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🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo’s Heartfelt Message to Lionel Messi After the Passing of Jorge Messi:
🗣“I felt truly heartbroken when I heard the news about the passing of Messi’s father, Jorge Messi. It hit me hard. First and foremost, may his gentle soul rest in peace.
After the initial shock, the first thing I did was call Leo. I told him that I understand exactly how it feels to lose someone so special especially your dad. I reminded him that he has to stay strong, to keep his head high. I know this is one of the lowest points anyone can face, but he needs to find the strength not only for himself, but for his family who need him now more than ever.
Behind closed doors, Leo and I have shared many meaningful moments over the years. He’s one of the people I consider a true friend in this world of football. Because of that, I can feel the pain he’s going through right now. No rivalry, no competition just two men who respect each other, and one of them is hurting.
My thoughts and support are fully with Leo, his mother Celia, and the entire Messi family during this difficult time.”
Chief retweeted
🚨Son Min Heung on James Maddison’s goal against Coventry:
I’m not going to lie, that goal immediately took me back to the kind of strikes I used to score when I was at Spurs. Same instinct, same belief, same refusal to take the simple option.
Look at how Kudus finds him. The pass is perfectly weighted, and Maddison doesn’t hesitate for a second. First touch, and he’s already struck it into the top corner. That’s ridiculous. Most players take a touch to set themselves; he just lets it fly.
What people will focus on is the finish, but the real quality is in what happens before the ball even arrives. Watch his movement. He’s already scanning, already deciding where he’s going to put it, and already positioning himself to execute. By the time the ball reaches him, the hard work is done. That’s football intelligence.
That’s what I love about Madders. He’s got that confidence where the defender in front of him doesn’t matter. Give him half a yard of space and he’ll try something most players wouldn’t even consider. No second thoughts, no playing it safe, just pure conviction.
I’m already watching the replay again. Goals like that don’t come around often. Proper class.”
🚨 Son Heung-min reacts to Maddison’s stunner vs Coventry:
🗣️ “I’m not gonna lie… that goal took me straight back. That’s exactly the type of goal I used to try and score at Spurs.
Look at Kudus. Perfect ball. And Madders doesn’t even hesitate one touch, bang, top corner. Ridiculous.
People will just look at the finish, but watch his movement before he even gets it. He already knows what he’s doing. That’s the difference.
That’s what I love about Madders. Give him a bit of space and he doesn’t care who’s in front of him he’ll just try something. Pure confidence.
Yeah… I’m watching that one again. What a finish.”
Chief retweeted
🚨 Luis García on Cucurella pulling Peque Fernández in the box without conceding a penalty:
🗣️ “There have been so many questionable decisions, but this is one I still can’t get my head around. I’ve watched that scene a thousand times, and every time I watch it, I find another reason to be frustrated. It honestly gets worse the more you look at it.
Cucurella knew Peque was going to attack that ball. You could see where it was going, but instead of trying to challenge him fairly, he pulled him back. For me, that’s a clear penalty. What I don’t understand is how the referee didn’t give it, why Cucurella wasn’t even booked, and why VAR didn’t ask the referee to take another look.
What’s the point of having VAR if incidents like this aren’t even properly reviewed? These are the kinds of decisions that make you question the officiating.
And honestly, it’s frustrating because we keep seeing these controversial decisions whenever we play at this stadium. At some point, you have to ask why it’s always the same story.”
Chief retweeted
🚨Erling Haaland on what happens next if Manchester City are punished over the 115 charges:
REPORTER: Erling, there is still enormous attention surrounding Manchester City’s 115 charges and the potential punishment. Have you thought about what your next move would be if the club faced serious sanctions?
HAALAND: Of course. I'm a footballer, and I have to think about my career and what the future could look like. I love competing at the highest level, playing in the biggest matches and fighting for the biggest trophies. That's what matters to me.
But if the punishment comes and the situation changes dramatically, I already know what I want to do.
I've spoken to my agent, Rafaela Pimenta, and I've made my position very clear: if I have to leave Manchester City, Barcelona is the only club I want her negotiating with.
REPORTER: So you're not interested in considering offers from other European giants?
HAALAND: I've told her what I want. I don't want my future turned into a bidding war involving five or six clubs. I want a clear direction, and Barcelona is that direction.
Look at the history of that club, the atmosphere at the stadium, the football they want to play and the young players coming through. Barcelona have a project that excites me, and I can imagine myself being part of something special there.
I'm not saying this because I'm afraid of competition. I've played against the best defenders in the world, and I want to keep doing that. I want to score goals, win trophies and help build a team capable of dominating Europe.
REPORTER: Would Barcelona really be your first choice, even if other clubs offered you more money?
HAALAND: Yes. At some point, you have to decide what you really want. Money is part of football, but it isn't the only thing that matters. The project, the ambition and the feeling that you're going somewhere you want to be matter too.
I've made my position clear to Rafaela. If Manchester City's situation forces me to consider leaving, she knows exactly which club to call first and which club I'm prepared to choose.
If my Manchester City chapter has to end because of what happens next, then I want my next chapter to begin at Barcelona.
Chief retweeted
🚨 Alan Shearer on Erling Haaland reaching 100 non-penalty Premier League goals:
“Watching the game and somebody mentioned that Haaland had reached 100 Premier League goals without penalties. I asked how many appearances it had taken him. They said 139.
I said, ‘Sorry, how many?’
Because I know how difficult it is to score goals in this league. I spent years doing it. You have afternoons when the ball won’t come to you, defenders who spend the entire match pulling your shirt, goalkeepers who suddenly decide to have the best game of their careers.
And then there’s this lad.
Ipswich equalised shortly after City took the lead. It was 1-1, the game was becoming uncomfortable, and you could see they weren’t going to make it easy for City.
Then Haaland scores.
That’s what I like about him. He doesn’t need the whole match to be about him. He can spend 10 minutes hardly getting a touch, and the next time the ball comes into the area, he’s the one celebrating.
People sometimes say he doesn’t do enough outside the box. Well, I don’t remember many centre-forwards being paid to collect the ball from their own goalkeeper.
Of course you want your striker involved. But when you’ve got someone who understands where the goal is like Haaland does, your first responsibility is to get the ball to him.
Look at his second goal. Ndiaye plays the pass, there’s a defender trying to deal with him, and Haaland makes it look like the simplest thing in the world. But it isn’t simple. He’s got to judge the movement, protect his position, get his body right and finish.
That’s proper centre-forward play.
And what makes me laugh is that he scores twice and people are still discussing the chances he didn’t take.
He had another one ruled out for offside, and I’m watching him thinking, ‘He’ll probably go home annoyed that he hasn’t got three.’
That’s the mentality you want.
I remember people judging strikers by whether they could do everything. Could they drop deep? Could they dribble? Could they play the final pass?
Those things are useful. But I’ll tell you what defenders hate more than anything: a striker who only needs one moment to ruin their afternoon.
Haaland has made scoring two goals in a Premier League match look like a fairly normal Saturday.
And that’s probably the biggest compliment I can give him.
Because I can assure you, it isn’t normal.”
Chief retweeted
🚨 Ferran Torres on facing Barcelona in the Champions League tomorrow:
🗣️ Reporter: “You could receive a hostile reception from your former teammates and Barcelona supporters. Does that concern you?”
🗣️ Ferran: “Not really. I understand they might be upset if I score against them, but I hope they remember PSG were beating Barcelona in Europe before I arrived.
I only joined recently, so it would be a little unfair if they suddenly decided I was the problem.
Personally, I'm just happy I finally get to be part of it.”
Chief retweeted
🚨 Rodri on Barcelona’s Champions League Clash Against PSG:
🗣️ I can still remember the last time I played against PSG. That was when I was at Manchester City, and I wasn’t happy after the game.
But this time is different. This time it’s with Barcelona.
For me, it’s unfinished business between me and them. I know what this fixture means, and I know what we need to do. The motivation is there.
🚨 Benzema Laughs at Ronaldo’s ‘Punishment He’s Too Big:
“When I saw the news, I couldn’t help but smile. I was sitting with my 15-year-old son, who’s a big Ronaldo fan, and we both just started laughing. The whole thing is funny because it shows how big Cristiano really is.
A fine of €255 and a 30-day suspension sounds like a punishment on paper, but when you do the maths, he’ll be available again for Portugal’s next game. That tells you everything. They can’t afford to keep him out for long because he’s simply too important to the team.
He’s still a special talent, a proper footballer who can change games, and everyone knows it. At the end of the day, the federation has no real option other than to bring him straight back. That’s just the reality of how much he means to the national team.”
Chief retweeted
🚨 Raphinha on facing PSG’s super team in the Champions League:
🗣️Reporter: PSG have an incredible squad with players like Vitinha, Dembélé and Hakimi. How confident are you that Barcelona can beat them, especially at the Parc des Princes?
🎙️Raphinha: People are talking about PSG like they are unbeatable. Of course, we respect them. Vitinha is an incredible midfielder, Dembélé can hurt you in a moment, and Hakimi is dangerous going forward. They have top players, and we know what we're walking into.
But look at our squad. Look at the quality we have, especially in attack. We have players who can create something from absolutely nothing.
With all due respect to PSG, I believe we have the better players, and I'm confident we can win.
🗣️Reporter: Does playing at the Parc des Princes worry you, considering the atmosphere their supporters will create?
🎙️Raphinha: It will make things a little more difficult. Their supporters will be loud, the atmosphere will be intense, and they'll try to put us under pressure. But we're Barcelona. We don't travel to Paris just to survive; we travel there to compete and win.
🗣️Reporter: There are reports that Luis Enrique has rested some of his star players ahead of this match. Does that concern you?
🎙️Raphinha: Not at all. That's his decision, and it doesn't change anything for us. We're not intimidated, and we're not changing our mentality because of who they bring onto the pitch.
They can rest their stars, prepare their strongest team and fill the stadium. We're still coming to play our football.
🗣️Reporter: What do you think will be the biggest problem for PSG when they face Barcelona?
🎙️Raphinha: Our attacking quality. When we move the ball quickly, attack the spaces and combine the way we know how, we can cause problems for any defence in Europe.
And there's one thing people need to understand: if we control the ball, PSG will have to chase us. They can't hurt us with the ball if they don't have it. We want to dominate possession, dictate the tempo and force them to defend.
We know PSG are dangerous, but they also know what Barcelona can do when we find our rhythm.
🗣️Reporter: So, is the objective to send a message to the rest of Europe?
🎙️Raphinha: Absolutely. We want to win, make a statement and remind everyone that Barcelona are here to compete for the biggest trophies.
Let them bring their superstars—we'll bring our football. And if they don't have the ball, they can't do anything with it.
Chief retweeted
🚨 Ousmane Dembélé on Facing Lamine Yamal Ahead of PSG vs Barcelona Champions league clash:
🗣️ For me, he’s not different from the others. People say a lot of things about him especially on the media, like other players haven’t done it before.
Against Barcelona? He won’t be a problem. I’ve played against players who were far better.
🚨 José on why he prefers working with Diomande over Vinicius:
“I think we can all see it clearly in the games. Diomande is very selfless with the ball. Even before it arrives at his feet, he already knows exactly what he wants to do with it.
That’s the type of player you love working with someone who is direct, decisive, and doesn’t hold onto the ball longer than necessary. Players with that mindset, who always think about the next action and keep the team moving, are the ones who can help you win trophies.
I rate both Diomande and Vinicius very highly, and I enjoy working with both of them. But I’m especially happy with the way Diomande has been performing.”
Chief retweeted
🚨Mourinho on His Discussion with Diomande During Halftime:
What I see is a young player who receives the ball and immediately looks to attack his marker. He beats one defender, sometimes two, and the entire back line is forced to react before he has even reached the penalty area.
That instinct cannot be coached. While many players receive the ball thinking first about protecting possession, Diomande receives it thinking about how to make the defender regret stepping toward him.
There was one sequence in particular. He beat his man, created the advantage, and then delivered a pass into the box. The action itself was excellent, but the final decision was not yet at the same level. Once he has eliminated the defender, the most difficult part of the move is complete.
What remains is recognising the best next action: when to release the ball, when to shoot, when to slow the tempo, and when to continue himself.
At half-time I told him he was already making life very difficult for their defenders. The next step is to make life equally difficult for their goalkeeper. He does not need to beat every player he encounters. Sometimes eliminating one creates the opening. He smiled, and I told him I was being serious.
In the second half he provided an assist and scored. The goal showed exactly what I want from him: the dribbling used as a means to reach a position from which he can hurt the opponent, not as an end in itself. After the match he came over smiling again. I said it was good, and that it would have been even better had the same clarity been there earlier.
I am very pleased with him. There is no intention of limiting his freedom. You do not bring in a player with these qualities and then instruct him to stop doing what makes him distinctive. The objective is simply to ensure that when he beats two or three opponents, the move produces a tangible outcome.
There is a difference between a player who entertains and a player who decides matches. The very best do both, and I believe Diomande can become that type of player. He is already creating serious problems for defenders while he is still developing the decision-making side of his game.
When that aspect reaches the level of his dribbling, he will be significantly harder for opponents to contain.”
Chief retweeted
🚨 Nordi Mukiele: “19th in the league? That is a disgrace.” On Sunderland season so far.
“Last season we played as a compact unit. No one played for individual praise. Now I do not understand why we have got this bad.
I do not want to send out the wrong message, but in truth we have gotten so comfortable, maybe a little arrogant. We prided ourselves on how well we played last season and forgot that those performances are completely irrelevant to the season we are playing now.
The defence and midfield are playing two separate games, and I can understand why the attacking players feel left out. Maybe they can think more about coming back to help out rather than pointing fingers.
Four points from seven games and conceding 14 times is clear that we have fallen behind. We are not good enough, as Xhaka said after the game, and I cannot believe that our captain goes on to point fingers instead of leading us back to the top.
I do not think it is fair to criticise our efforts, but again we deserve every criticism from the fans. I apologise on the team’s behalf.”
Chief retweeted
🚨 Thierry Henry on Diomande becoming Vinícius Júnior Replacement at Real Madrid
🗣️ See… Diomande is already becoming a real option as a replacement for Vinícius Júnior at Real Madrid. Most people don’t want to admit it, but even José Mourinho knows it.
Look at the situation. Vinícius can no longer guarantee those full 90 minutes at Madrid the way he used to. The fans are not fully satisfied, and we all know how demanding it is to play for clubs like Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Diomande is young, talented, and he has many of the same attributes as Vini - speed, directness, aggression. But in some ways he’s even better because he doesn’t dribble unnecessarily. That kind of decision-making can give Real Madrid more consistent results.
Look at his link-up with Kylian Mbappé. He already understands the system. He already understands the team. That is a big advantage for Real Madrid right now.
You saw what José Mourinho said about Vinícius. If he leaves Madrid, he might actually be more respected elsewhere. And that kind of atmosphere affects players, especially someone as emotional as Vinícius.
For me, Yan Diomande is already part of Madrid’s future. And that future is closer than most people think.
Chief retweeted
🚨 Pedri on Lamine Yamal’s curler against Betis:
🎙️ “I mean, I’ve seen Lamine score some incredible goals before, but this one was different. The skill he used to get past his man before shooting was amazing. He made it look so easy, but when you look at it closely, you realise how difficult it actually was.
“What surprised me the most was the way the ball moved. When he first hit it, I honestly thought it was going wide, but somehow, the ball started curling back towards the goal. I’ve seen plenty of players score curlers, but that one was something special. The technique he used to get that much movement on the ball is not something you see every day.
“Honestly, I didn’t even know how to react when it went in. I just looked at him and started laughing because, at this point, I’m not even surprised by some of the things he does anymore. (Laughs)You train with him every day, you see what he’s capable of, but he still manages to do things that leave you speechless.
“Almost everyone was talking about that goal in the dressing room afterwards. Everyone was asking how he managed to do it. The best thing about Lamine is that he plays with so much confidence, and when he gets into those positions, you always feel like something special can happen. He’s still so young, but the things he’s doing on the pitch are incredible. We’re lucky to have him here.”
Chief retweeted
🚨 Michael Olise on His Relationship with Eberechi Eze:
🗣️Yes, of course we still keep in touch… but not as much as when we were teammates at Crystal Palace. Different countries, different schedules, different timings.
I wanted Eze to make the move with me. I wanted both of us to leave England together. But he still wanted to stay because of his family. I couldn’t force him. I left first for Bayern, and later he joined Arsenal.
I remember making fun of him when I called him about it. But when Arsenal won the league, I was the one calling him to congratulate him. I told him he had to be their saviour.
I’m sure we will share the same pitch again in the Champions League. Our friendship will have to pause for ninety minutes… but after the match, we can continue exactly where we left off.
Chief retweeted
🚨 Didier Drogba on what he told Diomande before his first goal for Madrid:
🗣️ “The boy is special. Before the game, I told him not to put too much pressure on himself because he hadn’t scored yet. He was already doing a lot for the team, and I reminded him that he got his first goal contribution after just six games.
“I told him to be patient. The goal would come; he just had to keep working. He’s a very humble boy, and when I spoke to him, he listened. He just said, ‘Okay.’
“I also told him about my own journey in football. I became a professional at 26, which is quite late for a footballer, but I still managed to achieve great things in this game. So I told him not to worry too much. Everybody has their own time. He just needs to stay humble, keep working hard, and trust the process. Things will fall into place.”
Chief retweeted
🚨 José Mourinho: “I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Marc Cucurella yet. He is a defender with character.”
“I do not think we have seen the best of him yet. Of course we know how much he likes to help the team. We have seen him play for Spain and what he contributed at his former club. Marc is a defender with stint and character.
Yes, he might be struggling right now to adapt to the style of our play and how quickly I want him to respond, but in general it was a solid performance from him today.
I have seen wing-backs arrive in the opposition box. I have seen Marcelo do it here. I see glimpses of that game in Cucurella. That is exactly what we demand from everyone. Defend well and attack exceptionally. That way everyone ensures we have a strong chance of winning each time we play.
I am pleased with Marc. He is not just a good player, but I thought he was a good guy too. He is not afraid to speak up or show leadership in any position he is given.
We did not keep a clean sheet today, but that is not what worried me. The way the backline held up is what I found interesting, and yes, we are going to conduct ourselves better in the next game.
It is essential that we learn how quickly we can create opportunities that enable us to score and keep the opposition from scoring.”
Chief retweeted
🚨 Federico Valverde on Diomande’s Screamer Against Sevilla:
🗣️ The last goal from Diomande? That was a real screamer. I’m sure he learned that from me (laughs).
After he scored, I had to go and meet him. I asked him when and who taught him how to shoot like that. He looked at me and said he owes me the credit for that.
That’s the kind of goal that changes the energy of the whole team. When a player scores from that distance with that power, everyone feels it. I’m happy for him… but next time I’ll make sure he shares the technique properly.
🚨 Jose Mourinho Pure IQ, Not Luck Mbappé’s Best Goal of the Season
“That goal has been the best I have seen so far this season. It shows just how intelligent Mbappé is. There was so much calculation in that finish the way he read the space, timed his movement, and chose exactly the right moment to strike. That is not luck; that is pure football intelligence.
You can see how deep his understanding of the game is. He doesn’t just rely on speed and talent; he processes situations so quickly and makes the correct decision under pressure. That is the mark of a truly top player.
I’m really happy for him. He did a clean, professional job and showed exactly why he is one of the best in the world right now. People need to start recognising it properly Mbappé is operating at a level above almost everyone else at the moment.”
