Both sides have been magnificent in the competition so far, with Paris Saint-Germain notably knocking out Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal en-route to the final.
The French club have never won the Champions League and are on the verge of achieving a remarkable treble after winning Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
As for Inter, the Italian giants impressively beat Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the knockout phase and are aiming to win their fourth UCL and first since Jose Mourinho’s treble-winners in 2010.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash, here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Champions League final for free and on TV in the UK:
The 2025 Champions League final is being held at the Allianz Arena in Munich (Photo: Getty)
What time does the game kick-off?
The Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan will kick-off at 8pm tonight.
The match is being held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, home of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Is the Champions League final on YouTube for free?
Unlike previous years, TNT Sports will not be live streaming the Champions League final on their YouTube channel.
However, fans can still watch the final for free on discovery+. All you need to do is register a free account on discovery+ without signing up to a package and you’ll be able to tune in to the game.
Rio Ferdinand will leave TNT Sports after the final (Photo: Getty)
The live stream can be viewed across a range of devices from smartphones and tablets to laptops and smart TVs.
How to watch on TV in the UK
TNT Sports customers can watch the Champions League final on TV.
The match will be shown on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage getting underway at 6pm.
Their punditry team will include Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand in his final game before he leaves the broadcaster.
But when the biggest prize in European club football is at stake the showpiece occasions tend to be tentative, cautious affairs with less than three goals being scored in the last six deciders – four of them finishing 1-0 with the other pair being 2-0 at full-time.
The winners were Real Madrid, twice, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Liverpool and they all had few problems whacking in the goals on their way to those finals.
An interesting factor in this box-office attraction is PSG boast the youngest squad in the competition and Inter the oldest, and both have changed their style of play in certain aspects since the group stages with the French club becoming more defensively minded after a swashbuckling start and Inter doing the reverse and being more cavalier in their approach.
This is the fourth Champions League or European Cup final to be staged in Munich and the previous winners – Nottingham Forest in 1979, Marseille in 1993, Borussia Dortmund four years later and Chelsea in 2012 – were first-time winners which augers well for PSG, who are chasing their initial success in this competition after losing to Bayern Munich in Lisbon five years ago.
Lautaro Martinez can strike for Inter in Munich (Picture: Getty Images)
Inter have lifted the trophy three times – in 1964, 1965, and 2010 – but have also suffered the agony of being runners-up in 1967, 1972 and a couple of years ago when they lost 1-0 to Manchester City.
PSG vs Inter Milan odds
Under 2.5 goals is 10/11 with bet365, BoyleSports, StarSports and others which allows for the 1-0/2-0 trend to continue but also offers the options of 0-0 and 1-1 draws after 90 minutes and Betfred have priced up the match being all square and heading into extra-time at 12/5.
Inter, fired up after losing their Serie A title to Napoli in a close finish to the season, would then be at a big disadvantage as PSG’s younger, fresher legs would help them nick victory and they are 13/20 with Unibet and BetMGM to be singing ‘Champione…’ when all’s done and dusted.
Ousmane Dembele has scored 32 times this season and is 9/5 with Betway to score for PSG inside 90 minutes. Inter striker Lautaro Martinez has been dealing with injuries but has been used sparingly since the semi-final triumph and is 12/5 with StarSports to celebrate a goal in Munich.
Gyokeres is expected to leave Sporting this summer (Picture: Getty Images)
Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder has named Real Madrid as the ‘perfect match’ for Viktor Gyokeres this summer.
The Sporting Lisbon star is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe after another incredible haul in Portugal this season, ending the campaign with 51 goals in 53 appearances.
The expectation is the 26-year-old will leave the Portuguese capital this summer, thought to be available for a fee of around £58million.
Chelsea have also made an approach and while the Blues are close to wrapping up a deal to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, a more experienced option up top could also be considered.
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Manchester United meanwhile have long-standing interest with Ruben Amorim keen to be reunited with his former Sporting star. Their failure to qualify for the Champions League next season however has damaged their chances of competing for Europe’s top talent this summer.
While one of the continent’s most prolific marksmen, Arsenal and Chelsea’s interest in other options has complicated Gyokeres’ future.
Gyokeres expected to leave Portugal this summer (Picture: Getty Images)
Barcelona have also been credited with interest but former Real star Sneijder has claimed a move to the Santiago Bernabeu could be the perfect solution for both parties.
‘You have to pick a team which works for your playing style,’ Sneijder told Metro courtesy of BetMGM. ‘At the moment, maybe Real [should consider signing him]. If it allows Kylian Mbappe to move back to the left then maybe it’s a perfect match.’
While Mbappe has operated through the middle for Real in his first season in Spain, the France international is at his devastating best down the left – the role currently occupied by Vinicius Jr. While Real boast one of the most fearsome attacks in Europe, doubts have also emerged over the future of Rodrgyo, with the Brazil international considering his future with Chelsea and Arsenal among those interested in his services.
Which Premier League club should Viktor Gyokeres join?
Arsenal
It’s obvious why a move to the Emirates Stadium might appeal to Gyokeres. Arsenal look set for a third successive second-place finish in the Premier League and they have come so close to winning the title without an out-and-out striker.
Gyokeres would be an immediate upgrade on Mikel Arteta’s current options, which include ex-Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, the injured Gabriel Jesus and makeshift striker (at least since Arsenal’s injury crisis) Mikel Merino.
More than just a goalscorer – as 12 assists so far this season shows – Gyokeres would also thrive in an Arsenal team that requires more from their forwards than just a poacher.
Players speak glowingly of Arteta and Arsenal would be a stable environment for Gyokeres to continue his development and perhaps be the difference for a team who have aspirations of winning trophies on the regular over the next few years.
Manchester United
Old Trafford was immediately tipped as Gyokeres’ future destination when Ruben Amorim left Sporting Lisbon to replace Erik ten Hag.
Gyokeres’ incredible first season came under Amorim and the ex-Sporting boss looks set to welcome a new striker to the club this summer after being left underwhelmed by expensive but struggling signings Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
The chance to reunite with Amorim will be tempting for Gyokeres, who would also be joining one of the biggest clubs in the world despite their recent struggles.
The problem, of course, is Manchester United – deep in the bottom-half of the Premier League – will be without Champions League football next season.
Louis Sealey | Deputy Sports Editor, Metro
While his next destination may not be decided yet, Gyokeres is expected to leave Sporting this summer to take on a new challenge. He will be expected to maintain his prolific record in front of goal wherever he lands, but Sneijder has warned the Swede will inevitably face a difficult period where he might initially struggle to win over his new fans.
‘The position of a striker, it is really important for the team. In the first month when you don’t score, they start arguing, the press will be against you, the fans will be against you because they know you can score a lot of goals and that is what they expect from you.
‘So it is a difficult one, deciding what is best for him. He is in position to make a transfer he has to make the right choice.’
Wesley Sneijder was speaking on behalf of BetMGM. You could win over £27m today with MGM Millions. BeGambleAware 18+
The 22-year-old scored 12 goals in 40 appearances for an Ipswich side that struggled badly last season and was relegated back to The Championship.
Delap only joined the Tractor Boys in a £15m move from Manchester City but impressed with his finishing power and brute strength which unsettled many a top flight defender.
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‘Liam Delap has quality, I think he has done a great job at Ipswich, but it’s a huge step,’ he told PokerStrategy.
Liam Delap scored 12 goals in 40 games for Ipswich(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
‘He has a really bright future and I have respect for him, but going from Ipswich to Chelsea is huge in terms of expectation and pressure, that number nine position at Chelsea has been a curse for so many players.
‘Chelsea need a striker who is going to score 25 goals a season, will Delap give you that? I’m not so sure.’
Petit, however, is far more confident about the talents of another youngster, Andrey Santos, who ehannced his reputation last term while on loan at Strasbourg.
‘Andrey Santos is having a great season at Strasbourg, so is Djorde Petrovic, they are having a great season as a team and it’s been a big surprise,’ he said.
Santos has thrived at French club Strasbourg (Picture: Getty)
Like Brest in the season before, they are fighting for a Champions League spot and they have played beautiful football. Santos is a young player who has improved a lot since last season, he can do whatever he wants on the pitch.
He can play as a central midfielder, a holding midfielder or elsewhere, he can do everything. He can score and assist and is a very talented player with a bright future ahead of him.
I think he could be the answer for Chelsea in midfield with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, I think he is the missing link.
Romeo Lavia is a good player but he is still learning. I just think that Santos will fit in perfectly at Chelsea.
Despite insisting there would be no quick fixes upon his arrival, the manner of United’s performances under Amorim would concern even the most ardent of optimists.
Seven wins in 27 Premier League games under the Portuguese coach saw the Red Devils finish a lowly 15th in the table, while United also wished away their only hope of silverware and a return to the Champions League with defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
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‘It’s been disappointing and you can’t get away from that,’ Ince told Metro ahead of his appearance at bet365’s Big Ticket Giveaway on Friday.
‘But the position that they’re in six months into Ruben Amorim is food for thought and concern. I know he hasn’t got the personnel that he wants in the team but also, I’ve not been convinced about the style and formation that he’s playing.
Ruben Amorim apologised on the pitch after United’s last game of the season (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s still Ten Hag’s team which was built for a different style, so now you’re seeing what happens when you play people out of position or in a system that many of them aren’t comfortable.
‘But my fear is whether he can make that formation work in any case. United have never played three at the back in their history, and apart from Inter, all the best teams in the world play with that back four.
A season of unwanted records for the Red Devils
Manchester United ended a Premier League season without winning back-to-back league games for the first time ever in the competition
For the first time in Premier League history, United went eight games in a row without a win
United ended the season with 42 points, their lowest total of the Premier League era (previous worst was 58 in 2021/22)
‘With a lot of that current squad, we’re not talking about bad players. Some of these players earn a lot of money, and regardless of the formation, they have to be playing at a level higher than they are right now. To be fifth from the bottom is absolutely disastrous.
‘They put all their eggs in one basket in terms of winning the Europa League and that performance was absolutely pathetic. Fans can understand performances dropping in the weeks before the final, but you have to show up, and they were diabolical. So the jury still has to be out.’
‘United’s transfer record must be questioned’
Manuel Ugarte is one of several recent signings who have been called into question (Picture: Getty)
After a disappointing campaign, United have already turned their focus to their latest summer rebuild as Amorim looks to put his spin on the squad.
But Ince insisted that United’s higher-ups must also first learn from their recruitment failures in previous windows if they are to truly begin building a squad capable of competing at the right end of the table.
I’m hopeful Amorim gets time, but I’m not entirely sure what the vision is
‘There’s plenty of work to be done from Amorim but also from those above because the recruitment has been really poor,’ added Ince.
‘Even if you look at that final, Luke Shaw has barely been fit all season and he has to fill in at centre back, you have a player like Ugarte who you spent £50m on and he doesn’t even start in the final.
‘What has happened to Mainoo? A guy who was a world-beater last year and in the England side and now can’t get a game. So these are the questions that need to be asked over the next three or four months.
Man United transfer latest
It promises to be a busy summer in the red half of Manchester as Amorim looks to rebuild his side ahead of the new season.
How will United strengthen up top? What does the future hold for the returning Antony and Jadon Sancho? And what about Marcus Rashford?
‘I look at other players and think, why weren’t United in the race for them? Declan Rice, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister – these types of players.
‘And conversely, no one seems to be challenging United for the players they want to buy, so that makes you think about the quality they’re bringing in and the recruitment strategy.
‘They’ve got new people in and so you hope it’s going to change but you don’t always get time. I’m hopeful Amorim gets time, but I’m not entirely sure what the vision is and if the formation works.’
‘This team needs more characters for the dressing room’
Paul Ince was speaking ahead of bet365’s Big Ticket Giveaway (Picture: bet365)
With a lack of European football next season, United may be forced to cash in on sellable assets to help raise funds for their latest transfer rebuild.
But Ince strongly urged his former club against parting ways with their captain, and instead said the club needs to focus on bringing in more leaders to support a young and under-pressure dressing room.
Who should United target this summer? Have your say in the comments belowComment Now
‘I don’t see where he leaders are at Man United,’ Ince said. ‘Fernandes is there and (Harry) Maguire has a bit of character, but the rest of them it feels like get swallowed up if things get bad.
‘That’s not being disrespectful because Man United does that to a lot of players. It demands so much and not everyone can deal with the enormity of playing for a club like that.
‘It’s not just the fans in the ground, but around the world, the front and the back pages of the media and some players can’t deal with that. A lot of this squad look that way.
That Claude Makélélé laugh says it all 😂 Ahead of the Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan we asked Liverpool and Manchester United legend Paul Ince, and PSG, Chelsea and Real Madrid legend Claude Makélélé who they fancy to win. Paul Ince/Claude Makélélé was speaking on behalf of bet365, the official global partner of the UEFA Champions League, which is hosting its Big Ticket Giveaway Game this Friday 30th May in Munich from 4pm, where fans have the chance to win tickets to the UEFA Champions League final. Full Terms and Conditions apply. Gamble Responsibly. Full interview can be found at bet365 News #championsleague#claudemakelele#makelele#paulince#ince#uefachampionsleague#psg#inter#intervspsg#championsleaguefinal#sportsnews#footballpredictions#metro#metrosport#psgfans#intermilan#inter#footballfans
‘When I first joined, we finished 13th in the league, but we had Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson and Peter Schmeichel, Eric Cantona – those characters that kept us together and rallied us when things weren’t going well.
‘When things don’t go well at the minute, you can see it affects everybody from their body language and it’s not good. So can you bring in one or two characters to lift them because they are a lot of young players.
‘You see (Scott) McTominay go off to Napoli and win the league, Antony go to Betis and he’s flying, so the talent is clearly in there but it’s about bringing that out of the group.’
Ince continued: ‘The fans have been patient but maybe that’s because they’ve seen what has gone on and the lack of progress over the last seven or eight years.
‘Five or six years ago, the question was how long it would take to catch back up with City and Liverpool. Now you’ve got Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Brighton – all these teams who have grown and got bigger and stronger, while United have stood still and stagnated.
‘So they’ve got a lot of catching up to do, and it’s going to take a heck of a lot longer than many people are expecting.’
Paul Ince was speaking on behalf of bet365, the official global partner of the UEFA Champions League, which is hosting its Big Ticket Giveaway Game this Friday 30th May in Munich from 4pm, where fans have the chance to win tickets to the UEFA Champions League final. Full Terms and Conditions apply. Gamble Responsibly. Full interview can be found at bet365 News.
Joe Cole would be ‘stunned’ if Liam Delap does not end up at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
Former Chelsea star Joe Cole is convinced the club will win the race to sign Ipswich star Liam Delap this summer.
Delap left Manchester City to join newly promoted Ipswich last year and the 22-year-old enjoyed an eye-catching debut season for the club in the Premier League, notching 12 goals and two assists in 36 appearances.
Though Delap’s goals were not enough to save Ipswich from the drop, the promising young striker won himself plenty of admirers with his performances – and the Tractor Boys are resigned to losing their top scorer when the transfer window opens for business.
A relegation release clause in Delap’s contract at Portman Road means the forward is available for just £30million, a sum which has put the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle, Everton and Chelsea on red alert.
Old Trafford had initially appeared the most likely destination for Delap, but the latest reports indicate that Chelsea have jumped to the front of the queue and are now the favourites to wrap up a deal for the England Under-21 international.
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‘Everyone is going to say [Alexander] Isak. If not Isak, I would go Delap,’ West Ham striker Michail Antonio said.
Delap has a £30m release clause at Portman Road (Picture: Getty)
TNT Sports’ pundits were in agreement over Delap’s potential (Picture: Getty)
‘He’s strong, he knows where the goal is. He’s an old-school number nine.
‘The amount of goals he got at Ipswich… if he was at a bigger club, he would probably be getting double that.’
Former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell waxed lyrical about Delap’s potential, even likening the Ipswich centre-forward’s game to that of a young Alan Shearer.
‘He fits the bill. He’s young and hungry, he’s someone that the coach here can develop,’ Sidwell responded.
Up Next
‘He kind of reminds me of a young Alan Shearer when he was at Southampton then went to Blackburn.
‘He’s robust, he’s an out-and-out number nine, he knows where the goal is, he can score a goal.
‘I think that’s a good shout.’
Cole, a three-time Premier League winner with Chelsea, chimed in: ‘I’d actually be stunned if he isn’t at Chelsea.’
The forward scored 12 league goals for Ipswich this season (Picture: Getty)
Asked if he was a fan of Delap, Terry responded: ‘Firstly, I think Nico [Jackson] has been really good and when I watch him play, he’s one of a handful of strikers in the league who wants to play on the shoulder.
‘Playing against that as a defender is a nightmare because it kind of stretches you and opens up that space in the midfield.
Enzo Maresca is keen for attacking reinforcements at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)
‘So I like Nico, he’s probably not been as clinical as we would like as Chelsea fans, but I think if you’re looking to go to that next step, you need to bring in someone who is proven, who has done it, who has scored goals in the Premier League.
‘That tends to be an experienced player and the owners are quite clear they’re not going to go down that route. They don’t want to bring in someone of 29, 30 years of age on big money. It’s going to be a different model and a different mindset.
‘I don’t think we’ll go down that route [of signing an experienced striker], but I personally feel we do need that.’
McKenna is resigned to losing Delap in the summer transfer window (Picture: Getty)
Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna made it clear he expected Delap to leave the club when facing the media ahead of his side’s final match of the season against West Ham.
‘Liam’s looking at his options for next year, which I think he is entitled to do and we support him with that,’ Kieran McKenna told reporters.
‘I think we have given him permission to do that this week. It’s a very important decision for his future.
‘Of course there is a lot of interest – and rightly so. I think part of his week has been having some of those conversations.
‘It looks more likely than not that he will move on this summer and he has interest from pretty much every club in the league, and I don’t think there are many clubs in the world who wouldn’t want to have him.
‘Nothing is sorted, nothing is done or completed or even very, very, very close, so that process will take its course.’
Does Delap have what it takes to lead the line for Chelsea?
Frank Lebouef believes he was right to be critical of Chelsea despite their season having ended in success (Picture: ESPN FC)
Chelsea legend Frank Lebouef has accused Enzo Maresca of telling a lie following his claim that he never doubted his team in the wake of their triumphant end to the season.
A turbulent first season at the helm has culminated in success for the forthright Italian, who masterminded Champions League qualification and added a new piece of silverware to the Chelsea trophy cabinet following last night’s 4-1 win over Real Betis.
The Blues were forced to come from behind in Poland, but produced a rousing second half salvage operation, led by Cole Palmer who produced a man of the match display.
Maresca claimed that his confidence never wavered despite a difficult spell after Christmas that saw Chelsea drop out of the title race following a run of six defeat in 11 games in all competitions.
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Lebouef, however, believes the former Leicester City boss would undoubtedly have been worried about his squad’s capacity to deal with the pressure that centred on him amid such a worrying run of form.
He told ESPN FC: ‘He is right and he has a right to brag. He finished fourth in the league and won the Conference League today and we didn’t think he could finish fourth and that’s the reality.
‘But his first sentence is a lie. He said he never had doubts about his team. Yeah, he had doubts like everybody else, even the players had doubts about the capacity of consistency.
Enzo Maresca shows off his Conference League winners’ medal (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea are the only club to have won all three existing European trophies (Picture: Getty)
‘As we said this season in the Premier League inconsistency is the word of the season. Nobody has been consistent, even Liverpool hasn’t been consistent.
‘Chelsea for some people they were in the race for the title in December. I said wait for the first defeat and what happened? They went down. No doubt Mr Maresca? Yes you had doubt, of course you had doubts.’
Lebouef, who made nearly 150 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, was, however, full of praise for the way in which Maresca created a siege mentality and was able to drag his young squad over the line.
What Enzo Maresca told his critics
I didn’t have any doubt about the players. The doubt was from outside.’
‘All the ones that have the answers or the ones that have the truth, they were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough, they were waiting for Aston Villa to drop points for us to achieve the Champions League.
‘They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch because we are too young, because we are not experienced. Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. All the ones that have the truth and have the answer to everything.
‘So in English, how you say? F off to all of them, because the players deserve that. The effort they have been doing is fantastic.
‘I feel part of their improvement, the way they grew through the season, and I feel especially proud for that because they are a fantastic group, a fantastic squad. They are good boys, they work hard, they try to help each other.
‘And I said, probably most of the time, it was from outside, that we were not good enough, we were too young, we don’t have a leader, blah, blah, blah, these kind of things. But at the end, it all comes from results.’
He added: ‘They reacted well, so well done to the players, well done to Maresca, he made great choices, he went back to his vertical game and we are sorry if we said some stuff he didn’t like.
‘But we had to say the truth because that’s what we were seeing. It’s legitimate to comment on what we see and we have nothing against Chelsea, I love the club but I have to say the reality of it.
‘The reality was they were inconsistent they are young and inexperienced and if they went to the fourth spot it’s mostly because of their courage, their tenacity but also because the others gave up.’
Antony’s Real Betis loan came to an end on Wednesday night in Poland (Picture: Getty Images)
Antony talked up how happy he has been on loan at Real Betis but admits he does not know what his future holds as he is set to return to Manchester United.
The 25-year-old has been with the Spanish club for the second half of the season after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
The Brazil international has been an important part of Manuel Pellegrini’s side, making 25 appearances in all competitions and scoring nine goals.
Antony helped Real finish a creditable sixth in La Liga and reach the Europa Conference League final, where they faced Chelsea on Wednesday night in Wroclaw, Poland.
An upset was on the cards against the Premier League giants as Abde Ezzalzouli gave Betis a lead just nine minutes into the game and the Spanish side controlled the first half.
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It was a disappointing end to a memorable loan spell for Antony, who does not know what is next for him as he seems unlikely to have a future at Old Trafford, but remains under contract there until 2027.
Antony played the full game as Chelsea won the Conference League title (Picture: Getty Images)
Speaking to CBS Sports after the defeat in Poland, Antony said: ‘I don’t what will happen in the future, only God knows.
‘My work is playing and I’m doing that well. I have a lot of affection for Betis, for everyone but I have a contract with Man United and I don’t know what’s going to happen, only they know what’s happening.
‘Now I will go to the national team and then on holiday then we will see what happens in the future.
‘I’m very happy here, everyone knows that. I went to sleep and I woke up happy but I have a contract and I don’t know what’s going to happen.’
Antony enjoyed his time in Andalusia (Picture: Getty Images)
The former Ajax winger admitted that Real Betis suffered a dip in concentration after a brilliant start to the game on Wednesday night and it cost them.
‘Right now it’s difficult to say any words, we knew the importance of this final but we lost. Congratulations to Chelsea for the title,’ he said.
‘What’s important is the family we have, we’re together, we’re united in this difficult moment.
‘Concentration was our downfall. It was a good first half but in the second half, we didn’t have the ball.
‘We need to remember that it’s a game of 90 minutes and we didn’t concentrate for the entire game.’
Antony was not in favour under Ruben Amorim at Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)
Antony did not make much impact on Wednesday night (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Today I saw the ghost that was playing for Manchester United. The only thing he did was pick fights with Enzo Fernandez,’ the Frenchman told ESPN.
‘I was very disappointed with his game, I was expecting something more creative and dangerous.
‘Unfortunately for Betis we didn’t see the Antony who has been good during his loan.
‘That guy has to avoid English football, that’s it. Don’t play against English teams and don’t play for any football club in England because it doesn’t suit him.’
The 27-year-old spent the second half of this season on loan at Aston Villa after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
The loan spell saw him score two goals in 10 Premier League appearances and four in 17 across all competitions.
There were some exciting and encouraging moments without the England international sparking fully back into life under Unai Emery, not helped by a hamstring injury that ended his campaign early.
The season also ended in disappointment for Villa as Rashford could only watch on against his parent club, with Manchester United beating the Villains 2-0 on the final day of the season.
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That result cost Emery’s side Champions League football and they will have to make do with the Europa League for the next campaign.
Rashford scored four goals on his loan spell with Aston Villa (Picture: Getty Images)
‘It is a really special club and I appreciated the way Villa fans embraced me with open arms from 1st minute on the pitch.
‘Manager, team, and coaching staff have all been brilliant.
‘I know it is a huge disappointment not to have made the Champions League place which everyone worked so hard all season for but I know this club and team will come back stronger. [love heart emoji]’
That message seemed to suggest a return to Villa Park was unlikely and the bookmakers agree, with a move to Barcelona now the clear favourite for Rashford.
Marcus Rashford next club odds
Marcus Rashford club on 03/09/2025
6/5 Barcelona
5/1 Man Utd
6/1 Any Saudi Arabian Team
9/1 Aston Villa
16/1 PSG
16/1 Arsenal
16/1 Atletico Madrid
16/1 AC Milan
16/1 Juventus
16/1 Borussia Dortmund
18/1 Chelsea
25/1 Tottenham
25/1 Newcastle
25/1 Napoli
25/1 Galatasaray
25/1 Fenerbahce
33/1 Real Madrid
33/1 Bayern Munich
Both player and club are reportedly keen to make the move happen, with Rashford open to taking a significant pay-cut from his current Manchester United wages of around £350,000-a-week.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was asked about interest in the 62-cap England international, along with links to Liverpool winger Luis Diaz.
‘They are both fantastic players. I like them and we’ll see what happens,’ the German told reporters.
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco made similar comments, telling RAC1: ‘We like Luis and we like Rashford. However, we can’t talk about players who are under contract.
‘For me, it’s much more important to improve what we have at home.’
Ruben Amorim and Marcus Rashford could still work together at Man Utd (Picture: Getty Images)
The Sun report that Rashford will hold out for a Champions League club as long as possible, which restricts his options significantly.
The bookmakers do not see too many likely other options currently, with a stay at Manchester United second favourite in the betting for Rashford’s club beyond September 3.
That would be a blow for the Red Devils who are keen to get his wages off the books and bring in a transfer fee to help a huge overhaul of the squad this summer.
A move to a Saudi Arabian team is also considered an option, although would obviously not meet the forward’s Champions League criteria, while a return to Villa is not off the table but is also not considered likely.
The likes of PSG, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan are not too far down the betting list, but are speculative shouts at best.
Arne Slot (left) and John Heitinga (centre) look set to part ways (Picture: Getty Images)
Liverpool assistant John Heitinga is in advanced talks with Ajax and is likely to take over as their new manager this summer, according to reports.
The Dutchman has been at Anfield since July last year, joining the club for Arne Slot’s first season in charge and finishing it by lifting the Premier League title.
He previously worked with David Moyes as a coach at West Ham, while his only experience in the top job came in a spell as interim manager at Ajax in 2023.
Heitinga has a long history with the Amsterdam giants, coming through their youth system and playing in the first team from 2001-08, before returning at the climax of his career for a second spell in 2015-16.
He began his coaching career in the youth set-up with the club the following year and took charge of Jong Ajax in 2021.
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In January 2023 Heitinga stepped up to become interim boss of the senior side after Alfred Schreuder was sacked, but was not appointed permanently in the summer of that year, despite winning 14 of his 22 games in charge.
Fabrizio Romano reports that talks are now advanced for Heitinga to return to Ajax as manager, after Liverpool gave permission for negotiations to be held.
Heitinga will leave Liverpool as a Premier League winner (Picture: Getty Images)
The Premier League champions expect an agreement to be reached and are considering replacements to work under Slot next season.
Slot was asked about a link between Heitinga and Ajax last week, admitting that he would be a good fit for the role but suggesting that his compatriot should stay put for another year.
‘If Ajax would be smart they would consider him,’ said Slot. ‘He is ready to take on a job like that. If John is smart, he would stay here one more season.’
Heitinga played in the Premier League for Everton and Fulham (Picture: Getty Images)
Ajax are looking for a new manager after Francesco Farioli resigned from the role following a disastrous end to the season which saw the club narrowly miss out on the Eredivisie title.
Having put themselves in a brilliant position to win the league, Ajax won just one of their last five games, while PSV won seven on the spin at the end of the campaign to pinch the title by one point.
Surrendering a nine-point lead with just five games to play represented a record collapse in the division.
Farioli said of his decision to leave the club: ‘My journey at Ajax started almost one year ago, at De Toekomst, with the aim of bringing Ajax back to where it belongs. And it ended at the Johan Cruyff Arena, finally bringing back Ajax to Champions League, the biggest stage of European football.
It was an emotional end for 36-year-old Francesco Farioli at Ajax (Picture: Getty Images)
‘We wanted to bring new energy to the whole Ajax community, sharing a positive way of working and thinking with the club at all levels.
‘Being Ajax’s first non-Dutch coach since 1998 and the club’s first-ever Italian one have been an absolute privilege: together with my staff we embraced this huge challenge with respect, responsibility, passion and determination to succeed. Earning the respect and support from Ajax fans we felt throughout the whole season meant a lot for myself and my staff.
‘We lived unbelievable and unforgettable moments all together: a unique, intense, emotional season in which we shared belief, fighting spirit and pride, finally achieving our goal, accomplishing our mission.
‘The management and I have the same goals for the future of Ajax, but we have different visions and timeframes about the way we should work and operate to achieve those goals.
‘Given these differences in the principles and foundations of the project, I feel deep in my heart that this is the best moment to part ways.’
Antony has been reborn at Real Betis (Picture: Getty/Metro)
With Manchester United reeling after their worst season in over 50 years, one player who managed to escape the gloom at Old Trafford looks reborn.
In less than five months, Antony has become a hero at Real Betis – recapturing the electric form that (somehow) convinced United officials to pay £85million for his services two-and-a-half years ago.
While he may never truly justify that colossal price tag, this version of Antony has been one of the best players in Spain since the turn of the year with his career firmly reignited ahead of Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final against Chelsea.
Scoring stunners has become a bit of a trademark much to the anguish of United fans so used to watching him flounder, adding two more to his highlight reel in both Europa Conference semi-final legs home and away to Fiorentina.
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Antony is reborn at Real Betis (Picture: Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Antony hasn’t single-handedly dragged Betis to the final – Isco is another to have found some redemption at Betis, returning to fitness and form this year. But his return of nine goals and five assists in 25 games has been vital.
Between the three of them, Rasmus Hojlund (three), Alejandro Garnacho (three) and Joshua Zirkzee (three) have just managed to match his contribution in the same time back in Manchester.
Antony’s time at United could end this summer (Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Antony ‘an important player’ after leaving Man Utd
‘He has not surprised me because I knew him before from England,’ Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini said. ‘Also, when you buy a player for that amount of money it is not always because you made a mistake.
‘Maybe there are some reasons why Antony could not play the way he knows at Manchester United, but that is another thing. When he arrived here he looked assured in the way we play and confident in his game, so I thought he would be an important player.’
United fans will remember how well Antony hit the ground running in Manchester. Three days after his big-money arrival from Ajax, the Brazil international scored 35 minutes into his debut against Arsenal.
More goals followed against Manchester City and Everton to make it three in three. While the goals and assists swiftly began to dry up, there were still some telling contributions in his first season, notably his wonderful strike against Barcelona in the Europa League play-off.
But a woeful return of three goals in two assists in the entire 2023/24 season turned up the heat. A solitary goal was his only contribution in United colours this term – a token penalty handed to him in a 7-0 trouncing of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.
Antony in love and loved at Betis (Picture: Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Antony eager to stay in Spain where Betis adore him
Ruben Amorim handed him 287 minutes of game time across nine games after he arrived to replace Erik ten Hag. While initially eager to draw improvement out of the former Sao Paulo star, his exit was given the green light with the United boss alluding to a lack of physicality when discussing the winger’s struggles.
Antony has found genuine happiness in Spain with the feeling very much mutual with the fans who are desperate to keep him. ‘If I have to provide the car to kidnap him, I will’, Betis legend Joaquin joked. ‘However it happens, he has to stay.’
The financial situation at Benito Villamarín Stadium means a permanent deal might be out of their reach unless United are feeling particularly generous. If another arrangement with Los Verdiblancos cannot be found, Atletico Madrid are among his growing list of admirers.
Why is Antony considered one of the worst signings in history?
How has Antony found the form that so woefully deserted him at United? Anyone curious need only look at the fortunes of Scott McTominay this season – leaving Old Trafford last summer to become league-winning legend at Napoli.
The weight of the shirt and the chaos and expectation around the club so often drags players down. In an interview this week, Antony revealed he went ‘days without eating, staying locked in my room’ during his darkest moments in Manchester. A change of scenery, particularly one bathed in the Andalusian sun, can do wonders, too.
Erik ten Hag brought Antony with him from Ajax (Picture: Getty Images)
Amorim’s concerns over Antony’s physicality frustrated the player’s agent but may have some basis. Despite having his own tenacious qualities, all too often he found himself bullied and outfought wearing United red. In his last meaningful appearance for United, coming against rock-bottom Southampton in January, Antony lost half his ground duels (four of eight) during his time on the pitch. His stats in Spain across every metric have dramatically improved and in La Liga, he looks a stronger, faster player, playing without fear.
On Wednesday night, Antony could come up against a fellow United outcast in Jadon Sancho, another brought in for a substantial fee they are now desperate to offload. Antony’s future is looking bright again but it’s damning of the state of United that it has taken a move away to show just how good he can be.
