Real Madrid, the most successful club in European football history, never miss an opportunity to get the best players in the world. Los Blancos' current president Florentino Perez likely never misses out on his big targets. After setting an eye on English Full-Back Trent Alexander-Arnold, it looks like they will eventually get the defender from Liverpool.

The Trent transfer saga:

Real Madrid's interest in the English Full-Back has grown day by day. However, they still have a couple of Full-Back options in the form of Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vasquez.

Including, they have an academy-grown option in the form of Raul Asencio. After Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from The Reds, it seems likely that some of their certain figures are submitting wishes for the transfer. More likely the names are Virgil Van-Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Reds are offering Contract extensions to the trio which is ending after the 2024/25 season. However, according to the reports, none of those players are showing any kind of interest in the contract extensions. Richard Hughes, the current sporting director of Liverpool FC is fully focused on signing the important trio of Van Dijk, Arnold, and Salah.

So, the reports via English and Spanish media look baseless, and some of their reports still look lost by Liverpool's managerial statements. Moreover, some of the reports are just claiming that the Trent to Real Madrid saga is just a rumour.

Why this move makes sense:

The end of the 24/25 season is near. Alexander Arnold's boyhood club is Liverpool and after being a graduate of the Red Academy graduate, he is more likely to have a secret willingness to join the Los Blancos. His playing style, and ability to orchestrate the attack this kind of playstyle would be a perfect piece of Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid lineup. 

In the absence of Dani Carvajal in Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid, they need an attacking full-back and a replacement for Dani. Carlo Ancelotti's Los Blancos does not get any time to replace the injured Dani Carvajal. Real Madrid needs a plan on the right side of the defence. 

Arnold's reaction to the transfer saga:

In the English Premier League match against West Ham, after scoring the 5th goal for the Reds he ran toward the corner flag in celebration and made a gesture about the transfer saga rumours between him and the Los Blancos.

Things move quickly in the footballing world. In the recent clash against Manchester United on 5th January 2025 at Anfield, the Reds just managed to get one point against the Red Devils. Arnold's game is not up to the mark and fails to fulfil Arne Slot's game plan. Seven days after the West Ham goal and the victory, Madrid offered 25 million euros for the English full-back to add him to the Los Blancos in this transfer window. But seems like the full-back is going to join Real Madrid as a free agent or more likely he will join the European giants in the next transfer window.

The game between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad was stopped for a few minutes as Luka Modric was substituted in the second half.

Real Madrid players gave him a guard of honour while Toni Kroos and Carlo Ancelotti gave a special hug to Real Madrid's most decorated player ever. 

Read Also | Luka Modric to Depart Real Madrid After Club World Cup, Leaving Legacy as Club Legend

Modric will end his Real Madrid career with the FIFA Club World Cup and, till now, has won 28 trophies for the Los Blancos. 

Along with Modric, it was also Carlo Ancelotti's last home match for Real Madrid, as he will also be leaving Real Madrid at the end of this season. 

Real Madrid CF announced that their captain, Luka Modric, will conclude his illustrious tenure with the club following the Club World Cup, set to begin on June 18 in the United States. The Croatian midfielder, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the club’s history, will bid farewell after an extraordinary 13-year journey.

Since joining Real Madrid in 2012, Modric has been a cornerstone of one of the most triumphant eras in the club’s storied history.

Over his 13 seasons, he amassed an unparalleled 28 titles, including 6 European Cups, 6 Club World Cups, 5 European Super Cups, 4 LaLiga titles, 2 Copas del Rey, and 5 Spanish Super Cups.

His trophy cabinet makes him the player with the most titles in Real Madrid’s 123-year history, a record shared by only five players in football history who have won six European Cups.

Modric’s individual accolades are equally remarkable. In 2018, he claimed the Ballon d’Or, FIFA The Best Men’s Player, and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards.

He has been named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI six times and was recognised as the Champions League Best Midfielder twice. On the pitch for Real Madrid, Modric made 590 appearances, scoring 43 goals, and earned a Golden Ball and Silver Ball at the Club World Cup.

Internationally, Modric is Croatia’s record holder for appearances with 186 caps. His leadership guided Croatia to a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball, and a third-place finish in 2022, earning the Bronze Ball.

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez praised Modric’s impact, stating, “Luka Modric will forever remain in the hearts of all madridistas as a unique and exemplary footballer who has always embodied the values of Real Madrid. His football has captured the imagination of Madridismo and fans all over the world. His legacy will live on forever.”

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United in the 2024-25 Europa League final at the San Memes Stadium.

Both teams have endured disastrous Premier League campaigns, currently reeling at 16th and 17th respectively, and face the threat of missing out on European football altogether, unless they win this final.

For United coach Ruben Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag mid-season, it’s a last shot to salvage a turbulent spell marked by 18 Premier League losses; a club record. Tottenham, meanwhile, haven’t lifted silverware since 2008, and their 21 league defeats this season mark a new low. Coach Ange Postecoglou, in his second year, sees this as a vital chance to finally deliver on Spurs’ long-unfulfilled potential. 

Also Read: Europa League Final: When was the last time Tottenham won a trophy?

So, sit back and relax as Koushik Biswas brings you the buildup, LIVE updates and text commentary of the Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United Europa League final match.

Enjoy the coverage.

Manchester United is a club like no other. While this has been a lean period in recent years, United’s record of winning silverware stands up among the very best, and now with the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League, the club are back to lifting trophies.

In case you ever needed reminding of exactly how successful Manchester United have been, we have taken the time to run through every single trophy ever won by the Red Devils. So, let's take a look at the Manchester United trophy cabinet. 

Also Read: Europa League Final: When was the last time Tottenham won a trophy?

Manchester United Trophy Cabinet

League Titles

• Titles: 20
• Years won: 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013

United won seven league titles prior to Ferguson's arrival, but the Scotsman managed to end a 26-year wait for the title in 1993. Ferguson proceeded to win the league on 13 occasions, with his constant desire for success helping United to dominate English football.

Liverpool, however, are now just one league title behind United after securing their 19th triumph in the 2019/20 campaign.

UEFA Champions League

• Titles: 3 
• Years won: 1968, 1999, 2008

Manchester United won the European Cup in 1968 when they beat Benfica 4-1 in the final, with Matt Busby in charge.

In 1999, with Ferguson at the helm, United beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in incredible circumstances. With United trailing 1-0, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored in stoppage time to secure glory. 

Ferguson oversaw another Champions League triumph in 2008, with United prevailing past Chelsea on penalties.

FA Cup

• Titles: 13
• Years won: 1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2016, 2024

Only Arsenal, who have lifted the famous trophy on 14 occasions, have won the FA Cup more often than Manchester United.

United's most recent FA Cup success came in 2024, when they Manchester City 2-1 a year after losing to their local rivals in the 2023 final.

League Cup

• Titles: 6
• Years won: 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2023

United have won the League Cup five times, which is some way short of Liverpool's record of nine.

Most recently, Casemiro scored in the 2022/23 EFL Cup final to help down Newcastle 2-0 at Wembley, giving Erik ten Hag his first trophy in charge of the club and end a six-year drought without a trophy. Prior to that, the last time United won the competition was under Jose Mourinho in 2017 when they beat Southampton 3-2 in the final.

FA Community Shield

• Titles: 21

• Years won: 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016

Given their frequent successes in the league and the FA Cup, United have often participated in the Community Shield.

In fact they have won the traditional curtain-raiser 21 times, which is more than any other team has managed in the history of the event.

UEFA Europa League

• Titles: 1
• Years won: 2017

United's most recent trophy came in 2017 when they beat Ajax 2-0 in the Europa League final, with Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scoring.

UEFA Super Cup

• Titles: 1
• Years won: 1991

Following their Cup Winners' Cup success, United faced European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade in the European Super Cup final.

Brian McClair scored in a 1-0 win for United.

FIFA Club World Cup

• Titles: 1
• Years won: 2008

The Intercontinental Cup was succeeded by the FIFA Club World Cup, and United won that competition too as they beat LDU Quito of Ecuador 1-0 in the 2008 final, with Wayne Rooney scoring. 

Intercontinental Cup

• Titles: 1
• Years won: 1999

The Intercontinental Cup was a tournament contested between the winners of the Champions League and the South American Copa Libertadores.

United won the trophy with a 1-0 win over Palmeiras in 1999, with Roy Keane scoring the only goal of the game.

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

• Titles: 1
• Years won: 1991

United won their first European trophy for 23 years as they beat Barcelona 2-1 in Rotterdam.

Mark Hughes scored a brace for United, with Ronald Koeman on target for Barcelona.

Football League Division Two

• Titles: 2
• Years won: 1936, 1975

On two occasions United won the second division title as they earned promotion to the top tier. They have remained in the top division since 1975.

Women's FA Cup

• Titles: 1
• Years won: 2024

Manchester United claimed their first major honour in women's football by winning the Women's FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Marc Skinner's side beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the final.

Women's Championship

• Titles: 1
• Years won: 2019

United entered the FA Women’s Championship with one aim: immediate promotion to the Women’s Super League. The determination was obvious from day one, with a sensational 12-0 win away to Aston Villa first up, including five goals for Jess Sigsworth.

Stoney’s team were absolutely flying from there, winning eight and drawing one of the first nine games, with 42 goals scored and just one conceded.

FA Youth Cup

• Titles: 11
• Years won: 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1964, 1992, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2022

Manchester United are the FA Youth Cup’s record winners with 11 successes, the most recent of these coming in 2021/22.

Women's U21s PGA Cup

• Titles: 1
• Years won: 2022

El Clasico refers to a match between two of Spain's biggest teams, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The rivalry goes beyond the football field as Madrid, the capital of Spain and Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia's autonomous community, have shared their fair share of political tension over the years. 

Initially, the term was only used for the matches in the domestic Spanish championship, La Liga. Over the years, however, it's been globally recognised for every single meeting, such as in the UEFA Champions League or even domestic cup competitions like the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España.

With both teams boasting big budgets and reputations that appeal to world-class performers across the planet, their respective ranks have been loaded with match-winners over the years.

Read Also | Top 10 La Masia Graduates who ruled football

El Clasico: H-2-H breakdown of all statistics!

Here we have for you a breakdown of the games the two giants have played!

Most Appearances in El-Clasico

Former Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets has played 48 El-Clasico games, the most in the rivalry's history. Lionel Messi and Sergio Raoms follow him in the list with 45 El-Clasico games.

Most goals in El-Clasico

Former FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has scored the most goals in El-Clasico. Since making his first Clasico appearance in 2005, the Argentine legend has played a joint-record 45 matches against Madrid, scoring 26 goals. This includes two hat-tricks in 2007 and 2014.

Former Real Madrid forwards Alfredo Di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo share the second spot with 18 goals each.