Ex-Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has vehemently defended the club in the Negreira case, asserting former refereeing chiefs had no influence over the club's results due to their biases favoured Real Madrid. With Rosell challenging critics to review matches and Real Madrid escalating complaints to FIFA, Spanish football faces a high-stakes debate over integrity, influence and accountability.
GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave the comforts of Great Britain in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has been named “Golden Ball” winner by CIES Football Observatory, with Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe claiming the runner-up spot. There is no place in the top five for Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele despite the World Cup-winning France international being favourite to land the coveted Ballon d’Or in 2025.
Vinicius Junior has been warned that his attitude is “not healthy”, with the Real Madrid superstar reacting angrily to being substituted during the Blancos’ 2-0 win over Espanyol. The Brazil international was replaced in the 77th minute of that contest and did not take kindly to seeing his number held up. Jorge Valdano has discussed another show of petulance.
The latest round of action across Europe's elite leagues saw Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Porto maintain their winning starts to the 2025-26 season. However, while everyone expects Bayern to run away with the Bundesliga, Barca are hot on the heels of Madrid in La Liga, while Porto are presently processing the news that the most famous manager in the club's history has just taken charge of their hated rivals Benfica.
Ashlyn Castro is back in cheerleader mode at Santiago Bernabeu, with a cropped Real Madrid jersey being donned while heading to an iconic venue to support boyfriend Jude Bellingham. The England international midfielder has returned to action ahead of schedule after making a surprisingly quick recovery from surgery on a long-standing shoulder problem.
Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale admits he is "definitely" interested in getting into football ownership after failing with his Cardiff City takeover. The ex-Tottenham man was part of a consortium that tried to buy the League One team earlier this summer but it came to nothing. Despite that setback, the Welshman still wants to pursue that avenue in the future.
Real Madrid have been urged to address the soaring temperatures at Santiago Bernabeu after complaints were made about it being "like a sauna". Los Blancos cruised to a 2-0 home win over Espanyol on Saturday but grumblings are mounting about the "greenhouse effect" in the stadium. Some have even accused the Spanish giants of "taking advantage" of the situation.
Barcelona stars Pedri and Robert Lewandowski will join Real Madrid players in skipping the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on Monday. The Barca duo, along with team-mates Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, have been nominated for the Golden Ball while manager Hansi Flick is in contention to win the best coach's award after guiding the Catalan giants to three titles in his maiden season.
Real Madrid had double cause for celebration on Saturday, as the Spanish heavyweights welcomed the return of England superstar Jude Bellingham to the pitch after he spent over two months on the sidelines. Madrid had already sealed the victory by the time Bellingham was brought on as a substitute in the 89th minute to a rapturous reception from the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid made light work of Espanyol as they claimed a 2-0 win to maintain their perfect start to the Liga season. Eder Militao and in-form Kylian Mbappe delivered the goals for the hosts, and the result, if only temporarily, moves Xabi Alonso's men five points clear of title rivals Barcelona at the top of the table.
Real Madrid paid tribute to Abderrahim Ouhida, a survivor of the 2023 Morocco earthquake, by inviting him to take a special honorary kick-off at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. Ouhida, who wore a Real Madrid shirt during the quake and lost five family members in the tragic incident, stepped onto the pitch in Kylian Mbappe’s No.10 jersey ahead of the Liga clash against Espanyol.
Marc Guehi has reportedly set his heart on a surprise transfer away from Crystal Palace after the defender saw his deadline day move to Liverpool collapse. The England defender came within a whisker of joining the Reds on deadline day, only for Crystal Palace to pull the plug when they couldn’t land a replacement.
Manchester United are reportedly willing to sacrifice Kobbie Mainoo in a sensational part-exchange bid for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde. The Red Devils are said to have put €50 million (£44m) on the table alongside the 20-year-old talent, but Los Blancos see the Uruguayan as a cornerstone of their future plans. Amorim, meanwhile, continues to cast doubts on Mainoo’s role.
Vinicius Junior could consider quitting Real Madrid if his demands over wages are not met. The Brazilian, who has two years left in his existing deal, has been a long-term target for Saudi Pro League clubs, although the winger has always maintained that he sees his long-term future at Santiago Bernabeu. Vinicius has started the new season strongly as he has three goal contributions in five matches.
Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi expects Mason Greenwood to become a "complete" footballer like the "greatest players in Europe". The Italian has pushed the forward hard since arriving at the French side last summer and it is clear he has high hopes for him. The head coach also wants him to learn from the likes of elite players such as Kylian Mbappe and Raphinha.
William Saliba has requested an urgent meeting with Arsenal over the renewal of his contract as Real Madrid ramp up their interest in signing the French defender. Saliba's current deal at Emirates Stadium expires in 2027 and Los Blancos are ready to negotiate a cut-price deal for the Frenchman with the Gunners over the next two years.
Agent Ali Barat has pulled back the curtain on Dean Huijsen's summer transfer to Real Madrid, revealing 'more than seven' clubs were in the running. Barat described the deal as 'very easy' thanks to a £50 million release clause and the Spanish defender's clear desire to fulfil his lifelong 'dream' of playing for Los Blancos.
Vinicius Junior’s frustrations at Real Madrid have surfaced after he was benched again, this time in the Champions League win over Marseille. Xabi Alonso admitted the Brazilian was not ready to talk immediately after the match, but revealed the forward was in better spirits during training. Madrid now face Espanyol in La Liga, with selection questions looming.
La Liga has published its latest salary caps, revealing a huge financial gap between Spain's top clubs. Real Madrid's spending limit has increased to €761 million, while Barcelona have seen their cap slashed to just €351m. The massive disparity will have significant implications for both clubs in future transfer windows.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. is having a major impact at newly-promoted Portuguese side Alverca, where he is a minority shareholder. Sporting director Pedro Alves has hailed the Brazilian's influence, which has brought global visibility to the club, including a surprise appearance at a recent league match against Benfica.
Bryan Robson has lifted the lid on Manchester United's transfer pitch to Jude Bellingham, with Sir Alex Ferguson and Eric Cantona making pleas to the exciting midfielder. Bellingham was a hot prospect on the books of Birmingham when the Red Devils made their play for his signature, with the Premier League giants eventually left disappointed as they lost out to Borussia Dortmund.
Real Madrid's performance manager, Antonio Pintus, has detailed what makes Luka Modric a unique talent at 40. The coach explained that the AC Milan star's professionalism and dedication are key, but it's his 'different mentality' and relentless hunger for victory that truly separates him and fuels his remarkable longevity at the top level.
Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio will stand trial in the Canary Islands child sex abuse scandal after a judge confirmed proceedings and set bail at €15,000. One alleged victim has withdrawn but another is maintaining the charges, ensuring the case, which also involves other former Madrid youth academy players, remains active.
Real Madrid
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