Vinicius Jr has reportedly rejected the offer of a new contract from Real Madrid amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
The forward’s current deal runs until 2027 and contains a reported €1billion (£830m) release clause, but Madrid are keen to tie him down to a new long-term contract. Vinicius Jr was Madrid’s key player last season as they won the Champions League, LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup.
He made 37 goal contributions in 40 games across all competitions and won The Best FIFA Men’s Player award as a result, although he did finish runner-up in the Ballon d’Or behind Rodri. And according to a new report from the Athletic, Madrid have opened talks with the 24-year-old over a contract extension.
The report states that their opening offer has been rebuffed, with the player and his representatives believing he deserves a pay rise to ‘reflect his position as one of the world ’s best players’.
Vinicius Jr has reportedly rejected the offer of a new contract from Real Madrid amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
The forward’s current deal runs until 2027 and contains a reported €1billion (£830m) release clause, but Madrid are keen to tie him down to a new long-term contract. Vinicius Jr was Madrid’s key player last season as they won the Champions League, LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup.
The report adds that Vinicius Jr’s camp did hold talks about a potential move to the Saudi Pro League in August 2024 and that they are targeting a move for the winger next summer. However, he has previously stated that he wants to remain at Madrid “forever”.
Speaking after Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund to win the Champions League in October, he said: “I’m still only 24. I want to stay here forever and contribute as much as possible to this team, which has given me everything since I arrived here.”
Vinicius Jr reiterated his desire to stay at the club last month after he scored his 100th goal in their 5-1 win over RB Salzburg. “It’s very important for me to reach 100 goals and be a part of this club’s history,” he told Real Madrid TV.
Vinicius Jr has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia/Angel Martinez/Getty Images
“At 24 years old, and after seven seasons, to be making history is something very important for me and my entire family. Let’s hope I can carry on here for many more years.”
Vinicius Jr is one of just 23 players to have reached the landmark for Madrid and now sits just two goals behind legendary striker Ronaldo’s tally. “Only 23 players have scored 100 goals and among them is one of my idols, Ronaldo Nazario, who has always given me a lot of advice on how to improve in front of goal, how to shoot better,” he continued.
“Cristiano [Ronaldo] too. They’re players who I’ve seen, and who have defined an era at this club. Let’s hope I can follow in their footsteps. Cristiano scored 451 goals for Real Madrid. More goals than games! And I’ve seen almost all of them. He’s an icon, who’s been with me since I was a boy. Being one of those who has reached the benchmark of 100 [goals] is a huge source of pride.”
Tottenham are aiming to avoid two domestic cup exits in the space of four days when they face Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday evening.
Expectations were relatively low for the Lilywhites as Ange Postecoglou took his battered and bruised squad to Anfield on Thursday night with a 1-0 lead to cling onto. They sought to retain their advantage via some sound penalty-box defending early on, but quickly collapsed after Cody Gakpo restored parity in the tie. They failed to lay a glove on Liverpool in an eventual 4-0 defeat; exiting the Carabao Cup with a whimper.
Given the role cup competitions have played in ensuring supporters just about stayed onside with the manager, Sunday is a huge game for Postecoglou.
Villa overcame Premier League opposition in the form of West Ham to advance into the fourth round, and they enjoyed a rare midweek of respite after losing at Wolves last weekend.
Unai Emery’s side have endured an indifferent domestic season but were one of the busiest operators in the January transfer window and are aiming to set up a productive end to the campaign.
Aston Villa team news
Marcus Rashford is in contention to make his Aston Villa debut / Carl Recine/GettyImages
Emery has several new toys at his disposal and it’ll be interesting to see how many he crams into Sunday’s starting XI. While he can no longer call upon Jhon Duran, he does have Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio as options to fill the void left by Ollie Watkins, who is out injured.
Donyell Malen is another January addition to consider.
Villa’s defensive absences – Emery is currently without Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres – have been hampered further by Axel Disasi ineligibility after appearing in the FA Cup for Chelsea earlier this season. Ross Barkley is also sidelined.
Tottenham team news
Mathys Tel on his Tottenham bow / Carl Recine/GettyImages
Richarlison is poised for another spell on the sidelines after he picked up a calf injury at Anfield on Thursday night. Deadline Day arrival Mathys Tel replaced him on the night and the young Frenchman should make his first start for the club on Sunday with Dominic Solanke likely to be absent again.
While Postecoglou was hopeful that several of his currently injured stars would be available in the coming weeks, no injured stars are expected to be back for this fixture.
Cristian Romero’s recovery is progressing at a snail’s pace, and Spurs fans will have to wait a little while longer to see Micky van de Ven back in action. Radu Dragusin is a long-term absentee.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham score prediction
Two of Tottenham’s finest performances and results under Postecoglou have arrived against the Villans, but they have their work cut out if they’re to repeat such brilliance on Sunday.
You’ve got to expect the Lilywhites to be flat after Thursday’s pounding, with their main man this season, Dejan Kulusevski, running on fumes. Their midfield is struggling and Solanke is sidelined, it’s no wonder Spurs are finding it mightily tough to merely get up the pitch. Villa’s compact mid-block will likely cause them a few issues.
Ange should turn to youth in a bid to galvanise his squad, while Villa will hope their new arrivals hit the ground running on home soil. There should be goals in this FA Cup tie, with the hosts’ week off handing them the advantage against a beleaguered Spurs outfit.
Brighton 2-1 Chelsea: Kaoru Mitoma’s lob dumps Blues out of FA Cup after Enzo Maresca named three ex-Seagulls stars worth £202MILLION in his starting lineup
Chelsea’s first trophy under their BlueCo ownership will not come in this season’s FA Cup after a loss to Brighton in which their scant return for such lavish spending became impossible to ignore.
The home supporters made sure of that as they booed Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella from start to finish. That trio cost a fifth of a billion pounds to acquire collectively – the equivalent to 80 Kaoru Mitomas.
And yet it was Mitoma who sent Brighton into the fifth round as their fans gleefully got to rub it in the faces of former friends turned foes.
Chelsea complained there was a handball in the build-up to that comeback-confirming lob, but there was no VAR to save them here, and nor could Cole Palmer rescue their FA Cup run either.
It is hard to watch Chelsea and avoid thinking they are so reliant on Palmer that if he does not turn up, they do not, with the visitors even arriving here without a single recognised striker in their squad after injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu.
‘If there is something good after a defeat, it is that we can be focused on the Premier League and the Conference League,’ Maresca said as he also defended their decision to send Joao Felix on loan to AC Milan in January.
Brighton came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 to progress to the last 16 in the FA Cup
Chelsea took an early lead when Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen scored a clumsy own goal
Brighton hit back and Kaoru Mitoma eventually scored the winner by lobbing Robert Sanchez
‘We don’t miss Joao. Joao is happy and we are happy that he is happy there. We had two striker injuries on deadline day. It is something difficult to think.’
Brighton turned down a £61million bid from Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr for Mitoma last month, meanwhile, and Fabian Hurzeler described this as a perfect response to losing 7-0 to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League last week.
He even picked up a new English phrase as he said: ‘I learned a new sentence tonight. “Just what the doctor ordered.” It was a great reaction.’
Palmer scored four goals the last time these clubs faced one another in the Premier League in September with Chelsea winning 4-2. He took only five minutes to force the breakthrough here when Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen fumbled his cross into the goal as if the ball was coated in Vaseline.
It was an awful error – so bad that Chelsea might consider signing him next summer, as one fan joked – but Brighton equalised after 12 minutes when Georginio Rutter headed beyond Sanchez.
Since December 4, Palmer has created 32 chances in the Premier League, more than any other player has managed in any of Europe’s elite divisions. However, none of those have been converted by his Chelsea team-mates, leaving him with zero assists.
It is an extraordinary statistic, and one which emphasises their wastefulness in front of goal.
With Chelsea shooting towards their own fans in the second half, you could feel the frustration brewing in that away end as Caicedo was urged to shoot from 35 yards.
Georginio Rutter had equalised for Brighton, scoring with a well-placed headed finish
This was Brighton’s first home victory in three months, ending a five-game winless streak
Chelsea will get a chance to avenge this loss as they return to Brighton in the league on Friday
Enzo Maresca claimed his side can focus on the league and Conference League after the loss
Brighton took the lead in the 57th minute via Mitoma’s delightful dink as Chelsea’s hopeful claims of a handball were fruitless.
The visitors tried to find a leveller with Maresca turning to Enzo Fernandez, Tyrique George and Noni Madueke on his bench in the hope of forcing extra time.
It was in vain as another chance of a trophy was kissed goodbye on a night when Brighton secured a victory made all the sweeter for the moneybags they beat.
Real Madrid salvaged a 1-1 draw against city rivals Atlético Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday with Kylian Mbappé scoring a second-half goal to cancel out Julián Álvarez’s first-half opener for the visiting side.
That kept Real top of LaLiga on 50 points, one ahead of Atletico in second who missed a chance to leapfrog them. Barcelona, third on 45 points, visit Sevilla on Sunday with a chance to close the gap in the title race.
In a tale of two halves at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Atletico dominated the first 45 minutes and took the lead when Alvarez struck a 35th minute penalty after Aurélien Tchouaméni had fouled Samuel Lino inside the box.
Real roared back after the break, with Mbappe striking home a rebound in the 50th minute to level the game. But they were frustrated in their attempt to grab a win by an imperious Jan Oblak, who made a string of stunning saves.
Kylian Mbappé’s goal helped rescue a draw for Real Madrid against Atlético.
Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Diego Simeone’s Atletico arrived in fine form, having won 19 of their previous 21 games in all competitions and they showed why they have the best defence in Europe’s top five leagues with 15 goals conceded in 23 games.
On Saturday, despite missing defensive stalwart Robin Le Normand to suspension, Simeone’s side was once again rock-solid at the back, frustrating Real’s stellar attack who were unable to create a single shot on target in the first half.
Winger Lino and forward Alvarez were a constant menace up and down the left channel, often exposing the deficiencies of Lucas Vázquez and Tchouameni who got the start in a depleted Real defence without their top four defenders due to injuries.
PENALTY
In the 25th minute, Atletico’s players complained forcefully to the referee over a studs-up challenge on Pablo Barrios by Dani Ceballos, asking for a straight red. But Cesar Soto Grado gave only a yellow.
Five minutes later, Atletico had their complaints heard when Tchouameni left a foot in on Lino as the ball came into the box in a quick counter-attack. At first, the referee did not spot the foul but after he was called to review the play in the VAR booth, he pointed to the penalty spot.
Cold-blooded Alvarez held his nerve under deafening booing from the sold-out Santiago Bernabeu crowd to brazenly chip his penalty down the middle as Thibaut Courtois dived low.
Lino and Alvarez wasted golden opportunities that should have given the visitors a more comfortable lead and they paid a heavy price as Real came back livelier after the break, with Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo impressing in the channels.
It took them five minutes to find the equaliser when Rodrygo ran past two opponents on the right wing and crossed to Jude Bellingham who sliced his first touch strike from close-range. Gimenez managed to block the rebound which fell to Mbappe, who fired home the loose ball.
Real went all out for the three points but ran into Oblak, who denied close-range efforts by Vinícius, Rodrygo, Mbappe and Bellingham, who also had a strike off the crossbar, to secure Atletico’s point.
The history books will say Leyton Orient led their thrilling FA Cup fourth-round tie with Premier League champions Manchester City for 40 minutes because of a Stefan Ortega own goal.
Forget that.
To anyone lucky enough to be there to witness it – a tie Man City recovered to win 2-1 – Leyton Orient scored thanks to a wonder strike from Jamie Donley.
It was the Tottenham loanee who seized on the loose ball after City midfielder Nico Gonzalez had the ball taken off him just inside the visitors’ half. It was Donley who spotted Ortega off his line and executed a quite brilliant 50-yard chip that sailed over the City goalkeeper.
Yes, the ball struck the bar and only crossed the line because it hit Ortega as the German failed to regain his balance after trying to make the initial save. It was Donley’s goal.
“It is a shame it has gone down as an own goal,” said Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens. “It is not deserved and I am sure Ortega doesn’t want it. It is one thing seeing it, it is another executing.”
Despite the result, the goal belongs in FA Cup folklore.
A series of experienced former top-level professionals certainly spoke about the effort as if Donley has scored it.
“It’s an absolutely remarkable goal,” said ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown on Match of the Day. “It’s the strike of a lifetime. To even think about shooting from there – wow.”
“What a spot,” enthused Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live. “What a story. It’s absolutely sensational.
“It will go down as an own goal but it is one of the greatest FA Cup goals.”
But what did it feel like to actually do it?
“I know I hit the goal well,” said Donley. “I knew it fell for me nicely.
“I saw him off his line and luckily it went in. It would have been a lot nicer if we won but it was a good moment.”
Donley had previously scored five goals this season. In status or artistic impression, none can compare to this one.
Even City boss Pep Guardiola, while seething at what he believed was a clear foul on his £50m debutant Gonzalez – whose status as the replacement for injured Ballon d’Or winner Rodri makes him such a key figure, and who, as a result of the perceived infringement, now has his participation in Tuesday’s Champions League play-off first-leg in doubt, was full of admiration.
“What a goal,” he said. “What a fantastic shot – the quality, the technique, the speed, the flight of the ball.
“When you concede this goal, you just congratulate Donley. He’s an incredible left-footed player and he made a fantastic goal.”
‘Spurs have loaned us one of their best young players’
A youth international for both England and Northern Ireland, this tie was not the first time Donley had faced City.
The 20-year-old made his senior Tottenham debut at Etihad Stadium in December 2024, coming on as a last-minute substitute just before Dejan Kulusevski scored in a memorable 3-3 draw.
That was one of four substitute appearances totalling 10 minutes for the Antrim-born midfielder.
Tottenham felt he needed to go away to continue his development.
On the evidence of his performance against City, it was not just his Ronnie Radford-esque strike but his all-round industrious performance that made Donley stand out.
It was easy to suggest to Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens the goal might have wrecked any chance of luring him back to Brisbane Road next season.
However, as Wellens made clear, that would require his side to secure promotion from League One, where they currently sit ninth.
“Spurs have loaned us one of their best young players,” he said.
“We think we have developed him really well over the last six months. If he carries on with same attitude, intensity and work ethic, he might be playing against them [City] week in week out.
“Unless we are in the Championship there is no way we get him back next year. That is the nature of my job and the club we are at. We have to take first loans. If we wait until they have had a loan, they bypass us.
“The plan with Jamie was one of two things, he comes to us, develops and turns into a man, then he either goes back to Tottenham and gets into their first team or he goes to the Championship. There is a clear development plan for him and, going forward, the Championship is the minimum for him.”
Pep laughs off ‘sacked in the morning’ jibes
Guardiola seemed to enjoy his day in east London.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has not lost to a lower-league team since City were beaten by Wigan at the DW Stadium in 2018.
Yet he spoke enthusiastically afterwards about difficult FA Cup days in the past he had encountered at places like Newport and Cheltenham.
The City boss was even able to make light of the taunting he received from the home fans as his side tried to come to terms with being a goal behind.
“The atmosphere was fantastic,” he said. “Even when they say ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’.
“It’s routine in all the stadiums right now. With this result, I think my chairman is not going to sack me but it [the atmosphere] was really good.
Chelsea make the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday evening as they aim to pile more misery on the Seagulls.
Having been beaten on home soil by Everton previously, Brighton were stunned last weekend as they lost 7-0 against high-flying Nottingham Forest. Fabian Hurzeler’s side proved no match for Chris Wood and Anthony Elanga, who condemned them to a humiliating defeat.
Chelsea will be looking to take advantage of any nervousness or deflation on the south coast this weekend having returned to winning ways on Monday evening. The Blues beat London foes West Ham United 2-1 courtesy of Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s unfortunate own goal.
Brighton team news
Carlos Baleba is among a host of absentees / Richard Sellers/Allstar/GettyImages
Brighton have a mountain of injuries at present and are guaranteed to be without Mats Wieffer, James Milner, Jason Steele, Ferdi Kadioglu, Solly March and Igor against Chelsea.
The trio of Carlos Baleba, Yasin Ayari and Pervis Estupinan are all major doubts for the weekend, although Hurzeler suggested that two of the three could be involved without revealing any further details.
Winter recruit Eiran Cashin is available and is not cup-tied as he didn’t represent Derby County in the competition this season. He could make his debut in some capacity.
Chelsea team news
Nicolas Jackson could miss out this weekend / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu are both doubtful to feature at the weekend after sustaining injuries in the victory over West Ham. They could join Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and David Datro Fofana – who the Blues recalled early from his loan at Goztepe – on the sidelines.
Chelsea were busy on deadline day and allowed four players to leave the club on temporary loan deals. Joao Felix, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi all departed, several of whom might have started against Brighton.
Enzo Maresca could make changes for the FA Cup but is likely to field a strong side given Chelsea don’t play again until they meet Brighton once more at the Amex Stadium next Friday in the Premier League.
Brighton vs Chelsea score prediction
There were six goals in the duel between the teams at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, with Cole Palmer scoring four during the first half in a dazzling display on that day. Similar excitement could arise on the south coast this time around, with both teams scoring in seven of the last eight meetings.
Brighton’s injuries certainly leave them in an awkward position ahead of Chelsea’s visit but they still have an abundance of attacking quality, with the likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Joao Pedro and Yankuba Minteh all likely to cause the Blues’ shaky defence issues.
However, Chelsea’s immense squad depth and growing confidence should help them secure a hard-fought triumph, even if they need extra-time to reach the fifth round.
The biggest fixture in the European calendar this weekend takes place in the Spanish capital as Real and Atletico Madrid do battle in a pivotal clash in the context of the La Liga title race.
Diego Simeone’s ever-evolving Atleti took command of the division before they were stunned at Leganes last month, but they recovered swiftly and rediscovered their imperious groove ahead of the derby.
The visitors boast La Liga’s meanest defence but are also mightily exciting going forward. They’ve scored 11 times in their most recent three outings and are hunting their first win at the Bernabeu since 2016. Victory for Atleti would see them leapfrog their Madrid rivals at the summit and blow the race wide open.
Real’s advantage at the top is a mere point after they were beaten by Espanyol last weekend. Far more questions surround Carlo Ancelotti’s side than Simeone’s heading into the derby, and the league leaders were hardly convincing in midweek as they edged past Leganes in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. Atletico put Getafe to the sword the night before to also advance into the semi-finals.
While Saturday’s bout won’t decide the La Liga title, it will have a huge bearing on the dynamic at the division’s summit.
Real Madrid team news
Madrid are without their three senior defenders on Saturday night / GettyImages
Madrid have availability issues in defence and Ancelotti may have to wheel out a back four he never would’ve considered using for a fixture of this magnitude. With Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Eder Militao all out, Aurelien Tchouameni is likely to partner Raul Asencio at centre-back.
Lucas Vazquez will continue to fill in for Dani Carvajal down the right, while Ancelotti will choose between Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia on the opposite flank.
The Italian could opt for extra beef in the middle of the park in a bid to supply balance against an Atleti team that counter-attacks superbly. Jude Bellingham may have to perform a more restricted role and operate closer to the midfield pivot.
Eduardo Camavinga should be back in action.
Atletico Madrid team news
Robin Le Normand is suspended for the derby /GettyImages
The visitors are in much better shape on the injury front, although summer arrival Robin Le Normand is suspended for the derby. Clement Lenglet featured heavily while Le Normand was out with a significant head injury, and the Frenchman is expected to deputise this weekend.
Thomas Lemar and Rodrigo Riquelme are Atleti’s only other expected absentees.
Englishman Conor Gallagher has enjoyed a run in the team and should start on Saturday, while Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann are blossoming into a majestic double-team up top.
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid score prediction
It’s been a while since Simeone oversaw a victory on this ground, but Atletico are primed to prevail this weekend.
Madrid’s talent cannot be denied, and they will be in this title race until the last. However, good teams are finding ways of ruthlessly exposing their distinct flaws, and Atletico are built to thrive against sides of Madrid’s imbalance.
The league’s best defence could keep a star-studded frontline at bay just enough to facilitate a dominant performance from the visitors in transition against an injury-hit backline without a sound enough structure ahead of them.
Everton are aiming to continue their resurgence in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday afternoon when they host in-form Bournemouth.
The Toffees have been in fine form since the return of David Moyes to the dugout and have now won their last three Premier League matches. Victories over Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City have seen them move nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Bournemouth have been in similarly impressive form of late and tasted their first defeat since November during last weekend’s 2-0 home loss to league leaders Liverpool. Despite a stream of injuries, the Cherries have managed to maintain their lofty standards under January’s Manager of the Month Andoni Iraola.
Everton have lost both their meetings with Bournemouth this season and will be seeking revenge for their Goodison Park humiliation back in August. Having been two goals to the good, the Merseysiders proceeded to concede three in the 87th minute and beyond as they suffered a devastating comeback defeat.
Everton team news
Beto will lead the line in place of the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin /GettyImages
Everton are without a host of first-teamers for the visit of Bournemouth, including leading number nine Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Beto replaced the England international last weekend and scored twice against Leicester.
Striker Armando Broja is also sidelined in the forward line alongside Dwight McNeil and Youssef Chermiti, while Seamus Coleman is a doubt in defence and Orel Mangala is out for the season with an ACL tear.
January signing Carlos Alcaraz could make his debut after joining on loan from Flamengo.
Bournemouth team news
Andoni Iraola has had rotten luck with injuries /GettyImages
Bournemouth didn’t make many additions to their squad in January and prioritised signing young talent despite their extensive injury list.
They are still without the injured right-back trio of Adam Smith, Julian Araujo and James Hill, while fellow defender Marcos Senesi is missing, too. Alex Scott is the only absentee in the engine room.
The attacking duo of Evanilson and Enes Unal are both in the treatment room for the long-term and Dango Ouattara will lead the line again on Saturday. Luis Sinisterra is also a major doubt despite edging closer to a return.
Everton vs Bournemouth score prediction
Everton and Bournemouth both enter this game in impressive form and it could well be a coin toss between the sides as they vie for a fifth round berth. The pair should play first-choice teams, although the Toffees may have one eye on the upcoming Merseyside derby next Wednesday.
Bournemouth have won their last three battles with Everton and seven of the last nine meetings, with Iraola’s men boasting the superior attacking talent that could decide such a tight fixture.
Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy took aim at the FA Cup officials after his side were beaten by a controversial stoppage-time winner from Manchester United’s Harry Maguire on Friday night.
Man Utd earned a dramatic 2-1 win over Leicester City on Friday
Harry Maguire’s late winner was offside but allowed to stand
Ruud van Nistelrooy took a swipe at the history of his former employers
Van Nistelrooy’s United counterpart Ruben Amorim could do little more than agree with the furious Dutchman.
The Foxes took a first-half lead in their fourth-round tie at Old Trafford. Joshua Zirkzee equalised after the break and the score was level at 1-1 as the game ticked into the third and final minute of added time. Maguire thumped Bruno Fernandes’ swerving free kick into the bottom corner to snatch a late – and not entirely deserved – victory for the hosts, but replays showed that the centre-back had strayed offside.
As VAR will not be introduced into the world’s oldest cup competition until the fifth round, the incorrect on-field decision stood – much to the fury of Van Nistelrooy.
“We were not defeated in Fergie time,” the former United striker huffed to ITV Sport, referring to the last few minutes of a match which produced so many late winners under Sir Alex Ferguson. “We were defeated in ‘offside time’. This wasn’t necessary.
“VAR you have for [an offside that is] a couple of centimetres, inches. This was half a metre, clear and in line. It’s a hard one to take because the team deserved the draw.
“With extra time, if you stay in the game, you never know what happens. It was a really good team performance. We started really well, pressing United, on the ball very stable. We deserved to go 1-0 up at half-time.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was enraged by the refereeing decision on Friday night /GettyImages
“Of course, we knew that there would be some pressure on us in the second half and some chances, but not even that much. So we deserved to go into extra time and go into the battle for extra time and maybe penalties. So decisions like this, at our level, are hard to swallow.”
Unprompted by the BBC interviewer in his own post-match media duties, Amorim admitted: “The goal was offside. We should have VAR. VAR should be here to overturn the decision. This is hard on the opponent, this is hard on Ruud.”
United failed to attempt a single shot on target in a toothless first half. The introduction of Alejandro Garnacho during the interval sparked some form of fightback but Amorim conceded that his side was “poor” and “need to improve”.
The ex-PSG star has a huge decision to make on his future, with Al-Hilal set to let the injury-ravaged forward leave the club this summer
“I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot, my last chance and I will do everything I can to play in it,” Neymar said in an interview with CNNearlier this month. Brazil have certainly missed the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star in their latest CONMEBOL qualifying campaign, slipping to fifth in the standings, seven points behind arch-rivals Argentina.
Neymar played in Brazil’s first four games, recording five goal contributions, but tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee during a shock 2-0 defeat against Uruguay on October 17, 2023, and was stretchered off the pitch in floods of tears. He hasn’t featured in the iconic yellow for his country since.
Al-Hilal finally welcomed Neymar back to the pitch in October last year, but his return lasted for just 42 minutes across two games, as he was left with a tear in his hamstring after overstretching for the ball. Neymar is now nearing the end of his recovery from that particular blow, but according to The Athletic, there is practically zero chance that he will be offered a contract extension by the Saudi Pro League champions, who have seen no return on their initial €90 million (£77m/$98m) investment in the Brazilian over the last two seasons.
Neymar will leave the Middle East when his contract expires this summer, and despite his persistent physical struggles, there is no shortage of potential suitors lining up for his signature. The question is: where is the best place for Neymar to rebuild his fitness and confidence in order to force his way back into the Brazil squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup? GOAL runs through the six transfer options available to the 32-year-old below…
Inter Miami
“Playing again with [Lionel] Messi and [Luis] Suarez would be incredible,” Neymar told CNN when quizzed on the possibility of a move to Inter Miami. “They are my friends. We still speak to each other. It would be interesting to revive this trio.”
Neymar, Messi and Suarez famously formed the deadly ‘MSN’ triumvirate at Barcelona between 2014 and 2017, delivering 253 goals and seven trophies while wowing audiences across Europe. And Neymar is right, it would be “incredible” to see them reunite in Florida; he would complete Miami’s contingent of ex-Barcelona superstars, which also includes Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and new head coach Javier Mascherano, and perhaps be the final piece in the puzzle towards the club’s ultimate goal of MLS Cup glory.
The potential move was described as “impossible” by Mascherano last week due to MLS salary cap rules, but the league has since announced a new mechanism that clubs can use to raise extra money through domestic transfers, which means Miami could get some big wage packets off their books to pursue new targets.
This doesn’t feel like a farfetched deal anymore. Indeed, Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas said to GiveMeSport last month: “We are aspirational. If there is ever a chance to bring the calibre of a player like Neymar, we will not hesitate.” The chance is there now, and maybe a reunion with old friends is exactly what Neymar needs to get back to his best.
Chicago Fire
MLS does indeed look like the most realistic option for Neymar at the moment, but Miami might not be his final landing spot. According to ESPN, three other U.S. clubs have already opened preliminary transfer talks with the Brazil international, including the Chicago Fire.
Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna was first to report the Fire’s interest, adding that Neymar has been offered a two-year contract at Soldier Field. That would guarantee his future at club level through to the end of the 2026, and if a preferred move to Miami never materialises, heading to Chicago could be the next best thing.
Neymar could build some invaluable soccer experience in the U.S. ahead of the next World Cup, which is primarily being staged in North America, while working under the tutelage of former USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter. The Fire have only appeared in the MLS playoffs once since 2012, but expectations are growing with Berhalter now at the helm, and signing Brazil’s all-time top goal-scorer would be a major statement of intent.
Santos
Next up: the most romantic destination. Neymar initially established himself as one of the most exciting talents in the game at Santos, making his pro debut for the Brazilian club at just 17 years old. He quickly became a hero at Santos, most notably inspiring their run to Copa Libertadores glory in 2011, with some even going so far as to label him Pele’s heir – and Barcelona eventually bought into his immense potential.
The second coming of Neymar would be monumental for Santos, who are still recovering from the blow of suffering relegation for the first time in their 112-year history in 2023. Club president Marcelo Teixeira has said they are ready to offer Neymar a “concrete project”, while executive director Marcio Calves has expressed his belief that there is a “60 percent chance” the beloved academy graduate will retrace his steps this summer.
Neymar last visited the club as a fan in April 2023, and vowed: “One day I’ll be back.” That day appears to be edging closer, with Santos now in a better position to match his wage demands as a result of the financial boost that came with their immediate promotion back into Brazil’s top flight last season.
Flamengo
Santos are not the only club in Brazil that Neymar could join, though. Back in 2016, after a charity game organised by Brazil icon Zico, Neymar said: “It would be a great honour for me to play for Flamengo, at the Maracana. It’s a club I’d love to play for.”
Neymar even posed for a photo on social media wearing a Flamengo jersey last summer, and it has been reported that he could be bought in to replace Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa, who left the club in December before signing for Cruzeiro. Flamengo have more financial power than Santos right now, and they are serious contenders for all the biggest trophies on offer in South America.
Former club president Rodolfo Landim has also leaned into the speculation, telling ESPN back in July: “It doesn’t hurt to dream, right? I think Neymar is a completely extraordinary player, the best in the world.” This one could have some legs, though it remains to be seen if Neymar would pick Flamengo over Santos if both clubs launched formal bids.
Arsenal?!
We know what you’re thinking: Neymar to Arsenal is a completely ludicrous notion. Why would the Gunners ever break their wage structure to sign a man who turns 33 in February and hasn’t been able to stay fit for more than a few successive games in the past five years?
It would certainly be a massive risk, but former Arsenal ‘Invincible’ Gilberto Silva believes it could pay off tenfold. “I’d love to see Neymar in the Premier League with Arsenal, it would be interesting that’s for sure,” the Brazilian World Cup winner said in an interview courtesy of Bet365’s Copa Americacoverage. “It would bring a lot of joy to fans and make the competition even more special. Let’s see. It’s not impossible that he could join Arsenal, why not?”
Boxing promoter Frank Warren then did his best to fuel that talk when meeting Neymar ringside for the light heavyweight unification bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh in October, saying: “This is the man. He’s coming to England. He’s going to come and play for Arsenal.” Neymar looked more than a little bit perplexed, and laughed awkwardly, but stranger things have happened.
Arsenal are most definitely in need of more firepower upfront, and if they fail to land their main targets, Neymar might well come into their thoughts as a free transfer option who would generate a huge buzz at the Emirates Stadium.
