Real Madrid & Barcelona News
Latest headlines pulled from major football outlets. Click any story to read it on the source site.
- Managing Madrid·8h ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Valverde’s return, McTominay links and Madrid’s next kits
DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA STADIUM, NAPLES, ITALY - 2026/08/30: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli reacts during the Serie A 2025/2026 football match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907. Como won 2-1 over Napoli. (Photo by Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images) Real Madrid completed their preparations for Villarreal with Fede Valverde included in the squad and Ferland Mendy taking another step in his recovery. Saturday’s return to league action also brings Kylian Mbappé and Ibrahima Konaté back into contention, although Mourinho will remain without several defensive options. Away from the pitch, transfer reports, early kit predictions and Sávio’s assessment of Madrid’s attack provide plenty to discuss. Valverde included against Villarreal as Mendy returns to partial training Fede Valverde has been named in Real Madrid’s squad for Saturday’s meeting with Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu, kicking off at 9 p.m. Madrid time. Mbappé and Konaté are also included after recovering from the problems that interrupted their international commitments. Valverde’s inclusion follows his return to full group training on Friday, 19 days after the challenge that injured his left ankle in the derby. Madrid’s September 22 medical update diagnosed a grade-three sprain, but his subsequent progress has allowed him to return to the matchday group. Whether he starts remains a separate decision. Mourinho had described the midfielder as a doubt during his press conference, explaining that a decision would follow the final session. The subsequently published squad list confirmed his inclusion without establishing how many minutes he would be ready to play. There was also progress for Mendy, who completed a small part of Friday’s training with his teammates. Mourinho had announced that the session would mark the Frenchman’s first work on the pitch with the group during this stage of his recovery. Mendy is not included against Villarreal, so the development represents a rehabilitation milestone rather than an immediate competitive return. Militão still needs time despite training progress Éder Militão also remains unavailable. Mourinho said the Brazilian will miss not only Villarreal but also the following matches against Roma and Sevilla, explaining that he still needs additional time before returning safely to competition. With Dean Huijsen suspended and Raúl Asencio recovering from surgery, Konaté and Antonio Rüdiger are expected to form the central-defensive partnership. AS identifies Aurélien Tchouaméni as a potential alternative should Mourinho need to move a midfielder into the back line. Friday’s session began with activation exercises and rondos, followed by tactical work, pressing and possession drills. It concluded with small-sided games and shooting practice. The club’s report listed Asencio and Rodrygo as continuing their recovery programs. Report: Madrid make inquiries about McTominay Real Madrid have reportedly contacted Scott McTominay’s representatives as uncertainty surrounds the midfielder’s contract discussions with Napoli. MARCA, citing Il Mattino, reports that Madrid have made inquiries about the Scotland international, whose current agreement runs until June 2028. According to the account, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis does not regard an extension as an immediate priority, while the player’s representatives would prefer to settle his future sooner. Madrid are not described as the only interested club. The Mourinho connection is an established part of McTominay’s career: the Portuguese coach gave him his Manchester United first-team debut in 2017 and has continued to speak fondly of him. Asked previously whether he would consider Madrid if Mourinho called, McTominay replied: “If that happened, I would think about it.” For now, the reported development concerns contact with the player’s camp. It does not establish that Madrid have submitted an offer to Napoli or reached an agreement over a transfer. Bayern reportedly prepare major Olise renewal offer Bayern Munich are preparing a substantial contract proposal for Michael Olise amid continued reports of Madrid’s interest. According to reporting attributed to Sky Germany, the German club would like to extend his agreement from 2029 to 2032, potentially making him the highest-paid player in the squad. The reported proposal would take his annual earnings above the approximately €25 million associated with Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala. Those figures describe a potential offer, not an extension Olise has accepted. A release clause is reportedly an important issue for the player’s representatives. The reports suggest his camp would seek a mechanism allowing him to control a future departure, with a figure above €200 million being discussed. No such clause should be treated as part of his existing contract. Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund, meanwhile, has emphasized the club’s satisfaction with Olise and the time remaining on his current deal. “Michael has developed incredibly well with us and is currently one of the best players in the world. We are extremely happy to have him playing for us. He has a contract until 2029, so there is no pressure. He feels very comfortable at FC Bayern and we are in constant contact with him. As I said, there is no rush.” Riquelme preparing a meeting space for Madrid members Enrique Riquelme is preparing to support a new space near the Santiago Bernabéu where Real Madrid members can meet and share their concerns and proposals, according to Radio MARCA’s Otra Ronda. The program reported that the initiative will be presented shortly. The proposed venue is described as a place for participation and dialogue, rather than a recreation of the electoral headquarters Riquelme used during his presidential campaign. Its name and operational details have not yet been disclosed. Although the project would maintain Riquelme’s connection with members, it does not constitute an announcement that he will run for president again. The reporting also distinguishes the initiative from a platform intended to confront Florentino Pérez’s current administration directly. Kit leaks point to white, black and purple for 2027–28 Footy Headlines has published early information about Madrid’s 2027–28 kit collection, suggesting a return to white, black and purple across the three shirts. The material consists of leaked colour information and predicted design elements, rather than an official unveiling by Madrid or Adidas. Don't mind it at all. Real Madrid should always have purple. (leaked by @Footy_Headlines for next season) pic.twitter.com/RHBI1i1hg8 — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) October 9, 2026 The projected home shirt retains a white base with black and purple details. Footy Headlines also suggests an all-over checker pattern could feature, although that remains part of its early prediction rather than a confirmed final design. The away shirt is expected to pair black with white accents. The third shirt would use purple as its main colour, accompanied by a modern graphic. White is considered the likely secondary colour for that kit, but the report explicitly states that the accent colours have not yet been confirmed. Sávio discusses Vinícius, Endrick and the demands of playing for Madrid Sávio has assessed Madrid’s current situation in an interview with AS, discussing the pressure on Mourinho, the challenges facing the Brazilian forwards and the qualities he likes in Yan Diomande. The former winger believes the squad has the talent to improve, but needs time and work to establish a more cohesive team. Vinícius and the response to a difficult period Asked about Vinícius Júnior, Sávio focused on his performances rather than speculating about his personal life. He pointed to the progress the forward made after first arriving in Madrid as evidence of his ability to overcome difficulties. “I don’t know anything about Vinicius’s private life, but on the pitch, it’s clear he’s not at his best. The only way to get out of a slump is with a lot of hard work and being mentally very strong. When he arrived, the first two or three years were difficult, and in Brazil, people would ask me why he wasn’t finishing strong, and I always said that we had to be patient because he was a very young lad. He went straight from Flamengo’s U-17 team to the first team! With time and hard work, he improved until he won two Champions Leagues, playing a key role. Now he has to focus entirely on Real Madrid to become a decisive player again.” Sávio acknowledged how difficult it is to ask Madrid supporters for patience, drawing on his own experience at two clubs with particularly demanding fanbases. “It’s very difficult to ask for patience from a fanbase the size of Real Madrid’s. I played for Flamengo and Real Madrid, both huge fanbases with enormous pressure, but I approached it as a challenge, trying to enjoy myself on the pitch. If I have to say anything, it’s to focus entirely on football and keep working, because when the fans see that you’re giving your all, they’ll always be with you.” Rodrygo’s recovery and their exchange of shirts Sávio also spoke warmly about Rodrygo, whom he recently met through a connection involving his son and mutual friends. The pair exchanged the number 11 shirts associated with their respective periods at Madrid. “An injury is the worst thing for an athlete. I’ve been through similar times, although not as serious as Rodrygo’s. You have to be with the physio every day working to get back as soon as possible, without being able to say anything in advance… I saw him doing very well; he’s a very down-to-earth guy. Through my son and his friends, we were able to exchange number 11 jerseys, both the one from my time and his current one. He’s a fantastic player, I love him, with his short dribbling, speed, and tactical awareness. Real Madrid misses him.” Endrick needs regular football On Endrick, Sávio was careful to acknowledge the limits of his assessment. He said he had seen too little of the forward at Madrid to explain precisely why he had struggled to establish himself, but argued that consistent playing time should be the priority. “I don’t really know what’s going on because I’ve seen very little of Endrick at Real Madrid. I’m left with the image of his last fantastic season with Palmeiras, before coming here, when he was a young and very talented lad. It seems like he’s not finding his footing here, not because of his football, but because of a lack of consistency… or connection…” Sávio drew a distinction between fulfilling the ambition of joining Madrid and having the opportunities required to develop. “Being at Real Madrid was a five-year dream come true for me, but I didn’t just want to be there; I always wanted to play football. If Endrick doesn’t fit in and continues in this situation, being such a young and talented lad, he has to play somewhere.” Diomande and the importance of taking on defenders Sávio praised Diomande’s willingness to attack opponents, identifying qualities he believes should remain central to a winger’s game. “I really like talented players who take on defenders and try again without hesitating after a mistake. Diomande is a young guy with speed, talent, and a good tactical contribution to offer.” He related that approach to the encouragement he received from Roberto Carlos when he first joined Madrid. “Football has changed, and there’s much more running involved these days, but you can’t lose the essence of the game, nor can you stop dribbling. When I came to Real Madrid, Roberto Carlos told me to take on defenders and go for it, that if I lost the ball, he’d be there to cover for me. That gave me a lot of confidence. You have to work on the tactical side and marking, but without abandoning your own style of play. Today, I see many wingers more concerned with marking than with attacking.” Backing Mourinho while acknowledging Madrid’s urgency Sávio praised Raphinha’s form at Barcelona but stressed that Madrid possess the individual quality to compete in the Clásico. In his view, the remaining task is to make those individual pieces function together more effectively. He expressed confidence that Mourinho can find the solution. “I never worked with Mourinho, but I played against him and I always liked his style. He’s a very successful manager wherever he’s been and he’s very capable. Real Madrid doesn’t have much time, but I think he’s the best name for the moment and he needs a little more time to integrate the team, as I said before. He knows what he’s doing; he’s proven that at the clubs he’s been at.” On the Ballon d’Or, however, Sávio declined to name a favourite, describing a field without the obvious individual superiority that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi displayed during their rivalry. “Wow! It’s really tough this year, there are so many contenders for the Ballon d’Or. I don’t see any clear superiority or anyone who stands out individually like Cristiano and Messi did in their time. It’s hard to single out just one player this year, it’s a very complicated decision… Let me leave this question as is,” he said, laughing. Míchel recalls signing thousands of photographs for supporters Míchel has recalled the volume of fan mail he answered during his playing career, describing a time when signed postcards and handwritten dedications were a principal connection between supporters and their favourite footballers. In a conversation with Sara Carbonero on Antena 3, the former Madrid midfielder said he responded to thousands of letters and signed a similar number of photographs each week. “Yes, yes, because we had postcards of the club, and we would sign them and write a dedication—4,000 or 5,000 photos a week.” Decades later, supporters still show him the keepsakes. “And there are still people who tell me they have them,” Míchel said. He also described receiving photographs on his phone that fans had originally taken on film, including pictures from chance encounters in the street or on holiday. Those messages have occasionally reconnected him with people he met many years earlier. Video: Diomande features in Madrid’s training highlights Real Madrid have shared two sequences featuring Yan Diomande in their training footage ahead of the Villarreal match. The clips offer another look at the winger’s technique as the squad prepares to resume its league campaign. Yan Diomande deserves to start, this kid deserves more than 5 minutes per game. What a talent pic.twitter.com/FyPHNutGO9 — 𝐟𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐯 (@fedevalv_) October 9, 2026
- Barca Blaugranes·10h ago·Both·transfers
Julián Álvarez changes agents as Barcelona rumors heat up again
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid looks on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on September 20, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images) | Getty Images Julián Álvarez has reportedly changed agents and that news has set the rumor mill into overdrive. His desire to join Barcelona from Atlético Madrid was the worst-kept secret in the past transfer window, but it did not materialize. With this new agent, there are whispers that the transfer may finally cross the finish line. He has ended his relationship with Fernando Hidalgo, who has been besides him almost all his professional career, and reportedly signed on with Javier Pastore. Pastore is an ex-player and Argentina international who played with, among other clubs, Paris Saint-Germain. He was also at one point linked with a move to Barça, though that never came to pass, either. The relationship between Hidalgo and Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has reportedly been fractured irreparably, with both sides accusing the other of misleading Álvarez. The hiring of Pastore, who also represents Enzo Fernández, now at Manchester City, could be seen as an attempted reset. Álvarez has reportedly not given up on his dream of joining Barcelona, and Atlético may be happy to finally pull the trigger after the transfer drama disrupted their planning for this season. It’s said the team’s spirits were sapped by the situation, and the player himself is uncomfortable and not performing to his very best. An incoming €120 million would also help Atléti if they spend it wisely. But do Barcelona still want the transfer? Sporting director Deco has suggested their interest has waned, though manager Hansi Flick is a big fan of the Argentine forward. And importantly, Raphinha has performed extremely well as a center-forward and Gabriel Jesus is adapting as his backup, plus Barcelona have promising young star Hamza Abdelkarim in that position. Álvarez is a quality player, but will the Catalans spend so much money to reinforce an attack that is already working extremely well?
- Barca Blaugranes·14h ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona confirm Raphinha out against Getafe and Galatasaray
Photo By Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images | Europa Press via Getty Images Barcelona will be without their captain and top scorer for the next two games as Raphinha has been ruled out for Saturday’s La Liga match against Getafe and Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Galatasaray. Hansi Flick spoke at a press conference on Friday and confirmed that tests showed Raphinha has a minor muscle issue and won’t be involved in the next two games out of an abundance of caution. “The tests show something, it’s not an injury, but we have to be careful because he had three injuries last year, and we have to take care of him. He won’t be available tomorrow or against Galatasaray.” Barça are taking the right course of action with their most important player as they save him for the massive three-game stretch against Real Betis, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid next week, and there’s more than enough depth in attack to deal with Getafe and Galatasaray to make sure the captain is fully fit.
- Managing Madrid·23h ago·Both·transfers
Will Jose Mourinho Make Adjustments Ahead Of A Pivotal October Stretch?
These observations — where I look at Real Madrid’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts — are now a regular thing. All previous editions can be found here. Shortly after Real Madrid were played off the park — primarily in a disastrous second half — of the Madrid Derby, head coach Jose Mourinho took to the podium with a print out copy of two egregious Atletico Madrid tackles in which one of them should’ve resulted in a direct red card. “Yes… we could have saved ourselves the press conference because the story of the match is here,” Mourinho said as he showed two photographs of Cuti Romero’s and Kang-in Lee’s challenges on Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde respectively. “They are two clear red cards.” Mourinho didn’t spend time talking about Real Madrid’s performance. “The difficulties we had afterwards, 11 against 10, we can imagine what 50 minutes with 11 against nine would have been like,” Mourinho continued. “And therefore I have to limit myself to hugging my players, who gave everything. Who played a first half of great class, personality.” The press conference was not short, and the words about the referee continued at length. It was a massive attempt to distract everyone from the football that was played on the pitch. SUBSCRIBE: The Managing Madrid Podcast on YouTube Mourinho knew what he was doing, and he was right. The referee had been terrible — even consequential to the result — and the Portuguese wanted to shield his players. Mourinho even went out of his way to praise his players despite the poor performance. “If we want to remember Elche, Elche’s two sendings-off… no, but in the first minute, the yellow card for Diomande… what our players feel on the pitch is not normal,” Mourinho continued. “But I liked my team as a team. Very much in the first half and in the second… obviously very, very, very difficult. Very difficult to have the ball, to stop the possession of the ball of a good team and with one more player. But I liked the pride, the determination. And it is a good feeling for me. It is not being disappointed with my players, not having anything to reproach them for. Within the negative of the result, it is a positive feeling for me.” FOLLOW: Managing Madrid on Instagram SHOP: Mbappe Nueve Swag This is Mourinho’s bread and butter. He is too smart to not know that his team could’ve played better, or that certain stars are not pulling their weight the way the team needs them to. He is also self aware enough to know he didn’t set up his team to win. What he says publicly isn’t as important as to what he’s saying internally. Outwardly, the focus was the referee. Inwardly, that may not be the case — or at least Real Madrid fans will hope for all of that to be true. There is a fine line when it comes to analyzing this team so far, and crossing it too far in one direction may lead to an unnecessary, overly dramatic view of what’s happening. Real Madrid’s performance in the first half against Atletico Madrid was not good, but it was, from a scoreline standpoint, on equal terms. They looked horrendous attacking in transition, but they also prevented Atletico from scoring, and had Atletico been a man down instead — which objectively should’ve been the case — then we’re talking about a different scenario, and probably a win, and difference makers off the bench like Yan Diomande and Bernardo Silva would’ve had more room to operate. You could also argue that first half, scoreless, was somewhat acceptable — only in the sense that it’s a low bar in that stadium and Real Madrid almost never play well at the Metropolitano (arguably the hardest game on the schedule all year), and Atleti are the only team Real Madrid lost to even when Real Madrid were the best team in the world in the 2023 – 2024 season. Then there is the Real Betis game, where Real Madrid missed seven (yes seven) big chances. Not shots, big chances. Real Betis, meanwhile, had one big chance, and won. Processing that is important on some level, because if you replay these freak scenarios again, you’re looking at eight straight wins, second to Barcelona only on goal differential, and a different atmosphere both in the locker-room and the way the media has covered the team. But that’s an extreme, and football is not fair. Tough luck. You have to do what’s in your control: Put away your chances and play better on both ends of the field so that these tiny margins of error are not consequential. Your main league rival, Barcelona, cares little about margins. They’ve scored 27 goals from an xG of 25. Both numbers are so ridiculous for this stage of the season, that it doesn’t actually make sense. They are on course, statistically, to be even greater than Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Whether that’s sustainable or not is a different story; but what is true is that Real Madrid’s poor finishing has sustained at a poor rate for over a year now. It’s possible to read the reality of the team without being overly-reactionary. Real Madrid have had some bad luck, played some bad football, and, in between, played some positive football as well while a few players are playing really well. Other players, meanwhile, have been poor. Sounds like normal stuff. The problem is that there is little time or patience left after two years of losing, and being six points back against a rival who doesn’t look like it will give ground is extra torturous and unforgiving. The question now is how much Mourinho has learned in these opening eight games, and how much he is willing to adjust. If he continues with the same line-ups and same approach to games, we will continue seeing the same things: Bad performers, good performers, bad second halves, good chance creation — you get the idea. At this point, you don’t have all the sample size you need to make permanent decisions, but you do have enough data to extrapolate the good things while stripping away the bad things. Deciphering what those good and bad things are can be subjective, and Mourinho may even disagree with the general consensus. There is also another barrier: Even if he feels strongly about making a change, his hands may be tied because of political hierarchies in the team and pressure from the president. If that’s the case, Mourinho has a big decision to make: Die by his own sword, or die by Florentino’s sword. There is no question as to which one of those the ‘old Mourinho’ (circa 2010) would’ve chosen. But that was 16 years ago. People change. The bigger question is, if Mourinho changed, then why was he brought in now, far removed from being one of football’s elite managers? Is his football not outdated? FOLLOW for regular in-game updates: Managing Madrid on Twitter We’ll learn more about Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the upcoming two months, and whether or not his version of this team is different from his predecessors. The only way out of this mess is through a teardown and rebuild, and I don’t mean by selling the squad and building a new one — I mean by putting everyone in the current squad on equal flooring. The names on the back of the shirt must, to some extent, become irrelevant, and Mourinho needs to build the line-up from scratch, assuming hierarchies and star power don’t exist. Then, and only then, can a fresh tactical blueprint come about. Then, and only then, can he turn this team around and put them on a winning course. That’s easier said than done, of course, and everyone will have an opinion on what names need to be dropped and what names need to be promoted. But the entire point is this: Mourinho needs to have that power to do what he feels works best, without any added pressure or noise — whether it be from the president, the players, agents and entourages, or family members. Part of that responsibility needs to lie on Florentino Perez to give Mourinho that freedom, and, this may sound harsh: Mourinho will have do it anyway even if he doesn’t get that freedom. It is somewhat a lose-lose: keep doing things the same way and lose; or defy and maybe win or lose anyway. This is where the board needs to be held accountable as much as anyone else. If after four coaches the exact same problems persist, the problem is clearly not the coach, and throwing coaches around like they’re darts is exactly where Real Madrid were after 2004 — one of the darkest periods of the modern era. The parallels from then, to now, are jarring. In 2004, Vanderlei Luxemburgo subbed out Ronaldo Nazario in the 87th minute when the team was up 1-0 after David Beckham had received a red card. Florentino Perez called Luxemburgo after the game and told him he’s not allowed to do that again…. and that was Luxemburgo’s last game in charge. In 2025, we saw what happened when Xabi Alonso subbed off Vinicius Jr in a Clasico. The heavy hand descended, and Alonso lost the support of both the president and some of his star players. Tactical decisions, at this club, unfortunately, can come with devastating consequences. There are so many valid reasons for Real Madrid fans to be concerned from what they’ve seen from the last two years (and counting), and most realists would land on the negative side of agnosticism when it comes to the potential success of the team this season. But there are some reasons to believe Mourinho can turn it around, even if some of those reasons are latent. The team is deeper than it was last season. There are four (five if you include Ferland Mendy) proper full-backs. Ibrahima Konaté was a solid addition to the back line. Dean Huijsen looks good. Arda Güler is the best creator in Europe. Jude Bellingham looks unstoppable. Kylian Mbappe is still scoring at a prolific rate. The world’s best goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, is in between the posts. Carlos Espi is a profile Real Madrid hasn’t had since Joselu, and is currently on pace for a goal every 13 minutes. Yan Diomande is an upgrade over Franco Mastantuono. There is also the other side of the coin: The full-backs haven’t looked at their best, yet. Espi barely plays. This team isn’t built for Jose Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1, primarily because none of the midfielders in the double pivot can control games against elite opposition. Vinicius Jr who is being relied upon heavily on the left wing, looks a shell of himself. WATCH: 5 Real Madrid Questions That Need To Be Answered Perfect roles often don’t exist. Football can be ruthless and brutal. If you’re not able to adapt to different positions and roles, the industry may chew you up and spit you out. Getting a system tailored around your strengths is often reserved for the best of the best. Not everyone gets to be the alpha. The most successful teams right now have one thing in common: collective buy in, sacrifice, and a belief in the greater good being more important than any one individual. One of the bittersweet things Real Madrid fans experience on an ongoing basis is seeing so many of their stars thrive and dominate as alphas in their ideal roles — but it’s done at the international level rather than that club level. It’s a tough pillow to swallow and a challenging reality to grapple with. Brahim Diaz is the fulcrum of Morocco’s build-up, and he’s played just 99 minutes in La Liga this season. Vinicius in the World Cup was Brazil’s offensive channel. Mbappe doesn’t over-tangle with his co-stars in France. Camavinga looked good as the single pivot under Zinedine Zidane — in a position that doesn’t currently exist in Mourinho’s blueprint. Cucurella is an absolute defensive unit with Spain in a far less chaotic scheme. Thomas Tuchel has a team built to maximize Bellingham to a science. Güler is Türkiye. You get the idea. (To be fair to Güler and Bellingham, those two specifically have been great at both the club and international level this season.) That data tells us there is no shortage of talent here, but there is an overlap of talent in certain positions. Potentially not renewing Vinicius this past summer was seen by many as an opportunity to exchange a tactical mismatch for a tactical need, such as a controlling midfielder. “They’re incredible players, but the tactical structure could be more difficult,” Mourinho said in his first Real Madrid press conference this season. “[Carlo] Ancelotti found the perfect role for Vini with Brazil, [Didier] Deschamps found the perfect role for Kylian, and [Thomas] Tuchel found the perfect role for Jude [at the World Cup]. But it’s harder to find the perfect role for all three. I have a lot of confidence that we’ll do well when all three play together. I don’t think they’re incompatible at all.” This is by no means a sinking ship, but it is also not anywhere close to sailing smoothly. The next two months will tell us a lot: Barcelona are about to endure their first difficult stretch of the entire season, and Mourinho will show us, hopefully, what adjustments he has planned after observing the issues up close. It’s cliche, but possibly more true than ever: October is pivotal. It could be the difference between a nine point gap or a three point gap.
- Advertisement
- Barca Blaugranes·1d ago·Both·transfers
Gossip: Barcelona learn how much it will cost to land Man Utd wonderkid JJ Gabriel
LEIGH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: JJ Gabriel of Manchester United U21 in action during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester United U21 and Leicester City U21 at Leigh Sports Village on August 31, 2026 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel turned 16 this week and the rumor mill is still busily speculating where he might end up after telling the Red Devils he wants out of Old Trafford. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all keen on the youngster and leading the race, according to Sky Sport Germany. Bayern have recently held talks but it’s thought a move to Spain looks the most likely option. Gabriel has not yet made his senior debut for Manchester United but still won’t come cheap, per the report. It’s estimated that any interested clubs will have to fork out “well over ten to fifteen million euros” to land the teenager. That price is said to include “transfer fee, bonuses, and other payments” and is the latest number being thrown about when it comes to Gabriel. There’s been talk already that Gabriel’s camp are demanding a seven-figure salary, a figure that may well put off some interested parties. Meanwhile, Manchester United have reportedly offered the teenager a scholarship contract but Gabriel is still expected to depart after deciding his future lies elsewhere.
- Managing Madrid·3d ago·Both·transfers
Four Real Madrid Questions That Need To Be Answered
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 05: Jose Mourinho greets Real Madrid President Florentino Perez during the 69th FIFA Congress at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles on June 5, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) | FIFA via Getty Images These observations — where I look at Real Madrid’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts — are now a regular thing. All previous editions can be found here. This is an abridged, article version of a much longer, in-depth podcast that Matt Wiltse and I recorded during the international break: The point of this exercise is simple: Most of us watching this team play have almost no answers, but many questions. This was the case last season as well when Xabi Alonso was appointed. Most of the questions, from then until now, remain. But to try to keep the conversation fresh rather than rehashed, I have come up with new questions this season, particularly after watching how the first eight games unfolded. These questions are directed towards several different people: Question #1, to Florentino Perez: Will you give the coach full control? This question comes first, because all of the subsequent questions become irrelevant if the answer to the above question is ‘no’. We cannot skip this step. Last season, the answer to this question was a bonafide ’no’. Florentino had the chance to intervene, when, after Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2 – 1 in October and were clear by five points, to come down and side with Alonso after Vinicius Jr’s public humiliation of him when being subbed out in the second half in what was otherwise a very positive night that didn’t need to be sabotaged. He didn’t, and whether or not you agree with Florentino’s decision to back Vinicius or not is somewhat irrelevant, because in retrospect, it was a clear mistake. To a less dramatic effect, Alvaro Arbeloa was also latter handcuffed in how much he was allowed to play Thiago Pitarch. What’s done is done. How much more pain and suffering does Florentino need to see in order to realize he was wrong? This question continues to linger. Florentino needs to go into Mourinho’s office, give him the keys, and proclaim: ‘do what you need to do, bench who you need to bench, promote who you need to promote. I want titles. Consider this the end of politics and star power.’ Question #2, to Jose Mourinho: Can you please be your unapologetic self? Look, I completely understand: Mourinho is calmer now; older, wiser, etc. He doesn’t need to poke anyone’s eyes out or fight anyone. I’m not asking him to. But I am asking him, for the sake of the success of Real Madrid C.F, as an institution, to make big changes and defy the aforementioned status quo — something his predecessors couldn’t do in the past two years. That may require defying Florentino’s player hierarchy. Yes, it sounds ridiculous to go against what your employer tells you to do, but I’m willing to bet if Mourinho continues doing the same things, he will be sacked — so he might as well get sacked doing things his own way. This is, again, to reiterate, ridiculous and harsh — especially coming from a writer on a keyboard, and even more ridiculous when you consider who it’s directed to: one of the greatest managers of all time. But it’s clear that the solutions are not going to come by repeating the same things. I have two additional sub-questions for Mourinho, in no particular order: Will you tolerate stars underperforming, or will you hold them accountable the way you did when you benched Karim Benzema once upon a time (who by the way, was one of Florentino’s absolute favourites)? How married are you to the 4-2-3-1 given that: A) the current box-to-box midfielders who are starting every week aren’t compatible together in a double pivot; and B) trying new formations may unlock new versions of this team and help the puzzle pieces fit a little better? Those are two main ones, and remaining questions, like getting more minutes for Bernardo Silva and Trent Alexander-Arnold to help with ball progression (and whoever else needs to play more) fall into the first question. Question #3, to Yan Diomande: How ready are you? This is an extremely harsh question. In no way, shape, or form should Real Madrid’s success hinge on the shoulders of a 19-year-old. But this question is not meant to put pressure on his shoulders, nor am I implying Diomande is the one that will make or break this team. The question stems from something else, and is the result of the first tactical domino that will likely have to fall: Vinicius Jr should be removed as an undisputed starter. If and when that happens — and it may be as soon as this month — then Diomande will likely start on the left. While I do believe that Vinicius should be removed from the starting lineup, I’m also not naive enough to believe all of Real Madrid’s problems get solved with that one action. There are still remaining questions, such as: can Mbappe exist with any pure winger on that side, or is it better to pair him with a non-traditional winger or midfielder to provide balance? Nevertheless, Diamonde will need to be ready to produce, to be efficient on the ball, to move the ball quickly, and to defend. Luckily, he’s already very good at all those things. Question #4, to the universe: How healthy will Real Madrid’s center-backs be? Self-explanatory. A healthy Eder Militao, Dean Huijsen, and Ibrahima Konaté would change the ceiling of this team, and Antonio Rüdiger can fill in with fresh legs whenever necessary. The moment we start resorting to a center-back partnership of Asencio – Tchouameni, I’m sweating. There are nine bonus questions in the episode above. Enjoy!
- Managing Madrid·3d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Konaté’s return, Espí’s wait and Carvajal’s Getafe talks
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 06: Ibrahima Konaté player of Real Madrid is training during a training session at on October 06, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images) | Real Madrid via Getty Images Real Madrid’s preparations for Saturday’s meeting with Villarreal gathered pace on Tuesday, with Ibrahima Konaté completing training with the group and several internationals returning to Valdebebas. Carlos Espí, meanwhile, will have to wait for his senior Spain debut after another matchday omission. Elsewhere, Sergio Canales has revisited the challenges of his time at Madrid, while Dani Carvajal is reportedly exploring a move that would keep him in the Spanish capital. Konaté completes group training as internationals return Ibrahima Konaté completed Tuesday’s session with the group, giving José Mourinho another defensive option ahead of Villarreal’s visit to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, October 10, at 9 p.m. Madrid time. The Frenchman trained with a substantial bandage on his right knee as he continued his return from a collateral ligament injury. With Dean Huijsen suspended following his dismissal in the derby, Konaté’s progress puts him in contention to partner Antonio Rüdiger against Villarreal, although the starting lineup remains to be determined. Éder Militão also continued working with the group. Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Brahim Díaz, Denzel Dumfries and Yan Diomande returned to the training complex after their international commitments. Their workloads differed, with some taking part in more intensive exercises and others concentrating on recovery. Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde worked in the gym. Mbappé’s presence followed his individual session on Monday afternoon, when he exercised indoors and on the pitch after returning to Madrid. He remains in rehabilitation following the hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee sustained while playing for France. AS reports that Mbappé’s time away from Madrid was agreed with Mourinho and the club, with a recovery program in place throughout. His return to Valdebebas does not yet amount to a return to full group training. Raúl Asencio has also begun his postoperative recovery work at the training complex. Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo continued their respective rehabilitation programs, including exercises with the ball. The remaining players involved with Spain and England are expected back following Tuesday’s international fixtures, allowing Mourinho to bring together more of his squad before the return to league action. Militao and Konaté both completed today's training session in full without any issues. Both ready 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2qB9MkJtUa — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) October 6, 2026 Espí left out of Spain’s squad for Croatia Carlos Espí will have to wait to make his senior international debut after being omitted from Spain’s 23-player matchday squad to face Croatia in Split. The Madrid striker was called up as an emergency replacement following Ferran Torres’ injury, having scored five goals in Spain’s 13-goal victory over San Marino at Under-21 level. However, Luis de la Fuente left him out of the squad against the Czech Republic in Oviedo and has made the same decision for the final match of the international window. Roberto Fernández retains his place among Spain’s attacking options. The Espanyol striker has been with the senior squad throughout the break and made his debut against the Czech Republic after missing out on the first two matchday squads. Espí will therefore not feature in either of Tuesday’s Spain fixtures: he is with the senior group rather than the Under-21 side facing Romania in Ibiza, but will not be involved against Croatia. Madrid teammates Huijsen and Marc Cucurella are both included in De la Fuente’s matchday squad. Canales: “I learned a lot, I don’t regret anything” Sergio Canales has reflected on the demands of joining Real Madrid as a teenager, describing an experience that changed his understanding of professional football even though it did not unfold as he had initially planned. Speaking to Manu Carreño on Cadena SER’s El Larguero, the Racing Santander midfielder explained that his original intention had been to sign for Madrid and continue developing elsewhere on loan. “I made the decision because of certain circumstances in Santander. My idea was to sign for Real Madrid and then go out on loan for a few years to gain more experience. But I learned a lot, I don’t regret anything, and at the end of that year, it completely changed my perspective on what it means to be a First Division player. It gave me a lot of strength to keep going despite the injuries I’ve had,” Canales said. Asked whether the move had come too early, he placed it within the wider experiences of a career repeatedly interrupted by injuries. “Did Madrid come to me too soon? Well, soon… In the end, everything happens for a reason. The career I’ve had, with so many injuries, has taught me to fight and overcome situations.” Canales also distinguished between the footballing education Madrid provided and the personal challenges of adapting to that environment at a young age. “It forces you to mature a lot as a footballer, but personally it’s a huge challenge. A lot is demanded of an 18 or 19-year-old player very quickly, which is normal, but you’ve just left school and haven’t had any training to learn how to deal with the situations that come your way.” Returning to Racing and considering his future Canales also revisited Barcelona’s attempts to recruit him as a child. He recalled visiting La Masia and meeting his idol, Juan Román Riquelme, but said his family ultimately chose to remain in Santander rather than uproot their lives when there was no guarantee that he would become a professional. His return to Racing after playing in Mexico, meanwhile, was motivated by a desire to contribute to the club that developed him. “Not to compare, but this is my home and I owe everything to Racing. I’m very fortunate for the career I’ve had, and it’s all thanks to Racing. Not only for giving me my debut, but for shaping me as a player and a person from a young age. So I felt I had to come back to give back some of that. Now I feel good and I’m trying to help the team.” At 35, Canales believes Racing could be his final club at the highest level, although he stopped short of announcing a retirement plan. “I would say that, as of today, and although life changes a lot, at the elite level this is probably the end. The adventure in Mexico has been amazing, so I’m not ruling anything out. I’m taking it one day at a time; what I want is to be fit and contribute here. And the moment I see that I can’t do that, I’ll never be a problem for Racing.” Report: Bordalás contacts Carvajal over Getafe move Dani Carvajal could continue his career at Getafe, with ABC reporting that talks are progressing positively over a potential move for the former Madrid defender. According to the report, José Bordalás has personally contacted Carvajal to explain the role he envisages for him and express his interest in bringing him to the Coliseum. Remaining close to his home and the opportunity to work with Bordalás are presented as factors that appeal to the full-back. The principal obstacle is Getafe’s ability to accommodate and register him within the club’s salary limit. The report says Getafe are examining their options and discussing the available room with LaLiga. The interest has therefore not yet translated into a completed signing. While the account describes optimism around the negotiations, an agreement remains dependent on resolving the financial and registration requirements. Villarreal sell out their 850-ticket Bernabéu allocation Villarreal will have 850 supporters at the Bernabéu after selling out their allocation for Saturday’s match. The visitors head into the fixture following victories in their last two league matches, with the timing of the game and the long weekend helping supporters make the trip to Madrid. The journey is also a regular one on the Villarreal Supporters’ Clubs Association’s away calendar. Villarreal are seeking their third league victory at the Bernabéu, having won two of their previous 26 visits. Madrid, meanwhile, return to competition for the first time since the derby defeat, with Mourinho’s team looking to begin their October schedule with three points.
- Barca Blaugranes·3d ago·Both·transfers
Rumors: Barcelona and Real Madrid willing to make huge offer to land Man Utd wonderkid JJ Gabriel
DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 12: Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel of Manchester United is pictured before the pre-season friendly match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Croke Park on August 12, 2026 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) | Getty Images Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel celebrates his 16th birthday today which is getting the rumor mill all excited once again, particularly about a move to Barcelona. The teenager has reportedly been training in Barcelona after telling Manchester United he wants to leave. Deco has played down talk of a move for the 16-year-old, insisting his club “aren’t involved,” but reporter Florian Plettenberg claims the Catalans could for for Gabriel. His latest update on X claims Barcelona and Real Madrid have “very concrete” interest in the teenager and are “ready to offer the XXL package of salary, bonuses and signing-on fee.” 🚨🆕 JJ Gabriel, Manchester United’s 15 y/o gem who turns 16 tomorrow, is set to receive a Cypriot passport in the near future, if all goes to plan. A free transfer in January is planned and therefore possible. #MUFC Real Madrid and Barcelona are currently very concrete – both… pic.twitter.com/Oi7nPNmS3T — Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) October 5, 2026 Bayern and PSG are also credited with interest in the teenager and a move away from the Premier League looks the most likely option at present. It’s thought Gabriel now has an EU passport which means he can go overseas before he turns 18. Gabriel has asked for his registration at Old Trafford to be cancelled, which Manchester United are expected to contest, but a transfer abroad would “bypass that issue,” per the Telegraph.
- Managing Madrid·4d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Mbappé returns to Valdebebas as Villas-Boas backs Mourinho
KOCAELI, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 25: (EDITORS NOTE: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Kylian Mbappe of France during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and France at Kocaeli Stadium on September 25, 2026 in Kocaeli, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) | UEFA via Getty Images Real Madrid’s return to competition is approaching, and Monday brought Kylian Mbappé back to Valdebebas to continue his recovery from a knee injury. The forward is targeting Saturday’s meeting with Villarreal, although his availability remains unconfirmed. Meanwhile, André Villas-Boas has expressed confidence in José Mourinho, describing the challenge of facing an in-form Barcelona as precisely the kind of situation the Madrid coach enjoys. Mbappé resumes individual work with Villarreal in mind Kylian Mbappé completed an individual session at Real Madrid City on Monday afternoon after returning to the Spanish capital earlier in the day. The club confirmed that he worked both inside the facilities and on the pitch, performing exercises with and without the ball as he continued his rehabilitation. According to AS, the forward landed in Madrid at 11:16 a.m., after his teammates’ session had begun at 10:30 a.m. His own training had been arranged for the afternoon, and he arrived at Valdebebas at approximately 5 p.m. for a combination of gym work, physiotherapy and exercises on the grass. The timing of his arrival attracted attention, but his absence from Madrid had been authorized. Mundo Deportivo reports that Mbappé spent time in France and Switzerland with permission from both the club and Mourinho, while following the recovery guidelines established for his knee injury. His return therefore should not be presented as an unauthorized absence from training. Images of the forward’s activities during that period—including an evening out in Paris and a bicycle ride—generated criticism from some supporters. Those discussions have accompanied his rehabilitation, but the reporting also states that he continued working with physiotherapists and following the club’s prescribed program while away. Mbappé suffered the injury while scoring France’s winning goal against Turkey on September 25. He subsequently left the national-team camp and underwent examinations in Madrid the following day, when the club confirmed a hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee. Madrid’s medical statement did not specify a recovery period. Reports initially placed his expected absence at 10 to 12 days, putting the Villarreal fixture within reach if his recovery progressed as anticipated. Monday’s session represents a step toward that objective, rather than confirmation that he has returned to full group training or is ready to start. The club’s latest update says Mbappé is working “with the aim of being available for this Saturday’s match against Villarreal.” The match takes place at the Santiago Bernabéu on October 10 at 9 p.m. Madrid time. Six players continue recovery programs ahead of a busy October Madrid’s morning session brought together Mourinho’s available first-team players and a group from the academy. They began with activation exercises and rondos before moving into possession drills and a small-sided match, finishing with running exercises on the grass. The club listed Raúl Asencio, Ibrahima Konaté, Mbappé, Ferland Mendy, Fede Valverde and Rodrygo as continuing their respective recovery programs. No return dates were included in the training report. Villarreal opens a five-match October schedule. Madrid then visit Roma in the Champions League on October 14, host Sevilla on October 18, and welcome RB Leipzig on October 21, before travelling to Barcelona for the Clásico on October 25. Villas-Boas: “These are the challenges Mourinho enjoys the most” André Villas-Boas has backed Mourinho to meet the demands of his return to Real Madrid. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the Porto president praised the coach’s standing in the game while acknowledging the difficulty of competing against Barcelona in their current form. “José Mourinho is still among the best in the world, I always knew it. And now he’s managing the best club in the world,” Villas-Boas said. He drew a comparison with the challenge Mourinho encountered when he first arrived in Madrid from Inter, emphasizing that the strength of the opposition would be a source of motivation. “It’s a shame that Barcelona is in this situation. He’s finding them at a great moment, just like when he left Inter. But these are the challenges Mourinho enjoys the most.” AS also highlighted recent support from Wesley Sneijder, the former Madrid midfielder who played under Mourinho at Inter. Sneijder offered an unequivocal assessment of his former coach’s suitability for the task: “Mourinho is the only manager capable of turning Real Madrid around.”
- Barca Blaugranes·4d ago·Both·transfers
Julian Alvarez’s value drops after failed Barcelona transfer and tough start to season with Atletico
Atletico Madrid's Argentine forward #19 Julian Alvarez sits on the bench during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Julian Alvarez’s market value has dropped by 10 million euros following a tough start to the season with Atletico after a proposed move to Barcelona failed to materialize. Barca wanted to add the Argentina international to their ranks but saw a transfer blocked by Atletico. The Catalans reportedly made an offer of €100 million, but Atletico wanted far more for their striker. Alvarez missed training and game time at the start of the season due to illness, as the transfer saga continued, but has since returned to action and has made four appearances for Diego Simeone’s side. Yet the events over the summer have seen his market value take a hit. According to Transfermarkt, Alvarez’s value has dropped from €120m to €110m in the latest update. Vinicius Junior & Julián Alvarez, who both rejected a move to Arsenal this summer, have just seen their market values decreased in today's LaLiga update 📉 🔗 Read why: https://t.co/VZStccEJDD pic.twitter.com/o1DpxXCtXw — Transfermarkt English (@TMuk_news) October 5, 2026 Transfermarkt’s LaLiga market value coordinator Tobias Blaseio has shared his thoughts on the drop in value. “Many people expected the Argentine to make a move this summer,” he said. “Instead, an unprecedented transfer farce ensued. In the end, Alvarez lost the most and will need some time to regain his standing in Madrid – if that’s even possible. “On the field, it had an entirely negative impact; in the league, the striker has managed only 83 minutes of playing time. This summer certainly didn’t do his reputation as a player any favours.” There was speculation that Barca could go back for Alvarez in the winter or next summer. However, the club have since brought in Gabriel Jesus and Deco has claimed Alvarez “is in the past.”
- Managing Madrid·4d ago·Both·transfers
Daily Thread: 05 October 2026
The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to d all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the mods who do a fantastic job, Ezek, Valyrian Steel, Kung_Fu_Zizou, Juninho, NeRObutBlanco and yours truly, Felipejack. Real Madrid football returns The current international break ends tomorrow and Real Madrid return to action this Saturday, against Villareal. Real will play 8 games, including El Clasico, before the upcoming international break, in November. Real Madrid will play 8 games before the next international break in November: 🏠 10/10: Villarreal (21:00) ✈️ 14/10: Roma (21:00) 🏆 🏠 18/10: Sevilla (21:00) 🏠 21/10: Leipzig (21:00) 🏆 ✈️ 25/10: BARCELONA (21:00) ✈️ 01/11: Racing Santander (16:15) ✈️ 04/11: AEK (18:45) 🏆… pic.twitter.com/PMsdbh2SIg — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 5, 2026 Contract extensions Tchouameni and Guler had their contract extended until 2031! Per Romano, Real is planning on extending Courtois contract.
- Barca Blaugranes·4d ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona set for real test of title credentials after perfect start to 2026-27 campaign
Barcelona's Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha (R) celebrates with teammate Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal after scoring his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on September 19, 2026. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Barcelona couldn’t have had a better start to their 2026/27 season, with their eight consecutive wins in all competitions setting a new club record. Not even the great Cruyff or Guardiola teams managed such a feat, and without a recognised centre-forward to boot, that really is something worth celebrating for Hansi Flick and Co. This October is certainly going to sort the men out from the boys, however. In the space of 21 days, Barca will play Getafe, Real Betis, Real Madrid and Alaves in the league, as well as Galatasaray and current Champions League holders, Paris Saint-Germain. October is calling. 📞 🎟️ https://t.co/OvhtRHC1SF@EGYPTAIR pic.twitter.com/iz55cxgdsh — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 1, 2026 Thankfully, there don’t appear to be too many issues for the club’s medical team to deal with as a result of this international break, and if Flick doesn’t have a full-strength squad to choose from, he’ll have as near as possible. Given that Barca have suffered badly because of injuries while players have been away on international duty before, that’s a real bonus. Given the strength of opposition and the travelling required in the middle of the month, Flick has arguably got to call upon the entire squad to be fit and raring to go. A home game against Getafe opens the month before three difficult away games in a row against Galatasaray, Betis and PSG. While the results are clearly important, by the time that El Clasico comes around on October 25, it will be Barca’s fifth game in 15 days, so how the squad is managed in terms of minutes etc is absolutely vital. No league was ever won in October, of course, but with so many games this month, should Barca’s good form continue, they could put a real marker down in the league if they edge further ahead. Given just how well the blaugranes were playing before the break, it’ll be interesting to see whether having their rhythm broken begins to cause them issues. There’s always likely to be a dip at some point in any event, and if Barca are going to wobble, perhaps having one now is preferable to during the business end of the season. At least no opponent can be under any illusion that they are playing the most in-form team in Europe, and if they are going to take points off Barca, they’ll have to work harder than ever to do so. In order to be able to do that, Barca will have to ease off the accelerator, and there doesn’t appear to be any chance of Flick allowing his players to take it easy. The businesslike quality with which they’ve approached every game so far has served them well, so why change a winning formula? Strap yourselves in…
- Advertisement
- Barca Blaugranes·5d ago·Both·transfers
Evaluating Barcelona’s backup striker options for Raphinha
SEVILLA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 19: Raphinha of FC Barcelona during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Sevilla v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on September 19, 2026 in Sevilla Spain (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images Coming out of the international break, Hansi Flick will have one big question on his mind. If not Raphinha, then who? The Brazilian had fans holding their breath when he was taken off at half-time for Brazil, and sent back to Barcelona for rest and recovery. We still don’t know the full extent of the injury, but best case scenario he makes it back next weekend against Getafe. Flick will know, however, that he dodged a bullet, and if he’s not careful with how his manages his most productive player, there could be costly knock on effects that follow. Coming up this month are trips to Galatasaray and PSG in the Champions League, and tough tests in Spain against Real Betis and Real Madrid. Flick needs Raphinha in the biggest matches, which is why he needs to figure out his plan B up front so that his striker can be fully fit and firing on all cylinders when the pressure is on. The obvious and safest choice is Gabriel Jesus. So far, he has been the player that Flick has turned to late in games to give Raphinha a rest when the match is already out of reach. Context is key here. Jesus has been great in his cameo appearances, but can he do the job expected of him offensively and defensively as a starter in Flick’s system? That’s where I start to have my doubts, and I’m sure Flick is going back and forth too. Another option would be to go with the players who are the hottest at the moment. That would mean Anthony Gordon, most likely through the middle, flanked by Karim Adeyemi and Lamine Yamal. Gordon hasn’t scored yet for Barcelona, but over the break, he has been on fire for England, scoring in all three of his starting appearances. Surely it would be surprising if Flick opts to not play the hot hand? The bold choice would be to give the nod to Hamza Abdelkarim, the top scorer of the preseason. If he doesn’t start getting minutes now, the possibility of a loan move in January will start to become more real. He’s too talented, eager, and full of promise, to not be playing. The young Eyptian, in fact, scored again in emphatic fashion for his nation at an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier last week. There are also wild card options. Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo’s names have been tossed around. Some have even wondered if Lamine Yamal could be used as a false nine. Regardless of the final choice, Flick will have to make a decision soon. Raphinha is critical to Barcelona’s chances this season, and given his recent injury record, he must be protected from himself, which means giving him rest when possible, and even when it seems inconvenient. Barcelona are off to a flying start, but they will be dragged into the trenches in October. The best way to emerge victorious is together as a unit, and that means proving they can win without Raphinha. The very first test will be against Getafe, who are always a stubborn opponent. Will we see Raphinha in action? Maybe it’s best that he starts from the bench, and Flick gets a chance to see who else he can turn to. Bigger challenges await. The Barcelona players are a showing a hunger that’s been contagious. Time to let others feast.
- Barca Blaugranes·6d ago·Both·transfers
Gossip: Chelsea reignite interest in Barcelona’s Jules Koundé
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 9: Jules Koundé of FC Barcelonaa seen during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between FC Barcelona and Feyenoord Rotterdam at Camp Nou on September 9, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images Chelsea FC are said to be on the hunt for a long-term target, who initially turned them down to join FC Barcelona in 2022. A new report says the Blues are looking at signing Jules Koundé to reinforce their defense. Barça, for their part, may be interested in selling players to raise funds in January. Koundé is no longer a guaranteed starter, competing with Eric Garcia, João Cancelo, and Xavi Espart in the full-back positions. The Frenchman is reportedly open to a move to London, to join a team he almost joined four years ago. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is said to want more cover at right-back, especially as Malo Gusto could leave. All of these signs could point to a transfer, though, of course, there’s a long road ahead to an agreement if all parties do indeed decide to pursue such a thing. Koundé is currently with France, where he is dealing with more frustration over playing time, or lack of it. Since starting the match against Turkiye, Koundé has not featured for Zinedine Zidane. He has a contract with Barcelona until 2027, signed last year. He signed from Sevilla for 50 million euro.
- Barca Blaugranes·6d ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona star Anthony Gordon considered one of England’s ‘main men’ by Harry Kane
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - SEPTEMBER 29: Harry Kane of England celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Anthony Gordon during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Czechia and England at Fortuna Arena on September 29, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) | UEFA via Getty Images Anthony Gordon, who has enjoyed a strong start at FC Barcelona since joining from Newcastle United in the past transfer window, is one of England’s main men now, according to their captain and star, Harry Kane. “His performances in the last couple of games have been some of his best that he has played in an England shirt,” Kane said. “I think he is just relishing putting the shirt on and being one of the main men in the team.” The BBC reports that Gordon is one of manager Thomas Tuchel’s “untouchables” alongside Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Publicly, the manager did not tip his hand fully. When asked whether Gordon was one of the first names on the team sheet, Tuchel said “He’s getting there.” However, Gordon’s recent performances, both in the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Nations League, have certainly caught the boss’s eye. “He’s defending his shirt, he’s defending his position – an excellent performance again after his performance against Spain. “He was very decisive [against the Czech Republic] and had an excellent goal. It was very, very difficult but the technique and finishing was excellent,” Tuchel said. England won that match 2-0, with Kane scoring as well. This came after England lost 3-2 to world champions Spain. “He scored against Spain so he has decisive actions and he’s defending his shirt and his position. He does it on the highest level and he’s a very important player,” Tuchel continued. “He is an important player for us and he showed that during the World Cup,” Kane said. At the beginning of the World Cup, Gordon was not a guaranteed starter and competed for a starting role with Marcus Rashford, who coincidentally had left Barcelona and been essentially replaced by Gordon. However, by the end of the tournament, Gordon was clearly the preferred option. He assisted Bellingham’s controversial equalizer against Norway, which the Norwegians claimed should not have counted because the ball hit a cable while it was in the air at the start of the sequence. England would go onto win 2-1 after extra time, thanks to a goal by Bellingham that was created after Norway’s goalkeeper, Ørjan Nyland, allowed a shot to rebound off him. Gordon also scored the opening goal in the semifinal against Argentina. He was subbed off in the 72nd minute for Ezri Konsa, a defender, as part of a wider push by Tuchel to defend the lead. The strategy backfired and Argentina won thanks to two late goals, one from Enzo Fernández and the other from Lautaro Martínez, both assisted by Lionel Messi.
- Barca Blaugranes·7d ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona decide on next Clasico shirt sponsor ahead of Camp Nou clash with Real Madrid
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 10: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates the victory during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Spotify Camp Nou on May 10, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) | Getty Images Barcelona and Spotify have reportedly decided they will feature Tyler, The Creator as their next shirt sponsor for the upcoming Clasico against Real Madrid. As part of Barca’s sponsorship deal with Spotify, that Catalan giants have been featuring artists on their shirts for the big game against their bitter rivals for several seasons now. According to RAC1, Tyler, The Creator is next in line and Barca will use the American rapper’s logo on their kits for the match on October 25th against Madrid at Camp Nou. ‼️ EXPLICAT a @rac1 🎙️ @RogerSaperas 🎶 Confirmat: Tyler, the Creator serà l'artista que lluirà a la samarreta del Barça en el Clàssic del 25 d'octubre 👕 Tal com va avançar Sport, era l'opció preferida del club#TuDiràs #frac1 pic.twitter.com/h7H8Zug81Q — El Barça juga a RAC1 (@FCBRAC1) October 1, 2026 Tyler, The Creator will be the ninth artist to feature on Barca shirts (after the likes of Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, the Rolling Stones and Oliva Rodrigo) and it’s rumored his ‘GOLF’ slogan (in reference to his clothing brand GOLF WANG) could be used. 🚨💣 CONFIRMADO: ¡TYLER, THE CREATOR, EL PRÓXIMO ARTISTA EN LA CAMISETA DEL CLÁSICO! 👕 La palabra “GOLF”, su marca de ropa, aparecería en la camiseta ℹ️ @memorabilia1899 pic.twitter.com/iFnHUY8I8I — SocBlaugrana (@SocBlaugranaFC) October 2, 2026 Tyler, The Creator has been embroiled in controversy during his career and was even banned from entering the UK a decade ago amid claims his lyrics encouraged hatred, violence, and intolerance. He has since gone on to win three Grammy Awards and pulls in over 38 million listeners monthly on Spotify.
- Managing Madrid·8d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Asencio’s surgery, Cestero’s return and Mourinho’s denial
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 12: Cristiano Ronaldo (L) of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides second goial with head coach Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid during the la Liga match between Real Madrid and Levante at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 12, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) | Getty Images Real Madrid began October with confirmation of Raúl Asencio’s surgery, while Castilla are preparing to welcome Jorge Cestero back for Friday’s derby. Those developments bring different priorities for the club: a rehabilitation process for one defender and a return to competition for one of the academy’s leading midfielders. Mourinho, meanwhile, has moved to distance himself from comments attributed to him about Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation with Portugal. Asencio undergoes successful surgery and receives Mourinho visit Raúl Asencio underwent successful surgery on Thursday to address a stress fracture in his right tibia, Real Madrid have confirmed. Dr. Manuel Leyes performed the operation under the supervision of the club’s medical services, with the defender due to begin his recovery process in the coming days. “Our player Raúl Asencio underwent successful surgery today, performed by Dr. Manuel Leyes, to repair a stress fracture in his right tibia. The operation was supervised by the Real Madrid Medical Services. Asencio will begin his recovery process in the coming days,” the club’s statement read. According to AS, Asencio had been managing the problem for several months and initially pursued conservative treatment, but the persistence of the injury ultimately led to the decision to operate. The newspaper reports an expected absence of two to three months. Madrid have not announced a return date, so suggestions of a comeback around Christmas or early in 2027 remain estimates rather than a confirmed schedule. Mourinho visited Asencio in hospital following the procedure. The club confirmed the visit and said the coach checked on the defender’s condition after the operation. Mourinho rejects attributed Ronaldo comments as “fake news” José Mourinho has denied making statements about Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation with Portugal, using an Instagram story to label the comments attributed to him “fake news.” Portuguese newspaper O Jogo reported that the alleged remarks had circulated particularly in Brazilian media. According to MARCA, as reported by GOAL, Mourinho maintains that he has not spoken about the matter and has “no comment” to offer. The report says the Madrid coach wishes to avoid becoming involved and retains respect for Ronaldo, Portugal coach Jorge Jesus and the Portuguese Football Federation. His public intervention was therefore a denial of the attributed statements, rather than an assessment of the situation within the national team. Cestero set to return for Castilla’s derby Jorge Cestero is expected to return to Castilla’s squad for Friday, October 2’s derby against Atlético Madrileño at the Alfredo Di Stéfano, according to AS. The report says the club considers the disciplinary episode that kept him out against Alcorcón resolved. Cestero’s omission followed a disagreement with Julián López de Lerma after the midfielder was left on the bench against Sant Andreu. When asked about his subsequent absence, the Castilla coach described it as a technical decision without publicly detailing the disagreement. He nevertheless emphasized that Cestero remained an important part of his plans. “We’re focused on player development. We want all the players to be able to showcase their abilities, compete, and be part of the team,” López de Lerma said. “Jorge will be a very important player for us this season.” His return would provide another midfield option as Castilla seek a response to their draw against Sant Andreu and defeat to Alcorcón. The immediate development is his expected inclusion in the squad, rather than confirmation that he will start the derby. Mbappé shares his World Cup awards ahead of Ballon d’Or ceremony Kylian Mbappé posted photographs on Thursday displaying the Golden Boot and Bronze Ball he won at the 2026 World Cup. The awards recognized his position as the tournament’s leading scorer and third-best player, respectively. Mbappé finished the competition with ten goals, retaining the Golden Boot he had won in Qatar four years earlier. The photographs arrive with the Ballon d’Or ceremony approaching on October 26 in London. MARCA reported that voting closed three days before the post, meaning the images appeared after ballots had been submitted. Mbappé is among the nominees alongside Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane and defending winner Ousmane Dembélé. Mbappé has spoken openly in recent weeks about his belief that this is “a good year to win it,” while also rejecting suggestions of a lasting disagreement with Dembélé. “I’ve already spoken with him, there’s no problem, he’s a friend,” Mbappé said. Courtois has also publicly supported his Madrid teammate’s candidacy. Mastantuono reflects on World Cup omission and life in Italy Franco Mastantuono discussed the disappointment of missing Argentina’s World Cup squad after returning to international action in Wednesday’s 4–0 friendly victory over Bolivia. The Fiorentina player came on in the second half and said that, despite his frustration at being omitted from Lionel Scaloni’s final list, he continued to support the team throughout the tournament. “It’s tough to be left off the World Cup roster, but I’ve always encouraged my teammates and Argentina to do well. They had an incredible World Cup and made all Argentinians proud,” Mastantuono said. He is now looking to establish himself during the next stage of Argentina’s development. “A new process begins, I feel good and I can have an opportunity, but above all I want to work for the National Team,” he said. Mastantuono also credited Scaloni with giving him freedom on the pitch and spoke positively about the changes that followed his move to Italian football. “He gives me a lot of freedom to play and I’m grateful for that. I’ve felt very good since I went to Italy and my life has changed a bit. I’ve really enjoyed it,” he explained. Scaloni, meanwhile, urged patience with Argentina’s younger players. Discussing Leonel Flores, Mastantuono and Nico Paz, the coach emphasized the need to support their development rather than expect decisive contributions in every appearance. Both league Clásicos will use an exclusive Puma ball LaLiga and Puma have unveiled a dedicated match ball for both league meetings between Barcelona and Real Madrid this season. Its first appearance will come at Spotify Camp Nou on October 25 at 9 p.m. Madrid time, in the tenth round of LaLiga. The design combines bright colours, bold shapes and retro-inspired details intended to reference the history of the fixture. Although its appearance is specific to the Clásico, the ball retains the technical specifications of the standard 2026–27 LaLiga match ball, including an eight-panel seamless construction and a textured polyurethane surface. Mbappé and Ester Expósito reportedly seen in Paris Reports citing footage circulating on social media have placed Mbappé and Spanish actress Ester Expósito at the Paris nightclub Boum Boum. Ouest-France’s MadeInFoot reported the outing on Thursday, with the images attracting attention during the forward’s recovery from injury. Mbappé’s confirmed diagnosis is a hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee, according to Madrid’s September 26 medical statement. The club has not specified a return date. The report of the evening out does not establish a breach of the club’s medical instructions. Managing Madrid Podcast: Gabe Lezra on the rising cost of watching football Managing Madrid founder Gabe Lezra joins Kiyan Sobhani for a discussion about the rising cost of watching Real Madrid and the wider business of sports broadcasting The episode examines opposition to the Paramount merger, the consequences of media consolidation for supporters, and whether Florentino Pérez correctly identified the problems facing football’s broadcasting model. Kiyan and Gabe also discuss how much more fans can be expected to pay and whether clubs could eventually sell coverage directly to supporters rather than rely on broadcasters. The conversation also turns to the public and media response to the Negreira case, alongside the broader question of how football can remain accessible to the people who follow it:
- BBC Sport·10d ago·Both·transfers
Real Madrid considering Van Dijk - Wednesday's gossip
Real Madrid are waiting for Virgil van Dijk to become a free agent, Bayern Munich offer Michael Olise a long-term contract and are eyeing Barcelona's Jules Kounde.
- Barca Blaugranes·10d ago·Both·transfers
Bigger than Barcelona: Raphinha is again a victim of the greed that is ruining football
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 19: Raphinha #11 of Brazil walks downfield during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Brazil and Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium on June 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images Maybe this is just the world we’re living in now where anything people enjoy must be run through the capital machine to extract every ounce of profit. To come clean, I’m not interested in any of these games being played across the world. Instead, as a Barca fan, I find myself holding my breath. At the moment, Barcelona are the toast of town because their brand of football is so unique. We tune in for the beauty and the art of it. Against all odds, it appears once again that Hansi Flick is painting a masterpiece. At the center of the project is Raphinha who has scored 14 goals in 8 games playing a position that is new to him at a time when Barcelona had no one else to fill it. This is a story for the imagination. It’s the escapism that fans crave in a world where the rich are consolidating power, while the rest of us have less control over our lives. Barcelona are what they are at the moment because of the human ingenuity of the people on the field. Supporters pay big bucks to see these games, to buy the shirts, and spend hours of their valuable time each week to support the club they love. Sports are about people. Money continues to corrupt it. When will we reach a breaking point? Hopefully, Raphinha’s injury isn’t too serious. Regardless, every time we have an international break, the inevitable happens, and finally it should serve as a wake up call. This is bigger than Barcelona. The disappointment hurts even more for us because the Blaugrana are off to such an impressive start. Even if it’s just “muscular discomfort,” it’s even more of a reason to take seriously as a symptom of the overload players are subjected to. At a minimum, the quality of play will be reduced as the long and dense season chugs along, and the risk of more serious injuries compounds. So far, here’s a list of some of the other star victims over the past week: Kylian Mbappe, Kai Havertz, Cody Gakpo, and Alexander Isak. Significant members of the supporting cast like Eric Garcia and Ibrahima Konaté went down too. All of this with big Champions League games coming up in October. This is the stage where the stars are meant to appear and perform. Instead, we’re sacrificing them to meaningless friendly games across the world, and made up competitions like the UEFA Nations League that are supposed to persuade us to care at a time when we would otherwise tune out. This is an abuse of power, and the greed must be called out as such in order to protect the future of the game. Without the artists there’s no art. Football is competing for the all of our attention. If it’s not the best quality, why would we bother when there are so many other options for entertainment? FIFA is one of the biggest symbols of corruption in the world. In many ways, they’re copying the model of American sports where just this weekend, for no reason at all, the NFL played a game in Brazil. The rest of the world isn’t interested in American football, but that won’t stop the finance folks from trying to find new ways to expand and capitalize on their product. The world is in love with football for a reason. It’s the beautiful game, and it comes from the people with the distinct flavor of the communities where they live. The players make it what it is, but they are not machines, and they must be protected. We’re all in this together. More money means higher salaries for the players too. Change will only happen when everyone speaks up in unison, and prioritizes creating the conditions for the best product possible. Can’t say I’m optimistic. When Barcelona returns from the break, however, it’ll be interesting to see if they’re able to pick up where they left off. October will be a very demanding month. The onus will be on Hansi Flick to manage the busy calendar, but sometimes you just wish he could be a coach, and not have to concern himself with external factors that are out of his control. That was never the assignment at Barcelona unfortunately. Flick knows the drill. Nothing comes easy. No excuses. At a minimum, Barcelona is full of players who are building a culture that is bigger, hopefully, than the impact of any one person. Time will tell.
- Managing Madrid·10d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Militão’s progress, Clásico prices and Ancelotti’s message to Vinícius
Brazil's forward #07 Vinicius Junior (L) and Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti (R) react after losing the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Brazil and Norway at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 5, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Real Madrid continued their international-break preparations on Tuesday, with Éder Militão again working alongside his teammates while five players remained in rehabilitation. Away from Valdebebas, Carlo Ancelotti offered support for Vinícius Júnior after the forward scored for Brazil, Barcelona opened its Clásico ticket presale, and Nasser Al-Khelaifi discussed Madrid’s potential return to the European club association. Militão trains with teammates for a second successive day Éder Militão continued his reintegration into training on Tuesday, participating alongside Madrid’s available players for the second consecutive session. The defender is working his way back after a lengthy injury absence, with his involvement representing another step toward returning to competition rather than confirmation that he is ready for selection. Mourinho’s available first-team players were joined by a group from the academy for the session at Real Madrid City. Training began with activation exercises and rondos before moving into possession work and a small-sided match. The players finished with running exercises on the grass. The club’s report listed Ibrahima Konaté, Kylian Mbappé, Ferland Mendy, Fede Valverde and Rodrygo as continuing their recovery programs. It did not provide return dates for any of them. Madrid’s next competitive fixture is the home meeting with Villarreal on October 10. Join Kiyan Sobhani for a live Q&A today Managing Madrid’s Kiyan Sobhani will go live on YouTube today, September 29, at 1 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Madrid time, to answer your questions about Real Madrid. From the latest injury updates and the upcoming schedule to the team’s performances under Mourinho, there is plenty to discuss. All Madridistas are invited to join—submit your questions in the live chat and take part in the conversation: Different recovery timelines for Mbappé, Rodrygo and Mendy According to AS, the examinations carried out on Mbappé on September 26 identified a hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee, with an estimated absence of 10 to 12 days. That remains a reported recovery estimate rather than confirmation of his availability for Madrid’s next match. Rodrygo and Mendy are on longer timelines. AS reports that Rodrygo has progressed to individual ball work following his serious knee injury, with December a tentative target for his return. Mendy is also working with the ball after undergoing hamstring-tendon surgery in May. His comeback is being projected toward the end of 2026, although the report stresses that Madrid do not want to set a firm deadline given his injury history. Clásico presale opens with tickets listed from €476.50 Barcelona have begun selling tickets to members for the first league Clásico of the season, which takes place at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, October 25, at 9 p.m. Madrid time. The initial sale is reserved for members, with a 48-hour priority window and a five-percent member discount. Mundo Deportivo reported that the cheapest ticket it found at the start of the sale was €476.50 in Gol 1. Other advertised prices included €699 in Córner 1, €799 in Lateral 2 Superior and €899 in Tribuna 2 Superior. Seats in Tribuna 2 Inferior and Tribuna 1 were listed at €999. Hospitality packages are priced separately and extend considerably higher. The same report listed Balcony Gol seats at €2,050, with some pitchside packages reaching €5,500. Barcelona use dynamic pricing, meaning the figures can change with demand and the availability of seats in each section; the initial listings are not a fixed price range for the remainder of the sale. Ancelotti backs Vinícius: “I’m going to be very patient with him” Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged that Vinícius Júnior is below his best but reiterated his confidence in the forward after Brazil’s 4–2 friendly victory over Australia in Brisbane. Vinícius won and converted a second-half penalty to score Brazil’s fourth goal. “I know him very well, and he’s a key player for Brazil, and for me as well. He’s also a key player for the team’s history and for the future,” Ancelotti said. “He’s not at his best right now, but even so, he can make the difference, as he did today.” The Brazil coach also made clear that his approach would be supportive: “I’m going to be very patient with him.” Vinícius said afterwards that returning to the scoresheet was important for his confidence. He explained that Bruno Guimarães, who would ordinarily have taken the penalty in Raphinha’s absence, understood that he needed the opportunity after a run of games without scoring. Al-Khelaifi says Madrid are “in the process of returning” to EFC Nasser Al-Khelaifi has said Real Madrid are working toward rejoining European Football Clubs (EFC), the organization formerly known as the European Club Association. Speaking at its general assembly in Copenhagen, the EFC chairman and PSG president thanked Florentino Pérez for the discussions and presented a potential Madrid return as part of a move toward greater cooperation between clubs. “I would like to thank Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez for believing that the future of European football must be built on unity and collective interests; we are pleased that they are in the process of returning to the EFC family,” Al-Khelaifi said. He also welcomed Barcelona’s return to the organization. “In this regard, I would also like to thank Barcelona president Joan Laporta for his confidence in the EFC; welcome back to the family.” The distinction in Al-Khelaifi’s wording is important: he described Madrid’s return as an ongoing process, rather than announcing that its readmission had been completed. Anas Laghrari’s attendance also attracted attention because of his connections to Madrid. However, AS reported that he was present on behalf of A22, the company behind the Super League project, rather than as a Real Madrid representative. His presence therefore should not be treated as confirmation that Madrid have formally rejoined the association. Video: Zidane laughs off an introduction as Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was briefly introduced as Real Madrid’s coach during an interview following France’s victory over Belgium. The journalist immediately recognized the mistake, prompting laughter from Zidane before the introduction was corrected: La reacción de Zinedine Zidane cuando el reportero le dice: “Estoy aquí con el entrenador del REAL MADRID” 🥹🥹🥹 Te amamos Zizou. pic.twitter.com/8Pav0nrnQL — MT2 (@madrid_total2) September 29, 2026
- Football España·10d ago·Both·transfers
Haaland’s City future draws scrutiny amid legal case
The Haaland transfer story remains exploratory as Real Madrid and Barcelona monitor Manchester City's legal situation around Erling Haaland. The post Haaland’s City future draws scrutiny amid legal case appeared first on Football España.
- Managing Madrid·11d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Militão rejoins training, Florentino’s court date, and Cestero’s omission
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Eder Militao player of Real Madrid during a training session at Ciudad Real Madrid on September 28, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Maria Jimenez/Real Madrid via Getty Images) | Real Madrid via Getty Images Éder Militão took another step toward his return on Monday, joining part of Real Madrid’s training session as preparations continued for the October 10 meeting with Villarreal. With several teammates still recovering, his progress was the main development at Valdebebas. Elsewhere, Barcelona’s dispute with Florentino Pérez has a conciliation date, Thomas Tuchel has discussed Jude Bellingham’s competitive edge, and Cestero’s absence from Castilla has drawn attention. Militão takes another step in his recovery Éder Militão participated in running exercises alongside his teammates on Monday, beginning his reintegration into group training after the tendon injury that has kept him out since April. The Brazilian’s involvement was the principal development in a session focused on physical work, with much of Mourinho’s squad still away on international duty. Militão underwent surgery on April 28 to repair a rupture of the proximal tendon of the biceps femoris in his left leg. Five months later, his participation with the group represents progress toward a competitive return, although it does not establish that he is ready to play against Villarreal on October 10. His workload is expected to increase gradually rather than move immediately from rehabilitation to match selection. The defender’s return to group exercises follows a visit to Valdebebas by Dr. Lasse Lempainen, the specialist who performed the operation. Lempainen examined Militão and worked with Madrid’s medical and performance staff to assess the next stage of his recovery. “Great day in Madrid with Éder Militão and the medical and performance staff of Real Madrid. A full day dedicated to his return as Éder continues to progress according to plan following surgery for his serious tendon injury,” Lempainen wrote on social media. “It was a pleasure for us to contribute our expertise and experience to his return to the pitch, with the ultimate goal of helping him return safely and perform at the highest level again. Many thanks to Éder and all the Real Madrid staff for the excellent collaboration and a very successful day. Returning to the pitch is a milestone. Getting back to your highest level of performance is the goal.” Elsewhere in the session, Ibrahima Konaté, Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde continued their recovery work. Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo also remained in rehabilitation, although both were able to work with the ball on the pitch. Barcelona and Florentino Pérez given November conciliation date Barcelona and Florentino Pérez have been summoned to a conciliation hearing in Madrid on November 25 at 9:40 a.m., according to EFE, citing judicial sources. The hearing concerns Barcelona’s request for the Madrid president to retract statements about the Negreira case before the Catalan club potentially proceeds with a criminal complaint alleging calumnias. It is a preliminary conciliation proceeding, not a criminal trial or a ruling on the disputed statements. Barcelona submitted its application on June 12, following Pérez’s press conference on May 12 and an interview the following day. The club argues that his remarks damaged its image and reputation. Among the statements Barcelona challenged was Pérez’s allegation that Madrid had been deprived of league titles. “I’ve been here I don’t know how many seasons and I’ve only won seven Champions Leagues and seven Leagues, which could have been 14 because seven Leagues were stolen from me,” Pérez said. Pérez also called for UEFA to intervene over the Negreira case and announced that Madrid were preparing a dossier for the governing body. Barcelona rejected his accusations and set out its position in the statement announcing the conciliation request. “The aim of this request is for Mr. Pérez to retract certain statements he made knowing them to be false, statements which are defamatory and offensive to the Club’s image and reputation. Should this request not be properly addressed, FC Barcelona will proceed with filing the corresponding criminal complaint,” Barcelona stated. The November hearing will therefore provide an opportunity to resolve the dispute before the further legal action Barcelona has announced. The club’s description of Pérez’s statements remains its allegation, rather than a conclusion reached by the court. Riquelme: “Selling Real Madrid remains a red line” Enrique Riquelme has discussed his electoral defeat and the circumstances that could prompt him to become involved in Real Madrid’s institutional affairs again. Speaking to Expansión, the businessman, who received 35% of the vote against Florentino Pérez, said he accepted the result and had not intended to maintain a daily campaign against the club’s leadership. “It was expected that I would be there afterwards, day after day, battling, but that’s not the case. I accept the result and support the team like any other Madrid fan,” Riquelme said. He left open the possibility of another candidacy but stopped short of committing to one. “I respect the results that occurred and the only thing I ask for is unity within Real Madrid, even though there are things I don’t like. Time will tell if I run again or not,” he said. “I ran when I saw what was happening and I didn’t like it from an institutional point of view.” Riquelme identified a possible change to the club’s ownership model as the issue he would continue to monitor, while explicitly acknowledging that he did not currently see a sale taking place. “The sale of the club remains a red line. I will be very attentive to any possible change in the statutes to prevent the sale from happening. I will take action if I see that happening, although I must say that I don’t see it happening at the moment.” For now, he has made no announcement about another presidential campaign, saying only that time and the club’s circumstances would determine whether he runs again. Tuchel on Bellingham: “It’s better for him to play with some anger” Thomas Tuchel has backed the competitive intensity Jude Bellingham displayed during England’s 3–2 defeat to Spain at Wembley, while emphasizing that the midfielder’s workload will be assessed throughout the international window. Bellingham provided an assist and created five chances in the match, which also included an exchange with Madrid teammate Marc Cucurella. Speaking ahead of England’s meeting with the Czech Republic on Tuesday, Tuchel suggested that those confrontations can bring out Bellingham’s best football. “It’s better for him to play with some anger. That’s what he likes to do. I think sometimes he looks for those moments to ignite his fire,” Tuchel said. Asked about the incident with Cucurella, the England manager distinguished between Bellingham’s relationships with his club teammates and his approach when facing them internationally. “I don’t think he knows any of his teammates when he’s with the national team. He wants to win. He doesn’t know any of his teammates. He’s still friends with them, but not for the full 90 minutes.” Tuchel would like to use Bellingham throughout England’s four-match schedule, but said the medical staff would help determine what was appropriate. “I’d love to have him on the field four times. But we’ll have to consult with the physiotherapists; we’re not going to put Jude at risk.” Moleiro says Villarreal have their own reasons to demand a win Alberto Moleiro has acknowledged Madrid’s need to respond when league football resumes, but says Villarreal will approach the meeting with ambitions of their own. Speaking to AS, the midfielder framed the match as an opportunity for his team to demonstrate that it belongs near the top of the table. “Yes, we know how important it is for Real Madrid to win, but we also need to win, and we want to win because we want to be at the top. And if we want to be at the top, we have to compete in these kinds of matches, win them, and show that we deserve to be there. And I think we can do it, so let’s see what happens.” Madrid host Villarreal at the Bernabéu on October 10, their first competitive fixture following the international break. Report: Mourinho chose Madrid return after Portugal discussions José Mourinho held discussions about becoming Portugal’s national-team coach before accepting Real Madrid’s offer to return, according to a report attributed to AS. The account places the Portuguese federation’s approach before the World Cup, as it prepared for Roberto Martínez’s departure. According to the report, Mourinho had spoken with federation officials about the conditions of the role when Pérez approached him about returning to Madrid. The coach was then in charge of Benfica, and Madrid subsequently met the contractual requirements to secure his departure. The report identifies Pérez’s relationship with Mourinho as an important factor in the decision. It says the two had remained in contact after the Portuguese coach’s first spell at the club, with Pérez and José Ángel Sánchez ultimately deciding to pursue another managerial return, as Madrid had previously done with Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti. Portugal subsequently turned to Jorge Jesus. The account concerns the discussions preceding Mourinho’s appointment at Madrid, rather than a new approach during the current season. Cestero’s Castilla omission reportedly followed disciplinary issue Jorge Cestero’s absence from Castilla’s squad against Alcorcón was a disciplinary measure following a disagreement over his substitute role against Sant Andreu, according to reporting carried by Mundo Deportivo. The midfielder’s omission was described publicly as a technical decision rather than an injury-related absence. The reports say Cestero expressed his dissatisfaction after being left out of the starting lineup, prompting a response from the club. Whether he will return for Friday’s reserve-team derby against Atlético Madrileño remains unclear. Julián López de Lerma did not publicly detail the disagreement when asked about the midfielder. Instead, Castilla’s coach emphasized the developmental role of the team and Cestero’s continued importance. “We are focused on player development; we want all the players to be able to showcase their abilities, compete, and be part of the team. Jorge is and will be a very important player for us this season.” The omission interrupts a period in which Cestero had featured in Mourinho’s preseason plans and helped Madrid win the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup at the Bernabéu. His next involvement with Castilla will depend on the coaching staff’s decision over his return to the squad.
- Managing Madrid·11d ago·Both·transfers
Mbappé expected to be available to face Villarreal right after the FIFA break -report
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé sustained a hyper-extended knee during France’s match against Turkey and while some reports initially indicated that he could miss several weeks, it looks like he will be ready to face Villarreal in Los Blancos’ first game after the FIFA break, according to a report from COPE. Mbappé escaped a serious injury as France coach and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane told the press after the game that his injury “didn’t look good.” The French Football Federation then announced that he had suffered a tendon injury, with Real Madrid’s own medical team publishing the hyper-extension report on Saturday. With a crucial El Clásico against Barcelona less than a month away, Real Madrid will need to make sure that Mbappé stays healthy and fresh during their next few games. In that context, seeing him getting some rest during one of Madrid’s upcoming matches would not be surprising.
- Barca Blaugranes·11d ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona linked with USMNT gem Cavan Sullivan amid Man City chaos as agent offers update
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 26: Cavan Sullivan #8 of United States celebrates following the team's victory in the International Friendly match between United States and Peru at Inter.co Stadium on September 26, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/USSF/Getty Images) | Getty Images Barcelona and Real Madrid are being credited with interest in USMNT gem Cavan Sullivan as the fallout of news that Manchester City have been found guilty of multiple financial breaches continues. Sullivan is currently set to join the Premier League side in 2028 when he turns 18, but his agent has suggested that may not be the case after all. “Manchester City is one of the biggest clubs in the world. What they have built cannot be erased from history. It is true that there is a pre-agreement with them for Sullivan, but you never know what can happen. We hope that they solve everything in the best possible way,” Dan Segal said, according to Sport. The report adds that Barcelona were among a host of top clubs keen on Sullivan before he opted for Manchester City. There is now doubt over whether that deal will actually go through due to the uncertainty hanging over City in the wake of last week’s blockbuster news. There’s still no clear indication of what sanctions City may face if found guilty, but there’s been speculation the club could be fined, be handed a hefty points deduction or even have their titles stripped. The news has already led to talk of top players – such as Erling Haaland potentially leaving – and it seems Sullivan’s future may be in doubt as well. The teenager is widely regarded as America’s top young talent and made his debut for the USMNT earlier this month against Peru at the age of just 16.
- Barca Blaugranes·12d ago·Both·transfers
Gossip: Barcelona keeping an eye on Estevao’s situation at Chelsea
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Estevao of Chelsea reacts during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) | Getty Images Barcelona were heavily linked with Estevao Willian before the Brazilian made the move to Premier League side Chelsea from Palmeiras. Yet it seems the Catalans are still thinking about the Brazilian as he struggles to impress new boss Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge. An update from Diario Sport claims that Estevao is still liked at Barcelona, with Deco “closely following” his situation at Chelsea. Estevao has played only 23 minutes for the Blues so far this season and is said to be growing frustrated with life in west London. There’s also a claim that there have been some disagreements between club and player, not least because “the footballer is not willing to continue gaining muscle mass, as he did in his first season in England because he fears that he may end up losing ability, which is his best offensive weapon, and speed.” There’s no suggestion yet that Estevao wants out of Chelsea, but Deco is said to be keeping tabs on the situation. Barca’s sporting director has said previously that one of the reasons that Barcelona didn’t go for Estevao was because “we have a player for the same position and with similar characteristics called Lamine Yamal.” Meanwhile, Estevao’s agent pointed to the club’s difficult financial situation as the reason the deal failed to materialize and added that the Brazilian still has “a special affection for Barcelona.”
- Barca Blaugranes·12d ago·Both·transfers
‘Lamine Yamal is pure football’ – Joao Felix backs Barcelona star for Ballon d’Or
Lamine Yamal right winger of Barcelona and Spain celebrates the second goal of his team during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on September 19, 2026 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Joao Felix has described Lamine Yamal as “pure football” and backed the Barcelona star to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The Portugal international, who spent time at Barca on loan, says Yamal is the type of player that keeps fans “glued to the TV.” “I’ve always maintained that the Ballon d’Or goes to the player you see and think, ‘Wow.’ This is a star and deserves to be remembered in football history,” he told AS. “If there’s a player who keeps you glued to the TV, it’s Lamine. “It’s true that Mbappé and Kane have had great seasons, but Lamine is pure football. “He also won the World Cup. In World Cup years, winning it is always crucial to be closer to the Ballon d’Or.” After winning the World Cup with Spain, Yamal has gone on to start the season in great form for Barcelona. The teenage has also been impressing with Spain again, scoring in Saturday’s 3-1 win over England.
- Barca Blaugranes·14d ago·Both·transfers
‘Not very interested’ – Barcelona star Lamine Yamal reacts to Real Madrid’s referee complaints
SEVILLE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 19: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on September 19, 2026 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) | Getty Images Lamine Yamal has been quizzed on Real Madrid’s refereeing complaints and says he’s “not interested” in the regular toxicity coming out of the Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos were at it again after losing to Atletico Madrid in La Liga at the weekend, and Yamal has been asked for his thoughts on the situation. However, Barca’s World Cup winner made it clear that he doesn’t want to get involved in Real Madrid’s complaints and is focused purely on winning with Hansi Flick’s side. “I’m not very involved to be honest, I’m not very interested. As long as Barça continue to win there is nothing to talk about, only our game and the victories,” he told Teledeporte. Yamal has been part of a Barcelona team that has made a perfect start to the season and he’s taken time out to praise the club’s new signings. “So much Gordon, who came on very well, Rodri, Adeyemi… They are giving a great level. We have arrived very well physically,” he added. “Also the more years the coach has been here, the more we understand each other and the players, then, too.” Barcelona head into the international break six points clear of Real Madrid in the race for the title, with the two teams set to meet for the first time this season on October 25th at Camp Nou.
- Barca Blaugranes·14d ago·Both·transfers
FC Barcelona News: 25 September 2026; Deco talks Julian Alvarez and JJ Gabriel
Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid sits on the bench prior to the LaLiga EA Sports football match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Deco puts an end to the ‘Julián Álvarez Case’ and moves on at Barcelona: “It’s in the past” | Marca Barcelona sporting director Deco says that Julian Alvarez ‘is now in the past’ after missing out on the Atletico Madrid star in the summer transfer window. Wins for Cancelo and Bisiwu, draw for Adeyemi | FC Barcelona Three Barcelona stars were in action on Thursday. Joao Cancelo played in Portugal’s win, while Jesse Bisiwu was also victorious with Belgium’s Under-21s. Karim Adeyemi played in Germany’s draw with the Netherlands. Barcelona ‘not interested’ in JJ Gabriel move | Telegraph Deco has claimed that Barcelona are not interested in trying to sign JJ Gabriel from Manchester United. The 15-year-old has told the club he wants to leave and been linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Raphinha: ‘In my head I was leaving Barça, but a few small words can change you’ | The Guardian Barcelona captain Raphinha has revealed how he almost left the club in 2024 and also spoke about his switch to the No. 9 and his relationship with Hansi Flick. Bayern Munich are preparing a massive January transfer bid for Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo | GOAL Bayern Munich are eyeing a January move for Barcelona star Dani Olmo. The Bavarians are looking at potential replacements for Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise. Bisiwu: “The player who has impressed me the most is Raphinha” | Marca Jesse Bisiwu says the Barcelona player who has impressed him the most since he arrived is Raphinha due to the intensity he shows even in training. Xavi Espart: “Being with the senior national team would be incredible, that’s where the best are” | Marca Barcelona youngster Xavi Espart admits he would love to be called up to the senior Spain team after making an impressive start to the season with Hansi Flick’s side.
- Barca Blaugranes·15d ago·Both·transfers
‘Julian Alvarez is in the past’ – Deco says Gabriel Jesus is the ‘perfect fit’ for Barcelona
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid looks on before the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on September 20, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images Barcelona spent the summer trying to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid but were unable to land the striker as Los Colchoneros refused to sell the Argentina international. There’s been talk that Barcelona could try for Alvarez again in the coming windows but Deco has suggested that the club’s interest in the forward has now ended. “The idea was always to bring in a mobile number nine, with the ability to link up with teammates, and Julián was one of those players,” he said, per Mundo Deportivo. “It wasn’t possible; we made an offer. The club has always said they wouldn’t sell him, and we’ve had to look for other solutions. “Gabriel Jesus wasn’t in our plans, and the moment we decided that Julián was impossible, we started looking for solutions, and Gabriel was the perfect fit for us.The idea hasn’t changed; it was to find a player with the same profile.” Barcelona have gone on to enjoy a stunning start to the season without Alvarez, with Raphinha leading the charge as the club’s No. 9.
- Barca Blaugranes·15d ago·Both·transfers
The quiet numbers behind Barcelona’s loud start to the season
Raphinha Dias Belloli of FC Barcelona celebrates a goal during the La Liga EA Sports match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville, Spain, on September 19, 2026. (Photo by Jose Luis Contreras/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images It’s not an exaggeration to say Barcelona have started the 2026/2027 season with a bang. The big numbers that have rightfully grabbed the headlines include the unprecedented perfect start of eight straight wins, as well as Raphinha setting the club record for 12 goals in the first eight La Liga matches. Now, it’s not how you start that matters, but how you finish. This will be a long season, and the measure of success will ultimately be trophies. It’s worth managing our excitement, but we should also appreciate and understand that the early success is the result of merit, not good fortune. How exactly is Barcelona achieving these results? The wins and the goals? Most important, is it sustainable? The first stat in my mind is the work rate. In the first seven La Liga matches, compared to Real Madrid, Barcelona have run approximately 21km more as a team. Of all the numbers, this is the most critical in my opinion, and it also raises questions about whether Barcelona can keep it up. Before we talk about all the goals, and by the way the Blaugrana have scored 36 so far, we should understand in Hansi Flick’s mind the conditions that are necessary for making attacking football effective. Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi are here for a reason. They run and do the work. When either plays, combined with Raphinha up front, who is another work horse, Barcelona is already a better pressing team than a year ago when Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski were leading the line. It’s not just that Barcelona are running a lot, it’s the type of running in high value situations. We are seeing more work rate from the forwards defensively, and less of the center backs sprinting back in desperation to chase down a ball played in behind. Flick understood that this is not something you can easily coach. You really do need players who have the character. That’s why Anthony Gordon was such a statement signing, and frankly why Real Madrid is still struggling to keep up with the fight and physicality of the modern game where hard work beats talent. Adding on to the distance covered, one stat that explains the effect of it is that Barça are outperforming their expected underlying numbers at both ends of the pitch. They’re averaging 4.5 goals scored per game against an xG of 3.67. This shows that they have improved a lot in their finishing. It’s one thing to generate chances, as Flick’s Barca has always done, and quite another to be clinical. On the other end, they’re surrendering only one goal per game against an xG of 1.05. So expectations here are matching reality. That means while the attack is running riot, the defense it doing what they’re supposed to do. The strategy isn’t shutouts. Flick knows his team will surrender a goal and that’s OK, so long as the unforced errors are limited. This lays the foundation for the team to do what they are trained to do, overwhelm the opponent by attacking relentlessly. Finally, one stat I’d throw out as significant is Barcelona’s undefeated record on the road. Barcelona have been not intimidated by opposing fans. Take the Sevilla game for example, Barcelona were tested, but the environment couldn’t break them. Consistency is king. No matter where you’re playing, you play your game, nothing changes. Like Diego Simeone said, Barcelona press you like crazy in your own stadium. They’re fearless, and confident in what they do and how they do it. Away from home, Barcelona have actually surrendered less goals. At the Camp Nou, it’s been five goals in four games, and on the road it’s been three goals in four games. Let’s continue to cheer on Raphinha as he continues his campaign for the Pichichi, and maybe even a future Ballon d’Or. Let’s allow ourselves to be elated by the perfect start to the season, and enjoy it for as long as the streak lasts. Numbers aside, the reason we should be bullish on Barcelona, can be understood through the eye test. There are smiles on the faces of players and fans alike. There is pride because Barcelona is doing what the club was born to do. To play beautiful football, and to dominate the game accordingly. It’s a combination of work ethic, talent, and grace, and it’s an undeniable recipe for success. Allow yourself to enjoy the show. There’s every reason to believe that it could be history in the making.
- Barca Blaugranes·15d ago·Both·transfers
FC Barcelona News: 24 September 2026; Deco meets JJ Gabriel’s agent, Barca hopeful of Marc-Andre ter Stegen sale
LEIGH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: JJ Gabriel of Manchester United U21 in action during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester United U21 and Leicester City U21 at Leigh Sports Village on August 31, 2026 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images) Summit between Deco and JJ Gabriel’s agent: Barça, on the lookout for young talent | Marca Barcelona sporting director Deco has held a meeting with the agent of Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel as the teenager seeks a new club after deciding to leave the Premier League club. Barca already smell business with Ter Stegen | Sport Barcelona are growing optimistic they can sell goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the summer. The goalkeeper is playing regularly and has been recalled to the Germany squad as their No. 1, increasing his value after a tough time with injuries. Four Barça players nominated for LaLiga’s September awards | FC Barcelona Raphinha, Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi and Hansi Flick are all in the running for September’s La Liga awards. Raphinha is up for best player, Cancelo for best goal, Cubarsi for best Under-23 player and Flick for best coach. Rodri: “Real Madrid showed interest from the very beginning and went all out for me.” | Cope Barcelona star Rodri has been talking about the summer transfer window and says that Real Madrid went all out to try and sign him from Manchester City before he joined Hansi Flick’s side. Barça are obliged to sell if they want to make signings in January | Marca Barcelona’s economic vice-president Ferran Olive says the club would have to sell players in January if they were to strengthen the squad by making transfers in the winter window. Barça 5-2 Paris FC: Stupendous start | FC Barcelona Barcelona Femeni kicked off the defence of their UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy with a 5-2 win over Paris FC. Kerolin, Clara Serrajordi, and Caroline Graham Hansen as well as Ewa Pajor who scored a brace. Xavi: “We did our bit in this Barça” | Diario Sport Former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has praised Hansi Flick’s current team but says his team played a part after helping to bring through several youngsters into the first team during his time in charge.
- Managing Madrid·15d ago·Both·transfers
Rodri explains his decision to snub Real Madrid and join Barcelona
FC Barcelona midfielder Rodri Hernández talked to COPE last night and explained why he decided to sign for Barça and not Real Madrid, who were also interested in his transfer. “From my position, I have to say that Real Madrid showed interest from the very first moment, that their behavior was exemplary, and that the proposals were about going for the player, I want to make that clear as well. I talked to people from there, who conveyed their enthusiasm, how much they wanted me to come over, and that also made my decision more complicated, obviously,” he said. The midfielder also shared his thoughts about joining Barcelona. “My decision was more about football: where I could grow and contribute most, lead a team full of young guys, and with the way I understand the game. There were no sentimental issues, no money issues,” he added.
- Barca Blaugranes·16d ago·Both·transfers
Rodri says Real Madrid went ‘all out’ to sign him before he joined Barcelona
Rodri of FC Barcelona in action during the La Liga EA Sports match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville, Spain, on September 19, 2026. (Photo by Jose Luis Contreras/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Rodri says that Real Madrid went all out to sign him in the summer transfer window before he decided to move to Barcelona instead. Los Blancos were keen to bring in the Spain star from Manchester City but ended up losing out as Barca swooped in and secured a deal instead. Rodri’s been asked about the transfer saga while on international duty and has spoken about the interest from Madrid. “Madrid showed interest from the very beginning, they behaved impeccably, and their offers were clearly aimed at signing the player, I want to make that clear,” he told Cope. “I don’t know what it means to be 100% committed, but it’s clear they were interested and went all out to show their interest, which I appreciate because I spoke with some of them. “Did I speak with Florentino Pérez? I’ll keep that to myself. I spoke with people there who conveyed their enthusiasm and desire for me to go there, which made my decision more difficult.” Rodri has slotted in seamlessly for Hansi Flick’s side, playing his part in a strong start to the season that has delivered eight straight wins.
- Barca Blaugranes·16d ago·Both·transfers
How Deco thinks Barcelona can beat Real Madrid to Man Utd wonderkid JJ Gabriel
LEIGH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: JJ Gabriel of Manchester United U21 in action during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester United U21 and Leicester City U21 at Leigh Sports Village on August 31, 2026 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel is making all sorts of headlines currently as he looks for a new club after deciding he wants out of the Red Devils. Barcelona and Real Madrid have both been touted as potential destinations for the 15-year-old who has been described as a “generational talent” and is expected to develop into a world star. A new update from Diario Sport claims that Deco has been in touch with Gabriel’s agent, Ali Barat, to talk about a future move to Catalunya and is pushing for a transfer. Real Madrid are expected to make a more lucrative offer than their Liga rivals, but Barca and Deco are still hopeful they can beat Los Blancos to his signature as they can “guarantee him a sporting project that can take him to the first team in a very short time.” The report also claims that Raphinha’s recent decision to change agents and be represented by Barat could also potentially help the club when it comes to Gabriel’s future. The talented teenager’s next move is still unclear but a decision is expected in the coming weeks.
- Managing Madrid·16d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Huijsen’s ban, Mbappé’s Mourinho praise, and Alaba’s next move
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: Giuliano Simeone of Atletico Madrid is challenged by Dean Huijsen of Real Madrid during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on September 20, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images Real Madrid’s derby fallout now includes confirmed suspensions, with Dean Huijsen and Pedro Machado both set to miss the return to league action against Villarreal. The international break also offers time to address the tactical concerns raised by Jorge Valdano and Álvaro Benito, while Éder Militão continues his recovery at Valdebebas. Elsewhere, Kylian Mbappé has discussed working with José Mourinho, David Alaba is approaching a move to Italy, and Madrid remain among the clubs following Manchester United prospect JJ Gabriel. Huijsen and Machado handed one-match suspensions Dean Huijsen and Mourinho’s assistant Pedro Machado have each received a one-match suspension following their dismissals in Sunday’s derby. According to the RFEF disciplinary ruling reported by Mundo Deportivo, both will miss Real Madrid’s match against Villarreal on October 10. Huijsen was sent off after conceding the penalty against Giuliano Simeone, while Machado’s punishment follows his involvement in the halftime confrontation in the tunnel. The committee classified the assistant’s offence as conduct contrary to good sporting order. Madrid also received a formal warning over their delayed return to the pitch after halftime. The referee’s report recorded that the second half began five minutes late because of the delay. Mbappé: “It is a privilege to play under Mourinho” Kylian Mbappé has continued his series of interviews with a conversation with BILD, discussing Mourinho’s leadership, previous transfer opportunities and the difference between Antonio Rüdiger’s on-field persona and his personality in the dressing room. Asked what makes Mourinho distinctive, Mbappé highlighted the coach’s intelligence and his relationship with the players. “He is simply ‘The Special One’. José Mourinho is simply very intelligent, which is why he has achieved so much success in his career. He is very close to us players and takes a great interest in us. He is a leader; he knows perfectly how to motivate us. It is a privilege to play under him.” Liverpool, Dortmund and the decision to stay in France Mbappé also revisited Liverpool’s efforts to sign him during his time at Monaco. While the prospect of playing for Jürgen Klopp appealed to him, he said his preference for remaining in France ultimately determined his choice. “Yes, that’s true. It was something special, but great. And, honestly, I would have loved to switch to him back then. I wasn’t ready to leave my country yet. I wanted to go back to my hometown, Paris. I had only played one year at Monaco and I needed to feel comfortable in a familiar environment. That’s why I went to PSG.” Borussia Dortmund were another club that explored the possibility of signing him. Mbappé stressed that declining those opportunities should not be interpreted as a criticism of the clubs involved. “There were many clubs, including Dortmund. But it’s difficult for me to talk about it. Because when you reject a club, it often gives the impression that something wasn’t right. But that wasn’t the case at all. They were all great clubs, but you can only choose one. And as I said, at that time I preferred to stay in my hometown.” Why he will not encourage Olise to leave Bayern Asked about speculation linking Michael Olise with Madrid, Mbappé praised his France teammate but said he would not advise him to leave Bayern Munich. “I’ve been aware of the speculation. But I know that feeling very well: when I played for PSG, there were countless rumours. And I think it would be disrespectful to advise a player to leave. It would be unfair to Bayern. Especially because Bayern is a fantastic club where Michael can achieve great things. But one thing is clear: any club in the world would love to have Michael Olise.” Rüdiger away from the pitch When asked whose name he would choose for a Germany shirt, Mbappé immediately selected Rüdiger. He then explained why the defender’s approach during matches does not tell the whole story about him. “Antonio Rüdiger, of course. As my teammate at Real Madrid, this decision is very easy for me. I think many fans consider him a bit crazy. But that’s simply his style of play. Antonio is the perfect example of why you can’t judge people solely on their performance on the pitch. Sure, on the field he’s crazy, the way he tackles, the way he moves. But in the dressing room he’s completely different. A kind and approachable person.” Mbappé was also asked whether he could envisage following Cristiano Ronaldo’s example and continuing to represent his country at 41. “Let’s be honest, considering which country I play for: France will never let me play until I’m 41,” he said, laughing. “But Cristiano proves that if you’re physically and mentally fit, you can play at this high level for a long time. In my case, however, I don’t think it’s possible.” Valdano and Benito examine Madrid’s recurring tactical problems Jorge Valdano and Álvaro Benito have assessed Madrid’s performances under Mourinho, focusing on the issues they believe the team must address during the international break. Speaking on Movistar Plus Deportes, Valdano argued that the pause presents an opportunity to shift attention towards problems within Madrid’s control. “There are 20 days in between, either the possibility of continuing to talk about the referees or the possibility of correcting some of the problems that Real Madrid has, and which are being repeated a lot,” Valdano said. “In the four matches they have played away from home, they lost two and won two after the 90th minute. The team continues to suffer from pressure problems, and in the first half, until the ball went through Güler, there was no clarity in the game.” Benito, meanwhile, questioned whether sustained control through possession suited the characteristics of Madrid’s likely starting lineup. He argued that a more reactive approach could work, but only if it rests on reliable collective defending. “You can control the game in two ways: through possession or by being reactive, right? By countering when you don’t have the ball. You can also control the game by defending very well, winning the ball back a lot, and counter-attacking. I think that controlling the game through possession will be practically impossible for Real Madrid because of the profile and nature of the players they have in a hypothetical starting eleven. Even if you put Bernardo in, the other 85% are vertical, fast players… chaotic, right? They kind of reign in the chaos.” For Benito, the question is whether Madrid can establish the defensive cohesion needed to make that approach effective. “They can indeed be an ultra-competitive team by countering, but for that you also need a cohesive team that defends well in order to win the ball back and counter-attack. And I think Real Madrid can be that team because of the nature of the players they have, but at the moment they aren’t.” Alaba approaches Udinese move David Alaba is nearing a move to Udinese after reaching a verbal agreement with the Italian club, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Austrian defender, whose Madrid contract expired in June, is undergoing the medical and administrative steps required to complete the transfer. The agreement has not yet become a formally announced signing. Udinese have already offered a social-media hint, posting an image of a white chair—a reference to Alaba’s celebration after Madrid’s Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in 2022. Alaba joined Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2021 and contributed to league and Champions League successes. A serious knee injury in December 2023, however, interrupted his time at the club and limited his involvement during the latter part of his spell. A completed move to Udinese would give him a new club after five seasons in Madrid. GOATED announcement. https://t.co/ng0meOjrrc — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 23, 2026 JJ Gabriel’s future involves a contest over representation Real Madrid’s reported interest in JJ Gabriel is developing alongside competition to represent the Manchester United youngster. According to AS, Ali Barat and Jorge Mendes are the leading contenders to become the trusted representative of the player and his family as he approaches his 16th birthday on October 6. The report says both agents have spent months building relationships with Gabriel’s camp. Madrid and Barcelona are among the clubs interested in the forward, with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich also following his situation. Gabriel’s recent visit to Barcelona does not, according to the report, establish that he has agreed to join the Catalan club. Madrid, meanwhile, are examining the details of a potential operation rather than treating the signing as settled. His birthday is being presented as an important point in those discussions, but turning 16 does not automatically permit an unrestricted international transfer. Any move would still need to satisfy FIFA’s rules protecting minors, including an applicable exception and the required advance approval. Video: Militão continues his recovery at Valdebebas Éder Militão has shared footage of his rehabilitation work at Real Madrid City as he attempts to return to action. The defender is running on the pitch and working with the ball during the international break, although his recovery remains separate from confirmation that he is ready for competitive matches. According to Mundo Deportivo, Militão hopes to be available during October, but Madrid’s coaching and medical staff intend to avoid taking risks with his return. VAMOS 🙏🏾⌛️ pic.twitter.com/VlpzSagg7r — Éder Militão (@edermilitao) September 22, 2026 Video: RefCam footage offers another view of the derby Footage from Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias’s referee camera has been released following the derby, capturing his interactions with players and his perspective on incidents that prompted Madrid’s complaints. The sequence includes exchanges surrounding Kang-in Lee’s challenge on Fede Valverde. The footage follows the CTA’s public review on September 22, which concluded that Kang-in should have been sent off and that VAR should have intervened. The committee separately supported the yellow card shown to Cristian Romero and the decision to dismiss Huijsen. 🗣️ Ortiz Arias : “ Cada vez que pito algo te quejas todo el ‘lato’ Kang “ El club de la comedia pic.twitter.com/e1bEaFze0v — (fan) LOCOS REAL MADRID (@LocosRealMadrid) September 22, 2026 Video: Gonzalo revisits his Madrid teammates Gonzalo García’s Madrid past features prominently in a question-and-answer segment with Fulham, including a question about the toughest player he has faced in training. The striker repeatedly returns to his experiences and former teammates at Madrid during the interview. View this post on Instagram
- Barca Blaugranes·16d ago·Both·transfers
‘We’re a great family’ – Lamine Yamal shares his verdict on Barcelona’s summer signings
VALENCIA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 06: (L-R) Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Anthony Gordon of FC Barcelona celebrate their team's third goal during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Estadi de Mestalla on September 06, 2026 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) | Getty Images Lamine Yamal says Barcelona’s new signings have all settled in well at the club and have struck up a great relationship with their new team-mates already. Barcelona dipped into the transfer market in the summer and signed Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi as well as landing Joao Cancelo on a permanent transfer. Yamal says the squad have been quick to bond and now feel as if they’ve “been together for four years.” “They’re at the same level and, above all, they’ve adapted very well. We get along as if we’ve all been together for four years. With Cancelo, Gabriel, Adeyemi, Gordon, Rodri, everyone. We get along very well and there’s a great understanding,” he told France Football. Flick’s side have certainly started the season well, winning all their matches so far and banging in the goals along the way. Yamal knows that the Catalans are a good watch when they take to the pitch. “I get the impression that we’re a very enjoyable team to watch. We play to attack, to have possession, and to score goals. You can tell we enjoy ourselves, that we’re a great family, that every time we’re on the pitch we have a good time,” he added. “We don’t think, ‘Today I’m going to train,’ but rather, ‘I’m going to see my friends, we’re going to have fun, we’re going to train.’ And then match day arrives and everyone enjoys it: the full-back, the goalkeeper, the striker, everyone.” The international break means that Barca’s players are now spread across the globe and are not due back in action until October. However, there are plenty of exciting fixtures to look forward to, with Barca set to face PSG and Real Madrid next month.
- Barca Blaugranes·17d ago·Both·transfers
What have we learned from Barcelona’s start to the season?
So, the dreaded first international break of the season is upon us, but it gives culers – and the club itself – the chance to reflect on the opening few weeks of the 2026/27 campaign. It certainly couldn’t have gone any better in terms of results, with every game won so far, and a five-point lead in La Liga already having opened up. The emergence of Xavi Espart Although it wasn’t necessarily a complete surprise, it’s still been a joy to see Xavi Espart’s efforts. There’s a fearlessness to his play which comes with youth, but there’s also been end product, something that’s often been missing from Alejandro Balde’s game, for example. That Espart has all but relegated Balde to the subs’ bench speaks volumes for the way in which he’s quickly integrated into the set-up. Still just 19, the youngster almost feels like a new signing and looks set for a big season in Barcelona. Raphinha is the perfect No. 9 for Barcelona A fully-fit Raphinha has once again shown his true worth to this team and, what’s more, he’s done it whilst playing more centrally and scoring goals for fun. The goals have been a bonus, and he deservedly leads the Spanish top-flight scoring charts at present, but it’s the example that he continues to set which has really marked him out. Nothing is a lost cause for the Brazilian, in both an attacking and defensive sense. Where he’s won over a lot of supporters is that everything now seems to have a purpose, because there was a time not long after he joined when he’d still get through more running than everyone else, but it was like watching a headless chicken at times. His runs are generally perfectly timed, his passing is on point, his aggression is well harnessed, and his leadership isn’t in question. He might well be this era’s Xavi and Iniesta in that he will truly deserve a Ballon d’Or at some stage but might just miss out, and that would be a travesty. Maybe his goals will help fire Barca to European glory and then he would at least remain in the conversation. No Alvarez, no problem for Barca A number of signings were made this summer, too, though sadly Julian Alvarez wasn’t one of them. Perhaps that was a blessing in disguise given Raphinha’s emergence in the role. In any event, Anthony Gordon has been a bit hit and miss at this stage. The former Newcastle man certainly started off well, with some purposeful running and assists, but he’s dropped off a little form-wise in the last couple of games and the fact he hasn’t yet found the back of the net seems to be weighing on his mind. Karim Adeyemi has been the polar opposite, starting slow but really finding his feet in the side now. His pace is even more electric than Gordon’s, though there is a tendency to overdo it and make the wrong decision in the crucial moments. Fortunately, that hasn’t affected Barca yet, thanks to the entire team’s goalscoring prowess. Rodri’s signing has been a real bonus, and the confidence with which he protects the defence whilst starting attacks with those simple passes really is a sight to behold. There’s definitely some truth in the notion that his calm authority is what has allowed the attacking players to wreak havoc week-in, week-out, though Rodri offers so much more than that. An absolute gem of a player. Joao Cancelo might’ve pipped Espart to the left-back slot, depending on Hansi Flick’s selections, though having him there does seem a bit of a waste. Surely having the Portuguese raiding down the right, with Espart on the left, would give the XI much more balance? In any event, another solid addition who has carried on where he left off. Gabriel Jesus has shown in the short space of time he’s been on the pitch that he hasn’t lost his eye for goal, so if he can stay injury-free, he’s absolutely a great striker to have in reserve and for rotation purposes. Though we’re not likely to see much of Jesse Bisiwu, Dominik Livakovic and Hamza Abdelkarim, they too are likely to be worth their weight in gold when matches against teams lower down in the division come around. Barca already five points clear The Madrid derby arguably going Barca’s way was another bonus for the Catalans. What’s perhaps been overlooked is how disjointed Real looked, and has looked this season, which is highly unlike a Jose Mourinho side. Their struggles could again simply be encompassed by what they were the last time the Special One was in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu. A collection of very good individual players but not always a great team, which is something Barcelona already have over them. Strap yourselves in… this could be a vintage season in all sorts of ways!
- Managing Madrid·17d ago·Both·transfers
Opinion: Real Madrid Are Too Deep To Rely On The Same Players Over And Over Again
ELCHE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 15: Carlos Espi of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Elche CF and Real Madrid at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on September 15, 2026 in Elche, Spain. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images) | Getty Images These observations — where I look at Real Madrid’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts — are now a regular thing. All previous editions can be found here. One of the things I firmly believe in with respect to this Real Madrid roster is that they are too deep to not be taking advantage of the value everyone can bring. You could argue about how good these players actually are if you want, but how good they truly are is maybe a different point. Maybe the talent pool is not as good as Barcelona’s, PSG’s, or Bayern Munich’s. Or, maybe it is, in which case, it’s embarrassing how low the level of football has been compared to those teams. Or, maybe its not, in which case, isn’t that all the more reason to utilize the full squad more? How many darts have been thrown at the wall? Answer: Not enough. I am not here to claim that this is 2016 – 2017 Real Madrid, but, inarguably there are very good players who either: A) Play for Real Madrid now and don’t play enough, who looked better elsewhere (either with their national teams or former clubs); or B) Played for Real Madrid before, weren’t utilized, and look better in other teams now. My ultimate point is this: I think we haven’t shuffled the deck enough to find solutions, and the ‘solutions’ over the past two+ years have mostly been boring: Play Vinicius and Mbappe at all costs, regardless of their form and tactical concerns Figure out the rest of the pieces around them, with eye-opening failure, over and over again The second bullet point has come in various shapes and forms: Replace coaches, sign players, and loan out or sell hungry younger players. After the 2024 – 2025 season, in addition to replacing Carlo Ancelotti with Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen, and Franco Mastantuono. They also failed to replace Luka Modric, who already — even on his last legs — was the last hope the club had in controlling the midfield. Mastantuono was very expensive, and is objectively worse than Nico Paz, who, even though is not a right winger, would operate that right wing better than Mastantuono (who is also not a pure right winger). The rest of the names were important additions to the squad to varying degrees. In the summer of 2026, Real Madrid added Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Carlos Espi, and Yan Diomande. Silva was finally a step to replace Modric and Kroos, but he’s barely featured so far, despite being a desperately-needed profile. Espi was a great Gonzalo replacement, but we’re already asking the question: Will Espi suffer the same problem as Gonzalo? Will he play enough before leaving? Endrick’s problem is similar, and possibly even more severe. I think it’s possible to be overly critical of Real Madrid. I think it’s also possible to be overly defensive of their decisions. It is completely reasonable to state that Florentino Perez helped build the most successful club of the last 15 years, and, naturally, after winning the Champions League, there isn’t too much to add or dramatically improved. The higher quality the steak, the less seasoning and marinade it needs. What happened in the summer of 2024 after lifting the Champions League trophy has been discussed to death, so I don’t wish to revisit it here, but I will say that the squad, on paper at least, has improved through these transfers from the past one-to-two years. But are we trusting these players enough? The primary purpose of depth is to keep everyone fresh all season. If Dumfries is struggling, does it add up when Trent has played just 213 minutes — almost on par with Aurelien Tchouameni who was injured for most of the season? If Vinicius Jr is having the worst season of his career, does it add up when Brahim Diaz has played just 99 (!) minutes? If Real Madrid desperately need help with scoring efficiency and box presence, does it add up that Carlos Espi has played just 25 minutes while averaging a goal every 13 minutes? One of the main issues of this team is that the stars are treated like stars, despite not being the same stars they were two years ago. I think getting past that barrier and introducing hungry young blood, even in place of the biggest stars on the team sheet, would be worth a try. This is not something I would bring up if Real Madrid were successful in the past two years — and this is a conclusion not just based on results, but the performances as well. (which have somehow been even worse than the non-existent results). I witnessed my favourite player, Raul, overtake the legendary Emilio Buatragueño in the starting line-up as a 17-year in 1994. I then watched, painfully, Raul — to this day my favourite player ever — decline in his mid-20s, and his guaranteed place in the starting XI compromised the team greatly for years. Change is painful, but it is necessary. But maybe I’m biased, because I care about Real Madrid more than any one individual player — so please take my words with a grain of salt.
- Barca Blaugranes·17d ago·Both·transfers
FC Barcelona News: 22 September 2026; Hansi Flick prepares mini-vacation, Raphinha talks Lamine Yamal
Barcelona's Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha (R) celebrates with teammate Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal after scoring his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on September 19, 2026. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Flick is preparing for a ‘mini-vacation’ in September | AS Hansi Flick is set to give his Barca players not called up for international duty nine days off. The players will train this week but will then be given time off from September 26th to October 4th. ‘He has to win it’ – Raphinha makes emphatic Lamine Yamal Ballon d’Or claim | GOAL Barcelona captain Raphinha has backed team-mate Lamine Yamal to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or and has explained why the teenager deserves to be crowned the world’s best player. Ferran Torres: “The only one I can’t bring with me is Pedri” | Mundo Deportivo Ferran Torres has been talking about life at Paris Saint-Germain following his move from Barcelona and admits he’s missing former team-mate Pedri. Marc Casadó underwent surgery for a fractured clavicle and is expected to be out for three months | AS Marc Casado has undergone surgery on a fractured clavicle and is expected to be out of action for three months. The midfielder is currently on a season-long loan at Deportivo. Unstoppable! Messi scores again and gets closer to 1000 goals | AS Barcelona legend Lionel Messi was on target again for Inter Miami against San Diego FC. The GOAT has now scored 930 goals in his career and is edging closer to the 1000 mark. Tebas responds to Real Madrid: “It’s an unfair and cruel pressure” | Diario Sport La Liga president Javier Tebas has reacted to Real Madrid’s latest referee complaints following their defeat to Atletico Madrid. Tebas says Los Blancos’ complaints are an “unfair and cruel way of pressuring the referee.”
- Barca Blaugranes·18d ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona send scout to watch teenage defender Arthur Dias after Brazil call-up
Arthur Dias, a player from Athletico-PR, plays during the match against Corinthians at Arena da Baixada stadium for Copa do Brasil 2025 Quarterfinals - First Leg in Curitiba, Brazil, on August 27, 2025. (Photo by Gabriel Machado/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Barcelona are being credited with interest in young Athletico Paranaense defender Arthur Dias and reportedly sent a scout to watch the youngster in action. Dias is in the spotlight after being called into the Brazil squad by manager Carlo Ancelotti for friendlies against Australia and India over the international break. According to Um Dois Esportes, Barca sent scout João Amaral to watch the 19-year-old in action at the weekend for Athletico Paranaense against Bahia. Arthur Dias entre todos os jogadores sub-20 do @Brasileirao 2026: 1º em passes certos (918) 1º em bolas longas certas (99) 1º em desarmes (31) 1º em interceptações (30) 1º em cortes (86) 1º em chutes bloqueados (18) 1º em ações defensivas (165) 💎💎 pic.twitter.com/W3okISfqjf — Sofascore Brasil (@SofascoreBR) September 19, 2026 Dias is a tall, left-footed center-back, who is already a regular for his club side and has a contract with Athletico Paranaense until 2028. Other clubs in England and Spain are also though to be keen on Dias, with previous reports claiming Tottenham had an offer of €21 million, for 80% of the player’s economic rights knocked back. It’s thought the club are holding out for a fee of €30m. Dias will now be hoping to feature for Brazil in the two scheduled friendlies as interest in the youngster grows across Europe.
- Managing Madrid·19d ago·Both·transfers
A deep dive into Vinicius Junior’s slow start to the season
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: Vinicius Junior (L) of Real Madrid in action during the La Liga week 7 match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images With only one goal from 24 shot attempts through Real Madrid’s first eight matches, Vinicius Junior has faced heavy criticism from journalists and fans alike so far this season. With the Brazilian having just renewed his contract with Madrid for another six seasons, José Mourinho has been reluctant to bench the 26 year-old despite his slow start. The Madrid coach has acknowledged that Vinicius is not in top form, but has been praising his defensive commitment. Critics justly point out that Vinicius returned for preseason at Valdebebas in less-than-optimal physical condition, looking several steps slower so far this season compared to the end of last season or at the World Cup this past summer. We now dive into Vinicius’s shot accuracy, shot selection, dribbling, creation and defensive contribution to look at how his season to date compares to prior years. Shooting Accuracy and Shot Selection – poor efficiency or poor decision-making? Vinicius is averaging 3.3 shot attempts per 90 minutes through the first eight matches of the season. As demonstrated in the chart below, this is very much in line with his shooting frequency in the preceding three seasons. But this season opposing goalkeepers have seen just 25% (6 of 24) of the Brazilian’s shots be on target, the lowest percentage of his career. Also concerning is that Vinicius has managed to find the back of the net on just one of six big chances in 2026/2027, a mediocre 16.7% conversion rate. That includes two big chances missed in Madrid’s loss against Betis in Seville. The 16.7% conversion rate on big chances this season is identical to his conversation rate in La Liga + Champions during his first season at Madrid as an 18 year-old and significantly down from the 55.2% conversation rate during his 2021/2022 breakout season. Not converting enough big chances has been a major issue at Madrid over the last two seasons (and counting) and it is hard to envision a scenario where the team can win titles until that is rectified. A closer look at Vinicius’s shot attempts confirms that it is shoddy execution rather than poor decision-making on when to shoot that is the main contributor to Vinicius slow goalscoring start this season. The Madrid winger’s shots in 2026/2027 have an average goal scoring probability of 13%, higher than either of the Brazilian’s previous two seasons as indicated in the chart below, higher than Lamine Yamal in this early part of this season (11.5%) and close to Kylian Mbappé in either his first 2 seasons at Madrid (13.5% in ‘24/’25; 13.3% in ‘25/’26). Dribbling Vinicius has always been a high-volume dribbler with a relatively low percentage of successful take-ons compared to some other elite dribblers, hovering around the low 40% success rate each of the last four seasons. This is often attributed to facing several defenders at once as well as attempting a high percentage of dribbles inside the opponent’s box. In fact, while Vinicius was third in the top five leagues last season with 87 successful dribbles, trailing only Lamine Yamal (133) and Yan Diomandé (118), the Brazilian completed more dribbles inside the penalty box (24 or 27.6% of his successful dribbles) than either the Barcelona right winger (23 or 17.6% of successful dribbles) or his new teammate (20 or 16.9% of successful dribbles). What is concerning about this season is the lack of aggressiveness to get past defenders. Through the first eight matches, Vinicius is attempting only 4.6 dribbles per 90 minutes, less than half of what he attempted in the 2022/2023 season. In each of the last three matches, Vinicius has attempted only one dribble, one of his two successful dribbles coming in the first minute against Rayo Vallecano and on Madrid’s half of the pitch. That is, in the last 210 minutes on the pitch, the Brazilian has attempted only two dribbles and completed one. This would have been unfathomable a few years ago. Many Madrid remontadas in successful seasons were born out of Vinicius persistence to get past defenders late in matches. Of Vinicius’s 14 successful dribbles so far this season, three led to a shot, two led to a corner (Madrid scoring on one of the two corner kicks) and another resulted with a penalty in Madrid’s favor. By comparison, Kylian Mbappé‘s 24 successful dribbles have produced eight shot attempts and two goals for the team. Creation Vinicius has remained largely consistent in terms of creating scoring opportunities for teammates. The Brazilian is averaging 1.8 key passes and 0.41 big chances per 90 minutes this season. The key pass figures are in line with the prior four seasons while the big chances represent an improvement from last season and is a slightly better average than the Brazilian’s 2021/2022 season. Defensive Contribution Under Mourinho, Vinicius has shown a renewed commitment to defending that had not been seen since his 2021/2022 breakout season when he was arguably the best two-way winger in Europe. This season the Brazilian is averaging nearly six successful defensive actions per 90 minutes, his best average in the last five seasons. Vinicius has already won back possession a total of nine times in the final third of the pitch in seven matches in La Liga this season compared to 23 ball recoveries in that part of the pitch in 36 matches last season. The 1.4 recoveries per 90 minutes in the final third of the pitch places the Brazilian tops amongst wingers in the Spanish first division, indicating his importance in Madrid’s success applying a high press under the Portuguese manager. While Vinicius goalscoring drought has not prevented him from continuing to create chances for teammates or from contributing defensively, Mourinho will be hard pressed to keep the Brazilian in the starting 11 consistently unless he can start finding the back of the net with much more regularity.
- Managing Madrid·20d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: La Fábrica wins at the Bernabéu as derby preparations conclude
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 19: Jorge Cestero of Real Madrid celebrates his team mate third side goal scored by Fran Santamaria of Real Madrid (not in the picture) during the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup 2026 match between Real Madrid C.F. and CD Santiago Wanderers at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 19, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) | UEFA via Getty Images Real Madrid celebrated a title at the Bernabéu on Saturday as Álvaro López’s youngsters beat Santiago Wanderers to win the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup, completing a four-trophy haul for La Fábrica. The first team, meanwhile, wrapped up preparations for Sunday’s derby at the Metropolitano, with fitness updates and selection decisions taking shape on both sides of the rivalry. Away from the pitch, Kylian Mbappé’s partnership with On marks a new commercial chapter, while Víctor Muñoz reflects on the experiences that shaped his development at Madrid. La Fábrica completes a four-trophy year Real Madrid won their first Under-20 Intercontinental Cup on Saturday, beating Santiago Wanderers 3–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. The victory made Madrid the first Spanish club to lift the trophy and completed a four-title haul in 2026 for Álvaro López’s team, following their successes in the league, Copa de Campeones and UEFA Youth League. Dani Yáñez opened the scoring with a direct free kick in the 29th minute, shortly after Wanderers defender Alexander Dubó was sent off for a challenge on him. Madrid controlled much of the first half but were brought back level four minutes after the restart, when Christian Silva scored for the visitors. The decisive intervention came from substitute Fran Santamaría, who converted Jesús Fortea’s low cross in the 81st minute. Wanderers subsequently lost Cristopher Valenzuela and Nicolás Carvacho to red cards, finishing with eight players. Although Yáñez had a stoppage-time penalty saved, Roberto Martín added Madrid’s third in the 99th minute, again from a Fortea assist. The match also established a new attendance record for the competition, with 52,117 spectators at the Bernabéu. That surpassed the 45,656 who attended Flamengo’s meeting with Barcelona at the Maracanã in 2025, an increase of 6,461. This was the first edition of the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup staged in Europe. UEFA Youth League Champions, Intercontinental Champions, generated 200m+ in sales this summer alone. Real Madrid's academy doesn't have enough PR — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) September 19, 2026 Álvaro López: “This is a historic generation” For López, winning at the Bernabéu carried a significance beyond the trophy itself. Speaking after the match, the coach recalled his childhood connection to the stadium. “Well, imagine… For me, a Real Madrid fan like myself, a member since birth, from the Barrio del Pilar… My grandfather brought me to the Bernabéu from the time I was born, I experienced historic nights. From the stadium, from home. And well, we’re incredibly happy and grateful. Proud to be able to make history.” Asked about the difficulty of the final, López said: “Real Madrid doesn’t just play in finals, they win them. And that’s exactly what happened. It was a tough match, they made it very difficult for us, but the important thing was to enjoy it. We’ll take this with us to cherish, something unforgettable.” He also acknowledged the support the team received from the club and its supporters. “We have spoken with the president, and he congratulated us. We are very grateful to everyone, to the club, to Mourinho… Feeling the support of the fans… This is something we will cherish forever.” López reserved particular praise for the players and what they have achieved together. “This is a historic generation. They’ve won the second Youth League title and the first Under-20 Intercontinental Cup. It’s a legacy that will stand. They’re nearing the end of their time here, we have a fantastic team, and we’re incredibly proud. They embody the values of Real Madrid. This belongs to them. And now, back to work, as they always do.” Captain Carlos Díez, who joined López for the post-match press conference, emphasized the years of shared work behind the success. “I’m very happy. Winning this title with teammates I’ve known for six or seven years… I’m very proud and happy. We’ve worked day after day to achieve this.” Trae la Youth League, la Intercontinental Sub-20 en el Santiago Bernabéu con más de 50.000 espectadores tras un genial trabajo de Álvaro López y sus chicos. Superiores Joan Martínez, Cestero o Yáñez. Y viene la generación 2009… 💎 — Mario Cortegana (@MarioCortegana) September 19, 2026 Madrid finish derby preparations with three players still recovering Real Madrid completed their final training session before Sunday’s derby against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano. The match, corresponding to the seventh round of LaLiga, kicks off on September 20 at 4:15 p.m. Madrid time. Saturday’s session began with warm-up exercises and rondos before moving into tactical work, pressing and possession drills. The players finished with small-sided games and shooting practice. Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão and Rodrygo continued their recovery programs and remain unavailable for the derby. Aurélien Tchouaméni, meanwhile, is fully reintegrated into the group after returning to the starting lineup against Elche. Among Mourinho’s attacking decisions is whether to start Arda Güler or Yan Diomande. The coach’s pre-match press conference was moved to 3:30 p.m. to accommodate the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup final at the Bernabéu. Video: Endrick, Vinícius and Mbappé share a moment in training There was also time for a lighter moment during the preparations, with Endrick, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé joking with one another during the session ahead of the derby. O Endrick hoje colocando o Mbappé na roda do bobinho de novo e debochando, enquanto o Vinicius Jr. segura ele pra parar com as gracinhas. O MELHOR É ELE INDO ARGUMENTAR PRA, NO FINAL, ACABAR ABRAÇANDO O ENDRICK KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK pic.twitter.com/IpvRJWxCz1 — ENDRICK DAILY (@endrickzonee) September 19, 2026 Julián Álvarez returns as Simeone assesses his derby options Atlético received a fitness boost ahead of the derby, with Julián Álvarez returning to group training and being included in the squad. Pablo Barrios and Alexander Sørloth remain unavailable, while Álvarez’s return gives Diego Simeone another attacking option alongside Jonathan David. Simeone confirmed Álvarez’s availability during his pre-match press conference but stopped short of revealing whether the Argentine would start. “Julián Álvarez will be with us. We will decide whether he starts or comes on in the second half.” Discussing the tactical challenge, Simeone highlighted Madrid’s ability to attack quickly after recovering possession. “They will have a better transition than ours, more vertical… They are powerful, strong players, they play to that advantage. We have to interpret the game in the best way so that they don’t feel more comfortable in their fast transitions.” The Atlético coach also expressed his admiration for Mourinho when asked about their previous encounters. “Talking about so many years ago isn’t appropriate for me. I have enormous respect for Mourinho. I admire him, and he knows how much I appreciate him. I hope we can compete like we have when we’ve faced each other.” For players experiencing their first Madrid derby, Simeone emphasized composure. “I’m not one to give advice to the players who will be playing their first derby. The pressure is normal for new players. Because of the excitement a match like this generates, but stay calm. Stay calm. Football is about composure. The lads have talent. And there’s one word that sums it all up: confidence.” He also placed the fixture within a busy week for the city. “The city is having an incredible week. I was involved with Formula 1. I got to see Shakira. Now there’s a derby. Madrid is growing. There’s a great energy.” Returning to the match itself, Simeone said: “A derby is different. There’s enormous tension and excitement because of the rivalry, because of the competitiveness we’ve managed to recover in the last fifteen years. Confidence is an important quality in this match.” Víctor Muñoz reflects on his Madrid education Víctor Muñoz has revisited his time at Real Madrid in an interview with AS, discussing the criticism he received after his Clásico appearance and the lessons he took from competing for opportunities at the club. “These are experiences that, unfortunately, we sometimes have to go through. When it happens, as it did to me, you have to accept it and process it as best you can. In the long run, I think it’s been good for me because it’s made me stronger and has helped me become the footballer I am today. Everything happens for a reason.” Muñoz acknowledged that not making an appearance at the Bernabéu remained an unfulfilled ambition, while expressing appreciation for the opportunities he did receive. “I would have loved to have made my debut at the Bernabéu, but being able to play minutes with Madrid, even if it was on other fields, was something amazing.” Asked about the difficulty of establishing himself in the first team, he said: “I have to admit it was difficult. At first, when you’re surrounded by such high-quality teammates, you realize you need to toughen up and gain experience, especially when you take a step up and join a team like Real Madrid.” Having spent time in both Barcelona’s and Madrid’s academies, Muñoz also outlined the different influences each had on his development. “Both Barcelona and Real Madrid academies are impressive, and I’ve been able to take the best from each. As you say, at Barça I was very young, but it allowed me to learn the importance of teamwork and incorporate into my game the methodology and unique DNA they try to instill in all their youth players. At Real Madrid, it’s a different style of play, more direct, and that suited my qualities very well. I’m grateful to have been at both.” Mbappé joins On in a partnership that includes an ownership stake Kylian Mbappé has ended his long association with Nike and joined Swiss sportswear company On, which announced the partnership on Friday. The Madrid forward will become a global ambassador and work directly with the company’s product teams on the development and testing of football footwear and apparel. According to AS, citing L’Équipe, Nike had offered Mbappé a renewal worth €20 million annually over ten years. Instead, his agreement with On includes an equity stake, giving him an ownership interest in the business alongside his commercial role. On has also appointed Thierry Henry as its director of football, while Roger Federer is already an investor in the company. The brand plans to bring its first football boots to market in 2027. Football finance specialist Moises Assayag, quoted by AS, explained the distinction between a conventional endorsement contract and an agreement involving ownership. “From a financial perspective, the most significant aspect of this agreement is the shift in the compensation model. When an athlete becomes a shareholder, they are no longer limited to the value of a sponsorship contract and gain direct exposure to the growth and appreciation of the company as a whole, to which they contribute their image. “This creates a much greater alignment of interests between both parties, because the athlete’s return also becomes dependent on the brand’s ability to grow, generate results, and increase its market value. For a player with Mbappé’s global stature, it’s a strategy that transforms his own image into equity and expands the potential for long-term value creation.” The financial terms of Mbappé’s On agreement, including the size of his equity stake, have not been disclosed. Its eventual value will depend partly on the company’s performance and share price, rather than representing a guaranteed sponsorship payment.
- Managing Madrid·20d ago·Both·transfers
Mourinho: “Real Madrid cannot be compared to anyone”
VALDEBEBAS, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Jose Mourinho, head coach of Real Madrid, attends his press conference during the training day of Real Madrid ahead the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match against Elche CF at Ciudad Deportiva Real Madrid on September 14, 2026, in Valdebebas, Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images Real Madrid coach José Mourinho previewed the Madrid derby on Sunday by playing down media comparisons with FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid as he said: “first of all, I think that, historically and culturally, Real Madrid cannot be compared to anyone, absolutely anyone. And that’s why I’m not going to compare us to any other team. I’m talking about us; I have no problem talking about our problems, and I have no problem talking about the things we need to improve. Even though, in the few months I’ve been here during my second spell, I’ve come to realise more and more that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to hear anything positive about Real Madrid. But we carry on with our work humbly, as I said before, fully aware of the problems we face and the areas where we need to improve, whilst also being very conscious of the strength we possess, both individually and collectively, and of the excellent qualities we also have in our team. And in the matches – the three matches in which, for example, we’ve reached the final minutes needing to score, either to win or to draw, as against Betis – we’ve finished these three matches with physical and psychological strength, commitment and determination… It’s fair to say: it’s not normal to be leading Elche 2–0 and then find yourself level in the 80th minute or thereabouts. But neither is it normal to be level in the 80th minute or thereabouts, nor is it normal that, in the space of three or four minutes, the team turns things around, goes behind, has a chance to score, has another, scores and wins. Nor is it normal to be losing at Betis after conceding a goal almost at the very end, yet still have the physical and mental strength, the heart and the determination, with Espí scoring an incredible goal, and then to have a penalty missed, yet still have the strength left in the remaining minutes to give it our all. This team possesses, beyond its sheer quality, a strength that means a great deal to me: the strength of a group. And that’s why I’m confident that, whatever happens, the league is a marathon. The league isn’t always a motorway; it isn’t always a motorway without any obstacles whatsoever, but we’ll be there. I don’t want to make comparisons. Don’t ask me to compare one squad with another; don’t ask me to compare Oblak with Courtois or Romero with Rüdiger, that’s not my style. What I’m saying is that it’s a strong squad, with plenty of options, and a great manager who knows what he wants, who picks players he likes, picks players who embody his vision, picks players who are part of his DNA. It’s the result of many years of hard work, and it’s a team that, to me, when I look at them, I believe will be right there fighting for the title.” Mourinho on the significance of a derby “A derby always has something extra. Derbies are history, they’re culture, they’re the fans’ passion, and they represent a long-standing connection. I’m sure you understand what it means, but, above all, it’s a match and it also has to be viewed with the same pragmatism with which it’s played.” Mourinho on the process of improving the team “I don’t know if we’ll manage it, but that’s the intention, mine and the players’ too. I don’t know if I’ll manage it as a manager, I don’t know if the players, as players, will manage it, but that’s the intention. In the first question, your colleague from Real Madrid touched on the issue of so many matches in a row, but we’ve tried to find a day, a moment, a few short periods to work on the things we need to improve, and this is a process. If there are people who manage their clubs for one, two, three, four, five or ten years in a row and there’s always talk of processes, there’s always talk of progress, there’s always talk of time to work on things, to improve, just imagine that we’ve only been together for a few months; we’ve played I don’t know how many matches, seven or eight competitive fixtures. We need to improve, but we also need to get results, and that’s what we’re working towards. Yesterday, for example, we worked on things; today too, after you’d all left, we’d been working because, obviously, there are things we need to improve on, and we obviously have a lot of confidence in ourselves, but at the same time, we also have the humility to know that we need to work to improve.” Mourinho on questions about penalties “No, it’s too late now because… No, but it’s true, because after that matchday we had another one, and on that other matchday there were more questions you could have asked me. I think, for example, you could have asked me a very clear and obvious question: what do I think about Elche finishing the match with 11 players? But if we’re going to go down that road, we’ll end up talking about tomorrow’s match, and I’d rather say that, although it’s a bit strange that a week ago we already knew who the referee for tomorrow’s match would be, I’d rather say that, if he’s been appointed, it’s because he’s a good referee; it’s because he has enough experience for a match of this emotional magnitude. I don’t like to talk about referees before matches, and he has my full confidence. We’ll see after the match, but for now he has my full confidence.” Mourinho on the timing of the press conference “No, I didn’t even know when Simeone was holding his press conference until now; I had no idea. It didn’t suit us in the morning because we had work to do downstairs and meetings with the players as well. Obviously, after training I rushed out to try and catch as much of the Bernabéu match as possible, but nothing came of it; under no circumstances would I gain any advantage from speaking before or after Diego.” Mourinho on whether the derby is special for Vinícius “I think it’s the same for everyone. I don’t know; perhaps for the players who’ve been at Real Madrid longer, given that historic negative record you mentioned earlier, there might be something more to it, but I don’t think so. I think we’re all in this together; we’re all aware of the difficulty of the match, and also of what I was saying earlier. It’s a derby, it’s culture, it’s history. The history of football, the history of the city, it always means something more. But the match is just as important for Vinícius as it is for any of us.” Mourinho on the situation with the Ceuta shirt “I talk about football.” Mourinho on the evolution of his ideas as a coach “Evolving in line with my players, because it’s one thing to have your own idea of the sort of football you prefer at different stages of the game, at different stages of a team’s organisation, and quite another to see what you can actually achieve with the players you have. I think one of my qualities as a manager, which some might see as a positive, whilst others might view as a negative, is that I’ve always tried to adapt to my players’ potential and their individual qualities. I’ve always said that, for example, my Inter side could sit deep for 90 minutes, that we’d always be in our comfort zone. We could stay there for three days sitting deep, and they wouldn’t score against us if their lives depended on it. It’s down to the players’ profiles, the team’s profile. If you ask me whether I like defending deep, I’ll tell you: I like knowing how to defend deep. Because it’s very difficult, during a match, not to go through periods of defending deep. And when you go through those periods, which sometimes last two minutes, three minutes, sometimes 10 minutes, 20 minutes, you have to know how to cope. And that’s one of the things we’re working on to improve. It doesn’t mean that’s what we want, but we have to have the awareness and the humility to know that we’re going to go through moments like these, whether in the league or in the Champions League; we’re going to go through them, and we have to know how to handle them, we have to know how to compete.” Mourinho on motivation at this stage of his career “It motivates me every day. When you say… I understand you’re saying it with respect, and I want to respond with respect too. When you say ‘at this stage of my career’, my career, from the very first day to the very last, will always be the same. If you know what I mean. It’s not my age, my experience or the length of my career that make me change the way I am, the way I carry myself. I’m just as motivated to play against Villarreal next week… No, not next week, next matchday against Villarreal. I’m just as motivated to play against Villarreal as I am for a Clásico or a derby, it makes absolutely no difference to me. In terms of motivation, it makes absolutely no difference to me. As I was saying before, the classics, the derbies, are culture, they’re history; they’re part of history and, obviously, that’s why they have that extra something. But when you talk about motivation, motivation is a daily thing. It’s hard to put into words because, when you wear a club’s shirt, you immediately start to feel, just like a fan, you immediately start to feel the significance of it all. There isn’t a single derby where, the week before the match, you don’t walk down the street without someone saying to you: ‘We’re going to take Juve down, we’re going to give them a proper thrashing’. You know, it’s a situation where either you cut yourself off and have no contact with the outside world, or, if you don’t, well, the message gets through. And they’re all special derbies. What surprised me most, because it was so unexpected, was Milan v Inter, because I thought it was a derby with a lot, well, not a lot, but a bit of animosity, which there’s always a bit of in these cultural contexts. And it surprised me because Inter and Milan have a good relationship; they’re friends. The animosity lies a bit further north. And I wasn’t expecting… I arrived and, when the first Inter–Milan match came round, the people on the street, men and women holding hands, one wearing one club’s shirt, the other wearing the other’s, a dad with two sons, one a Milan fan and the other an Inter fan. That’s what surprised me. Because in Portugal, for example, it’s mission impossible; in Turkey, don’t even get me started.” Mourinho on his relationship with Diego Simeone “Look, so much nonsense gets said during your career that, if you go back, back, back, there isn’t a single one of us, and when I say ‘us’, I don’t mean just Diego and me, I mean all of us, who doesn’t spout their own nonsense, who doesn’t say things in the heat of the moment, influenced by the moment. Sometimes we say things strategically too, but in the end, either you respect someone or you don’t, you know? For me, the day they got in touch to ask if I could talk about Diego for their documentary a few years back, I didn’t think twice about it. He knows exactly how I feel, what I think, and there you have it: rivals once again, but comrades-in-arms.” Mourinho on the fixture list and the international break “Look, but what can we do? Right? We can only adapt. In our case, well, just imagine: four players are left behind; four players are left behind for 20 days, 15, 18, 19 days, four players are left behind. Then they’ll start arriving: one three days before the Villarreal game, another four days before, another two days before, he’s coming from India, and the Brazilians from India, Valverde and others are travelling halfway round the world to get here. In other words, for the European players, it’s four tough matches, because we’re talking about this Nations League where everyone is on the same level. Spain play England, and I don’t know who else; France play Turkey, and they play Belgium. They’re tough matches, and there are a lot of them. In my case, it’s tough, it’s really tough, because then comes Villarreal, three days later, and then Roma, right? Roma straight after. It’s tough. But, at the same time, it means we have very good players who are called up by their national teams. We’re going to try to support them as much as possible; we’ll be paying very close attention to the minutes they play, if we have access to that information, because not all coaches will give us access to details of their training sessions, but we’re going to try to be as thorough as possible to minimise any potential problems.” Mourinho on Zidane’s decision regarding Tchouameni “Look, I had no influence on the decision. I didn’t ring Zidane, Zidane didn’t ring me, we haven’t had any contact. The situation took me a bit by surprise, but the two of them have spoken, the manager and the player have had a chat, and they’ve both come to the conclusion that, for Aurélien, the best thing would be, after tomorrow’s match, to have time to, let’s say, do the pre-season he hasn’t done. The manager has shared his view of the situation with him, told him he’s counting on him for the future, and they’ve agreed on this – which is a privilege for us, because Aurélien will then have his days off and afterwards he’ll have the pre-season he’s missed, where he can work hard and build up his strength for what lies ahead.” Mourinho on his rating of his first 100 days “No, the mark I’d give myself is that I’ve given my all; I can’t give any more. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continue to give our all to improve every day at every level, because the job of a coach, in my case, I don’t think we’re all the same, but in my case it’s not just about training and playing. A coach’s job, from my point of view, is much more all-encompassing; it has a much greater influence on the development of a club, in this case, the footballing side of a club, and the actual coaching itself, choosing who plays, playing, making substitutions, that, to me, is minor; it’s very basic. And I don’t give myself a mark; I don’t think it’s perfect or that it’s negative, but I don’t give myself a mark at all.”
- Barca Blaugranes·20d ago·Both·transfers
FC Barcelona News: 19 September 2026; All set for Sevilla clash, Fermín López returns to Spain squad
Photo By Ivan Terron/Europa Press via Getty Images Last session before Sevilla – FC Barcelona All set for the last game before a three-week break for internationals. Hansi Flick: ‘We’re focused on our own job’ – FC Barcelona Coach refuses to discuss the Madrid derby and focuses on the game in Seville, where the team lost 4–1 last season. New LaLiga goalscoring record for Lamine Yamal – FC Barcelona Blaugrana number 10 surpasses his best scoring record in the domestic competition. This is the first call-up after conquering the World Cup – RFEF Luis de la Fuente has announced his 26-man squad for the first four UEFA Nations League matches of the season. Flick confirms rotations and praises Raphinha: “He goes and everyone follows him” – Mundo Deportivo The Barça coach will make changes to the starting eleven against Sevilla, with Cubarsi coming in, and he praised the Brazilian’s role as the team’s leader. Raphinha: “I plan to renew my contract and hopefully finish my career at Barça” – Mundo Deportivo The Barcelona captain, whose contract expires in 2028, told RAC 1 that he sees himself staying at the club for much longer after Deco expressed his desire for him to extend his contract. Messi, racism, Real Madrid and Busquets’ advice: the other topics Lamine discussed with Valdano – Mundo Deportivo The star participated in the program ‘Universo Valdano’ and spoke at length about the Ballon d’Or. He also touched on many other topics in a very interesting talk.
- Barca Blaugranes·21d ago·Both·transfers
‘Completely different intensity’ – Lamine Yamal reveals how Marcus Rashford learned Clasico lesson at Barcelona
BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 11: Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal with his teammate Lamine Yamal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol de Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou on April 11, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images) | Getty Images Lamine Yamal has had some words of praise for Marcus Rashford following his season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United. Rashford played his part in last season’s title success but has since returned to Manchester United after his loan deal expired. Yamal has revealed how he feels Rashford fared in the two Clasicos last season and admitted the England international was a completely different player in the second game at Camp Nou. “Rashford’s first Clásico, which we lost 2-1 at the Bernabéu, I saw him play and thought, he still doesn’t know what a Clásico is,” he told Movistar. “Then, in the second leg, he realized what a Clásico was all about, scoring a free kick and playing with a completely different intensity. “When you come from La Masia, from your very first Clásico, you know what it’s all about, and you know that match is a battle.” Rashford’s goal in the Clasico against Real Madrid was one of Barca’s most eye-catching strikes of last campaign, with the forward admitting after the match that he wasn’t planning on shooting until his team-mates urged him to go for goal.
- Guardian Football·22d ago·Both·transfers
Real Madrid leading race to sign JJ Gabriel from Manchester United
Barcelona and Bayern among other admirers United hope they convince 15-year-old to stay Real Madrid are leading the race to sign the Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel after he told the Premier League club he wants to cancel his registration. The 15-year-old has attracted interest from across Europe as his reputation has grown with academy performances. Barcelona have been keen to acquire him and Bayern Munich are known to admire the winger. It is understood Gabriel prefers a move to Europe and having an Irish passport would enable that. Continue reading...
- Managing Madrid·22d ago·Both·transfers
The Gauntlet | 17 Sept, 2026
The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the mods who do a fantastic job, Ezek, Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, Juninho, NeRObutBlanco and yours truly, Kung_Fu_Zizou Mourinho has thrown down the gauntlet. A team of talented individuals who have mastered the art of conspiring to lose. If there’s anything this Real Madrid team has done well over the last two seasons; it’s losing games. Everything from passive defending, ball-watching, inability to control or use possession effectively, wasting chances, improvising with every attacking opportunity to refusing to defend as a team. Real Madrid have been weighed and measured and have been found wanting. Putting this into the proper context, as Real Madrid fans, we ought to accept that José Mourinho took over a losing team. In stark contrast, this season, Hansi Flick is overseeing a team that has won La Liga back to back and made Champions League semifinals back to back. Expecting Mourinho to make Real Madrid champions in December is wishful thinking. 🚨 José Mourinho’s Real Madrid are currently averaging 2.71 goals per game despite underperforming their xG. That’s his best scoring rate since the 2011/12 season. pic.twitter.com/xwS85H9mZM — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 16, 2026 This is the reality of Real Madrid. Adding Diomande does not turn the team into winners. Adding Bernado and Carlos Espí still does not turn the team into winners. Winning is what makes winners. Not winning the first 5 games of the season or going unbeaten for 15 games but winning silverware. They do not hand out the silverware this early in the season. This part of the season is for building a structure that can withstand the pressure of a title challenge. That is Mourinho’s realistic job right now. Dissonance Real Madrid players repeated the same noise about Ancelotti, Xabi, Arbeloa and are now doing the same with Mourinho. They all say boldly how much they want to learn and how much they are learning. They all say how much they support the manager and how much they want the team to do well. You could almost predict word-for-word what the answers will be at this point. None of it appears even remotely genuine at this point. For players to let down a manager like Ancelotti after so much success and then follow that up with mutiny during Xabi’s short tenure, effectively neutering Arbeloa and now heads bowed in shame in front of Mourinho.. I simply refuse to believe almost anything these players say. It is all so simple, the game is won on the pitch. You defend well, you outscore your opponents. You win the fight. But you have to fight. So far, the second half struggles are seen as a major part of the team’s problems. However, Mourinho is willing to grant that fitness has not yet reached the desired levels and is also willing to compensate for this using rotations. The excuse will not hold the gates for much longer. Controlling games has to do with structure, discipline and desire. The same team that rolled over for Elche to pull two goals back, got a shot in the arm to find the winner. I would be remiss to not laud the effect of Carlos Espí but him being on the bench cannot be cause for downing tools after going up 2-0. HouseKeeping JJ Gabriel.. Another Young Sensation? 🚨 BREAKING: Real Madrid are WELL-POSITIONED to sign JJ Gabriel and are working on a deal. Barcelona, PSG, and Bayern are also interested. @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/nLWoUxbtKZ — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 17, 2026 Real Madrid are interested in signing Man United wonderkind JJ Gabriel. This is now convention at the club. Many will ask about Endrick and Mastantuono and other youngsters who have yet to reach their potential. The reality is that there are no guarantees in this game. If there were a guarantee it is simply that you will lose. You will fail. But there are not guarantees of success. Real Madrid will keep looking to sign talented youngsters and those youngsters will always be victims of circumstances at the club. Timing is everything. Fede, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Jude and now Arda Güler show the positive side of how young players have turned out at Real Madrid. That’s a pretty healthy return. There will be many more not given chances or simply not able to rise to the level to compete. That’s how the cookie crumbles. That’s how the game goes. It’s same old.. FOOD FOR Thought Thiago Pitarch will have to develop into a solution for Mourinho. He’s more of a creative number 8 who does his best work offensively and not so much defensively. José has said Thiago needs to work on his legs if he’s gonna play with the big boys. It was tongue-in-cheek but brings me to this thought.. Thiago could be a player who brings a kind of balance. We saw him under Arbeloa but we’ve not seen everything he has to offer. We’ve seen good things and mistakes and weaknesses that can be worked on. If Mourinho will not play Arda Güler in the double pivot, what are the chances he will play Thiago there or.. Are we likely to see a return to the 4-3-3 which isn’t exactly Mourinho’s bread and butter. The 4-2-3-1 is to Mourinho what the 3-4-3 is to Xabi Alonso and Antonio Conte.
- Barca Blaugranes·23d ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona take lead in race to sign JJ Gabriel as training ground visit revealed
LEIGH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: JJ Gabriel of Manchester United U21 in action during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester United U21 and Leicester City U21 at Leigh Sports Village on August 31, 2026 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United are reportedly “leading the race” to sign 15-year-old wonderkid JJ Gabriel from Manchester United. The teenager has sent shockwaves around the football world this week by deciding to seek an exit from the Premier League club just a few weeks before his 16th birthday next month. A new update from The Telegraph says that Barcelona are currently in pole position to land Gabriel and reveals the youngster was at the club in the summer and “was shown around their training ground and met Wojciech Szczesny and club great Sergio Busquets.” There has also been talk about Gabriel and Real Madrid, particularly after the youngster was seen following many Real Madrid first-teamers on Instagram. However, the report claims “sources at rival Premier League suitors believe that the Catalan club have stolen a march in the race for Gabriel.” The 15-year-old is believed to be in a position to move abroad as he possesses an EU passport but Manchester United are believed to be still trying to keep him at the club.
- Managing Madrid·23d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Tebas criticizes Madrid trio, Vinicius responds to Elche crowd, and Madrid track United wonderkid
LEIGH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: JJ Gabriel of Manchester United U21 in action during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester United U21 and Leicester City U21 at Leigh Sports Village on August 31, 2026 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images) September 16, 2026 — Javier Tebas addresses the pre-match shirt controversy in Elche, Vinicius responds to chants from the stands, and Real Madrid are reportedly working on a deal for Manchester United prospect JJ Gabriel. Tebas criticizes Mbappé, Vinicius and Konaté over Ceuta shirts LaLiga president Javier Tebas has criticized Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konaté over the manner in which they wore shirts showing support for Ceuta before Real Madrid’s 3–2 victory over Elche on Tuesday. Players from both teams walked onto the pitch at the Martínez Valero wearing white shirts bearing the message “Todos somos caballas”. Mbappé, Vinicius and Konaté wore theirs rolled up, leaving the message partially obscured, with Mbappé and Vinicius removing the shirts before the conclusion of the pre-match greetings. Speaking Wednesday at an event organized by the Association of Managers and Executives of Aragon in Huesca, Tebas gave his assessment of the incident. “I think it’s very wrong,” Tebas said. The LaLiga president argued that Madrid’s participation should be viewed as an institutional decision by the club rather than an individual expression by its players. “Real Madrid is a Spanish entity,” Tebas said, describing the initiative as “an institutional act, a club act” rather than “a personal act where one has to give an opinion.” According to Tebas, initiatives promoted by sporting organizations and authorized by LaLiga should not depend on individual players’ opinions when, in his view, they do not concern ideological matters. “The entire squad coming out wearing the shirt is a club tradition. The player has to come out wearing the shirt. Because coming out with the shirt folded is like coming out without it,” Tebas said. Tebas also referred to Real Betis winger Ez Abde, who wore the same Ceuta shirt before Betis’ game against Villarreal and subsequently received threats and insults. Tebas described that reaction as “collateral damage.” Vinicius responds to chants from Elche supporters Vinicius Junior exchanged words with a section of the Martínez Valero crowd during Real Madrid’s 3–2 win over Elche on Tuesday. Movistar Plus cameras captured the Brazilian responding after supporters chanted “Vinicius beach ball,” a reference to the 2024 Ballon d’Or. “More, more, more… Watch out…” Vinicius responded while gesturing towards the crowd. Movistar nunca borrará las imágenes de lo que dice Vinicius por insignificante que sea De Rodri si, por lo que sea pic.twitter.com/aEX4z7RbiK — (fan) LOCOS REAL MADRID (@LocosRealMadrid) September 15, 2026 After the match, Vinicius also addressed his current scoring drought on Instagram. “The goals will come back… I can’t miss so many. There’s more on Sunday. Hala Madrid!” Anselmi: “I feel proud” Elche coach Martín Anselmi emphasized pride rather than frustration after watching his team recover from 2–0 down against Real Madrid before eventually losing 3–2 to Carlos Espí’s stoppage-time winner. “Anger isn’t the feeling I have right now after the match,” Anselmi said. “I feel proud because we were present in the game against a very strong opponent.” Elche trailed 2–0 before goals from Abiel Osorio and Fer Niño brought the hosts level late in the second half. Anselmi felt the next stage in his team’s development is learning how to manage the situation after producing such a comeback. “We lacked cohesion and didn’t fully grasp what we had achieved with the 2–2 draw. I’ll focus on the word maturity, which is what I conveyed to my players in the locker room.” Despite ultimately leaving without a point, Anselmi highlighted how uncomfortable Elche managed to make the closing stages for Madrid. “Elche knows how to compete, and I’m proud because the players managed to come back from a very difficult situation. Furthermore, a team like Real Madrid ended the match camped in the corner and holding onto the ball in the final minutes.” Diomande’s Madridista gesture after another impressive start Yan Diomande continued his encouraging start to life at Real Madrid with one of his strongest performances yet against Elche. The 19-year-old made his second consecutive start and supplied the assist for Kylian Mbappé’s first-half goal, beating his defender on the right before finding the Frenchman. He was heavily involved throughout the evening, completing seven dribbles and creating three chances. There was also a moment after his substitution that did not appear on the television broadcast. 𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄 😘 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐃𝐆𝐄 🛡️⚪ Diomande kissed the Real Madrid badge in front of the Elche fans after getting substituted 😘🥶 For the second time in a row in the starting XI. Completed the most dribbles per 90 minutes in La Liga. A first assist today… pic.twitter.com/D2FHYfsTCF — 433 (@433) September 15, 2026 As Diomande made his way off, he produced a small gesture towards the Real Madrid badge — another sign of the enthusiasm with which the summer signing has embraced his new club. His performance also comes days after Mourinho explained that the winger’s limited minutes so far have been a consequence of Madrid’s depth rather than anything Diomande is lacking. “He’s not missing anything,” Mourinho said before the Elche game. “If he were in another team with fewer high-potential players instead of being at Madrid with this squad, he would probably be a starter playing 90 minutes every game.” Arbeloa praises César Palacios after goal and assist for Fulham Former Real Madrid academy midfielder César Palacios produced one of his best performances since leaving the club this summer, scoring and assisting in Fulham’s 3–2 Carabao Cup victory away to West Ham. Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa praised Palacios afterwards while also stressing the need for patience with the club’s younger players. “César played a very good game. Good assist, good goal. He could even have scored one or two more,” Arbeloa said. “We have so many talented young players and we have to be patient with them. We have to help them and develop, but you can already see the talent they have. They have quality, they understand the game, and of course, I think they will grow throughout this season. I’m very happy with all of them.” Courtois discusses life after football and athlete investment Thibaut Courtois appeared at the tenth edition of the World Football Summit in Madrid this week to present NXTPLAY Capital, the investment platform he co-founded. Courtois spoke about preparing for life after football while still maintaining the competitive mentality that has defined his playing career. “When you’re playing, you obviously think about winning and winning as many trophies as possible, but you also think about life after football,” Courtois said. “Regarding investments, obviously, it’s one thing to have your name as a goalkeeper, as a good one, but it’s another thing to use that name for investments, to find opportunities and help other brands grow together with your name.” NXTPLAY was created as a sports investment and media platform designed to allow athletes and other investors to take equity positions across sports, media and technology projects. Courtois is listed as a co-founder alongside Gonzalo Vila. Courtois also discussed how his competitive instincts transfer into business. “As an athlete, as a professional footballer, my goal is always to win, and obviously it’s easy to say that in investments you also want to win, but it doesn’t always happen. You find some that are better than others, some that work less well, but I think the ambition to make projects work is the main objective for me.” The Madrid goalkeeper also stressed the importance of understanding genuine audience engagement rather than simply relying on headline social-media follower numbers. “It’s really important that the follower numbers are accurate, that the number of followers you have, the people who follow you… you don’t know exactly how many are interacting with what you do and what you say, so that’s why it’s also important to know how many are active to understand what you’re doing.” Real Madrid reportedly working on deal for Manchester United prodigy JJ Gabriel Real Madrid are among the clubs pursuing one of England’s most highly rated young players: Manchester United academy forward JJ Gabriel. Gabriel, whose full name is Joseph Junior Andreou O’Cearuill, is only 15 but has already established himself as one of the most discussed prospects in English academy football. Reports this week indicated that Gabriel has asked to leave Manchester United amid uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford. ESPN reported Wednesday that both Real Madrid and Barcelona are monitoring the situation, while The Athletic has reported that Madrid are working on a potential deal and are optimistic about their chances. Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and several Premier League clubs have also been linked with the player. Gabriel operates primarily as a left winger or attacking midfielder and has moved through several major English academies during his development, including Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers before joining Manchester United. His numbers help explain the level of interest. Gabriel scored 28 goals and provided six assists in 35 appearances during the 2025–26 season and was named the Premier League Under-18 Player of the Season despite playing much of the campaign at just 15. Earlier in his development, he became Manchester United’s youngest-ever Under-18 debutant and goalscorer after scoring twice against Leeds United at 14. His rise has continued this season. Gabriel scored a hat-trick against Sabah in his UEFA Youth League debut on September 10, becoming the competition’s youngest-ever goalscorer at 15 years and 339 days old. Manchester United remain hopeful of keeping him, and the situation has not yet reached a definitive resolution. ESPN reports that club officials are continuing discussions over his future while Madrid and Barcelona monitor developments. The situation is particularly relevant to Madrid because Gabriel holds an Irish passport. He turns 16 on October 6, potentially opening a pathway for a move outside England under the applicable regulations. For Real Madrid, the reported pursuit would fit a familiar recruitment strategy: identifying elite prospects early and attempting to bring them into the club before their value — and competition for their signature — increases significantly.
- Barca Blaugranes·23d ago·Both·transfers
Should Barcelona make a move for Man Utd wonderkid JJ Gabriel?
LEIGH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: JJ Gabriel of Manchester United U21 in action during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester United U21 and Leicester City U21 at Leigh Sports Village on August 31, 2026 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United starlet JJ Gabriel has caused a stir this week by reportedly asking to leave the Red Devils. According to multiple reports, Gabriel wants to cancel his registration with immediate effect and move on a free transfer. Gabriel is widely considered to be an exceptional talent and has been dubbed ‘Kid Messi’ during his time at Old Trafford. However, the youngster now appears set to shock United by leaving the club and continuing his career elsewhere. Barcelona are one of several clubs to have been linked with Gabriel previously and the rumor mill claims the Catalans remain interested. According to new updates from The Athletic and ESPN, both Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the clubs interested in the youngster and are monitoring the situation. Gabriel is widely regarded as a special talent with bags of skill, known for his exceptional dribbling and goalscoring ability. He bagged a hat-trick against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League just last week, becoming the youngest player to do so for United in the process. So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is: Should Barcelona make a move for Man Utd wonderkid JJ Gabriel? Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and answers in the comments section below!
- Barca Blaugranes·23d ago·Both·transfers
FC Barcelona News: 16 September 2026; All set for Racing Santander clash, Camp Nou to host 2029 Champions League Final
Photo by Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Last session before Racing – FC Barcelona Training at the Ciutat Esportiva with sights set on the La Liga clash against the Cantabrians. When and where to watch FC Barcelona v Racing Santander – FC Barcelona International viewing guide to the midweek La Liga fixture at Spotify Camp Nou. Hansi Flick: ‘I don’t want to break records, I want to win matches’ – FC Barcelona The German coach is not thinking about setting any new milestones ahead of taking on Racing Santander in La Liga. Spotify Camp Nou to host 2029 Men’s Champions League final – FC Barcelona The decision recognises Spotify Camp Nou’s position as one of the leading stadiums in world football and highlights its ability to welcome top class international sporting events. Barça Femení 4-2 Atlético Madrid: Comeback win – FC Barcelona The Blaugranes overcome a deficit in a hard fought contest to take their third win in three matches in the league. Women’s Clásico given date and kick off time – FC Barcelona The game between Barça Femení and Real Madrid will be played on Sunday 4 October at 5pm CEST at Spotify Camp Nou. UD Logroñés B 0-0 Barça Atlètic: Another point – FC Barcelona Belletti’s side dominate, but can’t find a goal away in Logroño. Flick supports Lamine for the Ballon d’Or: “And why shouldn’t we campaign for him?” – Mundo Deportivo The coach heaped praise on the number 10 and highlighted that he has “a lot of self-esteem and is honest,” in relation to his statements. Flick: “I’m happy with Balde, but nobody expected this level from Xavi Espart” – Mundo Deportivo The coach explained that the left-back is training well, but acknowledged that the situation is not “ideal”.
- Managing Madrid·24d ago·Both·transfers
6 stats from Elche 2-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid's Spanish forward #19 Carlos Espi Escrihuela celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between Elche CF and Real Madrid CF at Martinez Valero Stadium in Elche on September 15, 2026. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images For the second time this season, Real Madrid needed a late winner from substitute Carlos Espí to beat Elche 3-2 on Tuesday night. The result came from a game of two halves, with total domination in the first half succumbing to concede two late goals from Elche to pull level before Espí’s injury-time heroics. 120 – Games since Real Madrid scored direct from a free-kick Arda Güler will claim what was his first goal for Real Madrid to be scored direct from a free-kick to open the scoring in Elche. He became the first player to score direct from a free-kick for Real Madrid since Rodrygo Goes scored against Sevilla on May 27th 2023. It was the longest direct free-kick drought on record in Real Madrid history, surpassing the 115 games recorded between 1969 and 1972. 13 – Minutes per goal for Carlos Espí For the second time this season, Real Madrid called upon super sub Carlos Espí as a late substitute to save them the game. At the Martínez Valero he came on with three minutes of normal time remaining, and scored with only four minutes on the field. It was his second Real Madrid goal with only 26 minutes played, across five appearances. He is yet to play more than the 10 minutes granted to him on his debut against Espanyol, but it seems that he doesn’t need it. 7 – Goals in the first 6 games of the season for a second season running for Kylian Mbappé The Frenchman became the first man since Hugo Sánchez in 1987 to score seven goals in six games at the start of the La Liga season for consecutive campaigns. Before him, Pruden Sánchez was the only other man to achieve the feat in 1946. He also joined Sánchez and Karim Benzema in becoming only the third Real Madrid player, and only the fifth of all clubs, to score against every team he has played against in La Liga, finally scoring against Elche 7 – Dribbles from Yan Diomande, more than any other player Alongside claiming his first assist as a Real Madrid player, winger Yan Diomande topped the charts for both dribbles, with seven, and chances created, with three. He was a live wire down the right and later switched to the left, though his defensive work in the build-up to Elche’s equaliser is unlikely to have pleased José Mourinho on what otherwise would have been an ideal night for the Ivory Coast international. 9 – Shots against the woodwork this season, a La Liga high Arda Güler joined the club of players to hit the woodwork for Real Madrid this season, although the deflection may have been helped across the line by Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro. No other side in La Liga can rival Los Blancos for the number of times they’ve hit the post or the crossbar this season. The next highest return belongs to Barcelona on four, less than half of Real Madrid’s tally. 3.56 – Real Madrid’s xG The number of chances Real Madrid are generating this season is incredible, but this game produced the highest expected goals of any this season for Real Madrid. The lowest return of the season is still an impressive 2.62, and Real Madrid were below that until Carlos Espí had two efforts in injury time rack up 1.01 xG in less than a minute. 2.03 xG came in a dominant first half, with only 0.52 xG being generated between minutes 46 and 90.
- Managing Madrid·24d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Canales on Mourinho, Rodri’s Madrid talks, and the Under-20 squad
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Rodri of Manchester City speaks with Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester City FC and Real Madrid CF at City of Manchester Stadium on March 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) | Getty Images September 15, 2026 — Canales reflects on his time at Madrid, Rodri discusses turning down a move, and La Fábrica finalizes its squad for Saturday’s international final. Canales reflects on Mourinho and the lessons of Madrid’s dressing room Sergio Canales has revisited his time at Real Madrid, discussing his desire to leave on loan, José Mourinho’s demanding approach, and the influence of a dressing room that changed his understanding of professional football. Speaking on Mario Suárez’s YouTube show, El Camino de Mario, the midfielder explained that remaining at Madrid had not initially been his preferred option. “My first option was to go on loan, but when Mourinho arrived, they asked me to do preseason. I started at Mallorca, and even then, I called to ask for a loan. In the end, it didn’t happen, and they thought I had to stay. I don’t regret it because it helped me grow mentally,” Canales said. Looking back on Mourinho’s methods, Canales acknowledged the role that experience played in his development: “I’m grateful to Mourinho in a way. With young players, he believed that being tough made them stronger.” He added: “It was an experience that helped me mature.” The education extended beyond the training pitch. Canales recalled beginning to observe how Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa prepared themselves, and realizing how much he needed to change his own habits. “There was a moment when I said, ‘I’m going to study what Cristiano, Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa… do.’ I’d never set foot in a gym in my life. Before playing for Racing, I’d go to the cinema and eat three bags of popcorn, and after the match, I’d have a hamburger. Being surrounded by the best in the world makes you see what the pre- and post-match preparations are like. I finished that year wanting a nutritionist, a physical trainer, and that summer changed my perspective.” Canales also revealed that Barcelona had tried to recruit him earlier in his development, and that a visit to La Masia left a strong impression. His family’s circumstances, however, prevented the move. “Barça wanted to sign me. I went with my parents to La Masia and I wanted to stay. I saw the facilities and fell in love. But they had their life here in Santander and said they couldn’t mortgage everything.” Rodri: “Saying no to Real Madrid isn’t easy” Rodri has discussed Real Madrid’s efforts to sign him before he opted for Barcelona, revealing that Mourinho personally outlined what he could bring to the team. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the midfielder said he subsequently called the Madrid coach to thank him after making his decision. “José Mourinho expressed his desire for me to come and what I could contribute to the team. The relationship was very good. When I made my decision, I also called him to thank him for his interest and the way he treated me. I think he’s a fantastic coach; he’s already proven that wherever he’s gone.” “Saying no to Real Madrid isn’t easy; above all, they treated me exceptionally well.” Rothen alleges tension between Mbappé and Dembélé Jérôme Rothen has claimed that the recent exchange between Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé over the Ballon d’Or has caused tension between the two France internationals. Speaking on RMC Sport, the former PSG midfielder alleged that Dembélé and people around him were unhappy with Mbappé’s remarks. The discussion follows Mbappé’s comments to France Football about the different expectations placed on their careers, contrasting Dembélé’s reputation as a talented player with his own status as “the chosen one.” Dembélé subsequently referenced that description when discussing his development and achievements at PSG. “Dembélé took it very badly, that’s for sure. He’s very angry with Kylian Mbappé. For him, it’s a form of betrayal. The words are strong, but that’s exactly how he sees it… And it’s not just him. It’s everyone around Ousmane, the people who are with him in the PSG dressing room. His teammates from the French national team are also upset,” Rothen said. Rothen also suggested that the disagreement could extend beyond the two forwards. “I’m told that there are many players on the French national team who, once again, don’t understand all his statements, that they are more on Dembélé’s side than on Mbappé’s, and yet it’s the same team, but apparently now there are two factions.” Elche executive describes the demands of hosting Madrid Elche general manager Pedro Schinocca has outlined the sporting and organizational demands of Real Madrid’s visit to the Martínez Valero. Speaking to AS, the Argentine executive described the fixture as both a major operational challenge and a reminder of what the club has worked to achieve. “These kinds of matches push you to your absolute limits in every aspect: on the pitch, in terms of concentration, organization, and even anticipating potential issues related to opening the stadium. While all matches are important, this ‘Type A’ clash, as it’s known in LaLiga, takes you to the extreme. From a sporting perspective, playing against this caliber of opponent is a source of pride. We know where we’ve come from and what it took to reach the top flight. That’s why playing against Real Madrid again at home, and having the fans see their team against one of the best in the world, is priceless. Among other things, we’re fighting to be able to play again next year.” Asked about suggestions that Vinícius Júnior is below his best, Schinocca cautioned against underestimating players of that level. “These kinds of players, even at 50% or 40% of their potential, are capable of incredible things. These matches demand a tremendous amount from you. If in a normal match you have to be at 100% for the entire 100 minutes, in these kinds of matches there’s not even the slightest chance of error because, with these kinds of players, it’s really very difficult to get anything positive out of them.” There was less deliberation when the conversation turned to a hypothetical transfer. Asked which Madrid player he would sign with a blank cheque, Schinocca laughed before giving his answer: “Mbappé.” Sergio Martínez included, Thiago Pitarch out of Under-20 squad Álvaro López has selected a 23-player squad for Real Madrid’s Under-20 Intercontinental Cup match against Santiago Wanderers, with Sergio Martínez included and Thiago Pitarch the notable absentee, according to AS. The match takes place at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, September 19, at 12:30 p.m. Madrid time. Martínez, who arrived from Racing Santander this summer on a contract running until 2030, will have an opportunity to compete for his first trophy with Madrid. The midfielder joins a group that reunites much of last season’s Youth League-winning team, with players now spread across Castilla, Real Madrid C and Juvenil A. The academy’s preparations have been organized around the fixture. AS reports that the scheduled matches involving those three teams have been postponed, allowing López to draw on the eligible players across the different squads. Madrid qualified by beating Club Brugge in the Youth League final in Lausanne. Santiago Wanderers arrive as Libertadores Sub-20 champions after overcoming Palmeiras in the semifinals and Flamengo on penalties in the final. This will be the first edition of the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup staged in Europe. The 23-player squad: Goalkeepers: Javi Navarro, Voloshyn and Álvaro. Defenders: Fortea, Bailón, Joan Martínez, Mario Rivas, Diego Aguado, Ariel, Lezcano and Liberto. Midfielders: Cestero, Beto, Lacosta, Carlos Díez, Sergio Martínez and Roberto Martín. Forwards: Yáñez, Gabri Valero, Ciria, Adri Pérez, Yeremaiah and Santamaría.
- Barca Blaugranes·24d ago·Both·transfers
FC Barcelona News: 15 September 2026; Lamine Yamal talks Ballon d’Or, Rodri talks Champions League chances
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Recovery Monday – FC Barcelona After the win against Levante, Hansi Flick’s side return to work at the Ciutat Esportiva. Barça quick off the mark – FC Barcelona The team have scored in the first 20 minutes in five of the six games played so far this season. Lamine Yamal, two by two – FC Barcelona 19-year-old has achieved something that only Leo Messi had done in the league this century. Anthony Gordon: ‘We have had an incredible start to the season’ – FC Barcelona The English winger talks to the Club’s official media about the team’s early form this season and how he is settling in at Barça. Lamine: “Mbappé and I are the two best, but I think I deserve the Ballon d’Or” – Mundo Deportivo In a preview of an interview on Movistar Plus’s ‘Universo Valdano’, the Barça number 10 explains the merits he has accumulated to win the award that recognizes the best in the world. Rodri: “The Champions League is possible, but I don’t think we’re the favorites” – Mundo Deportivo “We need to understand where we’ve come from and what it takes to be champions, and this team still needs to refine several things to achieve that: red cards, penalties, not conceding more than necessary. It’s better not to be so good offensively and to be more consistent and solid,” he points out as aspects to improve. Eric also weighs in: “Lamine should win the Ballon d’Or” – Mundo Deportivo The Barcelona defender opted for an all-Barcelona podium: “It seems incredible to me that Pedri and Raphinha aren’t there.” Initial contacts for Gerard Martín’s contract renewal – Mundo Deportivo The club and the player’s agents are having their first exchange of calls to prepare for the matter.
- Managing Madrid·26d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Yamal’s Mbappé verdict, Courtois’ update, and the race to 100
Lamine Yamal right winger of Barcelona and Spain and Kylian Mbappe centre-forward of Real Madrid and France compete for the ball during the Spanish Super Cup final match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Mourinho and Real Madrid players attend Formula 1’s return to Madrid José Mourinho and much of Real Madrid’s squad spent Sunday afternoon at the Spanish Grand Prix after completing their training session at Valdebebas. The race at Madring, the new circuit around IFEMA, brought Formula 1 back to Madrid 45 years after Gilles Villeneuve’s victory at Jarama in 1981. Madrid’s players made the short journey after continuing preparations for Tuesday’s match against Elche. Vinícius Júnior, Eduardo Camavinga, Éder Militão, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Thibaut Courtois gathered around Max Verstappen’s Red Bull on the starting grid. Mourinho, Yan Diomande, Arda Güler, Brahim Díaz and Denzel Dumfries were also involved in presenting Verstappen with a Real Madrid shirt. Elsewhere in the paddock, Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bernardo Silva, Fede Valverde and Rodrygo were among those spotted. The occasion also brought together several generations of former Madrid players. Zinedine Zidane and Sergio Ramos shared an embrace in the pit lane, while David Beckham, Luís Figo, Raúl, Roberto Carlos, Iker Casillas, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba were also in attendance. Atlético Madrid had a substantial presence across the weekend, with Diego Simeone presenting Lando Norris with the pole-position award on Saturday. Kimi Antonelli won Sunday’s race and received the winner’s trophy from King Felipe VI, who attended alongside Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía. AS reported a Sunday attendance of 120,000 and a total of 352,000 across the Grand Prix weekend, with extensive fan areas offering karting, classic-car displays and other activities away from the track. Yamal: “Mbappé and I are the two best in the world” Lamine Yamal has named Kylian Mbappé alongside himself as the world’s two best players, while arguing that his own achievements make him the more deserving Ballon d’Or candidate this year. The Barcelona forward made the comments in an interview with Jorge Valdano for Movistar+’s Universo Valdano, excerpts of which were released on Sunday. “Who would I give the Ballon d’Or to? The best in the world. Who are they going to give it to? That’s a very long discussion. I honestly think that maybe there are two of us who are the best in the world. And I think I deserve it this year because of what I’ve won. Because for me, Mbappé and I are the two best in the world. For me, it’s very clear, and everyone who watches the games knows it.” Courtois reassures fans after shoulder concern Thibaut Courtois has moved to ease concerns about his shoulder following Real Madrid’s 4–1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. The Belgian appeared uncomfortable after saving a powerful Pedro Díaz effort, subsequently moving his shoulder and touching the affected area. With the Madrid derby approaching, those gestures prompted questions about his availability. Speaking to Pablo Pinto at Madring on Sunday, however, Courtois said that “everything is fine” and indicated that his participation in the derby was not in jeopardy. His comments offered reassurance after a match in which he was again required to make several important interventions despite Madrid’s three-goal winning margin. La Fábrica prepares for the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup Real Madrid will host Santiago Wanderers at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, September 19, at 12:30 p.m. Madrid time in the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup. The fixture brings together the UEFA Youth League and CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub-20 champions and will be the competition’s first edition played in Europe. Madrid qualified by beating Club Brugge on penalties in April’s Youth League final in Lausanne. According to AS, the club intends to give Álvaro López a particularly strong group for the occasion, drawing on eligible players across its academy teams. Sergio Martínez, the recent €3 million signing who has already featured for Castilla and received a first-team call-up, is expected to be among the attractions. Thiago Pitarch’s involvement remains uncertain: although he has recovered from injury, his place in Mourinho’s first-team plans means his availability for the youth final is not guaranteed. The age requirement allows players born on or after January 1, 2006 to participate. That leaves Madrid able to draw on much of the remaining core of the Youth League-winning side, including Javi Navarro, Fortea, Joan Martínez, Mario Rivas, Cestero, Carlos Díez, Yáñez and Ciria. AS reports that the scheduled matches involving Castilla, Real Madrid C and Juvenil A have been postponed, allowing the academy to concentrate on the Bernabéu fixture. Santiago Wanderers arrive as the first Chilean club to win the Libertadores Sub-20. They secured their place by equalising late against defending champions Flamengo before winning the final on penalties. Among their key players is Christian Silva, the tournament’s leading scorer and most valuable player, while several members of the successful youth side have already established themselves in the club’s senior team. Tickets are priced between €15 and €24, with Madrid seeking to become the first Spanish winner of the competition. Benfica won the inaugural edition in 2022, Boca Juniors followed in 2023, and Flamengo claimed the trophy in both 2024 and 2025, beating Barcelona on penalties in last year’s final. For Madrid’s academy, the match offers another trophy opportunity after a season that already delivered the league, Copa de Campeones and Youth League. Mbappé moves within eight goals of a Madrid century Kylian Mbappé’s brace against Rayo Vallecano brought his Real Madrid tally to 92 goals, leaving him eight short of reaching a century early in his third season at the club. The Frenchman now has six league goals this campaign after scoring at either end of Saturday’s victory. His opener came from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Álvaro Carreras was brought down by Florian Lejeune. Carreras then combined with Mbappé to score Madrid’s second, before Jude Bellingham made it 3–0. Rayo reduced the deficit through Sergio Camello, but Mbappé completed his double in stoppage time, finishing first-time from an Arda Güler pass to settle the score at 4–1. The approaching milestone invites a comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo, who reached 100 competitive goals for Madrid in his 105th appearance, against Lyon on November 2, 2011. Mbappé is closing in on the same landmark at a similar stage of his third season, although the calendar comparison should not be confused with matching Ronaldo’s appearance total.
- Barca Blaugranes·28d ago·Both·transfers
FC Barcelona News: 11 September 2026; Barça salary cap increases, Deco backs Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or
Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images Raphinha continues to make history – FC Barcelona Brazilian scores for the fifth consecutive game and is now Barça’s fifth-highest scorer of all time in the Champions League. Five goals in four out of five games – FC Barcelona FC Barcelona have made a habit of scoring five goals a game at the start of this season, something that hasn’t happened since the 1921/22 campaign. Barça’s salary cap increases from 432 million to 582 million – Mundo Deportivo La Liga announces squad cost limits, with Real Madrid leading the pack at 832 million. “Barcelona are doing their homework well” – Mundo Deportivo “I often read that Barcelona has I don’t know how many millions in debt, but what’s also important is income and the ability to pay off that debt,” La Liga president Javier Tebas said. Deco: “The Ballon d’Or has to go to Lamine, there’s no question about it” – Mundo Deportivo The Barça sporting director named the young winger as the favorite for the award and described the absence of Pedri and Raphinha from the nominations as “a global scandal.” Deco: “Barça acted respectfully in their attempt to sign Julián Álvarez” – Mundo Deportivo The Barça sporting director doesn’t hide his satisfaction with the start of the season: “I’m more excited about the day-to-day than the matches.” Gabriel Jesus: “My first goal in a packed Camp Nou, I’ve fulfilled a dream” – Mundo Deportivo The striker breaks down his goalscoring debut with FC Barcelona and equaled Rivaldo as the fourth Brazilian with the most goals (27) in the Champions League. Araujo hasn’t forgotten about Barça: “They’re flying high and are the favorites” – Mundo Deportivo The Uruguayan centre-back, on loan to Liverpool this season, spoke after the victory against Atlético and made it clear that he is still closely following the Blaugrana team. Jamie Carragher surrenders to Barça’s football – Mundo Deportivo “There’s nothing better than seeing Barcelona win the Champions League their way,” says the former England international.
- Barca Blaugranes·29d ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona sporting director says Bernardo Silva wanted to play for Hansi Flick’s side
MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 30: Bernardo Silva of Real Madrid CF looks on during the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match played between Real Madrid and Malaga CF at Bernabeu stadium on August 30, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images Bernardo Silva plays for Real Madrid, but his first choice was FC Barcelona, according to their sporting director Deco. Silva left Manchester City after nine years in the summer transfer window. “He wanted to come to Barça, but it didn’t work out,” Deco said in an interview on Spanish radio. “We have certain parameters, and it wasn’t the position we were looking for. Besides, it came down to financial terms and playing time—he wanted to play. If his perspective differs from ours, there is nothing we can do.” The 32-year-old Portuguese midfielder has been a star for City and the Portuguese national team for years. He won the Premier League six times and the UEFA Champions League once with City. He also won the Nations League twice with Portugal, once while being named Player of the Tournament. He signed for Madrid as a free agent, though his signing was by no means truly free. Madrid reportedly paid him a €10 million signing bonus, a €10m agent fee, and €20m a year in salary for three years, plus taxes. Barça’s offer was reportedly significantly lower. The Catalans instead opted to reinforce the midfield through another ex-City player, Rodri. “A few months ago, we didn’t even consider signing him,” Deco said. “We saw it as impossible because he had another year left on his contract. The moment word got out that he might leave City, I asked their sporting director, who confirmed that they would let him go.” Rodri is a very different type of player, acting as a holding midfielder and metronome rather than an attacking specialist like Silva. The FIFA World Cup hero was not signed on the cheap, either. His salary is said to be around €30m a year, not to mention a €76.5m transfer fee. However, Rodri’s situation was different, as he was under contract with City and coming off an amazing World Cup.
- Managing Madrid·29d ago·Both·transfers
Five Bullet Points From Real Madrid’s Win Over Inter Milan
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 08: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid receives instructions from head coach Jose Mourinho during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images These observations — where I look at Real Madrid’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts — are now a regular thing. All previous editions can be found here. Here is a new thing I’m committing to this season: Five semi-informal bullet points after each game. Also, check out last night’s podcast where Matt and I break down the win (and more) for 54 minutes: I’ve seen post-game analysis in two extremes from this game. On one hand, some people feel this was a disastrous performance where Real Madrid were lucky to win; on the other hand I’ve seen people claim Inter were lucky not to lose by more goals and that there was an overreaction to the way Real Madrid played. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Inter found it way too easy to play their way through Real Madrid’s defense for the majority of this game, exercised control for large stretches in nearly every part of the field, and Thibaut Courtois made seven saves. But, there’s also this: Real Madrid were missing three key midfielders (four including Aurelien Tchouameni who made his season debut off the bench), missed sitters — including two from Jude Bellingham that he would score 99 times out of 100 with his eyes closed — and generated an xG of 3.03 (compared to Inter’s 1.73, and, just a reminder, Inter is also one of the best teams in the world). But it’s also true that Inter had a much higher field tilt and were getting to their spots with relative ease just by having fluid offense and confusing the hell out of Real Madrid. I don’t care much about possession stats, generally. I’ve seen Real Madrid have 70% of the ball with zero control on the game while I’ve also seen them have 35% while having full control. It all comes down to defensive compactness and efficiency in the final third — two things which Real Madrid did not have. And that’s what they should be criticized for. Not possession. Trent Alexander-Arnold. I’m going to preface this segment by stating that I do not blame Trent for being deployed in midfield. That is not his fault, neither is it his fault that Real Madrid were missing so many midfielders. But — and this is going to sound harsh — playing him in the double pivot effectively made it look like Real Madrid were playing with 10 men. He was a net negative in every aspect. People float this idea to us often: ‘why don’t we just play Trent in midfield to solve our control issues’? And I wish I could pin this response: ‘Because receiving the ball on the right wing with your body open is much different from receiving the ball in the middle facing your goal under pressure’. Trent looked lost defensively, didn’t complete a single long ball, and completed just 83% of his passes. Again, this is not his fault, but hopefully that’s the last time we see it. I like Trent. I’m not going to be upset with him being deployed in midfield the same way I wouldn’t be upset if Kylian Mbappe had a nightmare game playing as a center-back. View this post on Instagram More Dean Huijsen love is needed. I wish I could take credit for this but I can’t (but I’m jealous I didn’t come up with it): I saw Leah Revelle say the other day that after Huijsen inherited the number 4, he inherited some of Sergio Ramos’s soul as well. It’s plausible. He’s been nearly perfect through these first five games of the season, which is ultra impressive considering how easily Real Madrid’s defensive shape has broken down before the play gets to him and he has to blast out raging fires with a water hose. Huijsen’s distribution has been great, he clears crosses at an insulting rate (he had 12 clearances against Inter alone, and always dominates that metric), and has just CLEANED UP everything that comes into the half-space. His partnership with Ibrahima Konaté has been very encouraging so far. How do we begin do discuss Vinicius Jr’s performance? Heregoes: I am always forgiving of players who work very hard. Show me you bleed for the badge, show me your war face, show me your fight and hustle. Make opponents uncomfortable with your relentless energy. Vinicius had all of that. Against Inter, I thought he was unbelievable defensively. His body language on the defensive end was exemplary and showed me some real leadership. Yet, offensively, he looks a shell of himself. This season (plus pre-season and large stretches of the last two years) he’s been locked up by virtually everyone, including Hector Bellerin less than a week ago. Bissek pocketed him easily. There was one instance where Lautaro Martinez was playing right-back for a split second, and he took the ball from Vinicius as if it was some five year old kid hanging off him. I’m concerned about his offensive efficiency. Mourinho said after the game that Vinicius’s offensive output will come soon. I hope he’s right. Will Real Madrid’s poor finishing eventually normalize? The reality is that Real Madrid should have won all fives games so far. Four out of five isn’t bad, but that game against Real Betis should’ve been iced by half-time. What tends to happen when teams underperform their xG is that things eventually normalize, so hopefully that’s what happens — but last season it never normalized and the team underperformed their xG by the end of the season. A lot of our microanalysis would be irrelevant if Real Madrid just consistently put their chances away. If you remember, even during the three-peat, the team had tactical holes; but it never really mattered because Gareth Bale would score from 40 yards and Cristiano Ronaldo would score a bicycle kick. More recent examples: It doesn’t really matter (so far) if Barca play a high line that can be exploited because they’ve scored 22 fucking goals in five games. The finishing needs to improve.
- Barca Blaugranes·29d ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona’s salary cap rises by €150m after summer transfer window
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 24: Joan Laporta, President of FC Barcelona, speaks during presentation of the Centenary events of the FC Barcelona Basketball section at Auditori 1899 on August 24, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images Barcelona’s salary cap has risen by almost €150 million from a limit of €432.807m to €582.769m following the close of the summer transfer window. A new update from La Liga has been issued and shows the maximum amount that each club can spend during the current season on players and coaching staff. Real Madrid are still top of the list and have seen their limit rise from €761m to €832m. Atletico Madrid are in third place on the list with a cap of €361.287. 💰 Límite de Coste de Plantilla Deportiva (LCPD) de los clubes de #LALIGAEASPORTS y #LALIGAHYPERMOTION tras el mercado de fichajes de verano. 📎 https://t.co/PDvnD8yp8P ℹ️ Si quieres entender cómo funciona el LCPD, te lo explicamos en este vídeo: https://t.co/C2n7fJBLMI pic.twitter.com/kdjvvTvAm3 — LALIGA Corporativo (@LaLigaCorp) September 10, 2026 The update shows that it’s another big increase for Barcelona. The Catalan giants saw their limit rise by €81m to €432.8 million after the close of the January transfer window and it’s now gone up again. The numbers come after a busy summer in the transfer window at Camp Nou. The Catalans offloaded some big earners but also managed to bring in Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon, Joao Cancelo, Gabriel Jesus, Rodri and Jesse Bisiwu.
- Managing Madrid·29d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Güler’s new deal, Asencio returns, and Deco explains Bernardo Silva decision
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 08: Arda Guler is awarded the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Revelation of the Season award before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images) | Getty Images Arda Güler’s future, Raúl Asencio’s return to training, and preparations for Rayo Vallecano headline today’s Real Madrid roundup. Elsewhere, Deco has explained why Barcelona did not sign Bernardo Silva, while Predrag Mijatović has called for patience with José Mourinho’s team. Güler reportedly agrees improved contract until 2031 According to AS, Real Madrid and Arda Güler have reached an agreement on an improved contract running until 2031, with a salary increase reflecting his growing importance within the squad. The report states that the new terms will apply from the beginning of the current season. Güler’s existing contract runs until June 2029, meaning the proposed agreement would extend his stay by another two years. The club has yet to officially announce the deal. Beyond securing his long-term future, the reported renewal represents recognition of how much his standing has changed since arriving from Fenerbahçe in 2023. Güler finished last season with six goals and 14 assists in 51 appearances. He has featured in all four league matches this season, contributing one goal and one assist, although suspension ruled him out of the Champions League opener against Inter. AS also reports that Mourinho primarily sees Güler as an attacking midfielder who can influence games closer to the opposition’s goal. The manager is said to be pleased with his performances, work rate, and commitment, and has communicated that assessment to the club’s hierarchy. Asencio rejoins the group ahead of Rayo Raúl Asencio returned to training with his teammates on Thursday as he enters the final stages of his recovery from the muscle injury that has prevented him from playing this season. His involvement is an encouraging step, although a return to group training does not necessarily mean he will be available against Rayo Vallecano. The defender is expected to use the upcoming international break to continue rebuilding his fitness. Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, and Rodrygo, meanwhile, continue their individual recovery programmes, working both indoors and outside. Militão and Mendy are expected to move towards the final stages of rehabilitation in the coming weeks, while Rodrygo still faces several months of recovery from his cruciate ligament injury. There will also be a change to Friday’s media arrangements. With Formula 1 activity taking place near Valdebebas, training will be held behind closed doors, without the usual opening 15 minutes of media access. Mourinho’s press conference will instead take place at the Santiago Bernabéu at 1:00 p.m. Deco explains why Barcelona did not sign Bernardo Silva Barcelona sporting director Deco has discussed the club’s interest in Bernardo Silva before the Portuguese midfielder joined Real Madrid following his departure from Manchester City. Speaking to MARCA, Deco said that Silva’s profile was not Barcelona’s priority and that discussions did not progress within the conditions the club was prepared to offer. “It wasn’t the position we were looking for, given his profile,” Deco said. “He’s a fantastic player, he plays for my national team. He’s been one of the best in the world in recent years, but the position wasn’t what we were looking for. “We heard he wanted to come, and with his level of play, he was always going to be an asset. But then things didn’t work out because we can’t go beyond our initial expectations. If you want to come, that’s how it is. We don’t tell a player whether he’s going to play or not.” Deco also explained how Barcelona’s move for Rodri developed after initially believing the midfielder would remain at City. “At first we thought he wouldn’t leave City, that it was impossible,” he said. “The moment we heard he might leave, the first thing we did was call the sporting director to confirm the information. “He told me that they had presented him with a contract extension, but that if he decided to leave, it would be difficult to stop him because of his history at the club. The manager said go ahead and we started working on it.” Mijatović calls for patience — and an end to Kroos and Modrić comparisons Predrag Mijatović offered a measured assessment of Madrid’s start to the season during an appearance on El Larguero, questioning whether the team has yet shown enough to inspire confidence in a league title challenge. The former Madrid striker also acknowledged the frustration among supporters, but believes Mourinho is beginning to establish the foundations of his team. “It’s early days, but you can see a certain seriousness… Little by little, Mou will achieve what he wants. A solid, cohesive team that is lethal on the counter-attack.” “Little by little. We have to be patient. We shouldn’t judge them now based on five games played.” For Mijatović, part of that patience involves allowing the current midfield to develop without constantly measuring it against two of the most influential players in the club’s history. “Real Madrid has the capacity to improve. We shouldn’t cry over the players who are no longer here and who made history, like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. We miss them… but where do we find players like those two? We have to trust in those who are already here and never compare them to Modric and Toni Kroos.” He nevertheless warned that the atmosphere will depend on what the team produces on the pitch. “Real Madrid can improve, but the fans are in a state of revolt and protesting. And that will continue until the team shows something different.” Rayo arrive with significant selection problems Rayo Vallecano face a difficult balancing act ahead of their visit to the Bernabéu, with suspensions and injuries limiting Beñat San José’s options. Jorge de Frutos will serve a two-match suspension, while Fran Pérez is suspended for one game. Their simultaneous absence leaves Rayo particularly short on the right wing, with Giorgi Tsitaishvili potentially switching flanks to cover. An alternative involving Iván Balliu and Andrei Rațiu is complicated by Balliu’s ankle problem. San José confirmed that the defender is trying to make himself available, but his participation remains uncertain. “We’re shorthanded. We have another player out. Nteka was injured in training, he had a muscle strain. The suspended players (De Frutos and Fran Pérez) in the same position are a huge blow to the team. That, added to the injuries we already had. Balliu suffered a very hard tackle against Racing and his ankle is injured, but he’s very brave and is doing everything he can to be fit. Some of the new players are in condition to decide whether they can start or not.” Rayo are also dealing with the absences of Vertrouwd, Isi Palazón, and goalkeeper Augusto Batalla. San José said Isi is moving towards on-field work, alternating treatment with individual training. Marash Kumbulla has returned to group training, although the coach stopped short of confirming his inclusion in the squad. “Kumbulla? This is his first week training with the group. There’s another training session tomorrow. Depending on how he looks and how he feels, we’ll see if he can be included in the squad. We’re considering it.” Sergio Camello remains a major attacking threat after scoring twice in each of Rayo’s last two matches, against Barcelona and Racing Santander. San José praised both his finishing and his contribution beyond the penalty area. “He’s scoring a lot of goals, and they’re high-quality goals. What amazes me about him is his work rate. He’s a player who not only scores goals, but he also links up very well with his teammates.” Beñat San José: “Which player would I remove? Mourinho” Despite those absences, San José insisted Rayo would prepare for Madrid without abandoning their own approach. “The approach doesn’t change at all. We start the week focused on Rayo, on how we need to improve and continue to strengthen. Then comes the analysis of the opponent. We’re going to try to compete with our own style of play. Obviously, Real Madrid is a team that we have to understand, both in terms of their style of play and their playing profiles.” He highlighted Madrid’s use of Yan Diomande out wide in the second half as one of the details his staff have studied, while stressing the need to adapt without changing Rayo’s identity. Asked which Madrid player he would take out of the equation, San José chose the manager instead. “Which player would I remove from Real Madrid? I would remove Mourinho. He is one of the best coaches in the history of football. It is true that they also have one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football and one of the best strikers in the history of football.” He also declined to weigh in on the reaction of Madrid’s supporters during the win over Inter. “I’m not going to comment on what the Real Madrid fans do. It was a very good match against Inter in which both teams could have scored more goals.”
- Managing Madrid·30d ago·Both·transfers
Positives and negatives from Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Inter Milan
Real Madrid’s 2-1 win against Inter in the Champions League opener didn’t answer a lot of questions that the fans already had. Here’s what transpired from that victory. The Positives A win is a win. Real Madrid were forced to rebuild their midfield and start Alexander-Arnold there because of injuries (Tchouameni) and suspensions (Güler, Camavinga, Silva). Still, they got the three points against one of the best teams they will face in this Group Stage. That matters. Thibaut Courtois delivers his first masterclass of the season. He still has it. Courtois is already 34 years old and he will enter his decline sooner rather than later. But it is not this day. He rescued the three points for Real Madrid and appears ready to keep his “world’s best goalkeeper” title alive another year. He will be there when Madrid need him. Brahim is ready to contribute. He was the best attacker on the field last night. He is vertical, his dribbling is still effective and while he could’ve made a better decision in certain instances of the game, he definitely provided a spark and proved to be ready for his role off the bench. The negatives Still can’t control the game against elite opposition. It’s fair to safe that Inter didn’t control the game either, as Mourinho noted post-game. It was a chaotic game where both teams could’ve walked away with the three points. However, this will be a recipe for disaster when Madrid face even better teams like Arsenal, PSG, Bayern or Barça. Mourinho’s team still has work to do. Mbappé’s finishing continues to be off. The next two games against Rayo Vallecano and Elche will be crucial for him to gain some confidence and momentum ahead of the Derbi against Atlético de Madrid on September 20th. Real Madrid will need a better version of him then. Vinicius’ dribbling is also off. He can’t shake his defender the way he used to and his burst of acceleration isn’t quite there either. If Real Madrid want to be successful not only this year but also the following seasons they will need him to earn the extension he was just given.
- Barca Blaugranes·31d ago·Both·transfers
‘I’ll be forever grateful’ – Pedri reveals thoughtful Lionel Messi gesture at Barcelona
BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 22: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal with Pedro 'Pedri' Gonzalez of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at Camp Nou on April 22, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) | Getty Images Pedri has become the latest star name to contribute a column for the Players’ Tribune where he reveals how he feels it was destiny that he grew up to play for Barcelona as the club is “in our family’s blood.” The midfielder’s grandfather was a huge Barca fan who famously ran “the greatest” supporters’ group in Tenerife. As Pedri explains, “supporting another club was impossible. My grandfather made sure of that. If you brought up Real Madrid around him, he would tell you, “No, I will die without ever setting foot in that city.” Pedri goes on to share a few anecdotes about life growing up and his early days at Barcelona, revealing how just how shy he was when he first arrived and how a certain Lionel Messi helped him out. The midfielder says that he and Francisco Trincao used to hide out in the gym as they were too timid to head for the dressing room but Messi found out and everything changed. “Leo walked by one day, and he must have figured out what was going on,” he said. “He said, ‘Hey, what are you guys doing in here? Come in and chill with us.’ Leo brought us into the dressing room and showed us where to sit. We were like two puppies. “I’ll forever be grateful to him for that. Leo and Jordi broke the ice and made us so comfortable. But I was not sure if they were going to let me stay or send me back on loan. To be honest, at training, I felt completely at home. In the possession drills, the ball was moving at lightning speed. But the thing is, when you are playing with geniuses, the ball is always right at your feet, with the perfect pace. They make everything easier. “ Pedri did end up staying at Barcelona and the rest is history. The little magician has gone on to win La Liga and Copa del Rey titles with the club as well as the World Cup with Spain.
- Managing Madrid·31d ago·Both·transfers
6 stats from Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 08: Kylian Mbappé player of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Victor Carretero/Real Madrid via Getty Images) | Real Madrid via Getty Images In a chaotic game with 4.78 xG in total, Real Madrid got their first three points of the Champions League campaign as they overcame Italian champions Inter Milan in one of the most challenging fixtures they will face in the league phase of the tournament with a 2-1 win. 71 – Champions League goals for Kylian Mbappé, putting him joint-5th with Raúl With his strike to open the scoring doing little to calm fans growing frustrated with his poor start to the season, Kylian Mbappé scored his 71st goal in the Champions League to move level with a certain Raúl González Blanco as the fifth highest scorer in the tournament’s history. Next up on his target list is Karim Benzema’s 90 goals, Robert Lewandowski’s 109, Lionel Messi’s 129 and ultimately Cristiano Ronaldo’s 140. 30 – Goalkeeping errors against Real Madrid in the Champions League Spanish goalkeeper Josep Martínez was playing in the Bernabéu for the first time and discovered the impact that pressure can have as he joined the likes of Loris Karius and Gianluigi Donnarumma in committing a mistake which led to a goal for Real Madrid’s second goal as he gifted the ball to Fede Valverde. That number of 30 goalkeeping errors in the last 20 years in this competition is twice that of the next highest team to benefit in this way. Some goalkeepers can’t handle the mental pressure of facing Real Madrid. 36 – Games with a goal scored in the UCL under Mourinho, out of 37 The Champions League has always evaded José Mourinho at Real Madrid, but goals most certainly haven’t. In 37 games in charge of the club in the competition, Los Blancos have scored in 36. The only failure to do so was in the 2010/11 semi-final second leg with a 2-0 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona at the Bernabéu. He has averaged 2.4 goals per game in the competition with Real Madrid, scoring 89 goals to win 24 and draw seven of those 37 games. 9 – Ball recoveries from Vinícius Júnior Mourinho spoke about Vini’s work rate and determination post-match, and the stats back him up. His nine possession recoveries are the highest he has ever recorded in a Champions League game. In fact, the last time a striker made more recoveries at the Bernabéu for Real Madrid was Gonzalo Higuaín. in 2008, 18 years ago. If Mbappé asked whether it was only him and Vini who needed to press in his pre-match press conference, the evidence shows that the Brazilian isn’t shying away from his responsibilities. 3 – Big chances created by Brahim Díaz In his second start of the season, somewhat unexpectedly operating on the right flank ahead of star signing Yan Diomande, Brahim Díaz made his claim for a starting spot clear. He created four chances, more than any other player, and three were big chances, including an assist for Kylian Mbappé and a magnificent piece of individual work to set up Jude Bellingham early in the second half only for the Englishman to fail to add the finishing touch. 16 – Wins in the first home game of the UCL season On 17 occasions, Real Madrid have started their Champions League campaign on home turf. On 16, they have won. The only defeat came away from the Bernabéu, at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano, behind closed doors in 2020 with a 3-2 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.Inter are among the most challenging during that run of fixtures, but home advantage continues to be a tangible benefit for Real Madrid.
- Managing Madrid·31d ago·Both·transfers
Madrid Daily: Four Ballon d’Or nominees, Yamal’s comments, and Zamorano’s Mourinho verdict
SANT JOAN DESPI, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 08: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona attends his press conference during the training day of FC Barcelona ahead the UEFA Champions League 2026/27, football match against Feyenoord at Ciudad Esportiva Joan Gamper on September 08, 2026 in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images Real Madrid have four players on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist, Iván Zamorano has offered an optimistic assessment of José Mourinho’s team, and Marco Materazzi has revisited his former manager’s departure from Inter. Elsewhere, Lamine Yamal and Gerard Piqué have both had things to say about Madrid and refereeing. Here is today’s roundup. Four Real Madrid players nominated for the Ballon d’Or Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior have been named among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Paris Saint-Germain have the largest contingent with 10 nominees, while Madrid and Bayern Munich each have four representatives. The full shortlist: Jude Bellingham — Real Madrid Pau Cubarsí — Barcelona Marc Cucurella — Real Madrid Ousmane Dembélé — PSG Bruno Fernandes — Manchester United Luis Díaz — Bayern Munich Erling Haaland — Manchester City Gabriel Magalhães — Arsenal Harry Kane — Bayern Munich Achraf Hakimi — PSG Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — PSG Lamine Yamal — Barcelona Sadio Mané — Al Nassr Marquinhos — PSG Lautaro Martínez — Inter Milan Kylian Mbappé — Real Madrid Lionel Messi — Inter Miami Nuno Mendes — PSG Michael Olise — Bayern Munich João Neves — PSG Julián Quiñones — Al-Qadisiyah Willian Pacho — PSG Declan Rice — Arsenal Rodri Hernández — Barcelona Ferran Torres — PSG Fabián Ruiz — PSG Dayot Upamecano — Bayern Munich William Saliba — Arsenal Vinícius Júnior — Real Madrid Vitinha — PSG Lamine Yamal responds to questions about Madrid and refereeing Speaking at Barcelona’s press conference before their match against Feyenoord, Yamal was asked about Real Madrid and refereeing. “If Real Madrid haven’t won in two years, that’s their problem. We’re happy with the refereeing. That’s a question for them. I see them happy.” Piqué joins the refereeing debate Gerard Piqué also weighed in after a TikTok user referenced his handball against Chelsea in the 2009 Champions League semi-final and suggested there was “only one way for FC Barcelona to win.” The former Barcelona defender responded by defending his club’s football and record of success. “Well @mrvdm… Yes, there’s only one way for Barça to win, and that’s by playing great football. That’s why we’re known. We’ve won many leagues, many Champions Leagues, and many trebles by playing great football,” Piqué said. He then cited Predrag Mijatović’s goal against Juventus in the 1998 Champions League final and Sergio Ramos’ goals in the finals against Atlético Madrid, alleging offside decisions had benefited Madrid. “So, there are usually a lot of refereeing mistakes. Historically, they’ve always gone a little bit more in favor of Real Madrid. So anyway, I hope you’re well, a big hug and enjoy your day,” he added. Zamorano sees encouraging signs under Mourinho In an interview with AS, former Real Madrid and Inter striker Iván Zamorano backed Mourinho to build a competitive team during his second spell at the Bernabéu. “I think the players are gradually adapting to what the manager wants. And above all, I see a footballing transition that I find incredibly interesting. Real Madrid will surely be fighting for the championship until the very end this year. I think they have a very good squad, with many options in every position, and Mourinho is already instilling a lot of order, a lot of concentration, and a sense of teamwork.” Zamorano acknowledged that Mourinho has inherited a very different squad from the one he coached during his first stint, but believes his familiarity with the club’s demands will help. “He knows its history, he knows the dressing room, he knows what it means, what the responsibilities are when you arrive at Madrid. And I see that he has the strength to instill it in the team, to play well, and to try to reach the top. I, for one, am an optimistic man and I have a lot of faith that this year can be a great year.” Mbappé’s importance and Espí’s different profile Zamorano also defended Mbappé following Madrid’s defeat against Real Betis, describing the Frenchman as a player who will remain central to the team’s prospects. “Despite having some off days, Mbappé will always be a solution, a game-changer, with goals and individual brilliance. Mourinho and Real Madrid will need him a lot throughout the year.” “Against Betis, I think the team didn’t deserve to lose; the defeat was undeserved, but it happens, so we can’t give up. Important matches are coming up; we have to bounce back.” The former striker was particularly interested in what Carlos Espí can offer as a conventional number nine. He highlighted Espí’s ability to provide an outlet, occupy the penalty area, and attack crosses. “And he’s 1.93 meters tall, he has the physical stature to be a focal point and give the team a bit more breathing room when they’re struggling to play out from the back. He’s an interesting player, he’s very clinical in front of goal, which is fundamental for a team like Real Madrid.” “He can be a solution when teams sit deep; he’s a penalty-box striker, he heads the ball very well, he finishes very well, as he showed the other day with the goal that was disallowed.” A difficult test against Inter Looking ahead to the meeting between his two former clubs, Zamorano praised Cristian Chivu’s Inter and pointed to their comeback from 0–2 down against Napoli as evidence of their quality. “They’re going to fight at the Bernabéu; they’re not a team that sits back when playing away, they play the same way everywhere. It’s going to be difficult for Real Madrid; the difference will come down to small details. Both teams have a lot of individual talent. I think we’re going to see, in my opinion, the best match of this first phase of the Champions League.” The fixture also carries personal significance for Zamorano, who reflected warmly on both chapters of his career. “Many important things happened that helped me grow immensely as a player and as a person, and that’s why I’m always grateful for my experiences at Real Madrid and Inter; they are two clubs with a rich history. I look back and feel very proud to have played for those two teams. When they face each other, it’s going to be very emotional. I just want to enjoy it, nothing more.” Asked whether Madrid should be considered among the favourites to win the competition, his answer was emphatic. “Yes, absolutely Real Madrid is a favourite to win the Champions League. After everything that’s happened these last two years, I think this can be a great year. I feel it, I see it on the pitch. You always have to consider them one of the favorites to win the Champions League. They’re the kings of that competition, Real Madrid always have to be there.” Materazzi on Mourinho, Florentino, and that farewell Marco Materazzi, meanwhile, spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about Mourinho’s relationship with Florentino Pérez and the responsibility he expects the Portuguese coach to assume in Madrid. “I know the relationship he has with Florentino, the great confidence he has in José. So much so that he has given him back the reins of Real Madrid, and José will do what he does best: assume all the responsibilities, become the sole figurehead.” Materazzi also revisited their emotional farewell before Mourinho left Inter for Madrid in 2010, offering one detail about what was said during their embrace. “What we said to each other, apart from my ‘Fuck you, you leave us with Benítez’, will remain between us forever.”
- Managing Madrid·32d ago·Both·transfers
Putting Together Real Madrid’s Best XI
These observations — where I look at Real Madrid’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts — are now a regular thing. All previous editions can be found here. I’m about to split some hairs and make some difficult decisions. Here are some things to take a mental note of as you go through this relatively long column: I’ve actually gone through every single player in the squad apart from the goalkeepers, and given a quick assessment of each one before announcing my starters for each position. It’s broken down into Jose Mourinho’s classic 4-2-3-1, with each section labelled clearly to make it a bit easier to digest. No actual difficult decisions were made, because I am a writer typing on a keyboard and not actually Jose Mourinho (who has the actual difficult job). Have fun! THE FOUR Defensive line Right-backs: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Denzel Dumfries Center-backs: Eder Militao, Ibrahima Konaté, Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rüdiger, Raul Asencio Left-backs: Marc Cucurella, Alvaro Carreras, Ferland Mendy Trent Alexander-Arnold is the greatest long-range passing right-back in football history. He is a right-back unicorn, and, at his peak, generated chances at an unparalleled clip — on par or greater than wingers and 10s — in the Premier League. We’ve already seen glimpses of his mind-blowing passes last season and even already this summer. He solves problems within a squad that is struggling to find its build-up identity in the post Toni Kroos era. There are going to be times where Jose Mourinho will opt to use Denzel Dumfries over Trent. (It was surprising to some, but not me, that the Dutchman got the nod in the opening game against Espanyol, but it was more surprising that we saw Dumfries get the nod for the majority of the games so far. Some of this has to do with pairings on the right wing: Mourinho doesn’t want to pair Trent and Güler together on the wing for defensive purposes, for example.) But apart from his passing, there is something else that Trent can do that Dumfries can’t: Drop into the anchor role when the team is building out from the back. We’ve already seen glimpses of this during the pre-season and scattered throughout the opening league games: Trent will drop as a third center-back on offense and help the team’s ball progression from that zone. Trent is also a set-piece specialist, and far and away the best right-footed free-kick taker on the team. He consistently ranks in the 99th percentile in shot-creating actions via both live-ball passes as well as dead balls. Dumfries has traits that Trent doesn’t have as well, and Mourinho can leverage that by playing one over the other situationally throughout the season. Dumfries is a better 1v1 defender and will defend crosses at a far superior clip. He’s also an aerial threat offensively, both on set-pieces and in open play, and can crash the far post and meet crosses coming in from the left side. SUBSCRIBE: The Managing Madrid Podcast on YouTube SHOP: Managing Madrid Hoodies Dumfries has his place in this squad, both as a squad player and here-and-there-starter. He’s already proved to be a giant disruptor when it comes to reading passing lanes, overloads and counter-pressing — though he’s so far looked a bit clumsy on the ball and inefficient when he gets into good attacking positions. It’s still a headache for wingers to have to deal with his relentless nature. On a recent Managing Madrid Podcast, Siavoush Fellahi — full of praise for Dumfries — also said that “some Madridistas will find him ‘clunky’”. Not untrue. While Trent is finesse, long range passing, and floated balls and crosses; Dumfries is more of a bulldozer, and his crosses are more drives across goal, which can be very dangerous, and in some cases, easier for Kylian Mbappe to latch on to. Some saw either Dumfries or Trent as runaway starters for differing reasons. I don’t think either of them has a clear nod over the other as some think, and I would not be surprised if Mourinho rotates these two the same way he did with Fabio Coentrao and Marcelo, depending on the match-up. Until Eder Militao returns, I have Ibrahima Konaté as the starting right-center back. I had concerns about Konaté’s form in the past year which went hand in hand with his injury concerns. If he stays healthy (and is performing the way he did against Espanyol), it’s a no-brainer. Konaté is an absolute tank. Seeing him play against those Espanyol attackers in matchday 1 was a bit like watching Thanos flick away Kiyan Sobhani — that’s what the physical gap looked like. Konaté, of course, has a history of playing well alongside Trent, and understands his runs and when to cover. Dean Huijsen is my leading candidate for the left-center back role. From a tactical standpoint, he compliments all of Real Madrid’s defenders. He’s less aggressive in nature than the rest, and is the best vertical passer of every central defender on paper. I have really enjoyed Huijsen since the start of the new year. He started to return to the Club World Cup version of himself and started regaining confidence. His start to this season has been terrific. Continue trusting him. Huijsen continues to be vital as a presence in clearing crosses. He clears 5.7 crosses per 90 in La Liga — a mark that puts him in the top 10% among center-backs in Europe. For a club like Real Madrid that struggles containing crosses, Huijsen’s aerial ability and willingness to fight off-ball runners is vital. From an on-ball standpoint, Huijsen ranks in the 85th percentile or higher in all these categories: progressive passing, long range passing, and ball carrying. Being good with his left foot helps. Become a Managing Madrid Member and get TONS of BONUS content I’m still a huge fan of Eder Militao. The only thing stopping him from being the best center-back in the world is health. It’s heart-breaking to see what he’s gone through over the last few years. The best case scenario is he comes back and avoids another major injury (or really any injuries at all) and becomes a vital piece to the backline as a rotational starter. Marc Cucurella is a shoe-in lock for the left-back spot. No questions asked. For reasons discussed to death, he raises the floor of the team and brings professional two-way excellence and leadership with a great big-game track record. But, Alvaro Carreras should enjoy the new-found competition, and I would except Cucurella’s arrival — plus Mourinho’s motivational abilities — to bring Carreras back to his best. How does Ferland Mendy — available seemingly 45 minutes per six months — fit into all of this? It will be interesting to see Mourinho juggle that if Mendy somehow stays healthy, because healthy Mendy is pretty great on the defensive end and Mourinho will value that. Kiyan’s starters RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold RCB: Ibrahima Konaté LCB: Dean Huijsen LB: Marc Cucurella THE TWO The double-pivot Double-pivot: Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga, Thiago Pitarch, Arda Güler (?), Jude Bellingham (?) I will preface this section by saying that not all of these players are compatible with each other. Long gone are the days where you could pair Toni Kroos and / or Luka Modric with anyone. Many of the players now are specialists rather than organizers and leaders, and even versatile box-to-box midfielders like Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde are limited in their ability to be deep-lying playmakers that the team needs. Aurelien Tchouameni, who at least fit that profile in Monaco, hasn’t been able to be the guy you can rely on as the leader since Kroos left. Jude Bellingham is the most versatile freak of this bunch, but putting him as an 8 (although he can pull it off), means you lose his much needed attacking output, hence the question mark next to his name. Arda Güler can develop into that role, but there’s a question mark there too as Jose Mourinho hasn’t tested them there yet although he’s been vocal that Güler’s destiny, like Bernardo Silva or Modric, is to play deeper. All that to say: Bernardo Silva’s presence in midfield will be vital, but he can’t play there game-in, game-out, due to his age and the intense football schedule (along with his tireless ground coverage in every second that he plays in), so Mourinho will have to find solutions, knowing that Bernardo, like everyone else, needs to be rested. The trick is that Bernardo’s specific profile in the team is one that doesn’t really have a back-up. Mbappe has Espi and Endrick. Bellingham has Güler and Güler has Bellingham. Cucurella has Carreras (etc). Real Madrid are deep in midfield, but not deep in Bernardo’s specific profile, which is why I would personally love to see Güler get minutes in the double-pivot when Bernardo is not on the field. I don’t think a double-pivot of Valverde and Tchouameni, for example, has enough progressive passing; and that problem wouldn’t get solved if you swapped in Camavinga for either of them. In the first couple games, for example, Bellingham or Güler would fly behind Valverde to receive the ball from the defenders before sprinting back into the final third. The onus should be on Valverde to receive the ball in that situation. Having two box-to-box brutes would work a bit better if you’re playing against a low-block team (Malaga, for examples) and not pinned deep, while keeping everyone high up the field to counter-press aggressively. In those circumstances, you avoid having to rely on Camavinga, Tchouameni, or Valverde to be the release valve when pressed, and they can focus on snuffing out transition attacks instead while leaving the creative element to Bellingham or Güler. Going through it Aurelien Tchouameni is the best stabilizer on this list. He is not a traditional deep-lying playmaker but he brings safe ball-security and a high volume of both passes and passing accuracy. Don’t expect him to thread the needle from deep, but that’s why the team shouldn’t rely on him for that either, and instead, can lean on Bernardo Silva, Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, or Arda Güler. Tchouameni is also the best defensive presence of the list, which is why I think Jose Mourinho will look at that as a key differentiator when deciding his line-ups. That ‘headache’ won’t arrive yet due to the Frenchman’s injury, but it will be inevitable. Don’t discount his dominant aerial presence on both ends either — he is by far the best aerial midfielder on the team. Tchouameni still needs to work on tracking runners. But that is also a universal Real Madrid problem: Everyone fails at that here. Fede Valverde has had strong returns so far in the double pivot, but he will need to continue to develop into that role at this stage of his career. Real Madrid needed him to step up in the post Toni Kroos / Luka Modric era. It’s safe to say he hasn’t, yet. Some of that is because he’s not that type of player (and he’s disappointed as a potential leader), but not all of it is his fault: He’s shifted in and out of multiple positions, including right-back, due to injuries and squad imbalance. Once upon a time, he had his ideal role: midfielder leadership and control was delegated to Kroos and Modric while Valverde could bomb up and down the field in the right half-space. Fair or unfair, he doesn’t have that role anymore, and, one thing is clear: No matter how much he idolizes Kroos, he’s not Kroos. Valverde tends to hide as an outlet in the build-up phase and progresses the ball through carries rather than prolific passing. That’s ok, but, again, he needs to be paired with the appropriate partner. Despite all that, Valverde has looked okay so far disrupting opponents with his defense and ball-carrying. Young Bernardo Silva would be either the team’s 10 or right winger. This version is no longer operating just outside the opponents’ box, but now, as a 32-year-old, he’s developed into a deeper role on the field. Silva played alongside Rodri in a double pivot for the majority of last season. He looked sharp, and, as always, runs himself into the ground on defense. Silva brings immediate composure and leadership to this young midfield and is the team’s best deep-lying press-resistant profile. Something to remember: 32 is not old by any means, and Silva is in great shape physically. I think he’ll be good for a few years. Eduardo Camavinga is an eternal enigma. At his best, he’s a physical specimen, press-resistant, technically gifted as a dribbler in tight spaces, elite between the lines off the ball, and a nasty-good slide tackler. At his worst, he doesn’t know what planet he’s on because someone unplugged his controller.We see both the best and worst of Camavinga within the same game. He will have to work on mental focus. Real Madrid can get away with him having a lapse against Malaga, but not against Bayern Munich. Like Valverde, his ball progression comes with elite ball carrying rather than progressive passing. Can Mourinho unlock the best of Camavinga? Maybe. But, no matter how great of a psychologist your coach is, change has to come from within. I don’t see Thiago Pitarch getting many minutes, for obvious reason. He has similar issues as Camavinga, but far less talented and established. Both Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham can play as and 8, but both are better as a 10. But we have to be very honest with ourselves: To be a 10 in modern football has a different meaning than playing as a 10 in the 1990s: You cannot survive as a 10 who can only play as a 10; you have to be able to play as an 8 or even the wing as well. Luckily, both Bellingham and Güler can do that. The biggest question: Since they’re both too good to be on the bench and both at their best as the 10, what’s the best way to juggle this? I would put Bellingham as a 10 and Güler deeper or occasionally on the right wing. The reasoning is simple: Bellingham can’t provide a target and goal-scoring presence as an 8; but Güler can sling assists from deeper positions. They can also be interchangeable. Kiyan’s starters RCM: Arda Güler LCM: Fede Valverde THE THREE The right winger, the 10, the left winger Wingers: Yan Diomande, Brahim Diaz, Vinicius, Jr, Rodrygo Goes, Arda Güler (?), Endrick (?) 10s: Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, Brahim Diaz (?), Bernardo Silva (?) Yan Diomande is being eased into the team and is not yet a starter, but he does feel inevitable. Jose Mourinho is smartly integrating him without rushing or putting unnecessary pressure on a kid who already has an enormous price tag looming over his head. From a profile standpoint, it’s hard to find a Mourinho-type player better suited to play the right wing. Diomande is a no-nonsense winger who doesn’t overcomplicate plays. He’ll make quick one-touch passes, dribble past opponents with ingenuity and pace, and put his life on the line defensively to secure the flank. His slow integration into the squad is not something I’m worried about. Plug Brahim Diaz anywhere. He is the perfect squad player: He never complains, can play four different positions, and is a two-way fireball in any situation. He gives you line-breaking, speed, defensive hustle, and help controlling possession. Vinicius Jr is a lock on the left wing. Mourinho has leaned more towards the Alvaro Arbeloa route rather than the Xabi Alonso route, and has opted to pump Vinicius with as much confidence as he possibly can knowing that the Brazilian is inked for the next six years. Against Espanyol in the first game of the season, Mourinho didn’t take Vinicius out despite his poor performance. Against Real Sociedad, Mourinho didn’t sub him out until after Vinicius got his goal and assist. Against Malaga, Vinicius had his best game yet — he played simple, efficient, uncomplicated football while bringing to the table tremendous defensive effort on the wing. Still, the biggest problem here is that Vinicius looks a shadow of himself beating players off the dribble, and regularly loses wing battles against any semi-decent right-back. His dribbling efficiency has to improve dramatically if Mourinho feels like he can’t take the Brazilian out of the game. Rodrygo Goes, in theory, is one of the best wingers in the world, but we’re very far removed from that and a long way out from his return. He’ll be back sometime in 2027, and by then, who knows what Mourinho’s approach will be to reintegrate him into the team. He may be a player for next season — with this season being one where he slowly regains match fitness by the end of the campaign. It is rough for Arda Güler, because he’s one of the greatest creatives forces in European football right now, but, the scheme is built around Jude Bellingham, who, without mincing words, is the best player in the world in his position. There is nothing in world football quite like Jude Bellingham when he’s at his best. The most comparable entity I can compare him to is the Terminator. But not just any Terminator, specifically the T-850, when Arnold Schwarzenegger came back with dual hydrogen power cells, enhanced durability, and advanced processing. (The only detail that the T-850 had which I hope Jude doesn’t have to use is the nuclear self-destruct feature.) It’s almost unnecessary to list off all the things Bellingham is elite at — everyone already knows them. But one key point to make here is that Jose Mourinho has alleviated Bellingham’s deep defensive duties, and, instead, has deployed him in prime position to receive and turn in meaningful attacking situations. Güler should get starts in three different positions: right wing, central midfield, and the 10 when Mourinho decides to rotate Bellingham. Bernardo Silva is mentioned here only in theory, as he can play the 10 position as well as the right wing, but Mourinho will likely play him deeper in midfield. Kiyan’s starters RW: Yan Diomande 10: Jude Bellingham LW: Vinicius Jr THE ONE The striker Strikers: Kylian Mbappe, Carlos Espi, Endrick Kylian Mbappe is as easy of a choice here as Thibaut Courtois is in nets. He’s a clear shoe-in for Pichichi. If Real Madrid finally win at least one major trophy with him, he’s probably due for a Ballon D’or as well. One Champions League title (plus top scorer) and Ballon D’or would put him in the historical conversation he deserves to be in. But hold your horses, we’re not there yet. We already know Mbappe will score, and you could argue from a creative element, the team is better equipped now to feast on goals with him: Güler has arrived, Bellingham is back to his best, Diomande can break lines and create from the wing, etc. Bellingham can crash the box in his new role more than he did in the last two years which should help decongest space for Mbappe. Carlos Espi can do the same: I cannot wait to see the final tally for Espi by the end of the season. I’m not claiming he’ll bang in 18 like Joselu did, but I do predict his goals, even if a small number, will be meaningful. Espi is good at making impact in limited minutes. In any context or game state, he will be surrounded by creators he never had at Levante (duh), and is very clever moving into goal scoring positions undetected. His hold up play is strong, and his link-up play is underrated for a player who stays mostly in the box. Like any Mbappe back-up, he won’t get much playing time, but he is a vital profile to have in the squad situationally. It’s hard to see where Endrick’s playing time will come from. If Real Madrid need a target off the bench, Espi easily gets the nod. In this author’s opinion, it would’ve been good to hand Endrick another loan, but, admittedly, nothing gets solved if he returns next season again. Per different sources, two things were made clear to me: Endrick wants to play down the middle, not the wing, and Jose Mourinho specifically requested Endrick to stay. I think Endrick will have to accept he’ll get minutes on the right if he’s going to get playing time. I’m curious to know where Mourinho sees him in the depth chart. He is essentially insurance for Mbappe and Diomande if something happens to them. Endrick may also be a bit overqualified for that role.
- Managing Madrid·34d ago·Both·transfers
Jose Juninho — Intocables: 6 Sep. 2026
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 19: Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 19, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) | Getty Images Welcome to The Daily Merengue — a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the Mods who do a fantastic job, Valyrian Steel, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho. Writer’s Prelude. The Jose Juninho Era will continue. Jose Juninho Edition “If I’m hated at MM [Barcelona], it’s their problem but not mine. Fear is not a word in my DT [football dictionary.“ — Jose Mourinho View Link A Yesterday Recap. Alright…so things got a bit lost in the mix yesterday when discussing Vinicius & Mbappe so I’m just going to first bring some clarity to the chance creation and overall game of the two. First, as I’ve said Vinicius had a better game than Mbappe. They were both pretty terrible overall but Vini at least had 1-2 moments akin to his ability where Kylian was at best a bystander at worst a detriment. This imo is an absolute fact. In regards to the Kylian’s two big misses (that weren’t the penalty), Kylian absolutely needs to bury both chances. We would expect for him to bury those chances. My callout of Vini isn’t about blame it’s to exhibit a growing lack of confidence. The decision to pass is simply not one that a confident forward makes especially not one who is Balon D’Or caliber. Sure, we can disagree on whether that was a good footballing decision — personally I don’t think it was even though the result ended up being concrete. As I believe Turan said in yesterday’s thread, Vini should’ve buried the shot but after the pass Kylian should’ve buried the shot. I don’t think this sequence is the detriment of our season nor the game (there were other equally high xG opportunities like Kylian’s penalty miss and Vini’s miss at the 37 min) but it’s likely a theme we will have to course correct and fast. ¿Qué hacemos? ¿Es de alguien la culpa? Son de esos días que hagas lo que hagas no sale nada bien. pic.twitter.com/KVoT5rh4OD — NoKai (@nokai) September 4, 2026 Untouchables. Anyway and more importantly, this team isn’t going to win major trophies with this many “untouchables”. I just don’t see how we can for a multitude of reasons. One a list of nearly 1/3 of our XI as untouchable has to have real effects on our team ethos and chemistry where young budding forwards have a near-zero chance to continue their form or develop it. Second, and most importantly, the untouchable issue forces us to make quite frankly odd substitutions. This has actually been an issue since the Carlo era and at times curtails our ability to actually comeback when trailing. Yes, Arda was facing a potential sending off due to a second yellow but there’s an argument that his form in yesterday’s game necessitated that he remained on the field. If Jude instead was subbed for Diomande and Arda was moved to the 10, one could hypothetically still keep Arda’s creativity while mitigating the chances for him to receive a second yellow because at the 10 position his defensive duties would have likely been reduced. However, at Real Madrid — Jude Bellingham cannot be subbed. And I understand given Jude’s current form it’s a hard pill to swallow or take to make but when reviewing yesterday’s game and even Arda’s positioning throughout it. He was very much the impetus behind some of the best portions of our play. 🚨 Arda Güler in the first half: • 26/29 passes completed • 7 key passes • 3 big chances created pic.twitter.com/7SYcR49lrF — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 4, 2026 We also run into a similar issue when subbing in Diomande / Espi. In many cases, one or both of these forwards come in for midfield solidity or creative impetuses. We expect these young players to produce in a system in not only a significantly short amount of time but also a system that quite frankly isn’t entirely set up for them to succeed. Yes, Espi was able to craft a brilliant disallowed goal from a great trivela assist from Vini. You know who would’ve been nice to have creating key chances for Espi…Arda Guler…Maybe with the added creativity coming from the right hand side or dare I say it from the 10 position, Espi would have been positioned to muster more than 1 shot…or maybe Espi would have been able to idk play more than 8 minutes when obviously Kylian / Vini were in a funk and Jude at times creative and at others a ghost. I won’t make the Diomande argument because there is also a certain level of timidness from Yan which I think hampers his ability to truly thrive but the one time I recall Diomande playing alongside Vini Kylian and Arda — Arda was integral in creating a chance where Kylian should have passed to Diomande on his left for a potential shot and goal during transition. It just didn’t occur because Kylian took a speculative shot. I’ll find the clip below. I feel like this ended up being a super pro-Arda take but I think he’s just the clearest example of a player who is hurt by the rigidity of the untouchables model. The other is likely Trent who is another creative player who likely has to sit on the bench because the only way that Arda at pseudo-RW works is if Dumfries is actually protecting that channel. We can only wonder what our team would look like if Jude played as a pivot, Trent was our RB, Arda our 10 and a player like Diomande (who has a great defensive workrate) covered our right flank. Who knows? I’ve said it countless times: when Arda Güler plays as the No. 10, he unlocks the entire Real Madrid attack. His creativity, vision, and ability to connect play bring the best out of every player around him. When Jude Bellingham plays as the No. 10, however, the system mainly… pic.twitter.com/79nnjqHsiD — Ebube Dike FC (@imaestr010) September 5, 2026 Note: I don’t fully endorse this tweet but I get the premise and understand it. It’s a good exa Anyway, I actually think it’s less of a fact that Vini – Mbappe – Jude can’t play together. I kind of think they can. I just believe it’s unclear if a team can actually win when all three of those players are treated as untouchables. It’s unclear to me if any team in 2026 can truly survive when form doesn’t matter for their top players. Idk. I understand the argument that you keep a player of Vini / Kylian / Jude’s caliber on the field because you just never know when they’ll levitate + ascend and win you a massive game. However, at least for Real Madrid it’s unclear whether all three of these players are really doing that on a consistent basis. None of them are Cristiano or Messi so why do we afford them the same preferential treatment? 🚨 Toni Kroos: "Luis Enrique subbed out Ousmane Dembélé, his best player, in the 65th minute of a UCL semi-final, and NOBODY complained. That shows the RESPECT the players have towards the coach. He leaves the pitch, he shakes his coach's hand, and he sits on the bench cheering… pic.twitter.com/QOCQ0g5g0K — Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 8, 2026 Idk, I’m genuinely just asking how many big game saving moments have we really mustered from these players in the final segments of a game that we’re chasing? Sure Jude had those moments 23/24, Vini had those moments before then. Mbappe is known to be Mbappe. But it’s 2026 and personally, I’m not a nostalgia chaser…I see players for what they are right now. But this is becoming far too long-winded so all I’ll say is the best team for the past two years has been PSG and Luis Enrique benched Dembele at HT 1-2 weeks ago. Shit, Enrique benched Dembele during the CL final. Mourinho will need to find a similar solution for this quickly or he’ll go the same way as his predecessors. Nadaplete. Cheers, J
- Managing Madrid·34d ago·Both·transfers
Five Bullet Points From Real Madrid’s Loss To Real Betis
SEVILLA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 4: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid disappointed after missing a penalty and Alvaro Valles of Real Betis celebrates the missed penalty in the face of Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Betis v Real Madrid at the Estadio La Cartuja on September 4, 2026 in Sevilla Spain (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images These observations — where I look at Real Madrid’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts — are now a regular thing. All previous editions can be found here. Here is a new thing I’m committing to this season: Five semi-informal bullet points after each game. Also, check out last night’s post-game podcast where I break down the loss for 34 minutes: I’m not pushing a panic button. I realize that what I’m about to say will come across as ‘low standards’, ‘acceptance of mediocrity’, ‘a moral victory’, etc — but I will say it anyway and with my chest: If you replay this game 10 more times, Real Madrid wins it 10 times. We just happened to play the freak version where Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty, three big chances, and then Vinicius missed a big chance, Espi had bad luck, and Real Madrid squandered an xG of nearly four. The math checks out: Real Madrid were mostly good but didn’t score, somehow. What should’ve happened was Real Madrid go up one or two goals by half-time, Bellingham and Güler get a deserved assist each, then Real Betis open up in the second half and get cooked. But also, all that to say: Real Madrid didn’t deserve to win just because they created more chances, and I just made up a scenario to make myself feel better — possibly because I feel numb to the way the last two seasons have gone. Also: Real Madrid are generally terrible at the Benito Villamarin in the last few years. But, at some point, you have to stop using past precedence as an excuse to lose. How many league titles do Real Madrid have in the past 20 years again? Answer: Not enough. Wild. pic.twitter.com/fhpDj9yAEP — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) September 4, 2026 Another Arda Güler masterclass, wasted. He’s basically been lights out in every minute he’s played in this season. When I have to repeat this after every Arda Güler performance, that’s pretty damn good evidence that he’s one of the best players in Europe right now, and certainly, from an analytical standpoint, clearly one of the best creators on the entire continent. If I had a guarantee Güler would start every game I'd predict he leads the league in assist by the end of the season. But one thing I know for sure is that him and Lamine Yamal are the 2 best / most prolific creators in this league and it's not close. — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) September 4, 2026 Dean Huijsen continues to be a stud. His distribution last night was nearly perfect. He mopped up anything that entered his defensive zone, and even did the same going on the right at times when Ibrahima Konaté was caught. In the 12th minute, he had an incredible challenge which led to a Real Madrid break. In the 15th minute, he broke Betis with a long range diagonal switch. In the 68th minute, he had a phenomenal defensive read which led to Mbappe having a chance the other way. Denzel Dumfries does not look right, yet. I believe in him, I’m just not sure he’s ready to start every game yet. He means well. I liked his constant overloads which helped create space and provide valuable outlets for his team. But his touches are off, and for a player as strong as he is, he doesn’t look at his physical best. Trent Alexander-Arnold immediately came in and looked to provide solutions with his long range passing. Of course, part of the challenge is that Jose Mourinho sees a barrier in starting Güler and Trent on the wing together, for a couple reasons, presumably: 1) Defence on the wing; and 2) Dumfries provides width while Arda tucks in. Mourinho has been more inclined to pair Trent with traditional wingers who provide width but can also cover defensively, like Yan Diomande or Brahim Diaz. It’s a dilemma, but it’s going to be challenging fielding all the best players on the field together. Can we chill with the Diomande slander? I’m not sure what some of the media want from him. Mourinho is already having trouble fitting Bellingham and Güler into the team. He’s already having challenges subbing out Vinicius and Mbappe. When Diomande came in last night, he was mostly deep with little-to-no-space available, and most of the play was going through the left. Diomande is a really awesome player who can dribble past opponents and defend on the flank. His time will come, but right now the reality of the team is pretty much the same reality as the last two years: Squeezing everyone in is difficult when Vinicius and Mbappe have to play virtually every second regardless of how they’re performing. Bonus: Carlos Fucking Espi. he is The One https://t.co/ITpk1qpRj8 — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) September 4, 2026
- Managing Madrid·34d ago·Both·transfers
What you may have missed from Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss to Real Betis
SEVILLA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 4: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid argues with Referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez and receiving a yellow card after the match during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Betis v Real Madrid at the Estadio La Cartuja on September 4, 2026 in Sevilla Spain (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images Real Madrid’s first defeat of the season produced considerably more than a frustrating result. Between Kylian Mbappé’s stoppage-time penalty, the debate surrounding Marc Bartra’s positioning, Real Madrid Television’s response, and an exchange between José Mourinho and Real Betis, the discussion continued long after the final whistle at La Cartuja. Here is what you may have missed from Betis’s 1-0 victory. Why Mbappé’s penalty was not retaken The game’s biggest controversy arrived in stoppage time after Natan brought down Vinicius Junior inside the penalty area. Mbappé took responsibility from the spot, but Álvaro Valles guessed correctly and pushed his effort away. Bartra then reached the loose ball before Mbappé could contest the rebound, prompting Madrid’s players to demand that the penalty be retaken for encroachment. The replay showed Bartra moving into the area before Mbappé struck the ball. The decisive detail, however, was the position of the defender’s feet at the exact moment of contact. Under the interpretation outlined by the Technical Committee of Referees and the IFAB guidance for the 2026-27 season, a player is considered to have encroached when one or both feet—or another part of the body touching the ground—are inside the penalty area or on its boundary line when the kick is taken. An airborne leg extending over the line is not enough on its own. The position or vertical projection of body parts in the air is generally disregarded. There is an exception when a player deliberately jumps with their entire body off the ground in an attempt to evade the rule. In that situation, the player’s projected landing position can be considered. Bartra, however, still had one foot planted outside the area when Mbappé struck the penalty. Because his other foot was in the air rather than touching the ground inside the box, the refereeing team determined that he had not encroached. Iglesias Villanueva did not recommend a review from the VAR room, and Hernández Hernández allowed play to continue. According to the CTA’s interpretation, that decision was correct. Bartra revealed afterward that his movement was deliberate and based on a previous conversation about the rule. “Several matches ago, Gayà did the little jump,” Bartra explained. “I asked a referee friend if that was allowed, and he told me the rule: if your foot is in the air, you don’t have to repeat it. “It worked out well for me, but if he’d taken a little longer, I would have been caught out. It’s a minor detail. I’m very happy because these are very important points.” In other words, Bartra understood the technical distinction and timed his run accordingly. Real Madrid Television strongly disagreed RMTV offered a very different interpretation of the incident. Real Madrid’s official television channel argued that Bartra’s right foot was on the penalty-area line when Mbappé took the kick. It also pointed to Héctor Bellerín’s positioning and maintained that Bartra subsequently had a direct impact on the play by preventing Mbappé from reaching the rebound. RMTV described the decision as a “technical error” and questioned why Iglesias Villanueva did not advise Hernández Hernández to review the incident. “The penalty should have been retaken,” the channel concluded. The broadcast went further, claiming that the decision resulted from “omission or incompetence” and alleging that the outcome might have been different had Barcelona been involved. “If this happened to Barça, the penalty would be retaken, and if Espí’s goal was for Barça, it might not be disallowed,” RMTV said. The disagreement therefore centers on the freeze-frame itself. The CTA’s position is that Bartra’s grounded foot remained outside the area, while RMTV believes it was touching the line. If the latter interpretation were correct, his subsequent intervention would have required the penalty to be retaken. View this post on Instagram Valles had already chosen his side The save was not simply an improvised reaction from Valles. Speaking to Movistar after the match, the Betis goalkeeper revealed that he and goalkeeping coach Toni Doblas had studied Mbappé’s recent penalties. The Frenchman had sent his previous two attempts toward the goalkeeper’s right, and Valles committed to following that pattern. “We worked with Toni the last few weeks,” Valles said. “He took the last two wide. I held on as long as I could. From the start of the game, if Mbappé took a penalty, I decided I was going to dive to that side.” Valles also attempted to unsettle Mbappé before the kick. “I said, ‘How lucky, a penalty in that minute,’” he revealed. “I tried to throw him off his game.” Asked about Bartra’s positioning, Valles admitted that he had not seen whether the defender entered the area early. “Bartra arrived very quickly,” he said. “I don’t know if he came on earlier; I didn’t see it.” The goalkeeper described the closing stages as tense but praised his teammates for holding on. “Very exciting, tense minutes,” Valles said. “We know Real Madrid’s attacking capabilities. Fortunately, we were able to pull off the victory.” Betis respond to Mourinho on social media Mourinho was not impressed by Betis’s approach, despite congratulating Manuel Pellegrini’s team after the match. “Congratulations to Betis, who played to draw the match and got lucky,” the Madrid coach said. Betis’s social media team quickly responded. “We already won the jackpot a long time ago,” the club posted alongside images of its supporters. “Thank you for leading us to victory.” Valles’s penalty save was celebrated with another message: “90 minutes in La Cartuja is molto long…”—a reference to the famous warning that 90 minutes at the Bernabéu can feel extremely long for visiting teams. Antony also received his own tribute following an impressive performance. Betis posted an image of the Brazilian with the caption: “We didn’t know today was the aura farming contest,” accompanied by a goat emoji. Pellegrini rejects Mourinho’s assessment Pellegrini also disagreed with the suggestion that Betis had approached the game looking for a draw. “I don’t make the same analysis because I think the team went out to win from the first minute, trying to find the back of the net against a rival like Real Madrid, which is, of course, a tough opponent,” Pellegrini said. The Betis coach accepted that Madrid had created dangerous opportunities, particularly from set pieces, but felt his team competed evenly and improved after halftime. “In the second half, I think we even had more possession collectively; we were more in their half,” he explained. “They had some very dangerous set pieces where Álvaro Valles made three very, very good saves, but in the end, we scored the goal and took the three points against a great rival.” Pellegrini acknowledged that a draw would also have been a reasonable outcome but argued that the result came down to efficiency rather than luck. “We capitalized on our chances and they didn’t,” he said. That theme continued when Pellegrini was asked about Mourinho’s complaints concerning the officiating and Betis’s physical approach. “I don’t think we played too roughly,” Pellegrini said. “I don’t believe there was significant refereeing influence. Whether there was one more or one less yellow card, I don’t think those were decisive factors in the outcome of the match. “We didn’t win the game because of the referee; we won because we capitalized on our chances and they couldn’t convert theirs, either because they were denied by Álvaro Valles or because they missed the penalty.” Pellegrini’s substitutions changed the game The winning goal was created by two players introduced during the second half. Nelson Deossa attacked the initial delivery and forced Thibaut Courtois into a save before Troy Parrott reacted quickest to score from the rebound. It was Parrott’s first goal for Betis and came against the manager who handed him his Premier League debut at Tottenham. “I’m really happy for Troy Parrott,” Pellegrini said. “Starting a new chapter at a new team, in a different style of football, by scoring the winning goal against Real Madrid is going to give him a lot of confidence.” Pellegrini rejected the idea that Parrott’s decisive contribution was merely fortunate. “He had not luck, but the instinct to score that goal after Nelson Deossa’s header,” he said. “He’s also a very committed player, very powerful, and I think he and Cucho are going to make a good pair, both playing together and separately.” The Chilean coach also credited the rest of his substitutes for maintaining Betis’s intensity in difficult conditions, with the temperature reaching 36 degrees Celsius. “You make changes based on what you see, and then, depending on the performances, the changes are either good or bad,” Pellegrini explained. “Today, luckily, I think those who came on were very focused on what we were doing, and we managed to win this match.” Real Madrid left Seville with their first loss of Mourinho’s second tenure. Betis left with three points, a new goalscorer, and a penalty incident that will be debated despite the CTA’s conclusion that the refereeing team applied the rule correctly.
- Barca Blaugranes·34d ago·Both·transfers
Barcelona train without Lamine Yamal ahead of Valencia clash
10 Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona training before the match during the La Liga EA Sports 2026/2027 match between FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club de Bilbao at Spotify Camp Nou Stadium on 27th of August of 2026. (Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Barcelona trained for the final time before Sunday’s La Liga clash with Valencia at Mestalla but there was no sign of Lamine Yamal during the session. The teenager was conspicuous by his absence on the training pitch and stayed in the gym, according to multiple outlets. No reason has yet been given as to why the teenager was not with his team-mates. Hansi Flick is set to hold his usual pre-match press conference after the session and will hopefully offer an update on Yamal ahead of the game. Apart from Yamal, the German coach has few new injury concerns before the match. Gavi has returned to training after suffering a knee injury, while new signing Gabriel Jesus is also expected to be available. Barcelona are due to travel to Valencia later today, with Flick’s side aiming to maintain their perfect start to the season. The game also offers Barca the chance to gain an early advantage over rivals Real Madrid in the title race after Jose Mourinho’s side were beaten 1-0 at Betis on Friday night.
- Managing Madrid·36d ago·Both·transfers
Jose Mourinho’s reminder to trust his judgement in players
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 03: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho (R) gives instructions to Luka Modric during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Real Madrid and Galatasaray at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 3, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Elisa Estrada/Real Madrid via Getty Images) | Real Madrid via Getty Images These observations — where I look at Real Madrid’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts — are now a regular thing. All previous editions can be found here. If I had to choose my favourite version of Jose Mourinho, it’s easily the one from April 2010 – April 2012. That’s just enough time to enjoy seeing him dance in the sprinklers at the Campo Nou in Inter’s treble-winning season while also feeling his pain and heartbreak deep in our bones after the penalty shootout against Bayern Munich in 2012. In between, he won the league in a record-breaking season against Barcelona’s best ever team, rained fire with his tongue to his opponents and the referee, and formed a brotherhood — laying foundations for a dynastic era. From that moment, he was one of us. Forever. Of course, 2012 conveniently cuts short Mourinho’s third season at Real Madrid; but — my article, my rules. I’ve bubble-wrapped those two years as peak Mou, where the emotional roller coaster — the ratio to pain and success — was just about right, and he dragged us back into being one of the most feared teams in Europe following a nightmarish seven seasons. My prayer to the football gods is this: Please, extend peak Mourinho for just a couple more years. Give us one last chapter, where he comes back to Real Madrid, Carlo 2.0 style, and defies the odds. I don’t know if that’s delusion or reasonable optimism, but it’s my prayer nonetheless. Mourinho is now calmer. At least that’s what they say. But, he still cuts with his words. My favourite part about today’s presser was, after his headline quote, there wasn’t the usual laughter or chuckle — just dead silence as he dropped truth bombs. “It was almost impossible to negotiate with Daniel Levy’s Tottenham to sign Modrić,” Mourinho said of signing Luka Modric back in 2012. “But he was the player I wanted. Luka was a player I thought could take us to the next level.” “You media guys killed me, you said it was the worst signing in Real Madrid’s history, then Luka shut your mouths!” Mourinho got most of this right, although, to be fair, the media weren’t the ones who made that claim; rather it was readers (possibly Culés, or just very uninformed Madridistas) who placed their votes on it in Marca. pic.twitter.com/EcAWItVKVR — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) September 3, 2026 But, the media did play their part in adding hysteria to a supposed failed signing. If Managing Madrid was around back then, it would probably plead for caution and calm, the same way we now embarrassingly have to remind people that Yan Diomande is 19 years old and will be just fine. Frankly, I’m not sure what the fuss was about back in 2012 either. I remember watching the 2012 Spanish Super Cup with my dad, and one of Luka Modric’s first touches off the bench as a Real Madrid player was an inch-perfect slide tackle on Xavi Hernandez which led to him nearly scoring the other way. It felt like a passing of the torch, from one midfield generation to the next. Modric’s touches throughout his debut were beautiful and had a sense of serenity. My dad and I both agreed that this guy was special. There are two things to extrapolate here: 1) Luka Modric is fucking awesome; and 2) Always trust Jose Mourinho’s track record. His Real Madrid recruiting barely has any misses. We brought this up regularly throughout the summer: Regardless of how we feel about the players Mourinho is bringing in, we have to give him the benefit of the doubt as he is someone far smarter than us when it comes to scouting. Not long ago, one of our podcast listeners challenged us on the weekly mailbag, claiming that Mourinho’s signings at Real Madrid weren’t successful enough to praise it as much as we do. Easily debunked. This is some Nick Fury level recruiting: Mesut Özil (from Werder Bremen): Gold. Ángel Di María (from Benfica): Gold. Sami Khedira (from Stuttgart): Vital. Ricardo Carvalho (from Chelsea): Vital. Pedro León (from Getafe): Bust, but had little expectations anyway. Sergio Canales (from Racing Santander): Injuries. Nuri Şahin (from Borussia Dortmund): Bust. Hamit Altıntop (from Bayern Munich): Bust. Raphaël Varane (from Lens): Gold. José Callejón (from Espanyol): Vital. Fábio Coentrão (from Benfica): Gold. Luka Modrić (from Tottenham Hotspur): Gold, wrapped in vibranium, sprinkled with saffron. Diego López (from Sevilla): Vital. That’s three busts out of 13, in a list which includes one of the best three-year playmaking spells in football history (Özil), one of the most underrated and clutch players ever (di Maria), and arguably the greatest midfielder in football history (Modric). Truth be told, you could write a byline about most of those players and how great they were for various reasons. The other day, Mourinho alluded to the fact that bigger tests will come. Pain will arrive, losses will befall us. This is the Mourinho honeymoon phase. I suspect we’ll see some absolutely timeless quotes if and when the team’s mentality truly gets tested. Regardless, those waves are inevitable. What Mourinho reminded us of today is to trust his judgement in the players he chooses.
- Managing Madrid·37d ago·Both·transfers
Real Madrid News Roundup: Lewandowski on Mourinho’s Madrid, McTominay opens door to move
Real Madrid's Spanish defender #35 Raul Asencio fights for the ball with Barcelona's Polish forward #9 Robert Lewandowski during the Spanish Super Cup final football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddah on January 12, 2025. (Photo by Haitham AL-SHUKAIRI / AFP) (Photo by HAITHAM AL-SHUKAIRI/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images It was a busy Wednesday around Real Madrid, with several stories emerging that did not quite warrant standalone coverage. Yan Diomande has opened up about his journey from Abidjan to the Bernabéu, a French investigation reportedly uncovered an alleged plot targeting Kylian Mbappé, Sergio Martínez trained with the first team, while Robert Lewandowski, Scott McTominay, Fernando Morientes and Daniel ‘Toro’ Aquino have all spoken about Madrid. Here is the September 2 Real Madrid news roundup. Diomande: Joining Real Madrid is fulfilling a childhood dream Yan Diomande has reflected on the remarkable journey that ultimately brought him to Real Madrid. Speaking in an interview with Red Bull Athlete, the 19-year-old traced his development back to playing football as a child in Abidjan, where formal facilities mattered considerably less than simply finding somewhere to play. “Growing up in Abidjan meant that football was everything. We played on any surface we could find, without proper boots or a suitable pitch, just for the love of the game,” Diomande said. “That hunger and joy never left me; they remain the foundation of how I play today.” Diomande eventually moved to the United States and DME Academy in Florida, where interest from European clubs began to make his ambitions feel more attainable. “It was always the dream, but it started to seem real when I was at the DME Academy in Florida and European scouts began to notice me. It was difficult; at first, I couldn’t communicate with anyone, and everything was different. But soccer was my language, and my teammates helped me find my place on and off the field.” His subsequent move to RB Leipzig accelerated that development. Diomande singled out winning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award as an important validation of the sacrifices he and his family had made. “Winning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award in my first full season. It was proof that all the sacrifices my family and I made were worthwhile. Leipzig taught me to compete at the highest level week after week, and the coaching staff demanded I improve every detail of my game. That season gave me the confidence and mentality I’ll need at Real Madrid.” Now at the Bernabéu, Diomande is living the ambition that drove his career in the first place. “It’s fulfilling a childhood dream, it’s everything I’ve worked for. I’m eager to write my chapter at this club and contribute to its success. Representing my country on the world stage taught me that the biggest stage demands the utmost composure: you have to trust in your preparation. And off the field, sharing that experience with my country and my family is something I will always carry with me.” Diomande also spoke about the level he has encountered since joining Real Madrid and what he can learn simply by training alongside his new teammates. “It’s incredible. In every session, the bar is set so high that you have no choice but to raise your own level. You learn something just by watching how they move, how they think, and how they prepare each day.” Away from football, the winger described himself as considerably more relaxed. “I’m quite calm. I love spending time with my family and friends, listening to music, and calling home in Abidjan. Maintaining that connection to where I come from keeps me focused.” Mbappé reportedly among targets in alleged kidnapping plot Kylian Mbappé was reportedly included on a list of potential targets uncovered during a French criminal investigation. According to Le Parisien, an 18-year-old French-Swiss man identified as Clément L. was charged on August 21 with organized gang robbery. Investigators allege that the teenager, reportedly already incarcerated in Villepinte prison, used mobile phones to communicate instructions to accomplices and was linked to plans targeting wealthy individuals. Authorities reportedly discovered the addresses of 26 potential targets on two phones, including footballers, musicians and wealthy businesspeople. Mbappé was among the names discovered, according to a judicial source cited by Le Parisien, with the alleged plan involving attacking and robbing the Real Madrid forward during one of his visits to Paris. The investigation reportedly developed after an attempted home invasion involving a watchmaker in Neuilly-sur-Seine. Three men posing as delivery drivers allegedly went to his home on April 25 and left an empty package, but fled after the intended victim became suspicious. The watchmaker’s business was then robbed on May 4, with two armed men reportedly stealing 11 luxury watches valued at approximately €150,000. Investigators eventually connected suspects to the earlier incident through fingerprints found on the package, according to the report. Police subsequently seized phones belonging to the alleged organizer and discovered information relating to numerous potential future targets, including Mbappé. There is no indication in the report that an attempt against Mbappé was ultimately carried out. Sergio Martínez joins first-team training Real Madrid completed their second training session ahead of Friday’s visit to Real Betis at La Cartuja, with new signing Sergio Martínez among the players working with José Mourinho’s squad. The 19-year-old midfielder joined Madrid from Racing on August 31 in a deal worth around €3 million. Martínez is initially expected to play for Castilla, but Real Madrid also intend to give him opportunities to work with the senior squad, allowing Mourinho to closely follow his development. There were otherwise few changes on the injury front. Aurélien Tchouaméni, Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Endrick and Thiago continued their respective recovery programs away from the group. None are currently expected to return for the Betis game. Lewandowski: Real Madrid are stronger with Mourinho Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski believes Real Madrid have strengthened significantly following their summer business and Mourinho’s return to the Bernabéu. Speaking to AS, Lewandowski acknowledged the potential threat posed by Barcelona’s biggest rivals this season. “Real Madrid is now stronger with the new signings and with José (Mourinho). My feeling is that after two years without winning anything, their mentality is important and they can be very strong this season, but I’m always with Barcelona.” Madrid have made a strong start under Mourinho, and Lewandowski believes the combination of their new additions and motivation following two trophyless campaigns could make them formidable opposition. McTominay would consider a Real Madrid move Scott McTominay has admitted that he would have something to think about if Mourinho attempted to bring him to Real Madrid. Asked about the hypothetical scenario during an interview with Corriere della Sera, McTominay said: “If Mourinho called me about Real Madrid, honestly, I’d think about it…” There is no indication that Madrid are currently pursuing McTominay, but the midfielder has a history with Mourinho. The Portuguese coach gave McTominay significant opportunities during their time together at Manchester United. Morientes: Diomande is the player I’m most eager to see Former Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes has singled out Diomande as one of the most intriguing players to watch this season. Speaking at a La Liga event, Morientes acknowledged that there is still an element of the unknown surrounding the young winger but said Madrid’s enormous investment speaks to how highly the club rates him. “Yan Diomande is one of the players I’m most eager to see. He’s an unknown quantity, but when a club pays what Real Madrid has paid for him, obviously Real Madrid is absolutely certain he’s going to perform. If they’ve paid that much for him, he must be very, very good.” Morientes also recalled the hectic circumstances surrounding his 2003 loan move from Real Madrid to Monaco. The striker had no idea he was leaving when he entered the pitch against Betis and, within hours, was flying to France. “You have to anticipate many things because it’s not just the professional aspect you’re leaving behind. Whether it’s a loan, a permanent transfer. And then there’s the personal aspect as well. At that time, I had a family, just like now, and I had to consider the situation where it was. Whether the club also offered the stability I was looking for. It was Monaco, everything turned out fantastically, but the day of the signing was rough, I was very nervous, very uncertain. I played the first league match against Betis, Real Madrid-Betis, I played five or ten minutes, and an hour and a half later I was catching a flight to Monaco, so you can see how fast it all happened. When I went onto the pitch, I didn’t even know that Monaco had called me or that I was going there. I thought I was going to stay for the whole season.” Asked what the peak version of himself might command in today’s transfer market, Morientes jokingly put himself in nine-figure territory before reflecting on how much the role of the traditional striker has changed. “How much would I be worth in today’s market? 110 million. Just kidding. Football has evolved a lot since my time. In almost every club I’ve been at, the system was 4-4-2, with a center forward and another striker. Now the center forward is even smaller; that’s how football has evolved. But I’ve always thought that players like Espí, for example, are key players throughout a season. So, if we’re talking about the Fernando Morientes of 2002, 2003, an international player, given how football is today, he’d be worth a lot.” Aquino recalls the Real Madrid move that never happened Former Real Betis striker Daniel ‘Toro’ Aquino has revealed that negotiations once took place over a potential move to Real Madrid. Speaking to AS, Aquino said there was genuine interest but that he never discovered why the transfer ultimately fell through. “Joining Real Madrid? It could have happened. There was a lot of interest and negotiations took place, but it didn’t go through. I never knew the real reason. It would have been a dream come true for the whole family. I was playing at a very high level then, and many clubs were interested.” Aquino also looked ahead to Madrid’s upcoming visit to Betis and cautioned against assuming Mourinho’s side will have an easy night following Betis’ 5-2 defeat to Levante. “Real Betis’s 5-2 loss to Levante.. It was a big surprise, but Betis has the quality and pride to bounce back, and it’s very difficult to take points from them at their stadium. The fans create a lot of pressure; it’s contagious, and the opposition feels the atmosphere. Although Real Madrid has started well, it won’t be easy for them to win there.” Aquino has nevertheless been impressed by Mourinho’s early work, particularly the apparent organization he has brought to the team and the form of Mbappé. “It seems Jose Mourinho brought order to the team since his arrival, and the start has been good, but this is a long season, and it’s not wise to make judgments at this stage. What is certain is that if Mbappé continues at his current level, they’ll have more options. I really like that player.” Finally, Aquino recalled Betis’ famous 2-0 victory at the Bernabéu in 1995, which came after Real Madrid had already secured the league title. “That’s true. In the 1994-1995 season, Real Madrid had already won the league, they’d been celebrating all week, and I think they arrived a bit relaxed, but even so, it’s not easy to win at the Bernabéu. We gave them a guard of honor and then managed a 2-0 victory after a great match to cap off a fantastic year.”
- Managing Madrid·37d ago·Both·transfers
Jose Juninho — Too Early Thoughts Pt.3 : 3 Sep. 2026
MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 26: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Real Madrid during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 26, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images Welcome to The Daily Merengue — a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the Mods who do a fantastic job, Valyrian Steel, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho. Writer’s Prelude. The second part of the 3 DT series of Jose Juninho’s Too Early Thoughts Jose Juninho — Forward Edition “I couldn’t teach Sergio Ramos how to head a ball. I couldn’t teach Cristiano Ronaldo how to score goal. You’re not going to teach Ronaldo how to take a free kick. The profile was: make them play as a team.” — Jose Mourinho View Link Disclaimer. Similar to yesterday and the day before, I have one disclaimer: none of what I say / or you say / or even Kiyan says [let’s see if this leads to any comments!!] about this team matters as it’s Sept 2nd 2026. The real time to judge this team will be months from now so let’s all try to remain as patient as possible for this moment. The Forwards — What I Like. The forwards section is actually going to be pretty short now that I think about it because we’ve all written enough soliloquies on whether we think Vini and Kylian Mbappe work or whether we need Joselu 2.0 or whether the RW should be occupied by a creator like Arda or a true winger like Diomande. As the years of gone on, I’ve been less obsessed with positions. I think it’s a young thing to be honest or maybe people who play EA FC 27. But I think we often obsess with positions when we should be focusing on responsibilities. For example, PSG’s forward line functions pretty seamlessly without a traditional 9 and arguably 3 primary LW players. Why? Because Luis Enrique has instituted a system where each play has fluid responsibilities or at least responsibilities that are dictated via movement. I say this because often in prior years the real issue with Kylian Mbappe and Vini was that Kylian prided himself on fluidity whereas Vini prides himself on rigidity (i.e., being. a touchline winger). This often led to both players occupying the exact same space. I’m proud to say that Jose Mourinho seems to have gotten a lot of buy-in towards both’s movement. Kylian appears to occupy the right wing on a more normal basis while shifting at times to the LW channel. His space is then occupied by Jude and more frequently than not Vini. This has enabled the team to be less predictable going forward as well as more complex in chance creation. I’ve seen Kylian isolated on the wing with a 1v1 opposing fullback likely more frequently this year than at least most of prior. Vini seems to actually float occasionally even to the right wing and make runs through the central channel (his goal is a product of this). Jude with his own freedom now just fills in gaps. It likely helps that Arda is on the pitch to conduct play and we’re playing at a heightened pace before movement is truly restricted by a low block in the final third but I’m starting to like a lot of what I’m seeing from the front line. 🤣 Vini Jr. to Real Madrid cameraman: “Go record Kylian. 3 goals. GO ON.” pic.twitter.com/OyKKNY85vg — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 27, 2026 I’m also pretty pleased with the defensive work rate from all the forwards. It certainly needs to be better at times especially down the flanks (from Vini / Arda / Kylian) but otherwise its improvement. Our press still needs a bit of work in terms of players not pressing during inopportune moments but again to some extent the thought is appreciated lol. The Making Of Yan Diomandé's Game An in-depth scouting report of Yan Diomandé: his tactical role, athleticism, his stats, dribbling, carrying, runs, creating, shooting, pressing, recoveries, playing on both flanks, weaknesses, & more Link In Replies. pic.twitter.com/r66zTjHVam — ACHRAF (@LamdarhriAchraf) August 21, 2026 What Concerns Me…The biggest concern going forward is for better or worse Vini. I actually don’t think he’s been bad as much as he’s just simply been average which isn’t good enough for the highest or second highest paid player on our team. More shockingly, I’m concerned about how he seems to have lost a burst in his step (either from injuries, age, or weight) and can’t seem to beat the most average fullbacks in a 1v1. He seems to perform better against tired legs or at least after we take a lead, which is a good sign that the mechanics are somewhat still there / he’s still more fit than most, but I just haven’t loved the performances that I’ve seen. He’ll absolutely need to pick it up and pick it up quickly as the competitions get harder. It also hasn’t been lost on me that the Bernabeu has been quite quick to whistle him compared to other players. I only focus on this because I can only imagine how that affects performance as well as mental state for a player. There’s a longer conversation about the fans tolerance to forgive what happened last year (especially since there was no scapegoat or major change) but just focusing on Vini’s relationship with the public…this will certainly be a recurring theme this year if these performances continue. And sadly I can only see it getting more toxic until Mourinho / Flo intervene (if they even care to at that point). 🚨🗣️ Mourinho: “I knew that Vini was booed by the fans last season, so I decided to sub him out to let him hear love from the fans after he scored, and then he has to rest a bit.” pic.twitter.com/lp5G6oWO5Z — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 26, 2026 The anatomy of a take-on. Looked at Messi, Ronaldo, Yamal, Vinícius, Mbappé, Doku, Olise and Diomande across 2010-11 and 2025-26 for post-take-on actions. New article for @managingmadrid: https://t.co/ux3IrdhGS4 pic.twitter.com/03YOIshCai — Mehedi Hassan (@MHassanFootball) August 31, 2026 Although he has been absolutely brilliant the past two games, Kylian Mbappe’s shooting efficiency is something that I’ve been slightly concerned about. I’ll admit, I’m not really that concerned being that imo (as long as a ST still seems to have confidence) its better to see that he’s creating and available for opportunities because the goals will eventually come. However, it must be said that Kylian at times hasn’t been as clinical as he otherwise should be. I think this will get cleaned up as the season continues and the entire team gets into better shape as well as learns to function together but at the moment this is certainly something we need to keep in mind. Kylian Mbappé — Real Madrid 4-0 Malaga, 93 mins. 1 goal npxG 1.01 (1st) Shots 6 (1st) Touches in the box 15 (1st) Take-ons won 7 (1st) Final-third touches 44 (1st) Among outfield players. pic.twitter.com/6TeZ9NtSQB — Mehedi Hassan (@MHassanFootball) September 2, 2026 Finally, I’m a bit concerned about Endrick’s prospects at Real Madrid. I just don’t see how he gets time at our club unless he’s playing RW (and even then he’s pretty low on the depth chart). Realistically, he’s our 3rd choice ST after Kylian and Espi (who is physically and functionally a more traditional 9). I’ve always been a bit worried that Endrick is too small for the 9 position in Europe unless he developed an absolutely depth touch and passing arsenal — and sadly up until this point he hasn’t. As a RW, Endrick will likely be behind Diomande, Arda, Brahim, and Rodrygo (when healthy)….so I’m not sure what he’s going to do there. I don’t know — reports state that Mourinho backs him (tho reports state that Mourinho backs EVERYONE LOL) but I would have advocated for a sale this summer with a buyback clause. Trust me, I understand that you leave Real Madrid and you don’t come back but at this point Endrick’s development is being stalled and as a club we are hurting his career. At some point, he needs to do what’s best for him even if that means leaving Real Madrid. 🚨⚪️ Real Madrid inform Endrick and his agents about decision to keep the player at the club. Real management told Roc Nation about decision to keep Endrick and continue with him in the squad, as @diarioas reported. José Mourinho also approved the plan. 🫱🏻🫲🏼 pic.twitter.com/CQcln8n3hw — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2026 Anyway, give me more Espi. Love the kid. Kyky – Espi – Diomande could be exciting to see even just once. Cheers, J
- Barca Blaugranes·37d ago·Both·transfers
All Barcelona’s completed transfers from the 2026 summer window
Barcelona enjoyed a busy summer transfer window with Hansi Flick’s side managing to revamp their attack by bringing in Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Gabriel Jesus. The Catalans have also snapped up World Cup winner Rodri from Manchester City, after beating Real Madrid to his signature, and have waved goodbye to some big names including Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. There’s no doubt it’s been a busy window for Deco and Co, so here’s a look at all the ins and outs this summer. Arrivals Rodri (Manchester City, €60m plus add-ons), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle, €80m), Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund, €29m), Jesse Bisiwu (Club Brugge, €8.5m), Joao Cancelo (Al-Hilal, free transfer), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal, €10m plus add-ons), Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce, €2.3m), Hamza Abdelkarim (Al Ahly, €1.5m). Departures Robert Lewandowski (to Chicago Fire, end of contract), Ferran Torres (to PSG, €50m), Marcus Rashford (back to Man Utd, end of loan), Ronald Araujo (to Liverpool, loan with €55m buy option), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (to Ajax, season-long loan), Ansu Fati (to Monaco, €11m), Inaki Pena (to Panathinaikos, €3m), Diego Kochen (loan to Lyngby Boldklub with buy option), Jofre Torrents (to Ajax, €6m), Hector Fort (to Real Sociedad, €8m), Tommy Marques (to Braga, €12m) Alvaro Cortes (to Royal Antwerp, €3.5m), Toni Fernandez (to Venezia, €4m), Guille Fernandez (to Real Mallorca, €3m), Áron Yaakobishvili (loan to Almeria), Marc Casado (to Deportivo, loan).
- Guardian Football·37d ago·Both·transfers
Transfer window verdict: how every Premier League club fared
The British transfer record was equalled and one club signed no fewer than 18 players in another hectic summer Bringing in Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa was a strong start to the window but could Arsenal’s failure to sign a marquee attacker cost them in the long run? They began targeting Morgan Rogers before pivoting to Vinícius Júnior when the England forward went to Chelsea, only to end up disappointed when Vinícius signed a new deal with Real Madrid. Julián Alvarez made clear he had no intention of joining from Atlético Madrid in the final days of the window and Arsenal kept their powder dry despite sanctioning the exits of Gabriel Jesus to Barcelona and Ethan Nwaneri to Borussia Dortmund. Should Gabriel Martineilli complete his move to Al-Hilal as expected in the coming days – the Saudi Pro League window remains open – a few injuries could leave Arteta short. Ed Aarons Continue reading...
- Barca Blaugranes·38d ago·Both·transfers
Industrious Anthony Gordon shows his value to Barcelona against Rayo Vallecano
TOPSHOT - Barcelona's English forward #17 Anthony Gordon celebrates Rayo Vallecano's French defender #24 Florian Lejeune's own goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on August 31, 2026. (Photo by Lluis GENE / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Hansi Flick will be a happy man as the summer transfer window comes to a close. He may not have gotten everything on his wish list, but he was given enough to start to truly build Barcelona in his image. Raphinha continues to steal the headlines three games into the new La Liga season as Flick’s false nine experiment bears fruit. The Brazilian has already recorded five goals and one assist. In the end, it will be hard for anyone to compete with Kylian Mbappe in the Pichichi race, but that’s perfectly fine. Flick doesn’t need one superstar to put up monster numbers. He needs a team of players who know their role, and find ways every game to make contributions big and small. Anthony Gordon looks like a shining example of what Flick demands in a forward. The comparison between him and Marcus Rashford is quite illuminating, and it doesn’t take a big sample size to draw conclusions. First and foremost, you have to love the way he does the running, and we’re not talking about big dribbles down the field. Gordon is a pressing machine. Alongside Raphinha, the defensive work rate has been incredible from the forward line, and it has become contagious. The time it takes Barcelona to win the ball back, by the eye test at least, is better than anything we’ve seen so far in the Flick era. When it comes to scoring goals, Gordon understands he doesn’t have to be the main man, especially when you are flanked by Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. The English international is perfectly content with any role he plays with how a goal is scored. Against Rayo Vallecano, he got an assist, created an own goal, and played several very dangerous balls in front of goal that were right there for his teammates to pounce on. This is a selfless player who only cares about helping his team win the game. Stats be damned. It’s going to be hard for Karim Adeyemi to claim the starting spot on the left wing. In the early going, it looks like Gordon’s to lose. That being said, Adeyemi has done absolutely nothing wrong so far. In fact, in limited minutes, he’s doing a lot of the same great things on both sides of the ball that Gordon is being commended for. With the arrival of Gabriel Jesus, Flick has plenty of attacking weapons to work with. He may not have gotten the Julián Alvarez luxury signing, but he has to be satisfied with the way his players have risen to occasion to show they can put up goals without him. It’s going to be a long and tough season. The Champions League draw is full of challenging opponents who will test Barcelona’s depth. Real Madrid has also shown they are rival to take very seriously. So far, however, so good. Barcelona look like an upgraded version of themselves. An even more complete, and dangerous team. Anthony Gordon was the shock signing of the early summer, and it was symbolic of Flick’s intentions. This is a team that will be defined not by their talent, but by how hard they work. If you want the playing time, you have to show you understand the assignment.
- Managing Madrid·39d ago·Both·transfers
Jose Juninho — Too Early Thoughts Pt.1 : 1 Sep. 2026
MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 30: Jose Mourinho, head coach of Real Madrid CF, gestures during the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match played between Real Madrid and Malaga CF at Bernabeu stadium on August 30, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images Welcome to The Daily Merengue — a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the Mods who do a fantastic job, Valyrian Steel, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho. Writer’s Prelude. Since yesterday’s DT was lacking, here is a comprehensive breakdown about my thoughts after the first 3 games. LIVE EDIT: This will be broken down into three (3) parts across the next DTs. I have most of it written but the word count is already close to 3,000 which is far too long for just one day’s read. So we’ll build from back to front. Jose Juninho — Defense Edition “Not that I read it a lot, but sometimes when I read the press, not only English but Portuguese, I feel that sometimes defending properly is seen as a crime but it is not.” — Jose Mourinho (while at Manchester United) View Link Disclaimer. It’s a bit weird to say this before I write what I imagine will be a pretty long three DTs but I just want to note that none of what I say / or you say / or even Kiyan says [let’s see if this leads to any comments!!] about this team matters as it’s Sept 1st 2026. At this point last year, we thought Xabi Alonso was about to take us to a treble. At this point a year before, we thought Carlo x Kylian x “This is the greed described in the Bible” were about to take us to a treble. At this point three years ago, everyone LOVED Jude Bellingham and everyone (besides TR / me / Ivatar) hated Joselu and complained about how we didn’t sign a ST like Harry Kane or dare I add Aubamayeng. So yea it’s super early for all of this. Just to again cement my point PSG under Luis Enrique’s second year stint started terribly before ultimately winning every trophy in sight (besides the CWC). Of course, you’re free to make your judgements — it’s the internet so have at it. However, I’m in the business at this age of protecting my peace. So I’m not getting too high on this team but also not too low. I’m just waiting too see what happens when Mourinho is forced to make tough decisions. Like if Vini’s form doesn’t pick up or when Tchouameni is healthy or when injuries really set in and games pick up. But anyway let’s dive into the defensive breakdown. 🗣️ Arsène Wenger: “El Clásico was a bit Men vs Boys. Real Madrid’s defensive performance was much stronger than Barcelona’s. In attack, Madrid always looked like they could score, Barcelona looked toothless. They had a lot of the ball but never really looked like scoring. I… pic.twitter.com/b6vgfYUUVI — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 26, 2025 Defense — CBs + Overall Line. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the work of the defensive line and their relative focus throughout the past 3 games. In all honesty, this is a Mourinho team so I shouldn’t be surprised at all…but I find myself excited about how comfortable I am with our defensive line. I feel like most of my Madrid fandom (besides a few very brief moments were filled with chaos. It was whether Varane / Ramos could make a last ditch tackle or whether Courtois could win us the CL with 9 saves against Liverpool (aside: MM AND REAL MADRID FANS NEED TO STOP SAYING VINI WON US 2 CLS UNLESS THEY NOTE THAT COURTOIS WON US CLS. Record-breaking 9 saves against Liverpool and some crucial saves against Dortmund. Tibo is arguably the greatest Real Madrid GK of all-time). Nevertheless, this year there so far feels like a sense of calm even though we only have 1 clean sheet. So far Courtois has made 5 saves across 3 games and I can only really think of maybe 1-2 that were truly goal saving and not pretty routine. 🚨 Thibaut Courtois: “I think the 2 goals we conceded so far in La Liga were AVOIDABLE. We learned from it.” pic.twitter.com/3aJbk9Ahto — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 30, 2026 Overall for the defense, we’ve only kept 1 clean sheet which isn’t amazing. However, I wouldn’t I wouldn’t really blame any of those goals on the defensive line. Fede Valverde simply didn’t track a midfield runner which led to the Espanyol goal. Yes — he directed Carreras to cover the run but Carreras was already in the box covering the far post player. It was simply a miscommunication by the captain or just a lack of urgency to take responsibility for a man which was very much his own. The Sociedad goal was earnestly a lucky unfortunate event. Carreras got a bit of the stick for that goal (which I actually think is undeserved) and I’ll admit Konate initially misjudged the pass. But the goal takes a wild deflection to the only person who isn’t covered in the box. If this is the only type of goal we are conceding on a weekly basis, I’m pretty confident we will have the best defense in the top 5 leagues. 🚨 José Mourinho: "I really like Dean Huijsen. He makes passes in build-up that only midfielders can make, he wins duels, he gives the team confidence that they're well-covered in defense, he has top quality. He made a mistake early on, but then he was totally dominant. My… pic.twitter.com/1gmGFvUQoT — Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) August 30, 2026 Speaking more directly on our starting CB pairing Konate has been refreshing to watch and looks like the Konate from two years ago. I was recently informed that Konate lost his father last season, which is a more than reasonable justification for being pretty distracted especially with the chaos that was Liverpool last season (i.e., lack of leadership, Virigl Van Dijk & Salah poor performances, Slot’s poor management, and underlying all of it is mourning the loss of their teammate and friend Diogo Jota). Konate looks rejuvenated — he’s quick, strong, and a great balance to Dean. I’m actually pretty hopeful for this partnership going forward. Separately, Dean looks fantastic. To everyone who doubted him for losing form, when the ENTIRE TEAM lost form — shame on you. Dean has put in great performances simply because a) Mourinho is a manager that will make sure that Dean first and foremost focuses on defending before the prettier side of the game, b) getting dropped from Spain looks to have reinvigorated his hunger for the game + kept him fresh, and c) he finally has a partner who he can trust. I think we’re going to see Dean take a major step this year and I’m truly excited to see him take on the responsibilities of the legendary #4. I somewhat mentioned this during the summer but our CB depth (assuming Konate + Dean can maintain form) isn’t all too bad. Rudiger put in a solid performance against Malaga and can be a reliable 4th CB option. If Militao returns with any bit of decent form, he can also be a great rotation piece and then Mourinho seems to show a bit of faith in Mario Rivas who should be our Castilla option. I’m not speaking on Asencio simply because the club + some players seem to have serious issues with his off-pitch behavior but if he’s our actual 5th option we could certainly do worse. Anyway kudos to the defense for their work. So, Dean Huijsen continues to be been very very good — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) August 30, 2026 Fullbacks. Curiously, we’ve actually seen less Trent these early games than Dumfries. I’ll admit I predicted early on that Dumfries would play a lot of our major games being that Mourinho believes in defensive fortitude before jogo bonito BUT I assumed simply due to politics (+ the WC and easier run of early games) Trent would get a major opportunity to stamp a start spot early on. This has not been the case as Dumfries seems to be pretty settled in as the go-to starter. I’ll earnestly be extremely surprised if Dumfries doesn’t start against Inter. Nevertheless, I’m actually pretty confident that Trent’s lack of playing time is more about fitting Arda Guler in the lineup than Trent’s ability or practice mentality. One simply can’t start Arda with regular freedom with Trent. For Arda to thrive as a pseudo-RW with freedom, he needs to be paired with a defensively-focused RB who can combine with him but also understands that he will often be left 1v1 against opposing forwards. Dumfries isn’t Ferland Mendy but he certainly isn’t Trent. Trent just can’t be left in those positions as he’ll inevitable lose a ground duel, force Konate to be stretched and ultimately collapse our entire defensive fortitude. If Trent had the transition speed of Valverde, we definitely would be having a different convo but he doesn’t…so that’s where we stand. Therefore, Real is simply making a quick calculation on who is more important to this team and atm Arda is just undroppable. I expect us to see Trent once Diomande (who is actually putting in great defensive performances in his cameos) gets up to speed and IF one of the “undroppable” players gets dropped. 🚨📈 Arda Güler becomes the first player to create 10+ chances in the league this season (11). pic.twitter.com/qbb8O2FDRe — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 26, 2026 Just a quick mention for the LB position. I love Cucurella but don’t want there to be unnecessary hate on Carreras. Carreras actually has put together a sling of pretty good performances and even the game where MM tried to blame him for the goal it truly wasn’t his fault. If anything, Konate shouldn’t have let the ball drop and took a terrible angle on the Sociedad ST (forgetting the name but I don’t think it was Oyarzabal). And then the shot deflected in potentially the silliest fashion. One may point to his HT hooking as a sign of Mou’s frustration but I’ve heard and get the feeling from sources that this was much more related to getting Cucu up to speed quickly and was preplanned. I think our LB position for the first time in years is really in four good hands. Real Madrid conceding that goal against Espanyol was the consequence of a subpar retreat to a deep block in the first place. Then comes tha subpar cross-defending. Imo, the backline is well positioned: Konaté zonal covering the front post zone, Huijsen man-marking the ST,… https://t.co/zMTmcSbsOm — ACHRAF (@LamdarhriAchraf) August 24, 2026 But that’s all for today…tomorrow we’ll talk about the midfield. Cheers, J
- Managing Madrid·39d ago·Both·transfers
Where Real Madrid rank among the Champions League favorites
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 02: Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouameni players of Real Madrid celebrates the Champions League trophy on June 02, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images) | Real Madrid via Getty Images The Champions League is back, and with Real Madrid beginning another pursuit of the trophy that has defined so much of the club’s history, expectations will inevitably be enormous. José Mourinho’s team enters the competition with a significantly reshaped squad and plenty of optimism after a busy summer transfer window. But where does Madrid actually stand relative to the rest of Europe’s elite? The latest Champions League odds from FanDuel provide an interesting snapshot of how the field is viewed heading into the competition. Real Madrid feature prominently across virtually every major market, from winning the tournament outright to finishing in the top eight of the league phase, while Kylian Mbappé is the favorite to finish as the tournament’s top scorer. Champions League winner Favorite: Paris Saint-Germain (+500) Real Madrid: +650 Real Madrid have the fourth-shortest odds to win the Champions League, according to FanDuel. Paris Saint-Germain lead the field at +500, followed by Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Barcelona at +600. Madrid sit immediately behind that group at +650, with Manchester City further back at +950. In other words, there isn’t much separating the five teams FanDuel views as the principal contenders. Madrid’s place among that group isn’t particularly surprising. Mourinho inherited a team already overflowing with individual talent and was given significant reinforcements during the summer, including Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva. The biggest question is how quickly all those pieces come together. Madrid’s ceiling is obvious, but Mourinho is still early in the process of building the team in his image. The Champions League will provide the most demanding test of how far that process has progressed. To reach the Champions League final Paris Saint-Germain: +290 Barcelona: +320 Arsenal: +330 Bayern Munich: +350 Real Madrid: +360 Manchester City: +440 FanDuel takes a similarly optimistic view of Madrid’s chances of reaching the final. At +360, Real Madrid have the fifth-shortest odds in the market, but again the margins between Europe’s leading teams are small. PSG are the favorites at +290, while Barcelona, Arsenal and Bayern narrowly sit between the defending champions and Madrid. The numbers essentially reinforce the same message as the outright winner market: there is no overwhelming Champions League favorite. Instead, Madrid belong to a relatively tight group of teams expected to have a realistic chance of reaching the final stages. Kylian Mbappé favored to lead the Champions League in goals Perhaps the most eye-catching Real Madrid-related number concerns Kylian Mbappé. Kylian Mbappé: +185 Harry Kane: +220 Ousmane Dembélé: +470 Erling Haaland: +650 Raphinha: +1900 Lamine Yamal: +2200 Mbappé is FanDuel’s favorite to finish as the Champions League’s top goalscorer at +185, narrowly ahead of Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane at +220. There is then a significant gap to the rest of the field, with PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé at +470 and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland at +650. For Madrid, that expectation will hardly feel excessive. Mbappé will be the focal point of one of the competition’s most talented attacks, and Madrid’s ability to make a deep run could naturally give him more opportunities to accumulate goals. Real Madrid joint-favorites to win the league stage Paris Saint-Germain: +500 Real Madrid: +500 Arsenal: +550 Bayern Munich: +600 Interestingly, FanDuel is even more bullish on Madrid when it comes specifically to the league phase. Real Madrid and PSG are joint-favorites at +500 to finish first in the Champions League table, followed by Arsenal at +550 and Bayern Munich at +600. Madrid’s eight league-phase opponents are Inter Milan, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Roma, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, LASK Linz and AEK Atrhens. It is not an easy schedule — particularly with Arsenal among the away fixtures — but FanDuel’s numbers nevertheless put Mourinho’s side right at the top of the market. What do the odds tell us about Real Madrid? Taken together, the markets paint a fairly clear picture of how Real Madrid are viewed entering Mourinho’s first Champions League campaign since returning to the club. Madrid aren’t the outright favorites to lift the trophy — PSG currently hold that distinction — but they are firmly inside the competition’s top tier of contenders. FanDuel has them fourth in the outright winner market at +650, fifth to reach the final at +360, joint-first to win the league phase at +500, and as the strongest favorite shown to secure a top-eight finish. And individually, Mbappé enters as the favorite to lead the entire competition in scoring. There are still plenty of unknowns. Mourinho has several new players to integrate, and the Champions League’s expanded format creates a long road before the decisive knockout rounds begin. Madrid’s schedule also includes several significant tests. But the overall assessment from the betting market is straightforward: Real Madrid are expected to be there when the Champions League reaches its decisive stages. For a club that measures European seasons by what happens in the spring, that is exactly where they will expect to be.
- Barca Blaugranes·41d ago·Both·transfers
Way Too Early Predictions for the Champions League 2026-27 League Phase Table
Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images The top club competition in Europe begins in less than two weeks as the 2026-27 edition of the UEFA Champions League kicks off with Matchday 1 of the League Phase in the second week of September. Back-to-back reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain have proven in the last two years that the League Phase is less important than originally thought, and that finishing in the Top 8 to guarantee an automatic spot in the Round of 16 and avoid the Playoffs at all costs may not be as big of a priority for clubs who really believe they can win it all. But for clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester City, who are among the betting favorites and have a very busy schedule in England and Spain, avoiding two extra Playoff games is a benefit to the general health and fitness of their squads as they look to make a deep run in all competitions and have a harder path to domestic success compared to PSG and Bayern Munich, who are also heavy favorites for this season. The eighth and final matchday of the League Phase was incredibly tense and exciting in the first two years of the new format as teams put it all on the line to finish either in the Top 8 or in the Top 24 to avoid elimination and clinch a Playoff spot, and this season’s field of 36 teams guarantees another exciting League Phase. So here are some way too early predictions for what is about to unfold in the initial stage of this season’s UEFA Champions League. PSG will finally finish in the Top 8 The reigning back-to-back champs famously finished outside the Top 8 in both of their title-winning seasons, and slow starts to the season are a fixture of Luis Enrique’s teams as they usually find their best version after January. Their schedule is tough, including meetings with Manchester City, Barcelona, Villarreal and Aston Villa, but after dealing with a crazy numbers of injuries at the start of last season, PSG will likely suffer a positive regression to the mean from an injury standpoint and have their best players regularly available for European fixtures. They also have a deeper squad this season and won’t have to rely so much on younger players as they did in last year’s League Phase, and Luis Enrique can always rotate his squad in Ligue 1 matches to ensure his most trusted starting XI will play in the Champions League. If they stay healthy this time around and avoid dropping points against the easier opponents on their schedule, PSG feel like a safe bet to compete for top spot in this year’s League Phase. Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will finish in the Top 4 The two Spanish giants, last season’s finalists and Germany’s record champions are a lock to cruise through the League Phase and fight for a Top 2 finish, which guarantees home matches in the second legs of all knockout rounds. Arsenal remain a great defensive team and made a key midfield addition in Bruno Guimarães, and that strong spine will be enough to offset an attack that remains without a true superstar. This team is too strong, too well-coached, and doesn’t drop points in the League Phase. Bayern have always dominated the early stages of the Champions League whether in the League Phase or the old group stage, and Vincent Kompany’s side is deeper, stronger and with a comfortable schedule. Real Madrid also got a favorable draw, and strong starts for José Mourinho’s teams are never a surprise. As for Barcelona, who face monster tests against PSG and Man City and have a challenging draw overall, they will have compete focus in the Champions League and will take every single European test very seriously. The arrival of Rodri is a true game changer, the squad is deep, Hansi Flick is a great coach, and Camp Nou will be rocking on European nights. Champions League 2026-27 League Phase Table Predictions Top 8 (in no particular order): PSG, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Liverpool Playoff Teams (9-24): Aston Villa, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, FC Porto, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Sporting Lisbon, Villarreal, Manchester United, AS Roma, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray, Club Brugge, Como, Bodo/Glimt, Lens Eliminated (25-36): AEK Athens, Fenerbahçe, Feyenoord, Stuttgart, LASK, Lille, Real Betis, Sabah, Skakhtar Donetsk, Slavia Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Viking What are your predictions for the Champions League 2026-27 League Phase table? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
- Managing Madrid·41d ago·Both·transfers
Real Madrid vs Málaga 2026 La Liga Preview
VALDEBEBAS, SPAIN - AUGUST 29: Kylian Mbappe, Ibrahima Konate, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, Carlos Espi and Alvaro Carreras during the training day of Real Madrid ahead the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match against Malaga CF at Ciudad Deportiva Real Madrid on August 29, 2026, in Valdebebas, Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images Real Madrid host Málaga at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday looking to maintain their perfect start to the 2026-27 La Liga season. José Mourinho’s team have collected six points from their opening two matches, although the performances have been quite different. Real Madrid needed a late Carlos Espí winner to escape the RCDE Stadium with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol on opening weekend before producing a much more convincing display against Real Sociedad on Wednesday. That second performance offered a better glimpse of what Mourinho will want his team to become. Real Madrid won 4-1 at the Bernabéu, with Kylian Mbappé scoring a hat-trick and Vinícius Júnior also finding the net. The result leaves Madrid among the small group of teams with a perfect record through two rounds. Barcelona have also started with consecutive victories, meaning neither of Spain’s two biggest clubs will want to surrender any ground this early in what could develop into a tight title race. Sunday represents another opportunity for Real Madrid to build momentum before the schedule temporarily becomes less congested. A familiar opponent returns to the Bernabéu Málaga are back in La Liga for the first time since their relegation in 2018, completing a long journey back to the top flight after falling as far as Spain’s third tier. It is a remarkable turnaround for a club that reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013 before enduring years of financial and sporting instability. Juan Funes’ side earned promotion through the Segunda División playoffs but have predictably found the adjustment to La Liga difficult. Málaga opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Atlético Madrid before earning their first point of the season in Monday’s 1-1 draw with fellow promoted side Deportivo La Coruña. Chupete scored from the penalty spot in that game. They now face a considerably more difficult assignment in Madrid. History is overwhelmingly on Real Madrid’s side. The clubs have met 80 times in all competitions, with Madrid winning 52 and Málaga winning only 10. In 41 visits to Real Madrid, Málaga have never won, losing 33 times and drawing eight. Real Madrid have also won nine of the last 11 meetings between the teams. Their most recent encounter came in April 2018, when Madrid won 2-1 at La Rosaleda. Mourinho’s selection decisions Real Madrid continue to deal with a substantial injury list. Aurélien Tchouaméni, Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Endrick, and Thiago Pitarch all worked away from the main group during Saturday’s final training session. Militão and Endrick were able to continue their recovery work on the pitch, while the remaining injured players worked individually. The absences have limited some of Mourinho’s options, particularly in midfield. The Real Madrid coach has indicated that Tchouaméni is ultimately expected to occupy the defensive midfield role, but his absence has meant Bernardo Silva and Fede Valverde have operated together deeper in midfield. Mourinho named the same starting XI against both Espanyol and Real Sociedad. The question now is whether he sees Málaga’s visit as the right moment to begin rotating. There is significant competition for places. Marc Cucurella is pushing Álvaro Carreras at left-back, while Mourinho has so far preferred Denzel Dumfries to Trent Alexander-Arnold on the opposite side. There are even more options further forward. Arda Güler has started the season well and has been part of Mourinho’s starting lineup in each of the opening two matches, while summer signing Yan Diomande is waiting for an opportunity to establish himself following his blockbuster move to Madrid. With another match coming just four days after the victory over Real Sociedad, it would not be surprising to see Mourinho make his first significant changes of the league campaign. Mbappé already firing If Málaga needed another reason to be wary, Kylian Mbappé enters Sunday’s game in excellent form. The Frenchman’s hat-trick against Real Sociedad took him to three league goals this season and provided another reminder of how devastating he can be when Madrid create space for him around the penalty area. Mbappé remains the focal point of Mourinho’s attack, with Vinícius stretching defenses alongside him and Bellingham and Güler providing additional creativity between the lines. Real Madrid have scored at least twice in each of their opening two league matches. Málaga, meanwhile, have yet to keep a clean sheet since returning to the top flight. For Funes, containing Madrid’s transitions and surviving periods of sustained pressure will likely be central to any hope of taking something from the Bernabéu. Goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero has already been required to make four saves in each of Málaga’s first two matches, and he could face an even heavier workload on Sunday. Málaga also arrive with their own injury problems, with Adrián Niño, Diego Murillo, Fernando Calero, Moussa Diarra, and Aaron Ochoa unavailable. On paper, everything points toward Real Madrid. Málaga are still searching for their first victory since returning to La Liga, while Mourinho’s side have the opportunity to take nine points from nine and carry a perfect record into the next stage of the season. The challenge for Madrid will be to avoid complacency and build on Wednesday’s performance rather than simply relying on the considerable talent gap between the two squads. Possible starting lineups Real Madrid: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Valverde, Bernardo Silva; Bellingham; Diomande, Vinícius, Mbappé. Málaga: Herrero; Puga, Recio, Galilea, Garrido; Merino, Dotor, Lorenzo; Cruz, Muñoz; Chupete. Match information Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026 Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. local time (11:00 a.m. ET) Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Competition: La Liga, Matchday 3 US TV/streaming: ESPN+ Spain: Movistar LaLiga UK: Premier Sports
- Barca Blaugranes·41d ago·Both·transfers
Toughest Draws in the Champions League 2026-27 League Phase
This photograph shows the UEFA Champions League trophy before the draw ceremony for the league phase of the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League football tournament at the Grimaldi Forum in the Principality of Monaco on August 27, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Barcelona discovered their opponents for the 2026-27 Champions League this week as Europe’s premier club competition prepares to kick off once again. Hansi Flick’s side face some tough testing fixtures, with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City to come, along with games against Galatasaray and Como. Barca’s fixture list certainly isn’t easy but it’s not the toughest, particularly as the Catalans will be confident when coming up against lower-ranked teams such as Feyenoord, Sporting and Sabah. Which Pot 1 Team Has the Toughest Draw? Of all the top teams in Pot 1, it looks as though Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City have been handed the toughest draw. The Cityzens play defending champions PSG, will travel to Barcelona for the Rodri derby and also face trips to Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens. Sporting and Napoli at home are City’s two other fixtures as they head into a season of transition following the departure of Pep Guardiola and a busy summer of ins and outs in the transfer window. Barcelona fans won’t be at all sad to see that Atletico Madrid have been handed a testing draw after making it to the semi-finals last season. Diego Simeone’s side host Bayern, Man Utd, Fenerbahce and Viking and face trips to Liverpool, PSV, Bodo/Glimt and Stuttgart. Manchester United have also been handed some daunting fixtures on their return to the Champions League. The Red Devils host Bayern, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah and will enjoy trips to Atletico, Sporting, Villarreal and Como. Yet the toughest draw of all undoubtedly belongs to Sabah. The UCL debutants were only founded in 2017 but have enjoyed a rapid rise. They will now get to play among the elite and will take on some of the biggest name in the game. Sabah have been drawn against Barcelona, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Man Utd, Napoli, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Viking Must-Watch UCL Games Coming Up PSG vs Barcelona This game needs no introduction and will see plenty of familiar faces as Luis Enrique comes up against his former team once again. The match will also see Ferran Torres and Dro Fernandez take on their old team along with Ousmane Dembele. Barca lost 2-1 to PSG in the competition last season and will out be out for revenge after being paired together again. Arsenal vs Real Madrid Last season’s beaten finalists Arsenal were linked with a shock move for Vinicius Jr over the summer but Gooners then had to watch as the Brazilian penned a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu. Vinicius Jr can therefore expect a hot reception when Arsenal host Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, while the Gunners would also surely love to get one over former Chelsea and Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho. Barca vs Man City Barcelona’s clash with Manchester City is another game not to be missed as Rodri makes a swift return to his former side. City waved goodbye to Pep Guardiola over the summer and replaced their legendary coach with Enzo Maresca. Key players have also followed Pep out of the exit door, although City have invested heavily in the squad once again. With Erling Haaland around City will always provide a real threat, and a fascinating match-up awaits at Camp Nou. Man Utd vs Bayern Manchester United’s match-up against Bayern will evoke memories of the 1999 final when the Bavarian giants thought they had won it but were undone by late, late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Much has changed for both clubs since then, and Bayern will be favourites, but the Red Devils may fancy their chances under the lights at Old Trafford. Barcelona vs Como Cesc Fabregas has taken Como into the Champions League for the first time in their history and will relish the chance of returning to the Camp Nou. The club’s former midfielder has been tipped to be a Barcelona boss of the future and is certainly doing a fine job with the Serie A side. He’s now about to experience life as a manager in the Champions League and may learn a lot from a clash with Hansi Flick’s side. Who do you think has the toughest UCL draw and which fixtures are you most looking forward to watching? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
- Barca Blaugranes·42d ago·Both·transfers
Rodri’s debut marks the beginning of Hansi Flick’s new project at Barcelona
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 27: Rodri of Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Spotify Camp Nou on August 27, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) | Getty Images It’s been a summer in Barcelona where much of the talk has centered around what the team doesn’t have. There’s still no center forward, and still no defensive reinforcements. The two areas, supposedly, where Barcelona was the most vulnerable and in need of investment. Instead, the biggest signing was none other than World Cup hero, and former Ballon d’Or winning midfielder Rodri. Many questioned the move. It seemed to have come out of nowhere. Of all the positions, the midfield was the one area where Barcelona was stacked. Even more so when you consider the never ending supply coming from La Masia. This pre-season was a case in point with many young midfield players showing they were ready for their chance to break through. When Rodri shows interest, however, you answer the call. It’s a no-brainer. Rodri is here, to the surprise of many who expected him to go to his hometown of Madrid instead, because he believes in the project. He knows that who he is as a footballer is a perfect match for what Barcelona is as a club. After being coached by Pep Guardiola for so long, could you really see him going to Jose Mourinho next? Of course not. Only the tactical ambition of Hansi Flick would do. Flick needed Rodri too. The coach has been working miracles since his arrival at the Camp Nou. Now it’s time to give him a superstar or two and see what he can really do. It’s early days, of course, but what we’ve seen from Barcelona so far should strike fear into the hearts of opponents across Spain, and Europe writ large. Flick is not content with continuing on with the way things have been in his first two years. He won the league twice, that’s true, but this season the aim is the Champions League, while staying ahead of Real Madrid to win three La Liga titles in a row. To do that, you have to evolve. The rest of the world knows what Barcelona has been about recently, even if most of the time, they have struggled to stop them. This season, they have to be better on all fronts. They have to continue scoring lots of goals, that’s the gameplan after all, but they also have to be better defensively, especially against the best teams. This is where Rodri really helps out. We are likely to see a shift away from the 4-2-3-1 and towards a more fluid 4-3-3. When Rodri entered the game against Athletic Club, Pedri pushed forward. That also allowed Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez to play higher when Raphinha came off the field. This is total football. It’s not about the positions. It’s exciting to watch, and so far, it’s been effective. It’s a shame what’s been going on with Julian Alvarez. He really would be a perfect fit for this team. Flick isn’t waiting around though. He is making things work with what he has, and per usual, his players are inspired and rewarding him for the confidence he has put in them. With Rodri now, we may see the best version of Pedri. Ironically, even though they won the World Cup together, it’s Flick and not Luis de la Fuente who may truly unlock their potential together. Rodri provides the structure that allows everyone else to play with fluidity and creativity. That’s the idea. I’m bullish on the impact he will make on Barcelona. This may just be Flick’s vision, finally, in action. Real Madrid will be a good team this year, but I think their success will be the result of brute force. Barcelona on the other hand will continue to show the world what the beautiful game is all about. As a true team with an identity backed by an uncompromising philosophy, they will score lots of goals, and they will win lots of games. This is just the beginning, but it sure does look like the foreshadowing of bright days ahead. Forget the trophies for a minute, it’s simply going to be a joy to watch. At the end of the day, that’s why we tune in. It’s why we love the game, and why we love this club.
- Guardian Football·43d ago·Both·transfers
Champions League draw: Arsenal face Real Madrid, Man City get Barcelona and PSG
Manchester United will host Bayern Munich Aston Villa welcome PSG; Liverpool go to Inter Arsenal face mouthwatering assignments against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as they bid to go one better than last season’s agonising near miss and win a first Champions League title. Mikel Arteta’s side were pipped on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain in the final three months ago and will be expected to cruise through this season’s league phase. The bulk of their draw appears kind but they are tasked with a visit to the Allianz Arena to play Bayern, whom they beat 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium last November, and host Real, who are once again under the charge of José Mourinho. Two seasons ago, Arsenal beat the Spanish giants 3-0 at home in a quarter-final first leg, Declan Rice scoring two memorable free-kicks. Continue reading...
- Managing Madrid·43d ago·Both·transfers
Real Madrid await Champions League draw with familiar European rivals looming
MONACO, MONACO - AUGUST 27: General view of the UEFA Champions League trophy ahead of the draw at Grimaldi Forum on August 27, 2026 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) | UEFA via Getty Images Real Madrid will discover their eight opponents in the 2026-27 Champions League league phase on Thursday, with the draw potentially adding another chapter to some of the club’s most enduring European rivalries. This will be the third season of UEFA’s 36-team league format, which replaced the traditional group stage in 2024. Real Madrid will play eight different opponents — four at the Santiago Bernabéu and four away — between the opening matchdays on September 8-10 and the final, simultaneous round on January 27, 2027. There are several restrictions built into the draw. Clubs cannot face teams from their own domestic league during the league phase and can be paired with no more than two opponents from any other country. That means Madrid cannot be drawn against Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal or Real Betis, the other Spanish representatives in this season’s competition. UEFA’s automated draw system will ultimately be responsible for producing the 144 league-phase fixtures while respecting those restrictions. There is also a new wrinkle this season concerning repeat fixtures. UEFA’s regulations prevent the same two clubs from playing at the same venue in the league phase for three consecutive seasons. That is particularly relevant for Real Madrid and Liverpool. Madrid have travelled to Anfield in each of the first two seasons under the league-phase format. Should Liverpool and Real Madrid be paired together again on Thursday, the fixture would therefore have to be played at the Bernabéu rather than Anfield. The rule is designed to introduce more variety into the competition and prevent the expanded league phase from producing exactly the same matchups at the same venues year after year. Liverpool are only one of several familiar names Madrid could encounter. Manchester City, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are among the clubs with extensive Champions League history against Los Blancos. Few rivalries have developed as rapidly as Madrid’s with Manchester City. The clubs did not meet in European competition until the 2012-13 season, but have already played 17 times. City have appeared on Madrid’s Champions League schedule in each of the past five editions and six of the last seven. That has made Manchester City the third-most frequent opponent Real Madrid have faced in European Cup history. Madrid’s record across those 17 games stands at seven victories, five draws and five defeats, with 30 goals scored and 27 conceded. City have already overtaken two historic Madrid opponents in terms of meetings: AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, who have each faced Los Blancos 16 times in the competition. Madrid’s history with Milan stretches all the way back to the inaugural European Cup in 1956, when the teams met in the semi-finals, while Dortmund have repeatedly crossed paths with Madrid in the modern Champions League era. Their most significant recent meeting came in the 2024 final at Wembley, where Madrid defeated Dortmund to secure their 15th European Cup. Juventus sit above all three. Real Madrid and the Italian giants have met 22 times in European competition, including two finals. Madrid won both: the 1998 final in Amsterdam and the 2017 final in Cardiff. But even that rivalry falls short of the most frequently played fixture in Real Madrid’s European history. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have met 30 times. The rivalry spans half a century, beginning with their 1976 European Cup semi-final and most recently continuing with last season’s Champions League quarter-final. The record could scarcely be closer: Madrid and Bayern have each won 13 of the 30 meetings, with four draws. Madrid have scored 49 goals to Bayern’s 48. The Germans had the upper hand in the most recent installment. Bayern won 2-1 at the Bernabéu in the first leg of the 2025-26 quarter-finals before a remarkable 4-3 victory in Munich completed a 6-4 aggregate elimination of Madrid. Over the years, the two clubs have encountered each other at virtually every stage of the competition, including the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals. The 1999-2000 campaign was particularly unusual: Madrid and Bayern met four times in the same edition before Los Blancos eventually went on to win their eighth European Cup. Thursday’s draw could bring the rivalry back for a 31st meeting. Whether it is Bayern, City, Juventus, Dortmund, Liverpool or a collection of less familiar opponents, Madrid will soon have their European roadmap for the first half of the season. And if Liverpool are among those eight names, there is already one certainty: this time, the meeting will take place in Madrid.
- Barca Blaugranes·44d ago·Both·transfers
Who Barcelona Want to Play and Avoid in the Champions League Draw
ELCHE, SPAIN - AUGUST 23: Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates 0-1 with Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Elche v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on August 23, 2026 in Elche Spain (Photo by David Ramirez/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images Barcelona will discover who they will face in the league phase of the 2026-27 Champions League when the draw is made in Monaco on Thursday, August 27th. The full list of teams and Pots can be found right here. The Catalans will be hoping for a kind draw but the competition’s new format means there are likely to be at least a few tasty ties for Hansi Flick’s side to contend with over the next few months. With the competition coming after a busy summer for many players, Barca would surely prefer to avoid any trips to far-flung places, while also saving the biggest names until 2027 when the business end of the competition rolls around. Barca will be in Pot 1 for the draw along with the highest ranked teams. However, the Catalans can’t play La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Atletico due to country protection and there are a few more sides they will want to avoid. The prospect of facing Luis Enrique and PSG again is enticing, particularly the chance to come up against Ferran Torres and Dro Fernandez, but Barcelona would probably rather avoid taking on the defending champions so early on in the competition. Last season’s beaten finalists Arsenal and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich may also be best saved until later but Barcelona will fancy the remaining teams in Pot 1. Manchester City and Liverpool are both under new management heading into the new season, with Enzo Maresca having taken charge of the Cityzens and Andoni Iraola replacing Arne Slot at Anfield. If there’s ever a good time to face either Premier League club, it may just be right now. Barca will also fancy taking on Inter and gaining revenge for their semi-final defeat at the hands of the Nerazzurri back in 2024-25. Pot 2 contains more Premier League teams and Barcelona may just relish a glamour tie with Manchester United and the chance for a swift reunion with Marcus Rashford. The Red Devils are back in the competition after Michael Carrick revived their fortunes last season and pulled off an impressive third-placed finish. However, that’s been followed by a quietish summer in the transfer window and an opening day defeat to Hull City that hardly inspires confidence for the season ahead. Europa League winners Aston Villa may also hold few fears for Barcelona. Unai Emery’s side have sold Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa and Youri Tielemans this summer and may lose a few more key players before the transfer window closes in Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez. Barcelona will also be happy to be paired with Dortmund, Club Brugge or PSV again. The Catalans have enjoyed wins over all three teams in recent seasons in the Champions League and will feel confident if drawn against them again. If there’s one team that may give Barcelona nightmares it could be Roma. A trip to Italy would bring back memories of the 2018 collapse when Ernesto Valverde’s side threw away a 3-0 lead in the Italian capital and crashed out. Pots 3 and 4 are still yet to be fully confirmed but already contain some new faces and potentially intriguing encounters to look out for in Thursday’s draw. Former Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas has led Como into the competition for the first time in their history and the Serie A side will be desperate to make a mark in the tournament in their debut campaign. Como may therefore prove to be tricky opponents along with Lens. The Ligue 1 side pushed PSG all the way in France last season and are no pushovers. Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray are another team likely to cause problems. The Turkish side beat Liverpool home and away last season and Barca will know that Istanbul is never an easy place to go in the Champions League. A trip to the Arctic Circle to face Bodo/Glimt may also be one to avoid along with an away trip to Azerbaijan to face Sabah. Elsewhere, Feyenoord and Lille will hold few fears for Barcelona, along with teams such as LASK, Stuttgart and Slavia Prague. Who would you like to see Barcelona face in the Champions League and which teams are best avoided? Share your thoughts, opinions and answers in the comments section below!
- Barca Blaugranes·44d ago·Both·transfers
Champions League 2026-27 Draw: Start Time, How to Watch, Format
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - MAY 30: The Champions League Trophy is displayed on a plinth prior to the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Kevin Voigt/GettyImages) | Getty Images Barcelona will discover their next Champions League opponents this week when the draw for the 2026-27 league phase is made in Monaco. Paris Saint-Germain head into the new tournament as the defending champions after beating Arsenal in the final in May to make it back-to-back titles under Luis Enrique. As for Barcelona, Hansi Flick has guided his team to the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the competition during his time in charge but has made no secret of the fact that it’s his dream to lift the European Cup with the Catalan giants. A summer of investment has brought in Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Jesse Bisiwu, Joao Cancelo and Rodri, while there may even be more arrivals and departures before the transfer window closes next week. The arrival of Rodri in particular has been seen by many as a game-changer. The Spain star has already won the Champions League with Manchester City, the World Cup with Spain and claimed the Ballon d’Or during his incredible career. He’s also made it clear after arriving in Barcelona that he wants to add more titles to his collection and has the Champions League very much on his mind. Champions League draw start time The draw for the 2026-27 league phase takes place on Thursday, August 27th from 6pm CET (12pm ET). The draw will take place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, France. How to watch the Champions League draw The draw for the 2026-27 Champions League is free to watch live on UEFA.com and UEFA.tv. Viewers in the United States can also watch the draw on HBO Max. In the United Kingdom, the draw will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1. Champions League draw format There are 36 teams in the Champions League draw, 29 automatic qualifiers and seven winners from the play-off round. Each team will be drawn to face eight opponents in the league phase. The clubs will play half of their games at home and the other half away. The top eight teams in the league phase will progress straight to the Round of 16. The teams finishing from ninth to 24th will go into a knockout play-off round, with the winners also progressing to the last 16. Those teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated from the competition and do not drop into the Europa League. The Champions League draw is determined by a supercomputer which automatically selects the eight opponents and guarantees that teams can not face clubs from the same league. The four different pots are allocated based on UEFA’s club coefficient rankings. Which Pot are Barcelona in? Barcelona will be in Pot 1 along with a host of other big European clubs, including defending champions PSG and La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Atletico. The four pots have almost been completed but will be confirmed after the final round of play-off fixtures later today. Pot 1: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid. Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting, Aston Villa, Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV. Pot 3: Feyenoord, Lille, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray. Pot 3 or 4 (to be confirmed): Bodo/Glimt, LASK, Sabah, Slavia Prague, Stuttgart, Como, Lens, Fenerbahce or Lyon, Dinamo Zagreb vs Viking, Slovan Brastislava or Celje, Levski Sofa or AEK Athens. Who do you want Barcelona to play/avoid in the Champions League draw and how do you rate their chances of success this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
- Barca Blaugranes·45d ago·Both·transfers
Four reasons why Atletico are refusing to sell Julian Alvarez to Barcelona
MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 23: Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Atletico de Madrid and Villarreal CF at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on August 23, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images Barcelona’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez has dominated the headlines all summer but looks to end in failure, with Atletico Madrid simply refusing to allow the Argentina international to join their La Liga rivals. Diario AS say there are three reasons why Atletico are blocking a move for Alvarez and have taken such a dramatic stance in the summer transfer window. The first is that Atletico believe they simply will not be able to bring in a replacement at the same level or better than Alvarez. The Argentina is behind only Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland on the list of most valuable No. 9s, per Transfermarkt, and so finding a replacement will be a very difficult indeed. Added to that, Atletico have also been riled because they feel that Barcelona and Alvarez went behind their back when it came to transfer negotiations. Los Colchoneros have already filed a complaint to UEFA and claim their striker was “pressured and harassed” by Barcelona throughout the 2025-26 season to move to Camp Nou. Atletico also don’t want to sell to a direct rival, as Diego Simeone’s side have title and Champions League ambitions, and know that strengthening Barcelona would harm their own hopes of landing silverware this season. The final reason is said to be that Atletico are still “angry” about the offer they received from Barca. The Catalans offered to pay €100 million over several years which Los Colchoneros believe is “part of a strategy orchestrated between the club and Julián’s agents.” Atletico feel that Alvarez’s decision to ask for a transfer during the World Cup was designed to lower his price before Barca’s bid, hence why they responded on social media in such a sarcastic manner and then refused to negotiate with the Catalan giants.
- Managing Madrid·45d ago·Both·transfers
Jose Mourinho: “For me, the squad is closed”
MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 25: Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho answers questions during a press conference at the Valdebebas training complex in Madrid, Spain, on August 25, 2026. The team completed their final training session at the facility ahead of their upcoming opening match of the La Liga season against Real Sociedad. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho spoke to the media ahead of his team’s match against Real Sociedad on Wednesday night. He was asked about potential transfers between now and the end of the window, to which he said: “For me, the squad is closed. The window is open, so you can never say never, there could be an opportunity, a player asks to leave, an offer too good to turn down, but I would be most happy to keep the squad as it is.” Mourinho on the game “First home game, but it’s one of 19. Every point is important. The goal is to win while respecting a team that deserves respect. They have a strong identity and great players. They’ll make it a difficult match for us. Against Espanyol, we felt the support of the opposing fans for their team, and tomorrow we hope for the same from our own fans. What I hope is that the team has the same hunger to win, attitude, resilience, strength, and composure. I hope the fans will recognize that.” Mourinho on his return to the Bernabeu “I don’t want the Bernabéu to welcome me in any particular way. I want them to welcome the team with their passion. At one point last season, that passion was going through a difficult phase. Now we’re not starting from scratch. I’m not the most important person. I’m capable of controlling my emotions and playing normally in a match that isn’t normal because it’s for three points. I’d like the team to feel something different from what they felt last season.” Mourinho on player fitness Espanyol showed up with a level of intensity that we don’t have. We have a solid foundation with players who have been training longer. Playing accelerates the process of reaching peak form. Players need to play, like Cucurella. We use objective, scientific data and combine it with my experience. Feelings are also important.” Mourinho on Fede Valverde’s position “I don’t like it when they play him at right-back. It’s happened with his national team and in the past. For me, he’s a midfielder. He can be more positional, or more mobile. Teams need to have solutions. A full-back is a full-back, but today he can play as a winger. Or like Trent, who can play centrally. I don’t want to assign them a number; things become less defined during matches.” Mourinho on refereeing in Spain for Barcelona and Real Madrid, and how Vini is treated “Last year I didn’t see every game of either of them, so I can’t tell you much. What I can say is that the overall difference between Vini and other players is obvious. He’s entered a spiral; opponents feel they can do whatever they want, and they do. It’s like little kids, they only go as far as you let them. It’s a treatment I don’t like. He was kicked, which is an act of aggression; it should have been a red card. Apart from a few things, I really liked the refereeing. I understand that the referee didn’t see that red card for the kick to Vinicius. I understand that the fourth official didn’t want to. And I can say that VAR didn’t do its job very well. But I trust Spanish referees. I always trust them, in the Champions League too. I don’t think something like ‘he’s friends with Negreira,’ no. They’ve made decisions that have influenced results, but that happens.” More on Vinicius Jr’s treatment “There are issues on and off the field. If the insult isn’t homophobic or racist, I think he can control it and improve. The game, the tackles, and the penalties are the referee’s responsibility. I prefer to say referee rather than official in this case. With my personality, if they did that to me, it might be a red card for me (laughs). Vinicius Jr’s relationship with opposing stadiums is something we can work on.” Mourinho on being calm “It’s not something new, I feel calmer and I control my emotions better. Difficult situations will come. I haven’t seen any lazy people, I like that they work for Real Madrid. Maybe it’s also because the players and the people who work here are protecting me from my dark side (laughs).” Mourinho on the three superstar attackers “I won’t have the most complicated situation, because that’s when you don’t have top players or an injury prevents you from having quality players. I don’t want to leave myself too open to the opposition, only after playing and losing. I want all three of them, and the positives always outweigh the negatives. I’m also here to try and help.” Mourinho on Kylian Mbappé and Carlos Espi “We can see them together. Our evolution as a team, in preseason, was with Endrick. Espí is a different type of player. Espanyol were sitting deep and Kylian was trying to drop back for individual plays. That’s where I thought Carlos could be important. Trent also adds to the quality.” Mourinho on Aurelien Tchouameni “He suffered a lot at the World Cup, as is normal. He didn’t play a couple of matches, but he played in the semi-final. He has a problem, and the holiday period wasn’t enough. The player wants to try, he tried, but we decided that he can’t start the season suffering.” Mourinho on La Liga delaying Real Madrid’s league start “I don’t think it’s unfair. I have to thank La Liga for having the common sense to delay it another week; it would have been a problem. If we have this accumulation of matches, it’s for a positive reason. We have to play with three matches a week. If any player is struggling more, they don’t play, and someone else takes their place.” Mourinho on Endrick’s injury “I can’t tell you. There’s a problem with the muscle and it’s affecting the tendon. He’s a player I like a lot and he’s had a lot of contact from other clubs. I wanted him and that’s why I haven’t loaned him out or sold him. I’m not sure he’ll make Ancelotti’s first squad, but Carlo is a friend and he’ll call me directly.”
- Managing Madrid·46d ago·Both·transfers
Marc Cucurella: “It’s an honor to wear the shirt of the best club in the world”
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 22: Marc Cucurella of Real Madrid reacts during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Real Madrid at RCDE Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) | Getty Images Real Madrid officially presented Marc Cucurella as a new player on Monday. The presentation took place privately in the boardroom at Real Madrid City, continuing the format the club has used for its new signings this summer. Cucurella was joined by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and honorary president José Martínez Pirri before signing his contract, which runs until June 2032. Cucurella spoke about the significance of joining Real Madrid and his ambitions for the coming years. “It’s an honor. It’s a very special day. Summer has felt long, but it’s an honor to wear this shirt, the shirt of the best club in the world. I hope it will be a great chapter and we can win many titles,” Cucurella said. The 28-year-old also highlighted his desire to win the Champions League and experience playing at the Santiago Bernabéu as a Real Madrid player. “I hope I’m lucky enough to have some great seasons and win a Champions League trophy. I’m really looking forward to playing at the Bernabéu; I know how imposing it is and the influence it has on comebacks. It’s going to be one of the best stages of my career, and I hope things go well so we can make the Madrid fans happy,” he said. Cucurella’s move brings him back to Spanish football five years after leaving Getafe for the Premier League. He made his La Liga breakthrough during a loan spell with Eibar in the 2018-19 season before spending two seasons with Getafe, initially on loan and then permanently. He departed Spain having made 107 La Liga appearances and moved to Brighton in 2021. Cucurella spent one season there, making 38 appearances and being voted the club’s player of the season by both supporters and his teammates. Chelsea signed him the following summer, and Cucurella went on to spend four seasons at Stamford Bridge. He finished his time in England with 201 official appearances across Brighton and Chelsea, including 150 in the Premier League. His spell at Chelsea included victories in the Conference League and Club World Cup. His club success was accompanied by an important period with Spain. Cucurella had previously won an Olympic silver medal at Tokyo 2020 before becoming a World Cup winner with the senior national team this summer. Real Madrid completed a €55 million deal for Cucurella on June 15, shortly before Spain began its World Cup campaign. His participation in the tournament meant his integration into José Mourinho’s squad was delayed, and he has only been working under the Portuguese coach for around two weeks. Despite the limited preparation time, Cucurella has already made his first two appearances for Madrid. He featured in the preseason friendly against Schalke before playing in Saturday’s La Liga opener against Espanyol. The next step will be establishing himself in Mourinho’s starting XI as he builds up his match fitness and becomes more accustomed to his new teammates. Madrid’s upcoming games against Real Sociedad on Wednesday and Málaga on Sunday will both take place at the Bernabéu, giving Cucurella his first opportunities to play at his new home stadium as a Real Madrid player.
- Managing Madrid·46d ago·Both·transfers
Five Bullet Points From Real Madrid’s Win Over Espanyol
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 22: Arda Guler of Real Madrid gives instructions before taking a corner kick during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Real Madrid at RCDE Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images) | Getty Images These observations — where I look at Real Madrid’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts — are now a regular thing. All previous editions can be found here. Here is a new thing I’m committing to this season: Five semi-informal bullet points after each game. I think it’s time we put Arda Güler in a different conversation than we’re used to having him in. He’s not some kind of cute promising player — a guy who does nice things and is pretty good. No, this guy is raising the roof of the team right now. Last season, he was already statistically one of the best creators in Europe and was on pace to be the league’s leading assister had he stayed healthy. In the pre-season, he was Real Madrid’s best player again. On the opening match-day against Espanyol, he levitated and was the team’s best player. Seven key passes in 63 minutes is not a normal thing. Granted, some of those were set-pieces, but that’s also a testament to his set-piece delivery. He dropped deep to help escape pressure several times and played some sexy through-balls. Some of his touches in tight spaces were unbelievable. Last season he arrived. This season he’s setting the bar even higher for himself. Last summer, I had declared that I was worried about Vinicius Jr. It was genuine concern. He hadn’t looked right in half-a-year, and his confidence taking players on — as well as his dribbling efficiency — had fallen off a cliff. Is it extra concerning that one year on, I’m concerned again / still? He’s been getting locked up by virtually everyone, including Clemens Riedel and Dejan Ljubičić. His touches look leg-heavy and physically he looks sluggish. I had mentioned during pre-season that I won’t care much about his pre-season form so long as he shows up for the opening matchday against Espanyol. That didn’t happen. Is there time to get back to his best? Of course. But if he keeps performing poorly, he shouldn’t retain his untouchable status on the field. Which leads me to point #3: Why is anyone untouchable at all after two years of mediocrity? The argument against subbing off players like Vinicius and Mbappe has always been ‘well, you wouldn’t sub off Cristiano Ronaldo if he was playing poorly, would you?‘ I get it: These players, even if playing poorly, can still have one moment of magic in the 90th minute. Fair. Question: Are we absolutely sure that Vinicius has more moments of magic than Güler at this stage after a two-year sample size, or are we basing this on past memories? Counter: This was game one. Mourinho will rotate more in subsequent games. This feeds into point #4: Kylian Mbappe was better than Vinicius, but not by much. Of his 10 shots, only three of them were on target. He got into good positions but his shooting was poor. He, like Vinicius, lost possession 15 times — a couple of them in deeper positions where he made the wrong pass or attempted a risky dribble. Generally, Mbappe’s overall form is so good that you wouldn’t be worried about him, but this was a rare circumstance where both him and Vinicius couldn’t produce at the same time, and getting games like that every now and then are ok — that’s why you need a deep squad and players like Carlos Espi and Jude Bellingham to provide goals regularly so the dependence on the two stars up front are lessened. We got a very strong cameo from Ibrahima Konaté. It was very impressive to see him shoe away Espanyol’s attackers like they were some kind of annoying gnats. He ended up squashing all of them. It’s almost impossible to match his physicality. Both him and Dean Huijsen seem to compliment each other well — but they need better defensive support from the midfielders. BONUS 1: Jude Bellingham picking up right where he left off from the World Cup was beautiful to see. The best version of this team has both Bellingham and Güler in the starting XI together. I will live and die by that sword. BONUS 2: ALL ABOARD THE CARLOS ESPI HYPE TRAIN 🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂 — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) August 22, 2026
- Managing Madrid·46d ago·Both·transfers
Courtois on Rodri choosing Barcelona over Real Madrid: “It’s a pity for him”
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois didn’t mince words when asked about Rodri Hernández deciding to sign for FC Barcelona over Los Blancos this summer. Courtois talked to the press immediately after Madrid’s victory over Espanyol. “Every player chooses where they want to be. If he hasn’t wanted to be with us, well, that’s a pity for him. At the end of the day, he’s a great player, but he’s made his choice and that’s that,” said the Belgian goalkeeper. Courtois was also asked about Espanyol’s tweet wondering why Vinicius wasn’t shown his second yellow card late in the game. “I’d love to see all the tweets the teams make against us when they play against other teams. If we’re talking about this rule, Cala should’ve been sent off earlier; the kick to the back, the yellow with Vini, the first foul in the second half on Carreras that, if he didn’t have a yellow, the ref would’ve given him a yellow one hundred percent. First, you gotta look in the mirror and see what’s happening in a game with your players,” he added.
- Managing Madrid·47d ago·Both·transfers
Managing Madrid Roundtable: 2026/2027 Season Preview
Q: Jose Mourinho is back. Real Madrid have now gone through three successive coaches and two seasons of failure. What does Mourinho bring to the table that can fundamentally change things? Can he change Madrid’s trajectory? Sam Leveridge: Experience handling big egos and the respect of the dressing room, far more than either of last season’s coaches. While it won’t quite be Carlo Ancelotti ‘winning on vibes’, it will help to make a lot of his changes easier to implement. His defence-first philosophy will address a problem area and look to make Real Madrid hard to beat, knowing that they have the firepower at the other end. Lucas Navarrete: He is someone who makes sure everyone pulls in the same direction, which is something Real Madrid have lacked for a while. Real Madrid have a similar culture problem than the one they had prior to his first tenure, so I do believe he can solve these issues. Kiyan Sobhani: I know the obvious answer is ‘we finally have a psychologist to fix the locker-room issues’ so I’ll provide something different: Mourinho is a much more rigid tactical coach compared to Ancelotti and Alonso. He has a clear system (4-2-3-1) and he builds it around that, and will field a symmetrical scheme with a pure right ringer which we haven’t had in a long time. I’m very curious to see this team under him. If I’m to provide an optimistic take, it’s that Mourinho might be a good mix of Alonso and Ancelotti in terms of man-management and tactical solutions. Mehedi Hassan: Yes, I believe Jose Mourinho can change the trajectory. Real Madrid adores Jose. But he brings in the necessary discomfort for everyone that, if someone is not doing their job properly, he will call them out without any hesitation. Real Madrid as a club needed this discomfort. He already pointed to the club hierarchy’s failures during Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa’s stints – in a very subtle way – during the El Chiringuito interview. This was unthinkable with all of his last four predecessors, Carlo Ancelotti, Zinedine Zidane, Alonso and Arbeloa. Hridyam Arora: Jose Mourinho is used to managing teams like Real Madrid. Bringing back the ambition, togetherness, and a culture of working hard for the club – as he has suggested in the last few days – will be crucial. Real Madrid were as disjointed last season as they ever have been, and Mourinho’s man-management and strictness will help change some of that. Lamdarhri Achraf: First, Real Madrid’s trajectory was good with Xabi Alonso. He was on track for 90+ points in La Liga. He lost his last game with Real Madrid. But the team created 7 big chances and missed 5. Barcelona hasn’t conceded such a number of big chances since their 8- 2 defeat against Bayern Munich. The eye test and stats backed the fact that the team improved on and off the ball. There were some tactical problems, but it is worth considering that the team didn’t have a pre-season, and the board didn’t sign a midfielder to provide the traits Toni Kroos offered this team on the ball. Xabi Alonso spent only six months with the group, which was a short period for a team to implement a certain playing style, let alone excel at it. Coming to Mourinho, there is the problem of egos and culture that needs to be sorted out in the first place. Then, the tactical issues came second. Out of possession, I don’t think Real Madrid will be a good off-ball team with the presence of Mbappé and Vinicius Junior on the same pitch. They may run with intensity, but how they will run is the question here. Both showed that they lack spatial awareness; they don’t scan enough, which impacts their decision-making and their subsequent actions. In possession, Real Madrid had that major problem of lacking someone who can zip passes through defensive lines from deep, control the tempo and rhythm based on the game state’s requirements, and most importantly, someone who is secure under pressure. Arda Guler was used deeper for that role under Xabi Alonso, but he didn’t have the physicality to win duels. Also, being one-footed and having problems with playing quickly (from first-time touches, for example) made him a press trigger. High up the pitch, there are many players who want to lean toward the left, which makes that area very clogged. Plus, there are many players who want the ball at their feet. That lack of attacking depth makes the opposition comfortable in defense. Having players to run behind backlines puts the opposition in a dilemma, whether to stay still or follow the run. Both scenarios are win-win situations, as you can ping passes over the top for the runner if he’s not tracked, or you can have spaces between the lines to navigate passes if the defensive line is dragged backward. Then, there is the problem of box occupation. In summary, the trajectory of Real Madrid may change if Mourinho has answers to the problems discussed above. Matt Wiltse: Jose comes back but he’s a different man. He admits as much. I am not expecting him to be as animated and as controversial as his first stint. What I do expect is Jose will be blunt, honest, and transparent with his players. He will make the decisions for the good of the team and will create a culture of discipline. A culture of effort and competitiveness. Those things will improve this team vs last year but I remain skeptical that this profile of players can complement each other and truly compete at the highest level. Q: What tactical shifts or principles of play will be implemented? What do you think would make this team more successful? Sam Leveridge: Finding a place for Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham in the same team. Working out Bellingham’s role in this system is Mourinho’s biggest test, but Güler is ready for the step up and it surely won’t come at the expense of a player of Bellingham’s quality. That could mean dropping Güler deeper, which will take some work to shore up the defensive side of the midfield which has been left almost exclusively on Aurélien Tchouameni’s shoulders. Lucas Navarrete: I’d expect Real Madrid’s counterattacks to improve and that would be incredibly helpful. Vinicius and Mbappé’s chemistry has been lacking, and the team’s counterattacking ability could improve with Diomandé as well. Kiyan Sobhani: I think the best version of this team contains both Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham together. They will have to co-exist and one of them (in my opinion, it’s Arda) will have to play deeper. If Mourinho can successfully get those two on the same page, he’s solved a big piece of the puzzle. Obviously, Vinicius and Mbappe will need to play well together consistently for the first time – something that hasn’t happened in their two years together – or Mourinho will have to bench one of them (and we all know how that’s going to go off the pitch). Mehedi Hassan: An emphasis on defensive discipline is on the way. It may not be pretty to watch at the beginning, but all of Mourinho’s successful sides had a very solid defensive base – John Terry-Ricardo Carvalho, Walter Samuel-Lucio, Sergio Ramos-Pepe, Terry-Gary Cahill – all of them had consistent minutes in Jose’s successful sides. Real Madrid’s defense had no continuity or consistency over the last two seasons. I think that is about to be the first big change. Hridyam Arora: With the signing of Yan Diomande and a return to the 4-2-3-1 set-up, I expect Mourinho’s side to be devastatingly good on the counter-attack. They have all the tools to be great at it, and it will be interesting to see how well he’s able to implement it. Lamdarhri Achraf: Mourinho might shift Arda Guler’s position to play the Modric role. But that’s related to the improvement of Arda Guler’s physicality, more reliance on his right foot, quick reading of the situations, and execution of the pass or the action in general. People tend to link Mourinho with the counterattacking style that made the team so good in his first spell. But things have changed, and football is different in 2026. In La Liga, all the teams know that Real Madrid has transitional assets and killer players in this phase. Most of La Liga teams will sit and defend deeper. So, you need proper dynamics and a solid playing style against low blocks, which is one of Real Madrid’s problems in recent seasons. Keeping that transitional threat and adding layers to solve these compact defensive structures is a no-brainer to compete. Matt Wiltse: I expect a far more pragmatic approach, especially in the big games. This team has never been successful pressing and Jose will play to his best player’s strengths which means sitting deep and hitting the opposition on the counter with breakneck speed. Low blocks in La Liga have been Madrid’s Achilles heel in recent seasons, it will be interesting to see how Mourinho approaches those matches. Q: Six new signings: Bernado, Konate, Cucurella, Dumfries, Espi, Diomande – who has the biggest impact and why? Sam Leveridge: Cucurella, he’s the only man guaranteed to start in his position and solves an area that has been problematic since Marcelo got too old. His energy and intensity is a perfect fit for a Mourinho system. Lucas Navarrete: Cucurella, no question. Diomandé has the highest potential of them all but Cucurella will be a massive upgrade over Carreras. Kiyan Sobhani: I could list all of them and it would be true, but that’s a lazy answer, so I’ll choose Marc Cucurella. He’s the best signing the club made this summer (but I still really believe all six will be important in varying ways). Mehedi Hassan: Yan Diomande. We haven’t had an exciting profile like Diomande on the right wing since Gareth Bale. Since Bale’s decline, every Real Madrid team has attacked from the left mostly. Diomande could change that and open up space for Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe. Hridyam Arora: Marc Cucurella. He would be the biggest upgrade Real Madrid have made in that position since losing Marcelo. His ability to lock down the best right-wingers in world football would be crucial in Champions League knockouts and Clasicos. Bernardo Silva also deserves a shout. Real Madrid haven’t had a midfielder like him for a couple of years, and despite his age, he will solve at least some of the issues Real Madrid, as a system, have had. Lamdarhri Achraf: I expect the buildup and progression will improve when Bernardo Silva is on the pitch. His spatial awareness, availability (most of the time looking to free himself), ball carrying, spinning around opponents, and finding those pockets of space to pass the ball are some of the qualities Real Madrid lacks in midfield. Also, I think the team finally has a winger who can operate on the right. Yan Diomandé can play on both flanks. Definitely, he is a defensive upgrade across the front line. He never stops running, reacts to triggers, recovers the ball cleanly, is an intensive counterpresser, tracks back a lot, and provides support for the fullback. In a nutshell, he works really hard. On the ball, he is more of a winger who attacks the byline frequently for crosses and cutbacks. He is one of the best dribblers, ball carriers, and chance creators in the top five leagues. So, you need an optimal box occupation for him to have a big impact. Matt Wiltse: Bernardo adds what has been missing in midfield – a cerebral player who can allow the team to “breathe” while under pressure. He can speed a game up or slow a game down. I think he will be more important than many people assumed when the signing was first announced. What is your “hot take”? Sam Leveridge: Real Madrid to go a full season unbeaten at the Bernabéu. Mourinho’s Benfica didn’t lose a league game at all last season, so he can make teams hard to beat even now, and it’s hard to see a Mourinho side losing 2-1 to Celta Vigo or 1-0 to Getafe. Ancelotti managed it in 2023/24, and Mourinho should be able to do it again this season as he did in 2012/13 in the league and Europe. Lucas Navarrete: Real Madrid win LaLiga comfortably (10+ points). I expect the team to be very solid this year and I could see them opening a big gap over Barça during the first half of the season. Under Mourinho, Madrid should be able to win consistently in those dreaded away games in places like Getafe or Osasuna. Kiyan Sobhani: Mourinho will rotate a lot of players, including big names, go deep into his squad, keep everyone fresh and hungry week to week, and win the league. He’ll also break a Champions League barrier and go further than the team has in previous years. Mehedi Hassan: Real Madrid will win LaLiga with 100+ points. Hridyam Arora: Real Madrid will win the league. Mourinho’s teams usually do quite well in their respective leagues, and he will help the squad understand the importance of consistency and playing well in the ‘smaller’ games. Matt Wiltse: The Mbappe-Vinicius-Bellingham trio fails to ignite for another season. The team could muster their way to La Liga or Copa del Rey but will fall short in the big matches in the Champions League. Q: Give us your predictions for: A) Unsung hero of the season Sam Leveridge: Marc Cucurella. Lucas Navarrete: Dean Huijsen Kiyan Sobahni: Carlos Espi Mehedi Hassan: Marc Cucurella Hridyam Arora: Trent Alexander-Arnold Matt Wiltse: Bernardo Silva B) MIP (most improved) Sam Leveridge: Arda Güler. Lucas Navarrete: Trent Alexander-Arnold Kiyan Sobhani: Dean Huijsen Mehedi Hassan: Dean Huijsen Hridyam Arora: Dean Huijsen Matt Wiltse: Trent Alexander-Arnold C) MVP Sam Leveridge: Kylian Mbappé. Lucas Navarrete: Kylian Mbappé Kiyan Sobhani: Jude Bellingham Mehedi Hassan: Kylian Mbappé Hridyam Arora: Jude Bellingham Matt Wiltse: Jude Bellingham / Thibaut Courtois Q: Give us your final season predictions: Standings in La Liga, Copa, and UCL Sam Leveridge: La Liga – 1st, Copa del Rey – Semi-finals, UCL – Quarter-finals Lucas Navarrete: La Liga – 1st, Copa del Rey – Champions, UCL- Quarter-finals Kiyan Sobhani: La Liga – 1st, Copa del Rey – Quarter-finals, UCL- Champions Mehedi Hassan: La Liga – 1st, Copa del Rey – Champions, UCL: I’d rather not say Hridyam Arora: La Liga – 1st, Copa Del Rey – Semi-finals, UCL – Semi-finals Matt Wiltse: La Liga – 2nd, Copa Del Rey – Champions, UCL – Quarter-finals
- Managing Madrid·47d ago·Both·transfers
Carlos Espí presented as new Real Madrid player after match-winning goal against Espanyol
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 22: Carlos Espi centre-forward of Real Madrid and Spain celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the La Liga EA Sports 2026/27 match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Real Madrid at RCDE Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images Carlos Espí was officially presented as a Real Madrid player on Sunday, less than 24 hours after scoring the winning goal in the club’s 2-1 victory over Espanyol in their LaLiga opener. The 21-year-old striker’s presentation took place privately in the boardroom at Real Madrid City, with president Florentino Pérez and honorary president José Martínez “Pirri” alongside him. Espí has signed a contract with Real Madrid through June 2031. The presentation completed a memorable few weeks for Espí, whose move from Levante came together quickly at the end of July. Real Madrid moved to sign the striker on July 30, paying his €25 million release clause after the club’s sporting department, including José Ángel Sánchez and Juni Calafat, worked on the deal in communication with Jose Mourinho. Espí was training at Valdebebas with his new teammates the following day and has quickly made an impact despite not establishing himself as a regular starter. The striker has scored three goals in his first five appearances for Real Madrid, finding the net against Ferencvaros and Schalke during preseason before scoring his most significant goal yet against Espanyol. Espí came through with the decisive goal at Cornellà to give Mourinho’s side three points in their opening league match. His efficiency has been particularly notable. Espí has registered only six shots across his five appearances, with five of those efforts on target, but has already converted three of them into goals. The move represents a rapid rise for a player whose situation was considerably different at the beginning of last season. Espí initially struggled for regular minutes at Levante before Luis Castro’s arrival as coach changed his role during the second half of the campaign. Given a regular place in the starting lineup, Espí finished with 11 goals in 25 appearances and played a significant role in helping Levante avoid relegation. His performances were enough to generate discussion over whether he could earn a place in Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad for the 2026 World Cup. Now at Real Madrid, Espí spoke to the club’s television channel during his presentation and described what joining the club meant to him. “Being at Real Madrid is an honor. I’m very happy for my family and myself. I’m going to give my all for this club. I was very impressed to see the 15 Champions League titles. This club is incredible: the facilities, the Bernabéu… they take care of every detail. And in terms of football, the squad is the best in the world. These have been incredible days and I can’t wait to step onto the Bernabéu pitch and be with the fans.” Espí also reflected on his winning goal against Espanyol and admitted there had not been much sleep between the celebrations in Cornellà and his presentation in Madrid. “Between the joy of the goal in Cornellà and my eagerness to come to the presentation, I slept very little. The moment of the goal was wonderful; we were all very euphoric, and it was a source of pride to see how happy everyone was for me…” Espí posed alongside Pérez with his new No. 19 shirt, a number previously worn by Luka Modric during the Croatian’s early years at Real Madrid.
- Managing Madrid·47d ago·Both·transfers
Espanyol’s Cala Somehow Escapes Without Seeing A Red Card
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 22: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid is challenged by Alex Calatrava of RCD Espanyol de Barcelona during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Real Madrid at RCDE Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images Real Madrid’s LaLiga opener against Espanyol produced several refereeing flashpoints involving Vinicius Junior, beginning almost immediately after kickoff and continuing with a social-media exchange after the match. The first incident came in the opening stages, when Vinicius went to ground during a challenge and was subsequently kicked in the back by Espanyol’s Cala. Vinicius quickly got back to his feet and confronted the defender, prompting players from both teams to gather around and creating a brief scuffle. The incident, a clear red card according to the rules, wasn’t even looked at twice. Referee Sánchez Martínez awarded Real Madrid a free kick but did not show Cala a card. VAR did not intervene, with the incident ultimately allowed to pass without further punishment. Real Madrid’s players and bench protested the decision, believing Cala’s action warranted a card. welcome back La Liga pic.twitter.com/BQf42FOrks — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) August 22, 2026 The incident resurfaced after the game when DAZN posted footage of it on social media. Vinicius reposted the clip with a sarcastic response: “Yellow card for Vini!” You're just allowed to kick a player in the back while he's on the ground???? — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) August 22, 2026 Vinicius was involved in another controversial moment in the 61st minute. The Brazilian went down while attacking, with Espanyol believing he had simulated contact. No yellow card was shown, which was significant because Vinicius had already been booked. Espanyol responded publicly through their social-media account, writing: “How many dives does it take to get a second yellow card? It’s for a friend.” Thibaut Courtois later responded to the discussion by pointing back to the opening incident involving Cala and Vinicius. The Real Madrid goalkeeper felt the Espanyol defender should have been sent off for kicking Vinicius in the back when he no longer had an opportunity to play the ball. Cala, meanwhile, maintained that there was no intention behind the contact and said he had attempted to stop himself once he realized the ball was no longer available. “I think it was the first play of the game,” Cala said. “I tried to play the ball, and when I realized it was gone, I tried to stop. I think they noticed, and VAR and the referee interpreted it that way because otherwise, I would have been shown a card. It was a play that, for me, was completely unintentional and without any intention of causing harm.” The Espanyol player also explained that his approach was based on trying to match the physical demands of defending against Real Madrid’s attackers. “Everyone plays their own game, and within that intensity, knowing they are good players, you have to be active and strong because otherwise, it’s difficult,” Cala said. The incidents added another layer of controversy to Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory, with both clubs publicly questioning refereeing decisions involving Vinicius after the final whistle, and of course, the referee deciding not to send Cala off was nearly catastrophic given that Cala himself was the one that scored Espanyol’s equalizer.
- Barca Blaugranes·47d ago·Both·transfers
Elche vs Barcelona, La Liga: Team News, Match Preview
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images Elche CF (10th, 1pt) vs FC Barcelona (14th, 0pts) Competition/Round: 2026-27 La Liga, Matchday 2 Barcelona Outs & Doubts: Roony Bardghji, Frenkie de Jong (out), João Cancelo, Alejandro Balde, Rodri, Marc Casadó (doubt) Elche Outs & Doubts: Yago Santiago, Adam Boayar (doubt) Date/Time: Sunday, August 23, 2026, 9.30pm CET (Barcelona), 8.30pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3.30pm ET, 12.30pm PT (USA), 1am IST (India, Monday) Venue: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain Referee: Alejandro Quintero González VAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández How to watch on TV: ABC (USA), Premier Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), Movistar (Spain), others How to watch online: ESPN+ (USA), Premier Sports Player (UK), FanCode (India), Movistar+ (Spain), others The wait is over: exactly three months after their final match of last season, a new journey begins for Barcelona as the reigning back-to-back La Liga champions begin the 2026-27 campaign with a match against Elche at the Manuel Martínez Valero Stadium on Sunday Night Fútbol. Barça come into this one looking for a successful start to what is expected to be a very tough title defense, with Real Madrid off to a winning start at Espanyol and promising to give the Catalans all they can handle under José Mourinho. Winning the league title is always the main priority for Barça, but there are big expectations in Europe and the summer transfer window is still open as the Blaugrana search for a world-class striker and make several other moves in the market, so there is a lot on the minds of fans as the season is set to begin. Sunday’s clash against Elche kicks off a very busy period with eight games in 29 days across La Liga and the Champions League. Since Barça’s opening match last weekend was postponed due to the sucess of the Blaugrana representatives at the World Cup, Hansi Flick’s side will be forced to make up for lost time with a lot of games in a short time before the first extended international break of the season. The coach probably welcomes the busy calendar so he can give plenty of early minutes to his big-name players who have spent virtually no time on the training pitch, and Hansi has already warned Barça fans that things may not run so smoothly over the next four weeks as the squad gets into a rhythm. Flick also said there are no excuses not to pick up wins in the meantime, however, so he expects his players to show up and find a way to get the job done on Sunday. Their opponents are Elche, who survived relegation in dramatic fashion last season and will look to avoid the drop once again. Elche were the most pleasant watch out of all the relegation candidates last season as they remained fully committed to the idea of playing high-intensity, high-possession attacking football under former Barça assistant Eder Sarabia, who did a wonderful job and stuck to his ideas until the end and was rewarded for it. Sarabia decided to step down from the head coach role for mental health reasons at the end of last season, and was replaced by Martín Anselmi who is still young and unproven in Europe’s top leagues despite a couple of good jobs in South America. Anselmi seems committed to sticking to Sararbia’s principles at least to start, as Elche played the same 3-5-2 formation as the previous boss and had over 60% possession in a 1-1 draw away to Deportivo A Coruña at Riazor last weekend. The problem for Elche is they lost their top three scorers from last season and replaced them with mostly young and unproven forwards at the top flight level, so they might struggle to turn their attacking purpose into goals this season. Elche should still be a tough test for Barça, however, especially a Barça team at the very start of the season with several key players still searching for rhythm. Elche’s home atmosphere was key to their survival last season, and they’ll undoubtedly push their team to cause a huge upset against the champs. It’s time for a new journey, and Barça must start the right away. It might not look pretty, but there is a job to be done. Let’s dance. Finally. POSSIBLE LINEUPS Barcelona (4-3-3): Joan; Eric, Christensen, Martín, Cancelo; Fermín, Bernal, Espart; Yamal, Hamza, Raphinha Elche (3-5-2): Dituro; Chust, Affengruber, Redondo; Sangaré, Villar, Aguado, Neto, Valera; Houary, Niño PREDICTION Elche showed in the opener they remain an attack-minded side who can give Barça plenty of trouble, but I’m trusting the good guys to find a way to start the season with all three points: 3-1 to the visitors.
- Barca Blaugranes·49d ago·Both·transfers
Jose Mourinho admits Rodri would have been the ‘icing on the cake’ for Real Madrid
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 19: Rodri Hernandez defensive midfield of Barcelona and Spain greets the fans during the Joan Gamper Trophy between FC Barcelona and Al Ahly SC at Spotify Camp Nou on August 19, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has admitted that Rodri would have been the “icing on the cake” for his side after missing out on the World Cup winner this summer. Rodri was linked with a move to Real Madrid and admitted there was interest in his services from other clubs. However, he made the right decision and opted to sign for Barcelona instead, penning a four-year contract at Camp Nou. Mourinho has now been quizzed on missing out on Rodri and knows he would have been a huge asset for Los Blancos. “There’s no shortage… he would have been the icing on the cake,” he told his pre-march press conference. “He’s a great player with a lot of experience… but when you have Tchouaméni, Valverde, Bernardo, or Arda… who can play in those positions, you realize we won’t have any problems.” Rodri will now line up for Hansi Flick’s side and has already said he’s “ready to play” after undergoing a minor procedure on his back over the summer. It’s not clear yet when he will made his debut for Barcelona, but we should have an update from Flick tomorrow when he faces the media ahead of Sunday’s opener against Elche.
- Barca Blaugranes·50d ago·Both·transfers
Where do Barcelona stack up among the favorites for the Champions League and La Liga?
Photo by Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images | Getty Images Barcelona begin a new season this weekend with a trip to Elche on Sunday for their La Liga opener, with the Catalans looking for a historic three-peat of domestic titles. The Blaugrana have also been very busy on the transfer market and are not done yet as they look to strengthen the squad to make a real run at the Champions League title. After coming so close in Hansi Flick’s first season and falling short once again last year, Barça will do whatever it takes to finally end their decade-long European Cup drought. But where do Barça stack up among the favorites in Spain and Europe? Here are what the bookmakers say about the club’s chances of winning La Liga and the Champions League. La Liga Betting Odds Barcelona (-170) Real Madrid (+140) Atletico Madrid (+1800) Villarreal (+10000) Real Betis (+150000) Athletic Club (+150000) Barça begin the 2026-27 La Liga season as strong favorites to defend their crown and achieve their first three-peat since 2011 under Pep Guardiola, and as always their main rivals for the title will be Real Madrid. Los Blancos have been very active this summer with the return of José Mourinho and several high-profile transfers that certainly make them an intriguing proposition. Mourinho — who has had more misses than hits in his recent stops around Europe — is under huge pressure after two trophyless seasons for Madrid and a stacked squad that underachieved in a huge way and made headlines for their off-field troubles more than anything else. Atlético Madrid are third on the list and always make interesting signings that make them seem like true challengers, but Diego Simeone’s side has underachieved time and time again since winning the title in 2020-21 and are still dealing with a big soap opera involving star forward Julián Álvarez, who wants to join Barcelona but will likely stay despite his wishes. I will pick Barça to three-peat but I think Madrid will make it very close, and the second league Clásico on May 9, 2027 at the Bernabéu feels absolutely like the title-decider already. Champions League Betting Odds PSG (+500) Arsenal (+650) Bayern Munich (+650) Real Madrid (+750) Man City (+750) Barcelona (+750) Barça are set to begin a new European journey in September and are hoping that this is finally the year they will lift the iconic trophy with the big ears. The signing of Rodri adds a proven veteran superstar with a massive track record of trophies, including the World Cup this summer and the 2023 Champions League in which he scored the winning goal in the Final. The Blaugrana are currently tied for the fourth best odds along with Real Madrid and Manchester City, which feels right despite the big question marks surrounding Madrid and City before the season begins. Two-time reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain are the obvious favorites and once again have a stacked squad under Luis Enrique, and have the luxury of saving their big stars for the big European dates as they cruise through the domestic season in France. Premier League winners Arsenal want to avenge last season’s loss to PSG in the Final and also made noise with big signings this summer, and Mikel Arteta’s team feels even more dangerous without the pressure of finally having to end their domestic drought. With the PL title out of the way, they can focus more on Europe and have the type of defensive prowess that make them very hard to beat in the Champions League. Bayern Munich return manager Vincent Kompany and the same squad from last season with a couple of key additions at the back and in attack, and just like PSG they can cruise through the league and fully focus on making a deep European run. Winning the Champions League is always the dream but is also a gigantic challenge for Barça, who still need a world-class striker and a quality center-back to have a squad truly capable of making a run to the title. The transfer window is not closed yet and Barça are actively looking for a new number nine while also trying to find a good market opportunity to strengthen the defense, but the current squad, especially with Rodri’s addition, is already good enough to make at least the semis. Odds provided by FanDuel.
- Guardian Football·50d ago·Both·transfers
‘Enzo is a Chelsea player,’ says Alonso but doesn’t guarantee Fernández’s future
Midfielder linked with £120m move to Manchester City Chelsea still interested in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott Xabi Alonso has refused to offer any guarantee that Chelsea will hold firm if Manchester City try to sign Enzo Fernández. Fernández’s future remains up in the air and the prospect of him leaving Stamford Bridge has not gone away, even though Chelsea’s unofficial deadline for clubs to make written bids of £120m for the 25-year-old Argentina midfielder has already passed. City, who are also tracking Roma’s Manu Koné, have targeted Fernández as part of their midfield rebuild after Rodri’s move to Barcelona and are weighing up whether to make a move before the transfer window shuts. Continue reading...
- Managing Madrid·50d ago·Both·transfers
Mourinho on Negreira, Diomande, Bernardo Silva and Lamine Yamal
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - AUGUST 16: Head coach Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid gestures during the Pre-Season Friendly match between FC Schalke 04 and Real Madrid at Veltins Arena on August 16, 2026 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto/Getty Images) | Getty Images Jose Mourinho touched on a wide range of topics during an interview with El Chiringuito, including the Negreira case, Diomande, Bernardo Silva, and Lamine Yamal. Mourinho was particularly pointed when discussing the Negreira case, comparing the situation in Spain to the Calciopoli scandal in Italy. “The Negreira case is in the courts, let’s see what the courts say. I felt something was off; I didn’t know the name, I didn’t know who Negreira was. But it was strange. A few years later, it’s clear that it wasn’t strange at all; the only thing I find strange is the justice system. They did the same thing in Italy with Calciopoli.” Mourinho also discussed Diomande and explained the process behind approving the winger’s arrival. He stressed that he did not arrive at the club demanding specific signings, but after studying the squad, he gave his approval when presented with the possibility of signing Diomande. “I didn’t ask for anyone. I arrive without asking for anyone, I arrive having thoroughly analyzed the squad and being aware of what I would like to happen. But with the things that happened last season, I wanted to know a lot of things and act as if I knew nothing. Diomande is a fast, aggressive winger who can play on both flanks isn’t easy. I don’t want to analyze whether he costs 120, 80, or 20; I analyze what he can give to my team, and I said ‘yes, I want him.’ The cost isn’t my concern.” View this post on Instagram On Bernardo Silva, Mourinho described the midfielder as a quintessential Pep Guardiola player while emphasizing his versatility. Although Bernardo has operated in several positions throughout his career, Mourinho said he currently views him primarily as a midfielder. “Bernardo Silva is a Pep player, a Pep Guardiola player. He contributes everything, I hope we can have few problems and a lot of stability, and for me Bernardo is a midfielder today. But he can play as a number 10, on the right wing, he can play anywhere.” Mourinho was also asked about Barcelona star Lamine Yamal. He praised the youngster’s quality and potential but made clear that he would not swap out any of his own players to accommodate him, backing the squad currently at his disposal. “No, no. Lamine Yamal is a great player, no doubt. A young player with incredible potential. It’s not normal to be a European champion, a world champion, at such a young age, 19 or 20… but we have a top squad. I wouldn’t make room for anyone right now. Right now, it’s my players, and my players are the best.”
- Barca Blaugranes·50d ago·Both·transfers
What is Barcelona’s best midfield combination after Rodri’s arrival?
Rodri Hernandez defensive midfield of Barcelona and Spain during the Joan Gamper Trophy between FC Barcelona and Al Ahly SC at Spotify Camp Nou on August 19, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images After the completion of the much-awaited signing of World Cup winner Rodri, Barcelona now have a midfield that will be the envy of clubs across Europe. Regular first-team midfield options now include – count them- Rodri, Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal, Marc Casado, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez. That’s a grand total of eight top-class midfielders, plus Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen who have previously played in defensive midfield. That is not all, there are also options from La Masia including Guille Fernandez and Brian Farinas who have been knocking on the doors of the first team, making 12 solid midfield options for just three available spots. Of course the likes of Guille, Farinas, Eric and Christensen will likely not be spending much time in midfield and Casado is reportedly on his way out. However, that still leaves seven world-class midfielders for three spots: so what will be Barca’s starting midfield? The likely answer is that there will be no ‘starting midfield’ and the combinations will be entirely dependent on the opponent. Let’s take a look Against park-the-bus opposition (Getafe, Levante, other lower-half La Liga teams): Rodri, Pedri/Bernal, Olmo Rodri is the controller who will fit most systems, his calming presence at the base of midfield will free Pedri to go a little further up the field and support attacks. The new signing will therefore play the ‘De Jong role’ but ideally better than the Dutchman. Pedri will be given the freedom to push a little further up the field, support attacks, and take his laser-guided shots from the edge of the box that often end up in the back of the net, bypassing the parked bus defence entirely. Olmo is one of the best in the world at breaking down stubborn defences, his close-range ball control, space-creation and ability to thread passes through almost no space is almost unmatched. This was, in fact, Spain’s starting midfield for the early part of the World Cup and how well it works against tight defences was demonstrated against Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia, where the midfield created endless chances, mostly missed by the attackers. Yet a front three of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Anthony Gordon should be far more clinical that Mikel Oyarzabal (out of position), Ferran Torres, and Alex Baena. Bernal, as much as he represents Sergio Busquets, actually plays better as a number 8 and is the perfect option to occasionally give Pedri a breather while holding the same level of on-the-ball domination. Against free-playing, attacking opposition (Villarreal, Athletic and other top-half La Liga and lower UCL opposition): Pedri, Gavi, Fermin This may be a controversial take but Rodri, unless in brilliant form, should not start these games. He has recurring fitness issues, is 30 years old and not in prime physical condition to deal with the energy required in such encounters, especially since matches against such opponents often became overly-physical (who remembers Renato Veiga wiping out Lamine Yamal last season?) Pedri and Gavi provide an excellent mix of composure and energy, calm and storm, to deal with the exact situations that come up in these games and make an excellent double pivot. The goalscoring, pace and enthusiasm of Fermin also works perfectly here. Just let this trio loose and the goals will follow. In the biggest games against top-quality, attacking opposition (Real Madrid, Atletico, European knockout ties): Rodri, Pedri, Fermin Rodri and Pedri as a double pivot is arguably the best in the world (alongside perhaps Vitinha and Joao Neves). The control of the ball will be near unbreakable and then to link this to the attack, Fermin can run for days on end without tiring. Lopez also fights for the badge like no tomorrow, drops deeper for tackles then runs all the way to the box to take rebounds, covers any counterattacks and provides another option for crosses into the box. A perfect blend of defence, attack and control. De Jong could replace Rodri here, he plays in much the same way, but Rodri has that extra bit of quality that should give him the start. However, if Rodri does need a rest, De Jong is a more than capable alternative when back to full fitness. In the latter part of games, to see out a narrow lead: Pedri, De Jong, Rodri Not much explanation needed here. Just try to get the ball off this midfield three, it’ll be like getting sucked into a vacuum, and opponents can’t equalise if they can’t get the ball. Who remembers how Pedri and De Jong did not allow Newcastle to touch the ball for the entire duration of stoppage time during the 2-1 Champions League win? Now imagine that, but with added Rodri – unstoppable. The midfield domination in El Clasico should also be a thing of beauty. Less important ties: Bernal, Casado, Gavi The backups (Bernal, Casado, Gavi and the Masia boys) can get starts when the first team is rested, likely in midweek league fixtures before big Champions League ties or in the early Copa del Rey rounds. Other than that, most of the players will naturally get some game time nearly every week through substitutions. What’s your preferred midfield combination for Barcelona now that Rodri has arrived? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
- Managing Madrid·50d ago·Both·transfers
Real Madrid remain the world’s most valuable football brand, now worth €2.4 billion
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 07: Florentino Perez speaks with the media after winning the Real Madrid’s presidential election day at Eurobuilding Hotel on June 07, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images Real Madrid have retained their position as the world’s most valuable football club brand, with the club’s brand value rising 25% to €2.4 billion, according to Brand Finance’s Football 50 2026 report. It is the third consecutive year Real Madrid have finished first in the ranking, while the Spanish giants were also rated as the strongest football brand in the world for a third straight year. Brand Finance gave Real Madrid a Brand Strength Index score of 95.8 out of 100 — the highest score among the 281 clubs analyzed for the report. The consultancy attributed Madrid’s position to a combination of their global reputation, fanbase, ability to attract star players, history and prestige, as well as their association with elite-level football. The €2.4 billion valuation represents a significant jump from last year, with Real Madrid’s brand value increasing by 25% in 2026. Barcelona remain Madrid’s closest competitor in the ranking. Their brand value increased 15% to just under €2 billion, leaving Spain’s two biggest clubs comfortably at the top of the global football landscape. “The continued dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona highlights the extraordinary strength of the two most recognized football club brands in the world,” Pilar Alonso Ulloa, Brand Finance’s Managing Director for Iberia and South America, said. Alonso Ulloa pointed to the clubs’ global recognition, ability to attract stars and capacity to turn their popularity into commercial value as major reasons why competitors have struggled to close the gap. “Real Madrid has reached a brand value of €2.4 billion, and Barcelona is approaching €2 billion,” Alonso Ulloa said. “They are the two most valuable and strongest football club brands in the world.” The scale of Madrid’s valuation is particularly notable in a year of substantial growth across the industry. Brand Finance estimates that the combined brand value of the world’s 50 most valuable football clubs has reached €23.9 billion, representing the largest annual increase in the 15-year history of its Football 50 ranking. The top end of the sport is also becoming increasingly concentrated. The 10 most valuable club brands are now worth a combined €14.9 billion, accounting for more than 60% of the total value of the Football 50. Since 2012, the combined brand value of the top 10 has increased by 250%. Madrid sit at the head of that group despite significant movement immediately below them. Arsenal climbed five positions into third after their brand value increased 28% to €1.5 billion, while Bayern Munich moved into fourth at €1.5 billion. Paris Saint-Germain remained fifth, followed by Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United. Chelsea stayed ninth, with Borussia Dortmund returning to the top 10 for the first time in a decade. Within Spain, Atlético Madrid moved up to 11th globally following a 22% increase in brand value. Real Betis climbed five places to 33rd, while Athletic Club, Villarreal and Real Sociedad also made the global top 50. The separation between Real Madrid and the rest of Spanish football remains considerable. Brand Finance noted that the next-strongest Spanish club brand outside Madrid and Barcelona trails the two giants by more than 10 points on its Brand Strength Index. For Real Madrid, the report provides another indication of the club’s commercial position beyond its results on the pitch. Brand Finance defines brand value as the net economic benefit a brand owner would achieve by licensing its brand on the open market, rather than as a valuation of the club itself. By that measure, Madrid have not only retained the No. 1 position but widened the financial scale of their brand, reaching €2.4 billion after a 25% year-over-year increase. Three consecutive years at the top of both Brand Finance’s value and strength rankings underline the extent to which Real Madrid’s sporting identity and commercial reach remain intertwined. In an industry where the biggest clubs are growing faster and taking an increasingly large share of global football’s brand value, Madrid continue to sit at the top.