I spent four months in the company of #Millwall captain Jake Cooper

It was an eventful period that ended with a painful defeat in the playoffs this week

This tells the story of that time and what life looks like for an EFL footballer

(Free to read)

nytimes.com/athletic/72727…

'The system now, they don’t like players like me. They don’t like a player with great dribbling skills who makes the fans stand up. You must find a balance - you are not there to just do stepovers and kill your team. But it’s very important to keep this'

nytimes.com/athletic/77530…

🇲🇽 Deciding to leave Mexico after his children were racially abused
🇵🇹 Falling out with Mourinho, who publicly called him 'overweight'
🇬🇷 Turning down a €26m offer for his Greek mythology-inspired card game
✨ Loving Cherki - and fearing flair players are a dying breed

Allan ng in the US, making the MLS play-offs with Charlotte FC.

After a turbulent few years he is hoping for some stability, the kind he enjoyed at Newcastle under his favourite manager, Steve Bruce.

📝 @TBurrows16

🔗 nyti.ms/4iZa62M

Sat down for more than 90 minutes with Allan Saint-Maximin

We discussed the racial abuse his children suffered at school in Mexico, a new adventure with Charlotte FC, his loyalty to #NUFC, playing for Mourinho and a €26m offer for his Helios game

nytimes.com/athletic/77530…

Jason Wilcox is in the spotlight at #MUFC after Lisandro Martinez interview, amid poor form.

A read on his role.

Hired from Southampton; seen as Txiki peer by Berrada; highlighted Russell Martin during head coach talks in May ‘24; speaks Ratcliffe’s language ⬇️

w @J_Tanswell @MarioCortegana

nytimes.com/athletic/77478…

In the past three summer transfer windows, Lille have made huge profits from selling academy graduates.

Leny Yoro moved to Manchester United for an initial €62million (£52m, $69m), with €8m in add-ons.

Lucas Chevalier went to Paris Saint-Germain for around €40m.

Ayyoub chester City for an initial €95m, plus €5m in potential add-ons.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who spent six years in Lille’s academy before joining Gent and later returning to the club, was sold this summer to Newcastle United in a deal worth €60m plus add-ons.

They claim to "do things differently" and will not sign a player if they think it will block an academy product's route to the first team.

@TBurrows16 went behind the scenes at one of Europe's top talent factories.

🔗 nyti.ms/4A3j3Ol

I went behind the scenes at Lille to explore the academy that has produced talents like Bouaddi - and a new era under Davide Ancelotti

Includes interviews with Ancelotti, president Letang & Nabil Bentaleb on his return after suffering a cardiac arrest

nytimes.com/athletic/77320…

Ivan Toney has today pleaded not guilty to assaulting a man at a bar in central London last year

His trial is set for June 12, 2028 - just three days after Euro 2028 kicks off in the UK and Republic of Ireland

nytimes.com/athletic/77352…

Emotional exit by Michael Carrick as fans sing his name. A farewell?

Supporters turn on players once Carrick down tunnel.

#MUFC

🔺 Gabriel’s importance to Arsenal
🔺 Odegaard in outstanding form
🔺 How Gyokeres fared on his first PL start this campaign
🔺 Arsenal’s first set piece goal this season

The key takeaways from Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Everton with @ArtdeRoche

nytimes.com/athletic/77196…

A fitting tribute to Arsenal life president Ken Friar before today’s match at the Emirates

Who should win the men’s Ballon d’Or?

That's the question our reporters asked 100 people in football — players and managers, past and present, coaches, sporting directors, scouts, presidents and other executives from around the world.

There were some slightly eyebrow-raising Bundesliga sporting director voted for Declan Rice in second place.

A former international player and manager picked Marc Cucurella in third.

A former Premier League coach chose Marquinhos in third place.

The winner? Harry Kane. By some margin.

📝 @NickMiller79, @Conor0Neill_

Free to read 🆓 bit.ly/4yzwqoa

Galatasaray fans celebrate their 4-2 win in Lille tonight outside the Stade Pierre-Mauroy

Their first victory in this season’s Champions League

Lille home supporters hold up a banner reading 'Lille contre les casseurs, soutien aux commercants' ('Lille against the vandals, support for the shopkeepers') following last weekend’s riots 

LOSC had been leading Galatasaray 2-1, but currently trail 4-2

FIFA’s controversial Peace Prize could be scrapped at the end of the year — only 12 months after U.S. President Donald Trump received the award.

Full story from @Dan_Sheldon_ — free to read ⬇️

bit.ly/4ypbC2U

Report from Lyon, where Pierre Sage had an unhappy homecoming

His first nine games at Crystal Palace has seen 33 goals. There’s no shortage of entertainment under the Frenchman, but too much of it is coming at Palace’s expense

Brighton (a) next

#CPFC

nytimes.com/athletic/76941…

Chants of ‘Pierre Sage’ from the home Lyon supporters at the Groupama Stadium

Not the homecoming the Crystal Palace manager wanted this evening. A much improved second half for Palace, but so open defensively again

#OLCRY

▪️ How Arteta's triple change had the desired effect (again)
▪️ The power of the Arsenal bench
▪️ Eze's first goal of the season
▪️ The Madueke left/right wing conundrum

#AFC briefing from their 3-0 #UCL victory over Lille with @LiamTharmeCoach

nytimes.com/athletic/76836…

A warm reception for Olivier Giroud on his return to the Emirates tonight

Now 40 years old, Giroud scored 105 goals for Arsenal over almost six years

Rui Pinto - the Portuguese whistleblower whose leaks led to the investigation into Manchester City - features in the new mural in the tunnel outside the Emirates Stadium

For the first time since Manchester City were found guilty of more than 100 Premier League charges, supporters of English top-flight teams returned to stadiums this weekend, with City's fate inevitably a hot topic of conversation.

We spoke to fans at Premier League games up and d out how they feel about City now - and what sanctions they feel would be fair if an appeal fails.

📝 @TBurrows16

Free to read: bit.ly/4zqINDQ