Tag Archives: Club World Cup

Nacho Fernandez Signs New One-Year Contract with Real Madrid

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Nacho Fernandez isn’t going anywhere…

The 33-year-old Spanish soccer player and captain of Real Madrid has signed a new one-year contract at the club.

Nacho Fernandez The defender announced earlier this month that he’d decided to accept Real Madrid’s offer of a new deal, having previously considered a move away from the club in search of more playing time.

A club statement said: “Real Madrid and Nacho Fernández have agreed an extension to our captain’s contract, keeping him tied to the club until the 30th of June 2024.

“Nacho has represented Real Madrid for 22 years, ever since joining the club’s Under-11s academy side back in 2001.

“He has made 319 appearances for the Real Madrid first team, winning 23 trophies: three European Cups, five Club World Cups, four European Super Cups, three LaLiga titles, two Copas del Rey and four Spanish Super Cups.”

Fernandez, a Spain international, has taken on the role of club captain since the departure of Karim Benzema earlier this month.

“There are always offers from elsewhere, but I’ve decided to stay for one more year,” Nacho told TVE on June 11. “I’m really happy and excited about staying.”

The versatile defender, whose favorite position is centerback but can also play at full-back on either flank, has fallen behind Eder Militao, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger among coach Carlo Ancelotti‘s options in central defense.

Nacho played 27 LaLiga games last season, starting 18 of them, but became increasingly important over the course of the campaign, which convinced him to continue at the Bernabeu.

Marcelo Leaving Real Madrid with Record-Breaking 25th Trophy at the Club

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Marcelo is leaving Real Madrid with a special record… 

The 34-year-old Brazilian professional footballer, who confirmed he’ll leave Real Madrid this summer, has won a record-breaking 25th trophy at the club in their 1-0 Champions League final victory over Liverpool.

MarceloThe veteran defender was an unused substitute in Madrid’s win in Paris but lifted the trophy — his fifth Champions League hardware after having been involved in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 — as club captain.

Marcelo had said earlier this week that he wanted to stay at the Bernabeu with his contract due to expire next month, but said after the game that he would be leaving Madrid after 15 years.

“It’s an incredible emotion because it’s my last game at Real Madrid,” he told journalists in the mixed zone at the Stade de France. “Leaving with a Champions League is a huge joy. It isn’t a sad day.”

The left-back became the most decorated player in Real Madrid’s history when he overtook legendary winger Paco Gento‘s 23 trophies as the club won LaLiga last month.

His trophy haul now stands at five Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, six league titles, two Copas del Reys and five Spanish Supercopas.

Marcelo had been widely expected to move on this summer — having lost his first-team place to Ferland Mendy in recent seasons — but said in the aftermath of Madrid’s league title celebrations that he wanted to continue.

“You talk about things,” he said on Saturday. “We’ve spoken and we’ve decided it’s best like that. I’ve already done everything I had to do at Madrid. I’ve been lucky to be here for 15 and a half years at the best club in the world.”

Marcelo joined Real Madrid from Fluminense in January 2007. He has been linked with a return to Brazil, although his family is settled in the Spanish capital, with son Enzo starring this season for Madrid’s under-13 team.

Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez To Transfer to MLS’ Atlanta United

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Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez is headed to the ATL…

The 25-year-old Argentine footballer is planning to leave River Plate and join MLS side Atlanta United after the FIFA Club World Cup.

Gonzalo "Pity" Martinez

The winger, who scored River Plate’s third goal in Sunday’s 3-1 Copa Libertadores second-leg win over Boca Juniors in Madrid, will move after four seasons at the club.

“I want to inform people that in January I will not continue,” Martinez told TyC Sports. “It’s been a very difficult decision for me, but my journey continues. I think I’ve given people what they deserve, and that is everything for those who supported me.”

Atlanta have reportedly agreed to pay the Argentina international’s $17 million release clause.

Asked why he had chosen Atlworldanta, Martinez said: “It’s the club that has put its trust in me. European clubs did not put their trust in me at the time, and I thought long and hard about it with my family and my agent.

“The MLS is a league that has grown a lot, and I hope I can keep on making history at that club.”

After Sunday’s Copa final at the Bernabeu, Martinez posted an Instagram photograph of himself holding the Copa Libertadores trophy.

River’s win sees them qualify for the Club World Cup, which will kick off in the United Arab Emirates later this week, since World Cups are always a big event, and that’s why winning playing on this event was great for them, and hope to play in the Qatar World Cup as well.

“I will play at the Club World Cup,” Martinez said. “To experience these moments with this club is the most beautiful thing in the world. There are many things I achieved with this club, and I’m going to miss it a lot.”

River captain Leo Ponzio, meanwhile, said he hoped to come up against defending champions Real Madrid in the final.

“I wish that the Club World Cup final will be River vs. Real Madrid,”he told Cadena Ser radio. “We know who they are, how they play and it would be something to enjoy.”

Atlanta United won the title in only their second season on Saturday when they beat Portland Timbers 2-0 in the MLS Cup playoff final.

Messi Records His 400th Goal for FC Barcelona

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Lionel Messi is making history once again…

The 27-year-old Argentine soccer star reached another career milestone in an FC Barcelona uniform when he notched his 400th goal for the team in Saturday’s La Liga meeting with Valencia at the Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi

Messi completed his fourth ton for the Blaugrana with the very last kick of the match, latching onto a long ball over the top and landing the milestone after tucking home the rebound after his initial shot was saved by Diego Alves.

It was Messi’s 278th league goal for the Primera Division leaders, with a further 75 coming in the Champions League, 32 in the Copa Del Rey, 10 in the Spanish Super Cup, four in the Club World Cup as well as one strike in the UEFA Super Cup.

Messi had become Barca‘s all-time leading goalscorer in March last year when he exceeded Paulino Alcantara‘s 369 goals for the club scored between 1912 and 1927.

The Argentina forward, who has won the Ballon d’Or on four occasions, also holds the record for leading goalscorer in a single La Liga season, with 50 in 2011-12.

Among a host of other records, he’is also the joint record scorer in European Cup history on 75 goals, level with Cristiano Ronaldo. And he’s also tied with Ronaldo for the most La Liga hat tricks, with both forwards having scored 24.