Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: May 16, 2026, 11:44 PM ET

European Management Changes

Jose Mourinho confirmed that his agent, Jorge Mendes, is in contact with Real Madrid over potentially returning as coach for next season, while Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa expressed happiness at the prospect of Mourinho replacing him at the Spanish giants. This potential managerial transition comes amid growing speculation about Pep Guardiola's future, with the Manchester City insisting he has "one more year" remaining on his contract despite ongoing rumors about his departure. Guardiola recently guided Manchester City to FA Cup victory but dismissed suggestions that this would be his last visit to Wembley as manager.

Premier League Drama

Liverpool's collapse continued with a 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa that jeopardized their Champions League qualification prospects, leaving manager Arne Slot admitting his side "crumbled" during the match. Jamie Carragher criticized Liverpool for having far too many "weak" players, while Mohamed Salah called on the team to return to being a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear" after their trophyless season. In contrast, Aston Villa secured Champions League qualification at Liverpool's expense, with Unai Emery criticizing Harvey Elliott's lack of involvement during his loan spell from Liverpool as "embarrassing for everyone involved." Manchester City's FA Cup win means the top eight in the Premier League will now qualify for Europe, with sixth potentially still ending up in the Champions League.

Scottish Premiership Finale

Celtic dramatically snatched the Scottish Premiership title on the final day after an eight-month chase, with Martin O'Neill saying the club has given him "reasons to live" after their triumph. Hearts claimed Celtic's victory was aided by a "menacing and threatening atmosphere" inside the stadium that forced them to leave Celtic Park immediately after the final whistle. The Tynecastle club's owners pleaded that the destination of the title be "decided by the players on the pitch" rather than by match officials, while Wilfried Nancy described his 33-day tenure as Celtic manager as a "beautiful experience" but contended it's a "no brainer" that he didn't get long enough to change the culture. Celtic chased Hearts for eight months, 32 games, 2,880 on-field minutes and 48 hours before finally catching them in the season's dying embers.

Transfer Market Activity

Liverpool and Manchester United are interested in Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga, while Manchester United are targeting Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams. Newcastle are reportedly holding firm on Anthony Gordon's valuation amid links with Bayern Munich, with manager Eddie Howe admitting Gordon could have played his final match for the club. Tottenham are pursuing Aston Villa forward Kirsty Hanson, and Barcelona's interest in Chelsea's Joao Pedro continues. Juventus are hoping to beat their rivals to sign Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, while Chelsea are reportedly monitoring Real Sociedad forward Ander Barrenetxea. Liverpool are considering four players, and Brentford's Michael Kayode is