Football News From Around The Globe 2024-25 Soccer

[Franco Pinion]

Thomas Muller will leave Bayern Munich when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The former Germany international will depart after spending the entirety of his 17-year senior career with the Bundesliga club. He has made 743 appearances in that time, scoring 247 goals.

In December 2023, Muller signed a contract extension for a further year which saw his deal run until June 2025.

The 35-year-old has won the Bundesliga title 12 times with Bayern, including in 11 consecutive years from 2012 through to 2023. He also helped the club lift two Champions League titles in 2013 and 2020.

Muller revealed he had wanted to continue before what the club call a "mutual solution" was reached in recent days.

"The club has consciously decided not to negotiate a new contract with me for next season," Muller said. "Even if this did not correspond to my personal wishes, it is important that the club follows its convictions. Even after all these years, regardless of the minutes I play, I still have a lot of fun being on the pitch with the boys. I could have easily imagined playing this role next year as well.

"I respect this step, which the board and supervisory board certainly did not take lightly. I understandably did not like the back and forth in public over the past weeks and months. However, I treat it like I do my own football: It wasn't always characterised by perfection either, but rather with a positive, forward-thinking approach to the next move. After a bad pass, it is important to win the ball back and be unified. We have achieved this in recent days with honest discussions on this matter as well."

Great player and a great servant to Bayern over the years (and the German national team). I was shocked to learn he is only 35! He seems to have been around forever.

 

[Dylan]

Incredible career. Little about Muller's footballing prowess suggested world class and yet he patently was. Awkward, unorthodox and ceaselessly effective.

 

[John Steed]

Jürgen Klopp has reportedly agreed to negotiate a return to management with Real Madrid, with the Spanish club believing the German would be a boost for the team.

Carlo Ancelotti is also reportedly expected to leave Real Madrid after the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26 and will not finish the season.

 

[Franco Pinion]

Jürgen Klopp has reportedly agreed to negotiate a return to management with Real Madrid, with the Spanish club believing the German would be a boost for the team.

That would be a bitter one for Liverpool fans! I think Xabi Alonso will be their next manager.

 

[Black Sheep]

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave the club and will take the Brazil head coach role.

He will join Brazil for their matches in June; his contract with the national team is not expected to be long-term.

 

[Black Sheep]

Scottish midfielder, Scott McTominay scored both goals for Napoli in their 2-0 win over Torino. The win takes Napoli 3 points clear of Inter Milan in Serie A with 4 games remaining.

McTominay has broken Denis Law's scoring record for a Scottish player in Serie A history with 11 goals.

 

[Best]

A drama-drenched penultimate weekend saw both Napoli and Inter Milan draw, meaning the Serie A title race will go down to the final matches.

Managers Antonio Conte and Simone Inzaghi were also sent off from the touchline, meaning neither will be on the touchline for the last league game of the season

Napoli currently holds a one-point lead over Inter going into games against Cagliari and Como, respectively.

Sure, there will be plenty of final-day drama.