Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo cost Real Madrid a combined £166million over the past four years - and now the world's two most expensive players and their team-mates have been given a free car each from club sponsors Audi.
Sergio Ramos will be available to Chelsea or Manchester City at the end of the season after fall-outs with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and coach Carlo Ancelotti. Both Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini have worked with Ramos before at Madrid and both want to sign a new defender in the summer.
Jose Mourinho is considering a loan deal for Fabio Coentrao in January, a move that would cast further doubt on Ashley Cole's future.
Join Sportsmail's Football 9-5 service, where we bring you the latest news as it happens throughout the day with all the best pictures and opinion.
Arsene Wenger has urged his Arsenal side to take advantage of playing before their nearest rivals this weekend and stretch their Premier League lead.
The Premier League sticker-book is a staple diet for supporters, but there can't be many who have managed to collect all 21 of Ryan Giggs' mug shots. As the midfielder celebrates his 40th birthday, Sportsmail takes a look at the changing face of the Manchester United legend.
DOMINIC KING: Ryan Giggs shudders. He is reflecting on old times and the place where it began for him - The Cliff training ground - and as he does he can still hear a booming voice ringing in his ears.
Two days on from playing the entire 93 minutes of United's record-breaking 5-0 Champions League win against Leverkusen, Ryan Giggs turns 40.
Here MailOnline takes a look at some of the weird, wacky and unbelievable statistics that Ryan Giggs has accumulated in his wonderful career.
Ahead of another Barclays Premier League weekend, Sportsmail brings you the latest squad news and stats on every top flight fixture as it breaks.
David Beckham has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson was like 'the godfather' of Manchester United because of his totalitarian approach to managing the club. The former United midfielder admitted that players were 'scared' of the boss, renowned for his sharp Scottish tongue.
England Women's international striker Toni Duggan has signed for Manchester City Ladies on a three-year contract.
Craig Bellamy regrets not joining Tottenham on one of the three occasions the club tried to sign him.
Liverpool are pursuing a move for Barcelona full-back Martin Montoya. Brendan Rodgers is looking to bolster after Jose Enrique's knee surgery.
Andy Carroll's long-awaited return is set to end after West Ham boss Sam Allardyce revealed the striker is scheduled rejoin training next week.
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis writes in his his debut Footballers' Football Column about how he used to watch Ryan Giggs videos when growing up and how he has not given up on adding to his one England cap.
TONY MOORLEE, WEST HAM FAN: Upton Park has become the new 'Library'. Like Highbury a few years ago, you can hear a burger wrapper fall. I can't recall a song about one of our players, because there isn't one.
Sportsmail columnist and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown answers your questions once again. This week, Martin lays into West Ham's support..
Arsene Wenger's scouts will be the latest at Tannadice when they run the rule over Scottish football's hottest property Ryan Gauld on Friday evening.
Former Arsenal defender Kenny Sansom has thanked the Professional Footballers' Association for their help in his ongoing battle with addictions.
Fulham striker Darren Bent is preparing for a huge London derby against West Ham on Saturday but that did not stop him taking on Sportsmail's Football Freestyle challenge.
Delroy Facey is now playing for Albion Sports. But the player at the centre of the investigation into the alleged fixing of non-League football matches once wanted more for himself than that.
Andre Villas-Boas reckons Tottenham are in good shape to challenge Manchester United after they emerged from their trek to the Arctic Circle with a win.
The chairman of the league believed to be at the centre of match-fixing allegations has called for the authorities to 'stop the evil ruining our game'.
Arsenal and Roma have made offers to Barcelona teenager Tonny Sanabria. The striker, 17, is a Paraguay international and a Barcelona B regular.
Three men have been charged following allegations of computer hacking and the sharing of private information at the Football Association.
British basketball star Pops Mensah-Bonsu was forced to apologise after becoming involved in an ugly brawl during a Euroleague game on Thursday night.
Ryan Giggs had threatened to stay in bed on his 40th birthday to avoid being pranked at Manchester United's Carrington training base. Well one player managed to get to the former Wales winger by posting this picture on his instagram.
West Ham are considering a loan deal for Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac. The 27-year-old figured for the French side against Arsenal.
A fatal construction accident at Sao Paulo's World Cup stadium on Wednesday, in which a crane collapsed and killed two workers may delay its opening.
Cardiff are reported to have made contact with Yilmaz Vural. The 60-year-old is quoted in his homeland as admitting there have been discussions.
Sportsmail caught up with popular London super middleweight Frank Buglioni as he prepares to take a step up in class this weekend when he takes on Stepan Horvath for the WBO European title.
In his latest fortnightly column, MailOnline Sport's Adebayo Akinfenwa talks about why Ryan Giggs is BMO, bikram yoga and giving up orange juice.
CHARLES SALE: Investment banker Josh Harris is set to become the latest American sports franchise owner to buy into English football.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet says he wants to keep Liverpool striker Fabio Borini after the January transfer window.
Saido Berahino will commit his long-term future to West Bromwich Albion by signing a new three-and-a-half year deal on Friday.
As Giggs turns 40, watch the incredible footage of him at 14 (named Ryan Wilson!) tearing up Schools Cup
IAN LADYMAN'S memories of legend
EXCLUSIVE: 'I pumped up the balls - Schmeichel would kick them in the river...'
DOMINIC KING: Ryan Giggs looks back to his United apprenticeship
As Giggs celebrates his 40th birthday, here's Sportsmail's memories of United's majestic midfielder
Our experts pick their favourite moments
GRAHAM POLL: In my 1554 games as a referee there was never a hint of bribery... but it doesn't stop officials giving soft penalties to the bigger teams
What the back pages say: League chairman calls for end to match-fixing 'evil' and pressure eases on AVB after win
Sport headlines on November 29
IAN BENNETT: Match-fixers asked me to sign a ball... then they offered me £10k to lose 2-0 at Liverpool
INSIGHT: Former Birmingham keeper
JEFF POWELL ON FRIDAY: Match-fixing has reached the top of the English game before, so you can't bet against it happening again (just take a look at cricket)
ADEBAYO AKINFENWA: Giggs is an inspiration... he's even got me into yoga (after I gave up orange juice)
Sportsmail's star says Ryan Giggs is BMO
Adam's a class act! Take note Warner, Clarke and Johnson...
Adam Scott proves not every sportsman in Australia is interested in winning ugly
'All I need to spell in snooker is my name': Meet Shane Castle... the 15-year-old prodigy who has snubbed education for a shot at becoming world champion
Fantasy Friday: Mourinho isn't happy with Chelsea's fixture congestion but the Blues have a mild winter... who's got the toughest games over Christmas?
Thanksgiving in Texas PICTURE SPECIAL: Sportsmail heads to Dallas to see Cowboys host Raiders on America's public holiday party time
MARTIN SAMUEL - THE DEBATE: Do I want AVB to fail? No, I want everybody to live happily ever after... but life isn't like that so buy a helmet and get used to it
TACKLE KEOWN: Who drove the worst car at training? And which former Gunner would play Michael Jackson before games?
This week's Q&A
Madman of Madrid... cynical Sergio makes the Butcher of Bilbao look like a pussycat after his 17th red card (and Jones and Keane have nothing on him)
MATT BARLOW: Chelsea still struggling with the same old problems of unbalanced squad and disappointing results... is Mourinho the new Di Matteo?
MARTIN KEOWN: Flamini is Arsenal's braveheart... he should be made captain for having the character and guts to question his skipper
WARREN GATLAND: I poached Cuthbert and North to stop them falling into England's hands
Wales' top players could have played for England
RICKY PONTING: After dismantling England do you believe me that Mitch is a threat?
I knew Mitchell Johnson was going to be a handful at the Gabba
Yes, Woolers would have backed Sir Henry Cecil for this year's prize
The Ian Wooldridge award is an annual award voted for by readers
Your ultimate guide to the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year
Andy Murray is the overwhelming favourite for the prestigious title after winning Wimbledon
ASH WEDNESDAY: Any of us could have had AVB's success at Porto - but he was out of his depth at Chelsea and he is the wrong man for Tottenham
DEAN ASHTON: England would have more success if they followed Crewe's lead
Read the ex-England striker's first Footballers' Football Column
ON THE BUTTON: McLaren driver - and 2009 world champion - answers YOUR questions
Send your questions to F1 hero Jenson Button
Tortured star Trott on why he hated cricket, stopped boozing and on finally feeling at home
Jonathan Trott gave genuine insight into what makes him tick
Brainless Bendtner... as the not-so-Great Dane adds to his long rap sheet, we ask: Is the Gunner the most stupid player in Premier League history?
ADRIAN DURHAM: Arsenal MUST win the Premier League this season... Wenger has run out of excuses
MailOnline's columnist on the Gunners' chances
Marcus Trescothick: It can strike at the crease or in your hotel room
When I heard the news about Jonathan Trott my reaction was: 'Oh no, it's happened again'
Back where it started... As Giggs turns 40, here's the story of Ince, Irwin and the rest of the Manchester United stars on Old Trafford legend's debut back in 1991
Ryan Giggs at 40: From boy wonder to all-time great, we bring you the 40 best pictures of the United legend's career... featuring King Eric, the glamour girls and more
WIN tickets to Sunderland v Chelsea - courtesy of Barclays
Sportsmail has teamed up with Barclays to give away a pair tickets to Sunderland v Chelsea
WIN tickets to Stoke v Cardiff - courtesy of Barclays
Sportsmail has teamed up with Barclays to give away a pair tickets to Stoke v Cardiff
WIN tickets to the premiere of Class of 92 starring Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Butt and the Nevilles
A special offer ahead of the film's release
Andre Villas-Boas didn't ask his men to build a snowman, but if he had have, there was plenty of the white stuff around. Spurs travelled 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle to the world's Northenmost top flight club, Tromso IL, who ply their trade in Norway's Tippeligaen.
PAUL NEWMAN IN ALICE SPRINGS: Gary Ballance provided a glimmer of hope for England on a day when their batting frailties were exposed by the weakest opposition they have faced yet on this Ashes tour.
SAMI MOKBEL IN TROMSO: Tottenham Hotspur topped their Europa League group thanks to a second-half double in sub-zero conditions.
JOHN EDWARDS AT THE DW STADIUM: They are new to venturing beyond these shores, but Wigan have already been dealt a harsh lesson.
IAN LADYMAN: Twenty-five years ago TV cameras didn't capture every moment of significant football action but we should be thankful ITV sent a crew to Anfield to film the final of the Granada Schools Cup in 1988. For the record, Salford beat Blackburn 3-2 with a winning goal coming in extra time at the Kop end. It was the second successive year that Blackburn had lost in the final but in the dressing rooms and indeed the boardroom that night nobody really talked about that.
The history of football is littered with tales of the one that got away. But after being alerted to the burgeoning talents of a youthful Ryan Giggs, this was one player that Sir Alex Ferguson, only one year into his tenure at Old Trafford, was simply not going to let escape. It could, of course, have all been so very different had Manchester City pursued Giggs with the same fervour as their great rivals.
Wayne Rooney has revealed even the Bayer Leverkusen players were staggered at how Ryan Giggs managed to defy the years in the Champions League. Giggs celebrates his 40th birthday on Friday.
When the question is raised as to the greatest players never to have appeared in a major tournament, Ryan Giggs certainly deserves a place in the list.
I had heard a fair bit about Ryan Giggs before he made his Manchester United debut. Bryan Robson often mentioned how good this Giggs was.
To mark this landmark 40th birthday for the greatest player in Premier League history, MailOnline are celebrating Ryan Giggs Week.
Match fixing is the elephant in the room. Our living room. As footballers are arrested on suspicion of rigging bets in the lower leagues, can we be absolutely certain the contagion cannot, will not spread to the upper, televised echelons of the English game?
Had Wayne Rooney been playing for Cardiff last weekend there is a higher likelihood that he would have been sent off for kicking out at his opponent than there was as he was playing for Manchester United.
The name of Wilson Raj Perumal will be depressingly familiar to those who have tried to disentangle football’s global match-fixing web.
INSIGHT: Birmingham City were preparing for an FA Cup replay at Liverpool in January 1995 when Ian Bennett had a brief encounter with football's match-fixers.
MIKE DICKSON: There was a time when football followers might not have been aware of Ray Winstone or Chris Kamara. Not now.
Match-fixing scandals may be relatively new to English football, but criminals have infiltrated domestic leagues around the world...
Sven Bender is a tough cookie. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder was deployed as an emergency defender for the German giants’ Champions League clash with Napoli and played much of the game with a broken and bloodied nose.
RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT THE LIBERTY STADIUM: Defeat on the night and a headache for the morning. Suffice to say, Swansea manager Michael Laudrup did not have the best of evenings on Thursday night.
Dundee United striker Nadir Ciftci won't find out his fate until Tuesday after his disciplinary case was postponed due to a lack of witnesses.
Welcome to Sportsmail's weekly Fantasy Football column which will try to help you get the edge on your friends, family and Jamie Redknapp. RIK SHARMA considers the key issues in the game.
Love 'em or hate 'em, the updated world rankings are out from FIFA with England down three places to 13th. Losses to Chile and Germany took their toll.
Arsenal players plan to show their support for former coach Pat Rice by wearing special T-shirts against Cardiff this weekend.
Martin O'Neill has revealed that he felt some Ireland players were apprehensive about the presence of Roy Keane on the new management ticket.
Paul Murray claimed on Thursday night to have fresh evidence that Charles Green is still wielding influence behind the scenes at Rangers.
The world's most expensive player Gareth Bale is confident his partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo can fire Real Madrid to the treble this season.
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has confirmed he is the latest Premier League manager to receive a call from refs' chief Mike Riley.
All eyes have been on Andre Villas-Boas since Tottenham Hotspur shipped six at Manchester City on Sunday. Over-rated? Overwhelmed? Undervalued? Undermined? I had my say and then you had yours.
Former Premier League striker Michael Chopra has lifted the lid on his gambling addiction and spoken about how players would bet £30,000 on the team bus.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not short on self confidence and the Swedish hitman claimed that he doesn't need the Ballon d'Or to prove that he is the best player in the world.
Sergio Aguero believes his Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi is still the best player in the world. The Manchester City striker has ambitions to become one of football's top players but says that, for now, the No 1 spot is firmly in the grasp of his countryman.
Manchester United and Liverpool will let two of their prospects join Championship clubs before the loan window closes - but Wilfried Zaha will be staying put.
Four of Tottenham's big-money summer signings started in Tromso, and one came off the bench, but they didn't do much to impress.
Scunthorpe supporters are being asked not to dress as squirrels when former manager Alan Knill comes back to town with his Torquay side.
Jack Wilshere has backed Lionel Messi to beat Cristiano Ronaldo to the Ballon d'or after claiming the Barcelona superstar is the best player in the world.
Swansea striker Wilfried Bony will be sidelined for 'several weeks' after suffering a hamstring injury in the Europa League defeat to Valencia.
Shay Given heads a quartet of Aston Villa players who have left Villa Park on temporary transfers, joining Championship outfit Middlesbrough on loan.
Liverpool defender and England Under 21 captain Andre Wisdom has been ordered to pay an £840 fine for speeding after pleading guilty in court. The 20-year-old was caught driving at 61mph - 21 mph over the 40mph speeding limit - on Moorgate Road in Kirkby last year.
Footage of the fatal car crash involving former Manchester City footballer Courtney Meppen-Walter is to be used in schools to teach pupils the dangers of reckless driving.
JOHN McGARRY: The very thought of it is enough to leave any chief executive in the Scottish Premiership feeling a little green about the gills.
Arsenal believe Mathieu Flamini will abide by the club's shirt-sleeve rule in future after finding himself at the centre of controversy.
Former Roma coach Luis Enrique is the shock name in the frame at Tottenham if they decide to pull the trigger on Andre Villas-Boas.
Hearts are banking on an early-morning all-clear from Lithuania to allow possibly the most important summit in their history to go ahead.
Jonny Evans insists David Moyes has improved Manchester United. It has not been an easy ride so far, but United are now 11 games unbeaten.
David Moyes has agreed to loan Jesse Lingard to Birmingham City for another month.
David Moyes claimed the best is yet to come from Manchester United after seeing them rack up their biggest away win in the European Cup for 50 years.
PAUL NEWMAN IN ALICE SPRINGS: Ben Stokes is adamant that he has put his off-field problems behind him and is ready to make his Test debut for England in the toughest circumstances possible.
England's Ashes defence could not have got off to a worse start, with acrimonious defeat at the Gabba and the sad departure of Jonathan Trott, but at least they have been able to take satisfaction from one little victory over the old enemy. Back in Brisbane there is a talented Aussie in our midst.
I was part of Sportsmail's roundtable chat last week before the first Test, when it was fair to say not everyone shared my view that Mitchell Johnson was going to be a handful at the Gabba.
If there were ICC rankings for not panicking, England would be top of the tree, experts at digging themselves out of holes.
Darren Lehmann has urged Australia fans to keep the heat on England and said he wanted his own team to continue playing 'aggressive, in-your-face' cricket.
PAUL NEWMAN REPORTS FROM ALICE SPRINGS: The peace of Uluru was a contrast to the tension of the Gabba as Stuart Broad opened up.
Six England cricket stars visited the world heritage site at Ayers Rock on Wednesday as they look to bounce back from a difficult start to their Ashes tour.
Rory McIlroy has admitted he will be cheering on the Australians for the remainder of the Ashes series. England were put to the sword in Brisbane.
LAWRENCE BOOTH IN ADELAIDE: England's batsmen will get a chance to rebuild their shattered confidence in next week's second Test.
The Thanksgiving Day classic is one of the best days in the NFL season, and gridiron fans were treated to another triple header of action on the most American of public holidays. Sportsmail snapper Dave Shopland was in Texas to see the Dallas Cowboys host their traditional Thanksgiving day game as they welcomed the Oakland Raiders to the plush AT&T; Stadium.
Justin Tucker kicked five field goals to help the Baltimore Ravens record a Thanksgiving day win over their bitter AFC North rivals Pittsburgh.
Matthew Stafford made up for mistakes with three touchdown passes, including one to Calvin Johnson, to help the Detroit Lions score 37 straight points.
DeMarco Murray ran for three touchdowns, backup Lance Dunbar had a career-high 82 yards rushing and the Dallas Cowboys overcame Oakland.
Shane Castle was pulled out of school to concentrate on snooker at the age of 12. Now, the 15-year-old will face world No. 2 Mark Selby in the first round of the UK Championships - the first time the Southampton lad has played in front of the TV cameras.
The hundreds of spectators who got up before the crack of dawn on Thursday to make it to the 10th tee for the start of Adam Scott's quest to win the Australian Open were testament to the fact that not everyone Down Under is interested in winning ugly.
Sir Bradley Wiggins withheld bonus money owed to Chris Froome for his part in the Brit's Tour de France victory in 2012.
There is a whole lot at stake for Gloucester on Friday night when they take on Leicester at Kingsholm - not least the desperate quest to revive their fading forward traditions.
Judd Trump and Ali Carter led criticism of the new Williamhill.com UK Championship set-up despite comfortable first-round wins.
The fear is that Formula One lost rather more than it can afford with the long-expected confirmation on Thursday that Ross Brawn is leaving Mercedes.
BT Sport have announced an exclusive multi-year deal to bring the world's best basketball action to British television screens.
The eye-watering cost of watching the rugby World Cup has been revealed with England tickets costing up to £315 at the 2015 tournament.
The NFL has announced the dates for the three International Series games at Wembley Stadium next season.
Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen is on course for back-to-back wins in South Africa after taking the lead in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
MATT LAWTON: Sebastian Coe really was poetry in motion; that smooth, seemingly effortless stride of a man whose legs were unusually long for the ultra-light 5ft 9in frame.
Lionel Messi would have been proud of Shane Long's stunning control and finish. We're rounded up some other unlikely scorers of goals using exquisite skill.
The Ian Wooldridge award is an annual award voted for by readers celebrating the sporting brilliance and Corinthian spirit so beloved of Woolers.
MailOnline's hard-hitting columnist on why Arsene Wenger will be to blame if Arsenal don't win the Premier League.
It's getting to that time of year when sitting in front of the telly is more appealing than venturing out in the cold.
The bookmakers have already made up their minds, now it is time for the British public to endorse the historic achievement of Andy Murray this summer.
JONATHAN MCEVOY: Sebastian Vettel is the youngest quadruple world champion in history and he is in danger of destroying his own sport.
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