Football

Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid eye Adam Wharton deal, Manchester United could move for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Sandro Tonali, Leeds keeper Illan Meslier looks to be heading to Turkey.

Liverpool could rival Manchester United and Real Madrid for the £80m signing of Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, in the summer. (Mirror), external

Manchester United could make a move for long-term striker target Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, in the summer after the Frenchman’s proposed deadline-day transfer from Crystal Palace to AC Milan fell through. (Mirror), external

AC Milan, Chelsea and Newcastle are all interested in Serbian forward Dusan Vlahovic, 26, on a summer free transfer, even though he has recently returned to Juventus to complete his rehabilitation from an abductor injury. (Football Italia), external

Manchester United are also looking to bolster their midfield and Newcastle‘s Italy international Sandro Tonali, 25, is of interest. (Metro), external

Everton will be open to new offers for English winger Dwight McNeil, 26, after his deadline-day move to Crystal Palace collapsed. (Football Insider), external

Newcastle will resurrect a move for highly rated Reims’ Ivorian midfielder Patrick Zabi, 19, in the coming months. (The i – subscription required), external

Leeds United‘s French goalkeeper Illan Meslier, 25, could be set for a move away from Elland Road, with Turkish club Besiktas holding talks. (Teamtalk), external

Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, 30, who is out of contract at Bayern Munich in the summer, could be on his way to Arsenal on a free transfer. (Bayern Insider), external

West Ham can dismiss head coach Nuno Espirito Santo without paying compensation if they are relegated to the Championship. (Athletic – subscription required), external

Former Real Madrid teammate and current SPL rival Karim Benzema’s move has upset Cristiano Ronaldo, reports say.

Two of the most popular footballers in the world have caused a stir in Saudi football on the final day of the midyear transfer window.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and French football icon Karim Benzema, both of whom play in the Saudi Pro League (SPL), were in the news on Monday for their off-field actions.

Star forward Benzema moved from Al-Ittihad to Al Hilal, with the transfer confirmed hours after Ronaldo was not named for Al-Nassr’s SPL game against Al Riyadh.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened on transfer deadline day in the SPL:

Why did Benzema move from Al-Ittihad to Al Hilal?

The former Ballon d’Or winner’s move is seen as an ambitious one, as Al Hilal are the most successful club in Saudi football and the current league leaders.

Despite winning the SPL with Al-Ittihad last year, the 38-year-old wanted to join the club that has won 21 league titles and four Asian Championships.

Coached by two-time Champions League finalist Simone Inzaghi, they stunned Manchester City at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup 4-3, knocking out Pep Guardiola’s team.

Benzema’s arrival was announced with fanfare by the record Saudi champions on social media.

Why did Ronaldo miss Al-Nassr’s game on Monday?

Ronaldo was absent from Al-Nassr’s SPL match against Al-Riyadh amid reports he is unhappy about the transfer situation at his club.

Ronaldo has scored 17 goals for the club this season.

Portuguese media outlet A Bola reported that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is unhappy that Al-Nassr have not strengthened their squad as they challenge for the league title.

The Portuguese superstar forward decided to recuse himself ⁠from head coach Jorge Jesus’ squad because Al-Nassr, the ​second-place team in the SPL ‍table, had not made a significant addition before the closure of the transfer window.

Heading into the game, Al-Nassr were second behind Al Hilal, which is also backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and has been linked with Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.

How is Benzema’s move linked to Ronaldo?

Benzema’s transfer from the previous SPL champions to the most successful club is seen as a major threat to Ronaldo’s hopes of being crowned league champion, despite prompting a wave of top football players – including Benzema – to move to the Saudi league.

Ronaldo, who turns 41 on Thursday, has scored 91 goals ‌in 95 league matches for Al-Nassr since he arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, ‍in January 2023.

SPL leaders Al Hilal are one point ahead of Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.

The former Real Madrid striker, a teammate of Ronaldo’s at the Spanish giant, led Al-Ittihad to the title last year, as well as the King’s Cup.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo is still waiting for his first league title since moving to Saudi Arabia in 2022, and has seen his main rival strengthen with the addition of five-time Champions League winner Benzema.

What have Al-Nassr said about Ronaldo, and could he leave the club?

Al-Nassr CEO Jose Semedo declined to comment, according to Saudi media.

Ronaldo is not injured, ill or out of favour ​with Jesus, ESPN reported.

Neither does ‌he intend to leave Al-Nassr, who signed him to a lucrative two-year contract extension in June 2025.

According to CBS Sports, ‌senior club officials understand Ronaldo’s vexation with the PIF, ‌the Saudi Arabian sovereign ⁠wealth fund that owns Al-Nassr, Al Hilal and two other Pro League sides.

Could Al-Nassr still sign more players to placate Ronaldo?

Saudi football’s transfer window closed on Monday night, pushing any hopes for the next transfer activity until the end of the current season.

After five seasons as football coach at Orange Lutheran, Rod Sherman is leaving. The school announced Monday that “effective today, Rod Sherman has concluded his tenure as head football coach.”

Last week, there was speculation of Sherman’s future after a social media post indicated he was out as coach. In response to a text, Sherman said he was still head coach.

Sherman, who also helped his wife, Kristen, coach flag football at Orange Lutheran, went 3-9 last season, including two forfeit losses. During the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, the Lancers upset No. 1-seeded St. John Bosco.

His team won a Southern Section Division 2 championship in 2021 and went 33-29 overall in five seasons. It was his second stint at Orange Lutheran. He had been an assistant coach and athletic director starting in the 1990s when Jim Kunau was head coach, then left to be a head coach in Colorado. The school indicated it will launch a search for Sherman’s replacement.

His wife is still listed as Orange Lutheran’s flag football coach but that is expected to change, too.

The team’s general manager, Kyla Laulhere, and offensive line coach Chris Ward will run the program until a new head coach is finalized. Ward, a graduate of Mater Dei and UCLA, has no interest in being head coach. Offensive coordinator Austin Pettis, an Orange Lutheran graduate, could be a top candidate.

Coaching in the Trinity League has become similar to a college or NFL team. The expectations are so high that not winning at a top level can result in a coaching change within three to five years. JSerra also made a change this past season. Santa Margarita had a first-year coach this past year, alumnus Carson Palmer, who won a Division 1 and state title.

Real Madrid earn a ⁠hard-fought football victory over their local ​rivals to move to within one point of league leaders Barcelona.

Kylian Mbappe stayed calm to roll home a 100th-minute penalty and grab Real Madrid a 2-1 win over nine-man Rayo Vallecano in a spicy La Liga football derby on Sunday.

Los Blancos cut Barcelona’s lead back to one point at the top of the table a day after the Spanish champions beat Elche.

Vinicius Junior scored early on for Madrid after Jude Bellingham limped off with an apparent hamstring injury.

Jorge de Frutos pulled Rayo level early in the second half as Madrid fans showed their anger at their team. But after Rayo’s Pathe Ciss was issued a red card, Mbappe netted from the spot at the death.

Pep Chavarria was also sent off for 17th-placed Rayo, who took a shaky Madrid to the wire before falling short.

After the hosts’ midweek defeat at Benfica, which forced them into the Champions League playoff round, the Santiago Bernabeu crowd was in an unforgiving mood.

Mbappe and Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa had begged fans to support the team, but, just as they did two weeks ago against Levante, they whistled at their own players.

Former Barcelona winger Ilias Akhomach fired narrowly wide early on, and the atmosphere would have been further soured had his effort crept inside Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ post.

Los Blancos suffered an early setback as England international Bellingham pulled up holding the back of his thigh, going off in agony.

Vinicius fired the hosts ahead in the 15th minute, showing tidy footwork just inside the area before firing high over Augusto Batalla and into the net.

Arda Guler came close to getting a second, with Batalla saving his effort and Vinicius turning the rebound wide.

Los Blancos were in charge, but though they took the lead, their fans were not appeased, and whistled the team in at the break.

Four minutes into the second half, Rayo pulled level. Alvaro Garcia nodded a cross down for de Frutos, a former Madrid youth player, to reach and drill home.

The visitors should have taken the lead after an hour, when Andrei Ratiu ran through on goal with only Courtois to beat. But the Belgian stopper made a superb save to deny him.

Mbappe came centimetres away from putting Madrid in front when Batalla rushed out of his goal, with the French forward knocking the ball around him but then hitting the bar from distance.

Rayo made life harder for themselves when midfielder Ciss was sent off for an ugly foul on Madrid’s Dani Ceballos.

Eduardo Camavinga headed against the post as Arbeloa’s side turned the screw, before nine minutes of stoppage time were added on.

With the clock ticking down, Madrid were awarded a penalty when Nobel Mendy clumsily fouled Brahim Diaz, and La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe dispatched the ball to snatch three points for his side.

Rayo finished the match with nine men after Chavarria was shown a second yellow card for shoving Rodrygo Goes.

Manchester United produce stunning winner to beat Fulham 3-2 in Premier League thriller at Old Trafford.

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick extended his perfect start as Benjamin Sesko’s stoppage-time strike sealed a pulsating 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday.

United took the lead through Casemiro’s first-half header and looked in command when Matheus Cunha netted after the interval at Old Trafford.

In an incredible finale, Raul Jimenez’s penalty with five minutes left gave Fulham hope before Kevin’s wonder-goal hauled the visitors level in stoppage time.

To United’s immense credit, they hit straight back as the much-maligned Sesko’s fourth goal in his last four games sealed Carrick’s third successive victory.

After new manager Carrick masterminded surprise wins over Manchester City and Premier League leaders Arsenal, this remarkable encounter suggested the former United midfielder might have the Midas touch.

Unbeaten in their last seven league matches, United moved up to fourth place as their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League gathers pace.

Reaching the Champions League would be a significant statement for Carrick, who was sacked by second-tier Middlesbrough last year.

Only once in former manager Ruben Amorim’s turbulent 14-month reign did United win three games in a row. And Carrick has matched that run within weeks of his appointment until the end of the season.

United’s hierarchy may have to consider hiring Carrick on a permanent basis if he can continue his impressive run.

Whether that is enough to appease the 1958 Manchester United fans group is another matter after they staged a protest against the owners outside Old Trafford before kickoff.

Hundreds of fans, some wearing clown masks, gathered to express their frustration with United’s decline under the Glazer family and the lack of improvement since co-owner Jim Ratcliffe took charge of football operations.

The group claimed United are “being dragged through chaos by clown ownership” and are “run like a circus”.

Fans chanted against the owners and held aloft banners as flares filled the air on Sir Matt Busby Way.

When the smoke cleared, Carrick’s intuition paid off as he brought Cunha into the starting lineup to replace the injured Patrick Dorgu after the Brazilian scored the winner at Arsenal last weekend.

Only Arsenal had taken more points than in-form Fulham over the previous eight games, but United found the formula to end that strong spell.

United thought they had won a penalty for Jorge Cuenca’s foul on Cunha.

But a VAR check showed the offence took place just outside the area.

It was only a temporary reprieve for Fulham as United took the lead from the resulting free kick in the 19th minute.

Bruno Fernandes swung his delivery to the far post, and Casemiro rose highest to thump a towering header past Bernd Leno.

United struck again in the 56th minute with Cunha’s sixth goal this season.

It was a goal made in Brazil as Casemiro’s clever no-look pass found Cunha inside the Fulham area, and he smashed a fine finish past Leno from an acute angle.

Fulham were controversially denied a lifeline when VAR disallowed Cuenca’s 65th-minute goal.

Samuel Chukwueze was ruled offside by the narrowest of margins when he prodded Jimenez’s free kick to Cuenca.

But United were wobbling and Jimenez converted an 85th-minute penalty after the Mexican was fouled by Harry Maguire.

United looked to have collapsed in stoppage time when Kevin cut in from the right wing and curled a sublime strike into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Two minutes after Kevin’s leveller, United showed their spirit as Sesko took Fernandes’s pass and drilled high into the net from 12 yards to spark wild celebrations.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal opens the scoring after six minutes to set the foundation for a convincing Barcelona victory.

Lamine ‌Yamal scored one goal and created another as Barcelona extended their lead at the ‍top of La Liga with a 3-1 victory over Elche on Saturday.

Barcelona moved to 55 points from 22 matches, four ahead of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. Elche remained in 12th place with 24 points from 22 games.

Yamal opened the scoring for the visitors ⁠before Alvaro Rodriguez equalised for Elche in an end-to-end first half.

Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford struck ​to complete the win, sparing the blushes of wasteful Barca, who had 30 efforts ‍on goal in the match.

“We got three more points. We continue to grow as a team. We haven’t reached our peak yet,” Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong said.

“We usually have people who finish well. There are times ‍when they fail. ⁠The important thing is that we have them [chances].”

Yamal sets the tone

Barcelona took the lead within six minutes when Dani Olmo played Yamal through on goal, and the 18-year-old rounded goalkeeper Inaki Pena to score his 13th goal of the season in all competitions.

Olmo struck a shot against the crossbar midway through the first half, and within a minute, Elche were level.

German Valera slipped former Real Madrid forward Rodriguez in behind the Barcelona defence, and he raced clear to score.

The visitors should have retaken the lead when Torres struck ‌the crossbar again from six yards out with a poor miss. The ball rebounded to him, and he then steered it against the post in a comical sequence of play.

Torres got his goal in 40 minutes when de Jong found space in the box and, rather than shoot himself, laid the ball back for the forward to fire into the roof ‌of the net from 15 yards.

It should have been 3-1 ⁠minutes later when Fermin Lopez somehow skied the ball over the crossbar from six yards with the goal gaping.

Barcelona continued to create chances in the second half, with substitute Rashford guilty of a poor miss when he put his shot wide ‌with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Rashford got his goal in 72 minutes, however, when Yamal’s low cross was not cleared by the Elche defence, allowing the England forward to blast the ball ‍into the roof of the net from close range.

“Barca attack very well,” Rodriguez said. “They have very good players, and it wasn’t to be. We will continue working to do better.”

German football federation confirms it met to discuss a boycott of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which is co-hosted by the US.

The German football federation has ruled out a boycott of the World Cup despite calls from within to send a message to United States President Donald Trump.

“We believe in the unifying power of sport and the global impact that a FIFA World Cup can have, the federation said in a statement issued late on Friday. “Our goal is to strengthen this positive force – not to prevent it.”

The federation, known as the DFB, said its executive committee met and discussed the option of a boycott of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a consideration first proposed last week by DFB Vice President Oke Gottlich.

Gottlich, who is also the president of Bundesliga club St Pauli, referred to Trump’s recent actions and statements and said it was time to “seriously consider” a boycott.

In what appears to be a public rebuke to Gottlich, however, the DFB said “debates on sports policy should be conducted internally and not in public”.

The DFB said a boycott “is not currently under consideration. The DFB is in contact with representatives from politics, security, business, and sports in preparation for the tournament” from June 11-July 19.

Trump has sown discord in Europe with his takeover bid for Greenland and threats to impose tariffs on European countries that opposed it, while US actions in Venezuela and at home in dealing with protests in American cities have also raised alarm.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter last week advised fans to stay away from the tournament.

When president, however, Blatter opposed calls to boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia over concerns about Ukraine.

“Football can not be boycotted in any country,” he said at the time.

Ahead of this summer’s tournament, fans have concerns about high ticket prices, while travel bans imposed by the Trump administration could also prohibit supporters from some competing nations from attending.

Germany’s team, at least, will be there.

“We want to compete fairly against the other qualified teams next summer,” the DFB said. “And we want fans worldwide to celebrate a peaceful festival of football in the stadiums and at fan zones – just as we experienced at the 2024 European Championship in our own country.”

French forward Kylian Mbappe questions team’s desire after damaging defeat sends Real Madrid into playoffs.

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has said his team “deserve” to be in their current situation because they were not consistent enough for a top-eight spot as his side slipped into the Champions League playoff round.

The record 15-time European champions fell to a 4-2 defeat at Jose Mourinho’s Benfica on Wednesday, finishing ninth in the league phase table, meaning they must face their Portuguese conquerors or Bodo/Glimt in February instead of reaching the last 16 directly.

After three wins in their previous three matches under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa, Madrid were brought back down to earth by Benfica in Lisbon.

“The problem is we aren’t consistent in our play, we have to fix that, you can’t have one day [playing well] and another not, a champion team does not do that,” Mbappe told reporters.

“We deserve to be in this situation today. Benfica were better. Now we have to play two more playoff games. It hurts to have to play those. We wanted to have the time in February to work on our game.”

Mbappe said he could not put his finger on a clear reason why Madrid played so poorly against Benfica.

“I think it’s a bit of everything. I can’t tell you it’s just a matter of attitude, because if I only say that, you’ll think we came here without any desire,” said the French superstar, who scored twice in the defeat.

“If I tell you it’s a football issue, you’ll think the team is bad. No, I think it’s a broader issue, and in the Champions League, every detail matters if you want to beat your opponent.

“It shows you that if you don’t come in with everything you need to win a Champions League match, the opponent will come and, as they say, make fools of you.”

However, Mbappe called on Madrid’s fans to support the team at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, rather than booing as they did earlier in January.

“Come and support the team – we had a bad game – but we are not knocked out of the Champions League, and in La Liga we’re in a good dynamic now,” pleaded Mbappe.

“If the Bernabeu is with us, we will win on Sunday.”

Benfica beat Real 4-2 which sends both teams into Champions League playoffs, as Madrid miss out on top eight.

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored an astonishing 98th-minute header as Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 to keep themselves in the Champions League and deny their illustrious opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.

In an extraordinary finale on Wednesday, the Portuguese side were ⁠heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin came forward for a free ​kick to score the goal needed to sneak into the playoff round on goal ‍difference.

That sparked wild celebrations from Benfica players, fans and their charismatic coach Jose Mourinho – a former manager of Real Madrid – at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon.

The Spaniards had hoped to finish in the top eight and go straight into the ‍last 16, but ⁠their 15 points from eight games were not enough, and they finished the match with nine men as Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off.

Andreas Schjelderup scored two goals for Benfica and Vangelis Pavlidis netted from the penalty spot, while Kylian Mbappe netted twice for Real in a hugely entertaining, end-to-end contest.

Benfica advance at the expense of Marseille, who lost 3-0 at Club Brugge. The giant screen in the stadium in Belgium congratulated both teams for advancing to the ​next stage, but that proved premature as Trubin turned the tables.

Both Benfica ‌and Real needed a goal for different reasons going into the final minutes, and it is a vindication of the competition’s format that a single goal could have such a dramatic effect on the table.

Benfica were denied two strong early penalty shots, ‌and Real took the lead on 30 minutes against the run of play when Asencio’s cross to the back post was headed in by Mbappe.

The home ‌side drew level six minutes later when Asencio’s slip in the ⁠wet conditions allowed Pavlidis to provide a perfect cross for Schjelderup to head into the net.

Benfica were awarded a penalty in first-half added time when Aurelien Tchouameni was adjudged to have hauled Nicolas Otamendi to the floor, and Pavlidis buried his spot-kick.

Schjelderup ‌scored his second of the game from Pavlidis’s perfect pass to make it 3-1, before Mbappe swept home his second, too – his 36th goal of the season in all competitions.

Benfica were still outside the top 24 ‍when they were awarded a free kick with virtually the final play, and Fredrik Aursnes’s delivery was headed in by Trubin to complete a night of high drama in Lisbon.

As far as first impressions go, new UCLA football coach Bob Chesney has been hitting the ball out of the park, according to high school coaches who have been receiving visits since Chesney started focusing on introducing himself to local coaches when the college transfer portal closed on Jan. 16.

“He’s a high-energy guy who has a clear vision,” St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro said. “He’s going to bring some excitement back. I was highly impressed. If he’s going to execute what his plan is, he’s going to have immediate success.”

There are so many Chesney sightings at high schools around Southern California, you have to wonder if he’s also scouting for a new house, but that’s probably left to his wife. On his visit to St. John Bosco, his driver was former St. John Bosco assistant Marshawn Friloux, a holdover in the Bruins’ recruiting department from the previous staff.

Bellflower coach Keith Miller, whose son, Austin, is one of the top tight ends from the class of 2029, got a school visit from Chesney, who also met Miller’s wife. Austin was offered a scholarship on Saturday after an unofficial visit to Westwood.

Miller said Chesney was eloquent and transparent, telling his son, “I didn’t just watch your film, I studied it and what stood out to me are the multiple efforts you make, especially your ‘scoop and score’ vs. Oxnard. Multiple effort playmakers are special. All great players have that trait. That’s what I love about you.”

UCLA has also been making early scholarship offers far more than the days when Chip Kelly refused to join that trend. Things started to change under former coach DeShaun Foster and Chesney’s new recruiting philosophy appears to be to get UCLA involved among multiple prospects in all grades and be competitive in Southern California, where coaches from USC, Oregon, California, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oregon State and Washington were among those making the rounds last week while making scholarship offers.

As an example of the challenge Chesney faces, USC coach Lincoln Riley brought in the No. 1 recruiting class this year and was visiting the No. 1 player for the class of 2027 in California, defensive back/running back Honor Fa’alave-Johnson from San Diego Cathedral Catholic.

“I think he’s got a vision and a belief to develop kids and not create this transactional culture in college football,” Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman said of Chesney. “I think you’d be a fool to sleep on UCLA the next few years. He’s super personal. What I sense from him is they have well thought out recruiting strategy and they’re not throwing spaghetti against the wall. He knows which kids can be successful in his culture and system and thrive and love UCLA.”

But NIL resources remain critical in this new era, and some players and parents will continue to place that priority over others. That will require Chesney to find those “diamonds in the rough” from his James Madison coaching days.

Negro said, “He’s going to fit to what is needed for the program. He’s not normally going to focus just on the stars. He’s done that at a lower level. He’s going to find some foundational players. It’s going to be hard at first. If people have expectations they’re going to pull an Indiana, that’s premature. But UCLA is closer than people think. This guy is very dynamic, hard-driven and understands L.A.”

Said Servite coach Chris Reinert: “He’s doing things the right way. He seems to be hitting the ground running. He spent an hour here.”

Chesney promised in his opening news conference in December that he wanted to build relationships with high school coaches, and Negro confirmed Chesney is inviting coaches to visit UCLA. That’s not unusual. Reinert said USC’s Riley did the same.

Chesney dropped by City Section school Hamilton, which has a top Class of 2029 quarterback in Thaddeus Breaux. Then Breaux was offered a scholarship. Hamilton coach Elijah Asante said, “Coach Chesney is a grinder and he’s going to find those hidden gems.”

Expect more Chesney sightings this week until the recruiting period closes at the end of this week.

Fiery-tempered and fierce-tongued Jose Mourinho softens his tone as former club Real Madrid face crunch game in Benfica.

Benfica coach Jose Mourinho said his Real Madrid counterpart, Alvaro Arbeloa, was like a child to him, in the run-up to their Champions League meeting in the final round of league phase matches.

The veteran Portuguese manager, known for his fiery temper and fierce tongue, coached Arbeloa at Madrid during his time at the helm of Los Blancos between 2010-2013, and had a strong relationship with the former defender in a dressing room that was splintering.

After a comment from Mourinho last week about being “surprised” when inexperienced managers lead big European clubs was viewed as a dig at new Madrid coach Arbeloa, he said he would never try to make life hard for his former charge.

Former Inter Milan coach Mourinho said in Italy that his words were also being taken as criticism of the appointment of Cristian Chivu at the Serie A side last year.

“There is one problem – both Chivu and Arbeloa are my children, they are not just ex-players of mine, but they are special,” Mourinho told a news conference on Tuesday.

“Speaking about Alvaro, I would say that he is one of the players – from a human point of view, from a personal point of view, and personal empathy – he is one of my favourites of them all.

“Obviously, he is not the best player who has played for Real Madrid, but he is certainly one of the best men who has played for me at Real Madrid.”

Mourinho said he was surprised when he himself was offered the chance to lead Benfica at the beginning of his coaching career in 2000, so his words could not be taken as an insult.

“The last thing I would do would be to put pressure on him,” explained the 63-year-old. “I want everything to go well for him, and for him to have a fantastic career as a coach.”

Mourinho said he had not spoken to Arbeloa since the 43-year-old replaced Xabi Alonso at the helm, but that there was no need to.

“My telephone number is very complicated, because there’s only the club’s number, and after that, only my family has it, and then my other phone is always changing, changing, changing,” explained Mourinho.

“People lose my contact, and I lose theirs too, and with Alvaro, it’s not necessary to have a call to say ‘good luck’, he knows it.

“In the same way that I [want Real Madrid to win games], Alvaro wants to beat Benfica, but then after that, he hopes Benfica always win, that’s for sure — no call is necessary.”

Mourinho admitted he could not speak for Arbeloa’s quality as a coach yet because he had not watched Madrid’s reserves or youth teams play.

“I cannot analyse him as a coach because I do not know him,” said Mourinho.

“I’ve only seen results, not followed with my own eyes the trajectory of the youngsters at Madrid.

“I have no advice to give him. The only thing that is important for me is that he is happy, that he likes it, because coaching these days is a very difficult mission.”

Madrid will seal their spot in the last 16 with a victory, while Benfica need to win and hope other results go their way to reach the playoff round.

Entering a particularly consequential season for coach Lincoln Riley at USC, a brutal Big Ten slate won’t cut the Trojans or their coach any slack in 2026.

That much was clear long before the Big Ten officially released its schedule for next season Tuesday. USC already knew it would face the conference’s top three teams from a season ago (Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon). But the official unveiling of the slate would further solidify just how grueling the climb could be for USC next season.

Oregon will face Portland State, an FCS team, a week before coming to USC on Sept. 26. Ohio State will have a bye week before its Halloween meeting with USC at the Coliseum, and so will the defending champ, Indiana, which USC will face in Bloomington on Nov. 14.

The Trojans will assuredly have to win at least one of those games to maintain their hopes of making the College Football Playoff in Riley’s fifth season. The rest of the schedule is hardly a cakewalk too, with trips to Rutgers (Sept. 19), Penn State (Oct. 10) and Wisconsin (Oct. 24).

The nonconference schedule is still being finalized, after talks broke down between USC and Notre Dame over the future of their rivalry series. But with two byes already baked into the Trojans’ schedule, a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told The Times that USC plans to schedule its season opener during Week Zero, with a home game on Aug. 29.

That timing drastically cuts down USC’s options for finding a fill-in opponent to open the season against at the Coliseum.

In order to play in Week Zero in its home stadium and not internationally or at a neutral site, USC must secure an exemption from the NCAA. That probably limits the Trojans to a team that faces Hawaii in 2026 — and thus gets an exemption from the NCAA to play an additional game — or means playing a Football Championship Series team, which USC has notably never done.

Starting the season early will allow for USC to add an extra bye week, while most Big Ten schools are working with just one during their 2026 slates. It’ll need that break considering what the latter half of the season holds.

After kicking off in late August, USC opens the season with home games in five of its first six weeks. But after that, the Trojans return home just twice the rest of the season, for matchups against Ohio State on Oct. 31 and Maryland on Nov. 21.

Brighton have turned down an approach from Nottingham Forest for Lewis Dunk, Chelsea consider Cole Palmer to be “untouchable” and Raheem Sterling is expected to leave the Stamford Bridge club.

Brighton have turned down an approach from Nottingham Forest for 34-year-old England defender Lewis Dunk. (Sky Sports), external

Chelsea consider playmaker Cole Palmer, 23, “untouchable” amid links with Manchester United and regard the England international, who is contracted until 2033, a key player in the club’s future. (Sky Sports), external

But Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling is expected to leave before the winter transfer window closes, with both parties in talks about securing an exit for the 31-year-old former England international. (Fabrizio Romano), external

West Ham are looking at loan deals for Tottenham‘s Czech keeper Antonin Kinsky, 22, and Chelsea‘s French defender Axel Disasi, 27, but the Hammers will have to send Brazilian defender Igor Julio, 27, back to Brighton to help make both deals happens. (Guardian), external

The representatives of 29-year-old Manchester United keeper Andre Onana, who is on loan at Trabzonspor, have held talks about the Cameroon international returning to former club Inter Milan in the summer. (Mail), external

Wolves are in talks to sign 25-year-old England midfielder Angel Gomes on loan from French club Marseille. (Talksport), external

Auxerre striker Lassine Sinayoko is another target for Wolves, with Championship clubs Coventry City and Middlesbrough also interested in the 26-year-old Mali international. (Football Insider), external

Burnley are in talks with West Ham over signing 31-year-old English midfielder James Ward-Prowse on loan. (Telegraph), external

Sunderland have played down reports 20-year-old Spanish forward Eliezer Mayenda could be allowed to move to Paris FC. (The I paper – subscription required), external

Nottingham Forest make a £35m bid for Crystal Palace‘s Jean-Philippe Mateta, Juventus are considering a move for Everton‘s Beto, and Manchester United‘s Bruno Fernandes will decide on his future at the end of the season.

Nottingham Forest have made a £35m bid for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, but the Eagles want a £40m package and will only let the 28-year-old Frenchman leave if that price is met and they are able to bring in a replacement. (Athletic – subscription required), external

Everton and Guinea-Bissau forward Beto, 27, is one of the options Juventus are considering as they look to bring in a striker during the winter transfer window. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Juventus are also interested in Liverpool‘s Italy winger Federico Chiesa, 28, and 24-year-old Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, who is at Manchester United. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

France striker Randal Kolo Muani, 27, is on a season-long at Tottenham from Paris St-Germain and is another option Juventus have asked about. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes is set to wait until the end of the season before deciding on his future, with the 31-year-old’s current deal running until 2027 and having the option of a further year. (Mirror), external

Atletico Madrid are set to hold talks with Atalanta about signing 26-year-old Brazil midfielder Ederson from the Italian side. (AS – in Spanish), external

Everton have rejected an offer from Lazio for 22-year-old English midfielder Tim Iroegbunam. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian), external

Newcastle United‘s English defender Jamal Lascelles, 32, has been told he can leave the club if the right deal is found. (Chronicle), external

Wolves have rejected a £6.9m bid from Roma for 23-year-old Norway left-back David Moller Wolfe. (Sky Sports), external

Former Southampton and Rangers manager Russell Martin is among the candidates to take over as Leicester City manager following the sacking of Marti Cifuentes. (Football Insider), external

Former Leicester City player Gary Rowett and Hearts manager Derek McInnes are also being considered by the Foxes. (Mail), external