Latest news with #Clasico
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
National team coach warns Real Madrid veteran over disciplinary issues – ‘Must not happen again'
Germany's national team gathered in Bavaria on Friday to begin preparations for the UEFA Nations League Final Four. One of the most notable absentees in the camp was Real Madrid veteran Antonio Rudiger. A regular fixture in the Germany setup, the Real Madrid centre-back missed out as he is still recovering from knee surgery and is not ready to return. Advertisement Prior to his injury and surgery, Rudiger was involved in a major controversy following due to his behaviour in the Copa del Rey final Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona. With his team losing, the 32-year-old, who had been substituted due to the knee issue, lost his cool on the bench and insulted the referee while even throwing an object in his direction. Rudiger was shown a red card for his actions and hit with a six-match ban while there were also calls from several quarters for him to be punished by the German FA as well. Julian Nagelsmann issues stern warning The DFB did not impose any sanctions on Rudiger but the German national team manager Julian Nagelsmann has issued a clear warning to the Real Madrid defender in today's press conference that his actions cannot be repeated. Advertisement 'Of course, we've had a lot of dialogue about the incident. He knows my opinion that it was wrong and not good. And he has also reached the limit, he knows that. Rudi said that too, I told him that too,' said Nagelsmann, as quoted by BILD. Nagelsmann has warned Rudiger over his behaviour. (Photo by) Continuing, he added: 'I think he said it twice, that it was wrong, that it was a mistake. And there's no question about that. And he also knows that it must not happen again. 'Otherwise there will simply be greater consequences. We are very transparent with him.' In short: Rudiger cannot afford another misstep. However, Nagelsmann also emphasised: 'Nevertheless, it's also important to let people make mistakes. And if they apologise, then at some point it has to be put behind them. 'There are many moralisers, but at some point we have to accept the apology and give him the chance to do better. And he is now in the chance phase. And that's the end of it and we look forward to better behaviour in the future.' Rudiger had already issued an apology for his behaviour and must now be careful not to repeat it. Currently recovering from the knee surgery, he is expected to be available next month when Real Madrid travel to the USA for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Metro
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Arsenal hit stumbling block in Rodrygo talks with transfer preference revealed
Real Madrid star Rodrygo is leaning towards staying at Real Madrid with his wage demands likely to price Arsenal out of a move should he leave the Spanish capital. A host of Premier League clubs were put on alert after it emerged the Brazil international was strongly considering leaving Los Blancos this summer. Arsenal and Chelsea are among the clubs to have registered interest in the 24-year-old with Real demanding €80million (£67.5m) for the winger. After being benched for the title-deciding Clasico against Barcelona earlier this month, reports in Spain revealed Rodrygo's frustration at the club, tired of playing second fiddle to Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. But the departure of Carlo Ancelotti, taking over the Brazil national team job, and the arrival of Xabi Alonso appears to have changed the situation. 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 we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. AS now report Rodrygo's preference is to stay at Real and fight for his place in the team. He is eager to sit down with Alonso as soon as possible and discover what role the former midfielder has in mind for him, with his initial plan to stay and gain the new manager's trust. Should Alonso decide Rodrygo will not have a prominent role to play, the winger will consider one of the many offers he is receiving from the Premier League. This week, Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal will be in 'for the best players' when quizzed on the club's interest in the Real star. While there have been further talks with Rodrygo 'in recent hours', Sky Germany report wage demands could place him out of their reach. Demands of around €10million net per year exceed what Arsenal are ready to pay. The Premier League side have also opened talks with RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, with Mikel Arteta preferring him to Viktor Gyokeres to lead his line next season. 'I mean, if you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market, no? The teams that win have the best players, always, always at this level,' Arteta said this week on incoming business. More Trending 'I think the biggest thing is that, and using the word pride, is that we have brought the club into a position, into a place that next season: 'You have to win a major trophy.' 'That means that everybody believes, that we have the level, that we have shown the consistency, and we are an elite team in this country and in Europe. 'And if you don't do that, then what's going to happen? So, for me that's the biggest statement, that Arsenal is there.' MORE: Is Women's Champions League final on YouTube? How to watch Arsenal vs Barcelona free in the UK MORE: How Man Utd's pursuit of Matheus Cunha will be affected by Europa League defeat MORE: Pat Nevin names Chelsea's weak links for Nottingham Forest Premier League clash
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Barcelona midfield ace reveals inspiration behind his goal celebration – ‘It is for my…'
Fermin Lopez continues to captivate fans not just with his performances on the pitch but also with his down-to-earth personality and deep love for FC Barcelona. In a recent interactive session hosted by 'Residency', the young midfielder opened up about his dreams, inspirations, and personal rituals, revealing a player fully immersed in the club's identity and driven by collective success. Advertisement 'I'm just a normal boy fighting for his dreams,' said Fermin. Having risen through the La Masia system, he represents the spirit of homegrown talent now stepping up to the first team with confidence and pride. There is no mistaking where Fermin's heart lies. When asked about his favourite stadium, he didn't hesitate: 'Camp Nou, our home, of course.' For him, being part of Barça is not just a career, it is a lifelong passion. His ambitions align perfectly with the club's greatest aspirations. 'One of my dreams is winning the Champions League with Barça,' he stated, before adding, 'and also the World Cup with Spain.' Players he looks up to Fermin Lopez has a trademark celebration. (Photo by) To reach those heights, Fermin looks up to two of the most legendary figures in football history: 'Leo Messi and Andres Iniesta have always been my idols.' Advertisement Like them, Fermin values team success above all. 'I don't think about individual awards. I only think about titles. If those [awards] come, they will come.' When asked about the upcoming Ballon d'Or, he kept it simple and loyal: 'Whoever wins it, I just hope it's someone from Barça.' Explaining the celebration Fermin also shared a bit of personal flair. His trademark goal celebration, hand to the temple in a military-style salute, has a special meaning. 'It's for my friend Jan Raich,' he explained, referencing the Catalan musical artist and influencer. He even performed it in the last Clasico after scoring what should have been a legitimate goal in the 5-3 thriller against Real Madrid, only to see it disallowed by the referees. And when it comes to celebrating goals, there is one teammate who stands out in his eyes: 'Lamine's celebrations are brutal. I love them,' he concluded. Source: SPORT
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal can repeat transfer trick with Rodrygo as summer plans become clear
Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one of the left-wing options being linked with a summer move to Arsenal and a swoop for the Brazil international could see the Gunners follow a pattern Arsenal go into the summer transfer window in desperate need of a new striker, but a new left-winger is also high on their shopping list. Plenty of names have been linked, with the noise around Nico Williams not going away, but Rodrygo is the latest to be touted as the answer. The Real Madrid star has looked like the odd man out at the Bernabeu since Kylian Mbappe's arrival last summer, and that's unlikely to change when Xabi Alonso takes over as manager. He was left on the bench for the Clasico defeat which effectively handed Barcelona the title, and wasn't even in the squad for Madrid's last two games against Mallorca and Sevilla. Mbappe is here to stay, while it's hard to see a scenario where Vinicius Junior is allowed to move on this summer. Rodrygo could still fetch a tidy sum, though, while still allowing Arsenal to buy at a discount. The prospect of bringing in a player for below their market value might not be the only appealing factor for Arsenal. They have had plenty of success signing top talents from La Liga in the past, and manager Mikel Arteta may well be willing to try his luck. Asked about interest in the Brazil international on Thursday, the Arsenal boss made clear his desire to add to his attack. 'If you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market, no? The teams that win always have the best players," said the Gunners boss. 'I wouldn't like to name a player, but there is pride because we have brought the club into a position that next season people are saying: 'You have to win a major trophy.' "And that means that everybody believes, and that we are an elite team in this country and in Europe. The biggest statement is that Arsenal is there. 'What is clear with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line is that we need a goal threat and we need firepower. Understanding that the context can change tomorrow, we cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before. We have to add goals, creativity, and we have to add numbers, and that will be in different positions.' Certainly, he will hope history can repeat itself. The obvious stand-out example comes in the form of Martin Odegaard, who was allowed to leave the Spanish capital and is now Arsenal's captain and one of their most important players. He isn't the only example, though. Back in 2013, the Gunners saw Madrid spend big on Isco and Gareth Bale and seized their opportunity. A deadline day move saw Mesut Ozil move to North London and he enjoyed several fruitful years there - even if things didn't end in the best way. Twelve months later, they raided Madrid's rivals Barcelona instead. The Catalan club had a busy summer of their own, with Luis Suarez among those to arrive, and that left Barca feeling they could cope without Alexis Sanchez. In Barcelona's defence, they were arguably correct on that matter as they went on to win the Champions League. Arsenal were able to benefit too, though, Three great seasons were followed by a sharp decline, but the highs were very high. It isn't the first time Rodrygo has been linked with a move to the Premier League. Liverpool were keen on the Brazil international before he left his home country for Spain, but at the time he was in no mood to leave boyhood club Santos. 'We didn't close the deal because I didn't want to. I wanted to stay at Santos even though the offer was very good," he said in 2024. "The pathway they promised me would also have been very good for my career. I was going to finish my studies in England to prepare for European football. "It had always been my dream to play in Europe. Everything was very good, but my desire spoke louder. I wanted to stay at Santos and make a bit of history at the club. And that's what happened: I was able to fulfil my dream of playing for Santos. But it's true, I almost went to Liverpool.' 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
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Atletico Madrid President rips Diego Simeone analysis to shreds – ‘It's been a bad season'
Atletico Madrid were in the running for a treble midway through March this season, an rare feat for Los Colchoneros, but watched as their progress in all three major competitions fell to pieces in the space of three weeks. Atletico are on course to finish third behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, but President Enrique Cerezo was not impressed with their progress. Manager Diego Simeone has always been quick to point out that the budget he is working with a budget of around half of the Clasico duo. He told Diario AS after their win over Real Betis on Sunday that closing the gap to the top two is not easy. Advertisement 'The club, with the opportunity to grow, participating in the Club World Cup, always in the Champions League, is fantastic for the club and its growth. The demands increase; it's a tournament where Real Madrid and Barcelona play every year, so it's not easy. In recent years, we were always theoretically third; last year we finished fourth, but looking back, Athletic Club is growing, Villarreal is growing, and it's not so easy to get close to Madrid and Barcelona, but we try. We inflate the balloon together [build up the excitement], you and us, and in the end, the distance is clear.' Photo by Diario AS El Cholo was also clear that Atletico have been the best challengers that Real Madrid and Barcelona have faced over the last four decades. 'We don't always finish third; we've also finished second twice, and we've won twice, competing with Madrid and Barcelona. In the 40 years between 1984 and today, Athletic Club won one league, Deportivo won one, Valencia won two, and we won three. There must be a reason.' Advertisement 'We want to get close to winning, but we also value what we've achieved.' Robin Le Normand: 'We have to value third place' Meanwhile defender Robin Le Normand, one of their big-money moves last summer, told Marca after the same game that they cannot dismiss finishing third either. 'It's fine. It's normal that they're demanding from us given the squad we have. We haven't been far behind, we've fought in every competition. After all, it's football. We have to value third place, even though we want more. There are opponents who demand a lot from us and who also want to win. That shouldn't hold us back; rather, we should be focused on pushing ourselves and continuing to push ourselves to hopefully win a title one day.' Atletico Madrid President – 'It's been a disaster' However Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo was not quite as forgiving. In his eyes, the Atletico season has gone 'terribly'. Advertisement 'I don't know, it's been a disaster. The truth is that we've had bad luck on some occasions, and at other times we've played very badly. But hey, the team is the same one that started the first season; it's had its ups and downs, but in the end, the truth is that we've done terribly,' he told El Desmarque, as quoted by Relevo. 'We could have had three very important chances to win, but we practically confirmed with third place.' Enrique Cerezo nuances discourse Three days later, Cerezo somewhat softened his discourse during an interview with Cadena SER. While he backed away from the word disaster, he was not willing to 'value' third place either. Advertisement 'We haven't had a good season. It seemed like we had everything within our grasp, and in two or three games, everything slipped away. That doesn't mean the season has been a disaster, it felt insufficient.' Enrique Cerezo Difference in ambition between Diego Simeone and Atletico? Third place certainly seems like the base expectation for Atletico every year, but it also means that achieving their objective feels like little to celebrate too. Cerezo's answers perhaps suggest that the hierarchy at Atletico expect more from Simeone and the squad, but it is an incredibly difficult ask with such difference of resources. Simeone has been a guarantee of Champions League football for Atletico since arriving, but with the grass always greener on the other side, there is a portion of the Rojiblanco support that wonder whether another manager might be able to mount more of a challenge to the big two.
