Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has been voted LaLiga s Player of the Season after playing a pivotal role in leading the club to their 36th league title.

Bellingham edged out team-mate Vinicius Junior, Atletico Madrid s Antoine Griezmann, Girona s Artem Dovbyk and Barcelona s Robert Lewandowski in votes cast by fans, club captains and a panel of experts.

He scored 19 goals and had six assists in 28 league games this season, tallying 23 goals and 12 assists in all competitions in his first campaign with Los Blancos.

Bellingham, who could not attend Tuesday s ceremony in Sardinia as he is preparing for the Champions League final at Wembley against his former club Borussia Dortmund, said he was honoured to have received the award.

I would like to ded…

Manchester United are interested in signing Samuel Iling-Junior from Juventus in the summer transfer window, according to . The report in the Italian news outlet has claimed that United like Iling-Junior and could try to sign him using Mason Greenwood in a potential deal.

Juventus are interested in Greenwood, so United could try to include the forward in a deal to sign Iling-Junior. TuttoJuve has noted that United’s Premier League rivals Aston Villa are also interested in securing the services of the 20-year-old, who can play as a winger or as a wing-back.

Iling-Junior has been on the books of Juventus since 2020 when he joined after leaving Chelsea. The England Under-21 international has been part of the Juventus first team since 2022, but he is not a regular in the …

Football Association of Ireland CEO Jonathan Hill insists that Vera Pauw’s departure came as a result of the need for a “different and fresh approach”.

Hill’s comments came in response to claims from the outgoing Republic of Ireland manager, who oversaw the team in their recent World Cup campaign in New Zealand and Australia.

After it was announced last month that the Dutchwoman would not be having her contract renewed, Pauw issued a statement claiming that the FAI’s review into their World Cup was “flawed” and the outcome was “pre-determined”, adding that her position had been “undermined”.

At an FAI briefing on Thursday, Hill insisted that “it was clear” Pauw would not “change her fundamental approach”.

Hill said: “It’s…

The Premier League is back! 

Arsenal travel to newly promoted Brentford in the opening game of the 2021-22 campaign on Friday.

Champions Manchester City face Tottenham – and possibly top transfer target Harry Kane – on Sunday, with Liverpool in action against returning Norwich City on Saturday, after Manchester United have hosted Leeds United.

So, ahead of the new season, why not give this Opta-powered quiz a go? You can find the answers at the bottom of the page

Tomorrow we begin

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC)

1. Arsenal begin against Brentford – it is the fourth time the Gunners have been involved in the opening game of a Premier League campaign, winning the other three in 2008-09, 2017-18 and 2020-21, but who did they play…

Manchester City made something of a statement in their 1-0 win over potential title challengers Chelsea on Saturday, whereas Manchester United seemed to take another step back as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s reign stuttered again.

But Solskjaer is certainly not the only top-flight manager feeling the heat – Nuno Espirito Santo s honeymoon period as Tottenham boss is well and truly over, with the Portuguese now among the favourites to be the first Premier League boss sacked this season following a 3-1 defeat in the north London derby.

Without any further ado, here are some of the more curious facts and stats from across the Premier League this past weekend…

City defence putting the guard in Guardiola

It may not have been the thrill ride neutrals were likel…

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted it is not impossible to leave out Cristiano Ronaldo as he said the superstar will not play every game this season following his stunning start to life back at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo enjoyed a remarkable second debut for United on Saturday, scoring two goals in their 4-1 Premier League rout of Newcastle United.

The five-time Ballon d Or winner, who was serenaded by fans before, during and after the match, completed a sensational return to United from Juventus last month after leaving the Red Devils for Real Madrid in 2009.

As United prepare to challenge on all fronts this season ahead of their Champions League opener at Young Boys on Tuesday, Solskjaer said the 36-year-old s minutes will be managed in 2021-22.…

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named Premier League Player of the Month for September after making a great start to his second spell with Manchester United.

Ronaldo sensationally returned to Old Trafford from Juventus at the end of August and has hit the ground running.

The Portugal captain scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United in his first match for the Red Devils since 2009.

Ronaldo was also on target in a 2-1 Premier League win at West Ham last month and found the back of the net twice in the Champions League.

The prolific 36-year-old s 17 shots in September was more than any other player registered in the top flight.

Who else? 

Your Player of the Month is:

— Premier League (@premierleague)

Ronaldo was…

Germany have been drawn against Netherlands in Group C for Euro 2020 qualifying.

Joachim Low s side lost 3-0 and drew 2-2 with Oranje in Group 1 as they were relegated in the inaugural Nations League and the two will lock horns again to reach the European Championship finals in two years time.

They share Group C with Northern Ireland, Estonia and Belarus.

Reigning European champions Portugal will meet Ukraine, Serbia, Lithuania and Luxembourg in Group B.

World Cup-winners France face Iceland, Turkey, Albania, Moldova and Andorra in Group H, while Spain are in Group F alongside Sweden, Norway, Romania, Faroe Islands and Malta.

England are in Group A with Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Kosovo.

Belgium, in Group I, face Russia, Sco…

Luka Modric has decided to play on for Croatia after the veteran captain helped his team to bronze at the Qatar World Cup.

That could mean Modric remains at the heart of the Croatia midfield at Euro 2024, by which time he will be approaching his 39th birthday.

Real Madrid playmaker Modric is not looking quite that far ahead for now, but crucially he has not ruled out extending his career for his country through to that point.

The first step for Modric will be a tilt with his country at the Nations League Finals in the Netherlands next year, with Croatia joined in that four-team tournament by the hosts, plus Italy and Spain.

Thrilled with another World Cup medal, after a silver four years ago in Russia, Modric told beIN SPORTS: This medal is very important…

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner is determined to take Premier League games to the United States and elsewhere around the globe.

The subject of leagues playing regular-season matches abroad has become a subject of debate in recent weeks, after FIFA pledged to analyse the impact of moving games.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters recently said the door was ajar for games to be played in other countries, due to a legal settlement between FIFA and US-based match promoter Relevant Sports.

Premier League fans would likely oppose overseas games more than most, with supporter protests in England having contributed to the demise of the European Super League in 2021.

Liverpool were one of the clubs at the forefront of that ill-fated project, and Werner ha…