Tag Archives: Barcelona

Johnny Cardoso Officially Revealed Atlético Madrid Player

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Johnny Cardoso is taking his career to the next level…

The 23-year-old Brazilian American professional soccer player and United States men’s national team midfielder is ready to “evolve and learn” from coach Diego Simeone as he was unveiled as an Atlético Madrid player on Wednesday, backing his new team to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona for trophies.

Johnny Cardoso,

Atlético confirmed the signing of Cardoso, 23, from Real Betis earlier this month, with the player signing a five-year contract.

The LaLiga side have been busy in this summer’s transfer market, bringing in Cardoso, playmakers Álex Baena and Thiago Almada, and defenders Dávid Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri and Marc Pubill.

“It’s a dream come true being here, experiencing this with my family,” Cardoso said during his presentation at Atlético’s Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday. “It’s a huge club which has the same ambition as I do.

“It’s a privilege to be with all the staff and especially [Simeone]. He played in my position, and I’m ready to evolve and learn from him.”

Cardoso was born in New Jersey to Brazilian parents, and also holds an Italian passport, meaning he doesn’t occupy a non-European Union slot in Simeone’s squad.

He will wear the No. 5 shirt at Atlético recently vacated by Rodrigo De Paul, who has left for Inter Miami.

“I have a lot of confidence in the project, with what the club has said to me,” Cardoso said. “We have the same hopes, to keep growing and to win trophies.

“It’s a team that has brought in a lot of players, a lot of young players, to blend with experience. We play in a lot of competitions, and we have total conviction of being able to fight for all of them.”

Atletico are looking to improve on a 2024-25 campaign which saw them finish third in LaLiga and eliminated in the Copa del Rey semifinals and the Champions League last 16.

This summer they were knocked out of the Club World Cup at the group stage, after being thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in their opening game.

Cardoso said he believed his new team — who began preseason training last week — now have a squad capable of competing with giants Madrid and Barça.

“We’re all at the same level,” he said. “Atleti are a very big team… Simeone has been showing me things from the start, I’m learning a lot. It’s going to be a special season.”

Cardoso made his senior debut for the United States in a match against Wales in 2020. He has 22 caps, winning the Concacaf Nations League in 2023 and 2024.

Cardoso had to withdraw from Mauricio Pochettino‘s Concacaf Nations League squad in March due to a muscle injury.

Bayern Munich Sign Luis Díaz from Liverpool

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Luis Díaz is headed to Germany…

Bayern Munich has confirmed the signing of the 28-year-old Colombian professional soccer player and Colombia international  from Liverpool.

Luis Díaz,ESPN is reporting that the deal is worth €75 million ($88m), inclusive of add-ons.

He becomes Bayern’s third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Bayer Leverkusen‘s Jonathan Tah and Hoffenheim midfielder Tom Bischof.

“I’m very happy, it means a lot to me to be part of FC Bayern, they’re one of the biggest clubs in the world,” Díaz said in a statement.

“I want to help my new team with my way of playing football and my character. My goal is to win every possible title, and that’s what we’ll work for every day as a team.”

Díaz missed Liverpool’s friendly defeat against AC Milan on Saturday due to ongoing speculation linking him with a move away from Anfield and was granted permission to leave the preseason tour of Asia on Sunday.

Sources told ESPN that Díaz first signaled a wish to leave Liverpool in the summer of 2024 — with his existing deal due to expire in 2027 — but the club held firm while assessing both the squad and the market.

Two separate attempts to agree to a contract extension failed due to a gap between offers and demands.

There has been extensive interest in the player all summer, with Liverpool previously rejecting advances from both Barcelona and Bayern and insisting the player was not available.

Sources told ESPN the club rejected a €67.5m bid from Bayern earlier this month but, after the German champions returned with an improved offer, Liverpool reluctantly agreed to sanction his departure.

Díaz enjoyed the most productive season of his Liverpool career last term, scoring 17 goals in all competitions and helping Arne Slot’s side win the Premier League title.

The forward joined the club from FC Porto in January 2022 in a deal rising up to €49m and scored 41 goals in 148 appearances.

His departure will help balance out some of Liverpool’s spending this summer, with the Premier League champions spending around £290m on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Hugo Ekitike.

It also brings the revenue generated from player transfers up to £190m under sporting director Richard Hughes, who took up the role last summer.

Liverpool could now formalize their interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, whose availability Slot’s slide enquired about earlier this month.

He was left out of Newcastle’s preseason tour to Asia after suffering a thigh injury but sources have told ESPN Isak has also informed the club he wants to explore a move away from St. James’ Park.

Lamine Yamal Granted Iconic Barcelona No. 10 Shirt Previously Worn by Lionel Messi

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Lamine Yamal is celebrating a perfect 10…

The 18-year-old Spanish professional footballer has been given the iconic Barcelona No. 10 shirt previously worn by Lionel Messi, the Catalan club has confirmed.

Lamine YamalYamal, who celebrated turning 18 on Sunday, inherits the number next season from Ansu Fati, who completed a season-long loan move to AS Monaco earlier this month.

The confirmation of Yamal’s new number was made at an event with the winger and his family to celebrate his new contract, which was agreed on last month and runs until 2031.

Messi wore the No. 10 jersey at Barcelona from 2008 until his departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. The Argentina great became a legend at Camp Nou, helping Barcelona win 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues while becoming Barça‘s all-time leading scorer.

“When I was a child, my dream was to debut for Barça, to grow up and play with the No. 10,” Yamal said Wednesday. “Every kid born in Barcelona dreams of that. Messi has made his way, and I’m going to make mine.”

Fati succeeded Messi as the No. 10 in 2021, but a series of injuries saw him struggle to maintain his place with the team.

In the meantime, Yamal has emerged as one of the standout players for both Barça and Spain.

The teenager, who has already made 106 appearances for Barça and scored 25 goals, will take on one of the most significant shirt numbers in the club’s history. In addition to Messi, the number has also previously been worn by Barça greats including Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Romário and Diego Maradona.

Yamal had hinted at the change in recent weeks as he posted photographs of Argentina legend Maradona, Ronaldinho and Messi on social media, the former two while they were wearing the Barça No.10 shirt.

It’ll be the fourth number Yamal has worn with Barça. He had No. 41 when he made his debut in 2022-23, No. 27 the following season and then last year No. 19, the same number Messi wore before taking No. 10.

Yamal has won two LaLiga titles, one Copa del Rey and a Spanish Supercopa with Barça. He helped Spain win the European Championship last summer.

“I haven’t won the Champions League and the World Cup,” he said. “These are my goals now.”

The announcement comes as Yamal faces an investigation from the Spanish government into possible breaches of disability laws following allegations that individuals with dwarfism were hired as entertainers at his 18th birthday party.

Yamal sidestepped the controversy on Wednesday.

“In the end I work for Barça, but when I’m away from the club’s training center, I enjoy my life and that’s it,” Yamal said. “I’m indifferent to both criticism and praise if they don’t come from my family or people close to me.”

Inter Miami Star Lionel Messi Extends MLS Record for Multi-Goal Games vs. Nashville SC

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Lionel Messi continues making Major League Soccer history…

The 38-year-old Argentine professional footballer has extended his MLS-record streak of multi-goal games as he scored twice in Inter Miami‘s 2-1 win over Nashville SC.

Lionel MessiMessi claimed the record last week when he became the first player in MLS history to score multiple goals in four straight league games. 

And he took that streak to five Saturday, with a goal in each half to help Miami to a fifth consecutive MLS victory. Miami moved to fifth in the Supporters’ Shield standings as it aims to win the title for the second straight season.

Messi is also tied with Nashville’s Sam Surridge for the MLS goal lead this season with 16 goals in just 16 games.

“There are not many words,” Miami manager Javier Mascherano said.

“It is incredible what he continues to do, breaking records every three days … it is what I have said a thousand times in this room he is the flag of our team, the one who shows us the way how to compete, he is the leader the one who obviously encourages his teammates, shows them how we have to continue and above all maintain at this moment the tone that we have been having and well.

“The reality is that it is a blessing to be able to accompany him at this stage of his career.”

The Argentina great opened the scoring in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with a perfectly placed free kick in the 17th minute. Messi beat the Nashville wall and goalkeeper Joe Willis with a low left-footed shot that found the bottom corner of the net.

It was Messi’s 69th goal from a direct free kick and his sixth with Miami. It also gave him a goal in a sixth straight MLS game, one behind his best such streak in MLS set last year.

His record-extending second goal came in the 62nd minute. Messi intercepted an errant pass from Willis then nonchalantly took the ball around the Nashville keeper before coolly depositing it into the net.

It’s the first time Messi has had five straight multigoal league games since a run of six with Barcelona in LaLiga in 2012.

In between Messi’s strikes, Hany Mukhtar scored off a delightful cross from Andy Nájar to level the score for Nashville, which had won five straight entering the match.

Nashville jumped to third in the Supporters’ Shield standings during its unbeaten streak that went back to mid-April across all competitions. It was also the longest active unbeaten streak in MLS and Nashville’s best stretch in its six-season club history.

Miami closed the gap on Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati to five points, while still having three games left because of its participation in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Neymar Extends Contract with Santos Through the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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Neymar is staying home…

The 33-year-old Brazilian forward has signed a contract extension with Santos through the end of 2025, the club has announced.

NeymarThe deal includes an option to extend his contract through the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, per ESPN Brasil sources.

His previous contract at Santos was due to expire on June 30.

Neymar rejoined his boyhood club in January after terminating his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal by mutual consent.

“I made a decision and I listened to my heart,” Neymar said in Santos’ statement. “Santos is not just my team, it’s my home, my roots, my history, and my life.

“Here, I was a boy who became a man, and I am truly loved. Here I can be myself, truly happy. And this is where I want to fulfill the dreams that are still missing in my career. And nothing will stop me.

“I go, I come back and I stay. Where it all began, where it’s never going to end.”

The new deal includes an additional contract between Santos and NR Sports for the use of Neymar’s image, sources told ESPN Brasil.

In the agreement, Santos agreed to pay a minimum of $15 million for all the new contracts from sponsors and earnings in investments generated by Neymar’s presence with the club, sources added.

Earlier this month, Neymar turned down an offer to play on loan at Brazilian club Fluminense in the Club World Cup, with the former Barcelona star focused on regaining his full fitness.

Neymar spent much of his time in Saudi Arabia on the sidelines due to an ACL injury he sustained while on international duty with Brazil in October 2023.

Recurring muscular injuries have limited Neymar to three goals and three assists in 15 games for Santos this year and prevented him from making his long-awaited return to the national team.

But the signing has paid off in other ways for Santos. The club’s president Marcelo Teixeira said that Neymar’s return to Vila Belmiro has led to record-breaking social media growth and significant commercial gains for the club.

“It is a historic and remarkable day for Brazilian football, a gift for the Santos FC fans,” Teixeira said as part of Tuesday’s announcement. “Our idol, our boy, the prince with our number 10 shirt, remains.

“It is a very important moment in this rebuilding process, and we needed Neymar, both on and off the field. The phrase ‘I go, I come back and I stay’ is emblematic and fundamental to the repositioning of Santos FC at its rightful level.”

Despite not being at the top of his game, Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Sr., recently said that his son has an “interested market” that included European clubs that will compete in the Champions League next season.

“We have started a very good partnership and hope to continue for a long time,” Neymar’s father said in Santos’ statement.

Neymar, who is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, is hopeful of playing in a fourth World Cup.

Brazil’s Serie A was paused on June 12 but will resume after the FIFA Club World Cup.

Santos, who returned to the top flight this year, are 15th in the standings with three wins in 12 games.

Lamine Yamal Wins Laureus World Sports Award for World Breakthrough Player Award

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Lamine Yamal is officially among this year’s greatest athletes around the world…

The 17-year-old Spanish professional footballer, who plays as a winger for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team, has claimed the world breakthrough player award at the Laureus world sports awards.

Lamine YamalWidely regarded as one of the best young footballers in the world, Yamal has represented Spain internationally at various youth levels.

He made his debut for the senior team in 2023, becoming the youngest player to represent and score for the country at age 16. He was selected for UEFA Euro 2024, playing an important role in helping Spain win their fourth title, while also winning the tournament’s Young Player Award.

Rafael Nadal received the sporting icon award.

The 38-year-old Spanish tennis star, a former World No. 1, retired from the sport after playing for Spain in the Davis Cup Finals in November 2024.

During his stories career, Nadal won 92 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including 22 Grand Slam titles (including a record 14 French Open titles), as well as 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal.

Nadal is one of three men to complete the career Golden Slam in singles.

Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade won the world comeback of the year award after winning three medals at the 2024 Paris Games — including gold in the floor exercise — after recovering from anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Other winners include American surfer Kelly Slater, who received the lifetime achievement award; Simone Biles and Mondo Duplantis, named sportswoman and sportsman of the year.

Real Madrid, the Champions League and La Liga winner last season, was the world team of the year, while the world action sportsperson award went to Tom Pidcock, the British mountain biker who overcame a puncture to become only the second man to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the cyclo-cross discipline.

Yuyan Jiang was the world sportsperson of the year with a disability.

Neymar Closing In on Deal to Return to Former Club Santos

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Neymar may be returning to his homeland soon…

The 32-year-old Brazilian soccer superstar is closing in on a return to his former club Santos, according to ESPN sources.

NeymarNeymar remains on the roster of Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, but the team’s manager Jorge Jesus said earlier in January that the Brazilian attacker can “no longer play at the level we are used to,” and wasn’t registered to play in the Saudi Pro League, leaving Neymar eligible to play only in the Asian Champions League.

As a result, Neymar has been looking for his next playing opportunity, and appears to have found it with the club with which he began his professional career.

Sources tell ESPN that Neymar’s contract with Al Hilal likely will be terminated, but the final details are still being negotiated. The two sides are expected to meet early this week with the hope of reaching an agreement.

If that occurs, Neymar is set to sign a six-month contract, which will have an option to be extended an additional year, with Santos.

If the deal with Santos is completed, Neymar is set to travel to Brazil this week, and could play for Santos as soon as February 5.

By terminating his Al Hilal contract, which ran through this summer, Neymar would walk away from about $65 million. Sources told ESPN he could make up at least some of the shortfall by having himself and his father, Neymar Santos Sr., become part of an investment fund that includes shares in Santos.

However, ESPN Brazil is reporting that Neymar is still determined to recoup the money from Al Hilal and that any deal involving shares in Santos would be extremely difficult to execute in the short term.

So, though the framework for a return to Santos is in place in principle, there are still sticking points.

If his return to Santos is completed, it will conclude a transfer saga that included the possibility of Neymar heading to MLS side Chicago Fire FC. However, Neymar’s preference was to return to Brazil to regain his form and possibly reclaim his place with the national team.

Neymar endured a difficult spell with Al Hilal after joining the Saudi Arabian club from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023 for a fee of $97.6 million.

The former Barcelona star suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while on international duty shortly after joining Al Hilal. He returned to the field last October, but a hamstring injury kept him from making more of a contribution. He made just seven league and cup appearances with just one goal scored in an AFC Champions League group stage match against Nassaji Mazandaran on Oct. 3, 2023.

Despite his struggles in Saudi Arabia, Neymar remains one of the biggest names in the sport thanks to his exploits alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez while with Barcelona from 2013 to 2017. In that time, he was part of sides that won a UEFA Champions League crown, two LaLiga titles, and three Copa del Reys.

He later moved to PSG in 2017 and won five Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de Frances and two Coupe de la Ligues.

Neymar began his professional career with Santos in 2009, leading them to a Copa Libertadores triumph in 2011, when he scored in the second leg of the final, a 2-1 win over Peñarol.

At the international level, Neymar has appeared 128 times for Brazil, scoring a Selecao record 79 goals. He was part of the Brazil side that won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, which Brazil hosted.

Real Madrid Star Vinícius Júnior Considering Buying Football Club in Portugal’s Second Division

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Vinícius Júnior may be adding owner to his soccer resume… 

The 24-year-old Brazilian professional footballer and Real Madrid star is considering buying a football club in Portugal’s second division, per ESPN sources.

Vinícius Júnior,The Brazil international — currently in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the Spanish Supercopa — is considering diversifying his business interests with an eye to his future career plans after retiring as a player.

Vinícius started for Madrid in their 3-0 Supercopa semifinal victory over Mallorca on Thursday, a result which will see them face Barcelona in Sunday’s final.

The news that the Ballon d’Or runner-up is contemplating buying a club in Portugal was first reported by the radio station Cadena COPE.

Vinícius already has a series of personal sponsorship agreements, as well as a contract with Nike which runs until 2028.

Vinícius and Nike recently reached a new deal after a legal dispute, which sees the Brazilian becoming one of the North American company’s most high-profile faces in football.

Vinícius is represented by the agency Roc Nation, and is in frequent contact with elite athletes from other sports, especially the NBA and NFL.

He also promotes the charitable foundation the Vini Jr Institute in Brazil.

The Portuguese second division has 18 clubs, including the reserve teams of Benfica and Porto. One club, Portimonense, already has a Brazilian at the helm, Rodiney Sampaio.

Vinícius would not be the first active footballer to purchase a club.

N’Golo Kanté owns Royal Excelsior Virton in the Belgian third division, and Vini’s Real Madrid teammate, Kylian Mbappé, became the majority shareholder of Caen, in the French second division, in July last year.

Spain’s Rodri Named Best Player of the 2024 European Championships, Lamine Yamal Named Best Young Player

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Rodri is officially the best…

The 28-year-old Spanish professional footballer, who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Spain national team, has been named as the best player of the European Championships, with team-mate Lamine Yamal winning the best young player of the tournament award.

RodriRodri started in six of his nation’s seven matches throughout the tournament, only sitting out the final group stage victory — which Spain 1-0, having already qualified for the last 16 stage.

Rodri man was influential for his nation throughout Euro 2024, even scoring in the round-of-16 victory over Georgia.

Rodri was taken off injured at halftime in the final after suffering hamstring discomfort in the first half, being replaced by Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad.

Meanwhile, Barcelona forward Yamal — who had a tournament-high four assists — was named as the young player of the European Championships, awarded to the best player aged 22 or younger, having celebrated his 17th birthday on Saturday.

His Barcelona teammate Pedri, who was injured in the quarterfinal victory over Germany, won the award in Euro 2020.

Spain defeated England 2-1 in the final with goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal. Luis de la Fuente’s side had previously defeated hosts Germany and pre-tournament favorites France on their path to Sunday’s decider in Berlin.

Rodri’s award caps off his successful club season as he helped Manchester City to win the Premier League title, with the only defeat in which he played for club or country throughout the season the FA Cup final loss to Manchester United in late May.

Dani Olmo Among Six Players Sharing Euro 2024 Golden Boot Award

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It’s the golden hour for Dani Olmo…

The 26-year-old Spanish professional footballer, who plays for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and the Spain national team, is among six players who’ve shared the Euro 2024 Golden Boot, having all scored three goals during the tournament.

Dani OlmoOlmo is sharing the European Championships top-scorer prize with Harry Kane (England), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Georges Mikautadze (Georgia), Jamal Musiala (Germany) and Ivan Schranz (Slovakia) make up the congested leaderboard.

Olmo and Kane couldn’t pull clear of the pack with a goal in Sunday’s final which Spain won 2-1 against England.

UEFA confirmed on Friday that they would share the Euro 2024 Golden Boot between six players if Sunday’s final between England and Spain failed to produce a clear winner of the trophy.

It marked a change in policy for the tournament organizers who had previously awarded the prize to the player who had registered the most assists when more than one player were tied for goals scored.

At Euro 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Boot, though he had scored the same amount of goals as Czechia‘s Patrik Schick (5), the Portugal forward had also contributed one assist.

Three goals is the lowest tally for a Golden Boot winner since Euro 2012 when Fernando Torres (Spain), Mario Gomez (Germany) and Alan Dzagoev (Russia) all ended the tournament with three goals.

Torres was awarded the golden boot that year as he played fewer minutes than the other players who had scored three goals.

Olmo started just three of Spain’s seven matches at Euro 2024, before taking Barcelona midfielder Pedri‘s place in the team after he was injured in the quarterfinal victory over hosts Germany.

The RB Leipzig midfielder scored in all three of Spain’s matches in the knockout rounds before Sunday’s final.