Elche news

League leaders Real Madrid will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they visit Elche on Sunday night.

Manchester City are reportedly prepared to challenge European giants Real Madrid and Juventus for the signature of Elche wonderkid Rodrigo Mendoza. The Spain U21 international, who has a €20 million release clause, has attracted widespread interest following his eye-catching performances in La Liga, with Arsenal also reportedly in the picture.

Lionel Messi was stunned to find 20,000 fans pack the Elche stands to watch him train with Argentina. It was meant to be a simple training session ahead of the Albiceleste's friendly against Angola, but it turned into a football festival unlike anything the Spanish city had ever seen. The Inter Miami star was also handed a special Elche shirt with his name and number on the back to commemorate the occasion.

Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde has defended teammate Lamine Yamal over the scrutiny he has faced in recent weeks. The 18-year-old has not been at his best since September, when he succumbed to an injury in his pubic area while playing for Spain. Ever since his return, he has struggled to match his previously dizzying heights, with the glare of the spotlight shining on the youngster.

Elche's on-loan Barcelona defender Hector Fort has revealed a personal post-match conversation with Hansi Flick, saying that the manager "cares about me." The youngster also lifted the lid on the "special" experience of facing his close friend Lamine Yamal during Elche's 3-1 LaLiga defeat, a match which also saw Inaki Pena return to face his parent club.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, who was overjoyed at teenage sensation Lamine Yamal's goal against Elche, has stated that the Spaniard's injury problems are not yet over. Although the 18-year-old managed his fourth goal of the campaign, he is yet to rediscover his best form thus far this term.

Barcelona bounced back from their El Clasico loss with a convincing 3-1 win over Elche, a night that once again underlined Marcus Rashford’s rebirth under Hansi Flick. In Raphinha’s absence, the English winger has been electric, scoring his sixth of the season and earning a standing ovation from the Barca fans. Yet, even in triumph, Flick was clear he expects even more goals from Rashford.

Marcus Rashford gave Barcelona another reason to sign him permanently with a goal in his side's 3-1 win over Elche on Sunday. After early strikes from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, the England forward smashed in an impressive effort to put pay to the away team's comeback. Rafa Mir had given the underdogs hope in a very competitive La Liga fixture.

Lamine Yamal seemingly confirmed his plans to buy the €14 million (£12.5m) Barcelona mansion once owned by pop sensation Shakira & Gerard Pique through a social media post. In a now-viral photodump shared with his 14 million followers, the forward was pictured standing with his back to the camera, facing the spectacular modern property and its sparkling swimming pool.

Inaki Pena was "left with a bitter taste" after spending the latter half of the 2024-25 season on the bench, with Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick opting to play Wojciech Szczesny as the first-choice goalkeeper. Pena also revealed that the Catalans pressured him to delay his departure amid difficulty in registering summer signing Joan Garcia and the long-term absence of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.