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Milan brought in Joao Felix in January, even though very few among their decision-makers were on board with the decision. He was proposed to consultant Zlatan Ibrahimovic by Jorge Mendes. Sergio Conceiçao was the only one completely in favor of the signing.

The scouting area had suggested looking elsewhere. Their reports were negative considering they were set in his role, his limited contribution in his last two stops, and his personability. CEO Giorgio Furlani didn’t weigh in on the technical matters but examined only the costs. In the end, he let the former Swedish striker and the coach make the call.
The Milan brass estimated that the formula to sign Joao Felix was fine, and he eventually joined on a €3M season-long loan plus bonuses. The Rossoneri and Chelsea are splitting his wages. While the investment wasn’t large, it has still been a net loss given his lackluster performances. He showed well in his first two displays, but then he quickly plummeted and has yet to hit the net.

The Portuguese attacker progressively fell out of favor along with his biggest supporter. The boss hasn’t been fired because of a couple of wins here and there and the fact that the team is in the running to win the Coppa Italia. Plus, the hierarchy doesn’t want a third coaching change, as the season is lost already.

Our Take on Milan and Joao Felix

A loan with no option to buy is often a double-edged sword, as it makes it easy to discard the player and,  even if it goes well, the problem is then economic. Top sides should steer clear of those.

Arsenal faces stiff competition from Real Madrid in their pursuit of Martin Zubimendi, who is expected to leave Real Sociedad at the end of this season.

The talented midfielder, who came close to joining Liverpool in the Premier League just a year ago, is now a key target for Arsenal as they look to bolster their midfield options. The Gunners are anticipating the departure of Thomas Partey and Jorginho when the current campaign concludes, making Zubimendi an ideal addition to their squad.
In January, rumours emerged suggesting that Arsenal were looking to secure an agreement that would enable them to bring Zubimendi to the Emirates at the end of the season. The club is reportedly prepared to meet his release clause, and they see the 26-year-old as a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s midfield. However, Arsenal are facing significant competition from one of the biggest clubs in the world—Real Madrid.
Los Blancos have long been a dominant force in European football, and they are capable of competing with any club in the world when it comes to attracting top talent. Historically, players rarely turn down the opportunity to join Real Madrid, given their prestige and global reach. Nevertheless, a report from 90Mins claims that Zubimendi is set to reject their advances in favour of a move to Arsenal.

According to the report, the midfielder is eager to test himself in the Premier League and has made it clear that he wants Arsenal to be his next destination. His willingness to make the move to London, despite Real Madrid’s interest, represents a significant boost for Arsenal in the race for his signature.
Zubimendi is an exceptional player, and it is easy to see why Real Madrid would be keen to secure his services. However, Arsenal have a strong chance of winning the race for his signature if they can convince him that the Emirates is the right place for his next step. With the midfielder reportedly preferring a move to the Premier League, the Gunners may yet emerge as the victors in this highly competitive transfer battle.

It’s time for the next action-packed international break, featuring important games in the Women’s Nations League and Women’s International Friendlies. European teams are preparing for the EURO 2025 this summer, while others are looking ahead to the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup or even planning for the World Cup in 2027. Find out what Women’s International Fixtures & Friendlies are on this international window.

Women’s Nations League

Matchday three and four in the Women’s Nations League are on Friday the 4th and Tuesday the 8th of April. There are some very exciting fixtures ahead:

Portugal vs Spain

Germany vs Scotland

Sweden vs Wales

England vs Belgium

The Netherlands vs Austria

USWNT vs. Brazil

The USWNT and Brazil go head-to-head during the international break:

Sat 5th of April: 2 PM PT/ 5 PM ET at SoFi Stadium (Inglewood).

Tue 8th of April: 7:30 PM PT/ 10:30 PM ET at PayPal Park (San Jose).

On her 24-player roster, Emma Hayes said: “This roster has Olympians returning, less experienced players continuing to try to prove themselves, a few uncapped players and some players who have seen and done it all. The mix of players along with two games against a dynamic Brazil team who we last saw in the gold medal game means this event will be a lot of fun.
“All of the players know they have to earn every roster spot, every starting spot and every minute they get as a finisher off the bench. Working with players who are striving for consistency in elite performance, so they can keep getting call-ups and keep exceling at this level, is an exciting process and one that continues with these two games.”

Arthur Elias on facing the USA (loosely translated): “The American team defends itself very well, and, like us, it is a team that has made changes in its calls and in its game system. They will be very strong in duels, with the new options that the team has presented in the last calls. We have different profiles of athletes for each game plan, and we want to be a dominant team in the matches, with more efficiency in the chances we create.”

Australia vs. Korea Republic

The Matilda’s are facing Korea Republic in a Women’s International Friendly.
Tom Sermanni explained what he hopes to accomplish with the current squad selection: “This squad selection is about achieving the right balance – reintegrating players returning from injury and rewarding those who have been playing consistently well in clubland. It’s important to create continuity while also bringing in players who have earned their place through strong performances.
“Every match leading into the Asian Cup is an opportunity to fine-tune our approach, build cohesion, and ensure we are performing at the level required to take on Asia’s best during next year’s tournament.”

Sam Kerr joined the Matilda’s during the training camp from the 31st of March until the 8th of April. Chelsea granted her leave to ensure the best environment for Kerr’s recovery. She may participate in selected training activities but has not been cleared for competitive football. Football Australia also concluded: “that Kerr’s professional and sincere acceptance of responsibility, as well as her acknowledgment of the far-reaching implications of on- and off-field actions, warranted no further action”.

Fri 4th of April: 8 PM AEDT at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

Mon 7th of April: 07:30 PM AEST at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Canada vs. Argentina

Canada head coach Casey Stoney will make her home debut this international window. She leads the team against two friendlies against Argentina. The head coach stated:
“We’re all excited to be playing on home soil in front of our fans in British Columbia. This group has a great blend of experience and emerging talent, and these matches will be an important chance for us to keep building and growing together.”

Fri 4th of April: 19:30 PM PT/ 22:30 ET at BC Palace.

Tue 8th of April: 19:00 PM PT/ 22:00 PM ET at Starlight Stadium.

You can watch the match on OneSoccer, on the fuboTV Canada streaming service platform, on TELUS Optik TV (Ch. 980), as well as online at OneSoccer.ca and through the OneSoccer app.

Women’s International Fixtures & Friendlies

Below you find the more fixtures during the international break:
Saturday the 5th of April

Chile vs. Haiti

Chinese Taipei vs. New Zealand

Mexico vs. Jamaica

Sunday the 6th of April

Costa Rica vs. Ecuador

Japan vs. Colombia

Tuesday the 8th of April

Chinese Taipei vs. New Zealand

Chile vs Haiti

Wednesday the 9th of April

Mexico vs Jamaica

Costa Rica vs. Ecuador

(Sources were gotten from different leads and combined by Katikaa )

Antony continued his fine form for Real Betis on Sunday by helping the Spanish side triumph 2-1 over bitter rivals Sevilla – and his performance prompted team-mate Isco to joke about signing the Manchester United outcast permanently.
The Brazilian has been hugely impressive for Betis since joining on loan from Manchester United in January, setting his career alight again after a dismal period at Old Trafford following his £86m move from Ajax in 2022.

The winger has scored four goals and provided four assists in 12 appearances for Betis so far since his loan move to the Seville club.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Isco lauded the star’s performance after the game and said: ‘We will now need to do crowdfunding to bring Antony in!’
Antony joined United during Erik ten Hag’s tenure at the club but struggled for consistency in front of goal, falling short of confidence before dropping out of the side altogether.
In total, he managed just 12 goals in 96 appearances for United.

After finding himself on the fringes under new manager Ruben Amorim, the Brazilian was allowed to depart on a temporary basis.

It remains to be seen what will happen with Antony at the end of the season, with Manchester United set to decide on a host of out-of-favour loan stars including Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, who has recently enjoyed a resurgence of his own at Aston Villa.

Although he has two years remaining on his contract at United, it seems somewhat unlikely that Antony will remain at Old Trafford.
During his time at Betis so far, Antony has demonstrated that he is still capable of making an impact at a high level, although United will likely be eager to fetch back a hefty proportion of the £86m they parted with to sign him just three years ago.
Betis are currently in sixth place in LaLiga and have won their last six league games.
They found themselves behind in the 17th minute against archrivals Sevilla on Sunday after Ruben Vargas slotted the visitors ahead with a smart finish.

But goals from Johnny Cardoso and Cucho Hernandez turned the match on its head before the half-time break, and Real Betis were able to hold on to claim a triumphant 2-1 derby victory.

Betis are also still active in the Europa Conference League and will take on Jagiellonia Bialystok in the quarter-finals on Thursday April 10.

The FA Cup semi-finals will take place on the weekend of April 26 and 27 at Wembley Stadium; Manchester City beat Bournemouth to set up last-four tie against Nottingham Forest; other semi-final will see Crystal Palace take on Aston Villa as Eagles look to win competition for first time.

Manchester City will face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-finals while Crystal Palace will play Aston Villa.
The draw was made before Manchester City won 2-1 at Bournemouth in the quarter-finals to keep Pep Guardiola’s side on course for a second FA Cup in three years.

Forest, who beat Brighton on penalties in the quarter-finals on Saturday, will take on the seven-time winners at Wembley in their first FA Cup semi-final in 34 years.

The pair most recently met in early March at the City Ground as Forest won 1-0, but in December Manchester City beat Nuno Espirito Santo’s side 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

The other semi-final will see Crystal Palace, who won 3-0 at Fulham in the last eight, take on Aston Villa as the Eagles eye FA Cup glory for the first time in the club’s history.

Meanwhile, seven-time winners Villa are attempting to lift the FA Cup for the first time in 68 years after Unai Emery’s side eased past Championship side Preston with a 3-0 quarter-final win at Deepdale.

Palace, however, may be buoyed by their last meeting against Villa as Oliver Glasner’s side won 4-1 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on February 25.

The FA Cup semi-finals will be held at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27.

Man City favourites to win FA Cup’

Ex-Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison speaking to Sky Sports News:
“It’s a difficult game. In my heart of hearts did I want Aston Villa on that big Wembley pitch and the pace they have? But when you get to this stage, it’s a lottery.
“Villa are a very good team, but Palace were in good form yesterday against Fulham so that game I’m really looking forward to. That tie’s too hard to call.
“I still think Manchester City are favourites and Villa are second-favourites to win it. You always fancy Manchester City because in a one-off game, they can destroy anyone.
“My heart says Palace to win the whole thing, but not my head!”

If Trent Stays a Red, Is That All That Matters?

Concerning the Trent Alexander-Arnold saga, this past week had him on the verge of signing a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid. However, the world-class right-back has seen his situation take another turn as his record-breaking teammate, Mohamed Salah, posted a cryptic video on social media. In the clip, Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, and Dominik Szoboszlai were seen relaxing together in what appeared to be one of their homes.

The fact that three young men who represent the same football club were spending time together on a Saturday evening is not out of the ordinary. From the grassroots level to the elite stage of the Premier League, friendships among teammates are common. However, given that Liverpool’s vice-captain is nearing the end of his contract and a move to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium seemed almost inevitable, the timing of the post has led to widespread speculation. Could this be a subtle message that Alexander-Arnold is reconsidering his future? Could he still opt to remain at the club he has called home for his entire footballing career?

Should the Fanbase Expect Trent to Stay?

Liverpool supporters have been left in limbo for months regarding the future of one of their most prized assets. Reports of stalled contract talks, his reluctance to sign an extension, and Madrid’s well-documented interest have all led to an uneasy atmosphere surrounding his long-term commitment. Given his world-class ability and versatility, many see him as a cornerstone of the club’s future under Arne Slot. But the big question remains—will he stay?

One major factor that could sway his decision is the influence of his teammates. The likes of Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson will surely be looking to convince the homegrown academy graduate that his best years should remain at Anfield. The camaraderie within the squad has long been a defining trait of Liverpool’s success in recent years, and losing such a key figure would undoubtedly be a huge blow. It would not be surprising if some of his closest allies within the dressing room were actively pushing for him to extend his stay.

There is also the historical precedent set by one of his biggest idols, Steven Gerrard. Back in 2005, Liverpool’s legendary captain was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, even going as far as submitting a transfer request before ultimately rejecting the move and choosing to remain at Anfield. That decision cemented his legacy as one of the club’s greatest-ever players. Alexander-Arnold has often spoken about Gerrard’s influence on his career, and perhaps he will follow in his footsteps by staying loyal to the club that developed him.

A Decision That Could Define Liverpool’s Future

If Alexander-Arnold does decide to remain at Liverpool, the fanbase should be delighted. His technical brilliance, vision, and leadership qualities make him an irreplaceable figure within the squad. While much of the frustration regarding his contract uncertainty can be attributed to the faltering attempts of Liverpool’s previous hierarchy, the responsibility now lies with the new management team led by Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to rectify the situation.

Should Arne Slot succeed in convincing the England international to stay, that is all that truly matters. In an era where top players are lured away by Europe’s elite clubs, retaining a generational talent like Alexander-Arnold would be a major statement of intent. Now, the ball is in Liverpool’s court to ensure that happens.

Kylian Mbappe continues to leave his mark at Real Madrid, with his recent double against Leganes playing a pivotal role in securing a 3-2 victory for Los Blancos.
His remarkable form has allowed him to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of 33 goals scored during their respective debut seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Achieving such a feat highlights just how quickly the Frenchman has adapted to life at Real Madrid and how effectively he has cemented himself as a reliable goalscorer.
Mbappe’s recent scoring spree has been particularly impressive. Over his last two matches, he has netted four goals, with two braces coming against Villarreal and Leganes.

More records to match

This scoring run has helped propel him up a prestigious list of debut-season scorers at Real Madrid, a list that continues to be led by Ivan Zamorano, who scored 37 goals in 45 matches in his debut season.
In terms of direct comparison, Mbappe’s 33 goals have come in the same number of matches as Ronaldo Nazario, who also scored 33 goals during his first season with the club.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo managed to reach his total of 33 goals in 10 fewer matches, highlighting the Portuguese star’s efficiency during his initial season at the club.

A look at other records

Mbappe’s goal-scoring exploits have also placed him level with Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who scored 33 goals across 47 matches during his first season with Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario scored 30 goals in 40 matches, further emphasising how Mbappe’s output stacks up against some of the most prolific strikers in the club’s history.

The fact that Mbappe is already drawing comparisons to such celebrated names underlines his importance to Real Madrid’s attack.
As the season progresses, the Frenchman will undoubtedly aim to surpass these impressive benchmarks and continue establishing himself as one of the most influential players in the current squad.

Hansi Flick was in attendance on Saturday as Barcelona Atletic finally returned to winning ways by beating Cultural Leonesa.
It’s been a miserable season for Barca Atletic but they had reason to celebrate as they beat the league leaders and won for the first time since December.
They were also playing under the watchful eye of Hansi Flick and his assistant Heiko Westermann.

The winning goal came after just 11 minutes of the match. A nicely-worked move saw the ball go out wide to Trilli to send the ball across goal and be knocked home at close range by Cedric.
Yet there were a few scares for the hosts. Indeed stopper Ander Astralaga made two great saves in the first half to preserve his clean sheet.

Barcelona went on to double their lead in the second half. Alexis Olmedo – who’s been training with the first team – played in Jan Virgili to run through and beat the goalkeeper at his near post for his first Barcelona Atletic goal.
It’s a huge victory for Barcelona Atletic and one that’s long overdue.
Well done, boys!

Nice manager Franck Haise has hit back at Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the club’s owner claimed he doesn’t enjoy watching them play.
Ratcliffe’s INEOS have owned the Ligue 1 side since August 2019, with the British Billionaire then famously purchasing a 27.7 per cent stake in Manchester United last year, which later rose to 28.94 per cent.

The 72-year-old has enacted a ruthless leadership and cost-cutting campaign, which saw the departures of legend Sir Alex Ferguson, and Erik ten Hag throughout this season.

He has also been at the centre of controversy at Nice too after recently saying: ‘I don’t particularly enjoy going to watch Nice because there are some good players, but the level of football is not high enough for me to get excited.’
Haise says Ratcliffe has not watched the side this season and that his comments are based on their performances prior to his appointment in June 2024.
‘The article that [the comments] appeared in was a lot more complete than that. But he hasn’t seen a Nice match this season,’ he said.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe claimed he doesn’t ‘enjoy going to watch’ Nice because ‘the level of football is not high enough’

Nice boss Franck Haise says Ratcliffe’s comments are based on Nice’s previous seasons

He’s speaking a bit more about what he saw at another time,’ the Nice manager said in a press conference.

‘With the people who are here at the club, we are here to make the club progress in order to be even better.’
He then added: ‘It’s not that serious. We can be annoyed, that’s obvious.
‘But is it really worth staying annoyed for a long time? We have got to keep working, enjoying ourselves and we have got to be doing the best possible. We have to move on and continue on our path.’

Nice currently sit fourth in Ligue 1 – a position which would ensure they qualify for the Champions League next season.

Although league leaders PSG are out of reach, Le Gym are just two points behind second-placed Marseille and set to return to Europe’s elite competition for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.

Brazil have sacked their head coach, Dorival Júnior, the country’s football confederation (CBF) said on Friday, after the five-times world champions were thrashed 4-1 by fierce rivals Argentina in a humiliating World Cup qualifying loss in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.
The 62-year-old was appointed in January 2024 after the team spent a year under two caretaker coaches as the Brazilian FA were unable to tempt the Italian Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid.

“The Brazilian Football Confederation informs that coach Dorival Jr is no longer in charge of the Brazilian national team,” the confederation said in a statement. “The management thanks [Dorival] and wishes him success in continuing his career … the CBF will work to find his replacement.” Dorival was handed the job after his success in 2022 with Flamengo, where he won the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Cup, a trophy he lifted again the next year with São Paulo. However, he never seemed to get to grips with the national-team job and failed to earn the trust of Brazil’s demanding fans after winning only seven of his 16 games in charge

After a lacklustre Copa América campaign when Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Uruguay last year, the CBF was willing to wait and see until the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June to reassess the situation following the end of the European season and the Club World Cup in the US in June and July.
However, after Brazil slumped to their heaviest ever loss in a qualifier when they were thrashed by Argentina, the CBF president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, decided to act.
Brazil have been in unfamiliar territory for over two years since crashing out of the 2022 World Cup against Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals, an elimination that led to the exit of the long-time manager, Tite.

Brazil are in the midst of their worst ever World Cup qualifying campaign. They are fourth in the South American standings with 21 points, a point above sixth-placed Colombia, who currently occupy the final direct qualifying berth. They have lost five of their 14 games and conceded 16 goals.
Brazil’s 1-0 defeat by Argentina in the Maracanã late in 2023 was their first-ever qualifying loss on home soil. They also lost to Colombia for the first time, saw the end of their unbeaten run against Uruguay stretching back over two decades and were defeated by Morocco and Senegal, having never previously lost to an African nation.

Former Barcelona superstar Dani Alves won his appeal against a sexual assault conviction as a Spanish court overturned the ruling.
Alves was found guilty in February 2024 of raping a woman in a nightclub in December 2022 and sentenced to four years, six months in prison.
The former Brazil and Barcelona defender denied wrongdoing during the three-day trial.

That court ruled on Friday that there was “insufficient evidence” to rule out Alves’ presumption of innocence.

“Dani Alves is innocent, and that has been proven,” his defence lawyer Ines Guardiola told Catalan radio RAC1. “Justice has finally been served.”
The Alves trial was the first high-profile case since Spain overhauled its laws in 2022 to make consent central to defining a sex crime in response to an upswell of protests after a gang-rape case during the San Fermin bull-running festival in Pamplona in 2016.
The legislation popularly known as the “only yes means yes” law defines consent as an explicit expression of a person’s will, making it clear that silence or passivity do not equal consent.

But the four judges of a Barcelona-based appeals court ruled unanimously to overturn the conviction after reviewing the evidence and testimonies given to the lower court.
In their ruling, they wrote that the testimony of the plaintiff “differed notably” from evidence of video footage taken before the woman and Alves entered the bathroom where she said he forced her to have sex without her consent.
Alves, now 41, was kept in jail from January 20, 2023 until March 2024 until he was released after paying one million euros for bail while awaiting his appeal.
Alves was one of the most successful players of his generation, winning three Champions Leagues and six Spanish league titles when at Barcelona, while helping Brazil win two Copa Americas and an Olympic gold.

He was with Mexican club Pumas when he was arrested, and had his contract terminated immediately.

Barcelona beat Wolfsburg 6-1 in Thursday’s UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final second leg to go through 10-2 on aggregate, while in the all-English clash Chelsea staged a remarkable comeback against Manchester City to go through.
Salma Paralluelo and Clàudia Pina got two goals each for Barca in their win. At Stamford Bridge meanwhile, the Blues scored three first half goals to defeat Man City in the second leg 3-0 to overturn their 2-0 first leg loss.

The Catalan side are seeking their third European crown in a row. The holders are now on a seven-game European winning streak; they have lost only two of their last 26 Women’s Champions League matches (W22 D2).
It will be the third year in a row that Chelsea will meet Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League semi-final.
On Wednesday night, Arsenal staged another remarkable comeback with three quick-fire 15 minute second half goals overturning a 2-0 first leg deficit against Real Madrid. In front of 22,517 spectators in the Emirates, player-of-the-match Alessia Russon got the first and third, with Mariona Caldentey scoring the second.

The Gunners will face Lyon in the semi-final after the French  side beat Bayern Munich 4-1 at home, having won the first leg 2-0 in Germany. Last year’s runners up Lyon are managed by former Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro – Lyon are unbeaten over 90 minutes in their 27 games since Montemurro became coach (W25 D2).
This will be the eighth time the London side have reached the semi-final but 2007 remains the only year when Arsenal won the European Cup. Only Lyon have more semi-final appearances – with 14 – and they hold the record of UEFA Women’s Champions Leagues win (8).

The semi-finals are set for 19/20 and 26/27 April. Arsenal will be at home in the first leg.
Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon will stage the 2025 UEFA Women’s Champions League final on Saturday 24 May.