Real Madrid will not be appointing Jurgen Klopp as manager this summer, despite strong interest from Los Blancos in recent months. Advisor Anas Laghrari has been advocating for the German’s appointment for a number of years, but it seems this will not be the summer he arrives at Real Madrid either.

After Xabi Alonso’s sacking in January, Klopp was cited as the first choice for Real Madrid to take over in the summer. Having retired 18 months earlier from management, Klopp has on several occasions denied any intention to take over at the Santiago Bernabeu, albeit there were some reports that he could consider an offer ‘under the right conditions’ from Germany.

Klopp is not an option for Real Madrid this summer

For the first time, the reports coming out of Spain have ruled out the signing of Klopp. He himself had spoken about it on several occasions, but rumours from the Spanish capital continued that he was in consideration. El Chiringuito have explained that while Klopp is liked by everyone at the club, he is no longer in consideration for the job, and is not an option to take over this summer.

EXCLUSIVA de @jpedrerol

"ARBELOA NO ESTÁ FUERA, FLORENTINO tiene que HABLAR CON ÉL".

"KLOPP NO ES UNA POSIBILIDAD". pic.twitter.com/kJAHgzBeFe

— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) April 17, 2026

Alvaro Arbeloa meeting to happen in coming days

The expectation is that Real Madrid do need a replacement for Arbeloa, but on Thursday night, reports emerged that Arbeloa still has hope of retaining his job next year. El Chiringuito assure no decision has been taken on his future, and that he will meet with President Florentino Perez in the coming days.

In that meeting, Arbeloa and Perez will analyse the mistakes made by him, by Xabi Alonso, which players performed and did not, and the atmosphere in the dressing room. From those discussions, a decision will be made, but it is noted that the players are behind Arbeloa, and they are in favour of his continuity.

The post Jurgen Klopp not an option for Real Madrid ahead of Alvaro Arbeloa meeting appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have harboured doubts about their full-back positions this season, and while it remains to be seen whether that will lead to action in the transfer market, they are assessing their options. One name that has been frequently linked with the Blaugrana is former La Masia product Alejandro Grimaldo.

The Spain international, who has been a key player in recent years for Bayer Leverkusen, has been keen on a return to Spain for some time. The 30-year-old has voiced as much, and was linked to all of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid last summer, but none made a decisive move for him.

FC Barcelona are accelerating negotiations for Alessandro Bastoni, considered the "priority signing" to lead the defense next season. The Italian centre-back has already given the green light to the operation, and the club aim to finalize the agreement before the World Cup.… pic.twitter.com/SirK9oDgAz

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) April 17, 2026

Grimaldo available for just €12m this summer

With just a year left on his deal, Fussballdaten (via Sport) claim that Leverkusen will consider his exit for just €12m this summer, to avoid losing him for free. Their information goes on to say that Juventus and Milan are also looking at his signing. Last summer Barcelona reached an agreement on personal terms with Grimaldo, but decided not to push ahead with a €15m deal.

Cancelo interest could complicate Grimaldo move

However it is not clear if Barcelona will move for a left-back, and it appears he is not first choice. The Catalan side intend to reinforce their ranks with a central defender, which may move Gerard Martin back to left-back, his original position. Equally, the word is that Barcelona want to keep loanee Joao Cancelo beyond the summer, albeit they have a difficult negotiation ahead with Al-Hilal to do so.

Grimaldo would be a solid signing, but unless Alejandro Balde leaves, then it would seem that Barcelona are covered at the left-back position. If the Cancelo deal cannot be completed – the Saudi Arabian side reportedly want €15m for him – that could open the door to a move for Grimaldo.

The post Barcelona can sign left-back target for just €12m this summer appeared first on Football España.

After exiting the Champions League on Tuesday at the hands of Atletico Madrid, and with the La Liga title very much within Barcelona’s hands, the focus in the Catalan capital is already turning to the summer transfer window. With the promise, at least from President Joan Laporta, of being within their salary limit, it is shaping up to be a busier transfer window.

There are major doubts about the futures of Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski at the club, while Marc Casado looks as if he will almost certainly exit this year. On the other hand, Barcelona have already returned to talks for defender Alessandro Bastoni, who they will try to sign from Inter.

Debate of Roony Bardghji future

According to Sport, Barcelona are debating the future of Roony Bardghji too. The Swedish talent impressed early on in the season with some good performances, but in the second half of the season has seen very limited opportunities. Something that Bardghji complained about while on international duty in March.

The Blaugrana value the fact that Bardghji takes up little room in the salary limit, but has contributed when called upon in a role behind Lamine Yamal. The club are keen for him to continue as a result, believing him to have the talent to succeed at Barcelona, but it is not clear whether he will be willing to accept a similar role next season.

Héctor Fort has recovered from his shoulder injury, and will be available for Elche FC during the final stretch of the season. [@mundodeportivo] pic.twitter.com/UD0y3NOTAq

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) April 17, 2026

Barcelona receive three enquiries for Bardghji

In addition, there will be a temptation to cash in on him. There was talk that he could leave on loan last summer, after arriving for €2.5m from Copenhagen, with a 20% sell-on fee. That could be a solution, but the Catalan paper say that Barcelona have also received enquiries from Porto, Stuttgart and AS Monaco for him. The intention is that if Bardghji is keen to leave, then they will consider a loan move, rather than a permanent transfer, as they see him as a long-term bet.

Were Barcelona to receive a large offer for Bardghji, it is not hard to visualize a situation where the Catalan club decide to sacrifice Bardghji though. It would not be difficult to replace the 616 minutes he has played, with Lamine Yamal rotating less rather than more. If Barcelona find themselves in need of more funds for their other transfer priorities, Bardghji could be a casualty.

The post Barcelona debate sale of forward after receiving three enquiries appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are looking to bring in a centre-forward this summer, and for some time it has been reported that their preferred choice for the number nine spot is Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez. For some time, Los Colchoneros have been adamant that he is not for sale, but now it seems the Catalan side have taken an interest in another Atletico forward.

As reported by Marca, Barcelona hold an interest in signing Alexander Sorloth. The imposing Norwegian has a strong record against Barcelona, and a decent return of goals in his two seasons at Atletico, and the Blaugrana have made a formal enquiry for him. Matteo Moretto explains that with Robert Lewandowski potentially leaving, Barcelona like Sorloth’s similar physical profile and ability to adapt immediately to Hansi Flick’s system.

Barcelona looking for cover due to Lewandowski uncertainty

The plan at Barcelona was to retain Lewandowski for another season, offering him a one-year extension with a large wage cut, and a back-up role at Camp Nou. However the Polish veteran, who turns 38 in August, is still considering his options, and reportedly is no longer prioritising the offer from Barcelona. There is a chance that he leaves at the end of the season, leaving only Ferran Torres as a number nine.

Rafael Leão has once again 'reopened' the door for a move to Barça. The AC Milan winger, whose future in Italy is uncertain despite a contract until 2028, has made a new nod to the club by posting a photo of Ronaldinho's time at FC Barcelona on his Instagram.[@mundodeportivo]… pic.twitter.com/jpwDLCZSoK

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) April 17, 2026

Sorloth’s record against Barcelona

Barcelona are all too familiar with Sorloth’s capabilities, with the 30-year-old enjoying himself against the Catalans. In 15 appearances, he has seven goals and three assists. Sorloth has two years remaining on his Atletico deal, and has 17 goals and an assist in his 47 appearances, despite only starting 24 of those games.

Giuliano Simeone plays his first final for Atlético Madrid tomorrow. What a journey it's been for him so far! pic.twitter.com/J83iQEgH4u

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) April 17, 2026

Starting number nine or alternative?

With a move for Alvarez seemingly out of reach, Barcelona have been linked with Victor Osimhen, but there have been few links to other players that could fill the number nine position. Torres is the alternative, but the talk at Barcelona has been of a star name that could occupy the position for some time to come. Sorloth would be a lower profile option than the likes of Alvarez or Osimhen.

The post Barcelona interested in shock move for second Atletico Madrid forward appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are hoping to sign Alessandro Bastoni this summer, but he may not be the only central defender to arrive at the Catalan club before the start of next season. Sporting director Deco has plans to continue adding exciting talents into the La Masia pool, and the latest of those could be Ruud Nijstad.

In January, Barcelona finalised the signing of Juwensley Onstein from Genk, but he was not the only young Dutch defender that was sought. A move was also made for Nijstad, but in the end, it was not possible for a deal to be done before the winter transfer window closed at the start of February.

Despite this, Barcelona have retained their interest in Nijstad, and a move in the summer had been planned. However, Sport have revealed that it is no longer on their agenda, as talks with Twente have been put on stand-by.

Barcelona consider Nijstad asking price to be excessive

As per the report, Twente are asking for €8m to part ways with Nijstad, who is considered to be one of the best young defenders of his generation in the Netherlands. Barcelona consider this to be too high for a player that is still in the very early stages of his career, which is why they have decided to put their plans on hold.

However, that is not to say that a move will not be made in the future, with the possibility that it could be explored in the summer still. Barcelona have not lost any interest in Nijstad, but rather, they consider it not to be the right time to continue pushing for an agreement with Twente.

Barcelona want to see how the rest of the season plays out before deciding whether to go back in for Nijstad. For now, they are prepared to sit and wait for developments.

The post Barcelona put move for €8m defender on stand-by appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid have plans to sign a new midfielder this summer, but there could also be one or two from the same position that move on. Dani Ceballos is a certainly to depart, and he could be joined at the exit door by Eduardo Camavinga.

It’s been a season of struggle for Camavinga, who has struggled to cement himself as a regular starter. He’s behind the likes of Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde in the pecking order, and the emergence of Thiago Pitarch has seen his prominence drop even further.

In the rare moments that he has been called upon from the start, Camavinga has not convinced the Real Madrid sporting department, with his latest disappointing performance coming in Friday’s 1-1 draw at home to Girona. On the back of this, Diario AS have reported that the France international is set to be put on the market for the summer transfer window.

Real Madrid had high hopes for Camavinga when he joined as a teenager in 2021, but despite a number of good moments, he has failed to kick on. He’s now 23, and with no stark improvement in sight, the time could be about to come for him to move on.

Camavinga won’t be short of suitors if he does leave

In the event that Real Madrid open the door for Camavinga to leave, it would not be difficult to attract interest. Liverpool and Chelsea have already spoken to the player’s agent, and in recent weeks, they have been joined in the race by European champions Paris Saint-Germain, who are keen to bring the midfielder back to France.

Camavinga will have another chance to prove his worth on Wednesday when Real Madrid take on Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie – he’s poised to start in place of the suspended Tchouameni. If he struggles again, the writing could be on the wall for his career at the Bernabeu.

The post Real Madrid ready to transfer-list midfielder amid Liverpool interest appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona want to make multiple significant signings this summer, but in order to do so, they will need players to move on. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Casado and Robert Lewandowski have all been strongly linked with departing the Spotify Camp Nou, and another that could leave permanently is Ansu Fati.

Fati has gradually lost prominence within Can Barca in the last few years, and last summer, he was shipped out on loan to AS Monaco. He’s done okay in French football, although he’s seemingly done enough to convince the Ligue 1 club to sign him permanently during the upcoming transfer window.

Monaco have a €11m buy option that they’re willing to activate, but before they do so, they must reach an agreement on personal terms with Fati. That will be much easier said than done, as journalist Andi Onrubia has told Cadena SER.

“According to the sources consulted, Ansu receives €250k net (per month) from Monaco, but not only does he receive money from Monaco, but Barça pays him part of his salary, and that salary is unaffordable for Monaco. For Ansu to continue at the Monegasque team, the most important thing is that they reach an agreement and his salary is significantly lowered, because Monaco have economic problems due to the crisis that is shaking the French football clubs. They are not going to commit a crazy thing or overpay for the Spanish international.”

Fati must sacrifice big money to join Monaco permanently

It’s understandable that Monaco will not commit big money towards Fati’s contract, which means that the 23-year-old must take a significant wage cut in order to continue with the Monegasque club. It will be interesting to see whether they chooses to do so, but if he does not, a return to Barcelona is inevitable.

Barcelona are desperately hoping that Fati will agree terms with Monaco, as they will not reintegrate him back into Hansi Flick’s squad. If he ends up returning, a new exit would be sought, but getting a club to agree to their terms won’t be easy.

The post Barcelona dealt blow to plans for significant summer exit appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have aspirations to make two big-money signings this summer, but in order to do so, they will need to raise funds. They are hoping to gain significantly salary space by moving on the likes of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Robert Lewandowski, but neither would command much of a transfer fee.

Where they could be money coming in is by way of selling Marc Casado. The La Masia graduate has struggled for prominence this season, and with Gavi now back to full fitness, he is now arguably sixth in the midfield pecking order, also behind Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal and Eric Garcia.

Because of this, Barcelona are planning to listen to offers for Casado during the summer transfer window. They recognise that he is a player whose value will also start to depreciate if he remains at the club, and according to Sport, the 22-year-old has also accepted that his time at the Spotify Camp Nou is over.

Casado no longer sees himself in Hansi Flick’s plans for the future, and amid his desire to play more matches, he has decided that a Barcelona exit is in his best interest. All parties are on the same page, so barring a radical change, he will be moving on in the summer.

Where could Casado end up?

At this stage, Casado’s most likely destination is Saudi Arabia, with a number of clubs in the Middle East nation keen on signing him. He’s previously attracted interest from Atletico Madrid and the Premier League, so it remains to be seen whether there is any movement from those in the coming weeks.

Barcelona would certainly welcome Casado moving to Saudi Arabia, as this would represent their best chance to receive top dollar for his services. But whether the player himself wants to make that move at this stage of his career remains to be seen.

The post Barcelona midfielder has decided to accept summer exit appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are planning to sign a new left winger this summer, amid doubts over the future of Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United loanee has done well since joining last July, but the Catalans are not prepared to sign him permanently at this stage, which is why they have started to consider alternatives.

One of those high on Barcelona’s list is Victor Munoz. The 22-year-old has had a very impressive first season at Osasuna, following his move from Real Madrid last summer. He recently made his first appearances for the Spanish national team, which included scoring on his debut against Serbia, which the Catalans took notice of.

The problem for Barcelona is Real Madrid’s presence. Los Blancos have a buy-back clause in their agreement with Osasuna, and crucially, they also have a right of first refusal, which they will enact in the event that their El Clasico rivals move to sign their former player in the summer, as per Diario AS.

Real Madrid themselves are yet to decide whether Munoz will be re-signed, which they can do this summer for €8m. Barcelona would only be able to bring him to the Spotify Camp Nou by activating his €40m release clause, but the Bernabeu club are clear that this cannot be allowed to happen.

Munoz set for a big summer

Munoz recently changed agents, which hints that he could be on the move this summer. As well as Barcelona and Real Madrid, he is being followed by a number of Premier League and Serie A clubs, all of whom are prepared to approach Osasuna when the time comes.

Munoz could also be heading to the 2026 World Cup with Spain, which would increase his stock further. If that happens, Real Madrid may decide to pull the trigger and bring him back, but while they continue not to do so, Barcelona will continue to keep tabs on his situation.

The post Real Madrid will block Barcelona efforts to sign 22-year-old winger appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona target Alessandro Bastoni is reportedly having second thoughts about a move to the Catalan capital this summer. The Italian international has been having a difficult season in Milan, and has been made their priority to strengthen their backline at the end of the season.

Bastoni, 26, is out of contract in 2028, and initially, the Nerazzurri were looking to renew his contract. However in February, it appeared that negotiations had broken down, and Inter opened the door to cashing in on him this summer. Barcelona had already been linked to Bastoni in November, and renewed their interest in him.

Bastoni having second thoughts over Barcelona move

In recent weeks, it has been reported that Bastoni is keen to move to Barcelona, and after entering talks on contract terms, had given the green light to a move. His intention was to leave, while Barcelona had been given permission to negotiate with Bastoni. Now CdS (via Sport) say that Bastoni is having second thoughts about Inter.

6 of FC Barcelona's 8 defeats this season have been without Raphinha on the pitch. [@bonagerman] pic.twitter.com/5RcNp0dNV7

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) April 10, 2026

They claim that Bastoni is edging towards staying at the Giuseppe Meazza this summer. Bastoni, following a diving incident and a sending off for Italy, has become the villain of the piece in Serie A, facing significant backlash. Manager Christian Chivu and the Inter fans have responded with backing for Bastoni, which has impacted his mindset.

Barcelona price tag debate

Given Bastoni and Barcelona are in negotiations, it is beyond the realms of possibility that this is an attempt to draw the Catalan side into upping their offer to Bastoni. On the other hand, there are also doubts about their ability to match Inter’s demands for him too. It was reported in Italy that Inter have laughed off a €50m offer for Bastoni, who they want €70-80m for. Barcelona are also prioritising a move for a number nine this summer.

The post Top Barcelona defensive target has doubts over summer transfer appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski is no longer prioritising the Catalan side when it comes to his decision on his future. The 37-year-old was tipped to exit the club for much of the season, but last month, the Blaugrana decided to offer him a new deal with a lower salary.

The Catalan giants have decided that it would be good to keep Lewandowski around as a back-up option for the number nine spot next season, as they pursue Lewandowski’s successor. Their one-year contract extension involves a significant wage cut, and an acknowledgement that he will have a reduced role.

Lewandowski disappointed with Barcelona treatment

At times, that has already been the case this season. Ferran Torres was for several months Hansi Flick’s preferred option up front, and Cadena SER report that he is disappointed with his level of involvement. The 37-year-old’s camp have not been impressed by the fact that Barcelona have been silent on his future until recently.

Barcelona no longer in pole position

Following reports in Italy that Lewandowski had offered himself to AC Milan, and held talks with the Rossoneri, SER go on to say that Barcelona are no longer his first choice. It seems Milan are willing to offer him a two-year deal and a bigger role, while Juventus, Chicago Fire and Saudi Arabia have all expressed an interest in him too. He intends to make his decision before the end of April, or at the latest, in May.

Frenkie de Jong will have minutes against Espanyol and start against Atlético Madrid alongside Pedri González. [@RogerTorello] pic.twitter.com/JLhKKD07rP

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) April 10, 2026

Lewandowski’s season at Barcelona

This season is the first that Lewandowski has not been the de facto starter for Barcelona, after a series of injury issues in the first half of the year, and good form from Ferran Torres. Over the past month, Flick has restored Lewandowski to the starting XI for big games, but he has struggled for the same production. So far he has 17 goals and three assists in 39 appearances, of which 22 were starts.

The post Robert Lewandowski no longer prioritising Barcelona stay after talks with AC Milan appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid have publicly denied that they are on the hunt for a sporting director. Los Blancos transfer policy over recent seasons has come under increasing scrutiny, following disappointing league campaigns, and it was reported that they would look to bring in a new head of operations in the department.

Los Blancos current structure consists of Santiago Solari, who at one point was named sporting director, but is regarded as an advisor on transfer matters. General Manager Jose Angel Sanchez and Head Scout Juni Calafat are the other voices with weight in terms of decision-making, with President Florentino Perez having the final call on all matters.

Real Madrid deny sporting director reports

On Friday morning, following reports that they were moving to bring in a sporting director, Los Blancos emitted a statement denying that to be the case.

Real Madrid C. F. informs that the information broadcast by the program El Larguero on Cadena Ser last night, claiming that our club is considering adding a sporting director to its structure, is completely false.

Real Madrid greatly values the work carried out by the club’s sporting management, which has allowed us to experience one of the most successful periods in our history, including the achievement of numerous titles, among them 6 European Cups in ten years.

The post Real Madrid publicly deny sporting director report – ‘categorically false’ appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are planning to sign a new striker this summer, which is expected to lead to the departure of one of their current number nines. Ferran Torres has been strongly linked with a move away in recent weeks, but at this stage, Robert Lewandowski remains the favourite to secure a Spotify Camp Nou exit.

Barcelona are open to keeping Lewandowski, whose contract expires in June. They have sent a renewal offer in the last couple of weeks, although it does include a significant salary reduction, which could cause the Poland international to look elsewhere, as he starts to consider how he wants his playing career to end.

Lewandowski would not be short on offers if he does decide to leave Barcelona this summer. He was previously in talks with MLS side Chicago Fire, but there is as much chance that he remains in Europe for at least one more seasons. That’s because his representatives held talks with Milan earlier this week, as per Sport.

Having already conquered Germany and Spain during his career, a move to Italy would allow Lewandowski to continue playing at the highest level. He was recently touted for a move to Juventus, but Milan appears to be much more likely at this stage, given they have already made contact with his representatives.

Lewandowski has a big decision to make

Lewandowski will not be at the 2026 World Cup, so he will be able to fully focus on his future once the season ends. He must decide whether he is willing to continue at Barcelona while making significantly less money, whether he wants a new challenge in Europe, or if he prefers to continue being paid lucratively in the MLS or Saudi Arabia.

It will be interesting to see which way he goes, but for now, Lewandowski’s focus is on seeing out the season with Barcelona.

The post Barcelona forward holds Milan talks with view to summer move appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona will not receive response beyond derision for their first offer for Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, if reports in Italy are to be believed. The Catalan side have decided to target the Inter star this summer, and are already in talks over personal terms with the Italian international.

Bastoni is supposedly keen to make the switch, and has given the green light to a move. It remains unclear whether Barcelona are willing to meet Inter’s demands for Bastoni though. While in Spain reports have been limited to talks with Bastoni, in Italy, it was claimed last week that Barcelona had already made their first offer for him. The Catalan side communicated that they would be willing to pay €45m plus €5m in variables.

Atlético Madrid will try to force Lamine Yamal's suspension for the return game. The Barça winger would be ruled out if he gets a yellow tonight. [@sport] pic.twitter.com/rFkvT7af4a

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) April 8, 2026

Inter amused by Barcelona terms

According to Tuttosport, via Sport, Inter have laughed off the idea that they would let go of Bastoni for €50m. The Nerazzurri are willing to negotiate with Barcelona for the 26-year-old, but seemingly at much higher terms.

There has been some debate over how much Bastoni will be allowed to leave for. Higher estimates place Inter’s asking price at around €70-80m, while others state that €50m plus variables could be enough to twist their arm into a deal.

Barcelona could be forced to look at cheaper alternatives

The Blaugrana have been linked with a number of other names, including the likes of Tottenham Hotspur loanee Luka Vuskovic, and more recently in Italy, Jhon Lucumi, who could come as cheap as €25m. The Catalan giants are set on bringing in a central defender this summer, but their primary objective is a number nine. How that pursuit plays out will likely have a major impact on their budget to spend on a defender this summer, and Bastoni could be the first casualty on their shortlist.

The post First Barcelona offer for defender ‘laughed off’ appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has moved to settle uncertainty over his future beyond this season, assuring that he intends to be at the club for the foreseeable future. The Brazilian forward is out of contract in 2027, and there have been no recent negotiations over a new deal.

Originally talks had sstarted at the beginning of the previous season for a new deal, but after interest from Saudi Arabia, talks broke down. Vinicius is reportedly looking to be made Real Madrid’s best-paid player alongside Kylian Mbappe, something Los Blancos are reluctant to grant. A fraught relationship with Xabi Alonso further jeopardised his future, with Vinicius reportedly telling the club that he would not renew his deal with the Basque manager there.

The situation has become more relaxed under Alvaro Arbeloa though, and it seems that Vinicius is on track to stay at the club. That was the picture he painted ahead of his side’s clash with Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

“I hope I can stay here for a long time. I still have a year left on my contract, but I’m very calm. I have the president’s confidence. At the right time, I’ll renew and stay here for a long time, because this is my dream club.”

‘Defensive work-rate comments are annoying’

One of the other talking points at the Bernabeu this season has been the seeming lack of chemistry in the side when Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe are both on the pitch.

“People say a lot of things. Kylian is here to help us; his goals give us confidence. We have to be focused tomorrow. It’s a tough match where great players make the difference, and Mbappe is one of them.”

Last week Mbappe admitted that he does not run as much as his teammates when defending. Yet Vinicius acknowledged he found it annoying when their defensive commitment was questioned.

“Of course it’s annoying, but people are free to say what they want. We have to listen to the manager. What comes from outside doesn’t affect us. We can make each other better.”

Vinicius: ‘I’ve had some tough times this season’

This season has again seen racial persecution for Vinicius, who in February was allegedly racially abused by Benfica winger Gialuca Prestianni. The Brazilian admitted that he was feeling in better shape going into the final stage of the season.

“I’m doing very well now. I’ve had some tough times this season, going without scoring and getting booed by the fans, but it was all a learning experience. I’m physically fit. Traveling with the national team changes things a bit because everything changes. I’m working hard at the club and also at home with my physio to be 100% ready for my team.”

Real Madrid host Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night at 21:00 CEST, in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. The return leg takes place on the 15th of April at the Allianz Arena.

The post Vinicius Junior – “At the right time, I’ll renew my Real Madrid contract” appeared first on Football España.

This summer, the expectation is that Barcelona will part ways with either Robert Lewandowski or Ferran Torres. Despite the fact that he has been offered a new deal by the Catalan club, the former is still the favourite to depart, given that he would need to accept a significantly-reduced financial package to stay at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Lewandowski has already attracted interest from the MLS, but he could have chances to remain in Europe. One option could be Italy, with Juventus likely to be in the market for a new striker due to the expected departure of Dusan Vlahovic, who is also out of contract in June.

Lewandowski has been backed to join Juventus this summer by Polish icon Zbigniew Boniek. As per MD, he sees his countryman as an ideal player to join the club he won two Champions Leagues with in the 1980s.

“If he wants to fight for victory every Sunday for two more years, Juventus would be a great challenge and the perfect place for him. I have always told Lewandowski to come to Italy, but it depends on what he has in his head. If Robert wants to retire quietly, I would tell him to let football go. But if he wants to fight for victory every Sunday for two more years, Juventus would be a great challenge and the perfect place for him.

“I’ve known Robert since he was a little boy and he played in the Polish Second Division. He was already scoring a lot of goals at that time. Then we met in the national team, me as president of the Federation, him as a striker. Sometimes I would tease him and tell him ‘you score so many goals because you have never played in Italy’. To be a true goalscorer, you also have to show your potential in Serie A. Maybe it’s not the most beautiful championship to watch, but it’s still the toughest, especially for the strikers.”

Lewandowski has a big decision to make

It will be very interesting to see how Lewandowski’s future plays out. It’s very possible that he remains a Barcelona player for one more season, but equally, he could look to end his career elsewhere.

The post Barcelona star backed to seal summer move to Juventus appeared first on Football España.

The January transfer window is a chance for clubs to course correct, and to make emergency adjustments at the midway point in the season, but so often it is a fraught market. Need can often overtake value, but Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are involved in two of the most successful deals of 2026 so far.

Endrick Felipe loan proving highly successful

According to Diario AS, the most impactful signing of the January transfer window in terms of goal contributions is Endrick Felipe’s loan move to Olympique Lyon from Real Madrid. The 19-year-old forward has scored six times and given five assists in his 14 appearances. Although there has been some disgruntlement that Endrick was not available during Kylian Mbappe’s injury issues, Los Blancos will no doubt be relieved that Endrick appears to have found his spark again.

The hope at the Bernabeu is that it will be sufficient to get him into Brazil’s World Cup squad this summer, which was Endrick’s motivating factor for an exit. He impressed during a cameo appearance this week for Carlo Ancelotti, his first Brazil cap in over a year.

Ademola Lookman making major impact at Atletico Madrid

Across town, the signing of Ademola Lookman for €35m from Atalanta was the headline deal in Spain in the January window. Atletico Madrid confirmed the deal on deadline day, and since has been a major factor for Diego Simeone. The Nigerian international is second behind only Endrick in terms of his impact on the scoresheet. Lookman has five goals and four assists in his 14 appearances.

Those include goals against Barcelona and Real Madrid, and Lookman got on the scoresheet in both the quarter-final and semi-final of the Copa del Rey, as Atletico look to lift the trophy this month. Lookman is actually averaging a better goal contribution strike rate (84.5 minutes) than Endrick (101 minutes) too.

The post Statistics show Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid deals lead Europe for January signing impact appeared first on Football España.

Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane is one of the rising stars in European football, and as such, a number of European giants are tracking his progress. Agent Eric Depolo has claimed that Barcelona and Arsenal are among those doing so.

Kofane, 19, made the move to Europe last season, starting with Albacete in Segunda. Real Madrid, Real Betis and Sevilla all looked to bring him in last summer after a successful half season at the Nuevo Carlos Belmonte, scoring eight times and giving one assist in 20 appearances. Leverkusen won the race though, and after a €5m move, and Kofane has continued to show promising signs. Averaging a goal contribution every 116 minutes, the Cameroon international has seven goals and eight assists in his 39 appearances for die Werkself.

Agent confirms Barcelona interest in Kofane

“Yes, Arsenal’s interest is genuine. The manager (Mikel Arteta) likes him very much,” Depolo told Daily Arsenal, before confirming the following clubs were also interested; “Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, Brentford, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.”

Asked if there was a favourite for his signature, Depolo cited the Gunners, before confirming that Barcelona had also been in contact with him.

“I think it is too early to say, but due to the fact that the player speaks Spanish, like Mikel Arteta, and that William Saliba is originally from Cameroon, I would say Arsenal are in pole position. Yes, there is contact between me and Arsenal. But their focus right now is to win the league — from there everything will start moving.”

Would Barcelona take a risk on Kofane?

Kofane has certainly made a fast start to life in European football, and has the raw attributes that could make him one of the best in the game. Yet with Barcelona looking for Robert Lewandowski’s long-term successor this summer, it seems more likely they move for a more experienced option.

Christian #Kofane is currently not a transfer target for FC Bayern this coming summer. In addition, the club’s focus remains on extending Harry Kane’s contract beyond 2027.

As reported, Bayer 04 Leverkusen are pushing for a fee of €60-70 million for Kofane in the summer. The… pic.twitter.com/RmvtF6xPcW

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) April 3, 2026

Given Kofane’s age, he is unlikely to be much cheaper, but Barcelona may be monitoring him as an option if they cannot bring in a more established player, or as a potential option down the line. Sky Sport DE assure that any deal for Kofane would cost upwards of €60m.

The post Agent claims Barcelona have been in contact over 19-year-old striker appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have taken another step towards bringing in central defender Alessandro Bastoni, who is their top target to strengthen their backline. The Italian star is keen on a move to Catalonia after disappointing season on a personal level for club and country.

Bastoni, 26, seems to be the priority for Barcelona at the centre-back spot, who are also targeting a striker this summer. Earlier this week it was reported that the Catalans were in talks with Bastoni over personal terms, having been a.

Bastoni says yes to Barcelona move

According to Matteo Moretto on TV3, Bastoni has already agreed to a move to Barcelona in the summer. He notes that negotiations on personal terms continue, but that Bastoni is very much open to the idea of joining the Blaugrana this summer, and it is a matter of Barcelona finding an agreement with Inter.

"El somni de Laporta és Julián Álvarez i crec que el jugador no tanca la porta a venir al Barça. Bastoni ja ha dit que sí als blaugrana"

Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto), periodista expert en "mercato".#Fanzone3Cat

https://t.co/20nWEWdg0j pic.twitter.com/BgcruPcmCw

— 3Cat (@som3cat) April 2, 2026

What Barcelona need to strike a deal with Inter

Moretto continues on to say that he believes Inter are open to a deal, which tallies with other reports from Italy. His perspective is that if Bastoni were to request a departure, and Barcelona offered something in the region of €60m plus variables for Bastoni, a deal would be probable.

The price tag for Bastoni has varied considerably, with sources close to the club saying that Inter are looking for €70-80m for the Italy international, while others claim as little as €40-50m could be enough to tempt the Nerazzurri. Bastoni currently has two years left on his deal, but there is no sign of him signing a contract renewal as things stand.

Barcelona would seek two exits if Bastoni deal goes through

Perhaps the biggest doubt is whether Barcelona will go ahead with the deal before resolving their striker need, which could delay any deal considerably – it also casts further doubt on Barcelona’s ability to stump up the money. It has been reported that if Bastoni were to arrive, Director of Football Deco would look to move Andreas Christensen and Alvaro Cortes on.

The post Inter star Alessandro Bastoni agrees to Barcelona move appeared first on Football España.

The future of Nico Schlotterbeck could well be settled in the coming months for the next few years, but Real Madrid do not believe that a new contract at Borussia Dortmund will be decisive. The German defender has been in negotiations with Dortmund in recent months, with his current deal expiring in 2027.

Schlotterbeck is one of few top options at centre-back that could be available this summer, due to his contract situation. It has also been reported that Schlotterbeck would be keen on a move to Real Madrid, who are looking to bring in a central defender this summer to complement their current crop.

Real Madrid do not believe contract renewal closes the door

The 26-year-old seemed to distance himself from a contract renewal on international duty, declaring that an agreement with Dortmund was not close, and contradicting the local reporting. Yet Diario AS say Real Madrid do not believe that Schlotterbeck renewing his contract will close the door on a move.

Their understanding is that any renewal will include a release clause that would not be prohibitive. The new offer on the table from Dortmund includes a significant wage rise to €14m per annum, and while BVB are keen to keep hold of him, their priority is not to lose Schlotterbeck for a reduced price, hence their willingness to include such a clause.

Real Madrid move may be unlikely anyway

Manchester United and Liverpool are also interested in Schlotterbeck this summer, but he may well be a back-up option for Los Blancos anyway. Real Madrid tend not to spend big fees on players in their mid-twenties of late, and as such, the possible free transfer of Ibrahima Konate seems more in line with their usual policy. In addition, they have been linked to teenage defenders Jon Martin and Honor Ahananor this week.

The post New contract for Nico Schlotterbeck will not impede Real Madrid signing appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid are planning to sign a new midfielder in the summer, as they get set to finally replace Toni Kroos/Luka Modric. The likes of Rodri Hernandez, Vitinha and Kees Smit have been linked with moves to the Bernabeu, but in recent weeks, one name in particular has started to gain a lot of prominence in this regard: Enzo Fernandez.

Fernandez is increasingly keen to leave Chelsea this summer, and if he does push to do so, Real Madrid are expected to rekindle the interest they showed after his fine performances at the 2022 World Cup. The 25-year-old would be open to joining Los Blancos, and he’s not the only one that wants to see him in white for the start of next season.

Franco Mastantuono is teammates with Fernandez in the Argentine national team, and as per comments to DSports (via ED), he would certainly welcome his compatriot with opens arms if he ends up at Real Madrid this summer.

“Of course I would like him to come (to Real Madrid).”

Mastantuono could be on his way out of Real Madrid

But even if Fernandez does join Real Madrid in the summer, there is no guarantee that he would be teammates with fellow River Plate alumni Mastantuono. Bernabeu officials are considering letting the teenage forward leave on loan for the 2026-27 season, as they want him to gain prominence elsewhere before returning to the club in a better place – as has, and will, be the case with Endrick Felipe.

Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, and this is also the case for Fernandez’s possible move to Real Madrid. Chelsea’s delicate financial situation, which saw them record the biggest one-season loss in the Premier League history earlier this week, could mean they look to sell on the Argentine midfielder when the summer transfer window opens at the start of July.

The post Real Madrid star urges compatriot to join this summer – “Of course I would like him to come” appeared first on Football España.

Alessandro Bastoni, whom Barcelona are trying to sign this summer, is going through the most difficult moment of his career. Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup is being partly blamed on him, with his red card in the penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this week attracted a lot of criticism.

The 26-year-old defender was sent off in the first half of that match for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Italy were 1-0 at the time, but after conceding a late equaliser, they would go on to lose on penalties, which ensured they miss out on qualifying for a third successive World Cup.

Bastoni has taken a lot of heat over the red card, and according to Inter icon Beppe Bergomi (via Sport), it would be wise for the defender to leave the Nerazzurri and Serie A behind during this summer’s transfer window.

“I think he will have to leave Italy for his own safety. We lose an extraordinary talent, one of the best defenders in modern football. I’m very sorry, but I think for his own good he’ll have to look for a club abroad.”

Situation could play big role in deciding Bastoni’s future

Inter are willing to sanction an exit for Bastoni, with permission having recently been given permission to Barcelona to discuss contract terms with the centre-back. It remains to be seen whether he approves of a move to the Spotify Camp Nou, but given the criticism that has been coming his way from his home country, it would be no surprise to see him push for a move away.

For the time being, Bastoni’s focus will be on seeing the season out with Inter, after which his future will be defined. Barcelona are still working on his possible signing, which would be a major one if it is pulled off.

The post Barcelona target Alessandro Bastoni urged to leave Inter “for his own safety” appeared first on Football España.

It did not take long for Andoni Iraola to be installed as the favourite for the Athletic Club job after Ernesto Valverde announced that he would be leaving San Mames at the end of the season. The Bournemouth manager has one of the best reputations in European football following successful spells at Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano beforehand.

Valverde will bring the curtain down on four years that cement his spot as one of the finest managers in Athletic’s history, in his third spell. His successor will have big shoes to fill, but Iraola is regarded as one of the best possible options to attempt to do so. Following a tired fourth campaign, the feeling is that fresh impetus is needed in Bilbao.

Iraola yet to give green light to Athletic Club

Iraola said days after Valverde’s announcement that ‘El Txingurri’ was his biggest reference point in management, but denied any contact with his former side. RadioMarca report that Iraola is still yet to give the green light to Athletic, and has other offers on the table.

This is not entirely unusual for Iraola, who during his time at Rayo and Bournemouth has only ever signed one-year contracts, and has left his decisions until the end of the season on whether he will renew.

Edin Terzic gathering momentum

It seems former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic is best-placed to take over from Valverde, alongside Iraola. The same outlet say that Athletic’s decision is expected in the coming weeks, and that personal terms have already been agreed with Terzic. He is keen on the job, and the fact that Jon Uriarte, one of the key figures in favour of his appointment, is set to run unopposed for the presidency this summer, only brings him closer to the job.

Rayo Vallecano manager Inigo Perez has also been linked with the position, and is also out of contract this summer. Iraola’s former assistant has seen his stock rise over the past two seasons, and he has Rayo into the quarter-finals of the Conference League while maintaining a four-point cushion to the drop.

The post Andoni Iraola yet to give green light to Athletic Club move as alternative gathers momentum appeared first on Football España.

It is the time of the year where Barcelona are linked with a wide variety of names, and as much as signings, there is also also plenty of speculation over sales. With the Catalan side hoping to make significant investments at the number nine position and in central defence, it could pave the way for more departures in recent years.

One of the names that Barcelona will try to move on this summer is Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The 33-year-old captain is currently on loan at Girona, and has missed most of the season through injury. Expected to return in May, he left on loan in hope of securing minutes to make his case to be Germany’s number one at the World Cup.

Nagelsmann admits ter Stegen unlikely to be at World Cup

Speaking earlier in the week ahead of Germany’s second friendly with Ghana (2-1), manager Julian Nagelsmann admitted that ter Stegen’s chances of going to the USA, Canada and Mexico were slim.

“We spoke briefly the day before yesterday. He’s always there when needed and when he can contribute. He doesn’t just look out for himself, but also considers the team. Out of respect for him, I’m not going to close the door on him going to the World Cup, but the chances are very slim; he’s been out for almost a year. He needs to accelerate his rehabilitation. He’s not in much pain anymore, but everything takes time. And he’s not 21 anymore,” he told Marca.

It seems Nagelsmann has already replaced him to all intents and purposes.

“Oliver Baumann is the starter and Alexander Nubel is the backup. Alex fulfills this role very well, just as you’d expect from a very, very good backup. Alex does a fantastic job and in many countries he would be the starter. We have no problems in goal.”

Barcelona hope to move on from ter Stegen this summer

Meanwhile his recovery could in part dictate his future in Spanish football. Sport say that Barcelona are hoping he can play again before the end of the season, which would help to put him in the shop window this summer. If he were to go to the World Cup, the Blaugrana would be even happier.

Last summer Barcelona opened the door to a move for ter Stegen following the signature of Joan Garcia, but were careful not to try and force the issue. The idea is to move ter Stegen on if possible, and the club have already been in contact with Real Sociedad’s Alex Remiro to come in as a potential back-up for Garcia. There is also doubt over Wojciech Szczesny’s continuity.

Frenkie de Jong remains a major doubt for Saturday’s match against Atlético Madrid after training individually today. His availability for tomorrow's session is also unclear, with the focus now shifting toward his return for the Champions League. [@monfortcarlos, @didacpeyret]… pic.twitter.com/oLsH1IMGR5

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) April 2, 2026

Ter Stegen is one of the highest earners in the Barcelona squad, and has two years left on his deal. Given his age, injury record and salary, it could be difficult to find a club willing to sign him, and with his children settled in the Catalan capital, he also has an added incentive to see out his deal at the club.

The post Barceloa will seek to move on major salary this summer appeared first on Football España.

The future of Borussia Dortmund central defender Nico Schlotterbeck remains a domino piece that several European clubs are keeping a close eye on. The Germany international is out of contract next summer, and with Schlotterbeck confirming that he is not close to renewing his deal with Dortmund any time soon, the logical conclusion is that they could decide to cash in on him before it’s too late.

Schlotterbeck, 26, is one of few top-level central defenders set to be available this summer if indeed BVB do sanction a sale. The word is that they will continue to pursue a renewal for the time being. He has been most heavily linked with Real Madrid in recent months, after Dayot Upamecano signed a contract renewal with Bayern Munich, with Los Blancos looking to bring in a central defender this summer.

Manchester United and Liverpool interested in Schlotterbeck

Part of his contract talks stalling could be down to Premier League interest though. Christian Falk has explained to Caught Offside that Schlotterbeck was close to finalising a deal with Dortmund, but that the club believe fresh interest from Manchester United and Liverpool is the motive behind his thinking.

Schlotterbeck future may be impacted by Ibrahima Konate

Perhaps the other big name that Europe’s elite are looking at, including Real Madrid, is Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate. The France international is out of contract this summer, and yet to show signs of renewing his deal. The Reds may be looking at Schlotterbeck as Konate’s replacement if he does end up leaving the club.

Equally, if Real Madrid do pursue Konate, it could end their interest in Schlotterbeck. The price tag previously quoted for Schlotterbeck was €50-60m, a fee that Real Madrid tend not to spend on players in their mid-20s. Konate on the other hand fits in well with their recent transfer policy, being available on a free.

The post Liverpool and Manchester United interested in Real Madrid defensive target appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid Sporting Director Mateu Alemany continues to make progress towards their first signing of the summer in 2026. Los Colchoneros are set for a busy summer, and already have the exit of Antoine Griezmann confirmed, after it was announced that he would be joining Orlando City during the March international break.

Alemany is already working on several signings for the summer, with Kang-In Lee reportedly the preferred choice to replace Griezmann. In January, Obed Vargas and Rodrigo Mendoza were brought in to cover the absence of Conor Gallagher, but both are seen as developmental projects. Already he has a midfield signing in mind for the summer.

Atletico Madrid agree terms with Ederson dos Santos

That midfielder is Atalanta’s Ederson dos Santos. It has been said that Alemany is keen to wrap up a deal well in advance of the summer, so as to avoid getting into a bidding war with Premier League sides. In particular, Arsenal have been linked to him. RadioMarca are now reporting that the first stage has been completed by Alemany though, and Atletico have reached an agreement on personal terms with Ederson, and he has given the green light to a move.

Atletico-Atalanta deal still to come

The harder part might be the agreement with Atalanta. Last week Alemany was spotted in Italy with Atalanta President Antonio Percassi, reportedly to negotiate a deal for Ederson. Matteo Moretto assures this was the case, and explains that talks are ongoing. The fee could be between €35-40m for the Brazilian, who has just a year remaining on his contract.

Johnny Cardoso is willing to push himself to be available for the Champions League tie against Barça.

He sees himself as a player with an important role and will do everything possible to be ready for Cholo in both matches.@SergioPicos8 pic.twitter.com/BeXc0VR01H

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) April 1, 2026

Alemany has already confirmed an interest in Ederson, who would be a strong signal of intent from Atletico, and would strengthen the midfield department. It would likely see Johnny Cardoso and Ederson directly competing for a spot in the middle of the pitch, depth that Diego Simeone has not had there for some time.

The post Atletico Madrid agree terms with midfielder ahead of summer transfer pursuit appeared first on Football España.

The upcoming summer transfer window will be an important one for Barcelona, who will have to address multiple key positions before the start of the 2026-27 season. A centre-back and striker are wanted, while a new left winger would also be needed if Marcus Rashford does not sign permanently – which is looking increasingly likely.

Despite needing to address a number of areas of Hansi Flick squad, president-elect Joan Laporta has told Món Esport (via MD) that Barcelona do not have plans to make considerable changes in the summer.

“We don’t need to go to the market for the sake of going and we must continue to look at what we have at home to, if necessary, improve the squad. I understand that we will improve in all aspects, but I must say that what I think should be done after getting such a competitive team is to maintain it and consolidate it.”

Laporta backing La Masia players for promotion

Rather than new signings coming in, Laporta has made it clear that he wants Barcelona to continue prioritising promotion from within. He is of the belief that a number of La Masia stars are ready to push for a place in Flick’s squad.

“I believe in La Masia. I already focused on it during my first term. In this, I am not doubtful. I have always had in mind that the best Barça teams – even better, the best Barça team in history – has been when we have had a core of players from home with others of great quality who have come from abroad.

“We will only sign if the management team asks us for a player or two who can reinforce this great team we have.”

It remains to be seen the business that Barcelona do in the summer. It makes sense for La Masia to be looked at once again, but in order to push to be the best squad in Europe, they need to add proven quality too.

The post Joan Laporta hints at reduced Barcelona transfer activity appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo has opened the door to a return to Benfica this summer, amid uncertainty over his future. The veteran full-back has also voiced a desire to remain at Camp Nou, and it seems the Catalan giants are also keen on signing him at the end of his loan deal.

The 31-year-old returned in January for a second loan spell at Barcelona, this time from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, and has performed above expectations. With one year remaining on his contract at Al-Hilal, Cancelo has been up front about his desire to continue at Barcelona, but the Blaugrana will only sanction a deal if he arrives on a free. Al-Hilal, for their part, are set to demand €15m for his signature.

Cancelo opens door to Benfica move

This week the former Manchester City man was on Portugal duty, and speaking to Canal 11 (via MD), Cancelo confirmed he would be keen on a return to Benfica at some point.

“I’ve already earned more than I expected, but playing for Benfica is like playing basketball, it’s for the love of it. I’m going to take a pay cut.”

Barcelona have identified back-up options for Cancelo

Despite their intentions with Cancelo, Barcelona are making plans in case they cannot pull the deal off. The Portuguese international seems willing to reduce his salary, but it appears that they are not willing to pay for the ageing defender. Bayer Leverkusen left-back and Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso have been cited as two potential alternatives in case that comes to pass.

Hansi Flick has the recovered Jules Koundé, Alejandro Balde and Eric García available to him for the Atlético Madrid game. [@carrusel]

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 31, 2026

After a slow start, Cancelo has performed largely well, playing 18 times, scoring twice and giving six assists. Although doubts about his defensive acumen persist, there is little doubt he has outperformed Alejandro Balde over the past month of action. Balde is set to return from injury after the international break, which should give some clue as to Hansi Flick’s preference.

The post Barcelona defender opens door to move this summer – ‘It’s for love’ appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid are poised to have a busy summer transfer window, as they prepare to begin another new era at the Bernabeu. The plan is for a number of new signings to be added to the squad currently overseen by Alvaro Arbeloa, but in turn, there will also be chances of players to leave.

Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are prime candidates to vacate the defence, while in midfield, it is taken for granted that Dani Ceballos will end his 9-year association with the club. There could also be exits in attack, with the most likely to depart being Franco Mastantuono.

It has been a difficult first season in the Spanish capital for Mastantuono, who joined last summer in a €45m deal from River Plate. He’s mustered only three goals in 27 appearances across all competitions, and in Real Madrid’s last nine matches, he has featured for less than 60 minutes.

Real Madrid have previously been criticised for stagnating Mastantuono’s development, but they could now look to get him more playing time. According to OK Diario (via ED), they are open to sending him out on loan for the 2026-27 season, with the hope that he undergoes an Endrick-style improvement.

Real Madrid still believe in Mastantuono

Despite being open to Mastantuono’s exit, Real Madrid are clear that they are still in the Argentina international’s corner. They will not consider any loan offers that include a purchase  option, with the plan being for the teenager to return to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2027.

A loan move would make a lot of sense for Mastantuono, especially if he continues to operate as a fringe player for Real Madrid. He needs regular minutes to continue improving, but he is unlikely to get these at the Bernabeu, which is why an Endrick-style loan would be beneficial for both him and the club.

The post Real Madrid open to summer exit for €45m forward appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid are looking to strengthen in all three thirds of the pitch in the summer, and one of their priorities is Chelsea man Marc Cucurella. Los Colchoneros are already in talks for a replacement for Antoine Griezmann and a midfielder to strengthen their ranks.

Last week, Sporting Director Mateu Alemany was in Italy to negotiate for Atalanta midfielder Ederson dos Santos. In January, he was also spotted in Paris, as he tries to tempt Kang-In Lee into a move to Atletico Madrid. He is seen as a potential alternative to Antoine Griezmann, who has confirmed his departure to Orlando City in the summer.

Marc Cucurella tops Atletico Madrid shortlist for left-back spot

Now Diario AS are reporting that Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella is Atletico Madrid’s ideal target at the left-back spot. He tops their shortlist, and only has two years left on his deal, but is very much seen as a long shot at the Metrpolitano. So far Chelsea have shown no interest in selling him. Atletico were interested in the 27-year-old before he made the move to England, following good performances at Eibar and Getafe.

JUST IN: Marc Pubill is back and training on the pitch!@medinamarca pic.twitter.com/g9cV94fpEP

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) March 30, 2026

Cucurella would consider return to La Liga

The news comes just hours after Cucurella confirmed that he thinks about returning to Spanish football at some point. He admitted that he would find it hard to turn down a return to Barcelona, where he came through the academy, but Atletico will certainly be encouraged by his comments.

Atletico Madrid alternatives at left-back

Interest in Espanyol loanee Carlos Romero is well-documented, and he has a €45m release clause. Sporting CP left-back Maxi Araujo is also on their shortlist, as are Club Brugge’s Joaquin Seys, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown. Currently, Matteo Ruggeri is the first-choice left-back for Diego Simeone, but he has been forced to use David Hancko there frequently this season, due to only having one option.

The post Chelsea star tops Atletico Madrid shortlist for position appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid Sporting Director Mateu Alemany is already busying himself with transfer activity ahead of time. It is predicted to be a busy transfer window at the Metropolitano, with Alemany in charge for the summer break for the first time.

Alemany was already active in January, sanctioning four exits to the tune of about €60m, and bringing in Ademola Lookman, Rodrigo Mendoza and Obed Vargas for the same expenditure. Already he has started work on two of their summer targets. With Antoine Griezmann confirming that he would be leaving Los Colchoneros in the summer, it seems Kang-In Lee is the priority target to replace him.

Alemany in Italy for Ederson negotiations

Los Rojiblancos attempted to bring in Kang-In during the January window, but were rebuffed by Paris Saint-Germain, and the same was the case for Atalanta midfielder Ederson dos Santos. Marca report that Alemany was in Italy last week to meet with Atalanta President Antonio Percassi to negotiate the signing of Ederson.

Johnny Cardoso is set to arrive in Madrid today and undergo medical tests to see the extent of his discomfort.@mundodeportivo pic.twitter.com/Po3lSzKiIG

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) March 31, 2026

Atletico have made their terms clear – their offer is for €35m plus €5m in variables, while the Italian side are demanding €50m for the Brazilian. His contract is up in 2027, which is one of the factors Atletico believe they can bring the price down. His salary is likely to be between €4-5m per year.

Atletico Madrid keen to wrap up deal

One of the factors that could drive the price up is the interest of Premier League clubs. Arsenal have supposedly shown interest in him, and as a result, Alemany is hoping to wrap up the deal well in advance of the summer window in order to avoid battling with English teams.

Ederson would likely be competing with Johnny Cardoso for his spot in the side. The USMNT midfielder has asserted himself in 2026 alongside Koke Resurreccion, following injuries to Pablo Barrios. The latter is due to be a long-term mainstay in Diego Simeone’s midfield though, and he generally operates with a central pairing rather than a trio.

The post Atletico Madrid Sporting Director in Italy to negotiate €40m deal for midfielder appeared first on Football España.

While the international break tends to lend itself to transfer stories, the big talking point in Barcelona appears to be Marcus Rashford. A couple of months ago it seemed certain that the Catalan side would exercise their €30m buy option agreed with Manchester United in the summer, but as it reaches two months since his last goal for Barcelona, it seems they are reconsidering.

The Blaugrana are currently edging towards signing a cheaper and younger alternative if reports coming out of Catalonia are to be believed, with several options identified. Newly capped Spain international Victor Munoz, Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup and former La Masia product Jan Virgili are the names that have been mentioned most often.

Benfica open to Schjelderup sale

According to Jornal Record in Portugal, as cited by Sport, Barcelona will have the green light to pursue Schjelderup this summer. Benfica President Rui Costa has reportedly identified the Norwegian talent as one of the players they will look to sell on. It is also suggested that he has no intention of renewing his deal in Lisbon, which currently expires in 2028.

Barcelona have been following him for the past year, and it helps that they have a good relationship with his agent Rafaela Pimenta. It looks as if he would be significantly cheaper than Rashford, as MD have now added that Benfica would be willing to do business around €20m for Schjelderup, with Nordsjaelland set to take 20% of the fee from a previous move.

Raphinha is very emotionally very affected by his latest injury. He has permission from FC Barcelona to stay in Brazil until next week, while he's following the club's recovery guidelines. He's working with a physiotherapist he trusts. [@FCBRAC1] pic.twitter.com/ZhRt3vxMK6

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 31, 2026

Doubts about Jan Virgili signing

Perhaps the cheapest option would be re-signing Jan Virgili, who joined RCD Mallorca last season. Barcelona have a 40% sell-on fee for Virgili, and his release clause is €30m, meaning the Blaugrana could bring him back for €18m.

The same outlet say that Barcelona have been impressed by Virgili’s debut campaign in La Liga, but his inconsistency means that not everyone in Can Barca has been convinced by him as a legitimate alternative. Virgili has six assists this season, but is yet to score. One of the ideas behind signing Rashford was the guarantee of more goals, and Schjelderup and Munoz compare more favourably in that regard.

Schjelderup has seven goals and four assists this season in 36 appearances, while Munoz has six goals and five assists in his 31 outings thus far.

The post Barcelona alternative to Marcus Rashford up for sale for €20m this summer appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid are prioritising a central defender this summer, but it is not yet clear whom they will eventually pursue. Their priority target was at one stage set to be Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, but the French international signed a new deal with the Bavarian giants in February, committing his future to them.

A number of targets of have been cited in connection with Los Blancos, including the likes of Castello Lukeba, Nico Schlotterbeck and Ibrahima Konate. The Liverpool defender was initially discarded by Los Blancos as an option, but following Upamecano’s renewal, and being available on a free, Konate appears to be back on the agenda in Madrid. The other player that Real Madrid have been most closely linked with is Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck.

Schlotterbeck denies Dortmund renewal is close

In recent weeks it had been rumoured that Schlotterbeck was closing in on a new contract in Germany with Dortmund. The 26-year-old’s deal is up in 2027, and as he approaches the final year of his deal, that situation is what has alerted a number of top clubs to a potential market opportunity. Speaking to BILD, as quoted by Diario AS, Schlotterbeck has denied that a deal with Dortmund is near.

“I’m glad you asked, because I read it in your news today. To be honest, I have to categorically deny it. Unfortunately, we haven’t reached that point yet.”

“I negotiated with Sebastian [Kehl, ex-BVB sporting director] for a long time. Sebastian is no longer here. Now Ole [Book, sporting director] will be my contact person, along with Lars [Ricken, Managing Director]. That’s why I was looking forward to the question. But what you’re saying isn’t true at all. I’ve already spoken with him, but we haven’t reached the point where a renewal is imminent. It’s also bad for BVB fans, but as I’ve said, it’s not an easy situation for me.”

Real Madrid set to have priority

The word from Germany prior to that is that Schlotterbeck is keen on a move to Real Madrid this summer, and will give them priority should he receive an offer. Bayern Munich, his other preference, are less likely to move for him after Upamecano’s renewal. The question is whether Los Blancos will be willing to meet Dortmund’s asking price for a player beyond the age they normally spend big on.

The post Real Madrid target – ‘Contract renewal is not close’ appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid intend to bolster their squad with multiple bargain deals next summer, as they seek to rejuvenate an ageing team. New manager Alvaro Arbeloa has added fresh impetus with the likes of Thiago Pitarch, Manuel Angel and Cesar Palacios, but Los Blancos will seek to bring back some of his former charges this summer too.

For some time it has been reported that Como playmaker Nico Paz will return to the club next season, with Real Madrid due to exercise a €9m buyback clause this summer. The Argentina international, chosen as the Young Player of the Year in Serie A last season, has emerged as one of the premier talents in Europe, after developing in Italy.

Real Madrid intend to re-sign Victor Munoz

However he is not the only former Castilla talent that Real Madrid intend to bring back to the club. As per Ramon Alvarez de Mon, Los Blancos also plan to re-sign Victor Munoz from Osasuna this summer. The 22-year-old left Real Madrid last summer for €5m, but they have an €8m buyback option on Munoz too. Recently it had been rumoured that Barcelona were keen on Munoz, who had previously played at La Masia, but it seems that he will be headed back to the Bernabeu.

Os lo comentaba el otro día en el canal:

– La idea es que Víctor Muñoz y Nico Paz vuelvan por un coste total de 17 millones.

– Jacobo y Chema idealmente seguirán otro año fuera, pero ojo con el primero si el Madrid no ficha un central. pic.twitter.com/VghMwElGua

— Ramón Álvarez de Mon (@Ramon_AlvarezMM) March 30, 2026

Breakout season at Osasuna

Since the start of the season, Munoz has stood out for his hard running and pace at Osasuna, immediately becoming a starter under Alessio Lisci. This season he has played 31 times for Los Rojillo, scoring six times and giving five assists, and he scored on his Spain debut against Serbia last Friday. Making a late run for the World Cup squad, Osasuna have already turned down a €25m offer from Sunderland for the speedy winger. It has been confirmed by Osasuna Sporting Director Braulio Vazquez that Real Madrid have a buyback option for the first few years of his deal.

Jacobo Ramon and Chema Andres won’t return yet

Alvarez de Mon goes on to say that Stuttgart midfielder and Como defender Jacobo Ramon are unlikely to come back this summer. The latter has a higher chance of doing so, depending on Real Madrid’s work in the transfer window, but the plan is to continue monitoring their development with a view to bringing them back down the line.

The post Real Madrid intend to sign Spain winger this summer on cut-price deal appeared first on Football España.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is certainly making it known that he does not necessarily see himself at Stamford Bridge long-term in recent weeks, and his preferred destination may well be Real Madrid. The Argentina international has been on the radar of Los Blancos since before making the move to Europe, and this summer might represent their best opportunity to sign him yet.

One of the priorities this summer at the Santiago Bernabeu is a central midfielder, and a number of names have been linked with a move. Manchester City’s Rodri Hernandez, AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton have all been cited as potential targets, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha looking like the impossible dream. Fernandez’s comments have seen him linked with Los Blancos again though.

‘I’d like to live in Madrid’ – Enzo Fernandez

Following talk about his future, Fernandez has now declared openly that the idea of living in the Spanish capital appeals to him, something that will only see speculation grow.

“I like Madrid a lot. It’s similar to Buenos Aires. Yes, [I’d live in Madrid],” told Marcos Giles in a live stream.

Enzo Fernández dijo que quiere volver y le gustaría volver a River en un futuro pero estando bien. Y cuando le preguntaron qué lugar le gusta para vivir dijo que le gusta Madrid

Lo que sería verlo a Enzo en el mediocampo del Real Madrid, me vuelvo loco si se da pic.twitter.com/IksxmptUAs

— SpiderCARP (@SpiderCarp23) March 29, 2026

Enzo Fernandez has cast doubt on future

Previously, Fernandez has declared that there is ‘nothing’ with Real Madrid at the moment, but that after the World Cup, he would review things again. That followed on from a reluctance to commit to being at Chelsea next season in prior comments.

Fernandez has been at Chelsea for nearly 3.5 years after making a €121m move from Benfica in the aftermath of the last World Cup, but so far the Blues have not become the force that some expected. Currently Chelsea are battling to make it into the Champions League next season, with Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Brentford and Everton, rather than with Manchester City and Arsenal for the title.

The post Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez drops another Real Madrid transfer hint appeared first on Football España.

Despite plenty of talk suggesting otherwise, Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde is set to stay put this summer as things stand. The young La Masia graduate has struggled for his best form this season, and there has been a suggestion they could look to move on from him.

In addition to that, Balde is out of contract in 2028. It means that Barcelona are coming to decision time on a new deal. If they are keen to hold onto him long-term, then a new contract offer will likely be required in the next six to nine months. Otherwise they risk losing Balde on a cut-price deal next summer, or even for free the following year. Hence a sale makes sense this summer, if that ultimately is their idea.

Interest from the Premier League

As such, it is no surprise that Balde has been receiving interest from the Premier League, with Manchester United one of the sides most interested in him. The 22-year-old was one of the best left-backs in La Liga at his best a few seasons ago, but a spell of injuries two years ago interrupted his development, and he has yet quite to hit the heights that he did under Xavi Hernandez.

Balde to turn down offers from England

Despite that interest, Marca say that Balde will turn down any offers to leave Barcelona this summer. He intends to be at Camp Nou beyond the upcoming transfer window, and as such will not entertain offers. That too is supposedly the plan for Barcelona, although they will consider a lucrative offer for him.

Next season's away kit. [@memorabilia1899] pic.twitter.com/oF1vCRZhD8

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 29, 2026

It would not be surprising if the idea had been floated to the press by either Balde’s agent, or Barcelona. The Liga leaders may be interested in finding out what price they can get for Balde, and his agent Jorge Mendes, would perhaps be keen to know what options his client has, and what offers he can take back to Barcelona in order to demand a better deal.

The post Barcelona defender to turn down Premier League move amid Manchester United interest appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have offered forward Robert Lewandowski the chance to remain at the club next season if he so desires. The 37-year-old forward is out of contract next season, and there is no clarity on his future as things stand.

The Polish forward has lost his place in the starting XI this season to Ferran Torres for the most part, although in recent weeks, Hansi Flick has given him a run of starts to try and inspire him back into form. However Barcelona are prioritising a number nine this summer as part of their transfer plans too.

Barcelona offer contract to Robert Lewandowski

The Blaugrana have now offered Lewandowski a new deal though, say Sport. Their new offer includes a wage cut of around half, with a number of variables that can significantly increase his final salary. President Joan Laporta had publicly said that he is in favour of keeping the veteran hitman.

Lewandowski uncertain on role at Barcelona

It seems that Barcelona will try to move Ferran Torres on this summer if Lewandowski does stay, as they do not believe three number nines can coexist in the same squad. For his part, with a potential star addition arriving, Lewandowski wants to be sure that he will have a significant role to play if he is to sign a new deal.

Other offers for Lewandowski

The same outlet quote Polish journalist Janusz Michalik though, who says that Chicago Fire coach Gregg Berhalter believes that Lewandowski will stay in Catalonia next season. His priority has always been to do so, despite the other offers on the table, one of which comes from Chicago Fire.

Paul Pogba and Ansu Fati have trained at the Ciutat Esportiva yesterday. [via @mundodeportivo] pic.twitter.com/AiNv8Cge8n

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 29, 2026

In addition to the chance to go to the United States, Lewandowski also has interest from Juventus and AC Milan, while Saudi Arabia are also keen to add another star to the Saudi Pro League. The decision now appears to be in Lewandowski’s hands though.

The post Barcelona send fresh contract offer to Robert Lewandowski appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid are set for another busy summer transfer window, with several areas of Diego Simeone’s squad needing to be addressed. One of those is left-back, which has been a position of concern for much of the season.

Matteo Ruggeri made a slow start to life at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano after joining from Atalanta, which led to David Hancko moving across to left-back on numerous occasions. He has been better in recent months, but with Javi Galan leaving in January to join Osasuna, another option will be needed for next season.

Carlos Romero has been linked with the move, but rather than shopping in Spain, Atleti could be prepared to go back to Italy in their bid for a new left-back. According to Tuttosport (via ED), Inter’s Carlos Augusto is on their radar for the summer transfer window.

Augusto has played regularly for Inter this season, but he is seen as the backup to Federico Dimarco, who is one of the best left-backs in Europe. He could look to become a starter elsewhere, and Atleti could be an ideal move for him, given that the position is up for debate going into the 2026-27 campaign.

Augusto would not occupy non-EU spot

Crucially for Atleti, Augusto would not occupy a non-EU spot, despite the fact that he has been capped four times by Brazil. He has an Italian passport, and this makes it much more likely for him to end up at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the summer.

Augusto could be available for a reduced price in the summer, given that he would be into the final two years of his Inter deal. Critically, he has no desire to renew, which means that 2026 would be the best time for the Nerazzurri to cash in. It remains to be seen whether they do, and if so, if it is Atleti that he ends up at.

The post Atletico Madrid add Inter defender to summer transfer shortlist appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have started working on a summer deal for Alessandro Bastoni, with the Inter defender being their leading target for the upcoming transfer window. Hansi Flick and Deco desperately hope an agreement can be reached, and the good news is that the Nerazzurri appear to be increasingly open to letting their star centre-back leave.

Previously, it was reported that Inter had lowered their asking price for the 26-year-old, and now, Barcelona could have it even easier to get their man. According to Calciomercato (via Sport), the Serie A giants would be willing to accept a player(s)-plus-cash deal, with two Catalan stars standing out for them.

Torres most likely to be included in deal

One of those is Ferran Torres, who looks increasingly likely to leave Barcelona in the summer. Manchester United are interested in the Spain forward, as are Atletico Madrid, but Inter would be favourites to get a deal done if they express their willingness to trade him in the Bastoni transfer.

The second Barcelona player that Inter are showing interest in is Dani Olmo. The 27-year-old is currently playing second-fiddle to Fermin Lopez in the battle to start as Flick’s no.10, but despite this, the La Liga leaders are unlikely to consider letting him leave during the summer transfer window.

It could be ideal for Barcelona to seek a player-plus-cash deal for Bastoni, as it would allow funds to be saved for their pursuit of a top-level striker. Torres could end up being the key, although it would become a priority to replace him in the event that he leaves – be that to Inter or anyone else.

For now, it remains to be seen how talks play out when Barcelona and Inter meet to discuss Bastoni. In the meantime, the Catalans are continuing work on agreeing personal terms with the Italy international.

The post Inter willing to include two Barcelona players in Alessandro Bastoni deal appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid have drawn up plans to sign a new defensive midfielder during the upcoming summer transfer window. A number of options have already been considered by the club’s sporting department, with the most notable of those being Manchester City and Spain’s Rodri Hernandez.

Rodri has been on Real Madrid’s radar for some time, and given that he will soon enter the final 12 months of his Man City contract, there has been a belief that a cut-price deal can be agreed for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner. However, that is far from guaranteed, with the Premier League giants determined to secure an agreement before the summer.

Whether Rodri joins Real Madrid this summer remains to be seen, but he has indicated during an interview with Onda Cero (via MD) that he would be open to a Bernabeu move. He believes it would be foolish to rule out that option, despite the fact that he previously played for Atletico Madrid.

“Having played for Atletico Madrid does not prevent me from playing for Real Madrid. There are more players who have gone down that path – not directly, but over time. You can’t give up the chance to play for the best clubs in the world.

“I don’t know. They don’t talk to me. They do it with my agent. But I would like to return, yes. Obviously, I have one year left on my contract. There will come a time when we will have to sit down and talk.”

Should Real Madrid go for Rodri?

Rodri was undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in the world prior to his ACL injury in 2024, and while he has been far away from that level since returning, he is still a fantastic player. €50m would be a lot of money to spend on a 29-year-old, and his age could play a big part in whether Florentino Perez sanctions a move.

The post Rodri Hernandez opens door to Real Madrid move – “You can’t give up playing for the best clubs” appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona intend to sign a new striker this summer, with it looking increasingly like that one of their number nines will leave when the transfer window opens. At this stage, Julian Alvarez is their leading target, although a deal with Atletico Madrid will be incredibly difficult to do – even if the Catalans secure their long-awaited return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule.

The plan is for a top-level number nine to sign, with whoever stays out of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres being the backup. Alvarez may be out of reach, and although Barcelona will try to get a deal done, they have begun to make arrangements in the event that Atleti keep the door closed.

According to MD, one of the alternatives that Barcelona have identified is Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray striker is appreciated within Can Barca, with his record of 56 goals in 70 appearances since moving to Türkiye standing out among other options.

Despite this, the report notes that Barcelona officials have some doubts about Osimhen – namely, regarding his attitude. The manner of his Napoli exit in 2024 sits in the minds of those that will rule on the number nine signing, which is why he is not considered to be high up the list of Plan B candidates.

Barcelona rule on Vlahovic, Sesko moves

Barcelona are continuing to scour market for Alvarez alternatives, but in the meantime, two have been ruled out. The Catalans had been interested in Benjamin Sesko prior to his Manchester United move last summer, and although the door is ajar regarding a possible Old Trafford exit, there are no plans to re-ignite their interest.

Meanwhile, there are also no plans to move for Dusan Vlahovic. The Juventus and Serbia man is out of contract in the summer, but despite being a market opportunity, Barcelona do not see him as having the desired quality to be Hansi Flick’s new starting striker.

The post Barcelona identify €75m alternative to Julian Alvarez appeared first on Football España.

Over the course of the season, there has been continued speculation regarding the future of Ronald Araujo at Barcelona. The Uruguayan defender has struggled for prominence, which is why he has been linked with a move away from the Spotify Camp Nou during this summer’s transfer window.

Araujo took a mental health break in November, and since returning to the side weeks later, he has regularly been benched. He has been used more in recent weeks, but primarily as a right-back due to the recent injuries for Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde.

Because of this, clubs have started to take a keen interest in his situation. Liverpool are among those prepared to move for Araujo, but Barcelona are more than happy to retain the services of their club captain, as Sport have revealed.

Barcelona are satisfied with Araujo’s level of performance, while they also consider him to be an important player for the present and future – largely due to his versatility, as well as the difference characteristics he has compared to other Barcelona defenders.

Christensen offer on the table

Another case to follow will be that of Andreas Christensen, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Barcelona have communicated their plans to offer the Denmark international a new deal, although it would include a very significant pay decrease, but with bonuses to incentivise playing.

Barcelona want to have at least five centre-backs at their disposal for the start of next season, which is why they want Christensen to renew. However, they are aware that the offer is far from lucrative, and with clubs circling, there is every chance that he decides to end his time at the Spotify Camp Nou.

It remains to be seen how the situations with Araujo and Christensen play out, but both have many chances to remain at Barcelona going into next season.

The post Barcelona stance on Ronald Araujo exit amid Liverpool interest appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have been working with a relatively short squad over the last few seasons, but if there is one position they do have depth in, it is the number 10 spot. A number of players are capable of operating there, but Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez have primarily been battling it out for game time for the past two seasons.

Olmo arrived as the big-money signing in 2024, but Lopez has outperformed him over the duration of the last two seasons, and earned Hansi Flick’s trust as a starter. Lopez received interest from England last summer, but turned down the chance to move to Chelsea, and recently signed a contract extension until 2031.

Manchester United willing to bid €100m for Fermin Lopez

Nevertheless, that does not seem to have staved off interest from abroad. El Chiringuito report that Manchester United are willing to spend as much as €100m on Lopez this summer. That said, it is noted that neither Lopez nor Barcelona are keen on the move at this stage, and would not welcome a bid.

EXCLUSIVA @10JoseAlvarez | Los FICHAJES QUE QUIERE el BARÇA.

"Bastoni, Grimaldo y Jan Virgili". pic.twitter.com/Nt89Xdgw6F

— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) March 24, 2026

Barcelona set for busier summer?

There is some suggestion that it could be a busier summer for Barcelona this year though, with the club briefing that they will be back within their salary limit for the first time in four years. As a result, making sales could provide Director of Football Deco with more flexibility to work in the transfer market.

Gerard Martín and Ronald Araújo are not listening to offers that are arriving for them because they're only interested in continuing at FC Barcelona. [@gbsans] pic.twitter.com/shXMe0euhk

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 23, 2026

An example of that is Barcelona seemingly open to listen to offers for the likes of Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, regular starters over the past three years. Lopez seems to have earned his spot among Barcelona’s starting XI, and for the time being, it seems more likely they will look to hold onto him. That in turn could cast doubt on Dani Olmo’s situation though.

The post Manchester United willing to spend €100m on Barcelona star – report appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are looking to strengthen their forward line again this summer, and it could well be that there are two further additions. The priority is a number nine signing, and Marcus Rashford may well be retained by the Catalan giants, but if he is not, then the Blaugrana could look to bring in an alternative on the left side of the attack.

The England international has earned praise from manager Hansi Flick throughout the year, and for much of it, it has been suggested that Barcelona will look to keep Rashford next season. Yet there are doubts over whether they are willing to activate his €30m buy clause with Manchester United. One of the alternatives could be Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup, who Barcelona began scouting last year after facing the Eagles themselves.

FC Barcelona are still in contact with Alex Remiro's entourage. Deco wants to sign him this summer of in 2027, when his contract expires. Barça see him as a perfect back-up option for Joan García. [@martinezferran] pic.twitter.com/pRMD3jUvkJ

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 22, 2026

Schjelderup delighted with Barcelona interest

During a recent interview with TV2 in his native Norway, Schjelderup was asked about the possibility of signing for Barcelona. The 21-year-old appeared content with the talk of a move to Catalonia, saying ‘I hadn’t heard talk of that, but it would be brilliant if it’s true’, Sport quote.

Schjelderup case may impede World Cup call

With the World Cup this summer, the prices for players that tend to perform at the World Cup tend to shoot up. Yet Schjelderup’s legal trouble could impede him from going to the United States, as he is not assured a visa for entry. The 21-year-old has a two-week suspended prison sentence that was handed to him last year after sharing content of two underage boys to a group chat of four boys. He pleaded guilty to the offence, and remarked that he wanted to be ‘open to all of you about a stupid mistake I did,’ report the BBC.

“The offence I will be convicted for does not reflect on who I am as a person and what I stand for,” commented Schjelderup.

Barcelona looking at Rashford alternatives?

In addition to Schjelderup, Barcelona have reportedly been keeping a close eye on the progress of former players Ez Abde at Real Betis, and Jan Virgili at RCD Mallorca. They see them as potentially economic options, as they have a 20% sell-on clause on the Morocco international, and a 50% sell-on clause with Virgili.

The post Benfica winger responds to Barcelona interest – ‘That would be brilliant’ appeared first on Football España.

Antoine Griezmann has decided to leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the season, and he will continue his career in the MLS. The 35-year-old, who is Los Colchoneros’ record goalscorer, will take advantage of the international break to define his future, as he readied himself to leave the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Earlier this year, Griezmann was the subject of intense interest from Orlando City, who wanted to sign him for the start of the 2026 MLS season. However, the former France international took the decision to see out the remainder of the European campaign with Atleti, who have aspirations to win the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

Nevertheless, Griezmann has now decided that he will fulfil his dream of playing in the MLS, as Marca have reported that he has given the green light to join Orlando City this summer. He will travel to the United States in the coming days to finalise his contract with the Florida-based club, with Atleti having given him permission to do so.

Griezmann will leave Atleti on free transfer

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Atleti will not make his difficult for Griezmann to leave, as they have already decided that he can leave without a transfer fee being needed – despite the fact that he is contracted at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano until the summer of 2027. They see it as a debt of gratitude for one of the best players in their history, given that he has asked to end his time at the club at this moment.

Griezmann’s influence at Atleti has gradually waned in the last couple of years, so it is probably the right time for him to move on. Nevertheless, he will be a big miss for Diego Simeone, who will now task the club’s sporting director Mateu Alemany to find an acceptable replacement.

The post Antoine Griezmann travels to USA to finalise Atletico Madrid exit appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona seem to be more open to the idea of making sales this summer than in previous years, and it could see one or two previously key players leave the club. Since the arrival of Deco, the only major sales the Blaugrana have made were Vitor Roque, who exited for around the same as Barcelona spent on him, and Ousmane Dembele, after Paris Saint-Germain executed his €50m release clause.

This time round it could be different. Already it has been revealed that Barcelona would consider offers for left-back Alejandro Balde, who has not managed to hit the heights this season. It is worth taking into account that if Barcelona do move back within their salary limit, they would be able to use 40% more of the money they earn and save to register new signings than has been the case for the past three summers. Club sources are briefing that this will be the case.

Bernardo Silva will not renew his Manchester City contract, and will leave on a free this summer. FC Barcelona are exploring a possible move for the Portuguese who was already close to signing in the past. [@Gazzetta_it] pic.twitter.com/mSUTMuu7KI

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 21, 2026

Barcelona to consider offers for Jules Kounde

According to RadioMarca, Barcelona will listen to offers that arrive for France international Jules Kounde this summer. Although they are not looking to move him on, if a good offer arrives for him, then the Catalan giants will hear it out and are open to negotiations. The converted right-back signed a new deal with Barcelona until 2030 last year, but that is no impediment, as per Matteo Moretto.

Previous interest in Kounde from Chelsea

When Kounde signed for Barcelona, it is well-documented that he left an offer from Chelsea on the table to do so. Last season during negotiations over his new deal, whether it was agent talk or otherwise, Chelsea were also supposedly interested. It’s been Kounde’s most difficult season in Barcelona, having struggled for form throughout at right-back. Last month it was also reported that Barcelona were concerned over the performances of Kounde and Balde.

The post Barcelona will consider offers for former Chelsea target this summer appeared first on Football España.

Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde has explained his decision to leave the club at the end of the season, after the announcement was made on Friday afternoon. ‘El Txingurri’ will bring to an end his third spell at the Basque giants at the end of the season, following four highly successful years at the club, which included a return to the Champions League and a Copa del Rey victory.

Speaking ahead of Athletic’s clash with Real Betis, Valverde explained that the decision had been made some time ago.

“It’s not recent, not even from a few months ago, but from quite some time ago. Making it public now is more a response to the club’s current situation. There will be elections at the end of this year, and we’re in a process where those who are currently in charge, or those who want to be, have to find a coach. And since it wasn’t going to be me, I announced it to make the situation easier,” he told Cadena Cope.

‘It’s not the time to take stock, we have goals to achieve’

Los Leones are currently in 10th spot, and should be safe from relegation with a seven-point cushion. On the other hand, Athletic are just three points off a potential European spot.

“The president – Jon Uriarte – wasn’t there and I spoke with him this week, but it was something that was already coming down the line. There are ten games left and we want to finish the season on a high note.”

“There are still goals we can achieve, and we don’t want any surprises. I’ve been with Athletic for almost 500 games, and I have a feeling that these next ten are going to be the most important. I don’t know why. It’s not the time to take stock because many people tend to turn the page and start on to the next one before they’ve finished the book.”

"There are ten matches left and we have a lot to play for."

"We have to go and fight for our lives in every match."

Ernesto Valverde previews #AthleticRealBetis

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) March 21, 2026

‘A series of circumstances that I don’t want to go into right now’

Valverde was keen to place the emphasis on the remaining quarter of the season, but he was asked about both the motives for the decision and the possibility of Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola taking his place.

“It’s a decision I’ve been thinking about for some time. Obviously, it has a special meaning for me because it’s Athletic, and I’ve been here a long time, a four-year cycle… A series of circumstances that I don’t really want to go into right now, and which belong to an analysis from another time.”

“Now we have a pressing need to get points, regardless of the announcement that came out yesterday. It would only add fuel to the fire, and that’s what I’m trying to avoid. If I were to make any comments about Andoni, which will obviously all be positive, it would only add fuel to the fire. So we’ll talk about it later.”

Andoni Iraola denies talks with Athletic Club

Former right-back Iraola has been installed as the hot favourite ahead of Edin Terzic and Inigo Perez to take over from Valverde. Speaking on Saturday, he denied that he had held talks with Athletic about it.

“I have a lot of friends there, and they send a lot of messages. I can only speak very well [of him], he is my biggest reference in football. It is a decision he has taken, and it doesn’t affect me, apart from the supporter’s side of it.”

"He's my biggest reference in football"

Andoni Iraola on Ernesto Valverde's imminent exit from Athletic Club pic.twitter.com/O71vFhsi7V

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 21, 2026

“It’s not a situation that has happened [speaking to Athletic]. It’s a discussion that I have to have internally, but it’s about Bournemouth and about my situation here, not any other club.”

The feeling in Bilbao has always been that Iraola will some day return to manage at the club he spent most of his career at. Both he and former assistant Perez are out of contract at the end of the season.

The post Ernesto Valverde explains motives for Athletic Club exit as Andoni Iraola denies talks appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid are planning to sign a new midfielder this summer, and in recent months, numerous targets have been drawn up. Rodri Hernandez, Vitinha and Chema Andres have all been linked with a move to the Bernabeu, and now a new name has entered the equation.

Real Madrid are on top of the Premier League market, haven’t signed the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold in recent years. Their latest acquisition from England could be Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes, with Reuters (via ED) reporting that Los Blancos recently registered their interest in the Brazil international.

Guimaraes is a player that Real Madrid have followed for a number of years, and with a real possibility that he leaves Newcastle in the summer, they are prepared to strike – especially with Manchester United also in the race.

Man United are already said to have been in talks with Guimaraes’ camp for a number of weeks, and while these have gone well, the emergence of Real Madrid has shaken things up. The midfielder would prefer too join Real Madrid, and the likelihood is that Newcastle would prioritise selling to a non-Premier League rival.

Is Guimaraes the answer to Real Madrid’s midfield woes?

Midfield is an area where Real Madrid have struggled ever since Toni Kroos retired in 2024, and after deciding against addressing the issue last summer, it has continued into the current campaign. Guimaraes could be the player that solves these woes, although he is not a particularly similar profile to that of the former Germany international.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether Real Madrid do proceed with plans to move for Guimaraes during the summer transfer window. For now, they will stick with their plan to mull over their list of candidates, which continues to grow as the weeks and months go on.

The post Manchester United target prioritising summer move to Real Madrid appeared first on Football España.

AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit looks set to make a big-money move this summer, with a number of top clubs interested in the 19-year-old. He has openly acknowledged an interest in playing in Spain, and an admiration for Barcelona, but Real Madrid appear to be the side that are looking at a move for him.

Los Blancos are keen to strengthen their midfield, and established names such as Vitinha and Rodri Hernandez have been mentioned as preferred options. Smit would be the younger alternative, and was on their shortlist last summer. That said, Smit himself has admitted that his idol is Andres Iniesta, and that he grew up watching Barcelona.

OFFICIAL: João Cancelo has been called up by Portugal for the international break! [@selecaoportugal] pic.twitter.com/nUsrpdByP0

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 20, 2026

Smit admits move is likely this summer

His future has been a source of regular speculation this season, and he was asked about it again after AZ Alkmaar progressed against Sparta Prague in the Conference League following a 4-0 win. Smit explained to Ziggo Sport (via MD) that he was unlikely to stay in the Netherlands.

“That’s also a possibility, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. I understand why everyone’s asking about it, because the figures you hear are absurd. People think it’s a huge amount of money, and I agree. We’ll see how things develop.”

Comments suggest Real Madrid move is unlikely

In terms of what he will prioritise when it comes time to decide on a move, Smit was keen to have plenty of game time.

“Basically, I just want to play a lot. That’s important to me. I don’t yet know what my ideal next step would be. When I do, I’ll let you know.”

Even if Smit has admitted that he would rather play in La Liga than the Premier League, if he wants guarantees of game time, it seems unlikely he will get them at either of Spain’s big two. There is perhaps a hole for him at Real Madrid, but he would be competing with Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham for a spot. At Barcelona, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri are established in his position.

The post Kees Smit comments reduce chance of Barcelona or Real Madrid move appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid are set for another busy summer, with at least one major change expected in the attacking third. Antoine Griezmann turned down a move to Major League Soccer side Orlando City earlier this month, but there is a good chance that he could go.

One of the names that Atletico have been linked with to replace him is Kang-In Lee, with whom they held talks with in the winter. Los Rojiblancos are expected to seek a deal with him in the summer, but Paris Saint-Germain are also keen to hang onto him.

Atletico Madrid interested in Mason Greenwood

Two summers ago, it was rumoured that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were looking at Mason Greenwood following a reasonably successful season at Getafe. Ultimately, he ended up moving to Olympique Marseille, but in September, it was said that Los Rojiblancos were monitoring Greenwood’s progress in France.

Now Cadena SER say that Atletico’s interest is still there, and he could be an option in the summer, potentially to replace Julian Alvarez, should he move on. The former Manchester United man was supposedly content in Madrid for the season he spent at the Coliseum.

Greenwood’s season at Marseille

The 24-year-old has gone from strength to strength under Roberto de Zerbi in Ligue 1, and is currently Marseille’s top scorer. So far this season has 25 goals and eight assists in his 38 appearances, and is also leading the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts.

Johnny Cardoso: "Julián Álvarez? They said he was in a bad streak, now he's a player who makes all the difference for us." pic.twitter.com/2O37YxMjOU

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) March 19, 2026

How realistic is a move for Greenwood?

Certainly in terms of production and profile, he would add plenty to Atletico Madrid’s attack. That said, not only have Atletico been persistent in claiming Julian Alvarez is not for sale, Greenwood is different style of forward from the Argentine. Currently on the right side of their attack, Atletico have Giuliano Simeone, and he would also be a similar threat to Ademola Lookman.

The post Atletico Madrid maintain interest in Olympique Marseille forward Mason Greenwood – report appeared first on Football España.

Amid uncertainty over the future of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Girona manager Michel Sanchez has said that he would be ready to take over at the Etihad. Michel was linked with the job in recent years following his excellent work with the Catalan side.

Guardiola is on course to finish his 10th season at City, but there has been significant talk that it could be his last. Despite having a year left on his deal, he could decide to call time on his stint in England this year.

Guardiola considering future at Manchester City

Following their Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid on Tuesday, Guardiola said that he had more than enough energy to go back and do it again next season. Yet the word is that he will consider his position next week following the League Cup final against Arsenal.

Michel Sanchez – ‘I’m ready for City job’

Speculation has already begun surrounding his potential replacement at City, with former assistant and ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca reportedly holding talks with City Sporting Director Enzo Maresca. During a conversation with Feeberse, Michel was asked if he felt he would be ready for the challenge.

“I do see myself as ready, I see myself as ready to coach any team. I don’t know if they see it that way. Obviously, it’s not the same, but I have the ability to adapt and I want to experience it,” he said, as quoted by MD.

Is Michel a realistic option for City?

During the season Michel took Girona to a third-place finish and the Champions League, there was talk that City saw him as a possible alternative to Guardiola. Girona are also part of the City Group, and thus will have inside information on his coaching. It is true that said talk has quietened down over the last 18 months, which has also seen then Sporting Director Txiki Begiristain move on. Villarreal also have an uncertain situation on their bench, and Michel has been sounded out as a potential replacement at La Ceramica.

The post Spanish manager ‘ready’ to take over Manchester City if Pep Guardiola leaves appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are reportedly reconsidering their options with regard to Marcus Rashford. The Catalan side have been keen to express the idea that they are willing to sign the Manchester United forward on a permanent basis, but there is no certainty that they will do so.

The Blaugrana brought Rashford in on loan last summer from Old Trafford, and negotiated a €30m buy option in his deal. They already have terms agreed with Rashford himself. Earlier in the season it was reported that Barcelona were keen to negotiate a deal with United at a lower price. Yet United, who feel the price is fair, are not willing to do so, and Barcelona have begun looking at cheaper alternatives.

Joelinton (Newcastle United): "You try to pressure one player, but the other already has the ball. You keep pressing, and then everything starts again. After a while, you just run… you don't even know who you're chasing anymore." [via @mundodeportivo] pic.twitter.com/7iSvajmnhq

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 19, 2026

Barcelona may seek second Rashford loan deal

It has now been reported by DM (via ESPN) that Barcelona are keen to seek a second loan move for Rashford. Of course from United’s point of view, with just two years remaining on his contract, it would make far more sense to cash in on Rashford this summer, if he is not willing to return under Michael Carrick. However Barcelona feel they could sanction a deal if it includes an obligation to buy.

How would this benefit Barcelona?

The reason it could make sense is that it would delay any potential payment for Rashford until the following summer. Even if Barcelona are projecting that they will get back within their salary limit this time round, it is not yet clear how much room they will have manoeuver, and their priorities are a centre-forward and a centre-back. Despite having played there in the past, Hansi Flick does not seem to see him as a natural number nine.

Rashford has on the whole performed well, with 10 goals and 13 assists in his 38 appearances, despite not being a regular starter throughout. His impact has somewhat lessened in recent weeks after a knee injury, and he has just four appearances in Barcelona’s last seven games, none of which he has scored or assisted in.

The post Barcelona reconsider options on Marcus Rashford deal appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona president-elect Joan Laporta has promised that a contract renewal is on the way for Hansi Flick, after winning the elections on Sunday. Laporta was elected with a landslide vote, achieving nearly 70% of the vote, ahead of Victor Font, and celebrated in style afterwards.

Laporta was in attendance on Sunday during Barcelona’s 5-2 win over Sevilla on Sunday at Camp Nou, as the elections took place. Once the result was confirmed, he was seen celebrating at his campaign offices, and he also went into the dressing room. On Tuesday, he told RAC1 ( via MD) that the celebrations went long into the night.

“I arrived at Luz de Gas at 3:00 a.m. I was very happy, much more relaxed. They played the Barca anthem, the ‘Viva la Vida’ we experienced with Pep and Rijkaard. The song they didn’t play that I liked was ‘Everybody’s Talking’ by Nilsson. At 5:00 a.m. I went home. When I woke up, I called my mother. She was the first person I called, and she calmed me. I was happy.”

Confirmado tras la primera mañana post-barrida en CatRàdio y Rac1: duele. pic.twitter.com/IlzzgVoKUE

— kantinu (@kantinu) March 16, 2026

“Then I went for a walk with my dog, had lunch at home, and later, at my house, we met with Rafa Yuste and Josep Cubells. I can’t make any official appointments or representation until July 1st. Rafael Yuste is the president.”

‘We’ll announce an agreement with Flick shortly’

One of the key features of Laporta’s campaign was the promise of continuity, claiming that he would continue to support Director of Football Deco, and Flick. Although the German manager would later back away from Laporta’s statements, the President claimed an agreement would be done imminently.

“We want to renew his contract – it runs until 2027 – until 2028, with each season having a one-year buffer. He’s in favour, and we’ll announce the agreement shortly. I envision my entire term with him at the helm. It would demonstrate stability and show that he’s earned it.”

“While respecting our style of play, he has introduced variations that have made the team function again with the same players it wasn’t working with before.”

Deco could also be in line for a new contract

Font had stated that he would look to replace Deco were he to be elected. Laporta has back him to the hilt though, and said that he was keen to extend his deal too. Deco’s current deal is up at the end of the season.

“I would very much like to renew it because he’s doing an extraordinary job, and it’s not easy to find such harmony between the sporting director and a coach.”

Pau Cubarsí: "As a player and member, everyone has the freedom to express themselves and vote for whoever they deem necessary. We welcome and congratulate Joan Laporta." pic.twitter.com/yyKRMdC4zZ

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 17, 2026

Laporta on summer spending plans

Looking ahead to the summer, Barcelona are expected to move for a forward to replace Robert Lewandowski, but Laporta has been non-committal on offering the Polish veteran a new contract during recent weesk.

“If it needs strengthening, it will be strengthened. We have a number 9. Harry Kane would be the same age as Lewandowski.”

On the other hand, Laporta has been stronger on the prospect of signing Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal.

“Marcus is performing very well with assists and goals, and Cancelo has become a key player due to injuries to the full-backs. We will try, given Barca’s interest, to ensure Marcus can continue.”

Barcelona have a €30m buy option in Rashford’s loan deal, but it is not confirmed that they will choose to execute it, even if they are keen to keep him. On the other hand, the word on Joao Cancelo is that Barcelona will consider offering him a deal if he negotiates a contract termination with his loan club Al-Hilal.

The post Barcelona President-elect Joan Laporta claims Hansi Flick renewal is coming ‘shortly’ appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has taken a step back from the idea that he is on the verge of penning a new deal with the club. The German manager is currently under contract until 2027, but recently elected President Joan Laporta has promised that he will sign an extension.

On Tuesday morning, Laporta assured that he expected Flick to extend his deal until 2028 imminently, and has run his campaign claiming that his election was vital to ensuring that Flick remains at the club. Ahead of their Champions League return leg with Newcastle United, Flick avoided confirming that he would be remaining for another season.

“I don’t think it’s the right time. We have a very important match. Everyone knows I’m very happy here, but I need to talk to my family. There will be time to talk, it’s not the time now.”

“It’s clear that I love working here. The most important thing, what I feel, is that I have a great family here. I have the support of Barcelona, ​​but this is football. I’m here to help reach the highest level, but there’s still time. I’m not thinking about going anywhere else. This will be my last club, my last job, and I’m delighted.”

Flick on elections being over

There has been a suggestion in the Catalan media that Flick has not particularly enjoyed the election noise surrounding the club in recent weeks. He was asked whether he was glad they were over.

“It’s important to have a structure. We have a good structure that gives us stability. Everyone was happy about the visit [of Laporta], he said a lot of things and wished us luck for tomorrow.”

Hansi Flick: "I expect a different scenario from the first leg. It will be a tough match because it's a physical team with an aggressive attitude." pic.twitter.com/AtIyIRAs4l

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 17, 2026

Laporta’s welcome letter to Barcelona

Upon joining the club back in 2024, Laporta wrote Flick a letter about what it means to be the manager of Barcelona. Flick was asked about its contents.

“He said many things about Barca. He highlighted Cruyff, who is the man who created the new Barca, who is responsible for this, but also the philosophy and the style. It’s not just how you win, it’s how you do it. You have to have team spirit, that’s the most important thing.”

Laporta won a landslide victory on Sunday, securing victory in a vote against Victor Font with nearly 70% of the vote. The Blaugrana president has not only assured the continuity of Flick, but also of Director of Football Deco.

The post Hansi Flick contradicts Barcelona President Joan Laporta – ‘It’s not the time to talk about a renewal’ appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid are projected to be busy during this summer’s transfer window, with plans for numerous signings to arrive at the Bernabeu. As many as six players could be added to Alvaro Arbeloa’s squad ahead of the 2026-27 season, and right wing is one area that is currently being looked into.

Rodrygo Goes’ recent ACL injury means that Real Madrid will be down a player in that position for some time. Meanwhile, Franco Mastantuono has struggled in his first season at the Bernabeu, as this could prompt efforts to sign a new right winger in the summer.

As covered by BILD (via Marca), one of the players that Real Madrid have been linked to is Michael Olise. A teammate of Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni and co in the France setup, the Bayern Munich winger has been in outstanding form this season, with 15 goals and 23 assists across all competitions.

It’s been claimed that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is willing to spend up to €160m to bring Olise to the Bernabeu, although Marca have made it clear that this is not the case. Los Blancos officials surely appreciate Olise, and while he fits the club’s transfer policy, it would be a major surprise if any move was made.

Bayern have no plans to entertain Olise offers

But even if Real Madrid were to make a move, Bayern would be quick to shut it down. They consider the winger to be non-transferable, and given that he has a contract (without any release clause) until the summer of 2029, there would be no pressure to consider a sale.

Regardless, it would be a surprise if Real Madrid moved for any right winger this summer. Mastantuono is still counted upon, and with Endrick Felipe set to return from his Lyon loan spell, that would be enough to cover Rodrygo’s extended absence.

The post Sources deny Real Madrid plans for €160m Bayern Munich superstar appeared first on Football España.

This week, speculation has started to built regarding a possible summer move to Barcelona for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. Comments made by the Argentina striker have only added fuel to the fire, although his club are determined to ensure that he sticks around at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Atleti sporting director Mateu Alemany will be tasked with keeping Alvarez at the club, and as per MD, he spoke on Saturday regarding the recent speculation involving the 26-year-old.

“As happened with Antoine, he has a contract with us and he will be with us. Julián clearly said that he is very happy at Atlético and everything he says is meant to be interpreted in a different way. He has four more years on his contract and we hope he will continue much longer, and even that it be expanded. I don’t see any news with Julián. There is no issue, it is another thing where people are looking for things where there are none. I subscribe to what the coach yesterday. The only news is that his performances have been extraordinary.”

Alemany reacts to Apollo Sports Capital takeover

Earlier in the week, Apollo Sports Capital were confirmed as the new majority shareholders of Atleti. Not much has changed from a personnel perspective, which Alemany is happy about.

“It’s a very powerful investment fund that comes to give more strength to the project. But the important thing is that they propose to continue with the management that has previously remained in charge. I don’t foresee any changes in the short term.”

Alemany wary of Champions League collapse

Alemany was also asked about the upcoming second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie against Tottenham Hotspur, which Atleti lead 5-2 from Tuesday’s first leg.

“How many times have there been comebacks in Europe? We have the experience of Barcelona (in the Copa del Rey). In football you always have to suffer. Tottenham are a team of the highest level, they fourth in the league phase.”

The post Atletico Madrid sporting director denies Julian Alvarez-Barcelona speculation appeared first on Football España.

Former Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez is reportedly considering his future at Manchester City, just over a year after joining from Porto. The Spain under-21 international was brought in as an alternative to Rodri Hernandez last January, but has struggled to nail down a place in side.

Gonzalez left Barcelona in 2023, after Xavi Hernandez concluded that he would not have the game time he required at Camp Nou. Following a €21.2m move to Portugal, Porto were able to quickly flip Gonzalez after just 18 months for a fee of €60m.

Nico Gonzalez ‘likely to depart’ this summer

It has been revealed by Matteo Moretto to RadioMarca that he could be on his way out of the club this summer. Sporting Directo Hugo Viana is willing to listen to offers for Gonzalez, and it seems that a deal is more probable than not if their asking price is met. Matteo Moretto notes that Gonzalez is also willing to leave, as a result of his lack of guaranteed minutes.

Rodri Hernandez factor could be decisive

On the other hand, decisive factor could be the future of Rodri Hernandez. Real Madrid have been consistently linked with a move fo the Spain international, and are carefully following his progress since coming back from injury. Were Los Blancos to make a move for Rodri, and if it was successful, then City could try and hold onto Nico.

Gonzalez was brought in during Rodri’s convalescence as either competition or a long-term replacement for him. It seems that Pep Guardiola does not seem to see him as the alternative for the time being. That said, there is also uncertainty over Guardiola’s future this summer.

The post Manchester City midfielder ‘likely to depart’ this summer appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid have a number of players that are currently unavailable due to injury, and one more name has been added to the list in the last few hours. Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Alvaro Carreras, Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos, Rodrygo Goes and Kylian Mbappe were already ruled out for the Bernabeu clash on Saturday, and they have now been joined by Raul Asencio.

Asencio, who was an unused substitute against Manchester City in midweek, had been due to start against Elche, but this will no longer be the case. Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has not included him in his matchday squad for the La Liga fixture, which has meant that only six defenders have been named.

Asencio suffering with muscle discomfort

According to COPE’s Miguel Angel Diaz, Asencio has been ruled out due to muscle discomfort. Real Madrid’s medical staff have ruled that the 23-year-old is not able to play any part against Elche, which is bad news for Arbeloa – particular in the sense that he will have to continue with Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger in the centre of defence, when he would have preferred to rest one of them.

Real Madrid will hope that Asencio is able to recover in time to travel to Manchester at the start of next week for the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie against Man City. He would be unlikely to start at the Etihad Stadium, but he may be needed if Huijsen or Rudiger were not to be at 100% themselves, which could be very possible after another 90 minutes against Elche.

Arbeloa will be desperate for his injured players to start returning sooner rather than later. Real Madrid have certainly be affected by these regular setbacks over the course of the season, but unfortunately, they show no signs of stopping.

The post Real Madrid down to the bare bones for Elche clash as defender drops out of squad appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez has admitted that he is not sure whether he will be at the Metropolitano next season. The Argentina international has been heavily linked with an exit in the summer, despite Atletico moving to deny any suggestions that he could be leaving.

Alvarez has been linked with Barcelona ad nauseam over the past 12 months, with some saying that he is the preferred choice of Joan Laporta to replace Robert Lewandowski. It has also been reported that Arsenal and Chelsea are both looking at Alvarez too in case he is available this summer.

‘Maybe yes, maybe no’ – Julian Alvarez on Atletico stay

It came as a major surprise after Atletico beat Tottenham Hotspur when he was unable to give a straight answer on his future. Alvarez was awarded man of the match for his brace in the Champions League. Alvarez was first asked about interest from Barcelona.

“I have nothing to say. These are things that get talked about, there’s a lot of talk on social media too, everyone posts their opinion, it all blows up. I never said anything, I’m fine here, very happy, competing in all the competitions,” he told Diario AS.

“I never said anything, it’s just talk. It gets blown out of proportion. I’m happy at Atlético, content, fighting. We’re doing well in the Champions League and we’re in the Copa del Rey final.”

Probed for a definitive answer on where he will be next season, Alvarez left the door open to the idea that he might not be at the Metropolitano.

“What do I know? Maybe yes, maybe no, you never know. I’m very happy here. It’s a question that keeps coming up, but I’m happy. I’m focused on the day-to-day, working to improve and give my all. I never said anything bad about the club. I’m very grateful; the people showed me their affection, and I’m very happy.”

Antoine Griezmann: "We played a great match, but it’s a shame about those two goals. We have to improve what we did in Barcelona so we don’t repeat it." pic.twitter.com/GeKcu4X2DG

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) March 10, 2026

‘The goals help me on a personal level’

In the immediate future, Alvarez’s Atletico will be in a strong position to face Spurs in the return leg.

“The second leg will be tough, but we have a three-goal lead. We’re going in with even more confidence; we’re still fighting for great things.”

Alvarez had scored just three times in 2026, and against Real Oviedo scored his first La Liga goal in over four months. The brace is the first time he has scored multiple goals since September, in Atletico’s 5-2 derby win over Real Madrid.

“It helps me personally, but I’ve always been fine. It’s just a matter of streaks; there was a time when I couldn’t score, but I always give 100%. My teammates know that and appreciate it. It’s what I can manage. Doing better or worse is part of football. It just wasn’t happening for me, but as a striker, and considering what I represent and what I feel for this team, I want to contribute with goals and assists.”

The post ‘Maybe yes, maybe no’ – Julian Alvarez on whether he’ll be at Atletico Madrid next season appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona seemed to be edging towards signing Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal this summer, but it is by no means a done deal. The Manchester United loanee will likely cost them the full €30m buy option in his contract, but also has a high salary to consider. Rashford has also informed Manchester United that he has no intention of returning to the club.

The England international has had an up and down season at Camp Nou, showing excellent form in fits and bursts, but contributing a vital 10 goals and 13 assists during the injury absences of Raphinha. For their part, Rashford and Barcelona manager Hansi Flick have expressed a desire to retain him, but Barcelona’s salary limit struggles mean that no deal is guaranteed.

Laporta: "That's why I don't understand what Xavi says. Leo had to return after his time at PSG, but Jorge Messi came home and told me that they would be better off in Miami than in Arabia or Barcelona, where they would have a lot of pressure. This is only trying to distort the…

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 10, 2026

According to Marca, Director of Football Deco has identified two alternatives to Rashford if it does not happen. Their information is that the terms are already agreed with United, and that the move simply depends on Barcelona pulling the trigger. If Laporta is elected, then the likelihood is the deal will go through.

Ez Abde: A move beckons for Real Betis winger

One of the alternatives is former player Ez Abde, who has impressed at Real Betis this season. After a mixed first year, Abde has become a more regular threat for Manuel Pellegrini. Now a regular, the Morocco international has nine goals and seven assists this season, and Barcelona have a 20% sell-on fee on him, meaning that any deal will come with a discount. There has been plenty of talk that Abde could move to the Premier League this summer too.

Jan Virgili enjoying debut campaign at RCD Mallorca

The other option on Deco’s shortlist is Jan Virgili, who left the club to join RCD Mallorca this past summer due to the lack of opportunities in the first team caused by Rashford’s arrival. The 19-year-old is enjoying an excellent debut campaign in La Liga with six assists to his name, despite not being a regular throughout. Barcelona sold Virgili for €3.5m, but in his case, have a 50% sell-on fee for the teenager.

The post Barcelona identify two cut-price alternatives to Marcus Rashford signing appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid’s sporting department have already started working on identifying targets for this summer’s transfer window. There are plans to address numerous areas of Diego Simeone’s squad, with one of the most pressing being the options in attack.

It is almost taken for granted at this stage that Antoine Griezmann will leave Atleti at the end of the season, with Orlando City heavy favourites to secure his services from the summer onwards. Alexander Sorloth has also been linked with a move, which would leave Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman as the only two recognised forwards in the squad.

In anticipation of Griezmann’s exit in particular, Atleti have identified Lee Kang-in as his ideal replacement. The South Korea international has struggled for regular starting opportunties at Paris Saint-Germain, which is why Los Colchoneros officials believe he could be tempted to return to Spanish football, where he previously featured for Valencia and Mallorca.

According to Sky Sports (via ED), Atleti officials have met with Lee’s representatives in recent days, as they seek to outline their plans for a summer offensive. The 25-year-old is fully aware that a move to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano could be on the cards this summer, although a deal will not be easy.

PSG want €40m to sell Lee in the summer

As per the report, PSG are working on tying Lee down to a new contract, which if agreed, would rule out a move to Atleti. If this is not forthcoming, the reigning European champions are preparing to let their player leave, as long as they were to receive an offer in the region of €40m.

This may be too much for Atleti, although they did pay a similar amount to sign Lookman from Atalanta during the winter transfer window. For now, it remains to be seen whether they continue to step up their interest in Lee as the summer draws nearer.

The post Atletico Madrid in talks to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward in summer deal appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are planning to address multiple areas of Hansi Flick’s squad during the upcoming summer transfer window, and arguably the most pressing is central defence. Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo and Gerard Martin have struggled at times throughout the season, which is why the Catalans’ sporting department want to fill the void that was left by Inigo Martinez’s exit in 2025.

The likes of Alessandro Bastoni and Marcos Senesi have been linked with a move to the Spotify Camp Nou, but at the other end of the experience scale, Barcelona also have Luka Vuskovic as an option. The Croatian defender, who has excelled on loan at Hamburg this season, has been strongly linked with leaving Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, and the Catalans are already on the case.

It’s been reported that talks have taken place between Barcelona officials and Vuskovic’s entourage, and as per 365scores (via Sport), the player’s agent Pini Zahavi has refused to deny these rumours.

“I cannot comment at this time. The player still has a contract with Hamburg and his concentration is there.”

Barcelona relations with Zahavi could work in their favour

The fact that Joan Laporta, who is seeking to be re-elected as Barcelona president this coming weekend, has a close relationship with Pini Zahavi could give the Catalans the edge in the race to sign Vuskovic. A number of other clubs are keeping tabs on the situation with the 19-year-old, although they could be left behind by those at the Spotify Camp Nou.

It will be interesting to see whether Vuskovic is the player that Barcelona choose to sign in the summer. There are chances for him and one more centre-back to be brought in, although that would depend on whether Andreas Christensen is offered a new contract, which presently looks like it will happen.

The post Agent refuses to deny Barcelona interest in Tottenham Hotspur star appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are looking to sign a new central defender this summer, as they seek to address an area that has caused problems this season. The decision not to replace Inigo Martinez immediately has looked to be a poor one, but the idea is for a similar profile to arrive during the upcoming transfer window.

Given that Barcelona have plans to sign a new centre-back and striker on top of securing the permanent transfer of Marcus Rashford, money could be scarce for the club’s sporting department – especially if they are unable to return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule before the summer transfer window opens. That’s why the free agent market is being explored, and one of the most tempting options available to them is Marcos Senesi.

Senesi have been keeping tabs on Senesi’s situation for the last few months, and according to 365scores (via MD), Bournemouth have already given up hope of agreeing a new contract with the Argentine defender. This has been confirmed by the Premier League club’s director of football operations, Tiago Pinto.

“Senesi will become a free player next June and will officially leave the team at the end of his contract next summer. He will not have a future at the club, which means he will be out of the team’s plans for the new season.”

Senesi wants to join Barcelona

Senesi is attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur among others, but the report notes that he would prioritise a move to Barcelona. He is hoping to see talks with the La Liga leaders progress in the coming weeks, with a view to a pre-contract offer being presented.

It makes a lot of sense for Barcelona to go for Senesi. He has impressed in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons when called upon, and given that he would arrive without a transfer fee, it would be a deal that is very financially-sensible.

The post Premier League defender waiting on Barcelona contract offer appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid are planning to address multiple areas of Alvaro Arbeloa’s squad during the summer transfer window. One of the most important is midfield, with club bosses finally prepared to fill the voids left by Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

In recent months, numerous midfield targets have been drawn up by Real Madrid officials. Rodri Hernandez is the most desired, but given that Manchester City have no plans to sell the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, alternatives are being lined up, with Adam Wharton and Chema Andres among them.

A new name has now been added into the mix: Sandro Tonali. According to Nicolo Schira (via ED), a scouting delegation from Real Madrid have travelled to England this week in preparation of scouting the Newcastle United midfielder, who will be in action on Saturday against Man City.

Tonali has been a top performer in the Premier League since returning in August 2024 from a 10-month ban for betting offences. Real Madrid have been very impressed with his displays, and coupled with his international experience, ability to direct the game as well as being an age that still places him in full competitive maturity, he is seen as a viable option to strengthen their ranks.

Newcastle have Tonali asking price in mind

However, Newcastle will not make it easy for Tonali to leave. Previously, it had been reported that the Italy international is contracted to 2028, but with it since becoming known that he’s tied down for an extra two years, until 2030, it means that the Premier League side are under no pressure to sell.

With this in mind, it’s been reported that an initial asking price of €120m has been set. Real Madrid would have no desire to reach this amount, but it is can be negotiated down to the €80-90m region, an agreement with Newcastle could be possible.

The post Real Madrid personnel in England for Newcastle United scouting mission appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have offered a new contract to defender Andreas Christensen, a move that came as a surprise on its own, but more details have emerged of their offer. The Danish defender has been battling injuries for the best part of two years, but it seems they are keen to keep hold of the 30-year-old.

The Catalan side have activated the emergency rule to allow them to use Christensen’s salary limit space on three occasions at this point, as he has leapt from serious injury to serious injury. Over the past two seasons, he has managed just 774 minutes spread across 23 appearances, and is unlikely to return until May this season.

FC Barcelona have opened talks for centre-back Luka Vušković with his agent Pini Zahavi. This season, he's excelled on loan at Bundesliga side Hamburg from Tottenham Hotspur. [@Plettigoal] pic.twitter.com/Gl4xZV960b

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 6, 2026

Barcelona’s contract offer is for two seasons

On Wednesday, news broke that Christensen had been offered a new deal by Barcelona, following a meeting between his agent and Director of Football Deco. It was noted that it was the opening offer, and by no means are negotiations at an end, with Christensen set to evaluate other offers too. MD have now added a crucial detail that the offer is for two years, and includes a significant wage cut.

Christensen’s priority is supposedly to stay at Barcelona but is yet to make a call. Given the details available, it seems Barcelona are keen to make the impact of the deal as light as possible on their salary limit.

Barcelona buying low – and selling?

Given Christensen has struggled so often with injuries, his negotiating power has likely dropped well below his ability as a player. Deco and Barcelona may consider Christensen a gamble on a potentially very useful depth piece at a low cost for next season, and one that does not to adapt. On top of that, Christensen has performed well when fit.

Should he manage to put together a solid season, there is a chance that Barcelona could make a minor sale next summer, and recoup what they spend on his salary.

The post Barcelona contract offer for defender is for two years appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are hoping to return to La Liga’s 1:1 before the summer transfer window opens at the start of July, and if they do, it will be much easier for signings to be made. It also means that money saved/brought in would go further, which is crucial in their bid to significantly strengthen Hansi Flick’s squad.

A new centre-back and striker are wanted alongside the permanent signing of Marcus Rashford, but at this stage, it is far from certain that Barcelona will be able to afford all of their desired targets. Returning to the 1:1 will help, but they must also raise funds, with player sales being one of their avenues.

Another would be in the form of sell-on clauses being activated, and one to keep an eye on ahead of the summer is Vitor Roque. Barcelona sold the Brazil international last February in a deal worth €30m, and as part of that agreement, they are entitled to up to 20% of any future fee that Palmeiras, his current club, receives.

Roque has been in excellent form since returning to Brazil, but he could now be heading back to Europe. According to BolaVip (via MD), Chelsea have registered their interest in “Tigrinho”, and an opening offer is being readied.

Chelsea prepared to pay €50m for Roque

It’s noted that Chelsea are willing to spend €50m to secure Roque’s return to Europe. Palmeiras are open to negotiations regarding the 21-year-old, although they would demand a significantly higher fee in order to sanction a deal.

Barcelona would net 20% of any transfer fee received by Palmeiras in the event that it exceeds €40m (if lower, their clause would be 10%). €10m would be their share if a deal was to be done for €50m, but given that it’s likely to be more, the Catalans would be in line for a very nice pinch.

The post Barcelona in line to receive €10m transfer pinch from Chelsea appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona will be very busy during this summer’s transfer window, with a number of areas in Hansi Flick’s squad needing to be addressed. A new central defender is wanted, while the likelihood is that a number nine will be needed to replace Robert Lewandowski, who is unlikely to be offered a new contract.

Lewandowski’s current deal expires in June, and at this stage, he has many chances to end up in the MLS. However, it is not guaranteed that a striker will arrive to replace the 37-year-old, with Joan Laporta, who is seeking to be re-elected as Barcelona president later this month, telling MD that a signing is not essential in this area.

“First, obviously Barça can sign players and we have two great centre-forwards, Ferran and Lewandowski, and I’m delighted with both of them. And then there are other players who can also play in that position: Olmo, Rashford, Lamine Yamal too, because sometimes he becomes in the front positions.

“As for the economy, when try to make an adjustment in some position that represents a reversal of a player, whether he is a centre-forward, midfielder, defender or goalkeeper, Barça have the ability to do so. Another thing is that it has to be done. No one forces us, it is not mandatory to sign (a new striker). Obviously, if we see an opportunity in the market that Deco thinks it can be interesting and that it improves the group, Deco tells us will propose and we will decide.”

Laporta: Deco has put together a fantastic squad

Laporta spoke further on Barcelona sporting director Deco, whose work he has been very impressed with since he joined the club.

“We are very satisfied with the work Deco has done. He has put together an extraordinary, excellent squad. He has been able to renew each and every one of the young players we have. That was a titanic job that I thank him enormously, because we have all these players renewed until at least 30. Cubarsí, Bernal, Pedri, Lamine, Fermín, Olmo, Casadó, Balde, Araujo, Gerard Martín, Koundé, Eric García.

“In short, Deco has set up a squad and has renewed them. This squad has a present and a future. Financially, in these three years that Deco has been doing the functions of sporting director in an excellent way, the result is positive.”

The post Joan Laporta issues surprising statement on Barcelona transfer plans – “It is not mandatory” appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid are desperate to hold onto Antoine Griezmann until the end of the season, but any hope of retaining him beyond the summer seems to be in vain. Los Colchoneros have already started making moves to bring in an alternative to the French playmaker.

Griezmann has been heavily linked with a move to Orlando City, who were pushing to make the deal happen before the 26th of March, the Major League Soccer transfer deadline. It seems that Griezmann will delay any departure until the summer, as he seeks to lift the Copa del Rey with Atletico for the first time, at the risk of losing the Orlando offer.

Atletico Madrid hold talks with potential Griezmann replacement

Atletico do seem conscious that Griezmann is likely to leave for the United States in the summer though, despite having a year left on his deal. A such, RadioMarca report that Sporting Director Mateu Alemany has already begun making moves to replace the 34-year-old. They say that Atletico will up their efforts in the coming weeks to sign Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Kang-In Lee.

Los Colchoneros made a move for Kang-In in the January window, but were rebuffed by PSG. They have told the South Korean international that they want to renew his deal, which currently expires in 2028.

Griezmann offer details revealed

Matteo Moretto goes on to explain that Griezmann’s offer from Orlando is between €10-15m per year, and would last for three years. After tax, it would be around €7m per season. It remains to be seen if they will maintain their offer in the summer.

JUST IN: Orlando City’s offer to Antoine Griezmann is €10–15m gross per season, roughly €7m net after tax.

[: @MatteMoretto, @RadioMARCA] pic.twitter.com/Ze8OVnObgq

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) March 5, 2026

Is Griezmann’s replacement already at Atletico?

Although it is somewhat facetitious to speak about one player being a like for like replacement for Griezmann, the signing of Alex Baena last season for €50m seemed to be a nod towards the Frenchman’s eventual departure. Baena has struggled to replicate his Villarreal form at the Metorpolitano, but he certainly has the credentials to become their primary playmaker.

The post Atletico Madrid settled on Antoine Griezmann replacement appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid are hoping to return to winning ways on Friday when they make the trip to Balaidos to take on Celta Vigo in La Liga. Alvaro Arbeloa’s side are hoping to avoid going down to a second defeat of the season against the Galicians, although they have been busy in that area in the lead-up to the match.

In recent years, Real Madrid have made a conscious effort to improve the options they have in La Fabrica. Few players have managed to make the step up to the senior squad, although there are signs that more could be about to join the likes of Dani Carvajal and Raul Asencio in having broken through.

One player that could go so in years to come is Mateo Quintana. As per ESPN (via ED), Real Madrid have reached an agreement to sign the Spain U14 international at the end of the season from Celta’s well-renowned academy.

Quintana to follow in footsteps of another Celta starlet

Real Madrid have agreed terms with Quintana, which means that Celta can do little to stop him leaving for nothing. The 14-year-old becomes the latest teenager to swap Galicia for the Spanish capital, following the high-profile case of Bryan Bugarín, who is still on the books at Valdebebas after making the move in 2021.

If it is the case that Arbeloa remains as Real Madrid head coach beyond the end of this season, which currently looks unlikely, there would be many chances of La Fabrica stars to be involved in the first team fold going forward. The likes of David Jimenez, Thiago Pitarch and Cesar Palacios have all featured since the change of manager in January, and in the years to come, Quintana will hope that he can also make the desired impression that leads to being called upon by Los Blancos.

The post Real Madrid agree terms with Celta Vigo starlet ahead of La Liga meeting appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona saw their salary limit increased earlier this week to the tune of €81m by La Liga, augementing hopes that they spend more freely this summer. However Director of Football Deco has been consistent in using what resources he does have available to keep hold of their current players.

This season alone, Jules Kounde, Fermin Lopez and Eric Garcia have signed contract extensions, while a number of their key players also put pen to paper last season. The major question marks this summer are Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen, who are both out of contract, while the Catalan side are also yet to start renewal talks for Ferran Torres, who has just 15 months remaining on his deal.

Barcelona offer Andreas Christensen new contract

According to Sport, Barcelona Director of Football Deco met with Simon Oliviera of KIN Partners, who represent Christensen. In January it was reported that Barcelona had decided to offer the Danish defender a new deal, and on Wednesday morning, Deco communicated the terms that Barcelona were offering in a new one-year contract for next season.

The post Barcelona meets with agent of defender to communicate contract offer appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have started looking ahead to the summer transfer window, which should be a busy period for the Catalans. They are hoping to return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule before the end of the season, and if they achieve this, it would allow them to operate with a sense of normality in the market.

Barcelona are hoping to add a new central defender and striker to Hansi Flick’s squad, while a decision must also be made regarding loanees Marcus Rashford and Joao Cancelo. The former is able to be signed for €30m, and at this stage, it is very likely that he remains at the Spotify Camp Nou on a permanent basis.

Rashford has already agreed terms with Barcelona to sign permanently, with the only obstacle being a club-to-club agreement with Manchester United. The Premier League giants are not prepared to negotiate, but despite this, there is a feeling that the England international has already played his final game at the club, as per MD.

Carrick: Man United looking for Rashford replacement

Barcelona are very much prepared to activate the €30m buy option in their agreement with Man United, whose manager Michael Carrick spoke earlier this week regarding the club’s summer transfer business. He is keen for Rashford to return to Old Trafford, although his attention has now turned to securing a replacement.

“It’s very possible (that a left winger is signed). I think you always look for the balance of the team and the squad to get maximum flexibility, so it’s definitely something to consider.”

It makes a lot of sense for Rashford to stick around at Barcelona, given the impact he has made this season. €30m is a lot of money given their current financial status, but for a proven squad player that is very capable of winning matches on his own, it is good value.

The post Manchester United expect Marcus Rashford to join Barcelona permanently appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has said he will speaking with their medical staff about their injury crisis, after two more issues were added to his headache on Tuesday night. The Blaugrana currently have six players out of action, with only one set for an imminent return.

The next player back will be Robert Lewandowski, who is expected to play with a mask after an eye socket fracture suffered on Saturday. Following him will be Gavi, but the young midfielder is unlikely to feature much, having not played since August. Against Atletico Madrid, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde both picked up hamstring injuries which will keep them out until April. Flick admitted that he had little information just after the Atletico match.

“They’re out, I don’t know exactly what’s wrong with them. The players gave it their all, it was incredible. They gave more than 100% and that’s fantastic. The fans left happy. Disappointed too, but they saw a great team and that’s fantastic.”

Hansi Flick gives update on Pedri status

Meanwhile Pedri Gonzalez has only just come back from injury. In his third game back, and first start back, he played 90 minutes, and finished the game looking exhausted. Barely able to move, Flick did rule out an injury for the Canary Islander, who they were unable to bring off in the final 20 minutes after using up all of their substitution windows.

“I’m glad it didn’t happen. We needed Pedri on the pitch and we took a risk with him. Nothing happened, he’s fine.”

#FCBarcelona manager Hansi Flick reacts to their Copa del Rey elimination. Full reaction from his press conference belowpic.twitter.com/YXaAahL3kE

— Football España (@footballespana_) March 4, 2026

“We have to go step by step, recover, because it’s a game every three or four days now, it’s not easy. We have to recover, recover, recover. Of course it’s not easy, I’m not happy about the injuries. We paid a lot today. It’s not good.”

Flick on Barcelona injury issues

More generally on Barcelona’s injury problems, Flick said he would be discussing the matter with the club’s medical staff. Last week Frenkie de Jong was ruled out for a month.

“We have two more injuries, which is bad news. I’m not happy about these injuries; we have several players injured, and that’s not good. We’ll have to talk. Things need to improve. We need to talk to the doctors and the fitness staff about how to prevent three players from getting injured in a single week.”

The absences of de Jong, Kounde and Balde are added to an injury list that includes Gavi and Andreas Christensen. It leaves the Blaugrana with just five midfielders and five defenders available for the time being.

The post ‘We have too many injuries’ – Barcelona manager Hansi Flick gives update on Pedri appeared first on Football España.

Deportivo Alaves have reached an agreement for Eduardo Coudet to leave the club, as he is expected to take over River Plate in Argentina. Coudet has been in charge of Alaves for the past 18 months, guiding them to safety in his first season there, and is on course to do so this season too.

Chacho Coudet declared to the media last Thursday that he swore on his children’s lives that he had not spoken to anyone from River Plate, amid heavy speculation that he would be the next manager at El Monumental. Yet on Tuesday night, Alaves thanked Coudet for his work during his 55 games in charge, announcing his exit.

River Plate and Alaves reach deal for Coudet

According to Cadena Cope, a deal was reached between River and Alaves for Coudet’s services. El Millionario were looking for a new manager after Marcelo Gallardo announced his departure last week, and settled on Coudet. It is not yet clear how much the deal will be worth, as Coudet did not have a release clause in his deal, but Los Babazorros were reportedly demanding €2m, while River began their offer at €800k. Coudet is expected to be appointed the new River manager on Wednesday.

Quique Sanchez Flores replaces Coudet

Alaves have moved swiftly to replace Coudet, and minutes after his exit was made public, announced that Quique Sanchez Flores had been appointed on a 2.5-year deal until 2028. The experienced manager has plenty of experience fighting fires at Valencia, Getafe, Espanyol and Sevilla over the duration of his career, and has been in charge of over 350 games in La Liga. On top of that, he also has experience at Benfica, Watford and Atletico Madrid.

He will no doubt be seen as a safe pair of hands, with Alaves desperate to maintain their La Liga status in the final 12 games of the season. Sanchez Flores will be in the dugout for Alaves’ clash with Valencia at Mestalla on Sunday, with Alaves currently in 16th, three points ahead of RCD Mallorca in 18th.

The post Alaves announce replacement as Chacho Coudet leaves to take over River Plate appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid look set to continue rebuilding their squad this summer, their first under new Sporting Director Mateu Alemany. It seems their backline could be in for major surgery again this summer, after the arrivals of David Hancko, Marc Pubill and Matteo Ruggeri this year.

Los Colchoneros are already looking for options to replace some of their current defenders, according to RadioMarca. They are currently tracking the progress of Palmeiras right-back Agustin Giay, who they have been following for several years, who could be a replacement for Nahuel Molina, one of three defenders that Atletico may sanction exits for.

Atletico Madrid will listen to offers for three defenders

Matteo Moretto explains that Atletico will consider departures for Molina, Clement Lenglet and Jose Maria Gimenez this summer. The former has struggled to meet expectations since his €20m move from Udinese, and Marcos Llorente remains the first-choice at right-back. Molina already has offers on the table to leave.

With regard to Gimenez, it has been reported that Atletico have agreed a departure for the Uruguayan after the World Cup, with both sides desiring a new start. He has received interest from Argentina and Italy. Meanwhile Lenglet arrived on a three-year contract last summer on a free from Barcelona, but the Frenchman has seen his game time drop significantly with the arrival of Hancko and the emergence of Pubill.

Molina discusses form struggles

Molina, 27, is in his fourth season at Atletico Madrid, but will be into the final year of his deal next season. It would be no surprise if Los Rojiblancos decided to try and cash in on Molina before he walks for free. The World Cup-winner explained that it took him some time to adapt to life in Madrid due to his international success.

Diego Simeone: "Ademola Lookman arrived with great enthusiasm and desire to keep growing. We need him to add defensive work to what he already gives us offensively, because he has that ability.

He’s shown it with the Nigeria national team, and we need him in that role." pic.twitter.com/RvB8o6RJoE

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) February 27, 2026

“We never look back, and there was a year when we won the Copa America, then the Finalissima and were champions again, then we won the qualifiers from start to finish and beat everyone. Then the World Cup and another Copa America. There was a time when I was kind of down, so to speak, because in the end, I didn’t enjoy it, processing all that information. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have at that moment,” he told ‘Agusneta y Leo DElia’, as quoted by Marca.

“It wasn’t a lack of ambition. It was vertigo. The string of successes, the travel, the exposure, the constant pressure. The feeling that everything was happening too fast. Today I enjoy it much more. Today, when I think about it, watch videos, or just chat with anyone, I enjoy it so much more.”

The post Atletico Madrid to listen to offers for three defenders this summer appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has refused to be drawn on Antoine Griezmann’s potential exit from the club, amid heavy speculation he could be on his way out in March. Sporting Director Mateu Alemany has gone a step further, declaring that they expect him to be at the club.

This week news broke that Griezmann was in advanced talks with Major League Soccer side Orlando City, but to the surprise of all, that he could leave in the next month. Orlando are keen to make the deal happen before the end of the MLS transfer window on the 26th of March, however this would also mean leaving Atletico two months before the end of the season, with a potential Copa del Rey final on the horizon.

‘We shouldn’t put pressure on Griezmann’

Speaking ahead of Atletico Madrid’s trip to face Real Oviedo on Saturday night, Simeone was peppered with questions about a potential exit for Griezmann.

“I understand your question, I was quite clear the other day, I’m focused on tomorrow’s game and how important Antoine is to us,” he told Marca.

“I’m not going to talk about a subject where we don’t know what will happen, nor repeat how important Antoine is to us.”

On the third occasion, Simeone requested that Griezmann was allowed to make his decision in peace.

“I’ll say it again, we’re talking with Antoine and we shouldn’t put pressure on him or say too much. Antoine already knows how important he is to us and we’re focused on the great things that are coming up: Oviedo, Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, Tottenham… there’s no room for anything else.”

If Atlético Madrid advances to the QF of the UCL and final of the CdR, this is what their schedule could look like:

March 22: Real Madrid (La Liga)
April 5: Barça (La Liga)
April 8: Barça (UCL)
April 12: Sevilla (La Liga)
April 15: Barça (UCL)
April 18: CdR final pic.twitter.com/nQQcJK8SlU

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) February 27, 2026

Simeone refuses to be drawn on Tottenham Champions League draw

Earlier in the day, Atletico Madrid found out that they would be facing Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League Round of 16. As is customary with Simeone, he was reluctant to look beyond their next game.

“A tough opponent, an important player in world football, and we’ll talk more when the match gets closer. I’m not thinking about the Champions League right now, but about Oviedo.”

Alemany: Griezmann is under contract with us

Speaking from the Champions League draw in Nyon, Sporting Director Mateu Alemany was more direct, declaring that they were banking on Griezmann being available until the end of the season.

“This is a topic that generates a lot of media speculation. Antoine has two more years on his contract with us, he’s focused on what’s ahead, and his performance has been very good,” Marca quote.

“As far as we’re concerned, we’re focused on him helping us tomorrow, helping us on Tuesday, helping us in the Champions League, helping us until the end of the season, and nothing more. Everything else is speculation.”

If Griezmann does decide to go, then it has been suggested his final game at the Metrpolitano would be next week at home to Real Sociedad. The 34-year-old has been left in no doubt that he is wanted by Simeone and the club, but it could cost him a number of millions if he does decide to stay.

The post Mateu Alemany and Diego Simeone move to shut down Antoine Griezmann exit talk appeared first on Football España.

The presidential campaign at Barcelona often involves plenty of speculation over transfer deals, and this year the name of Harry Kane has been touted as a potential addition this summer. Favourite Joan Laporta of course got his first shot in office by promising the signing of David Beckham, and his second by promising a new deal for Lionel Messi.

Last week presidential candidate Xavier Vilajoana claimed that he had been in contact with Harry Kane’s camp over a potential move. Vilajoana told Football España that Kane was an idea of a signing that would fit Barcelona’s style of play and needs at the position.

Harry Kane’s camp deny contacts with Barcelona

However this reportedly came as news to Kane and company. Christian Falk has told Bayern Insider that Kane has not been contacted by anyone from Barcelona. Agent Charlie Kane, who is also his brother, and his father, who also works for him, are also unaware of any contact for the England international.

Barcelona are hunting for a striker

Director of Football Deco has confirmed that Barcelona are keen to bring in a forward this summer, but thus far it is unclear who they might target. There have been numerous links to Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, but financially a deal seems highly unlikely. Another name that has been regularly linked with Barcelona on a free transfer is Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic.

Jérémy Mathieu (former FC Barcelona): "Lionel Messi was incredible. In training you couldn't do anything. However, I think I was better at free-kicks than him (laughs)." [@beinsports_FR] pic.twitter.com/NeocpSuKhB

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) February 27, 2026

This is not the first time that Kane’s name has been brought up in relation to Barcelona – earlier in the season he was referenced as a potential option. Bayern seem unwilling to let him go though, and talks are underway to extend his contract. The 33-year-old certainly remains among the best forwards in the world, and Barcelona have shown they are willing to spend on an older striker with the signing of Robert Lewandowski.

The post Harry Kane camp deny contact with Barcelona over summer transfer appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann could be the on the verge of his second exit from the club, according to reports coming out of the Spanish capital. The veteran star was always likely to move to Major League Soccer this summer or next at the latest, but it seems his exit could come sooner than expected.

It was reported at the start of the week that Griezmann has a three-year contract offer from Orlando City on the table, one he is very much interested in. They are keen to make a deal happen before the 27th of March though, when the MLS transfer window shuts. Cadena SER say that the offer from Orlando is not necessarily one he can delay until July, when the transfer window reopens, and that he is ‘much closer to leaving than was first reported’.

Griezmann feels role could be larger this season

Previous reports say that his decision had more or less been made, but has been complicated by the fact that he is playing more often and better than expected this season. Atletico Madrid are also 90 minutes away from the Copa del Rey final next week. Yet Marca say that Griezmann is not entirely satisfied with his minutes. Even if he has been the consummate professional in his handling of it, Griezmann feels he is playing well enough to have a more important role.

Diego Simeone and Atletico are keen for him to finish the season at the club, and they still say that it is more likely that he does so. If Atletico do not make the Copa final, then that could accelerate his decision.

Julián Álvarez's substitution was already agreed with Diego Simeone at half-time last night.@Belen_Boli pic.twitter.com/2s0IiJsGJ2

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) February 25, 2026

Griezmann’s plan if departure goes ahead

One demonstration of Cadena SER’s assertions is that Griezmann already has a timeline for his exit planned, if he does give the green light. He would play in Atletico’s away tie with Real Oviedo this weekend, their semi-final second leg with Barcelona next Wednesday, and then bid farewell to the Metrpolitano on the 7th of March. Real Sociedad, his first professional club, visit the Metropolitano that day.

Griezmann was left out of the starting line-up against Club Brugge on Tuesday, but started in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, and put in a fine performance against Espanyol last weekend from the start too. Averaging a goal contribution every 111 minutes, he has 12 goals and two assists so far this season.

The post Antoine Griezmann ‘very close’ to leaving Atletico Madrid next week appeared first on Football España.

River Plate are looking to replace iconic manager Marcelo Gallardo, after his exit was finalised this week.  ‘The doll’, Gallardo, leaves after a second spell that has last 18 months, and the Argentine giants are looking to replace him with Alaves manager Chacho Coudet.

Coudet, who himself his from Argentina, is one of the primary targets to replace Gallardo say Marca. They have already conducted talks with Coudet himself, and have the green light, with an agreement on a contract. Although he is happy in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the chance to coach at El Monumental is one he considers too good to turn down.

River Plate to negotiate with Alaves for Coudet

Their information, some of which is quoted from Ole in Argentina, goes on to say that the more difficult negotiation will be with Alaves. Los Babazorros are immersed in a relegation battle as they seek survival, and have little intention of letting him go. Diario AS add that Coudet has no release clause in his contract, and as such, Alaves are unlikely to let him go without a significant fee. Their other options are Hernan Crespo, currently at Sao Paulo, and Real Madrid Sporting Director Santiago Solari. However the intention is to negotiate the exit of Coudet from Alaves.

Coudet at Alaves

Coudet arrived at Mendizorrotza in December of last season, guiding Alaves to midtable safety after arriving with the club in the drop zone. His work last season was largely deemed as impressive, and that looked set to continue this season. Recent results and the loss of Carlos Vicente in January to Birmingham City have seen concern rise over their ability to stay up though.

Following their 2-2 draw with Girona on Monday night, Alaves currently sit in 14th position, three points clear of RCD Mallorca in 18th.

The post River Plate set to negotiate with La Liga club for Marcelo Gallardo replacement appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are in the market for a new striker, as they prepare to part ways with Robert Lewandowski at the end of the season. A number of targets have been identified in recent months, and recently, a new name has been added into the mix.

The likes of Julian Alvarez and Harry Kane have been mentioned as targets, but it is far from certain that Barcelona will be able to spend big money on a new number nine. Because of this, low-cost options are being considered, and one of these is Armando Gonzalez.

As per ESPN (via Sport), Barcelona have already made contact with Gonzalez’s representatives. The 22-year-old, whose nickname is La Hormiga (The Ant), has been in sublime form for Chivas this season, with 17 goals in 24 matches, and this has alerted the La Liga leaders to his situation in Mexico.

Aside from Barcelona, Gonzalez is attracting interest from a number of clubs across Europe. CSKA Moscow are prepared to pay $20m to sign him, while the likes of West Ham United, Feyenoord and Celtic have also been linked with a summer move for the Mexico international striker.

Barcelona need to make the right signing this summer

It is imperative that Barcelona make the right decision this summer when pursuing a new number nine. Lewandowski’s exit will leave a big void, even if he has struggled for form this season, and that will need to be filled effectively. An established name would be the ideal move, but it well be that an up-and-comer like Gonzalez is brought in to compete alongside Ferran Torres.

It remains to be seen who Barcelona go all-in for during the summer transfer window. Any deal will be tricky due to their well-documented financial woes, although these could be eased before the end of the season.

The post Barcelona make contact with agent of Mexican forward ahead of summer move appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid could be looking for a new manager in the summer, with Alvaro Arbeloa only contracted until the end of the season. While his record, particularly in La Liga, has been good, there is not enough evidence to suggest that he has significantly improved the team since taking over from Xabi Alonso, which could mean that he is replaced.

Jurgen Klopp remains Real Madrid’s leading candidate in the event that a new manager is sought, but in recent weeks, there has been speculation regarding a possible return to the Bernabeu for Jose Mourinho, whose Benfica side face Los Blancos in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday.

However, Mourinho himself has already denied these reports, and now Diario AS have confirmed that Real Madrid have never considered re-hiring the Portuguese. They do not see him as being of the required standard to take the club forward, which does make sense considering his record as a manager in recent years.

Real Madrid have a big managerial decision to make

This summer is a big one for Real Madrid, who have big calls to make regarding the manager and a number of their first team players. It had been hoped that Alonso would spearhead a new era starting from this season, but his departure in January means that another new one is likely to begin from the 2026-27 campaign onwards.

Much will depend on which managers are available for hire this summer. Klopp is yet to give any indication that he is willing to return to the dugout, but the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann could be available after the 2026 World Cup. They are not yet being discussed within the Real Madrid offices, but that could change over the next few months.

The post Real Madrid make decision on Jose Mourinho return as manager appeared first on Football España.

This summer’s transfer window will be a busy one for Barcelona, who are hoping to make significant additions to Hansi Flick’s squad. But just as important will be moving fringe players on, with sporting director Deco being tasked with that job.

Barcelona are hoping to finalise their return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule before the end of the season, which would make player sales even more crucial – as it would allow more funds to be spent. Deco has already identified two players that he wants to be sold during the summer transfer window.

As per Sport, Deco is keen for Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ansu Fati to depart Barcelona on a permanent basis. Both players are currently out on loan, at Girona and AS Monaco respectively, and neither is likely to be re-integrated to the first team squad if/when they return to Catalonia at the end of the season.

Monaco have a buy option for Fati, but the likelihood is that they will not move to trigger this. If Barcelona manage to offload both he and ter Stegen during the summer, it would free up a lot of salary space, which could be used towards registering any possible new signings that Barcelona make.

Exits will be crucial for Barcelona

It is vital that Barcelona get unwanted players off their books this summer. Fati and ter Stegen fall into this category, and the same is likely to be said for Robert Lewandowski, whose contract is unlikely to be extended before it expires in June.

It will be very interesting to see how the summer transfer window goes for Barcelona. Major signings are wanted, but just as important will be moving on the likes of Fati and ter Stegen, both of whom have no future at the Spotify Camp Nou.

The post Deco planning to seal summer exits for two Barcelona players appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid have drawn up plans to re-sign at least two of their La Fabrica graduates during this summer’s transfer window. It’s taken for granted that Nico Paz will return from Como, while Jacobo Ramon could also be brought back from the Serie A side.

They may not be the only cases, with Victor Munoz being another that has chances to return to the Bernabeu. The 22-year-old left Real Madrid last summer to join Osasuna, where he has been very impressive this season – and that continued on Saturday as he put his former club to the sword as Los Rojillos won 2-1 at El Sadar.

Ahead of that match, Osasuna sporting director Braulio Vazquez confirmed to DAZN (via Marca) that Real Madrid have a multi-year buy-back clause for Munoz, who would only return to Los Blancos in order to be a first team regular.

“Real Madrid have a buy-back option for several years and, if they exercise it, it would be to incorporate him into the first team. They are a serious club in that aspect. There are 16 weeks to make a transfer, and you cannot transfer the player again in the same market. If they re-sign him, it is to have him in the first team. It is not a manoeuvre to re-sell him, and the history of the club proves it.”

Braulio: Munoz has no desire to join Sunderland in January

Real Madrid’s chances to re-sign Munoz could have ended in January when Sunderland came calling for the Osasuna winger. Fortunately for both clubs, he had no desire to leave El Sadar, as Braulio confirmed.

“You need the will of the player himself. He has had some chances, but at no time did he consider leaving, because, as I said and he himself has pointed out, he is in the right environment to continue growing.”

The post Confirmed: Real Madrid have buy-back clause for €40m winger that terrorised them during La Liga match appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have centred their efforts on maintaining their squad in recent years rather than wheeling and dealing, but there is little doubt that as they continue to battle salary limit issues, they are increasingly open for business. Fermin Lopez and Marc Casado were heavily linked with an exit last summer, and the latter is set to be a topic of conversation again.

Casado reportedly would have been allowed to leave for around €30m at the end of the transfer window, with West Ham United and Wolves cited as potential destinations. However Casado decided to remain at the club, prioritising another season under Hansi Flick.

Conflicting rumours over Casado future

In recent weeks though, it has been reported that Casado would be open to a move to Saudi Arabia this summer. After the summer, Casado signed with super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has close links to the Middle East, and he could orchestrate a sabbatical from European football for a couple of years, at which point Casado could return to Europe in the prime of his career with plenty of financial security. Yet at the same time, it has also been reported that Barcelona are trying to tie Casado down to a new deal.

Saudi Arabia to meet with Marc Casado

The latest development comes from Saudi Arabia, where 365scores (via Sport) have reported that Saudi Arabia will set up a meeting with Casado’s agents to find out whether he would be interested in the move. If he were to give the green light, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund would sanction a deal in excess of €40m.

The new VIP boxes at the Spotify Camp Nou are entering their final construction phase and are expected to be fully operational from the start of next season, according to club sources. The seats feature premium upholstery, extra-wide armrests, built-in holders for drinks &… pic.twitter.com/t088CrCMmo

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) February 19, 2026

Barcelona likely to receive less for Casado

Given a price tag was quoted of €30m last summer, and Casado has been playing far less than last year when he made it into the Spain squad, it seems unlikely that Saudi Arabia would pay over the odds in such a manner. If Casado is negotiating a new deal, then no doubt interest from another side certainly helps to drive up the price. He currently has until 2028 on his deal at Barcelona, meaning the Blaugrana will likely want to either cash in or extend his deal.

The post Saudi Arabia accelerate interest in ‘€40m+’ Barcelona midfielder appeared first on Football España.

It’s no secret that Barcelona are interested in signing Julian Alvarez this summer, as they seek to replace Robert Lewandowski. Any arrangements are currently on hold until the outcome of the presidential election, despite recent reports from Argentina claiming that it has already been agreed for the Atletico Madrid striker to move to the Spotify Camp Nou.

Alvarez is also attracted interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, both of whom would welcome bringing the former Manchester City man back to the Premier League. However, Atleti are clear that their star striker is not for sale, despite a poor run of form over the last few months.

As per Cadena SER, during Barcelona’s most recent approach regarding Alvarez, Atleti responded with their asking price: €200m. This would be the second highest transfer fee in history, after Neymar Junior’s €222m move from the Catalans to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017.

Alvarez more likely to sign new Atleti contract than leave

The report also stated that Alvarez is more likely to sign a new Atleti contract than leave the club in the summer. Los Colchoneros officials are prepared to offer the Argentina international the chance to extend his stay, with any proposal also likely to include a pay rise.

Alvarez has been underperforming this season, but as his performances during the 2024-25 campaign showed, he is a top-class striker. Atleti are under no pressure to sell, so it makes sense that they want a record fee to consider letting Barcelona sign him.

Barcelona are still considering their plans for the summer, but if Joan Laporta is re-elected as president, there is every chance that a move for Alvarez is seriously considered. However, they would need to return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule before that happens, given they are still hamstrung in a financial sense.

The post Barcelona quoted €200m to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid are in store for another busy summer, with both signings and departures already in the pipeline. Much of their business is still to be determined, although one exit has all-but been agreed upon now.

There are a number of players whose contracts at the Bernabeu are about to expire. Dani Carvajal and Antonio Rudiger are facing uncertain futures, but in the case of David Alaba, his is much more clear: he will be moving on.

As per Fabrizio Romano (via ED), Real Madrid have already decided that Alaba will not be offered a new contract before his current deal expires in June. The veteran defender has struggled for prominence since tearing his ACL in 2023, and because he is no longer counted upon, this season will be his last in the Spanish capital.

Alaba joined Real Madrid as a free agent in 2021, following the expiry of his Bayern Munich contract. In total, he has played 126 times in the famous white jersey, although he is unlikely to feature much more between now and the end of the season, given that head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has Rudiger, Dean Huijsen and Raul Asencio ahead of him in the pecking order.

Real Madrid will need to replace Alaba

When Alaba does depart, it is expected that Real Madrid will look to sign a new central defender. Plans have been drawn up to add another to their ranks, with La Fabrica graduate Jacobo Ramon among the favourites to make the move during the summer transfer window.

It may be a rather quiet ending to his time as a Real Madrid player, but Alaba has been a very good servant at the Bernabeu. He will be warmly appreciated by the club and its supporters when he makes his final appearance later in the season.

The post Decision made: Real Madrid defender to leave this summer appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are set to make the centre-back position a priority for the summer transfer window alongside a number nine, but they were close to signing one last season. Director of Football Deco has confirmed reports that a deal was close for Germany defender Jonathan Tah.

Tah, 30, was out of contract at Bayer Leverkusen last summer, and had decided that he would be leaving on a free. Barcelona meanwhile had made a loan offer for him late in the summer transfer window of 2024. As the end of his deal approached though, Barcelona were reportedly in advanced talks to sign him on a free transfer, but in June, a move to Bayern Munich was announced.

Deco confirms talks with Jonathan Tah

Speaking to Sport in an interview, Deco confirms that ‘there were very advanced conversations for Jonathan Tah, and in the end it didn’t happen.’ It seems reports from the spring of 2025 were on the money. The general line was that Tah had agreed a deal in principle with Barcelona, but they did not make a final call on the deal, and Bayern moved for his signature. Instead, the Blaugrana moved for goalkeeper Joan Garcia (€25m), Marcus Rashford on loan (€5m), and Roony Bardghji (€2.6m).

How is Jonathan Tah faring at Bayern Munich?

Arriving in the summer, Tah became an immediate starter at Bayern Munich under Vincent Kompany, and has rarely left the line-up. So far he has made 32 appearances, scoring three times and giving two assists, racking up 2,625 minutes in the process. Of those, 30 have been starts, and he has been left on the bench just three times.

Cubarsí: "We are a group that has already shown that we believe in comebacks and have carried them out. We are going to try again with all our strength and with the support of our fans who never disappoint us."

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) February 19, 2026

Barcelona are set to search for a central defender this summer, but there is little clarity on what they will be able to spend. Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi is in a similiar contract situation this year, while Josko Gvardiol and Alessandro Bastoni have been mentioned as targets Barcelona might pursue if they had no limitations in terms of salary limit.

The post Deco confirms Barcelona were close to deal for Bayern Munich player last summer appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona want to sign a new striker this summer, and one of the players being considered is Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong. The 22-year-old started the season in blinding form, but despite not scoring since October, he remains on the radar of the Catalan giants – as well as a number of other top European clubs.

Levante are aware of the interest shown in Etta Eyong, which is why they are prepared to sell him. As it turns out, they are prepared for him to leave imminently, with Russian club CSKA Moscow pushing to finalise a €30m deal for the Cameroon international.

However, it has been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano that Etta Eyong has turned down a move. He has made it clear that he wants to stay in Europe, with his plan being to leave Levante in the summer.

Etta Eyong was surprisingly dropped for Levante’s home defeat to Villarreal on Wednesday, and according to Romano, this was because of the ongoing stand-off between him and the club’s hierarchy. The Valencians want the deal with CSKA Moscow to be agreed and finalised, but the player is pushing back against it, much to their frustration.

Seven clubs eyeing Etta Eyong move

According to Ben Jacobs, Etta Eyong has good reasons for turning down a move to CSKA Moscow. As well as the Russian side, the striker is attracting interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Everton and Fulham.

If a deal with CSKA Moscow ends up falling through, Levante will be frustrated. They are also likely to continue demanding €30m from any club that tries to sign Etta Eyong in the summer, which could still end up being a good deal for a player that has shown flashes of quality in La Liga over the course of the 2025-26 season.

A move to the Premier League could be the most likely option, given that Etta Eyong has previously expressed his desire to play in England.

The post Levante clash with star forward over €30m transfer offer as Barcelona watch on appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona are gearing up for a vitally important summer transfer window, which will see significant signings and exits. One of the players that has been linked with a move away from the Spotify Camp Nou is Marc Casado, who has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.

Casado has struggled for form when he has played this season, which is perhaps the reason why he has infrequently been called upon by Hansi Flick. Frenkie de Jong and Pedri are ahead of him in the pecking order, and soon, it is expected that Gavi and Marc Bernal will also have more prominence.

Despite this, Barcelona have made it clear that Casado is still counted upon, which is why the decision has been taken to offer him a new contract. As per Sport, work is already being done to tie down the 22-year-old midfielder, with the hope being that an agreement is reached before the end of the season.

Casado could consider leaving in the summer

For now, Casado is happy to stay at Barcelona, although he understands that his minutes could be limited between now and the end of the season. If he loses a lot of prominence before the summer, it’s noted that he would consider a move away.

If that does happen, a number of clubs would be on alert. As well as Saudi Arabia, Casado has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, with the former having tried to reach a deal with Barcelona last summer, but in the end, there was no agreement.

It will be interesting to see how Casado’s situation evolves over the coming weeks and months. He would be a good fifth-choice midfield option for Barcelona, but given his transfer value, it would be better served to let him leave if he does drop down the pecking order.

The post Barcelona make surprise contract decision on 22-year-old midfielder appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid Sporting Director Mateu Alemany has confirmed that they are interested in signing Atalanta midfielder Ederson dos Santos in the summer. They have been linked with the Brazilian for the past two years, but reportedly negotiated for him with the Serie A side in the January transfer window.

Ederson did not leave Atalanta in January, despite Atletico being willing to offer around €35-40m with just 18 months remaining on his deal. As it was, Atletico spent around €25m on Rodrigo Mendoza and Obed Vargas, both central midfielders. “One more on the list of good players we have,” Alemany told Movistar+ as quoted by Marca before their Champions League tie with Club Brugge. Recently it has been reported that Atletico will reopen talks for Ederson next month.

Alemany on January transfer business

Overall, it was a chaotic January for Los Rojiblancos, who saw four players leave, and brought in three on transfer deadline day. Alemany was not willing to evaluate their window, or whether they would have preferred to do more business.

“At the end of the season, we’ll assess what’s been done. The departures, the arrivals… we’ll evaluate the four departures and the three arrivals.”

‘There’s no specific reason for our La Liga form’ – Alemany

Before the match, a major topic has been Atletico’s up and down form over recent weeks, after comfortable wins agains Real Betis and Barcelona were sandwiched between significant defeats to Betis and Rayo Vallecano. Simeone commented before the match that he could not ask for any more from his players, and Alemany said there was no specific cause they were so far off the pace in La Liga.

“These are different tournaments. Things just turn out this way. There’s no specific reason for our league position. The team always wants it. These tournaments demand maximum concentration because if you slip up, you’re out. That’s where we reach our best form.”

The following will be suspended for the UCL return leg if they get a yellow card tonight:

– Diego Simeone
– Robin Le Normand
– Clément Lenglet
– Thiago Almada
– Giuliano Simeone

Pablo Barrios is also one yellow card away, but he is unavailable.

[via @mundodeportivo] pic.twitter.com/inlOoyYfUZ

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) February 18, 2026

“We always go out to win and give it our all. We also have a lot at stake in the league, and it’s a huge demand to be at the top. We have to push ourselves, and we do so at our best in every competition.”

The suspicion in Madrid is that Atletico have decided to prioritise the Copa del Rey and Champions League. They are highly likely to finish in the top four in La Liga, while progress in Europe comes with significant financial rewards, and they are one step away from the Copa final against Real Sociedad or Athletic Club.

The post Atletico Madrid Sporting Director confirms interest in Brazilian midfielder appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona have plans to sign a new centre forward in the summer, and high on their list is Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. Joan Laporta is a big fan of the Argentina international, and if he is re-elected as president, it would be no surprise to see the Catalans step up plans to sign him.

However, it will not be easy for Barcelona to sign him. Atletico Madrid have no desire to sell, nor are they under any pressure to, but even if Alvarez were to leave the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, a Premier League return could be more likely. Chelsea are already exploring a deal, while Arsenal and Manchester United are also keen.

Unfortunately for the aforementioned Premier League trio, Alvarez favours a move to Barcelona, according to Sport. His representatives have made it known in the past that the former Manchester City striker is appreciative of the reigning La Liga champions, whom Atleti won 4-0 against last weekend.

Atleti move to end Alvarez speculation

At this stage, Alvarez will be one of the players to watch in the summer, when he will also be in action for Argentina at the Club World Cup. However, Atleti are hoping to end all of the transfer speculation before the season is over, with the report noting that Los Colchoneros are seeking to tie down their star forward to a new contract.

Alvarez is already contacted until 2030, but Atleti want to extend his stay while also offering a salary increase. If accepted, it would almost certainly mean that he remains at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano for at least one more season.

Alvarez will have a big decision to make. He is happy at Atleti, but he will have ambitions of winning major honours, which is an area that Diego Simeone’s side have struggled, during the prime years of his career. The rest of the season, where Los Colchoneros are competing for the Copa del Rey and Champions League, could determine whether he stays or goes.

The post Barcelona and Chelsea on alert as Julian Alvarez picks favoured destination for summer transfer appeared first on Football España.

Atletico Madrid have only the final pieces of their famous 2014 title victory in tact, but they might be about to lose another one this summer. It appears that veteran defender Jose Maria Gimenez could be on his way out of the club after more than a decade.

Gimenez arrived for just under €1m from Danubio in Uruguay in 2013, and made an immediate impact, competing with Miranda for first-team minutes in Atletico Madrid’s 2014 title and Champions League final run. There was talk that Gimenez could have left last summer, but eventually no satisfactory offer arrived.

Gimenez to leave Atletico Madrid this summer

The 31-year-old stalwart will bring up 13 years in Madrid this summer, but RadioMarca report that this is his last. Matteo Moretto explains that Atletico have promised Gimenez that he can leave on a free in the summer despite being under contract until 2028. If Gimenez is keen on a particular destination, they will shake hands and he will leave.

Atletico’s motivation to do so is related to his age, performance and salary. Gimenez earns between €6m and €7m net every year, making him one of their higher earners, but is no longer a guaranteed starter. He has also suffered significantly with injuries.

Gimenez’s next stop could be in Argentina

Fernando Cruz of DSports Radio, as quoted by Atletico Universe, has explained that Gimenez has been in talks with Boca Juniors President Juan Roman Riquelme over a potential move to Buenos Aires in the summer. Gimenez would leave after the World Cup.

BREAKING: Josema Giménez has been in talks with Juan Román Riquelme for THREE months over a potential move to Boca Juniors.

The defender could join the Argentine club on a FREE transfer after the 2026 World Cup.

[: @fczyz, @DSportsRadio] pic.twitter.com/ycsgpMjeQn

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) February 17, 2026

On the other hand, it had been reported that AC Milan were willing to pay up to €30m for Gimenez, but if he is available on a free, then he will be much more appealing to the Rossoneri. Moretto has also confirmed there is interest from Serie A in him.

The post Atletico Madrid icon to leave club in the summer after 13 years appeared first on Football España.