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Daily Mirror
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Real Madrid's deadline to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold as Xabi Alonso intervenes
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool contract is set to expire at the end of June but the Reds could still earn a transfer fee from Real Madrid as they look to do a deal quickly Real Madrid could agree a deal with Liverpool to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold before his contract runs out within the next 24 hours. The La Liga side are said to have accelerated talks with the Reds in a bid to quickly get a deal over the line. New boss Xabi Alonso would like to see Alexander-Arnold in his squad in time for Los Blancos' first match of the Club World Cup. Real face Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18 and want to take advantage of the first part of the transfer window between June 1 and June 10 that has been facilitated for the competition. Liverpool want to earn a fee for their full-back if he is to depart before the end of his contract next month. Alexander-Arnold has already announced his decision to depart Anfield and endured an emotional goodbye on the final day of the season. And it appears that Real are now motivated to get a deal done quickly with the Times reporting that a deal could be agreed as soon as today. Alexander-Arnold is due to join up with England squad next week, for games against Andorra and Senegal, and the Spanish giants want the international to officially be their player by this point. Real Madrid attempted to prise Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool in January but the Premier League champions rejected the bid outright as they focused on claiming the title. And they are now keen to land the 26-year-old in time for the Club World Cup. Alexander-Arnold has long been expected to head to the Bernabeu upon his departure from his hometown club. The defender remained tight-lipped on his future as contract ticked down as he eventually saw Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk extend their deals having been in the final months of their own agreements. After Liverpool secured the Premier League title, Alexander-Arnold made his announcement and received some backlash from supporters. In his first appearance following the news, he was widely booed but on the final day of the season he saw a more appreciative response. "Yeah, I didn't know what to expect," he said on Sunday. "Stepping out at Anfield today after what had happened a few weeks ago, but I wanted to play for the club one more time. "I said that to the manager and he trusted me to go in there at half-time and to get the reception that I got it means more than anything to me. "I've played hundreds of games for the club, but I've never felt so loved and so cared for than today, and I found the bottom of my heart I hope that one day the fans and the supporters of this club will be able to recognise the hard work and everything that I've done for the team. Because there wasn't a day, there wasn't a minute, there wasn't a second that I didn't think about the team. "From six years old to 26 now -- 20 years. It's a very, very long time but I've loved every single minute of it. The ups and the downs, coming through the academy, making it to the first team, then being part of the first team properly. It's been an honour and a privilege for me to be a part of this club."
The Star
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Star
Mamelodi Sundowns can inspire the nation with CAF Champions League triumph, says Ronwen Williams
Mihlali Baleka | Published 1 hour ago Mamelodi Sundowns' players have been the epitome of success in domestic football in the last nine years, inspiring every emerging youngster to dare to dream And that's why they want to add another feather in their cap by conquering the continent yet again to instil even more belief in future prospects. Sundowns recently won their eighth successive Premiership crown, ensuring they are the best club in the PSL era with 15 titles. As such, that made the dreams a reality of players, coaches and staff who wanted to join football so that they can win league titles over the years. Before the success came, Sundowns were infamously known for ending careers, with players said to be joining the club for big pay-cheques, only to sit in the stands. But thanks to the arrival of coach Pitso Mosimane more than a decade ago, players have since wanted to join the club to win trophies and play among the best teams in Africa. Under the reign of Mosimane, Sundowns' players achieved all forms of success, winning the Premiership and CAF Champions League, and playing in the Club World Cup. However, while the local success continued under Mosimane's successors, Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi, it didn't come full circle on the continent. Enter Miguel Cardoso, and the script may change this season. The Portuguese mentor has led his team to the Champions League final for the first time since Mosimane triumphed in 2016. Sundowns had a mild start in the first leg of the continental showdown at home, drawing 1-1 with Pyramids FC, who took an away goal to the second leg in Cairo on Sunday night (7pm). That was a setback for the Brazilians as they conceded late in Pretoria through Walid El Karti, after Lucas Ribeiro Costa had put them in the driving seat in the second half. But such is the team's never-say-die attitude that Ronwen Williams, speaking to SuperSport TV yesterday, painted a picture of what it would mean to rule the continent yet again. 'It will mean so much – the world. I honestly can't express how it'll feel at that moment. I just know what it'd do for the country and youth of South Africa,' the Bafana Bafana captain said. 'When people have success, you resonate with them. 'Interestingly, a few years ago, there was no success in South African sport, but back-to-back Rugby (World Cup) championships inspired us. 'We had a wonderful Afcon (with Bafana), and now you see the cricket, athletics, Under-17 and Under-20 (men's national teams) are also doing well. 'I think it just needs one team to trigger, do it, and show us all that it is possible. 'I think with us doing that, (it) will even give the youth in our country extra motivation. 'They'll start believing that they can do greater things. So for me, the inspiring side is one of the reasons I want us to lift the Champions League!' One of the youngsters who could live a first-hand experience of winning the continental crown is defender Malibongwe Khoza, 21, who remembers the 2016 triumph. 'It's my first season here, and the last time they won the Champions League was in 2016 when I joined Sundowns (as a teenager),' Khoza told Masandawana TV this week. 'So it (winning the Champions League) would mean a lot to me, my family and ikasi lam (my township), Mamelodi. I am representing everyone from eKasi.' The majority of the Ka Bo Yellow (Sundowns fans) will not be able to follow the team to Cairo, and cheer them on like they did when they sold-out Loftus Versfeld last Saturday. But Khoza, who'll be eager to make his mark and help the team in Cairo, says they'll be banking on their supporters' backing from a distance. 'It's unfortunate that we didn't do it here at home, but we still need them (the Yellow Nation). We need them to support us,' Khoza continued. 'We are going to play for them, the club and the badge. 'So, we still need them, even when we are as far as Cairo.'
The Star
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Khaleej - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 21, 2025 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo scores their second goal from the penalty spot. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo RIYADH (Reuters) -Al-Nassr are negotiating with Cristiano Ronaldo over a contract extension but face competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d'Or winner, the Saudi side's sporting director Fernando Hierro said on Thursday. Speculation over the 40-year-old Portuguese forward's future intensified after Al-Nassr's season-ending match at Al-Fateh on Monday, with Ronaldo posting on social media: "This chapter is over. The story? Still being written." "Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr runs until June 30. We will work to renew his contract so he can continue with us, and there are many clubs interested in signing him," Hierro told a news conference. Despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify for the Club World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week that discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the June 14-July 13 tournament in the United States. FIFA has created a special transfer window for clubs to sign players for the event, and while Wydad Casablanca had been linked with a move for Ronaldo a source close to the Moroccan side told Reuters last week they were not in talks to sign him. Ronaldo finished as the top scorer in back-to-back Saudi Pro League seasons and Hierro described him as a trailblazer for Saudi soccer. "Ronaldo's presence from the beginning is a national project," Hierro said. "Cristiano has opened up soccer in this country to the world. It's phenomenal that he had the courage to come here, stay here, and open up the Saudi Arabian league to the world." (Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Khaleej - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 21, 2025 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo scores their second goal from the penalty spot. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo RIYADH - Al-Nassr are negotiating with Cristiano Ronaldo over a contract extension but face competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d'Or winner, the Saudi side's sporting director Fernando Hierro said on Thursday. Speculation over the 40-year-old Portuguese forward's future intensified after Al-Nassr's season-ending match at Al-Fateh on Monday, with Ronaldo posting on social media: "This chapter is over. The story? Still being written." "Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr runs until June 30. We will work to renew his contract so he can continue with us, and there are many clubs interested in signing him," Hierro told a news conference. Despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify for the Club World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week that discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the June 14-July 13 tournament in the United States. FIFA has created a special transfer window for clubs to sign players for the event, and while Wydad Casablanca had been linked with a move for Ronaldo a source close to the Moroccan side told Reuters last week they were not in talks to sign him. Ronaldo finished as the top scorer in back-to-back Saudi Pro League seasons and Hierro described him as a trailblazer for Saudi soccer. "Ronaldo's presence from the beginning is a national project," Hierro said. "Cristiano has opened up soccer in this country to the world. It's phenomenal that he had the courage to come here, stay here, and open up the Saudi Arabian league to the world." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
2 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief
RIYADH :Al-Nassr are negotiating with Cristiano Ronaldo over a contract extension but face competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d'Or winner, the Saudi side's sporting director Fernando Hierro said on Thursday. Speculation over the 40-year-old Portuguese forward's future intensified after Al-Nassr's season-ending match at Al-Fateh on Monday, with Ronaldo posting on social media: "This chapter is over. The story? Still being written." "Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr runs until June 30. We will work to renew his contract so he can continue with us, and there are many clubs interested in signing him," Hierro told a news conference. Despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify for the Club World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week that discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the June 14-July 13 tournament in the United States. FIFA has created a special transfer window for clubs to sign players for the event, and while Wydad Casablanca had been linked with a move for Ronaldo a source close to the Moroccan side told Reuters last week they were not in talks to sign him. Ronaldo finished as the top scorer in back-to-back Saudi Pro League seasons and Hierro described him as a trailblazer for Saudi soccer. "Ronaldo's presence from the beginning is a national project," Hierro said. "Cristiano has opened up soccer in this country to the world. It's phenomenal that he had the courage to come here, stay here, and open up the Saudi Arabian league to the world."
