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Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso reportedly asked the club recently to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, but they’re backing Mike Penders. According to Simon Phillips, the Blues seem prepared to gamble on the goalkeeper position, despite another below-par performance from Robert Sanchez in the win over Fulham on Monday night. Sanchez has long looked highly […] The post Xabi Alonso asked Chelsea to sign PL star for problem position but Blues have someone else in mind… appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was named the Professional Footballers' Associations Men's Player of the Year at the PFA awards. Fernandes, who last season broke the record for the most assists in a single Premier League campaign with 21, is the first United player to win the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010. Although it was another trophy-less campaign for Manchester United, Fernandes enjoyed individual success, surpassing Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry's record of 20 assists in a Premier League campaign.
Chelsea are reportedly considering a late move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as Xabi Alonso looks to strengthen one of the most uncertain positions in his squad. Robert Sanchez started Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Fulham and the Blues eventually secured a 3-2 victory, but his performance again raised questions about whether he should […] The post After Morgan Rogers: Chelsea line up move for another Aston Villa star appeared first on CaughtOffside.
With the FIFA elections approaching, Argentina icons Javier "Pupi" Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, and Javier Pastore offered Gianni Infantino their support in a public letter. Gianni Infantino‘s grip on the FIFA presidency has been severely shaken since the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup amid mounting controversy surrounding a proposed private equity deal. With several European federations rescinding their backing, three prominent Argentine figures, Javier “Pupi” Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, and Javier Pastore, have offered Infantino a high-profile show of support ahead of the upcoming FIFA presidential election. The proposal to establish a subsidiary entity known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to manage media and commercial rights for premier FIFA competitions, while selling an equity stake to private investors, drew immediate pushback from member associations. Numerous governing bodies, led by UEFA members such as England and Ireland, have already withdrawn their support for Infantino while publicly calling for structural leadership reform at FIFA. Facing an increasingly hostile political environment marked by high-level executive departures, including the dismissal of FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, Infantino received some crucial breathing room from prominent alumni. Via their respective Instagram accounts, Zanetti, Cambiasso, and Pastore posted a unified statement endorsing the sitting FIFA president: “Over the last decade, we have witnessed the commitment of FIFA and President Infantino to ensuring player representation in the football world, something that previously did not exist. Current and former players have had a voice and an active role in our sport through their participation in committees, projects, and working groups. Our opinions are heard, and many initiatives that benefit football are taking shape thanks to our contributions, ideas, plans, and active participation.“ Javier Zanetti’s endorsement letter to Gianni Infantino. (@javierzanetti) “We have seen firsthand how football can transform lives, improve societies, and increase opportunities for everyone globally; we are committed to continuing to bring this hope to people. We will continue to support the remarkable evolution that has characterized our sport over the past decade, so that it can continue to reach and benefit people in every country where football is played around the world,” read the statement published by Zanetti. Zanetti, currently serving as vice president of Inter Milan, also holds the position of vice president on the FIFA Social Responsibility Committee for the 2025-29 term, while Cambiasso serves on the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG). Pastore remains the only member of the trio without an official FIFA appointment, operating through his agency, The Elegant Game, which represents high-profile talent such as Enzo Fernandez. Javier Zanetti of FIFA Legends blue team lifts the trophy alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino. (Carl Recine/Getty Images) Legends divided over Infantino’s leadership Zanetti, Cambiasso, and Pastore were prominent figures throughout the 2026 World Cup in North America, featuring regularly in luxury suites as official guests for Argentina games. Their public endorsement of Infantino stands in sharp contrast to another open letter endorsed by an opposing group of legendary players who joined national federations in voicing discontent with FIFA’s current direction. Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre served as a central voice in that pushback, issuing a critical statement regarding FIFA’s executive governance on X on Monday: “For too long we’ve seen major decisions taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport. Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football. Enough is enough,” part of the statement read. Enough is Enough ! pic.twi
Bruno Fernandes was named PFA Players' Player of the Year, and alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, is now one of only two Portuguese players to win the award. Bruno Fernandes has joined Cristiano Ronaldo as the only Portuguese players in history to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, cementing an exclusive club within English soccer’s most prestigious individual honor. Manchester United’s captain was crowned the 2025-26 winner at the PFA’s annual awards ceremony. The award came off the back of a standout campaign in which Fernandes registered a record-breaking 21 assists in the Premier League, to go along with nine goals, as United rebounded to finish third in the table. He became the first United player to win the award since Wayne Rooney did so in 2010. Ronaldo, for his part, won the award in back-to-back seasons during his first spell at Old Trafford, claiming it in 2006-07 before repeating the feat in 2007-08. That consecutive double placed him alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne as the only players to have won the award in successive years. With Fernandes’ triumph, Portugal now has two representatives on an honor roll that dates back to the 1973-74 season, a list voted on exclusively by fellow professionals across the English game. Premier League Player of the Season.Man Utd Player of the Season.FWA Footballer of the Year.PFA Players’ Player of the Year. The 2025-26 season belongs to Bruno Fernandes. pic.twitter.com/8Rx1uuKbMx— Premier League (@premierleague) August 25, 2026 Cristiano Ronaldo’s numbers in his back-to-back PFA-winning seasons In 2006-07, Ronaldo scored 17 goals and added 8 assists in the Premier League, finishing with 23 goals in all competitions as Manchester United won the title. That season also saw him complete a rare individual sweep, adding the PFA Young Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Player of the Year awards alongside the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, an unprecedented trio at the time. He topped that the following year. In 2007-08, Ronaldo scored 31 goals and added 6 assists in the Premier League alone, finishing with 42 goals in all competitions, numbers that earned him the Premier League Golden Boot. United won both the league title and the Champions League that season, and Ronaldo capped it off by winning the Ballon d’Or, cementing his status as the best player in the world during his first spell at Old Trafford.
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