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Manuel Neuer’s illness and Serge Gnabry’s fresh fitness concerns have unsettled Vincent Kompany’s preparations for Bayern Munich's upcoming matches against Freiburg and Arsenal. With squad fatigue and strategic decisions piling up, Bayern face fitness concerns ahead of the Bundesliga and Champions League clashes.

Neuer and Gnabry add to Bayern’s worries as Kompany reassures

Bayern’s stupendous league form faces its first real moment of strain as Kompany confirmed that both Neuer and Gnabry are doubts heading into the Freiburg match and, more critically, the Champions League showdown with Arsenal. Neuer has been struggling with a gastrointestinal infection and missed consecutive training sessions, leaving Bayern unsure whether their veteran captain will recover in time. But the uncertainty around his condition comes at the worst possible moment for a side preparing for one of their biggest European nights.

Gnabry’s status is even more worrying. After picking up a knock during Germany duty, he has not responded well to early treatment and has already been ruled unlikely for Freiburg, and possibly Arsenal as well. Kompany admitted the winger “isn’t looking so good” and stressed that the medical team would determine the next steps.

"We'll have to see about Manuel; he had a bit of a cold," Kompany told reporters. "Serge Gnabry's situation isn't looking so good. He's had some problems since returning from international duty. The medical department will have to provide details."

AdvertisementAFPDiaz suspension clouds Bayern’s plans before Arsenal clash

If injuries were not enough, Bayern must also navigate the fallout from Luis Díaz’s suspension, a consequence of his reckless challenge on Achraf Hakimi during the Champions League match against PSG. The tackle, first shown as a yellow but upgraded to a straight red via VAR, left Hakimi with a severe syndesmosis injury and ligament damage that will sideline him for weeks. Diaz expressed remorse publicly, but UEFA’s disciplinary panel is now reviewing the case, and Bayern privately expect the ban to extend beyond the minimum.

The rules allow for a three-match suspension, but both Kompany and sporting director Christoph Freund doubt he will be handed such a severe punishment. 

“My information is one match. I don't know when it will be communicated, but I would be disappointed if my information is not correct," Kompany said.

"For Diaz, load management is definitely out of the question. He has to give it his all tomorrow and help us. Then it's up to the others on Wednesday against Arsenal. The Arsenal game doesn't really have much of an impact on Freiburg anyway. The lads are coming into the Freiburg game with a lot of energy. We want to win the game and aren't thinking about Arsenal yet," Kompany reveals.

Kompany glad to have Kimmich back

Several players have returned fatigued from international duty, something Kompany acknowledged but refused to use as an excuse. With Hiroki Ito only just back from a long injury spell, Alphonso Davies still being eased in, and the schedule crammed, Bayern’s depth will be tested more than at any point this season. Kompany praised Freiburg’s consistency and warned that even with Arsenal in sight, his team “cannot afford to look beyond the next match.”

"Joshua Kimmich will definitely be available, and Hiroki Ito is also returning. Alphonso Davies is also making progress; he's probably already the fastest player in the squad again. If he could play one or two more games this year, that would be a great success. However, we need to be patient with him," said Kompany.

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AFPBayern brace for Arsenal test

Ahead of the crucial matches, Kompany has emphasised tunnel-vision focus, win the league match, stabilise rhythm, and adjust the plan for Arsenal depending on Neuer, Gnabry and Diaz’s final availability. The Belgian made it clear that Bayern’s strength lies in preparation and adaptability, not excuses. His message to the squad has been consistent control what you can, manage what you must, and keep the standards of a team built to compete on every front.

Manchester United are now planning to push for an “amazing” midfielder, who has been identified as their top target in the middle of the park, and a £52m offer is in the works.

Man United made it three Premier League wins on the spin for the first time under Ruben Amorim at the weekend, defeating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2, which means Frank Ilett, also known as ‘The United Strand’ is just two wins away from finally getting a haircut.

The United supporter has already gone over a year without getting a trim, having vowed not to do so until Amorim’s side win five games on the bounce, and only Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur stand in their way after the victory over the Seagulls.

Things are finally looking up for the Red Devils, who have overtaken Liverpool and moved up to sixth in the Premier League table, and Gary Neville has revealed the players have fully bought into Amorim, who has finally staved off some speculation about his future.

Neville said: “The players really like him, they like him a lot … The players really like him and want to do well for him, and I think that’s come through in the last week or so.”

That said, Amorim is still keen to make improvements to his squad, with it well-known the manager wants to bring in a new central midfielder, and Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher has emerged as a target, with the United boss approving the move last week.

There has now been a new update on Man United’s pursuit of Gallagher, with a report from Spain revealing the former Chelsea man is their top target in midfield, and they are considering submitting an offer of around €60m (£52m) for his services.

Casemiro replacement: Man Utd prepare to make offer for £60m "duel monster"

Manchester United are preparing to make a move to sign a star who could replace Casemiro in midfield.

ByDan Emery Oct 27, 2025

The Red Devils are planning to push for the midfielder’s signature, and could make a move in the January transfer window, although it is unclear whether Atletico would be willing to sanction a departure.

"Amazing" Gallagher could be solid option for Amorim

Once lauded for his “amazing character” by Frank Lampard, the Englishman is well-known for his stamina, with Nathan Dyer saying: “His work rate is insane. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen. He just doesn’t stop.”

However, not only does the 25-year-old have a good attitude and work hard, but he is also very skilled at winning possession, placing in the 97th percentile for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to other midfielders.

The 22-time England international isn’t prolific in front of goal, but he is certainly capable of contributing on the front foot, chipping in with 18 goals and 13 assists in 136 Premier League appearances, while also scoring once at international level.

Gallagher arguably wouldn’t be the flashiest of signings, but he could be a solid option for Amorim in midfield, given his ability at both ends of the pitch.

Angels owner Arte Moreno is reportedly eyeing franchise legend Albert Pujols as the team's next manager, according to a report from Sam Blum, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of

Pujols, who played 10 of his 22 years in Los Angeles, remains on the team's payroll on a 10-year, $10 million personal services contract that was inked as part of the $240 million deal that he signed with the Angels before the 2012 season.

Pujols has assisted the team in Spring Training over the last few seasons and has also worked in the Dominican Republic for the organization's prospect academy.

Pujols told reporters last March that he would be interested in managing at some point.

"Yeah, I think. Why not? I think if the opportunity is right one day, I think I'll be ready for that," Pujols said.

Perhaps the time is now for Pujols to take over the reigns from Ron Washington, who was let go earlier this week.

The India head coach said a decision on Rodrigues’ inclusion in the XI against New Zealand will be taken on match day

Sruthi Ravindranath22-Oct-20254:19

Preview: ‘Wounded’ India favourites against New Zealand?

India head coach Amol Muzumdar has said leaving Jemimah Rodrigues out of the World Cup clash against England on Sunday was “one of the toughest decisions” the team has had to make, and one dictated purely by combination and conditions.”To be fair, Jemi [Rodrigues] has been a very important player, an integral part of this side we have built,” Muzumdar said. “Sometimes you just have to take those tough calls. That game, particularly against England, required the sixth bowling option, given the ground of Indore and the [high-scoring] conditions over there, we thought six bowling options would be a better call on that particular day and for that particular match.”Rodrigues, who has managed just 65 runs from four innings this tournament, including two ducks, made way for seamer Renuka Singh in the weekend.”It was a tough call, there is no doubt about it,” Muzumdar said. “One of the toughest decisions, but sometimes tough calls do need to be taken. She took it really nicely and very sportingly.”Related

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Ahead of India’s crucial clash against New Zealand, Rodrigues had an extended net session, closely working on her drives, though Muzumdar said the decision to bring her back into the XI will be taken only on match day.India have now lost three consecutive matches, to South Africa, Australia, and England, all after getting into promising positions. Muzumdar conceded that the pressure of playing a home World Cup is being felt, but backed the squad, including young pacer Kranti Gaud, who’s gone for runs in her second spell in all three games, to bounce back.”I think a home World Cup, of course, there has to be some kind of pressure. But this side, this particular side is well-equipped to handle that. We’ve built a side around it and I think all the players are well-equipped to handle pressure.5:13

‘Fans need to temper expectations with India’

“[Gaud] had not much of experience in international cricket, but that’s the stage we are in. She’s been the spearhead of the fast bowlers in the team. And we’ve had several discussions, we’ve not left any stone unturned with regards to discussion and taking the load off her.”While six Indian batters have crossed fifty in the tournament so far, none has reached three-figures, something Muzumdar said the team is actively trying to address. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur had laid the platform in the England game with a 125-run stand but were dismissed for 88 and 70 respectively.”We are well aware that a three-figure mark hasn’t come this World Cup. But if you look at the past year-and-a-half, the 18 months that have passed before the World Cup, we’ve had definitely a lot of hundreds that we’ve seen than ever before. I don’t think there is a lot of load on anyone. But we’ve had honest discussions about it. And the players also have been honest that, ‘Yes, instead of a fifty, we could have converted that into a hundred’. They are aware of it. And I’m hopeful that it will come in the next couple of games.”Muzumdar also said there was no burden on either Harmanpreet as captain or on Richa Ghosh to finish games single-handedly.”As a batting group, we’ve discussed we need to get into a certain stage where we can have that, that kind of a liberty for Richa to go out there and play her shots.”

A proud part of Arsenal’s DNA has long been their development and promotion of young academy talents.

This has been especially true over the last few years, with the emergence of players like Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and, of course, Bukayo Saka.

The latest player who seems ready to make the leap from the youth sides to regular senior football is Max Dowman.

However, the talented 15-year-old certainly won’t be the last, and there is already one youngster making waves in the academy who could soon find himself in the first team.

Dowman's rapid rise to stardom at Arsenal

Even before this season, Arsenal fans have been at least somewhat aware of Dowman.

After all, respected talent scout Jacek Kulig boldly proclaimed him as the “most exciting prospect” he had seen “since Lamine Yamal.”

That might sound absurd, but over the course of last season, the youngster ended up scoring 19 times and providing five assists in just 23 appearances, totalling 1945 minutes, for the youth sides.

Appearances

23

Minutes

1945′

Goals

19

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

81.04′

That comes out to a sensational average of 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes, made all the more astonishing by the fact he was playing for the u18s and even the u21s.

With performances like that in age groups well above his own, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see the Chelmsford-born dynamo included in the first team’s pre-season tour.

The 15-year-old made his debut against Newcastle United, and in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson, spent his short cameo “humiliating Premier League players.”

His competitive debut came at home to Leeds United in the Premier League, and then he became the youngest player to ever start a game for the club against Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup.

The superstar in the making then broke another record in the Champions League a week later, and was described as “a miracle player” by Slavia Prague defender David Zima.

In all, it certainly seems like Dowman is destined to reach the top of the game with Arsenal, although he might be joined by another academy gem this season.

Hale End's next superstar

It’s been a good season for Hale End this year, as on top of Dowman, Andre Harriman-Annous has also been given his full competitive debut by Mikel Arteta.

It could get even better, though, as there is another youngster in the system, who, like the record-breaker, could find himself becoming more involved with the senior side as the campaign goes on: Ife Ibrahim.

The 17-year-old has been with the club since May 2016, and while he started out as a striker, he has since moved back down the pitch, into defensive midfield.

However, he’s not limited to just one position, as the highly rated youngster has also played at right-back, in central midfield, and even as a centre-back.

It’s no surprise that he has been used in the defence before, as even though he’s still so young, the versatile prospect is huge and towers above some of the first team in pictures taken of the time he trained with them. It is no wonder that analyst Harvey Diamonds said that he has a “languid frame like [Patrick] Vieira and [Abou] Diaby.”

Don’t let his size and physicality fool you, though; the Hale Ender is no slouch on the ball.

In fact, academy expert Will Balsam described him as someone who makes everything look so “effortless.” Moreover, this and his height mean “he eats up space, recovers the ball, and glides past players with ease.”

He has also made an impression on U23 scout Antonio Mango, who has described him as “composed, technically talented in possession and calculated out of possession.”

Overall, while he plays in a totally different position to Dowman, Ibrahim sounds like the sort of Hale End product who could come in and have a serious impact on the first team soon enough.

Zubimendi upgrade: Arsenal chasing "the best CM in the world" for £114m

The incredible international could already be a significant upgrade on Zubimendi for Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 11, 2025

Southern Brave 103 for 2 (Wyatt-Hodge 43, Wolvaardt 33*) beat Northern Superchargers 102 (Armitage 36, Devine 3-15)A tight bowling performance led by Sophie Devine followed by a comfortable run chase with Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Laura Wolvaardt at the helm saw Southern Brave easily defeat North Superchargers by eight wickets at Southampton and make it three wins from three in The Hundred women’s competition.Electing to bat first, Superchargers started in a subdued fashion, scoring just four from the first 10 balls and losing Alice Davidson-Richards (2) and Phoebe Litchfield (5) on the way to posting 19-2 in the 25-ball powerplay.Davina Perrin (13) was run out by Tilly Corteen-Coleman going for an incredibly risky second as the visitors continued to labour against tight Brave bowling, reaching 43-3 at halfway.Mady Villiers took the big wicket of Annabel Sutherland (20), the Aussie well caught by Maia Bouchier at long-on, before Georgia Adams removed Superchargers wicketkeeper Bess Heath (3), brilliantly caught running backwards by her opposite number Rhianna Southby.Skipper Hollie Armitage (36 not out) stuck in and was joined by Lucy Higham (13) at 74 for 7, the pair rallying late in the innings, sharing a partnership of 27 before Higham was dismissed by Devine (3-15) as the Kiwi took two-in-two in the final set to see Supercharges 102 all out.In the chase, Grace Ballinger conceded just a wide from the opening set as Maia Bouchier started cautiously.A single by Wyatt-Hodge off Kate Cross to take the score to 5-0 saw the experienced right-hander become the second player to pass 1,000 runs in The Hundred after Nat Sciver-Brunt reached the milestone last week.Bouchier (5) was caught at mid-off off Cross, but Wyatt-Hodge put her foot on the gas, hitting Linsey Smith’s left-arm spin for three consecutive boundaries, combining with Wolvaardt to bring up the Brave’s 50.Wyatt-Hodge was stumped off Katherine Fraser for 43 with 20 runs still required, but Wolvaardt (33 not out) and Devine (15 not out) saw the Brave home with 17 balls to spare.Meerkat Match Hero Devine said: “The support we’ve had down here these last two games has been exceptional, so nice to have a couple of wins here and we’ve got a bit of travel to do now.”We were a little bit in two minds as well with the overhead conditions and a used wicket, the great thing about this competition is the wins at home and being able to play to your home conditions and I think we did that exceptionally well today.”Credit to everyone, I think we adapted really well with the ball and the way Danni and Wolvy went out there with the bat, they made it look like a different wicket.”

Mikel Arteta has got a lot right in the almost six years he has spent in the Arsenal dugout.

He has generally got rid of the right players at the right time, he’s changed the culture for the better and reconnected the club with the fans.

However, he has also overseen his fair share of dud signings, with Raheem Sterling’s loan move last season perhaps being the worst.

Arsenal have made more good signings than bad over the last six years, but it looks like new Sporting Director Andrea Berta may have already made his own Sterling-type addition to Arteta’s side.

Sterling's forgettable Arsenal spell

To describe Arsenal’s transfer dealings in the summer of 2024 as disappointing would be an understatement.

Yes, the club did sign two excellent players in Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori, but they also failed to sign the lights-out attacking star the team were so clearly crying out for.

It might have been this lack of forward signings that led the club to go out at the last minute and bring in Sterling on a season-long loan.

During his announcement, the Chelsea loanee told the Emirates faithful they would “see the best” of him, but that was as far from what actually happened as possible.

The former England international certainly tried to make a mark in North London, but he looked miles off the pace and was limited to minor appearances throughout the campaign.

Sterling’s Arsenal record

Competition

EPL

UCL

FA Cup

EFL Cup

Appearances

17

6

1

4

Minutes

496′

297′

80′

270′

Goals

0

0

0

1

Assists

2

2

0

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

0.33

0.00

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

248′

148.5′

N/A

135′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In fact, the multiple league winner played just 1134 minutes for the Gunners across 28 appearances, of which only 13 were starts.

The Kingston-born Premier League legend left N5 with a single goal and five assists to his name, and unfortunately, a total, undeniable flop.

Now it looks like Arsenal might have another Sterling situation on their hands with a Berta signing.

Arsenal's new Sterling

Unlike last year, it would be hard to call Arsenal’s summer anything other than a roaring success.

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Berta and Co signed the likes of Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie and Viktor Gyokeres.

However, unfortunately, there is one summer addition who could potentially fall into the Sterling category: Christian Nørgaard.

Now, before the pitchforks come out, nobody is saying that the Danish international will be as big a problem for the club as the Englishman was, in terms of wages and blocking a loan slot.

Nor is he likely to be as noticeably off the pace compared to the rest of the team as the Chelsea man was.

However, what is also undeniably true is that at the moment, it’s hard to see where he is going to get any game time at all.

The 31-year-old joined the club in July, and at the time of writing, has made just seven first-team appearances, totalling 302 minutes, of which three have been starts.

Worse still, he has played just 14 minutes of Premier League football this year, with 13 minutes of those coming against Burnley.

It’s a bizarre situation, as the 39-capped international captain of Brentford last season and ended the campaign having made 34 league appearances for them, totalling 2830 minutes.

Now, nobody expected the veteran midfielder to be even a semi-regular starter for the Gunners, but it seems like Arteta has no trust in him whatsoever, refusing to bring him on when Declan Rice came off against his old side.

There may be light at the end of the tunnel in the shape of the FA Cup for the summer signing, but even then, it feels like the manager will turn to someone else.

Ultimately, Nørgaard didn’t cost much, is a consummate professional, isn’t a media focus, and, in that way, isn’t really a problem for Arsenal.

However, it does feel like Arteta doesn’t really fancy him, and, like Sterling last season, his stint in North London will be short-lived.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes 7 days ago

كشف إريك جارسيا، مدافع نادي برشلونة، عن مركزه المفضل على أرضية الملعب، معلقًا في الوقت ذاته على نتائج ريال مدريد السيئة خلال الفترة من هذا الموسم.

وتراجعت نتائج ريال مدريد بشكل واضح خلال الفترة الأخيرة من هذا الموسم، عقب تولي تشابي ألونسو تدريب الفريق الملكي هذا العام.

ريال مدريد واصل الغرق وتعرض لهزيمة قاسية ضد مانشستر سيتي بهدفين مقابل هدف على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو يوم أمس الأربعاء، وذلك في إطار منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتوصل برشلونة في المقابل إلى اتفاق مع إريك جارسيا يقضي بتجديد عقد اللاعب الدولي الإسباني مع البلوجرانا حتى نهاية موسم 2031.

وتحدث جارسيا خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بتجديد عقده، والذي نقلته صحيفة “سبورت”: “وصلت إلى هنا وأنا صغير السن وجميعنا نعرف كيف تسير الأمور، ينتقل المرء من كونه الأفضل إلى الأسوأ”.

وأضاف: ”وصلت في وقت عصيب للنادي، حافظت على هدوئي وعرفتُ نقاط قوتي، ولا أعتقد أنني الأفضل الآن، فالأمر يتعلق بالاستمرارية، عليك أن تبقى هادئًا عندما تسوء الأمور، وأن تركًز على عملك دون ضجة”.

وعن معاناة برشلونة عقب الخسارة ضد ريال مدريد في الكلاسيكو: “بعد الكلاسيكو أو مباراة تشيلسي، بدا الأمر وكأننا أضعنا الموسم لكن هذا لا يعني شيئًا، في كرة القدم، هناك أوقات جيدة وأوقات سيئة، كانت بدايتنا صعبة بسبب كثرة الإصابات ولن أكون سعيدًا أبدًا عندما تسوء الأمور لمنافس”.

وعن مركزه المفضل في الملعب: ”المركز الوحيد الذي لم ألعب فيه هو المهاجم، لطالما كنت مدافعًا مركزيًا لكنني أشعر براحة كبيرة في مركز الظهير، هذا العام ألعب كارتكاز دفاعي وأتأقلم، أحاول تقديم أفضل ما لدي كلما طلب مني المدرب ذلك”.

وأردف جارسيا: ”منذ صغري، كنت أشاهد مباريات برشلونة مع جدي؛ ذهبت إلى الملعب مرات عديدة، عشت حقبة جوارديولا”.

وتابع: ”في أحلامك، تتمنى الوصول إلى هناك وتحقيق نفس الإنجازات، نحن فريق شاب جدًا، لكننا ندرك تمامًا معنى اللعب لبرشلونة، لدينا مستقبل باهر، عندما نلعب في دوري أبطال أوروبا، نواجه خصومًا ذوي خبرة كبيرة، وهو ما ربما افتقدته، لكنني أتوقع مستقبلًا رائعًا للفريق.”

اقرأ أيضًا.. بيكيه يدعم لاعب برشلونة ويؤكد: يجب الاهتمام بالصحة النفسية

واستكمل: ”لم أشك قط في الرحيل وإنما كنت أرغب في التوصل إلى اتفاق للبقاء هنا، كان الموسم الماضي بمثابة تغيير كبير بالنسبة لي، وأنا سعيد للغاية بما أعيشه هذا الموسم”.

وقال: ”لطالما آمنت بقدرتي على اللعب لبرشلونة والآن أستمتع بكوني لاعبًا أساسيًا، ولكن إذا جاء يوم أتوقف فيه عن اللعب، فسأظل أفكر في الأمر؛ لدي ثقة كبيرة بنفسي”.

كما كشف جارسيا عن دور مدرب برشلونة، هانز فليك في مسيرته: ”عندما تكون هناك حاجة ماسة، يسألني فليك إن كنت أستطيع اللعب في ذلك المركز، في جيرونا، بدأت اللعب كظهير، لدي خيارات أكثر للعب، وإمكانيات أكثر وهذا أمر بالغ الأهمية في الفريق”.

وواصل: ”يقول لي فليك أن أكون على طبيعتي، إنه ودود للغاية ويهتم كثيرًا باللاعبين، يمنحك الكثير من الثقة وحرية اللعب وهذا مهم للجميع”.

وعن أراوخو: ”نفتقده، ليس فقط كلاعب، بل كشخص، إنه محبوب جدًا، ننتظره بفارغ الصبر، فيما يتعلق بالصحة، لكل منا مسؤولياته، نأمل أن يتحلى بالصبر ويعود إلينا، إنه لاعب مهم جدًا بالنسبة لنا، ونفتقده بشدة.

واختتم: “كانت جيرونا تجربة مهمة جدًا بالنسبة لي، ويعود الفضل في ذلك إلى حد كبير للثقة التي منحني إياها ميشيل، في العام الماضي، كانت هناك احتمالات للرحيل، لكن يوم مباراة بنفيكا غير كل شيء، وأوضح فليك رغبته في بقائي ضمن الفريق، لقد كانت محادثة مهمة غيرت مسار الموسم”.

Patrice Evra has revealed the astonishing extent of his painkiller dependency during his playing days, admitting he took up to 38 pills every single day at the peak of his career. The Manchester United legend opened up about years of masking pain, rarely feeling fully fit, and now wants to warn the next generation after investing in an all-natural alternative.

Evra reveals painkiller issues as he promotes all-natural supplements

Evra has lifted the lid on the extraordinary level of pain management he endured during his professional career, detailing a regime that at one stage involved taking 38 pills per day. The former Manchester United and France left-back admitted that the constant physical strain of elite football left him relying heavily on painkillers to get through matches, even though he felt truly 100 per cent fit only a handful of times. His revelation came as he announced his new role as an investor and ambassador for KURK, a natural anti-inflammatory supplement he believes could help younger players avoid the same cycle.  

Evra explained that the wear and tear of nearly two decades at the top level left him feeling he had little choice but to keep playing through injury. He described painkillers as a routine part of the job, something he turned to even when struggling physically, because the demands of elite football did not allow him time to rest properly. His move into promoting natural pain management methods reflects his desire to advocate for healthier long-term solutions after seeing the negative effects of medication overuse within the sport. 

The 44-year-old retired defender now views his post-football health as a priority and hopes his admission will highlight an issue affecting many professionals. His comments follow growing concern within the game after several players have spoken publicly about painkiller addiction, dependency and long-term side effects. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportManchester Untied legend reveals he took 38 pills per day during career

“I was taking 38 pills per day,” Evra shared as he announced his personal investment in KURK, as well as his endorsement as a brand ambassador. “I maybe played more than 700 professional games, and when people ask, ‘How many games did you play where you felt 100 per cent fit?’ I would probably say maybe five. Throughout my career, I was constantly reaching for painkillers – it was part of the job.” 

“At that level, sometimes even if you're injured, you don't have a choice but to play. And what's the easy solution? Taking painkillers.” Since retirement, Evra went on to admit, the former defender shared that he believes his biggest investment is “investing in his body”.

Painkillers and their never-ending grip on the footballing world

Several former players have warned about the risks of heavy painkiller use in professional sport, with Evra’s testimony echoing many of their experiences. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has also spoken publicly about his own addiction to Tramadol, a substance now banned by WADA after being widely used in football for years. Meanwhile, former Premier League striker Ivan Klasnic successfully sued a previous club for repeatedly prescribing him painkillers despite his kidney issues, winning a £4 million payout. Former Liverpool star Daniel Agger also recently revealed that he suffers from chronic back pain after ignoring his back injury and resorting to painkillers. 

Evra’s move into promoting natural anti-inflammatory alternatives comes after a long career built on remarkable consistency and availability. Despite playing more than 725 club matches, his injury record was relatively clear of major long-term layoffs, but this durability evidently came at a high hidden cost.

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Getty ImagesEvra's mission to educate about painkiller addictions

Evra now sees his mission as educating the next generation of footballers about long-term health, aiming to ensure they avoid the same dependence he fell into during his peak years. As he continues to champion natural recovery methods, he is expected to take on an increasingly prominent ambassadorial role in conversations about player welfare. With more former professionals speaking out, the pressure may increase on clubs and governing bodies to reform pain management practices in elite football. 

KURK co-founder Trent Scanlen welcomed Evra’s involvement, saying: “The benefit of Evra’s involvement was that he had ‘lived the physical toll of elite sport’. So when he says KURK works, it carries real weight. His passion for wellbeing and performance makes him the perfect partner to help us bring KURK to the world.” 

Brazil starlet Estevao Willian has been warned by national team boss Carlo Ancelotti that he must follow instructions or risk losing his place, after the Chelsea sensation was berated in front of his team-mates during training. The teenager has shone for his country, but the former Real Madrid coach has now made it clear he will be ruthless if the winger persistently does his own thing.

• Estevao reprimanded by Ancelotti during training session

  Estevao found out the hard way during the October international break that Carlo Ancelotti's calm exterior does not extend to moments where discipline and concentration are compromised. As Brazil prepared for a friendly against South Korea last month, reports claim the teenager repeatedly ignored instructions to aggressively press the full-back during a tactical exercise. After several warnings, Ancelotti stopped the session and delivered a fierce reprimand in front of the entire squad.

  The Brazil boss allegedly shouted: "I only speak once. Either you do what I'm telling you, or you're out of the team," according to Globo Esporte. It was a clear message that the youngster's spectacular talent would not exempt him from rigorous standards within the Brazil national team setup.

  The tough love had an immediate effect. Estevao responded by scoring twice in the subsequent 5-0 win, and since then has continued to impress in the famous yellow shirt of Brazil. Despite the stern warning, Ancelotti has made it clear he sees the 18-year-old as a major part of his long-term plans, provided that he fully commits to tactical discipline.

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  Ancelotti wants to keep Estevao grounded

  Ancelotti’s approach to elite talent management is rooted in experience, having guided generational stars such as Kaka and Vinicius Jr, he knows the dangers of early hype. Estevao, nicknamed Messinho in Brazil due to his flair and left-footed magic, has quickly become a fan favourite, but expectations continue to grow at a rapid pace. The Chelsea youngster already boasts 10 international caps and four goals despite his young age, and this is why Ancelotti is intent on keeping him grounded. 

  Brazil are undergoing a major transitional phase, and the veteran coach is determined to build a squad with tactical maturity at its core. Estevao's blend of dribbling brilliance and intense work-rate fits that vision perfectly, but only if he continues to embrace defensive responsibilities.

  The winger has quickly shown he appreciates the guidance. He has embraced the challenge of adapting to a more complete role, adding pressing and ball recoveries to his already dangerous attacking game.

• Ancelotti's personal touch wins over Estevao

  Every stern moment appears balanced with trust and encouragement, the hallmark of Ancelotti's man-management. The Italian's relationship with Estevao isn't just demanding – it has a personal touch that has won the teenager's admiration. The Brazil boss recently allowed him to briefly leave camp in Sao Paulo to take his driving test, even waiting outside to celebrate the moment he passed. Ancelotti then publicly announced the achievement at lunch, prompting laughter and applause from team-mates.

  That balance has created the perfect conditions for Estevao to excel as he continues to deliver on the pitch, scoring the opener in a 2-0 win against Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last week. It was further validation that he belongs among the senior elite despite still being in the early stages of his European career.

  The forward only arrived at Chelsea in the summer after Palmeiras agreed a deal worth around £29 million ($38m) the previous year. His early Premier League minutes have been carefully managed, but his form for club and country leaves little doubt that he is already operating at an elite level.

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  Estevao to become a future star for Chelsea and Brazil

  Estevao is expected to continue playing a key role as Brazil face Tunisia next in Lille, looking to build on Ancelotti's encouraging start of four wins in six matches. With each appearance, the teenager grows in confidence, while the coaching staff push him toward becoming a complete attacker capable of changing matches on demand. The next challenge will be consistency, both in performance and tactical discipline.

  For Chelsea, his rapid rise is hugely encouraging. They believe he is a long-term cornerstone of their attack, and his international success only strengthens the feeling that they secured one of world football's brightest young talents.