Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faces growing uncertainty over his future at the club following the impending departures of key backroom staff this summer.
Long-serving fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura and goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor are both set to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the current campaign.
Buenaventura’s exit is particularly significant given his 15-year working relationship with the 55-year-old manager across trophy-laden spells at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.
End of an era approaching
Club sources suggest it is difficult to imagine the Catalan coach operating without his trusted 63-year-old fitness specialist.
These coaching changes compound the confirmed summer departures of foundational first-team players Bernardo Silva and John Stones.
City executives have reportedly asked their highly successful boss for an indication regarding his plans beyond this season to prepare for all eventualities.
Former assistant Enzo Maresca has already been identified as the frontrunner to take charge should a managerial vacancy arise.
Title race and trophy hunt
Despite the intense speculation, the reigning champions remain focused on a tense Premier League title battle against Arsenal.
They currently trail the Gunners by two points with just two matches remaining in the 2025-26 season.
The former Barcelona tactician has repeatedly dismissed questions regarding his tenure to prioritise critical on-pitch matters.
His squad could secure a 20th major trophy of this managerial era when they face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, having already lifted the Carabao Cup in March.
Contract status and burnout fears
The club hierarchy remain hopeful that their history-making manager will choose to fulfil his current contract, which runs until June 2027.
However, he has previously been open about the immense pressures of elite management and the constant risk of burnout.
A definitive decision is expected imminently as the Manchester side look to finalise their long-term sporting strategy and summer transfer plans.
South Africa prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has been handed an 18-month suspension for an anti-doping violation, ruling the forward out of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The 27-year-old tested positive for the prohibited substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in 2025 but continued playing while the investigation was conducted.
An independent tribunal panel issued the sanction after the player self-declared his use of the WADA-banned supplement under the mistaken belief it was permitted.
His suspension officially began on 13 May and will run until next November, concluding just after the global tournament finishes down under.
Lions pledge support amid appeal window
The Johannesburg-based franchise confirmed the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) had notified them of the formal ruling.
During this time, the Lions Rugby Company will continue to support Ntlabakanye as he navigates the process ahead.
The club issued their statement shortly after a recent United Rugby Championship defeat by Leinster, which marked the front-rower’s final on-pitch appearance.
He now possesses a 21-day window to formally appeal the independent tribunal’s decision.
Testosterone boost and international career
DHEA is strictly prohibited by global anti-doping authorities because it elevates testosterone levels, subsequently aiding muscle growth and overall athletic performance.
The imposing forward only recently established himself on the international stage, making his senior test debut against Italy in July 2025.
He has earned three caps for the Springboks since that breakthrough, a tally that will now remain stalled until at least late 2027.
Arsenal and Celtic have both benefited from highly controversial stoppage-time video assistant referee decisions to maintain their respective championship pushes this week.
The Gunners secured a crucial 1-0 Premier League victory on Sunday after West Ham United saw a late equalising goal ruled out for a foul by Pablo on goalkeeper David Raya.
That contentious call kept the English title destiny firmly in the North London club’s hands, while concurrently plunging the Hammers deeper into relegation trouble.
A similarly dramatic and divisive scenario unfolded in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night involving the Glasgow heavyweights.
Last-gasp drama in Scotland
With just eight seconds remaining in added time, technology intervened to penalise Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson for a handball inside the penalty area.
Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick with the final action of the game, snatching a vital 3-2 victory for the reigning Scottish champions.
Consequently, Martin O’Neill’s men now require only a standard victory against Hearts at Parkhead this Saturday to secure the league crown, avoiding the need for a three-goal winning margin.
Public sentiment and backlash
These high-profile incidents have reignited fierce debate regarding the implementation of video review, particularly when marginal calls favour traditional giants.
Speaking on Match of the Day, pundit Danny Murphy suggested that neutral fans are actively rooting against Mikel Arteta’s side due to their perceived reliance on physical set-piece tactics.
“The controversy and discontent around West Ham not being given the goal is because it’s Arsenal.”
“They can’t be held accountable for decisions in the past. Just because it’s Arsenal we shouldn’t get it distorted.”
North of the border, similar public sentiment sees many neutrals hoping Hearts can finally shatter a long-standing Old Firm duopoly not broken since Sir Alex Ferguson triumphed with Aberdeen in 1985.
Has technology improved the game?
Supporters were initially promised that the introduction of video technology would permanently eradicate bitter arguments over contentious officiating errors.
Instead, the noise surrounding these critical refereeing moments has only amplified, with fans now aggressively scrutinising both the on-field official and the digital assistants.
However, it remains vital to remember that the pre-technology era was also frequently marred by intense anger directed at match officials over game-defining human errors.
Manchester United and Barcelona will resume negotiations next week over the permanent transfer of Marcus Rashford, with the Premier League club preferring a sale to fund their squad rebuild.
An existing agreement allows the Catalan club to purchase the forward for €30m following his highly successful loan spell.
However, restricted finances at Camp Nou mean the newly crowned La Liga champions want to renegotiate the terms of that deal.
Catalan stay remains the priority
The England international is keen to remain in Spain after helping secure a domestic league title this season.
While returning to Old Trafford in July remains a possibility, the United hierarchy are eager to finalise a permanent departure.
Funds raised from his exit would be redirected into strengthening other areas of the pitch, with central midfield identified as a key target.
A secondary loan arrangement has not been completely ruled out by officials in Manchester.
European rivals monitor situation
The complexities surrounding the financial package suggest discussions could drag on until the final days of the transfer window.
This delay has alerted other top European clubs, with Bayern Munich currently monitoring the unfolding situation.
Arsenal are also maintaining an interest, as Mikel Arteta looks to recruit a new left-sided attacker ahead of the upcoming campaign.
The experienced forward has made it clear he expects to play for a side competing in the Champions League next term.
Old Trafford exit looks inevitable
A permanent departure would mark the end of an era for the academy graduate at his boyhood club.
Former manager Ruben Amorim had previously sidelined the attacker, a decision that was fully supported by the United boardroom.
Key figures within the English club’s hierarchy believe now is the right time to cut ties, citing his revitalised form in Spain as the perfect opportunity to secure a fee.
Despite previous links, a move to Aston Villa is not currently considered a viable option for the player.
Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will face Dillon Danis in a freestyle wrestling match on 13 June, following his controversial title defeat by Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
The 32-year-old recently suffered the first loss of his professional career when he dropped a razor-thin split decision to the American.
Instead of an immediate return to the octagon, the Chechen-born fighter is temporarily stepping onto the wrestling mat.
He will headline the Real American Freestyle (RAF) 10 event at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri.
His opponent will be controversial grappling specialist and Conor McGregor’s former training partner, Danis.
Rematch demands follow title loss
The wrestling exhibition comes amid swirling speculation about the former titleholder’s mixed martial arts future.
UFC president Dana White initially indicated the defeated champion planned to abandon the 185lb division to move up to light-heavyweight.
However, his management team has since clarified that regaining the middleweight crown remains their absolute priority.
The rematch with Sean Strickland is the only fight that Khamzat wants, he is obsessed with it. That’s the only fight he will accept right now.
His brother, Artur, confirmed the camp is targeting a second bout with Strickland at the promotion’s upcoming Abu Dhabi event in October.
Tsarukyan and Ferguson feature on undercard
The upcoming RAF 10 wrestling card will also feature several other high-profile mixed martial artists.
Arman Tsarukyan, a close teammate of the headline act, is scheduled to grapple with veteran UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson.
Meanwhile, highly-rated featherweight prospect Aaron Pico will take on Lance Palmer earlier in the evening.
The shift to wrestling offers a brief reset for the former champion following a deeply acrimonious build-up to UFC 328.
Pre-fight tensions between the middleweight rivals culminated in a physical altercation at the press conference and forced organisers to accommodate them in separate hotels.
Oleksandr Usyk has been granted permission by the World Boxing Association to defend his heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven in Egypt on 23 May.
The unified champion is scheduled to face the former Glory kickboxing titleholder in a highly anticipated crossover bout staged at the pyramids of Giza.
While the World Boxing Council had already sanctioned the contest, uncertainty remained over whether the 39-year-old’s WBA and IBF belts would also be involved.
Unusual stipulations for unranked challenger
The WBA has now clarified that the fight will officially count as a successful defence should the undefeated Ukrainian emerge victorious.
However, the title itself will not be at stake for Verhoeven, as he is currently not ranked by the sanctioning body.
If the champion were to lose, the WBA championship committee would then review his status and determine the next course of action regarding the heavyweight championship.
BBC Sport has contacted the International Boxing Federation to establish whether they will adopt a similar stance for their championship belt.
A clash of combat sport eras
The sanctioning body also confirmed that the Dutch kickboxer would become eligible to enter their heavyweight rankings if he manages to pull off a monumental upset.
Verhoeven carries a fearsome reputation in the kickboxing world, but the 37-year-old has only competed in one professional boxing match, which took place over a decade ago in 2014.
In stark contrast, his opponent boasts a flawless 24-0 professional record and is a two-time undisputed heavyweight king.
Champion defends crossover bout
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist recently pushed back against criticism regarding the unconventional matchup.
Having already vanquished top-tier rivals including Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, and Anthony Joshua on two occasions, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion stated he should be allowed to dictate his own career path.
The Edmonton Oilers have fired head coach Kris Knoblauch following a disappointing first-round playoff exit, despite him leading the franchise to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.
His abrupt departure comes just months after agreeing to a three-year contract extension in October.
That lucrative new deal was not scheduled to commence until the beginning of the 2026-27 National Hockey League season.
However, the Canadian outfit endured an underwhelming campaign that culminated in a six-game elimination by the Anaheim Ducks.
Mounting pressure and McDavid remarks
Scrutiny on the coaching staff intensified during the regular season following comments from superstar captain Connor McDavid.
The franchise talisman publicly expressed his admiration for Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss Jon Cooper, who recently managed him at both the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Milan Olympics.
Those statements sparked intense speculation regarding potential dissatisfaction with the existing leadership structure in Alberta.
“I was not taking shots.”
McDavid later clarified, attempting to quickly downplay any perceived friction with his manager.
The roster briefly rallied to secure second place in the Pacific Division, but their post-season journey was ultimately cut short.
From minor leagues to consecutive Finals
The dismissal ends a rollercoaster tenure that began with a surprise mid-season appointment in November 2023.
Plucked from the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolfpack, the rookie manager originally replaced Jay Woodcroft following a disastrous start to the year.
He immediately engineered a spectacular turnaround, taking his squad from the bottom of the standings all the way to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
They returned to the championship series again in 2025, only to suffer heartbreak against the Florida Panthers for a second consecutive season.
World number one Jannik Sinner has broken Novak Djokovic’s record by securing his 32nd consecutive ATP Masters 1000 victory after defeating Andrey Rublev to reach the Italian Open semi-finals in Rome.
The top seed delivered a dominant baseline performance to claim a routine 6-2 6-4 triumph over the former world number five.
He broke serve in the opening game for a third straight match, dictating the tempo and never relinquishing control against his Russian opponent.
Eclipsing a modern great
This remarkable winning streak at Masters level eclipses the previous benchmark set by 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.
While the Serbian great has won every ATP Masters 1000 event twice over, Rome remains the only tournament at this elite tier still missing from Sinner’s expanding trophy cabinet.
The home favourite is now ideally positioned to become the first Italian man to triumph at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta achieved the feat in 1976.
Aiming for home glory
He suffered a painful final defeat in Rome last year against Carlos Alcaraz, who is currently absent from the tour with a right wrist injury.
The 24-year-old’s current unbeaten run extends back nearly four months, with his last defeat coming against Jakub Mensik at the Qatar Open in February.
His semi-final opponent will be either 2023 Rome champion Daniil Medvedev or Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce.
Elsewhere at the tournament, the women’s semi-finals will see American star Coco Gauff take on Sorana Cirstea while top seed Iga Swiatek faces Elina Svitolina.