Real Madrid are set to take on Leganes in La Liga action this Saturday night at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and manager Carlo Ancelotti has had plenty to say ahead of the clash. 

The Italian gaffer held court in his pre-match press conference, touching on everything from squad rotations to his upcoming tax fraud trial next week."We've talked about a lot today, haven't we?" Ancelotti said with a grin as he wrapped up the press session. On the legal matter, he kept it brief but confident: "It's an important issue. I have to go and give my statement, yes. This isn't the place to discuss it."Next week's hearing is an appeal from the prosecution because I already won the case. I trust the law, I'm not worried about it."Switching to football, Ancelotti was in his element, covering all bases with his trademark clarity. From La Liga schedules to potential UEFA sanctions for his players in the Champions League, he even found time to respond to Barcelona boss Hansi Flick's recent comments."I agree with Flick's complaints," Ancelotti said. "It's a bit odd to play on this date after the international break. I also agree that Real Madrid are not Barcelona."Flick had earlier taken a swipe at Real Madrid's grumbling over fixture timings, saying: "We're Barca, not Real Madrid, and I'm very proud of that." Ancelotti, unfazed, kept his focus on his own team. "We believe everything has been handled properly, and we hope UEFA make their decision soon. We're confident it'll end well," he added.Speculation about a potential move to manage Brazil popped up again, but Ancelotti shut it down. "Have Brazil contacted me? No," he said firmly. "My contract is clear, and I've nothing more to add. I've got a lot of affection for the Brazilian fans and their players, but I'm under contract with Madrid."When asked if Brazil legend Ronaldo had tried to lure him, he chuckled: "I don't remember speaking to Ronaldo about this."Reflecting on the international break, Ancelotti revealed he'd taken a trip to Italy. "I had a great time visiting my 'great-grandparents', Botticelli and all those lads. It was brilliant, and thankfully, I dodged all this noise," he quipped.The veteran boss also aired his frustration over La Liga's refusal to tweak schedules. "Sometimes there's no justified reason not to change a game," he said. "Take Villarreal, they agreed to shift our match, the TV companies were fine with it, but La Liga said no. If a game can be moved and they don't, we won't play. If there's a real reason it can't change, we'll turn up."Looking at his squad, Ancelotti was upbeat. "The players have come back in good shape. We're hitting the final stretch of the season now, and we've got to step up. Every game could be a decider from here."Despite Barcelona's three point lead in the La Liga table, he refused to write off the title race. "No, La Liga isn't done yet," he insisted. "Barcelona have the edge, but we've got the Clasico coming up, and there are plenty of matches left. We need to give our all, starting tomorrow."Hopefully, we've got 17 games left—that'd mean we're in the fight across all competitions until the end."

Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid ready for Leganes showdown

Manchester United's hopes of landing Sporting Lisbon's prolific striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer have reportedly taken a major hit.

The 27-year-old, who has banged in an astonishing 83 goals in 91 games since joining Sporting from Coventry City for 20 million pounds in 2023, is set to prioritise a move to a club where he can lift silverware, and Old Trafford doesn't fit the bill.Gyokeres has been a long-term target for United, with fans dreaming of a reunion between the Swedish star and their manager Ruben Amorim, who swapped Sporting for United in November 2024.The striker's red-hot form in Portugal has also caught the eye of Europe's elite, but his next step hinges on one key factor: Champions League football. Unless United can clinch the Europa League this season, they're out of the race.Transfer guru Duncan Castles dropped the bombshell on The Transfers Podcast, revealing Gyokeres' stance. "He wants to go to a club where he can prove himself, where he can win trophies," Castles said."His assessment of where Manchester United are at the moment is that it's not the option to take in a summer where he'll be turning 27."Castles added: "He's going to look at the clubs making him offers and pick the one he thinks is the best place to show his time in England's lower divisions and at Brighton wasn't a true reflection of his ability. He believes what he's done in Portugal can be replicated in the Premier League or elsewhere in Europe."The good news for suitors? Gyokeres will be on the move. "He'll be available this summer," Castles confirmed. "Sporting have a gentleman's agreement that he can leave for around 80 million euros, but I'm hearing his agents will push to lower that to 60-70 million euros."United's transfer woes don't end there. They've also set their sights on Sporting's winger Francisco Trincao, but Sporting are digging their heels in. With Gyokeres' exit looming, the Portuguese giants are "determined not to let Trincao go," according to reports.They're braced to lose their star striker and won't budge unless a bid tops his 50 million pound release clause, and even then, they want at least 35 million pounds to offset the 50 percent sell-on clause Barcelona hold from his 6 million pound move in 2023.Amorim, who knows Trincao well from their time together at Sporting, remains a big fan. Reports suggest he's "convinced" the 25-year-old, who had a stint at Wolves in 2021-22, can hit the ground running in the Premier League.But with Sporting holding firm and United facing a 70 million pound price tag to secure him, the Red Devils might need to rethink their summer plans.For United fans, it's a double blow, no Gyokeres, and a tough fight for Trincao. The clock's ticking for Amorim to find his attacking spark elsewhere.

Report: Viktor Gyokeres snubs Man Utd chooses winning trophies instead

Arsenal have received a major boost ahead of their upcoming clash with Real Madrid as Bukayo Saka posted an encouraging update on his fitness. 

The young star shared a picture of himself back in training, flashing a big smile and captioning it "Hello again," signaling that he's on track to make a return to the first team.Saka has been sidelined since December following hamstring surgery, but he's been putting in the work to make it back just in time for the Champions League quarter-finals. Arsenal will take on Real Madrid at the Emirates on April 7, and Saka is aiming to be part of the action, with the return leg in Madrid scheduled for April 15.As reported earlier this month by Mirror Football, Saka has set his sights on making a possible comeback for the Fulham match on April 1, or for the following fixture against Everton on April 5. The goal is to regain full fitness ahead of the Madrid showdown and hopefully be included in the squad.During the international break, Saka has been focused on regaining his fitness while many of his teammates are away with their respective national teams. His determination to return is evident, having missed 12 Premier League games and a total of 20 matches since his injury.However, Arsenal are taking a cautious approach to his comeback, mindful of the potential risks of rushing him back too soon, especially given his hamstring injury. With key players like Gabriel Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli all enduring lengthy absences this season, the club is being careful with Saka's recovery process.Before his injury, Saka was in sensational form, contributing nine goals and 13 assists in just 24 appearances. Despite being out of action for over three months, he still leads Arsenal in combined goals and assists this season, underlining his importance to the team.Manager Mikel Arteta has been measured when discussing Saka's return, but earlier this month he expressed optimism about the player's recovery. "He's making great progress, and there's a strong possibility he'll be back in April," Arteta said before the Chelsea match. "We're hopeful that he'll be back soon, and he's getting closer to full fitness."While Arsenal's hopes of winning the Premier League title have faded with Liverpool now 12 points ahead, the Gunners remain hopeful of making a deep run in the Champions League. Their target is to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2008/09, and Saka's potential return could be key to their chances against Real Madrid.Arsenal's next match in the Premier League comes against Fulham on April 1, with a trip to Everton following just a few days later. They will then prepare for the first leg of their highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid on April 7.

Bukayo Saka's return brings Arsenal hope ahead of crucial Real Madrid tie

Liverpool have reportedly kicked off early talks to bring Bayer Leverkusen's dynamic Netherlands right-back Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield, according to various media reports.

The move comes as the Reds brace for a major shake-up at the back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold heavily tipped to join Real Madrid when his contract runs out at the end of the season.The Merseyside outfit are already planning for life after their homegrown star, who looks set to leave for free in the summer of 2025. While young gun Conor Bradley is in line for a bigger role, with reports suggesting Liverpool are working to extend his deal, the club are not putting all their eggs in one basket.Frimpong, a versatile and attack-minded full-back, has emerged as a prime target to fill the void.Frimpong's contract at Leverkusen includes a release clause worth 34 million pounds, making him a cost-effective option for a player of his calibre. It's no shock that Liverpool aren't alone in the race, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United have all been linked with the 24-year-old in recent months.His price tag and skill set make him a hot commodity across the Premier League.The Dutchman's journey to this point has been impressive. After coming through Manchester City's youth ranks without breaking into the first team, Frimpong moved to Celtic in 2019. There, he caught the eye with his pace and flair, earning a switch to Leverkusen two years later.At Celtic, former boss Neil Lennon didn't hold back in his praise. "He's one of the best kids I've seen," Lennon said during Frimpong's time at Parkhead. "His level of performance is outstanding. He has pace, power, end product, he's been magnificent since he came in the door."Ex-Celtic captain Scott Brown was equally impressed, highlighting Frimpong's relentless energy. "Jeremie is incredible, to be honest," Brown said in 2019. "He runs up and down that line, and his change of direction and speed are so hard to cope with. He's been great since coming in, a lovely lad and down to earth."Frimpong's attacking instincts and versatility echo what Alexander-Arnold has brought to Liverpool over the years, though the England international's defensive work has often been under scrutiny. With Bradley ready to step up and Frimpong available at a reasonable price, the Reds are unlikely to splash out huge sums on a replacement, a smart move given Alexander-Arnold's exit won't bring in a transfer fee.According to reports, Liverpool have held "initial talks" with Frimpong's camp, with sources noting he's "of interest" to manager Arne Slot.Personal terms, it seems, won't be an issue if the deal gathers pace.Alexander-Arnold's expected move to Real Madrid could spark a “domino effect”, pushing Liverpool to ramp up their pursuit of Frimpong.With Slot's side leading the Premier League and eyeing more silverware, the Dutch defender's arrival could keep the Reds firing on all cylinders down the right flank.Watch this space, this transfer chase is just heating up.