Sports
Jose Mourinho ‘Discusses’ 3 Real Madrid Players With Florentino Perez
Jose Mourinho has already reportedly discussed three players with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ahead of a possible summer appointment. The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager is said to be the leading candidate to take over permanently following Xabi Alonso’s departure, with Los Blancos currently enduring a turbulent interim spell under Alvaro Arbeloa.
Arbeloa’s hopes of turning his temporary role into a long-term position have not been helped by Real’s Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Barcelona could secure a second consecutive La Liga title if they defeat their rivals in Sunday night’s El Clasico. But Real’s biggest problem has arguably been the dressing-room issues Alonso left behind in January – problems that have since spiralled out of control.
Training ground bust-ups have become a regular occurrence, with tensions finally exploding when Federico Valverde was hospitalised following an altercation with Aurelien Tchouameni earlier this week. Mourinho believes his strict management style could restore order, and he has already held discussions with potential club chiefs about players who may cause the biggest issues if he takes charge.
Real Madrid Confirm Valverde Suffers ‘Traumatic Brain Injury’ After Tchouameni Fight
The two players clashed in training this week, with one hospitalised and needing a wheelchair.
Mourinho Already Discussed Three Key Players With Perez
A number of first-team players are out of contract this summer, including Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Dani Carvajal, while Ferland Mendy’s serious knee injury could rule him out for the entirety of next season. According to TEAMtalk – who also claim outgoing France manager Didier Deschamps is an alternative candidate for the role – Mourinho has already shared his views on the futures of Tchouameni, Valverde and Kylian Mbappe.
The Portuguese coach is reportedly “convinced” that his personality, experience and demanding standards would quickly restore order and harmony within the squad, steadying the ship after months of turmoil behind the scenes. Real’s hierarchy are also said to be growing increasingly frustrated with the way Mbappe has been treated by sections of the fanbase, who believe he lacks the work ethic to be a star at the Bernabeu, despite finishing as the Champions League top goalscorer to help him in the running for a Ballon d’Or.
Mourinho believes he can tick one of the most important boxes for any incoming Real Madrid manager – being capable of bringing the dressing room, supporters and wider institution back onto the same page and drawing a line under the growing unrest at the club.
Mourinho Also Made Several Demands ahead of his Expected Hire
Talk of a return to the club for Mourinho, who is currently in charge of Benfica, has ramped up in recent weeks and he is said to have laid out a list of 10 demands in talks with president Perez, including that he signs a minimum two-year contract and that he is given free rein to solve reportedly major structural issues within the club’s medical department, which has blamed for an increased number of injuries.
It is also claimed that Mourinho only wants to speak with Perez, and will not accept, under any circumstances, any interference from players in his team selections, as there is a fear that too many hands are on the steering wheel in the Spanish capital.
Sports
Liverpool Doing Everything to Sign Yan Diomande for Iraola Before World Cup
Liverpool are doing everything to sign Yan Diomande for new manager Andoni Iraola before the World Cup starts, but one piece of information around a transfer regarding the Reds is wrong, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Liverpool are facing a transformational summer just 12 months after winning the Premier League title in what was Arne Slot’s debut season in charge at Anfield.
A year later, the Dutchman has lost his job and the Reds are on the verge of appointing Andoni Iraola in the dugout to replace him.
The 43-year-old’s stock rose during the second half of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, as his side ended the season on an 18-match unbeaten run that saw them finish sixth and qualify for the Champions League, all after losing Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City during the January transfer window.
The Spaniard will already know that he needs new players in his frontline especially ahead of next term, with Mohamed Salah leaving the club this summer and Hugo Ekitike unlikely to be available again for months after rupturing his Achilles.
Iraola has limited options in attack and Alexander Isak’s unavailability for much of this season suggests he cannot be relied on fitness wise either.
Sky Sports: Liverpool Working Hard on Yan Diomande Deal
According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, both Liverpool and Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain want to sign RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande.
According to the reporter, the Reds in particular are ‘doing everything’ to complete a deal for the winger before the World Cup starts on June 11.
Some reports have suggested that the ‘sensational’ 19-year-old has agreed to join both Liverpool and PSG already, but Plettenberg denies that is the case.
After a stunning breakthrough season, the Bundesliga outfit are said to be valuing their ‘superstar’ at €100m ahead of the summer transfer window.
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While Liverpool are looking to strengthen in the wide positions because of Salah’s exit, they may need a new striker too.
As mentioned previously, Isak showed in 2025-26 he shouldn’t be solely relied upon at a time when Ekitike is on the sidelines, and it means they could look to recruit another centre-forward.
While Fabrizio Romano didn’t confirm the Merseysiders’ interest in Eli Junior Kroupi at Bournemouth, he did hint that they could join the race for his signature once Iraola is confirmed as new Liverpool manager.
There are a lot of big clubs keen on the 19-year-old Cherries forward who, like Diomande, had a brilliant breakthrough campaign in the Premier League.
The teenager ended the campaign with 13 Premier League goals in 33 games, proving the huge potential he has for the future, although Liverpool would face competition from the likes of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature.
Sports
24 Players Born in England But Represent Other 2026 World Cup Teams
Twenty-four players who were born in England, making them eligible to play for the Three Lions, will represent other nations at the 2026 World Cup finals.
A study posted on Reddit found that 289 players in 2026 World Cup squads do not represent their country of birth. Only France (76 players) and Netherlands (44 players) have more players competing for other World Cup nations than England.
Only one player in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad wasn’t born in England. Manchester City defender Marc Guehi was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, but moved to London at the age of one.
Here are the 24 players born in England but representing other World Cup nations. Just imagine how strong Tuchel’s starting line-up would be this summer if these players had chosen to play for England instead.
DR Congo (Two Players)
DR Congo have two players who were born in England: West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kilmarnock midfielder Aaron Tshibola.
Both players represented England at youth level before opting to play for DR Congo as senior professionals. On his decision to play for DR Congo, Wan-Bissaka said: “It’s my country, where my parents come from. I grew up in a Congolese household, and I’m proud to represent it.”
Iraq (One Player)
Manchester United fans will be familiar with the name Zidane Iqbal. The Manchester-born midfielder was once touted as a potential first-team star but ended up making just one senior appearance for the Red Devils before moving to Dutch outfit Utrecht.
Iqbal had the choice to represent England, Iraq or Pakistan. Since 2022, the 23-year-old has played 22 times for Iraq, scoring two goals.
Ghana (Three Players)
England’s stars will meet Ghana in the World Cup group stages and face three players who were born in the same country as them.
Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo was born in London, as was Jerome Opoku, who started at Fulham but now plies his trade with Istanbul Basaksehir. Meanwhile, Milton Keynes-born Brandon Thomas-Asante will be a Premier League player with Coventry City next season.
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New Zealand (Three Players)
Veteran centre-back Tommy Smith was born in Macclesfield and played for England U17s and U18s before switching to New Zealand, while defensive midfielder Joe Bell was born in Bristol.
Matthew Garbett was born in London but moved to New Zealand at a young age. He’s now back in England playing for Peterborough United.
Scotland (Five Players)
Scott McTominay is Scotland’s star player but was actually born in Lancaster, England. Tyler Fletcher, son of Darren, was born in Manchester and plays for the Red Devils alongside his twin brother Jack, who plays for England’s Under-19s.
Goalkeeper Angus Gunn played for England’s youth teams before switching his international allegiances to Scotland, while Leicester-born Che Adams and Sheffield-born George Hirst also began life south of the border.
Canada (Three Players)
Goalkeeper Owen Goodman was born in London but moved to Canada aged five. Although he resented Canada at Under-20 level, he also made two appearances after that for England’s U20s. However, he has been named in Canada’s 26-man World Cup squad.
Fulham defender Luc de Fougerolles was also born in London, while Middlesbrough’s Alfie Jones has spent his entire life living in England but is eligible to represent Canada through his grandmother.
USA (Three Players)
Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson was born in Milton Keynes, while Giovanni Reyna was born in Sunderland. Reyna’s father, former USA star Claudio, was playing for Sunderland at the time of his birth.
Their international teammate Sebastian Berhalter, who plays for Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps, was born in London but grew up in Columbus, Ohio.
France (One Player)
Michael Olise has cemented his status as one of the world’s best players since leaving Crystal Palace for Bayern Munich in 2024. The 2026 Ballon d’Or award contender was born and raised in London to a British-Nigerian father and Franco-Algerian mother.
“I actually come from four countries: France, Algeria, Nigeria and England.” Olise said. “I consider myself very lucky to possess these four parts, which all enrich me. I feel each individual part in me, I’ve developed attachments in all my countries.”
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Switzerland (One Player)
Marvin Keller, one of Switzerland’s three 2026 World Cup goalkeepers, was born in London and only became a ‘keeper because his father bought him goalie gloves as a joke.
The 23-year-old, who also represented Switzerland at Under-19 and Under-21 level, has been on the books of Young Boys since 2023.
Norway (Two Players)
Like the USA’s Giovanni Reyna, Erling Haaland was born in England because his dad played professionally in the Premier League. However, there was never any doubt that Erling would follow in the footsteps of his dad, Alf-Inge, by representing Norway.
Former Liverpool youth player Thelo Aasgaard was also born in England but, like Erling, has only ever pulled on the Norway shirt.
Can you imagine England’s starting line-up with the likes of Haaland, Olise, McTominay and Semenyo added to it? They’d surely be the red-hot favourites to lift the World Cup trophy.
Sports
Concerning Footage Emerges of Bron Breakker
Footage has surfaced of a WWE Superstar dealing with an apparent injury, with the wrestler in question seen hobbling around a hotel lobby, using their luggage to help support them.
A video has done the rounds on social media after Monday’s edition of Raw, which took place in Italy following their Clash in Italy Premium Live Event this past weekend.
In what could be a disastrous stroke of bad luck, WWE may be forced to rethink their current storylines, as more and more talent get struck down through injury.
WWE’s Latest Injury Concern
Following his latest match against former Vision leader Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker appeared to be struggling with a legitimate injury as footage of him struggling up a small flight of stairs in a hotel reception emerged on social media.
Breakker has only just returned from a hernia injury, but after suffering defeat to Rollins on Monday, he was apparently left ‘banged up’ after a long match. The Dog only returned last month after a two-month absence, so another injury would be a huge blow to an exciting member of the roster.
Many fans are blaming The Vision for the injury, calling the faction cursed. This is due to the number of injuries suffered by members of the group since its inception in 2025. The first was Seth Rollins. He suffered a bad shoulder injury during his match with Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel, which meant he missed a number of months, including the Royal Rumble in January.
Bronson Reed then suffered a bicep tear which has kept him out for a number of months, while Logan Paul tore his triceps, meaning he too will be missing for several months. This, alongside Breakker’s initial hernia injury, has fans worried about the future of the group.
A number of fans took to X to comment on the injuries suffered, with one saying: “Okay, The Vision is definitely cursed. End the faction now lol,” while another said: “I mean he is in The Vision so…”
While many have suggested it is all part of the storyline, False Finish has reported: “Bron Breakker was indeed banged up after his match with Seth Rollins on #WWERAW, but nothing that will affect him or working in-ring moving forward.”
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