La Liga

Subterms

    More stories

    • 263 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd and Chelsea joined by Real Madrid in Jules Kounde transfer as they consider offering Sevilla £52m PLUS a player

      by

      REAL MADRID are reportedly looking to fend off competition from Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde.The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move in the summer after two impressive years in Spain since joining from Bordeaux in 2019.

      Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde could be on the move at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Thomas Tuchel’s side have been credited with an interest, where it has been claimed that the Blues would be willing to offer Sevilla Hakim Ziyech in any deal.
      The Red Devils are also known to be admires of the France youth international, who helped the Andalusian outfit win the Europa League last term.
      SunSport exclusively revealed last month that Manchester United were weighing up a move for Kounde to pair him alongside Harry Maguire.
      But according to AS, Madrid are looking to keep Kounde in Spain as Zinedine Zidane eyes up a summer swoop.
      With Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane facing an uncertain future in Madrid, Real are desperate to bolster their backline.
      The news outlet states that Los Blancos are also keen on Villarreal’s Pau Torres, however Kounde is their No1 target after agreeing to sign David Alaba.
      Like United and Chelsea, Real are unwilling to activate his £78million release clause.
      Though it has been reported that Real would be open to forking out £52million plus a player in order to secure Kounde’s services.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard and Sergio Ramos are Real Madrid’s top earners
      Kounde has been ever-present for Julen Lopetegui’s side this campaign – featuring in 44 games in all competitions.
      He was heavily linked with a switch to Manchester City last year with the Citizens having a £46million offer rejected, leading them to sign Ruben Dias from Benfica.
      Speaking at the time, Sevilla chief Monchi said: “An offer from English football has arrived, we have assessed it and rejected it.
      “Although it is more than double the investment we made 12 months ago, we consider it to be insufficient. If more offers arrive, we will assess it and decide, as we always do.
      “We are not afraid to sell, because that is what we have done over the last two decades and that is what has allowed us to grow.
      “It is our model, selling in order to grow. But we want to sell for a significant amount so that we can reinvest those amounts in new players who in turn improve the squad.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Jules Kounde joins Sevilla in training More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Atletico Madrid offer Alvaro Morata for Paulo Dybala in Juventus swap transfer as alternative to £39m permanent fee

      by

      ATLETICO MADRID have offered Alvaro Morata to Juventus in a swap deal for Paulo Dybala, according to reports in Italy.The Serie A giants are facing huge uncertainty ahead of the summer as Andrea Pirlo’s side struggles to qualify for the Champions League.
      Paulo Dybala could be sold this summer ahead of his contract expiringCredit: Getty
      Juventus have reportedly been offered loanee Alvaro Morata for the ArgentineCredit: Rex
      And the futures of both loanee Morata and Dybala, out of contract in 2022, must be sorted against this backdrop.
      Juve have the option to permanently sign the Spanish striker for £39million or extend his loan deal for another year, at a cost of £8.7m.
      Tuttosport detail an Atletico bid to replace that fee with a straight swap for Dybala.
      The report suggests an exchange could be negotiated to allow Juventus an additional fee as part of the deal.
      The Italians may be forced to consider cashing in on 27-year-old Dybala if they cannot agree on a new contract.
      Talks are set to begin next month despite his paltry tally of four goals for the season, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United among the clubs reportedly interested in him.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Losing Dybala for free would be unpalatable and the player has already spoken openly of a possible move to Spain.
      He said last week: “I have received calls from Atletico.
      “Not directly for myself, they have called my agent.
      “[They] call the player or those around him to find out his situation or how he is at the club. These discussions sometimes last three days or six months.
      “Alvaro comes from there and has spoken very highly of the club, the city, the people, the fans… Atletico are a big club today.”
      Morata, 28, joined the Old Lady from Atletico last year and recently admitted to wanting to remain in Turin ‘for life’.

      He stated: “Everyone knows that I would stay here for life, but football is a business and sometimes footballers don’t have the choice.
      “I am a professional and I will give it my all until I am here, where I am very happy.”
      Juve may attempt an alternative route in the player-exchange market with PSG’s Mauro Icardi said to be another swap option.
      Likewise, the Ligue 1 side’s Everton loanee Moise Kean is named as a favourite for another stint at the club, with Adrien Rabiot or Merih Demiral potentially heading in the opposite direction.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Juventus star Paulo Dybala shows off his football skills while wearing a blindfold More

    • 238 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Lionel Messi thanked Samuel Eto’o for career-saving advice which fixed ‘two or three’ issues he had as Barcelona youth

      by

      FORMER Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has revealed Lionel Messi thanked him for a piece of career-changing advice in his early days at the Nou Camp.The pair played together at the LaLiga giants for six years between the Argentine’s 2003 debut and Eto’o’s 2009 departure for Inter Milan.
      Samuel Eto’o helped Lionel Messi with ‘career-changing’ adviceCredit: AP:Associated Press
      And while many tipped the diminutive, fleet-footed young Messi for greatness from an early stage, Eto’o has revealed that his former team-mate felt indebted to his crucial advice.
      The 40-year-old told DAZN: “[Messi] confessed to me that, thanks to my advice, which I am not going to reveal, his career had changed.
      “One day he said: ‘Thanks to Samuel, my career changed’.
      “He had to fix two or three things but he has always had the talent.
      “I am proud and happy to see that he has written history which has yet to be finished, and it will be very difficult to beat what he has written.”
      It was a poorly kept secret of the early-noughties at La Masia that they had quite the special talent on their hands, with Eto’o admitting all of Frank Rijkaard’s first-team stars knew that Messi, now 33, would be special.
      Eto’o continued: “He was going up and down from La Masia to the first team.
      “We already knew that one day Messi was going to be what he is.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
      The duo enjoyed a wildly successful stint as team-mates before Eto’o’s 2009 Camp Nou departureCredit: EPA

      “I am happy because he has made it in the end, thanks to himself.
      “He showed me that nothing has changed. He is still the good person I met.”
      The pair won two Champions Leagues as team-mates, with Eto’o man-of-the-match in their 2006 final triumph over Arsenal – and both getting on the scoresheet in the 2-0 victory over Manchester United in Rome three years later.
      Eto’o enjoyed more success with Inter after leaving the Nou Camp, before later representing Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea and Everton among others, before finally hanging up his boots last year.
      Messi, meanwhile, is still going strong at Barcelona – having won an astonishing ten LaLiga titles, four Champions Leagues and six Ballons d’Or.
      However, there is speculation Messi could finally end his relationship with Barcelona – with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain targeting him ahead of a free summer move.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Man City keen on Lionel Messi AND Erling Haaland as Pep Guardiola eyes superstar transfer in summer More

    • 213 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona vs Granada: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for huge La Liga clash

      by

      BARCELONA welcome Granada to the Nou Camp for a huge game in the La Liga title race.The Catalan giants are fighting it out with Real Madrid, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid to land the Spanish championship.

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Barca are chasing a first title since the 2018/19 seasonCredit: AFP
      Messi and Co currently sit third but can go top if they win this game in hand over their rivals.
      When is Barcelona vs Granada?

      This huge match will be held on Thursday, April 29.
      Kick-off is at 6pm BST.
      When the sides met earlier in the campaign, Messi and Antoine Griezmann got the goals in a 4-0 Barca win.

      Which TV channel and live stream can I watch it on?
      You can catch this game live on LaLiga TV here in the UK.
      The channel is included in Premier Sports subscriptions and can be found on Sky 435 and Virgin Media 554.
      To stream, head to the Premier Player where you can watch the remainder of the La Liga campaign for £6.99.

      What is the team news?
      Barcelona will be hoping to welcome back Ousmane Dembele from his recent lay-off.
      Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho remain out, while Martin Braithwaite is also injured.
      The visitors will be without trio Neyder Lozano, Domingos Duarte, and Luis Milla for their visit to the Nou Camp.
      Alberto Soro is suffering from a knock but will be a gametime decision.

      Match odds

      Barca to win – 1/9
      Draw – 15/2
      Granada victory – 16/1

      *All odds from Paddy Power and correct at time of publication. More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Watch as Rayo Vallecano fans wear protective suits and clean stadium after visit from far right-wing political party

      by

      RAYO VALLECANO fans donned protective suits and scrubbed down their stadium after a visit from far-right political party figures.The stunt was triggered when Vox party leaders Santiago Abascal and Rocio Monasterio attended the Segunda Division clash between Rayo and Albacete on Monday.
      Rayo Vallecano fans arranged a protest at their Estadio de VallecasCredit: Twitter / @josedpalacio
      The fan group were furious the club had allowed far right party leaders into the groundCredit: Twitter / @josedpalacio
      The game finished 2-2, with Esteban Ariel Saveljich putting the hosts ahead before Rayo’s Mario Suarez was sent off.
      Alvaro Jimenez and Manuel Fuster then made it 2-1 to Albacete, only for former Manchester United man Bebe to equalise for the home side in the 87th minute.
      But focus was on goings on in the stand after the game.
      Rayo are famous for being a politically aware club whose fanbase are majority left-wing.
      And their views clash severely with the ideologies of Vox.
      As a result, Rayo’s Bukaneros supporters’ group arranged Tuesday’s protest.
      They accused the club’s owner Raul Martin Presa of tarnishing their history by inviting the far-right leaders to the Estadio de Vallecas.
      Their message was that they believed in a Vallecas free of facism, and had to disinfect the stadium, hence the hazmat suits and the collective clean-up.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
      These days, you’re not allowed to publicly voice support of the Ukrainian neo-Nazi group Azov Battalion or post neo-Nazi ideology without being accused of being a neo-Nazi sympathiser. It’s “political correctness gone mad”, Jeff. https://t.co/WN85tZOd6Z— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) April 26, 2021

      When images of the protest surfaced online, many praised the protesters while other joked that they were ‘finally doing some work’.
      And all this came after fans expressed surprise at Rayo’s willingness to let the far-right figures in.
      One wrote: “Aren’t Vallecano the most left wing club in Spain?”
      And another added: “Surprised Rayo would let them in, aren’t they one of the most left wing clubs around?”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Aren’t real vallecano the most left wing club in Spain? 🤔— Red Mist Adored (@thebigredup) April 26, 2021

      Surprised Rayo would let them in, aren’t they one of the most left wing clubs around?— Criss-Cross (@Criss_Crossss) April 26, 2021

      Man Utd star Bruno Farnandes enjoys a bottle of milk after leaving the pitch More

    • 250 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Damien Duff SLAMS ex-Chelsea star Eden Hazard for turning up to Real Madrid ‘fat’ and ‘never being a top pro’

      by

      DAMIEN DUFF took aim at Real Madrid star Eden Hazard on Tuesday night – for turning up to training ‘fat’.The Irishman’s remarkable tirade against his fellow former Chelsea winger came after the Blues’ 1-1 Champions League draw with Los Blancos.
      Eden Hazard has struggled with fitness issues since joining Real MadridCredit: Getty
      Damien Duff slammed the Belgian for turning up to his first pre-season overweightCredit: Sportsfile
      Hazard came off the bench in the semi-final first leg but failed to make an impact after a long spell out injured.
      And the Belgian’s poor form since joining the LaLiga giants for an initial £88million left Duff worried because he sees Hazard as not ‘a top pro’.
      The 42-year-old told RTE: “You’d worry for him going forward.
      “He’s 30, he relies on sharpness, being a quick dribbler. We all know after 30 it’s… like that (points downward).
      “He’s never been a top pro and he’s never had the drive of [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo. If he did, you’d probably be mentioning him with them two players.
      “He turned up for his first pre-season at Real Madrid – Galactico, 160 million [euros] – overweight. Fat. Call it what you want.
      CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: CLAIM UP TO £800 IN CASINO BONUS CASH
      Hazard’s numbers at Chelsea and Real Madrid before Tuesday’s draw
      Damien Duff won the Premier League team twice at ChelseaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “You’d worry for him, because he’s had 11 injuries and to come back from 11 injuries – and he’s hardly played in two years – you need to have drive, you need to be a top pro.
      “I hate aiming it at a player, but it’s always been aimed at him anyway.”
      Hazard, 30, admitted in November 2019 that he arrived at Real overweight – but insisted he found it easy trimming the pounds.
      He said: “I’m not going to hide it, but when I’m on vacation, I’m on vacation.
      “I had put on five kilos, I’m the type to put on quickly and lose so quickly if I’m careful. When I was 18, in Lille, I was 72 or 73kg. I was 80kg this summer, I lost it in 10 days.”
      However, two-time Premier League winner Duff felt that Hazard, who has also won the league twice, has no excuses given how he started his Madrid career.
      To be signed by Madrid, you turn up to pre-season in the shape of your life. And he turned up overweight because he was on holiday.Damien Duff

      He added: “You could argue that throughout his career, he’s always battled with his weight.
      “To be signed by Real Madrid, 160 million, you turn up to pre-season in the shape of your life.
      “And he turned up overweight because he was on holiday. I ain’t having that.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Explosive moment journalist is kicked off TV show for calling Eden Hazard ‘fat’ during Real Madrid win over Atalanta More

    • 238 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Real Madrid star Marcelo could miss Champions League clash at Chelsea after being called up to monitor local election

      by

      REAL MADRID are fighting to have Marcelo available for next week’s clash with Chelsea after he was called up for election duty.Voters will pick their candidates for the Assembly of Madrid on Tuesday May 4, the day before the Champions League semi-final second leg.
      Marcelo may be unavailable for Real Madrid’s game next WednesdayCredit: EPA
      According to El Mundo, Marcelo, 32, has been randomly selected to monitor a polling station in the Spanish capital.
      That would prevent him from joining his Real team-mates in flying to London on Tuesday.
      Local authorities have reportedly argued that he can jet off on the day of the game after working at the ballot box, but that would encounter issues with Uefa’s coronavirus protocols.
      Travelling separately from the rest of the squad would break Madrid’s Covid bubble.
      Therefore Los Blancos have filed an appeal to have the left-back, who is a Spanish citizen, removed from the post.
      It is said that Marcelo is deeply unhappy about the call-up and his entourage, as well as Real bosses, are working on overturning the decision.
      Brazil international Marcelo was was given a Spanish passport in 2011, so that he did not take up a non-EU place in the Madrid squad.

      The polling station workers were selected on April 5 and are paid £56 for their day’s work.
      There is a seven-day period for appeals to be lodged with Real’s queries so far being rejected.
      The LaLiga giants are nonetheless described as confident that Marcelo will be freed for the Stamford Bridge trip.
      Exemptions can be made for citizens who are required for ‘essential community services of vital importance’ on the day of polls, although that is typically reserved for professionals such as firefighters or medics.

      A precedent Real may call back to is that of Aitor Fernandez, the Levante goalkeeper who was excused from a 2019 voting booth call-up on the same day as a game against Athletic Club after a second appeal.
      Marcelo started the 1-1 first leg draw due to an injury to Ferland Mendy, who remains a doubt for next week.
      Christian Pulisic scored early for the Blues before a Karim Benzema equaliser at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Tuchel appears to snub Courtois handshake to delight of Chelsea fans after his controversial Real Madrid transfer More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Sevilla ‘willing to sell Jules Kounde to Chelsea ahead of Man Utd if they include Hakim Ziyech in swap transfer’

      by

      SEVILLA are interested in taking Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech as part of the Blues’ bid for Jules Kounde, according to reports in Spain.French defender Kounde is rumoured to be one of the hottest properties of the summer transfer market.
      Jules Kounde has made himself a key player for title challengers SevillaCredit: Rex
      Hakim Ziyech is yet to cement his place in the Chelsea teamCredit: Getty
      A strong second season with Sevilla has helped put the LaLiga club in position for an unlikely late title challenge.
      And Manchester United are said to be monitoring the player, along with Chelsea.
      Spanish outlet El Gol Digital have claimed that Ziyech could be key to unlocking the deal.
      Selling the midfielder as part of Kounde’s move to West London could reportedly chop 50 per cent off the transfer fee.
      Ziyech has been a long-term target of the Andalusians since breaking out with Ajax and has not made himself a first-team regular at Stamford Bridge.
      Both Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel have used the Moroccan sparingly, awarding him only 13 starts in the Premier League.
      The 28-year-old came on as a substitute in Tuesday’s draw at Real Madrid, as he did during the weekend match against West Ham.
      Sevilla reportedly want £52million for 22-year-old Kounde.
      CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: CLAIM UP TO £800 IN CASINO BONUS CASH

      It is said that including Ziyech in the deal would still mean paying £26m for the centre-back, even though he cost Chelsea £33m when signing last year.
      Tuchel is said to be plotting a huge summer spending spree to build a squad capable of winning the Prem title.
      Madrid defender Raphael Varane and Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland are just two of the big names linked with the club.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Chelsea boss Tuchel warns Hakim Ziyech must adapt to the Premier League More