Borgomanero Panoramica

Bayer Leverkusen have pulled off a surprise managerial appointment by naming former Toulouse boss Carles Martinez Novell as their new head coach on a two-year contract. The 42-year-old replaces the departing Kasper Hjulmand at the BayArena after the Bundesliga side saw moves for Andoni Iraola and Filipe Luis fall through.

Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly turned down the opportunity to appoint former Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach. Despite a frantic search for a new leader to replace Kasper Hjulmand, the Bundesliga side are continuing their pursuit of other candidates after deciding the Spaniard is not yet ready for the role.

Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo has openly fuelled transfer speculation ahead of his first-ever World Cup appearance, reiterating his long-term desire to return home to Spain. Speaking to the press, he admitted that playing for a top-tier La Liga club remains a definitive career objective – one he intends to fulfil sooner rather than later.

The Champions League final. It's the biggest match on the club calendar in football, always featuring historic clubs and so often the best players on the planet at that moment. Sometimes, it lives up to expectation in the most extraordinary fashion. Sometimes, sadly, it just doesn't. Either way, there is usually drama, as was the case in Saturday's final as Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal on penalties.