his debut season at Napoli — a campaign that ended with a Serie A title and Scotland's first World Cup qualification in nearly three decades.
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Barcelona plot cut-price Rashford bid as Manchester United face wage dilemma
Barcelona are pursuing Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis but plan to offer just over half of the £26m option agreed in his loan deal, banking on Manchester United's desire to shed his £325,000-a-week wages to force a discount.
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Ochoa named in Mexico's World Cup squad to join Messi and Ronaldo in six-tournament history
Guillermo Ochoa, 40, has been included in Javier Aguirre's 26-man Mexico squad for the 2025 World Cup, making him one of only three players — alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — to appear at six editions of the tournament.
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