Latest articles by Dani Gil
‘I had the opportunity to join Real Madrid after Zinedine Zidane left, but I’d promised I would stay at Spurs until the stadium was built’ Mauricio Pochettino on turning down the Bernabeu
EXCLUSIVE The Argentine could have swapped White Hart Lane for the Bernabeu almost a decade ago
‘I showed Michael Owen a photo that proved I never fouled him at the 2002 World Cup. He signed it and wrote, ‘You definitely touched me’ along with a smiley face’ Mauricio Pochettino relitigates fiery England vs Argentina clash
EXCLUSIVE The Three Lions claimed a narrow win over Argentina in Japan 24 years ago
‘Not winning a trophy at Spurs hurt because of the momentum that built around us, but those years should still be spoken about as a huge success’ Mauricio Pochettino on reflects on his Tottenham successes
EXCLUSIVE The Argentine was in charge at Spurs for five years
‘Marcelo Bielsa knocked on my parents’ door at 1am to offer me a trial. The streets were empty except for stray dogs’ The extreme methods used to discover Mauricio Pochettino
EXCLUSIVE The USA boss was discovered by Bielsa as a 13-year-old in Rosario
‘I was playing tennis with Ruud van Nistelrooy – Alex Ferguson started joking to distract him and I ended up winning’ Diego Forlan recalls his first conversation with the legendary Manchester United boss
EXCLUSIVE The Uruguayan striker often saw a different side to the fiery Manchester United legend
Mauricio Pochettino exclusive: USMNT boss reveals details of high-level Manchester United meeting
Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with the Manchester United job on and off for the best part of a decade
Mauricio Pochettino exclusive: 'Tottenham feels like home. Of course I’d go back if the conditions were right'
EXCLUSIVE Mauricio Pochettino admits he is open to a Tottenham Hotspur return after the 2026 World Cup with USMNT
Diego Forlan reveals what it was like sharing a dressing room with Manchester United mega-star David Beckham
EXCLUSIVE The Uruguayan striker spent 18 months alongside the former England skipper at Manchester United
Former Real Madrid star admits he doesn't miss Los Blancos - and wishes he'd retired sooner
Even Real Madrid’s most legendary, longest-serving players enjoy life away from the intense spotlight
‘It took me weeks to realise it was serious’ Diego Forlan on earning his big Manchester United move in 2002
Diego Forlan swapped Independiente for Manchester United in a 2002 move
Atletico Madrid star Saul recounts losing two Champions League finals to rivals Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid lost both the 2014 and 2016 editions to Real Madrid
Marcelo looks back at Los Blancos clinching La Decima in 2014
Real Madrid bagged a record 10th Champions League title against bitter rivals Atletico Madrid
Former Manchester United star Nani describes his assist for Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick
Nani doesn’t believe his assist for Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick was up to scratch, but Manchester United fans may disagree
‘Ronaldinho came to hug me immediately after I scored on my Brazil debut – almost like a blessing’ Marcelo recalls his encounter with the Selecao legend after his dream debut
EXCLUSIVE Marcelo’s Brazil debut came at White Hart Lane in September 2006
‘It was a blessing to play with Suarez and Cavani for Uruguay. They helped raise the level of a generation that made history at the 2010 World Cup’ Diego Forlan recalls his role in La Celeste’s legendary attacking trident
EXCLUSIVE The former Manchester United striker was part of a potent attacking trio at the 2010 World Cup
‘I’d woken up at 7am, still tired because the day before we’d been drinking. I thought, “Today I’m not drinking anything.” But by 8.10am we were back at it!’ Marcelo on his romantic Fluminense return
EXCLUSIVE The Brazilian icon returned to his former club in 2023
‘I’d trade three of my Champions Leagues for a World Cup. I’d still have two Champions Leagues – how many footballers can say that?’ Marcelo on reflects on his trophy-laden career
EXCLUSIVE The Brazilian left-back accumulated five Champions League winners’ medals during his time at Real Madrid
‘Chelsea couldn't keep me due to financial sanctions. Even my wife had to stop going to the club gym because Chelsea could no longer pay the fees’ Saul Niguez opens up on his Chelsea loan move
EXCLUSIVE The former Spain international spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Stamford Bridge
‘Bale’s overhead kick showed that football is sometimes more improvisation than planning. He scored like that because he needed to’ Marcelo on what it meant to assist Gareth Bale’s Champions League final stunner against Liverpool
EXCLUSIVE The Welshman’s superlative overhead kick helped see off Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final
‘Despite being a legend, Zidane showed humility. He was different from the rest – and he was our coach. We were fortunate’ Marcelo opens up on what his best Real Madrid managers brought to the club
EXCLUSIVE The Brazilian was managed by the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu
‘Diego Simeone is almost a god at Atleti, but he’s earned that status. He has changed the club’s history’ Saul Niguez on what Simeone means to Atletico Madrid fans
EXCLUSIVE Niguez played under the Argentine in Madrid for 12 seasons
‘Playing a World Cup in your own country, defending your national colours, with all your people around you, and then losing 7-1 was indescribably painful’ Marcelo on Brazil’s 2014 thrashing by Germany
EXCLUSIVE Hosts Brazil were left humbled on home soil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final
‘Having to play under the pressure of being the new Roberto Carlos, who was also my role model, made joining Real Madrid even harder’ Marcelo opens up on what it’s like to replace an icon
EXCLUSIVE Marcelo was brought in at the Bernabeu to replace his countryman in 2007
‘It was an immense privilege to play with Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s an extraterrestrial’ Marcelo on what it’s like to share a pitch with the Portugal icon
EXCLUSIVE The Brazilian full-back was a team-mate with Ronaldo at the Bernabeu for nine seasons
‘Mourinho was a born winner – he pushed us, he took us to the limit. Real had gone too long without winning and a club of that magnitude couldn’t allow that to happen’ Marcelo on Jose Mourinho’s El Clasico impact at Real Madrid
EXCLUSIVE The Portuguese ended a four-year wait for the La Liga title at Real Madrid
