Basque
Bayern star ready to accept pay cut for La Liga return
Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez is willing to take a pay cut to re-join Athletic Club Bilbao this month but negotiations have stalled, as per Marca. Martinez, 31, is said to have been negotiation to join on a two-year deal with the option of a third, with Bayern now open to selling for less than €10m – which was their original asking price. However, talks have hit a brick wall in recent days despite Martinez willing to reduce his salary from Bayern – reported to be €8m per annum – to be in line with others in the squad at San Mames. It is claimed by the report that Martinez only intends to return to Los Leones if he is to return to La Liga during his career and already has a verbal agreement to join the club this summer, should Bayern facilitate a deal. A year ago, the Basque club’s...
Villarreal boss applauds Samuel Chukwueze’s performance vs Real Sociedad
Nigeria international Samuel Chukwueze was impressive again as Villarreal recorded a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in a pre-season game on Tuesday. Chukwueze who scored in Villarreal’s pre season game against Valencia continued from where he stopped as he ran the show against the Basque based team. Chukwueze set up Francis Coquelin for the opening goal in the 8th minute, making him the player with the most assist in pre-season games for Villarreal. Emery was impressed with his performance and he rose to his feet to applaud the 20-year-old when he went past three players in a flash. Despite the arrival of Real Madrid youngster Take Kubo, Chukwueze has continued to get enough game time under his belt and he will be hoping to start in opening their La Liga campaign against newly-promoted Huesca....
Zinedine Zidane unconcerned by Real Madrid’s fixture list complaints
Zinedine Zidane has claimed Real Madrid will accept the congested fixture list for what it is, despite the club complaining to La Liga. Los Blancos issued a complaint to top-flight officials on Monday after the schedule for matchdays 33 and 34 of the season left them with less than 72 hours between fixtures against Getafe and Athletic Bilbao. Madrid felt this left them at a disadvantage compared to title rivals Barcelona, who were given five days of rest between games against Atletico Madrid and Villarreal. However, it has since emerged that Madrid will have accumulated more rest – approximately 26 hours in total – than Barca until matchday 35, and asked if he felt the club’s complaints to La Liga were fair, Zidane insisted he is fully focused on preparing his side for the fixture list as ...
