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• Zinedine Zidane rejects Man United approach for verbal agreement with France

  Zinedine Zidane has reportedly turned down long-standing interest from Manchester United after reaching a verbal agreement to manage the French national team following the 2026 World Cup. ​Zinedine Zidane is reportedly finalizing a verbal agreement to succeed Didier Deschamps as France manager after the 2026 World Cup. This move effectively ends years of speculation linking the former Real Madrid boss to Manchester United. Zidane previously expressed hesitation regarding the Premier League due to language barriers, stating: “I understand English but I don’t fully master it… I work differently.” ​The 53-year-old has remained out of management since 2021, strategically waiting for the national team vacancy. While United recently appointed Michael Carrick on a temporary basis, Zidane’s focus remains on Les Bleus. He recently reaffirmed his long-term ambitions, telling the Festival dello Sport: “My feeling is that I want to be able to coach the national team in the future… I would like to one day.”

• How Kylian Mbappé reacted to Gonzalo Garcia’s hat-trick in Betis win

  Injured superstar Kylian Mbappé enthusiastically celebrated from the stands as youngster Gonzalo García scored twice to lead Real Madrid to a 3-1 win over Real Betis.

  Real Madrid’s rising star Gonzalo García stole the spotlight at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, delivering a dominant performance against Real Betis.

  Filling in while senior stars watched from the sidelines, the young forward proved his worth to manager Xabi Alonso.

  Gonzalo opened the scoring with a clinical header before doubling the lead with a spectacular second-half volley, anchoring a 3-1 victory for the league leaders.

  Watching from the stands, an injured Kylian Mbappé could not hide his excitement for his young teammate’s breakthrough.

  As Gonzalo’s “worldie” hit the back of the net, cameras captured the French superstar looking “nothing short of delighted for his young teammate.”

  Mbappé’s visible support highlighted a strong sense of camaraderie within the squad, even as he remains temporarily sidelined from domestic action.

  The result solidifies Real Madrid’s position at the top of the La Liga table under Alonso’s guidance.

  While Gonzalo García dominated the headlines with his first career brace for the senior side, the match also served as a testament to the club’s depth.

  With veterans and youngsters clicking in unison, Los Blancos continue to look like the team to beat in Spain’s top flight this season.

• AFCON VAR malfunction denies Benin penalty in DR Congo defeat

  A technical VAR failure prevented a crucial late penalty review for Benin during their 1-0 loss to DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations.

  Democratic Republic of Congo secured a 1-0 victory over Benin in their AFCON Group D opener, but the match was overshadowed by a significant VAR malfunction.

  Theo Bongonda scored the decisive goal early on, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Yohan Roche.

  While the technology successfully intervened earlier to disallow a second DRC goal for offside, it failed at a critical juncture in the second half when Benin appealed for a handball.

  The controversy erupted when DRC captain Chancel Mbemba appeared to block a cross with his arm.

  Despite the potential for a match-altering penalty, referee Abongile Tom was unable to review the incident because the pitchside monitor stopped working.

  Replays remained inconclusive, and officials later confirmed the system had failed. The glitch left Benin unable to equalize, sparking outrage within their camp as they slumped to a narrow defeat.

  Benin head coach Gernot Rohr praised his team’s resilience despite the technical drama.

  Addressing the media, he stated: “We witnessed a very good football match that did not deserve a loser. My team made me proud.

  We will now prepare well for the match against Botswana, with the advantage of having our suspended players back.”

  Meanwhile, VAR was restored for the day’s subsequent fixture between Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.

• Real Madrid stands with Vinicius Junior amid Bernabeu criticism

  Real Madrid has publicly voiced support for Vinicius Junior after he was booed by home fans at the Bernabeu following a period of poor form and ongoing contract disputes.

  Real Madrid’s victory over Sevilla on Saturday was marred by a surprising rift between Vinicius Junior and the home supporters.

  As the 24-year-old was substituted in the second half, loud jeers erupted from the Santiago Bernabeu stands.

  The Brazilian forward did not verbally react on the pitch, but he signaled his frustration on social media by changing his profile picture to a Brazil jersey and posting match photos with the cryptic caption: “…”.

  The incident occurs against a backdrop of simmering tensions regarding stalled contract negotiations and a dip in the player’s on-field form.

  Despite the friction with the hierarchy, the club has opted to support their star publicly.

  Reports indicate that “Real Madrid are on Vinicius’ side,” even as senior officials remain privately “concerned about his situation” and his struggle to recapture the elite level of performance he displayed during the previous season.

  The upcoming winter break provides a timely reprieve for Vinicius before Real Madrid returns to action against Real Betis on January 4th.

  Having previously demonstrated the “mental strength to bounce back from this,” the forward is expected to use the time away to reset.

  The club remains hopeful that his next appearance at the Bernabeu will be met with “more cheers and celebrations” as they

• Scott McTominay debunks ‘myth’ of players improving after leaving Man United

  An analysis of Manchester United’s current form suggests that the belief the team would significantly improve following Scott McTominay’s sale to Napoli has largely proven to be a myth.

  The departure of Scott McTominay to Napoli was initially framed by some as a necessary step in Manchester United’s tactical evolution.

  However, recent analysis suggests the “improvement myth” surrounding his exit is beginning to unravel. While the club sought a more technical midfield profile, they have struggled to replicate McTominay’s unique ability to provide late goals and physical presence.

  Critics argue that the team has lost a “clutch” performer without gaining the promised control.

  Data indicates that United’s midfield balance remains precarious under Ruben Amorim, despite the arrival of new profiles.

  The article highlights that while McTominay was often criticized for his limited ball progression, his defensive work rate and box-to-box energy are proving difficult to replace.

  As the team continues to drop points in the Premier League, the narrative that United are better off without him is being increasingly questioned by analysts and supporters alike.

  The transition to a more possession-based style has yet to yield consistent results, leading to internal debates about the wisdom of the summer sale.

  One prevailing sentiment suggests that the “McTominay myth” was built on a desire for a different style of football that the current squad is not yet equipped to play.

  As one expert observed, “The club traded a reliable, albeit limited, physical presence for a vision of technical superiority that hasn’t materialized on the pitch.”