Latest news with #GuillemBalague
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Possibility' this is Guardiola's final Man City season
Spanish football expert and BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague says Pep Guardiola will "100%" retire from club football management after the end of his current City deal but believes it also "could happen earlier".In November 2024, while City were in the midst of a slump in form that increased speculation over his future, Guardiola signed a two-year extension to keep him at the club until the end of the 2026-27 season."Nobody can predict if the fire we see now in his eyes, the jokes with the players, how he came refreshed from the summer, will continue until the end of the season," Ballague told a special City-focused episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast."He's got a two-year contract and 100% after those two years he will not continue with club football. But, that could happen earlier. This could be his last season."So, when you ask around and try to dig, you wonder if he is excited because it is his last season or because he really feels that he has a team he can mould to create a new Manchester City."It would be his third version of a winning side at the club. The club have said: 'We don't care - as long as we see him this happy we don't care if this is the last season'. But it is a possibility."If he sees himself with the ability to continue we will see a second year, but we will not see a third year. We are seeing the end of Pep Guardiola as a club manager."Is it enough energy to continue this whole season or maybe two? We just don't know."Pep Lijnders is helping to add that energy and explosiveness and Guardiola is loving that. That is something that reinvigorates him."Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Football Daily Can Manchester City get back to the top?
Kelly Cates and guests analyse Man City ahead of the start of the new season. Steph Houghton, Guillem Balague and Sam Lee join Kelly to dissect Man City's pre-season expectations. Does Pep Guardiola have the hunger to go again after a difficult 2024/25 campaign? The panel discuss changes at board level that could affect the Spaniard's performance as head coach. Football Finance expert Kieran Maguire joins after news that the wait for the verdict into City's alleged financial breaches could be delayed until October. The panel also discuss City's summer business, the departure of Jack Grealish and rumours around Rodri's future. Timecodes: 01:05 What went wrong last season? 08:10 Does Pep still have the hunger? 16:30 From Txiki Begiristain to Hugo Viana 22:40 Verdict on 115 charges delayed again 29:40 City's summer business 39:00 Grealish departs for Everton 44:15 Can Phil Foden get back to his best? 46:40 Rodri rumours & the goalkeeper situation BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Wed - 2000 - UEFA Super Cup - PSG v Spurs Sat - 1500 - Premier League - Sunderland v West Ham Sat - 1500 - Premier League - Spurs v Burnley Sat - 1730 - Premier League - Wolves v Man City Sun - 1400 - Premier League - Chelsea v Palace Sun - 1400 - Premier League - Forest v Brentford Sun - 1630 - Premier League - Man Utd v Arsenal
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
🎧 Can Manchester City get back to the top?
Kelly Cates hosts a special Manchester City-focused Football Daily with a host of guests to analyse Pep Guardiola's Houghton, Guillem Balague and Sam Lee join Kelly to discuss Guardiola's hunger and some changes at board level that could affect his performance as head finance expert Kieran Maguire also joins the pod after news that the verdict on City's alleged financial breaches could be delayed until panel also discuss City's summer business, the departure of Jack Grealish and rumours around Rodri's to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Key Update On Lionel Messi To Al Hilal Reports Amid New Inter Miami Contract
Key Update On Lionel Messi To Al Hilal Reports Amid New Inter Miami Contract originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With Lionel Messi yet to sign a contract extension with Inter Miami, rumors of Saudi Arabia's interest in bringing the Argentine star increased. Messi's contract with Inter Miami expires at the end of the 2025 MLS season (Late December). Advertisement The Inter Miami star is currently focused on the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, but after the tournament, questions about his future will be answered. Reports of Al Hilal interested in signing Messi for next season continued to grow as no clear sign of Inter Miami close to renewing his contract has been reported. New reports from Saudi Arabia suggested that Al Hilal held talks with Messi and his father on a potential transfer this summer. The report included details such as the Al Hilal president, Fahad bin Nafel, reportedly arriving in the U.S. to discuss with Messi's father and his team about having the Inter Miami star join Al Hilal this summer. Advertisement Reliable journalist Guillem Balague debunked the rumors of Al Hilal talking with Messi and gave insight into the reports. Lionel Messi set to stay at Inter Miami Guillem Balague reposted a report on the Al Hilal president meeting Messi's team on his X account and mentioned that it was 'fake news.' While calling the report false, he also gives a quick insight into Messi's contract renewal situation. Guillem Balague: "Not true at all that Al Hilal has met or is about to meet Messi's dad. Inter Miami and Leo [Messi] are still in ongoing discussions aimed at renewing his contract; this is the truth so far." Messi's chances to stay at Inter Miami for another year are high, which also means his chances to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Argentina are also increasing. The Athletic reported that there are advanced negotiations between Messi and Inter Miami for a contract extension. Advertisement Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has expressed his desire to see Messi play at Inter Miami's new stadium, Freedom Park, which is set to open in Spring 2026. What's Next for Inter Miami and Messi? Lionel Messi and Inter Miami set their sights on the club's biggest challenge to date. The MLS team will take on current Champions League winners PSG in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup. The game between the two teams will be played on Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Inter Miami has learned its potential path to the final in case they defeat PSG in the Round of 16. If Inter Miami advances to the quarterfinals, their opponents will be between Flamengo and Bayern Munich. If they reach the semifinals, their potential opponents will be among Real Madrid, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, and Monterrey. Related: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami Earns Staggering Amount With Club World Cup Knockout Berth Related: Lionel Messi to Break 1100 Game Streak as Club World Cup Finally Ignites This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gunners ‘eye huge Leao move', Zubimendi in London to COMPLETE switch, Norgaard linked
'A quiet leader' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has shared what Arsenal fans can expect from Martin Zubimendi. He told the BBC: "His passing might sound simple, but he generally chooses well the one pass to do. "He hardly ever loses the ball and that helps with fluidity and team confidence. "He reads the game very well, without being the fastest midfielder - he has the puzzle of the team in his head. "He is lately more up to driving with the ball and even getting into the box, and he would do that if he feels his team-mates can cover for him. "But his main job is to help with build-up, sometimes going at the level of the centre-backs - make the game fluid, find the man with space, push the team forward, and do the same when it is the matter of applying pressure. "He is very clever when it comes to deciding when to go or when not to go. "A team player, a quiet leader. A key cog in the machine."
