OFFICIAL: Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso named La Liga Best Coach for August

 OFFICIAL: Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso named La Liga Best Coach for August

La Liga officially announced that Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has been named the Best Coach of La Liga for August.

Entering the new season, as the new coach of Real Madrid, Alonso has led the team to a perfect start, with his team winning all three games and leading the standings. In his La Liga debut, Alonso's Real Madrid defeated Osasuna 1-0. In the second round, they won 3-0 against Real Oviedo. Before the international break, the La Liga giants also beat Mallorca 2-1.

In the voting process, Alonso defeated two competitors, namely Ernesto Valverde of Athletic Bilbao and Manolo González of Espanyol.

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Brighton 2-1 Man City: Milner and Gruda's goals deny Haaland's milestone score

 Manchester City lost at Brighton for the second year running as they went down 2-1 at the Amex Stadium.

2025/2026 Premier League

2 - 1

Milner (67' PEN)

Brajan Gruda (89')

Haaland (34')

Match Report

Manchester City lost at Brighton for the second year running as they went down 2-1 at the Amex Stadium.

City took the lead in the 34th-minute as Erling Haaland prodded the ball home from close range. Brighton had been really poor in the first half and they didn't start the second much better, meaning Fabian Hürzeler turned to his bench.

His quadruple change turned the game on its head, with Brighton equalising midway through the second half from the penalty spot. Matheus Nunes was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area and James Milner made no mistake from the spot.

Both teams pushed for a winner late on but it was the home side who found the third goal of the game, with Brajan Gruda slotting home.

It's now two defeats in a row for City after last weekend's loss to Tottenham, meaning they have taken just three points from their opening three Premier League games.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

9' Huge chance for Erling Haaland but the shot was so bad!

16' Yellow Card! Jan Paul van Hecke booked

19' HUGE SAVE! James Trafford denies Kaoru Mitoma one-vs-one

24' CHANCE! Erling Haaland 's effort is dragged wide

26' A second ball in, this time from Rodri, finds Haaland again but it's headed wide

33' Erling Haaland scores in his 100th premier league game! Brighton 0-1 Man City

49' Highlight from Brighton vs Man City

55' Match Event for Brighton vs Man City

58' Great show from Bobb in Brighton's box

60' Bobb's shot wide out

62' HUGE SAVE, AGAIN! Trafford to the rescue for the second time for ManCity here

67' The 39 year old Milner has equalized against Man City!! Brighton 1-1 Man City

70' James Milner dedicating his goal to Diogo Jota!

89' GOAL! Gruda completes the turnaround!!!! Brighton 2-1 Man City

Line-ups

Brighton XI: Welbeck, Veltman, Dunk, Kaoru Mitoma, Maxim De Cuyper, Jan Paul van Hecke, Bart Verbruggen, Diego Gómez, Carlos Baleba, Yankuba Minteh, Jack Hinshelwood

Subs: Milner, Steele, Olivier Boscagli, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Matt O'Riley, Georginio Rutter, Yasin Ayari, Diego Coppola, Brajan Gruda

Man City XI: Stones, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Haaland, Omar Marmoush, Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Matheus Nunes, James Trafford, Bobb, Abdukodir Khusanov

Subs: Gundogan, Ake, Ederson, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Nico González, Doku, Lewis, Nico O'Reilly

Check out the exclusive overview of Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City 👉

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Barça use €116m reference point during Fermin Lopez negotiations with Chelsea

 There are now less than 48 hours to go until the summer transfer window closes, and Barcelona still do not know whether Fermin Lopez wants to leave. The midfielder continues to attract interest from Chelsea, with whom he has been in regular contact with throughout the week.

On Saturday, it was reported by Fabrizio Romano that Chelsea submitted their opening written offer for Fermin, which was valued in the region of €40m, which was swiftly rejected by Barcelona. The reigning La Liga champions value the 22-year-old closer to €90m at this late stage of the transfer window, which would leave little time to use the funds raised to make their own signing.

As per MD, Chelsea have been told by Fermin’s entourage that an offer of €70m could be enough for Barcelona to given the green light, although the Catalans have pointed to the Club World Cup winners’ previous €116m deal for Moises Caicedo as a reference point during negotiations.

It’s no secret that Premier League clubs are often the biggest spenders, and it has been no different during this summer’s transfer window. Barcelona believe that any player of their attracting interest from one of these sides would be available at a premium, which includes this case with Fermin and Chelsea.

Barcelona would prefer to not sell Fermin at all, and head coach Hansi Flick is confident of retaining the services of the young attacking midfielder. However, they will open the door if he asks to leave, which as of yet he has not done.

It will be very interesting to see how the situation with Fermin plays out. He has been included in the matchday squad for Barcelona’s trip to Rayo Vallecano, but he could drop out if there is any movement throughout Sunday.

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Here we go! Romano: Christopher Nkunku to join AC Milan with a 5-year contract

 According to Romano, Christopher Nkunku to join AC Milan with a 5-year contract.

Romano: 

🚨💣Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan, here we go! Deal verbally agreed in principle between the clubs.

AC Milan and Chelsea are set to prepare documents today, fee will be in the region of €42m with add-ons.

Nkunku said yes to 5 year contract yesterday, as revealed.

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Haaland changes his NAME on national team jersey as Norway make announcement

 Erling Haaland has made a name change to his shirt for the Norwegian national team ahead of his country's upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Haaland, 25, will now include his middle name on his number nine shirt so that it reads 'Braut Haaland' instead.

Norway are next in action on September 4 in a friendly against Finland before they face Moldova in a World Cup qualifier on September 9.

Haaland's team are currently top of their group with a maximum of 12 points from four games so far, putting them top of the group and in pole position for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, Haaland has added to his extensive car collection as he was seen leaving the club's Etihad Campus in a new Ford Shelby F-150 truck last month.

The truck comes with a five litre V8 engine and is capable of going from zero to 60mph in 3.4 seconds.

It adds to a large fleet of cars Haaland has bought since moving to Man City for Borussia Dortmund back in 2022.

The Norwegian has remarkably bought four cars since putting pen to paper on his latest Man City contract earlier this year.

In January, Haaland signed the most lucrative contract in Premier League history, with his total package worth almost £1million per week over nine-and-a-half-years.

The following month, Haaland was seen leaving training in a orange Porsche 911 GT3 which is worth over £200,000.

Haaland was then reported to teamed up with billionaire car collector Ole Ertvaag to buy the Bugatti Tourbillion, worth a reported £4million.

The rare supercar is one of just 250 to have been made and was billed to have 'space age' features including 'butterfly doors'.

The Bugatti has a 1,800 horsepower petrol and electric hybrid V16 engine which can take the car from zero to 62mph in two seconds, and can reach 124mph in just a mere five seconds.

In May, Haaland splashed out on a yellow convertible Ferrari 812 Superfast, which would have set back the forward £320,000.

His collection also includes an Aston Martin DBX 4x4 worth £350,000, a £250,000 Mercedes Maybach and a £120,000 Audi RS6 Avant Quattro.

The forward in the past has been seen driving a Ferrari Monza SP2, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Range Rover Sport.

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Mikel Arteta reveals Eberechi Eze PHONED him as he was about to join Tottenham

 Mikel Arteta has revealed Eberechi Eze phoned him as he was about to join Tottenham.

Arsenal left their north London rivals red-faced on Wednesday night when they reached an agreement in principle with Crystal Palace to sign Eze, 27.

Eze had looked Spurs-bound after they spent 10 days negotiating over a deal worth £55million plus add-ons - only for Arsenal to sneak in at the last minute with a bid worth £67.5m.

The 27-year-old completed the move to Arsenal on Saturday and was unveiled in front of fans before their 5-0 win over Leeds.

A report from The Athletic claims that Eze got in contact with Mikel Arteta just as he was about to commit to Tottenham.

When asked if it was true, Arteta said: 'That shows you how much he wanted to come.

'It's very different sometimes because you want to be very open and transparent with the players as they have to make decisions in their careers but I'm delighted to have him.

'I'm delighted to have him, I can tell how much it means to him and his whole family.'

Daily Mail Sport understands Spurs had agreed to Palace's transfer demands on Wednesday and also struck terms with Eze who, at that stage, was keen to finalise the move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But Crystal Palace are understood to have insisted that Eze remain available for their Conference League play-off first leg against Norwegian side Fredrikstad on Thursday night, which handed Arsenal an opportunity to swoop in.

But in the end, Eze didn't play. Oliver Glasner expected him to have a send-off but revealed that the winger called in sick on the morning of the game.

He has signed a four year deal at the Emirates, with the option of a further year and will wear the No 10 shirt.

Eze Could make his debut when Arsenal travel to Anfield to face title challengers Liverpool next Sunday.

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Arsenal's final decision on Alejandro Garnacho transfer after private work on Man Utd star

 Alejandro Garnacho looks destined to leave Manchester United this summer, with Chelsea in pole position, but Arsenal are among the other clubs to look at the winger

Arsenal considered a move for Manchester United outcast Alejandro Garnacho before opting against a move, it has been claimed. The winger has been left out of United's pre-season tour, with Chelsea closing in on a cut-price deal, but their London rivals turned to other targets after exploring a shock deal.

The Gunners ended up turning their attentions to Noni Madueke, who joined from Chelsea in a £48millon deal. And they weren't the only ones to move on from Garnacho.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid also did due diligence with a view to potentially moving for the Argentine. Garnacho spent time in Atleti's academy as a youngster before moving to Old Trafford, and Diego Simeone's side considered bringing him back to the city of his birth.

Those teams also ultimately looked elsewhere. Spurs paid £55m to sign Mohammed Kudus from West Ham, while Atleti added both Alex Baena and Thiago Almada.

Chelsea are understood to have agreed personal terms with Garnacho, with negotiations over a fee ongoing. They have until September 1 to get a deal done, with United already dropping their asking price since the Blues' January interest.

Garnacho featured in all but two of United's Premier League matches last season, scoring six goals. He didn't start any of the final three games, though, and the writing appeared to be on the wall after he was left out of the starting line-up for the Europa League final.

"Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don't know," he said after the defeat against Spurs. "The final will influence [my decision] but the whole season, the situation of the club. I'm going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterwards."

In early August, United boss Ruben Amorim made his feelings clear when it came to Garnacho's future. "I think with Garnacho, you can understand and you can see that he's talented, he's a really talented boy,” the boss said.

"But sometimes things don't work out and you cannot explain specifically what it is. But I have the feeling – and I think it's clear - that Garnacho wants a different thing with a different leadership and I can understand that.

"So I don't think it's a problem. Sometimes you adapt to one guy and you have the connection. Other times you want a new challenge. So we try to make everything OK for all parties. To the club, to the coach and to the player. It's a natural thing in football."

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