Richard Jolly
@richjolly.bsky.social
Senior Football Correspondent, the Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/author/richard-jolly
Manchester City reject Barcelona's €45m bid for Rodri. Not a serious price, in City's view, and no meaningful talks have taken place yet: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Manchester City reject first Barcelona bid for Rodri
The Catalan club will have to up their offer if they are to bring the World Cup winner back to Spain
independent.co.uk
On Mohamed Salah and Trabzonspor: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The cold truth behind Mohamed Salah’s move to Turkey’s fourth-biggest club
Salah will be something of an incongruous sight at Trabzonspor – a stark drop in prestige from Liverpool – but the move to football’s growing, lucrative retirement home does offer intrigue
independent.co.uk
The Fifa meeting yesterday will help restore confidence in Fifa, according to Fifa. That's good then. Now all we need are for people to stop attacking Fifa and questioning their integrity: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The 19-word message in Infantino’s delusional letter that shows Fifa refuses to learn
Infantino admitted ‘mistakes were made’ in the process behind trying to sell off the World Cup to private investment but, as Richard Jolly writes, he was more interested in insisting the real issue wa...
independent.co.uk
A tribute to Franco Baresi, AC Milan's player of the century and the class act at the heart of perhaps the greatest back four of all: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Franco Baresi, the immaculate defender who defied a legendary era of Italian football
The AC Milan legend, who has passed away at the age of 66, was a one-club man who changed the game and brought a touch of class to the meanest defences
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Eddie Howe was a terrific Newcastle manager. But the last year has been tough, on the pitch and in the transfer market, and his exit leaves Newcastle looking like a shambles: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Why Eddie Howe’s shock exit leaves Newcastle in shambles
Howe oversaw Newcastle’s first domestic trophy in 70 years but leaves with the Saudi project facing stagnation
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Elliot Anderson completes his £116m move to Manchester City - and calls them the "giants of Manchester": www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Elliot Anderson seals Man City move – and takes swipe at Manchester United
Anderson has joined from Nottingham Forest in a £116m deal
independent.co.uk
Looking forward to this, by Neil Squires. Hope it will be the best book about Finnish skittles I will ever read:
Foden signs new Man City deal. Four years, option for a fifth: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Phil Foden signs contract extension at Man City after World Cup snub
Foden says he is excited to work with Enzo Maresca again as he looks to add to his record trophy haul at the club
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The age of the two Lionels for Argentina may be over, with Scaloni raising doubts about his future and Messi 39. But what comes next? Argentina have been built around Messi to such an extent that it could look very different without him in 2030: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The impossible Lionel Messi question Argentina must answer at the end of a golden era
Messi seems sure to retire after falling short in the World Cup final – and, Richard Jolly writes, replacing the irreplaceable is just one of several issues they face
independent.co.uk
Argentina had perhaps the greatest player ever in their team and no shots until the 120th minute. A lack of discipline, creativity and shots cost them as they produced some anti-futbol in a World Cup final. On Argentina and the World Cup final: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Argentina’s World Cup final performance was a disgrace to Lionel Messi’s legacy
Spain 1-0 Argentina (after extra time): A team with the greatest footballer ever should not be this dull, this focused on delaying and disrupting, writes Richard Jolly from the New York Stadium
independent.co.uk
The doctors told Emi Martinez to have surgery on a broken finger. He ignored them so he could play in pain at the World Cup. Martinez on this World Cup, and last: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The unseen Argentina gesture inspiring Emi Martinez to World Cup history
The Aston Villa goalkeeper has overcome a painful injury to reestablish himself as a stalwart for Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina and, as Richard Jolly details, his speciality could yet prove decisive agai...
independent.co.uk
On Rodri, Spain's most influential player and, in a tournament of individuals, a player who has been fundamental to a team: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Lionel Messi gets the plaudits but Spain have the real player of the tournament
Rodri has recaptured his best form under Luis de la Fuente and his influence is instructive against the glitz and glamour of Messi, writes Richard Jolly
independent.co.uk
Garry Sobers obituary - arguably the greatest cricketer ever, and certainly the most complete: www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Garfield Sobers, great West Indies all-rounder, dies aged 89
Perhaps the most complete cricketer who ever lived, ‘Garry’ Sobers excelled with bat and ball to help usher in an era of West Indian dominance
independent.co.uk
On England for Euro 2028. Thomas Tuchel ought to recall some of the omitted and bring in some younger players. But it isn't just about personnel if England are to do better: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
How could England look at Euro 2028? The six recalls and one major change required
England have a squad capable of winning Euro 2028 on home soil but, beyond the personnel and the tactical, part of the issue is psychological
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On England's World Cup campaign. Not enough good performances as a team, too many mistakes from the manager. Kane, Bellingham & Anderson were good, some others had moments or matches to savour. But England should leave with quite a few regrets: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
How England’s World Cup dream unravelled to leave one agonising regret
Thomas Tuchel lacked a formula, with poor planning adding to a campaign littered with problems, writers Richard Jolly, and more pain than failure in 1990 and 2018
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So England lost a lead when glory beckoned, as in 2018 and 2021. Tuchel's decision to go to a back five backfired, just when it seemed that Gordon, Spence and Pickford could be the heroes of a first semi-final win since 1966. On where it went wrong: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
A sad and familiar World Cup ending reveals regrets for England and Thomas Tuchel
The Three Lions led Argentina in the semi-final but were unable to capitalise resulting in a loss reminiscent of major tournament failures
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Didier Deschamps' reign with France will end with one World Cup. It could have been more. Normally it has taken the eventual winners to knock his France out of a tournament &, again, France were the best team in a World Cup until a game when they really weren't: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
France bid farewell to Didier Deschamps and a legacy tied to one question
Les Bleus exit at the semi-finals, ending a run of winners, finalists and the final four, but, as Richard Jolly writes, Deschamps might be both the most decorated Frenchman on the global stage and an ...
independent.co.uk
A Spanish masterclass. Control in midfield, offering France nothing at the back as the favourites go out and Spain close in on another double of the European Championships and the World Cup. On Spain 0-2 France: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
How an unlikely Spain source stunned France to clinch World Cup final berth
France 0-2 Spain: Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro’s goals downed Mbappe and a glittering France side in Dallas to show signs of history repeating itself for the European champions
independent.co.uk
Man Utd complete signing of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Manchester United complete signing of Youri Tielemans
Tielemans arrives for £35m after Manchester United activated his release clause
independent.co.uk
On the Manchester United midfield makeover: missing out on the expensive top targets, there is a second-choice feel to it. But Tielemans is a class act at a good price. www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
What Man United’s midfield makeover reveals about transfer strategy under Carrick
Priced out of the chase for Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes and others, Manchester United have instead moved for lower-ticket items that could provide real value
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Over the last three decades, France and Spain have been the major European powers in international football. They compete for a World Cup semi-final place, but also as part of a wider battle to be the dominant force: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The deeper battle behind France and Spain’s World Cup semi-final
A mouthwatering clash brings together the two nations that have emerged as the superpowers of European football in the 21st century
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Manchester United are closing in on Youri Tielemans & have completed the signing of Andrey Santos but the Ederson move is on hold for now. Busy day in the midfield: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Manchester United close in on Youri Tielemans after sealing deal for new midfielder
Andrey Santos has already bolstered Michael Carrick’s midfield options – and Tielemans could be next
independent.co.uk
Others run further and faster than Argentina's ageing side, but they score late goals. They struggle with Switzerland's physicality and have shown weaknesses. Is their lack of running power a problem or are they on another glory run? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The two factors that may leave Argentina at a disadvantage for World Cup semi-final
Argentina have ‘suffered’ through the knockout rounds – and an ageing side seem to lack the energy of others at this tournament
independent.co.uk
Argentina continue to do it the hard way but on a rare day when Lionel Messi did not score, Julian Alvarez belatedly saw off 10-man Switzerland, aided by Embolo's red card. On Argentina 3-1 Switzerland: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Argentina survive World Cup scare but these major flaws offer England semi-final hope
Argentina 3-1 AET Switzerland: A stunner from Julian Alvarez bailed out the champions in extra-time, with England awaiting in the semi-finals, Richard Jolly details how their flaws could hand Thomas T...
independent.co.uk
Farewell to Michael Edwards, whose first spell at Liverpool was a huge success but whose second was more mixed and could leave them facing more upheaval: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Liverpool’s future hangs in the balance as Michael Edwards exits with job half done
Liverpool’s transfer guru Edwards has left Anfield for a second time and the next year or so will inform how his second tenure is viewed
independent.co.uk
Michael Edwards leaves Liverpool (again) as he steps down as FSG's CEO of football: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Liverpool facing summer upheaval as transfer guru Michael Edwards steps down
Edwards has stepped down as CEO of football at Fenway Sports Groups
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Lionel Messi has shown he is good enough to win another World Cup. But are they other 10? On Argentina's supporting cast and if they need to give Messi more support: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Why Lionel Messi can’t lead Argentina to win this World Cup (on his own)
Argentina’s frailties have been exposed and they’re not as good as the 2022 World Cup-winning vintage despite Messi’s heroics. Something has to change
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The Deschamps dynasty. On how Didier Deschamps' France have changed over the years and the side he will leave: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The lasting legacy Deschamps and France could leave with another World Cup crown
Greatest of all time status is within reach for Deschamps and his side – though Morocco will pose a huge challenge
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Hopeless in Seattle: American exceptionalism at the World Cup takes a new turn as they were exceptionally bad in their exit. On a World Cup turned sour, Pochettino and his team and the way the US united the world: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Why World Cup exit showed the limits to the USA’s power – on and off the pitch
Hit by a political wrecking ball ahead of their round of 16 encounter with Belgium, even a helping hand from President Trump could not take the USA into the quarter-finals. Richard Jolly examines what...
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