Wales, it appears, is the flavour of the EPL. After the media frenzy that accompanied the metamorphosis of Gareth Bale into a galactico, another Welshman has become the talking point in England. Aaron Ramsey is the man of the moment for Arsenal.

Jose Mourinho had done it. Carlo Ancelotti is doing it now.

A new season in the English Premier League is upon us. Nothing breeds more optimism in football than a season starting afresh.

Messi’s mazy runs and Ronaldo’s bullet headers can wait. This is the time of the year that is reserved for games rich clubs play.

David Moyes and Alex Ferguson are both Scots. The two Glaswegians are combative. And, the similarity between the former and current manager of Manchester United ends there. Comparing a man whose only title moment is winning the second division with Preston North End to Ferguson who claimed 38 trophies in his 26-year United tenure is unfair.

The money — $84 million — PSG splashed to sign Edinson Cavani from Napoli is obscene.

The Mediterranean principality of Monaco has long been a haven for the rich who are united by their hatred of paying income tax.

The Confederations Cup was supposed to be a coming-of-age party for Neymar. The spiky-haired forward did step up to the plate with four delightful goals including a thunderous drive in the final. Neymar’s graduation from boy to man is complete now. No doubt the brand new Barcelona signing is on the right track.

Juggernaut is India’s gift to the English lexicon. Now the word is most appropriate to describe Spanish football. Spain, the reigning World Cup and European champions, are in no mood to relent. The way they took Uruguay apart in their opening match of the Confederations Cup in Brazil proved that the pass masters aren’t ready to relinquish their supremacy.

One son-in-law from Chennai has dominated the national headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent times.