Arsenal have confirmed that defender William Saliba will not require surgery on a back injury sustained during the World Cup, though he faces an extended period of rehabilitation.
The French centre-back limped out of his country’s semi-final defeat to Spain.
Initial reports suggested the defensive standout might face an operation and several months on the sidelines.
Rehabilitation over surgery for key defender
A club statement revealed that extensive specialist reviews in London concluded an operation was unnecessary.
However, the Premier League champions admitted their star defender will still miss a significant portion of the upcoming domestic campaign.
William’s rehabilitation will commence immediately, with continual management of his injury, and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period.
The North London club added that medical staff are fully focused on supporting his return to full fitness as swiftly as possible.
Playing through the pain barrier
France manager Didier Deschamps revealed after the tournament exit that his player’s pain had become unbearable.
The towering defender had reportedly been managing the underlying physical issue since March.
Speaking before the international tournament, the French international admitted he had been pushing his body to the limit.
I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League.
I’m not at 100 percent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 per cent either.
William Saliba
A blow to Arsenal’s title defence
The absence of their defensive talisman is a major setback for the reigning English champions.
The injured star formed Europe’s most formidable central defensive partnership alongside Gabriel last season.
Their resolute performances formed the bedrock of a historic campaign that ended a 22-year wait for a top-flight crown.
The Gunners face a demanding start to their title defence, with early trips to Aston Villa and Liverpool.
They must also navigate a crucial London derby against Chelsea within their opening ten domestic fixtures.
Inter Miami have completed the signing of former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro as a free agent on a deal running until the end of the 2027 Major League Soccer season.
The Brazilian international arrives in Florida after confirming earlier this year that he would leave Old Trafford following the expiration of his contract on 30 June.
His new agreement includes an option to extend his stay with the MLS club until June 2029.
‘Winning and continuing to grow’
What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow.
The project the club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me.
Casemiro
Crucially for the South Florida franchise, their newly acquired midfield enforcer will not occupy a Designated Player slot.
Those premium roster spaces are currently held by club captain Lionel Messi, alongside Rodrigo De Paul and Germán Berterame.
Tampering investigation launched
The move has not been without controversy, as Major League Soccer officials are currently reviewing tampering allegations against Inter Miami.
LA Galaxy also pursued the veteran midfielder in March and have subsequently filed a formal tampering claim with the league.
While Inter Miami successfully acquired the player’s discovery rights from their Californian rivals, the terms of that settlement remain undisclosed pending the investigation’s conclusion.
The former Real Madrid star joins his new domestic employers shortly after representing his country at the 2026 World Cup.
His international tournament ended in disappointment as Brazil suffered a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the round of 16.
Liverpool have made an initial approach to sign Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche as they look to beat Paris Saint-Germain to the France international’s signature.
The Premier League side have officially enquired about the potential availability of the 24-year-old.
However, they face stiff competition for the highly rated attacker from domestic rivals in France.
Paris Saint-Germain see bids rejected
Paris Saint-Germain have identified the versatile forward as a primary transfer target this summer.
The reigning Ligue 1 champions have already submitted multiple offers, which have all been turned down by Monaco.
Their most recent rejected bid for the French playmaker was reportedly in the region of £34m.
Versatility and international pedigree
The coveted attacker enjoyed an impressive domestic campaign last season, registering six goals and six assists across 31 league appearances.
He is capable of operating efficiently on the right flank or occupying a central attacking midfield role.
The talented creator was recently part of the French national squad, remaining an unused substitute during their 6-4 defeat to England in the World Cup third-place play-off.
Arsenal are exploring a potential swap deal involving striker Viktor Gyokeres to sign wantaway Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez this summer.
The Argentina international has reportedly made it clear he wishes to leave the Spanish capital.
While Real Madrid and Barcelona hold a strong interest, Atletico are deeply reluctant to sell to a domestic rival.
That stance has opened the door for Premier League suitors, with the Gunners currently leading the pursuit.
However, securing the World Cup winner’s signature could require a high-profile sacrifice.
Mixed fortunes in north London
According to talkSPORT, the north London club are weighing up offering Gyokeres as a makeweight in the proposed transfer.
The Sweden international arrived at Emirates Stadium just a year ago following a protracted saga with Sporting Lisbon.
He contributed 14 league goals to help Mikel Arteta’s side secure the Premier League title during his debut campaign.
Despite that respectable return, the 26-year-old has faced criticism regarding his overall impact outside the penalty area.
Arteta’s demands and dressing room trust
During his first season, the Spanish manager issued a stark warning regarding the intense expectations placed on the club’s number nine.
Arteta stressed that any leading striker must maintain their overall contribution even during barren spells in front of goal.
“The nine that I want is a nine that when he doesn’t score for six or eight games, he can handle that. If not, you have to go somewhere else.”
Further doubts were raised mid-season by former Arsenal playmaker Paul Merson, who suggested the forward lacked the confidence of his colleagues.
Speaking on a podcast, the pundit claimed teammates actively avoided passing to the Scandinavian attacker.
“I watch Gyokeres, Arsenal don’t trust him, the players. They never pass to him, you watch him, next time he comes short they go ‘no’.”
Merson noted a stark contrast in the team’s willingness to distribute the ball when Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus enters the pitch.
Spain’s narrow World Cup final victory over Argentina on Sunday attracted a record-breaking 63 million viewers across the United States.
The staggering television figures emphatically underline the rapidly growing appeal of football across the Atlantic.
La Roja secured their second global title at the New Jersey stadium following a tense 1-0 triumph.
An extra-time winner from Ferran Torres proved enough to dismantle the South American giants and lift the coveted trophy.
Audience figures dwarf previous tournaments
Fox’s English-language broadcast was responsible for 38.9 million of the total viewership.
Spanish-language coverage provided by Comcast’s Telemundo network and the Peacock streaming platform added a further 23.9 million to the landmark total.
This combined engagement significantly surpassed the 22.3 million American fans who tuned into the 2022 showpiece event held in Qatar.
Outperforming traditional American sports
Industry analysts have subsequently heralded the North American tournament as a resounding commercial success for participating broadcasters.
Earlier knockout fixtures, including a round of 16 clash between England and Mexico, attracted nearly 45 million viewers.
These numbers comfortably beat the 27 million who watched Major League Baseball’s deciding World Series game and the 25 million tuned into the NBA Finals.
While the overall final figures still trail the colossal 126 million audience for the NFL’s Super Bowl LX, they represent a historic milestone for a game traditionally overshadowed domestically.
Americanised elements and commercial boom
“Ratings have blown past internal forecasts for both networks, and it’s not close.”
Vicente Navarro, managing partner at sports marketing firm GotDigital, noted that a marquee 30-second advertising slot cost up to $1m during the latter stages.
Organisers introduced several highly commercialised elements to this edition, including an extended 27-minute halftime show drawing direct comparisons to the Super Bowl.
Fifa also broke with tradition by awarding championship rings to the victorious Spanish squad in a nod to US sporting culture.
However, future broadcasting dominance remains uncertain with the 2030 and 2034 tournaments scheduled in distant time zones across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has signed a new four-year contract extension, committing his future to the Premier League club until the summer of 2030.
The 26-year-old England international’s previous deal at the Etihad Stadium was due to expire next year.
Having made his debut in November 2017, the academy graduate has amassed 369 first-team appearances and scored 110 goals for his boyhood club.
‘Everything to me’
Foden expressed his immense pride at securing his long-term future in Manchester.
“Committing my future to City means everything to me.”
“Playing for this club is all I’ve ever wanted to do and it’s always an honour to wear the shirt.”
“It’s not lost on me that I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a historic period with so many titles won, but we’re always looking to the future and trying to win more.”
The extension provides a significant boost for newly appointed manager Enzo Maresca ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Maresca reunion and a new era
Maresca returns to the club as manager, having previously worked alongside the first team during their historic Treble-winning season.
“I can’t wait to work with Enzo again,” the playmaker added.
“He was brilliant during the Treble season – someone all the players respected and loved working with. To have him back here is exciting.”
The reigning champions are undergoing a period of transition following the summer departures of key veterans.
Long-serving stalwarts Bernardo Silva and John Stones have both left the club, elevating the 26-year-old into a crucial leadership role within the dressing room.
A glittering trophy cabinet
Alongside those departed legends, the Stockport-born star is the joint-most decorated player in the club’s history with 20 major honours.
His remarkable haul includes six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and the Champions League.
During the 2025-26 campaign, the versatile attacker registered 10 goals and seven assists across 50 appearances.
He will now be expected to play a central role as a new-look squad attempts to maintain their domestic and European dominance.
Barcelona have secured Anthony Gordon for €70m and Jose Mourinho has returned to Real Madrid as Europe’s elite clubs embark on a frantic transfer window following the 2026 World Cup.
The Catalan giants completed the first major deal of the summer by acquiring the England forward from Newcastle United.
This substantial investment signals a return to financial strength for the Camp Nou side after successfully navigating strict La Liga spending rules.
Arch-rivals Real Madrid responded swiftly by securing Marc Cucurella from Chelsea in a €55m agreement.
Mourinho returns to the Bernabeu
The Spanish left-back arrives in the capital shortly after lifting the 2026 World Cup with his national team.
His acquisition was heavily driven by the sensational return of Mourinho, who has once again taken charge of Los Blancos for a blockbuster second tenure.
The managerial appointment was just one part of a dramatic June for the reigning European champions following a highly contentious presidential election.
Rival candidate Enrique Riquelme had boldly claimed an agreement was in place to sign Erling Haaland, prompting immediate legal threats from Manchester City.
Madrid rivalry fuels Alvarez saga
In response, re-elected president Florentino Perez tabled a massive €150m bid for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez.
Barcelona also submitted a €100m offer for the Argentine international, but Diego Simeone’s side summarily rejected both high-profile approaches.
The collapsed negotiations triggered bizarre social media exchanges between the rival clubs involving mock bids for Pedri and Raphinha.
Despite the rejected offers, the World Cup-winning striker has reportedly informed his current employers that he wishes to seek a new challenge.
AC Milan make statement signing
Meanwhile in Italy, AC Milan shattered their recent frugal reputation by securing Paris St-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos.
The Serie A side paid a jaw-dropping €74m to bring the Portuguese international to the San Siro.
It represents a significant financial gamble for the seven-time European champions as they prepare for the upcoming domestic campaign.
Spain have become the first nation in history to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles simultaneously following their extra-time victory over Argentina in the United States.
Ferran Torres secured the men’s 2026 crown with a decisive 106th-minute winner against the South Americans.
This triumph completes an unprecedented international double, pairing the recent men’s success with the women’s 2023 World Cup victory over England.
The historic achievement is the culmination of a highly aligned youth development system that spans both the men’s and women’s game.
A golden summer of dominance
The senior men’s victory caps off a remarkably successful July for the Spanish football federation.
La Roja’s youth prospects recently claimed both the men’s Under-19 European Championship in Wales and the women’s equivalent in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Former France international Thierry Henry highlighted the unified tactical approach that runs through the nation’s ranks.
“At every level, they play the same way. This is why they’re dominating world football on every level.”
Thierry Henry noted that this deeply ingrained philosophy applies equally across all genders and age groups.
Decades in the making
The foundation for this modern era of supremacy was originally laid following the appointment of Luis Aragonés as head coach in 2004.
Since that pivotal tactical shift, the Iberian nation has claimed three European Championships and two men’s World Cups.
Continuity in coaching has been central to this sustained global success.
Current men’s manager Luis de la Fuente previously guided established stars like Rodri, Unai Simón and Mikel Merino to youth titles in 2015.
A mirror-image pathway exists in the women’s setup, where former European Under-19 champions Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle transitioned seamlessly into global conquerors.