Tag Archives: Europe

Ferran Torres Reportedly Leaving FC Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain

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Ferran Torres is preparing for a twilight in Paris…

The 26-year-old Spanish soccer star and FC Barcelona forward will join European champions after the two clubs reached a deal in principle for around €50 million ($58m), a source confirmed to ESPN.

Ferran TorresThe transfer is reportedly expected to be completed in the coming days, with Torres due to fly to Paris to complete a medical exam before signing for the French side.

ESPN revealed earlier this week that Barça had rejected an opening offer of €40m from PSG but that negotiations remained ongoing.

Barça were open to keeping Torres, and even extending his contract but, with one year to run on his existing deal, agreed to sanction a move after he asked to leave.

Torres arrives at PSG on a high after scoring the winning goal in the FIFA World Cup final for Spain against Argentina.

He’ll play under Luis Enrique for a second time, having previously worked under the coach when he was Spain boss, and will add depth to one of Europe‘s strongest front lines.

Having started out as a winger, he has moved into a central position in recent years and is expected to be used as a No. 9 in Paris after the departure of Gonçalo Ramos to AC Milan.

Torres netted 21 goals for Barça last season, and his exit will leave the Spanish champions without a clear striker after Robert Lewandowski also left the club this summer, going to the Chicago Fire.

Atlético Madrid‘s Julián Álvarez remains their top target, but they could be forced to look elsewhere with the deal proving hard to get over the line.

CF Montréal Signs Alexis Sánchez

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Alexis Sánchez is heading to The City of Saints.

CF Montréal has signed the 37-year-old Chilean forward to a Designated Player contract, the club announced on Tuesday.

Alexis SánchezSánchez was most recently with LaLiga side Sevilla, where he scored four goals in 30 matches across all competitions.

He joins Montréal on a contract through next May, which will include the current Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign, as well as the sprint season set to take place in the first half of 2027.

The club retains a one-year option for the 2027-28 campaign, which will be the first under the modified league calendar.

“I am very happy to join CF Montréal and take on this new challenge,” said Sánchez. “I’m grateful to the Club for the confidence they’ve shown in me and I’m eager to put my experience to work so that we can reach our objectives and create memorable moments for our supporters. I’m here to give everything I have for the Club and for this city.”

The move sees Sánchez conclude an 18-year spell in Europe, which saw him play for some of the game’s biggest clubs including River Plate, Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United and Internazionale.

Along the way, Sánchez was part of teams that claimed six league championships and 11 cup titles. In a career that began in his native Chile with Cobreloa in 2005, he has made over 800 appearances in all competitions at club level, scoring over 200 goals.

“The arrival of Alexis Sánchez represents an important step in our sporting project,” said CF Montréal Senior Director Luca Saputo. “Alexis possesses exceptional technical quality and experience at the highest level of world football. His personality, leadership and competitive mindset fully align with our club’s identity and ambitions. We are of firm belief that he will have an immediate impact both on the field and in the locker room.”

At international level, Sánchez was a stalwart for Chile, leading La Roja to two Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016, both of which came at the expense of Lionel Messi and Argentina.

In the latter competition, Sánchez was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

Sánchez holds Chile’s all-time records for both goals scored (51) and international appearances (168).

Montréal sits second-to-last in MLS’ Eastern Conference, with 16 points from 18 games played. Its next games is at home against DC United on August 15.

Aston Villa Make Bid for Alejandro Garnacho

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Alejandro Garnacho may be switching sides soon…

Aston Villa have made a bid to sign the 22-year-old Argentine-Spanish football, who plays for Chelsea, on loan with a possible obligation to buy, per ESPN sources.

Alejandro GarnachoGarnacho has been told he can leave Stamford Bridge after a poor first season following his move from Manchester United, during which he failed to significantly impact the team’s fortunes, and it is understood the player is eager to depart.

He didn’t report for preseason training earlier in July with both parties having agreed it’s best he stays away from the training ground while his future gets resolved.

Chelsea reportedly want around £42.5 million ($56.9m) in any permanent deal for the winger.

Garnacho was told earlier in the summer that he’s not guaranteed a regular starting place at Stamford Bridge and it was subsequently decided that he could leave, with clubs in the Premier League, Italy and elsewhere in Europe having expressed interest, as well as Saudi Arabia.

It’s understood that a lack of playing time was the crucial factor and that relations remain positive between club and player.

It’s hoped internally that a deal can be reached as soon as possible for his departure.

Lionel Messi & Argentina Stun England Late in the Game to Reach FIFA World Cup Final

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2026 FIFA World CupLionel Messi and his Argentina teammates are one win away from a FIFA World Cup repeat.

The 39-year-old Argentine soccer superstar helped his team seal a dramatic semifinal comeback against England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday with two goals in the closing minutes to clinch a 2-1 win and book a final clash with Spain on Sunday.

Lionel Messi, ArgentinaThe reigning world champions, who won their third title in Qatar four years ago, looked set to be eliminated with England leading well into the dying stages following a second-half goal from Anthony Gordon.

But as so often in this tournament, Argentina responded and Enzo Fernández leveled the score with a stunning shot from 20 yards in the 85th minute.

Messi, who assisted the first goal, again played supplier for the second. His cross to the far post was met by substitute Lautaro Martínez, who headed the winning goal into the net from close range in the second minute of stoppage time.

“We are coming from being the best during these last four years like it or not and say what they want,” Messi said after the game. “Once again we proved it’s no fluke and nobody handed us anything. Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is not for everyone and this group did it.”

Messi now has 10 assists in the World Cup knockout stage, six more than any other player in at least the past 60 years. And he has recorded a goal or assist in 11 straight World Cup games dating to 2022, extending the longest such streak since at least 1966.

The one to Martínez, though, could be the most important of his World Cup career should Argentina go on to lift the trophy again.

“This is incredible, it’s truly incredible,” Martínez said. “I dreamed it, I swear. I told Alexis [Mac Allister] I was going to score a goal; I told Facu Medina that I was going to come on and win the match.

“We stretched the team and went all-in. We got the goals in the end, and after 3½ years, we’re back in a World Cup final.”

England’s failure to hold onto their lead means the 1966 world champions’ wait for a second World Cup final appearance continues.

“We’re disappointed, we were so close, but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances,” England coach Thomas Tuchel told the BBC. “We could not turn the ball possession around and then conceded so many crosses, chances and shots. We were close but couldn’t keep the level up after we scored.”

Argentina’s clash with Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will be the first World Cup final between the reigning champions of Europe and South America, and the first time the two top teams in the FIFA rankings have contested the final since rankings were introduced in 1992.

It will be Argentina’s seventh World Cup final as they seek their fourth title and to join Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) as only the third country to win back-to-back finals.

England will be left to face France in Saturday’s third-place game in Miami Gardens, Florida.