Soccer

5:00 AM ET It is an immense quirk that we get about 10% of the way through the soccer season before the rosters are actually locked into place. It’s difficult for an American sports fan to grasp, I’m sure. In college football, rosters are mostly set three months before the season starts. In professional sports,

12:26 PM ET Gwendolyn Oxenham Last month, former USWNT star Heather O’Reilly came out of retirement and joined Irish club Shelbourne FC ahead of their Champions League campaign. David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images When Shelbourne FC team captain Pearl Slattery picked up her two teammates, Shauna Fox and Izzy Glennon, for the drive to training in

2:12 PM ET Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best ever to play the game, but at 37 years old, the Man United star is stuck in a tough situation. While he contributed plenty of goals since returning to Old Trafford last summer — notching 24 times in 38 appearances across all competitions — his

8:02 AM ET Manchester United have agreed a €95 million transfer fee, plus €5m in add-ons, to sign Ajax winger Antony. He will be the second-most expensive player in the club’s history (behind the €105m they spent to re-sign Paul Pogba from Juventus in 2016), but is he the player to save the club? 2

3:10 PM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Manchester United are close to signing goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from Newcastle, sources have told ESPN. Dubravka is set to move to Old Trafford on loan with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season. – Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)– Don’t have

3:41 PM ET Edinson Cavani spent two seasons with Manchester United. Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images Former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani will join Valencia on free transfer, the Spanish club announced on social media on Monday. The Uruguay team forward, 35, was available after his contract expired earlier in summer after spending the last

8:00 AM ET Life has come full circle for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, and he has now become a handbrake on the team’s prospects of a successful future. It is time for United to let him go because the positive dividend on the pitch will, sooner or later, outweigh the financial cost of allowing

9:32 PM ET Another weekend of headlines, golazos and unpredictable finishes across Europe’s biggest leagues. From Liverpool‘s 9-0 shellacking of Bournemouth, to Robert Lewandowski scoring yet another brace for Barcelona, there was no shortage of drama. ESPN correspondents Rob Dawson, Alex Kirkland, Julien Laurens, Sam Marsden, James Tyler and James Olley break down the big

3:44 PM ET Aug 28 (Reuters) – Robert Lewandowski scored his second consecutive brace as Barcelona breezed past Real Valladolid with a comfortable 4-0 LaLiga victory on Sunday. It was Barca’s second win from three games in the new season and moved them up to second in the table with seven points, two behind leaders

8:19 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal for Ajax winger Antony, sources have told ESPN. Negotiations between the clubs have progressed well over the weekend and there is now confidence an agreement will be reached before the transfer deadline on Thursday. – Ten Hag’s Man United revolution takes another

9:51 AM ET Manchester United celebrate after their 55th-minute winning goal. EPA/VINCE MIGNOTT SOUTHAMPTON, England — Bruno Fernandes proved to be Manchester United‘s match winner, scoring the only goal of the game in the victory against Southampton on Saturday. A clean sheet and an away win was another landmark moment as new coach Erik ten Hag

2:48 PM ET Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said he didn’t want to “humiliate” Bournemouth after his team’s Premier League record-equalling 9-0 victory on Saturday. Klopp had called for a reaction from his side after being held to draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace as well as a defeat to Manchester United on Monday. – Liverpool

9:23 AM ET Fernandes celebrates after putting Manchester United ahead at St. Mary’s Stadium. Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images Manchester United continued their improved start to the Premier League season as Bruno Fernandes provided a tidy finish to help Erik ten Hag’s side to a 1-0 win over Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.

4:30 AM ET Alex KirklandESPN FC Want to know how important Casemiro was to Real Madrid? Ask Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Two-thirds of the most iconic midfield trio in modern football — with apologies to Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta — are now facing up to life without the man Modric called

3:24 PM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Manchester United are considering whether to make an improved bid for Antony after seeing a €90 million offer rejected by Ajax on Friday, sources have told ESPN. United increased their bid after a €80m offer was turned down earlier this month, but it has not been enough to tempt Ajax

4:00 AM ET Sir Jim Ratcliffe has heard nothing from Manchester United since declaring an interest in buying the club — ESPN’s Insider Notebook has the latest. PLUS: Barcelona are worried about Antoine Griezmann’s future at Atletico Madrid. Jump to: Barca and Atletico in Griezmann row | Leicester’s financial fears | Ten Hag wants to

1:10 PM ET Barcelona have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the group stages of the 2022-23 Champions League, which sees Robert Lewandowski facing an early return to his former club while Manchester City‘s Erling Haaland will reunite with his ex-club, Borussia Dortmund. Lewandowski ended his eight-year spell at Bayern acrimoniously in July to join

3:43 PM ET Finally, it’s time for the UEFA Champions League group stage! The road to the final began back in June with the first qualifying round, and now, the field of 78 teams has been whittled down to 32 and the groups have been drawn. Now we know where the narratives are, and there