Browsing: Real

It was supposed to be Vinícius Júnior’s year. In 2024 Real Madrid’s star forward had won LaLiga, and he’d won the UEFA Champions League. Next, logically, would be the Ballon d’Or.

Almost everybody thought so, a feeling most vociferously expressed by former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand, who bellowed “Ballon d’Or!” into a microphone six times — count them — after Vini Jr. scored Madrid’s second goal in the 2024 Champions League final.

But Vinícius didn’t win the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Rodri did. On Oct. 28 last year, Vinícius and Real Madrid discovered that the Brazil forward was not about to cap a memorable 12 months by claiming the most prestigious individual prize in football. In fact, he was going to finish as runner-up to the more low-key Manchester City and Spain midfielder.

Madrid’s reaction was to boycott the ceremony, cancelling plans for a large delegation to fly to Paris, and severing ties with organizers France Football.

– Coaches at odds over Real Madrid’s provocative Vini Jr.
– How Man United’s Rashford revitalized career at Barcelona
– Will Real Madrid’s Mbappé, Barcelona’s Yamal be fit for Clásico?

In Madrid, second-best isn’t nearly enough. Vini Jr.’s reaction was one of defiance as he bombastically posted on social media: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They aren’t ready,” The message was clear: If not this year, then next year. It’s a matter of time.

But 2025 hasn’t been Vinícius’ year, either. Real Madrid ended last season without a major trophy, losing a record-breaking four Clásicos to Barcelona along the way. At the FIFA Club World Cup under new coach Xabi Alonso, Vinícius scored once in six games, and so far this season, Alonso hasn’t always looked convinced, benching Vinícius three times, including for Sunday’s LaLiga win at Getafe.

Vinícius, 25, is still expected to start Sunday’s latest Clásico against Barça (stream LIVE on ESPN+ in the U.S.), at the Santiago Bernabéu. But he’ll no longer go into the game as Madrid’s brightest star. That is undoubtedly Kylian Mbappé, who has taken his game to another level, scoring in 10 of the team’s 11 games so far this season.

It’s been a turnaround in 12 months, as the seeming inevitability of Vinícius’ Ballon d’Or coronation has given way to inconsistent performance levels, a diminished status in the Real Madrid team, and even doubts over his long-term future at the club.

In the 365 days before his Ballon d’Or snub — from Oct. 28, 2023 until Oct. 27, 2024 — Vinícius made a persuasive case to be the world’s best player.

He scored 18 goals in 30 LaLiga appearances in that time, a rate of 0.6 goals per game. The only players to score more LaLiga goals in that period were three pure center forwards, two of them in career-best form: Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (28), Alexander Sørloth (22, for Villarreal and Atlético Madrid) and Artem Dovbyk (19), then of Girona.

Their role is defined by goal-scoring; Vinícius’ game offers so much more. In those 365 days, he provided eight assists (a total surpassed by six LaLiga players) and created a healthy 49 chances, placing him 16th in the league. Arguably his greatest asset, dribbling, saw him produce a league-high 227 successful take-ons, more than Lamine Yamal (225), Nico Williams (201) and Savinho (194).

In that time, Vinícius also produced a run of eye-catching performances in the Champions League. Only one player, Harry Kane, was able to top Vini Jr.’s 11 goal contributions (eight goals and three assists). In terms of wing play, no player came close to his 95 take-ons (Mbappé was next, on 70).

On April 30, 2024, he scored twice in a 2-2 semifinal draw at Bayern Munich. A month later, he scored a trophy-clinching second goal in the final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Later that year — just six days before the Ballon d’Or ceremony — he produced one of his most electrifying individual performances: scoring a second-half hat trick in another win over Dortmund, 5-2 at the Bernabéu. Madrid had been 0-2 down with half an hour left, until Vinícius single-handedly rewrote the script in a way few players could.

The following year — from Oct. 28, 2024, until the present day — has been less convincing. Vinícius’ scoring rate has dropped, with 11 goals in 28 LaLiga appearances, down to a rate of 0.4 goals per game. In that time, 11 LaLiga players have scored more, including Raphinha (15) and Athletic Club’s Oihan Sancet (12), neither of whom are center forwards.

Vinícius has registered another eight assists, the same as in the previous 12 months — only Yamal has more, with 11 — but three of those came in the last month, as his form improved. Vinícius went 15 league games and almost six long months, between Nov. 24, 2024 and May 11, 2025, without providing a single LaLiga assist for his teammates.

Some of that dip, of course, can be attributed to Madrid’s all-round underwhelming 2024-25 season, and broader issues, far beyond one player. Vinícius still created 59 chances for teammates in the last year, an increase of 10 on the previous 12 months, with only six LaLiga players — Pedri, Ãlex Baena, Raphinha, Mbappé, Isco and Luis Milla — creating more.

All of ESPN. All in one place.

Watch your favorite events in the newly enhanced ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you. Sign Up Now

But in that troubling, 15-game run without an assist, the team dropped points in six matches, many against so-called beatable opponents: Rayo Vallecano, Espanyol, Atlético Madrid, Osasuna, Real Betis and Valencia. Madrid ended the season four points behind champions Barcelona.

Meanwhile, in the Champions League, Vinícius bounced back from his Ballon d’Or setback with four goals in three games against AC Milan, Atalanta and RB Salzburg, before a man-of-the-match performance in Madrid’s 3-2 playoff first leg win at Manchester City on Feb. 11, 2025.

But after that — against Atlético Madrid in the round of 16, and Arsenal in the quarterfinals — his influence was limited, with just a goal against the Gunners at the Bernabéu. Only 10 players produced more Champions League goals and assists than Vinícius’ seven over the last year, with 17 players have created more chances.

As for this year’s Ballon d’Or, the two main contenders were Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League-winning exploits earning Dembélé the trophy at the gala in Paris on Sept. 22. Vinícius was 16th in the vote,

Can Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior recapture the form that made him a top contender for the Ballon d’Or? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

After Vinícius’s close relationship with Carlo Ancelotti — now his national team coach with Brazil — the arrival of Alonso has meant a re-evaluation of his position at Real Madrid. Under Ancelotti, if Vinícius was fit, he invariably started.

But Alonso left Vinícius out of the starting lineup for Madrid’s game at Real Oviedo on Aug. 24, and against Marseille in the Champions League on Sep. 16, a decision which — according to a source — was met with surprise inside the club.

In both matches, Alonso preferred Vini’s compatriot Rodrygo, who has told the coach he also wants to be considered for selection on the left wing. Even when Vinícius has started games under Alonso, he hasn’t often stayed on the pitch.

In Alonso’s first 12 games in charge in all competitions, Vinícius completed 90 minutes just once. Earlier in the season, the player’s entourage told ESPN they were not happy with Alonso’s use of Vinícius, although the situation has improved since — playing 90 minutes in three of the last five games — and Alonso has remained publicly supportive.

“He had a great impact,” Alonso said about Vinícius’ latest contribution as a substitute, at Getafe on Sunday. “We talked about it this morning, that [the players] could be just as important from the start, or changing the game off the bench. And that’s what happened. … That’s what it’s about, everyone knowing they can be important in the role they have.”

In the last month, Vinícius’ form has improved. He excelled in Madrid’s 4-1 win at Levante on Sep. 23, contributing a goal and an assist. He scored twice in one of the team’s toughest tests this season, a 3-1 win over top-four-chasing Villarreal on Oct. 4. And at Getafe, he came on in the 55th minute to transform the game, causing two opposing players — Allan Nyom and Ãlex Sancris — to be sent off as they tried to cope with him.

play

1:26

Could Vinicius Jr really leave Real Madrid?

Gab Marcotti discusses the possibility of Vinicius Jr leaving Real Madrid and where he could go.

Vinícius’ short-term future is clear: after a shaky start, he once again looks like an important part of a Madrid team looking to beat Barcelona to the title, and improve on last season’s quarterfinal Champions League exit.

Looking further ahead, there is no such clarity. Contract talks — with Vinícius’ current deal due to expire in June 2027 — are at a standstill, sources have told ESPN.

Negotiations made some progress in May, when a possible new agreement worth a fixed €20 million a year, plus another €10m in variables, was discussed. However, the club’s formal offer then failed to include those bonuses, sources said.

On that basis, Vinícius’ representatives did not see the need to agree to a three-year extension, when the player already earns around €17m a year after tax, including bonuses, and preferred to wait to see how this season unfolds.

However, several club sources paint a different picture, with some saying there is some unhappiness behind the scenes at the Bernabéu about how talks have been handled by the player. One source claimed Madrid had believed the renewal was on track before the players’ demands changed.

Madrid have remained confident that Vinícius would end up renewing, but one source said that — unless the situation changes — it would no longer be a shock if the player sought to run down his contract, and leave on a free transfer in 2027.

The interest which emerged from the Saudi Pro League last year has not been followed up on in 2025, and Vinícius’ camp have since played down that possibility.

Recent history suggests that in a contract stand-off at the Bernabéu, even the biggest stars — think Cristiano Ronaldo or Sergio Ramos — don’t tend to come out on top. But there’s also no precedent for a Madrid star, at their peak, choosing to run down their contract.

“I’m happy here, playing with the best players in the world, the best coach [Ancelotti], the best president [Florentino Pérez], where everyone loves me,” Vinícius said last season.

“I couldn’t be anywhere better than here.”

Is that still true? The answer will depend on Vinícius’ form, his developing relationship with Alonso, and how player and club manage his contract situation.

ESPN’s Gustavo Hofman and Rodrigo Faez contributed to this report

Source link

Shawn Michaels’ former tag team partner has reignited debate over WWE Hall of Fame criteria, pointing squarely at contractual disputes and legal action rather than in-ring accomplishments.

According to WWE legend Marty Jannetty, the pivotal moment wasnâ€t a lack of championship gold or classic bouts, but a medical funding request followed by his participation in a wrestler concussion lawsuit. Jannetty is one half of The Rockers, alongside Shawn Michaels, the high-flying tandem that never officially held WWF Tag Team gold despite memorable victories and spotlights at WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble.

During a recent appearance on Hannibal TV, Jannetty said,

You know, a lot of fans keep asking why Iâ€m not in the Hall of Fame. They say I should be, especially as part of The Rockers. Honestly, I donâ€t know the exact reason, but I think it might have something to do with when I joined a lawsuit against WWE about CTE. I really didnâ€t want to be part of it, but I felt like they treated me wrong over my ankle issues.”

The former WWE star added:

I asked them to cover surgery for my ankles. My doctor, whoâ€s a friend, wasnâ€t even charging me — the only cost wouldâ€ve been the hospital fee. I told them it would cost way less than sending people to rehab. At that time, guys like Scott Hall, Sunny, and Jake Roberts had all been to rehab many times, and each stay cost about $30,000 a month. I said, instead of sending me to rehab, just help me fix my ankles, because thatâ€s why I was taking so many pain pills.â€

Jannetty then joined a class-action suit alleging Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) claims against the company, a case that included dozens of former wrestlers and was appealed to the US Supreme Court.

Medical and Law Issues Faced by Shawn Michaels’ Former WWE Tag Team Partner

Jannetty detailed his discussion with WWE executive Anne Russo, recalling her concession that his request was reasonable, yet her concern that it would set a precedent. He said,

I told Anne Russo, who was in charge then, that the amount they made last quarter was enough to cover my surgery. It wouldnâ€t even hurt them financially because it was money they earned from my past work. She told me I had a good point, but if they did that for me, theyâ€d have to do it for everyone else, and it would ‘open the floodgates.’” (H/T: Ringside News)

Jannettyâ€s brother, he added, was outraged that merchandise and archived footage bearing his likeness continued to generate revenue, yet the company balked at addressing injuries sustained under its banner. Fans and peers have since rallied behind Jannetty, arguing that performer welfare and contributions, tag team classics on pay-per-views, and innovative top-rope maneuvers warrant Hall of Fame recognition.

While WWE has not officially commented on these specific allegations, the conversation has rekindled scrutiny of induction standards and corporate responsibility for long-term athlete health.

MORE: Shawn Michaels Pushed WWE To Sign Wrestling Prodigy

Source link

Chelsea’s dominant victory over Paris FC was lit up by the newest member of their attack, Alyssa Thompson, who traversed the Stamford Bridge pitch with agile runs and eventually got the rewards her efforts deserved.

Thompson may be just 20 years old, but her arrival at Chelsea was accompanied by lofty expectations arising from the club record price tag. Now, in her seventh appearance, she has finally got off the mark.

She darted down the wings and led her side’s counter-attacks, showing expert positioning to put herself in the right place to be able to set up Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s goal, and tapped home an excellent Keira Walsh delivery to get her first goal for the club.

It was an impressive display, but, says manager Sonia Bompastor, the best of her is still to come.

“A young player, a lot of talent, but I think we haven’t seen yet the best of her, but hopefully we will see that soon,” said Bompastor.

“She is coming from abroad, she speaks the language, which helps, but again, it’s a new environment, a new club, she needs to learn to connect with new players on the pitch, new team-mates, so hopefully, even sooner, we will see an even better version.”

Thompson’s first goal is one which will put her at “ease”, says Brighton forward Fran Kirby, who previously spent nine years at Chelsea.

Former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie added that now Thompson has scored, she imagines the “floodgates will open”.

“She’s been a real bright spark,” Kirby said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “I think against Tottenham she looked really sharp, it was probably that final product.

“Today, getting that assist and goal will make her feel a little bit more at ease going into the next game. A little bit of pressure off.”

Source link

Russell Westbrook’s extended free agency is finally, mercifully over.

With less than a week to go before the 2025-26 regular season tips off, the Sacramento Kings agreed on a one-year, veteran minimum deal with the future Hall of Famer, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The only real question this answers is which team will Westbrook play for this season. A handful of other questions persist.

• Why did it take so long for Westbrook to be signed in the first place?
• Does he fit with the Kings? What’s his role there?
• And considering this is his sixth team since leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder (a stretch that’s approaching its seventh year), what does this mean for his legacy?

The answer to the first most pressing question, is layered.

When Westbrook declined his player option with the Denver Nuggets for 2025-26, he must’ve assumed there’d be a bit more interest in him this summer.

He and his representation may have misread the evolution of the league and his place in it.

Over the last several years, it has become increasingly important for NBA players to be able to hit jump shots. Those who can’t are easily ignored by defenses that can then devote more energy and resources to the rest of a lineup.

Westbrook’s gotten the treatment for a while now.

So, while he had a traditionally productive campaign for the Nuggets in 2024-25, when he averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 assists in 27.9 minutes and finished seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting, they had no interest in bringing him back.

Denver was plus-0.1 points per 100 possessions with Russ on the floor, but it was plus-8.4 without him.

The swing was, at least in part, a product of the lack of attention Westbrook commanded as a shooter (as well as the fact that that doesn’t really deter him from shooting). And it’s certainly not a new development.

In the playoffs, when defenses more aggressively scheme for weaknesses, Westbrook’s negative impact has persisted for years and through a variety of situations.

Since the start of the 2017-18 campaign (a timeframe that stretches back into his OKC days), Westbrook has played 1,499 postseason minutes. His teams were minus-9.6 points per 100 possessions during those minutes (compared to plus-1.1 when he was off the floor).

Russ is one of the hardest-playing, highlight-generating, stat-stuffing players in NBA history, but his aggression often leads to chaos. That can be good in small doses.

But with Westbrook, it can mean turnovers, bad shots, bad fouls and inattentiveness on defense.

If all that showed up with LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard, and in Denver with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, it’s hard to imagine things suddenly smoothing out in Sacramento.

Two of the Kings’ three highest-paid players, Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan, don’t command attention as outside shooters. Their new point guard, Dennis Schröder, doesn’t really either.

When Westbrook is on the floor with two or three of the above, the floor-spacing responsibility for Zach LaVine and/or Malik Monk will simply be too great.

Westbrook is now, at least, the fifth King who sometimes needs to dominate the ball to be effective, and it’s hard to imagine how this pairing can work.

If Westbrook starts, the floor could feel painfully cramped. If he’s coming off the bench, he may be able to put up some gaudy traditional numbers, but Sacramento’s second unit has too much unproven talent around him.

The ceiling for the Kings, regardless of Westbrook’s role, is probably a play-in exit. That’s what it was before he joined.

If they end up there, this will have been the sixth conseecutive stop marred by failure, an early end to the campaign or some combination of both.

And that makes it tempting to remember Westbrook as a journeyman or a cancer on several teams with title aspirations.

Plenty of legendary NBA careers closed in less-than-stellar fashion. Kobe Bryant shot 36.4 percent from the field in his last two seasons. Allen Iverson wore a Memphis Grizzlies jersey. Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon repped the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors, respectively.

The list could go on and on.

The decline years may have lasted a bit longer for Westbrook than they did for others, but he should always be known for his time with the Thunder, averaging a triple-double over the course of five years and the competitive spirit he played with at every stop.

If he suddenly finds a more consistent jump shot, plays consistent defense and leads the Kings to a better-than-expected finish in 2025-26, great. If not, Russ is (and will still be) one of the 50(ish) best players in NBA history.

Source link

Real Madrid already boast one of the most fearsome attacks in world football – but the 15-time European champions are keen to further bolster their frontline with another big name.

Superstar forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior have plundered a combined 19 goals for the Spanish giants in the opening 10 matches of the season, helping the LaLiga club to nine wins.

But head coach Xabi Alonso is still eyeing further additions and is now plotting a move for one of the top young players on the planet.

Madrid have been heavily reliant on Mbappe and Vinicius this season, with Turkish youngster Arda Guler their next highest scorer despite finding the net only three times.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Real have stepped up interest in PSG winger Desire Doue, who they believe can form a potent forward line with Mbappe and Vinicius.

The 20-year-old enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough season last term following his arrival from Rennes, scoring 16 goals in 59 games – including two in the French team’s 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.

The report states that Madrid have shown ‘concrete interest’ in the France international, ranked at no.5 in FourFourTwo’s list of the best right wingers in the world right now, with the club attracted by his ability to play on both wings or as a false nine.

Doue’s estimated value is said to be close to €150m and Madrid are reportedly considering letting attackers Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo leave to free up some of their budget, but significant hurdles remain.

Doue scored twice in PSG’s 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in last season’s Champions League final (Image credit: Getty Images)

The report claims PSG are unwilling to sell the youngster at this time, with Doue central to a project that finally delivered a long-awaited Champions League title last term.

In FourFourTwo’s view, it would be a serious coup if Madrid could lure Doue away from PSG – and act as a statement of intent that they remain the heavyweight force in European football.

Source link

CALGARY – How perfectly symbolic it was to see Matvei Gridin engulfed in a congratulatory hug from Adam Klapka.

No better way to welcome a kid to the big leagues than with a beefy embrace from a six-foot-eight Calgary Flames teammate.

As made official in a dressing room announcement from GM Craig Conroy Monday, the Flames will open the season with a pair of teenagers for the first time since the late 90â€s when Derek Morris and Steve Begin turned the trick.

Joining Gridin will be Zayne Parekh, a friend and fellow first-rounder from the 2024 draft.

Both junior superstars are expected to be big contributors to the teamâ€s ability to contend for more than just a playoff spot in the next two or three years, and beyond.

However, thatâ€s where the similarities end.

Gridin is a forward who forced the teamâ€s hand with three pre-season goals, a shootout winner and a consistently dangerous game that grew as the competition and stakes intensified in camp.

Parekh is a defenceman whose spot on the team has been a foregone conclusion by virtue of the fact the junior phenom is too young to play in the AHL, but too good to go back to Saginaw.

Any debate on whether Gridin would survive the lone remaining cut for opening day rosters was muted by word that Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil will not be available for Wednesdayâ€s opener in Edmonton.

Heâ€s certainly earned a start on the second line, with expectations of producing offensively alongside Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato.

Parekhâ€s opening night status is up in the air, as his play in the defensive zone throughout camp has been an adventure at times.

As talented and cerebral as he is, he knows thereâ€s work to be done, as evidenced by the fact he skated on the fourth pairing Monday with Danill Miromanov.

It would seem to indicate a reluctance to expose Parekh to the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on a national stage Wednesday. Parekh may very well watch the opener from the press box, which may be a regular occurrence early on, as the future star works on his stick work and gap control in his own end.

“(Defence is the) hardest position for me,†said Huska, who added the last two pre-season games against NHL rosters saw Parekh take “a bit of a step back.â€

“You donâ€t have a lot of people backing (defencemen) up if a mistake is made. Itâ€s partly a young playerâ€s responsibility and job to learn the ins and outs of the game as he moves along, and itâ€s a coachâ€s job to put him in positions where heâ€s going to succeed, and we take that pretty seriously.â€

Both 19-year-olds should be proud to be on the season-opening roster, which was their goal from the outset of camp.

But the real hard work begins now, as there are no guarantees moving forward.
For Gridin, a drop in productivity or effectiveness could ultimately lead to an assignment in the AHL, where his confidence could be rebuilt with more ice time and responsibilities.

For Parekh, a failure to limit defensive miscues could mean watching Brayden Pachal play on the right side of the third pairing in his stead.

“We want to be able to help him succeed and that means sometimes if youâ€re sensing some things, or youâ€re wearing down a little bit, we have to find a way to re-energize him,†said Huska of Parekh.

“If that means sitting out a game or two, thatâ€s not a bad thing for a young guy. They have to know we believe in them and that theyâ€re going to come back in and thereâ€s a purpose for it.

“As long as the communication is good with the player, theyâ€ll understand that. Itâ€s not about us feeling like if he misses a game or two itâ€s the end of the world. Thatâ€s not it at all. Weâ€re looking at this guy as a long-term player for us.â€

With both youngsters, the growing pains involved with developing top prospects at the NHL level will be on full display, especially early this season. And while the organization is fully committed to ensuring both evolve into pillars of the organization, the goal on a nightly basis is winning.

“Thatâ€s our biggest number one priority, and along the way we know certain players are going to be massive parts of our team moving forward,†said Huska.

“So we have to get them to feel comfortable about helping us do that as soon as we possibly can.â€

For one, if not both of them, that mission begins Wednesday.

Farabee-Kadri-Klapka
Gridin-Frost-Coronato
Zary-Backlund-Coleman
Lomberg-Kirkland-Sharangovich

Hanley-Weegar
Bahl-Andersson
Bean-Pachal
Parekh-Miromanov

Morgan Frost may have been the Flames†best forward in the pre-season, building some chemistry with Matt Coronato along the way.

Kadri and Klapka were great together in the last handful of games last year and Farabee is a versatile placeholder for Huberdeau, who should be back very soon.

With Huberdeau and Pospisil on injured reserve, the Flames called up Sam Honzek to be their 13th forward.Â

Source link

Taylor Swift performed back-to-back shows at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu during her Eras Tour in May 2024. (Photo by Xavi Torrent/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

Taylor Swift made an unexpected soccer reference on Friday with the release of her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”

The 12-track record features the song “Wi$h Li$t,” in which the American pop star compares the dream of signing a contract with Real Madrid to other lofty ambitions such as winning an Oscar or the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

– Sergio Ramos, Michael Olise join pantheon of singing soccer stars
– Evolution of the World Cup ball as 2026’s Trionda is unveiled
– From World Cup Willie to Maple, Zayu and Clutch: Ranking every World Cup mascot

“They want that freedom, living off the grid. They want those three dogs that they call their kids. And that good surf, no hypocrites. They want it all. They want a contract with Real Madrid,” says the artist.

It isn’t the first time Swift has crossed paths with the Spanish giants. In May 2024, she performed two sold-out shows at the Santiago Bernabéu during her Eras Tour, drawing 130,000 fans across back-to-back nights.

Real Madrid even joined in on the fun, posting the track to their social channels shortly after the album’s release.

This also isn’t the first time that a major musician has made mention of the team in their songs.

In 2018, Canadian rapper Drake referenced Real Madrid on his 2018 song “Blue Tint” from the album “Scorpion” when he said “I live like Ronaldo but I never been in Madrid.”

Reggaeton artists, including Anuel AA and Bad Bunny, have also mentioned the club in their songs, further cementing their status into pop culture.

Source link

Jude Bellingham’s omission from the England squad marks the first time in four years that the Real Madrid star has missed out on a call-up when fit and available.

Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad is the same as it was last month bar Bukayo Saka and Jarrell Quansah getting the nod in place of injured duo Noni Madueke and Tino Livramento.

The FA’s press release accompanying the squad chose to put a positive spin on Tuchel’s selection as being representative of the same group of players performing so well in that 5-0 domination of Serbia in September’s break.

While there’s some truth in that, it’s not the entire story; September’s late replacement call-up Ruben Loftus-Cheek has retained his place in the squad, for instance, despite having played no part in either game.

Jude Bellingham only returned for Real Madrid on September 20 (Image credit: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

We would like to see Tuchel try and claim with a straight face that the Milan midfielder, whose last cap came in 2018, was genuinely ahead of Bellingham in his thoughts for next summer’s World Cup.

Bellingham absence naturally led to tabloid-led questions as to whether there is a ‘problem’ between Tuchel and the midfielder, and an implication that the Real Madrid star may now fall into the same boat as Phil Foden and Jack Grealish – two other attacking talents who have found themselves out of favour in recent months.

The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.

Those asking the questions will already have known the answer, realistically; they will also have known that it is so prosaic as to be un-headline worthy.

The simple truth is that Bellingham returned from that injury less than a fortnight ago and has played just 100 minutes of competitive football across four appearances this season – only one of which was as a starter.

Xabi Alonso is clearly managing Bellingham’s minutes just at the moment, so it is only sensible that Tuchel should do the same – especially given the nature of the games England have coming up.

You may like

Jude Bellingham is a luxury Thomas Tuchel doesn’t need to rush back (Image credit: Getty Images)

A friendly against Wales and a qualifying match against Latvia do not exactly scream of an urgent need to rush a player back from injury.

Much as there will be some pride on the line against immediate neighbours, the game ultimately does not matter bar the minor implications for England’s place in the FIFA World Rankings.

Respectfully, Tuchel also has good reason to feel that the likes of Saka, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze and Harry Kane should be able to provide enough firepower to get past a Latvia side that was seen off 3-0 last time they met back in March.

Two of England’s goals in that victory came without Bellingham on the pitch: he was substituted off just before Kane got England’s second, with Eze going on to make it three.

Jude Bellingham gestures to the England fans after his goal against Slovakia at Euro 2024 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Player welfare has been an increasingly vocal concern among players and managers in recent years, yet few managers are ever willing to put their money where their mouth is and give players extra time off.

Tuchel’s decision achieves that and comes with a couple of other fringe benefits. For one: Bellingham has nothing to prove about his ability, either in general or when it comes to coming up with the goods for England.

As such, what would Tuchel actually stand to learn from having a look at a not-quite-fully-fit Bellingham? Far less than he is going to learn about whether players like Rogers and Loftus-Cheek are worth taking to a World Cup, we would wager.

Second, it helps Tuchel send a message to his squad – less that nobody is untouchable (that was already clear from his dropping Foden), but that if you perform well for the national team and get results, you have a much better chance of being retained next time around.

That’s just as it should be, surely?

Source link

Max Aarons’ career path took something of a left turn back in January, when the right-back swapped the Bournemouth bench for La Liga side Valencia.

After impressing in his first season at Bournemouth following his £7million move from Norwich City in August 2023, injury issues began to derail his progress that had previously seen him rated as one of the Championship’s best defenders and earned him 27 England Under-21 caps.

Aarons’ performances in the English second tier had clearly left an impression on former Huddersfield Town and West Brom boss Carlos Corberan, who came calling shortly after he landed the Valencia job in December 2024.

Aarons was signed on a six-month loan deal in the January transfer window and although his time at the Mestella was mainly restricted to the bench, he turned out four times in La Liga and once in the Copa del Rey.

Source link

Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho returned to Benfica last month, 25 years after beginning his managerial career with the Lisbon club.

Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahce but was quickly snapped up by Benfica, who offered him Champions League football and the chance to go back to West London for his warmest Chelsea reunion yet.

The Blues came out on top on Tuesday, winning 1-0 but losing striker Joao Pedro to a second yellow card deep into second-half stoppage time.

You may like

Porto have a 100% record while Benfica have won five matches and are the only other unbeaten team in the division.

“I’d like to say that President Florentino sent me a message saying, ‘I’m very happy that you’ve returned to a club of your calibre’,” Mourinho told the press.

The reunions are coming thick and fast for the new Benfica boss, who takes his team to table-topping Porto for a league fixture on Sunday.

Benfica have been victorious in three of their last four league meetings against their historic rivals and winning both games 4-1 in 2024-25.

Mourinho will also have his moment with Perez. Real Madrid visit the Estadio da Luz at the end of January as the two teams wrap up their league phase campaigns in the Champions League.

Source link