As their Serie A rivals attempt to turn back time, champions Milan are looking to the future.

Romelu Lukaku, Inter s 2020-21 Scudetto hero, and Paul Pogba, the winner of four straight championships at Juventus, have returned to their former clubs following ultimately unsuccessful Premier League stints.

Of course, this is a move that worked for Milan last season, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic had played for three different clubs in three different countries between featuring in the Rossoneri s two most recent title-winning campaigns.

Ibrahimovic, soon to turn 41, has signed up for another season, but there is a young, exciting core to the Milan team who secured that latest title and will now bid to defend it.

Young stars repay Pioli s faith

Milan had the …

Zinedine Zidane vowed he would not quit as Real Madrid head coach after a shattering defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk left their Champions League campaign in chaos.

Madrid slumped to third place in Group B after a 2-0 defeat to Shakhtar – the Ukrainian side that also beat the LaLiga champions in the Spanish capital in October.

Amid deteriorating domestic form, the Champions League had been the salvation for Madrid in November, as they beat Inter home and away.

But now pressure will mount on Zidane, the club legend who was arguably the ultimate Galactico before coaching the team to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018.

Madrid dearly needed a positive result in Kiev, where Donetsk play their home games, but goals from substitutes Dentinho…

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Looking to extend their buffer at the top of the Eastern Conference table this weekend, Inter Miami will welcome Chicago Fire to the Chase Stadium in the early hours of Sunday.

Inter Miami

Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to winning ways earlier in the week as they stormed their way to a routine 3-1 victory against Toronto, Inter Miami will be looking to make another statement here. Holding a two-point buffer at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, the Herons have embarked on a real flurry since opening up the 2024 campaign. Signing off June with a 2-1 win away at Nashville, Gerardo Martino’s side have collected 12 points from their previous five MLS appearances. Pencilled in as a standout Eastern Conferenc…

Liverpool reportedly had a deadline-day bid for Moises Caicedo rejected by Brighton and Hove Albion.

The 20-year-old is hot property with a long list of suitors, after an impressive second half of last season in the Premier League.

Caicedo joined Brighton from Independiente del Valle in January 2021 on a four-and-half-year contract.

TOP STORY – BRIGHTON TO OPEN TALKS WITH CAICEDO

Brighton and Hove Albion will open contract talks with hot property Moises Caicedo according to The Mirror.

The Ecuadorian has interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

The Seagulls are determined to fend off those suitors by pinning Caicedo down to a new contract.

ROUND-UP

– Fichajes reports French giants Paris Saint-Ger…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes this season s Premier League title race will be so tight”, though he is not getting carried away after Manchester United moved level with Liverpool at the top. 

United defeated Aston Villa 2-1 at Old Trafford on Friday, remaining second behind the defending champions only due to their inferior goal difference. 

It was a 10th straight league match without defeat for Solskjaer s side, who seized the opportunity presented to them by Liverpool s goalless draw at Newcastle United on Wednesday. 

Liverpool can pull clear again at Southampton on Monday, with United s game in hand against Burnley to come later in January, but Solskjaer is expecting plenty more twists and turns before the campaign is out. 

We ve improve…

Ange Postecoglou has urged Tottenham fans to have patience when it comes to bringing new players in during the transfer window.

Spurs have signed just two new faces so far, with Archie Gray joining from Leeds United in a deal reportedly worth up to £40million, and Lucas Bergvall signing from Djurgardens.

Alongside the two 18-year-olds, Timo Werner has also been resigned on loan for the upcoming season. He enjoyed an impressive start after initially joining in January, as he contributed two goals and three assists, but his season was ended prematurely by injury.

While the Spurs faithful are keen for their club to bring more reinforcements, Postecoglou asked for their trust as the club works towards adding to the squad.

At this time of year, it s pretty …

Manchester United scored more than once in a Premier League game for just the second time this season in Sunday s 3-1 win at Norwich City.

A first away league victory in nine attempts since February for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s men coincided with the return of Anthony Martial, who missed two months of action with a thigh injury prior to returning as a late substitute against Liverpool last week.

Martial started the season in impressive form with two goals and an assist in his first three outings, including a strike in the 4-0 win against Chelsea the only other occasion United have scored more than once in a game in any competition since April.

Solskjaer this week talked up Martial s importance and is hopeful his relationship with strike partner Marcus Rashford also…

The worst part for Abbie McManus was she knew what was coming.

England defender McManus, formerly of Manchester City, made her debut for United in Saturday s Manchester derby before a record Women s Super League crowd at the Etihad Stadium.

Casey Stoney s top-flight newcomers had the better of the first half, with Ellie Roebuck forced into a remarkable point-blank save to deny Jane Ross – another of United s ex-City contingent.

Then, in the 48th minute, Caroline Weir collected a loose clearance 25 yards from goal, sized things up and let fly left-footed.

The shots from distance from Georgia Stanway and Caroline Weir we knew about but, unfortunately, on that one goal, we didn t get tight enough to her, McManus said, thoughts of training sessions past un…

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool will not stop fighting to improve despite a patchy start to their season.

After seeming to get back on track in the Premier League with wins against Manchester City and West Ham, Liverpool have suffered defeats against Nottingham Forest and Leeds United in their last two league outings.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of their final Champions League group game against Napoli on Tuesday, Klopp said he understood criticism of him and his team, but he feels the time to properly judge them will closer to the end of the campaign.

We obviously do the job in public, and I think the judgement for [if the team is in decline] will come later, or maybe at the end of the season where we might say, That s obviously it for this group of pla…

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has been ruled out of the Champions League last-16 second leg against Barcelona.

The 29-year-old has been sidelined since suffering an adductor injury against Caen in the Coupe de France on February 10.

Having missed the thumping 4-1 first-leg victory at Camp Nou, Neymar had been hoping to return for the visit of his old club to the French capital, even if he was likely to be a substitute.

However, PSG issued an update on Tuesday to confirm the Brazil international remains out of action as he continues individual recovery work.

Left-back Juan Bernat is also still sidelined due to a knee injury, while striker Moise Kean is isolating after returning a positive coronavirus test last week.

Training ahead of Paris Saint-…