Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal delivered the shock of the Club World Cup on Monday, knocking out English champions Manchester City with a dramatic 4–3 win after extra time, the tournament’s biggest upset so far. The match ended 2–2 after 90 minutes, but Marcos Leonardo’s decisive strike in extra time secured one of the most remarkable victories in Middle Eastern football history. With the win, Al Hilal advance to the quarter-finals where they will face Brazil’s Fluminense, guaranteeing a non-European side in the tournament’s last four. City had struck first in the ninth minute under controversial circumstances, when Bernardo Silva turned in Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross, despite Al Hilal protests claiming Ait-Nouri had handled the ball in the build-up. Despite numerous opportunities to extend their lead, City were denied by wasteful finishing and a series of excellent saves from Al Hilal’s Moroccan goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou. Meanwhile, Al Hilal showed flashes of danger on the counterattack. **City punished for missed chances** City’s failure to capitalise proved costly almost immediately after the restart. Former City defender Joao Cancelo whipped in a low cross that Ederson parried away, Malcolm’s shot was blocked by Ruben Dias, but the ball looped perfectly for Marcos Leonardo to nod home the equaliser. Just six minutes later, Cancelo exposed City’s high defensive line with a long pass that set Malcolm racing through. The Brazilian forward used his strength and speed to break free and coolly slot past Ederson, sparking wild celebrations among Al Hilal fans. Pep Guardiola responded by bringing on Rodri, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji to steady City’s defence. The changes helped, and City drew level again when Erling Haaland reacted quickest to a loose ball after Al Hilal failed to clear a Bernardo Silva corner. As extra time approached, Guardiola swapped Haaland for Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush. **Al Hilal’s spirit proves decisive** Four minutes into extra time, Kalidou Koulibaly rose superbly to head in a Ruben Neves corner, putting Al Hilal back in front. City equalised yet again with a moment of real quality: Rayan Cherki delivered a delicate cross to the far post, and Phil Foden, at full stretch, turned it home from a tight angle. Yet Al Hilal refused to be denied. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header was saved by Ederson, but Marcos Leonardo reacted quickest to force the ball over the line, sealing a famous victory. As Al Hilal fans spilled out of the stadium in celebration, the Brazilian striker let his emotions flow, capping a historic night for Saudi football.

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a two-year contract extension with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, putting to rest months of speculation about his next move. The club announced the deal on Thursday, confirming that the Portuguese icon will remain with them until 2027. “Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027,” the club posted on X, shortly after releasing a teaser video showing the 40-year-old walking on a beach and declaring, “Al Nassr forever.” Ronaldo first joined Al Nassr in 2023, becoming the face of a wave of high-profile signings to the Saudi Pro League. His arrival marked a turning point for the league, drawing global attention and attracting other aging stars to the oil-rich kingdom. In May, shortly after Al Nassr finished third in the league and ended the season without a trophy, Ronaldo sparked speculation with a cryptic post: “This chapter is over.” A source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund that owns Al Nassr and other top Saudi clubs like Al Hilal and Al Ahli, told AFP that Ronaldo has been “a key factor in developing the Saudi league,” noting his role in encouraging both elite and younger players to consider the move to Saudi Arabia. Despite being the Pro League’s top scorer with 25 goals last season, Ronaldo has yet to win a domestic or continental title with Al Nassr, who were eliminated in the Asian Champions League semi-finals last month. His recommitment to Al Nassr follows Neymar’s departure from Al Hilal in January after an injury-plagued 18-month stint. Saudi Arabia, which has invested heavily in football since Ronaldo's arrival, is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has previously hinted that he may retire at Al Nassr, the Riyadh-based club reportedly favored by members of the Saudi royal family.

The Federal Government has finally honoured its 30-year-old housing pledge to the 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. This was announced in a statement published on the Ministry of Housing’s website on Wednesday. Among the beneficiaries is former striker Efan Ekoku, who received an allocation letter for a house in Abuja. He was represented at the brief handover ceremony by his niece, Lisa Jenifer Nwagbogun. Housing Minister Ahmed Dangiwa described the gesture as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to reward the patriotic service of the 1994 team, which brought glory to the nation. Speaking at the event, Nwagbogun said: “I am deeply grateful to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Housing for fulfilling this long-standing pledge to my uncle. It’s truly uplifting to see such dedication to honouring promises. This act not only celebrates Mr. Efan Ekoku’s contributions but also reaffirms the importance of keeping public commitments.” It will be recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the implementation of the housing promise in 2022, 28 years after it was initially made. Members of the squad are receiving housing allocations across various states, with some, like Ekoku, getting theirs in Abuja.

Liverpool will open the 2025/26 Premier League season with a Friday night clash against Bournemouth at Anfield, while a headline fixture on the opening weekend will see Manchester United host Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday. According to the fixture list released on Wednesday, the reigning champions will kick off the new campaign at home on Friday, August 15. Newly promoted Sunderland mark their return to the Premier League for the first time since the 2016/17 season with a home match against West Ham United on Saturday. Leeds United and Burnley, also newly promoted, face tough opening tests against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively. 2025/26 Matchweek 1 fixtures Friday, 15 August Liverpool v Bournemouth (20:00) Saturday, 16 August Aston Villa v Newcastle United (12:30) Brighton v Fulham (15:00) Nottingham Forest v Brentford (15:00) Sunderland v West Ham United (15:00) Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley (15:00) Wolves v Manchester City (17:30) Sunday, 17 August Chelsea v Crystal Palace (14:00) Manchester United v Arsenal (16:30) Monday, 18 August Leeds United v Everton (20:00)

Napoli have officially signed Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer following his release from Manchester City, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed on Thursday. De Laurentiis, also a renowned film producer, shared a photo on social media shaking hands with De Bruyne, captioned “Welcome Kevin!” The 33-year-old has agreed to a two-year contract with the option of a third, joining fellow Belgian Romelu Lukaku and ex-Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay at the reigning Serie A champions. De Bruyne departs City after a highly successful decade under Pep Guardiola, during which he claimed six Premier League titles and lifted the Champions League trophy in 2023. His recent seasons, however, were plagued by recurring hamstring injuries that sidelined him for long periods. Napoli’s acquisition of De Bruyne is a major statement as they prepare to defend their league title and compete in the expanded Champions League format next season. Under new manager Antonio Conte, Napoli edged Inter Milan to secure the Serie A crown on the final day of the season—marking their second title in three years. Unlike Inter, who reached the Champions League final only to suffer a 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli had the advantage of a lighter domestic schedule with no European commitments.

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has spoken publicly for the first time in three years since selling the club in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, Abramovich announced he had no choice but to sell Chelsea after facing allegations of links to Russian President Vladimir Putin — claims that led to UK government sanctions later that month. Having acquired the club in 2003 for a reported £140 million, Abramovich sold it in May 2022 to the Todd Boehly–Clearlake Capital consortium. The £2.5 billion from the sale was placed in a frozen UK bank account, earmarked for charitable causes benefiting victims of the war in Ukraine. Now 58, the Russian billionaire has made it clear he has no intention of returning to football ownership, including Chelsea or any other club. His remarks are revealed in the new book Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC by Nick Purewal, as reported by the Daily Mail. “I don’t have any interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role. “There might be something where I could help with academies and youngsters, giving greater opportunities to people from difficult backgrounds, if there were an initiative that could make a difference. “But as for ownership or a professional role at a club, I am done with that in this lifetime.” Abramovich also expressed his hope to someday return to Stamford Bridge to bid the fans farewell. “Perhaps one day there would be a situation where I could attend a match and say a proper goodbye, but nothing more than that.” He further stated that he would not allow the accusations, including those from the UK government, to distract him. “There is an old Russian saying, ‘The dogs bark but the caravan keeps moving,’ and that fits here. Whatever I do, people will always accuse me of some kind of agenda. In the end, I have done what I have done simply to try to help.” Last week, the UK government threatened legal action against Roman Abramovich over the frozen £2.5 billion (\$3.4 billion) from the sale of Chelsea, which had been designated to support victims of the war in Ukraine. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed their frustration on Monday over the ongoing deadlock with Abramovich regarding the allocation of the funds from the May 2022 sale. While the UK government insists the money should go exclusively toward humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Abramovich reportedly wants the funds to benefit all victims of the conflict — including those in Russia — according to AFP. “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine,” said the two ministers. “We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far. “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible,” they added.

Manchester United have officially submitted their retained players list to the Premier League, confirming the departure of several key names ahead of the 2025/26 season. Among the high-profile exits are Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, and Victor Lindelof, all of whom will leave Old Trafford upon the expiration of their contracts this summer. Eriksen capped off his United career in style, scoring a penalty in the club’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on the final day of the 2024/25 Premier League season—his 108th appearance for the club. Evans and Lindelof also featured in that match, concluding their United tenures with 241 and 284 appearances, respectively. Both defenders have played crucial roles in the club’s backline over the years. Goalkeeper Tom Heaton has been named among the free transfers, though discussions are ongoing over a possible contract extension. Additionally, the club has confirmed the release of several academy players as part of a broader summer squad reshuffle. Full List of Man United Players Released First Team Departures: Christian Eriksen – contract expired (108 appearances) Jonny Evans – contract expired (241 appearances) Victor Lindelof – contract expired (284 appearances) Tom Heaton – listed as free transfer (contract talks ongoing) Academy Players Released: Hubert Graczyk Jack Kingdon Sam Murray Tom Myles James Nolan Tom Wooster

Victor Osimhen has rejected a big-money offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, leaving the door open for a potential switch to Manchester United. The Nigerian forward, currently under contract with Napoli but fresh off a prolific loan spell at Galatasaray, was offered a massive £25.3 million annual salary by Al-Hilal, who agreed to activate his €75 million (£63.2 million) release clause—applicable to non-Serie A clubs. Despite the lucrative deal, Osimhen turned it down, with *Football Italia* reporting that he prefers to remain in Europe. The 26-year-old was in sensational form in Turkey last season, scoring 37 goals in 41 appearances, and has since attracted interest from several top European clubs. Manchester United, now under the leadership of Ruben Amorim, are said to be keeping a close eye on the striker's situation. Al-Hilal, coached by ex-Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi, were keen to secure Osimhen’s services ahead of the Club World Cup. Although their initial offer was rejected, a second, improved bid was also declined by the player.

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo is set to continue with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and is reportedly open to signing a new contract. According to a post by Fabrizio Romano on X on Monday, the Portuguese star has dismissed rumours suggesting he plans to leave Al Nassr. The post read, “Cristiano Ronaldo confirms plan to stay at Al Nassr by signing a new deal. “My future? Basically, nothing is gonna change. Staying at Al Nassr? Yea.” Recall that the 40-year-old forward played a crucial role on Sunday in helping his national team clinch the Nations League title for the second time, four years after the tournament's inception. Since joining Al Nassr in December 2022 on a record-breaking deal, Ronaldo has made a profound impact both on and off the field. His arrival marked a new era for Saudi football, attracting global attention to the Saudi Pro League and sparking a surge of marquee signings across the league. At Al Nassr, Ronaldo has consistently delivered standout performances, regularly finding the back of the net and keeping the club competitive at the highest level. His presence has significantly raised the club’s profile and contributed to the league’s rising international appeal. News of his decision to stay is seen as a major boost for both Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League, reaffirming Ronaldo’s commitment to the region’s ambitious football vision.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has rejected a €75 million offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed via his X account on Sunday that although Napoli and Al Hilal had agreed on a €75m transfer fee, Osimhen declined the move. Romano added that Galatasaray remains keen on signing the Nigerian forward, and the race for his signature is now wide open. During his loan spell at Galatasaray, Osimhen played a pivotal role in the club’s success, netting 37 goals in 41 matches. His outstanding performance has earned him fan-favorite status, with the Turkish giants hopeful of securing him permanently. WAFFI TV reports that Al Hilal were close to sealing the deal after matching Napoli’s valuation and preparing for the player’s medical. However, with this latest twist, Osimhen’s future remains undecided.