We are five years on from Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds' takeover of Wrexham, then a fifth tier side — now one promotion from the Premier League. They both spoke to @rsooty73.bsky.social to reflect on their time so far — and the future ⬇️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

🇨🇴 Envigado 🇺🇸 Chicago Fire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Aston Villa 🇸🇦 Al Nassr 🇹🇷 Fenerbahce 🇷🇺 Zenit St Petersburg Jhon Duran is on the move again, joining Russian side Zenit after cutting short his season-long loan at Fenerbahce. Zenit will be the 22-year-old's fourth club in just over a year.

Eddie Howe has “no doubt” that he is still the man to lead Newcastle United.

This is what things will look like if Manchester City's rebuild comes together. Pep Guardiola’s side are not the finished article yet, but you can see what they are trying to build as they chase down Arsenal. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Manchester United have been smartly using the players outside the penalty area on corner kicks. With old staff or new, they have used additional training time to improve their set-piece ideas and execution — and they are seeing the results. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

🏆 Did Manchester City just save the title race? ©️ Can Cristian Romero really be considered a leader? ❓ Is an old-school tactic making a return? The major talking points from the weekend's Premier League action... ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

After Celta Vigo's Borja Iglesias was subjected to homophobic abuse, including that he painted his nails — his club fought back. Borja's team-mates and 5,000 fans painted their nails for their next match💅 (Article free to read on @theathleticfc.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Full-time: Brighton 0-1 Palace Maxence Lacroix immediately goes to the Palace fans to celebrate. Strand Larsen joins him Brighton fans loudly singing "you're getting sacked in the morning" to Fabian Hurzeler They've effectively seen off the last two Palace managers here so makes a change #CPFC

It has been an eventful start to life at Lyon for Endrick. Before tonight's game, he had scored five goals in five games. And in Lyon's game with Nantes this evening, he has been shown a red card for this — upgraded from the referee's original yellow.

Newcastle United have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side in the Premier League this season (19). [Opta]

Brentford take the points at St. James' Park. Dango Ouattara's goal in the 85th minute puts Keith Andrews' side on level points with Liverpool in 6th. It's the third successive defeat in the Premier League for Eddie Howe's side.

Rasmus Hojlund's penalty in the fifth minute of added time gave Napoli the three points against Genoa. It was the striker's second goal of the game, having scored in the first half. Antonio Conte's side went down to 10 men after Juan Jesus received a second yellow in the 77th minute.

Scott McTominay scored his 10th goal of the season in some style. His goal gave Napoli the lead against Daniele De Rossi's Genoa — but the hosts have since equalised.

Igor Thiago scores his 17th Premier League goal of the season. The Brazilian converts from the spot to give Brentford a half-time lead against Newcastle United. The hosts went ahead after Sven Botman's goal, but Vitaly Janelt & Igor Thiago have turned it around for the visitors.

Kenan Yildiz has extended his contract with Juventus through to 2030. The agreement adds a further 12 months onto the 20-year-old Turkey international’s previous deal, signed in the summer of 2024. More from @jameshorncastle.bsky.social 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

A 2-0 win for West Ham United closes the gap to Nottingham Forest in 17th to three points. Defeats for Burnley & Wolves mean the bottom two drift further away from Premier League safety.

Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the Premier League, while a win for Chelsea moves them to within one point of Manchester United in fourth. Aston Villa miss the chance to go second, dropping points against Bournemouth.

Arsenal go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City's trip to Anfield. With their 3-0 win vs. Sunderland, Arsenal are now unbeaten in their last 44 at home vs. promoted sides (W39 D5), the longest run in Premier League history, overtaking Chelsea (43 2001-2015).

Martin Zubimendi has given Arsenal the lead against Sunderland. It's another goal from the Spaniard from outside the box, whose shot bounces off the post and goes in.

West Ham lead 2-0 vs. Burnley and will be hoping history doesn't repeat itself this weekend. Crysencio Summerville scored the opener, taking his tally to five goals in his last five appearances across all competitions. The last West Ham player to score in five in a row was Jesse Lingard in 2021.

It's a first-half hat-trick for Cole Palmer against Wolves. His first two came from the penalty spot, which were both won by Joao Pedro. He got his third in the 37th minute. It has been a very easy afternoon so far for Liam Rosenior's side.

GOAL. Chelsea lead 1-0 from a Cole Palmer penalty. Really silly challenge from Doherty on Joao Pedro to concede it. Not loads of contact but more than enough to ensure it was a penalty. #WWFC

Is a bad season turning into a good one for Manchester United? With their 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, they now have 44 points, two more than they achieved last season. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Michael Carrick's Manchester United win four Premier League games in a row, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Old Trafford. That's their first league win against Spurs in seven attempts (W1, D3, L3).

Cristian Romero's week goes from bad to worse. The Tottenham Hotspur captain is sent off against Manchester United for a reckless tackle on Casemiro. It's his second red card of the season, his sixth since making his Tottenham debut in August 2021.

Barcelona has begun the process of withdrawing from the European Super League (ESL), leaving Real Madrid as the only founding member. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Unai Emery has appealed to Liverpool to change the terms of Harvey Elliott's loan, admitting the current situation is "damaging" the 22yo. Emery said #AVFC started talks three months ago but progress stalled, with Liverpool having "the key."@theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has appealed to Liverpool to change the terms of Harvey Elliott’s loan after admitting the current situation is “damaging” the 22-year-old. More from @jacobtanswell.bsky.social

A 3-1 victory for Leeds United over Nottingham Forest helps put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone. Jayden Bogle, Noah Okafor & Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the goals for the home side. West Ham United play Burnley tomorrow.

Goal Forest. Lucca. That will irk Farke. Giant striker beats Rodon to a cross and glances past Darlow. #lufc

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back on the scoresheet for Leeds United. He diverts Ilia Gruev's shot past Stefan Ortega, and Nottingham Forest are sinking without a trace. Daniel Farke's side lead 3-0.

A scrumptious ball from Ilia Gruev to set up Jayden Bogle for Leeds United's opener.

Half-time: 2-0. Dream scoreline. Leeds good value for their lead, but Forest have not gone away. Slips on this surface are being punished. Gudmundsson, Okafor and Bogle have stood out. #lufc

It's a big game at Elland Road between Leeds United & Nottingham Forest — and it's the home side with the advantage. Jayden Bogle opened the scoring, converting from Ilia Gruev's superb long pass. Then Noah Okafor stroked in James Justin's cross.

Made it look so easy. Gruev chucks a long ball over the top, Bogle ghosts through, almost waiting for the flag. Forest so slow to react and he jogs up to Ortega before slotting it in. #lufc

Sonia Bompastor has agreed a contract extension with Chelsea Women to extend her deal despite their recent dip in form. The 43-year-old had been on terms until 2028. More from @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social

Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of a second consecutive Al Nassr game after not being including in Friday’s matchday squad to face Al Ittihad. The 41-year-old was not included in the squad for the win over Al Riyadh on Monday following a disagreement over how the club is being managed.

Jean-Philippe Mateta will make the final call on whether to undergo surgery on a knee injury with his World Cup hopes hanging in the balance Palace striker desperate to make the France squad for the summer tournament & will consult a German doctor for a fourth & final opinion #CPFC

Mikel Arteta claims that Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka and Max Dowman are all progressing well, but may have different return dates for their respective injuries. www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

McDonald’s have declined the option to provide food and beverages at FIFA Fan Fests in North America during the World Cup. This is what we’re hearing about the 2026 World Cup ⤵️ ✍️ @adamcrafton.bsky.social 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Wolves head coach Rob Edwards said that centre-back Emmanuel Agbadou and winger Jhon Arias are both close to completing deals to leave Molineux. More from @stevemadeley78.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Online abuse becoming “alarmingly worse”. DMs saying “I know where you live.” Bigger stadiums, more fans and more attention are good for women’s football in England - aren’t they? As @charpur.bsky.social reports, the women’s game faces “heightened risks” in terms of player safety. bit.ly/4r15ivr

Arsenal now call the Emirates in north London home. But back in the 1800s, they were based in south London and played in Plumstead. @dtathletic.bsky.social visited the street where the terraces of their old Invicta ground remain in people’s back gardens. www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

The Saudi Pro League has told Cristiano Ronaldo “no individual — however significant — determines decisions beyond their own club” after his future at Al Nassr has come into focus. More from @dansheldon.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

James Rodriguez is finalising a deal to sign with Minnesota United. Talks between the MLS side and the player first emerged on Tuesday. Rodriguez is set to join the club on a non-designated-player deal. More from @tombogert.bsky.social & @felipecardenas.bsky.social

Leicester City have been given an immediate six-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR). More from @robtannerathletic.bsky.social

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior says Arsenal’s coaching staff showed a lack of respect after accusing them of encroaching on his side’s half of the pitch during the warm-ups in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat. More from @nnamdionye.bsky.social & Cerys Jones

Head coach Liam Rosenior has confirmed Jamie Gittens has suffered a hamstring tear and is expected to be a “more long-term” absentee for Chelsea. More from @reallycerys.bsky.social

Reading’s assistant kit manager has been given a six-match ban after making a homophobic comment about a referee during a League One fixture. www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Real Madrid’s players looked like the Batman character Bane during training on Wednesday. The big question is: why? 📝 Mario Cortegana www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...