Napoli attempted to sign Man City's Kalvin Phillips in the ‘final hours’ of the summer transfer window, with sporting director Giovanni Manna proposing an initial loan with option to buy, according to ArenaNapoli.

Djibril Cisse: “What [Wayne] Rooney said isn't cool [QPR intentionally handing Man City the title in 2012]. He took out his frustrations on me. It's not my fault.

If we wanted Man City to win the league, would it not have been a little risky to have waited until the very last minute to let them score?

We could've let them win 4–0 or 5–0 and gone home. But we played a strong team, the manager wanted to win. It wasn’t our reserve team.”

Happy Birthday, Traff! 🧤🩵

👕 Three appearances
🎯 Five goals
🅰️ One assist

@Erling_Haaland is September’s Premier League Player of the Month! 👏🩵

There are those in youth football circles that believe a loan away from Man City will be key to Divine Mukasa unlocking his full potential, but right now Pep Guardiola is eager to have him working closely and the idea was swiftly dismissed.

Kyle Walker: “Should I have left Man City and gone on loan to AC Milan? I was club captain, and you're first in line when things are not going really well. At that time, should I have left? Looking back now, probably no.

I should have stood by my team-mates, next to friends and people I class as family. But for the first time, probably in my career, I was selfish and thought about myself and I wanted to play. I don't see it as a bad reason but I wasn't happy sitting on the bench and getting a game here, there.

I felt I still had a point to prove I could still play at a high level. When a club like AC Milan comes I didn't think I could turn them down. When I came back in the summer I had time to reflect. I don't regret it as I always wanted to play abroad and experience that. I'm glad I did, but I probably could have done a bit better.”

Kyle Walker on leaving Man City to join AC @Milan on loan in January last season:

“Should I have left? Looking back at it now, probably not. I should've stood next to my team-mates and friends who I class as my family, but for the first time in my career I was selfish and thought about myself.

I wanted to play football. I don't see that as a bad reason, but I wasn't happy sitting on the bench, getting a game here and there whenever I could.

I felt that I still had a point to prove, that I could play football at a higher level, and when a club like AC @Milan comes, I didn't think I could turn it down, knowing I was on the bench...”

Oscar Bobb has a new rating, thanks to you 🔥

Ratings Reload, available in #FC26 now.

Haaland just missed a penalty, retook the penalty and missed it again for Norway🤣

GOAL! Erling Haaland scores for Norway vs Israel. 2-0. 🇳🇴⚽️ #FIFAWorldCup

GOAL! Erling Haaland scores again for Norway vs Israel. 4-0. 🇳🇴⚽️ #FIFAWorldCup

ERLING HAT-TRICK😤💙

Games taken to reach 50 senior international goals (select players):

🇳🇴 46, Erling Haaland
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 71, Harry Kane
🇫🇷 90, Kylian Mbappé
🇵🇱 90, Robert Lewandowski
🇦🇷 107, Lionel Messi
🇵🇹 114, Cristiano Ronaldo

[via OptaJoe]

2️⃣7️⃣ hat tricks

Still only 25.

#ManCity confirmed Txiki Begiristain would leave the club at the end of the 2024/25 season and be replaced by Hugo Viana of Sporting CP, one year ago today. ♻️

🚨 BREAKING:

Erling Haaland has been sent back to Manchester following Norway’s 5-0 trashing of Israel last night according to various Norwegian media outlets.

He’ll therefore miss Norway’s friendly against New Zealand.

This allows Haaland some much needed rest amid busy match schedule.