Put your money on Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful football manager of the modern era, stepping down as boss of Manchester United at the end of next season. It will surely be a sad day for football, with millions of United fans the world over weeping into their beer glasses and drying their eyes...

Every once in a while, a young lad bursts on to the scene and reminds us all why we love the beautiful game; a player who can dribble without fear, tackle with courage and grab your attention for the full 90. This time around, Sergio Canales might just be that player. Sixteen months after making his...

The January transfer season began in earnest this week with rumors flying that Manchester City and Barcelona were working on a deal involving Robinho. But chalk it up to pure speculation because this transfer doesn’t make sense for either club. Here are three reasons why: Barcelona Can’t...

Torres for Messi? Pato for Villa? While footy fans spend hours debating superstar transfer swap deals, rarely is one actually pulled off. The most recent player for player swap of any real significance occurred in 2007 and involved Chelsea’s William Gallas plus £5m for Arsenal’s Ashley Cole. Although...

You’ve heard the old adage: “Everyone has a price.” But are there exceptions in the high-stakes business of world football? In the past couple of days it looks increasingly likely that Manchester City are going to fail in their bid to lure Chelsea’s John Terry up north.  Despite...

Remember the days when you used to come home from an after school kick-about boasting about the double hat-trick you bagged? Well, Jonathan Pereira can do just that…but this time for Villarreal. During a recent pre-season ‘friendly’ against amateur side Navata, Villarreal racked up an astounding...

With Jermaine Pennant’s move to Real Zaragoza, Spain’s gone and done it again: nicking another player from England.  Okay, fine, Pennant is not in the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo. (And until this coming season, Real Zaragoza were not in the same league as Real Madrid!) But give credit where...

With the additions of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Real Madrid attack and rumors of the impending arrivals of Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery, a host of talented Dutch internationals could be up for grabs. Ahead of a crucial pre-World Cup season, Footy Factor assesses their prospects at the Bernabeu: Arjen...

It’s fair to say that up until last week it was inconceivable to think that a club would splash out ₤80m on a single player. Smashing Kaka’s short lived world record transfer by more than ₤20m, the Ronaldo saga proves that in football, anything is possible. It will take a numbe of seasons...

Winners Sir Alex Ferguson: During his time in Manchester, Sir Alex has lived by one principle –no player is bigger than the club. (Not Becks. Not RVN. Not Jaap Stam.)  Ronaldo’s departure might throw the team’s starting XI out of shape – but it’s given the gaffer who has won everything possible...