… Diomande connected very well with right-back Ridle Baku at Leipzig and may look even stronger with the support of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella. …
… Messi even got in the act by suggesting the referee should send off Spain’s Marc Cucurella for talking with his hand over his mouth – punishable by a red card if employed in a confrontational manner at this World Cup. …
… Santos is set to become Chelsea’s third major departure of the summer, following the exits of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid and Tyrique George to Everton. …
… Marc Cucurella has joined Real Madrid, Tyrique George has moved to Everton, while Andrey Santos is set to join Manchester United after a £50m deal was agreed on Wednesday. …
… The right-sided player is Real’s fourth summer signing after Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate, and is set to provide competition to England international Trent Alexander-Arnold. …
… After 36 minutes of gradually increasing pressure, Spain finally took the lead when Marc Cucurella’s low cross was swept home from 12 yards by Mikel Oyarzabal. …
Spain defender Marc Cucurella fulfilled a promise to get a tattoo of World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente, featuring a portrait of De la Fuente holding the World Cup and Cucurella's number 26. Cucurella helped Spain win the World Cup this month after the team beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.
Spain defender Marc Cucurella fulfilled a promise to get a tattoo of World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente, featuring a portrait of De la Fuente holding the World Cup and Cucurella's number 26. Cucurella helped Spain win the World Cup this month after the team beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.
Marc Cucurella, a defender who helped Spain win the World Cup this month by beating Argentina 1-0 in the final, has fulfilled a promise to get a tattoo of coach Luis de la Fuente. The portrait features De la Fuente holding the World Cup in front of the number 26.
The 19-year-old African winger Yan Diomande is signing with Real Madrid for more than £100m, making him a record sale for RB Leipzig, a record signing for Real Madrid, and the most expensive African player in history. His rise has been rapid — less than 18 months ago he was largely unknown before playing for Leganes and then Leipzig.
Spain teenager Lamine Yamal, 19 years and six days, has won both the World Cup and Euros, making him the youngest player to achieve the double. The article compares his symbolic embrace with Lionel Messi at the World Cup final to a passing of the torch, noting Yamal recovered from a hamstring injury to play a key role in Spain's tournament run.
Manchester United have agreed to sign Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £50 million, with an initial payment of £48 million plus £2 million in add-ons. Santos will join fellow Brazilian Ederson at Old Trafford as United strengthen their midfield following injuries and departures.
Chelsea announced the signing of Sporting winger Geovany Quenda in a £40m deal with an eight-year contract. The 19-year-old Portugal under-21 international becomes the second arrival under new manager Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid have signed Netherlands full-back Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan on a four-year deal, reportedly activating his 20m-euro release clause. The 30-year-old is Real's fourth summer signing and will provide competition to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Spain won a men's World Cup knockout match for the first time in 16 years, defeating Austria 3-0 in Los Angeles to reach the last 16. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal (twice) and Pedro Porro secured Spain's comfortable victory.
Sunderland have rejected an £8m offer from Chelsea for midfielder Granit Xhaka, saying the 33-year-old is not for sale. The Switzerland international, under contract until 2028, played a key role in Sunderland's Europa League qualification last season.
France centre-back Ibrahima Konate is leaving Liverpool on a free transfer and has agreed to join Real Madrid on a four-year contract until June 2030. The 27-year-old made 183 appearances for Liverpool and won the Premier League, FA Cup, and two League Cups before departing.
Real Madrid have signed France defender Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer from Liverpool on a deal until June 2030. The 27-year-old centre back, currently at the World Cup, becomes one of Jose Mourinho's first signings since returning to the club.
France centre-back Ibrahima Konate is leaving Liverpool on a free transfer to join Real Madrid on a four-year contract until June 2030, after the two parties failed to agree on new contract terms over wages and value.
Midfielder Bernardo Silva, 31, has joined Real Madrid on a two-year contract after leaving Manchester City following a nine-year spell. Silva becomes Real's second summer signing as a free transfer.
Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella has completed a transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid for an initial £47.5 million plus potential add-ons, becoming José Mourinho's first signing. Cucurella will officially join Madrid after the 2026 FIFA World Cup after four years at Chelsea, signing a six-year contract.
FIFA World Cup debutants Cabo Verde, a nation of just over 500,000 people, secured a 0-0 draw against Spain. Cabo Verde were tightly organised throughout, with goalkeeper Vozinha making several key saves to frustrate Spain's attacks despite the European side's dominance in possession.
Debutant Cape Verde, ranked 67th and the third-smallest country by population to qualify for a World Cup, produced a shock result by drawing 0–0 with second-ranked reigning European champions Spain in their Group H opening match in Atlanta.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente named a 26-man World Cup squad featuring Lamine Yamal but with no Real Madrid players, ahead of the tournament beginning in June. Spain, Euro 2024 champions who reached the round of 16 in 2022, open their campaign against Cape Verde on June 15.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior's replacement, Xabi Alonso, was announced following the club's 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City. The 44-year-old former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss will begin his contract on 1 July and be unveiled in pre-season.
Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has been appointed Chelsea manager on a four-year contract starting in July. The 44-year-old Spaniard previously led Bayer Leverkusen to its first Bundesliga title in 2024 and replaces Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, who were the club's two permanent managers this season.
Liam Rosenior's tenure as Chelsea manager ended less than four months after his January appointment, following 10 defeats in 23 matches and public criticism of his players that exposed dressing room tensions. Despite arriving with a strong reputation, Rosenior struggled to win over the squad, with reports suggesting players including Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernández were unconvinced, and his tactical approach came under scrutiny after heavy losses.