Latest news with #LaLiga
Metro
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Liverpool star could block Marcus Rashford's 'dream' transfer move from Man Utd
Marcus Rashford's 'dream' move from Manchester United to Barcelona could be blocked by a Liverpool star, according to reports. Rashford held a meeting with Barcelona chief Deco earlier this week to discuss a proposed move to the Nou Camp. The 27-year-old does not have a future at boyhood club Manchester United while Ruben Amorim is still in charge and spent the second-half of the season on loan at Aston Villa. Amorim criticised Rashford's output in training before sanctioning his move to Villa in January and has advised the club to offload him on a permanent deal this summer. Rashford is not against extending his stay at Villa Park but views Barcelona as his 'dream' destination after holding talks with the La Liga giants in January. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Barca are interested in a deal, with United asking for £40m, but have also expressed interest in Liverpool forward Luis Diaz. Diaz has scored 30 goals for Liverpool over the past two seasons and, according to Spanish transfer expert Gerard Romero, is a genuine option for Barcelona. The Spanish champions can neither afford or accommodate both so will choose between Rashford and Diaz as they look to bolster Hansi Flick's options in the wide areas. 'We like Luis and we like Rashford,' former Barcelona, Chelsea and Portugal midfielder Deco told the Catalan radio station last week. 'However, we can't talk about players who are under contract. For me, it's much more important to improve what we have at home.' Diaz joined Liverpool in a £37.5m move from Porto in 2022 and has made 148 appearances for the Reds. The Colombia international featured in all but two of Liverpool's Premier League games this season as they stormed to the title. Rashford, meanwhile, played over 400 games for Manchester United after coming through the club's academy and developing into a key player for the Red Devils. Amorim effectively banished Rashford from his first team shortly after replacing Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot-seat and is ready to give incoming signing Matheus Cunha his No. 10 shirt. More Trending Rashford has shown encouraging signs at Aston Villa but suggested after the season ended that he did not expect to stay part of Unai Emery's squad next year. 'Just a message of thanks to everyone here at Villa for what has (injury aside) been an incredible few months for me,' he posted on social media. 'It is a really special club and I appreciated the way Villa fans embraced me with open arms from 1st minute on the pitch. Manager, team, and coaching staff have all been brilliant. 'I know it is a huge disappointment not to have made the Champions League place which everyone worked so hard all season for but I know this club and team will come back stronger.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Erik ten Hag targets two Manchester United stars as first Bayer Leverkusen signing MORE: Arsenal in talks to sign £92.5m star as Mikel Arteta approves deal MORE: Concern for Arsenal as Real Madrid given fresh hope of signing £51m star
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Valencia aim to ‘compete for top honours' with former Chelsea CEO Ron Gourlay at the helm
Valencia aim to 'compete for top honours' with former Chelsea CEO Ron Gourlay at the helm SINGAPORE – After overcoming an early threat of relegation and turning things around to remain in the La Liga, Singaporean-owned Valencia are aiming to compete for honours and 'return to the top tier of European football' with the hiring of former Chelsea chief executive officer Ron Gourlay. Valencia president Kiat Lim, the son of owner Peter Lim, said in a statement that they are building for the future, with a foundation that is 'sustainable, ambitious and worthy of our proud history'. The 31-year-old, who was appointed in March, added: 'In Ron Gourlay, we have a senior and very experienced sporting CEO who understands the complexities of modern football and the demands of a top-tier club to lead the project.' The 63-year-old Briton comes with considerable pedigree, having held senior executive roles at English clubs Manchester United, Chelsea, Reading, West Bromwich Albion (WBA) and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli. Most notably, he was with Chelsea from 2009 to 2014, during which he oversaw one of the most successful periods in the Blues' history as they won an English Premier League title, two FA Cups and their first Champions League and Europa League titles. He led strategic and operational transformations at Championship sides Reading and WBA, before joining Al-Ahli, who won the AFC Champions League Elite title in May. While Valencia's recent business model has been largely 'sell, replace, repeat' with an emphasis on blooding youth academy players and picking up loan and free transfers – they spent just €24.25 million (S$35.5 million) on transfers in the last three seasons – Gourlay hinted their approach may change. He said: 'With Kiat's leadership at the helm, we have a shared ambition to restore Valencia to where it belongs – competing for top honours, with a squad that reflects the club's identity and future.' His first order of transfer business appears to be replacing Liverpool-bound goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, with Celta Vigo's 38-year-old Vicente Guaita touted to return to Valencia, as well as filling the gap left behind by defensive midfielder Enzo Barrenechea, who returns to Aston Villa following his impressive loan spell. Gourlay, who called it a 'privilege to join Valencia at such a pivotal time', added that he is thrilled to reunite with coach Carlos Corberan, whom he appointed at WBA as the duo worked to help the struggling club challenge for a play-off position. It has been a similar story at Valencia, where Corberan, 42, engineered a remarkable turnaround after signing a three-year deal with his boyhood club in December. During that time, Los Che were second from bottom with just 12 points from 17 matches, but the Spaniard managed to get an underperforming team to step up and earn 34 points from the next 21 games, including a 2-1 win at Real Madrid, to finish 12th. Corberan is looking forward to working with Gourlay again, saying: 'Ron's arrival is a tremendous boost for all of us. We've shared a very productive journey before, and I know how much value he brings – from his strategic mindset to his ability to make decisive moves in critical moments. 'Having him here gives me great confidence, and together with Kiat's unwavering support, I believe we have the right team in place to take Valencia to the next level.' David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal face nervous wait as Real Sociedad look to repeat Martin Zubimendi trick
Arsenal are front-runners in the race to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi for £51m but there is still time for a spanner to be thrown into the works Arsenal's move for Martin Zubimendi has long looked like a matter of when rather than if. However, the same was true of Liverpool's pursuit of the Real Sociedad star, and his current club are aiming to repeat the move which served them well last summer. After staying in San Sebastian to play for La Real in the Champions League, Zubimendi had looked destined for an Anfield switch. After a last-ditch plea from manager Imanol Alguacil, though, he decided to stay put. This time it's president Jokin Aperribay, rather than Alguacil, making a last-ditch attempt to keep the star around. They're ready to pay £51m for the Spain international, with reports earlier this week indicating he will undergo a medical before signing. Zubimendi will meet up with his international colleagues in June, after being named in Luis de la Fuente's squad for the UEFA Nations League semis and - if they beat France - the final. And, if Arsenal don't complete a deal before then, Aperribay has urged the 26-year-old to take his time over the decision. 'We've told Martin to go to the national team calmly, to think about it, and we'd like him to stay," Aperribay is quoted as saying by El Desmarque (via Sport Witness)."We know there are several options. Something may come to fruition or not… I don't see it happening in the short term. We don't see it that way, so we have to wait and see.' Back in 2024, Alguacil appealed to Zubimendi's emotions in an effort to convince him to stay. The boss is understood to have reminded the midfielder of the beautiful Basque Country and the local cuisine, and that played a part in helping keep the player at his boyhood club. ' Liverpool is a historic and great club and the fact a player like Martin said 'no' is a reason to be proud," Alguacil later said (via Relevo) 'That means that things are being done well at the club." While Zubimendi stayed, other key men did not. his former team-mate Mikel Merino joined Arsenal last summer, while Robin Le Normand made a big-money move to Atletico Madrid. Alguacil's side were unable to keep up their high standards, slumping to an 11th-place finish in La Liga. They also saw their Europa League dreams crushed by Manchester United, as Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick to complete a 6-3 aggregate win. It still looks more likely than not that this will be the summer where Zubimendi leaves. However, it appears his club won't give up hope until the deal is official. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch: Carlo Ancelotti & Vinícius Jr. reunited in Brazil
Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr. was on Thursday reunited with recently-departed manager Carlo Ancelotti in the former's home country of Brazil. This, of course, comes as Ancelotti's adventure as new Brazilian national team head coach gets underway. Amid the widespread knowledge that his time in La Liga was coming to an imminent close, the Italian was earlier this month unveiled as the man to lead Brazil's charge towards the 2026 World Cup. After Real Madrid played out the final fixture of what proved to be a disappointing 2024/25 campaign last weekend, Ancelotti, in turn, wasted little time in making the journey to South America. The tactician has since unveiled his maiden Seleção squad, with the aforementioned Vinícius Jr. featuring front and centre. And as alluded to above, on Thursday, the pair crossed paths once more. In a private box at the Maracanã in Rio, Ancelotti and Vinícius came together for a warm exchange, no doubt looking forward to working together once more, on this occasion on the international stage. 🇧🇷😍 Vinicius et Ancelotti se retrouvent déjà au Maracanã !#AP #beINSPORTS — beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) May 29, 2025 Conor Laird – GSFN
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Grealish has options ahead of Manchester City exit
Jack Grealish has held talks about his future at Manchester City, following a season in which he has struggled for game time. Despite winning trophies under manager Pep Guardiola, he has struggled to match the performances that made him a star at Villa Park. His current situation has alerted several clubs across Europe. Grealish's ability to play as a winger or attacking midfielder makes him an enticing option. Here are five clubs that could benefit from signing the England international this summer. The Gunners have been linked with several wide players in recent transfer windows. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have been inconsistent this season, prompting Arsenal to look for new left-wingers. Grealish could thrive in Arsenal's system. A fresh start under manager Mikel Arteta could help him rediscover his top form next season. Napoli wanted to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United in January but failed to do so. They could now turn to Grealish, who offers creativity, pace and experience. He fits the style of football that Serie A demands from wide players. Newcastle could look at Grealish if they lose Anthony Gordon this summer. The club will play in the Champions League next season. Manager Eddie Howe values players with Premier League experience and versatility. Grealish would be a strong addition on and off the pitch. Spurs need to build on their recent Europa League success. The team will return to the Champions League next season. Richarlison's form has been inconsistent, and Heung-min Son is getting older. Grealish could bring balance and creativity to their attack. The La Liga club wants to add a new winger this summer. They have been linked with Luis Diaz and Marcus Rashford in recent weeks. If those moves fail, Grealish could be a smart option. His winning experience would benefit Hansi Flick's side.
