Real Madrid C.F. and Fenerbahçe SK have reached an agreement regarding the transfer of Arda Güler.
The talented player has officially signed a contract with Real Madrid for the upcoming six seasons, solidifying his commitment to the club.
On Friday 7 July at 12:00, Arda Güler will be unveiled as a new Real Madrid player at Real Madrid City. Following his presentation, Arda Güler will speak to the press.
Guler, 18, took to social media to bid farewell to his boyhood club. He said: “It’s time to say goodbye to Fenerbahce, where I had the best days of my life.
“I will never forget the first time I wore the kit that I dreamed of, the pride of the No10 jersey, the magnificent Fenerbahce fans and the amazing support I encountered everywhere I set foot.
“It’s hard to say goodbye but I had to take this decision to make those who believe in me more proud, to give hope to everyone who is about to give up, and to prove that Turkish youth can achieve anything they want.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped me become the person I am today.
“You will always be in my heart, my dear Fenerbahce, who opened the door for me to the national team, made a dream come true, and I will always remember it with good memories. Well done Fenerbahce.”
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) July 6, 2023
Guler adds to the growing pool of young midfield talent at Real Madrid, joining the likes of Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga.
As an adept left-footed player, he demonstrated his abilities by scoring four league goals and providing four assists in the previous season. His skills were on full display during the Turkish Cup final, where he assisted Michy Batshuayi for the opening goal and was awarded the man-of-the-match accolade in a 2-0 victory.
Notably, Guler made his senior debut at the age of 16 and made an immediate impact by providing an assist in his first appearance in the Super Lig.
The 18-year-old, considered one of Europe’s most promising talents and likened to Lionel Messi, is set to sign with the 14-time Champions League winners.
According to The Athletic, Barcelona made significant efforts to attract the attacking midfielder, but he ultimately chose Real Madrid.
The deal is expected to be finalized this week, with Real Madrid paying slightly over Guler’s €17.5 million release clause.
Guler, who has already earned four caps for the Turkish national team, has played 51 matches for Fenerbahce, scoring four goals and providing nine assists.
Additionally, Madrid is reportedly willing to offer more than the release clause and Fenerbahce will retain a 20% sell-on clause.
The signing of Guler would be part of the club’s policy of attracting young talent, which has brought the club so much success in recent years, and which this season has had another chapter with the signing of Jude Bellingham when he was only 19 years old.
Fine season at Fenerbahce
In the 2022-23 season, he made 35 appearances, scoring six goals and registering seven assists for Fenerbahce.
One of his most recent and best performances came in the Turkish Cup final when they defeated Basaksehir 2-0.
He was decisive with an assist and he picked up the Man of the Match award.
Guler has since broken through Fernerbahce’s first-team plans, helping them lift the Turkish Cup last season.
Should Guler secure a transfer to AC Milan ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, he could prove to be a great coup for them. He would likely fill the void left by Brahim Diaz, who has re-joined Real Madrid.
The Brazilians were deeply disappointed by their performance in the 2022 edition of the tournament, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Croatia, while their arch-rivals Argentina went on to win the trophy.
Tite, who had been in charge for six years, decided to step down after their elimination.
After months of negotiations with Ednaldo Rodrigues, the head of the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF), Ancelotti agreed to take over as the coach of Brazil.
Despite previously stating that his role at Real Madrid would be his last after nearly three decades in coaching,Ancelotti’s mindset changed when presented with the opportunity to take on one of the most prestigious and demanding positions in football.
The Brazilian hierarchy cited Ancelotti’s impressive track record of winning trophies, as well as his relaxed demeanor and ability to foster strong relationships with players, as the factors that attracted them to him as their new coach.
“We went after him not only due to his record, but also because he is a decent person,” Rodrigues told beIN Sports recently.
“Those who have worked with him say that he is open, cultured, and he appreciates Brazilian football.”
One moment his love of Brazilian football was put on hold was when he was assistant coach to Arrigo Sacchi as Italy lost to Brazil on penalties in the 1994 World Cup final.
With Brazil, Ancelotti will have some familiar faces from Real Madrid.
Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao have been key players in his latest spell with Real which has resulted in six trophies.
“He is the best coach in the world,” said Vinicius, who has developed under Ancelotti and formed a close bond with the coach who supported the 22-year-old Brazilian when he was the target of racist abuse last season.
Ancelotti will be the fourth non-Brazilian to coach Brazil. The last was Argentine Filpo Nunez who was in charge for one game in 1965.
Ancelotti has won the Champions League twice with both AC Milan and Real Madrid.
He has won domestic league titles with Real and Milan, in England with Chelsea, in Germany with Bayern Munich and in France with Paris Saint-Germain.
‘It is a dream’
Ramon Menezes has been in charge of the Brazil team since Tite stood down on a caretaker basis.
The Brazilian federation had announced earlier on Wednesday that Fluminense’s Fernando Diniz would take charge of the team for the coming year.
“Fernando Diniz will lead theBrazilian team for a year, and I’m sure he will do it with great competence, as always during his professional career,” said Rodrigues in a video statement.
The 49-year-old will be in charge of the first six South American qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup this year, including the clashes with world champions Argentina and Uruguay.
“It is a dream, an honour and a huge pride to serve the national team,” Diniz said.
Brazil will start their qualifying campaign in September at home against Bolivia and then away against Peru.
Mbappe, who has decided against renewing his contract with PSG, is being targeted by Los Blancos as the French club wants to avoid losing him for free next year.
According to Sportskeeda, Madrid has declined to meet Mbappe’s two demands in order to prioritize the happiness of Vinicius Junior.
The 24-year-old World Cup Golden Boot winner desires to play as a winger rather than in a central role, but Vinicius currently occupies that position.
Furthermore, Mbappe has expressed a wish to don the prestigious No. 7 jersey at Real Madrid. However, Vinicius recently acquired that number and is expected to keep it for the foreseeable future.
Mbappe’s Madrid move faces roadblock
Meanwhile, the much-discussed potential transfer of Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid faces a significant hurdle due to his loyalty bonus, PSG Talk reports.
The Frenchman’s loyalty bonus is apparently worth €70 million (pre-tax); therefore, Mbappe does not want to lose that money after he demanded he be paid upfront.
Real Madrid’s pursuit of the French forward aligns with their ambition to bolster their attacking options and reinforce their squad with marquee signings, but they will not be coerced into paying the loyalty bonus.
Mbappe enjoys holiday amidst saga
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Mbappe has been spotted on vacation in Miami amid his uncertain club football situation.
The 24-year-old was seen basking in the Florida sun as he tried his hand at a game of beach Jenga.
After a gruelling but hugely successful season, in which he netted 41 goals in 43 games for PSG in addition to 13 goals for France, Mbappe took a deserved break from footballing activities and the talk regarding his future.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho had the best of times at Real Madrid but ended things on a sour note after a famous dressing room bust-up, and it has now been revealed what transpired.
Mourinho spent three seasons in the Spanish capital, the second of which was a record-breaking La Liga season.
He is acknowledged to have built the foundation for the club’s successes years after his departure.
Los Blancos won the Spanish title in his second season, amassing a record 100 points and scoring an astonishing 121 goals in a season that also saw them reach the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.
According to 90min, Ronaldo had his best scoring time under his Portuguese compatriot. He scored 168 goals in 164 games and provided a further 49 assists.
Mourinho and Ronaldo’s fiery exchange
According to Guillem Balague’s book,Cristiano Ronaldo: The Autobiography, via Mirror UK, the manager did not appreciate the player taking a quick throw-in which was difficult for Mesut Ozil, and nearly put the win over Valencia at risk.
Ronaldo was unimpressed by being ‘talked down at’ and replied:
“After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me? How dare you say that to me!”
The outburst is said to have left the dressing room stunned, with the situation descending into chaos as the two compatriots nearly came to blows.
It is also claimed that at one point, the Special One slammed Ronaldo for not being a team player.
“Just so you know, many think like me here, but don’t dare say it, they don’t have the [expletive] to tell you,” he is said to have shouted.
Mourinho left Madrid months later to return to Chelsea, and the two have not worked together since then.
Referee sacked after insulting Mourinho
Meanwhile, Sports Brief reported on Serie A referee, Marco Serra being dismissed by AIA ahead of the 2023/24 season after he clashed with Mourinho in February.
Serra was the 4th official during AS Roma’s game against Cremonese. He reportedly swore at Mourinho and told him to go home as no one takes him seriously any more.
The 22-year-old returned to his hometown of Sao Goncalo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and visited his alma mater, Odete Sao Paio School.
During the opening ceremony, Vinicius unveiled the Vinicius Sports Centre, a sports pitch that now bears his name, showcasing his connection to his roots.
The event was highlighted by a friendly match between former and current students of the school, which was streamed live on the school’s social media platforms.
“Vinicius studied with us during his childhood and adolescence,” a statement from the school read.
“He was always an exemplary pupil and showed his dedication both in the classroom and on the pitch.
“Very early on he showed his passion for football and, with a lot of hard work, determination and the support of his family, he made it to the top of international football.
“May Vinicius’ visit serve as an inspiration for all our students and may we continue to encourage the development of talent in our school, whether in sport, art, science or any other area.”
Vinicius Junior in action with some students of the school. Credit: @odetesaopaiooficial Source: Instagram
Vini told to change hairstyle
Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior’s latest hairstyle has sparked lively discussions among football enthusiasts, becoming a focal point of attention, per reports.
The Real Madrid winger made a bold change during the off-season, transitioning from his previous Mohawk-like hairstyle to eye-catching dreadlocks, which has generated significant buzz across the internet.
It is his new haircut that has captured the imagination of fans, with many expressing their opinions that he should consider reverting to his signature hairstyle.
Vinicius rocks exquisite Louis Vuitton
There were earlierreports on Vinicius Junior unwinding in style in the off-season, following the conclusion of a busy 2022/23 campaign, participating in exhibition games and attending various events.
Stepping out in style recently, the Brazilian winger adorned himself with a lavish Louis Vuitton outfit, sporting a round T-shirt paired with a sleek black jacket as he exuded a fashion-forward presence.
The talented young midfielder from Fenerbahce, Arda Guler, is currently in high demand, with Real Madrid and Barcelona expressing strong interest in signing him.
Both clubs are making significant efforts to secure the 18-year-old attacker, and the next few hours could prove crucial in determining his future.
Guler has a buy-out clause of €18 million, which has further fueled the competition for his signature.
Barcelona appears to have gained an advantage in the race to sign the Fenerbahce prospect, as their sporting director, Deco, traveled to Istanbul for negotiations.
Positive discussions have taken place between the two clubs and the player’s representatives, leading to a tentative agreement that would see Guler join Barcelona in 2024.
However,Real Madrid has also entered the picture, with club legends Emilio Butragueno and Roberto Carlos planning a visit to pursue their interest, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
With Real Madrid now officially joining the battle for Guler, they are expected to pursue the signing with great determination.
Acquiring Guler would align with Real Madrid’s strategy of attracting and nurturing young talent, which has been a key factor in their recent success. This season, they continued this approach by signing Jude Bellingham at the age of 19.
Guler has become one of the most sought-after young talents in football following an impressive breakout season at Fenerbahce.
Although he is under contract until 2025, his reported release clause of €18 million has attracted the attention of several top clubs across Europe.
Madrid’s greater financial freedom may ultimately win the day. While Laporta has managed to pull a range of financial levers in his latest term as president, the club still remain in huge debt according to reports from Diario AS.
Milan joins Guler transfer race
In addition to Barcelona and Real Madrid, AC Milan is also reportedly interested in securing the services of Fenerbahce sensation Guler, who has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi.
Guler has emerged as a key player for Fenerbahce, contributing to their success in winning the Turkish Cup last season. AC Milan is determined to outbid their competitors in the pursuit of the talented midfielder.
Real Madrid legend, Zinedine Zidane, has expressed his delight at the prospect of coaching Kylian Mbappe, who is widely regarded as one of the club’s most coveted transfer targets.
The future of Kylian Mbappe remains uncertain, as he is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain either this summer or potentially the following year.
Zidane has admitted that he himself would love to have the opportunity to coach the French superstar.
“When you are a coach and there is a player like him, of course, you want to coach him.
Many things can happen. It could happen one day. He is a player who represents the French shirt well. In any case, I admire what he does.
He is beautiful, he is strong,” Zidane explained at an EA event, which was reported on by Marca.
That would suggest that Zidane would perhaps be open to one of two destinations, at least at this point.
Zidane’s next coaching destination
Zinedine Zidane, who has previously managed Real Madrid twice, has expressed hisinterest in coaching Kylian Mbappe, indicating a potential desire to return to the club if the PSG forward were to join.
The current Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is expected not to renew his contract, which expires in 2024, according to reports. This opens up the possibility for Zidane’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Alternatively, Zidane may also have ambitions to coach the French national team.
Didier Deschamps is currently the coach until the end of the 2026 World Cup, but Zidane has been linked with the position in the past.
It is worth noting that Zidane’s comments may have been spontaneous, and expressing his desire to coach Mbappe could simply be a natural response for any coach.
His statement, “It could happen one day,” may hint at an underlying aspiration to see their collaboration become a reality, considering Zidane’s experience in handling the media.
Zidane rejects PSG
Reports have it that Zidane turned down the chance to replace Christophe Galtier in the PSG dugout.
Whilst Galtier’s departure hasn’t yet been officially confirmed by PSG, it has been widely reported that the former OGC Nice manager, who only arrived at the club in the summer, has already been informed by Sporting Advisor Luís Campos that he is no longer Les Parisiens’ manager.
Real Madrid’s midfielder, Eduardo Camavinga, has given his approval for a contract extension, which will place him among the group of players with release clauses surpassing one billion euros.
Currently, the French midfielder’s contract is set to expire in 2027, but he has agreed to an additional year extension, accompanied by a substantial salary increase as recognition for his exceptional performances.
Undoubtedly, Camavinga has established himself as one of Europe’s top players, showcasing remarkable progress since joining Real Madrid and earning widespread acclaim for his contributions on the field.
At the age of 20, the Frenchman has won all kinds of domestic trophies with Los Blancos, in addition to the Champions League in 2020/21.
According to reports from Marca, the Madrid hierarchy has deemed it fit to reward him with a new contract.
Last season was even more remarkable as Camavinga showcased his versatility to a greater degree by operating as a makeshift left-back.
It has been a window of extensions for the La Liga giants, with Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos, and Luka Modric all penning new deals to confirm their commitment to the club.
Reports from Goal have also emerged that Madrid are on the verge of announcing Vinicius Junior’s new five-year extension, which has been in place for a long time.
The Brazilian winger enjoyed yet another stellar season last term, racking up 23 goals and 21 assists in all competitions as well as enhancing his status as the one of world’s top-most forwards.
Vinicius to become top earner
Vinicius is set to become a top earner with the new deal, and his release clause has been set at €1 billion, similar to Camavinga’s new deal.
Los Merengues have so far signed Jude Bellingham, Joselu, and Fran Garcia in the summer transfer window, with Brahim Diaz also returning to the Spanish capital after his loan spell at AC Milan.
Modric extends Real Madrid contract
Sports Brief earlier reported veteran midfielder, Luka Modric will stay at Madrid for another season after renewing his deal until June 2024.
Modric, 38, remains a key player for Madrid and decided to stay despite strong interest from Saudi Arabia.
The 24-year-old forward’s future at Paris Saint-Germain is uncertain, and he is reportedly seeking an exit from France, with Real Madrid currently seen as the frontrunners for his signature.
However, in a surprising development, Liverpool has now emerged as a contender in the race, despite it potentially requiring a substantial investment of over £200 million for the Merseyside club.
Mbappe shot to stardom at Monaco before securing a move to the Ligue 1 champions in 2018 and winning the World Cup with his country the same year.
In 260 appearances for Les Parisiens, the 70-cap international has bagged 212 goals, making him the club’s top scorer ahead of Edinson Cavani.
And with just one year left on his deal at the Parc des Princes, PSG may look to offload their most valued player for a massive fee rather than lose him for free next year.
Liverpool could turn to Mbappe as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah, who has just turned 31 and may be entering his final years at the top level.
It will be a tough task for Jurgen Klopp to pry one of Europe’s most wanted strikers away from the clutches of Madrid, but the appeal of the Premier League may be something to sway Mbappe’s decision.
Manager ofReal Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, has reached a resolution in his contract dispute with Everton in the High Court.
The Italian coach, who had a tenure of 18 months at Goodison Park from December 2019 to June 2021, finishing 12th and 10th in the Premier League before returning to the Bernabeu, had filed a case that was described in court records as being related to “general commercial contracts and arrangements”.
While there were limited details available regarding the exact nature of the claim, it has now been successfully resolved.
“Carlo Ancelotti and Everton Football Club have reached an amicable resolution to their dispute,” said John Mehrzad KC in a statement issued on behalf of the Real Madrid boss.
“Carlo has enduring respect and a deep affection for the club’s fans and wishes them and the club the very best for the future.
Former player and manager ofReal Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, has stated that Jude Bellingham, the club’s new signing, is prepared to play for the La Liga giants.
Bellingham, the England international, recently finalized his transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu, becoming the second-most expensive signing in the club’s history.
Joining Carlo Ancelotti’s team from Borussia Dortmund for €103 million, Bellingham will don the number five shirt, following in the footsteps of Zidane.
Zidane, a legend at Real Madrid both as a coach and player, has spoken glowingly about Bellingham’s capture.
“Jude Bellingham is an important player for the future. He is ready to play at Real Madrid,” Zidane told Telefoot, via 90Min.
“I met Bellingham at the 2022 Champions League final, we spoke a little, I hope he has a great career,” the Frenchman added.
Zidane himself reportedly invited the Englishman to watch the 2022 Champions League final live from the stands.
The Whites beat Liverpool 1-0, and this result was key to Bellingham’s decision to join Real Madrid.
The England international scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 42 matches across all competitions last season.
Madrid fans will hope Bellingham’s Real Madrid career will be at least as successful as Zidane’s – or even better.
Zidane speaks on coaching again
Zidane has also said that he hopes to return to management in the near future.
The French footballing icon, who won three consecutive Champions League titles at Real Madrid, has been out of a job since 2021.
He has already snubbed an approach from PSG to replace Christophe Galtier and there have been reports of interest from Saudi Arabia, as claimed by Marca.
Speaking to French outlet Téléfoot, he said: ‘Live and work again in France? Nothing should be ruled out. I know what I want and what I don’t want. If I am having this break, it is because there must be one. I hope to tell myself that soon, I am going to be able to coach.’
It was reported back in January that Zidane had turned down approaches from the USA, Brazil, and Portugal to manage their national teams.
Zidane rejects PSG
Sports Brief earlier reported Zidane turned down the chance to replace Christophe Galtier in the PSG dugout.
Whilst Galtier’s departure hasn’t yet been officially confirmed by PSG, it has been widely reported that the former OGC Nice manager, who only arrived at the club in the summer, has already been informed by Sporting Advisor Luís Campos that he is no longer Les Parisiens’ manager.
Speculation surrounding Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelottihas been ongoing since late December, with Brazil’s Football Confederation expressing their strong desire for him to replace Tite as their national team coach.
Ancelotti seems likely to fulfill his contract with Real Madrid, which is set to expire in the summer of 2024. Even some of his own players have been discussing his potential move to Brazil.
Recent reports suggested that Ancelotti had reached an agreement to assume the role of Brazil’s coach in the summer of 2024. However, these reports were denied by Real Madrid.
Speaking to Marca, Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes admitted that he would be happy for Ancelotti to come with him on international breaks.
“I can’t talk much because I don’t know much either. I know he’s plan A for the national team.
“The president is counting on him and we also want him there.
“For me, for Vini, for Militao we know him and we know of his greatness.
“Having him in the national team is going to be very important, but there is still nothing confirmed.
“We hope that when his contract ends, he will come to the national team.”
Neymar confirms Ancelotti’s Brazil move
“We will have the opportunity to have a foreign coach.
Ancelotti has won everything and I’m sure he’s going to teach us a lot.”
It appears there is a groundswell of approval for Ancelotti in Brazil, with players, fans, and presidents all keen to have him join.
Sports Brief earlier reported Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has drawn up a provisional three-man shortlist to replace Ancelotti, consisting of Zinedine Zidane, Jose Mourinho, and Xabi Alonso.
Both Zidane and Mourinho have previously had stints at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium dugout and have produced remarkable results for the Spanish capital club.
Despite this, Mundo Deportivo has reported that Alonso is Perez’s preferred candidate. Coincidentally, his contract with Bayer Leverkusen expires at the end of next season – which could allow Real Madrid to poach him for nothing.
Lionel Messi allegedly took a swipe at Paris Saint-Germain before his move to Inter Miami, offering some tough advice to his now-former teammate Kylian Mbappe.
During his two-year tenure at PSG, Messi had a mixed impact, contributing an impressive 67 goals in 75 appearances.
While he achieved success at the domestic level, his aspirations for European glory remained unfulfilled, leaving both the Argentine superstar and the passionate PSG fanbase somewhat disappointed.
As Messi bid farewell to PSG amidst criticism from fans, reports surfaced suggesting that he advised Kylian Mbappe to consider leaving the club.
According to Defensa Central, Messi allegedly encouraged Mbappe to pursue his dream of becoming a Golden Ball winner by considering a move to either Real Madrid or Barcelona.
“I prefer that you go to Barca. But if you want to go to Madrid, do it. You deserve a real winning project,” Messi said, as quoted by GOAL.
With Mbappe’s contract entering its final stages, speculation has intensified regarding his future at Parc des Princes. The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a potential transfer to Real Madrid, adding further fuel to the already buzzing transfer rumours.
Hefty price tag for Mbappe
Meanwhile, Real Madrid will have to break their current transfer record if they insist on signing wantaway French forward, Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, Sports Brief reported.
The 24-year-old French forward has been a key target for Los Blancos, with the club’s president, Florentino Perez, confident they will sign the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner soon.
PSG has slapped a €200 million price tag on Mbappe as they try to offload the disgruntled star, who still has one year left on his current deal.
Messi’s PSG exit: Mbappe angry
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Mbappe took a swipe at PSG over their underwhelming performances in a bombshell interview.
The 24-year-old has slammed the decision to allow Lionel Messi to move on as the striker looks to leave Parc des Princes on a free transfer in 2024.
Mbappe also revealed his stance on Messi’s departure after just two years in the French capital, with the 35-year-old set to join MLS outfit Inter Miami.
Real Madrid is on the verge of securing the most significant transfer of the 2023 summer window, as reports indicate that they have reached a deal with Paris Saint-Germain to acquire Kylian Mbappe.
The 24-year-old French forward has long been a target for Los Blancos, with club president Florentino Perez being an ardent admirer of the talented player, who won the Golden Ball at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
According to sources such as Sportskeeda, an agreement worth €250 million, which includes €50 million in bonuses, has purportedly been reached between Real Madrid and PSG for Mbappe’s transfer to the Spanish club during this summer.
PSG have decided to cash in on their French superstar this summer after the striker informed the reigning Ligue 1 champions he would not be extending his contract in the capital city beyond 2024.
Mbappe, the 2022/23 Ligue 1 MVP, is now set to replace his fellow Frenchman, Karim Benzema, who left the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium for Saudi Pro League champions, Al-Ittihad, this month.
Mbappe to sign until 2029
Meanwhile, Mbappe is expected to sign a 5-year deal upon completion of his move to Real Madrid this summer after an agreementwas reached with PSG, per transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano.
With Los Blancos agreeing to a €250mil deal, including more in add-ons, the 24-year-old forward is set to sign a contract to join the Santiago Bernabeu outfit until the summer of 2029.
Mbappe sent PSG into a spin after he sent a letter to the Ligue 1 champions, informing them of his decision not to extend his current contract, which was set to run out in 2024.
Messi gives Mbappe transfer advice
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Lionel Messi giving Mbappe advice and also taking a subtle dig at PSG, just weeks before the Argentine joins Inter Miami in MLS.
Mbappe sent PSG into a spin after he sent a letter to the Ligue 1 champions, informing them of his decision not to extend his current contract, which was set to run out in 2024.
Messi gives Mbappe transfer advice
Earlier, Sports Brief reported onLionel Messi giving Mbappe advice and also taking a subtle dig at PSG, just weeks before the Argentine joins Inter Miami in MLS.
Pep Guardiola has shared his thoughts on the potential signing of French forward Kylian Mbappe by Manchester City.
Mbappe’s future has become uncertain after he recently sent a letter to his current club, Paris Saint Germain, expressing his hesitation to commit to them and indicating his desire to wait before deciding on his next destination.
The 24-year-old’s contract with PSG is set to expire in 2024.
This has left the French giants in a conundrum on whether to cash in on Mbappe or to allow him to play for the club next season and risk losing him for free.
The uncertainty around the star’s future has put several clubs on high alert, including Real Madrid, who tried to sign the Frenchman unsuccessfully previously.
Another club with the financial muscle to sign a player like Mbappe is Manchester City, who recently established themselves as arguably the best club in the world at the moment thanks to a treble triumph last season.
Pep Guardiola was recently asked about the Citizens’ stance on the PSG superstar and if the club would potentially make a move, and his answer was quite interesting.
“We will not sign Kylian Mbappé, he’s not joining Man City,” Guardiola told @elchiringuitotv in an interview. “All of you know where he wants to go…”
Mbappe’s stance on next club
As far as Mbappe’s reported stance is concerned, he has stated he would rather stick it out at Paris Saint-Germain and honour his current contract to the end.
Meanwhile, The Sun reports Real Madrid are already exploring other options after the departure of Karim Benzema, and are now likely to move for Newcastle flop, Joselu.
Further reports claim the loan transfer is already done and the announcement of the Spaniard as a member of Los Blancos is said to be subject to an official announcement.
Messi celebrates World Cup anniversary
Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on how Lionel Messi marked a World Cup anniversary with an inspiring message, six months after Argentina won the trophy.
After edging out France in a penalty shootout, La Albiceleste won the title for the third time in the nation’s history – and the first one of Messi’s glittering career.
The Argentine veteran bagged seven goals and provided three assists in eight games and received the prestigious Golden Ball for his performances in Qatar.
Joselu, a forward for Espanyol and Spain, has joined Real Madridon a season-long loan with a potential permanent option, the club announced on Monday.
Only Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema scored more LaLiga goals than Joselu, 33, did for Espanyol last season, when they were demoted from Spain’s top division.
He played for Spain in the UEFA Nations League final four, and in their 2-1 semifinal triumph over Italy, he scored the game-winning goal after replacing Italy in the 84th minute.
Madrid have been looking to bring in a striker after Benzema and Mariano Diaz left this month, leaving Vinicius Junior and Rodrgyo as the club’s only senior forwards.
Joselu — whose full name is Jose Luis Mato Sanmartin — first signed for Madrid from Celta Vigo in 2009 and scored a career-high 26 goals for reserve team Real Madrid Castilla in 2011-12.
He made one appearance for the first team, scoring in an 8-1 win over Almeria in May 2011, before moving to Hoffenheim in Germany.
Spells at Eintracht Frankfurt, Hannover 96, Stoke City, Deportivo La Coruna and Newcastle United followed before Joselu re-found his goalscoring form at Alaves, scoring 36 LaLiga goals over three seasons between 2019 and 2022.
Amove to Espanyol in July last year saw him find the best form of his career, earning a first Spain call-up at the age of 32 in March, during which he scored twice in three minutes in a 3-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Norway.
Former manager ofReal Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, has commented on his coaching plans in light of speculation linking him to the vacant position of head coach at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Zidane has been without a managerial role since his departure from Real Madrid for the second time in 2021.
On the other hand, PSG appears to be preparing for a change in management ahead of the upcoming season, as current manager Christophe Galtier is expected to part ways with the club.
Zidane has been linked with a move to replace Galtier at PSG while former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann is reportedly the frontrunner to take over at Parc des Princes.
Speaking on when he will continue his coaching career, Zidane said (via RMC Sport): “I miss it, but physically…it will come. … I don’t know when but it will come.”
Real Madrid is reportedly shifting their focus from Tottenham striker Harry Kane to Napoli forward Victor Osimhen as they seek to bolster their attacking options following Karim Benzema’s departure to Al-Ittihad.
According to Sportskeeda, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has recommended pursuing Victor Osimhen instead of Kane, considering the Nigerian striker’s impressive performances during his time at Napoli.
Osimhen, who is only 24 years old, played a pivotal role in Napoli’s triumph in Serie A last season.
He showcased his prowess as the team’s top scorer, netting 31 goals and contributing five assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.
Los Blancos will have to battle Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain who have already signified their interest in the Nigerian forward this summer.
PSG to launch Osimhen bid
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain are expected to launch a mouth-watering bid for Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen as the Nigeria international is now a top priority for the Ligue 1 champions, Complete Sport reports.
Following Lionel Messi’s departure and the uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s future, PSG are looking to strengthen their attack, and Osimhen has been identified as a key target.
Napoli currentlyvalues Osimhen at €150m, and PSG are expected to raise the sum for the Nigerian forward before the summer transfer window closes.
Osimhen ranked 4th behind Haaland
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been ranked as the fourth-best on the list of the most valuable players in the world following his impressive performances last term for his Serie A side.
In the outgone season, the Nigerian superstar ended as the highest goalscorer with 26 goals in the Serie A and also helped his side to win the Scudetto after 33 years in what was an incredible term.
Considering his performances, Osimhen has been linked with a move to the Premier League with the likes of Chelsea, Man United, and Arsenal reported to be interested in his services.
Real Madrid’s pursuit ofKylian Mbappe has encountered a fresh complication due to Paris Saint-Germain’s latest demand for the 24-year-old superstar.
Mbappe has notified PSG through a letter that he will not be extending his current contract with the club, leaving the French champions with the task of finding potential suitors for the forward before his deal expires in 2024.
Reportedly, PSG is now requesting highly-rated player Rodrygo Goes as part of the deal with Real Madrid to secure the services of the unsettled Mbappe during the upcoming summer transfer window, according to Fansided.
Rodrygo has risen to become one of Los Blancos’ key players, scoring nine goals for Carlo Ancelotti’s team in La Liga and five in the Champions League.
PSG are unwilling to lose the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner for free in 2024 and will instead trade him to any team willing to match their terms this summer.
Rodrygo opens door for Mbappe
Meanwhile, Rodrygo has revealed that he would be happy to see the French superstar join him at Real Madrid next season, Marca reports.
The Brazilian forward described Mbappe as one of the best players in the world and disclosed that it would be an honour to play alongside him at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Mbappe has been widely tipped to join Real Madrid this summer.
Kylian Mbappe wants PSG stay
Earlier, Sports Brief reported onMbappe confirming his PSG stay was his ‘only option for now’ after the superstar told the club he would not be extending his contract beyond 2024.
The 24-year-old forward reiterated his plan after several reports linking him away from the French capital emerged, with rumours claiming he would seal a move to Real Madrid.
Mbappe said he was not particularly surprised by suggestions PSG could look to cash in by selling him now, rather than allowing him to leave for nothing at the end of next season.
Real Madrid midfielder, Toni Kroos, has suggested that former teammate Eden Hazard, who was earning £400,000-per-week at the LaLiga club collapsed his career at the Bernabeu.
Los Blancos signed Hazard for £88 million fromChelsea in 2019.
However, his four-year spell in Spain ended last week, after Madrid terminated his contract.
Hazard is now reportedly considering retirement at 32, having already called time on his international career after Belgium’s 2022 World Cup campaign.
Kroos, who has racked up three LaLiga titles and fourChampions League trophies during his nine-year spell at Real Madrid, appeared to reference the Belgian flop while firing a warning to Jude Bellingham after his stunning six-year move to the Bernabeu was confirmed on Wednesday.
“We had another player who came for a lot of money and basically let his career die,” Kroos said on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen.
“It was a lot of money, I think everyone would say that wasn’t a good transfer. But let’s be positive.”
Hazard scored only seven goals in 76 appearances for Real Madrid.
In a shocking interview,Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player Kylian Mbappe criticized the club for their disappointing performances and expressed his discontent over the decision to let Lionel Messi leave.
The 24-year-old striker has made it clear that he intends to leave Parc des Princes on a free transfer in 2024.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Mbappe would not be extending his contract with the club, and there were speculations about his potential move to Real Madrid. However, Mbappe clarified to AFP that he plans to remain at PSG for the upcoming season, which will be his last.
But to avoid losing Mbappe in what would be the biggest free transfer of all time, PSG are understood to be looking to cash in on him now if they cannot persuade him into penning fresh terms.
However, it appears that the ex-Monaco forward has already made up his mind, as he explained his reasons for seeking a new adventure to Gazzetta dello Sport.
He said: “For a player like me, the goal is to win everything.
“And we knew that atPSG there were shortcomings that sooner or later we were going to end up paying for.
“I didn’t say I wanted to be sold to Real Madrid or want to leave, but only that I won’t activate the option on the extra year.
“With PSG, there has never been any talk of a renewal.”
Mbappe discusses Messi’s departure
Mbappe revealed his stance on Messi’s departure after just two years in the French capital, with the 35-year-old set to join MLS outfit Inter Miami.
He remarked: “Messi gone? Bad news now needs to be replaced.
“He’s one of the greatest players in the history of football. It’s never good news when someone like Messi leaves.
“I don’t quite understand why so many people were so relieved that he was gone. He didn’t get the respect he deserved in France.”
Reports have stated that Wilfried Zaha who’s set to leave Crystal Palace on free could replace Messi at PSG.
Meanwhile, PSG could lose another star in their attacking trio this summer with Brazilian winger Neymar linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia.
Camavinga wants Mbappe at Madrid
Sports Brief earlier reported Eduardo Camavinga disclosed his position on the rumours linking Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid.
Mbappe’s recent decision not to activate the one-year extension clause in his current contract with Paris Saint-Germain, which expires next summer, has reignited uncertainty about his future.
Speaking on the potential of playing alongside Mbappe at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Camavinga, who is on international duty with France, said, as quoted by MadridXtra:
“You have seen that he has already spoken. I have nothing to say. I would be very happy if he comes to Real Madrid.”
Real Madrid has secured the signing of Jude Bellingham, born on June 29, 2003, in Stourbridge, as their newest player.
Widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in global football, the midfielder joins Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund.
Bellingham arrives in Madrid following a remarkable season in which he was voted the best player in the Bundesliga for 2022/23. At just 19 years old, he has already established himself as a regular starter for the England national team.
Having spent three seasons in Germany, Bellingham now becomes a member of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
His most recent campaign with Borussia Dortmund was particularly impressive, as he achieved his highest goal-scoring tally, netting 14 goals across all competitions.
Notably, he made an immediate impact on his debut for Borussia Dortmund in September 2020, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history to score at the age of 17 years and 77 days. He also featured in the German Cup final, helping his team secure victory.
Bellingham’s talents have also been recognized on the international stage. After making his senior debut for England in November 2020, he was selected to represent his country in the Euro 2020 tournament, where England finished as runners-up. He further showcased his skills in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar and even found the back of the net.
Prior to his move to Germany, Bellingham honed his skills in the youth system of Birmingham City. He made history at the club by becoming their youngest-ever debutant at the age of 16 years and 38 days, as well as their youngest-ever goal-scorer at 16 years and 63 days in August 2019.
Birmingham City announced that they would retire the number 22 shirt in his honor upon his departure from the club in July 2020.
Cristiano Ronaldo has recently disclosed the significance behind his famous ‘Siuuuu’ celebration, which has gained worldwide recognition and become a”global phenomenon”.
The word ‘Siu’ translates to ‘yes’ in Portuguese.
The celebration has not only been embraced and replicated by Ronaldo’s devoted fans but has also been adopted by professional athletes from different sports.
He is believed to have first screamed ‘Siu’ after winning the 2014 Ballon d’Or, which was his third such individual award. Ronaldo has now revealed what he thinks about his celebration and what it actually signifies.
“It seems to have grown into its own global phenomenon – and I love when I see other players doing it, or people send me videos of people in other sports doing it or little kids doing it – it’s great.
It means yes – very simple but meaning it strongly!” Ronaldo said to LiveScore, for whom he is an Official Global Brand Ambassador.
Ronaldo had previously revealed that he had not put any thought behind the celebration and was invented in the spur of the moment during a pre-season match against Chelsea in the United States.
“I started to say ‘si’, it’s like ‘yes’, when I was in Real Madrid. I was in the USA and we played against Chelsea and I don’t know where this is coming from, the celebration,” he said. “I just scored the goal and it just came out.
It was just natural, to be honest. Since that, I started to do it more often and I feel like the supporters and the fans see it and they’re like ‘Cristiano, siiiiiiuuuu’.
I’m like ‘wow! People are reminded of me because of it!’ So it’s good, and I’ll continue doing it like that.”
Ronaldo is currently on a break after the end of Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League season, but will return to action with the Portugal national team for a Euro 2024 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 17.
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has expressed his desire to reunite with Chelsea star Kai Havertz, who has been linked with a potential permanent transfer to Arsenal in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 for a fee of approximately £72 million, Havertz, 24, has been a regular starter for Chelsea. He has played a significant role in the team’s success, including their UEFA Champions League triumph and other trophies.
According to The Telegraph, both Real Madrid and Arsenal have shown interest in signing the 35-time capped German international. Chelsea, on the other hand, reportedly aim to sell Havertz for a fee of £70 million.
During an interview with AS, Rudiger was asked for his opinion on Havertz joining the La Liga giants. He replied:
“It would make me happy to play with Kai Havertz again at club level after our time together at Chelsea. Unfortunately,
I can’t say a lot about it right now because in terms of transfers, my opinion is secondary. They are all club decisions.”
Should the German secure a summer move to Real Madrid, he would emerge as a first-team face for them.
He could provide a versatile solution to their striking crisis in the aftermath of Karim Benzema’s permanent switch to Al-Ittihad.
Havertz’s elite addition to Arsenal
On the other hand, Havertz could prove to be a shrewd signing for Arsenal.
While he could provide solid competition to starting striker Gabriel Jesus, he could also serve as an elite rotational option for Martin Odegaard as a number 10.
Overall, Havertz has scored 32 goals and laid out 15 assists in 139 games across all competitions for Chelsea.
Obstacle impeding Havertz’s Madrid move
Earlier Sports Brief reported that Madrid have no intention to pay Chelsea’s €60m plus add-ons asking price and are willing to look elsewhere if it doesn’t come down, reports Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea is expected to discuss the future of Havertz in the coming days as they expect more clubs to approach them over the 23-year-old.
The Brazilian winger first wore the number 25 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium before moving to the number 20.
Yet, he now has the honour of donning this legendary piece thanks to his impressive development and steady performances in recent seasons.
As reported by AS, Vinicius will don the coveted No. 7 jersey, which was worn by Eden Hazard from 2019 to 2023.
The winger will also follow in the footsteps of legendary names like Raymond Kopa, Amancio Amaro Varela, Juanito, Emilio Butragueño, Raúl, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite his tender age of 22, Vini has already amassed an astonishing 225 appearances for Los Blancos, making significant contributions with 59 goals and 64 assists, per Transfermarkt.
While he inherits Real Madrid’s iconic shirt number, his compatriot, Rodrygo de Goes will take up the No.11 jersey after previously occupying the 21 shirt.
Vini among Most Valuable Players
Sports Brief also reported on Vini finishing behind only Erling Haaland in the ranking of the Most Valuable Player presently, according to research group CIES Football Observatory.
Undoubtedly Real Madrid’s best player this season, Vinicius churned out superlative performances week-in and week-out with little fuss, despite enduring persistent fan racism.
Ballon d’Or ranking: Vinicius drops
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Vini falling down the rankings as Lionel Messi prepares to battle Erling Haaland for the 2023 edition of the Ballon d’Or award.
The Real Madrid winger finished the season with the Copa Del Rey, the Club World Club, and the UEFA Super Cup to his name, but ranks lower on the award list.
Vinicius is the only player in Europe’s top 5 leagues to have scored at least 20 goals (24) and provided at least 20 assists (25) in all competitions, bar Messi.
Real Madrid Legend, Karim Benzema, has signed on a free transfer to Saudi Arabia‘s top flight team Al-Ittihad..
The French international has officially penned a three-year deal worth close to €200 million a year after tax.
During his unveiling, he said: “Al Ittihad is a new challenge for me. It’s a good league and there are many good players
“Cristiano Ronaldo is already here, he is a friend who shows that Saudi Arabia is starting to get ahead and I am here to win as I did in Europe.”
Real Madrid, on Sunday, June 3, 2023, confirmed that Karim Benzema will leave the club at the end of the 2022/2023 season after 14 years of service.
The European giants in a statement, cited that the two parties agreed to go their separate ways.
“Real Madrid C. F. and our captain @KarimBenzema have agreed to end his brilliant and unforgettable stage as a player for our club. Real Madrid want to show their gratitude and all their love to one of our greatest legends.”
Benzema played his last game for Madrid on Sunday in a one-all draw against Athletic Club, in which he scored.
Benzema won 24 titles during his time at Real Madrid including five UEFA Champions League titles.
After signing a three-year contract with Al-Ittihad, Karim Benzema has made clear his true motivations.
The current Saudi champions officially announced the signing of Benzema, who will conclude his 14-year affiliation with Real Madrid at the conclusion of the 2022–23 campaign.
Benzema has made the same decision to relocate to the Middle East as his former Real Madrid teammate and friend, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese phenomenon joined Al-Nassr at the start of the year.
According to Sky Sports, the Frenchman’s decision to move to the Saudi Pro League, which took Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti by surprise, adds to the growing number of A-list stars to grace the oil-rich nation.
Benzema to Al Ittihad!
During his initial press conference with the club, Benzema openly acknowledged the competitiveness of the Saudi League, emphasising the abundance of talented players within its ranks.
“Al-Ittihad is a new challenge for me. It’s a good league, and there are many good players,” Benzema said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.
The 35-year-old, who isReal Madrid’s second-highest goal-scorer of all-time, cited Ronaldo as one of his motivations, with his quest to win more laurels for his stacked trophy cabinet being another reason to join the Tigers.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is already here, he is a friend who shows that Saudi Arabia is starting to get ahead and I am here to win as I did in Europe.”
Benzema signs for Al-Ittihad
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or winner, Benzema will join Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia after signing a three-year deal with Al-Ittihad, the Jeddah-based club confirmed on Tuesday.
The Frenchman will join his former Real Madrid teammate in the Gulf kingdom after the five-time world player of the Year moved to Al-Nassr from Manchester United following last year’s FIFA World Cup.
The Benzema announcement comes days after Real Madrid revealed the 35-year-old was leaving the club after 14 seasons, a day afterAncelotti had insisted his future in Spain’s capital was ‘no doubt’.
In their last La Liga match of the 2022/23 season, Real Madrid concluded with a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club at home after which they bid farewell to their ‘goal king’ Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio and Mario Diaz.
The outgoing Karim Benzema, amidst significant attention, scored his final goal for the club in this match.
Regrettably, Eden Hazard’s departure from the club went relatively unnoticed amidst the focus on Benzema’s farewell.
Although Marco Asensio was substituted on and off during the game to allow the home fans an opportunity to bid farewell to the Spanish international, Hazard and Mariano Diaz remained on the bench.
Both players are joining Benzema and Asensio in leaving on free transfers, in what promises to be a summer of changes in Madrid, and Ancelotti confirmed the duo did not ask to come on.
“I can only make five changes. They did not ask to come on, but I want to say they have been serious and professional”, as per reports from Marca.
“They have behaved at the maximum level until the last day.”
Eden Hazard
Hazard’s future remains very uncertain, with Benzema tipped to make a move to Saudi Arabia in the coming days, and Asensio attracting attention from the Premier League.
Ancelotti plans for Hazard replacement
Carlo Ancelotti has outlined his plans to find replacements for outgoing forwards, Karim Benzema and Hazard.
The Spanish giants according to reports from SkySports want Tottenham star, Harry Kane, amongst other signings to replace their departing forwards at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti wants them to move for Kane while they are also eyeing a move for Chelsea striker Kai Havertz to replace Benzema.
Kane, who will turn 30 next month, has just a year left on his contract at Tottenham.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy does not want to sell and is reported will demand in excess of £100m to scare off potential interest.
Levy has been adamant that he will not sell to a Premier League rival and that looks set to thwart Manchester United’s interest this summer.
Real Madrid terminates Hazard’s contract
Earlier Sports Brief reported that Real Madrid have terminated Hazard’s contract following a nightmare spell at the club.
Hazard was rated as one of the best wingers in the world at some point and was snapped up by Real Madrid in 2019 for a then-British transfer record of £142m from Chelsea.
Despite having a five-year initial contract with Los Blancos that runs through 2024, the former Chelsea playmaker has struggled with injuries and poor form.
An institutional farewell and tribute ceremony for Karim Benzema will take place tomorrow, Tuesday 6 June, at noon, at Real Madrid City.
President Florentino Pérez will be in in attendance and Real Madrid TV will broadcast the event live.
Real Madrid Football Club and captain Karim Benzema agreed to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at the club to a close.
Real Madrid extended their gratitude and affection to the player who is already one of their greatest legends.
Karim Benzema joined the club in 2009, at just 21 years of age, and has been a fundamental player in this golden age of its history.
During the fourteen seasons in which he has represented the badge and their shirt, he has won 25 titles, a record number for any Real Madrid player: 5 European Cups, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 Leagues, 3 King’s Cups and 4 Spanish Super Cups.
Meanwhile, sources say Karim Benzema has signed main part of docs to become new Al Ittihad player joining the Saudi league.
It is reported that the contract will be valid until 2025 but will also include option for further season.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his surprise at Karim Benzema’s unexpected decision to leave the club after a remarkable 14-year tenure.
The announcement of Benzema’s departure came as a last-minute revelation on the final day of the LaLiga season.
However, before bidding farewell, the striker made his mark one last time by scoring a penalty equalizer in Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao.
Benzema’s departure concludes a highly successful chapter in his career, having scored an impressive tally of 354 goals in 648 appearances for Real Madrid.
This achievement solidifies his position as the club’s second-highest goal scorer of all time, trailing only behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
The departure of such an accomplished and decorated player undoubtedly marks a significant transition for the Spanish powerhouse.
Karim Benzema has already missed 13 games for Real Madrid this season due to injury problems. Photo credit Barca Universal
Source: Twitter
Ancelotti told a press conference: “His departure was a surprise for everyone, but you have to understand it. It was a last-minute decision. Yesterday he trained normally and today he made this decision.
“We understand it. I spoke to him this morning and he said that he was leaving and I understood it. He has done very well with me in these four years and also at the club. For that all my thanks.
“He has thought it through and his decision is part of the transition of this club, which continues and will continue next year. We have time to think about what we have to do. We will have a competitive squad next year.
“I am sending him off knowing that I have coached one of the best players in the world and one of the best forwards. He is a very kind, humble and serious person.
“We cannot be happy about his farewell, but we have to respect his decision. He has won the right to choose and we all thank him for what he has been able to do at this club. It has been legendary, something unforgettable, and it will remain forever in the memory of this club.”
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 4, 2023
Oihan Sancet broke the deadlock for the visitors four minutes after the break following a first half which had seen Real keeper Thibaut Courtois keep out Mikel Vesga’s penalty.
The hosts won a spot-kick of their own after Eder Militao was fouled in the box, which Benzema coolly converted after 72 minutes for his final goal with the club.
Two minutes later the 35-year-old was replaced by Luka Modric and was treated to a standing ovation as he left the pitch.
Benzema, the Ballon d’Or holder andcurrent UEFA player of the year joined Real from Lyon in July 2009 for a reported fee of 35 million euros and has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad.
The former France international won 25 trophies during his time in Madrid.
He is fifth on Real’s all-time appearance list and his trophy haul in Spain includes five Champions Leagues, five Club World Cups, four European Super Cups, four LaLiga titles, three Copa del Rey victories and four Spanish Super Cups.
Courtois paid tribute to his team-mate, telling the club website: “It’s been a pleasure playing with Benzema. He’s an excellent player and a true legend. It’s a shame he’s leaving, but we understand. He has the right to decide his future. I hope it goes well for him and his family.
“Today and yesterday have been days of goodbyes and it’s sad because important players are leaving. We have to thank them greatly, especially Karim, for his career and the trophies he has won with the club. One of the greatest players in Madrid’s history leaves with the Ballon d’Or.”
Earlier in the day Real Madrid released a statement saying the club and Benzema had “agreed to end his brilliant and unforgettable” stay at the Bernabeu.
It added: “Real Madrid would like to show its gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends.
“Karim Benzema has earned the right to decide his future.
“Madridistas and all the fans around the world have enjoyed his magical and unique football, which has made him one of the great icons of our club and one of the great legends of world football.
“Real Madrid is and will always be his home, and we wish him and all his family the best in this new stage of his life.”
Real have confirmed they will hold “an institutional act of tribute and farewell” to Benzema in the Spanish capital on Tuesday in the presence of club president Florentino Perez.
Real Madrid are in the market for a new centre-forward after announcing Karim Benzema’s departure.
The France international scored 354 goals in 648 appearances to become Real’s second all-time top scorer, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, during a 14-year stay in the Spanish capital.
Here, we run the rule over the main contenders to succeed Benzema at the Bernabeu.
Harry Kane
England captain Harry Kane would appear to be a natural fit for Real given his unceasing ability to score goals for Tottenham.
Kane, who has one year left on his Spurs contract, turns 30 next month, but that is unlikely to put Real off a striker who is the Premier League’s second highest goalscorer and will be strongly coveted by Manchester United and others this summer.
Real have tempted Gareth Bale and Luka Modric away from Tottenham in the past and might be hopeful of striking a deal, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy unwilling to sell Kane to a Premier League rival in the past.
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe is coveted by Madrid but it appears unlikely he will leave Paris
World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe was seemingly on his way to Madrid last summer before choosing to stay at Paris Saint-Germain and chase Champions League glory there.
Like Kane, Mbappe comes with a goals guarantee as he has scored more than 200 for PSG, but the Frenchman has more time on his side than the England forward as he does not celebrate his 25th birthday until December.
Mbappe is a thrilling spectacle in full flight and releasing him from his eye-watering PSG contract, which runs until June 2025, might take a world record transfer fee.
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen is one of the hottest strikers around
Napoli’s first Serie A title for 33 years was fuelled by the goals of Victor Osimhen.
The 24-year-old Nigeria star scored 26 goals in 32 games, with the 6ft 1in striker’s game based around pace, power and athleticism.
Osimhen has two years remaining on his current Napoli deal and has also attracted interest from Manchester United, with Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag known to be a big admirer.
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz’s time at Chelsea appears to be up
On the face of it, Germany international Kai Havertz would appear to be a strange replacement for goal machine Benzema.
It would not be a like-for-like signing as the 23-year-old Havertz, in a false nine role, struggled to provide the goals Chelsea needed last season.
But his tactical intelligence could enable him to dovetail well with Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior and Real could get a reduction on the £76million Chelsea paid Bayer Leverkusen for Havertz in 2020.
Jonathan David
Canada striker Jonathan David has a growing reputation for club and country and seems ready to step on to a bigger stage after spells in Belgium and France.
The 23-year-old has scored over 50 Ligue 1 goals for Lille since joining from Gent in 2020, with 24 of them coming this season.
Jonathan David
David is known for his pace and versatility, as well his pressing ability out of possession, and can also operate as a second striker.
After an incredible 14-year journey at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid has officially announced that Karim Benzema will be leaving the club this summer.
The news of his imminent departure was confirmed by Los Blancos in a statement released earlier today, following speculations of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
Benzema’s contract with the Spanish capital expires at the end of this month, and the upcoming home match against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday will serve as a farewell tribute to the club legend, where he will bid adieu to his devoted fans.
Karim Benzema scored a fine goal for Real Madrid
Real Madrid expressed their gratitude and admiration for Benzema’s exceptional contributions in a heartfelt statement, stating, “Real Madrid and our esteemed captain, Karim Benzema, have reached an agreement to conclude his illustrious and unforgettable tenure as a player for our beloved club.”
“Real Madrid wants to show its gratitude and all its affection for who is already one of our greatest legends.
“Karim’s career at Real Madrid has been an example of behavior and professionalism, and has represented the values of our club. Karim has earned the right to decide his future.
“Madridistas and all the fans around the world have enjoyed his magical and unique football, which has made him one of the great myths of our club and one of the great legends of world football.
Karim Benzema has called time on a glittering career at Real Madrid
Benzema, 35, joined Real from Lyon in 2009 and has played a key role in one of the club’s most successful periods in history.
His honours included five Champions League titles, four LaLiga crowns, three Copa del Rey trophies and the 2022 Ballon d’Or, cementing him as one of the game’s modern-day icons.
As well as Sunday’s LaLiga finale, a separate farewell event will be held next Tuesday, June 6, at Real Madrid City with club president Florentino Perez set to be in attendance.
Benzema is widely expected to join Saudi Pro League outift Al-Ittihad, where he would square off domestically against former Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Reports have suggested the Frenchman will put pen-to-paper on a deal worth over £340million.
The La Liga giants are now eager to secure the acquisition of another marquee player without delay.
Having dedicated 14 seasons to Real Madrid, Benzema has established himself as the second-highest goal-scorer in the history of the club, trailing only behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
His illustrious tenure has included triumphs such as five Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns.
According to Madrid Universal, Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez is determined to replace Benzema with either Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kylian Mbappe or Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
The move to sign either of the superstar strikers will be made in 2024 and not during the summer transfer window as has been widely speculated.
Perez is keen on still bringing in marquee names to the Santiago Bernabeu as he maintains the best players around the world should be playing for Real Madrid.
Mbappe to join Real Madrid?
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone believes city rivals, Real Madrid thrive at signing the best players and has backed Mbappe to join Los Blancos, Goal reports.
The French star has been heavily linked with a move to the Spanish giants this summer despite still having two years left on his current deal with Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe snubbed a move to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2022, but reports suggest he is once again considering joining Real Madrid after PSG failed in Europe this term.
Ancelotti, who was unable to successfully defend his Champions League crown this year after Madrid withdrew from the tournament in the semifinals, has staked his prediction on Mourinho’s ability to inspire Roma to their second consecutive European championship.
After edging off Feyenoord to win the inaugural UEFA Conference League last season, the Eternal City team will be hoping to add the Europa League, a trophy Mourinho has won on two times, to their trophy cabinet, according to Mirror.
SEVILLE, SPAIN – MAY 05: Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Real Madrid attends the Press conference at Estadio de La Cartuja on May 05, 2023 in Seville, Spain. Real Madrid will face CA Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Assessing the chances of Jose and his charges, Ancelotti highlighted the transformation Sevilla have experienced under Spanish gaffer José Luis Mendilibar.
“After a difficult start, Sevilla were able to climb out of the relegation zone. Now they’re well organized,” the 63-year-old said as quoted by Roma Press.
He continued: “Roma have the opportunity to go for the win. In addition, the Giallorossi have a very experienced coach when it comes to finals and who will play his part on the touchline. Let’s hope Roma wins.”
Mourinho eyes Europa League success
Earlier, Sports Brief reported thatRoma manager Jose Mourinho has never lost a European final, while Sevilla are six from six in Europa League finals. Something has to give in Budapest on Wednesday.
Portugal’s Mourinho has five major continental titles to his name — two Champions League wins, two Europa League trophies and last year’s triumph in the inaugural Europa Conference League with the Italian side.
Mourinho kisses trophy
The 60-year-old announced himself on the big stage in 2003 when he led Porto to the UEFA Cup, the Europa League’s precursor, and the following year he won the Champions League.
Real Madrid is gearing up to face Sevilla this weekend at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium; however, they will be without key attacking options in the central position.
Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, Karim Benzema, and Vinicius Junior are all expected to be sidelined due to injuries.
Mariano and Asensio are dealing with muscular problems, while Benzema has stitches in his foot following a cut he sustained in a match against Rayo Vallecano.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti has also confirmed that Vinicius Junior is still struggling with a knee issue, which prevented him from participating in their recent midweek victory.
Ancelotti denied the Brazilian was being left out as a convenience, following the racial persecution he has suffered of late away from home.
“No, he doesn’t travel because he can’t play. His knee still bothers him. He can’t play, period,” Ancelotti said, via Football Espana.
Real Madrid are a point ahead of city rivals, Atletico Madrid in second place and that, along with professional pride, remain the only thing in play, Sports Mole cited.
Florentino Perez may also remind his charges that several millions in Euros are in play.
Sevilla, meanwhile, can still make seventh place and the Europa Conference League next season, but will have their attention firmly focused on next week’s Europa League final against Roma.
Real Madrid stands by Vinicius
Meanwhile, Real Madrid paid special tribute to Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian forward faced racist abuse in the club’s previous La Liga game against Valencia.
The men’s and women’s teams, along with the basketball squad, showed solidarity for the 22-year-old by wearing his jersey number before their games on Wednesday, Madrid Zone reported.
Real Madrid stands by Vinicius by wearing number 20 jersey
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has also publicly supported Vinicius, Valencia has condemned the racist abuse, and Real Madrid has filed a hate crime complaint with Spanish authorities.
Vandals destroy Vinicius Jr’s poster
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the racism row engulfing Spanish football shows no sign of abating after a poster of the Real Madrid forward Vini was defaced on Wednesday.
An image of the Brazilian player on an advertisement for stadium tours at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu was torn while the culprit left the effigy of Karim Benzema untouched.
The 22-year-old Real Madrid winger was given his marching orders for slapping Hugo Duro after being manhandled by the Valencia player, sparking jeers from home supporters.
In a powerful display of solidarity, Rodrygo Goes dedicated his dramatic last-minute winning goal against Rayo Vallecano to histeammate Vinicius Junior, who has been subjected to racial abuse and discrimination throughout the season.
Vinicius recently endured another distressing incident at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium, prompting an overwhelming wave of support from the global football community.
The call for more stringent measures to combat racism in the sport, especially in Spain, has grown louder.
Demonstrating their unity, Real Madrid players took to the field at the Bernabeu wearing No. 20 jerseys, representing Vinicius’ squad number.
The match against Rayo Vallecano ended with a 2-1 victory for Madrid, amplifying the message of solidarity and the collective stance against racism.
In the said encounter, Rodrygo, who scored the late winner for Los Blancos, dedicated his goal to his compatriot.
“It was a goal for my brother, for Vini. We’re always together, we have experienced many things, and we have already won everything with this club. I’m always by his side till the end, he already knows that, and we will continue fighting against racism,” he said, as quoted by Madrid Zone.
Despite being cleared to play the Vallecano game after La Liga reversed his red card against Valencia, Vinicius was omittedfrom Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the mid-week clash.
Tebas apologises to Vinicius
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that La Liga president, Javier Tebas has realised he was wrong for criticising Vinicius Junior, after the Real Madrid forward voiced his frustrations in a tweet after being racially abused.
The La Liga chief faced heavy backlash from the football community after he appeared to slam Vini for ‘failing to inform himself properly’. This was after the forward posted a message outlining the abuse he regularly receives at stadiums across Spain.
Tebas has now tendered an apology to Vinicius, as he revealed he had no intentions of attacking the Brazilian forward.
Vinicius being calmed after reacting to racism attacks from Valencia fans and La Liga president, Tebas
In a show of support and condemnation against racism, former Barcelona and Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has made his voice heard after Vinicius Junior, a talented young footballer, experienced racial abuse at the Mestalla Stadium during a recent La Liga match.
The incident, which occurred during Real Madrid’s game against Valencia, sparked chaos tainted by racial slurs.
Disturbingly, this incident marked the tenth reported case of racist abuse targeting the Brazilian forward during a La Liga match since 2021, as reported by CNN.
Pepe Reina’s response serves as a poignant reminder of the need to confront and eradicate racism from the beautiful game of football.
According to CNN, the racial incident on May 21 was the 10th reported incident of racist abuse aimed at the Brazilian forward during a La Liga match since 2021.
In a space of four days, the police have made seven arrests, prompting Spain’s Football Federation (RFEF) to initiate a fresh anti-racism campaign and impose a partial stadium closure at Valencia.
Additionally, La Liga officially advocated for the granting of sanctioning powers to enhance the fight against racism amid a global outpouring of support for Vini Jr.
However, veteran Spanish goalie, Pepe believes the 22-year-old is partly to be blamed for the spike in racist attacks he has suffered since 2021.
“Vinícius? The less you provoke the rival fans and the less you protest to the referee, the more respect you will have from everyone,” Pepe said, as quoted by Madrid Xtra.
Pepe’s advice for Vinicius Jr
The 40-year-old also offered guidance to Vini, who has undeniably been Real Madrid’s standout player this season:
“He’s becoming one of the best in the world, but I think he must mature in behaviour and have more respect for his rivals.”
At the age of 40, Reina joins an esteemed group of footballers who have amassed over a thousand career appearances, a list that includes renowned names such as Xavi Hernandez, Iker Casillas, and Roberto Carlos, This Is Anfield reports.
Vini blasts La Liga
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Vini has lambasted La Liga authorities, after releasing a new statement citing the various times he has had to battle racist abuse in the league.
The 22-year-old Brazilian received sympathy from stakeholders around the globe when he was subjected to more racism duringReal Madrid’s La Liga tie with Valencia on May 21.
Vini revealed he had even received death threats across various cities in Spain, also claiming the authorities in the European country had done nothing to address these issues.
President of La Liga, Javier Tebas, has come to realise that he was wrong to criticise Vinicius Junior after the Real Madrid striker expressed his annoyance in a tweet after receiving racial epithets.
As Vini wrote a letter detailing the abuse he frequently experiences at stadiums throughout Spain, the La Liga president appeared to criticise the forward for “failing to inform oneself properly,” drawing harsh criticism from the football community.
Vinicius Junior was racially abused by Valencia supporters during a La Liga clash against Real Madrid on Sunday. Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer
Tebas has reportedly apologised to Vinicius after admitting he didn’t want to hit the Brazilian forward, according to Goal.
“I did not want to attack Vinicius, but if most people understood it that way, I need to apologise. It was not my intention I expressed myself badly, at a bad time.”
Tebas described Vini as an asset of Real Madrid and Spanish football, and said he wanted him to stay.
“I feel sorry for what happened, and that’s why we denounced it. La Liga takes care of Vinicius. And, if they misunderstood what happened [after his tweet], I have to apologise.”
La Liga has since taken action against Valencia since the incident, with the club fined and part of their stadium closed as repercussion for the racial abuse on the Real Madrid winger.
Real Madrid stand by Vinicius
Meanwhile, Real Madrid paid special tribute to Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian forward faced racist abuse in the club’s previous La Liga game against Valencia.
The men’s and women’s teams, along with the basketball squad, showed solidarity for the 22-year-old by wearing his jersey number before their games on Wednesday.
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has also publicly supported Vinicius, Valencia has condemned the racist abuse, and Real Madrid has filed a hate crime complaint with Spanish authorities.
Vandals destroy Vinicius Jr’s poster
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the racism row engulfing Spanish football shows no sign of abating after a poster of the Real Madrid forward Vini was defaced on Wednesday.
An image of the Brazilian player on an advertisement for stadium tours at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu was torn while the culprit left the effigy of Karim Benzema untouched.
The 22-year-oldReal Madrid winger was given his marching orders for slapping Hugo Duro after being manhandled by the Valencia player, sparking jeers from home supporters.
Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu, thanks to Rodrygo’s 89th-minute goal, marking their return to winning ways.
Despite Vinicius Jr’s absence due to a knee problem, his teammates displayed a powerful demonstration of solidarity for the winger, who had experienced racial abuse during the match against Valencia. They took to the field wearing Vinicius Jr’s shirt and held up a banner proclaiming, “racists, out of football.”
Karim Benzema opened the scoring for Real Madrid in the 31st minute. However, Rayo Vallecano thought they had salvaged a draw when Raul de Tomas equalized in the 84th minute.
Nevertheless, Rodrygo stole the spotlight as he cut inside onto his right foot and calmly slotted the ball past Stole Dimitrievski from the edge of the area, securing the crucial winning goal for Real Madrid.
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 24, 2023
Victory moved them back into second place in LaLiga as city rivals Atletico squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with second-bottom Espanyol.
Goals from Cesar Montes, Joselu and Vinicius Souza cancelled out strikes from Saul Niguez, Antoine Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco and left Espanyol three points from safety with two matches remaining and still in danger of suffering a second top-flight relegation in four seasons.
Two goals from Nicolas Jackson secured a 2-0 win over Cadiz which guaranteed Villarreal fifth place, after Real Betis lost 1-0 to struggling Getafe who in turn boosted their survival chances, while already-relegated Elche drew 1-1 at home to Sevilla.
Inter Milan warmed up for their Champions League final with Manchester City by retaining the Coppa Italia courtesy of two goals from Lautaro Martinez in a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in Rome.
Nicolas Gonzalez had given Fiorentina a third-minute lead but Inter’s Argentina international struck twice before half-time to secure the club’s ninth victory in the competition.
Valencia are prepared to contest the decision made by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to penalize the club following an incident of racial abuse directed at Real Madrid forwardVinicius Junior by their fans.
In response to the incident, the RFEF imposed a five-game partial stadium closure, specifically targeting the Mario Kempes stand at the Mestalla Stadium.
Vinicius Junior was racially abused by Valencia supporters during a La Liga clash against Real Madrid on Sunday. Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer
Source: Getty Images
According to 90MIN, Valencia says that the sanctions imposed by the Spanish FA are disproportionate and unfair and will now appeal the verdict at the appeals committee.
The six-time La Liga winners insist it is wrong for the FA to punish everyone for the crimes of a few, as they maintained that not all in the stands were guilty of the racist attacks on Vinicius Junior.
Valencia will be without fans at the Mario Kempes stand for their final home game this season and their first four matches of the 2023/24 season except if the ban is overturned.
Seven arrested over Vinicius’ racist attacks
Seven people have been arrested in separate incidents in Spain concerning racist abuse directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, Eurosport reports.
The most recent incident occurred during Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss to Valencia on Sunday, when the Brazilian winger suffered racist abuse from some fans at the Mario Kempes stand before he was sent off.
Vinicius has received widespread support following the ugly incident at the Mestalla Stadium after the Brazilian blasted La Liga on social media in reaction to the incident.
Vinicius Jr’s Red Card overturned
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Vinicius Junior would be available for Real Madrid’s next La Liga game against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, May 24, after the Brazilian’s red card was rescinded.
To celebrate making it to theChampions League final, Manchester City had “60 bottles of champagne” in their locker room after Madrid game, but their manager, Pep forbade all of it.
On Saturday, June 10, the championship match of the top-tier European club football competition will take place.
Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Turkey will host the major match between City and Inter Milan of Italy.
The Cityzens defeated Real Madrid 4-0 to advance to the championship game with a 5-1 overall score.
Guardiola’s men are now odds-on to win the treble this season.
They are just three wins away from wrapping up the Premier League title, FA Cup and Champions League.
However, despite reaching the final of the Champions League for just the second time in their history, City’s manager was in no mood to let his boys get on the bubbly to celebrate.
The Daily Mail claims that “security staff removed 60 bottles of champagne that had been ordered for the home dressing room” following Wednesday’s demolition job of the current holders.
They claim that Guardiola has banned celebrations until they have won their first trophy in their Treble pursuit.
Officials at the club were allegedly “told that the champagne had been dispatched in error by hospitality staff” and it was instead “intended to be placed in the dressing room on Sunday” when they could potentially clinch a fifth Premier League title in six years.
And it is not only the champers that the star-studded squad has to look forward to.
Guardiola is believed to have promised to take his players and their families “out for a celebratory meal and drinks at the end of the season” even if they fail to land any silverware.
City’s attention has now returned to the Premier League, where they can wrap up the title with a win over Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
They could seal it 24 hours earlier though if Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest, or win it with a draw if that’s the result the Gunners get at the City Ground.
The FA Cup final comes next when the two Manchester clubs meet at that stage for the first time ever at Wembley on June 3.
Then all eyes will turn to the Champions League for the showdown with Inter.
Manchester United supporters have taken to social media to express their desire for the talented Real Madrid player, Vinicius Jnr, to join their team after racist attacks.
The recent racial abuse directed at Vinicius Jr. by Valencia fans during his team’s 1-0 defeat has attracted significant attention.
While this incident is not an isolated occurrence, it appears that the Brazilian winger will likely continue his career at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Vinicius Junior was subjected to recist chants by fans during Real Madrid’s La Liga defeat to Valencia on Sunday. Photo by Quality Sport Images
According to Express Football, it is not the first time the 22-year-old has suffered abuse, with Mallorca and Atletico Madrid fans also targeting him earlier in the season.
Man United fans have now flocked to Twitter to call on Vini to move to Old Trafford this summer.
“We are with you Vini. Leave that dead league and come to United,” rallied @TheUtdLatest.
@ElijahBryant18 said:
“Just come to United my brother you deserve an exciting league free of racial abuse”
“Vinicius, come to United where you would be adored like your compatriot Casemiro,” were the words of @HenryNanthony.
Vincius Jr wants Madrid stay
Despite all the setbacks Vini Jr has had this season, reports have suggested the forward is eager to remain at Real Madrid, BBC Sports reports.
Those close to the player have reportedly begun to plan the forward’s possible exit from the Spanish capital.
Vinicius Jr has been urged to ditch Real Madrid for Man Utd this summer. Credit: @brfootball
Source: Getty Images
Vinicius, however, is said to be dedicated to Madrid and desires to win the war against racism by sticking to his guns rather than turning away.
Ronaldo sends message to Vinicius
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Brazil legend, Ronaldo showing Vinicius Jr his support after the Brazilian was subjected to racism in a La Liga game against Valencia.
The unfortunate incident took place at the Mestalla Stadium on Sunday, with the Real Madrid winger cruelly targeted by chants from sections of the home crowd.
Among the legends who came forth to show support towards Vinicius after the incident was Ronaldo, who posted on social media in support of his fellow countryman.
Real Madrid has labeled the racism directed at Vinicius Jr as a “hate crime” and has taken action by filing a complaint with the Spanish State Attorney General’s Office.
The Brazilian forward has brought attention to a series of incidents occurring in various cities in Spain, following an alleged racist attack during Real Madrid’s 1-0 LaLiga defeat against Valencia.
Valencia has reported that the police have identified a fan involved in making racist gestures towards Vinicius, and that individual now faces a permanent ban from entering Mestalla stadium.
“Every round away from home is an unpleasant surprise. And there were many this season. Death wishes, hanged doll, many criminal screams… All registered,” Vinicius tweeted on Monday night.
“But the speech always falls on ‘isolated cases’, ‘a fan’. No, these are not isolated cases. They are continuous episodes spread across several cities in Spain (and even in a television programme).
“The evidence is there in the video. Now I ask: how many of these racists had names and photos exposed on websites? I answer to make it easier: zero. None to tell a sad story or make those fake public apologies.
“What is missing to criminalise these people? And punish clubs sportingly? Why don’t sponsors charge La Liga? Don’t televisions bother to broadcast this barbarity every weekend?
“The problem is very serious and communications no longer work. Not blaming me to justify criminal acts either. You are not football, you are inhuman.”
The game was paused after the break as Vinicius pointed out to the referee those who were allegedly abusing him in the stands.
The game was paused after the break as Vinicius pointed out to the referee those who were allegedly abusing him in the stands.
In a strongly-worded statement, his club said: “Real Madrid CF shows its strongest revulsion and condemns the events that took place yesterday against our player Vinicius Junior.
“These facts constitute a direct attack on the coexistence model of our social and democratic state of law.
“Real Madrid considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime, for which reason it has filed the corresponding complaint with the state attorney general’s office, specifically with the prosecutor’s office against hate crimes and discrimination, so that the facts can be investigated and clear responsibilities.
“Article 124 of the Spanish constitution establishes the functions of the public prosecutor’s office to promote the action of justice in defence of legality and the rights of citizens and the public interest.
“For this reason, and given the seriousness of the events that occurred, Real Madrid has turned to the sate attorney general’s office, without prejudice to its appearance as a private prosecution in the proceedings that are being initiated.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, meanwhile, tweeted: “Zero tolerance for racism in football. Sport is based on the values of tolerance and respect. Hate and xenophobia should have no place in our football or in our society.”
In an earlier statement on Instagram, Vinicius said that racism was “normal” in LaLiga.
He said: “It wasn’t the first time, not the second and not the third. Racism is normal in LaLiga.
“The competition thinks it’s normal, so does the Federation and the opponents encourage it. I am so sorry.
“The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (Lionel) Messi, today belongs to the racists.
“A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and I love, but which accepted to export the image to the world from a racist country.
“Sorry for the Spaniards who do not agree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists.”
LaLiga president Javier Tebas responded to Vinicius’ post on Sunday by accusing the forward of “criticising and insulting” the league.
In another tweet on Monday, Tebas said: “Neither Spain nor @LaLiga are racist. It is very unfair to say this.
“Real Madrid considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime, for which reason it has filed the corresponding complaint with the state attorney general’s office, specifically with the prosecutor’s office against hate crimes and discrimination, so that the facts can be investigated and clear responsibilities.
“Article 124 of the Spanish constitution establishes the functions of the public prosecutor’s office to promote the action of justice in defence of legality and the rights of citizens and the public interest.
“For this reason, and given the seriousness of the events that occurred, Real Madrid has turned to the sate attorney general’s office, without prejudice to its appearance as a private prosecution in the proceedings that are being initiated.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, meanwhile, tweeted: “Zero tolerance for racism in football. Sport is based on the values of tolerance and respect. Hate and xenophobia should have no place in our football or in our society.”
In an earlier statement on Instagram, Vinicius said that racism was “normal” in LaLiga.
He said: “It wasn’t the first time, not the second and not the third. Racism is normal in LaLiga.
“The competition thinks it’s normal, so does the Federation and the opponents encourage it. I am so sorry.
“The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (Lionel) Messi, today belongs to the racists.
“A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and I love, but which accepted to export the image to the world from a racist country.
“Sorry for the Spaniards who do not agree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists.”
LaLiga president Javier Tebas responded to Vinicius’ post on Sunday by accusing the forward of “criticising and insulting” the league.
In another tweet on Monday, Tebas said: “Neither Spain nor @LaLiga are racist. It is very unfair to say this.
“How @LaLiga we denounce and fight racism with all rigidity within our competences. This season there were 9 cases of racist insults (8 of them for insults against @vinijr)
OFFICIAL STATEMENT | Valencia CF will ban for life the fans who racially abused Vinícius Jr.
The Club strongly condemn this behaviour, which has no place in football and does not correspond to the values of Valencia CF and our fanbase.
“We always identify the violators and take the complaint to the legislating bodies. It doesn’t matter that they are few, they are relentless.
“We cannot allow the image of a competition that is about the symbol of peoples union to be tarnished, where more than 200 players are of black origin in 42 clubs that receive in each round the respect and affection of the fans, being the racism an extremely specific case (9 complaints) that we are going to eliminate.”
A statement released on Monday from Valencia read: “Valencia CF, in line with the club’s permanent commitment against racism and violence in all forms, announce that the police has identified a fan who made racist gestures at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr in the Matchday 35 match at Mestalla on May 21st.
“The club are also working along with the police to confirm the identity of any other potential offenders.
“From the moment that the unfortunate events occurred, the club have analysed all the available footage, working alongside the authorities as rapidly as possible to clarify what happened in order to be able to act quickly and forcefully.
“Valencia CF have proceeded to open a disciplinary case, will apply the maximum level of severity, including a lifetime stadium ban against the fans involved, and is working closely together with the authorities.”
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, a former Real colleague of Vinicius and a Brazil team-mate, called for LaLiga to take urgent action and adopt a policy of zero tolerance over racism.
“I feel disappointed and very sad to see, ashamed, how episodes of racism with my team-mate Vinicius Junior are repeated,” Casemiro wrote on Twitter.
“We cannot continue to tolerate this problem that transcends sport, affects the whole of society and goes unpunished. Public condemnation is not enough, punishment is necessary.
“LaLiga must urgently take exemplary measures, because these repeated incidents of racism tarnish the image not only of Spanish football, but also of all world football.”
The Brazilian attacker was the subject of constant racist slurs during Madrid’s away clash against Valencia on Sunday, in what was the 10th racist abuse incident the forward has experienced this season.
The game had to be paused in one instance, as Vinicius, along with other Los Blancos players, went to point out a particular fan who was hurling racist abuse at the player.
Vinicius Jnr
Courtois has now shared his take on the matter. He lambasted the fans for their actions. Speaking to France 24, the big Belgian said:
“If Vini wants to keep playing, we keep playing, but if Vinicius Jr says he’s leaving, I’m leaving the pitch with him, because we cannot tolerate these things.”
Speaking of the incident that raised eyebrows in an already feisty fixture – Vinicius receiving a red card during a brawl in the 97th minute of the encounter, Courtois said:
“With the brawl, the first to receive a red card should be Hugo Duro, who grabbed Vinicius by the neck.”
TheReal Madrid goalkeeper also said that there were racist slurs aimed at his Brazilian teammate earlier in the game, too:
“I feel bad because there was an act of racism. I remember at the start, around the 20th minute there were monkey sounds; sometimes it’s hard to see if it is or not, (but) the first thing is that we cannot accept this; we cannot tolerate this. One day, you will have to put a camera just focused on these people because the disgusting things you can hear are crazy.”
"The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi, today belongs to the racists." —Vinicius Jr. #SportsGist#PerfectMatchXtra Denzel Washington | Ashantis | Mohammed Kudus | Big Brother | Rudiger pic.twitter.com/Jigp2CO3Le
The racism controversy at the Mestalla made football take a back seat. In the game, Real Madrid lost 1-0, with Diego Lopez netting a 33rd-minute winner.
Despite bossing possession, Los Blancos failed to score, slumping to their second straight loss across competitions without scoring.
Earlier in midweek, they went down 4-0 at Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg, bowing out with a 5-1 aggregate defeat.
Following their loss at the Mestalla, Carlo Ancelotti’s team have slipped to third spot in the league. They have 71 points from 35 games and trail second-placed Atletico Madrid by a point. This loss serves as a boost for Atletico Madrid who as per Daily Mail reports, hope to finish ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
Vinicius fires back at Tebas
Earlier Sports Brief reported Real Madrid forward Vinicius fired back with a fiery statement to La Liga’s President Javier Tebas’s stand on Sunday’s event.
Mateo, the youngest son ofCristiano Ronaldo, has caused a significant stir on social media due to his choice of shirt, as seen in widely circulated footage.
Ronaldo, known for his illustrious career with Real Madrid, Barcelona’s fierce rivals, spent nine successful seasons with the Madrid club.
Therefore, it came as a major surprise, especially to fans of Los Blancos, when they observed the five-year-old happily dancing and singing while wearing the Barcelona kit.
The unexpected sight of Mateo in the Catalan colors has sparked widespread discussion and captured the attention of online platforms.
In a video posted by Georgina Rodriguez, Ronaldo’s partner, seen by Sports Brief, Mateo, who wore Barcelona’s home kit, was filmed together with his siblings Alana Martina and Eva singing and vibing to a choreographed dance.
The video has since sparked mixed reactions on social media, considering Mateo’s dad’s long-standing rivalry with Barca, who recently won their 27th La Liga crown, per Besoccer.
During Ronaldo’s stint with Real Madrid, the 38-year-old reached hallowed heights with the Spanish giants, scoring a staggering 451 goals in 438 games, including an impressive 20 goals in 34 matches against the Blaugrana, Transfermarkt reports.
Cristiano currently plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, where he has notched 13 goals in 14 matches as the Knights of Nahd chase their first league crown in four years.
Ronaldo was linked with a potential transfer to Bayern last summer, following his departure from Manchester United in November last year, but ultimately chose to join Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he now commands a staggering annual salary of £173 million.
But businessman Marcus Schon is bent on bringing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner back to Europe. The German millionaire reportedly reached out to Bayern Munich’s CEO Oliver Kahn via email, expressing his interest in financially supporting a potential transfer.
Following Real Madrid’s concession of the opening goal against Manchester City, there appeared to be a confrontation betweenCarlo Ancelotti and Vinicius Jr.
The match proved to be one to forget for Madrid, as they were thoroughly outplayed and humiliated by City in front of a lively crowd at the Etihad Stadium.
Bernardo Silva found the back of the net in the 23rd minute, and shortly after, he capitalized on a defensive miscommunication to score his second goal, compounding Madrid’s woes.
An own goal from Brazilian defender Eder Militao, and a beautiful finish from Julian Alvarez after a Phil Foden defence-splitting pass, wrapped up an embarrassing night for Madrid.
Ancelotti and Vinicius disagree
As spotted by ESPN FC, Vinicius Jr. and Ancelotti appeared to disagree after City opened the scoring through Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva.
The forward gestured with his arm and pointed to the goal scene as if he were telling his manager what went wrong in the defence.
Fans faulted Ancelotti for dropping German defender Antonio Rudiger, which may have caused the initial struggles. However, not much changed when he came on, as Madrid conceded two more goals even with him on the field.
Vinicius reveals why Madrid lost
The 22-year-old looked distraught during his post-match interview with El Chiringuito TV, via Daily Post, and revealed why his team were embarrassed.
Legendary figure atManchester United, Rio Ferdinand, has disclosed the content of a text message he received from Pep Guardiola just hours before Manchester City’s crucial Champions League match against Real Madrid.
The two teams clashed in a thrilling semi-final encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg played in Spain, both teams had everything to fight for in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City’s manager Pep Guardiola
The Citizens, who are looking to win the competition for the first time in their history, were the eventual winners of the fixture.
Sky Sports reports that Bernardo Silva was the man of the moment for City, as he netted a first-half brace before Akanji and Julian Alvarez also got their names on the scoresheet to help the hosts beat Real 4-0.
Pep’s message to Rio
It has now emerged that Guardiola was very much aware that his charges would demolish the La Liga giants during their meeting.
According to Rio, the Man City boss texted him moments before the clash and told him his side would emerge victors.
“Pep Guardiola texted me before the game and said, ‘We beat them two years ago, and we will beat them again, believe me’,” Sportbible quoted Ferdinand saying.
Rio Ferdinand and Pep Guardiola
Rio’s revelation came moments after a video emerged of Guardiola approaching the legendary defender after the match and pointing, seemingly, in an attempt to show that he was proven right.
Pep clashes with De Bruyne
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola clashed midway through the second half of Man City’s clash against Real Madrid.
The incident happened after the Belgian playmaker lost possession to Eder Millitao before turning to his manager, shouting in anger.
While it remains unclear what sparked the spat, it is believed De Bruyne was dissatisfied with the instructions shouted at him by Pep.
Real Madrid players are reportedly hoping that Carlo Ancelotti will not be sacked by the club despite their humiliating elimination from the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, May 17. Following their crushing 4-0 defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, there have been doubts about the future of the Italian manager.
And it’s a goal from Bernado Silva
However, Vinicius Junior has shown his support for Ancelotti, and it is believed that the players share a similar sentiment, hoping that the club will retain him despite the disappointing result.
According to Football Espana, Luka Modric also has backed Ancelotti to continue as Real Madrid’s manager, despite the club’s failure to reach a consecutive Champions League final.
“It’s football, but I think that in the Cup and in the Champions League we have done very well. For this reason, for me, there is no doubt about his continuity. He deserves it for everything he does and has done.”
Luka Modric also has backed Ancelotti to continue as Real Madrid’s manager, despite the club’s failure to reach a consecutive Champions League final.
Ancelotti’s current deal with Real Madrid runs until the summer of 2024, although the Brazil national team is said to be courting the Italian manager for their vacant managerial post.
Ancelotti admits City were better
Meanwhile,Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that his Real Madrid team deserved to lose against Manchester City, as they were second-best to the English champions, Caught Offside reports.
Carlo Ancelotti looks on during Real Madrid’s 4-0 Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Photo by James Gill
The Italian manager said that there was no psychological decline, despite being blown away 4-0 by the Cityzens in the second leg of their semi-final clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Real Madrid have failed to defend the Champions League and La Liga titles they won last season, marking a disappointing end to their 2022/23 campaign.
Madrid’s Ancelotti hopes to stay
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti has reiterated his desire to continue as the club’s coach, despite Wednesday night’s rout at the hands of Manchester City.
The Cityzens mauled Real Madrid 4-0 to book their place in the Champions League final.
When asked about his future, Ancelotti was upbeat, and he fully anticipates being at the helm for Real Madrid in the upcoming campaign.
Ghanaian actor,Samuel Yaw Dabo, has recently shared his motivation for establishing a soccer academy, emphasizing his desire to support talented footballers who come from less privileged backgrounds.
Dabo’s primary objective is to give back to society by providing opportunities to aspiring players. He actively visits orphanages and villages to identify and recruit potential talents for his academy.
Through this initiative, Dabo aims to uplift and empower young footballers who may not have had access to formal training or resources, allowing them to pursue their passion for the sport.
“I have the Dabo Soccer Academy, because we have to support others. That’s my dream because, when you get money, you have to give it to somebody because everybody needs help,” he told Marca.
“Me, too. I need help. My brother needs help. So I want to give back to my society to support others. I go to orphanages and I go to the villages to bring talented players to everybody to see that in Ghana we have very talented players.
Yaw Dabo: I established soccer academy to support the less-privileged
“A lot of good players are in the academy and go to school. I have workers, coaches and caterers to support the football team. I have everybody. I came to Europe to find a solution to support my academy.”
Yaw Dabo appeals to Real Madrid and super-agent Jorge Mendes to partner his academy | Pulse Ghana
The comic actor has been touring various European countries to build a network between his academy and clubs on the continent.
He made stops in Germany and France before taking his tour to the Netherlands, where he met with Ajax star Mohammed Kudus.
Dabo then headed to Spain and was in attendance at the Santiago Bernabeu for Real Madrid’sUEFA Champions Leaguesemi-final first-leg game against Manchester City.
People are calling me from US, Europe after Marca interview – Yaw Dabo Pulse Ghana
The diminutive actor went viral when he was interviewed by Spanish television station Marca TV in the aftermath of the game.
He was later invited to the media organisation’s office in Madrid, after which he discussed his academy and future.
Dabo said he’d love to partner with Real Madrid and also appealed to super-agent Jorge Mendes for a collaboration.
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