Real Madrid legend Jorge Valdano has issued a damning verdict on Xabi Alonso’s side following their 5-2 humbling by city rivals Atletico Madrid. The former manager warned that the performance "revived a monster" and exposed a "real drama" in the team's defence, leaving the new project under intense scrutiny.
Dean Huijsen’s father has described his son’s Juventus exit as a “dark day” and hit out at Thiago Motta for his “brutal” treatment of the defender. The 20-year-old was sold to Bournemouth for €15 million in 2024, before Real Madrid triggered his release clause this summer leaving Juve fans furious over the loss of one of their brightest academy products.
Liverpool weren't the only European team to lose their 100 percent record this weekend. Over in Italy, Napoli slipped to second in the Serie A table after being beaten 2-1 by a Christian Pulisici-inspired AC Milan at San Siro.
Dean Huijsen turned down Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich to secure a move to Real Madrid, his father has confirmed. The 20-year-old centre-back joined Los Blancos this summer after an impressive season at Bournemouth, where he featured in 30 Premier League games. His dad revealed how Huijsen waited patiently for the chance to join his "dream club" despite other lucrative offers coming in first.
Mesut Ozil has drawn a striking comparison between his iconic link-up with Cristiano Ronaldo and the budding partnership between Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe. The young Turk impressed with a goal and an assist in the Madrid derby, sparking hope for a bright future despite Real Madrid's 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid took to social media to congratulate Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz on his recent Japan Open triumph. The victory sees Alcaraz strengthen his grip on the world No. 1 spot after recently overtaking Jannik Sinner. A passionate Madrid supporter himself, Alcaraz was praised by the club for his remarkable achievement.
William Saliba has revealed why he chose to sign a new contract at Arsenal despite strong interest from Real Madrid, as he cited Trent Alexander-Arnold's move from Liverpool among his reasons. The French defender's previous deal at Emirates Stadium was due to expire in the summer of 2027. He has now penned a new long-term contract that will keep him at the club until 2030.
Every month, GOAL brings you the top stories involving teenage wonderkids and the world's best young footballers. During September, there was plenty to be said about the likes of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono, but there were also plenty of other headlines made by the planet's emerging stars in both the men's and women's games.
Jose Mourinho revealed that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez sent a message to him upon his return to Benfica. The Portuguese head coach said that his former boss told him he was happy to see him return "to a club of your calibre", reminding fans once again of the mutual love and admiration shared between the two men.
Real Madrid’s 5-0 Champions League win at Kairat Almaty has been overshadowed by Federico Valverde’s emotional statement addressing reports that he had refused to play. The Uruguayan vice-captain strongly denied suggestions of a rift with Xabi Alonso, insisting he has always given “everything and more” for the club, even while playing through injuries.
Kylian Mbappe delivered a stunning hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 5-0 Champions League win over Kairat Almaty on Tuesday, but the French star still left the pitch frustrated at not taking all of his chances. The 26-year-old, who has now scored 13 goals this season, believes finishing opportunities is exactly what he was brought to the club to do.
Jude Bellingham has been named England's Men's Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season. The 22-year-old Real Madrid star wins the award for the first time, beating out Harry Kane and Declan Rice in the process. Bellingham scored once and registered three assists for the Three Lions in eight appearances over the season to secure the award, while Kane scored eight goals in 11 matches, including five in six in 2025 under new manager Thomas Tuchel.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has been told - in an exclusive interview carried out by GOAL - that he would have “no chance” of winning the Ballon d’Or at Liverpool, as Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer is offered advice on how he could push himself into contention for the most prestigious of individual honours. Those words have been delivered by Blues legend Gus Poyet, who continues to keep a close eye on European football.
Manchester City stand accused by La Liga president Javier Tebas of “losing money and cheating” for 10 years. The Premier League heavyweights currently find themselves at the centre of a long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga, with serious questions being asked of whether rules were breached. Tebas is less than impressed with goings on in England, while he has also taken aim at Champions League title holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Crystal Palace are ready to compete with Manchester United and Real Madrid in the transfer market to sign Dutch wonderkid Kees Smit from AZ Alkmaar as the Eagles plot an ambitious swoop. Smit came into the limelight in 2023 after he scored from 50 yards against Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League and then helped Netherlands win the European U19 Championship last summer.
Liverpool target Marc Guehi has been told he could join Real Madrid as the Crystal Palace captain prepares to discuss a free transfer away from Selhurst Park. The England defender was set to join Liverpool in the summer before a move collapsed. Instead of sulking, the 25-year-old has delivered his best football yet, spearheading Palace’s record-breaking run under Oliver Glasner.
Alejandro Grimaldo has admitted he could have joined either Real Madrid or Barcelona in the summer transfer window, only for both moves to fall through. The Bayer Leverkusen star revealed that Los Blancos opted for Alvaro Carreras instead, while discussions with the Catalan giants and Atletico Madrid also failed to materialise.
Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer has, in an exclusive chat with GOAL, been urged to jump at the chance of moving to Barcelona or Real Madrid if the giants from La Liga ever come calling. The England international has become one of the Premier League’s brightest lights, while also impressing with the Three Lions, and is likely to register on the recruitment radar of leading sides around the world in upcoming transfer windows.
Dietmar Hamann has labelled Jobe Bellingham as Borussia Dortmund's "only cause for concern" amid the club's strong start to the season. The German legend's criticism comes as the 20-year-old struggles for form, with manager Niko Kovac defending the 'nervous' star amid reports of off-field pressure from his family.
Barcelona have abandoned the European Super League project, leaving Real Madrid isolated in their push to challenge UEFA. The Catalan giants believe UEFA’s Champions League reforms now meet their demands, ending their pursuit of a breakaway competition. The move marks a dramatic shift in stance that leaves Florentino Perez as the last pillar keeping the project alive.
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has stated that Federico Valverde is ready to play against Villarreal and denied that he objected from playing in a defensive role in their latest Champions League fixture. Valverde even penned an emotional statement as a response to such reports that called his commitment into question.
UEFA have been presented with a final proposal for the Super League project that would include dramatic evolution of the current Champions League format. According to Mundo Deportivo, the project has been under tight wraps for the past eight months, with UEFA, Super League backers A22 Sports Management, and key powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid conducting secret negotiations to hammer out a deal that could end football’s civil war.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick provided a worrying update on wonderkid Lamine Yamal's injury as he could not guarantee that the teenager would feature against Real Madrid in the season's first El Clasico later this month. Yamal suffered a relapse of his groin injury while featuring in Barca's Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week.
Jude Bellingham had asked to be left out of the England squad ahead of their upcoming international matches. Thomas Tuchel announced his 24-member Three Lions squad for the World Cup qualifiers on Friday but left out star midfielder Bellingham, who had come back early from his shoulder injury and featured for Real Madrid in their last couple of games.
Real Madrid have provided an update on Kylian Mbappe's ankle injury, suggesting the star striker will take part in France's upcoming international fixtures despite limping out of Los Blancos' 3-1 win over Villarreal. The 26-year-old scored his side's third goal of the game, before he was substituted in the 83rd minute after spraining his right ankle.
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal is backing Kylian Mbappe to prove that he can be “the best in the world”, with the French forward already showing that Real Madrid made no “mistake” in making him another ‘Galactico’. The World Cup winner moved to Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2024 but has been unable to break his Champions League trophy duck and been overlooked in another battle for Ballon d’Or recognition.
Real Madrid
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