Latest news with #UEFAEuro2024
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rabiot gives availability to Milan after Allegri appointment
Former Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot has hinted that he would be open to joining Serie A rivals Milan after the appointment of former Bianconeri head coach Massimilano Allegri towards the end of last week. Allegri has returned to Milan on a two-year contract with an option for a further 12 months, 11 years after he first left the Rossoneri. He replaces Sergio Conceicao, whose tenure in San Siro lasted almost exactly six months. Advertisement Rabiot, who spent five years with Juventus, three of them under Allegri, left Turin last summer, not long after the coach was given his marching orders. France midfielder Adrien Rabiot reacts during the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images) The Frenchman has gone on to play a key role in Roberto De Zerbi's Olympique de Marseille side, contributing with 10 goals and six assists from 31 matches in all competitions this season. While he remains under contract with the Ligue 1 club for another year, until the summer of 2026, Rabiot says that he will 'always be available to talk' with Allegri. Rabiot: 'I will always be available to talk to Allegri' In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, published on Monday, Rabiot revealed that colleagues often refer to him and Allegri as being like father and son. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri looks on during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and AC Milan at The Allianz Stadium in Turin on April 27, 2024. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) 'Chosing Marseille without Champions League was not a guarantee. Now that we've qualified, it would be great to be able to play in that stadium in that environment,' Rabiot said when asked if he would be open to joining Allegri in Milan. Advertisement 'I talk with Allegri often,' he continued. 'Giovanni Rossi, De Zerbi's advisor, also works with him and when he calls, he says 'come here, I'll pass you onto your dad'. 'I can talk about everything with Allegri, not just football. I really appreciate him as a person. He has a winning mentality. And of course, if he calls me, I will always be available to talk to him.'
The Star
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Courtois out of Belgian squad for World Cup qualifiers
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier - Group F - Belgium v Austria - King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium - June 17, 2023 Belgium's Thibaut Courtois in action REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo (Reuters) -Belgium goalkeeper ThibautCourtois has withdrawn from the squad for their opening two World Cup qualifiers this month because of a back injury. The player's club Real Madrid said on Sunday that he had been diagnosed with sacroiliitis -- inflammation of one or both sacroiliac joints in the area where the lower back and pelvis meet. "The medical staff of Real Madrid and the Royal Belgian Football Association have discussed Thibaut Courtois' back problems intensively in the past period,' the Belgian association added in a statement. "Both medical staffs have come to the conclusion that the goalkeeper is not fit for the upcoming internationals.' The injury may also jeopardise Courtois' chances of playing at the Club World Cup in the United States, where Real Madrid open their campaign in Miami on June 18 against Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia. Uncapped Nordin Jackers from Club Brugge will replace Courtois in the Belgian squad for the matches against North Macedonia in Skopje on Friday and at home to Wales next Monday. Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels is expected to take Courtois' placein goal for the two Group J fixtures. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cairo; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Official: Barcelona renew Lamine Yamal until 2031
As expected, FC Barcelona have confirmed that Lamine Yamal has signed a new contract with the club until the summer of 2031. 'FC Barcelona and Lamine Yamal have reached an agreement to renew his contract, which will tie him to the Club until June 30, 2031,' the statement from the club read. Advertisement The 17-year-old wonderkid penned the deal at the club offices earlier today in the presence of the president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, vice-president, Rafa Yuste and sporting director, Deco, among others. Since making his debut for Barcelona on April 29, 2023, at the age of only 15, Lamine has made giant strides, establishing himself as one of the best players in the world despite his tender age. The Spanish international has been critical to Barça's success this season, winning three trophies, after having helped the national team lift the UEFA Euro 2024 last summer. Lamine now extends his contract until 2031 and is expected to be one of the highest earners at the club with a salary of around €15 million per year. The deal will also contain an enormous release clause worth €1 billion to ward off any suitors.
Saudi Gazette
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Toney earns England recall after standout season with Al Ahli
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney has been recalled to the England national team for the June fixtures against Andorra and Senegal, capping off a stellar debut campaign in the Roshn Saudi League. The 28-year-old forward, who joined the Jeddah-based club from Brentford last August, has emerged as one of the league's standout performers. Toney played a crucial role in Al Ahli's AFC Champions League Elite triumph last month and has scored 22 goals in the domestic league this season. With one match remaining in the 2024–25 campaign, Toney sits second in the Golden Boot race behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who has netted 24 goals for Al Nassr. 'Toney deserves to be with us,' said England manager Thomas Tuchel on Friday.'He scored over 20 goals this season, won a major title in Asia, and has made a big impact with goals and assists. I couldn't visit Saudi Arabia as planned in March, so now we're bringing him back to join us.'Toney's last appearance for England came in the UEFA Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. He has earned six international caps to will face Andorra on June 7 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, followed by a friendly against Senegal in Nottingham on June 10 — a match that could see Toney line up against Al Ahli teammate Edouard Mendy, along with Al Hilal's Kalidou Koulibaly and Al Nassr's Sadio Ahli currently sit fifth in the league table, three points behind fourth-placed Al Nassr, heading into the final matchweek of the season.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
Messi vs Yamal set as UEFA, CONMEBOL confirm ARG vs ESP Finalissima in 2026
A once-in-a-lifetime football showdown is on the horizon as UEFA and CONMEBOL confirm that Spain and Argentina will face off in the next edition of the Finalissima — a clash between the reigning champions of Europe and South America. The match is already generating global excitement, not just for the prestigious silverware on offer, but for the symbolic showdown between two extraordinary talents at opposite ends of their careers. Lionel Messi, one of football's greatest icons, is expected to lead Argentina, possibly for the final time, at the age of 38. Meanwhile, Spain's Lamine Yamal, a 17-year-old prodigy who lit up Euro 2024, prepares to showcase his brilliance on a grand stage. With history, legacy and generational pride on the line, this fixture promises to be one of the defining moments in modern football. Champions collide in Finalissima showdown Spain booked their place in this elite encounter after triumphing at UEFA Euro 2024, where they overcame England in a dramatic final. Argentina, on the other hand, secured qualification by clinching the 2024 Copa América title, furthering their remarkable run of success that includes the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Finalissima — an event first held in 1985 and revived in 2022 — brings together continental champions in a unique celebration of international footballing excellence. The legacy of Lionel Messi As Argentina prepare for the 2026 edition of this prestigious fixture, all eyes will be on Lionel Messi, who is likely to feature in one of his final outings in the famous Albiceleste shirt. With a glittering career that includes the World Cup, multiple Copa América titles, four Champions League triumphs and a record number of Ballon d'Or awards, Messi's presence will lend both gravitas and emotion to the encounter. The 2022 Finalissima, in which he led Argentina to a commanding 3–0 win over Italy at Wembley, only adds to the weight of his legacy in this tournament. The rise of Lamine Yamal In stark contrast, Lamine Yamal — the teenage sensation who took the world of football by storm — became the youngest player to score and assist in a European Championship during Euro 2024, while also earning the tournament's Young Player of the Tournament accolade. Yamal's rise has captured imaginations across the globe. Already a two-time La Liga champion before turning 18, he is being tipped as a future Ballon d'Or contender, with some speculating he could become the youngest winner of the prestigious award later this year. Date and venue yet to be finalised While the match is confirmed, UEFA and CONMEBOL have yet to reveal the official date and venue. However, sources suggest the match will be played between 26 and 31 March 2026, with venues in both Europe and South America being considered. This uncertainty has done little to dampen the anticipation, with fans on both continents eagerly awaiting further announcements regarding ticket sales and matchday details.
