Image source, Getty Images Raphinha has been described as a "hero" and a "game-changer" by Spanish press after his two goals helped Barcelona beat Real Madrid on Sunday to earn a fourth consecutive Super Cup win. It marks a shift in perception for a player whose first years at the club were defined by uncertainty. When the Brazilian arrived from Leeds United in July 2022, he delivered flashes of quality but his play was inconsistent.
However, he was said to have rejected it in order to continue his development as U18s lead coach, a role he took on last summer having previously served as U16s coach, first-team coach and technical director at United since ending a playing career that saw him make more than 340 appearances for the club across a 13-year spell that followed his graduation from the academy, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League alongside Carrick under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Browns made an out-of-left-field hire in 2023 when they brought Banda over from Utah State to coach safeties. Before joining Cleveland, Banda had no NFL experience, so there were questions about whether he would be a good fit. Banda has quickly become one of the better position coaches the Browns have. Grant Delpit has leveled up his game into an all-around safety under Banda's leadership - and really one of the more underrated safeties in the game.
The Twins have hired recently retired outfielder Michael A. Taylor as an outfield instructor, per Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He won't be a member of the big league coaching staff but will be in camp for several weeks this spring and will visit the Twins' minor league affiliates to work with their up-and-coming outfielders throughout the 2026 season. Taylor, 34, retired following the 2025 season.
The Rangers have recalled forward Brennan Othmann again. To make space, Anton Blidh was returned to the AHL. Othmann was reassigned on New Year's Day after the first wave of 2026 injuries that included Noah Laba and Conor Sheary. His reassignment then was due to bonuses in his contract making it impossible to keep him on the roster and still be cap compliant.
While taking a loss is never fun, the Raptors' defeat against the Celtics on January 9 had several redeeming qualities. In light of the unfortunate injuries to Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl (who is still working his way back to peak form), and an ill-timed ankle injury for RJ Barrett against Boston too, Toronto's crop of young players and reserves stepped up to make their mark.
McMann has shown this season that he can drive the play and generate offence. He has scored timely goals throughout the season and been a physical force within the top six. That versatility has made him a perfect fit under Craig Berube, but it has also significantly raised his market value. For a team already tight against the cap, McMann may have played himself into a price range the Leafs simply can't afford.
I think, for me, it's his skating and the speed in the middle of the ice more than anything. I really believe that he's attacking in the middle of the ice, he's demanding the puck in the middle of the ice, and he's doing a great job using his size and speed going through people.
As relayed by SPORT in a recent report, Rodriguez is determined to succeed at Barcelona at any cost and is pushing away any offer to leave the club to prove his worth to Hansi Flick. The youngster currently plays for Barça Atletic in the fourth division of Spanish football, and his quality has seen him attract interest and offers from several teams in higher divisions.
The endless possibilities, the sky being the limit: wonderkids bring our natural footballing instincts to dream big against all established wisdom and experience, and end up disappointed. With this in mind, and with Arsenal seemingly stacked with generational golden boys in recent seasons, it's odd now to look back at how Bukayo Saka burst onto the scene. There was little fanfare.
Nate Ament could emerge as a worthy high-risk, high-reward target for the Miami Heat in the 2026 NBA Draft, especially if this organization does trust its developmental system. In FanSided's Christopher Kline's latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft, the Heat roll the dice on Ament with the No. 19 overall pick. Even though he's been a bit hit or miss so far this season, he has the high-end raw talent that should make him an appealing target for Miami.
It was a game where they took the lead, but we had our chances before them. They scored in an avoidable situation, but despite that, we did well to look for the equaliser. I don't like to talk about this, but there were two incidents, which we also reviewed, that looked like clear penalties. Honestly, we're not interested in these discussions, though. The positive thing is that, despite the pitch being unplayable today, our players always tried to play the ball, even if the flow of play wasn't what it used to be.
When Jack Grealish arrived from Aston Villa for 100m in 2022, he was one of English football's most audacious, improvisational talents a player unafraid of expression. But the free roaming virtuoso of Villa Park became, for better or worse, a cog in Guardiola's relentless possession machine: his dribbles per game dropped by 40% in his first season at the club, and his flair and freedom was swapped for a regimented support role.
My memory of Eric is very good, he is one of the players you remember with respect because he is one of the players who has taught us coaches what it is to be a footballer of La Masia. His ball output, his way of playing is total Barça DNA,
Back in 2012, the Blue Jays signed Ureña for a signing bonus of $725,000. By 2016, Ureña reached Double-A and ranked as the Blue Jays' seventh-best prospect. Most of Ureña's 2017 was spent in Double-A, but since he was on the 40-man roster, he was called up to the big leagues that season and got some playing time In their 2017 rankings, MLB Pipeline ranked Ureña as their 94th-best prospect, but his stint with the Blue Jays didn't go so great.
Everton are weighing up ambitious loan moves for Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee as they look to strengthen David Moyes' squad during the January transfer window. According to iNews, the Merseyside club are assessing market opportunities that could add quality and depth without committing to large transfer fees, with both Man United stars viewed as potential short-term solutions who could make an immediate impact.
Not only did George flash the potential to be an immediately serviceable role player throughout a rookie season, but he proved almost immediately to start his sophomore campaign that there was more potential than what originally met the eye. Averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists, while shooting 46.7% from the field and 40.8% from beyond the arc, George has looked every bit like a core piece for the Wizards moving forward.
There's something very Dimitar Berbatov about Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Can Uzun - and we can't get enough. The Turkiye youngster mixes nonchalance, brilliant feet and a high number of shots to create an attacking profile that would fly off the shelves if sold in a footballing department store. Uzun is an elegant player, shifting the ball from his left foot to his right and vice versa, often in the penalty area or close to it and under intense pressure.
