Welcome to The 90-Minute Breakdown! I’ll be providing a weekly recap of all the biggest news, matches and storylines in world soccer. For the latest in the beautiful game, follow along!
Players
The winter transfer market didn’t disappoint, delivering last-minute drama and masterful chess moves. My winners: Aston Villa and AC Milan. My loser: Manchester United.
Villa, gearing up for the Champions League, responded to Jhon Durán’s departure to Saudi Arabia by pulling off a coup — signing Marcus Rashford. The forward, frozen out under new Man U boss Ruben Amorim, made the right call. To add experience, they brought in veteran Marco Asensio from Paris. Smart business.
Milan, meanwhile, is assembling a squad that should terrify Feyenoord Rotterdam (and every other team) ahead of their clash in the Union of European Football Associations Champions League. Up front, they landed the Mexican star Santiago Giménez and Portuguese youngster João Félix, all the while Kyle Walker shores up the defense. Solid all around.
And then there’s United. They not only lost Rashford but also Antony, who jetted off to Betis, immediately scored, and bagged an MVP. Was Man U the problem? The early signs say yes.
On a lighter note, former Real Madrid teammates James Rodríguez and Sergio Ramos are about to turn Liga MX into their personal reunion tour. Rodríguez landed at Club León earlier this month, while Ramos just signed with Rayados de Monterrey. Expect some nostalgia — and probably some crunching tackles.
Meanwhile, Barcelona is locking down its future, securing long-term deals for Pedri, Gavi, and Ronald Araújo. Next on their list? The jewel of the season, Lamine Yamal.
That wraps up this week’s transfer buzz — let’s see if these moves pay off or if we’ll be revisiting some regrets soon enough.
Matches
The Football Association Challenge Cup delivered a giant-slaying for the ages as Plymouth pulled off a shocker, knocking Liverpool out with a stunning 1–0 win. So much for Arne Slot’s quadruple dreams — down to three now.
La Liga brought fireworks with a heated Madrid derby. Atlético struck first, courtesy of Julián Álvarez’s ice-cold Panenka past one of the world's best keepers. But Real Madrid answered the call — who else but Kylian Mbappé to level the score? A 1–1 draw left both sides stuck in neutral.
Barcelona steamrolled Sevilla 4–1, even finding the net while a man down.
UCL clashes incoming:
- Feyenoord vs. AC Milan (Feb. 12 & 18) – Can Giménez beat his old team and fire Rossoneri into the next round?
- Real Madrid vs. Man City (Feb. 19) – A heavyweight rematch. Mbappé v. Haaland, Ancelotti v. Guardiola — football at its peak. Buckle up.
Opinion
The Saudi Pro League is proving dangerous for young stars chasing a payday. Case in point: Jhon Duran. A quadrupled salary was enough to lure him away from Europe, but at what cost to his development? Hopefully he sees solid minutes at Al Nassr, because his trajectory was electric. Need proof? Rewind to Villa v. Bayern in the Champions League — 79th minute, Duran smashes a beauty past Neuer, ending the Germans’ 42-match unbeaten UCL run. That’s the kind of talent we’re talking about. Now, his move could be a case study: Is the Saudi league a true footballing force or just a luxurious retirement zone for talent? Duran’s fate might give us the answer.
