Sport
“Rodri Deserved 2023 Ballon d’Or but Vinicius Deserved 2024” – Ancelotti

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Manchester City’s Rodri should have won the 2023 Ballon d’Or. Speaking ahead of his team’s Champions League clash against City, Ancelotti shared his thoughts on past and present award winners.
Lionel Messi took home the 2023 Ballon d’Or, finishing ahead of stars like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri, who placed fifth. But in 2024, the Manchester City midfielder finally claimed the prize, beating Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, who finished second and third.
That result didn’t sit well with the Madrid camp. In protest, the club, including Ancelotti, skipped the awards ceremony in Paris. While the Italian coach praised Rodri’s talent, he made it clear that he felt Vinicius should have been the 2024 winner.
“I don’t think skipping the ceremony was a bad decision,” Ancelotti said. “We believed Vini Jr. was the rightful winner. But that doesn’t mean we don’t respect Rodri. He’s a fantastic player, and in our view, he should have won it the year before.”
Sport
Pallister Tells Man United to Sign Isak Because He’s the Best Striker Right Now

Former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister has urged the club to prioritise signing Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, saying he would be the perfect fit for the Red Devils. Speaking with Metro, Pallister explained that while other strikers like Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen have been linked to the club, Isak stands out because of his proven record in the Premier League.
“Alexander Isak is proven in the Premier League,” Pallister said. “He would be my ideal signing for United. He’s the one I believe can help the club get back to their best. United badly need a reliable goalscorer.” Liverpool are also reportedly in the race for Isak and Osimhen as they look to strengthen their attack ahead of next season.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are determined to keep Isak after securing a UEFA Champions League spot, but reports suggest they will only consider offers in the region of £200 million for the Swedish striker.
Sport
Gallas Says Cole Palmer is Like Zidane for Chelsea and the Team Depends on Him

Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has compared Cole Palmer to Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, saying the young midfielder has quickly become the heart of Chelsea’s squad. Speaking in an interview with Prime Casino, Gallas explained that Palmer’s role in the team reminds him of how Zidane was the key figure for the French national team, stressing that Palmer’s influence at Chelsea is undeniable and he needs to be protected.
“Cole Palmer reminds me of Zidane with France, in terms of his value to the team,” Gallas said. “Everyone knew Zidane was the main man and you see the same thing with Palmer at Chelsea. It just comes naturally to him, and that’s why he must be protected.”
Palmer left Manchester City for Chelsea during the 2023 summer transfer window after struggling to get regular playing time under Pep Guardiola. Since then, he has cemented his place as a vital part of Chelsea’s attack. Despite not having the most impressive year so far, with only three goals to his name in 2025, the England international played a crucial role in Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League final victory, providing two assists as they beat Real Betis 4-1.
Sport
Galatasaray Asks Osimhen to Make Decision About His Future Before July Ends

The management of Turkish giants Galatasaray has reportedly told Victor Osimhen and his camp to speed up talks about his future and not delay their response beyond early July. This was revealed by a well-known football analyst Serkan Korkmaz during a recent update on Osimhen’s situation on Kontraspor’s YouTube channel.
According to Korkmaz, Galatasaray made it clear they don’t want the negotiations to drag endlessly. He explained, “Good news has come in for Galatasaray supporters. The club has asked Osimhen and his team to make a decision by the start of July. They want clarity on the situation soon.”
It’s understood that Galatasaray remains interested and hasn’t pulled out of the race, but they have now set a rough deadline for talks to conclude. Osimhen recently completed his loan spell with Galatasaray, which ended a few weeks ago. The Super Eagles striker, who initially joined from Napoli, is currently on summer break.
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