Ligue 1 has a habit of producing these footballing gems who seem to fly under the radar for no other reason than the excuse that the competition is “a farmer’s league.” That belittling comment couldn’t be further from the truth, and arguably every team has a player capable of competing in European competition with relative…

The “New Messi” moniker is increasingly a curse, not a blessing; it seems that it is no longer appreciated when diminutive pint-sized playmakers are compared to football’s greatest magician. Seemingly every country has had their “Messi,” Bojan Krkić, Muhamad Demirci, Ryo Miyaichi, Gai Assulin, and Marko Marin have all failed to materialise into the next…

Almoatasembellah Ali Mohamed Musrati, commonly known as Al Musrati, has solidified his status as one of the most decisive midfielders in Portugal. Born in Misrata, Libya, Al Musrati made his debut for Al-Ittihad Tripoli at 17 years of age, where he would impress over the next three years before catching the attention of Romano Sion,…

The full-back position has recently become one of the most important roles in football, with clubs around the world boasting their crown jewel, from Bayern Munich’s electric Alphonso Davies to Liverpool’s golden boy, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Teams are now doing everything in their power to secure the future in these positions and improve where possible, but…

For the past half-decade, Pepe has been a mainstay of the Portuguese national team, having started in each of Portugal’s major tournaments since the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship. Born in Maceió, Alagoas, Pepe moved from his native Brazil at the age of 18, joining Liga NOS side Marítimo in 2001. He would spend the…

Standing in front of the cameras on the Ciutat de València pitch, José Luis Morales looked up to the sky and puffed out his cheeks. His eyes glistened and his voice trembled as he spoke. “We might be a small team, but we have a big heart.” he said, stopping half-way through to wipe away…

It has been a remarkable debut Serie A season so far for Spezia in 2020/21 and the club from the Liguria region in northern Italy looks likely to secure its spot in the Italian top flight for the following campaign. With a squad consisting of youngsters, football journeymen, and unknowns, Aquilotti coach Vincenzo Italiano has…

In January 2020, AS Roma signed Gonzalo Villar from Elche CF, then in the Segunda División in Spain. The Murcia native arrived on a contract through June 2024, with the Giallorossi paying an initial fee of €4 million as well as €1 million in potential performance-based bonuses. Understandably, the deal was completed with minimum fuss and…

At 34 years of age, Jamie Vardy continues to go strong for Leicester City, having scored 12 goals and 7 assists in 25 appearances for the Foxes, who currently sit third in the Premier League table. Whilst Leicester continue to reap the results from their legendary talisman who seemingly doesn’t know how to slow down,…

Following what was a bright end to a largely dull campaign, Arsenal fans were hopeful of an exciting season under rookie manager Mikel Arteta. The triumphant victory of the FA Cup instilled fans with belief that the Spaniard can guide them back to where they belong – playing Champions League football.    But it quickly…