Real Madrid & Barcelona News

Chelsea manager Alonso insists Cole Palmer is committed to playing for England

Palmer pulled out of England squad due to injury Attacker available for Chelsea’s game with Bournemouth Xabi Alonso has said Cole Palmer is committed to playing for England and revealed Chelsea’s No 10 missed this international break with a problem related to the groin injury that kept him out for much of last season. Thomas Tuchel did not hide his disappointment with Palmer, who is fit to face Bournemouth on Saturday, after the attacker made himself unavailable for the start of his country’s Nations League campaign last month. Tuchel said the 24-year-old “misses too many opportunities” to play for England and questioned whether Palmer wanted to be part of the squad. Continue reading...

Modrić leaves future Real Madrid role undecided

Luka Modrić says he would be happy to help Real Madrid one day, but no future Real Madrid role or formal appointment has been confirmed. The post Modrić leaves future Real Madrid role undecided appeared first on Football España.

The Premier League is back: welcome to the new era of post-verdict unreality | Barney Ronay

As the top flight returns, armed with the knowledge its serial champions have been the authors of a 10-year sham supremacy, the first question is simple: how is it going to feel? The internet: an apology. It turns out you were right. It was actually a simulation all along. Now, talk to me about chemtrails again. And yes, maybe Vinícius Júnior has been replaced by a handsome, baffled-looking waxwork. Welcome to the weirdest weekend of them all. We are now post-judgment, post-statement, postlapsarian. As the Premier League prepares to snap back into what must be described, out of habit, as reality, armed with the knowledge its serial champions have been the authors of a 10-year sham supremacy, the first question is fairly simple. How is it going to feel? Continue reading...

Daily Thread: 09 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. Mourinho’s comments It’s the first time in ten years that Real Madrid arrives in the half of October without a single injured player. The injured players are the ones who were injured last season: Militao, Rodrygo, Asencio and Mendy. It’s a good story, isn’t it? But you don’t like it. We need time to improve things. And there are things that can improve by making little changes, which we have done and we are doing. As coach I have to look for things to improve that are under our control and we are doing. I am not going to specify what we are doing. And a lot of people without the clinical eye won’t be able to see what we tried to do. But tomorrow we are going to try to do these small fixes. When a Real Madrid players does not fullfill his obligations as a player or as citizen, he won’t be even on the bench; he will be at home. Mbappe will play tomorrow, so I am certain his has not fail to Real Madrid and with his obligations. The squad for the game Only Rudiger and Konate are the available CBs… 🚨 SQUAD FOR VILLARREAL! Valverde! ✅ pic.twitter.com/DRhsx4zW5p — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 9, 2026

Real Madrid announce squad for La Liga match against Villarreal

Real Madrid have published their squad list for Saturday’s match against Villarreal, the first game after the FIFA break. REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST: Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, and Sergio Mestre. Defenders: Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Á. Carreras, Rüdiger, and Dumfries. Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Bernardo, and Thiago. Forwards: Vini Jr., Endrick, Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim, and Yan Diomande. Valverde, Konaté and Mbappé all made the list even though they were ‘questionable’ during the week. Whether or not they will feature in the starting lineup remains to be seen, but Real Madrid will likely need them if they want to earn the three points on Saturday. HOW TO WATCH, STREAM LA LIGA Date: 10/10/2026 Time: 21:00 CEST, 03:00pm EST. Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain. Available TV: DAZN La Liga (Spain), ESPN Deportes (USA). Available Streaming: ESPN+ (USA)

Maresca says Manchester City titles ‘absolutely not’ tainted; Mourinho defends Mbappé – live

⚽ All the latest football news heading into the weekend ⚽ Ten things to look out for | Read Football Daily | Mail Rob Football Weekly: You can watch/listen to the pod squad discuss Sunday’s clash between Liverpool and Manchester City, plus much more, in the latest episode. A reminder that Enzo Maresca will face the media in 20 minutes’ time at the Etihad Campus in Manchester. You can follow the press conference live here. Continue reading...

Mourinho calls criticism of Mbappe 'ridiculous'

Jose Mourinho defends Kylian Mbappe who has been scrutinised during the international break.

Jose Mourinho on Vinicius Jr: “He deserves to be helped”

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 9: Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho addresses journalists during a pre-match press conference at the club's Valdebebas training complex in Madrid, Spain on October 9, 2026. Mourinho responded to questions regarding squad preparation and tactical strategy ahead of their La Liga Matchday 8 fixture against Villarreal. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images Jose Mourinho spoke to the media ahead of Real Madrid’s return to action against Villarreal on Saturday. He was asked about whether a player will play based on meritocracy, to which he said: “Meritocracy, yes, but also an openness not for the name, but for the moment. Knowing what might be the best way to help a particular player. There are players who, when they’re not playing well, there are strategies to help them improve. One is pure meritocracy, and if you’re not playing well, you’re out. It has risks. There are players who take time to get back to their normal level. You’re referring to Vini. I’m not hiding anything. What hurts me, what makes me sad, is understanding that he wants to be well, he wants to be the one who wins games, who makes the difference. What hurts me is feeling this pain he feels, being a guy who, to my surprise, is extraordinary and works so hard to come back. Will he always play until he returns, or will there come a time when there’s a specific plan where he doesn’t play or goes to the bench, and we find another way? I don’t touch true Real Madrid fans. I only respect them.” But it breaks my heart to see a boy like him, who isn’t the Vinicius of this otherworldly world, not being helped by people influenced by many of you. He deserves to be helped. He desperately wants to be the Vinicius who has brought so much joy to Real Madrid fans.” Mourinho on the game vs Villarreal “Our opponent is a Champions League team. A top-level team. They play very well. They don’t have the points they’re going to have. They’re going to be much higher in the standings. After losing our last match, we need to get the points. The preparation isn’t easy. We’re down to five players. The others were arriving after their last international matches and the days off we gave them. Villarreal isn’t in our situation, but they’ve also had players away on international duty. It hasn’t been a perfect week for them either.” Mourinho on the Mbappe story “If this happens, it will be a great victory for you (press). Not even huge cases like City, the old story you love to talk about, the difficult situation in my country with Cristiano and his coach—so many cases that could have fueled your work—but it hasn’t been enough. Real Madrid is Real Madrid, and you always have to find something. I expected the first one to be the only one about something real. A difficult match. Yours is the first… But, here we are.” Mourinho on whether the stuff about him is exaggerated “Ridiculous.” Mourinho on managing players’ private lives “For me, a player is a player 24 hours a day. Anything important or negative he does privately always has repercussions. I always maintain that a player will always be a human being. A man who can make mistakes, but who has a sense of responsibility. I, honestly, haven’t been here in Spain for 13 years. You know me. I don’t lie. I might try to escape, be clever and avoid some more complicated issues, but I don’t lie. At any level. If you ask me who’s going to start, I won’t tell you, but I won’t say he’s not going to play and then he does. During this period, the players have been exemplary. We worked to ensure they had no doubts about their availability for their national teams, when they needed free time. Everything was perfectly defined. Everyone has complied. The injured players come to Valdebebas immediately. They have their diagnoses, recovery plans… Players like Arda, who was suspended for the fourth match, I gave him two unscheduled days off.” People with serious injuries have been here every day. Valverde, Konaté. Mbappé, for example. He’s been here, he’s had a diagnosis. He went for an outpatient consultation because his knee has a history that can’t be forgotten. Complete agreement between diagnoses. Recovery plan that you don’t need to know in detail. And then, there’s the realm of troublemaking. The real problems that football has had these past couple of weeks haven’t been enough, so there’s this search for problems. First, the nightclub that wasn’t a nightclub. Because it was a venue for a private event during Paris Fashion Week. Then, the bicycle in Switzerland, which was a hotel with small houses. They were bicycles for getting around to common areas in a quiet hotel. And it seems he was doing the Tour de Suisse. Then, poor Huijsen, who was standing in front of Pitarch’s house sending a message, and suddenly he’s practically a criminal on the highway at 200 km/h sending messages. I’m knocking on wood, because football is football. I’m giving you the story. This is the first time in 10 years that Real Madrid has arrived in mid-October without any injuries. They’re all injuries from last season. It’s a first. It’s a good story, but you don’t like it.” Mourinho on why fans are upset with Mbappe “This is one of your objectives. You don’t need to be Einstein to understand that this is the objective. I prefer not to speak about who it is; I could be wrong, but it is one of the objectives. I won’t comment on the Bernabéu. I respect it. My hope is that the Bernabéu will be able to be fair. To be fair is to be intelligent. To read between the lines and understand the dynamics. To understand the objectives. I promise that if a Real Madrid player doesn’t behave like a Real Madrid player and fails as a Real Madrid player, if he doesn’t fulfill his obligations as a player or as a citizen, you won’t see that player on the bench. You won’t be able to boo him. He’ll be at home. I won’t give him the opportunity to sit on the bench. Mbappé will play. He won’t even be on the bench. I’m sure he hasn’t failed in his obligations to Real Madrid.” Mourinho on the second part of the season “We’ve been here, and when you have little actual fieldwork, you have much more time to analyze every detail. In this first period, we’ve found many good things and things to improve. It doesn’t mean we have to change drastically. You need work and time for that. I can’t just arrive with one or two days and say, ‘Let’s start playing with five at the back, four in midfield, and change the full-back.’ You can’t. Yesterday, I read something curious that shouldn’t happen at Real Madrid. Mikel Arteta has renewed his contract. He said that we’re just starting out and that there’s a lot to do. Real Madrid is coming off a difficult period. What would be a normal situation for others… Real Madrid is to blame. Because they’ve won so much in the last ten years, and even before, everything takes on a different dimension. We need time to improve things. There are things that improve gradually, and we’re doing that. Yesterday we worked on these aspects. We have things to improve.” I’m not adamant that we should have won the match against Atlético because it should have been 11 against 9. We need to look for improvements in things that are within our control. Perhaps, to the untrained eye, many people won’t be able to understand it. But we will try to make adjustments to improve in some areas.” Mourinho on Yan Diomande “I’m not going to answer whether he’ll play or not. I don’t lie, and I’m not going to say who’s going to play. I don’t want to lie to you. Real Madrid can play with anyone from the squad up front. We have a lot of quality players. They can’t all play together. If you want four attackers, you can. Against Elche, we played with six for the last few minutes. But in a balanced situation with controlled risks, we can’t play with seven at once. We can’t play all of them.” Mourinho on what he did during the break “I spent two or three days straight after the last match trying to analyze every possible detail, so I wouldn’t get stuck on the obvious. But the obvious thing that’s not under my control is that it was an eleven-against-nine game. I didn’t want to dwell on that. Then, I spent three days away watching London and Portugal, and then I came back and worked incredibly hard. Little time on the pitch and a lot here. I’ve meticulously prepared for their arrival. Some arrive on Tuesday, Wednesday; some play, others don’t; some are jet-lagged, others haven’t slept… It’s complex. We’re working very well organizationally. We could have an injury in ten minutes, but not having any injuries isn’t something we forget here. Many things have changed, and we’re doing well. We’re preparing for the future as best we can.” Mourinho on Fede Valverde and Eder Militao “Fede is the doubt. Militao isn’t a doubt, he won’t be available. But seeing him train the way he does, we’ve never trained with just five players. Always 20. We’ve trained with youth team players. Sometimes Castilla would come, other times the C team, other times the youth team mixed with players from Castilla and the C team. If you don’t know Militao’s problems, you’d put him in tomorrow. I joke with him and ask, ‘Are you going to play?’ He’s better than I thought. He won’t be available tomorrow, neither in Rome nor against Sevilla. He needs a couple of weeks. His medical history is quite extensive, and we have to be careful. Mendy will train on the pitch with us for the first time. Rodrygo is further away. Valverde, the problem has persisted until today. We’ll decide about tomorrow today.”

BREAKING: Valverde questionable against Villarreal

Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde is questionable to face Villarreal this Saturday, coach José Mourinho announced during today’s pre-match press conference. Mourinho did not disclose Valverde’s issue, but it looks like the Uruguayan midfielder could sit this one out as Real Madrid get ready for a crucial stretch of the 2026-27 season. In other news, Eder Militao will also miss the upcoming games even though he’s already rejoined the squad in training. The Brazilian defender needs to keep improving his conditioning in order to make sure he stays healthy and fresh when he officially comes back from his injury. Real Madrid will face Roma in what’s expected to be a tough away game in the Champions League next Wednesday, so Mourinho will need to start using the depth at his disposal this month.

'Real consider McTominay move' - gossip

Real Madrid are reportedly keeping a watch on Scott McTominay as Scottish winger Danny Armstrong is close to signing a new contract with Dinamo Bucharest.

Madrid Daily: Mourinho’s reflections, Carvajal’s Getafe obstacle and Kroos’ coaching plans

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: Jose Mourinho head coach 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 Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images) | Real Madrid via Getty Images Real Madrid’s return to league action is approaching, with Villarreal preparing to visit the Bernabéu on Saturday without Tajon Buchanan but with an ambitious approach. Away from the match preparations, José Mourinho has discussed his return to Madrid and revisited several controversies, while reports on Dani Carvajal, Endrick and Toni Kroos point to possible next steps in their careers. There is also a new addition to the Bernabéu’s entertainment calendar. Mourinho discusses his Madrid return and the Vinícius–Prestianni controversy José Mourinho has given an extensive interview to Corriere dello Sport, reflecting on his return to Real Madrid, his relationship with Roma and his handling of the incident involving Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni during last season’s Champions League. “The buzz started when there was no contact at all” Mourinho said the speculation about his second spell at Madrid began before the club had approached him. At that stage, he maintained, his expectation was to continue at Benfica. “Normally, there’s initial contact, and then the buzz starts when something’s actually happening. Here, it was exactly the opposite: the buzz started when there was no contact at all. I was at Benfica, happy. It’s a special club for me, just ten minutes from home, something that hadn’t happened for twenty years. It was a club that needed a radical change. I thought I’d stay there with my three-year contract,” he said. “When the rumors started, I thought: ‘This can’t be true.’ I was at Benfica, focused on Benfica, focused on Benfica’s future. I never thought it was true.” Mourinho revisits his handling of the Prestianni incident Asked about the controversy involving Prestianni and Vinícius, Mourinho described the episode as particularly difficult to manage while he was Benfica coach. “It was a very delicate and difficult point for us, because in the end, Prestianni was disqualified not because of racism. I was a victim of public opinion, mainly of many opportunists, due to a completely uncontrollable situation,” Mourinho said. “What I really like about the end of this story is that, on one hand, there was a fantastic guy, and on the other, a perfect guy. It was a problem, but in the end, I got to know both of them.” UEFA’s disciplinary decision on April 24 sanctioned Prestianni for homophobic discriminatory conduct. It imposed a six-match suspension, with three matches suspended for a two-year probationary period. That is the disciplinary outcome behind Mourinho’s distinction regarding the basis of the punishment. Referees, Manchester City and football’s changing structures Mourinho also returned to his relationship with referees, linking his experiences in different countries to the controversies surrounding those competitions. “I don’t think the problem is me. The problem is the bad luck I have when I arrive at a particular club. I experienced Negreira’s important period here at Real Madrid. Nobody knew it, but we lived through it. It happened. It happened. I left afterwards, now everyone knows,” he said. On Manchester City’s case, he joked about the length of the process and the prospect of further appeals. “I prefer to laugh a little, because I think we’ll have an ending. We will have an ending. But the two of us, who are nearing 60, should be lucky enough to be here when the final verdict is delivered. Because now the sentence will come, and after a year, there will be an appeal.” Mourinho was similarly sceptical about the idea that football continually reinvents itself, describing tactical developments as cyclical. He also questioned the growth of clubs’ travelling staff, contrasting a page of players’ hotel rooms with a much longer list for analysts, media personnel and other employees. “There is no evolution. It’s a cycle. It comes and goes, they say. Because you always come back,” he said. Ancelotti’s photographs and an emotional return to Rome There was a lighter exchange about Carlo Ancelotti, with Mourinho recalling the Brazil coach’s interest in the fitness and development of Madrid’s Brazilian players. He joked about how frequently he encounters reminders of his predecessor around the training complex. “Carlo, I’m fed up with you, because every day I walk down the corridor: pictures of Carlo here, pictures of Carlo there. I’m fed up with you!” Mourinho’s discussion of Roma was more reflective. Ahead of Madrid’s Champions League visit on October 14, he said his departure had not diminished his affection for the club. “The farewell broke my heart. There isn’t, and never will be, a single word from me against Roma or its ownership: when I leave, I leave with clean hands and with the feeling that it will be my home forever. The day I arrived, there were thousands of people to welcome me, and I hadn’t even done anything yet. I don’t deserve this, but that’s Roma.” On returning as an opponent, he added: “I have to prepare because it’s the first time I’m going without the support of the Giallorossi fans. I don’t expect chants or banners, just a lot of respect.” As for his longer-term future, Mourinho’s answer was straightforward: “As long as I have my health, I will continue training.” Why Carvajal’s agreed salary does not settle his Getafe registration Dani Carvajal’s potential move to Getafe remains complicated by LaLiga’s financial-control assessment, even after the player and club reached an economic understanding. Getafe president Ángel Torres has said the former Madrid defender passed his medical, but registration is a separate obstacle. According to DAZN journalist Pablo Pinto, the figure being assigned to Carvajal for squad-cost purposes is €2.6 million annually—higher than the salary reportedly negotiated between the parties. The distinction is important: that figure is not a transfer fee and does not necessarily represent what Carvajal would receive in wages. It is the amount Getafe would need to accommodate for financial-control purposes. LaLiga’s assessment considers more than the amount written into a new contract. The criteria described in the reporting include age, injury history, recent appearances, international experience, honours, contract duration and market conditions. Consequently, accepting a lower salary does not automatically make a player eligible for registration within a club’s available limit. There is also a contractual point still under discussion. Roberto Gómez reported on Radio MARCA that Carvajal wants an exit clause allowing him to leave during the winter window if another opportunity arises. “What Carvajal wants is a clause that would allow him to leave if he receives an offer from another team during the winter transfer window,” Gómez said. Pinto has also reported that request. Between the registration valuation and the proposed January exit mechanism, the move remains unresolved rather than a completed signing. Roma’s Wesley reportedly contacts Endrick as Milan remain interested Endrick continues to attract interest from Italy, with Corriere dello Sport reporting that Roma wing-back Wesley has contacted his Brazil teammate about the possibility of joining him in January. According to the account, Wesley told Endrick how pleased he would be to welcome him to Rome and share a dressing room. The contact is described as an exchange between friends, rather than a formal club-to-club agreement. Roma and AC Milan are both being linked with the Madrid forward as his search for more playing time draws attention ahead of the winter window. The same reporting identifies the structure of any potential move as an issue still to be resolved: Madrid’s preference is described as a loan, while Roma would like an arrangement including a purchase option and a buy-back mechanism. There is no completed agreement in that account. The immediate meeting between the clubs will take place on the pitch, with Madrid visiting the Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League on October 14. Tchouaméni: “I took risks… but I don’t regret anything” Aurélien Tchouaméni has acknowledged that he played through pain at the World Cup, explaining that the tournament’s importance influenced decisions he might not have made under different circumstances. Speaking to France 24, the midfielder said those choices subsequently affected him physically. “From the third or fourth match onwards, and even a little before, I was in pain. Obviously, it’s a World Cup, so we try to do everything possible to be as prepared as possible and perform at our best on the pitch. I took risks that I might not have taken at another time, but I don’t regret anything. The players understand that sometimes there are circumstances that demand you give your all. And that’s what I did. I paid the price afterward, but it’s part of my story and I have no regrets about it.” Asked about his performance in France’s defeat to Spain, Tchouaméni accepted that he had not been able to show his usual level. “No, obviously, I wasn’t the real Aurélien Tchouaméni. But it’s not the first time it’s happened, and it won’t be the last. There are many moments during a competition when we talk with the medical and coaching staff; you have to do what’s necessary to be on the pitch, and that’s what I did.” Looking ahead, he expressed his determination to return to the national team under Zinedine Zidane. “There’s a new manager here who’s doing a very good job, and any ambitious player aspires to play for the French national team. It’s like everything in life: if you perform well, it will happen.” He declined to choose between the French Ballon d’Or candidates, offering only: “Obviously, it has to be a Frenchman.” Villarreal lose Buchanan but plan to press Madrid Villarreal will be without Tajon Buchanan for Saturday’s match after the winger returned from international duty with a muscle injury. Coach Iñigo Pérez confirmed the absence while reporting better news on Juan Foyth and Santi Comesaña. “Buchanan will not be available. He has a minor muscle injury. We don’t know how long he will be out. He is committed and will work to return as soon as possible. Comesaña and Foyth have trained well these past few weeks and are available,” Iñigo said. Nathan Saliba, Tani Oluwaseyi and Alex Freeman had not rejoined Thursday’s session following their international commitments, while Santi Mouriño was back with the group. The late arrivals leave Villarreal with limited time to prepare collectively, but Iñigo said he would not use the schedule as an excuse. “You’ll never hear me complain about these things. I don’t waste energy on something that’s predetermined. We focus on how, in a single day, we’re going to implement the things we want to see at the Bernabéu.” Iñigo wants aggression rather than a retreat The Villarreal coach described the Bernabéu as an opportunity to demonstrate his team’s level, while acknowledging the need to withstand periods of Madrid pressure. His preferred approach, however, is to make the visitors active participants rather than allow the game to be played entirely on Madrid’s terms. “I envision a match where we can press high, knowing they’ll look to attack the space behind us. With the ball, I imagine we’ll dominate, and they’ll wait for a mistake, a slip-up, to attack and hurt us. The players repeat patterns, their behavior is clear, because they’re usually successful, so we know what’s going to happen in each situation. The key is how we approach the match so they don’t hurt us. I hope we’re clinical in both penalty areas.” Iñigo also stressed that the approach requires conviction from the coaching staff as well as the players. “There is a key emotional component; the coach has to be convinced. He has to convince them that their energy will be spent going forward, not backward.” Despite a Champions League meeting with Napoli following the Madrid fixture, he said his immediate focus remained Saturday’s game rather than potential rotations. Cardona: “You have to play a brave game” Sergi Cardona expressed a similar view in an interview with AS, arguing that Villarreal must be willing to challenge Madrid rather than simply try to contain them. “We always see Real Madrid for what they are: one of the best teams you can face. We’re aware that it’s always difficult there, but I think the team is capable of winning on that pitch. I sincerely believe it’s a great opportunity for us after everything we’ve been through. The idea is to go there and be brave. If you want to beat Real Madrid, you have to play a brave game, going toe-to-toe with them.” The full-back said that allowing Madrid to choose when to accelerate would create its own problems. “The footballer always prefers to attack and go after his opponent, and I also think they wouldn’t prefer a team that goes after them and makes things difficult for them. They prefer a match where they control the game, where they can accelerate when they want. If you allow them to dictate the pace and attack when they want, controlling the game and the ball, the match will feel very long. If you push forward, you can win back possession and feel strong enough to hurt them; all of that adds energy.” Kroos reportedly expresses interest in coaching course Toni Kroos has informed the RFEF that he is interested in joining a coaching course for former professional players during the 2027–28 season, according to AS. The report describes a gradual exploration of coaching rather than an imminent appointment. Madrid had previously discussed bringing Kroos into the club’s structure, with José Ángel Sánchez speaking to him about a possible role. However, the account says the two sides did not identify the right timing or position, leaving the possibility open rather than completing an agreement. Kroos continues his work with the academy he established in Boadilla. The reported interest in further training should also be distinguished from qualification to coach at every professional level. UEFA A and UEFA Pro are separate licences, with the Pro pathway providing the preparation for professional head-coaching roles. An interest in enrolling does not establish that Kroos has completed the required qualifications or accepted a job at Madrid. Arsuaga recalls the Madrid generations at his father’s funeral Paleoanthropologist Juan Luis Arsuaga has described the moment that made him understand Real Madrid as a lasting community rather than simply a football team. Speaking to AS at the FLEM literary festival in Magaluf, he recalled the funeral of his father, former Madrid player Pedro María Arsuaga. “My father played for Real Madrid for many years, from 1946 to 1953. But he studied Economics, and when he retired from football, he worked as an economist. So, my father was a very well-educated man. He knew many languages because he loved them. And when he took early retirement, he studied Semitic Philology and was studying Hebrew and Arabic,” he said. Asked why his father’s death changed his understanding of the club, Arsuaga pointed to the people who came to pay their respects. “Because when my father died, all generations of footballers came to his funeral. Di Stéfano was there too, even though he already had a lot of trouble walking; he could barely walk anymore. He was younger than my father, not by much, but somewhat. But Pirri and Butragueño came too… All generations came, from those playing now to Di Stéfano.” “What is a club? Well, it’s a tribe. Sometimes you’re born into that tribe, and sometimes it’s by choice. My father could have chosen another one, but once he joined this one, he became part of it. And he was until the day he died.” Bernabéu Skywalk to open with Cirque du Soleil experience The Bernabéu’s Skywalk will open to the public on November 13 with an experience created alongside Cirque du Soleil and Fever. Inspired by Kurios — Cabinet of Curiosities, the attraction will operate until January 10, 2027. The approximately 45-minute route follows the stadium’s south and west walkways on level 10, combining panoramic views of Madrid with themed spaces including the Accordion Tunnel, the Clouds and the Electric Forest. It ends at the Sky Bar, temporarily transformed into “The Train Station,” where visitors will see a short live performance. The experience is separate from the full Kurios production. Opening hours are scheduled for 5–11 p.m. on weekdays and noon–11 p.m. on weekends, with last admission at 10 p.m. December 24 and 31 will have special hours. Tickets will be available through Fever, with a 24-hour presale for those on the waiting list. Prices start at €27 for general admission and €20 for children under 14, varying according to the selected date and time. Video: Huijsen responds to a question about Mbappé Dean Huijsen was filmed answering a question about Kylian Mbappé as he arrived at Valdebebas. His brief response directed the question back to the forward, with the exchange subsequently circulating on social media. ⚪️🇪🇸 Huijsen se para a atender aficionados a la salida de Valdebebas. – ¿Cómo está Mbappé? – Pregúntale a él. 📹 @kikeortizzz pic.twitter.com/CjrAsubiq3 — El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) October 8, 2026 Video: Rodrygo shows his touch during recovery Rodrygo has shared a training clip showcasing his technique as he continues working toward a return. Madrid’s official update on Thursday still listed the Brazilian among the players continuing their recovery programs, alongside Asencio and Mendy. The clip therefore should not be taken as confirmation of a return to unrestricted team training or match availability. 🚨 RODRYGO GOES está muy cerca de VOLVER. 😍🔜🤍 pic.twitter.com/cIMBsZbM5j — (fan) REAL MADRID FANS 🤍 (@AdriRM33) October 7, 2026

Real seek McTominay move - Friday's gossip

Real Madrid are interested in former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay and France forward Michael Olise, while Chelsea are keen on Frenkie de Jong.

Scouting Villarreal: Real Madrid’s first rival after the international break

VILLARREAL, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: Renato Veiga of Villarreal CF is challenged by Yanis Musuayi of Levante UD during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Villarreal CF and Levante UD at Estadio de la Ceramica on September 20, 2026 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) | Getty Images Villarreal have played seven league matches so far this season under Iñigo Pérez with two wins, two draws and three defeats. They scored 13 goals and conceded 12. Of their goals, three were penalties, and one was an own goal. Villarreal created 13.9 non-penalty expected goals (npxG), 1.98 per match, the third most in La Liga. They scored nine non-penalty goals, 4.9 fewer than those chances were worth. Their best run came in their sixth and seventh league match, when they averaged 3.14 npxG per match. Among the players, Ayoze Pérez had the most npxG (3.6, one goal), ahead of Georges Mikautadze (2.8, one goal) and Alberto Moleiro (1.6, two goals). They conceded 8.5 npxG, 1.22 per match, the ninth fewest in La Liga. They let in 11 non-penalty goals, 2.5 more than those chances were worth. Their best run came in their third and fourth league match, when they conceded 0.65 npxG per match. Their defensive actions (tackles, interceptions, recoveries, clearances and blocked passes) came on average 36.9 meters from their own goal line, the fourth highest in La Liga. Their centre-backs received the ball on average 40.2 meters from their own goal line, the sixth highest in La Liga. Villarreal had a field tilt of 67.0% (their share of all the final-third passes in their matches), the second highest in La Liga. They had the bigger share in six of their seven matches. Over the season they controlled 14 of the pitch’s 24 zones, meaning they had more than 55% of the touches there, and their opponents controlled three. Their PPDA was 9.8 – meaning – opponents made 9.8 passes for every tackle, interception, challenge, blocked pass or foul Villarreal made outside their own defensive third. That was the second lowest in La Liga; the league as a whole recorded 12.1. A lower PPDA means a more intense press. They completed 511 open-play passes per match, the second highest in La Liga. Of the passes they received, 29.0% arrived in the final third, the second highest in La Liga. Their most-used formation was 4-4-2, and the two players who passed to each other most were Pape Gueye and Renato Veiga, with 84 passes between them. Villarreal’s completed passes added 13.7 expected threat (xT) over the season, 1.96 per match, the most in La Liga. Pape Gueye added the most (1.47), ahead of Renato Veiga (1.33) and Alberto Moleiro (1.18). They took 109 non-penalty shots, 15.6 per match. Their average shot came from 16.8 meters, the third shortest in La Liga. They also scored three penalties. Across 696 minutes, including stoppage time, Villarreal were winning for 141 minutes (20.3%), level for 364 (52.3%), and losing for 191 (27.4%). Their time spent winning was the 14th most in La Liga.

Daily Thread: 08 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. Arda is the best player of the month 🗣️ Arda Güler: “I feel a great sense of importance, and I am very happy and proud of this award. I want to thank everyone and hope that we can win the titles this year and that I can contribute to that. We are working to win all the matches that await us.” pic.twitter.com/fha9NwIz5d — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 8, 2026 La Liga is blocking Dani’s signing 🚨💣 BREAKING: La Liga is currently BLOCKING Getafe from signing Dani Carvajal. La Liga have concerns over Carvajal agreeing to a salary of €400K at Getafe, having previously earned €10M at Real Madrid. Getafe’s lack of salary cap space is also an issue. @carrusel ❌ pic.twitter.com/Ldy6OW9F8v — Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) October 8, 2026 More comments by Davide The AS journalist asked other interesting questions related to Real Madrid. Q: How can a team can survive from Kroos departure. DA: It survives, but it loses something that it will never recover. Kroos was the best player in his position. So, you can’t say “I need another Kroos”, because there isn’t one. He was the owner of the match, he owned the rhythm of the match. The game flowed in the way he wanted. If he wanted the ball to go like this [horizontally], it went like this. If he wanted the ball to go like that [vertically], it went like that. He decided and so he was fundamental. And he ran, he was player who ran 11 km per game. And he defended, he knew to defend, he had tactical sense. I loved when he played as 6. It’s true he didn’t like the second balls and duels, so he preferred to play like an 8 and let the dirty game to the 6, which was Camavinga or Casemiro. But to Real Madrid losing Tony Kroos was difficult, because you lose many things. Apart from the things you lose in daily basis. He is very intelligent, he challenges you, he makes you think, because he always has an interesting point of view. He was a player who improved you as coach. Q: Is Vini a difficult player to coach? DA: It’s a player that every teammate loves. He is a generous person, he doesn’t miss a single training session. He is always there to the team and other players know. When he is doing well in the pitch, he is very decisive. But if you have to know you have a player like him, because he influences the collective play, as he is a very direct, vertical player. He has so much confidence on his skills, that he always takes his man on. Therefore, you need to have a structure behind him that allows you to play with him. If you doesn’t have this structure, the game gets out of control, because Vini always go for the decisive play. Vini won’t change. You can change the structure, so he is valued. And when he is in a good moment, he decides the matches and he did many times in Madrid. Now, I think he is going through a difficult time like all players have had. Q: What do you think when Vini was substituted by Xabi Alonso in El Clasico? DA: First, I felt sorry for Xabi, because I have a good relationship with him. It’s not right, I think Vini knows he made a mistake. These are things you shouldn’t be doing it, out respect for your coach, club, teammates and the fans. It’s on the past now, but how do you manage it? What you can’t manage is the reaction from other people. You can’t control that. The decision coach makes are to win the game at that moment. There is nothing personal. Xabi Alonso made a change he thought was appropriate to win the game. The players in Madrid are professional and they never disrespected us. They don’t want to leave the pitch? Like Vini did, others have done it too, like Kroos a thousand times saying “what are you doing? why are you taking me off?”, Modric has done on his natural language. But that doesn’t mean the players are in charge. In Madrid, the coach is in charge and these are things from the outside.

Mbappé Exit Talk Grows as Real Madrid Criticism Intensifies

Mbappe Real Madrid criticism is growing in France, as Daniel Riolo says an end-of-season exit should not be ruled out. The post Mbappé Exit Talk Grows as Real Madrid Criticism Intensifies appeared first on Football España.

Asencio: “I made a mistake, I apologize”

Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio talked to AS and shared his feelings after having surgery to repair a fracture on his tibia. “It all started a year ago, and since January the fracture had been holding up with conservative treatment. The pain was getting worse. I was suffering, but I couldn’t stop because the team was above everything, and I always look out for this club and for this badge. But there came a point where the fracture was bigger, and I saw that I had to have surgery. Mourinho’s visit gave me a shot of energy. In those moments of doubt, when you’re racking your brain thinking about how the recovery is going to go and how long I’m going to be out of the game, having Mou come to see me and show me that closeness we’ve all seen in the locker room since the start of the season is really comforting. Mou is approachable, humble, kind, and ambitious. Mou is a great person on a human level, besides being a great coach,” he said. Asencio also addressed his DUI case, which happened this past summer. “That was a really tough time. Several situations in my life piled up, and within a short period of time. Mou’s not wrong. He was absolutely right. In the end, people comment on what’s public and what they see. I made a mistake. I admitted it then and I admit it now, I’ve apologized and I’ll keep apologizing. I’m a 23-year-old kid and I’ve made mistakes, just like anyone can at that age. But I have to be aware of where I am. I’m at Real Madrid, and that can’t happen again. I’m fully aware of that and I’m only focused on turning this situation around. I’m the one most hurt by this. I dream of turning everything around and winning titles with this club and this jersey, hopefully for the rest of my career. That’s why these kinds of situations won’t happen again,” he said. You can read AS’ full interview with Asencio here.

'Amazing' Kane targets 100 international goals

Striker Harry Kane says he could reach 100 goals for England after equalling his country's appearance record of 125, drawing praise from team-mates Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham.

Daily Thread: 06 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. Camavinga under Zidane 🚨 Zidane fully SUPPORTS Camavinga. Zidane sees Camavinga as a RARE type of midfielder for France. His physicality and ball circulation make him a major asset. Against Belgium in Brussels, Cama had a 94% pass success, 41/42 passes in opp half, 5 recoveries and 6 duels.… pic.twitter.com/qlHeemqTNF — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 7, 2026 The club's way of handling situations with players when they are in a bad form is horrible. Camavinga was not inc in Mou's plans, struggling with injuries etc..but the min he got out of RM's environment & found someone to give him confidence (ZZ) he thrived. Be that as it may. — Mohamed✆ (@BlancoInsight) October 6, 2026 Davide comments Yesterday, I posted the interesting interview AS made with Davided Ancelotti. Here are some of parts: The results during the season are important to build confidence. In a season with Madrid, there are steps: the derby, El Clasico, in between there are two or three Champions League games and then the Super Cup. If you reaches the Super Cup and you’re clearly superior, you think “this year I will win something”. So, I think there are thermometers in the Real Madrid season. The derby test is very important so you can change something for what comes next. And we always went into the derby with problems. This happened in 23/24 season. When that season started, we wanted to play with a diamond in the midfield, because Bellingham arrived that season, but we changed it afterwards. They have a coach who preps the matches very well, especially big matches. They played a lot from the wings in that game and exposed the difficulties we had. Therefore, after the derby, we decided it was better to defend in a 4-4-2. So defenisvely we put Jude in the left side. He had the mental and physical capacity to this position — with the ball, to play as 10, getting into the box, but to play as winger defensively, in which you have to end on your goal line, so it’s not easy. Uber Eats is the new sponsor 🚨 BREAKING: Uber Eats is new sponsor of Real Madrid. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/cPiIWidNgH — Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) October 7, 2026 From the official statement: “Real Madrid and Uber Eats announce an agreement under which the platform becomes the official delivery partner of our club in Spain for the next three seasons, until June 2029. The alliance will enable both brands to develop campaigns, content, and experiences aimed at fans. Additionally, it includes Uber Eats’ presence at Bernabéu matches and joint actions on digital channels”. Carvajal and Getafe Carvajal and Getafe had agreed on terms and they were about to have a deal, but La Liga hasn’t approved it yet. The last rumour suggests the has broken down.

How Alonso could solve Chelsea's familiar problems

Chelsea made a thrilling start to the season under Xabi Alonso but after being beaten at Arsenal, blows against Hull and Brentford have set them back.

Mbappé set to be ready to face Villarreal -report

Real Madrid are taking a cautious approach with Kylian Mbappé’s recovery from the knee injury he picked up during the FIFA break but the French striker will almost surely be available to face Villarreal this Saturday, according to a report published today on MARCA. That doesn’t mean that the Frenchman will start, though. Real Madrid will play a tough away game against Roma next week and Mourinho could decide to keep Mbappé fresh for the European match. Still, it seems clear that the French star will be more than ready for El Clásico later this month, which was always the main priority right after he was diagnosed with the hyper-extended knee.

Jude Bellingham hails 125-cap Harry Kane as England’s best-ever player

Captain scores twice in 3-0 win over Czechia Kane equals Peter Shilton’s appearance record Jude Bellingham called Harry Kane England’s best-ever player after the captain equalled Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps during Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Czechia in the Nations League. Kane, who is only nine off a century of international goals after scoring twice in another fine display, was the star attraction as the Wembley crowd watched Thomas Tuchel’s side close on a spot in March’s quarter-finals. England’s record goalscorer showed why he is in the running for the Ballon d’Or and the way the Bayern Munich striker passed another milestone earned him rave reviews from Bellingham. Continue reading...

Arda Güler’s Real Madrid renewal has one key detail unresolved

Arda Güler contract reports point to a Real Madrid renewal, but the midfielder’s new expiry date remains unclear without official terms. The post Arda Güler’s Real Madrid renewal has one key detail unresolved appeared first on Football España.

Militao, Konaté complete Tuesday’s training session with Real Madrid’s squad

Real Madrid defenders Ibrahima Konaté and Eder Militao rejoined the squad in training this Tuesday and were able to complete the session with the group, meaning that both of them could be available to face Villarreal next Saturday. Needless to say, Militao will need extra time to improve his conditioning before he can actually feature in the starting lineup. He missed the entire preseason stage with his injury and Mourinho and the rest of the coaching staff will need to make sure that he’s 100% ready to play. On the other hand, Konaté could very well start against Villarreal if he keeps training with the group during the rest of the week.

Daily Thread: 06 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. The end of the break Today, are the last games of the current FIFA break. Real Madrid players in action today are Bellingham and Trent vs Czech Republic and Cucurella and Huijsen vs Croatia. One of the best thing for Real Madrid out of this break has been Camavinga’s performances under Zidane. Yesterday vs Belgium, he had 89% pass accuracy, 8 recoveries, 4 interceptions, 6 defensive contributions, 11 passes into final third • 0 fouls committed. This international break was worth it for the sole reason that we saw Camavinga get some much needed confidence from Zidane — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) October 5, 2026 AS’ interview with Davide Ancelotti AS has released an hour-long interview with Davide Ancelotti, who is the Lille’s manager. I haven’t watched it completely yet, but Davided discussed interesting points about Real Madrid, such as Vini’s reaction in the El Clasico last season, and how Kroos departure affects the team, etc. It’s worth checking it out. Issues with Mbappe? Once again, Mbappe is on the spotlight, but not from his performances. 🚨⚠️At #realmadrid, they’re starting to get fed up with #Mbappé. Critical voices about the Frenchman’s behaviour are growing louder, with many believing that some of his recent decisions have been driven purely by self-interest. [@IvanMartinCu] — Mohamed✆ (@BlancoInsight) October 6, 2026 🚨💣#Mbappé has confided in people very close to him that he’s NOT HAPPY at #realmadrid! It’s nothing to do with his future. He’s talking about what he’s going through at the club right now. He feels the PROJECT is NOT SERIOUS. [@JorgeCPicon YT @madridistahoy] 🤐 — Mohamed✆ (@BlancoInsight) October 6, 2026

Mbappé’s Villarreal Target Depends on Knee Recovery

Mbappé knee recovery has progressed at Real Madrid, but individual training does not confirm he will face Villarreal this Saturday. The post Mbappé’s Villarreal Target Depends on Knee Recovery appeared first on Football España.

Did Zidane invigorate Camavinga?

Paris, France - October 5: Eduardo Camavinga of France looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A1 MD4 match between France and Belgium at Stade de France on October 5, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images 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. I don’t normally like international breaks, but when the club you support is playing poorly — and has been doing so for over two years — and you get a chance to decompress for three weeks while watching your team’s superstars dominate with their national teams, it’s, uh, not that terrible. Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler have been lights out all international break. It’s nice to see Carlos Espi beat up poor San Marino with five goals. There are other things, some good, some bad: Brahim Diaz continues to produce for Morocco, Yan Diomande looks good, Denzel Dumfries under Xavi so far has looked solid; and, Vinicius has been replaced by an alien (this is a half joke). The headlines, though, are definitely that Bellingham and Güler are both incredible and it would be a shame we didn’t capitalize with the right players and scheme around them: I saved one of the best for last: Zinedine Zidane is back, and France are fun again, and football is better with Zidane around. I had three takeaways watching the France vs Belgium game today: It wasn’t the same without Zidane these past few years. Remember when Michael Jordan played basketball and he was the coolest human alive? Then he retired and basketball wasn’t the same. And then he came back to play with the Washington Wizards and he was the coolest man alive again? And then he left, and basketball isn’t the same without him. And whenever he makes a cameo somewhere once every 10 years, you just wish he was always around, because he’s that cool. Zidane is the football version of that. He has aura (as the kids say) and his presence is magnetic. He is instantly the coolest person in any room he walks in. Evidently the Real Madrid player who needed this international break the most was Eduardo Camavinga. He looks like he’s benefitted greatly from have Zidane whispering confidence in his ear while sprinkling gold dust in his boots. Camavinga looked really good tonight as France’s anchor. Camavinga is among the list of Real Madrid midfielders that don’t look good in a double pivot — so why does Jose Mourinho insist on it? The third point has been on my mind this entire international break. Neither of these three players work in a double pivot together in any combination against elite teams: Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde. If you plug in Toni Kroos with one of them, fine. But we all know Kroos is gone, and that drum has been beaten to death. It might work if you stick Güler or Bellingham deeper as an 8, but Mourinho has shown us zero inclination that that’s a possibility. The only other potential piece that could make it tick is Bernardo Silva, who hasn’t featured much, yet. There is another solution, and I’m not sure how likely it is: Mourinho can change his scheme and try an entirely different formation. Watching Camavinga play is just a reminder (and this is a general analysis not just about this particular France game): None of these Real Madrid midfielders are suited for a double pivot as the squad is currently constructed. — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) October 5, 2026 There is something inherently frustrating for Madridistas to see so many of their players look good with their national teams, and yet, when they all return to Real Madrid, the puzzle pieces just don’t fit properly. This is where Mourinho needs to be less rigid with how he deploys the team and needs to start getting more creative with his solutions after the international break ends. There is a caveat in Camavinga’s performance against Belgium tonight in that the Belgians sat deep for the majority of this game, which gave Camavinga a ton of room to operate. The way to make Camavinga uncomfortable is to put pressure on him and test his mental resilience in deep positions. I state this as a word of caution in case Madridistas get carried away with what they saw tonight. Having said that, Camavinga put in a very solid cameo. His distribution — short and long — was on point, he took up really good positions in between the lines, and had a nasty signature Cobra Slide Tackle just before half-time on Morreira in a dangerous position. He read passing lanes well, and racked up the most interceptions (four) of anyone on the field. Zidane-ball can be extremely fun, as everyone on this website already knows. Zidane likes to pump the ball out to line-breaking wingers as quickly as possible, and if the pass is not on, then — and only then — does the ball go central until they can swing it around to the other side and try again. It’s a lot of positive chaos, and France were so relentless, it was only a matter of time the dam broke. As soon as Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise came on, they turned this game on its head and overwhelmed Belgium. Whether or not Camavinga will return to Madrid at his best, only time will tell. But having him work under Zidane doesn’t seem to be doing him any harm, that much is certain.

Eduardo Camavinga plays 88 minutes in France’s comeback win vs Belgium

Eduardo Camavinga played 88 minutes in France’s 4-1 win over Belgium to end their international break on Monday night. Camavinga started in a midfield three with Kone and Akliouche and played more minutes than either of them, in a generally impressive performance. Camavinga did not register a goal or assist, but his passing was generally tidy, completing 63 of his 71 passes. The Real Madrid man had 89 touches, and wandered into the right-hand side on more than one occasion, as he was able to help France progress the ball forward. Defensively, Camavinga completed one tackle, one clearance, four interceptions and eight recoveries, and was pretty important in making sure France dominated the ball. It was a good international break for Camavinga as he played in all four games under Zinedine Zidane, including two starts, and looked like a much better player than when he first arrived at camp. Camavinga will now return to Madrid, thankfully without any injury.

Jude awakening: how a more fluid England are ‘unlocking’ Bellingham’s full potential

Assistant coach Anthony Barry says new structure means their key attackers are not ‘caged in’ after 7-0 rout of Croatia Anthony Barry knows the hunt is on. The England assistant coach has been through the debriefs. He has mulled over the minutiae with Thomas Tuchel to such an extent he is allowed to make a joke at the boss’s expense. “He’s doing my head in,” Barry says with a smile. What is the missing piece of the puzzle? After all the emotion of England’s semi-final finish at the World Cup, how can they take the decisive step to glory? It is early days in the Nations League campaign, which everybody at the Football Association wants to use as a slingshot into Euro 2028 when England will co-host, but Barry can see the genesis of an answer. It comes down to liberation, enabling England’s top players to fully express themselves, and there is a reason why he finds himself talking about Jude Bellingham. Continue reading...

Güler, Real Madrid reach agreement to extend contract until 2031 -report

Real Madrid and midfielder Arda Güler have reached an agreement to extend the player’s contract until 2031, according to a report published today on AS. Güler has also received a significant salary raise and while the club have not announced this extension the agreement is all but done. Güler has become one of the team’s most crucial players and the club felt like he deserved this extension and raise. He signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 and he found a way to earn a relevant role, fulfilling the potential the club saw in him when they decided to sign him away from Fenerbahce. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is next in line to sign an extension, according to that same report. This time, it will be a one-year deal.

England hammer Croatia and Manchester City get their appeal on: Football Weekly – podcast

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Robyn Cowen as England thrash Croatia 7 (seven) nil Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email. On the podcast today: a brilliant performance from England. The front four of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham dominate an admittedly poor Croatia. It’s a statement win for Thomas Tuchel, who has been under some pressure since the World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina. Continue reading...

Milan joins Roma in race to sign Endrick on loan -report

AC Milan are interested in signing Endrick on a loan deal this upcoming winter and have joined Roma in the race to land the Brazilian attacker should he become available, according to a report published on MARCA. The writing seems to be on the wall for Endrick. He has only played a handful of minutes this season and it looks like he won’t be playing relevant minutes on a consistent basis for Real Madrid, even if the coaching staff wanted to keep him around this past summer. Knowing that, the Brazilian player will almost certainly want to leave on another loan deal so that he can find the minutes he needs to keep improving his game, something he needs to earn himself more minutes for Madrid.

Let’s stop doubting Thomas Tuchel: England are impressive and Euro 2028 is the target

Coming third in the World Cup was really not a disaster, and Saturday’s rout of Croatia and building the team around Jude Bellingham are good signs Move fast and fix things. It has been a fine week so far for Thomas Tuchel as he attempts the cyclical task of soldering together not just an England team, but a way of looking like one, all the while being battered by the to-and-fro conflicting winds of England managerdom. There is nothing new here. This is a job that involves not just picking the right players and making high-stakes calculations over your second-half substitutions, but carrying out these basic duties while wrestling with aggrieved members of the Thuggee cult on a collapsing rope bridge outside the Temple of Doom, and simultaneously having your heart ripped out. Continue reading...

Real Madrid join race for Scott - Monday's gossip

Bournemouth's Alex Scott at the centre of a transfer tussle, Arsenal show interest in Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz, Real Betis rebuff speculation linking Troy Parrott with a move away, plus more.

Manchester City v Arsenal: Women’s Super League – live

⚽️ WSL updates from 4.30pm BST ⚽️ Read Moving the Goalposts | Follow us on Instagram GOAL! West Ham 0-2 Chelsea (Walsh 80) An emphatic finish from Keira Walsh has clinched all three points for Chelsea. Beth Mead starts against her old club, one of three changes to the City side that drew with Real Madrid in midweek. Sam Coffey and Niamh Charles also come into the team. Out go Laura Brown, Mary Fowler and Kerstin Casparij. Continue reading...

A night to forget for Vinicius in India

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 3: Vinicius Jr. of Brazil in action during FIFA International Friendly match against India at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Stadium on October 3, 2026 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Samir Jana/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) | Hindustan Times via Getty Images Brazil defeated India 0-4 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata behind 1st half goals from Chelsea right winger Estevao and Flamengo centre-forward Pedro and a double in the 2nd half from Flamengo left winger Samuel Lino.  Brazil dominated play, attempting 20 shots on the evening compared to only 9 from their South Asian rivals. Vinicius had a night to forget, completing only 7 of 13 passes, distributing zero key passes and attempting zero dribbles while also missing a big scoring chance.  The Real Madrid winger, who appears to be playing with little confidence, will need to show significant improvement to justify his place in the starting 11 for club and country alike going forward. Vinicius produced only 1 goal (via penalty) and zero assists for Brazil in 3 matches during this international break, looking like a shell of the player we witnessed just 3 months ago at the World Cup. Endrick also had a quiet 29 minutes, failing to create a scoring chance and attempting only 7 passes.  The Real Madrid forward also saw none of his 3 shot attempts be on target. The Brazilian internationals now head back to their club teams, the Seleção’s next opponent being Japan on November 14th at the Singapore National Stadium as part of the Mizuho Blue Challenge four-team tournament. View this post on Instagram

Roma interested in Endrick loan deal -report

Real Madrid striker Endrick might be forced to consider yet another loan deal out of the club this upcoming winter and Roma appear to have serious interest in that kind of move, according to a report published today on MARCA. Endrick has only played four minutes for Real Madrid this season and appears to be buried in José Mourinho’s depth chart. In that context, he knows that he needs minutes to keep improving and developing as a player, so a loan deal makes sense for all parts involved. Furthermore, Endrick already agreed to a loan move last winter and ended up scoring eight goals and delivering five assists on 21 matches played for Olympique Lyon, so he has seen first hand how helpful these moves can be.

Bellingham unlocks new level and potential to be 'one of the greatest'

Jude Bellingham's international future was being called into question a year ago, but now he is regarded as potentially one of England's "greatest of all time".

Keane: Bellingham can become one of greatest players ever

England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham can become one of the world's greatest ever players, according to Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane.

Top 10 players: Croatia 0-7 England

RIJEKA, CROATIA - OCTOBER 03: Jude Bellingham of England celebrates after team mate Morgan Rogers (not pictured) scores his team’s seventh goal during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Croatia and England at Stadion HNK Rijeka on October 03, 2026 in Rijeka, Croatia. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images England provided eight of the top 10 players for progressive passes. Jude Bellingham played 18 progressive passes, more than any other player. Bukayo Saka made 10 progressive carries, more than any other player. Croatia supplied five of the leading 10 players for completed take-ons. Franjo Ivanovic completed five take-ons. Luka Vuskovic completed 97.4% of his passes, more than any other player. Jude Bellingham contributed 0.946 xT from open-play passes, the highest figure in the match. He also recorded 18 progressive passes, the highest figure in the match. Alongside that, he added eight key passes, the highest figure in the match. Three of England’s seven goals. Those contributions came over 92 minutes for England. Harry Kane had a long ball completion rate of 50.0%, joint third in the match. He also recorded nine progressive passes, joint fourth in the match. He added 0.233 xT from open-play passes, sixth in the match. Luka Modric recorded one key pass. He had two take-ons, joint sixth in the match. He also added eight progressive passes. Those contributions came over 56 minutes for Croatia.

Bellingham stands out for high-grade England but Uefa sends out wrong message on racism | Barney Ronay

Allowing children in after a ban on adult fans was wrong in the extreme but on the pitch England showed genuine class So … can we play another World Cup, then? Can we just undo and rewind? Forget whatever it was you thought you saw in Atlanta. We’re actually ready now. Although not, repeat not, if any part of this involves playing football in front of 6,000 excitable children, the combined effect of which was to create an atmosphere in Rijeka the adult human ear is simply not designed to process. Continue reading...

Yáñez settles five-goal Madrid derby for Castilla

Real Madrid Castilla beat Atlético Madrileño 3-2 as Yáñez’s winner settled a five-goal reserve-team derby after late penalties and drama. The post Yáñez settles five-goal Madrid derby for Castilla appeared first on Football España.

Kane and Saka double up as England school Croatia in historic Nations League rout

It had all the edge of a pop concert in the stands but England looked ready to steal candy from a baby. The 6,200 Croatian under-14s allowed inside Stadion HNK Rijeka were invited free of charge and this was a priceless footballing experience. England ripped Croatia to shreds to take a firm grip on second place in their Nations League group, boosting their hopes of reaching next year’s quarter-finals, and anyone supporting the home team could at least find consolation in watching Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham combine to devastating effect. Perhaps the ticket should have come with an adult age rating. This was grisly viewing for the locals but Thomas Tuchel delighted in England’s most complete performance since surging to a 4-2 win over Croatia at the World Cup. Kane marked his 124th cap with his 88th and 89th international strikes and had plenty of help. Three assists and a goal decorated a scintillating display from Bellingham and Tuchel found satisfaction in the other members of his ruthless front four getting on the scoresheet. Continue reading...

Konaté won’t be available against Villarreal -report

Real Madrid defender Ibrahima Konaté will not recover in time for next weekend’s match against Villarreal, the first game after the FIFA break. Konaté suffered a knee sprain during France’s training camp and while he escaped a major injury and he could be ready for El Clásico later this month, he will need some more time to properly recover from that physical problem. With Dean Huijsen also unavailable due to the red card he saw against Atlético de Madrid, Antonio Rüdiger will be Real Madrid’s only center-back ready to face Villarreal. In that context, Tchouameni will be expected to play alongside him, although Mourinho could also start Dumfries, Carreras or a Castilla player like Joan Martínez. Martínez played at a very high level during this summer’s preseason games, but Villarreal are a tough opponent and Real Madrid will likely rely on a more experienced player like Tchouameni for that role.

Drury: From Bernabeu glory to plotting Huddersfield's way out of League One

"No. In truth, it wasn't."

Carlos Espí replaces Ferrán Torres in Spain’s list

Real Madrid striker Carlos Espí has been called up by Luis de la Fuente to replace Ferrán Torres in the Spanish national team during the rest of the FIFA break. Espí scored five goals for Spain’s U21 team just a few days ago and that earned him the nod to replace Torres. The striker will join Real Madrid defenders Marc Cucurella and Dean Huijsen, who are also with the Spanish national team during the break. It will be interesting to see if Espí is given the chance to play some minutes and make his debut for his country. Spain will face the Czech Republic in Oviedo tonight and then will wrap up this FIFA break by visiting Croatia on Tuesday.

Eduardo Camavinga plays 15 minutes in France’s draw vs Italy

Brussels, Belgium - September 28: Eduardo Camavinga of France controls the Ball during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Belgium and France at Stade Roi Baudouin on September 28, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga came on as a substitute for the outgoing Rayan Cherki in France’s 1-1 draw with Italy at Stade de France on Friday. France went ahead after a belter of a goal from Michael Olise in the second half, before an error from Lucas Da Cunha allowed Alessandro Bastoni to score the equaliser. Camavinga came on, and shortly after, Dayot Upamecano was sent off with a second yellow, which forced France on the back foot. However, Camavinga did have a good cameo, as he took two great shots from outside the box to force Gianluigi Donnarumma into brilliant saves. He also had some good passes and a few defensive interventions. Before the red card, Camavinga was playing a bit further up the field, but had to drop back a little afterwards. France play their final game of the international break against Belgium on Monday night, and Camavinga would hope to get more minutes.

Güler once again Türkiye’s best player in a losing cause

Turkey's midfielder #10 Arda Guler (C) fights for the ball with Belgium's defender #04 Brandon Mechele (L) and Belgium's midfielder #20 Hans Vanaken (R) during the UEFA Nations League, League A - Group 1, football match between Belgium and Turkey at the Maurice Dufrasne stadium, in Liege, eastern Belgium on October 2, 2026. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images The trend continues: Arda Güler has little-to-no-help, Türkiye continues to create chances, Türkiye’s continues to misses chances, and Türkiye continues to spiral defensively. That’s three straight losses now for Vincenzo Montella, and along the way, they’ve been outscored 8-1, sitting dead last in Group A of the UEFA Nations League. Güler doesn’t deserve the blame, though, and the general consensus is that he’s been a bit of a one man show through these three games. He was one of the best players on the field vs France, had an incredible second half vs Italy, and his wizardry continued tonight against Belgium in a 3-0 loss. Tonight’s match was back-and-forth and very easy on the eyes if you’re a neutral. Belgium and Türkiye took turns taking punches throughout the 90 minutes, and what essentially separated the two teams for the majority of this game was: Poor finishing from Türkiye, and two throwback golazos from Kevin de Bruyne. Güler’s touches and verticality under pressure were so good in this game, that even the Belgium fans audibly groaned at some of the stuff he was doing. Can't even put it into words some of the stuff Güler is doing on the ball in this game. Can't post the clips here either due to copyright stuff. Just know that even the Belgium fans are groaning — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) October 2, 2026 Güler played as a right central midfielder on paper, but behind the ball, he formed one of the two forwards in a 4-4-2 through stretches of this game. Primarily, though, he operated on the right half space, while roaming as a 10 horizontally just outside of Belgium’s box. He had eight shots — seven of them outside the box and the one from inside was after some great dribbling past his man to create space from a tight angle. Güler ended the game with the most key passes of anyone on the field (five), the most completed dribbles (five), and drew the most fouls (six). Türkiye’s next game is against Italy on October 5th.

Obrador about leaving Real Madrid for Benfica: “I didn’t think twice about it”

Former Real Madrid player Rafa Obrador has talked to AS about his move to Benfica in the summer of 2025. “When Benfica called me, I didn’t think twice. It was a great opportunity. Every player’s dream is to play in the Champions League, and Benfica always competes in Europe. It’s a giant club,” he said. Obrador is now playing for Sassuolo on a loan deal. “Serie A has a very important history, and I think I can adapt well here. Italian football is very physical and intense, but I really like the idea Sassuolo proposes: having possession, playing calmly, and finding spaces. As a full-back, they also ask me to play a bit more centrally, not just as the typical full-back glued to the wing. They want us to be versatile and able to offer various options to the team,” he explained. Obrador was a quality player for Castilla but was never considered the kind of prospect that could play for Real Madrid in the long term. He will try to earn a spot in Benfica’s 2027-28 team by completing good performances in the Serie A.

UEFA confirms Real Madrid complaint as Negreira probe continues

UEFA confirms it received Real Madrid’s complaint as the Negreira investigation continues, while the club urges a swift conclusion and decisions. The post UEFA confirms Real Madrid complaint as Negreira probe continues appeared first on Football España.

Shaw earns Man City draw with late Real goal dramatically disallowed

Bunny Shaw and a dramatic last-gasp decision from the referee ensured Manchester City took a point off Real Madrid with a 1-1 draw in the Women's Champions League.

Man City hold on to claim draw against Real Madrid

Khadija Shaw scores a superb equaliser before Real Madrid have a late goal chalked off as the sides play out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Joie Stadium.

Shaw secures WCL draw against Real Madrid as Manchester City show spirit after week of turmoil

Andrée Jeglertz, the Manchester City head coach, said the noise surrounding the guilty verdict dished out by the Premier League had zero impact on his women’s team’s performance after they played out a high-quality draw with Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League. Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s ruthless finish earned City a point against an impressive Real Madrid side on a night when the hosts were surely glad for attentions to turn – however briefly – towards on-pitch matters after a week when the wider football club has dominated the headlines for the wrong reasons. Continue reading...

Drama as Real Madrid denied late winner vs Man City LIVE!

Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid: Women’s Champions League – live

⚽ Champions League updates from the 8pm BST kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Ballon d’Or power rankings | Email Daniel We’re playing injury time in the two early games, in which it’s Austria Wien 1-0 inter and Køgø 5-1 Servette. Also going on: Continue reading...

Real Madrid keen on Quansah - Friday's gossip

Real Madrid are keen on Bayer Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah, Liverpool are monitoring Club Tijuana's teenage midfielder Giberto Mora, plus more.

Yemen and football in the face of civil war: ‘It would be very nice to give the world a different headline’

Noureddine Ould Ali is staying positive despite a difficult situation at home and tough opponents at the Gulf Cup The Yemen national team coach, Noureddine Ould Ali, chose not to reach for a good old-fashioned football excuse for his team’s 1-0 loss to Qatar in the Gulf Cup on Saturday, despite a clear penalty that was not given his way. The defeat meant the Reds crashed out of the eight-nation regional tournament, currently taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a game of the group stage still remaining. There are other factors that the Algerian coach could list for a defeat against a team that was at the World Cup in the summer. Qatar also have the Aspire Academy, state of the art stadia and a former Spain and Real Madrid coach – Julen Lopetegui – in charge. Yemen have none of those things and have not played a home game since 2012, a 2-1 win over Palestine in Sanaa. Continue reading...

OFFICIAL: Asencio undergoes surgery to repair tibia fracture

Real Madrid have published a new medical report on Raúl Asencio, who underwent surgery today. Our player Raúl Asencio successfully underwent surgery today performed by Dr. Manuel Leyes for a stress fracture in his right tibia. The operation was supervised by Real Madrid’s Medical Services. Asencio will begin his recovery process in the coming days. Source: Realmadrid.com Coach José Mourinho visited the player after surgery, the club announced on its official website. Asencio will be out around four months while he rehabs from this process. The Spanish defender had been playing through pain all second half of last season. Real Madrid’s depth for the defensive line will be in jeopardy now that both Huijsen (suspension) and Konaté (injury) are also out.

Courtois: “Some things get called in other stadiums, but we don’t get those same calls”

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois talked to Onda Cero last night and shared some of his thoughts about the controversy surrounding the referees and the club. “I don’t think there’s some kind of conspiracy or anything like that, I’m not that cynical. There are things you see in other fields that get called, but they don’t get called for us, quite the opposite, they call things against us and not in our favor. The COVID year when we lost the League there were four handballs… Atlético gets one VAR call, then we get a penalty disallowed that’s a penalty for Sevilla… There are things you say… I don’t understand, they come to explain things to us and the next week they do the opposite,” he said. Naturally, he was also asked about the Negreira case. “Everyone is waiting for the sentence about that trial, it is a very serious and big case,” he added. Courtois also explained why he thinks Mbappé should win the Ballon D’Or. “It’s gotta be for Mbappé; everyone’s blown away by his speed, by his goals. The Ballon d’Or has to be for the best, not for the one who’s won the most. By that logic, Carvajal should’ve won it two years ago,” he added.

Ranking the best British football exports this century

From David Beckham and Gareth Bale to Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, who are the best British exports this century?

Open Thread: October 1, 2026

The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods you’d totally do a sushi night with: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, Kung_Fu_Zizou (AKA KFZ), Juninho, Ezek and, of course… yours truly. Always Happy to See a Star Trying Trent did have a good game the other night. And I’m glad to see it, cause we’ve seen the man struggle, recently, for the club, while also being left out of his national team. There’s real quality in him, with obvious strengths and weaknesses. He can definitely contribute in moving the ball about and creation. 🚨 Trent does NOT give up. Trent had 7 recoveries, 1 assist, 3 key passes, and dribbled past only once vs Czechia. He wants to rediscover his Premier League performances and become Real Madrid's STARTING RB. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/uSBQqhQEhb — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 1, 2026 Curious to See How this One Plays Out 🚨 BREAKING: Endrick could LEAVE Real Madrid on loan in January if he doesn't get enough playing time in the next 3 months. The player will make a decision in January. Many clubs are interested in him, including some of the biggest clubs in Europe. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/waqwFGyrdF — Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) September 30, 2026 🚨 JUST IN: Endrick will reassess his situation in January, a loan deal similar to Lyon’s is POSSIBLE. Roma had AGREED a deal to sign him on loan in the summer, but a conversation with José Mourinho stopped the transfer. The Italian club REMAIN interested. Real Madrid FULLY… pic.twitter.com/13d54JFYum — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 30, 2026 Okay… Not that I don’t like Olise, but this would require somewhat of a shakeup. Perhaps Yan moving to the left and VIni departing. Also, not sure how we could accommodate Arda. 🚨 BREAKING: Michael Olise wants a RELEASE CLAUSE if he renews with Bayern. Real Madrid remain on the LOOKOUT. @BILD 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/93qQBo6Ned — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 29, 2026

Asencio surgery leaves Real Madrid with one centre-back

Asencio surgery could keep the Real Madrid defender out for up to four months, leaving Antonio Rüdiger as the only available centre-back. The post Asencio surgery leaves Real Madrid with one centre-back appeared first on Football España.

La Fábrica’s €215m return is helping fund Real Madrid’s rebuild

Real Madrid academy sales generated around €215m, funding the rebuild while raising questions over La Fábrica’s path to the first team. The post La Fábrica’s €215m return is helping fund Real Madrid’s rebuild appeared first on Football España.

Butragueño attended the centenary of Alfredo Di Stéfano’s birth in Buenos Aires

Argentine-born Spanish footballer Alfredo Di Stefano (1926 - 2014) during training with the Spanish national team at Roehampton, London, ahead of an international friendly match against England at Wembley, on October 25th, 1960. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images A tribute marking the centenary of Alfredo Di Stéfano’s birth took place in his hometown of Buenos Aires. Real Madrid was represented by its Director of Institutional Relations, Emilio Butragueño, while the Blonde Arrow’s daughter Silvana and sister Norma Di Stéfano were also in attendance. The ceremony included the unveiling of a plaque at Padre Marcelino Champagnat Square. The square occupies the former Club del Plata pitch, where Di Stéfano first began playing football. The plaque bears the inscription: “On this ground, Alfredo Di Stéfano, one of the greatest figures in world sport, began playing football.” “Di Stéfano represents all the values of our institution. His DNA was fundamental in building that mythical and legendary Real Madrid that won the first five European Cups. It is impossible to understand the history of Real Madrid without Di Stéfano,” Butragueño said, addressing those gathered. Real Madrid published the brief details of the event in their official website.

OFFICIAL: Arda Güler is Real Madrid’s player of the month for September

ELCHE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 15: Arda Guler of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match played between Elche CF and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on September 15, 2026, in Elche, Spain. (Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images Arda Güler, 21, was named Real Madrid’s player of the month for September 2026. The club announced the player winning the prize on its social media. Güler has enjoyed a great start to the season, being one of Real Madrid’s most influential players. His chance creation numbers have been incredible to start the campaign. 👏 ¡Enhorabuena, @10ArdaGuler! ✨ Jugador Cinco Estrellas · Septiembre ⚽ @FutbolMahou pic.twitter.com/7t7OdFivCB — Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 30, 2026 The player is currently with the Turkish national team during this three-week-long international break. Güler and Türkiye suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of France, now led by former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, and Italy. They will play Belgium and Italy – both games away from home next. At the beginning of the season, Güler’s place in the Real Madrid starting XI was under doubt. Real Madrid are heavily loaded upfront, with Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Yan Dioamande and Jude Bellingham behind them as a number 10. However, Arda Güler has claimed his place and gelled rather well with Jude Bellingham in the attacking midfield positions.

‘I like him as a No 9’: Bellingham a striking alternative for England, says Tuchel

Head coach sees Real Madrid man as an option up front Kane praises Alexander-Arnold’s impact and work rate Thomas Tuchel’s hunt for alternatives to Harry Kane has led to him identifying Jude Bellingham as an option at No 9 for England. Kane continued his remarkable scoring record in the 2-0 win against Czechia in the Nations League on Tuesday, moving to 87 goals in 123 international appearances with a late strike in Prague, but he has little cover up front. There is no prospect yet of Tuchel having to consider life without Kane. The England head coach backed the 33-year-old striker to last another decade at the highest level, tipped him to reach a century of international goals soon, and said England cannot expect to produce a replica of their greatest forward. However, there is concern over whether England have enough depth in attack. Continue reading...

How Man City's 'disguised funding scheme' changed the football landscape

When Sheikh Mansour completed his takeover in September 2008, marking the start of his ownership with the sensational and then-record signing of Robinho from Real Madrid, Manchester City were a club with two top-flight titles in their 114-year history.

OFFICIAL: Real Madrid confirm Asencio’s surgery

Real Madrid have confirmed Wednesday’s reports suggesting that defender Raúl Asencio was going to require surgery to repair a fracture on his shin, confirming that the defender will go under the knife on Thursday. Our player, Raúl Asencio, will undergo surgery tomorrow due to a stress fracture in the tibia of his right leg. Source: Realmadrid.com Asencio will miss up to four months as he recovers from this surgery. The Spanish defender experienced pain and discomfort during the second half of the 2025-26 season, but he played through it and that ultimately led to this outcome. Real Madrid’s depth for the defensive line is almost gone just two months after the start of the campaign. Dean Huijsen will be suspended for the team’s next game following the red card he saw against Atlético de Madrid while Ibrahima Konaté is also injured, which means that Rüdiger is the only center-back available for Mourinho and the coaching staff.

Gilberto Mora’s Possible Summer Exit Draws Real Madrid Interest

Gilberto Mora’s possible summer exit has attracted Real Madrid, Benfica and Borussia Dortmund, but no offer or negotiations are reported. The post Gilberto Mora’s Possible Summer Exit Draws Real Madrid Interest appeared first on Football España.

January Could Open Real Madrid Door for Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk could join Real Madrid for free in 2027, but age, wages and Liverpool’s contract stance remain key factors in any deal. The post January Could Open Real Madrid Door for Virgil van Dijk appeared first on Football España.

Asencio very close to undergoing surgery, would miss three months -report

Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio is still experiencing discomfort on the shin injury which was already bothering him last season and is set to have surgery to repair it, according to a report from MARCA. The defender would be out for at least three months, per that same report. Asencio hasn’t made his season debut for Real Madrid yet and he was hoping to get some minutes now that Huijsen is suspended and Konaté is injured. However, the small fracture on his shin is still there and he will need to go under the knife to recover from that injury. That means that Rüdiger could be Real Madrid’s only available center-back when Los Blancos face Villarreal right after the FIFA break. If that ends up being the case and Konaté can’t recover in time from his own injury, Aurelien Tchouameni could start alongside Rüdiger in the back line.

Top 10 players: Czechia 0–2 England

England's Trent Alexander-Arnold during the UEFA Nations League, league phase, group A3 match at the Fortuna Arena, Prague. Picture date: Tuesday September 29, 2026. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images England had all top 10 players for xT created from open-play passes. Trent Alexander-Arnold generated 0.555 xT from open-play passes, more than any other player. Anthony Gordon made nine progressive carries, the joint-highest figure in the match. Czechia supplied four of the leading five players for long-ball completion. Stepán Chaloupek completed 50.0% of his long balls. Ladislav Krejcí played 19 progressive passes, the joint-highest figure in the match. Trent Alexander-Arnold contributed 0.555 xT from open-play passes, the highest figure in the match. He also recorded a long ball completion rate of 58.3%, the highest figure in the match. Alongside that, he added three key passes, second in the match. Anthony Gordon contributed nine progressive carries, the joint-highest figure in the match. He recorded four key passes, the highest figure in the match. He also added 43 touches in the final third, the highest figure in the match. Those contributions came over 80 minutes for England. Elliot Anderson contributed 105 touches, second in the match. He also recorded 0.225 xT from open-play passes, third in the match. He had 32 touches in the final third, fourth in the match.

Gordon and Kane fire England to Nations League victory against 10-man Czechia

Anybody can lose to Spain. But when England did so at Wembley on Saturday, it served to turn up the temperature for this trip to Czechia. England have form for finding it difficult at this compact stadium. Remember the European Championship qualifier here in 2019 when they lost 2-1? It was not easy at first. Thomas Tuchel shuffled his pack, making the surprise decision to start Jude Bellingham among the substitutes. It was all a little angsty and Czechia, for whom this is the dawn of a new era under the Spaniard Santi Denia after their World Cup wipeout, dared to dream of another upset. Continue reading...

Czechia v England: Nations League football – live

⚽️ Nations League updates, 7.45pm BST kick-off in Prague ⚽️ Live scores | Follow us over on TikTok and Instagram There are four changes for England from Saturday’s defeat, three in defence. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Trevoh Chalobah, Lewis Hall and Morgan Rogers replace Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly and Jude Bellingham. Czechia (4-3-3) Kovar; Chaloupek, Hranac, Krejci, Slama; Cerv, Sulc, Sadilek; Radosta, Hlosek, Karabec. Continue reading...

Brahim Diaz scores in Morocco’s 2 – 0 win over Lesotho

Brahim Diaz of Morocco during the FIFA World Cup USA 2026 quarter-final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium, Boston, United States, on July 9, 2026. (Photo by Waleed Ibrahim/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images I will be honest, this one was not easy on the eyes. Morocco’s possession hovered between 80-90% throughout the game, and the majority of their passes were in the middle third. Lesotho couldn’t do anything except for defend and sit without the ball, and, to make it worse from a visual experience, the stadium was virtually empty and quiet — mostly because it was played in South Africa as Lesotho do not have a CAF-approved stadium. Respect to a small contingent of Lesotho fans who did their best to keep the vibes going. With that out of the way, we’ll focus on Brahim Diaz’s performance. Brahim Brahim was deployed on the right wing of a 4-2-3-1, but he operated mostly in the right half space as the wing was given to right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi who made overloads. Space was tight, so Brahim sometimes ran out of room to dribble, but he also used his wizardry to get out of some really cramped positions: This touch from Brahim. Ouf. pic.twitter.com/gWdWW2b4yM — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 29, 2026 Just before half-time, Brahim scored a decisive goal: GOAL: Brahim Diaz scores vs Lesotho just before half time pic.twitter.com/434GtXYNZK — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 29, 2026 That goal was huge. Yes, Morocco may have won anyway, but there was no guarantee of it. Although they controlled everything on the field, they struggled to score, only had five shots on target, and both Ounahi and Saibari missed big changes. It wasn’t until the 82nd minute where Ounahi scored to ice the game after Lesotho opened up their defense a bit. In his 69 minutes on the field before being replaced by Soufiane Rahimi, Brahim completed 79% of his passes and had one ball recovery to go with his goal. I would not consider this his best game by any means (he made some poor passes in transition and lost possession 18 times), but he was decisive. With the win Morocco sit top of Group A in African Cup of Nations qualifying.

Rodrygo closing in on total recovery from ACL tear

Real Madrid striker Rodrygo Goes reached a milestone in his recovery from the ACL tear he suffered in early 2026, as he completed some touches with the football during Monday’s training session with the group. The Brazilian forward won’t be expected to be cleared to play at least until January, according to reports published on the Spanish press. Even then, Rodrygo will need significant time to improve his conditioning and even his confidence before he can actually contribute for Real Madrid. Los Blancos have depth in the attacking line, so expecting Rodrygo to be a major contributor this season might not be entirely realistic. This is good news for Real Madrid, as Eder Militao also rejoined the squad in training this Monday. Rodrygo, Militao and Mendy remain the three long-term injured players on the squad.

Papers: Real Madrid defender rejected interest from Chelsea and Liverpool

The top stories and transfer rumours from Tuesday's newspapers...

Man Utd & Arsenal eye Porto's Costa - Tuesday's gossip

Arsenal and Manchester United eye Porto defender Alberto Costa, Manchester City will not let Erling Haaland leave on the cheap if they are relegated, Liverpool retain an interest in Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, plus more.

Arda Güler’s Second Half Surge Not Enough As Türkiye Lose To Italy (1-4)

BURSA, TURKIYE - SEPTEMBER 28: Arda Guler of Turkiye celebrates after his teammate Baris Alper Yilmaz scored a goal during the UEFA Nations League A Group 1 match between Turkiye and Italy at Yuzuncu Yil Ataturk Stadium in Bursa, Turkiye on September 28, 2026. (Photo by Serhat Cagdas/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images Something strange happened in tonight’s Group A match between Türkiye and Italy. In the first half, one team was played off the park, and the other ascended — and the gap between two teams looked more akin to a youth team going up against a World Cup powerhouse. Italy played their best half, maybe in years, and Türkiye looked horrendous. For Arda Güler’s part, there’s not much he could’ve done to change the outcome of those first 45 minutes. Türkiye head coach Vincenzo Montella set up the team far too passive and defensively loose. The 3-4-3, on paper, really played out into a 4-4-2 mid-block with zero pressing and laughable tracking. It was the same play, over and over again, that broke them: Italy would play one pass through Türkiye’s first line of defense, and from there, they had an open man with every ensuing pass. Once they carved through the middle without resistance, they would play the ball to the open wide man — typically Michael Kayode making the overload — and get a dangerous chance in the box. Montella also got very poor production from both of his wing-backs. Zeki Çelik made two errors on Italy’s first two goals; and Ozan Kabak was constantly scrambling defending the switch with little-to-no-help from Eren Elmalı on the left. Türkiye went down 0-3 at half-time after being terrible on both ends. Their offense was completely non-existent, as their entire build-up was resorted to giving the ball away prolifically in their own third in the face of a very aggressive Italy press. Is anyone watching this prime Italy performance? Had to triple check to make sure I'm not watching a historical replay from 2006 — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) September 28, 2026 The second half was wildly different than the first half. Türkiye made three changes and brought their line higher up the field while pressing with more intent. Italy, naturally, dropped deeper and relied on transition football with the bulk of their damage already done. But, as they say, too little, too late, etc. While Türkiye scored within 90 seconds of the second half, three minutes later, Altay Bayındır committed a terrible giveaway which Pio Esposito eventually scored from. Although Türkiye did enough, creatively, to score multiple goals in the second half to get themselves back into the game, their finishing wasn’t good enough. Güler, who had a terrific second half, had one of his assists disallowed for offside, and some of his brilliant plays resulted in nothing. Güler just dribbled through four players, passed his way out of a 5th, and Aktürkoğlu missed an open net. A metaphor of Türkiye in this era — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) September 28, 2026 Poor guy doing everything he can https://t.co/XUDtBo5HVR — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 28, 2026 In his 90 minutes on the field, Güler had the most touches of anyone on the field (100), the most shots of anyone on the field (four), the most dribbles of anyone on the field (four), and drew the most fouls of anyone on the field (five). Türkiye play against Belgium next, with zero points to show for after two games. Türkiye did enough to score multiple goals in the second half. Pulled their line higher at half-time, pressed with more intent, and created some good chances. Güler heavily involved in everything. But, hard to overstate how horrendous they were in the first half. Loose mid-block… — Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) September 28, 2026

Eduardo Camavinga plays 90 minutes in France’s win vs Belgium

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 28: Eduardo Camavinga of France shoots during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A1 MD2 match between Belgium and France at Stade Roi Baudouin on September 28, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Gabriel Calvino Alonso/BSR Agency/Getty Images) | Getty Images Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga played the entire match in France’s 1-0 win over Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Monday night. In the second match of France’s four during the extended international break, Camavinga was the only Real Madrid player to still remain in the squad after injuries to Ibrahima Konate and Kylian Mbappe sent the two back to Madrid. Camavinga played alongside Lucas Da Cunha in the midfield, just behind Akliouche. The Frenchman completed 62 out of his 66 passes on the night, and created three chances for his teammates in an impressive, solid display. He also had one tackle, one block, two clearances, one interception, five recoveries and won six of his 11 duels. Camavinga also completed three of his four long-range passes. Zinedine Zidane must have liked what he saw from the midfield duo, as they worked quite well together. Camavinga would hope to start yet again in France’s next match: a contest against Italy at home.

Defensive flux gives Tuchel headache but Alexander-Arnold could be remedy | Jacob Steinberg

Chopping and changing the back four has been a big feature for England this year and the Real Madrid man could be a solution England ended 2025 protected by a shield of deceptive strength. They went through qualifying for the World Cup without conceding a goal and secured a shutout during a routine friendly win against Wales. However, clean sheets have been harder to come by this year. England have kept four in 13 games in 2026, meaning it may not be long before Thomas Tuchel rethinks his suggestion that the way to deal with his side’s lack of control is to embrace chaos. There is, of course, an irony to telling Tuchel to sort out his defence. Isn’t this what we wanted? England were limp and passive when they lost their World Cup semi-final against Argentina. At least the mindset was positive when Tuchel’s side opened their Nations League campaign with a sprightly but flawed 3-2 defeat against Spain last Saturday. Continue reading...

Como Starter Jacobo Ramón Chooses Minutes Over Real Madrid Return

Jacobo Ramón is prioritising regular minutes at Como over a return to Real Madrid, despite retained rights and interest from Premier League clubs. The post Como Starter Jacobo Ramón Chooses Minutes Over Real Madrid Return appeared first on Football España.

Jude Bellingham’s World Cup haul earns second England award

Jude Bellingham wins England's Player of the Year award again after scoring seven World Cup goals during the Three Lions' run to third. The post Jude Bellingham’s World Cup haul earns second England award appeared first on Football España.

Camavinga: “I need to focus on the field and not make mistakes”

Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga talked to the press during France’s training camp and answered some relevant questions about his current role in the Spanish capital but also with the national team. When asked about what he needs to do in order to get a more prominent role, Camavinga was self-aware. “I need to be consistent. I think right now what makes things happen is consistency. The most important thing is to concentrate on the field and not make mistakes. That gives you consistency,” he said. He was also asked about his best roles and positions as a player. “We have quite a few left backs, I won’t say left back. I have the opportunity to play as an ‘8’ and ‘6’ right now. The coach knows it. I think you guys know what my preferred position is,” he added. Camavinga also shared his feelings about missing the World Cup. “The fact that I didn’t get to play in the World Cup really got to me, because every player dreams of competing in it. Rome wasn’t built in a day. These kinds of disappointments hadn’t come my way in my career. It’s something I need to deal with,” he explained.

Endrick: “Being a football player is not hard, waking up at 5 AM is”

Real Madrid striker Endrick talked to Ge and shared some thoughts about his career and his last few months as a football player. “There can be moments of a lot of pressure, but you have to be grateful for what football gives you. It’s not hard to be a football player. What’s hard is getting up at five in the morning and working on a Sunday. I just play football, which is what I love most,” said Endrick about the reality of being a professional football player. Endrick went back and shared some memories about Brazil’s shocking loss to Norway in the FIFA World Cup. “It was a very difficult moment. It’s a wound that still remains, and that we have to try to heal as quickly as possible,” he added. Endrick hasn’t made his season debut for Real Madrid yet and some rumors suggest that he could be considering another loan deal during the winter transfer window so that he can get consistent minutes to polish and develop his game.

Tuchel: Bellingham is better when he plays with a 'bit of rage'

Thomas Tuchel believes a "bit of rage" gets the best out of Jude Bellingham as the England star and his team-mates prepare to face the Czech Republic.

Final assessment cleared as Militao’s Real Madrid return nears

Eder Militao return moved closer after the Real Madrid defender passed his final physical assessment, but conditioning work remains. The post Final assessment cleared as Militao’s Real Madrid return nears appeared first on Football España.

Kylian Mbappe’s Knee Injury Leaves Return Date Unclear

Mbappe injury remains under review after Real Madrid confirm a left-knee hyperextension, with no recovery timetable announced for the France international. The post Kylian Mbappe’s Knee Injury Leaves Return Date Unclear appeared first on Football España.

Jacobo Ramón not considering Real Madrid return -report

Como defender Jacobo Ramón has established himself as a quality center-back just after leaving Real Madrid for €2.5 million in the summer of 2025. While Los Blancos keep 50% of his rights and could trigger an option to bring him back, Ramón is not even considering said return for now, according to a report published on AS, given that he wants to keep playing relevant minutes on a consistent basis. Jacobo Ramón was one of Real Madrid’s options for the fourth center-back spot this past summer, but the Spanish defender prioritized his current role with Como and ultimately decided to stay in the Serie A to keep polishing his game. Real Madrid will keep monitoring Ramón’s performances with Como and so will other clubs like Arsenal or Chelsea, who have been intrigued by the quality and potential he’s displayed in recent months, per that same report.

Gateshead’s fruitless trip south offers hint of Manchester City’s doomsday future

His team bottom of the National League, Lee Cattermole’s ‘bomb squad’ approach could well end with him departing Among many doomsday scenarios facing Manchester City is plunging down the football pyramid. Would that be so bad? Instead of yawning at the prospect of yet another meeting with Real Madrid or repeated Aviva train-hampered journeys to Wembley, how about the exoticism of away travel to Wealdstone? In the National League, City’s ownership may wish to know, there are no formal financial fair play or strict salary cap regulations. Wrexham, Notts County and Chesterfield have taken advantage of such lax constraints to regenerate. For City fans, Ruislip’s buzzy high street, full of nail bars, estate agents and a couple of homely pubs, would represent a welcome world away from Milan’s Via Monte Napoleone, as would the suburbia of Grosvenor Vale, Wealdstone’s home in the middle of a housing estate, which may jog memories of late-90s visits to Macclesfield and Lincoln. Simpler, happier times, perhaps. Continue reading...

Retro Visual Analysis: That Night in Munich

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 29: Sergio Ramos (C) of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on April 29, 2014 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images) | Getty Images En route to Lisbon to conquer La Decima, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid handed Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich one of their most devastating defeats of the 21st century. The 4-0 scoreline is widely attributed to Pep Guardiola’s overthinking and last-minute change in tactics in the years that followed. However, the reality is that Real Madrid simply executed their transition and set-piece plan brutally well to demolish the reigning European champions at that time. 16% of the field-tilt and 49 passes in the final third, compared to Bayern’s 266 – is all Madrid needed to stun a team that was considered to be unbeatable. Madrid had also defeated them 1-0 a week earlier in the first leg, though. After 15 minutes, Sergio Ramos met Luka Modric’s corner in the middle of the box and headed it in to open the scoring. Four minutes later, Pepe won Ángel Di María’s free kick in the air and knocked it on for Ramos, who headed in to make it 2-0. On 88 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo scored with his right foot directly from a free kick 23 metres out to make it 4-0. The three chances were worth 0.29 npxG between them. Real Madrid had eight attacking restarts – five free kicks and three corners – and six of them ended in a shot. All but one of the eight were taken with Real Madrid ahead. Ronaldo took three of them, more than anyone else. Set pieces supplied 0.49 of their 1.52 npxG. Four of the shots came straight off the delivery and two from the second phase, after the first contact. Three of their five deliveries went into the middle of the box. Bayern got to one of Real Madrid’s five contested deliveries first, and Real Madrid won the only aerial duel at the first contact. Real Madrid won the tie against Bayern 5-0 on aggregate and defeated Atletico Madrid 4-1 (AET) in the final to clinch the title in Lisbon after a 12-year wait.

OPEN THREAD | SEPTEMBER 27, 2026

Welcome to The Daily Merengue! THESE ARE YOUR MODS: Ezek XI, Valyrian Steel, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho HOW SOON IS TOO SOON? Should young players make the switch to top clubs at 18? or wait till 21/22 before making the move? Personally, i think we shouldn’t sign any youngster unless they’re really exceptional. And most youngsters under 21 shouldn’t make any big switches till they’re 21/22. Maybe i’m pragmatic and looking for the exceptional. But my criteria are as follows: The age range for all these categories are 18-22 FOR FORWARDS: The player needs to have played 2-3 full seasons as a regular starter with 30-40 games or more under their belt. And no less than double digit goals in each season. minimum, 14-15/season. FOR MIDFIELDERS: Likewise, they need 4-5 years of starting football under their belt, an extra year because midfielders require time and setting to bloom and hone their craft. FOR DEFENDERS: 3 seasons tops, of first team football. Young defenders need to work on their mentality & maturity twice as much as their other abilities. because consistent concentration is more important for them than anything. FOR GOALIES: 2 Seasons of first team football with consistent individual progress. Goalies take much longer to mature than most other positions. What do you think? We’re in a world where everything is rushed, so they give these kids 1 season tops. which is why you tend to see alot of “wonder kids” turned average, pretty quickly.

Real Madrid’s Midfield Woes Resurface After Atlético Loss

Real Madrid face renewed scrutiny over their midfield and attack after the Atlético defeat, with Mourinho given the international break to respond. The post Real Madrid’s Midfield Woes Resurface After Atlético Loss appeared first on Football España.

Militao almost ready to rejoin Real Madrid squad in training

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has reached a major milestone in his return to action after passing his final physical assessment with Dr. Lasse Lempainen, the specialist who performed surgery on his severe proximal hamstring tendon injury in late April 2026. Lempainen himself confirmed said milestone with a post on his social media. “Great day in Madrid with @edermilitao and the medical and performance staff of @realmadrid. A full day dedicated to his return as Éder continues to progress according to plan following surgery for his severe tendon injury. It was a pleasure for us to contribute our expertise and experience to his return to play process, with the ultimate goal of helping him safely return and perform again at the highest level. Many thanks to Éder and all of the Real Madrid staff for the excellent collaboration and a very successful day. Returning to the field is a milestone. Returning to your highest performance level is the goal.” Militao could rejoin his teammates in training fairly soon, although he will definitely need to spend some time improving his conditioning before he can actually play for Real Madrid this season.

The issues Mourinho is struggling to fix at Real

Jose Mourinho only returned to Real Madrid in July but a lot needs to improve in order for there to be a title race in La Liga.

INT’L BREAK | OPEN THREAD | SEPTEMBER 26, 2026

Welcome to The Daily Merengue! THESE ARE YOUR MODS: Ezek XI, Valyrian Steel, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho INT’L BREAK It’s breaking our players…please stop. Players need to protest for change to happen or keep dropping like flies. MBAPPE’S INJURY 🚨💣 Zinedine Zidane: “Kylian Mbappé’s injury is NOT looking good. He will have to RETURN to Madrid.” pic.twitter.com/m0e1PczB7f — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 25, 2026

Nations League: Kylian Mbappé injured after scoring France winner in Turkey

France beat 10-man Turkey 1-0 to start Zidane era Italy 0-2 Belgium, Georgia 0-1 Northern Ireland Kylian Mbappé limped off with an apparent knee injury, moments after scoring France’s winner against Turkey in the Nations League on Friday. The Real Madrid striker rifled in a low shot in the 55th minute after he was set up by Michael Olise. Soon after his record-extending 67th France goal, Mbappé sat on the ground and grimaced as he rubbed the area around his left knee. Continue reading...

Kylian Mbappe scores, gets injured in France’s win vs Türkiye

KOCAELI, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 25: Kylian Mbappe of France reacts as he sustains an injury after scoring his team’s first goal 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 Kylian Mbappe scored a good near-post goal from the left side of the box, but got injured in the process as France started the Zinedine Zidane era with a 1-0 win over Türkiye on Friday. Eduardo Camavinga also came on as a substitute in the second half. Mbappe, as he was gearing up for the shot that resulted in the goal, stretched his leg awkwardly and felt something immediately after. He tried to continue but couldn’t, and was subbed off for Desire Doue shortly after. In a really tough game for both teams, it was a goalless first half, with few clear-cut chances, and Mbappe was not as involved as he would have liked to be. The game opened up a bit more in the first few minutes of the first half, and some good pressing from Zidane’s side allowed Mbappe to get his first goal under his new manager. Camavinga looked tidy and calm on the ball, and hopefully, he will be able to have a bigger role in the next two games in the break.

Carlos Espi plays just 16 minutes and Jacobo Ramon scores in Spain U-21’s 2 – 1 loss to Finland U-21

Carlos Espi centre-forward of Real Madrid and Spain 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 Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images It was a rough outing for everyone involved for Spain today, as Finland, who are second in UEFA Euro U-21 qualifying in Group A, shaved three points off them, and are now just two points shy of first place — which is occupied by Spain. Carlos Espi did not start this game, nor was he able to change the outcome when he entered the field in the 74th minute for former Real Madrid player Iker Bravo with Spain down 2-0. Bravo was deployed on the right wing today, and when Espi entered the field, he effectively formed a 4-4-2 with Gonzalo Garcia (who started this game over Espi), playing alongside him at the top. It was one last desperate attempt from head coach David Gordo to put some targets in the box and whip some crosses in. That tactic worked to some extent late, as Spain did eventually score a consolation goal when Alex Valle whipped in a cross to Jacobo Ramon: pic.twitter.com/80DCYA6Y29 https://t.co/XDJPdxyXdn — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 25, 2026 But Spain were very underwhelming for the majority of this game. They initially conceded in the first half when Xavi Espart was beat on the wing before the cut-back found Otto Rupoit who Marc Bernal failed to track. Then in the second half, a nightmarish clearance attempt from Valle at the far post led to Finland’s second goal. Throughout, Spain played narrow, with Chema Andres and Bernal in the middle, with little outlets to hit ahead of them and Gonzalo isolated far from the play. Most of Spain’s build-up consisted of u-shaped possession which Finland’s organized mid-block became more than comfortable with. Spain’s next game is against San Marino on October 1st.

Turkey v France, Italy v Belgium, and more: Nations League clockwatch – live

⚽ Updates from Friday evening’s Nations League games ⚽ Live scoreboard | Read Football Daily | Mail Michael Of all the new international appointments, the most eye-catching is probably Jürgen Klopp with Germany, which feels both a radical and a natural fit for the four-time World Cup winners, who are in desperate need of a hard reset. Klopp was denied a win in his first game in charge against the Netherlands – now managed by Xavi – with Cody Gakpo striking in injury-time to earn a 1-1 draw for the Dutch. The next most exciting appointment is surely France and Zinedine Zidane, who has not stepped into a dugout since leaving Real Madrid (for a second time) five years ago. After winning three consecutive Champions Leagues and a couple of La Liga titles in the Age of Messi, nobody is really sure Zizou is a managerial great, or simply an elite vibesman, who uses his personal aura to instill deference and respect into a talented squad, rather than being a master tactician. Maybe a vibesman is just what France need after the rigidity of Didier Deschamps – Les Bleus are surely the best team on the planet on paper, but have looked clunkier and less cohesive than they should, despite their tournament success in recent years. This opening test for Zidane, away to Turkey, should be enlightening and this is an excellent piece by Jonathan Wilson that expands on those ideas about Zidane. Get stuck in. Continue reading...

A Decade of Clips Fuels Real Madrid’s Clash With Juanma Castaño

A Real Madrid video revisits a decade of Juanma Castaño’s on-air comments after his row with the club’s television channel, and he answers back. The post A Decade of Clips Fuels Real Madrid’s Clash With Juanma Castaño appeared first on Football España.