Chelsea's Reece James has surgery for knee issue

Chelsea have announced captain Reece James has undergone successful surgery on a knee injury.

The defender, 26, was injured in training before Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend, and the decision was taken for him to have surgery.

James is now undergoing rehabilitation with Chelsea’s medical staff, with no time-frame given for his return.

Chelsea next travel to Everton in the Premier League before hosting London rivals Tottenham and Manchester United in a difficult run of fixtures. A trip to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup is sandwiched between those two home matches.

James has suffered multiple injuries over the past few seasons, causing him to miss several international tournaments with England since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

His injury record improved significantly last season, allowing him to play a prominent role in England’s World Cup campaign, during which they reached the semi-finals before winning the bronze medal match.

James was among the players to withdraw from England duty during the most recent international break. The next international break begins at the start of November, when England are scheduled to face Croatia at Wembley Stadium.

Real Madrid demand Tebas resign over Goebbels comparison

Real Madrid have called for the “immediate resignation” of La Liga president Javier Tebas after he drew comparisons between the club’s management and Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.

Tebas said Real Madrid’s communication and the use of its in-house TV channel “recalls propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels”.

Real Madrid have called the statement “deeply offensive” and “morally repugnant”.

The club have also demanded Tebas steps down as both the head of the Spanish top flight and vice-president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF).

“Real Madrid considers it absolutely intolerable and extraordinarily serious that someone holding two positions of utmost responsibility in Spanish football resorts to a comparison with the propaganda methods of the Nazi regime to discredit our club, its management and its television,” the club said.

In a lengthy post published on X on Friday, Tebas said: “Real Madrid’s management directs an orchestra of mouthpieces and Real Madrid TV leads the singing.

“Their score is always the same: select the plays that suit them, repeat the grievance, feed the suspicion, and point fingers at the enemies.

“That method recalls propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s minister of propaganda: systematic repetition, construction of an enemy, and subordination of facts to the narrative.”

Tebas later said he was drawing comparison with “those propaganda techniques” and “not with an ideology”.

Real Madrid rejected this clarification, saying it did not mitigate the “institutionally unworthy nature of his statements”.

The club added: “These statements constitute yet another episode in the repeated attacks by Javier Tebas against Real Madrid, its president and its media outlets.”

Last month, Tebas criticised Real Madrid for claiming there was a refereeing conspiracy against the club.

He also has been critical of Real and its president Florentino Perez in previous years after disagreeing with their plans to join a European Super League in 2021.

In 2025 he said Real had “lost their head” after the club sent a formal letter of complaint to the Spanish FA about officiating in the league.

Getafe make offer to sign free agent Sancho

Jadon Sancho scored his only goal during his loan spell at Aston Villa against Fenerbahce in the Europa League last season.

Getafe have made a formal offer to sign former Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho.

The 26-year-old winger is out of contract after his deal expired in the summer and has been exploring a number of options.

An agreement is said to be complicated but Spanish side Getafe, who are 14th in La Liga and playing in the Europa Conference League this season, are keen to find a resolution.

Sancho, who cost United £73m when he joined from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, is said to favour a move away from England but remains open to all options.

Earlier this week ex-Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, who had been without a club since his deal at the Bernabeu expired in June, joined Getafe on a free transfer.

The 34-year-old Spain right-back, who won 27 trophies with Madrid, including six Champions League titles, has signed a contract until June 2027.

Sancho spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, making 39 appearances as Unai Emery’s team achieved Champions League qualification and Europa League success, coming on as a late substitute in the victory over Freiburg, his third European final in three seasons.

He also had loan spells with Dortmund and Chelsea during his five years at United.

His move to Stamford Bridge in the 2024-25 campaign included an obligation to buy. However, Chelsea paid a £5m penalty to send Sancho back to Old Trafford after he made 41 appearances.

Sancho has been posting training videos to his Instagram account while he continues his search for a new team, including his visit to non-league side Flixton, who had to clarify that the former England international was not on trial with the North West Counties club.

Martinez apologises for outburst and fined by Man Utd

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has issued an apology following his controversial remarks criticising the club’s hierarchy.

After United’s Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, Martinez said the club had left head coach Michael Carrick with an under-equipped squad.

Following talks with United on Thursday, the Argentina centre-back released a statement.

“Today I met with the club’s leadership and the manager,” Martinez said in a social media post.

“It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday’s game.

“Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity.

“The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.”

It is understood Martinez has been formally punished for his outburst with a fine.

Carrick will hold a news conference on Friday, prior to the game against Leeds United on Sunday.

He takes his side to Elland Road on the back of just two wins from nine games this season, placed 13th in the Premier League with six points from as many games.

Following the loss to Atletico, Martinez said he expected more investment in the Manchester United squad and “more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]”.

The 28-year-old later said he “spoke out of anger and frustration” in making those comments and that he had “belief in my team-mates, our manager and everyone working to help this club move forward”.

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, speaking on The Overlap podcast, described the situation at his former club as “a bit of a circus”.

Martinez’s statement on Thursday added: “Our club is at its best when we are all united, and I recognise that my words in that moment did not help with that.

“I know that every single person at Manchester United is doing everything possible to achieve our shared ambition: bringing the success that this club and its supporters deserve.

“With this situation now behind us, we are fully focused on winning together.”

It remains to be seen whether Carrick selects Martinez for the trip to Leeds.

Nevertheless, there is understood to be significant doubt over his long-term future at Old Trafford.

His current deal expires at the end of the season but the club have the option of extending it by 12 months.

While the issue over his recent comments is now considered closed, the club are still to decide whether they want to trigger the contract option.

Red card, suspension and a conspiracy - what's up with Vini Jr?

A bizarre online rumour, a red card and a four-match suspension have put Vinicius Jr back into the spotlight at a crucial point in Real Madrid’s season.

First, over the summer, came the uncertainty over his future at Real Madrid, with contract talks stalling for more than 18 months and Arsenal reportedly among the clubs interested in the Brazilian.

Those negotiations eventually reached a resolution, with Vinicius securing an improved deal, but the headlines have continued.

Then came bizarre conspiracy theories claiming he had been replaced by a body double, following cosmetic surgery he had done after the World Cup.

Now, following his dismissal against Villarreal at the weekend, a four-match suspension means he is ruled out of El Clasico against Barcelona a week on Sunday.

But beyond the social media frenzy and disciplinary controversy, bigger questions are emerging about Vinicius’ form, his on-pitch behaviour and his relationship with the Real Madrid supporters.

A key moment was when Jose Mourinho opted to start the Brazilian on the bench for the match against Villarreal, their first since the international break.

It was the first time since last April that Vinicius had not started a match for the club, with Mourinho handing Yan Diomande a place in the starting XI instead.

“What makes me sad is the fact he really wants to be at his absolute best,” Mourinho said beforehand. “He wants to be the Vini who wins games, scores goals and makes the difference. Seeing the pain he feels himself makes me sad. He is an extraordinary guy who works very hard to get back to his absolute best. He deserves better treatment, as he has made Madrid very happy on many occasions.”

Vinicius has been continually booed and whistled by some Real Madrid supporters this season, along with other players.

After entering the game in the 52nd minute he looked to have made an immediate impact, scoring what Real believed to be their second goal after a Jude Bellingham assist.

Vinicius raced towards the supporters, kissing the badge before being engulfed by his team-mates, who piled on top of him in celebration.

Even Mourinho sprinted across the pitch to join the celebrations, which felt like a public display of his faith in the Brazilian.

A VAR review changed everything.

The referee was sent to the monitor, which showed Vinicius pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair while the ball was in play and neither player was challenging for it.

The referee overturned the goal and instead showed Vinicius a straight red card.

The Brazilian’s reaction to the decision then became a further disciplinary issue, with team-mates having to intervene as he continued to protest.

Mourinho refused to speak to press afterwards. News travelled around the media room that Mourinho felt if he did speak, he would say something that would get him suspended.

Two hours before Real faced Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday, the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee handed Vinicius a four-match suspension.

Two matches were imposed for the hair-pulling incident, with a further two for his protests following the dismissal.

The punishment rules him out of league fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia. Most significantly, it means he will miss El Clasico, unless an appeal changes the outcome.

Mourinho expressed his frustration at the timing of the announcement, questioning why it came just two hours before their Champions League match.

“Do you think it’s normal for a player who is going to play an important match for Spanish football to know two hours before that he is sanctioned with four games? You don’t need to answer me,” Mourinho said. “It’s not normal. Couldn’t they do it now or tomorrow morning? We found out on the bus and almost arrived at the stadium.”

The Portuguese coach described the decision as showing “little respect” for the club and suggested the timing was intentional, particularly with Madrid facing a demanding schedule in the coming days.

Following Real Madrid’s 4-3 victory over Roma, Vinicius also addressed the incident, having apologised to his team and fans on social media.

“I don’t remember any player ever getting a four-game suspension,” Vinicius said. “I tried to get past the player in front of me and ended up grabbing his hair. That’s it – a red card. That’s why I was so surprised, but I didn’t say a single bad word to the referee to deserve a four-game suspension.”

The forward also acknowledged his frustration at being substituted in the 59th minute against Roma when Real Madrid were trailing 3-1. They then scored three late goals to stage a remarkable comeback win.

“It’s normal for me to get upset after being substituted because I always want to play every match,” he said. “I’m aware of my form and how I’m playing. I’m here to help the team, and sometimes I need to come off so other players can play and change the dynamics.”

The Brazilian has gone six appearances for Real Madrid without scoring, with his last goal coming in August against Real Sociedad.

The 26-year-old has also become the subject of bizarre conspiracy theories on social media after undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure on his chin in July. Because of the visible differences, rumours on social media suggested Vinicius had been replaced by a body double.

Meanwhile, Vinícius’s personal life has also made headlines in Brazil, with his reported split from Brazilian-American television personality Virginia Fonseca dominating coverage over the weekend.

The internet may continue searching for extraordinary explanations on why Vinicius has experienced a dip in form, but Real Madrid need to find answers on the pitch.

The win against Roma, especially coming from two goals down, was described by Vinicius as a “huge boost for the team”.

He assured fans that he will be back to his best form as soon as possible.

“I know I’m not at my best right now, but I’ve had worse moments, and even when people doubted me, I’ve always stood up for this club,” he said. “That’s why I renewed for six more years. The good streak will return, and the goals will come back. I’m sure of that. I have no doubt. I’m here to help the team.”