Which stars need to shine this season: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man Utd, PSG

What the report says

Al Jazeera’s Sports preview, published on 8 August 2026, looks at the players most likely to shape the new European football season across the Premier League, La Liga and the Champions League. The piece frames the summer as relatively settled in transfer-market terms, while noting that clubs are still trying to fill gaps before league play begins.

The article highlights several key figures and the roles they are expected to play. At Manchester United, Bruno Fernandes is presented as the central creator and a player whose output would be difficult to replace. For Manchester City, Erling Haaland is described as the main source of goals, while Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai is singled out for chance creation, pressing and versatility. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is identified as the attacking focal point who needs to return to his strongest numbers.

In Spain, Kylian Mbappe is seen as vital to Real Madrid’s attempt to challenge Barcelona, with the report pointing to his scoring record and impact in the Champions League. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is also described as increasingly important because of his goals, assists and ability to unsettle defences. Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele is included as a major threat given his all-around attacking influence and recent high-end scoring form.

More broadly, the article suggests these players matter because their performances can determine title races, squad balance and how well teams perform in Europe. It also notes that tactical fit, injury cover and summer arrivals or departures may influence how much each club can rely on its star names.