Stories By Harry De Cosemo

• Sport

  Raphael Varane could be the final piece of Man United jigsaw

  Proceed with caution, that is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s approach when it comes to Man United’s attempt to sign Raphael Varane. Players like Raphael Varane are rare and signing someone of that quality takes a whole lot of courage and money but needs to be matched by luck.

• Sport

  Euro 2020 hero Gianluigi Donnarumma entering unchartered territory in Paris

  There was one moment, more than any other, which signified that England were in trouble on Sunday night. Wembley was in full swing and, after an unpleasant and difficult night off the pitch, ready for a fitting conclusion to the Euro 2020 final.

• Sport

  Clubs should be wary of reactive transfers for Euro 2020 stars

  After the return of fans to football and the change in atmosphere and familiarity that it brings, the pandemonium and the sense of making up for lost time, Euro 2020 is over. It could have been England’s crowning moment, an end to the bitter anguish we love to spin as brilliant real-life drama and romance; a chance to celebrate something real.

• Sport

  Everton Olympic u-turn could keep Richarlison at Goodison Park

  Carlo Ancelotti was sticky tape to a gaping wound at Everton but last month that wound was exposed. Rumours circulating in obscure corners of the Spanish media soon began to gather a frightening pace and, within a matter of a couple of days, talk of Ancelotti returning to Real Madrid for a second spell became fact.

• Sport

  Messi contract saga highlights Barcelona turmoil

  The circus surrounding the Barcelona contract of Lionel Messi expiring was primarily led by Real Madrid-centric tabloid TV show El Chiringuito, which went viral for its rather comedically straight-faced scapegoating of Eden Hazard after he was seen laughing with Chelsea players following Los Blancos’ Champions League exit.

• Sport

  Gareth Bale future unclear after Euro 2020

  The dust may finally be settling but the emotions are still raw and painful. Given how the hype train returned with great ferocity ahead of Wales’ delayed Euro 2020 campaign, five years on from their heroic trail to the semi finals in France, exiting as they did with such a flat, meek performance against Denmark in the last 16 was tough to take.

• Sport

  Premier League will miss understated but brilliant Wijnaldum

  Gini Wijnaldum left Liverpool with respect and love. He had proven himself at Anfield, as the first cog in Jürgen Klopp’s unstoppable Red machine. It was the summer of 2017, the German’s maiden summer in charge and he had inherited a middling squad from Brendan Rodgers.

• Sport

  Levy making a mess of Tottenham Hotspur job search

  Julian Nagelsmann was rumoured but then was quickly ruled out. It was the same for Brendan Rodgers. Antonio Conte stories appeared but didn’t stick around. There were closely followed, bizarrely, by Mauricio Pochettino.

• Sport

  Spain struggling with identity at Euro 2020

  It was Luis Aragones who had to admit he was wrong. That is what it took to make Spain great. Before 2007, La Roja were the nearly men; the bridesmaids and the flatter-to-deceivers. They had a sole international title to their name in 1964 when, as hosts, they won the European Championships.

• Sport

  Gareth Southgate gets it right when it matters most

  There is a bigger picture and, when it matters, Gareth Southgate always seems to see it. Being England manager has always felt as pressurised as Prime Minister of Great Britain but Southgate has almost begun to combine the two roles.

• Sport

  Crunch time for Rafa Benitez as he bids for Premier League return

  Rafa Benitez is an oxymoron. To him, football is meticulous; it is a plan, an aim and a problem to be solved. He never gets lost in the moment and when a goal goes in, he’s straight in there with an instruction to the nearest member of his playing staff.

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