View From The Bridge

Ronaldo’s return to the Red Devil’s marks the pièce de résistance of this summers transfer window and may just kickstart United’s first legitimate title run under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, it won’t be Ronaldo’s supreme skill or elite goalscoring ability that will earn United their fourteenth Premier League title. Instead, it will be his drive to be great that will steer others to new heights.    It’s no secret that Ronaldo has long been heralded the hardest worker in world football. In 1026 appearances for club and country, the Portuguese frontman has directly contributed to over 974 goals, compared to Messi’s 911, making him the most deadly striker in footballs 150 year history. He has captured five Champions League titles and seven league titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, earning him 5 Ballon d’Or trophies and 4 European Golden Boots in the process.    Even at 36, Ronaldo’s insane work ethic has pushed him past the boundaries of basic h...

Amid the signing of Lionel Messi from Barcelona, the world spotlight has never been brighter in the city of Paris. With a strike force that rivals a small nuclear warhead, the addition of Messi to PSG’s already stellar lineup, the French side are the clear favourites to appear on the face on every possible piece of silverware in 2021 and beyond. For most, this season represents a massive opportunity for Paris and it’s players to stake their claim in history as one of footballs greatest ever side. However, the volatile ego of Kylian Mbappe has other plans.  Kylian Mbappe - liverpool.com Since bursting onto the Champions League scene in 2017, the young French wunderkind has gone from strength to strength at PSG, collecting 3 Ligue One titles and two visits to the Champions League Final. With 91 goals for PSG under his belt and a place on any big league side almost guaranteed, it wouldn’t be hard for any 22 year old to develop a €200 million ego. Unfortunately for Mbappe, it may just ...

Despite being the 2 nd  most successful football club in English football for over 100 years, times have never looked bleaker for the once invincible Gunners. A 2-0 loss to Brentford, a side that has not appeared in the English top-flight since 1947, has certainly got Arsenal off to a shaky start in this seasons Premier League campaign, and unfortunately, it doesn’t look as if any kind of improvement is on the horizon.  Arsenal vs Brentford - bleacherreport.com In the early 2000s, Arsenal was the number one name in English football, and with managerial legend Arsene Wenger at the helm, the North London side was truly unbeatable. From 2003-2004, Arsenal went unbeaten during their 38 game Premier League season, a feat not accomplished by any other side in the competition's history. With a star stud-studded lineup that included Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Viera, and Sol Cambell, it’s easy to see why this side was such a success both in England and abroad, capturing th...

The world of politics has always been the great divider in Formula One. Like a disease, it spreads itself throughout the grid, infecting the minds of every F1 team boss and driver alike, resulting in unhinged psychological warfare both on and off the track. Luckily for Lance Stroll, money also has a major part to play in a F1 drivers success, and when combined with his billionaire fathers perfect political positioning, his seat in next seasons Mercedes is becoming much closer to a reality.  Lance Stroll - planetf1.com There is no question, the seat at Mercedes is one that it is in hot contention. Not only does it guarantee a place further up the grid, but also grants it’s drivers a shot at every Formula One drivers boyhood dream, a chance at a world title. For the last 4 seasons, it has been believed that Mercedes youngster George Russell was first in line for the Mercedes throne and has performed superbly in his time with Williams. Just this season alone, Russell has only failed t...

In truly heartbreaking fashion, Lionel Messi will not return to Camp Nou. Since July, all indicators were pointing toward a fairly certain renewal to stay in Barcelona until 2026, with an option to leave in 2023. However, in a strange turn of events, contract talks came to an abrupt end with the chance of renewal “almost impossible”. This was later reinforced with an official tweet from Barcelona themselves, stating that Messi would not longer continue with the club.  Although this may be great news for football fans, it makes a real mess of most big clubs summer spending spree. When the transfer window first opened in July, many big clubs had already prepared deals for the Barcelona legend, in an attempt to lure him away from a league he had dominated for nearly two decades. However, Messi’s loyalty to Barcelona is what got contract renewal talks back on track (not that the money wouldn’t have been enticing either). This led many clubs going after different high value targets such...

Euro 2020 represented so much more than just the return to normality, as it also marked the return of a footballing super nation. Italy’s rise to the top of European football over the summer of 2021 not only showcased their absurd talent but also their patriotic resolve in the face of a 4 year absence from the world sports spotlight. Not only has their recent victory made them one of the most feared football nations in the world, but has also lit a golden flame underneath it’s Olympic athletes who have put the world on notice in Tokyo.  Italy at Euro 2020 - nytimes.com Sitting 10th in the medal table, Italy have had a hand in some of the most jaw dropping moments at this years games. Lamont Marcell Jacobs shocked the world on Sunday when he took top spot on the podium for the men’s 100m with a time of 9.80s, a feat not accomplished by any other Italian in the Olympic’s 125 year history. Elsewhere around the Olympic stadium, fellow Italian Gianmarco Tamberi took gold in the men’s hi...