رياضة

Andre, Joao Gomes, Tolu Arokodare: Welcome to the Wolves summer sale

Roll up, roll up! It’s the great Wolverhampton Wanderers summer sale.At Molineux, a surge of exits awaits following relegation back to the Championship. Though why, readers might ask, would other teams be rushing to pick off players from a club experiencing one of the worst seasons in Premier League history?Advertisement

The Kylian Mbappe debate at Real Madrid: Has the superstar forward delivered?

As Real Madrid’s players walk through the tunnel leading out onto the Bernabeu pitch, they pass a quote from club legend Alfredo Di Stefano printed on its walls.“No player is as good as all of you together.”Di Stefano was one of the greatest stars in Madrid’s history. As a player, he was the fulcrum behind their five consecutive European Cups between 1956-1960. Later he had two spells as manager (1982-84, 1990-91) and was made honorary president in 2000. He died aged 88 in 2014.Advertisement

Did You Notice: Victor Lindelof is a midfielder now — and it's working well

The Butterfly Effect — which is, loosely, when minor changes to the initial conditions of a complex system can result in radically different outcomes — was most prominently researched in relation to weather models in the 1960s.But it can, perhaps, also be applied to football teams — and Victor Lindelof.Advertisement

The sadness of Raheem Sterling

Before heading to the airport, I get in touch with an old Dutch footballer to ask what has gone wrong with Raheem Sterling.Jan Everse, a former Netherlands international, started his career at Feyenoord. He played with Johan Cruyff at Ajax and went on to manage PEC Zwolle, with a young Arne Slot in his team. But his focus, as a Rotterdam man, is always Feyenoord. And he is amused that a sports writer is flying in from the UK to watch a player who, in different circumstances, might have been play...

Scouting for Liverpool: Which forwards could they buy this summer?

Liverpool are gearing up for a summer of change and will soon enter one of the most important transfer windows in the club’s recent history.This week, The Athletic will assess possible options for the outgoing Premier League champions in the positions that are most pressing: forward, central midfield, full-back and centre-half.Advertisement

Martin Odegaard and 95 seconds of unfiltered creativity and vision Arsenal craved

For 95 seconds, Martin Odegaard was back in the spring of 2024.Gliding, light as a feather, through imperceptible gaps. Believing his x-ray eyes could pierce through a defence no matter the density of bodies. No doubts, no hesitation.It was as if his team-mates cast their mind back to that period, recalling the whimsical webs he, Ben White and Bukayo Saka spun, and took themselves back there too.Advertisement

England 2026 World Cup watch: Why Thomas Tuchel was at Selhurst Park

England manager Thomas Tuchel was at Selhurst Park on Sunday to watch Crystal Palace take on Everton. Why, you might ask?After all, there was the pulsating clash between relegation-threatened West Ham United and title-chasers Arsenal just up the road at the London Stadium, and there were plenty of England internationals and budding World Cup squad candidates playing elsewhere.Advertisement

Serie A Briefing: The divinity of Donyell Malen, Roma and Milan owners lean into calcio heritage

In Dante, the Inferno is not so different from Paradiso. They compare better than they contrast. The line between them is subtler than expected. It is a spectrum of how far the soul has oriented itself toward or away from love. Milan and Roma are level on points in Serie A. The two seem dimensions apart and yet share so many things in common: exasperation with American ownership models, power struggles between coaches, sporting directors and chief executives, Champions League football tantalisin...

Dwyane Wade expects LeBron James to 'take some time off' before deciding his future

Four years together on the Miami Heat and a lifelong friendship have afforded now-Prime analyst Dwyane Wade insight into LeBron James' thought processes.While he does not know for sure whether James plans to continue for a 24th season (and where he'll play if he does) or retire if the Lakers bow out to the Thunder, Wade believes the James he knows will take some time to think about it.Advertisement

Row Z: VAR-induced meltdowns, Infantino's bold claims and players thrown under the bus

Welcome to Row Z, The Athletic’s weekly column that shines a light on the bonkers side of the game.From clubs to managers, players to organisations, every week we’ll bring you the absurdities, the greed, the contradictions, the preposterousness and the oddities of the sport we all love…A clear and obvious error… from VAR?So VAR decided the fate of the Premier League title (as well as the race for survival) and everybody reacted really calmly about the situation.VARcical shouted Mail Online,...

Canucks GM search: A new Sedin era, the end of the process and who is Evan Gold?

There have been a few twists and turns as the Vancouver Canucks have conducted their search for the 13th general manager in franchise history.The club began by casting a wide net, with 15-20 candidates being interviewed. There was the Pierre Dorion thing.After Vancouver didn’t win either of the draft lottery draws, Canucks president Jim Rutherford — who has been leading this search, alongside a panel that includes multiple representatives from Canucks ownership and business operations leadership...

IPL playoff scenario: Punjab Kings enter danger zone, Delhi Capitals cling on

IPL playoff scenario Punjab Kings enter danger zone Delhi Capitals cling on

'विराट कोहली के खिलाफ गलत बोलने के लिए ऑफर हुए थे पैसे', मॉडल का शॉकिंग दावा

How to watch the women's Internazionali BNL d'Italia: TV channel and streaming options for the Quarterfinal

There are two women’s matches at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on May 12, the best being No. 4-ranked Coco Gauff versus No. 7 Mirra Andreeva.Internazionali BNL d’Italia key details Tournament: The Internazionali BNL d’Italia Round: Quarterfinals Date: May 12 Streaming: Fubo (Stream now) Venue: Foro Italico Location: Rome, Italy Court Surface: Clay Internazionali BNL d’Italia schedule today Sorana Cirstea vs. Jelena Ostapenko, 7 a.m. ET (Quarterfinal) Coco Gauff vs. Mirra Andreeva, 1 p.m. ET (Q...

Man Utd news: First steps made to sign 'next Bruno Fernandes' as worrying news emerges overseas

Manchester United have been linked with multiple players ahead of the summer transfer window

Join Arsenal for £75m, replace Marcus Rashford – Anthony Gordon's four transfer options

Newcastle star Anthony Gordon has been the subject of serious speculation over his future, with potential options in the Premier League and beyond

'Very sensitive to criticism': Manjrekar makes big Virat Kohli revelation

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes Virat Kohli is “very sensitive to criticism” despite often saying he ignores outside noise. Manjrekar revealed Kohli sometimes became “cold” towards him after negative remarks. He added criticism may motivate Kohli to perform better. Manjrekar also praised Kohli’s aggressive leadership in Test cricket, calling him one of India’s greatest captains during his successful tenure.

Vinesh Phogat vs Wrestling Federation of India row: Everything that happened

Vinesh Phogat vs Wrestling Federation of India row Everything that happened

Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta sent message on star's future as Anthony Gordon update issued

Arsenal have received two very encouraging updates after retaining control of the Premier League standings in controversial fashion at West Ham

Marcus Rashford swap deal proposed that would see £131million man heading to Man Utd

Marcus Rashford has spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Barcelona but could end up elsewhere by the end of the summer transfer window