Darwin Nunez has been removed from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad following the high-profile arrival of Karim Benzema, leaving the striker ineligible for domestic fixtures.
The Uruguay international’s career has hit a new low in the Middle East just months after ending his association with Liverpool.
Despite a high-profile switch in the summer, the 26-year-old is now surplus to requirements for league action under manager Simone Inzaghi.
Benzema deal forces brutal cull
The dramatic exclusion comes as a direct consequence of Al-Hilal securing the services of Benzema from rivals Al-Ittihad.
With the former Real Madrid Ballon d’Or winner arriving as the new talisman, the league leaders were forced to reshuffle their foreign player quota.
According to reports, the ex-Anfield forward has been completely omitted from the registered list for the Saudi Pro League.
He will now be restricted solely to appearances in the Asian Champions League alongside fellow outcast Pablo Mari.
Transfer collapse and stats
It marks a sharp decline for a player who was once Jurgen Klopp’s marquee signing on Merseyside.
Hopes of a swift return to Europe were dashed in January after a proposed move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce failed to materialise.
The forward has managed a respectable return of seven goals and five assists in 23 appearances across all competitions this term.
However, that output was deemed insufficient to retain his spot ahead of the division’s second-highest earner.
Following in Firmino’s footsteps
Remarkably, the situation mirrors the fate of his predecessor at Liverpool, Roberto Firmino.
The Brazilian endured a similar unregistered status at Al-Ahli before eventually departing for Qatar.
While Al-Hilal continue their charge to reclaim the league title from Al-Ittihad, their summer signing faces a long spell on the sidelines of domestic football.
Ukrainian FA president Andriy Shevchenko has personally confronted Gianni Infantino to demand that Russia remains exiled from international football, rejecting the FIFA chief’s recent suggestion that the ban could be reassessed.
The former Chelsea and AC Milan striker tracked down the head of world football at the UEFA congress in Brussels on Friday.
It follows comments made by Infantino last week regarding a potential pathway back for Russian youth teams.
With the full-scale invasion approaching its fourth anniversary, the mere suggestion of reintegration has caused dismay across Ukraine.
A firm message delivered in Brussels
Shevchenko, who now leads his country’s football association, insisted the geopolitical situation offers no grounds for leniency.
The 2004 Ballon d’Or winner described the meeting as a direct attempt to hold the line against lifting sanctions.
“We sat down, he listened, and I conveyed my talking points,” Shevchenko said regarding the encounter.
He made it clear that “now is not the right time” to consider ending the suspension.
The 48-year-old emphasized that “the situation remains unchanged” regarding the ongoing conflict initiated in February 2022.
Controversial comments spark outrage
Tensions flared after Infantino told broadcasters earlier this week that the ban “has not achieved anything” other than creating frustration.
The Swiss-Italian administrator suggested that allowing Russian children to play football in Europe could help bridge divides.
“Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help,” Infantino claimed.
Those remarks were interpreted by Russian officials as a “good sign” for a potential return to the fold.
Government officials condemn ‘infantile’ stance
The backlash extends beyond the pitch, with Ukrainian government officials furiously condemning the FIFA president’s rhetoric.
Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi described the comments as both “irresponsible” and “infantile.”
Bidnyi argued that such proposals detach the sport from the harsh reality where children are being killed in the conflict.
Russia has been suspended from all FIFA and UEFA competitions since the invasion began, preventing participation in the World Cup and European Championships.
Raheem Sterling has completed a surprise switch to Dutch heavyweights Feyenoord on a contract running until the end of the current campaign.
The former Chelsea and Manchester City winger brings a wealth of top-level experience to the Eredivisie side.
This move marks a significant departure for the England international, who has spent his entire professional career in the English top flight.
A fresh challenge abroad
The 29-year-old leaves the intense spotlight of the Premier League to test his talents in the Netherlands.
Feyenoord have acquired a player with an enviable trophy cabinet to bolster their attacking options.
During his trophy-laden stint at the Etihad Stadium, the forward played a pivotal role in lifting four Premier League titles.
Statement of intent
His arrival at De Kuip is viewed as a major coup for the Rotterdam-based club.
The lightning-fast attacker will look to reinvigorate his form away from the scrutiny of English football.
More details regarding the transfer are expected to follow shortly.
Tottenham crisis deepens as forward suffers devastating injury blow
Tottenham winger Wilson Odobert is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after the club confirmed he will undergo surgery for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
The 21-year-old Frenchman sustained the significant setback to his left knee during the first half of Tuesday’s Premier League encounter.
Odobert was forced off the pitch as his side fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Newcastle United.
Surgery confirmed for winger
Following medical assessment, the north London club announced the severity of the issue regarding their attacking prospect.
Spurs released a statement confirming the next steps for the player’s recovery path.
Wilson will see a specialist next week before undergoing surgery, and will then commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff.
Turmoil in north London
This latest medical bulletin represents another major headache for a club already navigating a difficult period.
It is the most recent addition to a growing list of long-term fitness concerns plaguing the squad.
The injury blow comes at a time of significant instability at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Club officials are currently conducting a search for a new permanent manager to steady the ship.
The vacancy opened following the dismissal of Thomas Frank on Wednesday after a string of disappointing results.
Virgil van Dijk has publicly urged the Liverpool hierarchy to secure the long-term future of Ibrahima Konate, insisting the defender must not be allowed to leave Anfield for free this summer.
The Liverpool captain has made his feelings clear regarding his centre-back partner’s expiring deal, describing the situation as a critical moment for the club.
Konate is fast approaching the final months of his contract, with the Reds currently facing the genuine prospect of losing the 26-year-old for nothing at the end of June.
Anxiety over the Frenchman’s future heightened after the club moved late in the January window to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes.
The 20-year-old arrived for an initial £55m and has been widely earmarked as the long-term successor to the current number five.
Powerless to intervene
Despite the arrival of a potential replacement, Van Dijk remains hopeful that a resolution can be found to keep the former RB Leipzig man on Merseyside.
“Obviously I want him to stay,” Van Dijk stated. “He’s an important figure on the pitch. That’s what everyone sees but off the pitch as well, he’s one of the leaders.”
“He’s outstanding and in my eyes, a world-class centre back.”
However, the Netherlands international admits his significant influence within the dressing room does not extend to the boardroom negotiations.
“I can do only so much but it’s in the club’s hands, together with his agents and himself so let’s see what comes out of it but I have no influence otherwise on that.”
Echoes of past contract sagas
The current standoff is an all-too-familiar narrative for the Anfield faithful.
Both Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah entered the final six months of their respective deals last season, creating months of speculation before they eventually committed their futures to the club in April.
The Reds skipper acknowledged the complexity of these negotiations, revealing he has discussed the impasse directly with his defensive colleague.
“We are friends, we speak about everything,” he added. “It’s a process and let’s see what comes out of it.”
“It’s never that easy. We saw with my own situation last year so it’s never that easy that we can just say ‘let’s get it done’.”
Defensive masterclass on Wearside
Van Dijk’s comments followed a gritty victory at the Stadium of Light, where his own decisive goal handed Sunderland their first home defeat of the season.
While the captain provided the match-winning moment, he reserved special praise for Konate’s physical battle against Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey.
“He was outstanding. He was incredible today,” Van Dijk concluded.
“Brian Brobbey has made a lot of defender’s lives this season pretty difficult but Ibou did outstanding.”
The 18-year-old’s search for first-team football in France has hit a major stumbling block following a managerial casualty.
Ethan Nwaneri faces an uncertain future at Marseille following the sudden departure of manager Roberto De Zerbi, just weeks after the teenager arrived in search of regular game time.
The highly-rated midfielder moved to the Ligue 1 giants last month, hoping to bridge the gap between youth football and Mikel Arteta’s senior setup.
His spell in the south of France began in fairytale fashion.
The Hale End graduate marked his debut with a goal in a victory against Lens, seemingly justifying the decision to sanction a temporary exit.
However, the situation has rapidly deteriorated for the England youth international.
A dream move turns sour
Following his initial impact, the teenager’s momentum has stalled dramatically.
He was substituted at half-time in consecutive matches, first against Rennes in the French Cup and then during a chastening 5-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.
That thrashing by PSG proved to be the final act for De Zerbi.
The Italian tactician departed by mutual consent this week amid reports of dressing room unrest regarding his intense training methods.
Former Newcastle United defender Habib Beye is now widely tipped to take the reins at the Stade Vélodrome.
While the managerial upheaval creates instability, the Arsenal loanee can find a blueprint for resilience within his parent club’s dressing room.
Echoes of Odegaard’s past
If Nwaneri requires guidance on navigating a turbulent loan spell, he need look no further than Gunners captain Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian playmaker experienced significant struggles after joining Real Madrid as a globally scrutinised 16-year-old.
Odegaard faced difficult periods away from the Bernabeu, specifically during a challenging start at Heerenveen in the Netherlands.
Carlo Ancelotti, then in charge of Los Blancos, later admitted he had little interest in the signing, viewing it as a PR exercise rather than a sporting necessity.
Despite the early adversity, the midfielder’s determination to play senior football eventually forged the character that now leads Arsenal’s title charge.
Speaking to Norwegian television in 2017 regarding his own loan decisions, Odegaard offered insight that rings true for Nwaneri today.
“It was my decision, but Real Madrid made all the arrangements for it to happen. It was my choice, because I wanted to play more.”
“It was important for me to be playing at the top level. If I hadn’t done it, I would have stayed in Madrid, where the daily training sessions were the best part for me.”
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain marked his Celtic debut with a dramatic late winner against Livingston, prompting assistant manager Shaun Maloney to warn that the Scottish Premiership title race has plenty more twists to come.
The former England international struck to secure a vital 2-1 victory for the champions, preventing a damaging slip-up against the league’s bottom side.
That intervention moved the Hoops back within six points of leaders Hearts, with a crucial game in hand still to play.
Late drama defines title tilt
It was a midweek round defined by frantic finishes across the top flight.
While Martin O’Neill’s side snatched victory in the dying moments, their Glasgow rivals Rangers were left frustrated.
In a twist of irony, Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh scored an 89th-minute equaliser for Motherwell to deny Danny Rohl’s men two vital points.
Hearts, meanwhile, maintained their charge at the summit thanks to Tomas Magnusson’s 88th-minute winner in the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian.
With late goals impacting all three contenders, Maloney believes the script is far from finished.
The win over Livingston was big. We’ve had a couple [of late wins] recently, even in the Scottish Cup. Last night felt good and now we’re quickly on to Kilmarnock.
They [Hearts] scored late as well. It feels like there’s going to be a few more of these.
Playing catch-up
The Parkhead club have endured a turbulent campaign following the departure of Brendan Rodgers.
Having previously trailed by eight points, the coaching staff acknowledge the psychological strain of constantly chasing the leaders.
For us, it’s felt slightly different, with the amount of change we’ve had… having to claw back the eight points and then coming back again, it feels like we’re constantly catching up.
It still feels like that at the moment. Obviously, with Hearts, the points difference and Rangers above us, we’re trying to just tick off each game.
Resilience over performance
While the result was favourable, the performance against a relegation-threatened Livingston was far from straightforward.
Maloney admitted the team should have been more clinical in the opening stages but praised the squad’s refusal to accept a draw.
I think you could be critical and say we should take those chances, more than one. We had two, three, four big ones.
But actually, the mentality of the group, when it’s difficult, when it’s 1-1, the fans know the expectation – you have to give the group a big amount of credit for doing that, again, going to the last minute.
Celtic travel to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock on Sunday as they look to further close the gap at the top.
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with two further counts of rape following a new investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
The 32-year-old, who now plays for Villarreal in La Liga, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 13 March regarding the fresh allegations.
New allegations emerge
These latest charges relate to a separate report made in August 2025 concerning alleged non-recent offences in 2020 involving one additional woman.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed the significant legal development in a statement released regarding the footballer.
The CPS stated: “These new charges relate to a separate report of non-recent offences in 2020 involving one additional woman and follow a new investigation by the Metropolitan Police.”
Partey previously pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court in September.
Those earlier allegations are said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022 during his tenure as a regular starter in north London.
Trial date looms
The Ghana international, who is currently on bail, is scheduled to face trial for the initial charges in November.
Despite the intensifying legal proceedings, the former Atletico Madrid man has continued his professional career in Spain.
He joined Villarreal on a free transfer on 30 June following the expiry of his contract with the Gunners, just four days before being charged with the initial offences.
Since his move to the Estadio de la Ceramica, the defensive midfielder has made 21 appearances across all competitions.
World Cup uncertainty
While Villarreal were eliminated from the Champions League after finishing second-bottom of the table, they currently sit fourth in La Liga.
Partey has remained active for international selection despite the serious nature of the allegations.
The Black Stars are scheduled to face England at the World Cup this summer, with the match set to take place in Boston on 23 June.