Sports
Roberto Carlos Picked His Dream Champions League 11
It’s rare for a full-back to break into the conversation for the coveted Ballon d’Or, but Roberto Carlos managed exactly that when he finished runner-up in the 2002 vote following another trophy-laden season.
During that campaign, the Brazilian secured his third Champions League crown in just five years, further underlining his reputation as one of the finest defenders the competition has ever seen.
A World Cup winner, Carlos competed in an era stacked with some of football’s greatest talents and regularly came up against them on Europe’s biggest stage. When asked to select his all-time Champions League XI, he assembled a team brimming with superstars — though inevitably, several outstanding names were left on the outside looking in.
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Goalkeeper and Defence: Casillas; Cafu, Cannavaro, Maldini, Carlos
Having shared the pitch with the Spaniard on more than 300 occasions, it was hardly a surprise that Carlos selected Iker Casillas as his goalkeeper. The former Real Madrid captain claimed three Champions League titles — a record no other keeper has surpassed — and his 177 appearances in the competition remain unmatched.
Any forward coming up against Carlos’ chosen centre-back pairing would have faced a daunting challenge. Ballon d’Or recipient Fabio Cannavaro lines up alongside fellow Italian icon Paolo Maldini. While Cannavaro never managed to lift the Champions League trophy, Maldini more than compensates with an extraordinary five triumphs with AC Milan.
Carlos was effusive in his praise when outlining his reasons for choosing the duo.
“Played against him [Paolo Maldini] for Madrid and Brazil, and he always showed so much composure as a defender. The sort of composure you want to be playing alongside.
“How often do defenders win world player of the year? The fact Fabio [Cannavaro] did, tells you everything you need to know.”
At left-back, Carlos had no shortage of worthy candidates — but there was little need to look elsewhere. He named himself in the role, and with good reason. Few, if any, can claim to have been a greater left-back in Champions League history than the Brazilian.
Occupying the right flank is fellow former Brazil international Cafu. Widely regarded as one of the best to ever play in that position, the ex-Milan star lifted the Champions League in 2007 and remains his country’s most capped player. Carlos even described him as “one of the top five Brazilian players ever.”
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Midfield: Seedorf, Makelele, Zidane
Clarence Seedorf is the first name in what is an extraordinary three-man midfield. The Dutch star’s legacy in the Champions League is highlighted by a remarkable achievement: he remains the only player to have won the competition with three different clubs — Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan, lifting the trophy twice with the latter.
You don’t win the Champions League with three different clubs without being a special player, but what many people do not know he is such a leader. He was always ready to teach and to advise. Special player and a special man.
Alongside him is former Chelsea icon Claude Makelele, whose outstanding displays at both domestic and European level cemented his reputation as one of the greatest holding midfielders of all time. His impact was so profound that the term “Makelele role” was coined to define the position he mastered. Having played with him at Real Madrid before his move to Stamford Bridge, Carlos admitted his team “really missed” the Frenchman after he left.
Rounding off the midfield is Zinedine Zidane, a player who left a lasting imprint on the competition. His unforgettable volley in the 2002 Champions League final remains one of football’s most iconic moments, and Carlos spoke glowingly of the former Juventus star, holding him in the highest regard.
“One of the all-time greats, what Zizou could do with a football will be remembered forever. An honour to say I have played with him.”
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Zinedine Zidane, Luka Modric and Andres Iniesta all make the top 10.
Attack: Figo, Ronaldinho; Ronaldo
Carlos’ all-time Champions League front three is stacked exclusively with Ballon d’Or winners, beginning with Ronaldinho on the left. The Barcelona icon is often credited as the player who made countless fans fall in love with football, his flair and imagination captivating audiences worldwide. Yet beyond the dazzling tricks, he consistently delivered decisive contributions when it mattered most.
Magic feet, but was not just about tricks – he created and scored the goals to match his ability.
Ronaldinho lifted the Champions League trophy in 2006 with Barcelona — matching the tally of the man stationed on the opposite wing in Carlos’ XI, Luis Figo. The Portuguese great secured his crown in 2002 with Real Madrid, adding it to a long list of honours collected over the course of his illustrious career.
Figo was frequently the direct opponent Carlos had to contend with, as the two often operated down the same flank. Reflecting on their battles, the Brazilian recalled his many on-pitch duels with the former Barcelona talisman.
“He was so good; he used to give me such a hard time when we played Barcelona. When he signed for Madrid I thought excellent, until I then realised I would get a hard time every day in training.”
Completing the side up front is one of football’s greatest-ever strikers, Ronaldo Nazario. It remains a genuine injustice that a striker of his extraordinary ability never managed to win the Champions League. Even so, he claimed virtually every other major honour available during his glittering career, and Carlos described him as the “most complete striker” he had ever witnessed.
Sports
Chelsea Eyeing Aurelian Tchouameni as Real Madrid Plot Swap Bid Deal for Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea are prepared to let Enzo Fernandez leave this summer in a £120m deal, and they are eyeing a potential move for a Real Madrid star as the Spanish giants plot a swap deal, according to TEAMtalk.
The Blues had a poor season and finished tenth in the Premier League, while they lost the FA Cup final to Man City to end the campaign trophyless and without any European football at all.
Now the Argentina midfielder is understood to have told the club he wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, and the Spanish giants are one of the clubs considering making a move for him.
Real Madrid Plot Enzo Fernandez Swap Deal
Fernandez is understood to dream of a move to the Bernabeu, and has publicly flirted with the idea of a move to Madrid, which earned him a two-game suspension from the club.
But Madrid are believed to hold an interest in the former Benfica star, and they are willing to make an offer of players-plus-cash to Chelsea in order to find an agreement on his valuation, which they currently feel is too high.
It’s reported that Chelsea are keen on Aurelien Tchouameni, who has been described as the ‘best defensive midfielder in the world’, as a potential option, but as it stands Real Madrid don’t want to let him leave.
Eduardo Camavinga is another player who the Chelsea hierarchy see as an option to help offset the potential departure of Fernandez, while it’s understood that the Blues have also made enquiries to Real Madrid about youngsters Jacobo Ramon and Chema Andres over the last 12 months.
Real Madrid hold buy-back options on both players, having sold them to Como and Stuttgart respectively last summer, but they are considering triggering those options. Chelsea are understood to be open to a conversation involving the moving parts, but talks are currently only at an exploratory stage rather than anything more advanced.
Chelsea Need Experience Not More Prospects
With Xabi Alonso set to arrive this summer, the west London know that they need to bring in more experienced options to improve their squad.
Losing Enzo would be a blow, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world, and Tchouameni in particular is someone who thrived under Alonso at Real Madrid last season during his brief spell in charge. Adding more balance to the squad could be the ideal way to get them back to where they feel they belong, and he does that.
While Andres and Ramon are very talented players, they don’t immediately improve the Chelsea team, and that is what would be needed to replace Enzo.
Man City Make Decision on Signing £100m Star Enzo Maresca Loves
Manchester City are not interested in a £100m move for Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez this summer
Sports
Bruno Fernandes Names English Club He Almost Joined Before Man Utd
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has opened up on one of the most uncertain moments of his early career, admitting he questioned whether he was even good enough as a teenager.
The Portuguese midfielder, now regarded as one of the Premier League’s elite creators, revealed he was close to leaving Udinese only weeks after joining the club in 2013.
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Fernandes had signed from Novara at the age of 19 after being identified by then-manager Francesco Guidolin. However, with Udinese having a large squad and uncertainty over his immediate role, it quickly left the midfielder questioning his future.
Speaking on The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, Fernandes reflected on the moment his confidence took a major hit before his career stepped up a gear.
Bruno Fernandes Nearly Joined EFL Championship Club
The midfielder admitted he had already packed his bags after being informed he would likely leave on loan before the transfer window closed.
“I was on the edge of coming to Watford on loan, because it’s the same owners [as Udinese].
And I said, ‘But why can’t I make it here? What did I do wrong?’”
Watford, owned by the Pozzo family, who have famously sacked 22 managers in 14 years of ownership, also owned Udinese until 2025. During the summer of 2013, seven of Udinese’s players made their way to England to join the Hornets, and Fernandes was supposed to be the eighth, much to his dismay:
“I was like, ‘What have I done? I wasn’t good enough?’ They called me to the hotel to pack my stuff, because it was the last days of the window. I packed my stuff.”
Despite his concerns, Udinese sporting director Cristiano Giaretta eventually contacted him to confirm the move was off, with Guidolin deciding he wanted the youngster to remain at the club.
From a Potential Watford Move to Manchester United Captain
The decision proved to be a major turning point in Fernandes’ career. After developing further at Udinese, he later joined Sampdoria on loan in 2016, before making the move that truly elevated his reputation, when he returned home to Portugal and joined Sporting Lisbon.
Man Utd signed Fernandes in January 2020 for £47 million, with the playmaker quickly becoming one of the club’s standout performers during what’s been a difficult period for the Red Devils. He was named club captain just three years later and has since established himself as one of the Premier League’s most productive midfielders.
Fernandes has now made 327 appearances for United, scoring 107 goals and providing 108 assists across all competitions.
The Portugal international also enjoyed a record-breaking Premier League campaign this season, registering his 21st assist on the final day to set a new record for the most assists in a single season.
Sports
Arsenal Close to Deal to Sign Jeremy Monga Ahead of Man Utd and Man City
Arsenal may have won the Premier League title this season, and they have a Champions League final to come this weekend, but they are not ready to rest on their laurels.
The Gunners are understood to be keen to strengthen their squad this summer despite their excellent campaign, with Mikel Arteta looking to bolster the side and add more quality and competition for places.
But he is also looking towards the future for his signings, as are the club higher ups, and they now have confidence that they are set to seal the arrival of one of the best young talents in England ahead of some direct rivals.
Arsenal Confident of Sealing Jeremy Monga Deal
According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are growing in confidence that they can seal a deal for Leicester City starlet Jeremy Monga this summer.
The winger, who has been described as ‘the next Ousmane Dembele’, is expected to leave the King Power Stadium after they were relegated to League One after a nightmare campaign, and he has attracted the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs.
However, Monga is understood to be intent on staying in England at this stage of his career, and the 16-year-old winger is believed to be closer to a move to north London, despite interest from Man City and Manchester United.
Offers have been tabled and talks held, but Arsenal’s pathway plans, development structure, and recent success with involving elite young talents in the first-team picture are all understood to have made a big impression in the winger and the team around him.
Leicester expect to lose the forward following their relegation, and Arsenal are now very confident that Monga will be the next elite talent to come off their conveyor belt and into the first-team.
Monga a Major Coup for Arsenal
Arsenal have got some of the best young players in the world in their squad at the moment. Myles Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman, Marli Salmon, and Ethan Nwaneri are all in and around the first-team at the Emirates Stadium, and have all been given opportunities by Arteta.
So it’s no surprise that Monga, who has excelled in a poor Leicester team as a teenager, would be excited about the prospect of making the move to the reigning Premier League champions, and continue his fine development in the coming years.
His skill set is excellent for a top club, and beating off direct rivals to secure his arrival would be the cherry on top of the cake.
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Arsenal have a strong interest in bringing him to the Premier League
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