Frustratingly inconsistent and more than capable of alienating anyone with his sloppy performances, Marcelo Brozović was a persona non grata among Inter supporters in the first three years of his time in Italy due to his hot-and-cold form and arrogant attitude. His relationship with the Nerazzurri fanbase was at an all-time low when he was…

In Italy, there has always been a large talent pool of goalkeepers. Italian football has rarely experienced a shortage of entertaining shot-stoppers, as most of the Azzurri’s World Cup triumphs have included inspirational goalkeeping performances. The likes of Gianpiero Combi, Dino Zoff, Walter Zenga, Gianluca Pagliuca, Francesco Toldo and Gianluigi Buffon are only a small…

When Mesut Özil was dropped for an away match against Bournemouth, Unai Emery was quoted as saying the match was “too demanding” for the mercurial playmaker. Even back then, many fans figured Özil was just being rested for the all-important home match against bitter rivals Tottenham. However, the German was dropped for that match as…

Paul Pogba and Mesut Özil are often held accountable for the struggles of their teams, and it showcases the difficulties we have evaluating individuals in team sports. I’ve been thinking about the situation of Paul Pogba quite a bit recently. He’s been bearing the brunt of criticism in recent weeks for Manchester United’s mediocre results…

Liège, Lisbon, St. Petersburg, Tianjin, Dortmund. A peculiar journey that invoked scrutiny and raised eyebrows, yet one that quietly shaped the emergence of one of Europe’s finest midfielders today. Now 29 years of age, Liège-born Axel Witsel calls Dortmund, a city that breathes, speaks, and pulsates with the beautiful game, home. The Belgian, amid interest…

The top scorer in the Bundesliga. The 2nd-leading scorer in the Europa League. The youngest ever player to score five goals in a single Bundesliga game. 20-year-old Luka Jović is an integral part of a Eintracht Frankfurt team who haven’t taken their foot off the gas pedal since last season’s unforgettable campaign. Despite losing four…

If you’re a Football Manager addict, a Career Mode junkie, or just some guy who likes to watch baby-faced Spanish midfielders dribble past an entire team, chances are you’ve heard of Óliver Torres. Having joined Atlético Madrid’s academy at age 13, the Extremadureño midfielder progressed through the youth ranks before landing himself a call-up to Diego…

Expectations at Wolverhampton Wanderers are high–the highest they’ve been in 50 years. The Chinese conglomerate Fosun International took over in the summer of 2016, and immediately implemented a 10-year plan to bring silverware and European football back to Molineux, only three years after consecutive relegations saw the club fall from the Premier League to the…

October 13, 2010. A 16-year-old Ross Barkley suffers a double leg break. Doctors say he may never play again. May 12, 2014: After an impressive breakout season with Everton, Barkley earns himself a place in England’s World Cup squad and at the age of just 20 is hailed as the future of England’s midfield, following…