Manchester United defensive midfielder Casemiro continued his fine form in the 2025/26 campaign with a goal for Brazil against Senegal on international duty on Saturday.

The veteran midfield star has started nine of his ten appearances in the Premier League for Ruben Amorim this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist from the middle of the park.

The Brazil international only started 18 times in the top-flight in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, but he has emerged as a vital player for the Portuguese boss this term.

Despite his renewed importance to the team, Casemiro turns 34 in February and United may still be on the lookout for the long-term successor to his place in the starting XI.

In September, it was reported that the Red Devils have identified Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba as a priority target, with a deal that could reach a club-record £100m touted for 2026.

However, the Premier League giants should, instead, avoid a swoop to sign the Cameroon international in the January transfer window and next summer.

Why Man Utd should avoid a deal for Carlos Baleba

Manchester United should avoid a deal to sign the defensive midfielder, particularly if the price tag is £100m, because his performances for Brighton have declined from the 2024/25 campaign to the current term.

Baleba won 55% of his ground duels and made 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League last season, per Sofascore, which makes it easy to understand why the club identified him as a possible successor to Casemiro.

The Brazilian star has made 2.7 tackles and interceptions per match and won 58% of his ground duels in the division this term, per Sofascore, and the Brighton ace could have been viewed as a good fit to take his place moving forward.

However, his numbers have declined across the board in the Premier League this season, which suggests that he may not have the consistency that United will need from their stars if they want to compete for the biggest trophies.

Appearances

34

11

Goals

3

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.7

2.0

Clearances per game

1.3

1.0

Duels won per game

5.8

3.4

Ground duel success rate

55%

44%

Fouls made per game

1.2

1.5

As you can see in the table above, Baleba has lost the majority of his ground duels in the division and has won fewer duels, made fewer tackles and interceptions, and committed more fouls in comparison to the 2024/25 campaign.

When paying £100m, which would be a club-record fee for United, the Red Devils should want a player who is improving and on the way up, yet the opposite appears to be true of the Brighton midfield.

Man United eyeing move for Premier League midfielder

That is why it should come as good news to supporters that INEOS are reportedly looking at an alternative to Baleba who would be a better option for the club to sign.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to reports from Spain, Manchester United are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Crystal Palace defensive midfielder Adam Wharton in the January transfer window.

The report claims that Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all also keen on the England international, which means that there will be plenty of competition for his signature ahead of the second half of the season.

It adds that any deal for the left-footed star could cost around £88m and that the signs are pointing towards a January exit from Selhurst Park for the former Blackburn Rovers ace.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Manchester United are willing to pay the £88m that will be required to beat the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal to his signature.

Why Manchester United should sign Adam Wharton

The Red Devils should push to win the race for Wharton’s services in January because he would be a way better signing than Baleba, who is valued at £12m more than the Englishman.

Unlike Baleba, the 21-year-old star has taken a step forward with his performances in the Premier League for Crystal Palace this season, which shows that he is improving and progressing as a player, rather than regressing.

Appearances

20

9

Big chances created

5

5

Key passes per game

1.3

1.6

Dribble success rate

20%

64%

Tackles made per game

1.7

1.3

Ground duel success rate

49%

53%

Dribbled past per game

1.4x

1.0x

Possession lost per game

10.8x

10.2x

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed midfield maestro has improved in and out of possession, making fewer tackles per game but being more efficient in his attempts to tackle, hence the higher ground duel success rate and fewer times dribbled past per game.

Wharton was hailed as “the best deep-lying English midfielder since Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick” by one CONCACAF B certified coach earlier this year, and it is easy to see why.

Scholes, in particular, was renowned for his exceptional passing from midfield, which led to 82 assists for United (Transfermarkt), and Wharton is cut from a similar cloth.

Per FBref, the Eagles star ranks within the top 1% of midfielders in the top five leagues in Europe and European competitions over the last 365 days for xAG per 90 (0.30) and the top 10% for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.75).

Wharton, like Scholes, is a tempo-setting midfield player who also has the quality to break lines and create chances for his teammates with his impressive passing range.

Whereas Baleba has only created five ‘big chances’ in 91 appearances in all competitions for Brighton, per Sofascore, which suggests that he would not provide the same level of quality on the ball.

Man Utd now eyeing £80m+ Tchouameni deal as fresh Casemiro problem emerges

He could replace the veteran midfielder.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 16, 2025

Therefore, Wharton could be a much better option for United than the Brighton star because he would provide more quality on the ball, whilst arriving as a player who is improving week-on-week, instead of regressing, as Baleba has.

Tottenham have reportedly made an eye-watering initial offer to sign Real Madrid forward Rodrygo ahead of the January transfer window after contacting Los Blancos president Florentino Perez.

Rodrygo’s once-prominent status at Real has come under serious threat this season, with the Brazilian winger’s reduced role fueling speculation about a potential departure from the Bernabeu.

The 24-year-old’s situation has deteriorated rapidly since Xabi Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout. Despite featuring in 13 matches this season, Rodrygo has managed just 359 minutes of playing time in all competitions, less than 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono, Arda Güler and the exit-linked Vinícius Júnior.

More tellingly, he hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes in any game at all this term, suggesting a serious fall down Alonso’s pecking order.

Rodrygo’s career at Real Madrid since joining from Santos

Appearances

283

Goals

68

Assists

53

Bookings

12

Red cards

0

Minutes played

16,512

Rodrygo has started just three of his 13 competitive matches in 25/26, including only one start in his last seven La Liga games, raising serious questions about his future at the club where he’s won two Champions League titles.

The former Santos sensation, speaking to reporters in Brazil’s mixed media zone earlier this week, opened up about his lack of chances and put on a dedicated front.

However, behind-the-scenes, whispers are indicating that a January exit could be on the cards for him.

Rodrygo was attracting interest from Tottenham in the summer, with north London rivals Arsenal also holding talks over signing the South American as far back as May, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

While a move to the English capital didn’t materialise for Rodrygo, it could well be revisited in January, with ESPN Brasil reporting that he’s privately open to leaving Real after growing dissatisfied under Alonso.

From Tottenham’s perspective, it is believed that Thomas Frank’s side are prepared to spend a club-record fee on bringing Rodrygo to N17, as per reports from Spain, and there’s now been another update on his future, again involving Spurs.

Tottenham make 'initial offer' for Rodrygo after contacting Florentino Perez

As per Spanish media sources, the Lilywhites have approached Perez with a proposal already.

Tottenham are now said to have made an ‘initial offer’ of around £75 million for Rodrygo, with £62 million to be paid in full plus a further £13 million in add-ons. Right now, they’re apparently showing the ‘most interest’ of any potential suitor, with Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici setting their sights on a statement signing.

However, that isn’t to say they’re alone in the race, as other unnamed Premier League clubs have inquired about Rodrygo as well.

The Lewis family recently backed Tottenham with a £100 million cash injection which could be put towards the club’s recruitment drive, and reports of this nature suggest that they’re looking to usher in a post-Daniel Levy era with real aplomb.

Tactically, he offers Frank exactly what the Dane has been missing — creativity.

His strengths include exceptional dribbling, key passing, finishing and crossing ability (WhoScored), providing that spark from wide areas which Tottenham have desperately lacked so far, bar Mohammed Kudus.

Rodrygo’s versatility across the front three would give Frank real tactical flexibility as well, given he’s capable of operating on either flank or even centrally.

The winger scored 14 goals and bagged 11 assists in all competitions under Carlo Ancelotti last term, with Jude Bellingham calling him their most ‘gifted’ and ‘underrated’ player.

Leeds United are reportedly eyeing a move for an “unbelievable” Premier League player in the January transfer window, as he looks to boost his World Cup chances.

Aaronson hails impressive "mentality" at Leeds

The Whites continue to battle well in the Premier League this season, with last Friday’s 2-1 win at home to West Ham leaving them 15th in the table at the end of the weekend.

One player who is enjoying his football at Leeds is Brenden Aaronson, with the American hailing the mentality on show under Daniel Farke after scoring against the Hammers, and lauding the competition for places.

“It was huge for us today to keep the mentality. I think that was the message all week. Late minutes in the game, stay on top of it and get the result which we needed today to hold the 2-1 win. Defensively, we were good today. We handed a lot of crossing situations from them. West Ham is a team that has a ton of quality so it was definitely a difficult game. I am just proud of the group.

“I think we have this next-man-up mentality where I think everybody is ready to play and everybody is winning their chance. I think the biggest thing for me is getting in the box and the ball bounces your way but that is all about positioning and reacting. I am really happy with the goal and I am happy with the group and the atmosphere.”

But Leeds will know that there is still a huge amount of work to do this season, in terms of avoiding relegation back to the Championship, and new signings in January wouldn’t go amiss.

Leeds eye January move for "unbelievable" Barkley

According to The Leeds Press, Leeds and Farke are keen on signing Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley on loan in the January window.

The 31-year-old is seen as “an option amongst several other players” midway through the season, with Farke “keen to add a creative midfielder to his squad in January”. The player himself is “keen for more game time”, with a move to Elland Road giving him an “outside chance of a place in the England World Cup squad” next summer.

Barkley could be a shrewd creative loan option for Leeds in attacking midfield, scoring 37 Premier League goals in his career and being lauded by former Luton Town teammate Andros Townsend, who even once compared him to the legendary Diego Maradona.

Farke has found a new Dallas-type player in “unbelievable” Leeds star

Daniel Farke has now stumbled upon Leeds United’s next Stuart Dallas-type figure in this unbelievable star.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 27, 2025

Barkley has a point to prove and a big World Cup aim with England, which would only be a good thing for Leeds, and if the loan move didn’t work out, he would simply return to Villa at the end of the season.

That was certainly an entertaining game, but not for the reason Chelsea would’ve been hoping for.

Enzo Maresca’s side travelled to Baku to take on Qarabağ in the Champions League, but instead of building on their derby win at the weekend, they drew 2-2.

While there were a few players who looked good on the night, such as Estevao, most of the team played seriously poorly.

In fact, some of the team, like Jorrel Hato, have almost certainly played themselves out of the team for the Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Hato's dire display vs Qarabağ

When Chelsea signed Hato from Ajax in the summer, there was considerable excitement from the fanbase, as the 19-year-old is regarded as one of the best young defenders in world football.

After all, before the move, he had already made over 100 appearances for the Amsterdam side and won six senior caps for the Netherlands.

However, even with this experience, he’s years away from being in his prime years, and so there was an expectation that he would make mistakes for the Blues, and unfortunately, that is what happened on Wednesday night.

Hato’s senior Ajax record
Appearances	111
Starts	102
Minutes	9121′
Goals	4
Assists	9
Goal Involvements per Match	0.11
Minutes per Goal Involvement	701.61′
Points per Game	1.86
All Stats via Transfermarkt

For Qarabağ’s first goal, the Dutchman was outmuscled and left on the floor for the first shot and then out of the way entirely for the rebound.

Now, one mistake in a game can be down to bad luck and happen to anyone.

Unfortunately, it was the teenager who, via a handball, gave away the penalty for the hosts’ second goal just ten minutes later.

In all, it was, as one content creator put it, a “horror” showing from Hato on Wednesday and one that should see him dropped for Saturday.

Unfortunately for Maresca, other starters also played themselves out of the team.

The Cheslea star who played himself out of the team

There really are a few players you could name here, such as Hato’s defensive partner, Tosin Adarabioyo, who looked just as inexperienced at the back.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, in this instance, the starter who has to be on the bench for Wolves on the weekend is Tyrique George.

The Cobham graduate was preferred to Marc Guiu and Liam Delap from the start on Wednesday night, and unfortunately, he did not repay the manager’s faith in him.

In his defence, he did not make a mistake that cost the side a goal, but he also did nothing to help them score one, which, given his position and the opposition, is just as bad.

In fact, the youngster was so anonymous that Maresca decided to hook him at halftime, and while Liam Delap didn’t set the world alight either, he was at least noticeable when the Blues had the ball.

That might sound overly harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by football.london’s Bobby Vincent, who gave the Englishman a 5/10 match rating and generously described it as ‘a fairly quiet evening’ for the striker.

Unfortunately, his statistics don’t make for pleasant reading either, as in 45 minutes of inaction, he produced a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.22, took a single shot which was blocked, took just 13 touches – 26 fewer than Robert Sanchez – lost the ball four times and completed just six passes.

George’s game vs Qarabağ
Minutes	45′
Expected Goals	0.05
Goals	0
Expected Assists	0.17
Assists	0
Shots on Target	0
Touches	13
Lost Possession	4
Passes Completed	6/7
Dribbles	0
Ground Duels (Won)	2 (0)
All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, George isn’t a bad player, but he was utterly anonymous against Qarabağ and, therefore, must be dropped for the Wolves game.

Enzo Maresca makes January claim with Chelsea star "out for a while" through injury

The west Londoners could be without him until 2026.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 5, 2025

Ngarava’s maiden Test five-wicket haul handed the hosts their first innings win since 2001

Sreshth Shah22-Oct-2025It took Zimbabwe less than three hours on the third day to claim their first home Test win since 2013, their first innings win since 2001 and their biggest Test win. Richard Ngarava was the star, where in overcast conditions he took his first five-wicket haul in Tests. His movement through the air and off the pitch never looked exaggerated, but it was relentless enough to break the game open and leave Zimbabwe with a win by an innings and 73 runs against a listless Afghanistan batting unit.The day began with Zimbabwe’s Test squad lining up for a group photo, a clear suggestion they were keen to finish the contest on Wednesday itself. And they started with a surprise by giving the ball to Tanaka Chivanga ahead of Blessing Muzarabani.It turned out to be a good decision as Chivanga’s third over of the morning saw Rahmanullah Gurbaz flicking one down the leg side, and Tafadzwa Tsiga, alert behind the stumps, did the rest. Three overs later, Ngarava produced almost the same dismissal when Ibrahim Zadran, who had reached 42 with measured strokes, flicked another ball going down leg, and Tsiga took his second of the morning.Hashmatullah Shahidi lasted briefly. A full delivery from Ngarava drew a hard-handed push that went to Craig Ervine at slip. Bahir Shah and Afsar Zazai then gave the innings some momentum. Bahir found six boundaries but his counter-attack ended after Muzarabani cramped him with a short ball. The fend popped up and Ben Curran swooped in from short leg. Zazai followed soon after, easing a half-hearted drive to backward point to end the morning session at 127 for 6.The sun broke through after lunch but offered little relief to Afghanistan. Chivanga thought he had Ismat Alam caught, only for a front-foot no-ball to intervene. Ngarava corrected it soon after with a length ball outside off that induced a cut from Alam. Tsiga flung himself to his right and pulled off a one-handed catch that drew gasps even from the slips. Two overs later Sharafuddin Ashraf edged to second slip, giving Ngarava his fifth.Muzarabani, quiet through much of the innings, finished it off with precision. First he flattened Khalil Gurbaz’s leg stump, then beat Ziaur Rahman with a yorker that split middle stump. Those wickets gave him six for the match and ended a game Zimbabwe had controlled from the second hour of the first day.Ibrahim Zadran top-scored for Afghanistan with 42•Zimbabwe CricketNgarava’s five, Chivanga’s pace, and Muzarabani’s closing spell combined for a win that was both rare and easily earned. Curran’s day-two performance of 121, which earned him a Player-of-the-Match award, and Sikandar Raza’s 65 were the other highlights of their comfortable win.After the game, Zimbabwe captain Ervine said a win in their final Test match of the year was satisfying.”I’m ecstatic. A lot of credit to the boys for fighting and winning to end a tough year of Test cricket,” Ervine said. “The way we started, in the first hour of day one wasn’t good, but the way the boys pulled things back was excellent. Then with the bat, Curran’s innings – full of composure and discipline – was outstanding.”The wicket offered something throughout, so the boys did well to put on some good partnerships. The boys have learnt with the Test cricket they’ve played in the last six-seven months to find their game. Brad [Evans] with the five-for in the first innings and Richie [Ngarava] stepped up in the second innings. TK [Chivanga] was superb and Bless [Muzarabani] was unlucky not to take a few more wickets.”Shahidi, the Afghanistan captain, rued the batting collapse on the first day when Afghanistan slid from 77 for 1 to 127 all out.”They played really good cricket, it was supporting the fast bowlers,” Shahidi said. “Ball was seaming around but overall, we didn’t play good cricket. We started the Test well with 80 for 1 [77 for 1] in the first innings, but that collapse let us down. I feel the lack of our Test-playing experience cost us since we kept losing back-to-back wickets. In Test cricket, winning the first day is very important.”The two teams now meet for the three-match T20I series starting October 29.

MatériaMais Notícias

Presidente do Flamengo, Rodolfo Landim deu forte declaração sobre o poder dentro do clube e a responsabilidade financeira da diretoria. Em entrevista ao portal “ge”, o dirigente afirmou que o trabalho da diretoria poderia ser destruído em “três meses”, caso a pessoa a frente do Rubro-Negro não prudente com os gastos.

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– Eu ouço muitos jornalistas esportivos fazendo comentários interessantes. Falam de gestão de empresa e eu ouço: “O Flamengo do jeito que está estruturado, vai passar 10 anos com desempenho maravilhoso”. E eu digo para vocês: com três meses de má gestão dá para destruir o Flamengo. Não precisa de muito tempo. Com a minha caneta, dá para destruir o Flamengo. Tudo o que se construiu a gente destrói em três meses. Eu compro o Neymar, o Mbappé e mais um. Coloco 600 milhões de euros de dívidas no balanço do Flamengo – declarou Rodolfo Landim.

– É exato. Isso é uma grande verdade (a responsabilidade ser sempre do presidente). No fundo, quem tem a caneta e quem tem o poder de mudar é o presidente do clube. Eu tenho o poder de trocar quem eu quiser. Se alguma coisa foi feita errada, a culpa é minha. Se foi feita certa, a equipe é brilhante, boa e mereceu. Se deu errado, é minha. A vida é assim. A responsabilidade maior é minha. Eu continuo achando isso. Os problemas do Flamengo, quando tem problemas, sou eu o responsável. Se foi cometido o erro por alguém, foi alguém que eu coloquei lá e dei poder para ele tomar essa decisão que saiu errada. No fundo, é isso mesmo – completou o dirigente do Flamengo.

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FlamengoRodolfo Landim

The top-order batter knows he is in a selection race ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup

Andrew McGlashan02-Oct-2025

Tim Robinson celebrates his maiden T20I century•Getty Images

Tim Robinson admitted to mixed emotions after his maiden T20I century against Australia, both from the fact that it was in defeat and also that his opportunity to play only came because of misfortune to a team-mate.Robinson had not been due to feature in the opening match of the series until Rachin Ravindra was ruled out having suffered a nasty facial injury colliding with the boundary board during training.Shortly after walking in at No. 3, Robinson was faced with a scoreboard that read 6 for 3 in the second over. But he was able to transform that into a respectable total of 181 having turned 10 off 14 balls into a century from 65 deliveries, brought up when he scooped Ben Dwarshuis to fine leg off the penultimate ball of the innings. However, it still proved well short of challenging a power-packed Australia line-up who cantered home with 21 balls to spare.Related

Ravindra out of Australia series after 'major laceration'

Marsh outmuscles Robinson as Australia cruise past NZ in first T20I

“Bittersweet is a perfect way to describe it,” Robinson said. “It’s definitely a bit of a double-edged sword. I’m obviously personally pretty happy with how I went but probably trumped by the fact that we lost that game.”I wasn’t expecting to play,” he added. “Firstly, I’m really disappointed and upset for [Rachin], and he’s one of my close mates. It’s horrible to see him injure himself and miss out on playing for a team that he loves.”But in saying that, it’s given me an opportunity. So that’s, again, a weird feeling, because I wouldn’t be playing tonight if that didn’t happen. I’m always grateful for any opportunity I can to put on a black jersey, that’s for sure. But I’m really disappointed and gutted that my mate’s gone home. So it’s a bit of a funny one.”Robinson’s hasty call into the XI also meant some hurried conversations with his dad, David, back on the family farm in Rangitikei, lower North Island, where Tim himself had been helping just a week earlier having returned from his county stint with Northamptonshire. After doing farm work on Wednesday morning, David made the four-hour journey to Bay Oval to watch his son score a century.”We had all hands on deck last weekend for docking [sheep],” Robinson said. “We smashed through them. I got off the plane from England…and was straight into it on Saturday and Sunday. It was good. I was on the horse, so I didn’t even have to walk, so I was happy.”Robinson is now averaging 38.40 from his first 13 T20Is with a strike-rate of 137.63 after making his debut in Pakistan last year. His unbeaten 106 trumped the 75 not out he made against South Africa in Zimbabwe during July’s tri-series, where despite that innings he was only able to play two matches.Robinson knows he’s in a selection race for next year’s T20 World Cup with New Zealand having plenty of top-order options if everyone is available. Alongside Ravindra, they are missing Finn Allen and Kane Williamson against Australia from those who will compete for places in the top three.”Absolutely [this is a] trial window,” he said. “And that’s why I want to make the most of everything that comes my way. I love it. Competition for spots is fantastic. It breeds hunger and it’s sort of uplifting for everybody. I think it’s fantastic that we’ve got such good competition for spots and making [head coach] Rob [Walter’s] job really hard. My goal is [to] make him make hard decisions.”

Born just outside Marseille to Algerian parents, it was always going to be hard for a footballer as silky as Samir Nasri to avoid comparisons with the great Zinedine Zidane. When he was snapped up by Arsenal in the peak of the 'Wenger-ball' years, it made complete sense. Here was this uber-talented attacking midfielder who could glide past opponents for fun, why wouldn't he be the Gunners' next marquee player?

Nasri earned a move to Manchester City in 2011 and was part of the side that won the Premier League title on the final day of that season, hilariously pictured celebrating with fellow Frenchman and QPR opponent Djibril Cisse at full-time. All this happened before the playmaker turned 25, yet this was the apex of a career that went by the wayside afterwards.

Though he fulfilled on his potential early, Nasri never quite hit those same heights during the supposed prime years of his career. Instead, that chapter will be remembered as one of infamy.

This is the story of Nasri, 'Drip Doctors' and one of the craziest online stories football has ever seen…

AFPDecline and exit

Nasri managed to stay relatively injury-free for his first three seasons at City before suffering a spate of different issues during the 2014-15 campaign. A hamstring problem then ruled him out for most of the following season, during which he required extensive treatment on what ought to have been a routine recovery.

"The original estimate by the doctors was that I'd be out for between four to six months and the surgeon told me the same, but I've already done two months and I'm targeting the international break in March to be back properly with the squad," Nasri said in January 2016. "With this injury I had to have an operation that resulted in nearly 100 stitches in my thigh. My surgeon told me this was a rare injury as the muscle had detached from the bone and the tendon was also 90 percent detached and had to be stitched back together so it was something that doesn't happen very often."

By the time he returned to full fitness at the start of 2016-17, a new age had begun. Pep Guardiola had been installed as City manager and Kevin De Bruyne was the team's creator-in-chief, leaving a depleted Nasri to seek opportunities elsewhere.

AdvertisementAFPBorn again

At the very end of the summer 2016 transfer window, Nasri joined Sevilla on a season-long loan. The Andalusian side had just appointed highly-rated Argentine Jorge Sampaoli as their new head coach, and he was intent on creating a team for the purists. Nasri was perfect for that.

The Spanish media raved over Nasri's debut, during which he covered the second-most distance in a 2-1 win over Las Palmas. The slower style of La Liga football suited Nasri, whose burst of pace had been almost totally nerfed at this point. As long as he was fit, which was more often than not, the playmaker was almost a guaranteed starter, be that as a No.10 or on the wing.

Sampaoli's Sevilla went into La Liga's Christmas break third in the table, one place above Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid. Talk of a surprise title charge didn't sound crazy, either. Los Nervionenses had substance and style, even if keeping up with the powerhouses of Real Madrid and Barcelona would prove too tough a challenge.

That winter, however, Nasri's career changed forever. And not for the better.

The Drip Doctor will see you now…

Nasri spent his mid-season break in Los Angeles, during which time he visited the 'Drip Doctors' clinic. He was supposedly looking to receive a simple injection of vitamins, later clarifying he even had a prescription for the session after falling ill. Some testimonies claim this was recommended to him by his ex-girlfriend Dr Sarabjit Anand, who was based in Maryland.

Drip Doctors were delighted to welcome a name like Nasri and wanted to shout to the world that he had visited. A tweet from December 27, 2016 from their official account read: "We provided [Nasri] a concierge Immunity IV Drip to keep him hydrated and in top health during his busy soccer season with Sevilla." A picture of Nasri with founder and CEO Jamila Sozahdah was attached.

GOAL

It all seemed pretty inconspicuous. If Nasri wanted to go and receive this sort of medical treatment in his spare time, that was his business. But then all hell broke loose.

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The internet never forgets

In a series of tweets that were deleted not too long after they were posted, Nasri – or at least the person with access to his account, later insisting he had been hacked – claimed he was "also provided a full sexual service too right after". The account called Sozahdah a "w****" that "comes and f**** the same night" and wrote in another post: "Please tell the world as well of the other concierge treatment your girl gave straight after the iv drip."

GOAL

The absurdity of these posts led people to believe Nasri wasn't actually the person writing these tweets, with some quickly pointing to the possibility of a vengeful lover. Indeed, he had supposedly been in hot water with girlfriend of four years Anara Atanes in the weeks leading up to this episode, and she was the next person to be dragged into the posts.

"Sorry guys I just had to let the world know that my girlfriend Anara who was with me at the time had booked this girl to give me an iv drip," and "On arrival Anara had left the room and this girl had asked for my number and to go out with me that night. She then continued to give me…" were the tweets that followed, though some of these entries were being destroyed almost as quickly as they went up. "Unfortunately my twitter keeps deleting tweets. But just letting you boys know if u are in the la area and feeling lonely msg @DripDoctors" recognised this.

GOAL

There then appeared to be a back-and-forth between the owner of the account and the person who had supposedly hacked into it. In an attempt to prove his innocence, Nasri tweeted: "Someone hacked my account and tried to spread rumors which is fake I am sorty for all the ppl involved in that i apologies." This was then followed by: "Everything i said was 100 percents facts. The girl in the picture jamilah. Came to my hotel room at 3 am and continued other services… That dont come on their menu."

At that point, the Drip Doctors account thought it would be best to dispel these allegations. "[Nasri's] account has been HACKED and the recent tweets about @dripdoctors are all FALSE, this will be confirmed shortly. Thanks," was their own tweet. But the person behind Nasri's profile had the final say on the matter that fateful evening.

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"Did jamilah not come to the club and then my hotel room at 3am?" was the question posed by Nasri's account in response. "Im just trying to promote the amazing service of @DripDoctors and the services that come after too… And how you f*** all ur clients on the same day as giving them an iv drip," was the final post of the saga that night.

And if you don't believe all of these tweets weren't actually posted, you can still view this article from GOAL with actual screenshots from in the moment. This really happened!

تمكن فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي، من إدراك هدف التعادل أمام الجيش الملكي المغربي، في دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

ويواجه الاهلي نظيره الجيش الملكي المغربي، في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

طالع.. فيديو | مثير للجدل.. محسن بوريجة يسجل هدف الجيش الملكي الأول أمام الأهلي

واستطاع الأهلي تسجيل هدف التعادل في مرمى الجيش الملكي، في الدقيقة 67، بعد عرضية رائعة من محمد علي بن رمضان ليضعها تريزيجيه برأسه في الشباك. 

وجاء هدف الجيش الملكي الأول في الدقيقة 37 عن طريق محسن بوريجة بعدما ارتدت الكرة له عقب ركلة جزاء سددها محمد حريمات وتصدى لها مصطفى شوبير.

ويتواجد الأهلي في المجموعة الثانية من دوري أبطال إفريقيا، مع الجيش الملكي وشبيبة القبائل الجزائري ويانج أفريكانز التنزاني. هدف تعادل الأهلي أمام الجيش الملكي اليوم 

Vincent Kompany has fiercely rejected criticism of Manuel Neuer after Bayern Munich's 3-1 Champions League defeat to Arsenal, insisting the goalkeeper made no mistake despite two high-profile moments in London. With Bayern’s unbeaten run gone and pressure rising, the coach pushed back against growing scrutiny, while preparing his side to reset immediately in the Bundesliga.

• Bayern’s unbeaten run ends as Neuer faces spotlight

  Bayern's 18 game unbeaten streak came to a halt at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal exposed defensive gaps and capitalised on rare errors from Neuer. Jurrien Timber opened the scoring after the Bayern captain appeared blocked during a crowded corner sequence, and although Lennart Karl equalised, the Premier League leaders took control after the break.

  Noni Madueke restored Arsenal’s advantage before Gabriel Martinelli sealed the result with a calm finish past Neuer, who had rushed high off his line in an attempt to intervene. The moment triggered widespread debate in Germany, with pundits and fans questioning whether the 39-year-old should have approached the situation differently. That criticism quickly became the centre of Bayern’s media briefing setting up Kompany to deliver a firm defence of his goalkeeper.

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  Kompany rejects criticism of Neuer and insists no mistake was made

  Speaking ahead of the Bavarians' Bundesliga clash with St. Pauli, Kompany made it clear he would not entertain talk of a goalkeeping controversy, starting with a blunt dismissal of the claims. "Mistake, what mistake?," the Belgian said. "No. If you call that a mistake, then I have a different opinion."

  He then repeated his view, specifically addressing the Gunners' third goal: "What are you supposed to do as a goalkeeper? Either wait and then it's one-on-one, or you defend the space and try to help your teammate who's playing against a faster player. I have a different opinion on that."

  The Bayern coach also addressed the earlier corner incident and stressed that even if errors do happen, Neuer’s pedigree remains unquestioned. "Sure, mistakes can happen, he's made them before and will make them in the future. But he's an outstanding goalkeeper. This is the first I've heard of it, so I'm a bit surprised."

  Turning to the match as a whole, Kompany emphasised Bayern’s strong opening hour but admitted the final stretch was below standard: "The analysis is always clearer once you've rewatched the game. After a match like that, it's straight on to the next one. But of course, we have to learn from it. We were solid for the first hour and played on equal terms away in London. However, the last half hour wasn't up to our standard, and Arsenal deserved to win. Now we're seeing which players are ready… we're just looking at minor details."

• Neuer explains his decision and criticism intensifies

  While Kompany defended him, Neuer himself offered a more detailed breakdown of what happened during the crucial third goal, acknowledging the risk involved in his aggressive approach. "When you're behind, you simply have to take a bit more risk, and in that situation, the pass was initially good because it wasn't really going in deep. I could already see that Martinelli was running against [Joshua Kimmich] and was also a bit faster than Jo. I knew then that it would lead to a one-on-one situation and a great chance. I tried to clear it beforehand, and he took him down well. The touch was simply crucial, and then I couldn't reach it anymore, although I knew I was taking a big risk."

  Not everyone agreed with his decision. Former Die Roten and Germany midfielder Michael Ballack delivered a sharper assessment of the moment: “That wasn't necessary. Manuel made the wrong decision there. If he goes for the ball, he has to get it, he knows that himself. He decided to take the risk, and is being punished for it.”

  The contrasting views reflect a growing debate about Neuer’s form, especially as Bayern navigate a demanding season and weigh long-term choices around the goalkeeper position, though Kompany remains adamant that discussion is closed.

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  Bayern look to reset as St. Pauli test awaits

  Attention now shifts back to domestic action, with the Bavarians preparing for a potentially tricky meeting against St. Pauli. Despite their opponents’ run of eight straight defeats, Kompany warned that complacency cannot be allowed to creep in.

  "The most important thing is that we don't differentiate between St. Pauli and Arsenal in our preparations," he said. "When we look at them, we see that they're doing well and what they're capable of. We've played them twice, and against the same coach, and both matches were difficult. We deserved to win, but we fought hard. Even if they've lost eight times, maybe a game against Bayern will be different for them."

  All eyes now turn to Saturday, where Bayern will aim to rebound quickly, steady their form, and avoid further questions ahead of their next Champions League assignment.