Football news
Transfers, results, rules and everything that moves world football, updated throughout the day.
Aitana Bonmatí made her long-awaited comeback for FC Barcelona in the 0-2 win at Logroño United, playing the final 18 minutes. The midfielder had not featured since June 9 and spoke about a recovery shaped by patience, a serious fibula injury and her determination to help the team ahead of a huge week with Roma and Real Madrid.
Matt
·5 min read
Bayern Munich are preparing a big-money move for Barcelona and Spain forward Dani Olmo, with a bid worth around £69m on the table. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold is not considering leaving Real Madrid despite interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, and Micky van de Ven is attracting attention from Premier League clubs.
InfoBlaugrana·6 min read
Álex Baena has responded to José Mourinho after the Madrid derby between Atlético and Real Madrid. The Villarreal midfielder described the Portuguese coach's press conference with photos of controversial incidents as a tantrum and insisted that refereeing is only debated when the Spanish giants lose to their city rivals.
Natilla·5 min read
The Republic of Ireland will play Israel in Hungary on Sunday night after a significant majority of the squad voted to fulfil the fixture. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn from the camp, saying his principles would not allow him to take part. Irish players will wear black armbands and will skip the pre-match handshake and pennant exchange.
varela·6 min read
Argentina play their first matches without Lionel Messi after the World Cup, before the captain's formal farewell against Benin. Lionel Scaloni's side kicks off a new cycle with several young faces, while the Albiceleste prepares to live without its greatest problem-solver. Messi's absence raises tactical and emotional questions in a dressing room used to relying on his genius to fix any problem.
Javi·6 min read
Barcelona's young forward Hamza Abdelkarim came on for Mohamed Salah in Egypt's draw with Angola and took another step forward with the senior national team. At just 18, the Egyptian has already achieved what the former Liverpool star chased for more than a decade: signing for the Catalan club. His role under Flick remains limited, but he continues to grow internationally.
Matt·5 min read
Denzel Dumfries delivered his most attacking and leadership-driven performance with the Netherlands against Germany. At Real Madrid, however, the right-back has gone seven games without scoring or assisting and is producing far less in the final third. The tactical setup and competition for the flank explain the two different versions of the player.
InfoBlaugrana·5 min read
The Republic of Ireland will play Israel in the Nations League on Sunday in Debrecen after a significant majority of the squad voted in favour of going ahead with the match. One player left the camp and others expressed reservations over the war in Gaza and boycott calls. Head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson said the group is under enormous pressure.
Natilla·5 min read
England return to Wembley on Saturday to face Spain, the reigning world and European champions, in their opening Nations League fixture. It is the Three Lions' first match since finishing third at the World Cup, with Thomas Tuchel under pressure to show his side can compete with elite opposition. The game also pits Ballon d'Or contenders Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal against each other.
varela·6 min read
An independent panel has found Manchester City guilty of the majority of the 115 financial charges brought by the Premier League for alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018. The club, which plans to appeal, faces sanctions ranging from heavy points deductions to expulsion from the competition. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has told supporters he remains confident the club will prove its innocence.
Javi·5 min read