Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny has praised Kylian Mbappé after the French forward scored a hat-trick against Barcelona in their 4-3 victory over Real Madrid on Sunday. Szczęsny, who was in goal during the match, pointed out that Mbappé has consistently scored against him, with the French star netting as many as nine goals in just five matches between the two.

The former Juventus keeper spoke highly of Mbappé’s relentless mentality, saying, “Even when things are tough for his team, he never gives up. I think he’s the player who’s scored the most goals against me. In four or five games, he’s put eight or nine goals past me.”

On a personal note, Szczęsny revealed that his current club is keen to extend his contract for another two years. However, he emphasized that the final decision would be a family matter, with his wife, Marina Luczenko, playing a key role in the decision-making process.

“I’ve been offered a new two-year deal, but I need to discuss it with my family to figure out what’s best for us. Most of the decisions at home are made by my wife, and I’m completely fine with that,” Szczęsny said. In his five matches against Mbappé, Szczęsny has only managed to win twice.

Real Madrid have confirmed that star forward Vinicius Junior has picked up an ankle injury following their 4-3 loss to Barcelona in El Clasico.

The Brazilian had to leave the pitch during the heated clash on Sunday, and the club has now revealed he’s dealing with a sprain in his left ankle. However, they didn’t provide a timeline for his return. “Medical tests have confirmed a sprained left ankle. His recovery is still being evaluated,” the club said in a brief update.

This comes as another blow for Madrid, who were already reeling from the painful defeat that may have dashed their La Liga title hopes. With only three matches remaining and a seven-point gap behind Barcelona, losing Vinicius at such a critical moment only adds to the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Chelsea have turned down Arsenal’s opening offer for promising England U-18 goalkeeper Freddy Bernal. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues showed no interest in entertaining the initial £1.25 million bid, making it clear they want to hold on to the young talent.

Despite the rejection, Arsenal are expected to return with an improved offer as they continue their push for the highly-rated shot-stopper. Chelsea, however, remain determined to keep Bernal at Stamford Bridge, where he’s seen as one for the future. Romano also mentioned that other clubs are keeping tabs on the young keeper’s situation.