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The Frenchman looks best equipped to challenge the likes of Mohamed Salah and Raphinha for the Golden Ball

The Ballon d'Or is bad for football. There is simply no way that an individual honour should have attained such importance within a team sport. The hope was that it would provoke less outrage after the end of the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry responsible for its disproportionate level of popularity – but no such luck there.

Last year's ceremony was, in fact, the most farcical and bewildering yet, with Real Madrid refusing to turn up after learning that their star winger Vincius Jr had been pipped to top spot on the podium by Rodri. The Manchester City and Spain midfielder was a most worthy winner, but Vinicius and his employers couldn't even bring themselves to attend Rodri's arguably overdue coronation as the best player in the world, making their b*tching and moaning about a lack of respect look like the height of unintentional irony.

It was a surprisingly pathetic display of petulance from a player that has earned so many admirers around the world for his at-times one-man fight against racism in Spain – but a predictably petty show of entitlement from the most conceited club in football.

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  Masters of Ballon d'Or campaigns

  Because Madrid really do believe that the Ballon d'Or, much like the European Cup, effectively belongs to them. As Pascal Ferre, the former director of France Football, admitted back in 2022, Madrid are the masters of manipulating Ballon d'Or voters.

  "Florentino Perez orchestrates the campaigns well," he told the. "There are machines like Real Madrid that are very strong. Their intelligence is that they support a single player. For years it was Cristiano Ronaldo, then Karim Benzema. That prevents the votes from being dispersed. So, they know how this works. It's no coincidence if it's the club that has won it the most times."

  In that context, it will be interesting to see how Perez approaches this year's Ballon d'Or vote, as Madrid made a mess of last year's campaign and Vinicius has since been joined at Santiago Bernabeu by Kylian Mbappe, who has made no secret of his desire to win the trophy and is belatedly starting to look like a potential winner.

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  Vinicius the voting victim

  There's no denying that Madrid having three strong contenders for the 2024 Ballon d'Or counted against Vinicius, who finished just 51 points behind Rodri (1170). Remember, midfielder Jude Bellingham took third with an impressive 917 points, while right-back Dani Carvajal claimed fourth ahead of Erling Haaland. However, Toni Kroos also picked up 291 points to sneak into the top 10 (291), while Federico Valverde came home 17th (58) and Antonio Rudiger 22nd (13).

  At the end of the day, you don't win a Liga-and-Champions League double without several players performing at their top of the game, and that effectively split the Madrid vote. Had Vinicius even picked up Valverde’s points, he would have finished first.

  One could also easily argue, though, that Madrid backed the wrong horse – and would have been better throwing their weight behind Carvajal, given he also won the European Championship with Spain after Vinicius had flopped horribly for Brazil at the Copa America.

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  Rodri win no robbery

  Of course, right-backs don't win the Ballon d'Or (sorry, Trent!), so it was not in the least bit surprising that Madrid threw their support behind Vinicius – particularly as Bellingham undeniably faded during the business end of the season. The Brazil international was brilliant for Los Blancos during their Champions League campaign, popping up with big goals in the knockout phase, most notably against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

  The idea that he was somehow robbed was lunacy, though. We're not talking Franck Ribery in 2013 or Thierry Henry in 2004 here. Vinicius had a fine campaign, but he was only directly involved in 33 goals in all competitions for Madrid – which put him joint-16th on the overall standings across Europe's 'Big Five' leagues, behind the likes of Lois Openda and Ollie Watkins.

  Furthermore, it's a tally that's already been surpassed this season by Robert Lewandowski (35), Omar Marmoush (36), Raphinha and Harry Kane (both 37), and Mohamed Salah (47) – and we've not even reached the end of February.

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  Time to shine again

  It's clear, then, that Vinicius is going to have to come alive again in the knockout stages of the Champions League if he is to win this year's Ballon d'Or – particularly as the tournament will carry more weight than last year. With no major international tournaments to come this summer, and the expanded Club World Cup of questionable value, it feels inevitable that the Ballon d'Or winner will be provided by the team that conquers Europe.

  Vinicius is obviously no stranger to success in the Champions League. As well as stepping up last season, he also famously netted the winner against Liverpool in the 2022 final. Something similar in 2025 would go a long way towards helping him realise his Ballon d'Or dream – and he's off to a decent start, as it was Vinicius' late charge that led to Bellingham netting the winner in last week's play-off first-leg win over Manchester City at the Etihad.

In what could be the best signing of the INEOS era so far, Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their interest in signing Champions League winner Alphonso Davies for Erik ten Hag.

Man Utd transfer news

To their credit, it looked as though the Red Devils spent well in the summer. It was clear at the end of last season that they needed improvements across the pitch and they got just that in the last window.

Joshua Zirkzee arrived in an attempt to sharpen a blunt attack, whilst Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui came in to boost Ten Hag’s defence and Manuel Ugarte seemingly solved United’s Casemiro problem. Things haven’t quite gone to plan, however.

Juventus now weighing up move to sign "interesting" £37m Man Utd talent

He’s struggled since arriving…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 26, 2024

So far, it’s been yet another campaign to forget for those at Old Trafford who sit outside of the Premier League’s top four and in need of even more fresh faces. On that front, the rumours are already coming thick and fast, with the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Hayden Hackney already linked to an Old Trafford switch in 2025. Before the midfielders arrive though, INEOS could make their biggest move yet.

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United now have a more concrete interest in Davies and sporting director Dan Ashworth is beginning to gather information about the left-back.

The Red Devils have already reportedly made an informal enquiry with the Bayern Munich star’s camp and could land a free deal when his current contract comes to an end in Germany next summer.

In need of a new left-back amid Luke Shaw’s consistent injury struggles, Davies would be the ultimate upgrade and perhaps the catalyst behind a revived Manchester United side.

"Electric" Davies could be bargain of the summer

If Manchester United manage to land Davies’ signature on a free deal next summer then it will undoubtedly be the bargain of the window. It won’t get better than that for the Red Devils, who would finally have the chance to replace the unreliable Shaw and move Diogo Dalot into his preferred right-back role. A Champions League winner, Davies was dubbed “electric” by analyst Ben Mattinson back in June.

Earning a reported £180,000-a-week, Davies wouldn’t break Manchester United’s wage bill either, even in their current money-saving state. For a player of his quality too, and one who is still just 23 years old, it’s more than worth splashing out to secure his signature for years to come.

Manchester United have been handed a blow as it has emerged that one talented player won’t be available for selection during Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s short interim spell.

Manchester United manager latest

Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday morning, following a disappointing injury time 2-1 defeat to West Ham United, a result that left the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League with just 11 points from 9 games.

Immediately, it emerged that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co. had already outlined a succession plan, with the club approaching Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim over the vacancy within hours, and the Red Devils ready to pay his €10m release clause as a form of compensation to bring him and his staff to Old Trafford.

However, the Portuguese boss will not arrive immediately, with Man Utd now confirming Amorim will begin work on November 11, the first day of the next international break.

Amorim will love him: Man Utd face Angel Gomes repeat over Messi-esque star

Incoming Man Utd boss Amorim would love him

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 1, 2024

It means that he will remain in charge for Sporting’s upcoming Champions League game against new rivals Manchester City, giving the Portuguese side time to find a successor.

At Old Trafford, it means that Ruud Van Nistelrooy will have the change to impress in interim charge, and he made a strong start as his new-look United side swept aside Leicester City in the Carabao Cup to set up a quarter final tie with Tottenham.

He faces Premier League games against Chelsea and Leicester City as well as a Europa League game against Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki before the international break, but his opportunities to freshen up the Red Devils have been handed something of a blow.

Manchester United midfielder won't feature under Ruud

That comes as it has emerged that the Red Devils won’t be able to call upon young talent Toby Collyer for the next month after he picked up an injury. The 20-year-old featured in the 3-0 loss against Liverpool earlier in the season, coming on at half-time for Casemiro, and enjoyed a strong pre-season campaign for the Red Devils.

He was likely to be the next young talent to break into the first team under Ten Hag, who was full of praise for him ahead of the campaign.

“He has had a very good pre-season,” Ten Hag explained. “But before this, he earned being in the pre-season squad and he earned the minutes he got. He impressed. Therefore, he earns the right to play. It doesn’t matter if you are young or if you are old, if you won everything, if you learned nothing. You have to earn the right to play.”

However, The Daily Express now reveal that the midfielder will miss roughly a month of action, with the injury set to rule him out of contention for all of Van Nistelrooy’s tenure as well as probably Amorim’s debut game.

With Kobbie Mainoo also absent through injury at present, and Christian Eriksen withdrawing from the squad in midweek for unclear reasons, Van Nistelrooy could be left with only summer addition Manuel Ugarte and the much-maligned Casemiro as senior options in midfield for their clash with Chelsea at the weekend.

GOAL US writers discuss Messi missing Miami's game with Houston, and whether opposing MLS teams are right to make amends to fans

Lionel Messi made headlines last week when Inter Miami announced that he would not travel to Houston for their Sunday night MLS fixture with the Dynamo. Cue the panic from the soccer world. Social media lost its collective mind. Reddit got all petty.

And then, there were the Dynamo themselves, who released an official statement, acknowledging disappointed fans and giving away free tickets to fans for upcoming games to make amends.

Messi was not injured but was rather held out by Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano due to Miami’s "congested schedule" – in NBA terms, it would be considered "load management." The team had played at midweek and on the weekend for each of the past two weeks, both in MLS and CONCACAF Champions Cup matches. Since joining Inter Miami in July 2023, Messi has occasionally been rested during congested periods of play. 

It all felt a bit silly, really. After all, it was one athlete, missing one game, for a fairly rational reason. But it does also raise natural questions. Messi probably can't play 40+ games per season stay fit.

Should fans expect him to – especially opposing fans who want to see the 37-year-old superstar play in their stadium? Is it fair to him? Should the best player to ever do it spend what could be his last season worrying about injury?

And then there are the clubs. The Dynamo won't be the last away team that Messi "cancels" on this season. Do they then owe their fans if he doesn't show, a decision controlled by Miami, not the host club? Should MLS intervene, as the NBA did when load management got out of control and multiple superstars missed games, launching a new Player Participation Policy for the 2023-24 season?

These are all interesting questions, simmering in the background since Messi first came to MLS .

GOAL US writers debate them all in a load management edition of… The Rondo.

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  Is Miami right to rest Messi for some away games?

  Tom Hindle: For the vibes? No. But for reality? Yes. They have a championship to win. Messi can't play 40+ games for his club, and then international friendlies and other competitions such as the Champions Cup and Club World Cup. Some have got to go, and if that means he misses a fixture against a Houston team, then so be it. Honestly? Get over it, lads.

  Jacob Schneider: We are one week into the season. Rest? It's nothing short of pathetic. One week.

  Ryan Tolmich: From a purely Miami perspective, absolutely. The Herons are spread thin across multiple competitions but, ultimately, will only be judged on how they handle the one at the very end of the year. If they don't win MLS Cup, they will have failed. Knowing that, they have to do whatever it takes to build Messi towards that, even if that means dropping some points or disappointing some opposing fans along the way. It stinks, but it's reality: Miami's interests are furthered by keeping Messi healthy for the course of the season, and that means he can't play 90 minutes every single game.

  Alex Labidou: Match congestion and rotation aren't exclusive to MLS – there are plenty of managers in the Premier League or Europe's top leagues who bemoan the fixture list and criticize and leagues for being more accommodating to continental competitions. It's also not exclusive to soccer. NBA fans shudder over the phrase "load management." While it hurts the fans and overall interest in MLS when Messi does not play, ultimately Mascherano has to do what is best for his top player – and team. Last year, Messi looked out of gas in the postseason. With Miami wanting to go for multiple trophies this season, this is necessary.

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  Is this all a bad look for the league?

  TH: Well, it's not great, but that's football. Yes, this is Messi's league at the moment, but he is still a footballer who needs protecting. If it's missing a game here and there vs overuse leading to a hamstring tear that rules him out for the season, you'd bet the powerbrokers here would choose the former. Of course, there's a massive drop off for the club, and revenue lost for the league – but that isn't Miami's problem whatsoever.

  JS: It's a mark on the rest of the league. There are expectations – with his salary partially being paid by every club, given the MLS structure – that he competes. He's more than just a player in MLS – he's the face of the league. If he can just be rested whenever Miami's decides it's time, it opens the league up to criticism. If this were July or August, and he'd just gone on the CCC run, played in the CWC and then started Leagues Cup, on top of domestic action – well then a case could absolutely be made and there would be zero argument against it. But we're one week into the campaign. It's a joke.

  RT: This is where MLS is in a unique place compared to other leagues. If Liverpool, say, give Mo Salah a game off, there is no discussion. That's partly because of squad depth, as the dropoff isn't nearly as big in Europe, but also partly because of how leagues are set up. The Designated Player system makes a team like Miami look like "Messi and friends" while Liverpool are a team that just so happens to include a great player in Salah. Liverpool and Miami have the same goals – winning – but the way they get there is perceived differently because of the way MLS is both structured and marketed.

  AL: It's not great. The issue is the uniqueness of what brought Lionel Messi to MLS in the first place. Miami doesn't exclusively pay his compensation – partners contribute to his overall package as well. So when he's rested when Apple TV is trying to get its new Sunday Night Football franchise off the ground, it directly impacts the streaming network's ability to generate revenue. Remember, MLS doesn't directly benefit from the Champions Cup in the way it does with the Leagues Cup, for example.

  Furthermore, it speaks to a growing sentiment that MLS is too reliant on one star again to market itself, like it did when David Beckham played in the league. And at least he played against a star who might have been more talented in Thierry Henry. MLS at times seems make or break when Messi isn't involved – and that's a recipe for disaster for any sports league. It's time to add more stars who are at least in Messi's orbit to help lessen the burden on the Argentine needing to play every away game to help opposing teams with revenue.

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  Should opposing teams compensate fans when Messi doesn't play?

  TH: Maybe? It's not clear what this offers other than a pretty empty gesture. Sure, Messi is a serious revenue driver, but giving away a ticket doesn't help you much next time. Then again, sports without having to pay is probably a good thing? The real fans will keep coming back. The casuals will find another footballer to get excited about.

  JS: There's a bigger picture here that the general public overlooks. Teams are relying on revenue from his participation in their home ground. That's just where MLS is at the moment. He is the hottest ticket in town, and prices surge as a result. If he doesn't play and the club builds up anticipation to the match by showcasing him, of course the club needs to say something – they're ultimately responsible for their marketing and their stadium. Free tickets? It's whatever. Find a way to keep the public happy while making things right.

  RT: If that's best for their business, sure, why not? Teams are in business of generating revenue, and for many, the business of Messi brings in big bucks. Losing out on that stings and, ultimately, damages reputations with fans. If giving away tickets or discounts helps keep those fans and, more importantly, gets them back in on another day, then go for it. Soccer isn't yet at a place in which it can afford to exclude anyone, so the more the merrier – with or without Messi.

  AL: Perhaps? It's seems the right thing to do when you see social videos of fans driving six hours just to watch their icon on the pitch – and he doesn't play. As a team, you need to find ways to drive interest in other ways, and that's one way to do it. But it does feel desperate. MLS and its teams are far too reliant on whether or not Messi shows. For example, a NBA team wouldn't do that, if say, Joel Embiid or LeBron James missed a game. They're confident enough in their own product and experience for their audience.

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  Are there too many games, and should MLS intervene?

  TH: Yes. There are far, far, far, far too many. The discourse here is a little confusing. Technically, the CONCACAF Champions Cup isn't run by MLS, and is therefore out of the league's jurisdiction. But there can be cuts elsewhere. Shorten the playoffs. You do not need a wildcard or a best-of-three series. Does anyone really learn anything from a 34-game regular seasos and a Leagues Cup? This is about money and business interests, but legs simply have to be protected. Soccer should be about who can play the best when it really counts – not whose legs survive longest.

  JS: Of course there are too many games, but that's not an MLS issue – that's the soccer world right now. Too many FIFA windows, a lot of domestic and continental tournaments and of course, regular season play. It's created a hectic calendar that burns everyone out. From Miami's perspective, though, this is what they get for being good. Featuring in CCC this early in the season is a result of being a good soccer team. By being good, they play more games and have a chance to win more trophies. It's why they're in CCC and the Club World Cup on top of two domestic tournaments and regular season MLS. If Mascherano is already worried about congestion one week into the season, maybe coaching isn't the right profession for him.

  RT: The answer remains the same as it always has: spend more money. More squad depth, more names, more talent – it all leads to fans caring more. Messi is a phenomenon but in the bigger picture, he's temporary – and, once he's gone, how will MLS respond? The only way to continue growing the league is to continue to spend money to bring in better players. If that doesn't happen, it doesn't matter how many or how few games Messi plays.

  AL: Yes, but again it's not exclusive to MLS. It's a worldwide soccer problem. There are too many cup competitions and new ones emerging every year, ranging from friendly tours to the Club World Cup. All of these games devalue leagues – which in theory should be the top priority. There isn't much MLS can do, outside of adding more stars and quality across the league.

Mikel Arteta has been dealt another blow in his pursuit of the Premier League title, with a key Arsenal star set to miss the rest of this year through injury.

Arsenal injury list as concerns mount up for Arteta

The north Londoners currently have a plethora of first team players on the treatment table, and this has been a reoccurring theme of their early season.

"Really intelligent" Arsenal player could push to quit the club in January

These may be his final months in north London.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 13, 2024

So far, club captain Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney are just some of the names who’ve been injured at some point, dealing Arteta real selection headaches in what is a crucial campaign for the Spaniard.

Arsenal are chasing their first domestic crown in over two decades, but the Gunners have been forced to cope without a plethora of key options on a regular basis in these opening months.

Right now, summer signing and Italy international Calafiori is sidelined with a knee injury, and has been since Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League last month.

Tomiyasu has been particularly unlucky, playing just six minutes all season due to a serious knee problem of his own, while Tierney is apparently close to returning from a hamstring injury which has kept him on the sidelines since Euro 2024.

Arteta’s arguable two biggest misses, Saka and Rice, were forced to withdraw from England’s squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

It is unclear right now whether they will be fit and available right after the international break, but Arteta is “praying” for the star duo to be fit and ready for their first game back at home to Nottingham Forest on November 26.

“What I’m praying for is that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped,” said Arteta on Rice and Saka. “That they are available and that they are fit, because it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks.”

Amid this torrid run of luck, Arteta has now been dealt yet another major concern in the form of Ben White.

Ben White out for the rest of this year after Arsenal surgery

The £150,000-per-week right-back, according to the national press, has undergone surgery on his knee.

White was nursing a problem which had been affecting him for quite a while, so the club used this international break as an opportunity to rectify it, but his lay-off time really doesn’t spell good news.

The Mirror and reliable journalist John Cross report that White is expected to be sidelined for the rest of this year at Arsenal, meaning Arteta will be without the star defender for crucial games against Forest, West Ham, Man United, Sporting Lisbon and Monaco in the Champions League.

His absence will be a very sore one to take, as Arsenal also attempt to find their best form again and keep their title hopes alive.

Wrexham missed a golden chance to move into second in League One as Reading beat them 2-0 on Tuesday evening.

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• Reading turned in heroic defensive display
• Parkinson's side miss huge chance
• Royals score twice in five minutes

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  TELL ME MORE

  Wrexham were dealt a severe blow to their automatic promotion hopes as Reading beat them 2-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday.

  After a nip and tuck first half, Reading had the lead on 50 minutes. Harvey Knibbs stepped up to score from 12 yards after Eoghan O’Connell fouled Jayden Wareham in the box.

  And within five minutes, it was two, as Lewis Wing slammed home a superb finish from just inside the box, finding the bottom corner under Arthur Okonkwo.

  Their job of seeing the game out was made all the more difficult, however, with 15 minutes to go, as Michael Stickland was sent off. The 21-year-old was shown a second yellow card for delaying the restart.

  But their backline held firm, even as Sam Smith repeatedly tested them, and recorded a huge, morale-boosting win.

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• THE MVP

  Reading's defence stepped up. This was a huge game against a big side aiming to win promotion, and their youthful backline stood firm and stared them down. All four of their defenders on the night were 21 or under, and their left-back, Andre Garcia, is just 17. They deserve immense credit for keeping a clean sheet.

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  THE BIG LOSER

  Everything went wrong for Wrexham from the concession of the penalty so it's impossible to look beyond O'Connell. He was perhaps a little unfortunate, but there was no need for him to make contact in the box as he did.

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• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Wrexham play Wycombe Wanderers this weekend; Wycombe sit second in League One, and Wrexham could have leapfrogged them with a win, but will now need a win this weekend to bolster their automatic promotion hopes.

The Rayados-Whitecaps match couldn't be played at Estadio BBVA because of a Shakira concert held at the stadium

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• Ramos' first goal in the Champions Cup couldn’t prevent elimination
• The Spaniard has scored three goals in three games for Rayados
• The aggregate score was 3-3, but Vancouver advanced due to away goals

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rayados de Monterrey were eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup after a 2-2 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the Round of 16. The aggregate score ended 3-3, but the MLS side advanced to the next round due to the away goals rule.

  After the elimination, former Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos didn’t hold back, saying his team has a lot to improve on heading into the remainder of the Clausura 2025, and Rayados' participation in the Club World Cup.

  "In the end, you learn much more from defeat. We need to be self-critical because, regardless of being eliminated today, we know we can give much more. We have time to prepare for the next match and move past this, which is not pleasant for anyone," Ramos said after the match, in which he scored a goal.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  All eyes were on Ramos' debut in theChampions Cup. The defender had enjoyed a great start with his new team, but the club suffered their first disappointment, despite the Spaniard scoring his third goal in three matches for Rayados.

  After taking the lead against Whitecaps, Monterrey became overconfident and ultimately were eliminated in the Round of 16. The Rayados-Whitecaps match couldn't be played at Estadio BBVA because of a Shakira concert held at the stadium.

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  WHAT TATO NORIEGA SAID

  "I don't want to speak hastily, but this is a very sad, dark night for the history of this great club. We have to take responsibility, this can't happen," said the Tato Noriega, sporting director of Rayados, regarding Martín Demichelis future as the team's coach.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MONTERREY?

  Monterrey must now focus on Liga MX, where they will visit Pumas next Sunday, aiming to climb up the overall standings. The team coached by Martín Demichelis sits in the ninth place with 16 points.

Nottingham Forest’s development over the last few years under the ownership of Evangelos Marinakis has been nothing short of sensational, ending their 23-year exile from the Premier League.

The Greek shipping magnate has transformed the club on and off the pitch, looking unrecognisable from when he took the reins back in the summer of 2017.

Even in recent years, after the Reds secured promotion under Steve Cooper, he’s invested over £250m into new players giving the club every chance of being competitive in England’s top flight.

The City Ground is now home to numerous international stars, including £25m signing Morgan Gibbs-White who has taken his career to the next level in the East Midlands, leading to an England call-up, making him the first player since Stuart Peace to achieve the feat.

It’s a stark contrast from life under the previous ownership, with the club often posing as a laughing stock to many around the country after years of awful decisions conducted by the hierarchy.

Fawaz Al-Hasawi’s time as Nottingham Forest owner

Kuwaiti businessman Fawaz Al-Hasawi was seen as a saviour by many on Trentside after taking over the club following the tragic death of Nigel Doughty back in 2012.

The 56-year-old arrived with huge ambitions to take the club back to the Premier League within five years, but his time at the helm was a disaster, creating more problems than he solved.

He sacked manager Sean O’Driscoll during his first year in charge despite being a couple of points outside the play-offs, before appointing Alex McLeish, who would only last 40 days in the role.

Al-Hasawi would also spend big upon the appointment of club legend Pearce in 2014, but doing so in an erratic manner which broke FFP rules, with Forest enduring numerous windows under a transfer ban.

Such a period resulted in the loss of key players, dropping the Reds closer and closer to the relegation zone, with attendances dropping as low as 17,000 for some fixtures after his dismal running of the club.

The former owner had seven different managers during his five years in charge of the club, often leading to a revolving door at the City Ground – with no structure of continuity in place, leading to their decline.

His final boss during his time as owner was Mark Warburton, with the former Brentford and Rangers boss securing survival on the final day against Ipswich Town – saving the Reds from dropping into League One – potentially allowing for the success that has occurred in recent times.

Fawaz eventually sold up to now owner Marinakis in 2017, with the Greek doing unbelievable work in turning the club around into an established top-flight outfit in just a handful of years.

It’s safe to say the club conducted excellent business in offloading one talent who arrived during the ownership of Fawaz – especially considering his drop in stock over the last couple of seasons.

The player who Nottingham Forest struck gold offloading

Striker Britt Assombalonga arrived in a £5.5m deal from Peterborough in the summer of 2014, a then club-record transfer, forming an excellent partnership with Michail Antonio during that campaign.

The aforementioned pair combined for 42 goals in that Championship campaign, a year cut short for the big-money addition after his serious knee injury that kept him out for over a year.

However, the former DR Congo international would return for the 2016/17 season, which would be his final one at the City Ground, scoring 14 times and helping fend off any final-day relegation worries.

He scored two against Ipswich Town on the final day, securing a 3-0 win before departing in a £15m deal to join fellow second-tier outfit Middlesbrough – a then club-record departure.

However, his career has failed to kick on as many anticipated since his transfer to the Riverside, scoring 47 times in 161 appearances, before leaving on a free transfer at the end of his contract in 2021.

He’s since mainly featured in Turkey for various clubs, now plying his trade for second-tier side Amed SK, who joined this summer, scoring twice in his first 11 games for his new club.

As a result, his market value has plummeted to just £625k, a figure lower than current squad member Willy Boly who’s now only valued at £2m despite his run-in as a regular starter in 2023/24, which saw him make 20 Premier League appearances.

Given the finances at the time, it was a tough call to part ways with a proven goalscorer, undoubtedly taking away one of the biggest assets within the first team.

However, given his steady decline in recent years, Forest certainly made the right call in allowing him to leave, with the club in a much better place than Assombalonga in 2024.

Nottingham Forest loan flop is now "world-class" & worth £50m after leaving

Nottingham Forest made a huge mistake in allowing the talent to leave.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 21, 2024

Now back to their best on the pitch, Arsenal have reportedly turned their attention towards beating North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the signature of a “top talent” in 2025.

Arsenal transfer news

It’s no coincidence that the Gunners have been back at it since the return of Martin Odegaard. The midfielder’s return came at a crucial time and Arsenal have since swept high-flying Nottingham Forest aside 3-0 and put five past a Sporting Club side which recently defeated Manchester City. If there were ever any doubts over Odegaard’s importance, those have well and truly been put to rest.

What Odegaard’s injury did expose, however, was Arsenal’s lack of adequate replacements for the Norway international. Without him, they unquestionably struggled going forward in a dilemma that they must avoid repeating if they want to maintain a serious title push. To do just that, signing central attacking additions could be the key, but one young winger is also on the radar at the Emirates.

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By
Matt Dawson

Nov 27, 2024

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are now eyeing a move to sign Bazoumana Toure from Hammarby ahead of Spurs and other clubs in 2025. The 18-year-old winger is attracting a lot of attention amid his recent rise and even earned the praise of Plettenberg, who dubbed the teenager a “top talent”.

With the ability to play on both wings, Toure would certainly offer the Gunners the attacking depth that they’ve so desperately needed at times, albeit whilst remaining a star for the future.

"Top talent" Toure can provide Saka cover

Whilst it only recently became a major problem that Arsenal don’t have significant cover for Odegaard, it’s been clear for some time that one of Mikel Arteta’s biggest problems is the fact that he doesn’t have a backup for Bukayo Saka.

The Gunners’ main man, Saka is often tasked with playing week in, week out and looks on the verge of injury with every passing game as a result. But Arsenal simply don’t have the adequate options to rest the England international.

Toure’s arrival and continued rise could solve that problem, however. The 18-year-old is already making quite the impact on senior football, having scored nine goals and assisted a further four in just 24 appearances for Hammarby in their 2023/24 campaign.

As of right now, the winger looks like a player destined for the top. The only question that arguably remains is the route that he will take. Whether Toure stops off in the Premier League and Arsenal on his way to the top remains to be seen, but there’s no doubting his current potential.

Mohamed Salah’s social media activity after returning to action with Liverpool has gone viral, with the Egyptian superstar considered to have offered a nod towards his future plans on Merseyside. In the wake of an explosive outburst against the Reds, which led to him being dropped, Salah stepped off the bench to a warm reception as Arne Slot’s side beat Brighton at Anfield.

• Explosive outburst: What Salah said before recall against Brighton

  After being named among the substitutes in three successive matches, Salah felt the need to air his grievances in public after seeing no minutes during a dramatic draw with Leeds. He accused Liverpool bosses of 'throwing him under the bus' during what has been a difficult defence of the club’s league title in 2025-26.

  He also admitted to seeing his working relationship with Dutch tactician Slot break down, while suggesting that certain individuals on Merseyside were trying to force him out – a matter of months after signing a two-year contract extension.

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  Criticism and transfer talk: Salah dominates headlines

  Salah was criticised by many – including Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher – for speaking out against the team that he has represented with such distinction across eight memorable years. Two Premier League titles have been captured alongside a Champions League crown and 250 goals.

  Carragher claimed that the passionate fanbase at Anfield would side with Slot when it comes to any internal disputes, with no player bigger than the club. The feeling among many was that Salah may have played his last game in the iconic red jersey, with another transfer window set to swing open in January.

  There was talk of long-standing interest from the Saudi Pro League being rekindled, with lucrative offers being readied in the Middle East. Slot did, however, reveal ahead of a meeting with Brighton that he was planning to sit down with Salah and thrash out any differences.

  Those talks appear to have been productive, with an apology potentially being offered, as Salah returned to Liverpool’s matchday squad against the Seagulls. He had been left out of the travelling party which picked up a battling 1-0 win over Inter at San Siro in Champions League competition.

• Salah looked emotional after outing against Brighton

  Salah had to settle for a support role again when Brighton headed to Anfield, as he took up a place on the bench, but an unfortunate injury suffered by Joe Gomez led to changes being made inside 26 minutes.

  Slot opted to send Salah on in place of stricken right-back Gomez, as he tinkered with his tactical set-up, and saw the 33-year-old cheered onto the field. The ‘Egyptian King’ of Anfield went on to claim an assist in a 2-0 victory – as he swung over the corner that allowed Hugo Ekitike to nod home on the hour mark and complete his match-winning brace.

  Salah came close to scoring himself, as a couple of chances dropped his way, and was all smiles at the final whistle. He was serenaded by those in the stands when walking around the pitch and applauding at the end of an intriguing contest.

  He has chosen to share a video of those celebrations on his social media channels, with Salah looking quite emotional as support from the crowd washed over him. His post has clocked up 6.4 million views on X, earning 170,000 likes and well over 5,000 comments.

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• Goodbye or see you again soon? What next for Salah?

  Plenty of reading between the lines has been going on, with some suggesting that Salah was bidding farewell to his adopted home, as he is set to head off on Africa Cup of Nations duty. Another transfer window will have opened by the time that tournament comes to a close.

  Others believe the experienced forward is pledging his allegiance to Liverpool and wants to showcase how much the club still means to him. Only Salah knows what happens next, with some big decisions about to be made on Merseyside.

  He clearly still has plenty to offer the collective cause, as the reigning PFA Player of the Year, but is the video that he has shared on social channels a message of “goodbye” or “see you again soon”?