Page 4 – The Pulse of Football

Aug

2026

FotMob Interview: Bournemouth legend Steve Fletcher backing Cherries for success

AFC Bournemouth will be looking to claim their first-ever point at the Etihad Stadium as they travel to Manchester City on Sunday in their Premier League opener. However, if it wasn’t for Steve Fletcher, they might very well be opening their season against Altrincham or Kidderminster Harriers in the National League.

By Zach Lowy

18 months after leaving Dean Court as the club’s all-time appearance maker, Fletcher returned to Bournemouth and helped them stave off the drop after scoring the winning goal vs. Grimsby Town on the penultimate match of the 2008/09 season. Given their financial issues at the time, relegation might not have just meant dropping down to the fifth tier, but liquidation. Instead, Bournemouth lived to see another day, earning three promotions over six seasons and making it to the top-flight for the first time in 2015. While they were sent back down to the Championship in 2020, they returned to the promised land just two years later and narrowly avoided the drop with a 15th-place finish under Gary O’Neil.

“We’re a very humble club that always sticks to our history; we never let anybody forget our history. We’re not just a regular Premier League club; we’ve had to work our socks off on and off the pitch to even remotely have a chance,” stated Fletcher in an exclusive FotMob interview. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime fairytale story that’s happened to AFC Bournemouth, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about how lucky we are.”

*Steve Fletcher (second from right) helped Bournemouth win promotion from the old Division 3 in 2003*

“I always say to everybody, ‘You’ve got to realize, this is not normal for Bournemouth; enjoy every minute of every game, doesn’t matter if we win or lose or draw.’ Normal is League One or Championship at best. We are playing in the Premier League, the best and most competitive league in the world, and we’re doing it week in, week out. Love it, enjoy it, cherish it, and never forget where we come from.”

After scoring 122 goals in 726 appearances (243 more than any other Bournemouth player) between 1992 and 2013, Fletcher has since represented the club in several roles like scout, ambassador and assistant coach, working under various managers before eventually becoming a player liaison officer following Andoni Iraola’s appointment in 2023. The Spaniard guided the Cherries to a 12th-place finish before matching the club’s best-ever ninth-place result in 2024/25. And despite losing the bulk of his starting core in Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, Dango Ouattara, and Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth finished sixth in 2025/26 and qualified for European football for the first time ever.

*Bournemouth’s year on year improvements since returning to the Premier League*

If Bournemouth were once the plucky underdogs that flew under the radar, that’s no longer the case, with top Champions League clubs all shelling out lucrative fees for their star players last season. And when Iraola opted to depart Bournemouth in the summer, it was Liverpool who immediately snapped him up.

“Everyone forgets that you’re just as vulnerable to losing your manager as you are the players when you’re a team like Bournemouth that’s very successful, and we’ve lost some big players,” added Fletcher. “The only thing I’d say to our fans across the globe and to anyone who wants to be an AFC Bournemouth fan: that’s just the nature of the beast. At least we’re selling them to the big teams; we’re not selling them to our rivals.”

“They’re going to PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Arsenal, City…some of the biggest global clubs in the world. That’s the next stepping stone for those players, and we’ve just got to try and replace them with good, young, up-and-coming talents. It is very difficult when you lose a team, because you just become united and get into the rhythm, and then players leave, but we’ve just got to accept that it can happen.”

Bournemouth have replaced Iraola with Marco Rose, who becomes the second manager from outside the British Isles to coach the club. The German arrives at a club that, in contrast to last season, is relatively untouched by squad turnover. Apart from veteran center back Marcos Senesi, who has joined Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer, Bournemouth haven’t lost a single starter, whilst they’ve lost just two backup players.

They’ve replaced Senesi with Portugal international António Silva, who joins from Benfica for €25 million, while they’ve swapped out one Spanish right back for another with Juanlu Sánchez replacing Álex Jiménez. Lastly, Uruguayan striker Álvaro Rodríguez will be seeking to replace Enes Ünal and challenge Evanilson for the starting spot in attack after joining from Elche. It’s precisely this stability that could allow Bournemouth to challenge both in the Premier League as well as the UEFA Europa League and the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

“When you lose big players in your football club, they’re very, very difficult to replace,” noted Fletcher. “You’re not going to get the finished article, because we would have to spend £60 million to get a player like Antoine Semenyo. That just won’t happen…we usually spend around £25/30m and look for a diamond in the rough like Rayan. Players and managers will come, but you’ve just got to make sure that you make the new players feel welcome, that the transition is smooth for them, and that they feel part of the squad, the town, and the history. The lads who’ve come in have been brilliant, and Marco Rose has gotten off to a good start in pre-season with 22 goals in five games, but he’s very aware that the pressure comes when we start the season vs. Manchester City. They’ve got a new manager after Pep Guardiola’s departure, but they’re still one of the favorites to win the Premier League.”

*Bournemouth’s season start, including a clash vs. Liverpool*

Enzo Maresca is in desperate need of a win after losing 3-0 to Arsenal in the Community Shield, but he’ll nevertheless take solace in the fact that Manchester City have avoided defeat in their last four meetings vs. Bournemouth, winning three in a row before drawing in the penultimate match of the 2025/26 season.

The Italian manager won his first two meetings vs. Bournemouth with Leicester and Chelsea before drawing the next three. Can he get back to winning ways against the Cherries, or will Bournemouth kick off the Marco Rose era with an epic victory? Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling spectacle in Manchester.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Bournemouth game with FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

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Aug

2026

Could Anthony Gordon be a number nine for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona?

Anthony Gordon’s pre-season position for Barcelona suggests he could be deployed in a different way for his new team.

By Graham Ruthven

When Anthony Gordon turned up to his Barcelona unveiling, he made clear how he’d been preparing for a move to LaLiga by speaking fluent Spanish. “As a kid, I believed I would play for Barca,” said the England international who joined the Spanish champions from Newcastle United in a transfer worth an initial €70m that could rise to €80m.

One wonders, however, if Gordon prepared to operate in the number nine position Hansi Flick has experimented using the Englishman in over the course of pre-season. Signed as a winger, Gordon’s most valuable role could be through the middle, at least until Barcelona land a new centre forward.

*Gordon’s transfer value over his career*

Robert Lewandowski is gone, joining the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer, and so too is Ferran Torres who made the €50m move to Paris Saint-Germain last week. The pair contributed a combined 37 goals in all competitions last season and so Barcelona are under pressure to replace that firepower in their squad.

Julián Alvarez is believed to be their top target. Atlético Madrid, however, have dug in their heels over their valuation of the Argentinean forward with reports claiming the capital club aren’t prepared to sell for anything less than €150m. That would make Alvarez the most expensive signing in Barca’s history.

Barcelona might need Alvarez to hand in a transfer request to force through a move. For the time being, the 26-year-old is back in training with Atleti ahead of their first league fixture of the 2026/27 season this evening. There has been no meaningful movement despite months and months of speculation.

Links have been made to Victor Osimhen, although he too would be an expensive option considering Galatasaray paid €75m for him only last year. Sporting’s Luis Suárez has more recently been mentioned as a potential target. Barcelona fans are used to seeing a player with Suárez on his shirt find the back of the net.

As things stand, though, Flick has no choice but to make do with the players he already has, leading him to experiment with Gordon as a number nine in a recent pre-season match against Basel. This might be where the Englishman makes his LaLiga debut against Elche on Sunday when Barca will start their title defence.

The role Gordon performed in Switzerland wasn’t a conventional number nine role. He was deployed in that position to lead the press from the front, which is something he has always done to a high level over the course of his career. Flick requested the signing of Gordon in no small part due to his out of possession work.

There was also a good amount of interchangeability between the forward line. While Gordon started in the central position, it was Raphinha who was pushed centrally with Gordon moved out to the left for the start of the second half. It was a fluid approach by Barcelona in the final third of the pitch.

*Gordon’s player traits compared to similar players across the top five leagues*

Gordon does have some experience of playing as a number nine. In fact, he started through the middle for Newcastle against Barcelona in the Champions League last season. From there, Gordon was able to press from the front and prevent the Catalans from building out from the back.

Of course, Gordon is lacking many of the qualities generally expected of a centre forward. His hold-up play isn’t anything special. He doesn’t have the physical frame to battle against the strongest defenders, nor is he known for being much of a poacher inside the opposition penalty box.

And yet Gordon’s willingness to drive forward with the ball at his feet and his knack for arriving late in the box could make him an extremely valuable figure for a Barcelona team that has gotten faster and fiercer over the summer. Karim Adeyemi is another summer addition whose speed surely made him appealing to Flick.

Rodri is expected to complete a move to Camp Nou from Manchester City, giving Barcelona the best midfield anchor in the world. The Ballon d’Or winner will offer Barca the sort of structure and control they have lacked in each of Flick’s two seasons in charge of the Catalan club. Rodri could make a big difference.

In the forward line, though, there are big unanswered questions over the way Barcelona will line up this season. Gordon’s move there confused many in the first place, particularly with Barca paying so much for him when they could have signed Marcus Rashford permanently for half as much.

Quickly, though, Gordon could become one of Barcelona’s most important players this season, albeit in a position few would have envisaged him playing. Pre-season might have offered a hint at how Flick will get by until he is delivered a truly worthy successor to Lewandowski and Torres.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Barcelona game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

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Aug

2026

Martin Odegaard could be set for his biggest season for Arsenal

Arsenal’s captain looks back to his best, demonstrated by his standout performance in Sunday’s Community Shield victory.

By Graham Ruthven

The first trophy of the season isn’t really a trophy. Of course, a literal piece of silverware is handed out to the winners of the Community Shield and Arsenal lifted it on Sunday after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Manchester City. The true significance of the traditional curtain-raiser, however, is symbolic.

By scoring three unanswered goals against their closest rivals, at least in terms of quality, Arsenal made a big statement ahead of the 2026/27 season and no player helped the Gunners make that statement more than Martin Ødegaard. The Norwegian was the best player on the pitch.

Ødegaard’s goal to give Arsenal a 3-0 lead three minutes into the second half might have been the highlight of the whole match. It was a showcase of the North London side at their free-flowing best with Ødegaard keeping his composure inside the box to wrong-foot Gianluigi Donnarumma and find the back of the net.

This, however, was only one part of the Norwegian’s eye-catching performance. Nobody completed more dribbles than Ødegaard who registered two shots on target and created one Big Chance. He was the creative heart for an Arsenal team that showed everyone why they’re still the side to beat this season.

Last season was a challenging one for Ødegaard. While Arsenal won the Premier League title for the first time since the Arsene Wenger era, their captain wasn’t always at his best. His 2025/26 campaign was hindered by injury, limiting him to only 1,371 league minutes, but even when Ødegaard was on the pitch, he was frequently a shadow of his former self.

There were times when Arsenal needed more from Ødegaard. The Gunners’ defensive record ultimately made them Premier League champions, but they weren’t always able to impose themselves on the strongest opponents. This was certainly the case against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

Sunday’s performance suggested Ødegaard might finally have reignited his creative spark. He constantly picked up pockets of space between the lines. His first touch was good and he was willing to drive forward with the ball, repeatedly forcing Manchester City’s defenders into difficult positions.

If Arsenal are to evolve their playing style this season, Ødegaard will need to replicate the sort of performance he produced in Cardiff. He could be more important than ever as the Gunners aim to keep their place at the top of English football. Ødegaard having a strong season would be good news for everyone at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal’s midfield has evolved over the summer, primarily due to the capture of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United. The Brazilian has been signed to be a starting figure and so that in itself will change the character and profile of Arsenal’s central unit. Guimarães will give them more presence in the middle of the pitch.

Myles Lewis-Skelly now appears to be viewed as more of a midfielder than a left back by Mikel Arteta considering he has started there in each of Arsenal’s last two competitive fixtures including last season’s Champions League final. Having the youngster at the base of the midfield might have played a part in freeing up Ødegaard against City.

*How Arsenal lined up in the Community Shield*

“Last year was really a big struggle with a lot of difficult moments,” said Ødegaard after victory in the Community Shield, reflecting on the previous campaign from an individual point of view. “It is the worst thing for a footballer to not be able to be on the pitch and I had quite a lot of weird injuries, and bad luck.”

“It was good for me to end the season with a title here and then a good World Cup. Then I had my break and I feel good, ready to go again. To miss so many games because of injury was really frustrating. What I have just worked on is to use that as motivation for this year and to come back stronger. To use all of those experiences in a positive way. Hopefully I can do that.”

That Ødegaard mentioned the World Cup was possibly telling. The tournament rejuvenated the midfielder who was a driving force for a Norway side that made a run to the quarter-finals and came within an extra time period against England of making the final four. Ødegaard will hope to carry his international form into the club game this season.

At 27, Ødegaard is entering his peak years. He has come through some tough times and looks to be stronger for it. Arsenal will be stronger for it too. The Gunners have the opportunity to establish themselves as the Premier League’s predominant force for years to come with Ødegaard at the centre of everything.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Arsenal game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Aug

2026

The MLS Wrap: Inter Miami lose top of table clash as wonderkid steps up

After another mid-season break, this time for the Leagues Cup competition, MLS makes its latest return to the schedule as teams prepare to make one final push to achieve their season aims.

By James Nalton

For many, this involves trying to finish high enough to secure home matches in the playoffs; for some, simply qualifying for the playoffs in the first place is the goal, while for others, simply winning one game counts as a sign of progress.

The return to action saw the bucking of some previous trends, a Man City-bound wonderkid hitting his stride, and one team consolidating their position at the top of the overall standings.

Nashville and Mukhtar see off Miami

The statement win of Matchday 20 was Nashville’s 4-1 victory at home to fellow title challengers Inter Miami.

It was a convincing scoreline and a result that gives them a cushion at the top of the table ahead of the star-studded Miami side.

Hany Mukhtar outshines his fellow No. 10 as Nashville win the battle between the top two in MLS’s Eastern Conference.

Lionel Messi missed a penalty and was booked for the away side. pic.twitter.com/Amk7BLikhu
— FotMob (@FotMob) August 16, 2026

Nashville have a useful team of their own, though, with some star names emerging within it.

Elias Saad impressed with a couple of great assists, and Sam Surridge got his name on the scoresheet, as is regularly the case for Nashville, with a neat finish, but the real difference-maker was Hany Mukhtar, who achieved the highest FotMob rating for this matchday.

The Nashville SC legend, who won the MVP award back in 2022 might yet emerge as a contender to be named the league’s best player again in 2026 despite a fairly slow start by his standards.

His last goals came back in May against another of the league’s best teams, LAFC, when he scored a hat trick. This brace at the weekend against Nashville’s Supporters’ Shield rivals confirmed their place at the top of the overall MLS table.

They now lead the way by five points and will be looking for some consistency to end the season. Mukhtar maintaining these performances will be key to that.

16yo Cavan Sullivan steers Union comeback in NYC

New York City FC looked to be continuing their unbeaten run post-World Cup when they went up by two goals in the first half against Philadelphia Union.

The Union had other ideas, though, scoring three goals in a dramatic comeback in the second period.

Man City-bound wonderkid Cavan Sullivan had previously shown glimpses of his talent in MLS, but has really kicked on this season, and especially so since interim head coach Ryan Richter took over in May.

The 16-year-old’s post-World Cup displays have been consistently impressive, and he played an important part in this comeback win with two assists, making the FotMob team of the week.

There has been plenty of hype around Sullivan for some time, but now there are also the performances at senior level to back it up. He still has plenty of work to do, but the early signs are that the hype is justified.

Atlanta United finally win

It has been a difficult summer for Atlanta United, who were without a win since May 3.

They returned from the World Cup break and continued to find it difficult, losing five games and drawing two, but they finally picked up a win this weekend against New York Red Bulls.

When Emil Forsberg scored the opener for the Red Bulls within the first five minutes, it looked like there would be more of the same for Atlanta.

Despite the slump, Atlanta’s average attendances remain the highest in the league, and those who had turned up and hung around until the end on Saturday night were rewarded for their patience and loyalty.

Tristan Muyumba levelled the scores on 70 minutes with a cool and precise finish into the top corner from outside the box, before Fafa Picault headed the winner in the 82nd minute from close range at the far post.

Atlanta remain bottom of the Eastern Conference, but this win gives those loyal fans something to cheer and a sign that things can improve.

St. Louis and Houston are currently the best in MLS

Inter Miami’s stumbles in recent weeks mean both of the in-form teams in MLS are now based in the Western Conference.

Houston Dynamo continued their good run with a win against a struggling LA Galaxy, and have emerged at the top end of the conference ahead of LAFC and just behind leaders Vancouver Whitecaps.

Just as Houston have made their presence felt at the top of the standings, their Brazilian winger Guilherme has made his way up the goalscoring charts into fourth.

His penalty to give the Dynamo the win against LA Galaxy put him alongside Lionel Messi on 12 goals for the season so far.

Another forward who caught the eye this weekend was St. Louis City striker Simon Becher, who scored twice in their 3-1 win at San Jose.

He was the second-highest rated player in our team of the week, and the only other player, along with Mukhtar, to achieve a match rating of nine or more.

St. Louis were one of the worst teams in the league at the start of the season but have now moved more comfortably into a playoff spot and are edging up the Western Conference table.

Their now 10-game unbeaten run includes progress to the semifinals of the US Open Cup, and has seen them go from one of the worst teams in MLS to currently the best in the form table, just ahead of Houston.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2026

Preview: Arsenal and Man City set to usher in the new season

English football’s traditional curtain-raiser will see the Premier League champions and the FA Cup winners face each other.

By Graham Ruthven

Same, but different

Arsenal and Manchester City are used to competing for silverware by now. The two rivals have contested each of the last three Premier League title races with Mikel Arteta finally getting the better of his former mentor Pep Guardiola last season.

Guardiola, however, is no longer City manager. Now, Enzo Maresca is leading the Etihad Stadium outfit and so Sunday’s meeting in the Community Shield could mark the start of a new chapter in this rivalry. It might follow a similar beat to recent encounters, but something about it will be different.

Maresca can make a statement as Manchester City’s new manager by leading his team to victory over the Premier League champions. The Community Shield might not be the most prestigious prize, but a strong performance by either side this weekend could bode well for the rest of the season.

Similarly, Arsenal can put down an early marker ahead of their Premier League title defence. The symbolism of Sunday’s match at Wembley Stadium might ultimately be worth more than the actual trophy that’s up for grabs.

Key players

Summer signing Christos Tzolis could be given the nod as Arsenal’s starting left winger after a positive pre-season (read more on that – here) while Martin Zubimendi might feature in central midfield with Declan Rice still being eased back in after the World Cup.

Gabriel Magalhães will be Arsenal’s defensive rock, although the Brazilian will be without his usual centre back partner William Saliba due to injury. Cristhian Mosquera or Ben White could step in as his deputy.

In attack, Kai Havertz is expected to feature somewhere in the final third with Viktor Gyökeres potentially in line to start as the Gunners’ focal point. Max Dowman might be another attacker utilised to test the Manchester City backline.

Antoine Semenyo has caught the eye in pre-season and is expected to start on the wing for Manchester City. Phil Foden could also start for the FA Cup winners ahead of an important season for the 26-year-old who was left at home by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup.

It’s unclear whether Erling Haaland or Jérémy Doku will feature after returning late from the World Cup. This could see Omar Marmoush lead the line for City fresh from a friendly performance that saw the Egyptian bag a brace against Atlético Madrid.

Rúben Dias is almost nailed on to start in central defence with Gianluigi Donnarumma fresh from a summer off after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Team news

Saliba will miss the first two to three months of the season with a back injury while Bukayo Saka will be eased back into first team action after playing a lot of football over the course of the summer.

Jurrien Timber is sidelined for the foreseeable future while Kepa Arrizabalaga could start as Arsenal’s usual cup goalkeeper ahead of David Raya.

Elliot Anderson joined Manchester City from Nottingham Forest in a club-record £116m transfer, but might not be ready to start. The England international might have to make do with a place on the bench.

Doku and Haaland similarly might not be ready to go from the start of the match. Otherwise, Maresca has a strong squad of players to choose from for his first competitive match as City manager.

*Pre-season results have been mixed for both sides*

Prediction

Whether either side take the result seriously remains to be seen but Enzo Maresca has the opportunity to signal his intent ahead of another season where these two giants are expected to compete for the top prizes to come, therefore, we’ll go with a City win: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from English football with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

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Aug

2026

Ruben Amorim’s Milan revolution has no margin for error

The managerial graveyard post-Manchester United is littered with names who have never quite recovered after failing to deliver at Old Trafford.

By Ross Kilvington

David Moyes has bounced around the Premier League, but hasn’t landed a job as big as the United one since leaving. Ole Gunnar Solskjær spent nearly four years out of management before returning to manage Beşiktaş, where he was sacked after just eight months.

Erik ten Hag’s first gig post-United career went even worse. The Dutchman was appointed as the successor to Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025. But the hierarchy appeared to recognise that they had made a significant mistake straight away, dismissing Ten Hag three games into the Bundesliga season.

Can Ruben Amorim break the curse? Upon his appointment as United head coach in November 2024, the former Sporting boss had the world at his feet and the future looked bright.

Like so many before him, though, Amorim’s time at Old Trafford ended prematurely – but it didn’t take him too long to find an equally daunting new role.

Indeed, AC Milan unveiled Amorim as their new manager in June. For both parties, this appointment must work.

Milan require a reboot

In no uncertain terms, the previous two campaigns have been miserable experiences for the Rossoneri. A dismal eighth place finish during the 2024/25 season ensured Milan wouldn’t take part in any European competition last season.

Things didn’t exactly get much better last year. There may have been brief hope of a title challenge during the first half of the campaign, with Milan still sitting second as late on as Matchday 33, but seven defeats in their final 13 games ended the charge.

European football returns then, in the guise of the Europa League, with this being the fifth time Milan are set to feature in UEFA’s secondary club competition since 2017.

As such, a reboot is required, one that can take the club back to the summit of Serie A and secure a return to the Champions League in the process.

Amorim once stepped into the Old Trafford dugout with the same mission he now faces at San Siro: To restore a fallen giant.

In theory, Amorim’s appointment makes perfect sense for Milan. Turning this once great club back into serial winners is a passion project, something that the Portuguese is familiar with.

Sporting hadn’t won a league title since 2002 when Amorim, less than 18 months into his embryonic managerial career, made the move to the Estádio José Alvalade in March 2020.

When he departed two years later, Amorim had led Sporting to two league titles, two Portuguese League Cups and a Super Cup victory, the club’s greatest era since the early years of the 21^st century.

Milan have been starved of success recently. A tally of three league titles in 22 years is a dreadful return for a club of this size. A European trophy hasn’t been won since 2007, while the Rossoneri’s last Coppa Italia triumph came in 2003.

Amorim will relish the challenge of taking Milan back to where they belong.

One thing is certain, however, Amorim must get a tune out of players who struggled during the second half of last season, notably Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic.

Leão and Pulisic hold the keys to Milan’s revival

Although Milan finished eighth in 2024/25, Leão and Pulisic combined for 29 goals and 25 assists throughout the campaign.

That output collapsed to 20 goals and just seven assists last term as both players largely struggled to replicate the form of the previous season.

Leão only played 31 times in all competitions, while Pulisic made 34 appearances as both wingers suffered various injuries that disrupted their rhythm. Under Maxi Allegri, the duo were often shoehorned out of position in his 3-5-2 system, regularly playing as part of a front two rather than in their natural positions out wide.

Amorim is more likely to deploy a 3-4-3 system at Milan, which could see Leão and Pulisic feature as part of a front free, playing higher and wider, and more crucially, to their respective strengths. Of course, as is customary with Milan’s best players, there is speculation that the Portuguese will leave on a transfer but that has yet to pass (at the time of writing).

At Sporting, wingers Pote and Trincão were regularly used to support Viktor Gyökeres to devastating effect, forming one of the most effective front threes in European football.

Gonçalo Ramos will be Amorim’s main centre forward this season after arriving from PSG in a transfer worth £60m. Should Leão and Pulisic stay, and return to form under the former United boss, that front three could play havoc with Serie A defences.

If this budding relationship between Amorim and Milan is going to work, a positive start is essential. Matches against Torino and Venezia offer an ideal opportunity to seal six points, building some early momentum heading into September.

Given how poor the club ended last season, Amorim should be given time by the Milan hierarchy to bed in his ideas and get them playing to his own particular style.

Perfection isn’t required immediately, but signs of life must be on show in the opening few weeks of the campaign.

If the front three clicks and Milan get off to a fast start, the Rossoneri’s revival may arrive sooner than expected.

*Amorim’s next five games, including a friendly vs. Man United*

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Serie A with FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Aug

2026

Diomandes are Made Under Pressure: How Yan Diomande went from poverty in Abidjan to stardom in Madrid

Two years ago, Yan Diomande was playing semi-professional football in Florida. Now, he’s the most expensive signing in Real Madrid history.

By Zach Lowy

Born on November 14, 2006, Diomande grew up playing football on the dirt pitches of Sicogi in the city of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, either barefoot or with plastic sandals, and he often had to share a roof with 25 other people. With his father leaving for France, Diomande realized that it was up to him to become a professional footballer and lift his family out of poverty.

He left Abidjan at nine years of age and moved 100km east to Aboisso, where, at the Académie Inter Foot Sud Comoé, Diomande acquired his first pair of boots. However, he still went through plenty of hardship: on one occasion, he was so hungry that he stole potatoes alongside 17 kids whilst two others distracted the shop owner. Diomande always knew that he’d have to leave Africa to reach his footballing potential: it’s why his family scraped together enough money to buy him a solo, one-way flight to Florida, where he worked under Todd Eason at DME Academy.

“It took a little time for him to get used to it, but he understood what he was here for…this was his job,” stated Eason in an exclusive FotMob interview. “His job was to come here, get training, get education, and get outside of his comfort zone so that he could always go back and provide for his family. His Mom’s a big piece of that, and he wanted to do whatever he could for his Mom. He wasn’t bothered by going to different countries; I think he liked it because he knew that was part of the process of being employed as a professional footballer. He had to do this, and he does it, and he loves doing it…I was very impressed by that.”

Yan Diomande has one of the craziest soccer stories that you’ll ever see.

◽ In 2023, he was still playing high school soccer in Florida at Yulee High School and DME Academy after moving from Ivory Coast.

◽ That same year, playing for AS Frenzi, he won the UPSL national… pic.twitter.com/gJ2zL0hv7i
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) July 27, 2026

“I think the U.S. helped in a lot of ways by exposing him to every element of life here. He was coming from a very sheltered life in the Ivory Coast, so I think it was very good for him,” added Eason, who was DME’s Director of Soccer from April 2021 to January 2024 before serving as their Athletic Director until October 2024. “What really makes me proud of him is seeing him evolve into this very mature young man. I just think the ceiling that he’s going to be able to reach is so extremely high…it’s going to be exciting to see what he ends up being once he’s fully developed.”

When Diomande arrived in Daytona Beach, he was a homesick 15-year-old who only spoke French. Pretty soon, though, he wasn’t just speaking English – he was absorbing Eason’s instructions quickly enough to explain them to his fellow Francophone teammates. Diomande flourished for DME and their semi-professional affiliate AS Frenzi, launching Frenzi to the 2023 United Premier Soccer League and claiming the Playoffs Golden Boot and MVP after scoring in all six rounds of the playoffs (including a brace in the final).

“Diomande definitely matured a lot when he was with us,” noted Eason. “He had a lot of emotions in his character at that point, and he grew through that to be able to adapt to all these different cultures that he was going into. I think what was pretty outstanding about Diomande is that he wanted to learn English; he was adamant that he wanted to take on English, and he did. In eight months, he was completely fluent in English, and when he went to Leganés, he started to learn Spanish. This kid is very, very intelligent. He’s able to adapt and take on all these new lessons, and that’s what makes him so dangerous. He’s a sponge who’s taking in so much, and he’s just showcasing it. It’s kind of scary to think what he’s going to be capable of doing at age 24.”

*Diomande’s senior career summary to date*

After being rejected by several European and MLS clubs, Diomande returned to Abidjan after his student visa expired. However, he would have to wait just a couple of months before joining Leganés, commencing with their reserves in the Spanish fifth tier before making his professional debut on March 29, 2025. He replaced Juan Cruz for the final minutes of their 3-2 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu; little did he know it, but he’d soon be making that very stadium his permanent home.

Despite dealing with the trauma of losing his 15-year-old sister Roxanne, who died after allegedly having her drink spiked at a party, Diomande was able to channel tragedy into triumph. Whilst he couldn’t keep Leganés afloat, he scored two goals and recorded one assist in 10 appearances, enough to convince RB Leipzig to sign him for €20 million. Diomande quickly validated their investment, helping them go from a worst-ever Bundesliga finish of seventh place to a top-three finish and UEFA Champions League qualification. Playing both on the right and left flank, Diomande racked up 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 appearances and led all Bundesliga players in successful dribbles per 90 (4.3).

*Diomande’s heat map in the Bundesliga last season*

The newly crowned Bundesliga Rookie of the Season hasn’t just enjoyed a meteoric rise at the club level, but also at the international level. Eight months after making his senior debut, Diomande became the youngest player to represent the Ivory Coast at a World Cup, delivering a Man of the Match performance vs. Ecuador.

Two weeks later, he became the youngest Ivorian to assist in a World Cup match vs. Curaçao, steering Les Éléphants to their first-ever World Cup knockout match. And on August 6, Diomande joined Real Madrid on a seven-year contract for a club-record fee of €125 million plus €15 million in potential add-ons, where he’ll be looking to nail down a starting spot on the right side of Real’s star-studded attack alongside Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior.

“We understand that Real Madrid is a big club, but they’re all humans,” added Eason, now the General Manager of USL Championship side Miami FC. “They’ve got good players, and ‘Dio’ is one of those guys even if he’s younger. We’ll see how he does, but I think he’ll be fine. As a defender, there’s nothing worse than players just running at you constantly, and you saw it at the World Cup: multiple players had to defend him because they were just getting tired. I think Real Madrid’s going to be really excited to see what he brings and what he does, because he’s just a threat, and he always puts defenders on their heels.”

Of the 6 most expensive transfers so far, FIVE of them have been incomings to the Premier League… 👀

Yan Diomande to Real Madrid is the only non-PL transfer! 💰 pic.twitter.com/5KKV5pX5ac
— FotMob (@FotMob) August 10, 2026

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2026

Preview: PSG take on Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup

The European season gets up and running in earnest as last year’s Champions League and Europa League winners meet on Wednesday night – though both teams might hope their lineups look somewhat different when their domestic campaigns begin.

By Karl Matchett

With World Cup finalists still building back up in pre-season and both clubs having extended 2025/26 seasons due to their glorious European cup runs, both Luis Enrique and Unai Emery might have to juggle their resources for this new season curtain raiser.

Changing face of PSG’s attack

Considering they’ve won back-to-back European titles there might be some surprise that the Ligue 1 champions are looking to make moves in the front line, which from a depth perspective will look very different at PSG this season.

Gonçalo Ramos has departed, Lee Kang-In has been sold and Randal Kolo Muani had no intention of returning. There might be more exits too, with Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye both linked with Liverpool, among others. Replacements have to hit the ground running and contribute plenty, then – so adding French international Maghnes Akliouche as a midfiled schemer is an important move, while both Mika Godts and Ferran Torres are expected to complete moves to Paris too.

Of course, they are all the support acts, for now at least, but Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué went almost the full distance at the World Cup so it will be Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who represents the continuity bet from Champions League final in the Puskás Arena to Super Cup at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg.

Almost a rebuild

For Emery and Aston Villa, the hope a couple of months ago might have been to kick on with the next step and challenge even higher, despite some impending financial constraints due to Squad Cost Ratio rules. Instead, they’ve faced the need to almost completely rebuild parts of the team due to injuries and transfers elsewhere.

Amadou Onana’s ACL injury and the departure of Youri Tielemans means a new midfield is effectively on the cards, while World Cup starlet Johan Manzambi hasn’t kicked a ball since signing, injured with Switzerland still absent now. The record-breaking sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea is another massive downgrade from last term too.

All this – plus Lucas Digne was sold to PSG, meaning he could get his first outing against the side he’s just departed.

Recent results

Friendly matches don’t really tell much, especially after a summer tournament, but PSG drew with Man United last week and Villa lost to Bayern.

Team news

Barcola and Dembélé are in the PSG squad but might not start, while all eyes are on the goalkeeping position after Lucas Chevalier lost his spot to Matvey Safanov last term.

Villa will hope new additions João Gomes and Alejandro Garnacho can have a quick and positive impact. Tammy Abraham could start up front but teenager Brian Madjo has made a big pre-season impact.

Key player

Senny Mayulu will want to take a step forward this term so this could be a big game to show what he’s able to do. He played over 1,600 minutes in Ligue 1 last year, and was in and around the top 10% of midfielders in terms of big chances created and xG per 90 – but he can also play up front too.

Prediction

The Super Cup might be effectively a pre-season extension for these teams so hopefully some goals but probably a Paris win too: PSG 3-2 Villa.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2026

Christos Tzolis is already showing why Arsenal were so keen to sign the Greek winger

Amid the hype and hubbub generated by Arsenal’s audacious move for Vinícius Júnior, Christos Tzolis was quietly making a good first impression for his new team. Signed from Club Brugge for £34m, the Greek winger scored on his Gunners debut against Girona, demonstrating why the Premier League champions were so keen to land him in the first place.

By Graham Ruthven

Tzolis certainly isn’t at Vinícius’ level. The Brazilian would have had a case for being the most spectacular signing in Premier League history had he joined Arsenal over signing a new six-year contract with Real Madrid. Vinícius would have immediately elevated the standard of Arsenal’s forward line.

In contrast, Tzolis is more of a project. At 24, the Greek international isn’t the youngest, but he has yet to scale the peaks of European football after a meandering career to this point, which has included stops at PAOK, Norwich City, FC Twente, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Club Brugge. His elite potential hasn’t always been obvious. Norwich fans must be confused by Tzolis’ rise.

For Club Brugge, though, Tzolis developed into a genuine difference-maker. The winger registered 17 goals and 23 assists in 36 league appearances last season, also charting three Champions League goal contributions for good measure. These sort of numbers surely had several big European clubs looking.

Arsenal’s need for a new left winger was clear, especially after Leandro Trossard’s departure to Beşiktaş. Only eight players played more league minutes for the Gunners last season than Trossard who produced a number of important goals in a season that saw the North London side compete on all fronts.

Tzolis offers many of the same things Trossard did over three years as an Arsenal player. Even in pre-season, his work rate against the ball has been notable. Like Trossard, Tzolis likes to cut inside on to his right foot off the left wing. He also plays in the half-spaces between the lines and crashes the box whenever possible.

“I’m very pleased with him,” said Mikel Arteta when asked about the impact Tzolis has made for his new team in pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 campaign when Arsenal will defend their Premier League crown. “First of all, the way he has adapted to the club, to the team. The connection he’s already generated with the boys. I think you’re going to love the player.

“He’s a very direct player. He’s got the ball between the eyes. I think really good at linking up. He has a lot of similarities with Leo in a lot of the things that he can do and the spaces he can occupy. And then the work ethic that he has. He’s a boy that comes with so much hunger as well and wants to prove it. It’s a dream for him and we are here to help him.”

*Tzolis player traits compared with similar players*

Last season, Arsenal’s defence was the thing that made them Premier League champions. The Gunners kept more clean sheets (19) than any other team and conceded a total of just 27 goals in 38 goals. They were the strongest defensive unit anywhere in Europe’s Big Five leagues.

To take the next step, though, Arteta must find a way to add more creativity and attacking threat to his team. Vinícius certainly would have done that as one of the best left wingers in the world right now. The Brazilian scored 16 league goals for Real Madrid last season while Gabriel Martinelli and Trossard only scored a combined nine.

It could be the case that Arsenal remain in the market for another left winger. Vinícius might no longer be on their radar, but other options could be available. Bradley Barcola has been linked with an exit from Paris Saint-Germain while Rafael Leão is expected in some quarters to leave AC Milan at some point this summer.

In Tzolis, though, Arsenal already have a left-sided option capable of making a positive impact on the Premier League. Physically, the Greek international will be able to handle himself in the English top flight and his Champions League performances suggest his technical level is also up to the standard.

Arsenal have done a lot to bulk up their squad in recent times. This process will continue with the addition of Bruno Guimarães when Arteta already has Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi as a starting double pivot. The Gunners boss recognises the importance of depth when his side is expected to compete on multiple fronts every season.

Christos Tzolis has scored and assisted in his last two games for Arsenal after joining this summer! 😮‍💨🇬🇷

He also got an assists in a behind-close-doors friendly against MK Dons. Already looking like a top signing! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BYJHrMgWtt
— FotMob (@FotMob) August 6, 2026

Even if Tzolis ends up starting most games on the bench, precedent suggests he will have his moment – or two – over the course of the campaign just as Trossard did before him. His performances in pre-season have been a preview of what the Greek will bring to the Emirates Stadium.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2026

FotMob Exclusive: Johor Darul Ta’zim CEO Luis Garcia discusses Chelsea game and his team’s world record unbeaten streak

Few clubs in the history of the game have been as dominant as Johor Darul Ta’zim are in Malaysia right now. Their CEO Luis García spoke exclusively to FotMob as the Southern Tigers prepare to go for their 13th-consecutive top-flight title in the 2026/27 season.

By Neel Shelat

Expect to hear about Johor Darul Ta’zim a fair bit in the coming weeks. Chelsea fans will certainly come across the Malaysian giants when the Blues turn up in Johor for a pre-season friendly in the first half of August. More importantly, though, the Southern Tigers will have 21 August marked on their calendar as the date they can etch their name into global footballing history.

JDT matched the 108-match men’s record of unbeaten domestic top-flight matches in the 2025/26 season when they completed yet another invincible season with just one draw and 23 wins en route to a 12th-consecutive league title. They went on to seal a fourth-consecutive domestic quadruple, winning both cups and the Charity Shield as well.

What makes their dominance all the more impressive is the fact that JDT had not won a single major honour prior to their first league title in 2014. Based in the southernmost state in the Malay Peninsula, the club was founded as PKENJ FC in 1972 and later rebranded to Johor FC in 1996. However, it was in the early 2010s that their fortunes underwent a dramatic turnaround thanks to royal backing.

Soon after being appointed as the President of the Johor Football Association, the Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Idris began undertaking a restructuring of the state’s flailing footballing setup. With most clubs struggling financially, he decided to channel focus into the renamed Johor Darul Ta’zim, which now stood as the region’s leading club.

With significant financial backing, JDT were able to quickly assemble a superstar squad by Liga Super standards. They established themselves as serious contenders in almost no time, and even went on to win a continental honour as soon as 2015 in the AFC Cup (the secondary Asian competition at the time). They have not looked back since.

The big names in Johor Darul Ta’zim’s ranks aren’t just on the pitch; they can also be found in the boardroom. Former Spanish international Luis García, whose club career includes names like Barcelona, Liverpool and Atlético Madrid, became their CEO in 2025. Speaking exclusively to FotMob from their pre-season training camp in Spain, he revealed some of the secrets to JDT’s success.

“I think the key is having His Royal Highness behind it. His leadership is key for the success of this team. His standards are very high. He is a person really determined to leave a legacy in Johor, in Malaysia, with a team that beats all the records,” García said, referring to Tunku Ismail. He added, “When you’re winning 10 or 12 times the domestic league, the most important thing is to have someone who says, ‘No, no, it’s not enough’. We need to continue going. I think we’ve got a fantastic group that believes in those values.”

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the work of the people involved behind the scenes at the club. “If you have a look at our staff, they are top class. They control exactly everything that happens to the players, what they need. We try to give them the best of the best. We’ve got the best nutritionists, we’ve got the best fitness coaches, we’ve got the best rehab.”

In Xisco Muñoz, they now also have a coach who is experienced at the highest level of the game, having previously led Watford to the English Premier League. García and Muñoz had previously crossed paths as opponents in their playing days, but as they now work together, the former spoke very highly of his fellow countryman. “He’s a fantastic, fantastic guy. He’s so humble.”

“He’s been at the highest level and that gives you that composure in the right moments. In the tough moments when you need to be more calm, when you need to analyse exactly what is happening, he does so well. That’s why last year we were so successful in all competitions.”

Indeed, 2025/26 was a historic season for JDT not just because of what they achieved on the domestic front, but also because of their historic run to the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals. While they may be utterly dominant in Malaysia, this is where they are really tested to the limit as they face sides with significantly greater budgets. Last season, for instance, they were knocked out by Saudi side Al Ahli, who went on to win the trophy.

García revealed that the ACL Elite is the club’s biggest target currently. “We want to compete. We want to at least be there and challenge the mighty Saudi Arabian teams.” He added, “We are making the team every year more competitive, stronger in every line and we’ve got a fantastic coach that is bringing the best of his knowledge.”

While JDT continue to enjoy success almost everywhere they go, they have also entered a cycle which has made their financial and on-field dominance almost entirely unrivalled in Malaysia. This isn’t ideal for the health of the league, and the state of the national team isn’t at its best either, particularly after the naturalisation scandal (involving some JDT players as well) that rocked them last year.

JDT, for their part, can only focus on themselves. They certainly can’t be faulted for a lack of ambition or hard work, which has continued into this pre-season. Setting up a match with a team of the stature of reigning Club World Cup champions Chelsea is a reflection of just that. “Of course, people are very excited. Chelsea are coming to Malaysia and to Johor, something that never happened before. I’m sure that they’re going to enjoy the stadium, the facilities and we are going to try to welcome them,” Garcia said. “We know that it’s a tough team and it’s going to be difficult, but for us it’s a really good test”.

Thereafter, all efforts will be focused towards August 21 and beyond. JDT take on Kuching City in the Liga Super Malaysia season opener, when they will have the chance to break ASEC Mimosas’ world record.

“Passing the 108 [match] unbeaten streak in a domestic league, that’s something really special for us,” García concluded. “After that, the challenge will start with the league once again, where we know that we are going to compete against big teams, stronger, and again, with the mind on repeating and going to Saudi for the [ACLE] quarterfinals.”

(Images courtasy of Johor Darul Ta’zim)

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