La Liga
Paris, Manchester or Milan? Sergio Ramos has a few, but great, opportunities.
It’s official – Sergio Ramos will no longer play for Real Madrid, and the club captain will say his final goodbye later today. Purchased for €27 million in 2005 from Sevilla at just 19-years-old, Ramos has been at Madrid for 16 seasons – a period that has seen him play 671 games, score 101 goals, win five La Liga titles and four European Cups. At 35, he had been looking for a contract extension of two years and no salary deduction. The club had been asking all its players to accept a 10% salary reduction in light of the pandemic and had been unwilling to offer more than a year on the contract. As late as a week ago, sources suggested that Ramos was willing to accept a one-year contract extension and even possibly a lower salary, but perhaps not to the level of what Madrid were offering. Wh...
Sergio Ramos to leave Real Madrid this summer
Real Madrid have confirmed that club captain Sergio Ramos will leave this summer. Ramos, 35, is out of contract at Real this summer, and had been expected to sign a new deal. The centre-back’s usual summer transfer dalliances with the likes of Manchester United have usually been a smokescreen to negotiate better terms at the Bernabeu. However, this time Ramos is officially on the lookout for a new club, with the defender leaving the team he has been with since 2005. Ramos arrived at the Bernabeu 16 years ago following a switch from Sevilla and went on to have a glittering career. He won five La Liga titles, four Champions League crowns as well as the Copa Del Rey twice. It was during his time in the Spanish capital that he also won the 2010 World Cup with Spain along with back-to-back Euro...
€45m-rated attacker agrees to join Barcelona, announcement expected next week – report
Netherlands international Memphis Depay is set to complete his long-awaited move to Barcelona next week, Spanish outlet Sport claims. The Dutchman has been a long-term target for the Blaugrana, and he was fancied heavily to join them last summer before the move broke down. He will be a free agent when his contract with Lyon expires next month, and it is reported that the Blaugrana are set to land his signature. Georginio Wijnaldum recently made a surprise U-turn as he turned down advances from the Blaugrana to join Paris Saint-Germain for a higher salary. There have been fears that Depay could follow suit with interest from Juventus, but Sport claims that the Blaugrana have now sealed the deal. Depay’s contract offer has been reduced from three to two years with a higher salary than initia...
Agents of four-time UCL winner reportedly sound out Leeds & Everton over move
Real Madrid left-back Marcelo is set to leave Santiago Bernabeu this summer as he is not in the plans of new manager Carlo Ancelotti. According to the Daily Mirror, his agents are searching for a new club for him and have sounded out both Everton and Leeds United, with the Toffees early favourites to land him. Marcelo wants a two-year deal and could be available for as little as £5 million with just a year left on his current deal. Madrid are ready to sell the 33-year-old defender, and his preference is to move to England or Italy. Sportslens View With five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues to his name since joining the Spanish giants in 2007, the 58-cap Brazil international knows how to win. Despite playing just 19 games across all competitions last term, Marcelo would fancy his c...
Real Madrid offered chance to sign £40.5m-rated Manchester United star on initial loan – report
Real Madrid have been offered the chance to sign Manchester United forward Anthony Martial through his representative, reputed journalist Duncan Castles claims. The Frenchman had a disappointing 2020/21 campaign with the Red Devils, registering just seven goals from 36 appearances in all competitions. It is now reported that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is willing to part ways with the attacker to make room for the arrival of an elite forward. The club are willing to offload him on loan with the option to buy. Martial’s agent has made contact with Los Blancos to find out whether they are interested. Sportslens view: Martial has his best-ever return for United in 2019/2020, registering 23 goals from 38 appearances in all competitions. However, he struggled to find consistency last term and ...
La Liga giants set €40m price tag for defender after learning Manchester United’s interest – report
Atletico Madrid have set an asking price of €40 million for defender Kieran Trippier amid interest from Manchester United, reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano claims. Trippier was on United’s radar in January, but they cooled their interest after the right-back was handed an eight-week ban by FIFA for breaching betting rules. The Red Devils have now revived their pursuit of the England international, but it appears that they could be put off by the hefty price tag of Atletico. The La Liga champions reportedly rejected a €12m bid from them this week. They have no intention to sell the defender for anything less than €40m. Sportslens view: Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been United’s undisputed right-back in recent years under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, and he has been superb defensively. Ho...
Barcelona interested in signing €30m Liverpool target with 20 goal contributions last season – report
Barcelona are interested in signing Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini but face competition from Liverpool and Atalanta, Mundo Deportivo claims. The Catalan giants were in advanced negotiations to sign Georginio Wijnaldum on a free transfer, but Paris Saint-Germain have since hijacked the deal. The Blaugrana are now looking into alternative options, and it is reported that they are seriously interested in signing Roma captain Pellegrini. Pellegrini has a €30 million release clause in his contract, but he could be sold for less as he is approaching the final year of his deal. Liverpool are also keen on signing Pellegrini as a replacement for Wijnaldum, but the Blaugrana’s main competition could be Atalanta. The Serie A outfit reportedly have the first option to land Pellegrini for arou...
Manchester City make their transfer decision on £36m-rated star amid Barcelona interest – report
Manchester City have no plans to sell midfielder Ilkay Gundogan amid interest from Barcelona, Sky Sports claims. It was recently reported that Gundogan’s uncle and agent met with Blaugrana’s officials to discuss a possible summer move. Furthermore, it was said that the German international would be open to the prospect of joining the Catalan giants. However, the Cityzens have no intention to sell him despite the fact that there has been no progress in contract talks. Sportslens view: Gundogan had the best-ever return of his career last season, registering 17 goals and five assists from 46 appearances in all competitions. He came up with vital goals in the big games for the Cityzens and ended up as their top-scorer for the campaign, much to the surprise of many. After such a standout season...
Another Manchester United bid rejected as La Liga club push back on initial offer
Manchester United’s initial £12 million bid for Kieran Trippier was knocked back by Atletico Madrid, but the Red Devils remain confident of getting the deal over the line this summer. United are keen on adding the English right-back to their squad, but their first attempt to strike a deal with Atletico came a cropper, per Spanish publication AS. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to have an attack-minded right-back to compete with Aaron Wan-Bissaka for a place in the Red Devils starting line-up. The former Crystal Palace defender has been impressive with his tackling and ball-winning ability but has often failed to deliver in the attacking third. It is also reported that the Old Trafford chiefs are preparing another assault, but their hopes of closing the deal with Atletico hinge on Trippier’s pre...
Real Madrid star ready to sign a new contract after lengthy stand-off – report
Sergio Ramos is prepared to sign a one-year contract with Real Madrid rather than pursuing a fresh challenge elsewhere, Spanish outlet Marca reports. The Spaniard has been in a contract stand-off for several months, with the club reluctant to meet his demands for a two-year deal beyond June. It is now reported that the 35-year-old is planning to compromise, and is willing to accept the club’s one-year proposal with a 10 percent pay-cut. Ramos has yet to contact president Florentino Perez, but it is claimed that a deal would be a formality with the defender’s acceptance. Sportslens view: Ramos has had an illustrious 16-year career with Los Blancos, winning 22 major trophies. It was recently claimed that the club were planning a special farewell for him, where he could be pictured alongside ...
Inter Miami and the story behind Lionel Messi’s 10-year contract offer from Barcelona
Lionel Messi’s future with Barcelona has been a regular talking point and the Argentine has yet to commit to a new contract beyond June. There have been suggestions that the 33-year-old could be handed a 10-year-old contract which could be split into three phases. The Blaugrana are aiming to extend his stay for two years before he makes the switch to Major League Soccer for a couple of seasons. Messi would act as their ambassador during his time in MLS before returning to the club for a role in the hierarchy for the next six years. Nothing has been agreed as of yet, but Inter Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas has confirmed that they are looking to sign Messi as part of the deal. He told Miami Herald: “David and I have been working really hard, we have aspirations of bringing the best player...
Inter Miami owner ‘optimistic’ that Leo Messi will join in the future
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas believes his side will be able to land Barcelona star Lionel Messi in the future. Messi’s contract with Barcelona will expire at the end of this month and the club is desperately trying to tie down the 33-year-old to a new deal. Various reports have stated that Messi’s potential Barca extension would include a provision for him to play two more seasons in Spain, then move to Inter Miami in 2023. Mas confirmed that he and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham have been involved in talks to bring Messi to Florida. “David and I have been working really hard, we have aspirations of bringing the best players here and Leo Messi is a generational player, arguably the best player of all time,” Mas told the Miami Herald. “I am optimistic Messi will play in an Inter Miami sh...
