Football Articles | Mail Online

• How 'sharp' Phil Foden 'cleared his mind' for new season at Man City: Welsh funfairs, Formula One, fishing and extra sessions - and why insiders feel Pep Guardiola's exit may be more help than hindrance22 August 2026, 1:07 am
  Manchester City were given a day off on Thursday and Phil Foden headed for Towyn, a small seaside resort between Abergele and Rhyl on the north Wales coast.
  
• RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: Why the Saudis' swift and brutal termination of their LIV golf project coupled with the chaos and talent exodus at St James' Park should terrify Newcastle fans22 August 2026, 1:03 am
  RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: It's not ideal, right? An inexperienced manager, a squad stripped of its best players and Liverpool first up. Newcastle fans can be forgiven some apprehension.
  
• 'It will be difficult, but we must beat the odds... this club is our life': REGIS LE BRIS and GRANIT XHAKA welcome Daily Mail Sport into Sunderland's inner sanctum - and take us inside their plan to take Europe by storm22 August 2026, 1:00 am
  Little about the office tucked into the corner of the Academy of Light gives any clue it belongs to the man leading Sunderland's first European adventure in over half a century.
  
• The real Roberto De Zerbi: Sources reveal how 'ruthless' and 'innovative' Spurs boss operates, the coffee machine anecdote that sums him up, the stories that show his softer side and how he's reuniting Tottenham with the help of club legends22 August 2026, 1:00 am
  It is late in the evening of November 30, 2023, and Roberto De Zerbi is the only man sitting on the Brighton & Hove Albion team coach as it idles in the car park beneath the Agia Sophia Stadium.
  
• Arsenal 3-0 Coventry: Premier League champions show their savage side as Christos Tzolis dazzles on dream debut, writes RIATH AL-SAMARRAI22 August 2026, 12:42 am
  RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT EMIRATES STADIUM: Had the ghost of Micky Quinn been summoned by Coventry City, chances are he would have been dumped on his backside by the champions.
  
• Lionel Messi is FINED by MLS after slapping opponent during fiery on-field exchange21 August 2026, 11:31 pm
  The incident occurred off the ball in the middle of the pitch during the second-half, when Messi got into a tense verbal exchange with Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan.
  
• Man United close in on Carlos Baleba, Liverpool make improved Yankuba Minteh bid and Chelsea REJECT Leeds' Mykhailo Mudryk: WINDOW WATCH21 August 2026, 10:30 pm
  The Premier League returns today - and clubs are counting down the days to get their deals done before the transfer window shuts. All the latest updates are here.
  
• Roberto De Zerbi insists big-spending Tottenham are 'not finished yet' in transfer market and thanks board for 'keeping their word' on huge overhaul that could reach £400m21 August 2026, 10:14 pm
  Roberto De Zerbi confirmed Tottenham's board had been true to the promises made on recruitment as they closed in on a deal for Savinho from Manchester City worth up to £85million.
  
• Arsenal vs Coventry - Premier League RECAP: New boys are given a tough first lesson back in the top flight as Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all strike for champions21 August 2026, 9:47 pm
  Recap the Daily Mail Sport's live coverage for the latest updates of the Premier League 2026-27 season curtain-raiser.
  
• Man United have got value for money this summer while rivals have splashed cash, insists Michael Carrick as they continue pursuit of Brighton's Carlos Baleba21 August 2026, 9:30 pm
  United have paid £50million for Andrey Santos and £35m for Youri Tielemans, and hope to complete their midfield rebuild after offering Brighton £65m for Carlos Baleba.
  
• Arsenal 3-0 Coventry PLAYER RATINGS: Which Gunners star left the opposition defence terrified? Who needs to add goals to their game? And who looks back to their best?21 August 2026, 9:03 pm
  Premier League champions Arsenal kicked off the new season in style, cruising to a 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Coventry at the Emirates.
  
• Usain Bolt signs for star-studded non-League English football team - eight years after his failed attempt to crack professional game21 August 2026, 8:34 pm
  It's been a whirlwind of a transfer window this summer, and there's one signing that has threatened to sneak under the radar. 
  
• Scotland could face non-European teams in expanded Nations League as UEFA ramp up pressure on Gianni Infantino21 August 2026, 8:20 pm
  Scotland could face countries from outside of Europe in an expanded Nations League format as a result of UEFA ramping up the pressure on embattled Gianni Infantino.
  
• Argentina's World Cup stars LET-OFF without serious punishment for Falklands banner against England - as two of their players get banned for total of 17 matches over final fighting21 August 2026, 8:08 pm
  Argentina were condemned for their thuggish antics throughout the tournament, prompting FIFA to investigate their behaviour following the final whistle of last month's showpiece.
  
• Celtic close in on £7m deal for Bosnian World Cup star Ermin Mahmic as Parkhead rebuild continues21 August 2026, 6:42 pm
  Celtic are closing in on Bosnian international midfielder Ermin Mahmic.