BREAKING: Goodbye Jose! Manchester United finally sack Jose Mourinho after shocking Liverpool defeat

​Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United following their disappointing start to the season.

The Red Devils currently sit sixth in the Premier League table but have already lost five times in 17 matches, leaving them 19 points behind leaders Liverpool and 11 off fourth-placed Chelsea in the fight for Champions League places.

That follows a summer transfer window in which Mourinho routinely complained at a lack of signings, with the Portuguese unable to persuade the club's hierarchy to sign a new centre-back.

Mourinho has continued to drop hints that he remains unhappy at that failure to spend big, and he now leaves after two-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford, with his final match in charge Sunday's 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool.

"Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect," a statement read.

"The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.

"A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager."

More to follow... 

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BREAKING: Paul Pogba finally set to leave Manchester United in January but Barcelona have a new rival for his 'blockbuster' signature

​Juventus are on high alert once again as Paul Pogba's exclusion against Liverpool appears to be the last straw for the midfielder, according to Tuttosport.

Pogba was left on the bench throughout Manchester United's 3-1 loss to the Reds as Jose Mourinho preferred Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Ander Herrera in the midfield.

Juventus have been linked with a move for their former midfielder, whose relationship with Mourinho appears to worsen by the day.

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BREAKING: Meet the new 'Messi' who dribbles even faster, that Real Madrid are finally set to steal from Man city in January making Pep Guardiola furious

​Catch me if you can: that should be Brahim Diaz’s tag-line, both on and off the pitch.

With a dribbling style compared to Lionel Messi’s, the 19-year-old forward is a slippery eel for opponents but Manchester City can’t keep a hold of him either.

Diaz is poised to move to Real Madrid at the end of the season, defying coach Pep Guardiola, who wants him to pen a new deal at the Etihad.

His contract runs out in June and, frustrated at limited first-team opportunities in Manchester, the Spaniard has been seduced by the promise of playing time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Reports suggest Diaz has agreed a £60,000-a-week contract with the European champions, who have, crucially, guaranteed him a spot in the senior squad. Unlike Vinicius Junior, he would not be initially asked to line out for the club's reserves in the third tier of Spanish football.

Besides, given Real's struggles in La Liga this season, Diaz believes that he is good enough to make an instant impact at the highest level.

Indeed, the No.10 felt he was ready to play a small part in City's 2018-19 campaign and even rejected the chance to move to Girona on loan.

However, he has yet to see a minute of Premier League action, as he struggles with the intense competition for places in a City squad that also contains Riyad Mahrez, Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling.

As Diaz will have observed, it would be a lot easier to get into the Real Madrid side.

Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, Marcos Llorente and Sergio Reguilon have all appeared this season for Los Blancos in La Liga, while Diaz’s only games at City thus far have been in the Carabao Cup.

Brahim Diaz Pep Guardiola Man City PS

The forward featured in the 3-0 win at Oxford and starred against Fulham, scoring twice in a 2-0 win that took Manchester City through to the quarter-finals.

This was just his third start for the club and the performance showed he is ready for much more than being held in stasis most weeks.

“The case of Brahim is very simple," Guardiola explained. "We want him to stay, we want to extend his contract for four or five years and we’ll do absolutely everything to keep him here but it’s in his hands."

What may hurt Pep the most about Diaz leaving City is the fact that he has invested so much time and effort in the youngster's development – not to mention the fact that Diaz's agent is Pere, Guardiola's older brother.

Back in 2011 when Diaz was in the Malaga youth academy, then-Barca coach Guardiola showed him around Camp Nou.

The Catalan giants were close to signing him, even agreeing terms with Diaz’s father, but Malaga refused to sell, promising him he would be playing in La Liga by the age of 16. That never came to pass, though, with City picking him up as a 14-year-old for a fee of just £300,000 ($383,000), rising to £4.5 million ($5.75m).

From the start, Diaz’s technique has been outstanding – a video of him playing at youth level for Malaga made waves. The Spaniard manipulates the ball with the same care, attention and precision as Messi and David Silva, and, just like that illustrious duo, he can play in attacking midfield or anywhere across the front line.

Diaz isn’t keen on playing as an out-and-out striker but that’s where he was used sometimes in the City youth team, which was a formative experience.

Brahim Diaz Edward Francis Man City PS

“In the Premier League, we can compare him with Eden Hazard, but he is a bit like Messi in the way he dribbles,” Diaz’s Manchester City youth team-mate Edward Francis, now on loan at Almere City, told Goal . “He is also a bit like David Silva and it's good to have a player like him in the team.”

Diaz is excellent with both feet, even if his left now appears his preferred weapon of choice after growing up using his right more as a child. 

In 2017, he scored a brilliant goal against Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly, a left-foot thunderbolt which ripped past Kiko Casilla and lived long in the memory. 

It is that quality which brings to mind Messi, his shimmering movement to create space for himself and leave defenders wondering which way he will turn.

Many of Europe’s top sides have been interested in him at one point or another but now it seems he only has eyes for Madrid.

Diaz debuted in the Champions League last season as a late substitute against Feyenoord in November but from his point of view progress has been frustratingly slow since then.

Every time he has been given a chance for club or country, he has shone, proving pivotal in Spain’s run to the U17 European Championship final in 2016 and Man City’s charge to the FA Youth Cup final the following year.

Last season, Spain made him their third youngest U21 international at 18 years and 28 days in a clash with Italy, while he picked up a Premier League winners' medal after making five appearances in the competition, all from the bench.

All little tastes of the stage he craves – and hopes to find with Real Madrid.

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BREAKING: Barcelona still desperate to land Paul Pogba as they offer two players plus £45m in mouth-watering swap deal

​The Spanish giants were desperate to sign Pogba with their captain Gerard Pique even publicly appealing for the midfielder to sign.

Mina Raiola was keen to find Pogba a way out of Old Trafford and journalist Duncan Castles says he was ‘offered to all the big clubs’.

Only Barcelona showed any interest and they came to the table with a double swap deal.

It’s Castles’ understanding that Andre Gomes, the 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder, and 24-year-old centre-back Yerry Mina were the two players offered.

Castles told the Transfer Window podcast: “We’ve talked at length about the previous problems between Paul Pogba and former manager Jose Mourinho since last season, as things started to fall apart between them.

“We talked about how Mourinho basically couldn’t move him out in the summer because there wasn’t a viable taker for a player who is being offered to all the big clubs in Europe by his agent Mino Raiola.

“The best offer that was proposed was Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes plus £45m in exchange for Paul Pogba by Barcelona, which Manchester United understandably seems to be taking their time to figure out.”

And Barcelona have called in to inform the Manchester United boards that the offer still stands. 

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BREAKING: 'He misses me' - Cristiano Ronaldo puts rivalry aside as he sends open love letter to Lionel Messi to join him in Serie A

​Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested that Lionel Messi “maybe needs more” after so long at Barcelona and has invited his eternal rival to join him in Serie A.

Two talismanic performers who have cemented standings among the all-time greats spent nine years battling for supremacy in Spain prior to a stunning summer transfer window.

Ronaldo’s decision to leave Real Madrid for Turin in a €100 million (£90m/$114m) deal has left Messi as the standalone five-time Ballon d’Or winner in La Liga.

He has offered little indication that he will be treading a similar path to a man he has battled with for so long, with the Argentine being tipped to see out his career as a one-club man.

Ronaldo, though, would relish the opportunity to lock horns with Messi again in Italy if the opportunity presented itself.

He told Gazzetta dello Sport when asked if he misses Messi: “No, maybe he misses me!

“I played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, in the national team, while he is still in Spain. Maybe he needs me more.

“For me, life is a challenge, I like it and I like to make people happy. 

“I would like him to come to Italy one day. Like me, accept the challenge. 

“However, if he is happy there, I respect him.

“He is a fantastic player, a good guy but I do not miss anything here. This is my new life and I'm happy.”

Having severed domestic ties during the last transfer window, Ronaldo and Messi have been knocked from their perch at the top of the global game.

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has enjoyed a clean sweep of the most prestigious prizes this year, claiming the FIFA Best Award, World Cup Golden Ball and 2018 Ballon d’Or.

A duopoly enjoyed by two iconic performers is said to be over, after a decade of dominance, but neither Ronaldo nor Messi are showing any sign of slowing down despite now being into their 30s.

The former has plundered 11 goals for Juventus so far this season, while the latter continues to send records tumbling in Spain and has taken his tally across all competitions in 2018-19 to 17 in as many games.

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BREAKING: Real Madrid finally agree terms with Eden Hazard as Mateo Kovacic is set to permanently remain at Chelsea as part of the deal

​Real Madrid have agreed terms with Eden Hazard, according to reports in Spain.

The Chelsea star has so far refused to a sign a new contract with the Blues beyond next season, and the LaLiga giants have long been rumoured in making a move for the winger.

And now, it appears they may have finally got their man.

Onda Madrid says that, after a summer of flirtation between club and player, Madrid have agreed terms with Hazard, 27, whose Blues contract runs out in 2020.

Chelsea don’t want to lose their star player and are working hard to extend his contract, but Hazard has in the past described a transfer to the Bernabeu as a dream move for him.

However, the Blues are not willing to let Hazard go on the cheap and will hold out for £150m.

But in the final year of his contract, Madrid will be confident of signing him for less and could potentially offer on-loan midfielder Mateo Kovacic as a makeweight.

The Croatian midfielder doesn’t want to return to Madrid and the club are open to selling him. However, if Chelsea want him they may have to head off Tottenham’s interest to get him permanently.

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BREAKING: Shocker as Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Real Madrid to meet with Florentino perez after 2018 Ballon d’Or defeat

​Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are set to meet in Real Madrid after their 2018 Ballon d’Or defeat to Luka Modric.

The two football icons will sit together in the Santiago Bernabeu and watch the Copa Libertadores final on December 9, according to AS.

Ronaldo and Messi, who have shared a rivalry that dates back 10 years, will put their differences aside.

The Argentine Copa Libertadores final has been moved to Spain capital city after clashes of River Plate and Boca Juniors fans in Argentina. 

The second leg of the match was postponed after River Plate fans attacked the Boca Juniors team bus last month.

The tie will now be played in the Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, December 9.

The Spanish newspaper reports that Ronaldo will return to Spain to watch the action alongside Messi.

The newspaper noted that Juventus’ clash with Inter on Friday means Ronaldo will have time to rest and recuperate before heading to Madrid.

AS also reports that Messi will be watching the game as Barcelona face Espanyol on Saturday.

The arrangement was made by Real President Florentino Perez, who wants both superstars to sit with him in his presidential box.

Messi and Ronaldo both lost out of this year’s world best footballer award with Luka Modric ending their ten-year hold on the prestigious individual award.

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BREAKING: Real Madrid finally set to beat Barcelona to signing of top transfer target as Tottenham slam €250m on star player

​Real Madrid remain keen on Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen but have, according to Marca, been told that he will cost €250 million (£223m/$285m).

Spurs are understandably keen to retain the services of a prized asset and will only consider a sale if a record-breaking bid is tabled.

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BREAKING: Real Madrid star player set to join Liverpool at the end of the season as Perez finally agrees to sell

​Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio will reportedly be Liverpool's number one target in next summer's transfer window.

Asensio was linked with a move to Anfield ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, but Madrid refused to sell the Spaniard.

The 22-year-old has once again been a regular starter for Los Blancos this season, but his overall form has been questioned, while he has managed just one La Liga goal thus far.

According to OK Diario, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is still desperate to land the attacker, and the German is confident that Madrid would sell for the right price at the end of this season.

Asensio has scored 23 times and registered 13 assists in 109 appearances for Madrid in all competitions.

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BREAKING: Real Madrid star player reject bumper contract offer as top European clubs want him at all costs

​Karim Benzema has reportedly turned down a chance to join AC Milan in favour of staying with Real Madrid, but the Italian giants remain highly interested in the French striker. 

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via TransferMarketWeb), the 30-year-old met with representatives from the Milanese club over the summer, but was insufficiently impressed by his potential salary, and opted to stick with the project in the Spanish capital.

However, according to​ another report from Italian paper Gazzetta (this time via Mundo​ Deportivo), the Italian side still see Benzema as a 'main objective' and could yet offer improved terms for the number nine, whose contract in Madrid runs until June 2021.

Spanish rumours site Don Balon (via ​CalcioMercato) even claimed earlier in the week that Milan floated an offer of around €65m to Florentino Perez for the veteran forward. However, the site is notoriously unreliable.

Despite Real Madrid's well documented troubles this season, ​Benzema has had a fairly profitable campaign so far, picking up 10 goals and three assists in 18 appearances across competitions so far. 

In light of this, it appears that ​Milan may not be deterred by their continued rejection as they seek a new striker - despite the presence of Gonzalo Higuain in their ranks and a rumoured interest in bringing back Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to San Siro.

However, according to Don Balon's report anyway, ​​Los B​lancos are more enticed to engage in negotiations with Milan's cross-town rivals Inter. 

As opposed to the purely financial remuneration that the Rossoneri could offer them, Madrid could seek to seal a cash plus player deal for coveted Nerazzurri striker ​Mauro Icardi.

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BREAKING: Isco to Barcelona.. Real Madrid star player snub set to cause major transfer upset as Barcelona makes contact

​Isco “could interest” Barcelona if he continues to be overlooked by Real Madrid, says Blaugrana legend Sergi Barjuan.

The Spain international playmaker has endured health issues this season, with surgery required in September after suffering appendicitis.

Those at the Santiago Bernabeu have sought to carefully manage him as a result, but the 26-year-old was left out of Santiago Solari’s squad for a Champions League clash with Roma on Tuesday.

Isco is yet to start a game under Madrid’s new boss, with six taken in to date, and selection frustration has sparked renewed transfer talk.

Leading clubs across Europe would welcome the opportunity to bring a proven performer onto their books, and Sergi believes a move could even be made from Camp Nou.

A man who spent nine years within the first-team ranks at Barcelona during his playing days told Radio Marca of Isco’s situation: "I don't know how each coach manages their starting line-up and backups, but it's true that coaches are there to take decisions.

"Solari took a decision [against Roma].

"From Barcelona's point of view, he is a player who could interest them because he plays with touch and can link up with people well.

"With this, we're speaking a little bit in a joking manner.

"In the end, the season is long and Real Madrid will have a lot of matches and will need everyone."

Isco has been with Madrid since 2013 and has made over 250 appearances for the club.

He has helped them to a La Liga title, four Champions League crowns and three Club World Cup triumphs.

There is, however, fierce competition for places in the Spanish capital and rotation is to be expected.

It remains to be seen whether Isco will accept such a role, with links to teams in the Premier League and Serie A having emerged in the past – with Arsenal and Juventus considered to be leading the chase.

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BREAKING: Lionel Messi overtakes Cristiano Ronaldo to reclaim Champions League 'Goalscoring' record

​Lionel Messi's goal against PSV Eindhoven helped the Barcelona star surpass Cristiano Ronaldo to reclaim a Champions League record and the Portugal star will have a long way to go to win it back.

By scoring Barcelona's opening goal in the 61st minute, Messi moved to 106 career Champions League goals for Barcelona.

The finish sees the Argentine reclaim the record for most Champions League goals for one club, surpassing the mark of 105 set by Ronaldo during his time at Real Madrid.

Now with Juventus, Ronaldo would be very unlikely to reclaim that record any time soon.

The two still remain atop the competition's all-time scoring charts with Ronaldo currently on 121 Champions League goals to lead the way.

Prior to the arrival of Messi and Ronaldo, Raul was the competition's most prolific scorer, having scored 71 goals with Real Madrid and Schalke. 

In addition to surpassing Ronaldo, Messi's goal was his 15th of the season, ensuring that he has scored 15 or more goals in each of the last 13 seasons.

Messi's goal came in the second half, as the Argentinian star weaved his way through the PSV defense before firing a shot and finding the top corner to give Barcelona the lead.

He then assisted the club's second, finding Gerard Pique on a free kick to double the Spanish side's advantage and all but seal the top spot in their Champions League group. 

Messi has now scored six Champions League goals this season, moving him past Eden Dzeko and the Roma star's five finishes to lead the goalscoring chart through five rounds of group stage play.

Barcelona can now turn their attentions back to La Liga, where they sit second, one point back of league leaders Sevilla. 

The Blaugrana are back in action at the weekend against Villarreal to open up their December schedule. 

They will close out Champions League group play with a home match against Tottenham on December 11, with Spurs' win over Inter on Wednesday helping Barcelona claim top spot in Group B

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BREAKING: PSG finally agree €200m Neymar transfer deal as Real Madrid win financial fair play battle

​Paris Saint-Germain have 'tentatively' agreed a €200m deal to allow Brazil star Neymar to move back to La Liga in the summer, just two ​years after he left Barcelona in dramatic fashion. 

The Brazilian has been an unqualified success on the pitch, contributing to an outrageous 64 goals in 46 games since his world record move to the French capital. Yet he has failed so far to bring the Champions League success and individual acclaim that both parties were hoping the deal would lead to. 

Last season fizzled out for ​Neymar when he broke his foot at the end of February, ending his season prematurely and leaving him racing to be fit in time for the World Cup, with PSG failing to overcome a two goal deficit in their Champions League round of 16 second leg against ​Real Madrid without him just weeks later. 

​AS report that Catalan TV station Betevé report that PSG have agreed a tentative starting point of a €200m fee for a summer departure, with Neymar thus far failing to get close to his main objective while in Paris – individual recognition outside of the shadow of ​Lionel Messi. 

Part of the reason for his failure to distance himself from the pack as an individual superstar is the arrival and emergence of ​Kylian Mbappe at the club – which goes some way to explaining why PSG appear willing to let their world record buy leave just two years after his arrival, with a Financial Fair Play investigation looming. 

Barcelona and Real Madrid, unsurprisingly, are the two sides leading the race, with the former apparently already opening talks with the French club via club negotiator and Neymar 'confidant' Andre Cury.

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BREAKING: Barcelona star player pushes for transfer as Barca board make secret plot to use him in Neymar talks with PSG

​Ousmane Dembele has asked Barcelona to allow him to leave the club in the January transfer window, Goal understands, and his exit could help facilitate Neymar's shock return.

The 21-year-old has struggled to adapt to life at Barca following his €105 million (£93m/$120m) move from Dortmund in 2017 and has now requested the board sanction a sale when the transfer window reopens in the winter.

As reported by Goal in October, the Liga champions were already looking at offloading Dembele and will be open to offers for the forward in January.

Ernesto Valverde's side are planning to include Dembele in any potential deal for PSG forward Neymar, with the Catalan giants keen to bring back the Brazilian, who wants to push through a return to Camp Nou.

Indeed, preliminary discussions over an offer in the New Year for the 26-year-old that would include Dembele and a substantial cash fee have already taken place.

Premier League clubs are likely to also be interested in the latest developments regarding Dembele's future, with press reports having linked Liverpool with a move for the World Cup winner.

There is, however, no concrete interest from Jurgen Klopp's side at this stage, with Barca having confirmed that there has been no approach from Anfield for the player.

Dembele has seen his attitude called into question in recent weeks, with Spanish newspaper AS having reported that the Frenchman had missed a training session following an all-night video game session with friends.

His professionalism and diet have also been criticised - a source has previously told Goal about the presence of countless fast food cartons at his house, while he apparently threw away a healthy fish dish that had been prepared for him by his chef.

The forward was omitted from Barca’s matchday squad for the recent 4-3 defeat to Real Betis, although both his agent and club officials claimed that was due to illness, rather than a form of punishment.

Injuries haven't helped Dembele's attempts to properly settle into life at Camp Nou, with a serious hamstring problem having hampered his first season at the club.

The France international's team-mates at Barca have offered their support to the 21-year-old in what is now his second season at the club, and he was even on the scoresheet in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.

That has not stopped him seeking an exit, however, and it now seems likely that, barring a turnaround in his and the club's circumstances in the near future, he'll be moved on in January.

Dembele has made seven starts in La Liga this season, his last coming in the 1-1 draw with Athletic at the end of September, and he has often had to play second fiddle to the likes of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho.

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BREAKING: Real Madrid star player pushing for January transfer exit as he informs Sergio Ramos he is fed up

​Real Madrid star Isco is looking to leave the club, says Don Balon.

Manager Santiago Solari wants to instigate major change at the club, and Isco appears to be a victim of those changes as he has been left on the bench for five matches.

The Spanish midfielder is said to have told captain Sergio Ramos that he is looking to leave as he looks to find a club that better values his talents.

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